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Greetings!
This September offers exciting end-of-season racing for all you die-hard roadies. With the Bear Creek Lake TT Series, the new Deer Creek Canyon Time Trial, and a full weekend at the end of the month in Vail, there is plenty left for the skinny tires. A huge thanks to Moots and everyone who worked so hard to create a fantastic Steamboat Springs Stage Race last weekend.
For many riders, autumn means one thing: Cross! One door closes and another opens...with barriers, dirt, run-ups and mud. Sweet mud.
Labor Day is in the rearview, the kids are back in school and you, yes you, have the fever for the cowbell. Cross season is HERE. Bust out your embro, shine up your bell and glue those tubulars (or hire a professional to do this and save your marriage).
There are weekly training rides going on in Boulder, Denver and Golden to get you up to speed. Please see the ACA Calendar for the most up-to-date information on the cross season, including the triumphant return of the Back to Basics mid-week series in Golden .
Call-ups this year will be very simple:
1- This weekend at Campus Cross in the Springs, call-ups will be based upon registration.
2- The Kick-It Cross Festival and Time Trial will generate call-ups for one race: Boulder Racing #1 at Valmont.
3- Call-ups for the rest of the season will be based upon USAC's Rider Ranking System, which includes all results from last year and the current season.
Who's ready for a lovely, dusty, beautiful, muddy, poetic, snowy season-long suffer-fest running from September all the way through December?
The 2012 Cross season is ON!
Single Speed stud Jesse Swift. Photo by ACA
Cross Links:
2012 Colorado Cross Cup
2012 Kick-It Cross Festival and Time Trial
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Masters and Juniors Championship Road Race Recap
We had one of the largest August road races in ACA history with 550 athletes competing at the Masters and Juniors State Championship Road Race in Keenesburg. A huge Thank-you to Lima Beans Cycling and Team Rocky Mountain Health Plans for all their efforts to make this event a reality. Great photos from this event are available from Ryan Muncy.
Photo by Ryan Muncy
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Mike Nields Bannock Criterium
Once again, the Front Rangers created an exceptional event at the Mike Nields Bannock Criterium. This race served as the Junior Criterium Championships, and more than 600 racers had the opportunity to experience crit racing in downtown Denver.
2012 Bannock Criterium photo by 303Cycling
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Masters National Track Championships
Colorado racers and teams made a significant impact at Masters Track Nats, which were held at the 7-11 Velodrome in Colorado Springs. The Boulder Orthopedics Team was named the #1 Masters Track team in the country, and other racers also had great events. Pictured here is Rob Barnes, 45-49 Match Sprint Champ.
Photo by Swift Cycling.
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The US Pro Challenge
Raise your hand if you got out and found a spot to cheer and/or follow the Pro Challenge (hoots, hollers, mankinis, cowbells and gratuitous hand waving).
The Sports Garage party on Independence Pass. Photo by ACA.
This year's Pro Challenge had a spectacular impact on pretty much everybody who lives in this great State of Colorado...as well as all of the people across the US who now want to live in Colorado. (Sorry. You can only visit). Congratulations to all the racers and particularly Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda (head-quartered in Boulder) for showing everyone how it pays to live and train in Colorado.
But it wasn't just the Colorado athletes who were at the highest level - three ACA officials were working the USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Tim Madden, Leslie Ramsay and Lynn Taylor. Other national and international level officials who work ACA events include Dean Crandall, Sheri Barr, Grady Carter, Jim Wong, Rogene Killen, Andy McCord, Randy Shafer, Noreen Landis-Tyson, Bob Maddocks, Al MacDonald and Yvonne van Gent. We are incredibly luck to have these people at our events!
Lynn scoring the Battle Mountain KoM. Photo by ACA.
We worked with the Pro Challenge in 2012 to create competitive ancillary events. These included a Stage 5 Criterium on the Pro Challenge finish circuit in Colorado Springs, and a King/Queen of Lookout Time Trial in Golden, which featured the Pro Challenge Start House. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make these events a reality!
Megan Hottman, SW P-1-2 winner, at the start house
with Chief Ref Tom Foss. Photo by Katie Macarelli.
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Pre-J Events
Pre-J podium. Photo by ACA.
There's tons of stuff out there for Juniors and Adult Racers. But what about the tinier (and some would argue, mightier) peloton known as the Pre-J's? Pre-J stands for 'Pre-Junior' and is a great way to get the little ones involved. Check out our Pre-Junior Primer for more information. Are you looking to introduce the love of racing in a fun, non-pressured setting? Then this is for you and your family!
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Shopping for a Team?
Are you looking to join a team? There are many teams out there who are taking applications NOW. , with info and links to our 100+ clubs. Most teams are built on the twin principles of competition and fun. Here is the link to the ACA's Club Page.
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Save the Date
2012 Rocky Mtn Road Cup Awards Party
- Saturday, September 22 from 6-9pm.
- American Mountaineering Center in Golden.
- Awards, drinks, pizza, veggies, giveaways and a brand new Silent Auction of exceptional goods/services! All proceeds benefit the Junior Development Program.
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ACA Board Member Profile of the Month
Clint Bickmore
Clint 2012. Photo by Mrs. Bickmore.
Favorite Beer: Great Divide Titan
Favorite Ride: Colorado National Monument
Favorite Trip: Somewhere with my boys on a bike
Favorite Food: His House - "The chef is awesome" (wife Margaret)
Clint was raised in Seattle and earned his PhD from the University of Michigan, and picked Colorado as the best place to settle down. A competitive racer and father of three boys, Clint is a key component in the success of the Junior Development Program. In addition to serving as the President of the Board, Clint volunteers with Boulder Junior Cycling and Bicycle Longmont.
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Thank You
A huge thanks to all of our promoters, officials, athletes, volunteers and sponsors to make the 2012 Road Season an incredibly successful one. This year we've had more than 80 races from March to September with nearly 18,000
racer days! This is an increase of nearly 20%!
Many thanks to Lima Beans Cycling, Sanitas Sports (Ideal Market Series), Peak to Peak Training (CSP Series), and Colorado Springs Velodrome Association (Track action in the Springs) for a prime selection of mid-week races. You guys kept everyone fresh and offered a great summer of mentoring and racing!
Please watch the ACA website, Facebook, twitter, and our weekly updates for the latest in ACA happenings, and as always, you can find all the race details on the ACA event calendar. Thanks for sharing this e-newsletter with your friends and family. | 
