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Greetings!
April brings great images to mind, mostly involving tough riders battling brutal conditions in the search for glory and lasting achievement.
And isn't that what keeps us all coming to the races? The glory and achievement for most of us is purely internal - we're not going to read about ourselves in the pages of Velo. But we all love pushing on the pedals, watching the heart rate go sky high, and trying to find the perfect mix between fitness, fun, speed, improvement, and overall effort.
It's all about finding the right balance, which is why it's pretty hard to beat cycling as a metaphor for life. Cycling is about individual effort and team achievement, about being healthy and productive, about setting goals and surpassing our highest expectations. It's about a close-knit community of like-minded people who are lucky enough to enjoy a truly awesome sport.
We take on weather conditions that keep most sports on the sidelines, we challenge the highest roads in North America, we push our bodies through mud and wind, and we live with the fundamental truth that bicycle racing is a really, really hard sport. And we do all this with a smile.
Here's to April, to tough racing, tough competition, tough conditions, and smiling through it all.
Chris
execdir@coloradocycling.org
***
First Annual BRAC Women's Racing Camp
Presented by TheCyclist-Lawyer.com
May 4, 2013
The Cyclist-Lawyer.com is proud to be the title sponsor for BRAC's first ever Women's Racing Camp. The one-day camp will be hosted by the School of Mines Cycling Team, and feature camaraderie, lunch, fun, friends, safety skills, mentoring and hot laps on a criterium course, followed by a race debrief with wine and snacks. The Camp is brought to us by Bicycle Colorado.
Here is the Camp Flyer.
Space is limited to 30 campers (and we're over half full already!), so register today at www.madsync.com.
* 2013 Senior Women 4 Mentoring Events 
Each year, BRAC works with select races to offer SW4 Mentoring events. These events serve as a fantastic opportunity for our beginning women to learn from experienced women racers in a race environment. The first 2013 SW4 Mentoring Event is April 6 at the Louisville Criterium. Please see this link for more information on this key component of our Women's Program. *** Colorado Track Racing Update  A great day at the track. Photo by Clint Bickmore, BRAC.
Last week, BRAC board and staff were given a tour of the Boulder Valley Velodrome in Erie by University Bike's Doug Emerson, the visionary behind the Velodrome, and the Colorado Track Advisory Committee of Cari Higgins, Vic Williams, Colby Pearce and Pat McDonough. This is an amazing project and opportunity for track racing in the United States. We are proud to create the Colorado Track Cup to provide leadership in the development of track racing in Colorado, structure the racing between two velodromes, and support for new racers and juniors. Our fingers are crossed for swift completion and final Boulder County approval for racing at BVV. Please watch our website for event flyers and the 2013 track racing schedule. 
(and yes, half of the people in the above photo are Olympians!) *** 2013 Karen Hornbostel Memorial Time Trial Series at Cherry Creek State Park Register Now - Only 16 Start Times are Left! 
More than just a series of races, the Karen Hornbostel Memorial Time Trial Series (KHMTT) is a social celebration of cycling every week. Since 1991, the Series has taken place Wednesday evenings in Cherry Creek State Park during April and May. The Series is a fundraiser for BRAC (Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado) and COBRAS (Colorado Bicycle Racing Associations for Seniors (age 50+). Please see the Lima Beans site for more information, and see you at Cherry Creek in nine days! Thank you Lima Beans for all your work to make KHMTT a resounding success.  *** Polar Water Bottles Based in Colorado and Made in the USA 
We are very happy to work with Polar Bottles to create the BRAC Bottle for 2013. Polar is based in Boulder and sources their products in the USA from BPA-free and sustainable materials. Polar Bottles are insulated, durable, and stylish. We are part of Polar's Benefits Bottles Program - get your BRAC Polar Bottles through this link and help support our Development Programs for Women, Juniors and new racers. Thanks Polar for your support! Polar Benefit Bottles Page *** Are You or a Friend New to Racing? 
There is so much mystery (and seemingly endless jargon) to this sport. Let us help!! Check out our New Racer page on the BRAC website. Updated, fun and easy to read, this resource has all you need to know for a successful first race. We welcome new racers and want to see you succeed! Watch for camps, clinics, mentoring events and other ways to learn more about racing. The best way to enjoy the sport is to join a club. Here you'll find friends, training tips, racing guidance, and support for your efforts. ***
BRAC Community Profile:
Jess D'Amato
Artist, Designer, Racer and Baker of Scones
Jess at 2013 Cross Nats. Photo by BRAC. Jess moved to Boulder five years ago after attending college in Vermont and graduate school on Long Island, NY. She had raced triathlons since college (including 5 Ironmans) and ran several marathons, but wanted to move to a place where she could lead a more adventurous lifestyle. In Boulder, she started racing bikes on the road and in the mountains, then found cyclo-cross and never looked back. Now, she has settled into the Colorado life, mixing her passion for art and design with her love for cycling and being active. When she's not cycling, Jess enjoys graphic design, cooking, baking, and creating original art using old maps. Jess owns her own graphic design business - check out her website at www.jessdamatodesigns.com . She created the logo for the 2013 Women's Racing Camp, and has developed ads, posters and other items for BRAC over the last two years. Jess also just got engaged - congratulations! We spoke with Jess to learn a bit more about her. Favorite Books: Born to Run, Into the Wild Favorite Food: Jess's famous maple walnut scones, kale with quinoa, sweet potato, chicken, almonds and blueberries. Favorite Race: 2013 Cross Nationals in Madison in the worst conditions turned out to be my best race of the season. Here in Colorado, I love the Boulder Cross Cup at Valmont and Blue Sky Velo Cross. *** The Junior Development Program We have a busy couple of months for our Juniors and their families! 
The 2013 Junior Road Camp will be held April 26, 27 and 28 and will once again feature Head Coach Jon Heidemann. Our camps give juniors the chance to learn about health, nutrition, cycling, bikes and equipment, training, and safe racing in a supportive and fun environment. For more information, please see the following links: Camp Flyer Camp Registration on Madsync.com * 
* 
And let's not forget, for the first time ever, BRAC has partnered with a sponsor to help offset the costs associated with the Juniors Ride Free Program. Team Evergreen's 2013 donation will cover more than 50% of the insurance expense that BRAC pays to keep our juniors, events, and event directors covered with quality insurance. Juniors Ride Free is one of the fundamental components of our Junior Development Program, and a model that is copied by other race series and organizations nationwide. In 2012, we spent more than $8,500 in the Juniors Ride Free Program. Thank you Team Evergreen for contributing to the next generation of happy, healthy cyclists! * Questions about junior gearing and equipment restrictions? Please see this link for answers. *** 
Bicycle Colorado's Annual Gala will be held Friday, April 26. Please join us to support this great organization that works tirelessly to protect and grow our cycling opportunities in Colorado. Follow this link for more information on the Gala: Bicycle Colorado Gala Page *** BRAC Business 2013 BRAC Membership and New Stickers Please note that we are not sending membership cards this year. In an effort to save money, paper, postage and confusion on race days, we are sending 2013 membership stickers to attach to the back of your USAC license. You only need to use your USAC license for registration - so be ready to show your sticker!
* Timing Chips As mentioned in the previous edition of the Colorado Racing News, we have discontinued use of the timing system for 2013. We continue to own the hardware and software that were purchased, and are collecting chips for the potential future deployment of the system.
Please note that any future deployment will not involve a chip purchase by members, and will not involve any chip rental fee on race days.
Chips will be collected by your club and returned to BRAC for storage and reprogramming. Clubs will receive a complimentary entry to the State TT Championships for every ten chips they return. Chips can also be returned at races this spring. Thank you all for your patience and commitment during the two years that we worked with our timing system. *
Thanks for sharing this e-newsletter with your
friends and family.
A HUGE Thank You to Katie Macarelli, who has been instrumental in the creation of this issue of the Colorado Racing News. | 
