The Colorado Racing News

BRAC's Monthly e-Newsletter

November
2013

www.coloradocycling.org

Lately, it seems as if we are meant to learn some big lessons. In the last month, we've gone through the extremes of emotion - from the devastating news of Amy Dombroski's death on a Thursday morning, through the challenges of a very public memorial service three days later, and then back to the simple joy of bike riding and racing the next week.

The amount of support and energy in the cycling world surrounding Amy's death has been amazing to behold. While her memorial service was one of the hardest things in which I've ever been involved, I was also incredibly proud of how our community rallied to support her family and each other during this awful time. On behalf of Amy's family, I would like to express a huge 'thank you' to everyone who worked to create such a moving service, to Valmont Bike Park for hosting, and to all those who shared, attended and contributed to a difficult and beautiful service.

Perhaps it takes something this hard to help us gain a greater appreciation for our lives, to think about how to share more kindness, and how to better enjoy the people in our lives and the things that we do.

We are so lucky to be here in sunny Colorado, to ride our bikes, to be surrounded with friends, spouses, children and relatives, and to share our sporting experiences with our extended family at the races.

Here's to enjoying and appreciating your friends and family, your health, your racing, and our great cycling community.

Chris

execdir@coloradocycling.org

***

Mourning and Celebrating Amy Dombroski

A moving tribute to a great person - the Amy Dombroski memorial service.
Photo by Dejan Smaic.

On October 3rd, the international cycling community lost one its shining stars when Boulder-based Amy Drombroski was struck and killed by a truck while training in Belgium. Here at home, our local community lost a beloved family member. The Colorado cycling family celebrated Amy's life at a memorial service on October 6 at Valmont Bike Park. The service was a moving tribute to a gifted athlete and extraordinary person. With music, candles, poems, tears and laughter, we gathered on a beautiful evening to grieve, share stories, and begin to heal from Amy's death.

Amy inspiring young riders at the 2013 Yeti Beti Bash. Photo by Yeti Beti.

With the blessing of the Dombroski family, BRAC is proud to rename our Pre-J Program (which provides kids 6-9 with the opportunity to participate in cycling events at our criterium and cyclo-cross races) "Amy Dombroski's Pre-J Program." We are very proud to work with her family and the new Amy Dombroski Foundation to share Amy's love of cycling with young children.

More information on the Amy Dombroski Foundation can be found here.

***

Recap: 'Year of the Colorado Cycling Woman'

2013 BRAC Women's Summit

Packed house at the 2013 Women's Summit. Photo by BRAC.

On October 1st, BRAC hosted 80+ women (and a few men!) at our 2013 Women's Summit at Prestige Imports in Lakewood. Dubbed 'The Year of the Cycling Woman,' the summit brought together people from the Colorado cycling community, including athletes from track, cross, road and mountain bike racing, team leaders, collegiate clubs, advocacy leaders, officials, coaches, event directors, and BRAC board members.

We discussed the remarkable growth in the SW4 and SW3 this year, the success of Women's Mentoring Events, the great energy surrounding BRAC's new Women's Racing and Cross Camps, how to provide outreach at large non-competitive events, the potential coordination of childcare at events, and we even developed a compromise for cyclo-cross race day scheduling. Please see this link for a full recap of the Summit.

Thank you to Prestige Imports, Naked Women's Racing, Great Divide Brewing, BRAC board and staff, and our panel of contributors for all your efforts to grow women's cycling and racing in Colorado.

Everybody chipped in to help at the Women's Summit! Photo by BRAC.

***

Save the Date for the Breakaway Bash -

the 2013 Rocky Mtn Road Cup and

Colorado Track Cup Awards Party

You don't want to miss this one! With great food and drink, a robust and fun Silent Auction, an action-packed slideshow, and an evening of awards for our 2013 Road Cup and Track Cup podium finishers, the Breakaway Bash will be one of our most fun evenings of the year!

Friday, November 22, 2013 from 6-9pm

American Mountaineering Center - Golden

More Info Here

Please RSVP via Facebook so we have enough food and drink. This event is FREE and is meant as a celebration of YOU - the Colorado bike racer! This event is brought to you by BRAC, Pat Nichols Perrin and our awesome Party Committee. Thanks all!

***

Colorado Cycling Profile:

Chris Case

Scooting around at Flatirons. Photo by Dejan Smaic/Sportifimages.

2011 Cross Cup Champion, Managing Editor at Velo magazine, BRAC board member, and all-around all-arounder Chris Case contributes to our cycling community in a multitude of ways. A former runner and candidate for a PhD in neuroscience, Chris is now firmly entrenched as a full-time bike dork. We're glad to have him! Chris sat down (electronically) with Amanda C for a short interview - please follow this link to learn more about CC.

***

Colorado Cycling Profile:

Jen Barbour

Jen loves cross! Photo by Frites & Mayo.

How many people can honestly say that they love their job? Jen Barbour, the Executive Director of Team Evergreen, LOVES her job. She directs the largest cycling club in the state and two of the country's premier events: the Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill Climb and the Triple Bypass. Jen sat down with Maggie M to talk about many good things, including bike racing.

Please follow this link for BRAC's

Jen Barbour Interview.

***

2014 Cyclo-Cross National Championships

Update and Volunteer Opportunities

BRAC is a proud Community Partner of the 2014 Cyclo-Cross National Championships to be held at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder. As a dedicated partner, one of our biggest roles is to help gather the hundreds of volunteers required to host a successful six-day event. BRAC members will have the fantastic opportunity to be the first group to sign-up for volunteer slots for the event. Please see the Boulder CX 14 Home Page for complete information, including lodging for out-of-state friends, links to volunteer shifts and sign-ups (up soon), and volunteer training (including tips training for alcohol) for volunteers through the City of Boulder. We're closing in on 65 days til Cross Nats - it's time to get ready for a spectacular week of racing as we welcome the country's best to Colorado.

***

Favorite Photo of the Year (So Far)

Banjo serenade. Photo by Team Small Batch.

This image was chosen through a completely non-scientific random sampling of photos available from many great photographers. Thanks Small Batch for being out there, both on your bikes and with your banjo!

***

BRAC Membership Benefits

Many companies, both local and international, support our organization and our members with great discounts, and many provide cash returns for our Development Programs.

We have great offers for you: 50% off cycling skin care products from BALM Co, 40% off the entire selection of Rudy Project, world-class bike fits from Retul and the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, and many others.

Please see our Member Businesses & Benefits Page for a complete list of companies and individuals who support our organization. Thanks all who contribute to our cycling community!

***

BRAC on Facebook and twitter

We are close to 3,000 followers on our Facebook page! Check us out for tons of photo albums from our races and connections to many other cycling organizations.