UCA Members,

This is an important announcement from the UCA Board that affects everyone who races UCA events. Please read this carefully.

Good Evening:
 
As you know, last year we required chip timing for all UCA points races.  Almost all of the races were timed using the Winning Time Chips.  We had mixed results.  Here is a list of some of the issues that we faced:
 
-          Renting Chips - very difficult to track and hard to take a deposit
-          Registration – almost impossible to process 10 to 30 people 30 minutes prior to the race and rent 10 chips at the same time.
-          Database issues – due to registration problems, we had incomplete databases which created incomplete results
-          Chip placement – if the chips were not placed correctly, they did not read.
-          Incorrect readings – we had a handful of chips that would read a few second earlier than they should.
-          Software issues with Winning Time, not SBO.  The SBO software worked exactly as advertised.
 
There were also several advantages to the chips:
 
-          By the middle of the season, Cat 1/2 and 3 timing was almost always correct and very fast
-          Riders finishing way behind the pack were given a good score and an accurate score
-          When they worked, results were fast and accurate.
 
We tried to remember that the goal is for fast results with accurate times.  Electronic timing will get us to this end, but we felt that changes were necessary.
 
After reviewing all options, we have come up with the following policy: All UCA Points Races must be electronically timed.  This means that all points races must use chips or a professional camera specific for sports capture.  It will be the promoters’ prerogative to determine what system he/she will use.  For instance, for chip timing Mac at milliseconds.com or Jon Gallagher at Sports Base Events are available.  For a professional camera, Jon Gallagher is also available.  The prices for Sports Based Events to use a camera or chips will be approximately the same.  The camera timing may be a little cheaper.
 
I know that this will mean that many of the races will not be using the Winning Time chip that many of you have purchased.  This doesn’t mean that we will not return to chip timing in the future when we get all of the bugs worked out.  But, until chip timing can solve the issues they currently struggle with, we feel that we need to offer other affordable options to the promoters.
 
The UCA will also supplement the salary of an individual who will help us with database upkeep and results uploading.  This will be immensely important to keep our new website clean and updated.
 
Our hope is that everyone will be able to get accurate and fast results at every UCA event.  We feel that this decision will be the best way to meet that goal.  If you have any questions, please contact me or any other member of the UCA Board.
 
We are going to have another great season.  I have never seen so much enthusiasm (by promoters especially) this early in the season.  We appreciate all of you and your love for our sport.
 
Ferg

This is notice that the Utah Cycling Association will hold its annual General Meeting on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 6:00 pm at the Salt Lake Airport Hampton Inn 307 North Admiral Byrd Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84116.
 
The agenda will include:
 
• 2009 Finances
• 2010 Proposed Budget
• Bylaw amendments - Masters
• Elections:
  - Executive Director
  - Director
• Executive Director’s Report to the Membership
• Timing Chip Proposal from the Executive Board
• USAC LA Meeting Report
 
If you have any other agenda items, please let us know.
 
Sincerely,
 
James Ferguson
Executive Director
Utah Cycling Association

The UCA/Crit Series Banquet will be held the evening of October 22, 2009.  Everyone is welcome.  Please feel free to bring friends and family as we celebrate the accomplishments of those riders and teams that did well in the UCA Points Series and the Utah Crit Series.
 
Dinner will be held at The Hampton Inn at the International Center.  It will begin at 7:00 pm.  The dinner will be an Italian Buffet.  The cost will be $14.00 per person.   There will be a cash bar.  Please sign up at the following link:
 
 https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/events/index.xhtml?categoryId=15978  
 
We would prefer that you sign up online, but if you would like to pay by check please send payment to:
 
UCA
8118 Deer Run Way
Ogden, UT 84405
 
Registration will close October 19 at 10:00 pm MDT.
 
Ferg

The Harvest Moon promoter has done all that is necessary to resurrect the race.  Since it was scheduled as a points race to start with, it will be a points race.  It is the last UCA race of the season.  It will be held on September 26, 2006 in downtown Ogden.  You can find more information at http://www.teamexcelerator.com
 
 

The U of U crit has been canceled. Sorry for the wait, we wanted to give the promoter as much consideration as possible.

—UCA Board

The Harvest Moon Criterium scheduled for September 26th has been canceled. The UCA points series is now down to Sanpete Classic Road Race, August 29th, and The Climber's Trophy, September 5th. See you all next weekend!

The E Center Crit has been cancelled. The next UCA points event will be The Sanpete Classic on August 29th.

There has been some confusion concerning whether the Tour de Park City is a UCA points race.  It has always been scheduled as a points race, but due to the lack of junior categories, we temporarily thought that it would not be.  But, the promoter has added the junior fields.
 
Bottom line, the Tour de Park City is a UCA points race.
 
I apologize for the confusion.  I know that it is a very long race.  It was listed as a non-points race for about 10 days, but has since been corrected.  The promoter has some great support and will even hand up mussette bags with food and drink at scheduled feed stations.  There is no need for personal support.  It will be a great day of well supported racing.
 
Ferg