MEETING RECAP... DONT DELETE

[T. Howell]

Hello Husky Athletes (yes, you are a collegiate athlete!) Here is a
slightly lengthily recap of our meeting from last week for those of you
who didn't take notes. Hopefully this will answer any remaining
questionsor perhaps raise new ones. In either case, don't hesitate to make
your opinion heard (BUT NOT TO THE LIST UNLESS IT IS RELAVENT FOR THE
ENTIRE TEAM!!!).

First, to race you must be a currently enrolled main campus (not branch
campus) student with a full credit load (min. 12).  However you don't need
this to ride with us, only to race.

Racing costs money.  WE are not school sponsored.  WE pay for this sport.
We do not get scholarships to race.  You will pay for, on race weekends,
if you race:

-housing (could be free)
-your food needs
-bike parts you need
-your clothes
-race entry fees (three races in two days - road race, criterium, and a
    team time trial- totaling about 30 dollars). Last year because of
    SPONSORSHIP DONATIONS, the team paid for the last two races entry fees
for
    every one.  Yes, this is cool.
-Misc.
-GAS is on us, as are the vans (unless we go to Montana).
-Race license; a one-time $35 dollar fee that you can get at your first
    race.  You need separate licenses for road and MTB.

Sponsorship helps our wheels go round (pun intended).  If you have ideas
we will have the sponsorship packets finished soon.  WE will send one to
potential sponsors...please don't try to work out the details yourself.
We have refined the art....  We get the greasiest, slickest person on the
team to schmooz them.  If you think we wont be able to close the deal,
just tell us (me, troy, jimmy, Sean, randy...) so and we will talk about
how to go about talking with the "potential sponsor."

Weekend rides are Saturday and Sunday, at 930 unless otherwise mentioned,
from the north end of the hub RAIN OR SHINE.  IF YOU DONT LIKE RIDING IN
THE RAIN, DONT SHOW UP (wuss)  ;)   (you will end up missing all of
winter).
These are not mandatory, but they do occur every weekend.  I wont always
be there so another elder of the team will take over the responsibilities
of
the ride.

FOR FALL:
The rides won't be more than 4 hrs or 45 miles.  These are, "getting to
know
you (getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, getting to hope
you like me.  Sorry for the song.  I just get caught up some times)."
Sunday will be even less, more than likely with a coffee stop after.

FOR WINTER: these rides will be lengthened.  You're looking at 6+hrs or 60
miles on Saturday, and maybe 10 less on Sunday.  You should also be riding
at least two other times during the week, not as long however (your
looking at about three hours max.).  These rides will probably start
leaving earlier on the weekends too (especially the "centuries").

FOR SPRING:  we will be racing. Rides wont occur on the weekend, but you
should be riding on the weekdays if you want to do well and maintain
the fitness you built up during winter.

Clothing for rides:  it's getting cold, in case you haven't noticed.  You
will need warm clothes (tights, long sleeve jerseys, base layer,
jackets, gloves - we can get this all thru the bike shop).  I suggest
neoprene
booties, they absorb water and keep you dry, a cycling hat/balaclava/ear
muffs  (not the ones your mom has in her winter box - aka me.  If you
don't
get it, keep reading).  It may look dorky but it keeps you warm.
YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH THIS CLOTHING AS YOU SEE FIT.

Team clothing
Look for a clothing email coming soon from Troy (within the next week).
You will receive a complete price package indicating member and non-member
pricing as well as a digital file of the slight re-design so you know what
you're getting into. Remember, clothing from last year works, but we still
have to meet minimums to get any clothing at all. We will begin taking
orders as soon as the price list is sent out.

Training program:
Craig will have one of these out for the team.  It will outline what you
should be doing as far as your riding.  Stay posted.

Dues and waivers:
35 bucks are due annually to order clothes at the team discount, to order
stuff from the shop (yes they do know whether you have paid or not) and to
race.  You pay once a year, for those who don't understand annually.  You
must also sign a waiver to race AND ride with the club.  You must sign
a new one every year!  You get the waivers in the club sports office at
the IMA.  Ask the front desk where it is.  Please do this ASAP.

Frame/bike sponsorship:
we are looking into this.  Does anybody have any suggestions?  If you do
you may be asked to do some of the legwork to get it.  Don't worry its not
too hard.  Alex, could you please check on Lyon bikes/frames and what his
min.'s are?  Thanks.

Our current sponsors are:
Stella's Trattoria, Great Harvest Bread Co., College Inn Pub, Zoka's
Coffee Roaster and Tea Co., Hammer Nutrition, Trader Joe's, Dunn Lumber,
Pura Vida Coffee, Rudy Project, Washington Athletic Club, and Craig Undem
Coaching.

Racing types:
the team has been predominantly road racers in the past.  We are breaking
out of that mold recently.  We had some mtb racers, track racers and
cyclocross racers this past year.  That being said these get less support
than the road-racing sub-program.  Just because.  Don't ask why, its
complicated (and yes I am your mother).  We are trying to do more
supporting of these fledgling sub-programs but this will take time.  We're
doing what is possible right now.  If your interested in one of the
fledgling /special/"short bus"/different programs let us know.  We will
try to help
you do what is needed.  We're here for you too (non conformists....
bah!).

We have a web site too in case you didn't know -
http://students.washington.edu/racinguw/

If you guys have GOOD, REAL ideas for how to improve things let us know.
We may have done this for a while, but we are not perfect and haven't
thought of everything.  Serious ideas only please.


Thanks for reading this, and go fill out waivers soon.

Tye