April 16, 2005

In attendance:

UMass, UNH, UVM, Lehigh, RPI, Dartmouth, UVM, Drexel
Corey Lev, ECCC MTB Coordinator (corey@eccc-info.com)

Mark Abramson, ECCC Conference Director (mark@eccc-info.com)

Agenda:

• Race promotion guidelines
• Promoting the fall ECCC season: challenges and opportunities
• Race schedule for fall 2005

Race promotion guidelines for fall 2005

IMPORTANT: The ECCC events last year had inconsistent medical support, leading to concerns about rider safety. For 2005:

• There must be EMTs on-site at every event with transport (ambulance) also on-site.  The only exception to an on-site ambulance would be if the event was located within two minutes of the fire department/other ambulance dispatch time.
• Full medical plan must be included as part of the race/event flyer
  • Extraction points and evac plan for all events
  • Phone number of promoter, emergency contacts (fire/police/ambulance)
  • Phone number and location of area medical centers in case of transport
• Promoters must submit medical plan to the ECCC and your officials at least three weeks prior to event

Corey Lev (PSU alum) is going to be coordinating all of the MTB season schedule.  He is excited about helping the ECCC MTB season become as strong as the road season.  His email is corey@eccc-info.com.

Scoring for endurance events to be done with three “A” team categories that will use the TTT scoring schedule: Men A, Women A, Coed A.  There will also be three “B” team categories: Men B, Women B, Coed B.  Solo participants will be scored based on the RR points schedule for each given category.

The season-long number and results system from last year was not nearly as successful as it needs be for a quality ECCC season. There was talk of having each race handle their own numbers/results, but then we’d fall into the past where results and standings were difficult to compile from each event, as results were inconsistent at best.  Hiring an on-site results coordinator was discussed and supported, but more work is required to work out all of the logistics for this.

Promoting the fall ECCC season: challenges and opportunities

There is a strong desire to increase the quality and size of the fall MTB season, as it is much smaller in attendance numbers than spring road season. The challenges include the early start to the school year and trying to recruit, motivate and transport riders to events; publicizing the events to all of the teams and around campus; the ECCC support of the MTB season has been spotty in the past.

To rectify these situations, we’ve put in place a number of things:

1. Corey Lev (corey@eccc-info.com) is the new MTB coordinator. He will assist with any and all race promotion and team issues and is excited about growing the fall MTB season.
2. ECCC website will be kept constantly up-to-date during the MTB season.
3. USA Cycling is willing and able to help you run programs on campus! There is a limited budget for this, but USAC will fund your ideas to recruit new riders and bring them out to races.  Campus ads, bike maintenance clinics, coaching seminars, etc. Please coordinate all such efforts with Steve McCauley at USA Cycling (smccauley@usacycling.org, (719) 866-4852).

Race schedule for fall 2005

Sep 10-11: UConn endurance event

Hosted by professional promoter, piggy-back collegiate event promotion with existing event.  Some concern about the viability of a 24-hour collegiate event due to the cost/availability of lighting systems.  A 12-hour race (7am-7pm) would be much easier for the general collegiate population to attend.  Held in Ashford, CT.

Sep 17-18: Lehigh weekend

On-campus event with XC, STXC and two DH events. DH course located on Lehigh’s Bethlehem, PA campus.  Also possible to have a second DH event along with the same non-collegiate DH event as last year.  This event would have to be permitted through USA Cycling for any collegiate event.

Sep 24-25: Dartmouth weekend

Held in conjunction with the Vermont 50 miler, this cross-country race will take place on some of the same trails as the VT50.  However, normal collegiate distances will be specified for the collegiate events.  They are working on a DH and DS event.

Oct 1-2: UNH weekend

Kingman farm XC and STXC as usual in Southern NH with gravity events to be held at a separate venue.

Oct 8-9: UMass + RPI weekend

UMass has joined forces with a reformed RPI team to host this new event. Likely to be held at Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires of western MA, with a backup plan of UMass’ initial plan in central/western MA. All four events.

Oct 15-16: Penn State weekend

Four events, but perhaps the same 12-hour enduro as last year.

Oct 22-23: UVM weekend

To be held at either Bolton Valley, VT or Diablo in NJ (may be too late in the season for a northern VT event).

Oct 28-30: Nationals

Seven Springs, PA – same as last year. All five events: XC, STXC, DH, Dual.