NVV Cyclocross: The license problem

The license problem in cyclocross race promotion
Aug 1999

The problem If you want to run your cyclocross race as an officially sanctioned event, you probably are considering applying for a USA Cycling permit. Currently, cyclocross is classified in the rulebook as a "road" event, organized under the USCF division of USAC and conducted according to USCF rules.
Historically, there are two problems with this situation, one old and one new.
The old problem is that only USCF licensees were allowed to enter USCF events, including 'cross. A mountain bike rider's NORBA license were not valid and the rider was obligated to buy a one-day USCF license, which costs extra and is a bureaucratic hassle.
Fortunately, this problem was addressed last year, as trustee Les Earnest reported in rec.bike.racing: "In a meeting today (11/13/98) the USCF board of trustees voted unanimously to open USCF cyclocross events to all USA Cycling licensees. Among other things, this means that NORBA, USCF [and USPRO] licensees may compete in USCF Cyclocross National Championships."
The new problem arises from political disputes between the national USA Cycling bureaucracy and the regional race promoters and officials, which has resulted in some of these regions forming independent race sanctioning organizations, such as the NCNCA in Northern California and the BRAC in Colorado.
Independent race organizations mean two things to 'cross promoters. One is that many of the riders in the area (your potential customers) will not have any USAC license and would not enter a USCF-sanctioned race. On the other hand, the regional associations usually offer independent liability insurance, which allows you to open your event to all riders whether licensed or not. This approach is common in NorCal 'cross because it offers the promoter the most flexibility. You still need to exercise some discretion in assigning riders to categories (see comments below).
The following messages reflect some of the disputes surrounding the "old" problem of USCF and NORBA licenses in USCF 'cross, now largely moot.

Question to
USA Cycling
(8/98) Fr: Dave Carr
To: USA Cycling
Many cyclocross promoters are facing a problem related to licenses. Potential entrants in CX races may have NORBA licenses or USCF, but often not both. How can a promoter obtain a permit for a CX event so that all license holders may enter? Can a dual NORBA/USCF race permit be issued? Can the rules be changed so either type of license may be accepted at a cyclocross race? (Offering one-day licenses is not an acceptable option.)
Thanks
Dave Carr
Napa Valley Velo

USA Cycling response Dear Dave:
Thank you for your inquiry regarding cyclocross events with USA Cycling. For many years, cyclocross has been categorized as a USCF event and is not under the jurisdiction of NORBA. Under the current USCF regulations, participants in USCF events must hold licenses (annual or one day) in that association. Likewise, NORBA requires participants in their events to hold licenses in their association.
Unfortunately, despite the appeal of the sport of cyclocross to mountain bike riders, participants must be licensed in USCF to participate in cyclocross events. You might contact the Boards of Trustees for the associations to see if this policy can be changed for cyclocross (perhaps some sort of exemption). Until then, you'll unfortunately have to require participants at these events to hold annual or one day USCF licenses.
Richard Rhinehart
USA Cycling Assistant Membership Director

Andrew Albright
(Contributor to rec.bicycles.racing) What are the chances for the following ever happening?
For any cyclocross race (presumably permitted under USCF...at least most of the time), allow both USCF and NORBA licenses holders to compete. This would solve several problems.
1. For NORBA riders, they can try out cross and not have to get a 1 day license.
2. for promoters...it would be easier and fairer to put together categories. Because technically, you end up with NORBA experts being Cat 5's. Cyclocross is, if anything, skewed more toward MTBing abilities so it is pretty ridiculous having Expert riders technically being Cat 5's.
3. If a NORBA rider then gets a USCF license, they don't have to worry about racing up into the category that they belong in in cyclocross.

Casey Kerrigan
(NorCal USCF official) I think you would have a host of problems with allowing both USCF and NORBA riders in a single event. Which rules do you use ( in USCF races most bar ends aren't allowed, NORBA races riders can't switch equipment etc). Also would the promoter have to have 2 sets of officials?
Last time I heard about 40 percent of the NORBA riders already have a USCF license. This cross over has been going up over the past few years. Also there has been some talk about adopting a single license good for all USAC Associations (but who knows if this will really come about).
A promoter could run his/her cross under the A,B,C system (which is allowed in the Rulebook USCF By-law 8.5.3 page 102) where riders self categorize themselves. Almost all the cross races in Nor Cal are run under the A,B,C system then again most of the Nor Cal Cross races are run under independent insurance so no USCF or NORBA license is required).
If a promoter doesn't like the A,B,C race category option they could run categories like Cat 1-5, Cat 3-5, Cat 4-5. This does the same thing as the A,B,C option but uses the # category system most people know best
As strange as it may seem Cyclocross is considered a Road event (there are two types of USCF events road and track so Cross fits under road events). If you open up cross races to allow anyone with a NORBA license to ride in the "appropriate" category then you are also opening the door to allow NORBA riders to do regular road races (and then what is the point in even bothering to get a USCF license anyway).

Adam Myerson
(New England elite 'crosser) The real solution to this problem is to add a cyclocross category to the USCF license, just like you already have for track and road. Then all the jokers who show up for nationals would be eliminated, and the NORBA guys who race 'cross but not road could be appropriately categorized. We use the A B C system in New England, and it works pretty well, but we stipulate that if you are a Pro, USCF 1 or 2, or a NORBA Pro, semi-pro or expert, you have to do the A race.

J.D. Bilodeau
(Contributor to rec.bicycles.racing) The answer is to give cross it's own category system, like Adam said. It will help cross become a more ligitimate part of of the sport. The ABC system we're using in New England is working well, but it's a compromise at best. We're at the point in the US where riders are starting to focus if not solely on cross, at least as an equal part to their road/mtn season. A category system would help ease the situation at the Nationals, where cat 1 type riders are lined up next to people who are there for their first cross race.(anybody remember Seattle in 96?) All said, I would like to have just one license though. USA Cycling should have 1 license for everything, with seperate categories foreach of the different disciplines, road, mtn, track, cross. I hope this is the direction USAC is going.
I think a unified license would help out a ton in making it easier for people to try the sport. Every year at our cx races someone shows with a NORBA license and then has to buy a USCF license, then loses the paper copy and has to buy another license the next week. The money eventually gets straightened out, but the aggravation is huge. I can't help but think that the easier we make it for people to try cross, the quicker the sport will grow.

Go back to the NVV Cyclocross Circuit

The problem	If you want to run your cyclocross race as an officially sanctioned event, you probably are considering applying for a USA Cycling permit. Currently, cyclocross is classified in the rulebook as a "road" event, organized under the USCF division of USAC and conducted according to USCF rules. Historically, there are two problems with this situation, one old and one new. The old problem is that only USCF licensees were allowed to enter USCF events, including 'cross. A mountain bike rider's NORBA license were not valid and the rider was obligated to buy a one-day USCF license, which costs extra and is a bureaucratic hassle. Fortunately, this problem was addressed last year, as trustee Les Earnest reported in rec.bike.racing: "In a meeting today (11/13/98) the USCF board of trustees voted unanimously to open USCF cyclocross events to all USA Cycling licensees. Among other things, this means that NORBA, USCF [and USPRO] licensees may compete in USCF Cyclocross National Championships." The new problem arises from political disputes between the national USA Cycling bureaucracy and the regional race promoters and officials, which has resulted in some of these regions forming independent race sanctioning organizations, such as the NCNCA in Northern California and the BRAC in Colorado. Independent race organizations mean two things to 'cross promoters. One is that many of the riders in the area (your potential customers) will not have any USAC license and would not enter a USCF-sanctioned race. On the other hand, the regional associations usually offer independent liability insurance, which allows you to open your event to all riders whether licensed or not. This approach is common in NorCal 'cross because it offers the promoter the most flexibility. You still need to exercise some discretion in assigning riders to categories (see comments below). The following messages reflect some of the disputes surrounding the "old" problem of USCF and NORBA licenses in USCF 'cross, now largely moot.
Question to USA Cycling (8/98)	Fr: Dave Carr To: USA Cycling Many cyclocross promoters are facing a problem related to licenses. Potential entrants in CX races may have NORBA licenses or USCF, but often not both. How can a promoter obtain a permit for a CX event so that all license holders may enter? Can a dual NORBA/USCF race permit be issued? Can the rules be changed so either type of license may be accepted at a cyclocross race? (Offering one-day licenses is not an acceptable option.) Thanks Dave Carr Napa Valley Velo
USA Cycling response	Dear Dave: Thank you for your inquiry regarding cyclocross events with USA Cycling. For many years, cyclocross has been categorized as a USCF event and is not under the jurisdiction of NORBA. Under the current USCF regulations, participants in USCF events must hold licenses (annual or one day) in that association. Likewise, NORBA requires participants in their events to hold licenses in their association. Unfortunately, despite the appeal of the sport of cyclocross to mountain bike riders, participants must be licensed in USCF to participate in cyclocross events. You might contact the Boards of Trustees for the associations to see if this policy can be changed for cyclocross (perhaps some sort of exemption). Until then, you'll unfortunately have to require participants at these events to hold annual or one day USCF licenses. Richard Rhinehart USA Cycling Assistant Membership Director
Andrew Albright (Contributor to rec.bicycles.racing)	What are the chances for the following ever happening? For any cyclocross race (presumably permitted under USCF...at least most of the time), allow both USCF and NORBA licenses holders to compete. This would solve several problems. 1. For NORBA riders, they can try out cross and not have to get a 1 day license. 2. for promoters...it would be easier and fairer to put together categories. Because technically, you end up with NORBA experts being Cat 5's. Cyclocross is, if anything, skewed more toward MTBing abilities so it is pretty ridiculous having Expert riders technically being Cat 5's. 3. If a NORBA rider then gets a USCF license, they don't have to worry about racing up into the category that they belong in in cyclocross.
Casey Kerrigan (NorCal USCF official)	I think you would have a host of problems with allowing both USCF and NORBA riders in a single event. Which rules do you use ( in USCF races most bar ends aren't allowed, NORBA races riders can't switch equipment etc). Also would the promoter have to have 2 sets of officials? Last time I heard about 40 percent of the NORBA riders already have a USCF license. This cross over has been going up over the past few years. Also there has been some talk about adopting a single license good for all USAC Associations (but who knows if this will really come about). A promoter could run his/her cross under the A,B,C system (which is allowed in the Rulebook USCF By-law 8.5.3 page 102) where riders self categorize themselves. Almost all the cross races in Nor Cal are run under the A,B,C system then again most of the Nor Cal Cross races are run under independent insurance so no USCF or NORBA license is required). If a promoter doesn't like the A,B,C race category option they could run categories like Cat 1-5, Cat 3-5, Cat 4-5. This does the same thing as the A,B,C option but uses the # category system most people know best As strange as it may seem Cyclocross is considered a Road event (there are two types of USCF events road and track so Cross fits under road events). If you open up cross races to allow anyone with a NORBA license to ride in the "appropriate" category then you are also opening the door to allow NORBA riders to do regular road races (and then what is the point in even bothering to get a USCF license anyway).
Adam Myerson (New England elite 'crosser)	The real solution to this problem is to add a cyclocross category to the USCF license, just like you already have for track and road. Then all the jokers who show up for nationals would be eliminated, and the NORBA guys who race 'cross but not road could be appropriately categorized. We use the A B C system in New England, and it works pretty well, but we stipulate that if you are a Pro, USCF 1 or 2, or a NORBA Pro, semi-pro or expert, you have to do the A race.
J.D. Bilodeau (Contributor to rec.bicycles.racing)	The answer is to give cross it's own category system, like Adam said. It will help cross become a more ligitimate part of of the sport. The ABC system we're using in New England is working well, but it's a compromise at best. We're at the point in the US where riders are starting to focus if not solely on cross, at least as an equal part to their road/mtn season. A category system would help ease the situation at the Nationals, where cat 1 type riders are lined up next to people who are there for their first cross race.(anybody remember Seattle in 96?) All said, I would like to have just one license though. USA Cycling should have 1 license for everything, with seperate categories foreach of the different disciplines, road, mtn, track, cross. I hope this is the direction USAC is going. I think a unified license would help out a ton in making it easier for people to try the sport. Every year at our cx races someone shows with a NORBA license and then has to buy a USCF license, then loses the paper copy and has to buy another license the next week. The money eventually gets straightened out, but the aggravation is huge. I can't help but think that the easier we make it for people to try cross, the quicker the sport will grow.