BBC January Meeting Minutes

BBC December Meeting Minutes
December 20, 2024

Monthly Meeting 1/20/2025 at 7pm

Attendees: Erin Haskell, James Thompson, Devin Erdmann, Drew Scott, Rich Scaduto, Dennis Borden, Tom Weichmann, Josh McKenna, Frank Grillo, Todd Backes

Mentorship:

  • Cornering and handling practices will be a centerpiece
    • Pre-fireball skills workshops are a must to sprinkle in throughout the year,
    • Shipyard cornering skills workshops- work these into the Thursday night schedule on off weeks
      • Return to the “shipyard” canal circuit just below the outer harbor for a few cornering workshops during the year
  • Peter Cummings will have 1 or 2 sanctioned skills clinics this year.  These will be finalized with the full 2025 calendar.
  • Mentors and Mentees
    • last year, we asked mentees who were new to the club to come to one of our events first before pairing with a mentor.  This gave us a better indication of which club member to pair them with, based on not just location but also interest and ability
    • we will give upfront written guidelines for mentors and mentees this year so everyone knows what is expected of them to improve communication
      • how often to contact each other, start conversations, answer questions, ask the right questions, etc
  • Andy at Love & Sprockets is having his Bike Swap on March 9th.  He is looking at a larger venue and wants to incorporate seminars into the event.  The BBC will be there for an intro to racing seminar (last held at L&S in 2023)

UB Circuit

  • Further discussed the possibility of circuit racing at UB North Campus.  Would take extra efforts to make the venue work for a training/club race due to needing permissions, permits, and marshals.  There are concerns about accommodating the staff who park in the area in question.  It would be great for cornering practice though.  *We found out on Thursday 1/23 that UB said no to our use of the service road.  Our Thursday circuit series will continue to be the Grand Island Fireball circuit for the easy logistics and setup.

Treasury

  • Our 2024 treasury report shows that the club is in a good place financially.
    • Biggest concern is the cost per race vs amount of registration.  Our 4 sanctioned races in 2024 cost a total of over $18,000 to put on and we made a profit of $400, showing that just 6-7 racers across the entire year can make or break our financial season.
    • Our club membership dollars showed that we took in $10,000 in membership dollars and spent about $8500 during the year on club races, prizes/trophies, potties, security, insurance, etc
    • We will continue to be cognizant of USAC race pricing relative to costs, though generally costs only tend to go up.  Security costs could go up with inflation.
  • Race Directors
    • We are looking at getting club members to function as assistant race directors for our sanctioned races this year.  It is always important to have one dedicated person on site to answer questions.  Race director duties also include permits, uploading results, having a director license
    • we will look at fee schedules and inquire to USAC about how many directors the club can have, necessary training.  Eligible members should have ample racing experience

2025 Calendar Draft

  • First draft of the 2025 club race and group ride calendar was reviewed.  It follows some major theme changes discussed in the fall:
    • splitting up the club race season into two halves.  Each half will have 4 Sunday Series [3RR and 1 TT] and 5 Fireballs for a total of 8 Sunday and 10 Fireballs.  First club racing half runs from April 13th through June 12th, followed by Hamburg on June 22nd, which is the club championship.  Second half runs from June 26th through September 7th.
    • we will not have club races in direct proximity to our own USAC races
    • we will minimize conflicts in having club races on the same weekend as other prominent regional USAC races that members should go to and will have group rides those weekends.  Only one weekend so far will have a sanctioned race just outside of the Buffalo region on a Saturday and a club race here the next day
    • We will have 1 sanctioned skills clinic by Plan2Peak’s Peter Cummings, currently on the schedule for Memorial Day weekend
    • On major holidays, we will have group rides instead of club races (mother’s/father’s day, 4th of July, memorial day, labor day, easter, etc)
    • Cyclocross practices at the One O Four Farm will also be added
  • Full details will be released in February.

 

 

 

Buffalo Bicycling
Buffalo Bicycling
The Buffalo Bicycling Club was incorporated on April 6th, 1973. We are dedicated to the promotion and development of bicycle racing in Western New York.

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