LOCAL ASSOCIATION PAYOUTS REACH $1.4 MILLION

USA Cycling Welcomes Two New Local Associations from New Mexico and Indiana/Kentucky

Contact:  Andy Lee (Tel.) 719.866.4867 (Mobile) 719.231.2041 (E-mail) [email protected] (Website) www.usacycling.org

Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 30, 2008)—USA Cycling announced today the establishment of two new Local Associations (L.A.) and the restructuring of one existing organization as payouts reach nearly  $1.4 million.

The introduction of the New Mexico Bicycle Racing Association and a yet-to-be-named organization in Indiana/Kentucky brings the total number of USA Cycling Local Associations to 33.

Additionally, the Alabama Cycling Association, formerly part of the Alabama/Georgia Bicycle Racing Association, is now recognized as its own L.A.

“USA Cycling would like to officially welcome the New Mexico Bicycle Racing Organization and Indiana/Kentucky to the Local Association program,” said Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling.  “The addition of these organizations will complement and support the significant growth that competitive cycling has experienced over the course of the last five years.”

USA Cycling introduced the Local Association program in 2003 as part of an effort to better serve its membership through the investment of resources in cycling at the local level.  USA Cycling’s Local Associations are comprised of passionate members and volunteers who act as hands-on, local representatives to help drive grassroots racing initiatives across the disciplines of road, track and cyclo-cross.

Each year, USA Cycling reinvests a significant portion of membership dollars into each Local Association.  These investments are allocated and prioritized by each Local Association to support racing-specific programs in each of the L.A.’s respective geographic state or region to best meet the needs of its members.

Based on 2007 license sales, USA Cycling will have distributed nearly $1.4 million in direct funding to its Local Associations since the program’s inception five years ago with $335,815 in payouts related to 2007.

In the program’s inaugural year, USA Cycling paid out $197,615.  Since then, the funding of Local Associations has grown along with nationwide interest and participation in competitive cycling.  In 2004, USA Cycling paid out $201,548 followed by investments of $304,161 in 2005 and $320,900 in 2006.

In 2007, the Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association again earned the most from USA Cycling’s L.A. Rebate Program, qualifying for $36,095 in direct funding from the national governing body.  The Southern California/Nevada Cycling Association earned $33,300 while the New England Bicycle Racing Association ($31,920), the Texas Bicycle Racing Association ($20,275) and the Washington State Bicycle Association ($17,370) rounded out the top-five earning Local Associations based on 2007 license sales.

“Because the management of our members’ racing experience begins with the Local Associations, it’s important that we continue to invest a substantial portion of our membership dollars back into those programs,” continued Johnson.

For more information on USA Cycling’s Local Associations, click here.

About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 60,000 members and 2,500 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road). For more information, visit www.usacycling.org or contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.