Opinion - Elite Racing Teams

Looking for some opinions from the racing and non-racing ladies here.

Our club has a large membership - 346 - of whom, 99 are women. Our mission is race development, and 79% of our club population has a racing license.

We also have three elite racing teams. The men's and women's road teams were established a few years ago. The primary reasoning was that we were losing our higher level racers (Cat 2s, Cat 1s) to other teams. The meant that we developed them, and then they went elsewhere. The MTB Elite team was formed last year due to an increase in the popularity and success of MTB racing in the club.

The club currently allocates 46% ($25.5K) of our annual budget to these three teams - comprising only 6% of our club population. That means, typically, that there aren't funds for some other things to happen - social activities, junior programs, etc. Some of us are finding this a difficult pill to swallow.

My real question is this - if you were an elite racer on a club team (note I did not say NRC team although our women do travel to some NRC races), what would you expect from the club in terms of support? We currently provide:

- a bike frame (which must be purchased or returned at the end of the season, but if crashed, is paid for by the club)
- race entry fees for all team races
- travel money
- a helmet
- full kits (two jerseys, two bib shorts, skinsuit, arm warmers, knee warmers, socks, gloves, shoe covers)

I am hearing that this is ABOVE what other teams are offering, although my team directors are stating that these are required to keep/attract racers to our teams. Looking for some input from others.

Thanks.

SheFly

6%?!
Owch. Yes, i'd find that a difficult pill to swallow too. Who votes?
If other race teams do the same thing, you're not going to be able to change it. More fundraising is in order; if you want to be a racer, fundraise?
and in this climate? good luck

Since I don't know a lot about clubs in general, I would ask where is the money coming from? If it is primarily sponsors, I think you have to figure out what the sponsors want. Do they want the best elite team in the area, or do they want to support the sport for as many people as possible? If it primarily from members, then again, I would ask - do they want to be part of an elite team, or do they want to be part of a team that does more for up and comers?

I'm not sure the two levels can coexist with the disparity in funding you have now. I would think that if you leave it the way it is now, some other team will offer those things you can't to the up and comers and you won't have a pipeline to fill the 1 and 2 slots.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies!

For those of you who don't want to post a public reply, feel free to PM me. A couple already have, and it is very useful info. I promise not to share club/team names or locations :D.

SheFly

I don't race anymore. Not for the last 20 years. But I do have some experience, if a bit dated. If your focus is development, than it seems like your spending should reflect that. When the good racers move on to other teams, then it seems you have done your development job.

As I see it, you say your mission is development but your budget says otherwise. You'll either have to revisit your mission, or revisit your budget.

Best of luck to you and your team.

Since your club was the team that provided development for my son, it feels kind of bad that they are no longer making that kind of commitment. He tried a couple other teams and none of them provided the kind of structure your club provided. So, it seems as if the mission has changed in the last ten years. Bike racing is an intensive, skill oriented, and expensive sport. They need to decide what's important, because spending that amount of money on 6% of the members is not fair.

When I read this late last night I thought "oh boy a tough call".

I guess what one needs to do here is look at dollars and cents if you are more concerned about the financial side of things.

Granted the 4% spends nearly 50% of total capital.

4% of 346 people come out to be 14 people and together they spend $25.5k or $1842 per person.

the other 96% or 332 spends $29.9K or roughly $90.00 per person.

Stark contrast. BBBUTTTTT!!!

Do the gang of 14 bring enough prestige to the group where they are actually bringing in the endorsements and sponsorship that you otherwise might not get? Deep discounts for everybody that you may not get otherwise? Did you get a frame at a deep discount. These are the hidden cost that the 96% needs to look at it too.

Does the gang of 14 bring in qualified coaches and trainer? there is cost associated. And what out of pocket expense would it be if you were to spend the money to get a qualified coach and trainer? I don't think you pay extra above your membership dues for that... Again its a hidden benefit you may have overlooked.

And how much do you spend on your membership? If you expenses is pretty small and get the coaching, training, deep discounts on frames parts... Maybe its worth having the gang of 14 elite riders.

If they don't bring in the added perks to the group as a whole maybe it isn't worth it. And let the cat1s be recruited to teams with elite riders.

Being a developmental teams isn't a bad thing at all. Besides, the higher you go up the food chain, fun becomes less important. ;) It GETS WAY TOO SERIOUS. IMO.

food for thought.
wish you guys lots of luck in working this out amicably,

smiligcat

just one more thing...

It just occured to me that clubs that have an elite squad are generally very large. 385 membership is pretty big but it sounds bit on the small side for supporting an elite squad. Not the smallest club but it does sound to be on a smaller side of things. And does your club also have a recreational group as well?? or is it just strictly racing? compare your club to others with an elite squad and see where you stand.