Wisport Announcements
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3/20/2008 2008 Season News
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The Annual Awards Party was again a great success and a lot of fun for all who were able to attend. Congratulations to Joan Carlson for winning the final drawing for the Cycle Ventures trip to Italy! There were also many door prizes in addition to the Year End drawings and fine weather for the before lunch ride. That was last October, and we have had some difficult riding weather since then. Wisconsin weather is beginning to improve (never mind the 4 to 7 inches of snow in the forecast for March 21!).
But, meanwhile, a lucky group of Wisport members are enjoying better weather for spring training among friends in Italy. Here are some links to information about the trip:
Cycle Ventures Tour Personnel
Cycling Itinerary
Itinerary for Companions (non cycling activities)
Each rider is fitted with a Wilier carbon fiber bike. There is a full itinerary for non riding companions, and immersion in the Italian bike racing culture. Participants travel together from the Midwest as a group, so they can relax about finding their way to the proper train platform, etc.
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Ken Thomson
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08/21/2007 2008 Wisport Spring Training Trip
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The Wisport Spring Training trip will innaugurate Wisport's twentieth year. Members will again travel as a group to the Perla Hotel, and ride routes on the Adriatic coast of Italy.
WISPORT 20th Anniversary Celebration of Cycling
March 19-28, 2008
Save!!
Early bird $500 deposit by Sept. 30 * secures your spot. Limited to 20 participants each from Minneapolis and Madison.
Includes:
Carbon fiber Wilier custom fitted bike
Training program-pace line and time trail
VIP access to Professional cycling Coppi-Bartali Race Week
Rub elbows with such professional teams as Barloworld and Cofidis.
Top flight spring training
Complete companion program. Art, museums, culture, guides for the non biker
* Special WISPORT member price $2397 with air $2797.
www.cyclecvi.com
Madison, Wisconsin USA 53704
800/546.8520 or 608/244.2432
Designer Globe Trotting
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Karl Gutknecht
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07/17/2007 Center Line Rule Enforcement
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I would like to thank the members who have contributed to the Forum discussion about the centerline rule. This issue has been the most discussed topic among Wisport board members as well as in discussions with event leaders. The recent tragedy in an Illinois racing event brought this issue to an even higher level.
Wisport and events in the Series have limited resources with which to enforce safety rules, and we have deliberated on the exact provisions of the centerline rule.
For the balance of 2007, we will be prohibiting crossing the center line, except for minor infractions which do not result in advancement of position, and where a rider is across the line only briefly. Whether a minor crossing of the line constitutes a violation will be at the discretion of the event officials and Wisport. When possible, violations will be documented by digital photography. Enforcement may be done from vehicles on the course, or from stationary vantage points. A Report of a violation received from multiple riders will be evaluated by race officials and may result in penalties. Penalties for violation of safety rules may consist of disqualification or time penalties to be decided by race and/or Wisport officials.
One particular violation which may be result in numerous penalties, is the crossing of the line by a large number of riders due to a crosswind from the right. If this occurs, officials may disqualify ALL violators that can be identified. You should not depend on strength in numbers. If a cross wind causes you to move left to draft other riders, keep it on the right side of the road. When the end of the eschelon is at the centerline, work with other riders to form a new eschelon on the right edge of the road and start rotating through. Then, when wind conditions change due a turn or sheltered area, you can move forward to join the riders ahead.
Please help Wisport and the events to make our races safer without sacrificing the spirit of camaraderie that our organization is known for. I am speaking as someone who has violated this rule at times myself (not anymore!), and I think we all realize the critical importance of achieving the greatest safety possible. If you are DQ'd, (or if I am) let's try to keep it in the best sportsmanship. A couple of more things: Let's try to keep the right lane rotating with the left side of the right lane for riders moving ahead. Purposely blocking the right lane to the advantage of teammates or friends up ahead is not permitted. You cannot take advantage of the rule for the purpose of team tactics. This would be an automatic DQ.
Also, let's keep the need for DQ's to a minimum since we all know the suffering on the bike we endure. It is a huge disappointment to devote months to training, encounter expenses, drive several hours to a race, then receive a disqualification. Those riders who have accepted disqualifications so far this season in a good natured, sportsman like manner deserve our respect.
Please continue to keep the Forum discussion on safety rules active. We need to improve our rules and their enforcement without diminishing the friendly competition that we are known for.
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Ken
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06/27/2007 Team Time Trial Series Scoring II
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After reviewing feedback about the plans for changing the way Wisport scores Team Time Trials, there seems to be a consensus that we need to change the Wisport team points earned by teams in the TTT events. In fact this will be applied to the Firehouse 50/33 road races also.
In arriving at team scores, the total points of the top five team members in all time trial options will be awarded to each Wisport team. In other words, the top 5 age group scores for Big Ring Flyers in individual, 2 person, and 4 person races will constitute the team score. The same applies to the team Tour score.
To clarify this further, we will not be taking the total of five riders in the individual, five from the 2 person, and 5 from the 4 person. This would allow a larger team an overwhelming advantage, andthe possibility to score 750 team age group points in one event. And at Grand view, a team could theoretically score 1250 age group team points in one morning. The maximum will now be 500 points for the time trials and the road races.
Looking specifically at Grand View, team points will be determined by five Wisport team members in the time trials, and five team members in the two road races.
I hope it will be agreed that this is equitable, and an improvement over previous scoring policy.
Thanks for the good ideas from the Board and especially from interested members.
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Ken
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06/17/2007 Team Time Trial Series Scoring
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With three time trial events offering team options this year, there has been some interest in updating the method used to score Wisport points for team time trials.
In the past, riders opting to do a 2 person TTT were given age group points starting after all the individual riders, and all 4 person team members were scored after everyone else. For example, if there are 2 Wisport age group J males doing an individual TT, the fastest 2 person team member in that age group would receive 48 age group points. The two individual riders would receive 50 and 49 points regardless of their time. The problem with this is that people interested in their age group points or their team's standings are discouraged from doing a Team TT. Also, Tour de Wisport points were not awarded to any riders, another disadvantage.
This year, for each TTT event, each team type (individual, 2 person, or 4 person) will be scored as a separate event. In each event, each rider will be scored as an individual based on his or her personal finishing time. Then, as usual, the person with the fastest time in his or her age group receives 50 age group points.
It will now be possible to do a team TT and still receive 50 points.
Riders will now receive Tour de Wisport points.
This change affects Wisport points scoring only, and has no bearing on how event awards are done. The three events affected by this change are Brice Prairie Time Trials, Firehouse 50 Time Trial, and the Badfish Flyin' Forty Time Trial.
More details:
Male, female, and Mixed teams will all be scored the same, but each rider on
a team will be scored within his or her regular age group.
A time trial team may be a mixture of members of any Wisport teams or unattached riders.
It is not necessary for all persons on a time trial team to be Wisport members.
A three person team will be scored as a four person team.
Additionally, riders who participate in all three team time trial events will be eligible to receive a prize. First place will be a set of Bontrager Race Lite wheels. Second place: a pair of Speedplay Pedals. There will also be a third prize. Prizes will be awarded using a combination of performance and chance. Prize winners will be selected from first, second, and third place finishers.
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Ken
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4/30/2007 Wisport Board of Directors
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The 2007 Board of Directors will consist of: Richard Alderman, Scott Brown, Butch Dushack, Steve Fouts, Jim Frame Bill Johnson, Darryl Mataya, Jim Menzel, Varick Olson, Richard Palmer, Ken Thomson, and Deb Vollrath. The board met and discussed several issues at Willard on 4/28/2007.
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Ken
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11/16/2006 Season's End Awards Banquet
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The Annual Awards Party was again a great success and a lot of fun for all who were able to attend. Congratulations to Marva Sahs for winning the final drawing for the Cycle Ventures trip to Italy!
We finished the year with membership at 280 up a bit from 271. This year, we had 3505 overall registrations in 29 sanctioned events. This is an increase from 3362 in 2005 and 3407 in 2004. Wisport is in good health at the ripe old age of 19, and still committed to the goal of maintaining a series of quality races for anyone who wants to race.
I have accepted the role of Wisport Director for 2007, and we have created three co-director positions which will be filled by Butch Dushack, Steve Fouts, and Bill Johnson. I will not be able to attend as many events as Butch and Dar have in previous years, but at least one of us will plan to be present at most of the events.
Please address any correspondence to me. My contact information is on the About Wisport page.
The tentative race calander for 2007 is now posted. This may help people who need to plan their summer vacations early, but please keep in mind that none of the events are confirmed at this time. I will post the changes as they are available, along with the latest revision date.
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Ken Thomson
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4/4/2006
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The Darwin Vollrath Memorial scholarship application is now available.
Download Here
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Deb
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12/1/2005
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More about the Dar Vollrath Memorial Scholarship Fund: Two scholarships will be awarded. One scholarship will go to a Greenwood High School Student, and another will go to either a student who is a Wisport member or a Wisport parent who has an upcoming graduate in 2006. The award will be based on grades, citizenship and participation in community events. The recipient will be chosen by Deb Vollrath and the boys based upon applications and reviews. Checks should be made out to the Dar Vollrath Memorial Fund, and mailed to Associated Bank. A $500 donation has been made by Wisport in honor of Dar's dedication to cycling and in particular, to Wisport
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Butch
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