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What we talk about when we talk about USA Cycling
- Saw this thread on the Velocipede Forum by framebuilder nonpareil Richard Sachs and it was a surprise. Like you, I spend $60 for my USA Cycling license every year. Wouldn't it be interesting to know, as card-carrying members, what that buys us? Based on my cursory review of the 2007 USA Cycling 990 Tax Return , I've learned the following:
$13,323,525: Total annual revenue
$8,252,159: Total annual expenses
$2,960,768: Compensation, salary, and benefits to USA Cycling officers and employees
$3,990,159: End of year savings and temporary cash investment assets
$4,077,991: Short term investment assets
$100,096 : Total cash grants to organizations and individuals
$70,000: Cash grant provided to BMX Program
$16,716: Largest non-cash grant, to BMX Program for "BMX Gate"
I wince at this P&L for the same reason why I wince when my alma mater -- with its multi-billion dollar endowment -- asks me to make an annual donation. Stockpiling money with no apparent motive disgusts me. Especially when USA Cycling has proven so incompetent in so many realms. And it was my disgust that got me on the phone to give them a call.
I was bounced between a few employees, when finally I was transferred to an entirely helpful gentleman in the "Athletics Department" named Gregory Cross. Mr. Cross confirmed for me that of the 5 Under-23 riders representing the United States at this weekend's Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands, only 1 of them was "funded", i.e. getting their travel and expenses paid for by USA Cycling. The other 4 not only must pay for their own airfare & luggage fees, but they then must pay an $800 "team travel fee" to USA Cycling for hotel, food, and ground transportation during their stay in The Netherlands. And this is how we cultivate the next generation of champions?
As USA Cycling members, should this depress us? I suggest that it should, because it's symptomatic of pennywise/pound-foolish upper management who've shown no talent in cultivating the sport at a grass-roots level, nor talent in breeding success at the world-class level. Can't we shrink the $3 million compensation budget by $10k and pay for the kids to race their cyclocross bikes? After all, what's the point of USA Cycling anyways? Let the kids race. Or take away the goddam BMX gate. Sell it on Ebay. Ridiculous. Where is the visible corporate sponsorship? Where is the eagerness to leverage mass media's obsession with Lance Armstrong to make cycling relevant to the mainstream? Where's the initiative to fight childhood obesity through riding bikes? Where's the leadership? Can the OBRA open up a branch in Arkansas?
August 31, 2009
It's true... cycling in this country is a joke. Should have more programs. Tell that to the guys who, in this country, tried to make soccer a national past-time. All of these non-profits are just another place for people like that president to have a great place to hang their hat and make a nice, easy salary. They love to pretend everything they do is in the name of what they supposedly represent... Yeah, right... just follow the money trail to see where the real purpose lies.
- William , Providence, RI
June 09, 2009
I'm a tax accountant. You have to realise a tax return is all about satisfying the tax code and doesn't really give you a picture of the business like public financial statements.
That said, with a very quick glance over, I don't see USAC as beeing to greedy anywhere. They spent $3m of $13m just on the insurance each racer receives at a USAC event. $400k compensation for officers isn't bad either. Silicon valley VP's make that in options alone. Non profit doesn't equal work for free.
- rob, mill valley
April 16, 2009
Why won't USAC lift a finger to help bike advocacy?
Why do I get a check-off on my registration form to donate to IMBA, but there's nothing for Safe Routes to School, Bike to Work Day, or any of the other road advocacy causes?
How about a legal defense fund to help cyclists who have been maimed by drivers?
My entreaties to USAC have fallen on deaf ears.
The USA will continue to be a backwater for racing unless more is done to support bicycling by the general population. USAC must think it’s an amazing coincidence that Belgians are really good at riding their bikes.
- Mark, Washington DC
February 01, 2009
Not to defend them, but read the return in more detail. I'm not an accountant, but you can see on line 57 that $4 million of the $13 million revenue and asset growth was a donated building going on the books (also shown on line 1e, noncash income). As for the $4 million short term investment assets at the end of the year, they also list $2.7 million in liabilities (which are not itemized in the attached statements). I can only guess that the insurance bills (a $3 million plus item) come in before all the membership dues. And the payroll still has to be paid in the interim. So while the payroll/services ratio still looks way out of whack, they are hardly "stockpiling cash" at the rate you imply. Good discussion though.
- dave, boston
January 31, 2009
Couldn't agree more. And can we also have the designer of the USA Cross skinsuits flogged. Almost as bad as Levi's US National Championship kit.
- Rich, Cincinnati
January 30, 2009
i have to agree with everyone who's writing from OR about one thing (ORBA rocks) but i have to point out, No One knows how to race in Oregon. every race i've done there, with the exception of the big stage races (Hood, Cascade and Elkhorn), has been punctuated with lame, negative, or nonexistent tactics. maybe you should all should get out of that state more often and learn how the rest of the world races. bike racing can be fun!
- bart , not oregon
January 30, 2009
I think I have found the one thing everyone in this thread agrees on, $60 is not unacceptable for a years racing license. What we do want is more bang for our buck. After seeing the surplus USA Cycling had in 2007, why not use a tiny percentage of that money to fund the small (in monetary terms) areas that can return huge rewards...development riding/racing.
- Noah, Little Rock, AR
January 30, 2009
Well said...in the current environment it is even more bothersome that any organization has a surplus....comparatively though $60 bucks is a fair shake! maybe discounts on gear?
- Robert, Babylon
January 29, 2009
Truthteller, I don't know where you did your research but your findings need some editing. Like someone already mentioned, CC has put on all of the above (or below in this case), Road Races, Crits, and Cross. I have seen their name on T-shirts for MTB races and they have given away generous amounts of $ and product at races. And it's true, all employees get reimbursed for bike races, no questions asked. Moving on, I was one of those members chosen for MTB worlds a few years ago. But just a month before the race USA Cycling told me this: Postmark a $1,300 check in the next ten days or loose your racing license for the next calendar year. True story, and I wasn't the only rider who got that letter. We (USA) continue to have better talent and resources than most of the world but continue to suffer at the biggest races because athletes must use every ounce of energy just making it there. Some riders can use the help of their primary trade team to make the event, but most young riders are still trying to earn that benefit with the "help" of USA Cycling.
- Noah, Little Rock, AR
January 29, 2009
WTF?
$3-4million in the bank and ONLY 100K given away in grants? WTF
R.Sachs has the very determined and always aggresive Will Dugan, UVM student. He is not monied and needed to raise $3000 to accept USA Cycling's invite to go to Belgium. He's there but not with the kind of support the USAC membership thinks it is giving its U23 team.
- Paul, Willioamstown MA
January 29, 2009
OBRA was a labor of love for so many people a couple of decades ago, and look at how it's grown!
I'm sure if you contacted the right people they would be willing to help provide experienced advice to help you provide yoru own regional body.
- Quenton , Portland, OR!
January 29, 2009
The best thing about a blog is that everyone is always right. You get to read bunches of "opinions" and at the end of the "exchange of ideas" we all walk away confident in the knowledge that we got our point across. Is it wrong that USCF stockpiles huge amounts of cash while junior riders have to pay their own way to compete at the highest levels? Sure! Is BMX great for the sport? Sure! Is $60 a lot to pay for a racing license?....hmm, I'll have to check with my new Willier Cento Uno and it's Campy Super Record 11 speed gruppo to see about that one!
- Steve, Miami
January 29, 2009
Just so Mr. "Truthteller" knows......Employees of CC get reimbursed for all race fees during the year. Does your boss do that for you? Racing of all disciplines get taken and promoted VERY seriously here and there have been events put on by our future USAC board members. BTW, if you think there's no pain in BMX, you're not doing it right!
- Chinmullet Dave, NLR, Ar.
January 28, 2009
the president of usa cycling gets 240,000 a year plus benifits. you can see all of their numbers on their website, they are non-profit so they have to show us. lets make some noise about this bullshit non-profit that is taking my money and NOT serving my,or our needs!
- dfL brad, san francisco
January 28, 2009
OBRA is great. Except we are STILL using cones as course markers for cyclocross races.
- cyclocrosscurmudgeon, Portland, Oregon
January 28, 2009
Have some american cheese with that whine. I find it amazing CC complains about not enough grass roots support when they apparently do nothing for the sport, locally or otherwise ($15. gift cards don't count). You'd think with their brilliant minds, awesome organization, and vast resource$ they'd at least put on a road race, crit series, or their fave, a cross series. No, just point fingers. FYI, BMX is the best way to get kids riding. News flash- kids don't like pain. BMX is short, sweet and fun, controlled and safe. I am glad to pay my $60(30 for juniors) for a license and race my brains out all year with great service. Your product has nothing to do with racing, only snobbery. I hereby nominate you to run for a position on the board of USAC.
- truthteller, asheville, nc
January 28, 2009
I do agree that there should be more money to support upcoming athletes.
However USACycling does have some programs for very elite cyclits under Podium programs. Which applies to a less than 1% of member if that based on the criteria. But it is something.
Oh and that BMX Gate if you looked at the Tax Return was a donated item to USACycling who donated it the Olympic Committee. I agree that USACycling should probably at the end of the year do a presentation of what contributions it has done for cycling. That could be the camps, programs they put on and send that to the members. They currently send emails during the year and this could be their summary of benifits whether they are monetary or not.
- Jeff, Mikwaukee, WI
January 28, 2009
i am very, very VERY pleased to report that as a result of a what seemed like an overnight effort spanning 2-3 weeks, we were able to raise enough money so that our worlds bound rider, will dugan, would be completely debt free after his eurocross camp trip in december and his soujourn to holland this week. we have loyal and generous fans and supporters and thank them profusely. i hope the others who will be dressing up as american flags had the same good fortune with their local fundraising efforts. 'cross fucking rules atmo.
- Richard Sachs, Chester, CT
January 28, 2009
who wants to bet this is all just one big Ponzi scheme?
- CJ, New York, NY
January 28, 2009
My son is one of those 4 unfunded U23 racers and yes, this situation is extreemly frustrating. He's honored to be racing for his country but the expense to do so is mind-boggling.
- Fran, Centennial
