The ACF calls it quits
THE AMERICAN CYCLO-CROSS FOUNDATION,
In 2004, we mailed $12,075 to members of the U.S. team that contested the cyclo-cross world championships in Pont-Chateau, France. USA Cycling underwrote the $3500-a-head cost of travel for its automatic qualifiers: elites Jonathan Page and Alison Dunlap; U23's Jesse Anthony and Jeremy Powers; and juniors Jamey Driscoll and Tucker Thomas. And the USAC Development Foundation offered $500 apiece to U23's Alan Obye and Mike Cody, as well as to juniors Andy Brooks and Konrad LeBas. But everyone else on the 18-rider team had to come up with their own $3500 if they wanted to wear stars-and-stripes kit in France.
So once again, the ACF asked the U.S. cycling community for its help, and once again you responded, with unprecedented generosity. Last year, you helped us send $8,000 to the men and women who represented the United States at world's. This year, donations exceeded $13,000.
Alas, the trimmed-down ACF board — Charles Pelkey, Chris Zigmont and Patrick O'Grady — was even more spastic than usual when it came to taking care of business this year, and after some discussion, we decided it was time to hang up our cleats in hopes that some better-organized people will step in and do the job right. The support from the public is clearly there — what's needed is a sound, not-for-profit structure and better organization.
And so, today, the ACF sent out its final money order, for $1768.50, to help Geoff Proctor get a couple of cash-strapped young riders to his annual pre-world's 'cross camp in Belgium — and later, it is to be hoped, to world's.
Our little group first came to life on Feb. 8, 1999. Tim Johnson and Matt Kelly had just won bronze and gold at the cyclo-cross world championships in Poprad, Slovakia — America's first-ever medals at a cyclo-cross world's — and Danny Callen, who thought it unfortunate that the U.S. cyclo-cross team had to spend its own money to take its place on that starting grid halfway across the world, said as much in a posting on the newsgroup rec.bicycles.racing:
"I think it's kinda sad that the U.S. cyclo-cross riders have to support themselves and foot the bill to get to the world's every year. I also think it's quite ballsy for the guys who do support themselves and make the trip...it shows their love and dedication to the sport. So ... I had this crazy idea that we ought to take up some kind of collection and distribute it to the guys over there."
After Callen posted his note, offers of support began pouring in. O'Grady, an alleged cycling columnist and cartoonist with a cyclo-cross fetish, asked Pelkey of VeloNews if he'd be willing to act as a middleman, shuttling donations from well-wishers to athletes; Pelkey suggested creating an informal group that could work to see that American teams were supported, and the ACF was born.
Many people have lent a hand over the years to help the ACF support the U.S. world's teams. Pelkey set up the bikegeek.com Web site and a series of auctions on eBay that offered autographed U.S.-team gear. Verge Sport produced and sold a commemorative ACF T-shirt, with $10 from every sale going to the U.S. team. Jeff Fedderson and Stu Thorne at CyclocrossWorld.com donated a portion of a pre-Christmas sale to the cause. ACF board member Zigmont, with his partner-in-commentary Ride publisher Richard Fries, raised money through auctions at U.S. nationals, as did Rick Sutton and the late John Pavlat. Three Shimano staffers — Chris DiStefano, Jessie Gascon and Chad Roberts — went so far as to offer up their bikes at auction to raise funds for the ACF. And the ACF must tip its cycling cap to SuperCup stalwartLyle Fulkerson, framebuilder Richard Sachs; and Charlie Tarver of The Hub of Aspen, all stalwarts in the cause.
Finally, we'd like to reiterate that the ACF never spent a nickel of your money for administrative purposes or other frivolities, like Flash-enabled, pop-up-besmirched websites, numberless cases of black Belgian ale, or ACF-decal'd titanium 'cross bikes with carbon forks and wheels (hey, they could have been company cars, right?). Your money always went to the riders who were headed to world's, period, end of story.
And so it seems appropriate to close our final posting with a note from Alan Obye, one of the riders you sent abroad in the stars-and-stripes of the U.S. National Team:
To the ACF and contributors,I just wanted to let you all know how grateful I am for the support you've given over the past few 'cross seasons. I probably wouldn't have made it to world's without you ... it's been five world championships as a junior and U-23, and I think the ACF contributed to all, or at least most, of them. I understand the decision to stop running the Foundation. I can imagine the work it requires, in addition to your real jobs, but I think I can speak for all the riders when I say we're truly appreciative. There aren't a lot of people out there willing to help the next guy when there's nothing in it for them.
See you at the races,
Alan Obye
Th-th-th-th-that's all, folks!
For the ACF:Patrick O'Grady
Mad Dog Media