USA Cycling announced on December 5, 2016 that its 2017 policy and operational changes will include fee adjustments, enhanced membership options, rules modifications and IT upgrades.
One of the most noticeable changes members will see is tiered Race and Ride Membership models, which offer more options to choose from, allowing members to customize the benefits and support they get from joining USA Cycling. 2017 memberships are on sale now.
“We have numerous changes coming to improve our member experience next year, and we are proud of the progress we are making,” said USA Cycling CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall. “We are providing our membership with a better customer experience and more options, enhancing support for enthusiast cyclists, implementing a comprehensive IT platform overhaul and making rule changes that will improve the racing experience for many of our members next year. And we are doing this without any price increases for most members.”
Membership sales will be conducted on USA Cycling’s newly launched membership IT platform. Over the coming months, additional IT functionality will be introduced, and members will see an entirely new website with substantially upgraded platforms for event registration, event permitting, calendars, race results and rankings, with more coming by summer. This upgrade will provide USA Cycling more flexibility to add enhanced customer products and services, such as reduced pricing on one-day licenses for Ride members and unlimited use of one-day licenses for experienced racers coming this summer.
Pending Board of Directors approval in December, USA Cycling will also introduce multiple rule changes for 2017: the creation of a women’s category 5 for cyclocross, road and track; Gran fondos can be counted toward upgrading from category 5 to category 4; race radios will be reintroduced for select higher category competitors; and professional mountain bike license holders will no longer be required to purchase a UCI license.
A full rundown of 2017 rule changes will be released later this month.
USA Cycling is also working to support event directors. The race day rider surcharge for traditional racing events will remain at $3.75 and there will be no price increases for most event permits. The gravel and fondo surcharge will increase slightly from $3.25 to $3.50, but the Race Director license requirement for such events will be eliminated.
