[Chris the Wheeler]

I'm just starting out in Tri. Only have one sprinit under my belt so a far and hoping to do 2 more (maybe more) this year. Also, I'm a wheelchair racer. It member ship in USAT worth it to me?

 

[Tithers]

If you do 3 tris, then it's the same amount as you would pay for one day insurance...plus you get a silly magazine and "discounts"<br><br>
I dunno-I like my little keychain card...makes me feel L33T!

 

[Stu373]

Dont forget the sticker. You gotta have the sticker, it's worth the price of admission all by it's self!<br><br>
On a serious note. At IMCDA last year, the check in line was massive if you didn't have a USAT card. If you had one you walked right up. and as Tithers mentioned, if you race more than three times you save money over the one day license fee.

 

[Chris the Wheeler]

Is there any coaching or training tips for wheelers?<br><br>
I've asked this question about USATF, to USATF people, in the past and never got any kind of answer.

 

[3chilipeppers]

To get your "money's worth" you have to race 4 races in a year because the daily fee is $10, and the yearly fee is $39. BUT -- it is definitely worth something for the sticker!! I've actually only got 3 races that will count for this year (my first race is 6/8, and my membership expires 6/30), but I'll still renew. Yeah, you get a magazine too. I don't have time to read it, but I've an article now and then, and they were interesting.

 

[3chilipeppers]

Hmmm... I don't know. You could call and ask them about that and maybe they'll put some stuff in. They are really nice. I totaled my car with my sticker on it, and I contacted them to get a new sticker for my new car (see, that sticker is a big deal). They sent me 2 stickers right out!

 

[ForceD]

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">To answer the question in your thread title…In my opinion it isn’t worth much to those of us back in the pack. The quarterly magazine rarely has useful articles. In one huge edition every year they print the rankings of the top 500 or so triathletes IN EVERY AGE GROUP. That is some scintillating reading (not)! I wrote them a letter asking why they didn’t just post that info on the USAT website and put something useful in the mag instead. They gave me some cockamamie answer. Ditto on the daily membership fee and racing 3 times per year. Yeah, that sticker is boss!!! A couple years ago they accidently sent me two. I was livin’ large.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Chris, please excuse my ignorance, but if I may ask…as a chair racer are there multi-sport events you can participate in? How does that work? I mean I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wheelchair in a multisport event. Are you in the chair for both the bike and the run portion? Not that it can’t or hasn't been done, it just piqued my curiosity.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Dan</span></span>

 

[wyrillco]

Chris will probably pop in and explain this better, but he uses a racing chair for the run part, and a Handcycle (I think that's right) for the bike part.

 

[ForceD]

Ahh, the handcycle. Yes, that makes sense.

 

[Chris the Wheeler]

That's the answer.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a93/cru7ch/bike2.jpg?t=1204905745" style="border:0px solid;"><br>
This is my trusty, rusty handcycle. She's an older model. Not really the best for tri's but I'm trying to assemble the cash for a newer lighter handcycle.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a93/cru7ch/Doyles.jpg?t=1204905804" style="border:0px solid;"><br>
This is my office. I'm much more comfortable in the racing chair then the handcycle.

 

[wyrillco]

Look at them guns!

 

[Chris the Wheeler]

<img alt="" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a93/cru7ch/bike2.jpg?t=1204905745" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Ya think there's room to mount some guns?

 

[Thor]

I remember that. Not only did I not have my card but I also couldn't remember my number, so yes, I had to wait on that very line, too. I'd say it sucked but the truth is, as you know, when you're in town for something like that, as long as you're by yourself or with like-minded people who are actually online for the same thing as you -- as opposed to family or friends there supporting you -- it isn't bad for the company you keep.

 

[jroden]

I guess there is something to be said for supporting your sport's sanctioning body, it provides races with rules and officials to oversee the safety of athletes and hopefully ensures against crooked promoters and such. I have seen enough dangerous races under many sanctioning bodies to have kind of a dim view, but I still try to carry the torch, or at least the blue tip match.

 

[3chilipeppers]

I agree with this totally. I don't mind giving them a bit of money to keep triathlon as safe as possible for all involved. (I still really did it for the sticker, though) <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[Silly Sally]

I want to see the sticker ...<br><br>
Chris, you totally rock! With or without USAT membership! You are an inspiration to all of us ... <img alt="icon_salut.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_salut.gif"><br><br>
Sally

 

[pcsronbo]

pretty sticker is 'nuff<br>
if they'd stop infighting, I might give a crap about them as an organization

 

[LookiLoo]

I lost my sticker. It ended up on the 'catch-all' counter and was never seen again....I wonder if they send new stickers when you renew? I do have my key tag!<br><br>
I'm not crazy about the magazine that you get with the membership...not sure why...

 

[ForceD]

deleted

 

[ForceD]

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Supposedly. But it doesn’t appear that those standards are enforced. I’ve been in non-USAT sanctioned races that were first-class, well run events. On the other hand I’ve been in some races that carried the USAT sanctioning and were pathetic! Dangerous race courses, inconsistent timing and course length measurements, poor transition area management, etc. In one case a “USAT sanctioned” event was cancelled those of us pre-registered never got our entry fees refunded. I wrote a letter asking USAT to do something and they said they had no jurisdiction. If USAT is sending representatives out to inspect venues, courses, conditions, etc…they’re not doing a very good job. It appears that the quality of the overall product lies completely with the race host and promoters.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">When you go to run a road race, if it’s USTAF and/or RRCA sanctioned you aren’t charged extra for daily membership to one of those organizations.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Dan</span></span>