Summary
Our1200 members participate in events ranging from the Mileage Challenge to the Race Across America. These members, in about 20 countries, ride and also help others as event organizers, officials and crewmembers.

The John Marino Competition attracted 54 riders in 2004, up from 46 the year before. We are especially pleased by the increased number of women, as well as tandems and recumbents last year. In 2005 we have sanctioned 42 JMC events vs. 24 last year and 69 racers have already signed up. We have also added an under-25 division to attract younger racers.

Last year was a healthy year for the Mileage Challenge. The number of riders (62) remained consistent with previous years, while per-capita mileage increased as did the number riders earning Gold and Platinum awards. In 2005 we added the Larry Schwartz Year-Rounder Century Challenge as an award within the Mileage Challenge and publicized it to bike clubs across the country - over 200 riders have signed up.

Record Attempts increased dramatically in 2004 - eight new records versus two the year before. Records were set on the road and track, in the US and in Europe, and the age of the participants varied greatly as did their reasons (JMC, RAAM preparation, and personal challenge).

Over 100 riders earned the coveted RAAM qualified distinction in 12 different qualifiers in the US, Europe and South America. Qualifying for solo RAAM is one of the highest achievements in ultracycling, second only to finishing RAAM itself.

RAAM attracted the largest field ever: 100 solo and team riders. Records were set in several divisions: two-man team (Coast to Coast Against Cancer), two-person mixed (VeloWear/Co-Motion), four-man (Action Sports), four-man 70+ (Grand PAC Masters), and eight-person (Ride to Remember).

Although in many ways 2004 was my most satisfying year as Managing Director, it was also a very sad year. In May Bob Bachtel was killed at Calvin's Challenge. Then in July my good friend, Dave Holmes, was killed by a truck. As organizer of many ultra events in the Midwest, Dave was instrumental in helping many young riders get started in the sport. This year I will be working with the Board to establish the Dave Holmes Program to develop new, young ultra racers.

Last fall John Lee Ellis, a working group, and I created the Larry Schwartz Year-Rounder to attract new members to the UMCA. Developing young racers and attracting new members are critical to the future of our sport.

In addition to developing new programs, I edited six issues of UltraCycling. I am very grateful for all the help from nine Contributing Editors and dozens of authors. Most of the articles in the magazine are republished on ultracycling.com and selected articles are distributed to bike clubs for use in newsletters. I also edited the eight-page RAAM program insert in VeloNews. This year we are expanding the VeloNews program insert to 16 pages. The 100,000 copies are a tremendous publicity opportunity for RAAM and the UMCA.

Late in 2003 a member filed a lawsuit against the UMCA in Boulder District Court. I worked closely with our attorneys and the Board and the suit was finally settled in August with the help of an outside mediator during a court-ordered mediation. The settlement agreement was reached without any admission of liability. The protracted legal proceedings cost almost $18,000 in 2003 and 2004, entirely for legal fees and costs (including those of the mediation), with no payment to the plaintiff.

As we realized the possible financial impact of the legal costs on the UMCA, the Board and I started actively fundraising. With the generous help of 56 donors we raised all the money necessary for the legal costs and no members' dues were expended on legal expenses. (Some gifts were received after January 1, 2005 and do not show in the financial statements in the full report.)

With the exception of fundraising and legal expenses, actual income and expense items were close to the 2004 budget and we finished the year in the black. Because of my broken pelvis and the time needed for recovery, the Board is extending the 2004 budget through May 31.

We are particularly grateful for all the hard work of Joe Jamison, JMC chair, John Lee Ellis, Mileage Challenge chair, Fred Boethling, Records chair, Terry Zmrhal, Calendar chair, the contributing editors and photographers and our webmasters. While the Board and I were dealing with the legal and fundraising issues, these fine volunteers continued to provide services to our members.

Download the complete 2004 UMCA Report including

1. John Marino Competition - Joe Jamison, JMC Chair
2. UMCA Mileage Challenge - John Lee Ellis, UMC Chair
3. Record - Fred Boethling, UMC Chair
4. Fundraising - John Hughes
5. Financial Report - John Hughes
6. Lawsuit - John Hughes