What is the composition of the team? 

We typically have 7-12 Category 3/4/5 women on the team. Most are in the Midwest area since that's where most of our target races are located. 

Some of our riders have big plans to race at the next level. We love helping them get there and wish them well when they can join a more "competitive" team. We've helped several riders through that process. 

We also make a great long-term home for riders who prefer our vibe and flexibility! 

What does it cost to join? 

Nothing! While we are structured as a club program, we operate closer to most Domestic Elite teams - at least in terms of approach. See below for important caveats and limitations, though! 

How many races am I expected to attend? What are the obligations for being a member? 

There is no absolute minimum for the number of races you must attend. We don't have a contract you sign. If you can make it to several of the target races, that's great. If you can only make a few, it might be a better fit for you to guest ride with us. Keep reading for more details...

Importantly, because you aren't signing any contract, as mentioned above, you are always free to join another team if/when that makes more sense! 

For the target races, we have a season-planning Zoom meeting as a group in the late fall to decide which races work the following season for enough people to make sense. We rarely have everyone at any one race, but we always strive to have a group of at least 4-5 (or more) for each event, and we'll add guest riders as needed to reach that number (see below for more on that).  For the longer events, like Tour of America's Dairyland or Chicago Grit, we typically select a specific series or set of dates. A few years ago we did all days of both events. That was a lot!

What support can I expect? 

Like all great things in life, it depends. Your main benefit will be racing with like-minded women. A secondary benefit is the logistical, technical, and tactical support you will receive from our DS, Kurt Schaldenbrand. 

Beyond that, depending on each year's budget, we've been able to support team members with free kit items and discounted entry fees for our target races. Occasionally, we can offset some accommodation costs for events where we don't have free host housing. 

However, our ability to provide those same financial benefits always depends on that year's rider count. If given the choice, we'll add more riders at the expense of covering fewer costs. Remember: we're a development team; more riders mean a higher likelihood of additional teammates at a target race. That will help you learn more about bike racing than getting a free jersey or a discount on your entry fees.

BUT, if your financial situation might limit your ability to attend a given event, please let Kurt know so we can work something out. 

Do I get a bike?

No. If you're looking for that, full entry fees covered, or all travel expenses paid for, this is not the team for you. We happily accept sponsorship money, but only if sponsors align with our main mission: to support women who want to become smarter, faster, and more competitive bike racers. For some of our events, that can mean we get on the podium, but for many it doesn't. We often travel to and compete in larger events to help with that development objective. If a big-money sponsor expects flashy podium pictures regularly, they aren't a good fit for us. 

Do I get coaching as part of the team? 

You definitely get traditional directeur sportif (team director/manager) technical and tactical support. This includes in-person guidance at our target races as a team, as well as phone/Zoom/texting support for any local races you do.  This often extends to general training principles or specific training ideas, but it does not include detailed weekly training plans.

If you don't already have a personal coach and want that level of guidance, Kurt offers discounted personal coaching services. Bonus: essentially all proceeds from that just go right back into the team's budget!

Does the team offer a training camp?

Yes! We've been in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains (Townsend, TN) in early March for the past few years, and we plan to do that again next year. We set the exact schedule as a group during the fall.

Do you require a race resume to apply? 

Not really. They are always interesting to look at, but we care A LOT more about a good personality fit. If the details on this page align with your goals, then that's a good sign. If you're looking for more financial support - or especially if your main kick is getting on the podium at the expense of learning more about bike racing, you should probably keep looking. But if you can get excited about achieving the process goals we align on for our bigger races - which may include helping someone else go for the podium - then this may be the team for you! 

Do you take guest riders?

YES!! We LOVE having guest riders join us, and we often have one or two at our bigger races when we have fewer core members or the capacity to add them. Many of our current members started out as guest riders! Reach out to Kurt if you're interested in a specific race, or watch our Instagram account for announcements about upcoming events. 

Do you take masters?

YES!! At many of the events we attend, there is a separate masters category within the broader Women's 3/4/5 field, allowing our "more mature" athletes to race with their teammates while still competing for a separate podium. 

Do you take juniors? 

Sure! We've had juniors in the past, but they've typically raced alongside the older members. A dedicated juniors squad isn't a primary focus for us, at least not yet. If there's interest, we'd happily consider adding one! 

What about Cat 2s?

Sure? A few years ago we were a Cat 2/3 team. We've commonly had a Cat 2 (or two) be part of the team when it made sense for them - but see above for what we don't offer. There are no plans right now to build out a Domestic Elite squad, but that could change in the future. For now, if you're looking for more flexibility than many of those teams allow, and would like the support described above, please message Kurt so we can discuss! 

Any plans for a men's team?

No. Never. This is a women's team. Sometimes our DS unretires and races with much faster masters dudes. But that's it. 

Other questions? 

You know the drill: ping Kurt!