Hello NEBRA,

I write for your consideration and vote for a seat on NEBRA Board of Directors. I hope to bring my unique individual experience to an already talented group of people to promote bike racing and cycling in New England.

I’ve been racing bicycles for a long time. I started in 1992 while in high school. Back then we had far fewer promoters, we raced cyclocross on tubulars as wide as today’s road tires and we mailed checks with entry forms cut out from Velo News (print) to register for races. I worked at a small bike shop after school and on weekends in Wellesley after discovering mountain bike riding, a graduation from BMX. After that, I worked in the industry at three other bike shops while attempting to pursue a career as a mountain bike racer before going to college. While my performance on the bike has always peaked below that of New England’s best, I was involved enough to understand what some of today’s aspiring pros are experiencing. In 1997 I was the youngest semi-pro NORBA MTB licence holder (yes that was a thing) in the US, competing at Cactus Cup and other national events. On the cyclocross bike I was able to gather a couple top 10 finishes at Cyclocross nationals as a junior, then the next year in 96/97 as an Espoir. I was a member of the 95/96 US Cyclocross team for Worlds in France as well as a member of Schwinn’s Homegrown Elite team of haggard semi-pro racers on the NORBA Nationals circuit. I was lucky to meet so many driven, impressive people along the way both racing and at work. Today I lean on those experiences and even the same friends as I occupy an office now at work and a new role on two wheels- four season bike commuter/evangelist and masters road racer for the BRI Team.

My desire for young racers in New England is that they’d have the same positive mentorship and even better organizational support that I did back then. I’d like to voice support for sensible road race calendars that expose racers to new venues and ensure a well-planned and extended season while also attempting to limit promoter’s exposure to risk. I’d like also to investigate new ways to promote bike racing outside of the normal social media avenues, both to multisport athletes and endurance athletes from other disciplines.

Beyond bike racing I compete occasionally in both foot races and car races which adds some perspective on promotion techniques and perhaps a wider view into the operation of similar organizations.

Thank you for your consideration.

Alex Grabau