Candidacy Statement from Larry Graham

Dear UMCA Members,

I am a co-owner of a UMCA race, Calvin's Challenge, which my wife and I along with another Ultra Cycling couple purchased from the Dayton Cycling club after the 2007 race when they no longer wanted to be involved with a competitive cycling event. If not for the two couples coming together to continue the race, it would just been another footnote in the history book of Ultra cycling. While we earn a bit of money running the race, that is not our motivation, it is to give back to those that came before us so the we could follow our dreams, and to give those new to Ultra Cycling the opportunity to experience a great race. I have been the past President of my local cycling club, the Westerville Bicycle Club and I currently serve as the Education and Advocacy Director. I've been involved with the running of the club for the last 18 years. We follow a watered down version of Roberts Rules of Order. I also serve on the newly formed Alternative Transportation Board and Path Watch Group for the City of Westerville. I am active in Central Ohio cycling Advocacy.

I've earned the Ultra Cyclist of Distinction on a couple occasions, I've won my class in the Best of Three Challenge for both 12 hour and 24 hour several years. I've set the record for number of UCC points (JMC at the time) for my class one year. I have RAAM solo Qualified on four occasions. I hold the record for the Cross State E-W Ohio. I hold numerous UMCA race class mileage records. All the while earning The Super Randonneur award most years. I share my passion with my wife Christine who has been the UMCA Champion age group winner herself. We have participated in a a few UMCA races (earning a couple of second places) on our tandem and have earned a Super Randonneur award together on the tandem.

I am also a sponsored rider for Bacchetta bikes, a recumbent manufacturer. They found value in not only the way I ride a bicycle, but how I represent their company and products. To be a 50+ year old sponsored cyclist is quite the honor. The UMCA is at it's most critical tuning point since I've been a member. With the further separation from RAAM and the changing of the only managing director I've known the UMCA to have, the UMCA has great opportunity and even greater challenges. Job one will be to step back and decide what the UMCA is. Is it just a nation / international wide bike club, or is it a sanctioning body for ultra racing and cycling records? I look toward other long distance cycling such as 12/24 hour Mt bike racing and Randonneuring and wonder what we are not doing to have the same success that they enjoy. I have strong belief that we can be far greater than we ever have before and I, for the first time, am excited that I might be part of a new beginning.

As a rider of a non traditional bike (recumbent) I bring a different perspective. I've raced many formats of bicycles and I bring that knowledge to the table. I know and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each format. It's said not to judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes. I've pedaled many a mile wearing many different shoes. If one has never ridden anything but a traditional framed bike, then it is hard to make informed decisions and rule policy. The non traditional bicycle market is growing as the population is aging. We can either form rules to shut them out, or we can have an open format policy that broadens our membership base.

I'm an out spoken member on the group, maybe too out spoken sometimes, but I think my passion for the UMCA and Ultra cycling shines through more than just another nut sitting at the keyboard. It may be hard to validate, but I opened up some dialog with the "Save UMCA" group and feel that dialog was instrumental in bringing some understading that everyone wants the best for the UMCA. At first there seemed to be no common ground on which to have a conversation, but with persistence,we came to a point of some trust and agreed that both sides had a passion for the UMCA but differed in how to move forward.

I was instrumental in setting up the Race Owners Google Group. While it hasn't produced the results I had hoped it would, it has allowed some of us to see that we have reason to work together so that we can all prosper and produce better races.

I've stated that I feel the UMCA racing is for the working person. I myself have a demanding job and even a more demanding work schedule that has me working an average of 50 hours weeks, switching from working days to nights every 4 weeks and switching from weekdays to weekends every 4 weeks as well. Again, I bring an understanding and appreciation for having to juggle work, family, training and riding. I argued hard against the regional championship schedule that even a pro cyclist would have had a hard time being competitive at.

To summarize, I'm an Ultra racer, and an Ultra race owner. I have experience as a cycling product representative. I have a traditional and non traditional cycling perspective. I have cycling related managerial and governance experience. All the while working a full time job. I'm a firm believer in making data driven decisions and building consciences, but also value following ones heart and passion. I have a strong voice and conviction and value that in others, even if we don't agree.

Larry Graham

Home: Westerville Ohio.
Born: December 10th, 1958
Email: graham146 @ att.net
Phone: 614-561-4568
UMCA member for at least 10 years, #3224, adult cyclist for 23 years.
RUSA member #114