Answered by the USAC Technical Director in Today's Technical Director Update

Disc Brakes for Road

So...are disc brakes allowed for road events?

Rule 1I1(e) indicates that bicycles must meet current UCI technical regulations at events that select 17-18, U23 and Elite riders for international competition or national teams. All bicycles used in National Championships (for age 17 and older riders) and NRC races must comply with the current UCI regulations. At the discretion of USA Cycling, UCI rules may be adopted or modified for Masters National Championships.

With this rule in mind, disc brakes would NOT be allowed in National Championship road events (unless an exemption is given), NOT be allowed in NRC races, NOT be allowed in UCI races (i.e. Tour of Utah, Tour of California, etc.), etc.

Rule 1I3(b) indicates that for road (and cyclo-cross and MTB) only a bicycle with a freewheel and one working brake on each wheel shall be used, except as allowed elsewhere in these rules.

With this rule in mind, do I care what kind of brake your bike uses? Not really - it could be cantilevers, calipers, and yes even disc brakes. As long as the brake is functional, that's what we want to see. So in this case - yes, disc brakes are allowed.

So the end result: YES, disc brakes are allowed in road events as long as the event is not a UCI race or a race where UCI regulations are being enforced (such as National Championships, NRC rac

Restructured Race Director Certification Program

From USA Cycling: At the end of 2013, several constituent groups met and had the chance to discuss the race director education program. From that feedback, the race director education program has been restructured to better fit the needs and interests of our members while helping to raise the quality and safety level of USA Cycling sanctioned events.

Race director license structure

From the USA Cycling Update:

With September halfway over and next year’s permitting time just around the corner, it’s time for a reminder about race director certification so you can prepare in time for permitting your 2015 events.

Some things you need to be aware of:

1) There are now two race director licenses

A stand-alone race director license for those wishing to permit without a registered club
-- When you purchase a race director license, you receive one free race director webinar
-- If you purchase a two year race director license, you receive two free race director webinars. 

A complimentary club race director license for those permitting with their c

We are looking for cycling enthusiasts who would like to contribute event based text and multi-media articles. This is purely a volunteer type of activity. We know that one person cannot be everywhere all the time, so we will be considering a few of you that want to help. Really try to get this going for the cyclo-cross season. Some specifics for article coverage and submission:

• You are not only representing yourself but are a representative of the CCA. Professionalism is paramount.
• Write with clear understandable language so that the public and novice riders can understand.
• Be unbiased. Do not favor one club or organization over another.
• Be objective. Opinions must be based on facts. If not sure then get clarification from an onsite official or specific person as necessary.
• Be comfortable asking questions and doing interviews with riders, event promoters, officials, and spectators alike.
• Photos and media require being original from you or authorized by the source with contribution credit(s) to be included from the source unless they want to remain anonymous.
• No advertisements, links, unless they are to official USA Cycling or our own CCA organizations.
• No promises to your sources or others that you cannot guarantee fulfilling yourself.
• Read more

Normally, we wait until our annual officials’ meeting to announce the Official and Motoref of the Year awards. However, I didn’t want USAC to beat us to the punch, so here our winners for 2013: