USA Cycling is introducing a $20 basic membership option, hoping to bring casual cycling enthusiasts and fans into the fold as part of a big membership expansion effort. The other two tiers of membership are priced at $65 and $125 annually. The new option includes a one-hour consultation with a USAC-certified coach, monthly newsletters, and access to discounts and sponsor products. Basic members still would have to obtain a racing license to participate in USAC-sanctioned events. USAC has a stated goal of having 200,000 members and one-day license holders by the end of '20, its 100th anniversary. Currently there are about 60,000 members and 40,000 license holders. The NGB believes it has left membership on the table by only catering to competitive cyclists in the past. USAC Dir of Marketing & Communications Guillermo Rojas said, “If we have that 200,000 membership, that helps us obviously with sponsorship. But it also helps us with the pipeline and developing even more athletes. It’s not just about sponsorship, it’s about helping every part of the organization.”
