Important 2012 season announcements

Hi all!  Lots of important team announcements!

NEW KMS CYCLING TEAM FORMAT:   As most of you are well aware, Killington Mountain School now offers a full-time, nine-month cycling program, making it the only full-time cycling academy in the country.  The team is focused around the school's full-time cycling student athletes who, along with three other experienced racers from neighboring schools, make up the core of the KMS Cycling Team.   Now that KMS offers the full-time cycling program, we are moving towards phasing out our non-school team except for our cub junior team members (ages 8-14).  It's our goal to attract these youngsters to the full-time KMS program once they're old enough to attend the school.    All KMS students are encouraged to register for the team and our cub juniors who go to any school are encouraged as well.

TEAM REGISTRATION AND FEES:  The fee for taking part in the KMS Cycling Team program is $250 (full-time KMS cycling student-athletes are exempt from the fee) which includes one membership on the team, all coaching, all transportation to and from the regular season races, prep school league entry fees and substantial discounts at the Start House bike shop in Woodstock.  Please note that the fee does NOT include the team clothing kits (please see team race clothing below).    To register for the team, simply go to the team registration page at:

https://www.bikereg.com/Promoter/EventPreview.asp?EventID=15280

and choose the 2012 team registration option.   The team registration fee must be paid prior to any rider taking part in a team ride, race transport, activity or discount at the Start House, so please sign up early to enjoy all the team benefits!

TEAM RACE CLOTHING:  All of the KMS cycling team kit is available for purchase a la carte on the team's registration page noted immediately above.  At a minimum, all team members must have a KMS short sleeve jersey, bib shorts and a team wind jacket.  Alumni, family and friends are encouraged to join in any clothing purchases as the team's small mark-up on the clothing is one of the team's fundraisers.   Even if you already own some basic kit, you should check out the new items like the winter thermoshield jacket and tights, fully sublimated winter hat, etc.

**Please note that the deadline for the spring/summer clothing order is Tuesday, February 7, 2012 (expected delivery in late March)**

TEAM BIKES:  The KMS Cycling Team is now sponsored by Trek Bicycles via the Start House Ski and Bike Shop located at 28 Central Street in Woodstock.  Thanks to the generous efforts of Dan and Jenny McKenna, owners of the Start House, we are able to offer team Trek bikes for road, mountain biking and cyclocross at substantial discounts for registered team members.   For the 2012 road season, the team will be riding the Trek Madone 5.5 (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/race_performance/madone_5_series/madone_5_5_h2_compact/).  The team bike price for registered team members is $3,000 (suggested shop retail is $4,250).   We've posted a picture of Ansel Dickey's team bike on www.kmscyclingteam.com.   It weighs in at a scant 15 pounds and that's with the stock wheels!

TEAM WHEELS:  The team racing wheelset for road and cyclocross will be the full carbon Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 Tubular (http://bontrager.com/model/09789) .  The team wheelset price is $1,900 (suggested retail price per wheelset is $2,400).  And, of course, all purchases from the Start House come with their outstanding follow-up service and technical support without which the team would simply cease to function.

For our younger/beginner level racers, the Start House carries all levels of Trek bikes, so feel free to call Dan at 457-3377 to discuss the bike that's right for you and your budget.  It's highly recommended that all cub juniors purchase cyclocross bikes as most of our training takes place on dirt roads and the kids can race road and cross on the same bike.

TRAINING AND RACING:  All team training, racing and activities are now posted on the google calendar on the team's website at www.kmscyclingteam.com.  While our core team riders will be attending spring training camp in South Carolina in early March and racing  every weekend shortly thereafter, the KMS winter sport athletes will commence training on the bike in early April and focus on the New England Road Cycling League (prep school league; www.prepschoolcycling.com) interscholastic races which take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April 25 thru May 19.

Any KMS students who wish to join the team but not necessarily race are encouraged to do so.  Just register for the team and purchase your basic clothing kit and you're welcome to join us for all training.

TEAM VAN AND TRAILER SPONSORSHIP:   A great way to support the KMS Cycling Team and the key to the team's ability to support itself financially is our yearly van and trailer sponsorship.   Simply buy (or renew) your preferred sponsorship on the team's registration page and send us your logo (or we can copy it from your website) and we'll take care of all costs of creating a high quality decal and installing it on either the van or the team trailer.  Check out our existing sponsors on the team website at www.kmscyclingteam.com.

Thanks, all.  If you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to contact Head Coach Peter Vollers, at pvollers@killingtonmountainschool.org or Asst. Coach and Strength Trainer, Greg Hadley, at ghadley@killingtonmountainschool.org with any questions.

AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET, THE DEADLINE FOR CLOTHING ORDERS IS THIS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012!