Cross My Heart and Hope to Die

The 2nd annual Cross My Heart and Hope to Die Willoughby Cyclocross Spectacular is this comming Saturday Oct. 18th at Todd Field (google map). This excellent event is sponsored by Spin and is Race #2 of the 10th Annual Bike Authority Cyclocross Series; series points will be awarded accordingly. Open category racers will compete together for the same cash purse, but points will be awarded based on age category defined under series rules. For more info visit: http://www.teamlakeeffect.net

Categories: Expert/40+ Open [all Cat 1,2,3,Pro,Semi,Expert], Intemediate Men [Cat 4, sport], Women’s Open, Novice Men [Cat 5, Beginner], Novice Women, Juniors [under 18]

 

Start Times: 11:00–1:15 Registration Open

                        12:00pm All Novice/Juniors - 30min.

                        12:45pm Intemediate Men/Womens Open - 45min.

                        1:45pm Expert/40+ Open - 1hr.

 

Awards:        Immediately following Expert/40+ Open at Willoughby Brewing Company   [top of the hill]

                        All Categories: 1st Lap “Primes” provided by Willoughby Brewing Company [$10 gift card]

                        Expert/40+ Open, Cash Payout 15 Deep: 1st $300, 2nd $200, 3rd $150, 4th $125, 5th $100, 6th $90, 7th $80, 8th $70, 9th $60, 10th $50, 11th $45, 12th $40, 13th $35, 14th $30, 15th $25

                        Women’s Open, Cash Payout 3 Deep: 1st $150, 2nd $100, 3rd $50

                        All other categories: Merchandise 3 Deep

 

Series:           This is Race #2 of the Bike Authority Cyclocross Series, points will be awarded accordingly. Expert/40+ Open category racers will compete together for the same cash purse, but points will be awarded based on age category defined under series rules. For more info visit: www.teamlakeeffect.net

 

Entry Fee:    $20 [USCF or NORBA license required]

                        One day permits will be available for $10

                        USCF permit pending

 

Website:        www.teamspin.com, www.sssmst.com

Contact Info: greg [at] spinbikeshop.com

 

Todd Field, Willoughby, Ohio
Address: 38264 Glenn Ave, Willoughby, OH 44094
Link to race flyer

2008-10-05 Leroy Twp Cyclocross

Last Sunday Sadie and I found ourselves at the Leroy Twp CX race. We arrived a little later than I had wanted, and we didn't have time to preview the course before the start of the C race. It ended up being OK as I was able to get out there once the C's started to finish.

The starting area was a little cramped so getting a good position would be critical. I lined up on the far left, and a couple of riders came in late to fill in further to my left which was OK. Drew Berclaw got the hole shot with me right behind him through the first 90*, 180*, 90* turn combo heading into the only set of barriers. The barriers were pretty close and Drew ended up kicking the second barrier, splintering the white pine plank. He looked and said he was OK as I shot past.

An of camber right turn lead into a tightening spiral with a 180* switchback at the end to shoot you back out. The next obstacle was a BIG dirt mound with 20-30 yards of MTB style single track along the top ridge. I was fully prepared to run this section, but I can't recall if I ran it during the race at all. I do remember biting it HARD coming down the off camber turn at the end because I was braking too hard with the front. I banged up my knee pretty good and dropped my chain under the 3rd eye. However, I didn't loose any places in this mishap, only valuable time.

Through a muddy round about and then across a quick bump of a ditch. This lead into a maze of turns around several trees, I ended up taking an extra turn here losing more time on a later lap... Making a narrow turn around a baseball field while trying to avoid the ditch lead out onto a welcomed pavement section before the circus of switchbacks which took you across a ditch along the road 7 times. The ditch crossings became increasingly difficult because the ditch got deeper the farther down the course. The first crossings were ridable (more so heading out toward the road than back into the field). Hitting the crossings at a slight angle let you climb across the slope so it wasn't as steep. Even then the later crossings had me almost stalling out heading back up to the field. I decided to dismount on these as shown below.



Once the playing in the ditch part was complete, we passed the wheel pits and rode around the grass along the edge of the park back to the start/finish.

The race was pretty uneventful and even though there was $$ on the line for the top four spots, I just wasn't into racing that day. I found myself settling in on a 'managable' pace not really wanting to chase but more to maintain my position. Nate Loman tried to bring me along as he went on the chase, but I couldn't make myself stick on his wheel. Towards the end of the race I just tried not to slow down or cost myself any more time with dumb mistakes.

There is a picture of the course layout HERE. Results and pictures can be found HERE.

Putting it all together - How H.R.1424 meshes with IRC 132.f

Thanks to the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute (LII), I was able to encorporate the legal changes from H.R.1424 with Internal Revenue Code TITLE 26 > Subtitle A > CHAPTER 1 > Subchapter B > PART III > § 132 Certain fringe benefits

This material is covered by a Creative Commons license, viewable at:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/

In brief, the terms of that license are that you may copy, distribute, and display this work, or make derivative works, so long as
a) you give the author credit;
b) you do not use this work for commercial purposes; and
c) you distribute any works derived from this one under the same licensing terms as this.

Also, the information and opinion expressed within this blog should not be taken as legal or tax advice, since I am not qualified to give either.

Change(a):

(f) Qualified transportation fringe

(1)In general

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified transportation fringe” means any of the following provided by an employer to an employee:

(A) Transportation in a commuter highway vehicle if such transportation is in connection with travel between the employee’s residence and place of employment.

(B) Any transit pass.

(C) Qualified parking.

(D) Any qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement.

Change (b):

(2) Limitation on exclusion

The amount of the fringe benefits which are provided by an employer to any employee and which may be excluded from gross income under subsection (a)(5) shall not exceed—

(A) $100 per month in the case of the aggregate of the benefits described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1),

(B) $175 per month in the case of qualified parking, and

(C) the applicable annual limitation in the case of any qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement.

Change (c):

(5) Definitions

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) Transit pass

The term “transit pass” means any pass, token, farecard, voucher, or similar item entitling a person to transportation (or transportation at a reduced price) if such transportation is—

(i) on mass transit facilities (whether or not publicly owned), or

(ii) provided by any person in the business of transporting persons for compensation or hire if such transportation is provided in a vehicle meeting the requirements of subparagraph (B)(i).

(B) Commuter highway vehicle
The term “commuter highway vehicle” means any highway vehicle—

(i) the seating capacity of which is at least 6 adults (not including the driver), and

(ii) at least 80 percent of the mileage use of which can reasonably be expected to be—

(I) for purposes of transporting employees in connection with travel between their residences and their place of employment, and

(II) on trips during which the number of employees transported for such purposes is at least 1/2 of the adult seating capacity of such vehicle (not including the driver).

(C) Qualified parking
The term “qualified parking” means parking provided to an employee on or near the business premises of the employer or on or near a location from which the employee commutes to work by transportation described in subparagraph (A), in a commuter highway vehicle, or by carpool. Such term shall not include any parking on or near property used by the employee for residential purposes.

(D) Transportation provided by employer
Transportation referred to in paragraph (1)(A) shall be considered to be provided by an employer if such transportation is furnished in a commuter highway vehicle operated by or for the employer.

(E) Employee
For purposes of this subsection, the term “employee” does not include an individual who is an employee within the meaning of section 401 (c)(1).

(F) DEFINITIONS RELATED TO BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT-

(i) QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT- The term `qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement' means, with respect to any calendar year, any employer reimbursement during the 15-month period beginning with the first day of such calendar year for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.

(ii) APPLICABLE ANNUAL LIMITATION- The term `applicable annual limitation' means, with respect to any employee for any calendar year, the product of $20 multiplied by the number of qualified bicycle commuting months during such year.

(iii) QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING MONTH- The term `qualified bicycle commuting month' means, with respect to any employee, any month during which such employee--

(I) regularly uses the bicycle for a substantial portion of the travel between the employee's residence and place of employment, and

(II) does not receive any benefit described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1).

Change (d):

(4) No constructive receipt

No amount shall be included in the gross income of an employee solely because the employee may choose between any qualified transportation fringe (other than a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement) and compensation which would otherwise be includible in gross income of such employee.

Now there is some debate on the blog of a teammate of mine as to wether or not the bicycle transportation fringe benefit will mean money in his/our pockets. Jim Abrams (AP) is summarizes the tax changes as follows: "Allowing employers to exempt from taxation what they spend on some fringe benefits for workers who commute to work by bicycle, for example reimbursing the cost of parking the bikes. Cost: $2 million." However, qualified parking was already addressed under the IRC with it's own line item. 'Qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement' is an entirely separate line item. It is also explicitly defined as reimbursement 'for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.' Now if your employer were to charge for bicycle parking, and you would pay your employer, who would then reimburse you for what you paid them, then your employer would be able to reap the tax benefit with no additional tangible benefit realized by the bicycle commuter. But I don't know if this would be legal. I read storage to mean if there was nowhere on site at your residence or place of employment to park your bicycle, you would then be able to apply $20 per month to the cost of bicycle storage.

Yokota Fritz also has a good write up with a lot of discussion. Bike commuter benefit now law! - Cyclelicious. Click here for the complete text of H.R.1424 SEC. 211. TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TO BICYCLE COMMUTERS as taken from and linked to The LIBRARY of CONGRESS.

So let's hear it, what's your take on the bill, the way it was passed, and what it means?

Transportation Fringe Benefit to Bicycle Commuters

Update 10/06/2008 - What does H.R.1424 mean for you?? I did an analysis of how H.R.1424 meshes with current Internal Revenue Code which can be found HERE: http://cyclonecross.blogspot.com/2008/10/putting-it-all-together-how-hr1424_06.html

From: The LIBRARY of CONGRESS

H.R.1424

Title: A bill to provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes

From the 6th version of H.R.1424:

SEC. 211. TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TO BICYCLE COMMUTERS.

(a) In General- Paragraph (1) of section 132(f) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(D) Any qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement.'.

(b) Limitation on Exclusion- Paragraph (2) of section 132(f) is amended by striking `and' at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting `, and', and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(C) the applicable annual limitation in the case of any qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement.'.

(c) Definitions- Paragraph (5) of section 132(f) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(F) DEFINITIONS RELATED TO BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT-

`(i) QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT- The term `qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement' means, with respect to any calendar year, any employer reimbursement during the 15-month period beginning with the first day of such calendar year for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.

`(ii) APPLICABLE ANNUAL LIMITATION- The term `applicable annual limitation' means, with respect to any employee for any calendar year, the product of $20 multiplied by the number of qualified bicycle commuting months during such year.

`(iii) QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING MONTH- The term `qualified bicycle commuting month' means, with respect to any employee, any month during which such employee--

`(I) regularly uses the bicycle for a substantial portion of the travel between the employee's residence and place of employment, and

`(II) does not receive any benefit described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1).'.

(d) Constructive Receipt of Benefit- Paragraph (4) of section 132(f) is amended by inserting `(other than a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement)' after `qualified transportation fringe'.

(e) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.

ADDED: 10/06/2008

There is a bit of discussion in the cycling circles as to what this all means. I will continue to update this entry and probably add additional information as I find or hear it. See this IRS link for additional explanation: Transportation (Commuting) Benefits from which appears to be Publication 15-B

Transportation (Commuting) Benefits

This section discusses exclusion rules that apply to benefits you provide to your employees for their personal transportation, such as commuting to and from work. These rules apply to the following transportation benefits.

• De minimis transportation benefits.

• Qualified transportation benefits.

Special rules that apply to demonstrator cars and qualified nonpersonal-use vehicles are discussed under Working Condition Benefits, later.

De Minimis Transportation Benefits

You can exclude the value of any de minimis transportation benefit you provide to an employee from the employee's wages. A de minimis transportation benefit is any transportation benefit you provide to an employee if it has so little value (taking into account how frequently you provide transportation to your employees) that accounting for it would be unreasonable or administratively impracticable. For example, it applies to occasional transportation fare you give an employee because the employee is working overtime if the benefit is reasonable and is not based on hours worked.

Employee. For this exclusion, treat any recipient of a de minimis transportation benefit as an employee.

Qualified Transportation Benefits

This exclusion applies to the following benefits.

• A ride in a commuter highway vehicle between the employee's home and work place.

• A transit pass.

• Qualified parking.

The exclusion applies whether you provide only one or a combination of these benefits to your employees.

Qualified transportation benefits can be provided directly by you or through a bona fide reimbursement arrangement. However, cash reimbursements for transit passes qualify only if a voucher or a similar item that the employee can exchange only for a transit pass is not readily available for direct distribution by you to your employee. A voucher is readily available for direct distribution only if an employee can obtain it from a voucher provider that does not impose fare media charges or other restrictions that effectively prevent the employer from obtaining vouchers. See Regulations section 1.132-9 for more information.

You can exclude qualified transportation fringe benefits from an employee's wages even if you provide them in place of pay. For information about providing qualified transportation fringe benefits under a compensation reduction agreement, see Regulations section 1.132-9(b)(Q-11).

Commuter highway vehicle. A commuter highway vehicle is any highway vehicle that seats at least 6 adults (not including the driver). In addition, you must reasonably expect that at least 80% of the vehicle mileage will be for transporting employees between their homes and work place with employees occupying at least one-half the vehicle's seats (not including the driver's).

Transit pass. A transit pass is any pass, token, farecard, voucher, or similar item entitling a person to ride, free of charge or at a reduced rate, one of the following.

• On mass transit.

• In a vehicle that seats at least 6 adults (not including the driver) if a person in the business of transporting persons for pay or hire operates it.

Mass transit may be publicly or privately operated and includes bus, rail, or ferry. For guidance on the use of smart cards and debit cards to provide qualified transportation fringes, see Rev. Rul. 2006-57, which is on page 911 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2006-47 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb06-47.pdf, and
Notice 2007-76, which is on page 735 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2007-40 at
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb07-40.pdf.

Qualified parking. Qualified parking is parking you provide to your employees on or near your business premises. It includes parking on or near the location from which your employees commute to work using mass transit, commuter highway vehicles, or carpools. It does not include parking at or near your employee's home.

Employee. For this exclusion, treat the following individuals as employees.

• A current employee.

• A leased employee who has provided services to you on a substantially full-time basis for at least a year if the services are performed under your primary direction or control.

A self-employed individual is not an employee for qualified transportation benefits.

Exception for S corporation shareholders. Do not treat a 2% shareholder of an S corporation as an employee of the corporation for this purpose. A 2% shareholder is someone who directly or indirectly owns (at any time during the year) more than 2% of the corporation's stock or stock with more than 2% of the voting power. Treat a 2% shareholder as you would a partner in a partnership for fringe benefit purposes, but do not treat the benefit as a reduction in distributions to the 2% shareholder.

Relation to other fringe benefits. You cannot exclude a qualified transportation benefit you provide to an employee under the de minimis or working condition benefit rules. However, if you provide a local transportation benefit other than by transit pass or commuter highway vehicle, or to a person other than an employee, you may be able to exclude all or part of the benefit under other fringe benefit rules (de minimis, working condition, etc.).

Exclusion from wages. You can generally exclude the value of transportation benefits that you provide to an employee during 2008 from the employee's wages up to the following limits.

• $115 per month for combined commuter highway vehicle transportation and transit passes.

• $220 per month for qualified parking.

Benefits more than the limit. If the value of a benefit for any month is more than its limit, include in the employee's wages the amount over the limit minus any amount the employee paid for the benefit. You cannot exclude the excess from the employee's wages as a de minimis transportation benefit.

More information. For more information on qualified transportation benefits, including van pools, and how to determine the value of parking, see Regulations section 1.132-9.

Cycle for Parkinsons

I saw this blurb today:

Cindy Frazier, a patient suffering from the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, has been an avid cyclist for some time, noticing that biking helped her symptoms. Her family, also cyclists, decided to start a ride to raise money for Parkinson’s research. They worked with Jay Alberts, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, who has done research on the benefits of cycling on Parkinson’s to start the Allgood Cycle for Parkinson's Criteruim, now in its third year. Read about the event in The Gwinnett Daily Post.

This event is going on my schedule for next year.

Cycle for Parkinsons Permit Number: 2008-2377 10/04/2008 - 10/05/2008 Lawrenceville, GA Event Flyer www.fraziercycling.com Online Registration

Atlantic Shores Velo Tim Molyneaux 413 S ALDERWOOD ST WINTER SPRINGS, FL 32708-3435 (407) 256-7971 (407) 951-7528 (fax) tim@topviewsports.com