COS Racing Team Rider Agreement 

Updated: 05 FEBRUARY 2025

To remain in good standing, all riders must meet the following requirements: Violating these core COS Racing guidelines may reduce access to team benefits or result in removal from the team. 

Section I: USA Cycling 

COS Racing is a USA Cycling team, and by being a part of the team, you must follow all rules and regulations set forth by USA Cycling.

• Race Team members must have a current USA Cycling License and list "COS Racing" in all sections of the USA Cycling license.
• All team members - race & club - must follow USA Cycling rules and policies, including the USAC Code-of-Conduct, USAC Rulebook, and other relevant policies.

Section II: Team Obligations

1. Pay yearly membership dues. (All)

2. Purchase at least one team jersey and bib or mountain bike shorts annually. (All)

3. If held, volunteer for at least one COS Racing-hosted race annually. (All)

4. Enter data for completed races in the team race-tracker to support social media, sponsorship, and community outreach efforts; allow COS Racing to use any team-related images shared in social media for advertising, media, and social media outreach, without expectation of compensation. (See also Section III.) (All)

5. Wear COS Racing team kit for all team rides, races, training camps, and other events. Some early season exceptions apply for new members, as well as club team members who race for trade teams during the competitive season, and state, national, and world champions who may wear their respective champions jerseys. (All)

6. Complete team volunteer requirements (6 hours per year). (Race Team)

7. Participate in five (5) races of any discipline per race year (Nov-Oct). (Race Team)

Section III: Sponsor RELATIONS

As members of COS Racing, we get fantastic perks and discounts through our team sponsors. While we are one of the largest cycling teams in Colorado, our team sponsors receive little benefit in exchange for the discounts and perks they provide. Therefore, we must do all we can to maintain a good relationship with our sponsors and support them in any way we can. Be courteous, polite, and respectful to all sponsor employees. Direct any questions or concerns regarding sponsorship to the Board of Directors, not the sponsor.

• Make our team sponsors the go-to source for sales and service.

• Be respectful and responsible with sponsor discounts.

• Promote our sponsors on social media whenever possible; advocate for our sponsors' products and services, tagging them in relevant posts.

• Do not demand or expect special treatment from sponsors.

• Understand that any bike shop service discount involves being flexible with timing; full-price customers may take priority.

• Do not abuse sponsor discounts to purchase items for non-team members.

• Wear the current COS Racing team kit at all races, clinics, and team rides. Also, wear the team kit on training rides to promote sponsors. (See Section II for exceptions)

• Avoid wearing logo'ed clothing from non-sponsor companies during podiums, promotional events, photoshoots, etc., including relevant social media posts.

• Refrain from posting or linking to negative comments about our team, sponsors, or events on social media.

• Do not promote non-sponsor bike shops or competing brands on social media when affiliated with the team.

• Allow COS Racing Team and sponsors to share impact information and photographs, such as event results, podium photos, and significant cycling contributions.

Section IV: Member Conduct

Be advocates of bicycle safety and obey all rules of the road:

• Wear helmets at all times while riding.

• Follow all local city laws while riding, including obeying traffic lights, posted road signs, and speed limits; follow, know, and understand the 2022 Colorado Safety Stop Law. 

• Demonstrate proper trail, road, and track etiquette. Share the road, trails, and track responsibly. Portray a positive attitude toward pedestrians, drivers, and other co-users on the roads.

• Not engaging in flagrant or repeated unsafe acts, risky behavior, or unrepentant sketchy riding, or fail to follow recognized bike etiquette on the road, track, or trail.  Such actions may result in dismissal from COS Racing, as they reflect poorly on the team and could endanger teammates, the community, or the environment.

• Be the safety voice for all participants on any organized group rides, whether team rides or external.

• For safety purposes, 'in-ear' or 'over-ear' headphone use during group rides is discouraged if they interfere with hearing, as they endanger the group by limiting intragroup communication and warnings.  

1. Be respectful and cordial to each other, especially on social media; do not engage in unwarranted text messaging or other communications that a reasonable person might consider belligerent, hostile, or otherwise unwelcome.

2. Respect each other's privacy and do not share personal data of teammates (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers, etc) outside the team or for reasons other the routine team coordination.

3. Follow all doping regulations set forth by WADA & USADA; any violation is cause for immediate and permanent dismissal.

4. Acknowledge the release of liability by signing/acknowledging this document, releasing COS Racing and their respective agents, employees, contractors, directors, members, sponsors, promoters, and affiliates from liability.

5. Abide by the guidelines above for Sponsor Relations.

6. Do not disclose team race discount codes to non-COS Racing members. We work hard with race directors to secure their trust.

Section V: Loyalty and Commitment

• Cycling is a team sport, especially for race team members.  Commit to racing to benefit the team and your teammates when necessary. This may mean working for other teammates and sacrificing personal results for the benefit of your teammates or the team.

Agreement

I hereby freely agree to and make the following contractual representations and agreements

• I acknowledge that cycling is an inherently dangerous sport and fully realize the dangers of participating in a bicycle race and/or training ride and FULLY ASSUME THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING, by way of example, and not limitation, the following: the dangers of collision with pedestrians, vehicles, other racers, and fixed or moving objects; the dan-gers arising from surface hazards, equipment failure, inadequate safety equipment, THE RELEASEES' OWN NEGLIGENCE, and weather conditions; and the possibility of serious physical and/or mental trauma or injury, including death, associated with athletic cycling competition.

• For myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, assignees, and successors-in-inter-est (collectively "Successors"), I HEREBY WAIVE, RELEASE, DISCHARGE, HOLD HARMLESS, AND PROMISE NOT TO SUE AND INDEMNIFY the releasees and Team COS Racing, and their respective agents, directors, members, employees, sponsors, promoters, representatives, FROM ANY and all rights and CLAIMS INCLUDING CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE RELEASEES' OWN NEGLIGENCE, which I have or which may hereafter accrue to me and from any and all damages which may be sustained by me directly or indirectly in connection with, or arising out of, my participation in or association with Team COS Racing, or travel to or return from events.

• I am responsible for being familiar with race courses, the releasees' rules, and USA Cycling rules. I accept responsibility for the condition and adequacy of my competition equipment. I will compete and train wearing a helmet that satisfies the requirements of USA Cycling. I have no physical or medical condition that, to my knowledge, would endanger myself or others if I participate for Team COS Racing or interfere with my ability to participate in athletic cycling competitions. I do not use drugs or other substances that are prohibited by USA Cycling.

• I have read and agree, for myself and my successors, that the above representations are contractually binding and are not mere recitals. Should I or my successors assert any claim in contravention of this agreement, the asserting party shall be liable for expenses (including legal fees) incurred by the other party or parties in defending unless the other party or parties are finally adjudged liable on such claim for willful and wanton negligence.

• This agreement may not be modified orally, and a waiver of any provision shall not be construed as a modification of any other provision herein, as a consent to any other provision herein, or as a consent to any subsequent waiver or modification.

• Any violations of this agreement will result in disciplinary action at the board of directors' discretion, i.e., forfeiture of membership privileges, including temporary suspension up to immediate dismissal from the team.

Your acknowledgement of this document during registration or renewal constitutes your agreement as described above.

Please contact the COS Racing Board of Directors if you have any questions concerning this rider agreement.