History
The club was first formed in the mid-1980s by Century Bicycles, a Silver Spring, Maryland bicycle shop once located on Bonifant Road. Originally named Century Bicycle Racing Club, the club was primarily a juniors team that soon expanded to include a seniors team. Century Bicycles went out of business in January 1995. Shortly before then, the club formally registered with the USCF (United States Cycling Federation) and adopted the name "DC Velo."
The club began promoting the Columbia Spring Classic in 1994. The Columbia Spring Classic (re-named the "Carl Dolan Memorial Spring Classic" in 2000 in memory of a deceased teammate Carl Dolan) was more successful than anyone in the club could have imagined. The "Dolan Classic," now in its 13th straight year, is the longest continuous running event in MABRA (the Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association). Year in and year out, the Dolan Classic boasts more race starts than any other event on the MABRA race calendar.
During the late 1990s, several notable masters racers joined DC Velo, elevating the club's stature and beginning a period of important cultural growth. It was during this time that DC Velo began promoting a second race (the Poolesville time trial) and became actively involved in charitable causes. By 2003, DC Velo was raising over $15,000 a year (at $5.00 a raffle ticket) for the Carl Dolan Memorial Children's Scholarship Fund.
The last few years have seen a number of talented senior and women riders join DC Velo. These new members broadened DC Velo from what had become primarily a masters race team to one that now includes seniors and women.
It was also during this time that DC Velo began organizing and promoting the "Grand Prix of Silver Spring." This race is a high profile, $10,000+ race purse, spectator-friendly criterium located in the newly revitalized downtown of Silver Spring. Co-promoted with Montgomery County and the Silver Spring Regional Center, this race is part of Silver Spring's big-draw downtown events, which include the AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival, the jazz festival and summer concert series, and the Thanksgiving parade. Now one of the race region's most celebrated events, the Grand Prix of Silver Spring attracts racers and media from around the country.
To further our charitable activities, we incorporated DC Velo Outreach Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) entity. More information on DC Velo Outreach Foundation can be found at www.dcvelooutreach.org. The Foundation's 2007 goal is to give away 250 helmets to kids, including at the hugely popular "Kids Ride With Helmets" event, staged before the pro/elite men's race at the Grand Prix of Silver Spring.
Our next chapter begins with new 2007 primary team sponsor Clean Currents, a Silver Spring based green energy broker. This is a business that everyone with electricity needs can support and, in process, do your part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Think global, act local. We do. Find out more at www.teamcleancurrents.com .
