5's race for 45 min???

jon.ragsda..@comcast.net

2016-08-23

What used to be a C, is now a 4. We've always raced for 45 minuntes.
I had a discussion the other day about how things are now to how they were in the late 80s. When I was a junior (and a Cat 4), our average road race was 60 miles and average crit was 60 minutes (some as long as 90). Our begining mountain bike races were in the 2 to 3 hour range. I was shocked when I joined OBRA about the length of the races.

From: "David via OBRA"
To: "obra"
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 10:50:28 AM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] 5's race for 45 min???

Can anyone tell me why in all the race schedules I'm seeing (at least for Portland-area races) the 5's race for 45 minutes? That's insane! I've never seen 4's or 5's race over 30-35 minutes in other cities I've raced in. What's the thought? Why push beginners so hard? 45 minutes is tough enough if you're a 3 and been training all summer, so if you're a 5 and aren't into "training" for races, that's a LONG race. Even professional women racing at the highest level like the World Cup races do 45 minutes! You don't have beginners do road races that are 180km like the pros.... I thought we want them to like it and come back for more :)

(And don't get me started on the fact that those finishing in the middle of the pack or lower could do close to an hour....!!)

Thanks,
David
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Candi Murray.

2016-08-23

My best guess is that when they changed the start time for the Cat 5s they did not change the duration. Nice catch. Let's ask the race organizers
Candi

Sent from my iPad

> On Aug 23, 2016, at 10:50 AM, David via OBRA wrote:
>
> Can anyone tell me why in all the race schedules I'm seeing (at least for Portland-area races) the 5's race for 45 minutes? That's insane! I've never seen 4's or 5's race over 30-35 minutes in other cities I've raced in. What's the thought? Why push beginners so hard? 45 minutes is tough enough if you're a 3 and been training all summer, so if you're a 5 and aren't into "training" for races, that's a LONG race. Even professional women racing at the highest level like the World Cup races do 45 minutes! You don't have beginners do road races that are 180km like the pros.... I thought we want them to like it and come back for more :)
>
> (And don't get me started on the fact that those finishing in the middle of the pack or lower could do close to an hour....!!)
>
> Thanks,
> David
> _______________________________________________
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> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org


David

2016-08-23

Can anyone tell me why in all the race schedules I'm seeing (at least for Portland-area races) the 5's race for 45 minutes? That's insane! I've never seen 4's or 5's race over 30-35 minutes in other cities I've raced in. What's the thought? Why push beginners so hard? 45 minutes is tough enough if you're a 3 and been training all summer, so if you're a 5 and aren't into "training" for races, that's a LONG race. Even professional women racing at the highest level like the World Cup races do 45 minutes! You don't have beginners do road races that are 180km like the pros.... I thought we want them to like it and come back for more :)

(And don't get me started on the fact that those finishing in the middle of the pack or lower could do close to an hour....!!)

Thanks,
David