Ron and Dorothy Strasser
I am very much with you on this Steve. When I am in a 40+ field at a cross country course... i just go do the ride (at racing age of 58 I am giving up a number of years and mega-change in what I can get out of this aged to perfection body) I feel somewhat competitive with a 50+ field. In the end if all I end up doing is "the ride"... I can do that for free without obra. I personally think we old guys count too! I also enjoy the social aspect of racing. Come on promoters/OBRA... ribbons and or a Cliff bar to the first three places... do what you can to make it happen. Just remember... one day you will wake up and be over 50.
On another note... I think if you raised the yearly membership to say 30 dollars you would have very little drop off of membership (I would believe that 95% of OBRA members would still think 30 bucks is a killer deal for a years worth of top quality racing). Leave the junior membership CHEAP.
Ol' ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Lacey
To: Obra List serve
Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 8:05 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] 50+ Mtn Bike Class
I am hoping this email that I sent to Mike Ripley last fall will stimulate some dialogue about mountain bike promoters offering a 50+ open class and bring action at the OBRA Annual Meeting coming up next week. Comments please!
For what its worth, after talking to a lot of master racers, I am
> convinced more and more master riders are giving up racing because
> the OBRA race promoters are not consistently offering classes that
> attract these riders. A good formula that appears to work is the Cross
> Crusade format that has a 50+ open class.
>
> Currently depending on the venue we are racing in 40+ class sport and
> expert class or in some cases a 50+ sport class with only a 40+ expert
> caetgory. I am a 50+ expert racer with excellent technical skills but
> not enough time to reach a level of fitness (if even possible) to be
> competitive in the 40 + class. At least last year it was 45+ which
> helped but still didn't address the longer and usually harder (climbs)
> courses.
>
> I suggest an open 50+ class raced with the sport category, which
> offers a course length that is fun and can be raced by older racers
> rather than endured. I know from rider comments that promoters will
> see a number of master riders return to racing by offering this type
> of class.
>
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