Tim Schauer
Okay,
I can't help myself...I toss my two cents...and a little humor for good measure.
As Cat 3 Master, who will turn 40 this year (October), I can finally race in the 40+ masters races again. When I turned 35, OBRA ran a lot of 35+ masters races, so I got to jump in the Masters races for the first time then too. The fields were bigger in the 35+ then than the 40+ now, I thought compared to the Cat 3's at the time I wouldn't say it was better or worse, faster or slower, harder or easier just different. Then OBRA went to mostly 40+ Master races and I went back to the Cat 3 racing. Again, Now in the 40+ field I would say Masters racing is just different, not faster or harder or slower or easier, just different. Personally, I like it. Some of the races have been overall slower at times than I expected, but not easier. I would however, characterize the Masters races as more tactical, less of a strictly physical battle. There is more a feeling of a chess match with some extreme physical stress at times, but not all the time. My Cat 3 racing experience last year (for me) was more a physical challenge to hang on all the time, with difficulty to even navigate to the front, and therefore less tactical opportunity (for me). I guess I have finally come the reality that racing my bike is really racing against myself and my own limitations (tactical, physical, or technical skill level) and looking to improve all of them when I choose a field to race in. No matter what field I race in. And, it is nice to have choices!
If you want to compare the Speed of the Masters 40+ versus the speed/fitness of the Masters 35+ populations, one only has to look at the Time Trial results. The 40-49 cats are consistently faster than the 30-39 fields. Let's not even talk about the speed of some of those 50+ guys, Holy cow! I can't wait until I'm 50+ so I can be that fast!! And another thing...some of these so called cat 1/2 racers racing down with the masters is kind of funny, since most every Master's road race I've done this year has a whole group of guys who have already raced the longer Cat 1/2 race before the masters race!! How can we complain about racing against a Cat 1/2 guy in the masters 1/2/3 race who has already raced 70 miles just before his race against some of us Cat3 Masters only racing one race per day?
Obviously....Age doesn't necessarily mean slower....or less fit.
So,...Any talk of a Masters 40+, Cat 3, Clydesdale category at any of the upcoming road races? Huh? Anyone?
-Tim "16th at POC Masters 40+ means no points!" Schauer
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Fuchs
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 7:28 AM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Master's categories
Gary,
It's not the speed of the field. Cat. 3's races and Master's 1/2/3 races are basically the same speed. Its the size of the Master's fields. I'd rather finish in 10th out of 80 people than 5th of 20. Larger fields are more fun. That being said, Master's races tend to be more tactical when there are enough riders to make it a road race.
There are plenty of fast master's racer in OBRA, but the Master's fields this year have been really small. I was really disappointed this year when I showed up to Cherry pie and there were 28 racers in the master's 1/2/3 category. As a result I raced cat. 3's at the BB's and I will race cat. 3's at Willamette.
If the races were 35+ I bet there would be larger fields.
-Jeff
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