DanF-@cs.com
Nicely written Ken!
I'm 35 and interested in racing for the first time. Put me in a category where I can at least ride with the peleton most of the way and maybe even see them finish.
I can't ride with cat 1/2/3 guys. Why would they want to race with a group of cat 4/5 people that they would only see at the starting line?
Dan
Ken Finch <kj_f-@yahoo.com> wrote:
I'll weigh in here.
First of all, this is all icing on the cake. It's just
nice to have these options to discuss and is a sign of
the success of OBRA and the local racing scene.
This is a confusing issue. Generally we rate ourselves
as belonging to a category. Its' some what subjective
of course and that's part of the problem. But
generally there's just too much range of experience
and ability out there in any one given age range to
make racing that much fun for all the lower
categories. I mean there's usually too many Cat 2's
racing in the 35+ (or even 45+)mMasters field for me
to even bother. I'm not going up againt Rich Cramer,
that would be crazy, and he probably wouldn't want me
in the way either.
For all the older Cat. 1 and 2's who say they can't
compete in that field against the younger guys, maybe
it's time to bite the bullet and downgrade? I can
understand how that might be a hard decision to make.
But if you can't compete, that's the bottom line,
right?
So we all have the choice of competing against people
in our ability level just by racing our category and
not paying attention to age. All this talk of heart
rates and younger legs is great, but if your a Cat 2,
you're a Cat 2, it's as simple as that.
That doesn't mean I don't like the idea of having a
masters Cat 4/5, or 1/2 race. If for no other reason
then it might keep the field sizes down a bit and, I
assume, I'll be racing with more experienced and safer
riders. If the promoters can do it, I encourage them
to, because I think it will bring in more racers. And
it's true that the guy (or gal)who gets into racing
for the first time at 40+ years of age, IS a pretty
substantial portion of our demographic. It was me. But
again it's all icing on the cake.
When it comes to National level competition, age
ranges are the only non subjective way to determine
who is really the best, and that's as it should be.
But for local racing, for fun, like we are doing, I
think the Category system ultimately makes for a more
fair and fun experience for all.
--- John Forbes <johnf-@msn.com> wrote:
How about cat fields for 35+ and 45+. Promoters will
get greater attendance.
A lot of us older 1/2/3's can hang with the senior
fields but it's sure a whole lot more fun to have a
podium chance as we can in strong age group fields.
John Forbes
503-331-6658
2126 NE 12th Ave.
Portland, OR 97212
? ----- Original Message -----
? From: k j
? To: ob-@topica.com
? Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 8:05 PM
? Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Piece of Cake Masters
field changes
? Doesn't being a Cat 1/2 master mean that you
should be able to compete in an
? age group as well
? as in senior 1/2 category? ?It shouldn't matter
what age you are if you are
? licensed
? in the proper category for you ability level.
There are master's who got
? their Cat 1 or 2
? status years ago and hold that level of license
even down the road when they
? might not
? be able to compete at that level as a senior.
What is more right having Cat
? 1/2/3 master's and ?Cat 4/5 master's
? all racing together, or putting everyone 35+ and
everyone 45+ together in
? races regardless of ability level?
? Kent Johnston
? -----Original Message-----
? From: John Wilson [mailto:jfw-@comcast.net]
? Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 7:29 PM
? To: rpcr-@hotmail.com; ob-@topica.com
? Cc: obra-@topica.com
? Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Piece of Cake Masters
field changes
? If you want to race in your category you have an
option. Having masters
? 35+, and 45+ gives you a choice to race against
others of similar age. I
? prefer the latter choice.
? The Cherry Pie, and BB 1 have had great turn out
in the Masters 45+. Why
? not stick with this format ? 10+ years is a big
jump no mater what the
? category!
? John Wilson Masters 45+
? -----Original Message-----
? From: rich cramer [mailto:rpcr-@hotmail.com]
? Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 12:59 PM
? To: ob-@topica.com
? Cc: obra-@topica.com
? Subject: [OBRA Chat] Piece of Cake Masters field
changes
? The Masters fields at Piece of Cake will be
separated by category rather
? than age, these changes should be reflected in the
on-line flyer
? shortly.
? There will be a Masters 35+ race for Cat. 2/3
riders. ?And a separate
? race
? for Masters 35+ Cat. 4/5 riders. ?Start times will
still be approx. the
? same
? as they were before (12:30 pm). ?And same distance
as well (55 miles).
? Therefore for any of you Masters pre-registering,
please give your
? category
? as well as denoting "Masters".
? Thanks, Rich Cramer (Piece of Cake Race Director)
_________________________________________________________________
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