hendr-@gorge.net
Masters racing isn't just about fitness level. It is also about
experience. No offense meant to younger riders, but guys who have
been racing since they were 20 and are now 30-35 want to ride with
racers at the same experience level.
The best approach is to do Master's racing with lower age ranges, so
riders with similar race experience can compete together and then
have limitations based on performance for fitness levels.
Washington has done this in both cross and road racing. In cross
this year, the age is 35+, but if a rider has placed in a Pro/Cat1-2
road race or a Pro/Elite MTB race, he or she cannot ride in the
master's field. On the road, there is a Master's A and B field.
Master's A consists of registered Cat 3's who are 30+ and registered
Cat 1/2s who are 45+.
This approach evens the playing field by combining experience,
fitness and age. Fields are competitive irrespective of age because
experience weighs heavily in where one can compete. For example,
Steve Holland won the Master's B race at the Mutual of Enumclaw stage
race this year (he is 45+ cat 1/2 - I think - and was competing
against a bunch of guys who were a lot younger).
This balanced approach would serve Oregon racing well.
---- Original Message ----
From: vicki_sc-@yahoo.com
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Getting older
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 12:02:15 -0700 (PDT)
Since Lance just won the Tour at almost 34 years of age and many
pro's
ride into their mid to late 30's it seems weird in my opinion to
declare people "masters" at 30+. Many people, especially women,
reach
their peak strength in their early 30's - hardly a time for them to
be
in the masters cat.
I think 35, or even 40, would be a more reasonable line to draw.
That
25+ masters cat in nordic skiing sounds something like grade
inflation
to me!!! Soon anyone out of diapers will be a master!
Vicki Schroeder
******************************
It's not how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you
bounce that really matters :)