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I'm a 40 year old Cat 4, often racing with and against 16 to 50 year =
old Cat 1,2,3's. It's secondary really how old they are - it usually =
just matters that they aren't my level.=20
If a race though is categorized by age group rather than by category =
such as the time trial - then yes, it should be divided fairly among men =
and women. This seems to be an ongoing issue among riders -especially, =
although not exclusively to the women.=20
I think how the categories divide up is reflected in the numbers =
that show up. Do we want the sport to grow in terms of having new =
racers come out - i.e.. women that don't currently race. If so - then =
there needs to be opportunities for them to race against others their =
own level. This isn't just about the 20-30 that currently race. If 1000 =
women can show up for a short course triathlon in Portland - that means =
there are a lot of women out there who ride (race) on bikes. Over 100 =
women showed up to a beginning racing clinic in Seattle last fall. Why =
do 10-20 women show up at a race? Because we lack a division of levels =
for the women. We lack an attitude among the women that welcomes =
beginners as well. It's easy to show up if you're good, but every "new =
cyclist" I have talked to is intimidated to ride with the big girls. (I =
remember that feeling well - fortunately I had some great intro racing =
opportunities where I lived) Yes, they can watch and learn - but not =
if we don't get them out there. Many of the current women who race, =
myself included, want challenges; more distance, more laps - and we =
have options to ride that way simply by moving up or by riding with the =
men. It is unfortunate when consensus scares away those just starting =
out. Without the numbers, no one wants to have the categories and =
without the categories - the numbers won't grow. It takes commitment on =
the part of race directors and a desire to grow the sport on the part of =
everyone else to see this happen. Statistically, women spend a lot of =
dollars at retail - it would be good for the industry to get more of =
them out to race.
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<DIV><FONT size=3D2> I'm a 40 year old Cat 4, often =
racing with=20
and against 16 to 50 year old Cat 1,2,3's. It's =
secondary really how=20
old they are - it usually just matters that they aren't my=20
level. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> If a race though is categorized =
by age=20
group rather than by category such as the time trial - then yes, it =
should=20
be divided fairly among men and women. This seems to be an =
ongoing=20
issue among riders -especially, although not exclusively to the=20
women. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> I think how the categories =
divide up=20
is reflected in the numbers that show up. Do we want the =
sport to=20
grow in terms of having new racers come out - i.e.. women that don't =
currently=20
race. If so - then there needs to be opportunities for them to race=20
against others their own level. This isn't just about the =
20-30 that=20
currently race. If 1000 women can show up for a short course =
triathlon in=20
Portland - that means there are a lot of women out there =
who=20
ride (race) on bikes. Over 100 women showed up to a beginning =
racing=20
clinic in Seattle last fall. Why do 10-20 women show up at a =
race? =20
Because we lack a division of levels for the women. We lack an =
attitude among the women that welcomes beginners as well. It's =
easy to=20
show up if you're good, but every "new cyclist" I =
have talked to=20
is intimidated to ride with the big girls. (I remember that feeling well =
-=20
fortunately I had some great intro racing opportunities where I lived)=20
Yes, they can watch and learn - but not if we don't get =
them out=20
there. Many of the current women who race, myself included, want=20
challenges; more distance, more laps - and we have options to =
ride=20
that way simply by moving up or by riding with the men. It =
is=20
unfortunate when consensus scares away those just starting=20
out. Without the numbers, no one wants to have the =
categories and=20
without the categories - the numbers won't grow. It takes =
commitment on=20
the part of race directors and a desire to grow the sport on the part of =
everyone else to see this happen. Statistically, women =
spend a=20
lot of dollars at retail - it would be good for the industry to get =
more of=20
them out to race.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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