Don Leet
Steve and all the other 50+, This is exactly (I am sure Mike will agree) what happened. There really are not enough 50+ to have more than one class. So we choose the sport because of the distance we would race. It really is like cross in that there is only one 50+. Looking forward to another season, and always wondering who has turned 50 this year. I already know John Wilson has reached the magic milestone.
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Lacey
To: Obra List serve
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:48 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] OBRA upgrade rules for mtb
OK, so my understanding from talking to Mike Ripley last year was that 50+ riders had a choice of racing in the 50+ sport class or racing in the 40+ expert class since there was no 50+ expert class.
So given the choice, most of us 50+ riders raced in the 50+ sport category and had a great time. Since there is no 50+ expert category to upgrade to we all assume the 50+ class is defacto an open class for all 50+ riders that don't want to race the longer expert loops. Those few that may want can do so in the 40+ category. A 1.5-2 hour race is just fine for me, given limited training time, thank you very much.
Mike, if you are out there and care to elaborate or correct my interpretation, please let us know your thoughts.
Regards
Steve Lacey
----- Original Message ----
From: Candi Murray
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 1:34:34 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] OBRA upgrade rules for mtb
Mike Ripley has proposed a revision of our mtn bike upgrade policy. Please
note that this policy has always been informal and not really published. It
was 3 top 3 or 5 top 5s to move up.
I have pasted in the NORBA upgrade rules below, our reciprocity agreement
does not mention mtn bike at all.
Let me know what you all think.
Candi Murray
Executive Director
Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
-----Original Message-----
Proposed changes
OBRA mountain bike upgrade rules
OBRA allows self-selection of category as beginner, sport or expert. Pro and
Semi-pro
classes are only available through upgrade with OBRA or by having a current
NORBA
Pro or Semi-pro license. Master class racers are not required to upgrade
past expert.
Mandatory upgrade rules:
. 4 finishes in the top 3 in any class with a minimum of 15 competitors for
men and
10 for women.
These upgrades apply to:
. Beginner to Sport
. Sport to Expert
. Expert to Semi-Pro*
. Semi-pro to Pro
* Not a womens category
Downgrade rules:
A rider may downgrade one category when:
. He or she places in the bottom 20% of any field size in 2 races.
Please submit upgrade questions to mike@obra.org
Current NORBA rules
MTB Category Upgrades
Riders may advance as quickly as they wish up to Sport.
However, once a rider has upgraded, he or she will not be permitted to
downgrade to a less difficult category without making a formal request to
USA Cycling. The upgrading of categories will be noted on the racing license
by USA Cycling.
The USA Cycling Official at the event may record the upgrade of a rider to
Sport or to Expert. The official will then contact the USA Cycling MTB
Regional Manager to record the change.
A rider may also contact USA Cycling or the MTB Regional Manager by email,
in writing, or online to change categories.
Beginner racers must move to the appropriate Sport category after placing in
the top five in five races. Failure to do so may result in license
suspension.
Sport riders may move up to the expert category after two top five finishes
by presenting an upgrade request and a resume to an official or to USA
Cycling.
Sport riders must advance to the appropriate Expert category after placing
in the top five in five races. Failure to do so may result in license
suspension.
For mandatory upgrading purposes, classes must consist of the following
competitors:
Class Men Women
Senior 20 15
Master age 30-39 20 15
Master age 40-49 15 10
Master age 50+ 5 5
In those classes that require a minimum of ten competitors, the top three in
the class are counted for upgrading. In those
classes that require five, the top finisher will be counted for upgrading.
Upgrades will be based on a rider's placings in his category over a calendar
year.
Expert men riders may be eligible to be upgraded to Semi-Pro after a
combination of achieving these minimum race results:
. two top-five finishes at USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar
Category 1 or Category 2 events; . three top-three finishes in American
Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) events or USA Cycling Mountain Bike National
Calendar Category 3 or Category 4 events; . four top-three finishes at a
State or Regional Championship event.
Overall finish times are factored into upgrade requests. Riders must submit
their upgrade requests through their USA Cycling online membership account.
Semi-pro riders may be eligible to be upgraded to Pro after achieving a
combination of these minimum race results:
. two top-three or
. three top-five finishes at a USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar
Category 1 or Category 2 events.
AMBC, USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar Category 3 or Category 4
events, and International events may also be considered. Overall finish
times will be factored into upgrade requests. Riders must submit their
upgrade requests through their USA Cycling online membership account.
Expert female riders may be eligible to be upgraded to Pro after achieving a
combination of these minimum race results:
. two top-three or three top-five finishes at a USA Cycling Mountain Bike
National Calendar Category 1 or Category
2 events.
AMBC, USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar Category
3 or Category 4 events, and International events may also be considered.
Overall finish times will be factored into upgrade
requests. Riders must submit their upgrade requests through their USA
Cycling online membership account.
No rider will be permitted to race Pro or Semi-Pro unless his or her license
indicates the Pro or Semi-Pro category.
USA Cycling reserves the right to upgrade Experts or Semi- Pros at any time.
USA Cycling also reserves the right to downgrade riders from the Pro or
Semi-Pro category at any time.
A rider who feels he/she has advanced too quickly or is otherwise no longer
competitive in his or her category may ask for reclassification by
submitting a written request to USA Cycling identifying his/her results and
reasoning. Such a request must be directed to the rider's USA Cycling MTB
Regional Manager and include the current license and a $15 re-issue fee.
When a rider who is participating in a state or regional series has met the
upgrading requirements in their current category, (s)he may petition the USA
Cycling office for a written waiver to this policy allowing him or her to
finish the series for a title.
A rider must also have written permission from the series director to
receive such a waiver.
From: T. Kenji Sugahara [mailto:kenji73sugahara@gmail.com] On Behalf Of T.
Kenji Sugahara
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 12:25 PM
To: Candi Murray
Subject: Fwd: OBRA upgrade rules for mtb
Candi-
How do we change the MTB upgrade rules?
First, what are your thoughts on this?
Second, if we are to do this, does this need to be a board vote, an annual
meeting vote or a change we can make on our own?
T. Kenji Sugahara
Assistant Director
Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
503-302-4935
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Mike Ripley
> Date: November 27, 2007 8:38:14 AM PST
> To: "T. Kenji Sugahara"
> Subject: OBRA upgrade rules for mtb
>
> Kenji,
>
> I will bring a copy, but you here they are.
>
> See ya soon
> Mike
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