Melissa Boyd
Don -
You have some really good points about masters racers. I'd like to also
remind race organizers to remember the Masters WOMEN too, please! Many
events that have masters mens categories either completely ignore masters
women, or have only a 40+ category (open to all cats: 1-2-3-4) and only
rarely a 50+ category.
I'll admit there aren't many of us out there, and we're happy to race in
combined fields but would appreciate being scored separately.
Some of the Masters Women are really fast and very experienced. Some of us
are not, and it is a bit intimidating to have to race as a cat-4 with women
30 years younger. Masters women categories rarely have prizes; so I can only
assume that the masters race for the fun of it. And, their only measure of
success is the masters BAR points. When masters women enter races as cat-4's
(if there is no masters category), the bar points DO NOT COUNT toward their
masters BAR. OBRA does not combine cat-4 points with Masters points.
I think the Cross Crusade should be commended for adding the 45+ category to
their cross races last fall. By doing this, they nearly doubled the number
of masters women cyclocross racers. If more races in other disciplines added
masters women fields, I believe they would also see increased participation.
Any comments from other masters women? Comments from race organizers?
Thanks -
Melissa
On 4/1/08, Don Hanson wrote:
>
> Mike, thanks for the reply to my suggestion about splitting off the
> masters.
> I'm asking for us older Masters because I am an older master now, but
> each year, there are going to be more of you getting older, too. I bet
> you will still be wanting to race your bikes, but probably not so
> much, if
> your only option is to start with guys 20+ years younger every time..
> I've been in contact with other 50+ and > racers from around the
> country, trying to find out how it works for them. Many have said they
> have
> 'age group' masters racing available, quite often, in their areas;
> especially in the east and the Midwest.. BC has masters racing on the
> "Australian Pursuit" format..where the oldest start first on a handicap
> time formula and everyone finishes when they cross the line....I'll be
> heading up there to give that a try this season at some point. My Canadian
> masters friends love the format.
> I have raced some age group events in Arizona, and I do the Huntsman
> World
> Senior games in Utah each season, where a 5yr age group field might have
> 2
> or 3 former or current national champions at the line.
> The interest is here, amongst us older competitors. The organizers just
> need to hear that we'd enter if they offered us a race. It doesn't hurt
> to
> ask..
> The format used in the Huntsman road race is they start us at one minute
> intervals. The rules specify no drafting or working with other groups and
> it's kinda on the honor system. Some years, we've worn different color
> survey tape on our numbers so you can identify your own competition..Good
> fun. The combined field hits over a hundred, so the interest is there,
> for
> sure. Everyone is on the road within about 8 minutes, so the traffic
> interruption is no bigger than a 'normal' race..
> I'll be there at the OBRA state RR again this year. We all had a great
> race last season amongst ourselves. We may be older, but we still race
> hard....Give us more, you organizers, please? (You have to ask before you
> get...right?)
> Don Hanson
>
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