Laurel Gitlen
I just had a minute to catch up on this thread and I have a few thoughts. .
.
As many of you know, I moved to New York at the end of last summer and am
not even sure how much racing I will do here or there . . . but I do have
some thoughts and ideas that have been informed by racing in Oregon and
Washington in the last five years and a bit here on the east coast.
First off, it seems that there will never be total agreement about how to
split fields, etc since we all have different agendas and desires when it
comes to racing. That said, I can sympathize with most of the points of
view expressed.
Secondly, while I agree that cat 4 development needs to be a focus to grow
the sport, I think the bigger problem may lay elsewhere. The cat 4 womens
field is often larger in numbers than the 1/2/3 womens field at any given
race (in oregon and in NY). Here in NY, one of the bigger races (the
battenkill roubaix) already has a full pre-registered cat 3/4 womens race of
75 and a waiting list, while the 1/2/3 race has maybe 5 or so women
pre-registered.
In Oregon if the fields are split 1/2 and 3/4, there are often less than 5
1/2 women.
Anyway, it seems to me that there is almost a bigger problem with retention
in the higher categories than there is with recruitment for the 4s.
I think part of this is due to attrition when 1/2 women race with the men
(and I have been known to do this as well) and also the commitment of racing
at that level. The same is true in the mens, but to a lesser degree. Part
of what happens in a smaller field is that it becomes very hard as a
fat/slow out of shape cat 2 (that's me right now!) to show up and race in a
field of 5-6 very fast women - it's much harder for us to hide out/fake it.
Anyway, I have often wondered about whether there would be some way to
organize a PNW 1/2/3 cup (maybe in lieu of the OR cup or WA cup) so that
there would be certain races that might be targeted by racers from OR, WA
and maybe ID making bigger, more competetive fields? I also think that
there may be a point where if numbers continue to grow there will be a
tipping point and the women's races will be more aggressive, faster, bigger
fields and there wont be as much of a need to race in the men's field to get
some fast, pack race miles.
Last, I'm not sure I entirely understand why it is so objectionable to mix
all the women's categories (scored separately or not). Two of my favorite
races as a 4, 3 and 2 have always worked this way (TST and Elkhorn). A lot
of the 1/2 women racing in OR now (like me) started out in mixed fields at
EVERY race and learned a lot from it. I don't think this is always the best
solution, but it's also not that bad.
just some ideas. miss you all!
Laurel
On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 10:11 AM, T. Kenji Sugahara wrote:
> Ladies,
>
> I am impressed and happy with the quality and quantity of feedback
> that you've sent. I appreciate the time and thought that many of you
> have put into your responses.
>
> A few weeks ago, a rider I know suggested this and I thought it would
> be great to run it by all of you! I think this was a successful
> discussion. As far as this issue is concerned, I think we can safely
> say that the 1/2/3 ladies will not be run with the Master's men.
>
> I'm continually searching for ideas to increase participation. I'm
> looking for help and feedback on a couple of issues:
>
> How do we increase the number of Cat 4 ladies?
> How do we mentor/instruct the new Cat 4 ladies to increase safety?
> (Do we have classes like CycleU in WA?)
> How do we ensure that the Cat 4 ladies continue to race after the
> first couple races of the season?
>
> I also wanted to relay that I am very invested in women's cycling- and
> my focus is primarily on the Cat 4 women. My rationale is that the
> more Cat 4 women we bring in- the more Cat 3's we'll have and the more
> Cat 1/2's we'll have. My goal is also to have a Cat 3 women's series
> as soon as we reach a critical mass of Cat 3 riders.
>
> I also wanted to take this opportunity to ask that all of you thank
> Martha Walsh for her dedication to women's cycling. The is such a gem
> and an invaluable asset to cycling. We are very lucky to have her as
> such a strong proponent of women's cycling. She is managing the Cat 4
> women's series and has brought together and organized much of it. So
> thank you Martha!
>
> I have one request for all of you- please evangelize the sport to your
> friends. Whether it be cyclocross, road, MTB or track- get your
> friends to try it out! If they are a little hesitant- get them to try
> cyclocross to get them hooked!
>
> Thanks!
>
> k-
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>
--
Laurel Gitlen
Small A Projects
1430 SE Third Ave
Portland, OR 97214
503.490.7255 mobile
www.smallaprojects.com