Pamela Archer

Female OBRA-ites:

While I agree that having to race as a Cat 3 with the 1-2's can be
intimidating, I second Cheryl's motion that field size should be of
consideration when determining who races with whom. I also second Candi's
comment that you need to be a race promoter or organizer to truly understand
that it's impossible to make everyone happy.

Because we have this wonderful cat 4 women's racing series, maybe we can
take that momentum and make a 1-2/3 crit women's crit series? Start with 3
or 4 crits, and give those special points or prizes, or something so we all
know to show up (um, how many times have you gone to a random race and had
limited field sizes?! Let's eliminate that!). that way maybe we can have
enough women to justify separate fields!

I think one of the key elements to a successful OBRA women's group is to
retain riders-it's not that there aren't that many cat 3's, 2's, or even
1's. it's just getting them to keep coming to races. So if you've been
upgraded, congratulations! Now, come out and race your bike! Yup, you'll
be a small fish in a big pond, but that's bike racing until you're a cat 1,
and then you have to go pro and win a gold medal. It doesn't end, even for
Lance.

Pam

On a related note, who's excited to race with one women's field on
Saturday?!

Pamela Archer

parcher@umn.edu