Mike Ripley

Hey Pam

The only thing we are voting on is changing the term from Pro to Open or
Elite (Elite seems to be a popular choice)

All other term changes are being discussed in September to consider for 2014

I hope SS women will be a BAR cat......Board vote on that to my
understanding

The ages are listed on the series site for 2013

The courses for Cat 3' women will in most if not all races the short course
for Cat 3 19-39 and 40+
Cat 2 50+ women would go the middle distance and or longest in 5 of the 10
race series....spring thaw, Mudslinger, Alsea falls, Sisters, chainbreaker
(2 laps) and I would think the whole enchilada for the TOE.... thats always
a tough decision

There are no new category terms listed at Echo's site....only 2013 age
ranges to reflect a more balanced distribution of the 35-44 category

We added back Beginner and this will be a welcome change to encourage new
riders

For example at Sisters in Cat 2 men over 60 35-44 and 25 19-34.....we hope
to balance out the fields

On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Pam Reid wrote:

> Hi Candi,
> Can you clarify more. Does this mean we are using the same Mt. Bike
> racing catagories that were used in 2012? Of which master women 45+ have 1
> choice Cat 3 or we race 35+ cat 2? :( Thanks for clarification and how
> does this affect Echo that lists the new catagories?
>
> or move to 2013
> Proposed
>
>
> 1. 1.Pro Men (Long Course)
> 2. 2.Cat 1 Men 19-39 (Long)
> 3. 3.Cat 1 Men 40+ (Long)
> 4. 4.Singlespeed Men (Long)
> 5. 5.Cat 2 Men 15-18 (Middle)
> 6. 6.Cat 2 Men 19-39 (Middle)
> 7. 7.Cat 2 Men 40-49 (Middle)
> 8. 8. Cat 2 Men 50-59 (Middle)
> 9. 9. Cat 2 Men 60+ (Middle
> 10. 10. Cat 3 Men 19-39 (Middle)
> 11. 11. Cat 3 Men 40+ (Middle)
> 12. 12. Clydesdales 200+ (Middle)
> 13. 13.Beginning Open Men 19+ (Short)
> 14. 14.Cat 3 Junior Men 10-12 (Short)
> 15. 15.Cat 3 Junior Men 13-14 (Short)
> 16. 16.Cat 3 Junior Men 15-16 (Short)
> 17. 17.Cat 3 Junior Men 17-18 (Short)
> 18. 18. Pro Women (Long)
> 19. 19. Cat 1 Women 19-39 (Long)
> 20. 20. Cat 1 Women 40+ (Long)
> 21. 21.Singlespeed Women (Long)
> 22. 22.Cat 2 Junior Women 10-18 (Middle)
> 23. 23.Cat 2 Women 19-39 (Middle)
> 24. 24.Cat 2 Women 40-49 (Middle)
> 25. 25. Cat 2 Women 50+ (Middle)
> 26. 26. Cat 3 Women 19-39 (Middle)
> 27. 27. Cat 3 Women 40+ (Middle)
> 28. 28.Beginning Open Women 19+ (Short)
> 29. 29.Cat 3 Junior Women 10-12 (Short)
> 30. 30.Cat 3 Junior Women 13-14 (Short)
> 31. 31.Cat 3 Junior Women 15-16 (Short)
> 32. 32.Cat 3 Junior Women 17-18 (Short)
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Candi Murray
> *To:* 'Jeff' ; obra@list.obra.org
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 6, 2013 11:36 AM
>
> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] Proposed MTB changes
>
> Jeff
> It is my understanding that the proposed changes have been tabled until
> September 2013 to be implemented (if passed in 2014), since the 2013 season
> has already started.
> Candi
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
> Behalf Of Jeff
> Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 9:42 AM
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Proposed MTB changes
>
> The category changes currently proposed for mountain biking favor the best
> finishing riders, who are age 35-45 and do little to support developing or
> older age groups. Physiologically, most of us peak around 35 and begin to
> slowly decline. This does not mean our best years are gone. Many elite
> athletes have some of their best years into their late 30s to early 40s.
> However, while in our early 20s most riders have not reached their
> physiological peak and are still developing their skills and knowledge
> base. As other riders approach 50 the undeniable physiological decreases
> can't be compensated for by our acquired knowledge or skill to keep us
> competitive within an "open" or wide age field. That is why multiple age
> groups of limited span make the most sense. OBRA, is an organization
> dedicated to "Grassroots" racing, these proposed changes do little to
> support the community of riders looking to race against their peer group
> and wanting to have a good race experience (finishes). I find making a 19
> year old race against 39 year old or 50+ racers ride with someone just 40
> to be shortsighted, leading to rider disenchantment and a decrease in rider
> participation at races. Two age groups within a category just don’t make
> sense.
>
> Keep the current age groups of 15-18, 19-34, 35-44 and 45+.
>
> These proposed changes need to be voted down and re-thought to make racing
> exciting for everyone at the grassroots.
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
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>
>

--
Mike Ripley
Mudslinger Events
Oregon Outdoor Recreation

PO BOX 87
Monroe, OR. 97456
541-225-7946

Brooke Hoyer

I won't be racing mountain so take this for what it's worth.

The previous two seasons I raced SS cyclocross and short track mtb. I am 47
years old. I didn't whinge about all those younger guys beating me -- which
they did. I raced and had a lot of fun in an open field. I took pride in
results where there weren't any people as old as me ahead of me in the
placings (very rare). I had fun racing the dudes around me.

Honestly, I haven't been following this debate closely but I have seen a
couple comments lately where older riders have complained about not getting
split out into their own category. Everyone likes to have an opportunity
for a good result, I get that. But there are other ways to gauge a good
result within a large group without having to be spit out by age category.
If top placings are all that motivate racers, then we'd have a whole lot
racers than we do now.

My $.02
Brooke Hoyer

On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 10:36 AM, Mike Richardson wrote:

> What he actually said was teenagers and early twenties (like him) didn't
> have the skills or experience to hang with YOU!
>
> Mike
>
> On Feb 6, 2013, at 9:53 AM, Evan Plews wrote:
>
> > Umm what you sayin? Those of us in our late thirties can't hang with
> teenagers? Absolutely no fact to back that up.
> >
> > Evan Plews
> > www.evanplews.com
> > 503-949-4879
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > From: Jeff
> > Sent: 6 Feb 2013 17:47:51 GMT
> > To: obra@list.obra.org
> > Subject: [OBRA Chat] Proposed MTB changes
> >
> > The category changes currently proposed for mountain biking favor the
> best finishing riders, who are age 35-45 and do little to support
> developing or older age groups. Physiologically, most of us peak around 35
> and begin to slowly decline. This does not mean our best years are gone.
> Many elite athletes have some of their best years into their late 30s to
> early 40s. However, while in our early 20s most riders have not reached
> their physiological peak and are still developing their skills and
> knowledge base. As other riders approach 50 the undeniable physiological
> decreases can't be compensated for by our acquired knowledge or skill to
> keep us competitive within an "open" or wide age field. That is why
> multiple age groups of limited span make the most sense. OBRA, is an
> organization dedicated to "Grassroots" racing, these proposed changes do
> little to support the community of riders looking to race against their
> peer group and wanting to have a good race experience (finishes). I find
> making a 19 year old race against 39 year old or 50+ racers ride with
> someone just 40 to be shortsighted, leading to rider disenchantment and a
> decrease in rider participation at races. Two age groups within a category
> just don’t make sense.
> >
> > Keep the current age groups of 15-18, 19-34, 35-44 and 45+.
> >
> > These proposed changes need to be voted down and re-thought to make
> racing exciting for everyone at the grassroots.
> > _______________________________________________
> > OBRA mailing list
> > obra@list.obra.org
> > http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> > Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > OBRA mailing list
> > obra@list.obra.org
> > http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> > Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

rondot@spiritone.com

Thanks for posting your honest views. Reps doing the voting need to hear
from members.

I know the older I get, everything gets so confusing. When I spin around, I
fall down! Sometimes I just fall down. Sometimes I pass the younger riders
when their chain comes off. Is drafting in XC the same as a PED? What cat.
is right for me? Ultra short track / 60+, then fall down? So little time
to choose.

If the rules change, there will be an impact. If they do not change there
will be an impact. Guess we find out.
ronnie

-----Original Message-----
From: Evan Plews
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 9:53 AM
To: Jeff ; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Proposed MTB changes

Umm what you sayin? Those of us in our late thirties can't hang with
teenagers? Absolutely no fact to back that up.

Evan Plews
www.evanplews.com
503-949-4879

-----Original Message-----

From: Jeff
Sent: 6 Feb 2013 17:47:51 GMT
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Proposed MTB changes

The category changes currently proposed for mountain biking favor the best
finishing riders, who are age 35-45 and do little to support developing or
older age groups. Physiologically, most of us peak around 35 and begin to
slowly decline. This does not mean our best years are gone. Many elite
athletes have some of their best years into their late 30s to early 40s.
However, while in our early 20s most riders have not reached their
physiological peak and are still developing their skills and knowledge base.
As other riders approach 50 the undeniable physiological decreases can't be
compensated for by our acquired knowledge or skill to keep us competitive
within an "open" or wide age field. That is why multiple age groups of
limited span make the most sense. OBRA, is an organization dedicated to
"Grassroots" racing, these proposed changes do little to support the
community of riders looking to race against their peer group and wanting to
have a good race experience (finishes). I find making a 19 year old race
against 39 year old or 50+ racers ride with someone just 40 to be
shortsighted, leading to rider disenchantment and a decrease in rider
participation at races. Two age groups within a category just don’t make
sense.

Keep the current age groups of 15-18, 19-34, 35-44 and 45+.

These proposed changes need to be voted down and re-thought to make racing
exciting for everyone at the grassroots.
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