mt.Bike race distances/classes

Doug Evans

2003-04-11

For upgrade criteria see:

http://www.obra.org/mtb/MTB_2003/Welcome_racers_2003_rev_a.pdf



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

From: Derl Miller [mailto:derlm-@hotmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 5:18 PM

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] mt.Bike race distances/classes





My 2 cents....We should primarily follow NORBA's policies on this. Even

though we have our quarrels with NORBA, many which I think support having

OBRA as Oregon's sanctioner, they are still the nationally recognized body

and the ones who rank racers nationally. Everyone who is an expert remains

an expert until they place in the top 5 at an NCS as an expert in which case

they may upgrade to semi-pro. Some national races have experts racing the

same distance as pros (Sea Otter), some have shorter races for experts

(NCS). So, it should be up to the promoter to decide whether their pro

course is too hard for experts and needs to be shortened. In most Oregon

races I would say no. One deviance would be separate start times for

experts (which is usually the case nationally). Pros/experts should all

start together so that experts do get a chance to compete directly with pros

and get an idea about the next level up. Sport riders should also have some

criteria for upgrading to expert. Basically I say if you want to be an

expert, win sport races, if you want to be a semi-pro, beat the local

experts and place top 5 nationally. If you want to be a pro, you need to

race nationally and place top 5 in 3 nationals.









From: gregg strome <strom-@yahoo.com>

Reply-To: strom-@yahoo.com

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] mt.Bike race distances/classes

Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 13:12:07 -0700 (PDT)





When I go to a race I expect to be able to compare

myself to not only the people in my age group but all

of the riders that are in the race. The expert

category should have the same race distances as the

elite and pro. If the experts aren't racing that same

distance then OBRA should change the categories to

pro, elite, expert and beginner. There is no need for

the sport class. All experts should be allowed to

upgrade to Elite. All sports should race the expert

class at the shorter distance. Race distance is one of

the reasons for the class distinction.

I have enjoyed comparing my times to the "real pros"

while still racing age group, it is a motivator as

well as a reality check.



Gregg Strome



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Jim VanSchoonhoven

2003-04-11

Derl, are you saying if you are an OBRA Semi-Pro you should have to go do

NORBA Nationals to get upgraded for OBRA events. What if you are a local

semi-pro that doesn't want to or can't afford to race NORBA races would this

mean you would never be an OBRA Pro? And what if you are beating the NORBA

Pros that race OBRA races? I am just wondering for sure what you meant.



Jim VanSchoonhoven



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

From: Derl Miller [mailto:derlm-@hotmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 5:18 PM

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] mt.Bike race distances/classes





My 2 cents....We should primarily follow NORBA's policies on this. Even

though we have our quarrels with NORBA, many which I think support having

OBRA as Oregon's sanctioner, they are still the nationally recognized body

and the ones who rank racers nationally. Everyone who is an expert remains

an expert until they place in the top 5 at an NCS as an expert in which case

they may upgrade to semi-pro. Some national races have experts racing the

same distance as pros (Sea Otter), some have shorter races for experts

(NCS). So, it should be up to the promoter to decide whether their pro

course is too hard for experts and needs to be shortened. In most Oregon

races I would say no. One deviance would be separate start times for

experts (which is usually the case nationally). Pros/experts should all

start together so that experts do get a chance to compete directly with pros

and get an idea about the next level up. Sport riders should also have some

criteria for upgrading to expert. Basically I say if you want to be an

expert, win sport races, if you want to be a semi-pro, beat the local

experts and place top 5 nationally. If you want to be a pro, you need to

race nationally and place top 5 in 3 nationals.









From: gregg strome <strom-@yahoo.com>

Reply-To: strom-@yahoo.com

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] mt.Bike race distances/classes

Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 13:12:07 -0700 (PDT)





When I go to a race I expect to be able to compare

myself to not only the people in my age group but all

of the riders that are in the race. The expert

category should have the same race distances as the

elite and pro. If the experts aren't racing that same

distance then OBRA should change the categories to

pro, elite, expert and beginner. There is no need for

the sport class. All experts should be allowed to

upgrade to Elite. All sports should race the expert

class at the shorter distance. Race distance is one of

the reasons for the class distinction.

I have enjoyed comparing my times to the "real pros"

while still racing age group, it is a motivator as

well as a reality check.



Gregg Strome



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Derl Miller

2003-04-10

My 2 cents....We should primarily follow NORBA's policies on this. Even

though we have our quarrels with NORBA, many which I think support having

OBRA as Oregon's sanctioner, they are still the nationally recognized body

and the ones who rank racers nationally. Everyone who is an expert remains

an expert until they place in the top 5 at an NCS as an expert in which case

they may upgrade to semi-pro. Some national races have experts racing the

same distance as pros (Sea Otter), some have shorter races for experts

(NCS). So, it should be up to the promoter to decide whether their pro

course is too hard for experts and needs to be shortened. In most Oregon

races I would say no. One deviance would be separate start times for

experts (which is usually the case nationally). Pros/experts should all

start together so that experts do get a chance to compete directly with pros

and get an idea about the next level up. Sport riders should also have some

criteria for upgrading to expert. Basically I say if you want to be an

expert, win sport races, if you want to be a semi-pro, beat the local

experts and place top 5 nationally. If you want to be a pro, you need to

race nationally and place top 5 in 3 nationals.









From: gregg strome <strom-@yahoo.com>

Reply-To: strom-@yahoo.com

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] mt.Bike race distances/classes

Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 13:12:07 -0700 (PDT)





When I go to a race I expect to be able to compare

myself to not only the people in my age group but all

of the riders that are in the race. The expert

category should have the same race distances as the

elite and pro. If the experts aren't racing that same

distance then OBRA should change the categories to

pro, elite, expert and beginner. There is no need for

the sport class. All experts should be allowed to

upgrade to Elite. All sports should race the expert

class at the shorter distance. Race distance is one of

the reasons for the class distinction.

I have enjoyed comparing my times to the "real pros"

while still racing age group, it is a motivator as

well as a reality check.



Gregg Strome



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gregg strome

2003-04-10



When I go to a race I expect to be able to compare

myself to not only the people in my age group but all

of the riders that are in the race. The expert

category should have the same race distances as the

elite and pro. If the experts aren't racing that same

distance then OBRA should change the categories to

pro, elite, expert and beginner. There is no need for

the sport class. All experts should be allowed to

upgrade to Elite. All sports should race the expert

class at the shorter distance. Race distance is one of

the reasons for the class distinction.

I have enjoyed comparing my times to the "real pros"

while still racing age group, it is a motivator as

well as a reality check.



Gregg Strome



__________________________________________________

Do you Yahoo!?

Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more

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