Road Bike Racing - Cat levels?

Can anybody help to explain to me how local racing clubs determine CAT levels for their riders?

Everyone starts at Cat 5. From then on upgrades are based on results in actual races.

The racing clubs do not decide their categories. The national federation does. There have been many discussions on this here. Try a search.

This made me curious so I went out, rummaged around, and found this at the USA Cycling web-site (http://www.usacycling.org/rulebooks/uscf_rulebook_appendix.pdf). The column formatting on qualifying road races didn't come through, but look hard enough and you can sort it out.

Requirements and Notes by Category:
5-4: Experience in 10 mass start races.
4-3: Need 20 points in any 12-month period; or experience
in 25 qualifying races with a minimum of 10 top-10
finishes. 30 points in 12 months is an automatic
upgrade
3 - 2: Need 25 points in any 12-month period. 60 points in
12 months is an automatic upgrade
2 - 1: Need 30 points in any 12-month period. 60 points in
12 months is an automatic upgrade

Qualifying Road Races for each Category
Category Class RR Crit Time Field Experience
5 - 4 Men 15 mi 10mi 45 min 10 10 races
4 - 3 Men 25 mi 20 mi 1 hr 30 25 races
Women 25 mi 15 mi 45 min 10 25 races
Junior 25 mi 15 mi 45 min 10 25 races
3 - 2 Men 50 mi 20 mi 1 hr 50
Women 40 mi 15 mi 45 min 20
2 - 1 Men 80 mi 35 mi 1.5 hr 60
Women 50 mi 20 mi 1 hr 30

[QUOTE]Originally posted by roadbuzz
[B]This made me curious so I went out, rummaged around, and found this at the USA Cycling web-site (http://www.usacycling.org/rulebooks/uscf_rulebook_appendix.pdf). The column formatting on qualifying road races didn't come through, but look hard enough and you can sort it out.

Thanks...this is exactly what I had been searching for:beer:

Ok, I just browsed through that link and the following section caught my eye:

1.3.020 For massed start road and cyclocross events, the frame of the bicycle shall be of a traditional
pattern, i.e. built around a main triangle. It shall be constructed of straight or tapered tubular elements (which
can be round, oval, flattened, teardrop shaped or otherwise in cross-section); the centerline of each element
shall always be straight. The elements of the frame shall be laid out such that joining points shall follow the
following pattern: the top tube (1) connects the top of the head tube (2) to the top of the seat tube........

The following 2 sections jump out at me:

"The elements of the frame shall be laid out such that joining points shall follow the
following pattern: the top tube (1) connects the top of the head tube (2) to the top of the seat tube..."

So compact frame geometries should be illegal for mass start races?

"It shall be constructed of straight or tapered tubular elements .....the centerline of each element
shall always be straight."

Wouldn't that mean that bikes with curved stays are illegal?

Originally posted by Argonne
the top tube (1) connects the top of the head tube (2) to the top of the seat tube....

I don't see where a compact frame would be in violation. The triangle is squished a little, but it still complies with the above requirements.


It shall be constructed of straight or tapered tubular elements .....the centerline of each element
shall always be straight.

Wouldn't that mean that bikes with curved stays are illegal?

They make prior reference to the main triangle, so my guess is that only the main triangle must meet this criteria.

An interesting detail:


8.5.1.1 Rider categories may be assigned by any administrator based on a rider’s experience and
performance and are subject to appeal. Category 5 for men or category 4 for women is assigned unless a
higher category has been earned.

I guess there's not a womens Cat 5?

Originally posted by roadbuzz
guess there's not a womens Cat 5?

No. 1-4 only.

Originally posted by roadbuzz
They make prior reference to the main triangle, so my guess is that only the main triangle must meet this criteria.

Hmmm.... does this disqualify frames like the Colnago Carbonissimo and the Aegis Aro Svelte?

What kind of speeds are typical in road races and TT's for the various Cat 1-5 for men?

Originally posted by khuon
Hmmm.... does this disqualify frames like the Colnago Carbonissimo and the Aegis Aro Svelte?

Well, I am not familiar with those, but I know that the "Y" type "superbike" frames, ie, down "tube", seat "tube", chain stays, no top tube or seat stays, are prohibited in UCI competition. I think that applies to time trials, too, but I am not positive.

As far as average typical speeds, Cat 5 races around here seem to average 20-21 mph for 40 miles. But the average speed is deceptive. There may be spurts of 27-28 mph, and you have to be able to keep up when those occur. Average speed seems to increase 1-2 mph per category.

Originally posted by RainmanP

Well, I am not familiar with those, but I know that the "Y" type "superbike" frames, ie, down "tube", seat "tube", chain stays, no top tube or seat stays, are prohibited in UCI competition. I think that applies to time trials, too, but I am not positive.

The Colnago Carbonissimo and the Aegis Aro Svelte look very similar. They both have complete triangles, however, the seat tubes are curved.

Here's a picture of the Colnago...

http://www.cbike.com/images/carbonissimo_gold.jpg

... And here's a picture of the Aegis...

http://www.aegisbicycles.com/lo/frames/bikes/AroSvelte.jpg

Someone quoted a UCI rule that specified straight tubes.