"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Is there a subjective component to Cat upgrades?

I am currently a Cat 4, but have 29 upgrade points toward Cat 3. I only needed 20 to upgrade, and it's supposed to be a forced upgrade at 30 points (sandbagger rule).

I tried to pre-register for a race next week as a Cat 3, but the guy won't enter me because I'm still a Cat 4. I told him that I have the necessary points for the upgrade, but am doing one last race as a Cat 4 this weekend, and will request my upgrade to Cat 3 immediately following the race this Saturday. I can't enter Cat 4, because I'll be Cat 3 before the race.

It's like entering a 40+ race when you're 39 but will turn 40 before the race and the guy saying, "Sorry, I can't enter you in this race because you're not 40 yet." Yes, but I will be before the race.

Then I started thinking, maybe that race director knows something I don't know. Maybe, even though I have plenty of points for an upgrade, it will be denied for some reason.

I was wondering if anyone here has ever been denied an upgrade for any reason after they met the point requirements?

Upgrades aren't instantaneous. You have to submit to your local upgrade person, and they'll check it and approve it when they get a chance. It can take up to a month, the the upgrade person is real busy. It kind of sucks.

Upgrades aren't instantaneous. You have to submit to your local upgrade person, and they'll check it and approve it when they get a chance. It can take up to a month, the the upgrade person is real busy. It kind of sucks.

I hope it doesn't take that long, I think our guy in this region is pretty quick. I got my Cat 5 to Cat 4 upgrade within a couple hours of my request, and that was on a Saturday night.

I would have sent it earlier, but thought that if the upgrade was approved immediately, then I wouldn't be allowed to race in the 4/5 race tomorrow.

I don't really care which race I'm, in, I just want to be sure I can race, and if I send my entry early enough, I should be allowed to race.

It's like entering a 40+ race when you're 39 but will turn 40 before the race and the guy saying, "Sorry, I can't enter you in this race because you're not 40 yet." Yes, but I will be before the race.

I'll be the jerk to point out that that couldn't happen because the USCF recognizes your age as what you will turn this year. Like...although my real age is 24, the USCF recognized me as being 25 as of January 1st. :)

What about submitting your upgrade request to Casey K. right after the race on saturday, and tell him about the thing next week...that you were hoping to race as a 3 there? That might get him to move a bit faster on your upgrade situation.

I wish I had that problem!

What about submitting your upgrade request to Casey K. right after the race on saturday, and tell him about the thing next week...that you were hoping to race as a 3 there? That might get him to move a bit faster on your upgrade situation.

I wish I had that problem!

That's the plan.
Casey was copied on my correspondence, with the RD, so he is aware of the situation.
He is usually quick to respond, so I don't anticipate there being a problem.

I just think it's silly that the RD wouldn't enter me, since they always check our licenses when we pick up our numbers. I didn't know that race directors bothered to verify racer's catagory as they entered them.

I was thinking of sending the request earlier, but if it was approved immediately, would I not be allowed to ride in the 4/5 race tomorrow?

Anyway, are you sill racing tomorrow?

That's the plan.
Casey was copied on my correspondence, with the RD, so he is aware of the situation.
He is usually quick to respond, so I don't anticipate there being a problem.

I just think it's silly that the RD wouldn't enter me, since they always check our licenses when we pick up our numbers. I didn't know that race directors bothered to verify racer's catagory as they entered them.

I was thinking of sending the request earlier, but if it was approved immediately, would I not be allowed to ride in the 4/5 race tomorrow?

Anyway, are you sill racing tomorrow?


I guess it is silly, but maybe they stick to these rules because it makes it less work for them. Not like it is much work to verify what someone says...but sometimes people go to great lengths to save every microsecond of work, like weight weenies trying to save grams.

Are you talking about Copperopolis?
I'm 50/50 on doing it. I raced last night at Infineon. It was the circuit race from you-know-where. A lot of fun, but even the 2's were complaining that it was a tough course. I recovered from this week's circuit race much better than last weeks, so I could stil potentially race tomorrow. however, if I do, it will probably be a hard training day and not one where I'd try for a placing.

From what I understand 'points is points' once you get them you can upgrade.

I was upgraded on the day of a race because I knew the promoter and he knew me and of my past racing experience and sucess. So I just filled out a quick resume and gave it to him the morning of the race and that was that. He gave me a little sticker to put on the license till I got a new one in the mail which did take about 6 weeks. So it probably depends on your rep. and promoters but I would try and ask them and have your resume.