"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Anyone race in a Masters 3/4/5 field?

What's that like? Last year my masters races were me (cat 4 then) against cat 1's and 2's. What's it going to be like against 3/4/5's?

For the new "Ohio" cup I have the choice of getting killed in the 1/2/3's or having a chance at survival in the M35+ 3/4/5 (no separate cat 3 catagory).


http://ohiocycling.org/media/ohio_cup_07.pdf
Link to Ohio cup flyer

I've never heard of a Masters 3/4/5. I've only ever heard of Masters 4/5, Masters 1/2/3, and Open Masters (no Cat5). Sounds fun.

--Steve

There's a big debate on the local email list about whether 5s should be allowed to participate in open master's races. They are typically excluded, but a race coming up next weekend has allowed 5s entry as well as the usual, more seasoned masters. Suffice to say, it has been entertaining to sit back and read the various responses.

Unless you're just doing the series for training, why not do the Masters races where you know you have a chance to do well?

At the risk of sounding like a tool, which is not my intent, as a Cat 3 who does lots of Masters races, I would not be very enthusiastic about racing with 4s and 5s. Not as much with more seasoned (i.e. experienced and hopefully skilled) 4s, but there's a big difference between a Cat 3, and a new Cat 4 or Cat 5. IMO, mixing everyone together like that just isnt a good idea in the name of safety. Kind of tough choice on a Cat 3 really, go pound your head against the wall chasing 1s and 2s, or race against 4s and 5s. I'd focus on the Senior 3 if it were me, and do the M123 for training and learning purposes.

New guy mentions a local list server thread on this topic, it's been great reading that I hope degenerates into some good mud slinging soon:D

The way I've been racing lately, I'm more enthused about racing with cat 4's than cat 1's.... :(

There's a big debate on the local email list about whether 5s should be allowed to participate in open master's races. They are typically excluded, but a race coming up next weekend has allowed 5s entry as well as the usual, more seasoned masters. Suffice to say, it has been entertaining to sit back and read the various responses.

Unless you're just doing the series for training, why not do the Masters races where you know you have a chance to do well?

Because Masters are a heck of a lot faster than Cat 5. I'm pretty competitive in a 4/5 race. I'm struggling to hang in a Masters Race.

35+ Cat 4/5 races are a great way to open the sport up to a lot of people who want to race, didn't start young, don't want to race against reckless 18 year olds, and have no prayer to hang in a Masters Race (at least until they get some experience).

+1 on what patentcad said

i'm doing a 40+ 3/4 crit this weekend. around here there are occasional 30+ 3/4 races as well as others that have a 40+4/5s that are well attended. and lots of master racers that are still 4s have plenty of racing experience

Because Masters are a heck of a lot faster than Cat 5. I'm pretty competitive in a 4/5 race. I'm struggling to hang in a Masters Race.

I was addressing the OP with my final paragraph. He has to choose between 1/2/3 or Masters 3/4/5 for a race series, and it seems the Masters 3/4/5 better suits him at the moment and that was the basis for that comment. There's no doubting that Masters (open) fields are faster and smoother than the 5s.

zzzwillzzz: patentcad hasn't posted to this thread yet :-D