"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - How many years have you been cycling/training and what Cat are you?

Please answer honestly. How many years have you been cycling (with speed training, not just commuting or riding around the park) and what category racer are you?

I'm wondering if a pattern exists between years cycling and Cat level. I'm also wondering what the standard deviations are for each Cat.

Riding road for 10 years recreationally, Racing/speed training for 1 year, Cat 4.

I'm cat 4, and I've never really done any organized training, but I've been cycling for about 2.5 years. When I started, I couldn't ride 3 miles without taking a rest. I've been racing for about a year.

Raced MTB since I was 14, then switched to road after the MTB was stolen.

I had one race season where I did two races 4 years ago.

Other than that, last season and this season are my "I'm actually trying" seasons.


Short stop in Cat 3.

16 years. Raced the first 4 years. Got to Cat 3 in my first season in 1992 in Denver/Boulder. Took 12 years off from racing, and now have my Cat 3 license back, looking to crush some souls if I can get enough time to race (weekends are really tough for me).

'Crush some souls?'

I need a vacation bad.

My first year biking was 2005. I did 4 cat5 races that year, but really nothing serious at all, same thing that cypress did. Last season was my first real one and I went from 5-3...my goal is cat2 by this season's end.

First race was 1982. Most recent race was last weekend. Cat 2.
There is no correlation between years of training and category.
Some guys zoom to the top, and others don't zoom - some by choice, some not.

If you're a Cat 3 by the end of your second full year, you're doing pretty well.
But a lot depends on which part of the country and the size of the fields.

Started riding in the summer of 2005. Rode first century in April of 2006. Started formal training plan during summer of 2006. Entered first race in August 2006. Upgraded to Cat4 in April of 2007. Decided last Sunday that I hate racing but changed mind on Monday. Decided on Wednesday that I hate time trialing but changed my mind this morning.

--Steve

7 years. Raced mountain bikes for 4 years and made it to pro/elite then had kids and quit for 5 years. Been racing road with this being my 3rd year and cat 3.

I've only trained seriously this past off-season. This is my third year riding, and my second year of racing. I'm Cat 3. I'm mostly into time trialing though, so categorisation doesn't matter so much to me.

First race was 1982. Most recent race was last weekend. Cat 2.
There is no correlation between years of training and category.
Some guys zoom to the top, and others don't zoom - some by choice, some not.

If you're a Cat 3 by the end of your second full year, you're doing pretty well.
But a lot depends on which part of the country and the size of the fields.
To upgrade in Alberta you need results not starts. I understand that you can move from cat 5 to cat 4 in some locations by starting a certain number of races.

For the record:

When I raced MTB, I didn't go a single season without winning one or more state championships (multiple states sometimes). I won Nationals in 2001... I thought I was the Cat's Pajamas, then I entered a category 5 road race and got dropped like a newborn giraffe.

They just aren't the same.

I'm not sure if I've really started training yet.. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to that.

4 Races last season, 8 so far this season. Cat 4 - starting to do alright.

Cat 3, second year of racing. 3rd year of road riding.

Cat 5 ATM, but looking to cat up ASAP.

I have been riding for about a year now, seriously training only a few months.

USCF license from 1992 through 1999. Cat 4. Never upgraded for two reasons:


• I suck at this

• My racing age was 35 from the start, so I always did Vets races anyway

In those 7 years I got a 2nd in a 4 race, a 5th in a Vets race, 9th at the NJ Cat 4 RR championships (can't recall what year that was), and a handful of other top 10 placings. Like I said at the outset I suck at this. I am however experienced at this, having participated in 150+ races in my pathetic career.

So now I'm 49, got my first license since '99 in January. 2 races so far. Planned on my first TT in years Saturday, but health issues may make that impossible (ultrasound tomorrow for possible gallstones, this just came up this week). But pre-registering for that race has served its purpose. I trained like hell and I'm in MUCH better shape that I would have otherwise been. Hopefully a week or so off the bike for pending medical issues won't cost me all of that fitness.

I do enjoy the incessant BF bike race banter. And to paraphrase the immortal Bobke, we are all peloton dogs.

And every dog has his day.

Riding since 2001
Riding hard since 2003
Started racing 2005
Started specific training late 2005

Current Cat 3

3-1/2 years riding and just into my second year of racing. I'm a Cat 4 and getting close to an upgrade.

-Riding for 21 months now.
-Cat 3.
-Race in the midwest, home of Memorial Day Races, Stupid Week, Elk Grove, and the ABR and USCF national championships.
-I'm a crit rat dying for some long climbs.
-Never actually raced as a Cat 5.
-After getting my ass handed to me by the Pro/1/2 boys all spring in college races, and finally coming around and hanging in towards the end of the season, I'm looking forward to learning a lot against a more level playing field, and getting some good results in the 3s.

got my first uscf licence in 1984. did a couple of races that year as a 4. had epstein-barr for almost 3 years and started racing again the late 80s and early 90s. i had more that 3 times the points needed to move up to cat 2 but didn't as i was stopping racing to go to school. now i'm racing occasionally and would like to make enough points to make it to cat 2 again even though it doesn't matter with all the masters races.

Been back on the bike since August, 2005....before that, did absolutely nothing for a year, and ballooned from 150 pounds to 180 pounds. Been shaving the weight down since, and am at 145 pounds (still need another 10 pounds to lose).

Cat 5, with 2 races under my belt....and a third this Saturday.

One thing I've noticed though...in my infinite wisdom after 2 races....is that whatever I thought was hard riding before, seems to pale in comparison to racing.

Been back on the bike since August, 2005....before that, did absolutely nothing for a year, and ballooned from 150 pounds to 180 pounds. Been shaving the weight down since, and am at 145 pounds (still need another 10 pounds to lose).

Cat 5, with 2 races under my belt....and a third this Saturday.

One thing I've noticed though...in my infinite wisdom after 2 races....is that whatever I thought was hard riding before, seems to pale in comparison to racing.

Correct.

Been road riding 15+ years, racing the last five. Cat4 and suffering.

started riding, a real road bike in 68
local unsanctioned races from 70 to 73
1st USCF race in '73 as a Cat 4 (was the lowest cat at the time) and raced a 'ton' until '95 tapered to nothing by '97.
became Cat 3 in '74, Cat 2 in '77
stayed Cat 2 until '84 when I became a 'Vet' (that was the equiv of 'masters' back then, they had just changed to age break to include 35+) at which point I down graded to a Cat3.
stayed that mostly until '97 at which point I got off the bike COMPLETELY - until my re-entry into riding in summer 05 and racing last year -'06
at which point I'm well into Masters 55+.
Can't find any of my old paperwork (tossed most of it back in 2000) and really didn't want to make an issue of prior experience so I just applied on-line and was classed as a Cat5 noob - no biggie, I'm about as slow or as fast as most other 58 yr olds...

Riding seriously for twenty-six years. I am currently a Cool Cat.

Riding seriously for twenty-six years. I am currently a Cool Cat.

AKA Cat None? I kind of LIKE that.

What Cat are you?

Cool Cat.

Riding road 2 1/2 yrs
Racing 1 1/2 yrs
CAT 4
36 y/o

Did some bmx racing back in the day (jr high/high school).

started riding, a real road bike in 68
local unsanctioned races from 70 to 73
1st USCF race in '73 as a Cat 4 (was the lowest cat at the time) and raced a 'ton' until '95 tapered to nothing by '97.
became Cat 3 in '74, Cat 2 in '77
stayed Cat 2 until '84 when I became a 'Vet' (that was the equiv of 'masters' back then, they had just changed to age break to include 35+) at which point I down graded to a Cat3.
stayed that mostly until '97 at which point I got off the bike COMPLETELY - until my re-entry into riding in summer 05 and racing last year -'06
at which point I'm well into Masters 55+.
Can't find any of my old paperwork (tossed most of it back in 2000) and really didn't want to make an issue of prior experience so I just applied on-line and was classed as a Cat5 noob - no biggie, I'm about as slow or as fast as most other 58 yr olds...

Just bring this post to your local rep and at least move up to 4. No need to race with beginners, when you are clearly not. Cat2's don't restart at cat5! Welcome back.

cat4 - one full season
cat3- one full season
cat2- two full seasons
cat1- 11years through '06
happy cat - finally retired 2007
comeback planned- 2010 @ age45

been tooling around on a road bike for 3 years started riding seriously last summer, started racing end of last summer, just moved up to cat4.

cat4 - one full season
cat3- one full season
cat2- two full seasons
cat1- 11years through '06
happy cat - finally retired 2007
comeback planned- 2010 @ age45
Mind if I ask what team you've been riding with?

My first year biking was 2005. I did 4 cat5 races that year, but really nothing serious at all, same thing that cypress did. Last season was my first real one and I went from 5-3...my goal is cat2 by this season's end.

Good job KP!! Sounds like you are either very determined, talented, or a combination of both.

Congrats:beer:
Richard

This thread is kind of refreshing...i may be younger then i think i am :D

been riding for 3.5 years
this is my first season racing
cat 4 as of early April, and probably for eternity
37 y/o

Good job KP!! Sounds like you are either very determined, talented, or a combination of both.

Congrats:beer:
Richard
I'd like to think both.

I'm naturally a super skinny guy and could run a 6min mile without any training in HS gym class.

At this point my parents have helped me out so much that I'd feel like I'd be ****ting on em if I just gave it up. And my gf of 6 years dumped me at least partially for how much I bike. It also helps that I friggn love to ride more than anything else. Considering all that, there's no turning back for me. I've too much invested in this. Pro or bust, I suppose :beer:

and now that I've said that, either I've got to go pro or I'll be the forum's new R600DA :D

With your attitude I would not bet against you. And I doubt you will ever be compared to R600DA. That's a good thing.

I remember a post from him several years ago. He was basically asking how he can really rub it in when he passes someone. Someone suggested he get a jumbotron and strap it to his back so they could see the replay in slo mo. From time to time that still pops into my mind, and I start laughing. My wife thinks I am a nutt. I just tell her she would not understand.

Richard

Started riding recreationally last year with an eye towards racing. Started seriously training towards the end of January of this year, 6 races so far (5 collegiate, 1 Prospect Park). I'm looking to follow in KillerPenguin's footsteps, want to be cat 3 by next year. Hopefully spending July-Nov in Australia will toughen me up. Just got a Polar HRM with power sensor and a RealAxiom trainer (had a birthday), excited about adding wattage training and HR training to my workouts.

1985 - 2005 Ran competitively, had a mtn bike that I used for commuting in college.

July 20, 2005 - Bought a road bike and started training seriously.

September 2005 - First race
Sept 2005 - January 22 2006 - Cat 5
January 23, 2006 - April 15, 2006 - Cat 4
April 16 2006 - July 7, 2006 - Cat 3
July 8, 2006 - Present - Cat 2

I hope to be Cat 1 by the end of the season, but I mostly race 35+, and don't earn upgrade points in those races.

I ran cross country in grade school and part of high school before picking up mtbing. didn't take it seriously until I turned 18 when I started road racing. It's been 2 years since my first race at copperopolis and I'm a Cat 2.

I actually spent almost all of last year as a Cat 4. . My progression has been very weird.

Mind if I ask what team you've been riding with?

Rode for a local teams through the years and then just by myself over the past few seasons, as I started winding down. Most of my good years were racing the FL spring and then off to Kermesse land. Then come back and be flying for a few fall races. Never really hit the USA circuit and never really used my
cat1 for anything that I couldn't do as a 2, but it's always nice to have it on my license. Immediate respect from the newbies, you know. Should have been a pro, but had bouts of depression over the years that would sink me every time things started going well. Wish I could do it all over again, but life is grand now a days, so...

1985 - 2005 Ran competitively, had a mtn bike that I used for commuting in college.

July 20, 2005 - Bought a road bike and started training seriously.

September 2005 - First race
Sept 2005 - January 22 2006 - Cat 5
January 23, 2006 - April 15, 2006 - Cat 4
April 16 2006 - July 7, 2006 - Cat 3
July 8, 2006 - Present - Cat 2

I hope to be Cat 1 by the end of the season, but I mostly race 35+, and don't earn upgrade points in those races.

Stop wasting time with the masters!!! Make it your goal to be a cat1, then play with the old guys. Obviously you are talented, so why sit around with a cat2 stamp, when it could say cat1!!! My cat1 status has helped me in many ways over the years that had nothing to with racing. Go get it Pizza!!!

Just bring this post to your local rep and at least move up to 4. No need to race with beginners, when you are clearly not. Cat2's don't restart at cat5! Welcome back.

Yeah, I just did a search for my name, and they had my information from 1996 still in the DB, Cat 3 and everything. I just renewed that after the local rep confirmed that I could come back as a 3.

Riding for about 2 years now. Training a few months (heck, if you can call it training).

Cat 5.

4/2003 - bought road bike for fun and to drop some lbs.
7/2004 - entered 1st race, got dropped like a sack of potatoes
1/2005 - started training using the friel training bible, joined a team, planned to race a full season
2005 - started as a 5, completed upgrade requirements in June and finished the season as Cat 4 pack fodder
1/2006 - got more serious, started working with a coach
6/2006 - accumulated enough upgrade points to move to Cat 3
7/2006 - won 1st race and upgraded to Cat 3
Current - cat 3/M30+

I'll probably not upgrade to Cat 2, I'm 36 y.o. with a family/job, etc. and dont have the time available to train for the longer events that the 1s and 2s compete in.

22 years riding and racing.
Too many hard races, in bad weather, in foreign countries to remember...

Race M35+ now...

I started to train for the '84 season in the Fall of 1983. I became a Cat 3 in the Summer of 1985 and a Cat 2 at the end of 1986 at the age 35. I raced Cat 2 and Masters until the end of 1991 when I "retired" at age 40. FWIW, I placed 12th in my last Pro,1,2 race but I was too tired, both mentally and physically to continue racing, not to mention numerous broken bones and tendonitis of the hamstrings which still bother me today, 16 years after.

Now I'm just a portly old man who rides 8,000 miles a year for the fun of it. :)

ran track up until 2 years ago. middle distance is where it's at.

riding bikes for fun, 2 years ago.

last year started training was a 5, didn't race much.

this year, upgraded to 4, halfway to 3.

Please answer honestly. How many years have you been cycling (with speed training, not just commuting or riding around the park) and what category racer are you?

I'm wondering if a pattern exists between years cycling and Cat level. I'm also wondering what the standard deviations are for each Cat.
Hi,

Started training to race and did some club races (no license required) in 1973 as a Junior in NY. Got my first license (still as a Junior) in 1975. Did just enough to be a Cat. 3 Senior during the late 1970s. Got enough points during the early 1980s in CA to move up to Cat. 2 but I never did since there were enough Cat. 1-3 race for me to know that I would be pure pack fodder in a Cat. 1-2 race. :o

Kept racing after getting married in 1990, but training and racing intensity was fairly low until a few years ago when our kids started getting older. Still pretty much pack fodder in the Masters races but these days I can launch a few attacks or chase down a few breaks without blowing up. :rolleyes:

Haven't placed in a race or won a prime since the late 1980s but racing keeps me in better shape than just riding and gives me an excuse to get new bike every few years. :D

So if you're actually going to run a statistical analysis on the data in this thread, I'm definitely going to screw up your results. ;)

Got into triathlons in 2004 and rode about 1000 miles total that year with 2 triathlons. More miles in 2005, raced 10 triathlons and 2 bike only races as a cat 5. More specific training in 2006, more bike only races, upgraded late in the year to a 4. I now need 4 points to move up to a 3.

But I also need better nutrition and fitness.