"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - No longer the World's oldest Cat 5

Finally upgraded to Cat 4.

I kept waiting until I dropped some weight and got in better shape to upgrade. But finally shame forced me to bite the bullet.

Submitted my request this afternoon,and it was granted in acouple of hours. Have to commend the District REp on great customer service.

Yes, Tim is quite fair with upgrades.

Surprised you'd want to stay a cat5 beyond the 10 race minimum. Weight is not an issue in FL. I've seen plenty of chunky riders winning races over the years.

We are a state of flat races and short power climbs. Power, speed, etc are needed, not the ability to climb for extended periods with 140lb flyweights on 16lb bikes.

So any aspirations of becoming the worlds oldest 4? ;)

Power, speed, etc are needed, not the ability to climb for extended periods with 140lb flyweights on 16lb bikes.

Hey, that's me....too bad I can't climb too well....at least not as well as I would like, anyway. Need to work on that, now that I finally have my weight down to around where I want it.

As I am planning on replacing you as the oldest as well as the heaviest Cat 5, please elaborate on this "shame" of which you speak? Any insight would be appreciated. I think I have the tolerance for humilation in spades.

CAt 5 really should be for beginners. The last 3 years, I dabbled with racing doing a couple of races each year.

I was going to upgrade early this, but kept putting it off, waiting to improve fitness and notch a win before upgrading.

The shame part of it came from knowing that I'd overstayed my time in Cat 5, which again is meant to be for beginners. When you've done the same race 3 years in a row, its time to get out of Cat 5.

:beer:

Are you going to be in Ocala?

Unfortunately not. I'm going to be in West Virginia that weekend.

What's with all the fall races getting cancelled?

Congrats. The kick in the pants will probably help you out next season :)

There is at least one weekend (tba), that will replace the two that cancelled.

Keep posted to www.floridacycling.com

And how old are you? If you aren't over 65, then don't try to take that.

48

48

48?
That's like a kid in this sport.
You ever try any of the 45+ races?
Heck, your local JRC guys could probably help you out with that!
Just jump on their local trains and start talking.
Before you know it, they'll be giving you all the secrets and then even cat3's will feel like chids play.

Congrats!

I'm with you on the 3 year program; I did maybe 5 races this year, hope to do about the same next year, at which point I will probably ask for an upgrade. I had a couple of races that I didn't finish, so I don't even know if I can prove all of my starts, other than a pile of race numbers in my closet. :)

48?
That's like a kid in this sport.
You ever try any of the 45+ races?
Heck, your local JRC guys could probably help you out with that!
Just jump on their local trains and start talking.
Before you know it, they'll be giving you all the secrets and then even cat3's will feel like chids play.

actually I've done a few Masters 45 races (15th place was the best finish.)

Main reason I upgraded was to do Masters 45, without any issue of whether I could do them as a Cat 5.

So any aspirations of becoming the worlds oldest 4? ;)

That'd be me. I was hoping to make Cat 3 before 40, but that ship sailed when i quit racing at age 38 a couple races and placings short and didnt start training again until 5 years later. Now i just dont see the point. There's plenty to do and the level of training suited for Mas40+ and Cat 4 racing suits my time restrictions and lifestyle.

Unless you can get upgrade points for 4>3 in Masters 45 races, I'm probably destined to remain a 4. I don't see myself doing enough Cat 4 races to upgrade.

Unless you can get upgrade points for 4>3 in Masters 45 races, I'm probably destined to remain a 4. I don't see myself doing enough Cat 4 races to upgrade.

Officially they dont. But the level of competion is very high in Mas 40+. Tactically and fitnesswise most of the Mas 40+ races ive been in are harder than Cat 4 races. My reasoning for wanting to be Cat 3 by age 40 was so i could be competitive in Mas40+ once i was eligiable to do them. I dont see myself doing many Cat 4 races either. Too damn dangerous.

There is at least one weekend (tba), that will replace the two that cancelled.

Keep posted to www.floridacycling.com

And how old are you? If you aren't over 65, then don't try to take that.

Would that be the rumored to be happening down near Tampa?

Would that be the rumored to be happening down near Tampa?

yes

Officially they dont. But the level of competion is very high in Mas 40+. Tactically and fitnesswise most of the Mas 40+ races ive been in are harder than Cat 4 races. My reasoning for wanting to be Cat 3 by age 40 was so i could be competitive in Mas40+ once i was eligiable to do them. I dont see myself doing many Cat 4 races either. Too damn dangerous.

There is a point where it doesn't matter any more. It's cool to say your a 2 but at the end of the day us old guys are riding in the same races for the same reasons. Some of us are just a little more intense than others ;)

yes

Please tell me it doesn't coincide with 6-gap. Please oh please oh please. :)

Hmmm...I see I'm not the OLDEST, but I'm probably the fattest. 6'3" and 235#. Just re-upped after being a non-racer since 1991, when I dropped out as a 3.

You'll recognize ME at 6-gap, as I'll be the dead one.

So any aspirations of becoming the worlds oldest 4? ;)

Pcad is the world's oldest Cat 4. Sorry to disappoint.

Hmmm...I see I'm not the OLDEST, but I'm probably the fattest. 6'3" and 235#. Just re-upped after being a non-racer since 1991, when I dropped out as a 3.

You'll recognize ME at 6-gap, as I'll be the dead one.

Let's see.. I'm 5'10# and 220#

You - 235#/75" = 3.1333 lbs per inch
Me - 220#/70" = 3.1428 lbs per inch

woo hoo!

I claim densest. Pick your own usage.

Oldest at 48? Gee I'm 51 and have been in Cat 5 for two years now, in addition, I race in Tennessee and we have climbing going on ... at 185 lbs it's very challenging ... anyway I plan to upgrade to Cat 4 when I renew my license for next year ... I hope that will give me additional motivation to drop another 10+ pounds. Lost 15 this past spring ... helps immensely.