Category Upgrades.

[thiskidgotmoxie]

I just wrote an article on my blog (http://www.hipsternascar.com/) about how difficult it is to upgrade from Cat5 to Cat4 at Northbrook Velodrome. I'd love to hear about other people's experiences at other tracks. If you have the time, could you please comment on the story here (http://www.hipsternascar.com/), letting me know how upgrades are done at other tracks? Thanks.

[queerpunk]

Wow.
It started out with me thinking, "okay, I can see that," but by the end I was shaking my head. It seems like it's really ridiculous.

Hopefully you all can get together and do a few things:
1. Petition the officials for a sensible upgrade scheme that takes into account their concerns and yours.
2. Go over their heads.
3. Somehow, support each other, teach each other, race with each other, and not let this BS keep you away from the track.

I learned how to race in a pack via late-night park-loop track-bike-only races... which were a great way to feel confident with my body and my bike once I got on the track.

Something similar might help you all - a great way to provide self-organized events for the community, you know?

Good luck.

[TurboTurtle]

I just wrote an article on my blog (http://www.hipsternascar.com/) about how difficult it is to upgrade from Cat5 to Cat4 at Northbrook Velodrome. I'd love to hear about other people's experiences at other tracks. If you have the time, could you please comment on the story here (http://www.hipsternascar.com/), letting me know how upgrades are done at other tracks? Thanks.

It's been a couple of years, but I had no problem with a 5 to 4 upgrade at Northbrook. I went to class most every week and raced each Fri night. At the end of the year they gave me my stamp. No sigs, nothing. - TF

[thiskidgotmoxie]

Just got a response from one of the velodrome committee members, and they're going to look into the situation. Apparently a good few people complained both about the signature policy and about the bad attitude. I don't know if anything will come of it, but it's a start.

Oh, and TurboTurtle, the 10 signatures thing is relatively new. I think it only started last year.

[dutret]

I can see how frustrating this could be but keep in mind it's probably not the number of new riders coming to the track that is requiring more strict rules but rather the background of those riders.

usacs rules made sense when most people coming to the track had experience on the road or at least in group rides. Even the 10 race road upgrade rule works not because 10 races is a lot of experience(though 10 crits is likely more pack experience then 10 nights on the track) but because in the time it takes to get those 10 races most riders gain a lot more experience in non-race pack riding. Now that a large number of new track racers eschew such activities some other system is needed. Quite frankly if you're not doing group rides or any sort of other racing it may very well take more than 10 nights of racing before you should upgrade and going off the front or back isn't going to allow for any meaningful learning.


At most tracks I've been to there have been a small enough number of racers that officials can recognize everyone which make upgrades easy.

How would you design an upgrade scheme?
It should require a convincing exhibition of pack riding ability before upgrading.
****ty bike handlers should be kept out of the 4s no matter how strong.
People with plenty of road experience shouldn't get stuck in the 5s.