"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Masters 55+ question

I started racing this year at age 55. To date I've been in 6 races. I race as a Cat 5 and have finished in the top third in most of the races, even taking a 5th out of 30 riders in a crit. Recently I did a Citizen race in the 55 - 59 division and finished 8th out of 30 riders. In that race I made a mistake about 1/3 of the way into the 28 mile race, and let the leaders get away at the bottom of a long hill. I spent the rest of the race doing most of the work for two riders, that I let catch up, and two more shelled riders when we picked them up. I did win the sprint to the finish from our group. I am considering entering a Masters 55+ race http://snakebiteracing.com/SnakeBite_Racing/ValleyCityStreetFairRoadRace.htm which is the Ohio State Masters Road Race Championship. The race is 4 laps of fairly flat with 3 short steep hills and is 46 miles long. I know the terrain well as I live within 5 miles of the race and do my intervals on some of the same roads the race will cover. I don't have any asperations of winning or even placing, my concern is if I even belong in the race, or if I could stay with the pack long enough to avoid riding 30+ miles solo while 4 or 5 other races share the course. What kind of pace will a race like that have? Will the first couple laps be more of a fast tempo ride, or will there be surges and breakaways? Any advice will be helpfull. I do have a few riding buddies who will race the Citizen/ Cat 5 race eariler in the day but since I decided to take up this "racing thing" as my wife puts it, I would also like to jump into the fire, if I wont get burnt too bad.:D

Usually you have to be a cat 4 to race masters. That rule isn't about fitness, it's about requiring racing experience (your 10 cat 5 races) before mixing with the other packs.

The Master's race is 1 month away. I have time to get in 4 more mass start races. There is a local cirt every Thur. which is sanctioned and I plan to be two additional RR's in the next three weeks.

I'd check with the promoter if they allow CAT5 in the masters as the previous poster stated. They usually state (NO CAT 5 in Masters) on the race flyers in my district but didn't see it on your race flyer.
Whatever race you do, congrats on picking up the sport.

Edit: Disregard my previous statement as I was slow typing while you responded.

Also FWIW, Masters 40+ in my district is faster (and safer) than the CAT4s.

If the 55+ guys in your state are anything like the ones in mine, expect the pace to be harder and steadier than any Cat 5 race you may have done so far. At least until the break is up the road, then the pace in the pace will slack. If you can get to Cat 4 before the race, go for it. You wont know until you try.

Last week in Prospect Park the Masters' 35+ race averaged 26.1 mph. The Cat 5 race averaged 24.9 mph.

Last week in Prospect Park the Masters' 35+ race averaged 26.1 mph. The Cat 5 race averaged 24.9 mph.

I suspect there will be a drop in average speed when 20 years are added. At least I hope so.

I suspect there will be a drop in average speed when 20 years are added. At least I hope so.

45+ might not be that much slower, but 55+ would be. I ride with one or two 55 year old dudes who are scary fast.

There is a guy who is 58 that is "the hammer" on two different pretty fast group rides I sometimes do. A couple weeks ago we were talking and I found out he had both knees replaced 4 years ago. That makes me feel even worse when I get dropped on hills and not as good when I beat him in the sprints.

I got dropped by the break on the Nyack Ride on Sunday. The 4 dudes who shelled me included Wilson Vasquez, a 40 year old fast guy who regularly wins/places in the 1-2-3 races in the city, some scary fast big dude named Stefan from NY who's currently a Cat 5 (but won't be for long, one of the biggest friggin motors I've ever seen) and my pal Roofer Paul, who @ 55 years old can hang with those guys. Not me or my pal Jose who got dropped several miles before me, and we're 49-50 years old, not 55+. So there are some fast 55 year old guys. I'll never be one of them, but they're out there.

I hung on for about 15 miles. But that was all I had. Oh well.

Since it's a State game I'd say just do the 55+ race. That way at least you know where you stand in Ohio. And you might do better then you think.

I was a good, well, pretty good athlete since I qualified for the Olympic trails in track and field, a long time ago. Most likely I won't make many bike riders cry for their Mommies but I do have a tendency to keep setting higher goals which creates a never ending cycle of being insufficient.

OMG, I'm starting to sound like Pcad.:D Sorry, there is only so much self loathing allowed on BF.

Sorry, there is only so much self loathing allowed on BF.

Incorrect.

There is no limit to Self Loathing on BF. Don't be ridiculous. Sweet Mother of Mavic get with the friggin program before I come over there and smack you.

Qualified for the Olympic Trials. Good grief, these are the ringers I have to race my bike against, even in the 45+. It's a joke.

"Qualified for the Olympic Trials. Good grief, these are the ringers I have to race my bike against, even in the 45+. It's a joke."

I was a decathlete. My longest race lasted around 4:30 quickly followed by a "near death experiance". I've got sprints and jumps in me but there just aint no fartlek's in this old body!

"Qualified for the Olympic Trials. Good grief, these are the ringers I have to race my bike against, even in the 45+. It's a joke."

I was a decathlete. My longest race lasted around 4:30 quickly followed by a "near death experiance". I've got sprints and jumps in me but there just aint no fartlek's in this old body!

So that means you're not only strong enough to beat the crap out of me, but you have the speed to run away from my killer Golden Retriever Sam:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/DadSamOBX.jpg

He's tougher than he looks.

Race what you want, buy I personally know of two Cat 1's that will be in that 55+ race.

Good luck. :D

Race what you want, buy I personally know of two Cat 1's that will be in that 55+ race.

Good luck. :D

Thanks, thats the information I need. I don't belong with Cat 1 riders, but if there will be a sizable number of lesser riders then I could belong. I don't want to ride a "35 mile solo race of humility":D

Yeah, some of the Masters will ride their age because it gives them a better chance at the State title than riding with the "younger" 1,2,3's. Although the M55 race is 2.5 hours after the 4's race. You could do the double. :D

I am considering entering a Masters 55+ race http://snakebiteracing.com/SnakeBite_Racing/ValleyCityStreetFairRoadRace.htm which is the Ohio State Masters Road Race Championship.

Hi Allegheny Jet,

If I remember the rulebook correctly, you need to be at least a Cat. 4 to race in district or state championships. I observed an official pulling someone off the line at our 50+ criterium championship earlier this summer because the guy was a Cat. 5.

Don't know how strict they are with the rules in Ohio. If the field is small enough and with your prior successes they might give you a pass.


45+ might not be that much slower, but 55+ would be. I ride with one or two 55 year old dudes who are scary fast.

In SoCal, the 40+ or 45+ race (whichever they run) is often the 2nd or 3rd fastest race of the day. I've noticed a slight drop in speed in 50+ races and (fortunately) I'm still not old enough to race 55+.


I was a good, well, pretty good athlete since I qualified for the Olympic trails in track and field, a long time ago.

That's the problem with age-graded races, they allow all of these ex-elite athletes to race with the rest of us perennial pack fodder types. :D ;)

I keep whining about how there are several former Olympic team, professional, etc type guys who regularly win the 40+ or 50+ races. My soapbox stance is that those guys shouldn't be allowed to race age-graded until they are at least 60+ or get a full time job (whichever comes first). :D

Here in NY you also have to be Cat 4 to race in Master's races. Cat 3 if you want to go to the Nationals. That latter part isn't a big problem for yours truly.

"If I remember the rulebook correctly, you need to be at least a Cat. 4 to race in district or state championships. I observed an official pulling someone off the line at our 50+ criterium championship earlier this summer because the guy was a Cat. 5.

Don't know how strict they are with the rules in Ohio. If the field is small enough and with your prior successes they might give you a pass."

Cleve,

I emailed the race director and she said that I did not have to be a Cat 4 to ride in this race. I will have my 10 mass start races in prior to the race. But at this time I don't know If I'll attempt to upgrade. Sometimes the USA Cycling rules seem counter productive for new/older riders or those who got away from the sport for a while. I frequently ride with a 33 yr old who rode competitively while in college 10+ years ago. He would like to start racing again but would have to start back as a Cat 3. At his age, with a job that requires travel and a young family he can't put in the time to train for Cat 3 races.