Fifty Plus (50+) - First Race - 55+ or cat 5?

I will be doing my first race in a couple of weeks. 100k at Hotter n Hell. I've done the Century Ride the last couple of years and just want to try the "racing" aspect of the sport. I am age 55. I had originally thought I would register in the 55+ age category but several of the guys I ride with - all quite a bit younger - are saying I should register in the Cat 5 category since the 55+ will include some very experienced racers. I have no illusions of "placing" but am just after the experence at this point. I expect to average 20 mph as we average 19-20 on our group rides on hillier courses than HHH course.

Any thoughts?

That can be a hard question to answere.
There are a lot of really fast guys at that age.
There are a lot of inexperienced guys in the cat 5 group that can be dangerous to ride with.
It's just hard to know who's going to do what at each event.
Also a lot of the fast 55ers will ride in the cat 3-4 group or higher.
You may have some fast 55ers that want to cherry pick in the age group.

I have ridden the HH100 but not raced the event. They may start both of those groups together {not sure, just guessing** If so you can sort out who to ride with based on how you feel and how the ride starts out.

Go with the Cat 5. That way, you can progress up through the levels as you continue to race. Imagine the stories you can tell: "Yeah, when I first started as a Cat 5...."

If you care more about your overall well-being than you do about placing high up, go for the 55+. If, however, you'd be looking for a good/better result, go for the Cat. 5 (but watch the other riders carefully!).

Rick / OCRR

You could always chack out prior years race results. That should at least give you an indication of the size of the groups, average speed or time, group finishes etc... That may help to see where your riding/fitness can fit in best.

If 55+ in Texas is similar to here in the Carolinas, you'll be riding by yourself after the first lap. Our 55+ races have several national and regional champ, and its always one of the better/faster races. Because of the smaller fields, and the better racers, the officials generally allow the lap riders to stay in and ride. Have never seen a crash in 55+.

Racing Cat 5 on the other hand, will mean you'll have pack to race in, and maybe even some guys to work with. Don't see many crashes in Cat 5 either. They generally wait until they become a Cat 4 to try the really stupid stuff.

No debate here. Cat-5!!

TysonB
Cushing, Oklahoma

Anyone who has hung around long enough to still be racing in the 55's has had some results and knows how to put the hurt on the new guys. They're tough, they're fast, and now...they're retired and have tons of time to train. They're gonna kill ya. You'll get dropped from the 55's like a rock. Also, you need to pay some dues. Do the cat 5.

This is the first post I have placed on this forum. I must admit I am impressed with the response. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

As the Proverb says "Plans go wrong from lack of advice; many counselors bring success."

Cat 5 it is - will probably still get dropped but at least I can tell myself it's because they are younger!!

Cat 5 for one simple reason...good manners. Get some racing experience under your belt before you foist yourself upon the more experienced folks.

I've been pondering an upcoming race myself that will have the State Masters 55+ Championship as well as a Cat 5 race. I've done 7 Cat 5 races so far this year and finish around the top 1/3rd which isn't very good. At 55yrs this is my first year of racing. Informed sources have told me that there will be some real studs (Cat 1's and 2's) in the 55+ race that rides 46 miles. The Cat 5 race is run 2 hours before the Master's race and is only 23 miles. I think that I will ride the Cat 5 race, then if allowed, ride at the back of the Master's race for a lap or two to see how the dynamics of that race play out. Next year I'll be retired and training full time (as much as my body and coach will let me) and anticipate being at that level.:D, at least that's my plan and so far I'm sticking to it.