Cyclocross Racing - Are you racing a new category this season?

The new upgrade rules are really trying to move everyone up one race. Upgrading from 4-3 is experience in 5 races and a win is supposed to be an auto upgrade!

Are you going to move up to the next level right from the start or hang out in your old cat for a little bit?

I raced over a dozen times last year so I feel some pressure to jump right into the Bs. Since I race SS I feel excused to do my first race or two in the Cs though.

I am a lot more prepared going into this season from both a training and experience standpoint so as long as my first weekend in the Cs go well I plan on moving on up to the Bs the rest of the way.

how bout you?

I upgraded before they changed. Looking at the pre-reg lists for upcoming races it appears that the vast majority of guys intend to hang in the Cs rather than upgrade even tho they could.

what area are you in? here is seems like a good portion of the dominant Cs are registered for the Bs this year.

New England.

that sucks. i wonder if they will enforce the mandatory upgrades up there.

I'll stay a 2 and probably won't ever upgrade to 1. Too difficult, plus I race the Masers race before the pro/1/2 events :)

i wish they would have 30+ masters races around here like they do for road.

I raced mstrs C last weekend, going down to beginners :)

i'll base my decision on how i do at charm city. but it's bound to happen sooner or later.

Im racing nittany lion cross as a c and im signed up for the c and b race at charm city

im really hoping to do well in those 2 C races and then move on. who knows what will happen though

Not sure yet. I have the experience to be a three. I might try it, because I'll never be a road three. But I think I will try and get a top ten in C or 4 or whatever the VA series calls it first.

I've been racing in the Cs off and on since '04. I decided to move up after consistently ending up in the top 20 for last year's races. Charm City will be my first B race. A bit nervous about the quality of the field, but happy to get away from C pandemonium.

I do not understand anything having to do with cross cat structure other than I think it starts with 4 and does an experience upgrade similar to road 5's.

The A,B,C, stuff is collegiate I assume?

cross races combine categories much like some road races do (3/4, 4/5 etc.)

most of the races around here are 1/2 (A race) 3/4 (B race) and 4 only (C race). with the change in upgrade rules this season, i wouldn't be surprised if it turns to 1/2, 2/3, and 4. or something like that.

I don't mean to derail the original intent of the thread, but I was just confused because on the flyers here they list the following:

Masters fields (30+, 40+, 50+)
Men 1/2/3
Men 3
Men 4a
Men 4b

They don't go on to explain so I assume that the 4a and 4b are only using the a and b to designate the need for 2 fields due to the number of entrants(?)

thats what it looks like. just like when road races do 5a and 5b

yup, sounds right to me. cross has gotten really popular really quickly, so most of the races around here tend to be 4 heavy.

Upgrades mean that you get to sleep more and wake up later.

it also means not being able to ride the course for an hour before your race

They don't go on to explain so I assume that the 4a and 4b are only using the a and b to designate the need for 2 fields due to the number of entrants(?)

As I understand it, this is actually more than just two heats. 4b is the cat for people who have been racing cx less than a year, and 4a is the "regular" cat 4.

As I understand it, this is actually more than just two heats. 4b is the cat for people who have been racing cx less than a year, and 4a is the "regular" cat 4.

I was starting to get that impression from some others around here. It does note to check for details about the 4a and 4b fields on the flyers, but never tells you where you can check...too obvious I guess.

After yesterday I'm not sure what to make of the 4a/4b distinction. I can confirm that 4b is intended for "new" cx-ers, but I think the influx of people means that 4b tends to have an even wider variation in skills than 4a (it seemed to yesterday anyway). So people coming from a solid road background (i.e. likley to be cat 3 cx very soon) were going 4b instead of a. 4a looked a good bit more consistent. Of course, this is just what someone who got their ass kicked would say.