Cyclocross Racing - Sandbaggers at Torrance Race

haha. you guys in the beginners catagory are lame. 3 wins in a row and still racing with beginners ?

We've a guy like that at our local series.

He attacked the break of 3 riders that had a 2+ minute lead last week and easily won. He was just toying with us (I was in the break until I flatted).

This week, I did the B race, but this guy was in the C race again. And get this, he crashed on the first lap, essentially started from the very back, and worked his way through the entire field and won again.

Sack up and race the B's! What fun is winning if its so easy?

There's guys like that everywhere. I'm going to bring a bucket of sand next race for the finish line, maybe....nah, no worth it. Who cares?

It''s funy, I usually have the opposite problem and come into the season thinking I could race a higher category than I'm really able to.

Oooh, everyone's favourite winter topic! I raced a local cat 1 racer in beginner's cross last month. Obviously, he annihilated the field. The funny thing was that I have enough races to cat up to 3 but am rubbish, whereas this was his first race... I guess that makes me the sandbagger!

Oooh, everyone's favourite winter topic! I raced a local cat 1 racer in beginner's cross last month. Obviously, he annihilated the field. The funny thing was that I have enough races to cat up to 3 but am rubbish, whereas this was his first race... I guess that makes me the sandbagger!

My first thought is HTFU, I've been racing singlespeed this season, you never know who will show up. Today I raced in a field of 5, was lapped by 4, and had a great time. But ... ,

If it was a sanctioned race, a CAT1 racer should never have to race with CX4's, see below:

From USA Cycling CX category guidelines:
Cyclocross categories are initially established one of two ways:
(1) For a new rider licensing with USA Cycling for the first time, the CX category starts at 4

(2) For a rider renewing his or her license, the CX category is initially established based on the road or MTB XC category currently held per the table below:

CX category based on road or XC category

Road Category,MTB XC Category, CX Category
1 , Pro , 1
2 , semi-pro , 2
3 , expert , 3
4 or 5 , beginner or sport , 4

Where I race it's an automatic upgrade if you have 3 wins. Some times people stay in their cat because the races are a part of the series so the rider wants to go for the over all. In all fairness you can't blame him for that but if he comes out as a C next year then he needs to be automatically bumped. You could probably talk to the promoter about it.

unless lots of people stop showing up to race because of sandbagging promoters arent going to do a damn thing. As far as they are concerned allowing strong riders to stay 4s or 3s is actually a money making potential since those riders are more likely to double up on the day.

We have at least one series of races here that more or less encourages sandbaggers, because it is a cumulative points for the series kind of thing. Everybody complains about it first race or 2. Personally I don't care 'cause there's no way I could win any of the categories (gasp! Why even bother, right? :rolleyes:). So I just race for me, do my best, and have fun. I suppose if I was coming in second to a guy who is obviously racing way below his means, I might be mildly pissed off, but I'm not even close so it's really not a big deal at all.

1) crowd needs to boo them.
2) stop giving good prizes for lower races.
3) if you win 3 races and don't upgrade, you're an ass. 'overall win' or not, you don't belong there (especially if your wins are by a large margin)

A lot of people are rolling their eyes at this topic.

Lets make some distinctions here; when I say sandbagger, I'm not referring to individuals who are locked in hotly contested battles for victory in whatever class they may be racing. I'm talking about the people who effortlessly walk away from the field.

Technically, I'm a C racer in cyclocross since this is my first season. I did my first race as a C, and it was painfully clear that I should not be racing C's. Sure, I could've stayed racing C's and accumulated a grip of victories, but were is the sport in that?

A lot of people are rolling their eyes at this topic.

Probably because, like the Leg Shaving Saga in the Road Forum, it keeps coming up, with no definitive solution. Well, I suppose everyone could just be forced to race in the one place there are no sandbaggers (As/Cat 1). But that would take away a proud tradition of CX (complaining about sangbaggers) ;) Next thing you know there will be calls for no beer within 500 ft of a CX course.

I'm sure you are talking about Fritz White. The guy is a Cat 2 and a Semi-Pro mountainbiker. Pretty weak.

Probably because, like the Leg Shaving Saga in the Road Forum, it keeps coming up, with no definitive solution. Well, I suppose everyone could just be forced to race in the one place there are no sandbaggers (As/Cat 1). But that would take away a proud tradition of CX (complaining about sangbaggers) ;) Next thing you know there will be calls for no beer within 500 ft of a CX course.

I suppose I'm more disheartened by the fact that this kind of behavior (all or nothing, go for the glory, win at all costs!) exists in amateur bicycle racing, where winning or losing has no bearing on our livelihood other than to bring a smile to your face or drive you to train harder.

A hallow victory is a victory nonetheless..........

I suppose I'm more disheartened by the fact that this kind of behavior (all or nothing, go for the glory, win at all costs!) exists in amateur bicycle racing, where winning or losing has no bearing on our livelihood other than to bring a smile to your face or drive you to train harder.

A hallow victory is a victory nonetheless..........

I see where you're going with that, and I agree on a personal level, but it is a problem kind of inbuilt into the system...any system where there are categories really.

My attitude is, I don't really care, I'm in it for fun. It would be neat to win a race or even come in the top ten once in a while, but even if I end up with a season full of "@1"s in my results, I will still come back for more.

There's a lot more to racing than winning; it is too bad that winning is the only thing for some people, and that some people see no point in racing if you're not winning. But IMHO those people are the real losers, not winners.

im definitely sandbagging the charm city race next year if they offer those sweet custom jackets for winning the lower cat races again.

i'm definitely bringing a quiver of dowel rods to throw in spokes at charm city during the c race next year...

I hope to someday be fast enough to sand bag.

im definitely sandbagging the charm city race next year if they offer those sweet custom jackets for winning the lower cat races again.That's really it, innit?

It's the local cross authority's responsibility not to give incentives for bagging, and furthermore to keep pushing people up in category as soon as possible when they are consistently winning races.

Don't hate the bagger, hate the fact that you are slower than him.

That's really it, innit?

It's the local cross authority's responsibility not to give incentives for bagging, and furthermore to keep pushing people up in category as soon as possible when they are consistently winning races.

Don't hate the bagger, hate the fact that you are slower than him.

+1 - my basic thoughts on the subject.

BTW - much more civil version over here.

i used to hate sandbaggers but ive grown to actually like them a bit. Since I have no intention on staying in the lower cat the fact that I have to beat the baggers to advance will make me more prepared for the next cat.

Don't hate the bagger, hate the fact that you are slower than him.

No hate involved. I'd call it something more along the lines of pity.

"Tsk, look at him. So consumed with winning he can't see that he needs to upgrade."

im definitely sandbagging the charm city race next year ...

*tears up "OFFICIAL SUPPORTER: L I T H U A N I A" wind breaker*

hey man you gotta see these jackets

Well, cyclocrossresults now has a sandbagger detector.
http://crossresults.com/?n=results&sn=ds
Apparently, Nils Albert is sandbagging, and needs a new category in which he races himself and Nys :)

If you want to enjoy some feisty sandbagging discussions, the cross crusade forums are fun. They even have a special section for calling people out on it.

Probably because, like the Leg Shaving Saga in the Road Forum, it keeps coming up, with no definitive solution. Well, I suppose everyone could just be forced to race in the one place there are no sandbaggers (As/Cat 1). But that would take away a proud tradition of CX (complaining about sangbaggers) ;) Next thing you know there will be calls for no beer within 500 ft of a CX course.

Yes no sandbaggers in the Masters or Pro 1/2 races. Ahhh I miss sandbagging :)

j/k