"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Cat 5 Upgrade Questions

I know there have been several post regarding the topic, however I had a hard time finding the answers to my particular questions.

1. You think they will allow upgrade to Cat 4 with 9 races instead of 10?
- Best finish 6th (Bike Jam Crit), rest between 16-10th place with one DNF from derailleur issue 2 weeks ago. All races done this season.

2. I heard it is about a week to process a upgrade, is that correct?

1. It depends on your district rep. I tried with 9 instead of 10 and they said no, but they seem to be more strict about it here.

2. Ours happen every wednesday...

1. Maybe. Depends on the upgrade official
2. Depends on the region. My request to 2 was approved the same day, and I could go print my auth to race from usac that day.

My experience about a month ago:

-Upgraded to Cat 4 after four races (One win, 2 podiums, and an 11th)
-Processing took about 10 minutes from email request to 'closed'.

I think it's the sole discretion of your regional coordinator.

Just summit the request, have to see what happens. Be nice if I get a response back today in regards to it so i can contact the race promoters to get be moved into 4 races. Also got a TT this weekend so the sooner I let them know I guess the better my chances are of moving, since they have not closed registration/created the start times.

You're in MABRA, where upgrades have been taking much longer than a week this year. You're also not very likely to get that upgrade without your 10th race. I'm just speaking from personal and teamate experience this season.

The worst that can happen is you'll be turned down.

go race greenbelt on wednesday and it wont matter

You're in MABRA, where upgrades have been taking much longer than a week this year. You're also not very likely to get that upgrade without your 10th race. I'm just speaking from personal and teamate experience this season.

Possible, either case ill be re-applying after next weekends Crit in VA.


go race greenbelt on wednesday and it wont matter

Depending how sore I am after Tuesday personal training workout, I might come down there.

Also a problem I just threw around, if its still pending either after Wednesday or next weekend, I guess I will have to wait till it is approved or declined to re-apply with the new race results. Could take some time in that respect I guess.

doesn't matter how sore you are. you only have to start.

1 - I upgraded after 6. One of them was a win, though.

2 - Mine took 15 days.

doesn't matter how sore you are. you only have to start.
True


2 - Mine took 15 days.

Hmm I am not a fan of waiting for things (this is why I have amazon prime so it save me money on all my next day shipping purchase :lol: ). Guess ill just have to deal with it. Do they shoot you a email once the decision is made?

Yup. The subject should be something like "USA Cycling Support Ticket ###### Closed"

Since this has nothing to do with Sally Ride here is my 2 cents.

As a rider whose been doing this since time began and am doomed to spend the rest of my aged life as a 4, I think you should not be looking to upgrade, even after 10.

Your just not good enough to move up.

You may be fast enough, but at so few races, the skill set is not there yet.

Do yourself a favor and get more race experience. Make sure you FINISH at least 10 races and may have 3 or more be a top 10.

Yup. The subject should be something like "USA Cycling Support Ticket ###### Closed"

Ah ok.

Find out who your district rep is and go talk to him at the race. In FL, the district rep is also one of the promoters in the state... he'll grant upgrades onsite 9 times out of 10 and give you the sticker to put on your license. You'll still have to go on myusacycling and request the upgrade as a formality, but in the meantime you'll have the allmighty sticker until he sorts through the requests online.

Possible, but by that time ill probably have my 10th race in. We will see, time will tell.

Update:
Got it approved on just the 9 races, so I am now Cat 4 :). Just have to email the 8+ races I have already signed up for and hope theirs space to move me from Cat 5 to 4 events.