Road Bike Racing - One day license for cat 5 only??

Finally, I think I can compete again and not get shot out the back like a potato from a tailpipe! :)

I last raced in 1996 as a cat 4. I am 43 years old and the race that I want to do is a Masters 35+ event.

Three questions:

Does the USCF license run Jan - Dec or do they go for 12 months from the date of issuance?

If I obtain a one day license I was told by a friend that I would have to race as a cat 5. Is this right?

I recall only Cat 4 and up could race Masters. Can a Cat 5 now race Masters races?

Thanks! If you have ever tried to get info from www.usacycling.org you know why I am asking here!

Finally, I think I can compete again and not get shot out the back like a potato from a tailpipe! :)

I last raced in 1996 as a cat 4. I am 43 years old and the race that I want to do is a Masters 35+ event.

Three questions:

Does the USCF license run Jan - Dec or do they go for 12 months from the date of issuance?

If I obtain a one day license I was told by a friend that I would have to race as a cat 5. Is this right?

I recall only Cat 4 and up could race Masters. Can a Cat 5 now race Masters races?

Thanks! If you have ever tried to get info from www.usacycling.org you know why I am asking here!

1.) I'm pretty sure it's Jan-Dec. My license has an expiration date of 12/31/04. I think I signed up in January.
2.) Yes, a friend of mine who used to be CAT 3 several years ago and just started back into racing had to race CAT 5 with a one-day license
3.) I'm a CAT 5 and have been able to register in the Master 45+ bracket.

I'd check with the race promoter or race referee just to be sure, though.

Cat 5's can race in age group brackets. Some races break it down like 35+ 4/5 or just 35+. Either way you are good to go.

Thanks guys.

Some masters races require cat 4 some don't. But if you raced cat 4 in 1996 then your still a cat 4. I may be wrong but I thought cat 5 was strictly beginner and once you cat up you cannot ever go back to 5 ??? While at the same time a cat 2 can request a cat down for special reasons like years off of racing ect...

And yes the license starts on Jan 1 so you may as well get one then...

I think jfmckenna is right about the cat 4 issue, which makes most of the rest of the questions moot. It's well worth the money to buy the license and race with the 4s (or masters).

Anyhow, from the rule book (on the usacycling web-site)...

licensing:
All licenses expire on December 31 of the year they are issued. After September 1st, licenses can be purchased for half price, and these licenses will expire at the end of the current year. After November 1st, full price licenses can be purchased that will expire on December 31st of the following year.

One day licenses:
8.1.3 Others may be issued one-day licenses and be permitted to enter races open to men's category 5 or (for women) women's category 4, but do not become members and may not enter championship events.

(I also noticed one-day licensees are aparently exempt from uniform restrictions.)

I was under the impression that a cat 5 rider of masters age could compete with masters, but when I asked a USCF ref today, was told that cat 5s can only race with cat 5s. I don't know if this is a recent rule change, because I was under the impression that it was kind of an organizers option. Anyhow, all I could find in the rule book was this:
1H. Mixing of Classes and Categories
1H1. Eligibility.
No rider may race in a category other than that which is stated on his or her license. Masters may compete in any races for their age or younger, but not races exclusively for Under 23s or Juniors.

Hey Moonshot,

A lot of mixing of Masters and 5's depends on the region you're in. Here where our racing population is small, we all some mixing. But you're initial view of being cat 4 and up is correct. Also, if you were to decide that you wanted to race Masters Natz, then you would have to be a Cat 3 or higher.

As for the one day license, that dumps you into the cat 5 category, period. If you were to renew your license, you would be back at your Cat 4 racing category.

If you need more info, let me know.

--cyclingute

Thanks for the clarification.

I'm planning to wait until after Sept 1 to take advantage of the reduced (50% off) license fee and get my cat 4 license.