Originally Posted by
furiousferret
In many ways the Category model is broken, mixing the 5's with 4's is just one example. Category 5 is supposed to be for racers to learn the craft, but its just treated like any other race.
My last race was a technical crit, corners no wider than 6 feet, and no way people can go into them with any speed or do any passing. Our race probably had at least 5 people racing for the first time. There was no briefing about the corners, or any other pre race advisories (holding lines, crossing wheels)...just a whistle. So what happens? 2 guys end up in the hospital because they go into the corner too fast and cross wheels.
Not everyone learns the craft prior to going to a race. Some guys just buy a bike, and go to a race, they have no clue about pack safety, and the Cat 5 format only really ensures these guys only endanger other Cat 5's. USAC could do some things better that would make it useful, (puts on flamesuit) but its treated like any other race.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, Cat 5 is pointless in its current model.
I jumped into racing May of last year having done one or two group rides. Looking back...probably not the best approach, but the officials were quite helpful and we had a mentor that was helpful for those of us that were out of our element. The mentor would offer advice and guidance during the race like "we're coming up to a corner, dont cross wheels". After the races, we'd debrief and I learned a good amount of info about what to do/not to do, when to do, etc.
Earlier this year in a Cat 5 race I was watching, the lead official collected the guys that had fallen off the back (maybe 10 guys or so) and regrouped them as a chase group. Their instructions were that they stay together and race as a group since that was the intent of cat 5. I thought this was a great approach. These guys have already been dropped and were learning nothing, but the official made sure they got more pack time in the race.
So, there are
some merits to cat 5 racing, but it is tough as you get a rather large spetctrum of abilities amongst the racers.