When that post popped up I knew you were going to say that exact thing!

OK. I"ll shut up next time.

Carry on.

:unsure:

dude. Who said it was a bad thing?

I thought maybe the guy wasn't from around here.

in AZ they give $$$ cash to cat 5s.

Those guys all get bikes from their sponsoring clubs, don't they?

Do they have their own governing body? Just ignore the rules? Doesn't make much sense..one of the advantages to a promoter is putting on races at the same entry fee without having a prize list.

This is my third year, and second full season as a Cat 5. There are plenty of races in the area, so that's not my "excuse." I've entered maybe 20 and finished most of them, but not once even with the field. Although I technically qualify for an upgrade, clearly I'm not yet competitive in my current category, so it wouldn't make much sense. But as long as I continue to improve, and as long as it continues to be fun and exciting, I'll keep at it, and once I do finish with the field, I'll be happy to start racing with the Masters (may avoid regular Cat 4 races - they seem to be the crashy-est).

Several times before a race I've thought "I'm ready," only to discover that almost everyone else was far more ready. However, yesterday was a little different. The group ride action for the first 80% or so of the race was easy-breezy, and plenty of fun simply because it was so much faster than my normal rides, but not at all difficult. Now and then the group would kick it up a little, but the short, rolling circuit (Prospect Park) was so familiar, those adjustments were all highly predictable, which again made it easy to deal with. But even if it was easy, it was still work, and when it came time to put forth some real effort, I don't know why, but I just didn't bring myself to do it. I just let them get away.

In the hours since, I've started to think it was because, even as much as I always think I COULD place well - I'll be excited by the prospect, the 'gut feeling' that this will be the race - I've habituated myself to getting dropped, and there isn't anyone who actually expects me to do any better. Although I'm a member of CRCA, the big local club, I'm not on any sub-team, and often feel like an interloper when, after the races, everyone else is comparing notes with their teammates and planning follow-up rides. I think if I were on a team, it would make a big difference.

That's my story.

I've done 2 Cat 5 races this year as my first "official" races with a UCI license. I finished them but didn't do as well as I expected. I already knew I was lacking some "race mileage". I had a good winter training otherwise and took those gains to the road (with a help of a coach).

For the most part it's getting myself in the races. It's all mental for me. Sometimes I plan to do a race then the following week I have this "I'm not up for it" mentality. Technically, I should be doing this crit on Tuesdays which is about 1-2 km from my doorstep, but I dont know, I'm just not as hungry as my other teamates.

Maybe I'll get over it one day. I have 2-4 more races until end of Sept with one coming up in 3 weeks. Let's see what happens.

As for being a lifer: I just started racing but no I do not want to be a lifer. I have 4 more yrs until I get forced into the lowest category for Masters and I wish to be a 3 before I get there.

Going from not finishing Cat5 races to Masters is going to be a swift kick in the nuts. I strongly suggest you focus on Cat4 first. Crashing is part of racing. Get used to it.

either way, really. Masters' 4 races might be "easier" but cat 4 races are chock full of cat-2 legs who just don't know how to race.

I'm aware of all that, actually. Have seen a masters field lap a cat 4 field in a circuit race. It's the fact that they are grown ups that makes me a little more comfortable. Mostly/more grown up, but not entirely. ;)
Oh, and I've crashed already, too. :).

I struggle a lot with the mental side of racing as well and a lot of times end up in the same "I'd rather just ride than get all stressed about racing" mindset. The only solution I've found is to force yourself to pre reg and show up. Once I'm pinned up and rolling around I'm usually pumped to race.

Most race officials and promoters I know would disagree with the description of Masters racers as "Grown Ups." Many of them act like spoiled babies.

FFS. Masters is just an age group, and an optional one at that. A Masters Cat 4 still has all the pack handling smarts of any other Cat 4 (i.e. typically still in need of some development). If Masters races are safer it's because the 1s and 2s at the front push the pace so the dead weight gets dropped OTB where they can't do as much harm. Most of the people in elite/senior fields are grown-ups, too, not school children.

Many of them ride like idiots, especially M40+. Don't assume that Masters racers "race on Sunday, work on Monday".

Or that regular senior racers don't. Even if you take it as read that Masters races are safer, the contention that it's because Masters racers "have to go to work on Monday" just blows my mind. Or rather it blows my mind that anyone could say that with a straight face.

But at least we all feel like school children playing games when we race. I love it!

Well, yes, they can all act like spoiled babies. My comment was based on observations as a moto official for circuit races, where I found the master's fields to be a bit more disciplined, and their pelotons less fidgety.

What's worse, a cat 5 lifer or a cat 3 with points a plenty that doesn't upgrade, takes all the primes, and then pulls out of the race?

Why would they do that? Why not just finish?

They'd accumulate points for a mandatory upgrade.

Ah, derp.

Sandbagging as a "successful" Cat 5 is just silly IMHO, but who are they really hurting? Taking away other Cat 5's chance to win a race with no prizes?

Personally, I can kinda see why someone might sandbag as a Cat 3. Moving from 2 to 3 in many areas means you're only going to be doing P,1,2 races, and the races are going to be significantly longer. Racing Cat 2, IMHO is a significantly bigger committment than racing as a 3. You could rationally decide you still want to race, but don't want to step up to the demands of racing P,1,2.

Fortunately as a pack fodder Cat 3, I don't have this moral dillema.

Crashing is part of cycling; we crash more in racing but anytime you ride its a risk. I just find it odd so many people do group rides and ride sketchy as hell then bring up crashing as a reason not to race. Our worst ride is the Monday recovery ride, cuz you got 5 newbies, and 10 experienced riders weaving through the pack to flirt with the ladies.

Last few weeks I've found the 4's to be more manageable but luck hasn't been with me. A lot of dudes wining *should* be upgrading but they're trying to hook up teammates or get more wins....I s'pose there's never an easy time.

At racing age 43, my plan is to hit Masters at 45....good thing for me we have some fast masters dudes (half the Nats podium in the 40's do our Raincross Ride) to use as a benchmark. Bad thing is they're fast and they don't skip races.

Sorry, but I forgot to add this info: that's the structure here in Canada.

Elite 4-1 for ages 34 and below (Elite 4 being our Cat 5 equivalent)
Masters 3-1 for ages 35 and above (Master 3 being our Cat 5 equivalent for 35 and over)

You cannot stay Elite 4 when you're 35. You're forced into Master 3.

Hope this made sense. And yes, your comment is still valid regardless. There are tons of Master 3 lifers. Some just love racing regardless which category they do. I'm lucky to be in a team where there's tons of guys who race the Masters category (we have 3,2 and 1s in our team)