Cat 5 Lifers
 

I mean what's the deal with these guys?

It's like most people that run 5ks. They enjoy riding so they enter a random race here and there I guess. Idk how they don't get extremely addicted after the first race though.

I know some guys that are really into racing but have been cat 5s for 3 years and are OTB in every race. Pretty involved in the racing scene but don't ride enough to keep up. Don't get it

Could be triathletes or century riders who do one or two races a year and it's not worth it to them to get an annual license.

I talked to a guy a few weeks ago that said he won't upgrade to Cat 4 until he wins a Cat 5 race.

more important question - why do you care?

Hate on me all you want. I pretty much feel like I'm in that boat. I'm a Cat 4 and most of my races have been back of pack. Just haven't really put it together either due to injury or mistakes during the race. Through the wonders of Strava, I can confidently say I double the mileage of most of my competitors, and I do take my training seriously.

I enjoy racing, and I would hang it up if I thought my chances of ever getting on the top of the podium were nil.

I know a number of people who sure looked like cat-whatever lifers, couldn't beg borrow or buy an upgrade point, etc. Then one season they finally put everything together and crushed it.

My guess is that they enjoy it ... off the back or whatever, they're having fun and get a chance to race their bike. Worst case, they're giving money to the director which helps keeps races going.

As a 4, I figured I was a cat4 lifer.

As a 3, I figured I was a cat3 lifer.

As a 2... well you get the point.

As a 1, I'm pretty sure I'm a lifer; but I've been wrong in the past!!

Btw this is a pretty lame troll; "harold" I feel like your trolling abilities are better than this. Step up your game dude.

that's what i'm banking on

Hmm. I assumed there was some sort of mandatory upgrade after you have done X number of races, no?

No mandatory upgrade out of cat 5. No cash prizes for cat 5 either, those two rules work together.

You can be forced out of Cat5 by your LA. Sandbagging in Cat5 is about as low as you can go.

took me 2 years to get through cat 5 because I was just racing the few road races that matched my favorite training rides for double centuries.

took me a year to do the 10 or 12 races to get through cat 4, another year to do the 20-25 races I was a 3, but then the pace escalated and only a year to get through cat 2. I didn't even like racing until I was a cat 2, tbh.

i think i i had the right idea but i didn't execute. you're right.

not trolling though. that's against forum rules and i would never do such a thing

i honestly just don't get how some dudes can be a 5 for so long. years. 20+ races.

Buy one-day licenses.

Ha that's me last year vs this year. 2 upgrade points in 50 races last year, almost 40 upgrade points so far this year.

I hope this will be me sometime in the near future.

yeah if you only race once or twice a year and aren't competitive, ends up being cheaper and more flexible to just stay a 5 and buy one days

Can they force you to buy an annual license though?

Nope. USAC will gladly take your money for one-days.

BTW, my first Cat 5 race was 7 years ago and I'm still a 5. So...... I guess that title fits me.

I'm fat and the races in 4 vs 5 are the same speed here (24.2mph 5 vs 24.1mph 4 at early race). I can be in the top 15 of 5 no problem but if I go to 4 I'd struggle some. I was going to upgrade this year but we had a bunch of people show up in 5's start wrecking that then upgraded to 4 so waiting for that to clear out. Also my teammates who went to 4 early struggled with the longer 60 mile races and didn't enjoy last season. I don't really race to kill everyone and just enjoy doing it. When I go to 4 I'll probably just be leading out people since I have a really strong 1-5 minute power compared to them.

Glad I didn't upgrade to 4 for todays race. The fast guys I complained about went to 4's and had 27mph average first two laps. All but 6 people were dropped and only 4 people at the sprint.