flythebike

I got my category 2 upgrade back from the local upgrade coordinator, who had been on vacation.

I know some people will be like so what, why upgrade at the end of the season? Well most people here will probably agree that it is the best time to do it so you can get all your training done shooting at that level.

I know I'm looking forward to our elite team's meeting this Sunday, we'll pick some races, talk about goals etc., and go for a ride.

I'm on a 100+ person club and I'm the only one to upgrade to cat 2. So I feel proud of that. I researched and there are just 1300 cat 2s and about 600 cat 1s out of what 40000 licensed racers?50000? I don't know that the membership is. Anyway it is a big accomplishment and most importantly I'm training to have a successful season next year at that level. I realize it isn't (for me anyway) about framing my license that says cat 2, it is about having success racing at this level.

GuitarWizard

Congrats! I could only hope to reach that level someday.....

....of course, that would require entering races first.

El Diablo Rojo

Don't be ashamed about being proud, it's great accomplishment for weekend warrior. Good job and best of luck in '07!

botto 

well done, and more power to you for taking the next step.

Dubbayoo

Cat 2 is a big accomplishment, congrats.

PolishPostal

I think that is awesome!! You should be very proud. With the age of sandbaggers, I think that it is honorable to actually follow the rules. I'll stop myself there before I go on a rant about sandbaggers and the lack of USCF to enforce automatic upgrades.

shakeNbake

Congrats!

sverrefehn

Congrats! Well done. I've been working hard to move up to the 3's and I know that the jump up to the 2's is multiple times harder.

jfmckenna

Congrads fly, cat 2 is a big leap.

Yep

Nice work!

timmhaan

due to the fact that i was proud to upgrade to cat 4, you should be very proud to reach cat 2! good luck next season.

EventServices

You're right to not wait until Spring because now you can say "I'm a Cat 2." all winter.

Not that there's anything wrong with being a Cat 3,

nor is there an elitist attitude to be found or detected anywhere in the system,

and the undersigned must agree to be nice to said Cat 3 riders in the future despite racing at a higher category.
and that while riding on MUP or in other non-race situations the undersigned agrees to behave in a manner well-suited to cyclists in general and holds no position or stature above that of said ordinary cyclist, except where in the course of a USCF-sanctioned race. This includes waving, nodding, saying "hello", "hi", "s'up?", "how you doon?", etc to lower categoried racers and/or non-racers.

Snuffleupagus

But seriously...congrats

flythebike

Thanks ya'll. I'm really really happy to be on the Evolution Cycling Club (the one in Virginia, rather than PA) and we have such a talented group of guys on the elite team - I feel like there is a structure there that I can step into.

I mean if you look at the benefits offered to our elite team members, it would be a fool's bargain for me to remain a cat 3. I get race reimbursements, radically discounted coaching, great shop deals and the list goes on for material things.

Then there is the fact that I get to be part of a team of dedicated people and benefit from their experience and practices. There is just no way that it makes any sense for me to remain in the threes. If everybody had this kind of outfit to step into, very very few people would remain at cat 3 if they could had a chance to upgrade. It really forced me to look at it from what I had to gain rather than what I had to lose.

Greg180

Group Attennnsssion!

Sir Fly we salute you!

Congatulations...

flythebike

Well that is the point really - I have to hold myself accountable in everything I do to being a cat 2. Everything I eat, my training plan it all flows from this mindset. And it is a nice ego boost and stroke as well.

I've heard a complaint that other elite riders don't say hi to the club riders on Evo. I'm not like that at all by nature so that shouldn't be a problem. If anything I have a challenge to view myself as in the top 3%. There is a difference between being an elite athlete and an elitist person.

For sure there are guys who have the points who should just stay threes. I mean I know guys in their mid 50s who race a lot and they might win a cat 3 race or two every year, but c'mon, you can't expect them to race 19 year olds week in and week out just becuase they can beat many people consistently. On the other hand there are guys that you line up when you see them you just think - how can you get any juice at all out of winning cat 3 races over and over again.

If there was a 35+ 1/2/3 category, then I might not have felt as compelled to upgrade. But around here, cat 4s can enter masters races and some of the crashes I've seen have been pretty scary, not that it has only been cat 4s causing them. So since I don't really want to race Masters or 3s, I had to upgrade.

EventServices

Don't misconstrue my previous comments. You are to be commended for the upgrade! That's not an easy task, by any stretch.
Well done.

Now, sign the agreement!

roadwarrior

C'mon...if everone starts doing this, then that will eliminate 327 threads about what a bunch of @ s s holes roadies are...

TheKillerPenguin

congrats!

Lithuania

awesome congrats!

flythebike

Offline, I have been acused of insulting cat 4s, and called out as arrogant. I'm curious if other people feel that is the case.

Also, upon reflection, I also feel like I'm not sure that the quote is really what is so for me. I just want to race at the top of the amateur level for as long as I can, period.

TheKillerPenguin

Shame on you for calling a spade a spade

zimbo

I don't feel that way. I also have a goal to become a Cat2 at some point (although I would probably be content to race as a Master since I'm already 38 years old) for many of the reasons you've suggested. Namely, there is a great satisfaction that comes from progressing and excelling in a sport.

--Steve

Snuffleupagus

No, don't think you're arrogant...so you've got CAT2 in your tagline, so what? Other people have stuff bragging about having Record, or a sexy-wetdream of a (insert sexy bike here, e.g. Fondriest/Colnago/Pinarello...) it doesn't mean you're arrogant, it means you're pleased with what you've accomplished. There is a limit, but most people who aren't sociopaths or autistic understand the extents of the limit

patentcad

When I raced Vets 35+ I had points to upgrade from 4 to 3. Never saw the point for the same reason - I was able to do all the races I wanted to, and frankly I would have been over my head @ the Cat 2/3 level anyway (I know, I got combined into plenty of 2/3 races when turnout @ races wasn't sufficient for separate fields and the Vets races were 2/3 racers in large part).

Bottom line is that in racing there are the 2's/strong 3's and the marginal 3's and Cat 4's. I'm was in the latter category. I'm older now (49) but that's about how fast I'll ever be. That's a function of genetics (I suck at this) more than anything else. Do I care if some Cat 2 thinks I'm slow? He's right. I AM slow. So what? I don't do this for Road Nazi Approval Points. Some of my best riding pals are Bike Nazis like flythebike. They all succumb to my old guy Cat IV charm sooner or later. Besides, they need SOMEBODY to drop. Somebody has to pointlessly chase them around on Sunday mornings.

I volunteer. Some days that's actually FUN. And other days (like last Sunday when I said F this I'm sitting up today) I think I'm a mental case who needs counseling for doing this instead of sleeping in with my wife in my toasty king sized bed like the SANE middle aged men.

Good job on the Cat 2 upgrade flythebike : ). Now the fun REALLY starts. Hey, you can join me for group therapy sessions on days you start thinking maybe YOU'RE a mental case too.