pistachio

Here's a start-time lineup for a local upcoming road race. My question is what is 40+/50+ ? (men 40 and 50 and older?)
If so, can 40+/50+ men compete in cat 5? How do 40/50+ categories compare to cat 5?

9:00 am 40+/50+
9:05 am M4/5
9:10 am W3/W4
12:00 pm M1/2/3
12:35 pm M3/4
12:40 pm W1/2/3

stridercc

The 40+/50+ is for anyone over 40, but they score the people over 50 seperate. For this instance it does not look like someone could race 40+/50+ and the 4/5 because the races over lap, but if someone wanted to race the 40+/50+ and the 1/2/3 they could do that. Hope that answers your question.

-Matt-

roadbuzz

Yes. USCF rules allow 40+ men to compete in Cat 4+ events, but the organizer may impose the requirement that non-Cat4+ riders ride the Cat 5 event.

My understanding is that many 40+ riders former competitive racers, who're just doing it for fun, now. In other words, they're awesome.

Styk33

You will find the 40/50 class being one of the fastest races, right up there with the 1/2/3. Most of the 35+ guys I talk to also race as 2s or 3s.

Go with the 4/5 race and have fun.

VegasCyclist

don't they normally call this group 'masters' ?

anyhow I've met my share of racers who are old enough to be my father, and they sure are good regardless of their age

velo

Yes, in general those older age groups are called "masters". They can be split into "master 35+" and so on.

roadbuzz

What styk said. This was the advice I was given for my first race (which was snowed out, and rescheduled for May 3 ). Aside from being faster, they mostly know each other and are clique-ish, and wary of newbies.

pistachio

Thanks for the info folks! I'm 45, looking for something more challenging than centuries and yet still fun. Sounds like cat 4/5 is my best bet, although I've heard that these guys are a little unpredictable (like me). It all sounds a little harrowing, but I guess it's like jumping in the deep end of the pool for the first time - just do it, eh?

Styk33

Just do it. If you don't like it, you can always just stop riding and go home.

Lots of fun, even if you get dropped like I do.

Olyroller

For your own saftey go with the old guys not the 4/5's

fubar5

Stay out of cat 5. Racing with us cat 5 guys is harrowing. I need to freakin win a race out right so I can move up, screw 10 races. I'll get killed if I stick in cat 5 that long.

Styk33

fubar5, consider yourself lucky you can move up without having to do your 10 races. Over here in CA we have no choice but to bare it out . They used to let you upgrade if you got like 2 recommendations, but they dropped that last year.

fubar5

I think that's the rule over here..I was talking to a dude and Team EarthFare about which races to do, and he was the one who told me to forget doing ten races..He said I could win, or place 1st 2nd or 3rd in three races. I should probably double check eh? Either way, my plan at the next race is to attack a few miles from the finish. What does it matter if I blow up and finish last or something??? It still counts towards the 10 I have to do, and I'll get experience with attacking and stuff like that.