Are there any other regions in the US that combine 1,2,3 races?
I'm down here in South Central US and due to low participation at local races mainly between La. and Miss. we must combine our cat 1,2, and 3's. I recenty upgraded to a 3 so I guess I will be a pack filler for a while. We still get scored seperately but to take home some gas money you have to beat the 1's and 2's. Wish me luck - I will need it. If I get spanked too bad - I guess I'll race Masters because my racing age is 35 - but I heard they are just as tough - just not as long. Later
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the dc area has 1/2/3 races but they also have plenty of 3 races
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I recently did a Cat2/3 race and took a top 5 placing...but we don't get separated out. So while I got two upgrade points, my second place showing in the 3s (I know who was what category) goes unnoticed. Lame.
But yes, other areas of the country do that if the races are small, or if they are RR's. For crits, this is extremely rare unless the promoter is having a BIG Pro/1 field, and then they'll make it P/1 and 2/3. But never P/1/2/3 in crits. |
Many years ago, cat3's rarely had there own races in areas like yours with few riders. Now promoters do their best to have seperate events for everyone possible, especially here in Florida
Too bad for you, but stick it out and see what comes of it. Maybe with all the P123 races, you'll find that 3 only races feel easy and start racking up results. |
Often times it's not just the number of racers but how long the promoters can keep the roads closed that determines that.
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Originally Posted by YMCA
Many years ago, cat3's rarely had there own races in areas like yours with few riders. Now promoters do their best to have seperate events for everyone possible, especially here in Florida
Too bad for you, but stick it out and see what comes of it. Maybe with all the P123 races, you'll find that 3 only races feel easy and start racking up results. |
In northern california you see a lot of P/1/2 races for the men. I think I've also seen 1/2/3 categories for the masters 35+ or 45+ where they split the 4/5's into a different pack.
P1/2/3 is very common in the women's fields. Sometimes they pick separately and sometimes they don't. It's common to see this if they want to offer a W4 field as well. Although occasionally you will see a P1/2/3, W3 and W4 but not that often. |
Originally Posted by Snicklefritz
In northern california you see a lot of P/1/2 races for the men. I think I've also seen 1/2/3 categories for the masters 35+ or 45+ where they split the 4/5's into a different pack.
P1/2/3 is very common in the women's fields. Sometimes they pick separately and sometimes they don't. It's common to see this if they want to offer a W4 field as well. Although occasionally you will see a P1/2/3, W3 and W4 but not that often. |
In Ohio, most events I'm in have a 1/2/3 race AND either a separate 3 race or a 3/4 race. We don't have very many 1's or 2's it seems to fill out a field. Even with the inclusion of cat 3's, the "1/2/3" race is usually the smallest of all men's fields by far.
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Originally Posted by Rocket Richard
Wow, the women down here get the shaft (no pun intended) but we just have a general "womens" race. If you are new to the sport in the womens field, you could be lining up with pros for your fist race! Crazy huh.
They do that in a couple of races out here. P/1/2/3/4 !!! It's nuts. Sometimes they don't ever pick separately. It's nice when they do because people can feel like they're getting something for their $30 or whatever. |
Originally Posted by Snicklefritz
They do that in a couple of races out here. P/1/2/3/4 !!! It's nuts. Sometimes they don't ever pick separately.
It's nice when they do because people can feel like they're getting something for their $30 or whatever. Never a problem here in Florida for the W4's. They almost always get their own race, even if it's only 5 of them on the line. For sure, they always get their own prizes. |
I did an early season crit here in Sacramento (Land Park) and lined up for what I thought was the Masters 35+ 4/5 only to find out that it was open to all categories. I noticed a bear flag champ jersey and a handful of stars-and-stripes sleeve cuffs.
It was a brisk ride. |
Originally Posted by Duke of Kent
@YMCA- Perhaps this is true, perhaps it isn't, but I've been told that Cat3 now is what Cat2 was like 15-ish years ago. This is from a couple of masters guys who race the P/1/2 fields and the 35/40+ races. Basically, the overall level of racing in the US is on the rise and the depth is increasing accordingly? I'd like to hear your opinions on this. Thanks!
You could be right about cat3's not being as strong as they used to be. Probably something do with the fact they rarely have to do 123's anymore and that racers now have more balanced lives than they used to. 15-20 years ago or more, you had a lot of 3's that trained 300+ mile weeks regularly. Now-a-days it seems most guys do just what they need to, in order to keep racing decently and keep up with other responsibilities better. Bike racers used to be a smaller community and to succeed, or have anyone pay attention to you, riders had prove themselves constantly. Training and racing has gotten a lot softer. Almost to the point of yuppie triathletes. Could just be the hardened sportsman in me talking though. |
Originally Posted by Duke of Kent
I recently did a Cat2/3 race and took a top 5 placing...but we don't get separated out. So while I got two upgrade points, my second place showing in the 3s (I know who was what category) goes unnoticed. Lame.
But yes, other areas of the country do that if the races are small, or if they are RR's. For crits, this is extremely rare unless the promoter is having a BIG Pro/1 field, and then they'll make it P/1 and 2/3. But never P/1/2/3 in crits. |
Originally Posted by YMCA
Bike racers used to be a smaller community and to succeed, or have anyone pay attention to you, riders had prove themselves constantly. Training and racing has gotten a lot softer. Almost to the point of yuppie triathletes. Could just be the hardened sportsman in me talking though.
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Originally Posted by YMCA
You could be right about cat3's not being as strong as they used to be. Probably something do with the fact they rarely have to do 123's anymore and that racers now have more balanced lives than they used to. 15-20 years ago or more, you had a lot of 3's that trained 300+ mile weeks regularly. Now-a-days it seems most guys do just what they need to, in order to keep racing decently and keep up with other responsibilities better.
Bike racers used to be a smaller community and to succeed, or have anyone pay attention to you, riders had prove themselves constantly. Training and racing has gotten a lot softer. Almost to the point of yuppie triathletes. Could just be the hardened sportsman in me talking though. I don't plan on being a 3 for any more than the rest of this summer, so I'm hoping that he's right. I blew plenty of 2's out of the water in my one and only race against them, and would like to see that continue. |
Arizona has a couple. Imo, it great experience for the 3's and I'm grateful to get the chance to start with the P1,2's...Ymmv as usual.
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Originally Posted by Duke of Kent
I was actually saying that my friend told me that the level of the 3's has RISEN, not fallen. The three's used to get absolutely shelled when they came up to the 1/2's, now they are doing better on average, according to him.
I don't plan on being a 3 for any more than the rest of this summer, so I'm hoping that he's right. I blew plenty of 2's out of the water in my one and only race against them, and would like to see that continue. Oops, I misread your original statement. If you are going to 2, be one of the strongest (not neccessarily fastest) riders in the 3's. |
Oregon
Women usually have a 1/2/3 field with a separate 4's. Men pretty much are P/1/2, separate 3's then 4/5's. |
Northeast (NY NJ Metro area) it`s not uncommon to have p 1 2 3 and 3 4 races.
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Originally Posted by Duke of Kent
But yes, other areas of the country do that if the races are small, or if they are RR's. For crits, this is extremely rare unless the promoter is having a BIG Pro/1 field, and then they'll make it P/1 and 2/3. But never P/1/2/3 in crits.
Wish me luck... [Edit:] I was a few days late replying and I see that it's been covered by other posters. |
Here in Montana we almost NEVER separate the p/1/2/3.
Don't think for one second that we are slower because of smaller fields. We had two guys go to Mt. Hood and score top 10's in the cat 3 GC. |
Originally Posted by DrWJODonnell
Northeast (NY NJ Metro area) it`s not uncommon to have p 1 2 3 and 3 4 races.
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Originally Posted by Cypress
Here in Montana we almost NEVER separate the p/1/2/3.
Don't think for one second that we are slower because of smaller fields. We had two guys go to Mt. Hood and score top 10's in the cat 3 GC. At our recent crit championship the Cat 3 field turned laps identical to what a Pro 1/2 break was doing while putting time on the field. Depends on the race, time of year, and field. Same can be said about the sketchiness of the racing. Lately some of the 3's around here ride like idiots. |
Originally Posted by Cypress
Here in Montana we almost NEVER separate the p/1/2/3.
Don't think for one second that we are slower because of smaller fields. We had two guys go to Mt. Hood and score top 10's in the cat 3 GC. |
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