License?
 

Should I get a license if I only do 3-4 races a year? Do I have to have one if I plan on moving to cat IV at some time? Are there any benefits that I am unaware of? Until now I have only gotten a one day.

Yes, cat IV's have to have a yearly license. Other than that there's no real difference for a cat V so if it isn't saving you money there's no point.

I'd get an annual.

First it'll commit you to racing, and you may find yourself racing more often, esp since they're sort of "free" once you've paid for the license. I don't think about what I paid for a license in January when it's July.

Second, you get a license :) I have a little box of old licenses.

Third, you get some benefits as an annual member. I don't do anything to use those benefits now but I used to (air pass for bike). There's various little things like some kind of health insurance, hotel and rental discounts, etc. Prob no more than a nice credit card but it may be of interest to you.

Fourth, as you pointed out, you can upgrade and get to be a 4 on a current annual license. You do need to do 10 races in a year so the annual will be cost effective if you decide to go for it. As a 4 you get bigger races, more variety (Masters etc), usually longer races.

Fifth, since one day license fees do not carry over to annual fees (i.e. if you did a One Day this week and bought an Annual next week, you don't get to discount $10 off your annual), if you want to do more than 6 races a year, the annual is the way to start off.

I would do One Day only if you know you don't want to race regularly (1-3 times a year, no 'cross or other off season racing) or if you've never tried racing before.

Disclaimer: I am a volunteer for USA Cycling as the CT state rep and I also promote races under USA Cycling auspices.

cdr

Thanks for the info CDR. I will just get an annual. You never know I may end up doing a half dozen races or more. If I do all of the Charge Pond Series (mass) that is 4 right there. Can you suggest any races in CT. I have a ton of family and friends in Ct (uconn grad). I can always sqeak in race when I am up visiting.

One other reason: Some events are only open to annual license holders, like our State Championship races here in Florida.

Bob

Plus, the next time some jackass motorist complains about cyclists on the road not having a license and not having to pay an annual fee, you can whip it out and say "Oh yeah?!?"

lol I didn't know you were in the area.

For New England, check out www.ne-bra.org That is our local association and all the races are listed there. You can also search at www.usacycling.org but it seems little more clunky.

In CT there is a series in East Hartford, Rensler air field (spelling is wrong).
http://sgnocycling.com/?page_id=73
Ugh spelling is really wrong. That's the 2007 flyer, apparently it will be going on in 2008.

There are two series on right now, the Bethel Spring Series (mine, in Bethel, CT) on Sundays and the Plainville Spring Series (not mine, in Plainville, CT) on Saturdays. I recommend either. Bethel has a short hill, 150 meters, and no real corners. Plainville is flat, has two turns you have to think about, and seems to lend itself to faster overall speeds (since it's flat). I don't think one is harder than the other but I may be wrong. They both end in mid April, and both are at ne-bra.org

You can also check bikereg.com - that's a private site, they get a fee for every registration that goes through them, but it makes it so easy to register that many promoters use them. There are a few exceptions but you'll find probably 80% of the races listed there.

In the summer there are races all over Connecticut, both crits and road races. I'm pretty sure you'll find most of them in bikereg.

Hope this helps,
cdr