View Poll Results: How long did it take for you to upgrade from Cat4 to Cat3?
1 year or less
44
75.86%
1-2 years
8
13.79%
2-3 years
2
3.45%
3 years and up
4
6.90%
Voters: 58. You may not vote on this poll
How long did it take you to upgrade from Cat4 to Cat3?
#51
Writin' stuff
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I generally think of FTP as a limiter, while you win with power over far shorter durations.
Basically, not having the necessary FTP for a given race will get you dropped, having great 5m/1m/5s power will help you win. Without both, you can't win. With only one, FTP, you can do just fine but not win. With only the latter, you're getting dropped.
The only instances where FTP helps you WIN (rather than just stay in the race) is when the course involves a very long climb, or your FTP is just so much higher than everyone else you can simply ride away.
Basically, not having the necessary FTP for a given race will get you dropped, having great 5m/1m/5s power will help you win. Without both, you can't win. With only one, FTP, you can do just fine but not win. With only the latter, you're getting dropped.
The only instances where FTP helps you WIN (rather than just stay in the race) is when the course involves a very long climb, or your FTP is just so much higher than everyone else you can simply ride away.
#52
fair weather cyclist
Yes, any good training program would include that Just finding the right balance is tough.
#53
gmt
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I generally think of FTP as a limiter, while you win with power over far shorter durations.
Basically, not having the necessary FTP for a given race will get you dropped, having great 5m/1m/5s power will help you win. Without both, you can't win. With only one, FTP, you can do just fine but not win. With only the latter, you're getting dropped.
The only instances where FTP helps you WIN (rather than just stay in the race) is when the course involves a very long climb, or your FTP is just so much higher than everyone else you can simply ride away.
Basically, not having the necessary FTP for a given race will get you dropped, having great 5m/1m/5s power will help you win. Without both, you can't win. With only one, FTP, you can do just fine but not win. With only the latter, you're getting dropped.
The only instances where FTP helps you WIN (rather than just stay in the race) is when the course involves a very long climb, or your FTP is just so much higher than everyone else you can simply ride away.
#54
Making a kilometer blurry
Yep, which is why I got dropped in those P12 crits this summer.
#59
no cat contains
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I might be in that boat. This coming season, my second full (hopefully) season as a 4 is going to be interesting. Early this last season I was questioning the whole venture, but by the end I'd gained a lot of ground. Things really started to click during the last couple of races. Three years to get to that point, but I'm no natural and I've had extended lapses in training/racing.
If I don't follow up on late season results I'll be too stupid to quit anyway.
If I don't follow up on late season results I'll be too stupid to quit anyway.
#61
I eat carbide.
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I might be in that boat. This coming season, my second full (hopefully) season as a 4 is going to be interesting. Early this last season I was questioning the whole venture, but by the end I'd gained a lot of ground. Things really started to click during the last couple of races. Three years to get to that point, but I'm no natural and I've had extended lapses in training/racing.
If I don't follow up on late season results I'll be too stupid to quit anyway.
If I don't follow up on late season results I'll be too stupid to quit anyway.
BTW - making progress in the last few races of the year...because I too have done that, I have learned that is because the good ones have already tapered, started training for next year, or upgraded. We're racing against the rest of the pack fodder at that point....and that's when I too do the best.
Yup, Yep....that's depressing.
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#64
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Radish bumped this just to make me feel bad.
I went 4 to 3 in 1.5 months and regret it big time. Used to be able to race the 4/5 and then 3/4 crits and have two competitive races that were fun and matched to my abilities at our weeknight series. Now I race the 3/4 and then get absolutely demoralized in the 1/2/3 to the point of considering dropping my bike off at goodwill on the way home two nights a week.
I went 4 to 3 in 1.5 months and regret it big time. Used to be able to race the 4/5 and then 3/4 crits and have two competitive races that were fun and matched to my abilities at our weeknight series. Now I race the 3/4 and then get absolutely demoralized in the 1/2/3 to the point of considering dropping my bike off at goodwill on the way home two nights a week.
#65
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Almost 10 years ago. Meh.
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#67
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Man, getting out of the 4's seems super easy to everyone else.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
#68
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Man, getting out of the 4's seems super easy to everyone else.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
#69
Senior Member
Stop crying man.
#70
Senior Member
Man, getting out of the 4's seems super easy to everyone else.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
We have many guys in our area that have mandatory upgrade points in a season, and it's never enforced from what I can tell.
The reason I found this thread is I wanted to read a discussion on the pros and cons of upgrade to 3. I think I already know how I'm going to approach it. When I feel like riding in the A crits is a challenge I want to take on, time to upgrade to 3. That will probably be this season.
Of course certain strengths lend themselves to upgrading quicker, for example, having a good sprint in pack finishes. Sprints happen regularly in the 4/5. Much more rare in the 3/4 and 1/2/3, so theoretically you could have a hard time upgrading to 3, but actually excel in racing as a 3 because you have more of a breakaway physiology and mindset. At least I would think.
I have a buddy that they tried to ban from the local C crit as a Cat 5, because of his success this season. He pointed out that he had submitted his upgrade, but it had not been approved yet, and he had only been on the podium once in this particular crit.
Speaking of upgrades, I'm not sure how I feel about the "I'm a cat 1 mountain biker, so I should be allowed to upgrade to 4 after a single crit, and then start racing 3/4." Apparently this is happening in my area. I don't think any of these guys have actually won a 4/5 crit yet.
It's also possible that I may not be allowed to upgrade to 3 because all of my points are from weeknight crits (apparently this happens sometimes as well).
#71
Senior Member
Man, getting out of the 4's seems super easy to everyone else.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
This season getting to 3 was my goal, and if that didn't happen I was going to check out. However after the flu, a crash, and taking a month off due to a death in the family I'm still getting out of the hole and unless I go on a run its probably not going to happen this year; it can via the 'participation ribbon' upgrade but I'd like to actually get results that merit an upgrade. (I know some here view those types of upgrades negatively)
I've always been told people upgrade as soon as they can but looking at individual results that's not the case. By all means stick around if you haven't stepped on the top podium, but every year there are dudes in the 4's with 4-6 wins. We have a guy that's probably got 50 points right now.
#72
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Because it genuinely seems like it was just to talk about yourself. Which you do. A lot. In many, many threads.
But please, what's the question?
Because all you did was make a statement about being a cat 4 by choice...which is a weird statement to make completely out of the blue (or in a decade, as it were).
#73
Senior Member
Radish bumped this just to make me feel bad.
I went 4 to 3 in 1.5 months and regret it big time. Used to be able to race the 4/5 and then 3/4 crits and have two competitive races that were fun and matched to my abilities at our weeknight series. Now I race the 3/4 and then get absolutely demoralized in the 1/2/3 to the point of considering dropping my bike off at goodwill on the way home two nights a week.
I went 4 to 3 in 1.5 months and regret it big time. Used to be able to race the 4/5 and then 3/4 crits and have two competitive races that were fun and matched to my abilities at our weeknight series. Now I race the 3/4 and then get absolutely demoralized in the 1/2/3 to the point of considering dropping my bike off at goodwill on the way home two nights a week.
#74
Senior Member
What was your question again? And what was the purpose for bumping a 9 year old thread?
Because it genuinely seems like it was just to talk about yourself. Which you do. A lot. In many, many threads.
But please, what's the question?
Because all you did was make a statement about being a cat 4 by choice...which is a weird statement to make completely out of the blue (or in a decade, as it were).
Because it genuinely seems like it was just to talk about yourself. Which you do. A lot. In many, many threads.
But please, what's the question?
Because all you did was make a statement about being a cat 4 by choice...which is a weird statement to make completely out of the blue (or in a decade, as it were).
I notice most of the people in that thread are long gone. Maybe they were driven off the board? I don't know how that could happen. Shocking.
#75
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Look, Rubik, have some self-awareness, it's a topic of interest to a few people around here. When should people upgrade or not. It was kind of fun to see a young mattm talking about upgrading to 3. Lighten up.
I notice most of the people in that thread are long gone. Maybe they were driven off the board? I don't know how that could happen. Shocking.
I notice most of the people in that thread are long gone. Maybe they were driven off the board? I don't know how that could happen. Shocking.
You bump a nine-year old thread with nothing more than a line about you "choosing to be a cat 4", as if you've obtained some zen-enlightenment in the midst of your storied racing career. I reply to someone else about it and all the sudden your persecution complex is at mach 4 and I've apparently called into question every fiber of your being.
So maybe you should lighten up as well. You've gotten ribbed about your inane posts many a time before, and this is little different. It's a forum. Just deal with it without throwing a conniption. I'd make fun of you in real life about it, too, if that makes you feel any better. Doesn't mean I'm insulting you or trying to drive you away. It's forum banter, bud.