Originally Posted by
roadwarrior
Lower category racing is about the equivalent to the recreational golfer that can shoot a good score, probably does not know all the rules and does not count all his strokes...and I don't mean cheating, but they simply do not know how to penalize themselves, make the proper drops when they hit into a water hazard, unplayable lies etc...nobody wants to take "stroke and distance" on a Saturday afternoon on a busy public golf course.
Tournament golf is a whole different arena. Guys that supposedly shoot low 80's suddenly balloon up to big numbers. Courses are tougher, they get penalized for making incorrect drops when needed, etc.
Cat 1 road racing is tournament golf. Lower category crits that last less than an hour are like muni nine hole rounds.
I've played tournament golf at the club handicap level and race lower category and respectfully disagree with this. Both sports are hard, but to compare competing even at the lowest level USAC race with someone shooting 9 with their buddies at the local muni is absurd.