Originally Posted by
redal
UK, I've heard the argument regarding birthdays from both sides. I don't think it matters. For the kids that mature faster (like the 6'1" junior that won the 13-14 crit at junior nationals this year), they are just more mature. It doesn't matter if their birthday is January or December, they are just going to be bigger, stronger kids. When I was a junior, Hincapie used to tower over all of us. He was probably the same height he is now and I swear he was thicker. He was intimidating. His birthday is June, right in the middle of the year. I don't think it matters for masters either. My birthday is August, toward the end of the season. At the only 35+ race I did this year, I got a ton of grief from a bunch of the old guys because I was only 34. Some of them didn't even believe I was 34, which didn't make sense because I've known several of them since I was a junior.
I can agree with that. When I was at Jr Nationals, the guy who cleaned up in all the 13/14 races towered over the rest of us at a height and build that I wouldn't reach until college. I'm sure there is a slight disadvantage for a few kids out there for a short amount of time (right before their major growth spurt) but it would only occur during one season in their entire career.
Wow, a whole argument flared up
and was settled while I was gone. That's gotta be some kind of record.
We don't argue. We discuss
