Lithuania

well if dccx was the only race that had a beginner field i think it would encourage a lot of fence sitters to give the sport a try in the first place.

i hate the idea of capping fields because the b and b masters races are already close to a 100 riders strong in most big events and the last thing i want is even more race to register issues.

eventually i think they will be forced to create a new field because 3 fields is too narrow a spectrum for the broad level of talent.

As it stands now you are supposed to upgrade to cat 3 after 5 races. To me the 3/4 race has always felt much faster and I think the true beginners arent ready for that after just 5 races. The range of talent in the cat 4 race is way to huge too. You have lots of experienced racers from other disciplines and then totally new guys. Its not fair for the true newbs to have to race against strong roads, tri, or mountain guys but at the same time its not fair to throw some of the guys with racing experience to the wolves in the killer b's.

Then the jump from cat 3 to cat 2 is huge because the range in talent from a 3 to 1 can be pretty devastating. Its tough to go from being competitive in a cat 3 race to being lapped in a 1/2/3.

it really seems like there needs to be an additional cat like road has but the additional races would certain be a strain for promoters that tried to accommodate them all.

I think the additional cat should be created but all races shouldnt try to accommodate them all.

Crack Monkey

Isn't it great that the biggest problem is how to fit in the huge number of racers?

Am I really supposed to upgrade to 3 now that I've done 5 races? I can barely stay on the lead lap at the big races in the Cat4 race. If I have to move, SpongeDad, RacerMike, and BitterKen are coming with me.

bitterken

I don't know...after suffering in the B masters race last Sunday, I gotta say that I'm going to stick with that field. Apart from a messy start, I really enjoyed pushing myself hard since getting lapped was a far more likely outcome. I really wanted and needed that fear chasing after me.

I'm thinking about putting in for an upgrade after Coppi just so I won't be tempted to race the C races anymore.

gfactor

Plus how many true beginners are out there? I went to the dcmtb and midmaryland coaching clinics thinking they would be mostly for beginners like me. In fact I was the odd one out.

dc.cyclocross

we definitely get some first timers at our clinics and race, but I don't have a headcount on them. I know there were numerous women who raced only because they could do the clinic the day prior. one women (who ended up being sick) was going to test herself at the clinic prior to deciding if she wanted to race. so, they are out there.

you don't need many new people to make it worthwhile.

btw, all this talk of a beginner class raises the question- why didn't usac just have 5 classes to start with? t

Crack Monkey

No idea. And it was pure genius to have the categories between disciplines mean different things.

In mtn biking, the cats are 3, 2, 1, Pro
In road cycling, the cats are 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
And in 'cross, they are 4, 3, 2, 1

I guess the road and 'cross make sense, with 'cross lacking a true n00b category. But, the mtn categories are totally out of sync.

Lithuania

it wasnt that long ago that there wasnt a cat 5 in road either,

cross has blown up and the rules just have to catch up i think

RacerMike

don't you hide from me, ken!

Lithuania

ken looked good and faster in the masters B field anyway!

now hurry up and sign up for fairhill so we can do the pizza eating challenge afterwords. we will even give you a ride.

BarracksSi

I think I've heard that exact line somewhere else...

bitterken

Thanks, I think it was the wheels!

I'll sign up for Fair Hill after this weekend. It doesn't look like it's going to be a big race.