Hipcycler

Here is the flyer...

Road race in Palmyra on Saturday and a TT in La Grange on Sunday!

Oh boy!

Now, I'm wondering first if I could squeeze this into my schedule that day (other stuff going on)....but...if I could, then hey, now taking names of riders that might be interested in riding slow enough with me to form a groupetto to ride longer enough for JDub to take some cool pictures of us in action!

Early forecast looks great too.

Hmmmm....

recursive

Yes!

Which RR are you entering? Masters 4/5?

CyLowe97

Hmmm.... I've never raced before, though.

I'm sure I'd have pack fodder written all over my jersey.

Hipcycler

Yes, I think so.
What the hell....why not give it a shot?

Hipcycler

Well, if it's written on the BACK of your jersey then I'll be able to read it as it gets smaller and smaller out ahead of me.

CyLowe97

So is this road race 8 laps of the course? And would I be a Cat 5, or a Masters Cat 5? I'm getting kind of long in tooth, yet I don't think I'm the master of anything. More a jack of few trades.

tjayk

yes, i think 8 laps sounds right (8*5.5=42). and i'm not sure, but i think you could race either cat 5 or masters cat 5, or both. of course if you don't have an annual license you will have to buy a day license.

-edit-
sorry for the misinformation - i guess you can't do both in this race b/c they start 5 minutes apart from each other.

Hipcycler

I don't think you need a license to enter a WCA event....at least I did in the past without one.
recursive..fill us in.

I was under the impression you just sign up and pay the man your money, which is a bit odd too....25 bucks for suffering and humiliation...

recursive

You can race as a 5/masters 5 on a one day license, which is going for $5 these days.

Hipcycler

...and how much did the license to wear those socks cost you?

recursive

To get that one, you have to know someone.

CyLowe97

Learn me this, capitan: The flyer has Masters 4/5 starting at high 12:00 and 4/5 starting at 12:05.

Sounds like one category would have to be picked over another, or if not one could be crafty and get a five minute jump on the rest of the field.

Would it be smart for an aging rookie like yours truly to start off in the Masters 4/5 knowing that if I got dropped there would be a pack along soon that I could latch on to? Or is that some sort of wishful thinking?

And I'm guessing "Masters" means 35 and up, right? That would be me. The 35, not the up.

recursive

Working together between different race fields is discouraged if not illegal. Although if you're out of contention, you may be able to slip something through. I would pick the field you'd rather be in, and just go with it. Masters are said to be more experienced and less crashy. And possibly faster. Although all of those things can vary.

I think the age cutoff is 30.

Hipcycler

Now I'm confused!
Masters 4/5 or just plain old 4/5?

Is the Masters thing mostly an age thing then?
'Cause THAT I have going for me at 49.

recursive

Ok guys. Pay close attention.

The Facts:

• A one-day license is considered a cat 5 license.
• A one-day license costs $5.
• Any rider with a current cat 4 or cat 5 license can ride in a "cat 4/5" event.
• Unless otherwise specified, any rider with a current cat4 or cat5 license at least 30 years of age as of December 31 can race a "masters 4/5" event.
• Two years ago, I got beat by a >=65 year old in a TT.

BAM! Learninations!

John Wilke

It sure is nice having some races on the holiday weekend I tell 'ya. This weekend is gonna be jam packed with fun!!

Hipcycler

Heck, half the reason I'll attempt this race is just so that you can take some of those cool 'recursive-like' photos of me in action there to hang in my cycling room!

rags

What about if you have never entered a road race (have done a triathlon) and are 26 years old? I would like to enter a race at some point this summer to see how I compare to others, but do not know which category would be right.

John Wilke

Cat. 5 baby! Plenty of strong dudes out there that just haven't raced before. This is a lower key event (as compared to doing your first during Superweek), perfect to get your feet wet.

I'll be there Hip ... looking for that Rebel Yell.

Hipcycler

Got it...but that still doesn't answer my question....IYNSHO (in your not so humble opinion) which should I enter....masters or regular?

Hipcycler

Post if you are going to enter CyLowe...perhaps a special post-race beer run will be needed to have some on hand for the private, invite-only "A-List" group at Chateau Hip on the lake.

John Wilke

It's not so much a matter of speed ... it's: who do you want to bump elbows with?

The college crowd? or 'older' guys?

recursive

You'll be in cat 5. You don't get a choice. If you haven't done a bike race before, you may be underestimating the speed of a cat 5 field.

recursive

Really totally up to you. I hear there are fewer stupid maneuvers in the masters fields, so I'd go with that in the absence of any other information about what you want.

Hipcycler

....I like that...positive thinking....because if I'm bumping arms that means I'm still in the pack and not off the back all by myself.

And by the way, when you see me back there like that, please know that that's my plan, just to make sure you get some nice clean shots of me with that fancy camera of yours!

It's all about the sneer baby.