Racing Categorie Question



OCRoadie

New Member
Oct 5, 2004
301
0
0
51
Hi- While I've been cycling forever, I'm finally going to give racing a try, I've been contemplating it for a few seasons. I am a little confused about USCF categories. I am licensed as cat5, I am 32 years old. What's the difference between regular cat5, seniors 4/5, and masters 30+. The first race that I'm entering is a time trial that posts results in all of these categories, is masters 30+ a category of all riders in that age group? Can you usually choose which category you are competing in if you fall into more than one category. Thanks for your help.
 
I'd stay away from masters...i think those are the old cat 1 guys


fix
 
OCRoadie said:
Hi- While I've been cycling forever, I'm finally going to give racing a try, I've been contemplating it for a few seasons. I am a little confused about USCF categories. I am licensed as cat5, I am 32 years old. What's the difference between regular cat5, seniors 4/5, and masters 30+. The first race that I'm entering is a time trial that posts results in all of these categories, is masters 30+ a category of all riders in that age group? Can you usually choose which category you are competing in if you fall into more than one category. Thanks for your help.
Masters is an age group, not a category. If no category is listed, then it is open-category, meaning that anyone, from Cat. 5 to Cat. 1, who is within the age limit given may enter (including riders with one-day licenses). The age groups are entirely up to the promoter, except for championships. Sometimes masters age groups are also divided up by category. For example, Master 35+ Cat. 1-3, where you would have to be both a Cat. 3 or better and 35 or over. Yes, masters often are eligible for more than one race at the same event, and many of them will race their master's age group event and then turn around and race their category event later in the day. In fact, the masters on our team will often enter the Cat. 1,2,3 race, for example, simply to help help one of the younger Cat. 3 riders. They'll do a lot of work early in the race so that their younger teammate can conserve energy, and then, since they never intended to finish, they'll drop out when they get too burned out to be of any more help.

Promoters will often combine categories if turnout is expected to be relatively low. They will typically offer a race for Cat. 1-3, for example in areas where there aren't a lot of riders above Cat.3. I have also seen events where there is one race for Cat. 4-5, and also an event for Cat. 5 only. That gives the aspiring Cat. 5 guys a chance to see how they fare racing against some Cat. 4s before they actually upgrade. Again, all of these different groupings are up to the promoter except in official championship events in which cases they are generally set (see the championships section of the USCF rulebook at www.usacycling.org).
 
packmagician said:
Masters is an age group, not a category. If no category is listed, then it is open-category, meaning that anyone, from Cat. 5 to Cat. 1, who is within the age limit given may enter (including riders with one-day licenses). The age groups are entirely up to the promoter, except for championships. Sometimes masters age groups are also divided up by category. For example, Master 35+ Cat. 1-3, where you would have to be both a Cat. 3 or better and 35 or over. Yes, masters often are eligible for more than one race at the same event, and many of them will race their master's age group event and then turn around and race their category event later in the day. In fact, the masters on our team will often enter the Cat. 1,2,3 race, for example, simply to help help one of the younger Cat. 3 riders. They'll do a lot of work early in the race so that their younger teammate can conserve energy, and then, since they never intended to finish, they'll drop out when they get too burned out to be of any more help.

Promoters will often combine categories if turnout is expected to be relatively low. They will typically offer a race for Cat. 1-3, for example in areas where there aren't a lot of riders above Cat.3. I have also seen events where there is one race for Cat. 4-5, and also an event for Cat. 5 only. That gives the aspiring Cat. 5 guys a chance to see how they fare racing against some Cat. 4s before they actually upgrade. Again, all of these different groupings are up to the promoter except in official championship events in which cases they are generally set (see the championships section of the USCF rulebook at www.usacycling.org).
Packmagician-
Thanks for clearing that up, your explanation is more or less what I thought. I think I'm better off racing cat 4/5 and staying out of Masters 30+ for now. Thanks...Pat
 
OCRoadie said:
Packmagician-
Thanks for clearing that up, your explanation is more or less what I thought. I think I'm better off racing cat 4/5 and staying out of Masters 30+ for now. Thanks...Pat
Yes. I would suggest working on upgrading to Cat. 4 via the Cat. 5 races. All you have to do is race about 10 races in a year to qualify for an upgrade to Cat. 4. There will probably be a lot more Cat. 5 races than Masters 30+ races.