I just noticed that the VOS RR starts all the different categories about 5 min apart. I also noticed they have a 5a and 5b (since its my first race I guess I'm a 5b automatically?).

My main question is... how the bleep do you know for sure who you are racing against (its a 3 lap 16 mile course)? It seems like things would have the potential of getting a little muddled (faster riders from one group catching slower riders from another).

Is that enough spacing that I'm worried over nothing, and everyone pretty much stays with their category?

If they expect you not to cooperate with riders from other groups, then the numbers will be different for each group. For instance, all 5s may be in the 300s. They may also have different color numbers. - TF

If they expect you not to cooperate with riders from other groups, then the numbers will be different for each group. For instance, all 5s may be in the 300s. They may also have different color numbers. - TF

So does that mean there might be a rule that if a rider from one group catches a rider from another that they are forbidden from drafting one another?

I guess the different #s and/or colors would help you know whether to consider the guy next to you a threat, although not as he is approaching.

...against fields intermingling. The order of start by cat. is normally fastest to slowest so the separation should only increase. Of course, you're most worried about the two 5 fields; they normally split those by age with the younger guys going first (I think).

In any case, 5 minutes is a lot...probably at least 1 3/4 miles at racing speed. Unless there's a REALLY strond breakaway off of the field in back, the only intermingling will be from those that fall off the group in front (unless the course is very hilly or technical, that will not be many).

Good Luck!!

...against fields intermingling. The order of start by cat. is normally fastest to slowest so the separation should only increase. Of course, you're most worried about the two 5 fields; they normally split those by age with the younger guys going first (I think).

In any case, 5 minutes is a lot...probably at least 1 3/4 miles at racing speed. Unless there's a REALLY strond breakaway off of the field in back, the only intermingling will be from those that fall off the group in front (unless the course is very hilly or technical, that will not be many).

Good Luck!!


This is always a mess at our road races that start only 5 minutes apart. Usually, if a field that started 5 minutes later makes the catch then some motorcycle officials will make the caught field sit up until the faster field passes. This REALLY sucks if there is a breakaway up the road that you were working to catch because it will give them a much better chance to succeed.

On a sidenote, at the Snelling Road Race in a few weeks, they are starting the Cat4 field 5 minutes before the Masters 35+ 1/2/3. WTF are they thinking? On a flat, narrow course this would seem to spell disaster as the fields will be huge. Oh well.

On a sidenote, at the Snelling Road Race in a few weeks, they are starting the Cat4 field 5 minutes before the Masters 35+ 1/2/3. WTF are they thinking? On a flat, narrow course this would seem to spell disaster as the fields will be huge. Oh well.

this must be one of bob's races...vp in action! he decided that no cx race should take place w/o mud, so he turned a hose on the district champ's course overnight and "built" a puddle right in the middle of a corner, which a number of people crashed in...

This is always a mess at our road races that start only 5 minutes apart. Usually, if a field that started 5 minutes later makes the catch then some motorcycle officials will make the caught field sit up until the faster field passes. This REALLY sucks if there is a breakaway up the road that you were working to catch because it will give them a much better chance to succeed.

On a sidenote, at the Snelling Road Race in a few weeks, they are starting the Cat4 field 5 minutes before the Masters 35+ 1/2/3. WTF are they thinking? On a flat, narrow course this would seem to spell disaster as the fields will be huge. Oh well.

This exact thing happened at 'Toona when the 3/4 women passed the men's 4 field. It was hard to tell if they were pissed off at being made to wait for us to pass, or if it was because a bunch of women passed them.

In their defense, the men had two laps and the women had one. (It was still fun to pass them, though.) :D

So does that mean there might be a rule ...
It's still not too late, read the rulebook!
http://www.usacycling.org/forms/2005_USCF_rulebook.pdf
How many hours have you invested in training for this race? Now can't you invest an hour or so learning the rules you'll be competing under?