Hi,

Can someone please explain to me how the Category system works for roadies???

ie. what is Cat 1, 2, 3, etc.. and what does each mean?

Thanks,
:cool:

Hi,

Can someone please explain to me how the Category system works for roadies???

ie. what is Cat 1, 2, 3, etc.. and what does each mean?

Thanks,
:cool:


http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=580

cat 5 is beginner, and then you work you way up to cat 1.

Unless you are a junior or a master.

Unless you are a junior or a master.
Why? Juniors and Masters (men) have Cat 5->1 just like seniors. Women, on the other hand, have Cat 4->1.

Hi,

Can someone please explain to me how the Category system works for roadies???

ie. what is Cat 1, 2, 3, etc.. and what does each mean?

Thanks,
:cool:

You start in Cat 5, 10 mass starts gets you into Cat 4, 20 points in any 12 month period (race results) gets you to Cat 3, 25 points to Cat 2 and 30 points to Cat 1.
Masters is seperate but some races may have seperate fields for 4/5 or 1-3 masters.

how are the points awarded for races and are crits different then RRs? Any rules or just decency forcing people to move up?

http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=580

http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=580

http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=580

just because you are a Master by age, does not mean you can/should race as a Master. It is quite common to see in the race flyer "no Cat 5 in Masters race". basically many Masters have been racing for 20 years or more - they are fast and skilled. not the best place for a Cat 5 in their first race. If you are 35+, get your race feel by riding true Cat 5, not Masters

"no Cat 5 in Masters race"

Must depend on the area. I've never seen this in the Midwest. - TF

"no Cat 5 in Masters race"

Must depend on the area. I've never seen this in the Midwest. - TF

You guys in the midwest must not get full cat 5 or cat 4 events like in the midatlantic.

These things fill up within days of opening registrations.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=3145
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=3232
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=3181

how are the points awarded for races and are crits different then RRs? Any rules or just decency forcing people to move up?

Usually RR and crits both award points for placing, it depends on field size. Usually the points awarded are the same. From 3-2 and 2-1 you can use GC points for stage races as well.
They do have some rules for forcing move ups if you score more than a certain amount of points. In Arizona at least these points dont apply to racers over 30, a local Cat 3 had 65 points one year but didnt move up because he was over 30. Most racers want to move up due to perceived "status" from being a higher category.

Usually RR and crits both award points for placing, it depends on field size. Usually the points awarded are the same. From 3-2 and 2-1 you can use GC points for stage races as well. They do have some rules for forcing move ups if you score more than a certain amount of points. In Arizona at least these points dont apply to racers over 30, a local Cat 3 had 65 points one year but didnt move up because he was over 30. Most racers want to move up due to perceived "status" from being a higher category.
Not exactly. For 4->3 upgrades RR and Crits always award the same upgrade points. For 3->2 and 2->1, they never award the same points. The only way field size enters is in deciding whether the race qualifies for upgrade points or not. Below the minimum, no points are awarded, above the minimum, points are awarded according to the schedule linked in the second post.

There are no exceptions for age, and in fact, by definition age doesn't enter into ability (senior) based categories. If someone really got 65 points in qualifying races, they should have gotten the automatic upgrade, but 65 is only 5 points above the mandatory upgrade level, so it's possible one (or more) of the races didn't meet the qualifying limit.