From: rpaulos@pmeh-po.pmeh.uiowa.edu (PAULOS RICHARD G.)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: USCF Cat 4 & 5 Mix
Date: 6 Apr 92 21:16:49 GMT
Organization: Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, U of Iowa

Cat 4's bitching about cat 5's?
Up to this year cat 4's were the bitchee's.

Just what is the ruling on cat 5's getting prizes in mixed races?
Are 5's allowed to collect money or not?
What is the ruling on cat 5 field limits when mixed?
Does this rule apply?
Les?  Could you interpret/explain/inform?
Obvisouly my rule book does not cover this & the CUSA articles are
don't cover these points either.

I always thought the USCF need this new category.  Three effective 
categories were not enough for the men.  I still think it is a good idea.  
Cat 5's should be look upon as a probationary or training period.  Field 
limits for safety.  No prizes as an incentive to move up.  Insurance 
coverage.  Still allowing 5's to race in citizen events.  Mixing the cats 
defeats the safety & training purposes.  Hopefully the mixing rule will be 
recinded next year when there are sufficent number of riders in both cats.

The first year of this new cat 5 means that there will be relativly fewer
cat 4's in 1992.  Some of the 4's will move up to 3's.  Some will quit the 
sport.  Some cat 5's will move up during the season.  The net result is 
noticeably fewer cat 4's overall.  Last year (91) there were already
fewer 4's at the races.  The mixing rule is certainly the result of race
promoters complaints.  (I also promote races and can understand this)

The 3's were overwhelming in 91.  This year will be no exception.  Cat 3's 
will find the only way to get in larger events will be to register at least 
1 month before each race.  I do the registration for the moline criterium.  
Last year we had 165 applications in the mail before race day for a 
fixed field limit of 125!  I did even not count the guys who showed up on 
race day to enter.  

The next group to be affected by rule changes are the 1's & 2's.  I was told 
by our district rep at our annual (officials) training seminar that all 1'
s & 2's results for 1992 (A & B races only?) will be compiled by the office 
in Colorado Springs to determine the top 150 riders in the country.  Plus 
another 50 or so coaches choices.  These 200 will be cat 1's in 1993.  All 
other 1's & 2's will become 2's.  Then only 1's will be allowd to go to 
Nationals.  I have not talked to many riders affected by this & I have not 
seen anything in print about this either.  This seems to be another change 
that will sneak up on some riders like a semi truck.  There would certainly 
be quite the scramble just to enter qualifying events.  You can bet the 
larger teams will cleanup in these events.  Self supporting riders will 
not be able to travel to half the races in the country to try to get 
the necessary points.  As an official & professional data manager, I can see 
additional confusion in reporting such results.  Many  mistakes will be made 
transcribing license numbers and names.  Reading the hand writing on 
entry forms and mailed in results will be difficult at times.  The riders 
should know that their penmanship could cost them their cat 1 standing.  
Will there be an appeals process for this?  There has been little or no 
difference between the 1's & 2's in the past.  You rarely seen races with 
separate events for 1's.  Some riders I know will have a fit when they get 
downgraded.  (deserved or not)

Cat 4's aren't the only ones with complaints.

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