From: davis@adenosine.pharm.utah.edu (Darrell R. Davis)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Cat 4/5 mix is bullshit!!
Date: 7 Apr 92 20:20:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: fcom.1992Apr7.202039.13028
Reply-To: davis@adenosine.pharm.utah.edu (Darrell R. Davis)
Organization: University of Utah Computer Center

In article <64R.02ci0fzo01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com>, jyk50@quts (  242  J Kretschmann III) writes:
>I agree that it is NOT right to mix 4's and 5's.  Why have the two
>cats if you are going to mix them?  I thought the idea behind the new
>cat was to reduce the numbers of riders participating in cat 4 races?
>

Quit your damn whining and race bike!

As I understand it, the main impetus for forming Cat 5 was to relieve
the crowded situation in large districts and to provide a more relaxed
environment for new racers, hence the 50 rider field limit. 

I was in Visalia a week ago and they had a separate, small Cat 5 race.
I would suspect that this would be one of the most well attended races
in the country.  For that race separating the 4's and 5's was
necessary and correct.  I think the new rule works.

In smaller districts, like Utah, there doesn't seem to be a strong
argument for separating the fields.  Who wants to race in a field of
10?  Certainly the Cat 5's this year are not any less skilled than the
new Cat 4's from years past.  I think its humorous that people have
become religious about 4/5 issues when the system has been in place
for 3 months. If the Cat 5 rule attracts hordes of new riders (we
should be so lucky) then promoters will separate the fields, otherwise
it makes a better race to combine 4/5 and provide a full field.

The best way to learn to race, is to race.  New riders are usually
scared shitless, sit on the back where its safe(r) and get dropped
pretty soon.  As their skills improve they move up to the front, don't
get dropped, and eventually place in races.  You can do some drills
where people bump you, rub your tire, etc., but its not the same as
getting bumped in a field sprint at 35 MPH.  If you train 150+ miles a
week and race at least once a week, your bike skills improve pretty
quickly.   

My opinion is that Cat 4 races don't see more crashes than 1,2,3
races.  Certainly in Utah there were many more crashes in the 1,2,3
fields last year than in the 4's.  The most crashes I saw last year
were at the Criterium Nationals in SLC.  The course was very open and
the fields large, this allowed riders to go 6-7 across through the
corners and there were many crashes in the heats and the finals.  The
womens final had a very large crash resulting in neutralization of the
race for quite a while.   Clearly all these crashes were not because
of poor bike handling skills.  Riders made mistakes that resulted in
crashes, but the collective competence was very high.  Look at all the
crashes in last years TdF (TIOOYK).

A word on prizes.  I think that if you place in the top five, high
enough for upgrade points, you should get your money back.  This is
usually the case.  The prizes in 1/2 fields are higher than for the
other categories. They are faster aren't they?  Sponsors for the most
part could care less about the lower fields, they want to see the
money go to the good, highly visible 1/2's.  The same arguments apply
to equipment sponsors, if every racer gets a free bike then the
companies aren't going to do too well.  In general the entry fees are
commensurate with the prize list.  Big races with 100 racers per field
charge $25 and go deep on the prizes.  Little local races charge $10
and the racers don't get shit, seems fair to me.  We pay 2 bucks a
week to pound our brains out at the local crit series, just for the
glory.  I race for fun and for glory :-), if you want to make money
upgrade to Cat 1.


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Darrell R. Davis                    "Faster, faster, until the
Medicinal Chemistry                  thrill of speed overcomes
University of Utah                   the fear of death. "
  
                                         --H.S. Thompson 
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