Dirty Bikeneticrit

[Sunyata]

Unless you have upgraded to a Cat 4 with USAC, you will not be able to race in a Cat 4 (only) race. Luckily for you, there is no Cat 4 (only) race! Even more luckily, you can actually do BOTH the Cat 4/5 and the Cat 5 races if you wanted!

Speaking from a cyclocross perspective (I do not even own a bike with less than 38mm tires on it), Cat 5 is generally strictly for beginners. If you have less than 10 races in you (and are not coming in top 10 on a regular basis and are uncomfortable racing with faster riders), you will race Cat 5. Once you hit that 10 race threshold, you should upgrade to Cat 4. If you ARE coming in top 10 or are really comfortable racing with faster riders, then you should go ahead and race Cat 4/5 until you hit your 10 races and then cat up to Cat 4 (but can still race in the 4/5 category). If you podium at least once in a Cat 5 race, you should immediately start racing 4/5 until you hit your 10 races then cat up (and can still race in the 4/5 unless you are coming in top 10, then go up to 3/4). Obviously, if you hit your mandatory upgrade points prior to 10 races, then you should cat up as well.

I guess for a beginner, race in whichever field you are most comfortable in that you license will allow you to race. If you feel better racing with just beginners, stick to the Cat 5 race. If you are faster and want more competition, do the 4/5 race.

Either way, I will be there cheering you on and will patch you up if you crash (you will NOT crash!).

[drevil]

@Sunyata 162559 wrote:

Unless you have upgraded to a Cat 4 with USAC, you will not be able to race in a Cat 4 (only) race. Luckily for you, there is no Cat 4 (only) race! Even more luckily, you can actually do BOTH the Cat 4/5 and the Cat 5 races if you wanted!

Speaking from a cyclocross perspective (I do not even own a bike with less than 38mm tires on it), Cat 5 is generally strictly for beginners. If you have less than 10 races in you (and are not coming in top 10 on a regular basis and are uncomfortable racing with faster riders), you will race Cat 5. Once you hit that 10 race threshold, you should upgrade to Cat 4. If you ARE coming in top 10 or are really comfortable racing with faster riders, then you should go ahead and race Cat 4/5 until you hit your 10 races and then cat up to Cat 4 (but can still race in the 4/5 category). If you podium at least once in a Cat 5 race, you should immediately start racing 4/5 until you hit your 10 races then cat up (and can still race in the 4/5 unless you are coming in top 10, then go up to 3/4). Obviously, if you hit your mandatory upgrade points prior to 10 races, then you should cat up as well.

I guess for a beginner, race in whichever field you are most comfortable in that you license will allow you to race. If you feel better racing with just beginners, stick to the Cat 5 race. If you are faster and want more competition, do the 4/5 race.

Either way, I will be there cheering you on and will patch you up if you crash (you will NOT crash!).

What if – like me – you consistently get bottom 10 in your Cat 5 races. Is there a Cat 6?

I secretly wish they’d throw in a lot more logs, like 16″ or taller, to even the playing field for me

[ChampionTier]

@Sunyata 162559 wrote:

Unless you have upgraded to a Cat 4 with USAC, you will not be able to race in a Cat 4 (only) race. Luckily for you, there is no Cat 4 (only) race! Even more luckily, you can actually do BOTH the Cat 4/5 and the Cat 5 races if you wanted!

Speaking from a cyclocross perspective (I do not even own a bike with less than 38mm tires on it), Cat 5 is generally strictly for beginners. If you have less than 10 races in you (and are not coming in top 10 on a regular basis and are uncomfortable racing with faster riders), you will race Cat 5. Once you hit that 10 race threshold, you should upgrade to Cat 4. If you ARE coming in top 10 or are really comfortable racing with faster riders, then you should go ahead and race Cat 4/5 until you hit your 10 races and then cat up to Cat 4 (but can still race in the 4/5 category). If you podium at least once in a Cat 5 race, you should immediately start racing 4/5 until you hit your 10 races then cat up (and can still race in the 4/5 unless you are coming in top 10, then go up to 3/4). Obviously, if you hit your mandatory upgrade points prior to 10 races, then you should cat up as well.

I guess for a beginner, race in whichever field you are most comfortable in that you license will allow you to race. If you feel better racing with just beginners, stick to the Cat 5 race. If you are faster and want more competition, do the 4/5 race.

I give this response an A+! All is much clearer to me now. I was leaning toward the 4/5 for the 20th; I think I’ll hit my 10th race shortly after the season starts.

@Sunyata 162559 wrote:

(you will NOT crash!).

My mantra after passing the nasty pile-up at Monster Cross!

[Harry Meatmotor]

I dunno – that 4/5 field is looking pretty well stacked so far. Quite a few strong CX riders that are only racing the 4/5 because it’s a USAC Road sanctioned event, and they rarely race road, therefore, they’re not able to race the lower Cat. races, or are doubling up with the open 35/45+. The 4/5 field is definitely not soft.

[hozn]

Even a cat-5 race is not a soft race by MTB or gravel standards. Road racing gets pretty extreme fitness.

[Harry Meatmotor]

@hozn 162634 wrote:

Even a cat-5 race is not a soft race by MTB or gravel standards. Road racing gets pretty extreme fitness.

Yeah, and just a reminder to the OP, this is a crit, not a CX race, so USAC road categories apply. You could be a Cat1 CX’er or Cat1 MTB’er, but if you haven’t toe’d the line in a road race ever, you’d be a Cat5 for Bikenetic DirtyCrit.

All that aside, I can’t wait! Super fun course where roadies like me don’t have to get off the bike for those spots where some goon put boards across the race course! LOL That’s dangerous!!!

relevant. 😉

[ChampionTier]

@Harry Meatmotor 162638 wrote:

Yeah, and just a reminder to the OP, this is a crit, not a CX race, so USAC road categories apply. You could be a Cat1 CX’er or Cat1 MTB’er, but if you haven’t toe’d the line in a road race ever, you’d be a Cat5 for Bikenetic DirtyCrit.

All that aside, I can’t wait! Super fun course where roadies like me don’t have to get off the bike for those spots where some goon put boards across the race course! LOL That’s dangerous!!!

I rescind my comment in my response to Sunyata: Cat 5 it is — never road raced. Either way I’m looking forward to it; I s’pose I can wait a month or so for the boards to come back!

@Harry Meatmotor 162638 wrote:

relevant. 😉

Every second of this video is pure gold!

[Sunyata]

@Harry Meatmotor 162638 wrote:

relevant. 😉

OMG. That was HILARIOUS!

[rcannon100]

Isnt this grotesque race this weekend??

[ShawnoftheDread]

@rcannon100 164174 wrote:

Isnt this grotesque race this weekend??

No, no it is not. Never heard of it.

[Harry Meatmotor]

40T chainring, out.

44T chainring, IN.

disgonebegud.jpg

[ChampionTier]

That was an effing blast — well done Team Bikenetic!

[Harry Meatmotor]

Podiums! Podiums! Podiums! So proud of my team – everybody that raced yesterday stood on a box!!!

Thanks again to all the Bikenitic folks! Such a fun race!!!

[rcannon100]

It returns. August 19. Haymarket. This race is a grotesque mongrel. https://www.bikereg.com/37066

[Steve O]

@rcannon100 180051 wrote:

It returns. August 19. Haymarket. This race is a grotesque mongrel. https://www.bikereg.com/37066

Note this is the same day as the Bicycle Fan Club ride. I got the email announcing this ride after I had already procured the tickets. Sorry for the conflict.

[Author]

Posts