Clydesdale or AG

I'm trying desperately to get out of the Cyldesdale group, so I can't wait to be just an age-grouper.

But you have to ask yourself how important it is to medal. If it is, then keep your weight above 200. I doubt they'll weigh you, so just be honest about it.

I briefly dipped below 200 pounds (should be about 165) earlier this year, and then bounced back up. I was mad at myself, so I decided to enter one triathlon in my age group instead of as a clydesdale. Turns out, I would have won the Sprint Clydesdale race - and that would've been my first podium placing in my 10 triathlons! D'oh!

The next race I decided to just sign up as a Clydesdale as long as I could, and I finished second in that division. It was kind of cool to get a prize, to be honest.

But the decision is yours. Good luck with it.

Absolutely go AG, why not put yourself up against the best competition?  Are you going to race clydesdale forever?  You're already over the threshhold anyway, and I'm assuming your weight will only go down from here.

Last year at 215 I raced AG, and now that I'm now down between 190-195, and I wouldn't dream of racing clyde.  I view clydesdales as a category for people trying to enter the sport and getting in shape(there are obviously exceptions), and getting to AG should be something to strive for.

Ouch!!!!!

Some of us will always be clydesdales  

6' 5"  253   right now but  no way will I ever be below 200 pounds.

I did start training for my first Sprint  (Sunday)  get me out of my comfort zone with my work outs.  I had gotten in a rut of elliptical & bike rides.   I am here to get into shape and I may race AG's next year when my swimming is better.  

I will always be a clydesdale and I am proud to be one.

Kevin 

LOL, I kind of expected a response like that.  Like I said, therre's obviously exceptions for people that are taller, more muscular, etc.., so don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to take anything away from clydes.  When I first started tri training, I was 6'2" 240, I was overweight.  I've since trimmed myself down almost 50 lbs, so from my own personal experience, moving fom clydesdale to AG was a goal that I worked to achieve and did so.

If you fluctuate I would say go AG, especially if your goal is to end up racing in that category.  I am 6' 4" and always plan on being a clyde .

I've got my first race coming up and I am 207 and plan on racing AG. I don't plan on being over 200 for much longer, and I figure constantly going against those small fast guys will only make me faster.

I would say if your goal is to consistantly rage AG, go for AG. 

Although I am only 6 ft tall, I haven't weighed less than 210 in a LONG time.
In college, it was due to muscle, now....more on the fat side.
If the clyde cut off is 200 and you are barely 200, I would say AG.
If you are solid 200-205, race clyde if you want.
You don't have to do every race there, and it is nice to get hardware.
I hope to have the same problem in a year.

Good Luck!

I don't have a choice.  The tri I registered for has no Clyde class.  If it did, I would enter as a clyde. 

6'1" down to 212-215 depending on the day from 249 about 18 months ago. Goal is to be in the 190-195 range although that will be pushing it due to build. First race is in 2 months and I should be around 210 probably but I still signed up for AG since I plan to be sub 200 for start of next season. I figure compete against the people i will be up against next year even though I could in theory do a little better than I will in AG.

I would be more concerned with your times/performance than where you place. I know for me, I am at 214# and have no desire to get below 200#. My body is comprised of mostly muscle from all my years of powerlifting and strongman training. I am not going to throw that all away. I will keep improving my times while staying between 215#-220#. With that said, I haven't had a chance to enter the Clydes division, as it hasn't been offered in my races.
This is just my philosophy on things. While winning or placing would be great, I am mostly concerned with better my times each race.

Seconded...the only time I plan to be under 200 is on my death bed. I'm 6'2 230, and enjoy competing against guys my size. I'm a weight lifter, cyclist, triathlete, golfer, etc...and while I could lose 5 lbs, I would have to get pretty sick to lose 30. With that said, I saw a huge guy get a top-ten overall (guy was a body-builder) at Folsom International last week. Needless to say, I was very impressed.

Your weight fluctuation may make the question irrelevant. I've been around 198 - 200 all summer and could probably register as a Clydesdale. For me, it's always been AG. I'm 6'6" and on the slim side. I figure that the category wasn't really made for a tall, thin guy like me. I'd have more pride in an AG medal, I think. If you qualify, though, there's nothing wrong with going Clyde.

AG all the way...Go off in the wave with the people you want compete with.

Are you deperate to not be a clydesdale or get under two hundred pounds?  There is a difference.

If clydesdale weight limit was set at 180, would it suddenly be ok to be a Clydesdale if you natural weight was 190?

If you want to be out of Clydesdale because that would mean you were sub 200 and that is what is important, I can understand that.

If want to just get out of Clydesdale becuase of some other stigma, like it's a bad place to be, that I don't understand.

It made for people that weigh over 200 lbs.  Period.  There are no rules that mention body type, BMI, BF%.

If you say that it's not made for people like you, that's a self imposed theory.

The only way I would ever race as a clyde (or Athena in my case) is if it got me something.  For instance, in one race the athenas got to start earlier and that would be a good enough reason.  Too bad I didn't find this out (in the one race where it was so) until after I had registered as an AG.  Or, if I had a chance at a podium finish (which isn't going to happen in my particular lifetime, whether athena or AG).  Otherwise, I go AG no matter what I weigh. 

Good post. 

I don't see any stigma to the clyde and athena classes.  Likewise, when I competed in powerlifting or wrestling, I didn't see any stigma to being a "lightweight."  It's all about setting up the competition.  Uphill on a bike is a little different between a 120lb man and a 220lb man.  Dragging all that across a lake is a bit different, and running is just plain scary.  lol

The other option is to get older. I've been a Clyde for sixiyears and now that I've moved up two age groups, I noticed a gap closure between third place Clyde and third place AG. Regardless of how good I am at losing weight, I can get older as good as everyone else.

do what you feel comfortable with. I have placed podium as a Clyde and it does feel good, especially in the big races (HIM). I now race AG, but I could go either way.

The clydesdale category was created originally for the southern cali bodybuilders to fairly compete against each other. Bodybuilders were notorius for skipping aerobic training but those that did were very fit and bragged they were the fittest. This resulted in the bodybuilders entering tri's to prove themselves against others of the same build. It has
(d)evolved into a category primarily of over overweight newbies.

It is still a competitive class, however. I race as a Master Clyde in the South Carolina Tri Series and the winners times are close to the age group times and sometimes faster.

It is a class just like an age group class. It is almost like saying one should not compete in an age group race because the real competition is the open class.

Am I missing something here?
I just did my first tri and didn't finish last.
I have about 10%-12% bodyfat, can squat and deadlift over 500# each, weigh 216#, so I am considered slow, fat and out of shape?

Red italics is the sarc (sarcastic) font.

There you have it, I have learned something new today. My apologies.
I thought that was kind of a harsh statement.

Edited by DJS 2009-08-13 3:56 PM