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Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races
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 2008-03-30 10:35 PM |
Elite  3491     In The Peleton |  Subject: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 RacesWhat's the difference between a cat 5 and a cat 4/5 race? The entry form for a crit nearby next weekend has both classes. Is the cat 4/5 less likely to have crashes based on the cat 4 guys having more experience? |
| 2008-03-30 11:12 PM in reply to: #1303828 |
Expert 717 Washington Court House, Ohio | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races Due to the expected number of participants, the races are often grouped. Cat 5 is for beginners and citizens (no license required). Sometimes the 5's are raced on their own for the presumed protection of the Cat 4's. Sometimes the grouping is 4/5, sometimes 3/4, sometimes 2/3/4, sometimes Pro/1/2, etc. An event containing both a 5, and a 4/5 is odd. I guess the 5's can take their pick. On average the 4/5 would be expected to be safer. Althouh, if your good, you can break away in pretty easily in Cat 5 race, and race very safely by yourself. |
| 2008-03-30 11:40 PM in reply to: #1303828 |
Elite 3491 In The Peleton | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races In this one there is a cat 5 race which is 20 min + 2 laps, the cat 4/5 is 40 min +2 laps. Thereis also a Masters 4/5 which is 40 min +2 laps... I'm 32, so I think I am eligible for Masters. Flyer says you can race more than one race too. So tempting yet scary! |
| 2008-03-31 12:11 AM in reply to: #1303828 |
Expert 717 Washington Court House, Ohio | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races Have fun racing. I raced Crits for 3 1/2 years. Do: 1) Expect to speed up and slow down a lot. Pick the pace up as you like if it slows too much, young racers are afraid of setting the pace. 2) Stay out of trouble. Some racers don't hold their line (pretend the course is cut into lanes, when going through corners imagine the lanes are still their, the lanes do collapse in the corners, but some racers move from outside to the inside so abruptly, they cause crashes). 3) Stay at or near the front (less crashes). 4) Stay out of trouble (I know I repeated). If you ascertain a safe position, but a tiring one (such as at the front), and a relaxed position but unsafe (such as sitting if 10th position), err on the side of the safer position and don't worry about not winning. 5) Do expect racers to crash. Be prepared to avoid. I just checked my old logs: 45 Crits, 7 crashes (my crashes), 2 stints on crutches, 7 wins, 13 top 3.  I raced from 29-32 and never raced a masters event. Pick what ever you want, but the competion will be more lively in the 4/5. Finally, look on your schedule for a state or regional time trial championship. I did some in Ohio back in my Crit days, and will be looking myself for the same this year. (but don't want any part of Crits any time soon). |
| 2008-03-31 9:58 AM in reply to: #1303949 |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races The masters should be a smoother ride, and probably less skin loss (guys will have more sense of self-preservation). |
| 2008-03-31 10:19 AM in reply to: #1304550 |
Master 2249 Colorado | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races Do the 4/5 Petaaaah. More competition more excitement more feelings of coolness after. And listen to the experienced dude up there ^^^^. |
 2008-03-31 10:44 AM in reply to: #1303828 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2008-03-31 10:55 AM in reply to: #1304682 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races Constant Motion - 2008-03-31 10:44 AM Crits are a great way to hurt yourself and your bike. Badly. Posts like that are going to cause your avatar to be repossessed and replaced with a little girly man.
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| 2008-03-31 11:22 AM in reply to: #1303828 |
| Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races I'm not really a crit rider, but do race road races and longer circuits. even though I'm a power sprinter type rider, I hate crits. That being said: 1.) Masters is usually a bunch of 20 somethings who never quit racing as they got older. They're really fast. My only Masters race, I lasted 1/2 the race and got pulled for getting close to being lapped. 2.) Cat 5 doesn't mean inexperienced. Many Cat5's stay theye because they "aren't very good" or "haven't won so why upgrade". This means they're experienced, just haven't done the paperwork. 3.) The 4/5 field races at exactly the same pace as the 5's. I have this argument with myself every race and, if you look at splits, there's no discernable difference. I'd pick whichever race time works better in your schedule and jump in there. Oh, and if you can still breathe after 1 race, the second one they should pay you! Edited by pitt83 2008-03-31 11:23 AM |
| 2008-03-31 11:30 AM in reply to: #1303828 |
| Expert 717 Washington Court House, Ohio | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races Some Cat 5's could be experieced, but by definition ALL inexperienced and citizen racers are 5's. In Columbus Ohio, most guys are trying to score points and move up, so 4/5 races are always faster. Good luck. |
| 2008-03-31 11:37 AM in reply to: #1304853 |
| Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races DieuEtMonDroit - 2008-03-31 12:30 PM Some Cat 5's could be experieced, but by definition ALL inexperienced and citizen racers are 5's. In Columbus Ohio, most guys are trying to score points and move up, so 4/5 races are always faster. Good luck. Odd, here in New England, most only cat up after winning or placing. Seems to follow the points logic of going 4-3 or 3-2 and the like. Otherwise, everyone pretty much stays where they are. Most of the fields are hybrid 4/5 and one could always jump to masters. I'd move to Ohio for the racing, but then again, I'd be stuck living in Ohio, so...  Edited by pitt83 2008-03-31 11:39 AM |
| 2008-03-31 11:42 AM in reply to: #1304825 |
| Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races "1.) Masters is usually a bunch of 20 somethings who never quit racing as they got older. They're really fast. " This is true of the OPEN Masters, but he's talking Cat 4/5 Masters. It'll be a mixed bag, but mostly it's not going to be a bunch of ex-pro's and National team members. Regardless, though, the testosterone level is a lot lower, and fewer people are willing to take risks to shoot a gap, and are a lot more patient, so the racing is a lot smoother. |
| 2008-03-31 11:43 AM in reply to: #1304715 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2008-03-31 11:51 AM in reply to: #1304887 |
| Expert 717 Washington Court House, Ohio | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races pitt83 - 2008-03-31 12:37 PM DieuEtMonDroit - 2008-03-31 12:30 PM Some Cat 5's could be experieced, but by definition ALL inexperienced and citizen racers are 5's. In Columbus Ohio, most guys are trying to score points and move up, so 4/5 races are always faster. Good luck. Odd, here in New England, most only cat up after winning or placing. Seems to follow the points logic of going 4-3 or 3-2 and the like. Otherwise, everyone pretty much stays where they are. Most of the fields are hybrid 4/5 and one could always jump to masters. I'd move to Ohio for the racing, but then again, I'd be stuck living in Ohio, so... I can't of anything odd about your guys moving up after winning or placing. Its that way everywhere. No need to move to Ohio to race Crits you don't race where you live now. |
| 2008-03-31 11:52 AM in reply to: #1304908 |
| Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races breidert - 2008-03-31 12:42 PM "1.) Masters is usually a bunch of 20 somethings who never quit racing as they got older. They're really fast. " This is true of the OPEN Masters, but he's talking Cat 4/5 Masters. It'll be a mixed bag, but mostly it's not going to be a bunch of ex-pro's and National team members. Regardless, though, the testosterone level is a lot lower, and fewer people are willing to take risks to shoot a gap, and are a lot more patient, so the racing is a lot smoother. Missed that subtlety: Yep, I race 4/5 masters sometimes since most of my friends are in those fields as well. |
| 2008-03-31 11:56 AM in reply to: #1304946 |
| Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races DieuEtMonDroit - 2008-03-31 12:51 PM pitt83 - 2008-03-31 12:37 PM DieuEtMonDroit - 2008-03-31 12:30 PM Some Cat 5's could be experieced, but by definition ALL inexperienced and citizen racers are 5's. In Columbus Ohio, most guys are trying to score points and move up, so 4/5 races are always faster. Good luck. Odd, here in New England, most only cat up after winning or placing. Seems to follow the points logic of going 4-3 or 3-2 and the like. Otherwise, everyone pretty much stays where they are. Most of the fields are hybrid 4/5 and one could always jump to masters. I'd move to Ohio for the racing, but then again, I'd be stuck living in Ohio, so... I can't of anything odd about your guys moving up after winning or placing. Its that way everywhere. No need to move to Ohio to race Crits you don't race where you live now. No, guys will stay Cat 5 forever around here. You only need 10 starts regardless of placing and you can cat up from 5 to 4. 4-3 and 3-2, etc. you do need placing points. No one here does 5-4 unless they actually start making the podium. Just busting your chops about the Ohio comment. I race here in New England ~4-5 races a season + 10-12 cyclocross and a few tris. Vibrant scene here. I'm from PA, so........ |
| 2008-03-31 12:05 PM in reply to: #1303828 |
| Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races Never seen a 4/5 masters around here. They are usually just aged based and most of the participants are 1/2/3's doing a second race that day ....... the field is crazy fast, very experienced and teams really work together. The difference between a 4/5 and a 5 race will simply be the number of entrants, that's about it. The speed will be the same, and you will tpyically see MORE crashes in the 4/5 field than you will in the 5 field. Cat. 4's think they are the sh-t when they are usually still fairly inexperienced racers and take stupid risks. That was the reason back in the day why I busted my azz to get to 3 as fast as possible so I wouldn't have to race with the yahoos anymore. Edited by Daremo 2008-03-31 12:06 PM |
| 2008-03-31 4:59 PM in reply to: #1304987 |
| Expert 717 Washington Court House, Ohio | Subject: RE: Cycling: Cat 5 vs. Cat 4/5 Races Daremo - 2008-03-31 1:05 PM Never seen a 4/5 masters around here. They are usually just aged based and most of the participants are 1/2/3's doing a second race that day ....... the field is crazy fast, very experienced and teams really work together. The difference between a 4/5 and a 5 race will simply be the number of entrants, that's about it. The speed will be the same, and you will tpyically see MORE crashes in the 4/5 field than you will in the 5 field. Cat. 4's think they are the sh-t when they are usually still fairly inexperienced racers and take stupid risks. That was the reason back in the day why I busted my azz to get to 3 as fast as possible so I wouldn't have to race with the yahoos anymore. These are good points too. 4's can cause a lot of trouble where a 5 might be inclined to back off. |
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