Being a Cat 5 Sucks
04-26-11, 10:29 AM
#26
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I don't think it matters. A guy I know here didn't race for about 15 years, but he called up USA Cycling and they found his old number and started him as a 4. As a side note, his license number is only five digits.
04-26-11, 12:38 PM
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The rules say that you can never get a downgrade to Cat 5. So, if you took time off as a 4, you would return as a 4. If you took a break at any higher category (e.g., 3), you could request a downgrade when you return to racing if you think it's necessary. I don't think that there is any automatic downgrading provided there is some record of your previous road license.
04-26-11, 12:53 PM
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The rules say that you can never get a downgrade to Cat 5. So, if you took time off as a 4, you would return as a 4. If you took a break at any higher category (e.g., 3), you could request a downgrade when you return to racing if you think it's necessary. I don't think that there is any automatic downgrading provided there is some record of your previous road license.
A buddy who was a 1, who didn't take quite as many years off as me, his new license came back as cat 3. No idea of the logic behind either of those. Truth be told, both of us were cat 4 or worse in fitness.
04-26-11, 01:14 PM
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When I started racing again, they couldn't find my old number, so I had to get a new license as a 5, but then got an automatic upgrade based on previous experience.
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04-26-11, 01:33 PM
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A teammate of ours won a frame as a Cat 5 prime in a road race a few weeks ago. Almost as good as getting baked goods.
04-26-11, 01:53 PM
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I wish I could get my old 5 digit number back.
04-26-11, 02:17 PM
#33
Making a kilometer blurry
I was lucky. They had my 5-digit number, and slotted me back at Cat 3, where I left off. I didn't buy a license 1997-2005.
04-26-11, 06:55 PM
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Yeah, that was an ACA race. But in the USAC races I've done this year (AFA, DU crit) it was a combined 4/5 category. Does this mean that USAC always will combine 4/5 in Colorado to match the ACA groupings?
04-27-11, 02:03 PM
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More on this "kid" winning the frame -
This is the guy who seemingly has a heart of gold and took his first ever podium at Sherman Park only to discover that his car window was smashed and his bike was stolen while still at the race. A team member and local shop owner set him up with a team priced bike in time to race Leland....where he won the Tati frame for being the 1st cat 5 to complete the first lap.
It's good bike karma like that which keeps me racing.
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04-27-11, 04:09 PM
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I think I probably won more value in primes or top 5's as a Cat 5 then I've ever won in cash in the 4's or 3's. But that's because I suck.
04-27-11, 08:54 PM
#40
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Yea... 10 races can seem like forever. I managed to get out of the 5's after six races in OBRA-land.
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Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
04-27-11, 08:54 PM
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I personally felt safe as a cat 5. The races were short and so early that no one could watch me suck so badly out there. Half the field was fatter than me and you got to meet everyone new to the scene.
That said - you can't pay 5's. Meh. 10 and done. Just savor a couple of them.
That said - you can't pay 5's. Meh. 10 and done. Just savor a couple of them.
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04-27-11, 09:46 PM
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You can't go back to 5... legally. Start with a new number and you'll be a 5.
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04-27-11, 10:17 PM
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I caught a Cat 5 while I was out today. We ended up riding together for about an hour, talking about racing. It reminded me how much knowledge I take for granted.
04-28-11, 05:54 AM
#48
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OK - now you have to tell us who you are.
More on this "kid" winning the frame -
This is the guy who seemingly has a heart of gold and took his first ever podium at Sherman Park only to discover that his car window was smashed and his bike was stolen while still at the race. A team member and local shop owner set him up with a team priced bike in time to race Leland....where he won the Tati frame for being the 1st cat 5 to complete the first lap.
It's good bike karma like that which keeps me racing.
More on this "kid" winning the frame -
This is the guy who seemingly has a heart of gold and took his first ever podium at Sherman Park only to discover that his car window was smashed and his bike was stolen while still at the race. A team member and local shop owner set him up with a team priced bike in time to race Leland....where he won the Tati frame for being the 1st cat 5 to complete the first lap.
It's good bike karma like that which keeps me racing.
04-28-11, 06:10 AM
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Did you still place ?
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