12strings

So, I am planning to enter my first cyclocross race in about a month, but I went to the online registration page, assuming I would be in the "Cat 4/5" race...but I discovered that there is a category called:

-"Masters 35+"

I will be 37 at race time, so I suppose I qualify.

My questions are:

1. Do I qualify for both, and get to chose?

2. Which on should I, as a 37yr old first-time racer, enter? (Which one will have the faster/slower riders?)

gl98115

If the Masters 35+ is an all category race (Cat 1-5) then you can sign up for either or both. In most regions, the fastest 35+ riders will be faster than the fastest Cat 4 riders. But there are exceptions.

12strings

I considered that, but those 2 races happen to be right in a row, so would only have about 5-10 minutes rest between them...probably not wise on my first time out.

caloso

For your first race, if you could only do one, do the 4/5 race. It's the race for new racers, like yourself.

12strings

Thanks!

50voltphantom

^Agree

msu2001la

I did my first ever CX race in the M35+ category (actually it was M30+ then, they've since changed it). I was 36 or 37 at the time, and the advice I got from a few veterans was that starting off in the masters category would be a better experience because I would be at the back of a fast group of veteran racers, rather than starting mid-pack with a bunch of hot-headed 18-25 year old newbies trying to kill each other in the first turn. Plus the masters races go off first thing in the morning and are a little bit longer, both of which are nice for us old guys.

The masters races at my local CX series have some very fast guys in the front rows (I'm guessing many are Cat 3 or better), but there are all kinds at the back of the pack, including first timers and guys on mountain bikes, etc. The Cat 4-5 race usually has way more crashing and craziness, but it's also at the end of the day in my series and the track is usually pretty beat up by then.

12strings

This is a smaller venue, I think, and likely non-standard race groupings and schedule:

1:15pm, is listed as M35+, M45+, M55+.

2:15 is the last race, cat 4/5.

redlude97

is there a difference in # of laps or time? Here Cat 5 is 30-40 mins and Masters is 40-50 mins IIRC

12strings

Both are listed at 45min. So as I said, a bit unstandard maybe... not that I know.

msu2001la

In my series, the Masters races are all 45min:

08:30 am – Masters 35+ (45 minutes)
09:30 am – Masters 45+ (45 minutes)
09:32 am – Masters 55+ (45 minutes)
10:30 am – Single Speed (35 minutes)
10:32 am – Junior 15-18 (35 minutes)
11:20 am – Junior 9-14 (25 minutes)
11:22 am – Women Cat 4/5 (25 minutes)
12:00 pm – Cat 3 (45 minutes)
01:00 pm – Women Cat 1/2 (45 minutes)
01:01 pm – Women Cat 3/4 (45 minutes)
02:00 pm – Cat 1/2/3 (60 minutes)
03:15 pm – Cat 4 (30 minutes)
04:00 pm – Cat 4/5 (25 minutes)

12strings

Yeah, I was hoping for a 25-30min First race, but I guess I'll get more for my money this way.

ksryder

At age 35 I did a cat 5 race and a Masters 35+ race which started about 15 minutes later. Found out that they were Masters at kicking my a**. Also, I was completely gassed from the first effort.

But I had fun anyway.

Abe_Froman

Hey, we might be doing the same race! I'm about your age (38), and am planning on the September 10th Lebagh Woods race cat 4/5 in Chicago. Will be my first time as well...

Edit: Ooops. I think I mistook you for the OP. Oh well. I'll still be there though haha.

12strings

Yep, mine is the first race in a 5-race Indycross series (Indianapolis).

msu2001la

Cool. I'll be sure to get the crowd to heckle "Abe Froman" during the 4/5 race.

Good luck with your first race. You'll have a blast I'm sure.