Toxanadu

a couple of us have really been working hard to race as a team in cat 5/4. we went to a 3 stage race this weekend, and the cat 5 team leader took all 3 wins and the over all win. Obviously, these wins were a great team effort, so he wanted to spend the cash on the team. long story short, he got some radios.

most guys are ready to hop into 4's,
so whats your feeeling on radios in 4's?

cslone

For what?

pinky

AHHHH.
a) don't do it
b) don't do it
c) don't do it

there's also a $250 fine for using radio's in non pro/1 races. 5s can barely ride safely in a pack (4s a lil better), you don't need a guy letting go of his bars and grabbing his radio to talk.

Bobby Lex

Didn't you read Lance's book?:

"It's not about the Radio"

Bob

R600DuraAce

Oh my, what is next now? Cat5s with radios. Next, team cars?? Riding $8000 bikes??? You guys have a domstique yet?? Even if I don't make fun of you but the local cat5s or cat4s will.

merlinextraligh

there already are $8,000 bikes in Cat 5.

El Diablo Rojo

It's against the rules in non-cat1/pro races. 600DA doesn't need radio's as he's always got the broomwagon to keep him company

DrPete 

+1. I've seen them too. Disposable income and racing ability are measured on two totally different scales, and are independent of each other.

DrPete

UmneyDurak

Still better then someone buying an 8k bike than not riding it....

BikeInMN

Per USCF rules...
1K3. Non-handheld radios with only one earpiece may be worn or carried by the rider or bicycle only in road events that include category 1,2, or professional riders, except in junior races.

you can't use them in a race...

botto 

next time spend your $$$ on something you might actually need for a cat 5/4 race, like some EPO, HGH and steroids

DrPete 

Hehe... $7000 a season in doping products to win $50 worth of t-shirts and GU packets.

But hey--I guess if you're getting radios...

DrPete

DrPete 

Very true. At least they get used for their intended purpose.

I'll be one of those $8K bikes in Cat 5... as soon as I can afford it.

DrPete

TheKillerPenguin

Rule of thumb in the lower cats- The more expensive the wheelset, the less strong the rider

DrPete 

By all rights, then, I should be riding a pair of Lightweight Obermayers....

DrPete

hi565

ZING!

El Diablo Rojo

Well that may be a bit generous but yeah high end bikes abound in the lower cats. Why? I believe the main reason is because Cat 5 has changed from being a bunch of young guys moving up to a bunch of 30+ guys. Look around the starting line of the next cat 5 race and you'll see a whole bunch of guys who are well over 30. These guys, for the most part, have real jobs and are making real money. They are no longer early 20 somethings with part time jobs trying to put together enough money for an entry fee. Heck half of my team is in their late 30's or early 40's. We are professionals, lawyers, software developers etc etc. We all make a considerable amount of money, so we can afford a nice bike. Heck when I look around the parking lot of the races I'm in I see some pretty expensive cars to go along with those expensive bikes. Personally I see this trend as the 'graying' of club racing. All of us in our late 30's and early 40's are in much better health than the same demographic 20 years ago. We are now in a position both financially and time wise to go racing and we choose to do it on a nice bike.

VosBike

I am an 18 year old cat 4 on a bike worth less than 500 bucks.

I Love showing up to cat 4/5 races and racing against guys with a brand new full carbon whatever and super dish wheels.

Not for some joy of beating them on my POS bike (though, I must admit, there is a certain joy of being the one with the cheap bike and winning). But rather because the more of those 5k bikes that get bought, the cheaper high quality stuff gets.

What was once ultegra is now tiagra with a few years of R+D sponsered by your local overweights 40 something on a brand new Madone.

And Don't get radios. As cool they may seem, that is a pretty poor idea.

DrWJODonnell

I have to "+1" that. I have worked hard to get where I am in life. I will never be Ivan Basso, but it does not mean I have no right to own the bikes.

Snicklefritz

Even if radios were legal in the 4/5's, I'd say no way. When you start out, I think it is good to learn how to read a race and deal with things as they unfold rather than having it fed to you on a radio from other people.

El Diablo Rojo

I take umbrage to that statement, I may be in my mid-40's but I'm 5'10"/149/8.9% bf . BTW son at 18, 40 seemed like a long way off. Take my word for it, it's closer than you think.

FatguyRacer

You'd be better off spending the money on a pop-up awning and a 5 gal gatordade cooler to use as team crash pad at the races. You can get these at Sams cheap. They even have massage tables there too.

SilentShifter

Typical BikeForums Post:

Poster: I have a question that I am serious about, can I have some additional insight or help
BikeForums Collective Response: You're an idiot! No Way! Never! Disposable Income! Pros Only! Blah Blah Blah! No I won't help you! No I won't be nice!

Duke of Kent

The thing is, it REALLY IS STUPID for a cat4/5 guy to have a radio. Learn how to use race tactics to win first, then when you have them, you can apply them in a more efficient manner in the Pro/1/2 races. If I'm crashed out of a 3/4 race by some 4 using a radio, well, he might be going to the hospital for injuries other than those sustained in the crash.

They are also illegal. This shouldn't even be an argument.

DrPete 

I agree that it may have been a little hostile, but ask a bunch of racers about using an illegal item, what response should he get?

Is there anyone who can help by changing the USCF rules about radios in lower cats?

With my first 1/2 season of cat 5 racing down, I've learned that Cat 5 is all about learning how to race. Radios are used, as I understand it, to communicate in a large peloton to protect the team leader, coordinate an attack, figure out whether to respond to a break, etc.. In Cat 5, everyone is a contender, and there's no team manager or member who knows enough about ANY rider to decide whether you should chase down a break. As far as attacking goes, you either have the legs to do it or you don't. There's just not enough at stake in the lower cats to even mess with all that.

My overall feeling is that the rule exists for the safety of the racers. I've bumped shoulders/wheels with people who can't even climb straight in a pack. Add a radio conversation to that and it's downright dangerous. Hell, how many crashes have we seen in the peloton of the TdF, and these guys are the best in the world!

DrPete