I think I have a grasp on how CAT riders are divided, but can someone please take the time to explain it to my brain, so I am not just making thing up by my own imaginative musings For example, what makes one a cat5 rider vs a cat1 rider? Time trial speeds? Years riding? Distances covered? Were you all born just knowing this? Where was I when the instructions were handed out? Why didn't anyone come get me??

Also, is CAT an acronym for something or simply an abbreviation for category? My own deductions tell me that it is the latter.

Be gentle with me ladies, I only started riding this year and ride solo. Thanks!