MRC Cross - Wrentham, MA

[telegirl]

Sounds like a great course! Unlike Mudfest..... And Nice Picture!

I guess I would be kind of annoyed about the Elite racer - Ok, maybe you have a committment and maybe you want to stay in shape for the Nat'ls, but come on.....that just seems really unsportsman-like. And I have a question about the reasoning behind the DQs - If you are in front and sprinting, then doesn't the rider behind really have an obligation to stay out of the way? After all, the person in front can't see behind him/her, so unless you just purposely swerve across into someone, it seems like that is putting a real onus on someone who doesn't really have as much control as the person behind..... Or am I misunderstanding what went on?

Anyhow, we will be at the Nationals, but only on Friday- Hubby will be riding the Masters 55+ class and I will be playing the part of Pit Tootsie/Coach. When are you riding, Cathy?

-Karen

[SheFly]

I'm glad you like the reports. I was worried that no one read them, or cared .

The issue with women's cross in the Northeast is that there are generally two choices - a 1,2,3 race or a 3,4 race. This means that someone who is a Cat 3 cross racer really has a choice of which race to do (or can choose to do both). I've already vented on this topic, so won't do more of it here (although I would have gotten an upgrade point on Sunday....).

Maybe someone with more experience can chime in on the DQ situation. I agree that the person overtaking would seem to have the responsibility - how am I supposed to know if I "accidentally" impeded your forward progress?

Telegirl - I will be at Natz on Friday as well, and am racing right after your hubby, at 10:30! Let me know who to look for so we can connect. Will be great to meet another TE'er! My DH isn't racing until after 2:00 pm, so I will be around most of the day. See you there!

SheFly

p.s.
Anyone else planning a trip to Natz either Friday or Sunday???

[Mimosa]

The issue with women's cross in the Northeast is that there are generally two choices - a 1,2,3 race or a 3,4 race. This means that someone who is a Cat 3 cross racer really has a choice of which race to do (or can choose to do both). I've already vented on this topic, so won't do more of it here (although I would have gotten an upgrade point on Sunday....).

The same problem is here in the Netherlands.

We also have 4 categories
1. Elite Women with a contract (the pro's)
2. Elite Women without a contract
3. Women's B
4. Women's C

And most (fun/well organized, like crits and classics) races are a combination of category 1,2 and 3. They need to do that to ensure that they have enough women (at least 60) at the starting line for an interesting race. Otherwise the race may not attract enough sponsorship to pay the bills. But it is a hard on the Women's B since they have to train almost as much as the elite just to be able to follow the bunch.

[velogirl]

The racer in the front has the right of way. Once your hip is next to the bars of the rider next to you, you're in the golden spot. However, if the rider in the front swerved or changed lines drastically, she's endangering riders behind her, thus the relegation.