Upgrading to cat 3- question

[Drtgirl]

I just looked at the usa cycling site and it seems that the point system for upgrading has changed. Has anyone else noticed this? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong page but here's what I found:

http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=2627

[Zen]

Your post appeared directly above one called "How long is your cats tail" .
I was thinking you had two cats and were wondering if you should get a third

Sorry I'm of no real assistance

[NJBikeGal]

I can't be too much help on the cyclocross upgrading, but I can say that they radically changed the road racing upgrade standards and methods, so I would imagine that the change occured across the board. It's a blessing and a curse as far as road racing goes...you basically have to be willing to do a LOT of races and you have to be really consistent in order to make the higher upgrads.

Sorry...not sure if this helps you at all, but I thought I would chime in!

[Drtgirl]

Ok, then maybe I'm not crazy after all. But it seems like the new cross point system makes it easier to upgrade. Either you need to win 7 points which means top 5 in several races or simply complete 5 races. I know a lot of beginners that raced ten times last year but I don't think they're ready to move up.

[velogirl]

In our district (Northern CA/Nevada), the new guidelines make it EASIER to upgrade. I think USAC is trying to unclog the men's CAT5 and CAT4 ranks. Of course, it means a lot of folks who really aren't ready to upgrade will be able to do so.

[NJBikeGal]

For the NJ/PA area, the problem with the upgrade system is the fact that it is based primarily on number of starters in the race. We simply don't have large fields of 40 -50 riders that give you a nice payout of upgrade points that go VERY deep into the field. Most of the time, we eek out somewhere between 20 and 30. Therefore, we don't get as many points for placing, nor do they go as deep.

The up side is that you can count a road race as a crit if it meets the crit distance standard but not that of the road race upgrades.

[SheFly]

You are correct - 'cross upgrades have become easier under the new rules. I'm not sure this is a good thing for lots of people though - having upgraded last year, it's a whole different ball of wax when you have to race with the Elite field...

SheFly

[obie]

Wait a second - if you've been in five races you have to upgrade? I raced 6-7 times last season but I am still solidly a Cat 4 level - if that! Cat 7 is more like it (I have no problem with this - I have a great time regardless)

ETA: It's cross that I'm talking about, not the road...

[Eden]

That's only for cyclocross. For road the points system still stands for women. We don't have a cat 5 (men can go from cat 5 to cat 4 on experience only), so you need 20 points in 12 months to get an upgrade. From what I've seen it should now be somewhat easier to get a road upgrade. Shorter races with fewer people are eligible for points this year, the number of points is fewer, but many of those races would not have had fields large enough for any points in last years rules. Of course your regional coordinator is given a lot of discretion too.

[SheFly]

Wait a second - if you've been in five races you have to upgrade? I raced 6-7 times last season but I am still solidly a Cat 4 level - if that! Cat 7 is more like it (I have no problem with this - I have a great time regardless)

ETA: It's cross that I'm talking about, not the road...

Don't worry - they won't force you to upgrade on experience, but they will on points. Keep plugging away - I don't think I've ver seen anyone as enthusiastic about cross as you (except, maybe, me!).

SheFly