I 2nd racing with the men! At one of our local crit series there is no women's fields. We have the option of racing with the 45+ men or within our respected cat. I race with the 45+ men and it is fast but soo smooth! speeds average 24-26 for a race, and many of these guys were once pro so everything is smooth, corners are smooth, no real worries about sketchy wheels around you. Actually, by finishing these races is how I got moved from a cat 4 up to a cat 3, not from my performance at the women's races,hehe.(I actually wasn't able to travel all around the state this year because of work, so this was the only way I could race)

Definitaly an experience I would participate in if you can. And if you don't hang in at first, keep going and staying in as long as you can- that is what I did. The first race i got dropped fast, the second stayed in half way, the third I stayed in until the 3 laps to go. Just keep at it!!