USCF Rider classes

Masters is a voluntary rating. You can enter any Masters race in your age
group but remember that as a starting Cat 5 you'd be possibly riding with
Cat 1 Masters. Generally speaking you go out the back in 100 yards. Also
note that this is probably preferable to riding in a Cat 5 group of
beginners who shoot the first turn and run into you.

"trailgalore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters rating,
or is one a Master by virture of age?
If one races for the first time in the USCF, it would be in the cat 5
class correct? Can one be a cat 5 racer and also be a Master?
In what class would race points be credited? In cat 5, how could, lets say
a 65 year old compete with a 30 year old?

trailgalore said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters rating,
or is one a Master by virture of age?

You need to eat a lot to qualify.

Donald Munro said:

trailgalore said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters rating,
or is one a Master by virture of age?

You need to eat a lot to qualify.

Dude, no fair! You made me spit my ice-cream on my sceen!

Joseph

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Donald Munro said:

trailgalore said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters
rating,
or is one a Master by virture of age?

You need to eat a lot to qualify.

Dude, no fair! You made me spit my ice-cream on my sceen!

Joseph

Ice-cream! Caught you, that isn't any part of a plan to get below 190
lb.

Phil H

"trailgalore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters rating,
or is one a Master by virture of age?
If one races for the first time in the USCF, it would be in the cat 5
class correct? Can one be a cat 5 racer and also be a Master?
In what class would race points be credited? In cat 5, how could, lets say
a 65 year old compete with a 30 year old?

Also be aware that many promoters, state associations, etc... mandate a
minimum category level to race in their masters races. For example, masters
races may be restricted to Cat 1-4 only at the discretion of the promoter.
Some promoters may relax this restriction for the older (50+) masters
classes.

Phil Holman said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Donald Munro said:

trailgalore said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters
rating,
or is one a Master by virture of age?

You need to eat a lot to qualify.

Dude, no fair! You made me spit my ice-cream on my sceen!

Joseph

Ice-cream! Caught you, that isn't any part of a plan to get below 190
lb.

Only if you weigh 175.

In article <[email hidden]>,

trailgalore said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters rating, or
is one a Master by virture of age?
If one races for the first time in the USCF, it would be in the cat 5 class
correct? Can one be a cat 5 racer and also be a Master?
In what class would race points be credited? In cat 5, how could, lets say a
65 year old compete with a 30 year old?

Somebody downthread pointed out how baffling racing and classifications
can be for new riders, so for some strange reason I will try to answer
your questions carefully.

Here's the super-short version:
-If you're old, you're a Master. You can be both a Cat 5 and a Master,
maybe; locally anyone old enough for Master-ness is automatically
enrolled as a 4, but that may or may not be the case in the US, and it
hardly matters.
-If your race license application asks you to choose between being a
Master or not, you should almost always choose to be a Master. This
makes very little difference, except that it might exclude you from
racing Elite championship races, and it will allow you to race in
age-grouped races. If you are 65, you REALLY should choose "Master".
-race points will be credited according to the way the race is
categorized. Note that in most places, Cat X points will be "upgrade
points," and any points earned in your Masters age group will be more
like overall series points (ie, no upgrading, but you might win a trophy
at the end of the year for accumulated points).
-a Cat 5 65 year old and a Cat 5 30 year old compete on absolutely even
terms in a Cat 5 race.

Long boring version:

Read the first page or two of this:

http://www.usacycling.org/forms/Masters%20Eligibility%20FAQ.pdf

With the proviso that things can vary from region to region and
technically, I have no actual experience of USCF racing, normally the
Category and the age group are separate things.

Category says how slow you are.

Age group says how old you are, except Elite, which can be any rider
(with broad provisos). "Master" usually starts at 30 on this continent,
but if you're fast enough, you'll probably stay in the Elite category,
where you get to race against the fast guys, until age slows you down.
Actual pro-level (or certain not-quite-pro-but-demonstrably-fast) riders
aren't allowed in Master categories.

Most races are categorized by only one or the other of these things, so
it's perfectly normal to be a Cat 4 Master (35+), which happens to be
exactly what I am.

In races that have Categories, you can race your Cat. In races run by
age groupings, you can race your age. In some races there may be both
age and Cat groupings, and you may or may not be able to choose which
races you enter. Some organizers will even let you enter both races, if
age group and Cat races run separately.

When you're racing in a category, you're racing for upgrade points,
which means you are accumulating points towards becoming the next cat
up. Your local body can tell you how many points within what interval
qualifies for an upgrade. Category is a goofy thing: it's akin to a
skill grouping, and theoretically the goal is to advance up the ranks
until you find your level of incompetence. But because much of the
nature of road racing is dependent on a group of roughly similar
(ability-wise) riders in a bunch, it works well. It really doesn't
matter much for time trials, except for the upgrade points issue. The
key thing is that simple personal-best benchmarks don't really work in
road racing because the character of the race has everything to do with
the weird collective will of the pack that day, influenced by the type
of course (parcours).

The whole deal of a 30-yo versus a 65-yo in a Cat 5 race is this: if the
young guy was any good, he'd have won a few races and upgraded. If the
old fogey was any slower, he'd basically have to give up road racing,
because every race would end with him being dropped. There is no Cat 6,
so anyone in Cat 5 is either new to the sport or is unable to win
against the weakest competition organized cycling offers. Some people
spend their entire racing "career" in Cat 5. Some people, at least once
they are fast enough to consistently stay with a Cat 5 pack, will
request an upgrade to Cat 4 just to avoid racing with the sketchy
novices in Cat 5. There's little difference in the raw performance of
Cat 4 and 5 riders, though the 4's will be a little less sketchy and a
little smarter. But only a little.

When you're racing in an age-grouping, you are racing to be the best
rider against a pack with a common handicap: your age. That's more or
less self-explanatory, I think. Most age-grouped races that offer points
are probably offering them for a local masters category series, which
means that someone tallies up the point and the winner of each age group
gets a trophy or a jersey prize.

The other thing that happens is that most regional or state or national
championships are nominally age-grouped, though a lot offer "challenge"
races for lower-cat riders who would otherwise be uncompetitive in their
age group (mainly it's the lowly end of the 23-40s who get hardest hit
here), and that Elite is usually anyone over 23 who is fast enough to
want to race it.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

In article
<rcousine-2345CF.19080017032008@[74.223.185.199.nw.nuvox.net]>, Ryan

Cousineau said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

trailgalore said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters rating,
or
is one a Master by virture of age?
If one races for the first time in the USCF, it would be in the cat 5 class
correct? Can one be a cat 5 racer and also be a Master?
In what class would race points be credited? In cat 5, how could, lets say
a
65 year old compete with a 30 year old?

Somebody downthread pointed out how baffling racing and classifications
can be for new riders, so for some strange reason I will try to answer
your questions carefully.

Here's the super-short version:
-If you're old, you're a Master. You can be both a Cat 5 and a Master,
maybe; locally anyone old enough for Master-ness is automatically
enrolled as a 4, but that may or may not be the case in the US, and it
hardly matters.
-If your race license application asks you to choose between being a
Master or not, you should almost always choose to be a Master. This
makes very little difference, except that it might exclude you from
racing Elite championship races, and it will allow you to race in
age-grouped races. If you are 65, you REALLY should choose "Master".
-race points will be credited according to the way the race is
categorized. Note that in most places, Cat X points will be "upgrade
points," and any points earned in your Masters age group will be more
like overall series points (ie, no upgrading, but you might win a trophy
at the end of the year for accumulated points).
-a Cat 5 65 year old and a Cat 5 30 year old compete on absolutely even
terms in a Cat 5 race.

NO here is the real short answer.

Junior
Under 23
Elite
Master

The above are age classifications. Juniors 10-18 years old, Under 23
19-22, Elite 23-29 Master 30 years and older. In addition the Master
and junior age groups can be further broken down into smaller age
groups. Junior 10-12, Junior 13-14, Junior 15-16 and Junior 17-18 are
the age breakdowns they use at nationals. A promoter can use any junior
age breakdown they want. At nationals they break the masters down into
5 year age groups 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 etc. Again promoters can use any
age breakdown they want for masters. some parts of the country go with
30+, 40+ 50+ some go with 35+, 45+ 55+ 65+

Cat 5
Cat 4
Cat 3
Cat 2
Cat 1

The above are skill levels. You start out as a new racer as Cat 5 and
have to work your up the skill level.

Races can be categorized as any combination of age group and skill level

for example Junior 1/2/3 or elite 3/4 or master 45+ 4/5.

Juniors can ride up into an older age group but can never ride in a
masters race. Masters can ride down into a younger age group but can
never ride in an Under 23 or Junior race.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Casey Kerrigan said:

In article
<rcousine-2345CF.19080017032008@[74.223.185.199.nw.nuvox.net]>, Ryan

Cousineau said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

trailgalore said:

Would like to know if one must compete in races to earn a Masters rating,
or
is one a Master by virture of age?

[blah blah blah]

Quoted message said:

NO here is the real short answer.

Junior
Under 23
Elite
Master

The above are age classifications.

Cat 5
Cat 4
Cat 3
Cat 2
Cat 1

The above are skill levels. You start out as a new racer as Cat 5 and
have to work your up the skill level.

Races can be categorized as any combination of age group and skill level

Quoted message said:

Juniors can ride up into an older age group but can never ride in a
masters race. Masters can ride down into a younger age group but can
never ride in an Under 23 or Junior race.

Dumbass: that's a way better answer. Thanks.
Trailgalore: listen to Casey.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

"Ryan Cousineau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:rcousine-96AA5A.20192517032008@[74.223.185.199.nw.nuvox.net]...

Quoted message said:

Dumbass: that's a way better answer. Thanks.
Trailgalore: listen to Casey.

Please NEVER call Casey a dumbass. He has devoted his entire life to putting
on bicycle races and he's one of the princes among gentlemen on this group.

Casey Kerrigan said:

NO here is the real short answer.

Junior
Under 23
Elite
Master

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Cat 5
Cat 4
Cat 3
Cat 2
Cat 1

The above are skill levels. You start out as a new racer as Cat 5 and
have to work your up the skill level.

Casey-

Somewhat off the topic... Is it true that the categories are supposed to
represent a rider's skill level irrespective of age? And if so, what is the
USCF policy regarding upgrading via placings in Masters races? It appears to
me to be ambiguous and seems to vary from one region to the next.

Mark

In article <[email hidden]>, Off The Back

Quoted message said:

Casey Kerrigan said:

NO here is the real short answer.

Junior
Under 23
Elite
Master

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Cat 5
Cat 4
Cat 3
Cat 2
Cat 1

The above are skill levels. You start out as a new racer as Cat 5 and
have to work your up the skill level.

Casey-

Somewhat off the topic... Is it true that the categories are supposed to
represent a rider's skill level irrespective of age? And if so, what is the
USCF policy regarding upgrading via placings in Masters races? It appears to
me to be ambiguous and seems to vary from one region to the next.

Mark

Your category is independent of your age. In theory someone who is a
Cat 3 should be competitve with any other Cat 3 no matter what their
age. USCF policy is that you can use master races for upgrades except
for the 2 to 1 upgrade. Only elite races count for 2 to 1 upgrades.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Tom Kunich' cyclintom@yahoo. com said:

"Ryan Cousineau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:rcousine-96AA5A.20192517032008@[74.223.185.199.nw.nuvox.net]...

Quoted message said:

Dumbass: that's a way better answer. Thanks.
Trailgalore: listen to Casey.

Please NEVER call Casey a dumbass. He has devoted his entire life to putting
on bicycle races and he's one of the princes among gentlemen on this group.

Tom:

I'll never call you a dumbass...

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

Ryan Cousineau said:

Age group says how old you are, except Elite, which can be any rider
(with broad provisos). "Master" usually starts at 30 on this continent,
but if you're fast enough, you'll probably stay in the Elite category,
where you get to race against the fast guys, until age slows you down.
Actual pro-level (or certain not-quite-pro-but-demonstrably-fast) riders
aren't allowed in Master categories.

It's participation in Elite events at a certain level that
disqualifies you for Masters, you don't actually have to be any good
(only good enough to enter). If only teh fat came off just as easily...

In article <[email hidden]>, A R:nen

Quoted message said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

Age group says how old you are, except Elite, which can be any rider
(with broad provisos). "Master" usually starts at 30 on this continent,
but if you're fast enough, you'll probably stay in the Elite category,
where you get to race against the fast guys, until age slows you down.
Actual pro-level (or certain not-quite-pro-but-demonstrably-fast) riders
aren't allowed in Master categories.

It's participation in Elite events at a certain level that
disqualifies you for Masters, you don't actually have to be any good
(only good enough to enter). If only teh fat came off just as easily...

Under USCF rules it is only went you are a member of a UCI registered
team, represent the U.S. in the Olympics, Pan Am games, World Cups or
World Championships that you become inelligible for masters races. UCI
rules are different but USCF rules are not as strict in this area.

Casey Kerrigan said:

In article <[email hidden]>, A R:nen

Quoted message said:

Ryan Cousineau <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Age group says how old you are, except Elite, which can be any rider
(with broad provisos). "Master" usually starts at 30 on this continent,
but if you're fast enough, you'll probably stay in the Elite category,
where you get to race against the fast guys, until age slows you down.
Actual pro-level (or certain not-quite-pro-but-demonstrably-fast) riders
aren't allowed in Master categories.

Quoted message said:

It's participation in Elite events at a certain level that
disqualifies you for Masters, you don't actually have to be any good
(only good enough to enter). If only teh fat came off just as easily...

Under USCF rules it is only went you are a member of a UCI registered
team, represent the U.S. in the Olympics, Pan Am games, World Cups or
World Championships that you become inelligible for masters races. UCI
rules are different but USCF rules are not as strict in this area.

"Age-degraded racing", anyone?

"Elite"? Gag me!

"What do you call a Cat II whose girlfriend dumps him"? --D-y

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

Casey Kerrigan said:

In article <[email hidden]>, A R:nen

Quoted message said:

Ryan Cousineau <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted message said:

> Age group says how old you are, except Elite, which can be any rider
> (with broad provisos). "Master" usually starts at 30 on this continent,
> but if you're fast enough, you'll probably stay in the Elite category,
> where you get to race against the fast guys, until age slows you down.
> Actual pro-level (or certain not-quite-pro-but-demonstrably-fast) riders
> aren't allowed in Master categories.

Quoted message said:

It's participation in Elite events at a certain level that
disqualifies you for Masters, you don't actually have to be any good
(only good enough to enter). If only teh fat came off just as easily...

Under USCF rules it is only went you are a member of a UCI registered
team, represent the U.S. in the Olympics, Pan Am games, World Cups or
World Championships that you become inelligible for masters races. UCI
rules are different but USCF rules are not as strict in this area.

"Age-degraded racing", anyone?

"Elite"? Gag me!

"What do you call a Cat II whose girlfriend dumps him"? --D-y

Normal?

--
Michael Press

Quoted message said:

"What do you call a Cat II whose girlfriend dumps him"? --D-y

What do you call the Cat I neo pro living in his parents basement
whose girlfriend dumps him ?

Casey Kerrigan said:

Under USCF rules ... <snip>

Hum, you mean "USAC road" rules don't you? The board voted out the
names "USCF" and "NORBA" last year. Old habits are hard to break.