Points for USCF Cat 5 riders

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by ajberni
So as I understand it, an upgrade from Cat 5 to Cat 4 in the US simply comes after 10 finished races - not before, but possibly after if that's what the rider wants.

However, I am seeing that points are still awarded in Cat 5 races. Is this because you can use these points if you upgrade to Cat 4? Do points last... a year's time? a racing year? Do they keep with you between categories?

Actually, you can get away with only doing a few races and then you can usually go ahead and upgrade. I upgraded to 4 before I had even done 10 cat 5 races. You can either tell an official at a race that you have already done your 10 and he will sticker your license, or send in your resume on the USA cycling website with a list of 10 races (make sure the first few in the list are races that you actually did), and you will be upgraded. The reason is that nobody gives a [censored] about 5's, and so nobody is going to take the time to make sure you did your 10. As for points, you cannot carry points from one category to another. I am not sure what points you are speaking of, but they are probably overall State points, or omnium points? At any rate just upgrade to 4 and worry about points later.

When I started racing back in '94, I went from 5 to 4 in five races, because you can be upgraded on points. I got a first, two seconds and two thirds, and that was enough to move up. I stayed a four the rest of the year, and then moved up to three the next year after getting enough experience and some points.

I stopped racing in '97, and I am just getting back into it. so I am back to being a 5 again. But because I have only ridden 500 miles so far since getting back into it last November, I will not be planning on moving on any time soon!

Perhaps you guys could help me too?

I am looking at coming over to California next year on a university exchange and am keen to race USCF and collegiate races. In Australia, I ride A grade and have had very good results in inter-varsity and passable results in elite men (state and nat level). I'm out of U/23s mid next year. If I want to race in the US, how do I pick a Cat? Do I request one and send in a resume to the USCF? How are points accumulated in different Cats? If I just go over and start racing am I going to need to finish 40 races in my year to get to race with the big boys (part of why I wanna be there), or can I slide in sideways somehow?

Also, what's the deal with teams/clubs? Here we normally race as individuals with one or two exceptions, whereas I think the US has more teams racing in the higher Cats? Is that right? How do you get on a team, make sure you are at the right level etc? What level of support do teams normally have - in Oz we normally survive on our individual shop sponsors and nutrition company too if you're lucky, it's not such a collective thing.

https://www.usacycling.org/

Go there and read up on it.

There is a university racing program, and the USCF racing program, they are each a bit different.

The university would depend on your school, the USCF, you start at 5, and work your way up. Because you have raced before, you may be able to get an exemption and get moved up in class, but usually you move up through the ranks.

For clubs, it depends who you hook up with. Some have really good deals with local shops, some have deals with vendors directly, it all depends. I worked at some shops, and was able to get really killer sponsorship deals (helmets, bikes/frames, clothing, and other little stuff) because I knew all the reps, but that was years ago. Right now I am unattached, but as I said in my earlier post, I am in no shape to really race hard yet, so that is okay.