I didn't read it that way. I thought he was supporting age groups in general, not a further breakdown of cats within the age groups. Are you suggesting we do away with the masters AGE groups, you know, so we don't dilute the race day?
The real problem here was when we went from 35 plus, 45 plus, 55 plus and started to add age/ability catagories like 35 3's, 45 4's, 35 4's. BRAC made a bad call adding those new "special snowflake catagories for men", but the masters in those groups were a loud bunch. That was a sort fo a gateway drug for lower end masters guys to get exactly what you suggst, the "everyone deserves a medal". 35 3's has not grown the sport, I am sorry. It has taken guys out of the 3's, the 35 Open, and even the 45 open, because guys realized it was an easier option and they could do better.
I am a masters guy and I think we need to move to 40 plus and then simplify the whole thing, down to just ages, like 40 plus, 50 plus, 60 plus. OR at worst add a 40 plus cat 4 for guys who are new and over 40.
this sounds an awful lot like the "everyone deserves a medal" type of argument. If your life commitments, ability to train, recovery, etc keeps you from being competitive at a 2, then downgrade according to the rules and race as a 3. Or a 4. I can understand the safety concern, but on the other hand you fail to acknowledge that the additional categories that you want are diluting the race day and make it difficult for promoters to run a fiscally feasible race.
Sorry boys but you do lose strength, recovery and fitness as you age. Now those of us who have raced for +25 years know the difference. There are several valid reasons to keep the masters catagories. Us old guys have don't heal as well as we used to, and we do not take the chances that the younger men do. So we are generally saver. 2, there are very few of us old guys who are going to do a race over 75miles. Because we do not recover as well, we can not put the training in to do those distances with the young guys anymore. Plus we generallly have more commitments, so time is also an issue. I prefer to race with the 55+, when I was younger I liked the 45+123, and the 35+ open. They matched my skill and my strength, and mindset. We all want to race in groups where we are competitive. Guys that are getting dropped every week, or always finishing in the back of the group are not going to hang around very long. We want more racers not less!
Sorry boys but you do lose strength, recovery and fitness as you age. Now those of us who have raced for +25 years know the difference. There are several valid reasons to keep the masters catagories. Us old guys have don't heal as well as we used to, and we do not take the chances that the younger men do. So we are generally saver. 2, there are very few of us old guys who are going to do a race over 75miles. Because we do not recover as well, we can not put the training in to do those distances with the young guys anymore. Plus we generallly have more commitments, so time is also an issue. I prefer to race with the 55+, when I was younger I liked the 45+123, and the 35+ open. They matched my skill and my strength, and mindset. We all want to race in groups where we are competitive. Guys that are getting dropped every week, or always finishing in the back of the group are not going to hang around very long. We want more racers not less!
There are lot of bad/sad/discouraging events going on in our lives. I am just happy to be able to have cycling events like S/M to be able to go to, where I can push myself physically and fun with other people who love to ride bikes.
The big one day races - spring classics, world championships, and smaller stage races can be won clean (not saying they always are). I watch and enjoy those races.
The grand tours encourage cheating too much because they are too long. They are also very boring lately. I spent more time watching Paris Robaix this year than I will for all of the grand tours combined.
I didn't read it that way. I thought he was supporting age groups in general, not a further breakdown of cats within the age groups. Are you suggesting we do away with the masters AGE groups, you know, so we don't dilute the race day?
The real problem here was when we went from 35 plus, 45 plus, 55 plus and started to add age/ability catagories like 35 3's, 45 4's, 35 4's. BRAC made a bad call adding those new "special snowflake catagories for men", but the masters in those groups were a loud bunch. That was a sort fo a gateway drug for lower end masters guys to get exactly what you suggst, the "everyone deserves a medal". 35 3's has not grown the sport, I am sorry. It has taken guys out of the 3's, the 35 Open, and even the 45 open, because guys realized it was an easier option and they could do better.
I am a masters guy and I think we need to move to 40 plus and then simplify the whole thing, down to just ages, like 40 plus, 50 plus, 60 plus. OR at worst add a 40 plus cat 4 for guys who are new and over 40.
this sounds an awful lot like the "everyone deserves a medal" type of argument. If your life commitments, ability to train, recovery, etc keeps you from being competitive at a 2, then downgrade according to the rules and race as a 3. Or a 4. I can understand the safety concern, but on the other hand you fail to acknowledge that the additional categories that you want are diluting the race day and make it difficult for promoters to run a fiscally feasible race.
Sorry boys but you do lose strength, recovery and fitness as you age. Now those of us who have raced for +25 years know the difference. There are several valid reasons to keep the masters catagories. Us old guys have don't heal as well as we used to, and we do not take the chances that the younger men do. So we are generally saver. 2, there are very few of us old guys who are going to do a race over 75miles. Because we do not recover as well, we can not put the training in to do those distances with the young guys anymore. Plus we generallly have more commitments, so time is also an issue. I prefer to race with the 55+, when I was younger I liked the 45+123, and the 35+ open. They matched my skill and my strength, and mindset. We all want to race in groups where we are competitive. Guys that are getting dropped every week, or always finishing in the back of the group are not going to hang around very long. We want more racers not less!
Sorry boys but you do lose strength, recovery and fitness as you age. Now those of us who have raced for +25 years know the difference. There are several valid reasons to keep the masters catagories. Us old guys have don't heal as well as we used to, and we do not take the chances that the younger men do. So we are generally saver. 2, there are very few of us old guys who are going to do a race over 75miles. Because we do not recover as well, we can not put the training in to do those distances with the young guys anymore. Plus we generallly have more commitments, so time is also an issue. I prefer to race with the 55+, when I was younger I liked the 45+123, and the 35+ open. They matched my skill and my strength, and mindset. We all want to race in groups where we are competitive. Guys that are getting dropped every week, or always finishing in the back of the group are not going to hang around very long. We want more racers not less!
There are lot of bad/sad/discouraging events going on in our lives. I am just happy to be able to have cycling events like S/M to be able to go to, where I can push myself physically and fun with other people who love to ride bikes.
Thanks Cheri, 303 and all who rally to get kids rolling. Come out and join the FUNdraising.
The big one day races - spring classics, world championships, and smaller stage races can be won clean (not saying they always are). I watch and enjoy those races.
The grand tours encourage cheating too much because they are too long. They are also very boring lately. I spent more time watching Paris Robaix this year than I will for all of the grand tours combined.
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