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.
"The higher you climb, the further you fall", "The harder you fall, the higher you bounce". Even though I never believed that the sport was clean, and even though I am not sure all involved fell hard enough, I have noticed that I no longer peer at my computer screen watching the Giro and comment "doper" constantly. I do know that I can attend the Tour of California and not let the question of doping run through my mind (a big change from even recent years). I do know I believe Jens Voigt when he says that Tejay van Garderen and his next generation should not be blamed for his generation. I do realize I might never place pro cycling quite so high again, or stand under it in case it falls, but I honestly enjoy watching online and going to the races - for pure fun and love of the bike and the bike 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.
Superior Morgul Survey; racers please take a few mintues to help us continue to improve for 2014! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ST6P8KG
"The higher you climb, the further you fall", "The harder you fall, the higher you bounce". Even though I never believed that the sport was clean, and even though I am not sure all involved fell hard enough, I have noticed that I no longer peer at my computer screen watching the Giro and comment "doper" constantly. I do know that I can attend the Tour of California and not let the question of doping run through my mind (a big change from even recent years). I do know I believe Jens Voigt when he says that Tejay van Garderen and his next generation should not be blamed for his generation. I do realize I might never place pro cycling quite so high again, or stand under it in case it falls, but I honestly enjoy watching online and going to the races - for pure fun and love of the bike and the bike race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY&sns=em
It's semantics, silly. 4s in one system = 5s in the other. Both = beginner.