davidpp
Tricycle
Posts:2
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| 05/15/2008 11:49 PM |
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| I am planning on racing at Capital view next weekend, and am still fairly new to xc racing. So I would like some advice on which category I need to be in. This will be my 4th event. I have been racing the beginner class and my results so far are: Green River 07 (5th), Park Mamoth 07 (1st), and Green River 08 (1st). On one hand I do not want to be a sandbagger and think I should move to sport. On the other hand I have only put 5 miles on my mountain bike since Green River which was over a month ago, so I do not know if I am up to double the challenge (I have put in about 100 miles on the road bike). I do not train and only have time to enter 2 or 3 events per year. So I am not interested in series points. Basically I am afraid I will not be able to keep up with the sport riders. The NORBA rules say that you must move up after 5 top 5 finishes. Should I go ahead and take the jump to sport or give beginner one more shot? |
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Rowbear
Big Ring
Posts:318
Registered Users
Lexington, KY
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| 05/16/2008 12:24 AM |
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| you won a beginner race so go ahead and move up to sport. that was my philosophy although I never won a beginner race I got a few 3rd places and then moved up. |
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ricdix
Granny Gear
Posts:40
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| 05/16/2008 9:12 AM |
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| Move up, ride the extra lap and have even more fun. |
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zherz
Little Ring
Posts:57
Registered Users
l-ville
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| 05/16/2008 9:28 AM |
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| I've heard if you place in the top three in 3 or more races in a season it's time to move up. |
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ABens
Granny Gear
Posts:48
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| 05/16/2008 9:32 AM |
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| You just described about 3/4 of all sport riders. Move up and we can sweep the bottom of the pack together! |
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Xcrfb
Tricycle
Posts:0
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| 05/16/2008 11:16 AM |
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| NO DO NOT MOVE UP. No one follows the rules, rarely does anyone in sport class move up. Look at their times. Hell most of them belong in the expert class, their times are more comprable to expert class than sport. Plus if you do not train, and if you do not have a cycling coach, do not move up. The Norba rules do not apply to them (or so perhaps they think) why let it apply to you. Why race sport and get totally destroyed? Who the hell thinks that is fun???? OOOO, one more lap and little more money to payout for it to boot!!. Come out and ride for free, minus gas costs. Lot of people ride Frankfort, hard to ride here and not see anyone you know. Plus you will not get crushed by the professionally trained cyclists in the sport class. Stay where you are (beginner THE TRUE SPORT CLASS) and have fun too. |
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RIC0
Big Ring
Posts:295
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sumwaresin, KY
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| 05/16/2008 11:21 AM |
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I believe the rules apply to NORBA races only. I had a few races last year that only had 3 people in the entire class. So those so called rules are kind of vague. Now I would say if you finish in the top 3 for the year it might be time to move up.
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ABens
Granny Gear
Posts:48
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| 05/16/2008 11:42 AM |
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| you will get lots of opinions on here, most are good....If you strive on mediocracy and don't mind telling everyone you rocked the beginner class, by all means stay there. There are sanbaggers in every class, so Xcrfb has a point, but the competitive spirit usually takes care of that eventually. |
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Xcrfb
Tricycle
Posts:0
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| 05/16/2008 12:30 PM |
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| Rules do no good unless they are enforced. Some states enforce the rules. Compare the times you had against those in the sport class (term used loosely) How do you compare? Are you close (a few minutes) go for then. You have a challenge there. 20-30 minutes on a lap or two? Maybe you ought to wait. Just my opinion. How much time are you willing to "train" to BE competitive? Family? In my opinion it is not worth loosing my family for a bicycle race, having to train 8 hrs a week. Might be nice to say "I won my age group in the Sport class, expert class or KY state champ" But loose your kids in the process. They are not so easily reclaimed. You can get as much competition in the "beginner class" (term used loosely) Just a matter of where and what time of year you race. AGAIN, the whole point is to have fun!!!!! Get exercise, be healthy, enjoy the outdoors, and meet some trully great people. Even if they try to coerce their opinions on you, like me. |
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stupidbike
Granny Gear
Posts:23
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| 05/16/2008 12:42 PM |
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why do we race? to pound or chests and say. I am a winner, of a category with 5 racers? To push our selves to our limits and get stronger? To Climb faster? To DH faster? To impress chicks or dudes?
Years back, I won 3 beginner races, moved up a few years later I won 2 sport races, moved up. Now I race expert and have won a few over the years, I could care less about my placing as much as my percieved effort and fun factor.
Move up, it will be fun, but keep racing and having fun.
Be an example of grace and good will and others may follow. |
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Tonybob
Big Ring
Posts:283
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| 05/16/2008 12:45 PM |
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Posted By Xcrfb on 05/16/2008 11:16 AM
...and if you do not have a cycling coach, do not move up. The Norba rules do not apply to them (or so perhaps they think) why let it apply to you. Why race sport and get totally destroyed? .
wow, most pro and semi pro guys i know dont have a coach, i guess we should downdrade to sport. thanks for the advice!
geez dude, got a little chip on your shoulder? why race sport and get destroyed? to learn. to get better. to race in a bigger pack with better riders. if your only goal is to win, sure, always race down and then cry "everyone else is cheating and sandbagging." if you dont.
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RIC0
Big Ring
Posts:295
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sumwaresin, KY
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| 05/16/2008 1:13 PM |
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Race it the rest of the year and move up if you win the rest of your races. Enjoy winning as you probably won't move up and win as often looking at your riding and training schedule so enjoy it while you can and remember to have fun with it.
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xcgene
Coaster Brake
Posts:16
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| 05/16/2008 1:27 PM |
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8 miles and 16 miles, same entry fee, if you are in to win, stay there. if you want more personal challenge, move up.
More a question and decision you need to ask yourself and be comfortable with or a close friend that knows you pretty well.
I too asked some others on my last class upgrade and went against everyone's advice to stay put, sure it took a year of last place finishes but do i regret it? nope.
Most Importantly: Should you think about the peripheral areas of your personal life that will be indirectly affected by spending more time on the bike? YES! |
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russell g
Big Ring
Posts:350
Registered Users
Louisville, KY
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| 05/16/2008 1:39 PM |
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| I say go for the sport class, sounds like your ready to me. |
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G-MAN
Big Ring
Posts:222
Registered Users
Louisville, KY
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| 05/16/2008 4:50 PM |
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| Stay where you are bro, I finished 2nd behind you at green river and want another chance to beat you :) |
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PR
Big Ring
Posts:358
Registered Users
Jackson County
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| 05/16/2008 8:46 PM |
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I think I've gotten in a ky series race or two for the last 15 years. During that time I've gotten old, and here recently I've gotten out of shape. I'd say I've probably got sport level skills, and beginner level fitness. I'm thinking dead last in sport class.....
That's damn hard to take, but I think racing beginner might be even worse on my ego. And I'm sure not getting any saddle time here recently.
It's an individual choice. Look for me dragging around the back of a sport race soon. |
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creeping death
Big Ring
Posts:206
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| 05/16/2008 9:32 PM |
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| What is a beginner? Once that is defined then make your choice. Another win or 2 more top 5's and the beginner label goes out the window. Heck if you ain't worried about points don't worry about finishing position. I was told once your first hunch/thought is usually the correct one. |
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dilbert
Little Ring
Posts:90
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| 06/09/2008 12:20 PM |
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| move up, when i raced competitively, one first place and i moved up. Heck, i got 4th at capitol view and i am moving to sport. |
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