I'm digging the 35+ 3/4 (menlo) and the 45+ 3/4 (Ronde) categories. They give me some hope of placing early in the season as opposed to just surviving in the 35+ 123. I hope there are a few more this spring/summer. Older 4s, of which i was most of last year, don't scare me. As for young, fearless E3s, i'm a little leary, but will give it a shot around summer once the pre season jitters are hopefully gone.

I'm glidin' with Glide.

I suggested last year breaking open 45's races and BAR/BAT down to 1/2/3's and 4/5's fields.

Not sure what to do with 35+ 4/5's, but as long as b and c fields keep opening up I guess it normally works out because they all get to race anyway.

Seems like with the open 45's fields, and only one race available, race organizers are leaving money on the table.

But I don't know. I'm not running the races.

Ditto. Besides the reg nightmare and how quickly this category fills up, these fields have quite a disparity in abilities. This age group probably needs to mirror what is happening in the 35+ category.....A 45+ 123 and a 45+ 4/5 breakdown would be awesome....Velo Promo and other race promoters, what do you think ??

Being 45 myself, I was just thinking of waiting 10 years till it's easier to get into races...I am sure that by then most people will be over their mid-life crisis.

The online registration process has created another problem which compounds the 35 4/5 and 45+ issue. By setting a time certain registration opening and making it easier to register a virtual feeding frenzy has been created for the popular fields.

This may be partly because Velo Promo has such a liberal race fee transfer policy. Racers are signing up whether they know they going or not, simply to have the option. They know that if they decide not to go at virtually the last minute they can cancel and put the fees towards another race. Some may even figure forfeiting the race fee is a small price to pay for the option to race.

It would be interesting to find out if the number of no-shows has increased since the advent of online registration.

K

Here's a quote from an experienced rider regarding the Bariani RR that filled within the first 10 hours...

I agree it is ridiculous to have open 45+ fields. In addition to limiting the field size and having the races fill within hours of registration opening, it is not safe to have riders with such a wide range of skill levels in the same field. This is particularly true for a race like Zamora that is relatively flat and can have significant cross winds. An experienced rider bumping an inexperienced rider while fighting for position in the cross wind is a recipe for a big crash.

Oh, Bob. You knew it was you who I was sending those XX's and OO's to, didn't you?

Someone approached me at Early Birds on Sunday and said:
"Zebra, I missed out on Snelling and Madera. They really should split the 4's off from the 45 1-4's and the 5's from the 35+ 4/5's and alleviate some of this overcrowding, shouldn't they?"

I winced. It was all I could do not to primally scream YESSSSSSS!!!!!!! But I imagined all the predators baring their bloody fangs on the Forum, just waiting for the Zebra to stroll back into that warren of bloody horror.

But Bob Parker ... Everyonelovesbob Parker ... You are a wise man, Bob Parker.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS "they" (which really means VeloPromo and BAR, which would influence the other promoters to follow) should take the 4's (and 5's) OUT of the 45's. Either make a 45+ 3/4's field (which is not self-interest, Elis, because it excludes me), OR make a 45's 1/2/3 field and limit the 35's masters to 4's only. That would also help some of the Elite 4 crowding. The 5's should ride separately in mentored novice fields for their first 10 races, regardless of age. I'm less concerned about 5's getting shut out of races, honestly, because they should be getting their experience at Early Birds and other training, not a races.

Or ... the 45's and 35+ 4/5's could just keep waiting for midnight ...

Bob,

I feel your pain.

It's 12:20am and I'm registering for the Bariani RR. It already has a field of 9 and most sane people are keeping their love ones warm under the covers. Like Snelling, if I wait until sunrise to register, the field will be full.

We will race with the 55+ and it is highly unlikely that 50 riders will sign up. Hopefully the promoters will allow the 45+ wait list to fill the remaining slots the 55's do not fill.