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45+'s - we want to race with you, we really do
Fri, 01/22/2010 - 10:24am
As you have seen or heard, the Early Birds continues to grow in popularity. 1137 riders in 3 weeks, and 200 to 250 are NEW racers every week.
The Cat 5 men's 45+ racers have their own field yet their turnout has been low -and- the crashes high. There could be a variety of factors for this but here's my point: Category 5 masters men 45+ NEED skills!
Some of these guys are SO strong its crazy (spin classes!) but their skills do not match their speeds. You want to get under my skin? Let me overhear you say "I'll just do road races because they are safer than crits" or "I can't wait to upgrade out of 5's".
Yikes! With our 45+ road races selling out the skills required to stay comfortable and relaxed on a 10 foot road (centerline rule) far exceed what is offered at the Early Birds. Please do what you can to grow your skills, it will make for an enjoyable experience for all of us.
Cheers, Larry Nolan
EB Volunteer Team & Team Specialized Racing
There will be mentors at both the Cal Aggie and Folsom Criteriums this coming weekend, Zebraman and myself. We're both racers of a certain age.
It's a testament to how important I think this service is that not only am I coming from out Texas, but I'm getting up at a ridiculous hour to freeze my fatless climber's butt off and yell at you guys.
In all seriousness, please take advantage of this program, NCNCA is one of the few districts that provide this kind of help.
Kurt Bickel
Joe's Pro Bike/JDRF
This is also where promoters can really help.
By not blending the 4s and 5s in any age group and having the 5s race as 5s, the NCNCA Mentors can be there to offer instruction and skills work that they will miss by racing in mixed categories.
Help the mentor program succeed and make safer racers by having the 5s race as 5s.
I concur with Larry, if you can't be relaxed and safe on a super wide closed course, you are certainly not going to feel comfortable on a small rough country road in a tight pack and nowhere to go if you make a mistake.
Ron
http://www.wenzelcoaching.com/Clinic-Right-Start-2010-02-21.pdf
Larry,
You make some excellent points and I'm glad it's you that is bringing it up. Hopefully new racers (45+) will heed your advice and realize that they are not youngsters and the knowledge required for safe bike racing can be taught/learned. What you lack in reflexes can be made up for by being alert and attentive and "free" mentored training is a great way to accelerate that learning curve. Good time in the saddle counts for much.
I'm with you 100%.
BTW..I feel much safer with new riders knowing they've been mentored by all of you.