anielson wrote:Thanks Chris,

That's what I assumed.

I don't want to open up a can of worms here, however in the case of the 45+ open race, I would prefer the 45+ open be changed to a 45+1/2/3 (allowing a bigger field) and adding a 45+ 4/5 field.

Just my thought.

Al

What categories to offer is up to the Promoter, and has to be done prior to submitting the flyer for approval. If you're talking about a particular race, you might want to make that suggestion for their planning for next year's race. Once the categories are decided and approved, my understanding is that it is very difficult to change them (if at all possible).

There has been a bit of discussion, sometimes heated, about open master's categories versus M1/2/3 and a separate M4/5 group. As someone who foolishly registered for an open M45+ race as a Cat5, the result is often a very short race watching the pack move away while they're just warming up. Of course, I did that before realizing the strong Masters field we have up here in Norcal and only after the other race groups I qualified for filled up.

And of course, offering two Masters groups may limit the other options that promoter might want to offer, such as more womens or junior fields, separate Elite groups, etc.

Field sizes can be limited by the road conditions as well as the potential presence of beginners in the race.

Alan,

For those fields doing only one lap, most categories could have even three separate fields since the course length is 43 miles and about six groups do two laps. That means 300 45+ riders could enter, as well as 150 35+ riders. If a 35+ rider wants to race two laps (or bigger fields), then ride in your category. And making more field sizes over 50 doesn't make sense given the narrow sections and the center line that NO ONE may cross! :wink:

As it stands now, 85 riders are registered as 45+ 4/5 and only 70 riders as 45+ open. The only advantage I can see to 45+1/2/3 (and its raised field limit), would be have all teammates in the same race, yet that can be done online as well by entering either the "A" or "B" race.

Thanks Chris,

That's what I assumed.

I don't want to open up a can of worms here, however in the case of the 45+ open race, I would prefer the 45+ open be changed to a 45+1/2/3 (allowing a bigger field) and adding a 45+ 4/5 field.

Just my thought.

Al

The same as they are in the "A" field.

The "B" race is treated as a separate and identical race as the "A" race.

If there are fewer than 10 starters in the "B" field, the BAR points would depend on the number of starters. The upgrade points would also be scored based on the number of starters in the "B" race. If there are only a few riders in the "B" race there may not be many upgrade points available as in the "A" race.