Great to see the Tri Flow Grand Prix combine the women cat 4 35+ with the women cat 4. It was a fun and safe criterium with racers that have similar abilities. Two groups racing in one field with approximately 30 women racing in that specific field. As of 4-18-06 Wente registration has 15 women signed up for the women cat 4-35+ and 15 women signed up for the masters 45+. Although as a cat 4 racer and over 35 I was delighted to see a cat 4 35+ field but not very excited to race with the masters 45+. I would rather race with other cat 4 women. Cat 4 abilites (some new riders) are very different from the master abilities and the situation can make a field unsafe. As a cat 4 35+ (actually 49 years old) female racer I feel the field is safer (because of similar abilities) to race with other cat 4 racers. I thought Sea Otter had a good match with the w master 30+ racing with the w master 40+. But I think the Velo Girls has the market when combining w cat 4 and w cat 4 35+.
It would be nice to see these fields being offered: w cat 4/w cat 4 35+:
w cat 3/ w cat 3 35+: w master 30+/ w master 45+.

velogirl wrote:Hey Katie! The women's 4 field is now at 10 racers and the women's 4/35+ is at six.

Cool. Now I'm deciding between this and Copperopolis. But if I go, I may bring reinforcements. :)

-Katie

Hey Katie! The women's 4 field is now at 10 racers and the women's 4/35+ is at six.

Hi Katie! I'm confident that each field will hit the 10-racer minimum. I've chatted with lots of racers who just haven't registered yet. And why haven't you registered yet?

C'mon ladies, what are you waiting for? Afraid the rain won't stop? Need to dye your Easter eggs?

This is going to be such a great race and I'd love to see big, fun fields. I've been hustling my butt off to get awesome sponsorship, great prizes, and incredible touches like flowers for all the winners. We've also got a great course, funky event t-shirt, live music, Tom Simpson announcing, even an expo. It's all good, but it would be even better if we get lots of women to come out and race (and men too). We've got separate races for the 3s and 4s (just what everyone keeps asking for). Did we miss anything?

So, what do you say?

velogirl wrote:I highly encourage you (and other masters women) to participate in the Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix. As race promoter, and director of a women's cycling organization, I decided it would be our priority to promote separate women's cat 3 and cat 4 races, and also include separate placing for cat 4 masters women. Please, show us we made the correct decision by racing on April 15th.

With the two fields combined, will this race count for upgrade points even if less than ten competitors sign up for one category or the other?

Thanks,
Katie Kelly

I'm in and excited to know a cat 4 (W)35+ category is included at the Tri Flow race. I am appreciative that the promoters are experimenting with the women categoies, thanks. I am supporting the promoters who are creating 35+/40+ (cat 4) categories and spreading the word to my female competitors/friends. It may be a slow start but I think as we continue to race together our age group(category) will swell.

I highly encourage you (and other masters women) to participate in the Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix. As race promoter, and director of a women's cycling organization, I decided it would be our priority to promote separate women's cat 3 and cat 4 races, and also include separate placing for cat 4 masters women. Please, show us we made the correct decision by racing on April 15th.

As others have mentioned in other threads, if promoters are offering these fields and women don't participate, then promoters aren't as likely to offer them again in the future. I know it's a big investment to offer separate women's races, so I understand that feeling.

http://www.velogirls.com/racing/menloparkcrit.php