It sounds like the new house currently has good DSL service but since I will not be in charge of upgrading it really should be up to the new upgrade person to answer upgrade questions based on how they want upgrading to go. I know I have strong opinions about how upgrading should go but the new person in charge of upgrading might had different views and I'll respect that.

78busman wrote:Casey... We are just going to miss you! Wishing you
the best in your new ventures... Ciao

Hopefully Casey can access the internets from Shingletown and still answer all our questions on this forum. :D

Casey... We are just going to miss you! Wishing you
the best in your new ventures... Ciao

Thank you for the answers gentlemen.

Note that the first 4 weeks of the Early bird Crits are not races but are run as non-competitve training events. Since the first 4 weeks of the Early Bird Crits are not races ( ie no one is placed at the end) there can be no upgrade points for your result. The Early Bird RR is a race ( where riders are placed) so upgrade points are available based ( if the regular Min distance and field size requirements are met).

Styk33 wrote:

1. Can you earn upgrade points racing the early bird races (crits and road) in January?

No

2. Do you have to race AND show up to the clinic to get the one upgrade point?

No

Thanks Styk33 for the clarifications. Since you didn't say what Cat you were asking about, I figured I'd cover all the bases.

Couple of clarifications though:
#1 - The flyer is ONLY about the Fremont Crits. The "Early Bird Road Race" in Patterson is scored and all standard upgrade point rules apply.

#2 - I express that as no, just for attending the morning Skills clinics up to the maximum allowed for that category.

Tim,

Thank you for your answer. My questions were geared towards male cat 3 and 4 riders.

1. Can you earn upgrade points racing the early bird races (crits and road) in January?

No

2. Do you have to race AND show up to the clinic to get the one upgrade point?

No

Quote: Notes: Jan 4, 11, 18, and 25 are training races only, no placings.
--Cat 5s can get two races of credit towards their upgrade to Cat 4 for each Early Bird session. (1 race credit for participating in one of the clinics and 1 for the race/race simulation). Attending all 5 Early Bird events and doing one clinic and the race/race simulation each week will qualify you for an upgrade to Cat 4.
--Cat 4 riders can get 1 upgrade point for attending the advanced Skills/tactics clinic each week up to a maximum of 5 upgrade points.
--Cat 3 riders can get 1 upgrade point for attending the advanced skills/tactics clinic up to a maximum of 3 upgrade points.
You will be racing for placings on February 1. We may split fields for safety reasons. Since the first four weeks are training races you might get to practice racing in a neutralized field.

Rev. Dr. J –

First, I’ve quoted the text on the flyer above. The bit about February 1st only applies to points for finish placing at the final (Feb 1st in 2009) Early Bird Crit for Cat 4 or lower numbered Cat racers. For all of the other clinic days, the only upgrade points are for Cat 4 and 3 racers who participate in the 9:30 AM skills clinics (see 2nd and 3rd notes).

For Cat 5 racers, points toward the 10 required to upgrade to Cat 4 may be earned for attending either or both of the Noon Mentored skills clinics and starting in the training races EACH week. As pointed out in the first note, if you attend all of the mentored sessions and the training races as a Cat 5, you qualify automatically for an upgrade to Cat 4.

Please refer to Rule 1D2 Road Upgrades (on page 20 of the 2009 rulebook) for details on the requirements for upgrading from Cat 4 or 3. For Cat 5 racers, upgrading is a matter of experience in mass start events, not actual race placings. In addition, “Local Associations [such as NCNCA] may also establish policies where upgrade credit is given for taking a sanctioned rider education clinic.” Apparently, according to the flyer, NCNCA seems to have applied that clause to upgrades from Cat 5, 4 and 3.