If we had as many teams as SoCal (drawing riders from 3 different tracks) with no riders riding two age groups then we could do it that way, but we don't, so we don't.

Using your previous example and comments about riders not wanting to race against a team they think will win in multiple age groups, if teams could only do one age group then who would enter the age group containing a really good team that was only doing one ride? At least now the other teams know those riders will be tired from their previous ride(s) and might be beaten. Last year's team pursuit showed that clearly when the strongest team was unopposed in the 30+, and then in the 40+ they went 10 seconds slower and got beat.

I agree that riders need more exposure to the team events before States. I was surprised how popular the timed events day was this year-about double what it's been in the past. I've already proposed that next year we run at least one timed events day for the 200's, 500's, kilos, and team sprints, and another day for pursuits and team pursuits.

Warren,

Last year SCNCA Master's Championships had 14 separate team pursuit entrants, and NO ONE rode on two teams!! Men 30+ had 5 teams, Men 40+ had 5 teams, Men 50+ had 2 teams, and Women 30+ had 2 teams.
In the men's pursuit there were 27 riders from age 30-59, and in the points races there were 25 riders in ages 30-54. Do they have more licensed riders? No. But they do have 3 velodromes that offer training sessions and races for women, juniors, masters on a regular basis. I liked the idea of a practice session like you held a few weeks ago. Maybe we need more training sessions on standing starts with aero bars and drafting closely while riding them. Then riders could feel more confident when riding team pursuits.

George

I don't hear any of the age 30+ riders complaining about having to race against riders who are old enough to be racing in the older categories. A 10 year difference in age is not insignificant. And those 30+ riders can do likewise at the Elite championships.

I think that most riders prefer a championship that is earned, not just given to them because other qualified and willing riders were not allowed to enter.

1) It seems odd our neighbor to the south doesn't share your view of USA Cycling's "guidelines". See encinovelodrome.org/pdf/MastersSchedule.pdf
Their championships are the week after ours.

2) The rule is new this year. Also included in SCNCA's flyer is rule 1A29, which excludes certain elite riders from entering (those of UCI status).

3) Both these rules make the competition more fair for the 30+ riders who can ONLY choose one team event. If that 50+ rider CAN beat the 30+ teams, then he can certainly win in his own category!!

4) If only one team (or rider) enters any event, they are certainly entitled to a gold medal, aren't they?

5) Maybe more teams would form if they knew virtually the same team wasn't going to be competing in three separate categories.

If we followed the nat's guideline the field sizes would be too small. If riders were allowed to ride more than one age group at nat's the events would take too long.

Besides, if riders are doing more than one age group they should be easier to beat, and they will normally have only 10-20 minutes between their rides. If you can't beat everyone who shows up and is qualified by age to enter the race then you don't deserve to be called state champion of that age group.

For example, a 50-year old rider does the team pursuit in the 30+, 40+, and 50+ age groups. If he can win against the 30+ guys then how can they complain about getting beat by someone much older than they are? And by the time he does the 50+ race he's pretty tired, and if he still wins in that age group then he deserves that win as much, or more than anyone else in the age group who is fresher.

As I reread the USA Cycling Rule Book #6G10(e) &(f) I remain confused as to why NCNCA Masters Track riders are entitled to ride more than one Team Time Trial event or more than one Team Sprint event.

(e) . . . Each rider may enter at most one Team Time Trial event.

(f) . . . Each rider may enter at most one Team Sprint event.

The State championships follows the same rules as the National Championships, doesn't it?

As the event draws closer, some questions have come up about the event
details. You can probably find most answers here...
http://www.norcaltrackcycling.com/statesnotes.html

That webpage is linked from the main page here...
http://www.norcaltrackcycling.com/states07.html

...And another reminder that pre-registration closes on Wednesday the
11th. Race day registration will cost you more than double, and
there's a limit on the number of race-day registrations allowed.

-Warren

The number of races will be as many as possible, as long as the field size of each race is reasonable, i.e. enough riders in the field to enable good racing. 6 riders is the minimum established by USACycling.

Based on feedback and field sizes so far this year I expect that there will be more riders racing at States this year than last year.

Will you still only have 3 Men's Points Races even if 6 or more riders were entered in each age group? Mixing three age groups can change the dynamics of the race and may produce too large of a field for the lesser experienced racers. In essence, how big a field would be TOO big?