4 to 3 upgrade... when is it time? - Cyclocross Magazine2024-03-28T21:13:16Zhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/4-to-3-upgrade-when-is-it-time?commentId=1198434%3AComment%3A77258&feed=yes&xn_auth=noCat up. Don't be a sandbagge…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-30:1198434:Comment:794282010-12-30T03:05:48.988ZKevin Loftushttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/KevinLoftus
<p>Cat up. Don't be a sandbagger. The whole point of competition is competition. If you are good enough to win, you are too good for your current category.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Moving from 4 to 3 will mean you are back to top 1/3 of the riders. And while you won't be winning every weekend, you'll be a cat-3 rider. Much more bragging rights than being a cat-4.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Make the move.</p>
<p>Cat up. Don't be a sandbagger. The whole point of competition is competition. If you are good enough to win, you are too good for your current category.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Moving from 4 to 3 will mean you are back to top 1/3 of the riders. And while you won't be winning every weekend, you'll be a cat-3 rider. Much more bragging rights than being a cat-4.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Make the move.</p> After I watched this a few we…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-28:1198434:Comment:793212010-12-28T17:41:16.071ZJ.D. Kimplehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JDKimple423
After I watched this a few weeks ago, the very next day Myerson tweeted for racers to "HTFU". I laughed and felt like I was just given the secret handshake to get into the club.
After I watched this a few weeks ago, the very next day Myerson tweeted for racers to "HTFU". I laughed and felt like I was just given the secret handshake to get into the club. I'm with you - just did my fi…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-28:1198434:Comment:793192010-12-28T17:39:36.117ZJ.D. Kimplehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JDKimple423
<p>I'm with you - just did my first season of 'cross racing. No podiums, especially when I showed up for a OVCX race - man, what qualifies for a Cat 4 there amazes me - but even missing a race, I ended up 6th for the season, and a 5th being my top finish for the year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, I started racing both Cat 4 (C) and Cat 3 Masters (B) for about half of the races this year. I have found that I am slow on the starts but as the race goes on, I can catch and pass more people. More diesel,…</p>
<p>I'm with you - just did my first season of 'cross racing. No podiums, especially when I showed up for a OVCX race - man, what qualifies for a Cat 4 there amazes me - but even missing a race, I ended up 6th for the season, and a 5th being my top finish for the year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, I started racing both Cat 4 (C) and Cat 3 Masters (B) for about half of the races this year. I have found that I am slow on the starts but as the race goes on, I can catch and pass more people. More diesel, less drag-racer I guess. So next year I'll be lining up with the Cat 3 Masters (and maybe the singlespeeds). Besides it gives me a chance to follow some guys and see where I'm getting gapped.</p> Nicely done, Sir!tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-21:1198434:Comment:789862010-12-21T23:12:13.823ZJeremy Darrowhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JeremyDarrow
<p>Nicely done, Sir!</p>
<p>Nicely done, Sir!</p> I just cat'ed up to 3 yesterd…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-21:1198434:Comment:789712010-12-21T19:24:51.319ZChristopher Smithhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/ChristopherSmith
<p>I just cat'ed up to 3 yesterday. None of my results have been stellar, but I have my 10 races in and wanted to get a couple of 3 races in before next season. I'm a little nervous, but then again, we do this for fun, right?</p>
<p>I just cat'ed up to 3 yesterday. None of my results have been stellar, but I have my 10 races in and wanted to get a couple of 3 races in before next season. I'm a little nervous, but then again, we do this for fun, right?</p> Can you cat up mid-season? I'…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-15:1198434:Comment:783942010-12-15T16:15:16.980ZChristian Bakerhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/ChristianBaker
<p>Can you cat up mid-season? I've been finishing in top half in either cat 4 or cat 3/4 and will have done 8 races so far this year. I see that it takes 10 races to cat up, if I do 2 early races next season, could I cat up after that? I'd like to do cat 3 to push myself, maybe have a smaller crowd and later start times. Thanks.</p>
<p>Can you cat up mid-season? I've been finishing in top half in either cat 4 or cat 3/4 and will have done 8 races so far this year. I see that it takes 10 races to cat up, if I do 2 early races next season, could I cat up after that? I'd like to do cat 3 to push myself, maybe have a smaller crowd and later start times. Thanks.</p> I think if you're having fun,…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-15:1198434:Comment:783902010-12-15T13:55:55.960ZAdam St. Germainhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/AdamStGermain
<p>I think if you're having fun, and you've gotten the official CX bike, you should cat up.</p>
<p>It might require you to work a little harder, and dig a little deeper, but when push comes to shove, you'll learn more from that 3 race.</p>
<p>Plus, you don't have to start at 8:00am any more. Which is a real bonus, especially if you're car pooling (I'm talking to you MIC).</p>
<p>There's a better sense of accomplishment, for me, to line up with faster guys and feel like you deserve to be there,…</p>
<p>I think if you're having fun, and you've gotten the official CX bike, you should cat up.</p>
<p>It might require you to work a little harder, and dig a little deeper, but when push comes to shove, you'll learn more from that 3 race.</p>
<p>Plus, you don't have to start at 8:00am any more. Which is a real bonus, especially if you're car pooling (I'm talking to you MIC).</p>
<p>There's a better sense of accomplishment, for me, to line up with faster guys and feel like you deserve to be there, than to line up in the 4 race. </p>
<p>You rode your season there, now make the jump.</p>
<p>Longer races, better competition (at the front and the back of the race), series tracking.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And I would do it at the start of season, so if you do well, you'll track points in the correct category and not sacrifice a decent starting position.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And hell, if it goes awful, and you never finish on the lead lap, and you train your face off and it doesn't work out, downgrade.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you're 45, I'd recommend the masters race, not because of age, but I think you'll be able to learn more, faster, from that group of guys. Also, on whole, they can be more approachable. Maybe.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Cat up, have fun, ride your bike.</p> Missed your reply earlier...S…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-15:1198434:Comment:783872010-12-15T13:37:53.149ZMarkM13https://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/MarkMahoney
<p>Missed your reply earlier...Sure I don't mind. </p>
<p>One point of mention (and this is what has me questioning if I should upgrade).</p>
<p>I was racing on a converted mtb (full rigid W/ drop bars) until the last three races. </p>
<p>Part of me wanted to compete in a few more races with out this handicap.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.crossresults.com/?n=racers&sn=r&rID=36547" target="_blank">http://www.crossresults.com/?n=racers&sn=r&rID=36547</a></p>
<p>Missed your reply earlier...Sure I don't mind. </p>
<p>One point of mention (and this is what has me questioning if I should upgrade).</p>
<p>I was racing on a converted mtb (full rigid W/ drop bars) until the last three races. </p>
<p>Part of me wanted to compete in a few more races with out this handicap.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.crossresults.com/?n=racers&sn=r&rID=36547" target="_blank">http://www.crossresults.com/?n=racers&sn=r&rID=36547</a></p> If you want to get faster, ra…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-10:1198434:Comment:773062010-12-10T19:14:50.417ZCincicycleshttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Michael
<p>If you want to get faster, race faster guys in longer races.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well said.</p>
<p>If you want to get faster, race faster guys in longer races.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well said.</p> i agree...i did two double up…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-12-09:1198434:Comment:772612010-12-09T17:11:13.717ZA. di Michelehttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/UBUcxxx
i agree...i did two double up weekends IN A ROW...and it turned out to be a blast more than just one race (it's the travel that sux!). but just like lactate build-up, the muscle memory of mileage and pain just extends with each turn of the pedal :)<br />
<br />
have fun and attack and blow up and have a beer (since there seem to be no handups in the mid-atlantic...)!
i agree...i did two double up weekends IN A ROW...and it turned out to be a blast more than just one race (it's the travel that sux!). but just like lactate build-up, the muscle memory of mileage and pain just extends with each turn of the pedal :)<br />
<br />
have fun and attack and blow up and have a beer (since there seem to be no handups in the mid-atlantic...)!