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bmbcyclist · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 541 Location: EARTH

State Masters Crit at Dana Point. Women 35+/45+ race together. I know some ladies will not be happy with this since they would like to go for BOTH titles as well as they should be able to.

Note there are NO other women's races that day.

Should we make a statement and NOT GO TO IT? (I can't anyway, not old enough)

No Elite women's race? hmmm..

Let the conversations begin.

At a minimum, the 35+ women should have their own race and the 45+ women just like the men so those ladies can fight for both titles. What a shame.

That's the nicest way I can put my thoughts.

You'd think the Local organization would have pulled a little weight with the promoter and discouraged the combined field.

Speak up ladies, email the promoter, see if you can get it changed!

Ditto for the 55+/60+ men. THey too should not race together. If it is the State MASTER's championship, it should cater to MASTERS categories while the others are secondary......

SoCalCycling · Joined: 15 Nov 2005 Posts: 736 Location: SoCal

My thoughts are that you should contact the promoter and SCNCA first to discuss having a women's race, rather than just not showing up. This will give you the opportunity to discuss that you'd like to see an Elite Women's race and see if it is possible to squeeze it into the schedule. Maybe they could put it after the Pro 1-2 race, since there is enough daylight now providing the City lets them.

The race isn't until June 1, so maybe there is time to make the change. It is a really great venue and race.

Good luck.

sinner · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 10

This happens to us every year. At some race or another the women get left out. Just so you know bmbcyclist one year at Barrio Logan they had no womens elite race, it did happen to be masters state champs and they had other womens races.

There is another side to this though. Masters women never get their own race so we'll take the ones that they give us.

I will be there supporting this great race another year, Trust me I would like an elite race too but I will take what I can get on this course.

bmbcyclist · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 541 Location: EARTH

I know about the year Barrio didn't have an elite women's race. I am now on the Board and unlike majority of races this year, we even have a Cat 4 ONLY women's race. For two years we had a cat 3 only women's race.

Baby steps.

We got a response from the promoter, due to the women's 123 field being the smallest in 2007, it got cut. I understand the promoter indeed needs to make a minimum income, but women's fields will NEVER make money, this is a fact.

They could cut the cat 5 men since that is limited to 50 riders and the women can come out in force like we did at Murrieta and have 56 riders, hence making MORE money than the cat 5 men.

We will never have 100 women. And if they separated the 35+ and 45+ women they would make even more money cause a LOT if not ALL of those ladies would do BOTH!

Thank goodness every promoter does not have that mentality because we would not have any races.

Glad I have an excuse not to go, I am not OLD enough.

I understand also it is the Masters state championship and every category can't be held, it is just that IS a fantastic course and I guess our team is bummed because we can't go do it.

Brandy · Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 9

bmbcyclist · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 541 Location: EARTH

Yes, you can do the men's events. Usually, if you are 35+ you can race up 20 years unless you are a cat 1. ie: age 35 you can race 55+ men.

Or, you can race 1 category down: If you are a cat 2, you can race men's cat 3. (not recommended.....) If you are a cat 1, usually you can still race cat 3 men. Jeanie Longo used to do it and WIN the cat 3 Men's Tour of Gila.

OR if you are 30, you can race 30+ Masters race etc.

Have fun!

I hope to be at the NRC race in Oklahoma.