[NCNCA] Diversity is the answer, says I

[Tad Borek]

Raphael, Jess wrote:

>* Should cat. 5's be mixed into competitive races, like master 4/5
>fields?
>* Should the 45+ field be divided into skill categories?
>* Here's another: How do we address the extreme crowding in the master
>4's?
>
>The answer? Promoters should be allowed by racers to present variety, to
>try new combinations.
>  
>

We haven't announced the Tam race just yet (permits due any day now...) 
but we digested all these threads and are trying some new things, as 
you're suggesting. If it works, great, if not, please holler at me and 
we'll change it up again for next year. We went this way...

Cat 5: keeping 5s separate except in 45+/55+. We're running an A & B 
field because one 50-rider field might not be enough. For those truly 
doing it just for fun we also have the "public" races which don't count 
towards 5-4 upgrades.

45+: didn't think there was a need to split up by category, due to the 
nature of this course (more of a TT, category not as significant - 
favors good long/steep climbers). And 5s can self-select to the 5s race, 
4s one of the 4s events. [And speaking of self-selecting, let me throw 
out the radical idea that the masters who ace this course could race p12 
and collect some real cash as a prize - the 35/45 winners are typically 
competitive w/the p12 field.]

Extreme crowding problem with 35+4's: we are running three 4s fields to 
deal with this, it's our biggest group by far. You can race Cat 4, 35+ 
Cat 4, or Master's 35+ 1/2/3/4 and they all have 100 field limits, so 
that's 300 slots - more than enough. Gives a good-climbing 35+4 a chance 
to test legs against the 1/2/3 field (which is small so had room 
anyway). Could be good for someone contemplating an upgrade. But if you 
don't want to, hey, no big deal, race 35+ or category instead.

If this were a more typical crit or RR (& sked allowed) I could see 
making 5s completely separate and running something like 45+ 3/4. But 
that's for another day...

-Tad

CRC