Which race class for 2010? Vets or Expert
For several years I've enjoyed the competative Vets class for the State Rounds. I have also raced Expert and SS.
This year we don't have option of swapping classes between the club and state series so i'd like to make a decision and stick to it.
My preference is to register in expert as it's an extra lap. I also know that alot of the young guns are stepping it upto elite this year, so the expert class could now probably do with more numbers. However, my competition in Vets (you know who you are!) have been a fantastic bunch of guys to battle it out with.
Last night, out on the track, I ran into Damon Wikki and his thoughts were similar to mine.
I guess that I'm trying to encourage some of the Vet crew to step it up this year and keep the competition alive - especially if your the fast Irishman.
Anyway feedback would be good - so I know where I stand.
Jason
P.S. winning is not an issue, the chase is all the fun.
__________________________
?????
Yes this is a dillema, would like to know what Lindsay and Oliver are doing this season,
an extra lap would make the trip to some tracks worth it just a little more.
Deserters
That does make it interesting Jase....
I was considering racing Vets this year as I am not sure my knee can handle another year of 6 or 7 laps and with home responsibilities for two kids now, I know my fitness is going to suffer - I was also hoping to give the silver-haired irishman a bit of stick!
Maybe Expert would be a good option?
Rich
I had assumed that I would
I had assumed that I would race Vets again this year. I would like to battle it out with all you fast(ish) Vets out there who manage to get in a decent number of hours riding to not make an XC race a complete sufferfest. It was an awesome group to battle against last year - more of the same this year please.
We'll have to attach an anchor to Lindsay though, now that he's got an XC race bike!
Oliver
laying it down to step it up
Jason you have certainly have laid it down. I am still coming to terms with what is possible on these xc bikes, little surprised about the last outing in Northcliffe. I also really enjoyed the tussle that we had in Vets last year and it would be a shame to split that up. Ah, I will give it some thought while I ride around Rotorua this week doing a little pre season training. Oliver - realise its one in all in! Enjoy those 5 dams.
Rich in Vets!!!!
I can see it now mass exodus of the vets field to elite...
I'm defiantly staying in Elite now.
Jimmy
All in?
Like Damo said, my reason for wanting to do expert is really just for the extra lap. However, if all were to chose Vets, then thats what I'd end up racing.
Having said that, who's upfor expert? Jimmy, you can't hide your skinny arse in Elite forever!
Jimmy has to race elite, as
Jimmy has to race elite, as he is the lead out man for ?TEAM MERIDA?
Lead out man?
Not much drafting to be had with Jimmy up front. Tried this before.
Jason, what have you started...
Jason, now I am copping it at home from the wife. Apparently whats good for the goose, is good for the gander. Katja is working for your cause.
It would be good to stay together. We haven't heard from the Sandbagger yet? Is there any way to see who is signing up for which level?
change
Just wondering if i register as a vet for the first round and then find out most of my competitors are doing expert on race day, could i change class on the day of the race?
change
Just wondering if i register as a vet for the first round and then find out most of my competitors are doing expert on race day, could i change class on the day of the race?
Give it to me straight - vets and experts
Gents I would love an answer to the last question so I can work out if I can switch -
But I would like a challenge so I have to ask - should I go expert - I pulled a 6hr 25 for Karricup (lot faster in first half than last!)
Is Expert for me - I have been riding for years but just socially and now I cannot play football any more looking for the right challenge? - Expert or Masters is my choice (are there many Masters?)
Any advice is good advice!
Sure.
Since it looks like I'm doing rego again this year, and I'm such an awesome guy, I'll let you choose your class on race day...
And then I can enter your class too and kick all your butts. :)
Muddy, it's hard to compare endurance times versus XC times, but I know some of the Expert level guys were pulling Karri times closer to 5 hours than 6. And last year, there were HEAPS of riders in the Masters class - it was by far the biggest class.
status
Cheers Maxfacta, you're status has risen from awesome to legendary....
That takes the pressure of deciding what to register as.
Whats it to be????
Vets or expert guys? I too am happy to ride either of these catagories and agree that it would be good to remain in a good competetive group, one thing shocks me however, whats the go with this Rich fella? Such a supreme athlete crying about sore little knees and family commitments! Maybe its time to buy a hybrid, strap the baby seat on the back and have a nice ride down the coast? What do you reckon princess?
Expert!
Rosco, I say we all go expert and Rich can join us if he rides that hybrid.
Expert.
For sure.
Then I can enter vets - I was joking about kicking all your butts.
There's a lawn bowls club near where I live, maybe Rich could enquire there about joining up for a nice Sunday morning workout?
lawn bowls coaching
I reckon that should I take up a bit of lawn bowls, I will have a ready and experienced team of coaches in you blokes who have been retired to vets for all these years....
Rosco's suggestion of riding down the coast with a bi-sexual (hybrid), sporting a strap-on, doesn't sound all that unappealing actually.
Looks like Expert it is - especially for the trash-talk and chest-beating that the Elite Class kind of lacked.... bit hard to trash-talk a bloke you have no chance of beating - or even seeing once the race has started ;-)
Expert for you guys!!!
Now bear in mind this is only my first season of racing and I only met Jason for the first time on Sunday at the skills clinic....
Mate you and anyone else like you can go to expert. I qualify by age for vets and there is no way I want to race a guy as fast as you! LOL
Jason took the group I was in for a last lap of Jarradale and it kinda went something like this:
"So I was talking to John Carney the other day and I congratulated him on the 10th at Karri"
"Oh yeah, I beat john at karri"
"Where did you finnish?"
"I won the vets class"
*mumble* F@CK me this guy is fast.
"So how many hours a week do you train?"
"I dont train really, just commute to work and trail ride every now and again"
At this point two things happened
1) I picked my heart up out of my cleats.
2) "spun" up a HILL , puffed, thought about my line, tecnique and breathing as I watched Jason cruise up the same UNDULATION. outwardly putting more thought into his hotdog he was gonna have for lunch.
I'm 33. Maybe I'll keep training till I qualify for Masters.... thats what I was thinking on the way home.
Anyway i thought this was nice annecdote for you all.
Jared
PS.... GO TO EXPERT ;)
Operacion Puerto
I'm sure that Linds and Damo would agree with me here... I'm happy to race against the silver haired irishman if he promises us he's been back in the land of the Blarney stone for six months drinking Guinness and cannot even remember what a bike looks like. Otherwise 'Racing' shall look something a bit like coming in three to six minutes back, shattered and wondering how I can get any faster without turning to Spanish Doctors for help.
Oh, and I know that it's roadie related - but the 5 Dams rocked. Great day out. Apart from my partner getting three punctures in the last twenty km's (more than I've ever had MTB racing). Someone even called out to me when we were climbing out of Mundaring Wier 'Push him off the side, he's a Mountain Biker, he should be able to handle the descent".
Vets or Expert
I will be racing for the first time ever in xc racing, apart from 6 and 12 hour events. After all this talk I don't know which class to enter. Vets is my age class but Expert sounds like it's fairly quick pace. I have read over all the above comments and now I really am confused???
El Quapo, whats a bike?
Bugger it, dont bother to explain, I am off down the pub for another 10 pints!
What Class
I was looking at entering the event but dont understand what class my thought would be if you practice and do a lap of say 45 mins then sport B should be 1 and a half laps sport A 2 laps if you can achieve this pace. I was sure this was the case last year now the flyer says Sport men 2 and a half laps for a time of 1.00-1.15 I am totally confused.
Elite Men 19+ 145
Elite Women 19+ 90
Expert Men 19+ 120
Veteran 30-39 90
Masters 40-49 60
Super Masters 50+ 60
U19 17-18 90
U17 15-16 60
U15 13-14 60
U13 (cadets) 12 and under 30
Sport Men A Open Age 90
Sport Men B Open Age 60
Sport Women Open Age 60
Class, age group and estimated time to complete the laps from PMBC web site