Some really good guys do the 45+ but only a few. Most really good old guys do the 35+. For instance Roger Aspholm. However, if you're not contesting the win it doesn't really matter how fast the guys in front are. Jim Feehan does the 45+ as does Dan Strika.

Marc, it won't be my first cross race, so I've no illusions about how competitive (un) just first year I've been eligible for 45 +,I was wondering if a ton of cat 1&2s still race this field

I'm planning on the 45+ races this year at the MAC races. I fully expect to be struggling to not get lapped, at least in the beginning of the season, but I'm also looking forward to it making me faster. Plus they usually run them at a very respectable 10 or 11 am.

Mark Taylor said:

Marc, it won't be my first cross race, so I've no illusions about how competitive (un) just first year I've been eligible for 45 +,I was wondering if a ton of cat 1&2s still race this field

Mark, are you on the super secret cross racing program? The only "Mark Taylor" I can find on crossresults.com is a 55+ rider who has done a lot of cross racing--much of it in the Boulder, CO area. Of course, that same rider is occasionally listed as a HUP United rider who's done our Supercross race, among other local events, and that makes me wonder if the results from two Mark Taylors have been merged into one?

Eric speaks the truth too, in that many of the best 45+ guys do race the 35+ race...thanks Eric for keeping Hotlist on the straight and narrow!

One thing that you may consider doing, on a double weekend, if you can, is racing a Cat 4 race one day and 45+ the next? One advantage to racing the "more competitive" category, comes in the form of crossresults ranking points. Not that I would ever suggest gaming the system exclusively for the sake of call-up positioning in a future race, but if you do okay against a higher ranked field, your points will be lower (better). But if there is a steep drop-off in the talent of the 45+ field, and you finish in the bottom half of that field too, the point situation may be a wash.

Gaming points? Watch Perlberg and I at nitrany!

anyone planning on doing one day events? I'm looking for a ride, either home on Saturday afternoon, or back and fourth on Sunday.

I'll be on vacation.  Who has a link to the live feed?

I'm looking to hitch a ride both days, I'll only be racing one of them partying the next.

Marc, No secret racing program , but it looks like my results are blended with the guy from bolder, I raced a few races with KISSENA and a couple as HUP , before coming back , I think I will mix up cat 4 and 45 plus when I can thanks for the advise

Mark Taylor said:

Marc, No secret racing program , but it looks like my results are blended with the guy from bolder, I raced a few races with KISSENA and a couple as HUP , before coming back , I think I will mix up cat 4 and 45 plus when I can thanks for the advise

Ah-hah. That clears things up for surely. I think you should email the crossresults folks to try and separate out your results. Maybe you can start using your middle initial when registering for events on Bikereg? This will make a difference if you decide to do any races that use crossresults.com rankings for call-ups.

Anyone staying over for the night?  Looks like the Hampton Inn is the race hotel.  Any other suggestions, or KCC team hotel preferences?

I am as is Perlberg I think. Booking the Hampton Inn for $80 is a good deal.

Rick And Phil are renting a van for the day, there should be a spectator spot I think

Is it just me, or did they remove a lot of the (stinky) upper section of the course?

Oh wow, it is a much shorter lap without all the stuff on that field.

Oh, question: I registered for the 4/5 and 2/3/4 on Sunday, because I like being crushed like a bug. But this feels a litlte wrong - although I'm listed as having a Cat4 Cyclocross license, I have entered zero cyclocross races.  Did I fuck up my license somehow, or is Cat5 a fiction?

If your license says cat 4, then I don't think anyone is going to dispute it.

I loved that power section in the field last year. 

Alex, unless there is a separate Cat 5 race, for all intensive purposes, the "cat 5 crosser" is basically a figment of USA Cycling's imagination.

Does anyone remember what lap times were last year? Were they exceptionally long? Knocking around in my brain is thinking that the Cat 4 race was only 2 laps and that felt kind of short. But maybe I'm thinking of another race. So blurry some details in my mind are.

Anyway, with a shorter course, that should mean more laps, which in general, I think is a good thing.

josephmueller said:

I loved that power section in the field last year. 

Me too

I'll be out spectating tomorrow. Anyone have any hand up requests? 

There is at least some tape on that power section where it does not appear on the map. I did openers on the road there but did not get on the course (they were still setting up) . 

I think what I've discovered from working with Myles and keeping an eye out for the behind the scenes stuff at other great races, is that good race promoters and course designers will go out and ride the course several times before race day to make sure that the course has good flow and what not. Do a hot lap, time things out, do some mental math and re-adjust things accordingly.

Fortunately, I think we have some of the best course designers/promoters in the country right in our backyard. This weekend is going to rock, no?

Wes Tillman said:

I'll be out spectating tomorrow. Anyone have any hand up requests? 

On the off chance you are there on time for the 4/5 race... some "strong" encouragement (GET ON THOSE PEDALS, GET THAT GUY, etc) will be greatly appreciated. Just keep it clean for the family folks who will be around. 

I am only racing Nittany on Sunday and am planning on driving out early Sunday morning. Does anyone who is staying at a hotel want to let me crash Saturday night? Ill split the costs.

Text me at 516-987-6404.

Thanks

Give it The Business!  Remember if you're not throwing up a little you aren't going hard enough...

Fun day at Nittany today.  I got about middle row, on the right side.  I thought my start was good and soon was flying down the course... then a crash, on the right side, in front of me.  Slammed hard on the brakes, stood there for what feels like a long time (but maybe no more than half a minute), while the rest of the field passed me by.  I finally got around the jumble of bikes (and Marc who was by the side fiddling with his bike, he was in the crash), and spent the first lap just trying to catch up.  Not the best way to do a race.  I decided to just do my own race, settle down and pedal away, forgetting about the front of the field.

Also, Marc eventually catches up to me and passes me.  He looked good, doing a nice steady pace.  Kudos to him.