BotanyBay said:It's the same everywhere. So what you're telling me is that rather than race with younger guys in a lower racing category, masters racers would choose to not race at all? From what I've seen and experienced, many of the masters events are speed-competitive with the 1-5 racing categories, so what exactly do they fear?
Or is it that you want them to be able to race multiple events? How about "putting their all" into the one race they do ride, or perhaps we can return to the era of races that are longer than 30 minutes (plus one lap)?
Myself, I don't even want to bother training all year to ride criteriums that are just 15 miles long (at best). They've shortened the events over the years to accommodate the ridiculous number of masters categories. Even more ridiculous is that a 48 year-old masters racer will enter his 45+, 40+ and 35+ events, and do three 10-mile criteriums back-to-back. How about a REALLY GOOD 25-30 mile event? The current evolution is stupid and caters to the idiotic whims of masters racers. So yes, if you're entering 3 criteriums in a single day, yes, you suck.
OK, you're not a fan of masters racing, I get that. You either can't or don't choose to do it. So you know what? You shouldn't do it. I am not interested softball but I don't go around saying that everyone who plays in an adult softball league sucks and should either sit home on the couch or play in double A baseball.
I believe a lot of masters wouldn't show up if their only option was risking a broken hip while hanging on like grim death to a bunch of wanna be pro cat 4s with no job or family concerns and all day to train.
What you see as clinging to youth others may see as having fun while staying fit beyond middle age.
Maybe the mistake comes in still calling the product "Bike Racing" maybe it should be called "Industrial Park Cycling". Admittedly it is a different sport, but it exists because people will pay to do it, and it works for race promotors in the form it has evolved into. You don't like it, don't show up.
The "pro master" is a different story, but really they are only about 10-20% of the field. For the rest it is good clean fun without having to deal with being put at risk by some 20 year old kid with no experience and a sense of immortality not yet dulled by reality.
By the way, I myself didn't make it to a single industrial pk crit this past season. I was too busy and anyway have always prefered longer races.