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Collegiate Racing

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ThePriceSeliger

Mushhead
Mar 31, 2004
4,860
0
Denver, Colorado
I'm attending Boulder in the fall and am interested in doing it after hearing quiet a bit about it. I know I would not have chance in hell on the A team, but how does it work for the lower teams?

I looked for information but didn't really get anything specific that helps me out.
 
F

fireman

Monkey
Jan 28, 2004
144
0
Boulder, CO
I'm a senior just getting ready to leave CU so I have a pretty good idea of how it all works there. It's all pretty easy, you need to pick what category you want to race (A,B or C) and then just sign up for it. If you want to race A they may force you to do a race or two in B depending on your NORBA category. When I raced sport I did B and now that I'm an expert I've been doing A. I generally got killed in A but didn't feel like I belonged in B. The A team is something that gets decided after most of the races so you can get an idea of where you fit in the team. Really there is just the A team and then everyone else. Last year I probably could have had a shot at nationals because a few of the pro guys didn't go, so don't count yourself out.

Let me know if you have further questions.
 
F

fireman

Monkey
Jan 28, 2004
144
0
Boulder, CO
Yeah I would definitely start with B do a race or two and see how it goes. To upgrade to A you either have to have an expert license (or above) or do 4 B races. C is really for people who don't race DH or are beginners or slow sports. According the the rulebook (see link) there is a D and a intro category also though I've never seen them.

Here is a little light reading: http://www.usacycling.org/forms/collegiate/collegiate_rulebook.pdf

There is also a bunch of info to be had at the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference (RMCCC) website: http://www.rmccc.org/
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
Didn't go to Boulder, but my experience racing collegiate has been about the same. At least in east coast races, a lot of peope who don't ever race, don't ride DH or are just there for the XC race fill in the C and D categories. I am "expert-ish" as well- I can finish with the experts or win sport most days. I raced A after one or two races because B and C weren't much of a challenge.

I guess I'd say try a B race and, if you do well, go to A.
 
T

ThePriceSeliger

Mushhead
Mar 31, 2004
4,860
0
Denver, Colorado
JRogers said:
Didn't go to Boulder, but my experience racing collegiate has been about the same. At least in east coast races, a lot of peope who don't ever race, don't ride DH or are just there for the XC race fill in the C and D categories. I am "expert-ish" as well- I can finish with the experts or win sport most days. I raced A after one or two races because B and C weren't much of a challenge.

I guess I'd say try a B race and, if you do well, go to A.
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Sounds great. Thanks for all the info! Also, I'd imagine there are initial costs to get started. What kind of money am I going to have to spend to get started?
 
MX489

MX489

Monkey
Feb 21, 2006
126
0
the school will generally pay for your entry fees, licenses etc. So if you have your own bike and gear your pretty much all set.
 
MX489

MX489

Monkey
Feb 21, 2006
126
0
not unless its a school specific thing. I've seen kids in the C and D classes race in jeans and an XC helmet haha. Just wear whatever you usually wear when you race. Good luck
 
MX489

MX489

Monkey
Feb 21, 2006
126
0
that works, they will prob/definitely give you a CU jersey or you will have to buy one. but other than that your good to go
 
F

fireman

Monkey
Jan 28, 2004
144
0
Boulder, CO
At CU it costs $60 to join the team for the semester, they have not payed for entry fees in the past (usually about $20), you will have to buy your own license (it's a free add-on to a NORBA license if you have one, otherwise it's $30, I think) and MX489 is correct that you will have to buy/borrow a jersey as it is required the your school be identifiable.

Some more info at the CU cycling website: http://www.cucycling.com/
 
MX489

MX489

Monkey
Feb 21, 2006
126
0
Wow ok ya I race in VT and our school pays our fees, my mistake. I've never actually seen a D class race, and C is usually filled with kids who raced XC and got bored so they decided to try the DH course on their XC bikes. A+B are really the only legit classes
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
MX489 said:
Wow ok ya I race in VT and our school pays our fees, my mistake. I've never actually seen a D class race, and C is usually filled with kids who raced XC and got bored so they decided to try the DH course on their XC bikes. A+B are really the only legit classes
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Word.

I knew I was getting cheesed out by my school when they only paid half the entry fee. They thought it was a bit too much to kick down the whole 35 bones, apparently. They did pay for gas, though, which was the main expense.
 
TheInedibleHulk

TheInedibleHulk

Turbo Monkey
May 26, 2004
1,886
0
Colorado
If you have ever raced expert and not gotten stomped, you should be in A. The B and C classes in collegiate dh are pretty much for beginners and non-downhillers. The front of the pack at rocky mountain collegiate races is very fast, but the pace drops off quickly through the pack. I started my dh career as a freshman at CU, you will have a good time, plus it gets you valuble racing experience that other people arent getting.
 
T

ThePriceSeliger

Mushhead
Mar 31, 2004
4,860
0
Denver, Colorado
TheInedibleHulk said:
If you have ever raced expert and not gotten stomped, you should be in A. The B and C classes in collegiate dh are pretty much for beginners and non-downhillers. The front of the pack at rocky mountain collegiate races is very fast, but the pace drops off quickly through the pack. I started my dh career as a freshman at CU, you will have a good time, plus it gets you valuble racing experience that other people arent getting.
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You are actually the person I wanted to hear from. I'm in Libby Hall, which I guess is one of the main dorms.

I will most likely start in B, but I've never podiumed in Expert, just done "alright". But from the sounds of it, I will move to A.
 
D

demo8razor

Monkey
Mar 31, 2008
250
0
at penn state which is definitely not near as serious as cu probably is with biking, you go where you want and as someone said B and C are for beginners or people who don't really ride dh, and in the east here A isnt too great collegiate anyway kids who don't even go to college are allowed in the races haha
 
Thrillkil

Thrillkil

Monkey
May 25, 2005
595
0
Isla Vista, CA
In my experience collegiate road racing is a much bigger affair than collegiate mountain, so be prepared for the inevitable afterbirth of the decision to race collegiate (buying a road bike). I wound up doing that and having no complaints, love my De Rosa.
 
T

ThePriceSeliger

Mushhead
Mar 31, 2004
4,860
0
Denver, Colorado
Thrillkil said:
In my experience collegiate road racing is a much bigger affair than collegiate mountain, so be prepared for the inevitable afterbirth of the decision to race collegiate (buying a road bike). I wound up doing that and having no complaints, love my De Rosa.
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You must not know me. No way in hell would I ever buy a road bike.
 
D

dropsdon'tlikem

Monkey
Jan 29, 2005
216
0
Thrillkil said:
In my experience collegiate road racing is a much bigger affair than collegiate mountain, so be prepared for the inevitable afterbirth of the decision to race collegiate (buying a road bike). I wound up doing that and having no complaints, love my De Rosa.
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1. nobody takes collegiate seriously no matter what bike you're on (nor should they):cheers:
2. DH in the RMCCC is filled with a ridiculous amount of talent.
3. road is boring
 
T

ThePriceSeliger

Mushhead
Mar 31, 2004
4,860
0
Denver, Colorado
dropsdon'tlikem said:
1. nobody takes collegiate seriously no matter what bike you're on (nor should they):cheers:
2. DH in the RMCCC is filled with a ridiculous amount of talent.
3. road is boring
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Good, I'm not looking for a whole bunch of squares who will be dicks because they only want to give 100% all the time. I want to just have fun, race a bunch, and do well, but have fun while doing it.
 
S

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
Thrillkil said:
In my experience collegiate road racing is a much bigger affair than collegiate mountain,
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which is exactly why collegiate season is so much more fun, it's not that big of a deal so everyone is just down to have a good time. the one race weekend that i did this past season(didn't have the money to do the whole season) involved copious amounts of beer and malt liquor. that and collegiate slalom is probably the most fun racing that i have ever done.
 
T

ThePriceSeliger

Mushhead
Mar 31, 2004
4,860
0
Denver, Colorado
skinny mike said:
which is exactly why collegiate season is so much more fun, it's not that big of a deal so everyone is just down to have a good time. the one race weekend that i did this past season(didn't have the money to do the whole season) involved copious amounts of beer and malt liquor. that and collegiate slalom is probably the most fun racing that i have ever done.
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Where do you go to school? Fakeout.... VT.
 
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