Wanting to race Vets. Process...?

[StevieL]

This has probably been asked before, but I had a brief look and couldn't find much...

 

I would like to apply to race in the Vets category from next year. How do I go about doing this?

 

P.S. Before I get flamed and ridiculed (this is the Hub after all), I'm not a noob when it comes to group riding. I average about a 2h45 for 100km events and am quite accustomed to riding in a bunch.

[obree]

1. Apply for license from CSA

Enter Vets category at your next race

Please don't become another wheel sucker in the vets bunch

Race, Wash, Recover, Repeat

[SwissVan]

 

1. Apply for license from CSA
2. Enter Vets category at your next race
3. Please don't become another wheel sucker in the vets bunch
4. Race, Wash, Recover, Repeat

 

 

There should be a performance criteria (race time) to qualify for a license, hmm?

what are the other criteria...club membership and age...?

[Patchelicious]

There should be a performance criteria (race time) to qualify for a license, hmm?

what are the other criteria...club membership and age...?

It is supposed to be if your seeding index is below 20 you "qualify".

However if there are more guys with indexes lower than your, they will bump you to seeded groups.

 

So a 2h45 in the 947 will give you a index of about 16. Meaning you can enter as a Vet, and for the smaller races you should get a Vets start, but if its a bigger race and there are 100 Vets spots and 101 guys have a better index than you and have entered for the same category, you will get an AL start.

 

Go check your seeding on http://www.pedalpower.org.za/index.php/results-seeding/seeding/seeding-lookup/

 

As for being a noob, everybody was, and the only way to learn to ride in groups is to ride in groups. So go for it, good luck!

 

Edit: A piece of advice, only ride with Vets if you think you can stick with them, because if you get dropped, you cannot join a later Vets (VB if you started in VA as an example)group as they come past. So unless you can ride with them, you will solo TT and get bad race times and your seeding will drop quickly... Look at previous Vets results on Racetec to give yourself an idea for the races you want to do.

[BDF]

You need to have your license application approved by your club as well. This means that if you do not belong to a recognised club, you must join one. It is a pre-requisite for the CSA license.

[SwissVan]

It is supposed to be if your seeding index is below 20 you "qualify".

However if there are more guys with indexes lower than your, they will bump you to seeded groups.

 

So a 2h45 in the 947 will give you a index of about 16. Meaning you can enter as a Vet, and for the smaller races you should get a Vets start, but if its a bigger race and there are 100 Vets spots and 101 guys have a better index than you and have entered for the same category, you will get an AL start.

 

Go check your seeding on http://www.pedalpower.org.za/index.php/results-seeding/seeding/seeding-lookup/

 

As for being a noob, everybody was, and the only way to learn to ride in groups is to ride in groups. So go for it, good luck!

 

Edit: A piece of advice, only ride with Vets if you think you can stick with them, because if you get dropped, you cannot join a later Vets (VB if you started in VA as an example)group as they come past. So unless you can ride with them, you will solo TT and get bad race times and your seeding will drop quickly... Look at previous Vets results on Racetec to give yourself an idea for the races you want to do.

 

 

Thanks for the explanation, seeding index after my time...

 

Currently my road seeding index = 0.00

 

< 20 Hot or what

[Frosty]

It is supposed to be if your seeding index is below 20 you "qualify".

However if there are more guys with indexes lower than your, they will bump you to seeded groups.

 

So a 2h45 in the 947 will give you a index of about 16. Meaning you can enter as a Vet, and for the smaller races you should get a Vets start, but if its a bigger race and there are 100 Vets spots and 101 guys have a better index than you and have entered for the same category, you will get an AL start.

 

Go check your seeding on http://www.pedalpower.org.za/index.php/results-seeding/seeding/seeding-lookup/

 

As for being a noob, everybody was, and the only way to learn to ride in groups is to ride in groups. So go for it, good luck!

 

Edit: A piece of advice, only ride with Vets if you think you can stick with them, because if you get dropped, you cannot join a later Vets (VB if you started in VA as an example)group as they come past. So unless you can ride with them, you will solo TT and get bad race times and your seeding will drop quickly... Look at previous Vets results on Racetec to give yourself an idea for the races you want to do.

I would add to this:

 

Did you finish with your start group at the 94.7 or were you dropped?

 

If you finished with the group you should be fine in the Vets category(40-44 or 40-49, according to your age in your profile). However, a 2:45 from the Vet's group, or AL would have put you at least 12 minutes behind - that's not fun, and perhaps something to consider.

 

 

 

[BDF]

Judging by your age, you will be in VB. I must tell you that they show no mercy! I'm about to leave that group and "advance" to VC...

[StevieL]

Hmmm, maybe I need to get the legs up to speed and into the 2h(thirtysomething) category before taking this step.

Not too fond of getting dropped repeatedly.

[Cargyrl]

Hmmm, maybe I need to get the legs up to speed and into the 2h(thirtysomething) category before taking this step.

Not too fond of getting dropped repeatedly.

Only way to get there is Race, not better time than now. You will be dropped a couple of times and then you will do the dropping. Race tactics might play against you, but you will learn. 

[Gandalf]

Ping Dope2survive

 

They say he knows all about Vets racing and can help you out big time...

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/144961-performance-enhancing-substances-among-amateurs/

 

 

 Sorry its a sloooooow friday..... 

[Dicky DQ]

As said before, racing is not fun-riding in the bunches.

 

Sometimes the overall race time is slower than some of the alphabet soup, but the racing could be way harder. OR it could be serious balls to the wall form the gun.

 

But that is what makes racing fun.

[Skubarra]

Edit: A piece of advice, only ride with Vets if you think you can stick with them, because if you get dropped, you cannot join a later Vets (VB if you started in VA as an example)group as they come past. So unless you can ride with them, you will solo TT and get bad race times and your seeding will drop quickly... Look at previous Vets results on Racetec to give yourself an idea for the races you want to do.

Hehe. Very true this! Did a lot of TT's in the summer league this year! Not fun...

 

Back to the alphabet soup groups for me!

[jcza]

Do it Stevie.

 

You will get dropped but you will end up stronger.

[Cheese]

Hmmm, maybe I need to get the legs up to speed and into the 2h(thirtysomething) category before taking this step.

Not too fond of getting dropped repeatedly.

At Least with VB we do not normally Start to fast.

 

But to give you an indication I normally have average heartrate of  around 90% for Vets races.

 

In April thought I will enter race in open group , Average Heartrate was only 81%.

The vets do a bit more racing while in open seeded bunches the guys do not really race against each other giving you a more steady but sometimes faster pace.

 

The Licence is only around R300 so get one and give it ago in a race or two, Do your intervals before the time and you will enjoy it.

[Icycling]

Assuming you qualify by age (the number of years you have been on this earth) - then all above quite true. If you do not qualify by age then you need to “grow up / older."