Crit. Division 1 or division 2, how to choose?

[hilljockey]

So, how do you decide which division to race in at Steel River?

For some it's easy.

For those on the divide it must be a little harder.

Today one commuter went alright, the other was dropped real early.  Probably choice of division had a lot to do with that.

Also, a lot of the division 2 riders were dropped quite early.  Is there a need for a division 3?

Personally I would like a division 2.5 

[giantcfr1]

well first ride there for me today - they just placed in me in division 2 and i won - so i wonder if they will put me up to Division 1 after my first crit? Judging by the pace of D1 i doubt i'd keep up with them. I suppose in the end though it is up to the club handicapper.

[Gai M]

So, how do you decide which division to race in at Steel River?
.....

 a lot of the division 2 riders were dropped quite early.  Is there a need for a division 3?

Personally I would like a division 2.5  ;

........


Personally, this F grader would like a division 4.5


(didn't do Steel River yesterday, as I was wending my way around and up and down the Masters Maruluan course).
A LOT further to drive to and from as well.

[hilljockey]

i wonder if they will put me up to Division 1

Interesting question.

Now that there is prize money is the Hadley obliged to put people up when the whole thing is being touted as self seeded?

Couldn't have people like Josh Taylor racing Div 2 because he's a sure thing then to get the prize money so there would have to be some kind of ruling made by someone if he tried it.  Of course they let him race Div 1 even though he's a sure thing for the money there (at the moment).

Probably Giant it depends a bit too on how you won.  If you were toying with the bunch the whole race, making them suffer at will, and then winning easily, well you should consider moving up.  On the other hand, if you just sat in, only exerting yourself for the sprint, well...

Of course, with your palmares Div 2 should be a snack with a modicum of training.  You probably could self seed up and still have a good race.

Anyway, take no notice of a bunter who spent half of the race trying to get back on.

[giantcfr1]

Hill Jockey

Although i got a lead out for the sprint i feel as though i did my fair share in the pack - I chased down 2 breaks because noone else wanted to and did spend a fair amount of time on the front. I did, however, sit in a few times when it mattered tactically. I felt fairly comfortable in the race and wasn't fully wound up in the sprint when crossing the line (i think i still had two cogs to go down). I think i would definitely place in D2 fairly convincingly again next time - but i after watching Division 1 i am lacking confidence that i have the fitness to stay with the main bunch. I might stay down until i either feel more confident or am made to go up. I am racing the pokolbin crit next week so that might give me an indication of where i am at on a state level. If i do fairly well there i will most likely ask to go up.

 I noticed that alot of people dropped off division 1 so i think 3 divisions could even things up. The top of D1 stay as division 1 - the bottom half of D1 and top couple of D2 could form a new division 2 and the bottom half of D2 and the juniors could form division 3. However i have only been to one so am certainly no expert.

[Robbo]

Children,

it will stay as 2 divisions, unless as a HD club member you can turn up to a HD club meeting and convince the committee that it should accomodate for slower riders who do not want to test themselves and dont want to get faster.

Also, riders like Josh Taylor would not enter in div 2 as he and others at the top end want to try and beat the best in attendance (hint for others). Should he try to enter div 2, his entry would be declined. Dont get all caught up on technicalities, Div 2 has been on the increase of late, and the racing has been of a much higher quality as a result.

Look out Hillbilly, I will be there shortly to keep you honest. This will happen when I am not officiating or otherwise required by the family eslewhere.

[Gai M]

........... slower riders who do not want to test themselves and dont want to get faster.

IMHO,

I frequently pit myself against opposition where I have almost no chance of victory or even keeping up.

And I certainly don't enjoy not being fast enough.


I will admit to not being a member of HD, though. ( But I value the opportunity to participate in the HD crits).



F Grader who would much rather be an E grader or better.

[Robbo]

fair enough too Gai.

My post was aimed more at the B graders who enter Div 2.

For the rest, who question grades;

Div 1 is for A & B graders plus the faster of the C graders who want to test themselves against those in the grades above.

Div 2 is for the rest.

The club has limited time available for the Steel River crits, so it cant run 4, 5 or 6 grades. It is also aimed to give Newcastle's cyclists something a little different.

If a cyclist turns up to race a crit in Europe, they enter the one race - all in! I think we can be a bit soft in allowing too many grades, IMHO

[hilljockey]

So Robbo, in the interests of not being soft, and espousing the all in approach, can we assume you will be starting in Div 1 when you turn up to race? 

[Metro Commuter]

Robbo "likes to watch".  I like to watch the final 75% of the crit I enter

[Commuter]

Hmmm 25% ...............generous

[giantcfr1]

anyone race division 2 at Pokolbin today? there were A graders from Sydney in the race. Fastest pace i have endured since getting back on the bike. Unfortunately though i got dropped half way through. Perhaps i will come up to Division 1 after the next race to get some racing fitness

[Robbo]

Hillbilly, now you're just being silly.

Dot Boy, there was a word missing in your post 'VERY' should have been before generous.

Metro , nutter!

Giantcfr1, that race certainly had good pace. There are a couple of serial high grade riders from Sydney who like to enter the shorter cyclosportif races and constantly take money home. Hence my comments on the all in race.

[Daddy Walrus]

Giant I saw you in the race was but was too tired to speak.
I got dropped as well.  I reckon the av speed for the winners was 40km/h since mine was 38km/h after being dropped.
One of my water bottles came out down the hill before the start/finish line. That is a very rough section even worse than Kooragang at its peak.
I was in the middle of the pack going down that hill. I look up at the bottom and the pack is 500m in front. How did that happen?
So I blew my load trying to catch up with a few others and that was it for me. The rolling hills and hot pace got me.

[Robbo]

from what one of them told me, they averaged just under 42kph. Not bad seeing the bunch was predominantly being driven by 3 under 17 riders on restricted gear. Two of them also took 1st and equal second places in the sprint. Their restrictions had their cadence very high for the entire race. The juniors do that time and time again, no wonder the rest of us have no hope! Thats why they become top end A graders when they can open the rest of the gears up.