[MABRA-USCF] Question on 5-4 Upgrade Guideline Interpretations

[Brian Cheung]

In the USAC rulebook:
1D2. Road Upgrades
.....(a) Guidelines and Notes by Category:
..........5-4: Experience in 10 mass start races.
..........Local Associations may also establish policies where upgrade
credit is given for taking a sanctioned rider education clinic.

I would like to hear how the MABRA community interprets "Experience in
10 mass start races."

Personally, the precedent has been set that simply starting 10 mass-
start races, regardless of the class of race (Road, Circuit,
Criterium) is sufficient to satisfy the guideline. In my experience,
those 10 races can be any combination of as many, or as few, classes
of races so long as they are mass-start. Again in my experience,
finishing the races has never been a requirement to satisfy the
guideline.

If there are differing interpretations, I would love to hear them.

Regards,
Brian Cheung

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[Barry & Terry Wilcox and Family]

Your upgrade experience matches mine, Brian. You can add Greenbelt and
Tradezone training races to the list of "mass-start" race venues.

Ultimately a yea-or-nay decision rests with the upgrade coordinator (Tracy
Rankin?). An applicant's race resume, which accompanies the upgrade
request, should contain ALL race information so that she can make an
informed decision.

Barry Wilcox

[Tracy Rankin]

Brian,

While there is no "requirement" specified for finishing, the interpretation comes down to what "experience" entails.  Simply starting an event, crashing/bowing out/whatever, in lap 2 or 3 miles in isn't really a full race experience.  If an upgrade resume is submitted with DNFs--particularly more than a couple in a 10-race experience list, I'm a bit cautious about granting an upgrade.  At least not without an explanation or expansion of the rider's experience beyond what is initially submitted.  I also consider a bit the timeframe in which these starts/races were conducted.  Theoretically, someone could double up on races every week and apply for a 4 in, maybe, three to four weeks.  While that is laudable and speaks to rider motivation, I'm not sure I'm convinced that rider is still not a beginner.  I'm not likely to deny such an upgrade, particularly if the 10 mass starts are legit and there aren't DNFs, but I would frankly still consider him quite a newbie.  Maybe that's because I've been racing since forever....

Hope this helps,
Tracy

[Brian Cheung]

Tracy,

That is immensely helpful and really clarifies the "spirit" of the guideline as opposed to the "letter" of it.  Rider safety is paramount - I think we can all agree on that - and it sounds to me (please correct me if I'm wrong) that the decision to greenlight an upgrade is influenced not only by the actual number of qualifying events the individual has started, but the overall influence that those events have had on the individual's riding experience.

I think if one views the qualifications for upgrading to Category 4 as based on pack experience and, more importantly, the assumed increase in comfort/safety when riding in a large field that comes with that experience, the focus shifts from a litmus test of "How many races have you started?" to "How prepared are you for the increasing pack sizes and racing styles of Category 4 racing?".  In answering the latter, an upgrade coordinator would have to consider characteristics of the applicant's palmares beyond number of events started.

I appreciate your taking the time to chime in on the subject, especially given what must be an exponentially increasing demand from racers for upgrades at this time of year!

Regards,

Brian Cheung

On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 11:02 AM, Tracy Rankin <rank...@verizon.net> wrote:

Brian,

While there is no "requirement" specified for finishing, the interpretation comes down to what "experience" entails.  Simply starting an event, crashing/bowing out/whatever, in lap 2 or 3 miles in isn't really a full race experience.  If an upgrade resume is submitted with DNFs--particularly more than a couple in a 10-race experience list, I'm a bit cautious about granting an upgrade.  At least not without an explanation or expansion of the rider's experience beyond what is initially submitted.  I also consider a bit the timeframe in which these starts/races were conducted.  Theoretically, someone could double up on races every week and apply for a 4 in, maybe, three to four weeks.  While that is laudable and speaks to rider motivation, I'm not sure I'm convinced that rider is still not a beginner.  I'm not likely to deny such an upgrade, particularly if the 10 mass starts are legit and there aren't DNFs, but I would frankly still consider him quite a newbie.  Maybe that's because I've been racing since forever....

Hope this helps,
Tracy

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