Senior Class revision
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:20 pm
For almost five years we have tweaked and experimented with a Vet class of some sort. We have changed the ages and the speeds and it seems to have helped the class to evolve.
Using a great deal of data from all the rider’s in the database and the entries at each race, it is easy to see the SR class needs more tweaking. Currently it is the same speed bracket as the 700 class so the only difference is the minimum rider age of 45. That made sense when we did it but a great deal of the riders who enter that class are easily the same speed as the 700’s and sometimes the 500’s who are 35 years old. The argument that there needs to be something for older riders really only holds true at a slightly slower speed cut off.
By changing the speed bracket the faster of the SR riders will move on up to the correct Vet class they should be in. Speed is speed and the difference between ages is not as much of a factor as some think it is. Just so you know, I am going to be 50 in June so unless you have me beat by about 10 years, you will have some convincing to do to make me think otherwise.
Lowering the bracket will get riders out of the 800 and 900 class, which will better fill this new Vet class and help ease those big numbers in the 800’s and 900’s.
The new top speed is 74 percent which is in line with the 800 top speed and not that much above the 900 top speed. Other cut off points were queried into a spreadsheet and this is simply the best point to start with. The other issue that was greatly debated and queried was the age. 45 is the magic number and I wish I could stick with it but it really needs to be brought down to 40 to help populate the class and reduce the load on the other two classes. I can always tweak things a bit as needed.
The final issue is the name of the class. You may not believe this but some will not ride a class if the name is not just right. I simply can't see using the title Senior for anyone under about 60 (that number actually goes up each year in my mind!) We first used that for 50 and up and just kind of kept it later since it was the same speed as C Vet.
I am open to real ideas (no Geritol, Viagra, or Depends titles). I think a title should help explain to a new rider just what they are getting into. Simply Sportsman Vet or Sport Vet may be good. It should look good on a plaque and a year end award.
Some series just call this D Vet but I am not sure if I like that.
The start order for this class will be just behind the 800 class for now. We will discuss in depth with the 800 riders about getting out of the way and the same will hold true for this new Vet class getting out of the way of the 900 sprinters in the early part of the race. We can always move this pretty much anytime. The class numbering will still be 1000 for now.
Using a great deal of data from all the rider’s in the database and the entries at each race, it is easy to see the SR class needs more tweaking. Currently it is the same speed bracket as the 700 class so the only difference is the minimum rider age of 45. That made sense when we did it but a great deal of the riders who enter that class are easily the same speed as the 700’s and sometimes the 500’s who are 35 years old. The argument that there needs to be something for older riders really only holds true at a slightly slower speed cut off.
By changing the speed bracket the faster of the SR riders will move on up to the correct Vet class they should be in. Speed is speed and the difference between ages is not as much of a factor as some think it is. Just so you know, I am going to be 50 in June so unless you have me beat by about 10 years, you will have some convincing to do to make me think otherwise.
Lowering the bracket will get riders out of the 800 and 900 class, which will better fill this new Vet class and help ease those big numbers in the 800’s and 900’s.
The new top speed is 74 percent which is in line with the 800 top speed and not that much above the 900 top speed. Other cut off points were queried into a spreadsheet and this is simply the best point to start with. The other issue that was greatly debated and queried was the age. 45 is the magic number and I wish I could stick with it but it really needs to be brought down to 40 to help populate the class and reduce the load on the other two classes. I can always tweak things a bit as needed.
The final issue is the name of the class. You may not believe this but some will not ride a class if the name is not just right. I simply can't see using the title Senior for anyone under about 60 (that number actually goes up each year in my mind!) We first used that for 50 and up and just kind of kept it later since it was the same speed as C Vet.
I am open to real ideas (no Geritol, Viagra, or Depends titles). I think a title should help explain to a new rider just what they are getting into. Simply Sportsman Vet or Sport Vet may be good. It should look good on a plaque and a year end award.
Some series just call this D Vet but I am not sure if I like that.
The start order for this class will be just behind the 800 class for now. We will discuss in depth with the 800 riders about getting out of the way and the same will hold true for this new Vet class getting out of the way of the 900 sprinters in the early part of the race. We can always move this pretty much anytime. The class numbering will still be 1000 for now.
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