cycling ireland licence grading shambles

pre5175 · 15-12-2009 10:09pm #1

Can anoone explain the cycling Ireland idea behind the new Licence grading for 2010? They couldn't afford to send a team to the under 23 worlds, but can squander money on licencing changes and that pointless flyer we get through the post from them every 3 months, I am not a happy bunny:mad:

uberwolf · 15-12-2009 10:29pm

I haven't inspected the changes yet so I can't comment on those specifically, but I'd gathered they were intended to make dipping your toe in racing a little more accessible?

re: the flyer - it's cycling Ireland, not racing Ireland - people don't pay a licence fee to sponsor other athletes, I'm sure that the cost of the flyer is lower than the licence fee and staying in touch is one way of trying to keep people involved and getting them to pay next years licence!

blorg · 16-12-2009 12:17am

It makes a lot of sense to me. Much more sensible to grade vets women and juniors than have them in a category of their own, there is a phenomenal range there and it made little sense to have them all handicapped below C.

The new A4 category will provide a category for people to start off in where they can compete with others who don't have a rack of placings... a few points and you are bumped out up to A3.

There is a downside is for race organisers if they have to organise an additional A4 race, but there is always going to be a cost in making it more accessible.

Do you have any particular issue with the grading changes?

CheGuedara · 16-12-2009 12:55pm

I see the online registration system is up (for those that may be in the running end of a club) - looks pretty but will take getting used to (trying to renew memberships has you going around the world for sport)

Dura Ace · 18-12-2009 3:36pm

I see that they have now identified the new category for each individual.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/Home/Road/Documents.aspx

blorg · 18-12-2009 3:50pm

Dura Ace wrote: »

I see that they have now identified the new category for each individual.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/Home/Road/Documents.aspx

Hmm, A4 is not going to be the cakewalk I had quite expected.

RobFowl · 18-12-2009 3:55pm

blorg wrote: »

Hmm, A4 is not going to be the cakewalk I had quite expected.

No, one vet from my club got an A4 despite being an ex international with 7 RAS's under his belt

Chips Lovell · 18-12-2009 3:58pm

blorg wrote: »

Hmm, A4 is not going to be the cakewalk I had quite expected.

I think anyone without points on their S3 licence is automatically an A4. Given that its hard enough to get results in open races, especially for those who don't enter many, then a lot of strong riders will be in there. I know looking at our own club there's a good few names in there who'd give you a run for your money.

crashoveroid · 18-12-2009 4:02pm

Dura Ace wrote: »

I see that they have now identified the new category for each individual.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/Home/Road/Documents.aspx

I got downgraded WTF

Morgan · 18-12-2009 4:05pm

Here's details of how the new grading system works:

http://www.mtbireland.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=1123

Raam · 18-12-2009 4:16pm

RobFowl wrote: »

No one vet from my club got an A4 despite being an ex international with 7 RAS's under his belt

Yeah, not exactly fair to the rest of us!

bcmf · 18-12-2009 4:34pm

blorg wrote: »

Hmm, A4 is not going to be the cakewalk I had quite expected.

Cakewalk and Racing are words that aren't usually associated with each other.
Was discussing this with Rob Fowl last week. Reckon that strong riders will be going up a grade very early in the season.

Chips Lovell · 18-12-2009 4:44pm

bcmf wrote: »

Was discussing this with Rob Fowl last week. Reckon that strong riders will be going up a grade very early in the season.

Wouldn't we need a good proportion of A4 only or A3/A4 races for this to happen? And isn't that a bit up in the air at the moment?

bcmf · 18-12-2009 4:57pm

I was under the illusion that if you get a result in the A4 cat you would be moved up.
Maybe not.

From the mtb link posted above
"Whereas it should not be too difficult to move from A4 to A3 to keep the category A4 as a novice / beginner category. A4 riders would require 6-8 points to move up to A3 with only prizes awarded for top 3 in A4 category as it is primarily a fun category".

So how many points are for a placing etc.

Chips Lovell · 18-12-2009 5:00pm

bcmf wrote: »

I was under the illusion that if you get a result in the A4 cat you would be moved up.
Maybe not.

But it's hard to get a result if you're racing against the 1's and 2's all the time (which might happen if there aren't enough separate races). Or do you get points for being the first A4 across the? Pardon my confusion here, I'm still relatively new to it.

bcmf · 18-12-2009 5:05pm

I reckon the A4 cat will just be a chaotic free for all with many many smashes.
The riders who will be in the A4 are newbies, non super vets etc. Most races I reckon will have a split very early on with those who want the glory splitting from those (me) who will be hanging on for dear life

Lumen · 18-12-2009 5:15pm

If A4 is the "fun" category, does that mean people race in the higher categories for some other reward? Pain? Glory? Glorious pain?

Lumen · 18-12-2009 5:22pm

Morgan wrote: »

Here's details of how the new grading system works:

http://www.mtbireland.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=1123

Category A1
It is expected this group will be approximately 120 riders.

Category A2
It is expected this group will be approximately 150 riders.

Category A3
It is expected this group will be approximately 250-300 riders.

Category A4:
It is expected this group will be approximated 450 riders

I can't be bothered to analyse that CI table, and in any case it's not complete yet.

cycling ireland licence grading shambles

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