Smithers MINNEAPOLIS

check his blog for more discussion and elaboration by Jonny and other Masters CX racers:
http://jonnybold.blogspot.com/2010/02/word-about-w orlds.html

So what criteria would you propose to use to seperate the candidates for discretionary invites? USGP/NACT points, UCI points, etc etc

Smithers for once I agree with you re cross. This will kill the sport, yeah! Tracks in every town!

@Smithers: excellent “answer” which answers nothing.

Lawsuits are already filed over discretionary invites to international elite level events… opening master’s racing to such liability/mess is something I doubt is worth it or a risk USAC would be willing to take, but I guess you never know. It would be much more concrete to just leave it at “you have to place in a qualifier event”.

@Smithers:
#1: Really, I don’t, there’s no danger of me wanting to race Master’s Cross worlds (I really can’t even justify my own presence in the local cat 1/2 CX field) but some of these same arguments have been had about other events (elite track nationals and master’s track worlds). So it does go beyond CX… slightly.

#2. I’m just playing devils advocate a bit here. No need to get personally offended.

Also, I’ve not yet received your check for a grand.

keeping the “punters” at home. CX has become popular because of the punters. Start legislating against them and see what happens. copyright mtn bike racing….

i thought masters only rode on trainers and 6am weekend rides?

am i misinformed?

@a. kruse: You are not playing … you ARE the devil’s advocate.

@assclowns_everywhere: I think that should read “or”. Trainers are stoopid.

who cares…95% of the top master guys don’t go to Natz and they shut it down after states. USA cycling isn’t going to pay for them to go to Natz or Worlds and they shouldn’t, so they won’t go…99.99% of the top masters will never go to worlds once it moves out of the US again

I’m sure they have people working on it that are paid to think about it…

@smithermpls How many cross natz or worlds have you been to and how many have the posters to your post been to?

I skipped studying for finals and spectated when they were in Overland Park in 2000….

Granted that’s not racing.

we’re all punters and don’t deserve to go to either of them…but until they change the rules, those that can afford to go will go, those that deserve to go can’t afford to go

I think your message is great as well as your ideas. I will go right to the decision makers who I can influence and those who are influencing the decision.

I have no personal goals or claim that I have any experience or authority in cross…since you have the experience and are in the industry I think you have influence in the decision – invite those making the decision to contribute to your blog and conversation or get out on their social profiles, or pick up the phone..write up a proposal, get some signatures, get in front of those who are making the decision. I’m behind you 100%. Let me know how I can help.

Having a debate with @a. kruse or @me isn’t going to influence the decision

On a related note I rode my bike 6 miles this afternoon mostly on the sidewalk. The highlight was yelling at the mailman to ‘Get out of the way, MF!’ I’m looking to graduate to the punter level.

@All The Way Ray:

ATWR, you can get more punter points, hit the greenway tomorrow morning or go to the Dunn Bros’ around 9 to yell at the 318ers! Yelling at Ward, Painman or the Red Lantern give you bonus punter points….
Minnesota Punters President
Skibadipis

@everybody

I make decisions every day. if you need help with something, just ask! I am happy to help.

What is a punter? If being a punter could possibly piss Smithers off how can I become one?

We all know that Natz for “age classers” is a game played mostly by those that can afford to go. How much do we really care about the fastest 45 year old? How much does it mean if only the abnormally obsessed or wealthy participate? Oh well, it’s a free country (this is America dammit!), so let em all come. But let’s institute a few rules for sanity. The whole start order determined by registration order is total joke, for one thing. Random callups is really no better either.

So, here’s what I would do:
- Have regional “qualifier” events for getting points to enter into elite, U23, and juniors races at Natz. Jingle Cross would be a great example of a regional qualifier.
- I don’t see a huge need to change the timeframe for Natz. As it is it allows time for the regional qualifier events to happen.
- Other people can still go to Natz and race elite, U23, and Juniors. But, they will start behind any others who have qualifying points.
- Masters/Age Class races will be open to all at Natz just like it is now.
- Start order in Masters/Age Class races will first be determined by USAC CX Race category. Maybe we could find some other secondary criteria for start placement within USAC CX categories. Another positive for this is that it will cause the fast guys that sandbag the “old man” races to move up to Cat 1/2 (where they belong) in order to get the starting order that they “deserve” at Natz.
- For godsakes, pull the lapped riders after the first half of the race at least.

2 lap time trial heats to establish start order.. have a time break/cut off based on percentage of fastest racer. done. le mans start for cherry on top.

in all seriousness you are spot on with regards to natz.. all disciplines too.. we need to regionalize a championship series for qualification for natz. this country is way too big to have a registration system based on first come first serve and they give out cat 2 and cat 1 licenses to punters every day.

How about a PUNTER, pass and kick competition. Did it as a kid in Texas. I was bad at that also….

back to sand baggin? lookin forward to friday.. need an ass kicking..