This is the (rather confusing) email I got from Maggie from NU cycling. hope this helps clarify things. If it doesn’t, send her an email.
Hi Ben-
Sorry for such a delayed response, we have been working out kinks and I have been drowning in school. Anyway, here is the scoop on the women’s categories:
A/B: Any Cat 3 rider should be in the category. For people who hold a Cat 4, no rules can be put on who can/cannot race here, however we are recommending that for the ‘B’/Cat 4 women to race in this field they should have finished in the top 10, maybe top 15 consistently last season in the old women’s B field. All riders in this field should have solid race experience. Think of it as Expert/Advanced for A/B.
C: This field is ‘Cat 4’. We are expecting most of the women’s B field from last year to fall into this category. It will serve as a great stepping stone. 1st making the transition from intro easier than it has been to jump into the B field. 2nd for those who didn’t consistently finish in the top 10 last year they will not be racing against Cat 4s who were just waiting on their cat 3 upgrades. Think of this field as the ‘Intermediate.’ Some race experience or very strong, but trying to find the balance of both is what we expect to see here.
Intro: Same as always, beginner riders. However this year in order to serve as a better teaching and experience gaining field we are welcoming in non-collegiate, brand new, beginning Cat 4 women from the host school’s area. This will serve to raise awareness of Women’s Cycling, encourage all new riders and allow the Intro Collegiate Women to have a feel for a real pack (small) before they start working their way up to the C field (larger pack).
So to sum it up:
A/B: Expert/Advanced, should have solid racing experience, the distances/difficulty of races will remain as the Women’s A were last year. May hold Cat 3 or 4 license, recommended that Cat 4s have consequtive top 10 finishes from last year’s women’s B field.
C: Intermediate. For riders who are looking for the balance between race experience/finesse and strength/endurance on the bike. Transitional field to help move Intro riders up the ranks more gradually, and help build stronger women and racers to then shoot to move up to B.
Intro: Beginners, and brand new Cat 4 women. Instruction and coaching given before and during the race.
If you have women who are on the fence about going with the A/B or the C field, shoot me their names, maybe I can help. Or even better, have them race C the first weekend, worst that happens… they win. Then they just move up into the A/B for the next race. Also I suggest they watch the A/B race to get a feel for if it is the level they would be comfortable or willing to race at. It is better to start low and move up than to start high, get frustrated to stomped and give up.
Let me know if you have any questions,
Maggie
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Margaret Sullivan
Northeastern University-Nursing- 2011
NU Club Cycling President
ECCC Women’s Committee President
sullivan.marg@neu.edu
maggie.sully@gmail.com