Conference noted::bicycle

    I'm sure other people will be more, but here are some answers from
    my perspective..
    
    - The USCF is the United States Cycling Federation.  It is the
    governing body for amateur bike racing in the US.  The quality of
    this organization is a matter of debate.  They feel that they always
    have the best interests of cycling in mind.  Other people feel that
    they sometimes have their own interests in mind.  If you want to
    be a serious bike racer though you have to join.
    
    - Cat IV; beginners, anyone who applies for a USCF membership (a
    racing license)
    
    - Cat III; intermediate, accomplished racers who train fairly seriously
    and have probably won a few Cat IV races.
    
    - Cat II; pretty good, the best local racers, can often compete
    on a national level, requires a serious committment
    
    - Cat I; the best riders in the US, not too many of these
    
    You move up in category by winning races in your current category.
    
    - In a time trial, you ride alone against the clock.  No drafting
    or teamwork allowed.
    
    
    I'll let other people add more...
    
    
    Chuck
      

    Now we're getting somewhere! Here's a couple more questions:
    
    (a) Does the USCF have some kind of handbook? If so, is it included
        with one's membership?
    
    (b) HOW MUCH does it cost to be a member of the USCF?
    
    (c) If, in a TIME TRIAL, one is racing against the clock (and not
        drafting, etc.), then a staggered start must be used. What is
        time delay between starts? A large time trial must take a
        while to get through (start-wise)!

	When I was in some amateur time trials, riders were started
	at 1 minute intervals.  The clock is started when the first
	rider starts...  the finish time for a rider is calculated
	by subtracting his/her start offset (in minutes).

	There are individual and team time trials...  Of course members
	of a team are allowed to draft off each other.  Individuals
	are not allowed to draft off other individuals even if they
	catch up.

			-John A. Wasser

    re .3	Sorry to be picking on you again John, twice in one
    day, BUT.   The clock is started one minute *BEFORE* the first rider
    goes off, this way the time keeper just writes down the time that
    riders come in on and subtracts the rider's number from their arrival
    time, its just a convenience trick to help with the arithmetic and
    to give the first rider the same count down readiness drill as everyone
    else.
    
    	Reg
    

Get a copy of Velo-News, available at most bike shops.  It will have an entry
form and tell you what you get for your bucks.  ($15 rings a bell, only good
till Jan 1)

I've been told that you move up through categories 4,3,2 by finishing
"3 races top 3" or "6 races top 6."  You also need a "recommendation," some
folks I know get letters from the district rep or officials. For cat 2
to cat 1, you almost have to get selected to the national team or win
some pretty big races (nationals?).  I think I saw a number like "in 1984
there were 119 cat I races in the US."  I've been told that you could move up
a category by winning the districts (maybe not to 1, though).  All hearsay.

You can get downgraded for reasons like lack of competition or non-competi-
tiveness.

The USCF revoked John Howard's amateur status a few years ago for 
"professionalism."

After age 35, you get to race with veterans, unless you're gutsy and have
a good enough cat (like 2) and still want to race with the Seniors.

You gotta use ANSI or SNELL helmets (read earlier in the notes file).
Has anyone heard the "monarch issue" lately?  It seems there's somebody
who's claiming that some of Monarch's ANSI helmets don't meet the specs.
Big libel issue pending.

USCF Juniors have "gear restrictions."  Another fun rule.

Juniors who are "good enough" can race with seniors.  Lemond was an example.
(He won something like the Junior World Championships.)

The USCF has various rules that cause a "suspension" or "revocation" of
license.

There are restrictions concerning where you can race if you do get
a license -- no citizen's races, for example.  It used to be that you
could not race NORBA races, but they settled the turf issues (National
Off Road Bicycle Assoc.).  I don't know whether triathlons are permitted.

As for time trials taking a long time, the Nationals in 84 started at 9 AM
and finished at 2:30 (last rider went out around 1:30.  They did 1 minute
intervals (2 between groups).  Junior women did 20K, then Junior men (20K),
then Senior women and Senior men.  There are a few tt's that go by 2 minute
separations.  I remember sitting near the finish line and hearing some of
them come across sounding like bellows (deep breathing).

    
    Some TT's use 30 second intervals, team TT's normally use 2 minute
    intervals. It all depends on the course and event, but 1 minute
    is the most common.
    
    Catagorized Juniors may ride with Seniors at the discretion of the
    promoter, who must inform the chief referee before the race begins.
    Obviously, the catagories must match, ie a Cat II Junior must ride
    with the Cat II Seniors, and vv. a Cat III Junior cannot ride with
    Cat II Seniors. This rule applies to Women and Veterans as well.
    
    Moving from Cat IV to III has been relaxed over the years, it's
    pretty easy now, you just ask the rep. Back when I moved up
    (billions and billions af years ago......) you needed the 3-3 or
    6-6 or a strong reccommendation. From III to II, though was very
    difficult back then and the way I did it was to show the referees
    the best stuff possible (win a lot of primes, start key breaks,
    place high) all the time. The race that did it for me was Haverhill,
    I started the winning break and finished 4th, I was the only Cat
    III in it. Nowadays it's too easy to move up to Cat II and the races
    are showing it...they're MUCH more dangerous now, there's too many
    hacks in the ranks.
    
    USCF membership is $15 for your first year and $28 each year after.
    Unless you are a Junior.
    
    There is no real reason for anyone other than an elite rider to
    move up to Cat I. I have had the opportunity but declined because
    there are a lot of Cat II-III races I like to do, mostly Lowell.
    Cat II will get you into all the competition you'll ever need anywhere
    in the world.
    
    Let's hear some good tactical questions. Sprinting is my specialty.
    
    CdH