Saw this post about James(Rolex) Bautista at mtbnj

[erwin455]

Saw this post yesterday at mtbnj forums that James is sandbagging! Man i'm just waiting for my name to pop up. Lol! Seriously I'm just staying in cat 3 for the overall. Good thing Jimmy is still not complaining about me at the mtbnj forums. Ahahaha I don't know but why just people not let it go when there's 2 races left in the season? Now I have to write USA cycling to stay in my cat to take the overall lead. Lol! This is not even my career man! Ahahaha.

Here's the link www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19032&page=5

[jontotman]

I hear you Erwin. This H2H rule is like catch 22, If you keep making it to the top 3 for 5 races you have to move up but if you move up you may ended up losing your 1st place overall standing for H2H Series. I think the USAC should just let you guys finish the series and move up next year. But I guess we need to play by their rules. It will be a good move for you to write USAC and H2H Series about your plan of finishing this year as Cat 3 or ask them if they can guarantee you that you already bagged the 1st place in the series after finishing 1st at the Chainstretcher, you can then moved up to Cat 2 in Rumble in the Jungle or Leaf Blower. I understand your frustration, I know you worked your butt off to achieved your goal to get to the no. 1 spot in the Series overall. So good for you for writing them up and following the rules.
Btw, we appreciate all the hard work you've done, parading our colors and making it to the podium.

As far as staying as a Cat 3 next year that's a different story. lol!

[erwin455]

Thanks Jon! I'll just lol on the people that will complain when there is 2 races on the season left. I worked my butt the whole summer just to get to this point. I'll be in cat 2 for sure next season.

[jontotman]

Sept 14, 2010 16:28:00 GMT -5 @erwin455 said:

I'll be in cat 2 for sure next season.

Bigboy and I were just talking about you last Sunday on how you improved so much and all the hard work you put this year paid off, you will definitely do well in Cat 2 next year. You will be a motivation for me and poisonarrow to keep up on your back wheel next year...if I'm strong enough to stay in your back wheel even for just 15 minutes. lol Bigboy will be moving in the older age group (40-45) next year and he will have other motivation to ride faster... lol!

[merlin]

Yup. The rule is clear cut. Just make sure you guys are in compliance or else...LOL!

his topic seems to come up every year around this time, so here's the 911 on it:Upgrade Rules

Mountain bike racing is a challenging and fun sport, and the Campmor H2H promoters will do the best we can to keep it that way. This responsibility does not fall on the shoulders of the promoters alone, however. Racers should continue to challenge themselves and upgrade to the higher categories.

The Campmor H2H Series will be following the USA Cycling Mountain Rules (www.usacycling.org) when it comes to upgrading situations. Simply stated, riders must advance to the next skill level if they have five top five finishes in their current category and class, provided the race consisted of the minimum number of competitors in each category and class (see table below). Upgrades will be based on a rider's placing in their current category during a calendar year. Riders advancing from Cat 2 to Cat 1 must apply to USA Cycling (www.usacycling.org) or can be upgraded on-site by a USA Cycling Official and will be required to purchase a USA Cycling License. If a rider wishes to stay in his or her current category in pursuit of a series title, that a rider must obtain a wavier from USA Cycling which will allow the rider to finish a series in the original category. A rider in this scenario is also responsible for notifying the series coordinator. However, if a rider is finishing consistently in the top three (3) of any category, it is strongly suggested that they upgrade to continue to challenge themselves and keep the racing fun. Remember: you will transfer the actual value of your points earned to the category in which you upgrade.

If you upgrade, please contact the series coordinator and series scorekeeper.
Class Men Women
Senior 19-29 15 10
Master 30-34; Master 35-39 15* 10*
Master 40-44; Master 45-49 10* 5*
Master 50+ 5 5
In those classes that require a minimum of ten competitors, the top three in the class are counted for upgrading.
In those classes that require five, the top finisher will be counted for upgrading.
*Changed from 2008
It is the rider's responsibility to keep track of their status. If a rider is found in violation of the category advancement rule, then they will be subject to the consequences, which will at the very least mean instant advancement. It may lead to disqualification and loss of series points and may even result in suspension from the series and or suspension of the rider's USA Cycling license.

If someone has good basis to believe that there is a rider in violation, please research the rider in question by first checking the Series Results (www.campmor.com or http://www.h2hrace.com) and their USA Cycling Results (www.usacycling.org). If your suspicions are true, then contact a USA Cycling Official and a series promoter and we will look into the matter and take action if necessary.

In the event of a downgrade request, the rider must petition USA Cycling in writing with a rationale for the request and report the downgrade to the series coordinator and series scorekeeper.

Any change in category should be immediately reported to the series
coordinator and series scorekeeper. Their e-mail addresses are located on
any series results page and the series website (www.h2hrace.com).
This is the rider's responsibility.

[D]

Oh yeah I be right behind you ready with poison ivy arrow aiming ya ass haha. Keep up the good work Erwin we are almost there

[erwin455]

I guess i'm just lucky Jon because i have more time to train than you guys. I just got back to reality yesterday ;D. I will try and continue to train the whole winter but i really don't like cold weather so i'll be on my trainer more than biking outside. i just realized in the beginning of the season this year that training on a trainer is really different than training on a real bicycle.
@levi lol! Yeah it's really funny when there is 2 races left for the season. I hope they'll lock up my first place overall ;D
@danny you'll be my marker next season ;D

[erwin455]

Hahahaha, they're going at it in the mtbnj forums. Lol! The martys first place guy just answered back. Ahahahaha. I don't know man but this racing thing I just for fun for the most of us, I hope people will just let it go and let us all just finish the season. If he or she comes back next season on the same category when he's finishing top 5 this season, then that's a different story. But common man! Two more races left let it go!

[BB_NY]

JT shut up I have to move? are those guys faster or slower any info? but I'll 39 on November lmao

[jontotman]

Sept 15, 2010 9:18:38 GMT -5 BB_NY said:

JT shut up I have to move? are those guys faster or slower any info? but I'll 39 on November lmao

LOL! Actually they said the older category is way faster and according to the H2H rules you have to race whatever age you will be on that calendar year. So if you will turn 39 this Nov. and on Nov. 2011 you will be OldDawg 40 you have to sign up in the 40-45 age group cat. Moe said you will be his marker next year lol!

[erwin455]

Ahaha, I just realized that the older you get in this biking thing the stronger you are. Except if you have a lazy butt. Lol!

[BB_NY]

Big Moe its there yay at least I know who will be last lmfao

[grnamin]

Sept 15, 2010 9:32:53 GMT -5 @erwin455 said:

Ahaha, I just realized that the older you get in this biking thing the stronger you are. Except if you have a lazy butt. Lol!

I went from DNF to last place, so there's improvement.

[erwin455]

Yes Greg! Do not worry just keep riding and watch your diet. If you can lose weight, that is also a big plus man. When I started almost 2 yrs ago I think, I could barely finish 1 lap in Chp. Now I can do 4 laps and still have little energy left. Important thing is get some long hour rides like 3 or 4 hours so just to build your base miles and aerobics(lungs), and also as you keep riding longer those cramp thing will go away. Of course don't forget the hydration, endurolites. That solved my cramping actually. I read a lot of cycling, mtb training and diet online. Just google it and try all what they are doing and just see which one works for you. Good luck man! I see myself in yourself, I think you're pretty serious about this biking thing. just keep working hard.

[jontotman]

Sept 15, 2010 9:51:09 GMT -5 BB_NY said:

Big Moe its there yay at least I know who will be last lmfao

lol!