Could someone please explain CAT requirements in road cycling? What qualifications does someone need to advance from CAT 1-2,3-4,5-6, Pro, etc? I am looking to make the transition to pure road cycling and duathlons for awhile as I take the year off from Tri’s. My wife and I are expecting our first baby, and I know that I won’t be able to devote as much time to tri’s (specifically IM-distance) for a little while.
Thank you much,
-Joe
You start as a Category 5. 10 mass start races gets you to Category 4. Many folks never get past 4 or 3. Then it’s a matter of placing in the top 5 in races to advance though each category upgrade has it’s own requirements. It’s really quite a different set of skills than triathlon when it comes to keeping with a fast pack through lots of speed changes. Unless you are a very fast cyclist by triathlon standards, expect to dropped off the back of the peloton for a while. Also be prepared for the fact that in many races, the officials will pull you from the race once you are sufficiently off the back for the car to fit between you and the pack.
For more info on licenses and advancement
Ncooksey,
Thank you much for the info plus the link.
-Joe
The Simplified USCF Category Chart
Public/Citizen Rides alternate July17th’s, if it isn’t too hot and there are no pro sports on the tube. Sprints two meters with 20 minute rest stops. Will attack a pizza with both hands. Has noticed that the rear tire has been flat for two years. Resting heart rate is 90, max heart rate is 93. Measures distance training in terms of how far it is to the nearest Baskin-Robbins. 
Category 5 Rides in light rain. Sprints 50 to 100 meters. Will attack on the flat if someone in front falls down. Can change flats in best two out of three tries. Resting heart rate is between 60 and 70, max heart rate is 160 to 170. Measures distance training in terms of miles per day. 
Category 4 Rides around water. Sprints 200 to 300 meters. Will attack on a 5% grade going down hill. Can change a flat in under 5 minutes. Resting heart rate is between 50 and 60, max heart rate is 160 to 180. Measures distance training in terms of 10’s per day. 
Category 3 Rides through water. Sprints 500 to 600 meters. Will attack on the flats. Can change flats in under 3 minutes, but must get off the bike first. Resting heart rate is between 50 and 55, max heart rate is 185 to 200. Measures distance training in terms of centuries per week. ** 
** Category 2 Rides across water, trains in snow. Sprints one kilometer. Will attack on a 10% grade, going up or down. Can change flats while still in the pedals. Resting heart rate is between 40 and 45, max heart rate is 185 to 200. Measures distance training in terms of centuries per day. 
Category 1 Walks on water, trains on ice, rides in anything. Sprints two kilometers. Will attack on a 30% grade, going up or down. Can change flats while riding. Resting heart rate is between 30 and 35, max heart rate is 200 to 230. Measures distance training in terms of Tour de France stages. ** 
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Moving up is based on a points system. When you apply for your USCF license you automatically become a cat 5 for men and I think it’s 4 for women. Cat 5: You now have a license to crash your bike in front of a crowd legally with other very inexperianced cyclists. Cat 4: Now your on your way to becoming a roadie. You’ve entered more than 5 races and you are no longer crossing the finish line with your arms in a victory salute, only to find out there was a break of 3 riders up the road that you never saw… and you have yet to enter a criterium and on the last lap hear sounds like a trash bag of empty beer cans being dragged across the pavement. Cat:3 Now we’re getting more serious. You are a roadie whether you like it or not. You look at tri-bikes and can’t believe you ever rode that wind cheating thing in the first place. Everytime you go for a ride, your outfit will match, no your not turning gay, it just happens. You won’t be as friendly as you were when you were a tri-athlete, because your new roadie friends don’t wave to cyclists. There’s just that transcendental nod of the head if anything. You could become a cat 2, but you have a family now and there’s no way you can be competitive in 1,2 races without really increasing the mileage. Cat 2: Well you did it anyway. Your life is revolving around the bike because your an idiot. Your losing your mind. Your wife forces the question “me or the bike?” and you give her that blank “punched in the back of the head” stare(not good). Family vacations are designed around you getting on the bike and your family is starting to hate you. Cat 1: Why stop at cat 2, you always wanted to be a 1. Your divorce is now in full swing and your trying to coincide visitation rights with rest days. You have done 30 races this year already and it’s not even mid August. Oh, I’m sorry I got off track, your original question was…
Gary, I simply love it! One of the best descriptions I’ve ever seen on the subject, especially the walking on water part!
Its only missing one thing Gary, a relative scale of life outside of cycling. Public/citizen: cycling is an occasional activity undertaken only between the end of the Pro Bowl and preseason games, when the fridge is empty of beer, and while Boston leads the Yankees in the standings. Planned cycling excursions are easily snubbed in favor of cleaning out the garage or accompanying the wife/husband mall shopping/fishing. . . on up the scale to Cat 1: Rides 14 hours a day, spends 1 hour logging and analyzing the power output and red blood cell functions from the day’s ride, one hour total consuming 10,000 calories, one hour cleaning the bike or in massage therapy, 7 hours sleeping, last dated over 5 years ago, and thats only if you count dropping that hot chick/guy on the climb to Mount Mutha, only to wait for her/him at the top, and hasn’t spent a day without cycling since they mounted their big wheel at the age of 2.