Bring back the Clydes

I have to say I was pretty annoyed when I used to do running races and they had a Claysdales class. Some of those guys were just tall and strong (ie strong LONG legs) and I don think they were at a significant disadvantage in most of the races (no huge hills there).

I see the point in cycling BUT I think 200 lb is too low, it should be at least 220. Actually, forget it, the weight alone is not a good indicator. They should use BMI (Body Mass Index) or something like that.

As for equalizing the weight of the riders. That's actually done in horse races. They weigh the rider with his/her saddle and if they are under 60 kg/132 lbs (I think it was that in Argentina), they actually add little weights to the saddle until they get to 60. I wouldn't do this but I will be all for a race in which "standard" bikes are provided. Of course, this would be complicated due to fit, etc.
 
mattybfat said:
well Norm you wrestled No? So tell me why then do they have weight classes it's one individual against another. I say if your 190 and thats your fighting weight bravo. I haven't seen under 200 since HS. My bones are too freaking heavy.
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The big difference is that as a wrestler, person A is penalized if person B weighs 50 pounds more. The sport is based on the wrestlers being able to move each other. In biking, the sport is based on being able to move one's self.

I think wrestling highlights the problem though. If you have a 200 pounds class, why not a sub 150? 150-175, 175-200, etc? Why does a guy at 199 have to race Monte and a guy at 201 have to race Matty? 🙂
 
I think MASS got it right. Clydes cats are in Sport but not in Elite or Beginner. The Sport class is so important to keeping folks interested and still having fun as they can choose to race Matty or Robbie. When you move up, it's game on.
 
Kush nailed it. Take a look at the 101 results page that is how every endurance race format should be setup. http://www.mountaintouring.com/htm/wilderness_101/W101-results/w101-2011-results-posted.xls

It even goes closer to what Norm is saying men/women equal payouts
5 classes with overall. Why 200lbs because in 101's recent race the 1st place clyde came in 111th overall after 110 stringbeans. Ask Chris Esnes or Jeff Stickle if they appreciated it. It gives fair competition to the larger mass guy. I think too many are confusing fat and out of shape to genetically bigger racer.
 
kush said:
I think MASS got it right. Clydes cats are in Sport but not in Elite or Beginner. The Sport class is so important to keeping folks interested and still having fun as they can choose to race Matty or Robbie. When you move up, it's game on.
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I'll grant this. If you're going to have 40+ classes, Clyde is reasonable. But in races with minimal classes, it shouldn't exist. I think W101 has it wrong, though I see the fun of "fastest fat guy to ride 100 miles". I just have an aversion to celebrating obesity.
 
Norm said:
I just have an aversion to celebrating obesity.
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Yeah, but wouldn't we want to promote the fat guys getting skinnier? So fat people who are new to racing or cycling in genaral go to a race, they are going to get murdered all over the place. At least having a fatty class gives them a ray of hope. I don't think every race should have it, but I can see it having it's place. If I enter the mooch race, can I race in the steel bike; age 33; 162.5 lbs cat?
 
stb222 said:
Yeah, but wouldn't we want to promote the fat guys getting skinnier? So fat people who are new to racing or cycling in genaral go to a race, they are going to get murdered all over the place. At least having a fatty class gives them a ray of hope. I don't think every race should have it, but I can see it having it's place. If I enter the mooch race, can I race in the steel bike; age 33; 162.5 lbs cat?
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There were 180 sport racers on Sunday in a race of 450 people that sold out 4 months before the race. If the race is worth it, people will go.

I'll give you the MASS series. W101 I just don't think it belongs. Matty, if you're suggesting that the Clyde class should have the same payout as the open class, I think you've just gone off the deep end. Someone who comes in 111th place overall simply doesn't deserve the same payout as the fastest person in the race.

Esnes is a cat 3 road racer, cat 2 cross, has landed on the podium in both of his mtb races this year, and did a full ironman last year. He hangs in the A ride and I would guess that his prime weight is about 180, right where that Thor guy sits.

As someone who was once almost 300 pounds, I'm just not going to buy the argument that people can't get under 200, save for some rare cases.
 
Norm said:
I'll grant this. If you're going to have 40+ classes, Clyde is reasonable. But in races with minimal classes, it shouldn't exist. I think W101 has it wrong, though I see the fun of "fastest fat guy to ride 100 miles". I just have an aversion to celebrating obesity.
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Here is why I got away from x/c racing full time and went to DHing. When I was competitive in x/c racing I was 202 fighting weight but could not crack a top 5 but only once. I trained my ass off and had the lightest bike at the time but their was always those 160lb dudes waiting at the finish line. Now shift to DHing and the tables turned where my size benefited towards my results.

😉shame on you for calling peeps over 2bills obese that is not the case for many :getsome:
 
Norm said:
Matty, if you're suggesting that the Clyde class should have the same payout as the open class, I think you've just gone off the deep end.
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if a race has a Clydes class there should be no payout except maybe a pint of ice cream.
 
mattybfat said:
Here is why I got away from x/c racing full time and went to DHing. When I was competitive in x/c racing I was 202 fighting weight but could not crack a top 5 but only once. I trained my ass off and had the lightest bike at the time but their was always those 160lb dudes waiting at the finish line. Now shift to DHing and the tables turned where my size benefited towards my results.

😉shame on you for calling peeps over 2bills obese that is not the case for many :getsome:
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Esnes is a fat bastard! I stand by that! 🙂

So to turn the tables, should DH racing have a non-Clyde class?

This system is a penalty for guys like Utah and myself who weigh 190. I demand reparations from this government regulation!

I believe the intent of the Clyde class was as Kev describes, to lure the "portly" into the sport. Not to level the playing field for a guy who weighs 200-205 but can't crack the 200 barrier. There are so few guys in that 200 area that it wouldn't really be very fair for the class. You'd have guys like Esnes then win the class by 45 minutes. I don't think that really solves any problem, it just displaces it.

I wonder if Chris' ears are ringing this morning.
 
At the DH40 on sunday with my gear on, I was probably 200 lbs. If you look at the 17people in pro who beat me, im going to venture a guess that I was probably the only one at 200lbs. So if I was to drop down into a clydes class and win it, nobody would bitch and call me a sandbagger? 🙄
 
actually I dont even know why I am participating in this discussion. would never sign up for the Clyde class even if I would qualify.

dont think it has a place in most races - e.g., not in the H2H series.

just think it wouldnt be the worst thing to have in some of the races that have more a festive atmosphere like SSPalooza. just something stupid to do. give away some ridiculous prize.
 
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Norm said:
I think W101 has it wrong, though I see the fun of "fastest fat guy to ride 100 miles". I just have an aversion to celebrating obesity.
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There is of course a loophole in the system. The Sneeze is over 200 pounds and would qualify as a clyde. He's not fat, he's just tall. I'm sure Matty wouldn't be very happy lining up against someone like that😀

I vote for a Ti bike class. I feel I'm at a huge disadvantage having a bike that's over 22 pounds😉

-Jim.
 
This kind of arguement reminds of the 'lets give everybody a trophy whether they earned it or not'. How about the under six foot tall basketball league.

If you're good enough to roll wit the big dawgs then roll on. Otherwise, hang out wit the mid-pack or back-pack and be content or work harder and move to the next level.

Truth is, the obesity rates in this society are alarming and getting worse. We can make excuses all we want, but we are fat because most of us eat too much junk.
 
Wobbegong said:
This one made me laugh:

Whippet: A thin, light cyclist. Usually, these are people of small stature who wish they were Clydesdales but are genetically incapable of becoming one. They attract less women, make less money, and are in general not taken very seriously outside of the cycling world. In an effort to discredit their larger societal competitors, they invented the sport of cycling. In addition to small Napoleonics, there are tall, thin whippets. While not as disadvantaged in mating or money, they are not to be trusted. Would you trust the Schleck brothers with your sister? I don’t think so.
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I am married to a Clyde, but those Schleck bros are cute....just sayin'

(Also, not fat, just 6'6" tall)
 
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look at my progression of pictures at the DH40, when when MTBNJ jerseys start appearing, the average weight of the field starts exponentiating 🙂
It's really quite visible and comical.

Anyway I'm a big fan of RUN WHAT YOU BRUNG

If I wanted to enter a race where I might have a chance I'd go for a clunker bike super D or something. Do those exist? I can own all you fools on a $20 bike 🙂
 
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