How good are cat 2s?

JoeBond

Theres this bloke at work who reckons he’s a bit handy on a bike, and we’d both had a few beers the other day so I challenged him to a race. He said yes and that I can choose the event. So Im thinking a long sportive with hills. Beacuse he’s heavier than me and his bike isn’t as good. Anyway I googled him and it turns out he’s 2nd cat and wins a few races. I can do a gold standard sportive. So have I got a chance? Or should I back out now?

Dan_Giant

I dont know the answer here but have to say i find this very funny.

jibberjim

Depends, some are tubby sprinters who can't do diddly on a road race. Others are extremely handy over the hills but can't do much in a sprint so end up stuck in cat 2 when they have the power of an elite over a sportive.

He won't be rubbish, and it's very unlikely that there are many cat 2's who cannot "do a gold standard sportive". You should've done the research before... No, don't back out, just race, who cares if you might lose?

LegendLust

Dear Oh dear. That'll teach you to drink beer.

ju5t1n

Go for something like the Marmotte. I race as a second cat and I found it tough. I’m used to racing for 2 hours max. 8 hours in the mountains was a killer.

Keep us posted. This could be interesting.

chrisaonabike

Dan_Giant wrote:

I dont know the answer here but have to say i find this very funny.

It would be even funnier if the guy is a member here.

oldwelshman

He probably wet himself when you challenged him to a race and is probably quaking in his boots lol
Forget the long hard sportive, got for a standing start 200m sprint and get it over with as the end result will be the same whatever you chose lol

arthur_scrimshaw

Sorry but if he's a Cat 2 I think you're screwed. Don't back out though, all part of life's rich tapestry!

NewTTer

Well if you needed to ask the question, your cycling knowledge is obviously limited, so why the hell are you getting p***ed, then challenging peeps to a race. You will lose no matter what the event, so just take your medicine and move on.

danowat

Please let us know the outcome

Appearances can be deceptive

ugo.santalucia

Fred Whitton Challenge... that's where good sprinters don't do well...

diy

What about something neither of you can leverage... Mtb randonee? E.g South Downs way. it's a good leveller if you are light and him heavy. My mate does half the training I do but manages to keep a head of me on all the climbs, because he is skinny.

teisetrotter

Ride off quick at the start and keep throwing tacks out behind you.You might just do it then.

houndlegs

1 Set off like a bat out of hell
2 go round first corner out of his sight
3 throw yourself in the hedge
4 get someone to pick you up in the car once he's passed
5 wait for him at the finish

grony

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, please keep us updated, this has really brightened my morning, just the sort of thing I would do myself.

alihisgreat

JoeBond wrote:

Theres this bloke at work who reckons he’s a bit handy on a bike, and we’d both had a few beers the other day so I challenged him to a race. He said yes and that I can choose the event. So Im thinking a long sportive with hills. Beacuse he’s heavier than me and his bike isn’t as good. Anyway I googled him and it turns out he’s 2nd cat and wins a few races. I can do a gold standard sportive. So have I got a chance? Or should I back out now?

EPO.

CYCLESPORT1

JoeBond wrote:

Theres this bloke at work who reckons he’s a bit handy on a bike, and we’d both had a few beers the other day so I challenged him to a race. He said yes and that I can choose the event. So Im thinking a long sportive with hills. Beacuse he’s heavier than me and his bike isn’t as good. Anyway I googled him and it turns out he’s 2nd cat and wins a few races. I can do a gold standard sportive. So have I got a chance? Or should I back out now?

If you challenged him to a race, YOU should ride a race as a sportive is NOT a race - remember

Routier

Yes, you can't wimp out of it by entering an event that isn't even a race. Instead why don't you just compare the size of your cocks, because that's what this is all about isn't it

Or... do what real men do and compare Strava times!

NewTTer

In a way it is a pity that the OP found out the other guy was a 2nd Cat racer, would have been funny to have seen them line up and the OP get totally burned!

LegendLust

Obvious isn't it. Do the race of truth.

Pick a local 10m TT course, get a few mates to time you, voila!

Time trials are good levellers. After all he could be a sit in sprinter 2nd cat. Or then again he could have been 3 points off his 1st cat licence through instigating small breaks.

Raffles

anywhere you could hide a small 25cc on your bike and attach it to the rear wheel ? if he is a cat 2 , i think you might need that small concealed engine.

rrsodl

My guess is the OP will back down - hopefully he finds a good excuse.

markos1963

If you have challenged him to 'race' over a sportive then do you both have to stop for half an hour at the food stop?

markos1963

The best bet is to race him over a 10TT. I'm no way good enough to race at 2nd cat but I know one in my club that on a good day I could beat him over a 10TT.

nunowoolmez

Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it , do it, do it, do it!!!

Reckon a good hill climb like Catford or Swains Lane will suffice. Climbs always seperate strong riders from the weaker ones!

Can we come watch?

teisetrotter

nunowoolmez wrote:

Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it , do it, do it, do it!!!

Reckon a good hill climb like Catford or Swains Lane will suffice. Climbs always seperate strong riders from the weaker ones!

Can we come watch?

We could all come with our bikes and box him in for you ......... for the right money.

joe.90

Ha ha ha this is funny.

Joeblack

JoeBond wrote:

Theres this bloke at work who reckons he’s a bit handy on a bike, and we’d both had a few beers the other day so I challenged him to a race. He said yes and that I can choose the event. So Im thinking a long sportive with hills. Beacuse he’s heavier than me and his bike isn’t as good. Anyway I googled him and it turns out he’s 2nd cat and wins a few races. I can do a gold standard sportive. So have I got a chance? Or should I back out now?

Lol like this is gonna make any difference, he's gonna smoke you mate but it should be fun any way

amaferanga

Before I started racing properly I did a few sportives. I was quickest in one and about 6th quickest in the other. I started racing that year and I was sh!t compared to even an average 3rd Cat.

Sportive rider against a 2nd Cat is a bit like a 2nd Cat against an Elite. No contest really. That is unless you're actually a gifted cyclist who could be a 2nd Cat or better yourself.

napoleond

As the OP has never raced, he might be, unknown to him, freaking awesome!

Joeblack

I think before the op races his pub buddy he should challenge catnip to a bike duel (a little like robot wars but with bike and people instead of robots) after this he should have picked up enough skills to at least injure said cat 2 racer and finish the victor!!!!