I live and race MTB in Colorado. I’m a big, strong rider at 6’1’’ and weigh anywhere between 195-208 lbs. depending on time of year, training load, diet, etc. I post an FTP of over 320 when trained, with some variation depending on time of year, work stress, and other factors. I have some real limitations in my training and riding - I’m in my mid-40s, have three kids, a demanding wife, and a busy and sometimes unpredictable job.
My training can never be perfect and despite my best efforts, when actively training, I’ll ride a mix of structured indoor training and outside training 3-6 days a week and log around 6-8 hours a week, with occasional opportunities to ride more.
As noted above, I’m a big guy - I could probably get down to 192 or so, but that’s not without cost - I’ll feel irritable if I sustain that for more than a couple weeks, my wife will tell me I’m “hangry,” and my body will naturally gravitate toward being around 200 lbs. I have a bit of a gut, but most folks would not consider me fat. I love riding and racing MTB, but I am built more like a big, strong alpine skier than a cyclist.
Because most MTB racing in Colorado involves a lot of climbing, I know I won’t be competitive against top racers and I’ve come to accept that I won’t be able to compete against a 150 lbs. rider where I live. I’m okay with that - I don’t race to win, I race because it’s fun and the competition makes me a better rider.
A short while ago, on race day, I weighed in at 206 lbs., and decided I’d race the Clydesdale category (200+ lbs. here). This was the first time I raced in the Clydesdale category. I won with about a 10 minute lead in a race that lasted just over 2.5 hours. My time would have placed me about 6th out of 21 starters had I raced my age group in the Sport category. (Experts and Pros raced a different distance, so I don’t have a reference beyond Sport racers in my age group.). So, my performance was solid, but there were stronger riders that I wouldn’t have been able to catch had I not raced Clydesdale.
I was welcomed by my fellow Clydesdale racers who were in the front of our category and really enjoyed the experience. I think my presence helped push some of the other riders in the Clydesdale category to ride harder and I think my presence probably made the race more fun for some folks.
When I relayed my experience to my wife (a non-cyclist) and some friends (also non-cyclists), they chuckled and questioned my decision to ride as a Clydesdale. I was, without question, eligible - my weight (and gut) qualified me for the category, but I could have simply raced my age category. I was happy to win my category, but winning isn’t really the reason I race.
All that said, I think my participation in the Clydesdale category raises an ethical issue that is best answered by the cycling community - and especially by those in places like Colorado where MTB races are almost always determined by climbing ability. What are other folks’ thoughts on the ethics of racing as a clydesdale? Did I sandbag? Did my participation add to the spirit of recreational competition or take away from it?