Newb Question about which class to race Sport/Clyde

I'm 6'3 215'ish. You can move up to sport and it'll definitely be more of a challenge BUT if you're not on the podium in beginner, chances are you'll be toward the back of the sports class. This can be a deflater or a motivator. I'd say do it, talk to the race director and see if you can "try" a cat2 race. The big difference with the move was not only the difference in competitors, it was the distance of the races. One thing I noticed, there aren't many 200+lb's in our Sport class and even less in the Expert. We are at a severe disadvantage which you can either use as an excuse or a motivator.

One thing on your size that I noticed. Nobody cares. You're a racer (just larger) so don't use it as an excuse for poorer performance or as a crutch. Just go out there and kick their butts!

IMO - the beginner class is for learning how to race (ie. how to pass safely, how to start,...). It really not to see where you place. If you already feel like you know how to race, move up in class. You will enjoy the racing more, get more for you money, and actual start seeing where your fitness is.

I use to be a Clydesdale (years ago) as I am 6'4" at was 205# at that time. The clydesdales are fast for a sport class, due to the fact that there is no expert clydesdale class for them to move up to. Yet, there will be really slow guys in that class also. So choose a class where you will be at least mid-pack and not DFL so that you will be motivated to do better, but not quit racing.

They changed the rules in Utah a few years ago to 220#, so I got motivated and dropped the wieght - now I am 180#. Think I could even drop to 170# next year safely.

I was in a similar situation - started in beginner last year, got a podium and moved up to sport where I sat in the middle of the pack pretty much. Since I was 202 at the time, I entered a Clydesdale race just to see. When i got to the line i was shocked to see mostly just tall dudes in really good shape - there were even a handful of leg shavers!! Granted there were probably 3 or 4 really big guys with beer bellies too, but the pace was very fast. I thought i was going to throw up and pass out at the same time at many different times in the race. Ended up pulling it off and winning thanks to tactics mainly - there were 4 of us running a train and I just got myself into position and won the sprint at the line. At that point i just decidied to stay in the Sport class for the bigger challenge - going against guys 40-60 pounds lighter seems to motivate me to lose more. The point of my story though is that the clydes are a fast bunch of racers, and I had more fun in that race than any other - mostly because the 4 of us in the front were so equally matched attacking and keeping up with one another. In sport I have worked my way into the top 8 now, but no podium yet. My advise to you is to try the Cyldes class and see how you like it and how you are doing. If you do good and want to move up do it, if not then stay there or you can always go back to beginner. Have fun most of all!!!