# Lowering Rider Category? **URL:** \ **Category:** Racing\ **Created:** [September 23, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291 "2024-09-23T20:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_Potter1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/paul_potter1/32/513847_2.png) [@Paul\_Potter1](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Paul_Potter1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/1 "2024-09-23T20:23:13Z")
I’m going for a knee replacement in November this year. Can Zwift lower my Rider Category now so that I can race in a lower category when I return in the new year - otherwise I will only be able to race in races that are category enforced that will be beyond my ability after the operation! I’m a Cat B now and I want to reduce my category to either a C or a D. ---
**Author:** ![Bath\_Salts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/bath_salts/32/237_2.png) [@Bath\_Salts](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Bath_Salts)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/2 "2024-09-23T22:06:53Z")
@marblehead yes or no ? ---
**Author:** ![Rhino-Racing](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/rhino-racing/32/538814_2.png) [@Rhino-Racing](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Rhino-Racing)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/3 "2024-09-23T22:15:30Z")
email [zwiftpower@zwift.com](mailto:zwiftpower@zwift.com) post surgery once your power numbers have dropped. ---
**Author:** ![Bath\_Salts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/bath_salts/32/237_2.png) [@Bath\_Salts](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Bath_Salts)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/4 "2024-09-23T22:17:27Z")
last year my friend marblehead had the same thing , they did not drop it for him @Rhino-Racing ---
**Author:** ![Rhino-Racing](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/rhino-racing/32/538814_2.png) [@Rhino-Racing](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Rhino-Racing)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/5 "2024-09-23T22:30:14Z")
Ok good to know. I certainly know of riders that were dropped but it’s been a while. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Shelton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/tom_shelton/32/517557_2.png) [@Tom\_Shelton](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Tom_Shelton)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/6 "2024-09-23T22:47:16Z")
The CE Categories are only based on the previous 90 days, and currently ZRS seed score is the same. So there may be no need to get it lowered as the system would have done it for you. By the new year all ZHQ hosted events will be using racing score, so even if you are in a higher category you would be able to drop down based on your results rather than being stuck there. ---
**Author:** ![marblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/marblehead/32/537263_2.png) [@marblehead](https://forums.zwift.com/u/marblehead)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/7 "2024-09-23T23:15:56Z")
I am speaking from experience I had a knee replacement last November When i contacted Zwift the response was, “good luck with recovery. Wait 90 days.” That being said I was upper B prior to surgery and doing B cat ZRL in February. My experience with recovery was phenomenal. I was training agsin in six weeks and now 10 months post surgery hitting all time PRs My doctor literally tild me you cannot hurt the knee at four week follow up. I am putting it to t test for sure. ---
**Author:** ![marblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/marblehead/32/537263_2.png) [@marblehead](https://forums.zwift.com/u/marblehead)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/8 "2024-09-23T23:18:05Z")
![1000006305](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/original/4X/0/c/1/0c1e8367fe7fa168af0b8719ab8c244b3a359e3b.jpeg) The exact response ---
**Author:** ![Wannie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/wannie/32/531104_2.png) [@Wannie](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Wannie)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/9 "2024-09-24T00:18:01Z")
I understand the request, but I don’t understand asking for the lowering now, 2 months prior to reason existing? ---
**Author:** ![S\_A\_ccc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/s_a_ccc/32/529686_2.png) [@S\_A\_ccc](https://forums.zwift.com/u/S_A_ccc)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 2:48am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/10 "2024-09-24T02:48:35Z")
dunno but i am quietly taking notes and wishing the OP sincere luck on both his upcoming surgery and his attempt to finesse his category ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Collens](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/tom_collens/32/509588_2.png) [@Tom\_Collens](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Tom_Collens)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/11 "2024-09-24T03:33:28Z")
I would say restarting at level 1 would be best. It would save all the hassle of endless explaining why a former B is crushing D ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Potter1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/paul_potter1/32/513847_2.png) [@Paul\_Potter1](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Paul_Potter1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 5:30am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/12 "2024-09-24T05:30:14Z")
Thank you. That is very helpful ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Camden\_C](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/tim_camden_c/32/443364_2.png) [@Tim\_Camden\_C](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Tim_Camden_C)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 1:18pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/13 "2024-09-24T13:18:13Z")
A rehabing B rider is not the same thing as a C racer. ---
**Author:** ![chris\_benten1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/chris_benten1/32/521487_2.png) [@chris\_benten1](https://forums.zwift.com/u/chris_benten1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/lowering-rider-category/635291/14 "2024-09-24T13:27:59Z")
Or you could be like me…D rider before blowing my knee out so expect to be a D when I can ride again. Knee replaced 4 weeks ago today. Can’t quite get the pedals around…need another 15 degrees or so. Getting better every day though.