Kissena Women's Team - Forum Archive

Feb 22, 2016 at 08:04 PM

Tactics Talk is TOMORROW NIGHT @ REDBEARD. [edit]

Here's the thread http://kissenacycling.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1111/tactics-talk#latest

If you're coming, let us know. Kasia would like a head count.

Jeffrey White

Feb 23, 2016 at 02:18 PM

mugwump said:

Tactics Talk is TOMORROW NIGHT @ REDBIRD.

I think the preferred spelling is REDBURRRD.

JillWhite

Feb 23, 2016 at 02:21 PM

DelnaWeil said:

Yeah, me too--out of town for the next 10 days with zero possibility of getting on a bike, so I'm actually even questioning if I want to do the 3/5 dev series race...Thoughts welcome.

Are you able to get on a stationary bike in a hotel?

JillWhite

Feb 26, 2016 at 04:58 PM

The store will open again next Monday. Remember that it takes AT LEAST one month for you to get kit once the store has closed. So, this next order closes on March 7th, which means that you will not receive this kit until AFTER APRIL 7th! Don't forget to order!

You will be receiving an email once the store opens for ordering instructions. Enjoy!

JillWhite

Feb 26, 2016 at 05:02 PM

Ladies, we've got two prospective team members coming out on Saturday. It'd be really great to show them what a great group of women riders that we have!

Also, it's really important that we ride together before racing together. Please, please, please come to the all hands on deck ride on Sunday so that you can practice drafting, lead outs, chasing down the breaks, and MOST IMPORTANTLY riding in a group!

Let's do this!

JulieJones

Feb 26, 2016 at 06:44 PM

I'm working Saturday so I won't make the meet Kissena ride, BUT....I will be at the Sunday all hands on deck ride! Really looking forward to getting back on the bike as I was pretty sick last weekend....great to be back in business :-) Can't wait to ride with you all!

mugwump

Feb 26, 2016 at 08:13 PM

JulieJones said:

BUT....I will be at the Sunday all hands on deck ride! Really looking forward to getting back on the bike as I was pretty sick last weekend....great to be back in business :-) Can't wait to ride with you all!

Oh yeah.

Do this, too!

JillWhite

Feb 26, 2016 at 10:38 PM

Riding the trainer currently in my new Bella Donna razor bib shorts! They look way more pro than my old CS bibs. My souplesse is on its way up! Also, the Donna chamois seems updated. Other things to note: length is shorter (would probably order long next time) and the compression is tighter (one may consider going a size up).

I recommend getting this style! Or even the men's razor carbon.

Kristin Negele

Feb 29, 2016 at 11:18 PM

Jill - Any chance you can measure the inseam on these bibs? I prefer my bibs/shorts shorter and would consider even ordering the shorter inseam. I didn't see the specific measurements listed.

Thanks!!

JillWhite

Mar 01, 2016 at 02:24 AM

I'd say the inseam is 1-2 inches shorter on the standard bella donna bibs.

JillWhite

Mar 02, 2016 at 05:48 PM

Racing advice for this weekend

I'm definitely just a beginner, but here are a few things that I picked up at the end of last season. Maybe they will be of help.

1. Stay in the top 10 at all times, don't drop the wheel in front of you, once the butts disappear it's no longer a race. Chase down the attacks, but don't be the first one to chase them down (count to 10 in your head and gradually increase your pace).

2. Be prepared for an attack at the whistle. I was very caught off guard on my first CP race when the rockstar team sprinted off the start. I burnt all of my matches to latch back on and then no longer had any energy to climb Harlem Hill.

3. Have good racing etiquette. If you cut someone off, apologize. Everyone is going to be a little bit nervous and jumpy as it's the first race. Be aware of the space around you and be nice

.

4. If you pass in the pedestrian/running lane you will be disqualified, also if you're caught riding around the loop in the wrong direction before or after the race you will be disqualified. Don't do this!

5. Work as a team, if you see a Kissena falling back, try to encourage her to jump on your wheel. If she needs to get into the gap in front of you, let her. Remember, this is a team sport. If one of us wins, we all win!

6. The women's race is usually very up and down speedwise. There will be time to rest, so work hard when it's necessary to work hard, but try to rest and conserve whenever you can.

Looking forward to racing with you ladies!

JillWhite

Mar 02, 2016 at 06:02 PM

I'm all signed up, registration ends tomorrow!

JillWhite

Mar 03, 2016 at 08:06 PM

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019667/uploads/editor/9r/bqru4wsqshy1.png

OH DAMN! We've got 6 signed up for Saturday! Super stoked!!!

JillWhite

Mar 04, 2016 at 04:02 PM

A message from Bertucco:

Best of luck on Saturday! I'm looking forward to hearing how the race went. I don't know all of you, but for at least a few this may be among your first races. And even if you have some experience, you may be nervous. And that's a good thing! That means you are taking the race seriously and you care. I've been racing for 25 years, and I still get nervous before races all the time.

(this is somewhat hastily written, with my toddler demanding we play trains while I'm typing, so apologies for any sloppiness, but it should still be helpful)

I wanted to share a few ideas with you as you are thinking about executing a team racing strategy. Team racing is both complicated and simple. And the fact of the matter is that no matter how experienced you are, how well you know each other as a team, team plans often go out the window the second the whistle blows and the race starts. And that's okay. But having a plan, even a general approach, is a good way to help you focus and stay on track. It will give you direction and extra motivation ("I hurt so bad, but I can't drop out now, I have to help my team!) when the going gets tough.

I want to congratulate you on already executing the first step of a perfect team plan. The team meeting! You are all sitting in a bar/coffee shop, right? Team meeting, like any meeting can happen on the forum, via email chains, Skype, whatever, but I'm a fan of face-to-face communication. So you're already on the right path.

Team plans depend a lot on dynamics you cannot control. The trick is to be able to plan for multiple options/possibilities. And the more you race, the more familiar you are with the course, the competition and each other, the better you will be able execute any and all plans.

But let's not over-complicate things. This is your first race together. For some it may be your first ever race in Central Park. At the core of team racing, is the notion of helping each other succeed towards a team goal. And from a purely practical point of view, you literally cannot help each other if you are not riding near each other. So....

Ride together! Literally, be close to each other as much as possible. Now this doesn't mean you are necessarily elbow to elbow all race long. But you do want to be within shouting distance of each other. This way when one of you tries to go off the front, the others can be there to help, SUBTLY, slow things down in the chasing pack or peloton.

Attack to start/join a breakaway! You'll be racing a long 5 laps, allowing for plenty of time to try to get in a breakaway. A breakaway, is a small group of riders that separates itself from the peloton. Ideally, you have multiple riders from other teams in a breakaway, with multiple KCC riders back in the peloton who can sit on wheels, and passively/actively discourage the chase. The best place in CP to attack is on the west side rollers AFTER Harlem Hill. It's a gradual false flat and many riders will be tired from a sprint up Harlem Hill. So that's when you go. When you are tired, the field is tired, and that's when you attack them. They will be less likely to chase, and you will be more likely to get a separation and stay away.

Now when one of you is away hopefully with others, the rest of the team gets close to the front, lets other team's riders ride as hard as they can to bring the break back, but by sitting on their wheels, you get a "free ride" and are not obligated to contribute to the chase. Now a lot of times, the will of the pack is still too strong and the breakaway will come back. Good. Because that gives another KCC rider the opportunity for a "COUNTER-ATTACK!"

Don't wait until the back is literally back in the pack, wait until they are within a good short sprint away, 25 meters (spitting distance), and then launch your counter-attack. This makes it doubly hard mentally and physically for the field to regroup to chase after the second breakaway. If you wait until it's "gruppo compatto" or all together, that lets the whole group catch their breath and think about their own attack. But if they are focused on bringing back the breakaway, and you go when they are "distracted," they are going to have trouble getting you and pulling back the break. If you have enough riders, who are close to the front, you can do this every lap, forcing the field to chase a Kissena rider all day long. Eventually, maybe one of these groups will get and stay away (when you are in a breakaway group, you take turns pulling into the wind, rotating through so that everyone gets a little rest). If not...

Lead each other out for the sprint! If a few of you are together at the end, choose one to go for the sprint, the others will get to the front of the race and pick up the pace. Your goal should be to "string out" the field or make it single/double file, by riding as hard as you can with the peloton sitting on your wheel. Your team sprinter might be directly behind you, or she might be a few wheels behind, but the important thing is that you don't go into the base of Harlem hill in a big wide pack. The "lead-out" riders should be done and empty well before the actual finish line. Their job is to keep the pack moving fast and safe in the closing kilometers before the big sprint. That's when it's your designated sprinter (can be anyone who is feeling freshest at the end of the race) takes over. WARNING. Cat's Paw Hill is long and hard. Don't go from the bottom. Go from 1/2 up. Ask Julie, she knows the spot to start the sprint.

So, this is pretty dense and a lot to take in. If I were to recommend one thing to work on throughout the race, above all, for your first race? Just practice racing/riding in close proximity to each other. If you had enough energy and brain space (our brains tend to turn a little mushy during racing honestly), then I would also encourage you totry at least one attack and counter attack during the race. Even if it doesn't "stick" and win the day, I think you should experience what it feels like to attack of the front of a field, a little bit of basic blocking and one counter-attack.

Good luck all,

Marc Bertucco

JillWhite

Mar 04, 2016 at 07:01 PM

The snow is melting! Temp is rising!

JillWhite

Mar 05, 2016 at 04:14 PM

I'm super impressed with everyone! Not only did you wake up at some ungodly hour, but you did it to race in the bitter cold! You guys are badass! It was so cold that my water froze halfway through the race and left me unable to drink from them until the end. Looking forward to more of these. Xoxo

JulieJones

Mar 05, 2016 at 04:28 PM

Word! Dude everyone was amazing today! Seriously so proud you guys are my teammates! Some of the best wheels in the peloton..will write up a report later on...

JillWhite

Mar 05, 2016 at 07:00 PM

Next week, Grant's tomb! The weather prediction right now looks amazing low of 51!

JillWhite

Mar 05, 2016 at 10:38 PM

Please read. This CANNOT happen again, DO NOT GO INTO THE PEDESTRIAN LANE, ever.

Thanks for encouraging your women’s squad to race in the Open Series race this morning. It was great to have the added competition and I hope they enjoyed the pleasure of racing in Central Park! (Dig from CRCA to Kisenna’s independent spirit subtly inserted).

I heard from one of the other racers that there were some rec lane violations, particularly with Kisenna racers. I know that there is nothing worse than being called out for these (having spent many early races in the C field making this mistake). It’s an issue of park safety first and foremost, and is significant to our ability to retain the right to race in the Park.

Central Park has been extremely clear in recent years with us about the sanctity of the Rec lane, and we really want to make sure that all of our fields respect the rule to ensure we maintain our happy relationship with the park.

If you can communicate with the team before the next open race to make sure everyone is aware of the rule, that would be great. Here’s a link to the race guide, in case there are any other questions.

Thanks again, and I truly hope that to see you at all of the open races this year!

Sincerely,

Alexis

Alexis Kraft

president@crca.net

President, CRCA

Jules

Mar 05, 2016 at 10:46 PM

I'm starting up the Monday morning skillz and drillz clinics. Safe, slow and fun 45 minutes on your bike.

http://kissenacycling.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1117/skillz-drills-practice-skills-too#latest

JillWhite

Mar 06, 2016 at 07:09 PM

Race Report for W's Dev Series from March 5th:

It was a very cold and dark morning at CP. Was stoked to have 5 teammates to ride with and dominate the field at a CRCA race. It was my goal to stay in the top 10 for the whole race, did that until the last 1000 feet.

During the end of the last lap I found Alice and Delna and we all sat together on the right side. I started to feel pretty tired as the field revved up around boat house, and then there was an ambulance on the right side, due to a crash in the previous finish, so we were directed to the left. This maybe threw things off a little bit, but in the end I was in poor position for the sprint. So strange to have that happen when during the whole race all that I was thinking about was positioning.

Also, my nutrition was off. I had a bowl of oatmeal before leaving home, but was too cold to get out a gel before the start. My water froze during the race and then I was not able to drink. Next time I'm boiling my water before I go!

Great to have such an awesome Kissena presence. I look forward to many more to come!

David Yang

Mar 06, 2016 at 08:57 PM

@JillSink - Well done to you and everyone, so amazing that we have so many motivated women in the squad this year. Positioning for the sprint gets intense and even sliding back one set of wheels in the last few hundred meters could push you back 10 places at the finish.

I don't think Osmo mix has ever frozen on me during sub-zero, multi-hour rides up 9W, but maybe my mind has blocked out any unpleasant memories.

JulieJones

Mar 06, 2016 at 09:45 PM

The race started out pretty cold. Registration was a bit disorganized so I got to the start line late but was able to weasel my way in. I had some random mechanical where I could not shift and so I watched the field ride away from me thinking my race was over. Luckily and somehow magically the problem seemed to rectify itself and I jumped into the pack. I basically did an interval before the race even started.

Not a whole going on in the race. Some Stans No Tubes girl attacked on the downhill before Harlem Hill and I was almost dropped going up it. My goal for this race was to not get dropped there as I have been in the past. I just tried to breath and keep a comfortable cadence. I like short punchy climbs and Harlem Hill is just a bit too long for my liking. I always seem to be working exponentially harder that than the girls around me.

I was in the middle to back way too much, but I just tried to keep myself hidden and basically on the DL. The end was a field sprint up cats paw hill. I was able to hammer up the left side of the field and saw Kaley hit the finish line just ahead of me. I was grateful to not have skimped on the weights this winter. I never saw the final results but I think we were top 10.

Not enough can be said of my amazing teammates. All the girls rode completely solid. Jill is a master of holding her position, she was pretty much in the front the entire time and was able to effortlessly hold her spot. I also saw her ride the groove on the side of the road in horse-shit alley, which was super impressive. Also props to Delna for being away and off her bike and still jumping into a race and riding smooth and solid.

I've been at this racing a little while now and I am really grateful to finally have gotten a result to speak of. I am also truly grateful to have supportive, positive, and strong females as teammates! Oh yeah, and I am pretty sure we are collectively the tallest team in this area :-)

2016 is going to be a good year…..

Kasia Nikhamina

Mar 06, 2016 at 10:05 PM

AWESOME to read this, so proud of you all!!!!!!

__
Kasia Nikhamina
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JillWhite

Mar 07, 2016 at 05:11 PM

Interested in giving Track a try? There is a clinic with loaner bikes coming up!

https://www.bikereg.com/kissena-womens-junior-track-clinic1

David Yang

Mar 07, 2016 at 05:30 PM

I also have a loaner bike if anyone is interested. About at it's limits size wise for me (5'9" with about a 30" inseam). Anyone taller will probably have issues. DM me if interested.

EvelynDeLaRosa

Mar 07, 2016 at 05:51 PM

i'm down to give some support and show up with who ever would like to try track

JillWhite

Mar 07, 2016 at 06:38 PM

I'd love to try, but am out of town that weekend

Kristin Negele

Mar 07, 2016 at 10:54 PM

It sounds like everyone did great at the race on Saturday. I wish I could have been there to cheer you on!

I'm interested in trying the track clinic but am incredibly nervous to ride without brakes.

JillWhite

Mar 08, 2016 at 01:32 AM

Do it @Kristin Negele ! Best place to learn.