'cross is a rather different exercise. To start, there is very little team work or tactics involved.
Train hard, learn some strategy, and play to your strengths and you'll have a good chance of eating their lunch.

I'm back after a long hiatus from posting (and at least 2 illnesses, a family visit for thanksgiving, and about a million shows for work) AND I'm ready to ride...after this snow stops? Anyone crazy enough to think about riding in PP this week? I might try to get in a ride one of these mornings if I can brave the cold (and assuming this snowy sleety mess doesnt stick for too long).

@Paige, great to hear you're back in business, and nice seeing you on Sunday! 

... Or turn, or sneeze...

@kayt - good seeing you too and great job out there on sunday! I definitely need to rent a cross bike and try it out for myself

@Gwynna - thanks for the invite but I missed this until too late! Also, would def never have made it that early up there since it's kind of far for me (and I'm lazy!). But I'm definitely down for some laps up there once it warms up a bit

Good to know on PP being an icy, treacherous mess. Maybe i'll just continue to ride the trainer and watch Dexter, which has been my 'thing' lately, hahaha. I've been biking to work for the past few days but even that is a little iffy - I've definitely seen some patches of ice on my commute that I've been avoiding so far but I probably shouldn't test my luck.

@Paige I'll be in PP tomorrow morning a bit later than the usual time, just doing easy laps from 7am to 8am. Exact duration and intensity dependent upon on how much fun I have at my office holiday party tonight. I was there this morning in the dark, and while the entrances/exits were very very icy, the loop was 99.9999% clear. Anyway, hope to see you!

Ok I am not the only one who thinks that this cold weather is crap to ride in am I? Anyway @paige welcome back! Hopefully the riding this weekend will not be too painfully cold or wet. Give a shout if you want to get outside for a spin. Saturday is looking like snow and Sunday looks like rain, but hope to get out at least one of the days.

@jessica @erika - sorry ladies! I'm so terrible at keeping up with this so just saw both of your comments now. still haven't made it outside...just more of the trainer and now season 4 of Dexter. I'm seriously doubting i'll make it outside before leaving town on Friday BUT at least I'm heading to warmer climates so I'll get some riding in while I'm at home.

@Paige (and the rest of the ladies and gents who will be out west this weekend) not only does the weather look phenomenal, but it seems Evelyn Stevens will be joining the Rapha SFCC ride. Alas, I wont be out there until mid week, so it's trainer + Orange is the New Black for me.

Okay I seriously need to buy a trainer, it seems. Where / how? Recommendations? Going to my first computrainer thing tonight so I guess I'll figure this out. . . 

I bought Cycleops rollers (w/ a resistance unit separately) on Amazon a couple weeks ago but returned them in favor of a Cycleops Fluid 2 trainer. It was a tough decision since I've been told rollers simulate road feel better than trainers and also help with form. But since I still commute every day on my cx bike and do outdoor training when weather permits, I thought the trainer would suffice for power/endurance workouts. 

I did once come home and find Lisa on the, er... MY trainer, riding her ugly orange "Jesus" mountain bike.  It was awkward for both of us.

I use the CycleOps Super Magneto Pro. It's a little quieter than the Fluid2 (which I have used quite a bit), and it has a really nice feel. It's on the pricey side, and I got it when we had a better deal with CycleOps. If you can find it for a bargain, I would recommend.

I have a Kurt Kinetic road machine. The pro (meaning heavy) flywheel does help with road feel insomuch as it coasts for longer.
I've had it 3 years, a part broke, I called them up gave the serial# and they sent me the part free, so I'm impressed with their customer service.
Being 3 years old mine is not green, which is a shame.

My indoor trainer is covered in so much dust I can't tell what brand, model or color it is.  Works real good at stubbing toes though.

Hey ladies, I'm reviving Friday Morning Ladies Rides tomorrow. I know all the trainer talk sounds exciting and glamourous, but I'll be in PP enjoying the great outdoors. GAP at 6:30am (it's December, treat yo self to an extra 30 mins sleep!) for 75-90 mins of easy laps. Would love some company if anyone's interested.

@Erika, I'll join you. I had planned on an extra *hour* of sleep, but I can make it at 6:30 if it's for your good company! Any other takers out there in the Kissena universe?

Late to the party, sorry friends! I am idly toying with the idea of re-creating the picture in the PROPER kit... wish I were up to riding with y'all! Have fun! And @Gwynna, I'm glad I'm not the only human being who has ever fallen off a trainer. While sober.

Late to the opinion-fest, but trainer specific tires are key to quietness.  Before them I was using worn out road slicks.  Bontragers made high-whiny noises.  Vittoria Rubino Pro IIs sounded similar with an extra crunchy gravely sound.  I think Conti GP4000s were slightly quieter then either.  I finally bought Vittoria's trainer tires and it's so dead quiet all I really hear is the chain grinding along the cassette.

Hey women...

Just wanted to give you a heads-up that a friend of mine just picked up a new bike at Ride Brooklyn. An aluminum Specialized. Carla and her wife Alice live in Park Slope and I expect Carla to be out in the park riding solo. Now so far she's expressed no interest in road racing, but it's only a matter of time before she realizes that the best part of triathlons and duathlons is the bike. Am I right, or am I right?

So you know, if you see a short-haired brunette on very new looking bike...I'm sure she wouldn't mind a friendly hello or encouragement up the hill (she regularly curses that thing to me)!

thank you.