FBF Graveyard Series - Forum Archive

Oct 01, 2013 at 08:25 PM

Just FYI, here's a run down of the road races left in the year:

http://www.bikereg.com/Net/events/Road-Race/Northeast/

Cat 5s, you can still get a couple of more races under your belts so you can upgrade earlier in the 2014 season instead of slogging through the spring series...

This Sunday 10/6, there are 2 races - Prospect Park and FBF. Which one do you cats want to rock?

Jules

Oct 01, 2013 at 08:39 PM

On the topic of upgrades... don't be too eager to get "out of the 5's as quickly as possible" there are crashes in every race (this year's masters race was one of the crashiest I've ever heard of) and you will never, EVER get another chance to try things that would get you spat out the backside of a faster 4 peloton and live to try them again and again. Also, don't forget that only in the 5's does everyone get to upgrade for finishing - so you can avoid the "If I don't score points this race I'll NEVER UPGRADE!!!" guys & gals who are just plain dangerous.

I am a big believer in learning by trying - so any environment that lets you try things often is a good one. You can do dumb sh!t in a 5 field (dumb, not dangerous) and not get dropped; that changes pretty quick in the 4's.

Think of these races as petri dishes. Learn everything you can in them.

Marc Bertucco

Oct 01, 2013 at 08:42 PM

^Jules speaks the truth. Listen to him.

David Yang

Oct 01, 2013 at 09:00 PM

Yes, 100% agreed. I didn't mean to say that people should rush through the 5s. Listen to uncle Jules, kids!

Ryan J

Oct 04, 2013 at 02:07 PM

I agree with Jules -on how to race the 5s but IMO there's no reason to do it more than 10 times. Experimenting as Jules suggests is good, but I think a lot of guys hang around the 5s longer because they want to get wins. That doesn't help you as a rider.

Marc Bertucco

Oct 04, 2013 at 02:19 PM

It sounds like Ryan and Jules (and me) are basically on the same page. What I would add to this to clarify the major point here is that you should stay in any given category long enough that you start being in contention for the win.

An actual win is very hard to come by and you could race your whole life without a win. However, there are important lessons to learn from being actually competitive and racing at the front that are invaluable to experience on the road. Whether that results in a win, or 5th or 11th or whatever is NOT THE POINT. The point is that you are racing with enough strength and fitness and smarts to put you in a position to win.

Phil Maronilla

Oct 04, 2013 at 02:44 PM

Just a note that there is no FBF race this Sunday. Thank your Congressmen and Senators.

David Yang

Oct 04, 2013 at 02:55 PM

Alrighty folks, we're racing this one instead this Sunday...

http://kissenacycling.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1036/pete-senia-memorial-oct-6-2013#latest

Wes Tillman

Oct 04, 2013 at 05:24 PM

David Yang said:

Alrighty folks, we're racing this one instead this Sunday...

http://kissenacycling.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1036/pete-senia-memorial-oct-6-2013#latest

sit on Altchek's wheel

Jules

Oct 07, 2013 at 01:27 PM

"Being in contention" is a big thing, and deserves some explication. In any given race there might be 100 people entered but only 10-15 are actually trying to (and capable of win(ing) it. Some would say even fewer. Most are there to participate, help a teammate, or just to finish.

Unless you're a phenom (minor or major, doesn't matter) your first few races will put you in the latter category. Being in the first category - those actually trying to (and capable of) win is completely different than just finishing, or helping a teammate. Racing to win is not even a remote relative thrice removed of racing to finish, or racing to help a teammate.

The nerves, the decisions under pressure, the prolonged focus & concentration all add a completely different level of difficulty to the proceedings.

You will know when you have become familiar with the in's and outs, the what-have-you's of the role you are trying to play. Upgrade when your particular learning curve has flattened; for some that's ten races on the nose, for others it might be many more.

As @Marc says actually winning is f-ing hard yo... so absent that any race where you learn a lot should be counted as a "W" in your personal book. (@Yang just chalked one up in the Van Dunk series)

twoyacks

Aug 09, 2014 at 02:04 AM

Anybody going to Floyd on Sunday?

twoyacks

Aug 10, 2014 at 03:40 PM

Well I raced today at Floyd...that race may still be going on as I type this from home... I saw Craig out there...he got popped about 18 minutes in....and in a sign of team solidarity, I decided to drop out 2 minutes later

A warm up is an absolute must....or risk getting smoked early. I found myself last wheel about 20 minutes in and the 2 guys in front of me decided to stop pedaling...if you are going to do that, put a fucking hand up or move over and look back...by the time I realized these 2 were going home, I was going with them as I got gapped and just couldn't close it....Nice to know I can go 320 watts for 20 minutes though....I felt every watt!!

http://app.strava.com/activities/178285988

mperlberg

Aug 24, 2014 at 07:45 PM

I lined up with Vlad and Craig in the 123 race this morning.

It was hard and windy, and the race blew apart.

A early break of 4 went and a big chase group came together. We kept the break within a straightway for a long time, but eventually the blockers and wheelsuckers got the best of the group. The chase group broke up and came back together a number of times.

Some guys flatted, some guys got dropped, one guy went solo (Mike Novemsky(sp?) of DNK) and in the end a group of maybe 6 were contesting for 6-12th places.

I got 7th, Vlad got 8th. The money went 6 deep. Bummer. I did manage to outsprint Ricky Lowe and Alessandro who went wayyyyy too early into the headwind sprint.

dstokes

Aug 24, 2014 at 07:59 PM

Wait. . .
Perlberg: Outsprint
Is that part of your lexicon now?

mperlberg

Aug 24, 2014 at 08:19 PM

I'm trying David!

To be fair this was more of a drag race situation then a pure sprint.

Vlad attacked twice on the last lap, which made things tough for Ricky. Ricky sprinted out of the last corner with Allesandro Matuchi (sp?) which would have been the right time if we had the tailwind we had Tuesday. But it was a headwind, and they ground to a halt about halfway down the home stretch. I went around and was caught by one guy before the line. Vald came in right after.

JohnMalcolmson

Aug 25, 2014 at 02:28 AM

Vlad attacked twice on the last lap
Yeah baby!

Ryan J

Aug 25, 2014 at 02:36 AM

It sounds like Vlad is really racing great.

vlad

Aug 25, 2014 at 02:38 AM

Thanks dudes!!

This was for sure a tough one.

Craig London

Aug 26, 2014 at 01:13 PM

Anyone have an update on if this Sunday's race is happening? They said it may be cancelled last weekend- Any word?

twoyacks

Aug 29, 2014 at 11:16 PM

I think I might wet my beak out there...new tubulars mounted...the desirable 25mm variety.

David Yang

Aug 29, 2014 at 11:24 PM

No pre reg needed?

vlad

Aug 29, 2014 at 11:38 PM

$5 more for day-of reg

David Yang

Aug 30, 2014 at 10:23 PM

Any other 4s thinking of tomorrow?

twoyacks

Aug 31, 2014 at 02:57 PM

I think I made it to 4 laps today...will check power numbers when I get home. Pretty sure the 4 man break lapped the field...you heard me lapped. Craig and Vlad still chasing!

image.jpg

twoyacks

Aug 31, 2014 at 03:20 PM

Finish

image.jpg

twoyacks

Aug 31, 2014 at 03:26 PM

The fucking VLADIATIOR !!!

David Yang

Aug 31, 2014 at 03:31 PM

Win???

twoyacks

Aug 31, 2014 at 04:03 PM

no 350 watts for 13 minutes...then Yack's goes Pops

http://app.strava.com/activities/187923831

vlad

Aug 31, 2014 at 04:58 PM

This Graveyard series continues to be, pound for pound, the best kick in the nuts you're going to get all week. This time featuring German track pros on furlough from T-town. The hype on them is real.

Marc Bertucco

Aug 31, 2014 at 06:08 PM

You know what scares me? If Vlad took about 3 weeks of racing off, tapered, then pinned numbers on again. He'd fucking be DOUBLE DOG WHISKEY FOX TROT MANGO SALSA INSANE.