Jules you should race on whatever bike is most comfortable and least broken. My cross bike's brakes are incredibly poor and so I would never do a road race on it, but I think that you of Aloominator/avid shorty ultimates will probably not have that particular problem.

Jump on a quick group ride if you can before the first race on whichever bike you choose though, to get a taste of the handling differences.

Ride the Aloominator!

Jeffrey White said:

Ride the Aloominator!

Go out in a blaze of glory, eh?  I like it.

giro del cielo.

So, I've been pouring over the bikereg.com race listings in efforts to figure out not only my own racing program, but to offer a few suggestions for those unsure of what racing they should be doing. I also want to make sure that the power-to-weight ratio challenged among us have plenty of opportunities to race too.

If you haven't realized it by now, but from here on out, it is possible to race almost exclusively in the city.

And for March and April, that's pretty much the deal. Choose your weekends, race in the parks or in CT, or Cocksackie in direct proportion to your motivation and bank account balance. I would however, recommend racing at least twice per month even if you are planning on later-season bloom.

Because we all can't be 135lb mountain goats, here's a suggested racing program for "rolleurs" as of the latest listings and in my mind officially kicks of "car rental" season on bikereg.com:

May 3: Turkey Hill Country Classic, Washington Boro, PA. This midwest/Belgian style road race is run on wind swept slow rolling PA roads with a stiff, short son-of-a-gun climb that will punctuate the final laps of whatever race you choose. Family friendly event, they usually have a 5k running race in the morning, baby crawling races in the afternoon, mascots from local sports teams and lots of free Turkey Hill ice cream, lemonade etc.

May 4: Orchard Beach Crit. NY, NY. Full disclosure I've never done this race, but the last few years it's been a favorite of Kissena getting ready for hot laps Memorial Day Weekend. With just a few turns on this arcing loop of a course, it should not have intimidation factor that say Grant's Tomb for those looking to dip their toes in the crit racing waters for the first time. If I'm kicked from Turkey Hill, I may skip this race, but I'll have a rental car for the whole weekend likely so...why not?

May 10/11. Looks like only two road races, including the return of Bear Mountain (although with it's history of getting cancelled last minute, or even in the middle of the race itself, I wouldn't EVER suggest making Bear an A-priority event) and Hunter Mountain (which I hear is not as climby as its name would suggest) means this weekend is a good training weekend for guys who don't climb so well. The Bear course is classic and unforgiving. That said, if you don't mind paying the money to race there knowing that you may be dropped and riding solo, then it might not be a terrible option if you just want to train on some diff't roads.

May 17. Wilmington Grand Prix. Wilmington, DE. A National Calendar criterium. Figure 8 course. Also a 3.2 mile Hill Climb on Friday night if you are so inclined. Alternatively...

May 16/17/18. Syracuse Race Weekend. Seems counter-intuitive that I usually choose this weekend. But it's 4 races in 3 days including a crit; I combo it with a family visit and I do enjoy a nice low-key stage race weekend.

May 24/25/26. Tour of Somerville, Somerville, NJ. The Mtn Goats will likely head to Killington, Vt. But everyone else should not miss out on this long-standing classic weekend of racing in nearby Somerville, NJ. Sunday's Bound Brook Criterium is TOUGH and double legit. Monday's Tour of Somerville usually ends up being easy to finish, hard to place. This means teamwork, strategy and heads-up racing is required. No auto-pilot here.

June 8. NYS Championships and Rariton. Two great crits conflicting on the same date. Riverton, NJ is a quaint and historic slice of New Jersey and the neighborhoody crit is scenic and super challenging. But for me, with the New York State Crit Championships in nearby White Plains, NY on the calendar, this is the can't miss crit for the team's boldest. It's in the heart of the city, has some elevation changes that wear on you, and some fast turns to challenge you too. Pretty solid KCC turnout at this race last year. I may again do my all-day-on-site-coaching for all categories as I did at Grant's Tomb.

That's it for now...

add...

Eric's post reminds me that it's probably a good idea to not rely solely on Bikereg.com as a race calendar. Here's the New Jersey stuff. That said, if they're really happening, those races will eventually show up on Bikereg too.

http://www.njbikeracing.com/wp/maxxis-garden-state-cup/

Unfortunately, Memorial Day Weekend and other holidays, bikes are verboten on NJ Transit. Because they are lame.

And another one...this one is, as I recall the closest thing you'll get to a flat road race 'round here.

https://www.bikereg.com/ronde-van-mullica-road-race

Sunday March 30. Organizers note that the location is:

-Note to riders with children-this is a great place for kids. -The park has soccer fields,swings,and walking paths to occupy your children while you are riding.

Marc Bertucco said:

Unfortunately, Memorial Day Weekend and other holidays, bikes are verboten on NJ Transit. Because they are lame.

Marc,

New course for Hunter

Jeff Condon said:

New course for Hunter

http://tourofthecatskills.com/hunter-greene-classics/

I can hear Ryan doing this right now...

Jeff Condon said:

New course for Hunter

http://tourofthecatskills.com/hunter-greene-classics/

Catskills, Battenkill, now Hunter. All that simpleton Dieter knows how to do is keep adding hills to his races.

That's not actually that much climbing when spread out over that distance.

I'm waiting for the year we have to climb Devil's Kitchen two or three times.

I think he's going to finish in the ski lodge parking lot; same place the TT ends, and where the Airport Road stages ends.  It's about a 150 or 200m uphill drag.

Question about http://tourofthecatskills.com/hunter-greene-classics/

So, I thought about starting a new thread called "Have to Miss" races.

It seems, according to Mr. Van Dessel that the Hills of Somerset RR has been cancelled. Which is really going to bum out me, JP, Eric and Perlberg and anyone else who had their mind set on a Cat 2 upgrade with an eye towards racing this classic rolling, but still challenging RR course this year.

Marc Bertucco said:

So, I thought about starting a new thread called "Have to Miss" races.

It seems, according to Mr. Van Dessel that the Hills of Somerset RR has been cancelled. Which is really going to bum out me, JP, Eric and Perlberg and anyone else who had their mind set on a Cat 2 upgrade with an eye towards racing this classic rolling, but still challenging RR course this year.

That blows really really bad. 

Meredith Martin said:

Question about http://tourofthecatskills.com/hunter-greene-classics/

these are stage races? Can women race? I have to practice climbing before this Ride the Rockies thing and am looking for hilly races. 

Go to bikereg.com to see the detailed breakdown of day races vs. stage races

mperlberg said:

Marc Bertucco said:

So, I thought about starting a new thread called "Have to Miss" races.

It seems, according to Mr. Van Dessel that the Hills of Somerset RR has been cancelled. Which is really going to bum out me, JP, Eric and Perlberg and anyone else who had their mind set on a Cat 2 upgrade with an eye towards racing this classic rolling, but still challenging RR course this year.

That blows really really bad. 

It might motivate me to go up to Killington to get my ass whooooooped. Or just focus on Bound Brook on fresher legs. 

A couple of things to consider before heading to Killington. This year they are back to a Pro 1/2 category and when I did it a few years ago, there was a pretty big gap between the pros and semi-pros who came to do it with Arizona/California races in their legs and me with my park racing prep. Also, there's generally a very real time cut.

Also, if you are saving up your money vacation time for just one Vermont Stage Race, Killington is just not it. IMO. The place is a deserted ski town. Very NOT fun for in between racing hangout time. Of course, if you have a bunch of yahoo kissena jamokes hanging out in some musty ski shack rental for the weekend, I imagine there will be fun times regardless.

Finally, not only is Bound Brook a challenging course, but I did the Rariton crit last year while you guys were racing the RR and it's a challenging course as well. The irony is, for Cat 2s, actually the weakest race of the weekend has always been the headliner in Tour of Sommerville. Just too short of a race for what is essentially a four corner crit.

That said...do whichever race seems like more fun to you!

@ Marc, I'll probably stick around anyway. I'd like to do well at Bound Brook. If Raritan has a crit for cat 2s, that's even better. 

Marc, that's exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for. Think I'm gonna save the cash for GMSR and stick to the Jersey crits, then.

I think Killington is great. It's beautiful up there, there's great affordable housing, and the course is diverse w an awesome queen stage. Do it.

Registration for Bear Mountain just opened...

not sure if this is the spot for this buy is anyone signed up for or is thinking of doing the Rahway River Park Crit on Aprill 13? online reg closes friday aprill 11th at 5pm. I might do it if i can get a vehicle or ride. 

@nelson - that race is on my calendar but I have no idea how I'm getting out there.