So the "Cyclocross" thread...deserves a few more neighbors. So I've started this one, to help make sure no one misses out on favorite races. I spent some time with the various calendars and put together a potential schedule for myself.

I typically do more New England CX races than most on the team and for the past two years, I've done over 20 races. I doubt I'll get to all 26 or so that I've got "scheduled" here but it does give you an idea of how I mix the MAC, Verge/New England and New Jersey races. Anyway, FWIW, here's my personal "can't miss" list.

Oct 11--Whirlybird (lots of KCC attend this race, not the most challenging course, but last years version was solid and had big fields)
Oct 12--Cooper River (an adorable race that is surprisingly fun/challenging...small fields here)
or
Oct 11/12--Rochester, NY (UCI) (This race is supposedly a climbers paradise, considering making the trip)

Oct 18/19--HPCX (last year's reworking of the course made this already good event, even better)

Oct 25/26--Marty CX (keeping my fingers crossed for a more fair starting chute. Lots of KCC love at this race, you won't be alone.)
or
OFF

Nov 1/2--Northampton (typically draws a handful of KCC racers and the longest running UCI race in the US; roots and frozen tundra twisties make this course)

Nov 8--???
Nov 9--Fair Hill, MD (this one is far, but a few of us KCC racers seem to enjoy the race very much, good mix of climbing, off camber and hard man false flat grinders)

Nov 15--???
Nov 16--???

Nov 22/23--Supercross (our race; PS this signals the end of the season for some KCC racers. Not me though...)

Nov 29/30--Baystate, Sterling, MA (if you love the off-camber and some sphincter-tightening descents/drops, this is THE race for you)

Dec 6/7--Warwick, RI (near Providence, my favorite race weekend of the year.)

Excited for the coming season? Want to make sure your teammates don't miss out on the most epic races ever? Well, state your race, tell us when it is, and why you think it's "can't miss" (because one person's "can't miss" is another's "must miss").

• June 19-29, 2014. Tour of America's Dairyland. It's 11 days of crit and road racing in the Milwaukee, WI region and features some of the toughest crit racers on truly demanding crit courses (there is one flat 4-corner crit, the rest, not so much). And like a good CX race, you do your event, grab some grub and get to watch and learn from the Pros ripping it up. Racing these challenging courses is a great way to improve your bike handling skills and leg speed. I find so many striking parallels between crit and CX racing. Last year from Kissena, myself, Dan Hubbard and Vlad went. Also Al B. from Ride Brooklyn was there, and no doubt has an opinion on this series as well.

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/newswire/?id=117973#.Ut_4kL9OmHx

No, not at all...expect to see/hear more from me throughout the year as dates of races come available. Like I'll certainly talk about PA's relatively close Turkey Hill road race as a good, interesting one for strong "flat-landers," but the race isn't on the calendar yet.

Gwynna Smith said:

Cross-posted from 'Cross, but here's one that has me jazzed: https://www.bikereg.com/Net/annual-hike-a-bike-mtb-race.

"There will be a Le Mans start which will include a 100yd run/sprint before mounting your bikes"

March 15. Grant's Tomb Criterium is not only a NYC racing classic, but it's an EXCELLENT race in it's own right. Held on one of two possible course configurations (depending on NYPD towing issues), this 5-turn course is built to challenge and requires heads-up, use your brain racing to succeed. In years past, we've had moderate to good KCC participation, and good to GREAT results here as well. 

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/crca-grants-tomb-criterium-2014

Worried that you can't handle the twists and turns? Fear not, this is one of the events around which I will be organizing several mentor-events to get you guys started the crit racing season on the right foot.

First, the week before, either the Saturday or Sunday (coordinated with the Spring Series CP race...which has not yet been scheduled), after the racing action, we'll roll up to the Grant's Tomb course and spend some time pre-riding the course, practicing tricky turns, a deceptively long/hard uphill finishing sprint, talk tactics (more or less talk depending on wind-chill temps!).

Second, on race day, I will be onsite all day, coaching/mentoring from the sidelines. From getting in hot-laps around a fully closed course, giving pre-race hot-tips and double secret racing line instruction that will make your life so much easier, grabbing/holding onto extra layers from the start-line and shouting helpful advice from the sidelines during your race, I'll be there FOR YOU.

Third, it is my hope that we can get the Kissena pop-up tent out there with some turbo trainers for proper and conveniently located warm-ups.

This race and it's associated events will be an excellent opportunity to apply the things you've learned from JP's tactic talks into practice! Don't miss out!!!

I've had the Quabbin Reservoir Classic on my radar. I'm holding off on registering until after Battenkill (would be too close to the Battenkill snow dates). Enough recovery before Bear Mountain is the question... but I loves me an uphill finish!

Gwynna Smith said:

I'm sort of going with the notion that ALL of the races will be crashy. It's one of the reasons I only want to hang in the peleton, not try to actually make any moves.

This is the wrong way to think about it. Crashes do not happen in the 'moves', They happen in the middle of the pack. Go with the moves and you'll be much less likely to hit the ground.

I was at Orchard Beach. Yes I did see some crashes in several fields. Not sure why. It didn't seem like a particularly dangerous course to me (wide open turns and reasonable pavement). Perhaps the CRCA hyped it too much and NYC racers don't know how to turn their bikes. There are plenty of crits in NJ which were fine. White Plains crit was also fine (even fun). Personally, I don't like Grants Tomb. Too much nervous energy due to its early position on the calendar, fast sketchy downhill turns, bad weather, interminable starting delays due to parked cars on the course, etc.

We can try to get to orchard beach for a clinic in April. It should be relatively empty of cars.

Erika Tarte said:

I've had the Quabbin Reservoir Classic on my radar. I'm holding off on registering until after Battenkill (would be too close to the Battenkill snow dates). Enough recovery before Bear Mountain is the question... but I loves me an uphill finish!

Quabbin Reservoir Classic

Saturday, April 26, 2014, Ware, MA

Register: https://www.bikereg.com/Net/21915

Course: http://www.mapmyride.com/us/belchertown-ma/quabbin-2011-route-23016476

as a massachusetts native, i should do this race. will chat closer to the race date.

Orchard Beach is a great race. I wouldn't really even consider it a crit; it has two corners. I had great legs for it last year, but unfortunately got run off the road behind final-lap crashes sitting top 10 in both my races. Feel free to peruse the Orchard Beach thread for my rant. Looking forward to some revenge this year.

Aaron, and all,

Keep an eye out for plenty of posts from me throughout the season. Since there are many on the club who will make sure you don't miss out on any of the epic climbing races, it's my job to make sure that all the other hot races get their due too. And that means, among other things, if there's a good crit in the area, you'll hear about it from me for sure.

Gwynna,

Never have done H of H, but these touring-type rides can be fun. For one, they generally have good eats and freebies. This one is having a party at a YMCA for example...and if you've never been to a party at a YMCA...let me tell you, you might be missing out on something. For another you are generally closer to the top of the food chain when you pull up with your Kissena jersey, as you are riding with lots of people wearing cargo shorts and Micky Mouse jersey's. If you're goal is to get a good training day in the saddle on new roads and don't much care about having Battenkill stories to share with your friends, then a "tour" can be a good option.

Aaron Blum said:

Bound Brook Criterium. It will kick you, and then kick you again until you get upset and kick it back.

Totally fun, I just wish I raced in more crits before it because it is pretty insane.

For me, the hills of Somerset County road race (rolling motor cycle enclosure P12 only race) and then Bound Brook were the two coolest most ass-kickingest races of the season. 

Not to hijack Marc's crit recommending party, but there are hilly races that people don't know about and therefore forget to target. Purgatory is perhaps the most underrated event of the summer. And as for stage races, Tour of the Dragons is a better bet than all of them except perhaps GMSR.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Tour of the Dragons brings back the crit into the fold. I really enjoyed the first year of that race. Sarah and I camped, and enjoyed the quaint downtown where the crit was held. An excellent bakery helped! Also fun racing a crit with a McCormack brother again, and being able to hang onto his meaty beastly legs when he attacked.

Keep those recommendations coming! Purgatory...I don't think I've ever done that race...I'll have to check out the info when it pops up on bikereg!

I'm with Perlberg on the NJ races. I upgraded to a 2 in order to do the hills of Somerset which I had done twice before. Unfortunately, I did not have a good day but will be back this year with revenge on my mind.

Similarly, bound brook is great and if I come into the Saturday hills of Somerset race a but better, the next day's boundbrook should be a little easier.

Then the tour of Somerville rounds out the three day weekend and is a cakewalk in comparison. I love the three day weekend so much I'm willing to not do as well because of it.

Of yeah, other really good races: ronde van mullica for early flat road race. Rahway crit for April crit racing. Orchard beach. Zeppelin critical for early June.

Then most of all, for people who want to become better racers. Friday night at riverhead.

Branch Brook crits all March and April in Newark, NJ. As these get closer let's try to coordinate some rides as a team. These are really fun, flat easy crits- perfect for early season racing. You can just sit in and get some fitness. 

Ragot is FOS; yeah he had some tough moments in the RR (as I recall), but still manages to come in with a nice size group not too far behind the first big group. Puhlease. JP does this all the time too. Dude has a good race, but struggled here or there, had some cramps, pushed through it and finished strong, and then proceeds to talk about how they weren't that great...they could have done this or that....blah, blah, blah.

But you know what? At a race like the Pro 1/2 Hills of Sommerset, you should see Mother Darkness once or twice. The level of competition is really quite high and while much of the course rolls, there are several stiff climbs that will make you wish for some Ryan/Joe-power-to-weight ratio. So if you finish feeling fresh and good at the end of this race, I'm going to assume you didn't race your ass hard enough, or that I should get the number to your supplier, or wonder when you are going to jump ship to Foundation or Mengoni.

mperlberg said:

interesting to see Grant's tomb has a 2/3 field this year. 

Equally interesting is that the Pro 1/2 race is now Pro 1/2/3. I'm not sure what the logic here is. They've always had good size fields across the board. Sure it gives 2s and 3s more flexibility, but ehhhh.

On second thought...this could play to our advantage. Kissena cat 2s, if you are going to race this event, I would recommend doing the Pro 1/2 field. For that is surely the race that JP and I are going to do. And if we had a Perlberg and a Ragot, plus a few of the more experienced Cat 3s (paging Hubs, Malcolmson and/or Da Silva, Bueller?) we'd have a nice team that could impact the overall dynamic of the race.

I'd consider doing grants as a helper bee this year.