Sep 16, 2014 at 03:32 PM
Megalol
Granogue Cyclocross
Sep 16, 2014 at 06:25 PM
Thanks @eloy, @Marc @mperlberg @Jules. I think I will go with the Cat 4 option assuming that I can do that. It doesn't apply with my fat self, however, it seems like they might have some sort of rule to prevent higher categories riders from crushing people in the lower categories. For example according to my license, I am a Cat 1 in Cross Country, and a 2 in Dual Slalom!
Sep 16, 2014 at 10:25 PM
I don't even know what Dual Slalom *IS*
Has confuse. What about bicycle polo?
Sep 17, 2014 at 12:49 PM
I'm flattered that some think I'm better than I actually am at cyclocross.
With just 7 upgrade points this year, I'm still 3 points shy of the MINIMUM for the "voluntary upgrade" option.
Last season, with the exception of a couple of New Jersey Cup Cat 4 40+ races, I spent the entire year finishing at between 13th and 67th place racing a mixture of Cat 2/3/4 Mac series, Open 40+, Mac/Verge 4/5 and Mac series 1/2/3/4 35+. Take out the highs and lows, look at my cat 4/5 performances at my "A races," with full fields, where I had okay start line positioning, the 4/5 races at CycleSmart and NBX, and you see I placed at best, next to the last race of the season in 13th and at worst in 41st at CycleSmart.
All that said, give me a few weeks, through Holy Week, and if my streak of top 10s continue in my primary racing category, I earn a few more points, and I'm planning on requesting an upgrade.
Sep 17, 2014 at 02:33 PM
redacted.
Sep 17, 2014 at 04:19 PM
Enjoy. This is an unlisted video for the enjoyment of Kissena. Please don't forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-4iCjmJiUc&feature=youtu.be
May 20, 2015 at 07:22 PM
Just noticed on Facebook that Granogue is taking the "season opener" spot traditionally held by Nittany.
Bummed a bit by that, because that means Granogue conflicts with the Green Mountain Stage Race, and related family vacation plans. I don't love Granogue the way some on the team do. But it's a solid race and worth the trip/overnight.
May 20, 2015 at 07:44 PM
I wrote this back in 2010, for the Kissena list:
You seen the movies, the pictures, Sunday in Hell, Stars and Watercarriers, Flanders, Robaix. Races that reward more than fitness, skill, instinct. The stuff of legends. Epic hardcore magic.
This is why you ride.
Granogue is that place. Be there.
race,
Eloy
-----
eloy@groovylab.com
347.225.1058
This is why you ride.
Granogue is that place. Be there.
race,
Eloy
-----
eloy@groovylab.com
347.225.1058
May 20, 2015 at 09:24 PM
The irony of those great pics that Eloy posted is that the organizer said on FB, that they moved the race earlier in the season, just so they didn't shred the grass too much and that they would continue to be invited back to the venue.
This course has two main technical challenges, climbing and off-camber descending. You definitely need both fitness and skill to do well here!
May 21, 2015 at 02:33 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVx4LafsvSU
Sep 04, 2015 at 06:17 PM
Granoguers - need to know who is driving as we have some team parking.
Sep 04, 2015 at 07:18 PM
Hey Jules,
Looks like I'm driving down for the 12:15 race.
Dale
Sent from my iPhone
Looks like I'm driving down for the 12:15 race.
Dale
Sent from my iPhone
Sep 04, 2015 at 11:22 PM
I'm driving Eloy down for the 10am 45+ race. Will probably hang out for a bit as Eloy takes spectacular photos
Sep 06, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Kill it dudes!
Sep 06, 2015 at 06:37 PM
Sep 06, 2015 at 06:41 PM
Sep 06, 2015 at 06:57 PM
Granogue beat me like a red headed step child.
then it got nasty.
This is year was definitely the hardest I remember this race being - steep high torque climbing and dusty, technical descending.
The heat was pure insult.
about the only thing I did with skill was get out of the way of the lead group when I got lapped.
Awesome to start the season with teammates!
#onward
then it got nasty.
This is year was definitely the hardest I remember this race being - steep high torque climbing and dusty, technical descending.
The heat was pure insult.
about the only thing I did with skill was get out of the way of the lead group when I got lapped.
Awesome to start the season with teammates!
#onward
Sep 06, 2015 at 07:31 PM
Massive thanks to Eloy - mad skill to take a beating like that and make it look good!
Sep 07, 2015 at 12:29 AM
How was the "new" course? How did you do Eloy and Patrick?
Sep 07, 2015 at 11:17 AM
That time when the best I could do was smile for the heckles
Sep 07, 2015 at 01:46 PM
Isn't technology great? I left Granogue yesterday feeling defeated. Not only was I left off the results list but my best guess was that I finished 34th or so in the Masters 45+ field. After looking at my Garmin video (yes, video - like GoPro but cheaper) I figured out that I finished 23rd - better than predicted by cross-results. I was on the tail end of a group of 4 on the 5th lap when we got pulled. Had I known we were going to be pulled I would have dug deeper and sprinted... but so would the guys I was with...
I didn't recall that this course had so much hard climbing. It was hard pack dry and dusty. The layout was different than I've seen it. When we weren't climbing there was a lot of technical sections: tricky descents, off camber, roots, etc. A lot of the course was hard packed dirt and grass that was jarring.
I had a second row start and was in the top 8 for the holeshot. On the first major climb the guy ahead of me bobbled and I ended up running into a stake forcing me to dismount and run. I lost 6 spots. I ended the first lap in 17th, second in 18th, third in 19th, fourth in 19th, and then I was at back of group of 4 and gave up 3 spots at the suprise finish ending 23rd. Looking at video it was mostly a lack of power - especially in the last two laps. This was confirmed by my Joule that reported that the first two full laps were 8:24 and the last two laps were 8:33 and 8:38. I was a little more cautious on the off camber corners than I would have liked but this gives me something to practice.
I will post the link to the video when later today. I also have some pics of Jules and Dale that I will get around to posting. Great racing and having out with teammates and former teammates as well. Speaking of former teammates I ran into Emily (who now lives in Philly and has a baby) who said hello.
I will post the link to the video when later today. I also have some pics of Jules and Dale that I will get around to posting. Great racing and having out with teammates and former teammates as well. Speaking of former teammates I ran into Emily (who now lives in Philly and has a baby) who said hello.
Sep 07, 2015 at 02:20 PM
Video is here
Sep 07, 2015 at 03:54 PM
Sep 07, 2015 at 03:54 PM
Sep 07, 2015 at 04:19 PM
Thanks Patrick!
You can download the VIRB Edit software here for free. Even if you don't post the video with the superimposed data I find it pretty useful to figure out where things are going right & wrong with respect to pacing and recovery.
You can download the VIRB Edit software here for free. Even if you don't post the video with the superimposed data I find it pretty useful to figure out where things are going right & wrong with respect to pacing and recovery.
Sep 07, 2015 at 06:13 PM
Epic photos.
Sep 08, 2015 at 11:53 PM
Sep 09, 2015 at 12:20 AM
Pain was taking over my upper body slowly and then suddenly with 2 to go. Didn't think I was racing a pace sustainable for two more laps, so figured I should water the horse and then let the bell lap excitement take over and push hard that one last lap.
As Patrick reported, we went from 2 to 0 laps to go. Had they rang a bell, it would have been just the last lap excitement... Pretty obvious learning: Bell laps are awesome and: DO NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL IT IS OVER. EVER. HEART ATTACKS BEFORE SLOW DOWN.
Easier said than done.
Very untrustworthy results have me at 39 of 76. I want to believe them but can't. At the venue they had me at 44 which is not much different, but felt more believable.
I was staged 70thish.
Generally whatever positions I gained were simply at the start and perhaps the first time to the tower. That is, in the first 25% of the first lap. From that point on, I was racing the same group.
Which speaks on how high and narrow the skillset of that masters field is, and duh, starts matter.
Lap times were pretty cx standard (except for the last lap ugh)
At Nittany should try to stay relaxed on lap 1 and 2 --- often leg freshness and the start scrum excuses some randomness in my lines, flow and braking. Bettering that should eliminate some pain in the last couple of laps.
Dale and Jules and Patrick looked amaze.
This report focused in the more practical aspects of my race. Emotionally, it was amazing to be back at Granogue, saying hi to old friends, and that place. It was magic. But nothing I can write will ever do it justice. Which is why we race.
Go race.
As Patrick reported, we went from 2 to 0 laps to go. Had they rang a bell, it would have been just the last lap excitement... Pretty obvious learning: Bell laps are awesome and: DO NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL IT IS OVER. EVER. HEART ATTACKS BEFORE SLOW DOWN.
Easier said than done.
Very untrustworthy results have me at 39 of 76. I want to believe them but can't. At the venue they had me at 44 which is not much different, but felt more believable.
I was staged 70thish.
Generally whatever positions I gained were simply at the start and perhaps the first time to the tower. That is, in the first 25% of the first lap. From that point on, I was racing the same group.
Which speaks on how high and narrow the skillset of that masters field is, and duh, starts matter.
Lap times were pretty cx standard (except for the last lap ugh)
- 8:25
- 8:37
- 8:43
- 8:58
- 9:27
At Nittany should try to stay relaxed on lap 1 and 2 --- often leg freshness and the start scrum excuses some randomness in my lines, flow and braking. Bettering that should eliminate some pain in the last couple of laps.
Dale and Jules and Patrick looked amaze.
This report focused in the more practical aspects of my race. Emotionally, it was amazing to be back at Granogue, saying hi to old friends, and that place. It was magic. But nothing I can write will ever do it justice. Which is why we race.
Go race.
Sep 09, 2015 at 12:34 AM
I am eager to see my lap times if only for morbid curiosity. I did feel like I played a dirty underhanded and sneaky as shit move by NOT blazing guns away on the hole shot knowing full well the first hill into the woods would be a total massacre; get vindicated as I sauntered up on dude who had been HELL BENT FOR LEATHER trying to make up six spots (from the back row to the back row + 6...) who were now gassed and furious...
the sandy little steep hill on the backside (just past the cornfield?) was toughest for me each time; I busted out another super sneaky move and did the Garrigan "inchworm" to get to the top
the sandy little steep hill on the backside (just past the cornfield?) was toughest for me each time; I busted out another super sneaky move and did the Garrigan "inchworm" to get to the top
Sep 09, 2015 at 12:38 AM
By the way - what am I new here? Why can't I find results, bros?