Aug 22-23 Chris Thater Memorial Binghamton, NY. 

https://www.bikereg.com/27907

I'm looking to hit the 3/4 race at 11am Sunday. Possibly the 2/3 men race Sat night if we make a weekend out of this. It's a big drive up. Anyone going let me know by PM. Hardcore classic crit.

NYS championship weekend. I'll be traveling with my family. Saturday I'll race the 40+ for a jersey, probably the 2/3 race too. Then Sunday, the Pro 1/2 championship.

A couple of years ago, they went back to a downtown flat course. Never done this one. Looking forward to racing for a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Looks like I'm the clear favorite for the Gold medal at the NYS Crit Championships. (Eugene is an AZ resident). Haha. #oneweekaway

Better start practicing your podium pose! You have so many choices!  There is the traditional victory salute,


the outlaw,


the Fonzie,


the "sick pythons",


...the possibilities are endless!

Da-yum...right now I'm between "sick pythons" and "the Fonzie." So good. I'm going to do some push-ups and see how I feel.

If we're gonna Photoshop Marc, can we also photoshop that cap?  

Online registration closed, but lots of room for day-of. Lots of categories across two days. This is THE NYS STATE CHAMPS. Last chance for Green Mountain racers to get in a crit before Labor Day Weekend. Course looks wide open and city-like (a bigger version of White Plains?).

https://www.bikereg.com/chris-thater-memorial-cycling-races

Best of luck Marc. I would love to work for you and your State Championship, but this weekend just isn't happening for me.

Kill it Marc!

Dan Reiners said:

Best of luck Marc. I would love to work for you and your State Championship, but this weekend just isn't happening for me.

Kill it Marc!

Thanks Dan! Looking at the latest start lists, I have a feeling I could use some help out there! Next year!

Hey looky here...the promoter mailed out a program that lists YEARS of winners. Look who took the win in 1990:

If this doesn't get you pumped about racing then...are you even alive, man?

"Lucky Number 13?"

Long day, but I'm jacked up on caffeine so I'll write some words.

First race was the 35+ State Champs. Feeling the pressure, because I know the legs are good, and my shot at a medal is as legit as its ever been. Smallish field of 31 riders.

Course was okay. Through a kind of run-down part of Binghamton. I miss the old course around a park and through neighborhoods with multiple hard turns and a stiff power climb each lap. Also fewer weird dudes claiming to be "owner of Binghamton" talking at my wife and wanting to hug my son.

Anyway, the racing was pretty zippy throughout. And I was on it early. The CRCA Brands team was out in full effect. One of their guys, I think I thought it was doper Juan Pineda, but it turns out, probably Mynor Pineda, tried bumping me off my line in a fast corner. I give him a "What the FUCK?" And then after I gap him from the field on a fast windy stretch, I look back at him and tell him, "Don't think you can push me around like some punk." And then I zip back up to the field.

There were a few other teams that were virtually useless. The rest, like me, were "privateers." I lost track of how many moves I bridged up to, chased down etc. Ultimately, the one I didn't, a 2 rider move with Brands' Thomas Cipolla got away and stayed away.

There are other teams who should have chased that shit down immediately, but nothing. Brands did a good job of blocking and sitting on bridge-up attempts.

At one point I bridge up solo to a rider with teammates and we get the prime bell. I don't take my usual line through turn 3, he gaps me and easily steals MY $50. I sit up and get swallowed by the field. He does too a bit later. BUH-MER.

Another key moment in the race is when I bridge up to like a 5 rider group. This has a chance of staying away. Alas no. Field is on us.

Near the end of the race Eugene Borronow attacks off the front and is increasing his gap. With about 5 laps to go another rider goes off the front. He's out there for a bit and I think, here's my chance. I make my move and get a gap on the field And get to the dude in red. We're closing down on Eugene. I look back and...

FUCK NO! If I was structural engineer I would have flunked out of school, because I sure can "build a bridge" but every time I connect, shit just falls apart. Or at least it did today.

Now there are just two laps to go. Not a ton of time to recover. With one lap to go I get majorly swarmed. Turn 4 there's a crash. I'm too far back anyway. I sprint it out and end up with 13th place. Not the result I hoped for, but I really raced the way I should be racing. Aggressive, active, smart. I just didn't have that extra bit of luck that I needed. In my field, 8 DNFs, 5 pulled and placed.

Second race was a non-championship 2/3 event. I had about 1 hour in between my two races. Just enough time to relax a bit, pin on a diff't set of numbers, slam back a cola and get to the startline. Except, I came as close as I've ever come to missing the start of my race. Somewhere between drinking the coke and starring off into the blue yonder feeling sorry for myself about the Master's event, I lost track of time.

So when I rolled up to the already staged field I was starting out at the back of the biggest field of the day at 65 riders. Now this is no Burlington Crit, where a good start is as critical as a good start in most cross races, BUT this is not an easy course either. And so during the opening laps, really the first 15 minutes or so picking my way to the front 1/3 of the field. I had been using some crafty lines earlier and even in a packed field on relatively narrow roads, they were mostly working here too. It just takes a bit of faith to keep your hands off the breaks and trust that the field will drift right, leaving you a passing lane up on the outside. Or that you don't need to break in that fast descending turn, but whatever you do, don't look at the wall of hay bales, because that's where you will end up!

It became clear that this 60 minute race would be a field sprint. Nothing was getting anywhere. I was feeling solid, but a little weary. I had raced the first event, for the win. No compromises. And with some leg cramp warnings, generalized fatigue I was pretty happy that I had moved up from the back to closeish to the front in pretty short order. Coming into the closing laps, lack of teamwork led to some annoying bunching/clogging/crashing. Including a pretty nasty wreck near the front/middle of the field on the last lap. I managed to break, and roll around the wreckage, but was gapped by the front of the field. Best i could do was 30th place. Honestly, I was pretty tired by the end of the race, missing some snap, and even though I raced well throughout this second event, I don't think I would have had the legs to place top 12 (in the money) even if I wasn't held up by a crash. 5 guys P&P, 12 DNFs.

Wish me luck, because I'll need it. Tomorrow I'm racing with these guys in the pro race:

1. Ryan Aitcheson	Astellas Cycling Team	196.27
2. Barry (Jake) Sitler	Astellas Cycling Team	204.21
3. Clay Murfet	Astellas Cycling Team	208.43
4. Rafael A. Meran	CRCA/Foundation	212.17
5. Brandon Feehery	Astellas Cycling Team	213.76
6. Scott Zwizanski	Optum Pro Cycling	216.61
7. Anton Varabei		219.00
8. Adam Myerson	Astellas Cycling Team	219.96
9. David Guttenplan	Isagenix / SeaSucker / Guttenplan Coaching	225.19
10. Norlandy Taveras	CRCA/Foundation	227.93
11. Glenn Ferreira	Metra/Cycles 54 Cycling Team	235.20
12. Cristian Torres	CRCA/Foundation	235.20
13. Axel Voitik	EGO p/b Sammy’s Bikes	237.12
14. Adam Farabaugh	Isagenix / SeaSucker / Guttenplan Coaching	238.11
15. Steven Perezluha	Isagenix / SeaSucker / Guttenplan Coaching	239.17
16. Anthony Rodriguez	CRCA/Foundation	239.87
17. Austin Vincent	UCT CT: Airgas-Safeway	241.27
18. Todd Bowden	Aetna-Expo Wheelmen	243.80
19. Hamzah Eastman	Team Coco's /Guy	244.23
20. Greg Capelle	Isagenix/SeaSucker/Guttenplan Coaching	244.96
21. Ryan DeWald	Team Skyline	245.16
22. Stalin Quiterio Cuello	CRCA/Dave Jordan Racing	247.46
23. Hogan Sills	Astellas Cycling	249.56
24. Augusto Sanchez	GS Mengoni USA	250.10
25. martin Vecchio	Netherland Rubber p/b MVP	251.06
26. Jeff Schiller	To Wheels/Epic Sports Performance/BCC	252.10 *
27. Wes Kline	Team Skyline	252.44
28. Alan Royek	EC Devo Cycling	253.97
29. Quinten Winkel	CRCA/Foundation	254.33
30. Dustin Morici	EGO p/b Sammy's Bikes	257.13
31. David Dawson	Team Skyline	259.44
32. Karl Nelson	QCW Breakawaybikes.com p/b Felt Bicycles-JLVelo	264.02
33. Michael Chauner	Atomic Energy Squad	264.57
34. guillaume nelessen	Van Dessel Factory Team	264.79
35. Juan carlos Polanco	GS Megoni USA	265.83
36. John Harris	CT Cycling Advancement Program Pro-Am Team	275.56
37. Erlin García	Hudson bread	275.93
38. Julian Georg	Syracuse University	277.31
39. Craig Polston	Projekt	277.84
40. Thomas Barnett	EC Devo	279.72
41. Peter Olejniczak	Astellas Cycling Team	282.12
42. Eugene Boronow	GS Mengoni USA	282.96
43. Christopher Tveter	EC Devo	283.83
44. Ismael Collado	Montecci	284.06
45. Sammy Moseley	CRCA/Foundation	285.12
46. David Hildebrand	Aetna-Expo Wheelmen	287.67
47. Trevor Rolette	EGO p/b Sammy's Bikes	287.70
48. Alejandro Guzman	CRCA/Foundation	291.33
49. Dominic Caiazzo	GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar	291.66
50. A.J. Moran	GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar	292.18
51. john holden	Momentum racing	293.21
52. juan pineda	crca brands cycle/roselyn porsche	295.66
53. alessandro matteucci	Healthy and Happy Racing	295.88
54. Steve M Cullen	Meteir Racing/Fasturdays	298.81
55. Andrew House	Wheels of Bloor/ Greywood Developments	299.81
56. Anthony Taylor	CRCA/Dave Jordan Racing	300.34
57. Patrick Ruane	Sunapee/Continental Paving/Buchikas	301.63
58. Josh Friedman	GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar	302.09
59. Kyle Wamsley	Team Skyline	305.19
60. David Hoyle	CT Cycling Advancement Program	307.48
61. Abraham Soler	CRCA/Foundation	310.99
62. Austin Skomra	Verge/Velo NRS	312.78
63. Tom Goetz	Team Towpath/ GVCC	312.87
64. Greg Dorsch	Black Tie Sports	312.95
65. lynn murray	CRCA/Dave Jordan Racing	314.30
66. Franklin Burgos	CRCA / DaveJordan Racing.	314.81
67. Cory Kuhns	Team Towpath/GVCC	314.88
68. Michael Markowicz	CT Cycling Advancement Program Pro-Am Team	315.90
69. joseph orgera	south shore bicycle & fitness	318.94
70. Mike Heiss	GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar	335.04
71. David Ebling	Team Skyline	335.75
72. Christopher Merola	Laughing Dog	342.81
73. Marc Bertucco	Kissena Cycling Club	350.64
74. Ben Barnhardt	Projekt	358.20
75. Richard Scaduto	Projekt	366.82
76. mynor pineda	crca/brands cycle/ roselyn porsche	369.47
77. Matthew Vandivort	CRCA/Health Warrior p/b RK&O	379.20
78. Timothy Burton	RealDeal?Gears p/b WASPcam	408.08 *
79. Ccristopher Holder	Team Coco's/guy	Unknown

Good job Marc. with a few teammates your "luck" would have been very different. I dream of the day when I'm back in shape and able to lead you out to glory.

Nice racing Marc. Get some R&R before getting back in the fray tomorrow!

"So, I guess that answers that question."

After a busy day of racing on Saturday, we had plans to check into our hotel and meet my brother-in-law for dinner. But our room, the only one available, supposedly a non-smoking room, REEKED. Like unbearable. Every dog-friendly Binghamton hotel sold out. Fortunately Sarah's brother took us in. He lives in Ithaca, about 1 hour away. The only really drawback to all of this, is that by the time we got dinner, it was way past Peter's bedtime. He was already jacked up from the day, and discovered that there is nothing more fun that jumping out of his cot, and sliding down the carpeted stairs, over and over and over again. And anyone with a toddler knows, the kid got more and more amped the more tired he was. He's always been a good sleeper/good go-to-bed-er, but since he learned to climb out of his crib...ugh.

Today was important to me. As such, for the occasion, I busted out the blue-belly skin suit and my favorite cycling socks. It's been a long time since I've competed against so many dudes who didn't pay for their own bikes, and honestly, I just didn't know what to expect of the race or myself. Would it be blistering single file action all day long dispatching of lesser riders lap after lap. Could I even finish with the field? Maybe just make it half-way before getting pulled?

To keep things interesting, the promoters took day 1's course and sent us racing counterclockwise. Strangely enough, the sweeping bottom half of the course that was hard and head-windy yesterday, was similarly hard and head-windy today. I don't know how that's even possible, but it was true.

90 riders pinned on numbers today. And because of that extra warm-up lap I took, I started in the way-way back. I was half a wreck at the start. Legs like jelly, nerves and a stomach that kind of wanted to throw up.

No time, we were off. Focused on a good solid start and like a cross race, tried to pass as many from the get-go as possible. It took me a few laps to feel totally comfortable hitting the corners at full race speed, but once I did, and found my preferred lines, I started making a serious push to move up. Which you had to do at every opportunity. You might get a guy on one corner, but he'll come right back at you in the next straight-away.

I had the racing computer working at hyper-speed. Thinking about how my position in turn 1 was going to effect where I ended up in turn 4, calculating the cost-benefit of letting rider x push in front of me. Big guys with nice drafts dive-bombing me in turn 2 usually "won" that battle, but entering the headwind stretch, I ultimately won the war, by taking advantage of their draft and sling-shotting myself through turn 4 and using a high speed spin to climb the homestretch with relatively low energy expenditure.

But I didn't always tuck into the draft. Looking ahead, I could see/feel when things were about to get nasty. One lap I got out of the draft and passed a long single file line of riders including a couple of Astellas pros, in order to set me up for a better approach to turn 4. I must admit I felt kind of studly motoring past dudes cling to wheels in front of them.

I spent the early part of the race thinking, "just hang tight for 1/2 the race." 60 laps to go, 56, 42 laps to go (really, 42 more laps? This is not looking good.). And then there were 30 and I was prepared for the worst.

Halfway through, I was sure the field was going to explode. With Astellas and the German (trackies?) throwing out field shattering bombs. But then a really weird thing happened. Nothing. I mean, there were moments of "pedaling hard required" but I hadn't felt in danger yet.

20 laps to go and I'm like, "holy schmolly, I'm going to finish this thing. I'm totally going to finish this." But it gets weirder...

15 laps to go and I'm continuing to move forward. I can see the front clearly, I can see a way into the top 25 guys. I start to dream about winning money in a legit Pro/Am race.

2 laps to go; big wreck in turn 4. I avoid, but I'm OTB. I briefly think about rolling it easy for two more laps, satisfied that I "basically" finished with the field. But then I'm like, "F that. I'm going to finish this thing." And so I start chasing I catch and pass riders, and, well, 3 minutes at the end of a Pro crit go fast, you know? I never quite make it back.

In the end, I finished 51st out of 90 starters including 20 DNFs.

So, yeah, I guess, given the right kind of course, I can compete with these guys.

Epilogue: During my cool-down, a competitor rolls up to me and says, "Nice race. You were the best wheel to follow out there." One of the nicest compliments I've ever gotten. I take a lot of pride in my skill set and experience. It's nice to know that others are noticing as well.

Marc

"You were the best wheel to follow out there" definitely says something about your tactical and pack savvy out there. Great job. I am hoping one day to follow your wheel around a crit and wait for my brain to explode with all the new knowledge.

Oooh, pictures. In this one, the Bikereg guy in front and to the right of me is about to hit the lip of a pretty nasty manhole cover:

http://www.shadowcatcherltd.com/christhatermemorial_mensrace/h54baa557#h54baa557