Dan you better be racing tomorrow morning.

Dan Reiners said:

But you gotta expect Dioslaki or Zeb keyed into those opportunities. So having somebody who is their shadow during those key moments means you don’t have the moment of hesitation when you ask “who’s got that” while they’re charging up the road. 

Granted i I doubt I could match Dioslaki acceleration but being on his wheel might be better than being on the other side of the group. 

I don't know if we have enough people for that.  I'd rather more of us continually in the top 20 places in the field so we're close to the attackers when they're moving to the front, and keeping an eye on them.

eloy said:

Dan you better be racing tomorrow morning.

Sorry, I'm gonna be riding around marshaling and yelling at y'all to pedal more.

Unless he's off his game Carbonara would be one to watch for a long move after a KOM.

Jules said:

Unless he's off his game Carbonara would be one to watch for a long move after a KOM.

he's only going to go for the next KoM.  

I hope everyone had a nice, safe race this morning. 
I was unable to sign up day of.  I got to the table at 5:30 but nobody was manning it.  Not that big of a deal.  I can miss a race start sometimes.  Whatev's.  When the promoter finally sat at table he was cantankerous and snooty with people who were trying to give their money to him.  I say all of this with peace & love.  I know it's a privilege to race bikes in NYC.  I know.  Now I usually register first and then scoot to my car & get kitted up but this morning I likely would have missed the start if I registered.  I thought of asking the promoter if I could get my entry fee back if I missed the start...but I'm not going to willingly put myself in a position where the promoter can say "no" to me.  
So far this year there has been a situation where the 2/3's got neutralized after catching the Masters on the last lap.  I know that's bike racing.  I know.  But my opinion is that the promoter should have acted before that incident by neutralizing one of those fields before the final lap.  Hey, it happens.  What shouldn't happen is a promoter tongue lashing the Masters field for riding too slow. Punctuated with a few, "Don't show up at one of my races and...".
Today...nobody there to take money for day of registration.  Now yes, I understand I could pre-reg.  But my weekend racing depends on how busy my week is.  I had a heavy work week & I was on the fence about racing.  But there were plenty of spots open in the 2/3 and I received an email informing me of this.
I'm just offering up my concerns...as a paying customer.  I feel like my obligation as a customer is to go out in the world, earn $45, show up and hand it to a promoter.  The promoters obligation to me, is that he controls the race fields and has somebody at the registration table to collect my entry fee. I know we have the opportunity to help at registration & get get paid or race credit.  I know Patrick does this often & Dan & Nelly were working hard at this morning.   I'd rather pay my way, have a warm up before the race etc.
 I apologize if this post seems "snooty & cantankerous".  It's not how I intend it to come across.  I love the NYC racing scene.  I'm sure there is a lot of work that goes into setting up/cleaning for races in the park.
 I'm just putting this out there to see if I'm completely off base on how I see the situation?

I had a great morning !  Watched the sun come up...went to the gym with the Mrs. & I'll probably go ride my cross bike later.  
Thank you for reading this
Yacks

Yacks? What race are you talking about?

According to my Strava I was there at 5:26 am: There were people manning the Pre-Reg and Day of Reg tables -- as you stated, some of them where your teammates.

To be clear: The Kissena Cycling Club is the sponsor of the race that happened this morning in Prospect Park. If one of the tables needs help, please volunteer (on the spot) and set it up yourself -- Many of us have done this plenty of times.

ok...me's thinks I just need to get kitted up before I reg from now on...I'm only doing this for 20 years...I'll figure it out eventually.  The only thing "manning" the day of table when I was there was a half eaten bagel.  Charlie even yelled out to me that there was no one at the day table.   Some time past and Charlie came to the table himself. Again...I didn't leave myself enough time to get kitted up.  I totally would have sat down and helped...and probably should have in hindsight.  My bad...I was just getting frustrated and when I get frustrated I get mad and when I get mad I get angry and when I get angry I get indignant...u get where I'm going.  I've gotten used to getting sniped at in the race...I just didn't want to get sniped at before the race by Charlie...for doing nothing wrong. 
I'm sorry I should have helped the club this morning....but it felt like I would be helping Charlie...and I chose not to do that.

Yacks has a longer commute to the race start than most, plus he's got to dig through all those green jerseys to find white kit... I can see why he'd be pressed for time.

Not having mandatory volunteering is a big thing - but volunteers are hard to predict. The park doesn't give the race promoter extra time at the end of the race if he starts late so there is a.... pinch.

Be bold; set your alarms early.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHRI_eMkMX8

I'm trying Ringo, I'm trying real hard...

Remember the racing?

So, we had Eloy, Jim, John Powell, Jeff Condon and myself lining up (could have used you Yacks).  You can read the race prediction above.

In short, it was as expected.  I didn't recall that the sprints were before the KoMs, not the other way around.  I think the 2nd KoM was between 2 and 1 laps to go, and the 2nd sprint was between 4 and 3?  (Could someone help me out remembering this?)

As such, it made the controlling of the peloton fairly easy for Brands and Axis.  Axis, with mostly Paul Carbonara, Jon Orcutt and Jack Boral, did keep things close for the KoMs--they were quite clearly riding for Danny Inoa.  I definitely wanted to attack after them.  However, on the first KoM, Brands set a hard tempo behind them and that kept the field close, and they had the legs to do that much of the day.    

Brands was really riding well the whole day.  Aside from Axis, none of the other large teams were doing anything.  And the attackers I identified before the race were staying pretty quiet overall.  JP Rorech sat in all day, Zeb Nelessen attacked once, Dioslaki maybe three times, and Guzman followed only a few moves.    

We were going pretty well, too.  It felt like we collectively progressed a good bit since last race.  Jim was more active than I've seen him before, Jeff always looked ready, and John Powell, after not seeing him all race attacked a few times in the final four laps.  Jeff and Jim seemed to position themselves pretty well most of the race.  Good rides all.

I became convinced that there wasn't much chance in getting away.  I kept close to the front all day, was able to block on some of Jim's early moves, had a decent eye on all the action.  In the Castelli masters races this year, I've had no trouble moving up at all.  This race, on the last lap, I did.  Kept on getting stuck behind slowpokes who couldn't hold their bikes straight--my fault for not being more attentive.

Jeff was our best finisher.  Not sure of his placing.  11th.  

I think we're ready for the next step.  Both picking times to attack before the race, and having a sprint strategy.  And, of course, getting more guys in the top 20 for more of the race.  

Also gotta start talking to the likely attackers to convince them to attack with.  

Looking forward to the next one.

(I'm also happy that the first guy across the line was DQ'ed.  He thought it essential that he attack through the joggers lane, squeezing through a rider and a runner, to get up to an inconsequential move on the first lap.  That's bad in so many ways.)

One other + even though there was a big crash in the middle of the Masters race that took out the Green Jersey leader and several other riders. All of you were in the front 1/2 of the race and were not affected. 

I'm happy that no one went down ...and yacks apologizes as I may have been looking for anyone to blame but myself

Dan Reiners said:

One other + even though there was a big crash in the middle of the Masters race that took out the Green Jersey leader and several other riders. All of you were in the front 1/2 of the race and were not affected. 

I don't think I even heard it.  #atthefront

Looks like I got 11th. One out of the money but progress. 

Nice work Jeff.

And Erik got 3rd in the 5s. Excellent.

Where is Big "Smiling" Willy Payton? I thought he was riding for Axis this year. I'd have pegged him for a sprint finish. 

Jules said:

Where is Big "Smiling" Willy Payton? I thought he was riding for Axis this year. I'd have pegged him for a sprint finish. 

He is riding for Axis.  And it's the first time in years, I've seen him put in an effort, albeit fairly short, for anyone other than himself.  He was at the back of the top ten, sadly, in front of Condon.

Kissena totally missed the crash, but oh boy, Etsu ended up concussed, Dave Sommerville broke his collarbone, Stokes full on rash. 
From Dave's go pro - That's Stokes on the left, and Etsu on the ground:


Ride the front, stay safe.

On an infinitely better note, here are some of Victor Chan's photos (no password):

https://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Clients/Kissena-Race-Season-2018/Castelli-Race-Series-6918-1800/n-KbKGcX/

@jim_nelson
Thanks for the mention! It was a quick Cat 5 race averaging 26.1 mph.  Only being 5 laps, I was able to focus on my positioning on the final lap.  I was roughly 5th heading up the hill and hopped on the wheel of a very strong CRCA GF Capital rider.  I was red lined and attempted to pass him when he moved a meter over, forcing me to stop pedaling (not sure if I even had any left in me to truly pass)...overall very happy with 3rd! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QETvJEmqLI&feature=youtu.be
FF to 38:25 to watch rider Erik Shahumyan and our @Joe Matunis get into a little scuffle.

so much awesome fire, Erik!!

I'll cx post this under skills but this race video is worth watching for the new 4's & 5's

It's an annotated "how to race in the pack" video by Kissena alum Marc Bertucco.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vQgYqWsygI

weird thing about this masters race.  
We must have had a tailwind for the finish.
Because of the 16,000+ people who have ridden the segment called "Hilltop to 3rd street (new race finish)" I'm tied for 37th (with about 40 people), less than 3s off the fastest ever time.  Brian Miele and Dave Yang are also in there.  

haha, I noticed my PR, but didn't bother to look closely, it says we reached 58km/h -- which is impressive if we actually did!

Anyone doing this Saturday's Castelli race?

I'll be there. Masters.

Just reg'd

Sorry guys - I'm riding to the Berkshires on Saturday. Have fun.