@Matt Budofsky I’ll more than likely be out there 

I'm about to register.
anyone joining me in the old man race?

I'll be there.

Just volunteered for marshal patrol, do I just ride at the back and make sure everything is safe?

cpulvidente said:

Just volunteered for marshal patrol, do I just ride at the back and make sure everything is safe?

Not exactly at the back. But yeah, ride around checking in with the marshals, that they got what they need, giving them authority to keep park users safe, and whistle and stop them from getting in the way of the race

I’ll be in the old man race.

I'll be there repping old men as well.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's 40+ race
we've got: Eloy, John, and Joe.
There's also a pretty full pre-reg.  76.  I'm thinking it might fill up.

In the overall, Lynn Murray of Jordan leads Stephen Dioslaki of Metra by two points and Erik Post of Jamison by 12.  If Dio could finish ahead of Murray, he'd tie on points and win the overall.  If Post could win and neither of the other two finish in the points, he'd win.  but,  neither Dio' nor Post is registered, though Brands has five pre-registered.  Jordan has 10 pre-registered.  Jordan's numbers are big, but they're usually not very good at playing the team game, though I see that experienced racers Jose Guzman, John Olsen, Ray Diaz, and Alan Buday are registered.  In general, Brands is the better team, and if Dio' shows, it will be an exciting race.  

In the KoM, John Loehner of Benzelbusch/Strictly has it locked up, though he could move teammate Kevin Molloy into second.  As these guys are strong, smart, and coordinated, I expect they'll do this.  

In the Green Jersey competition, Jerry Kapko of Wonder Wheel is leading by six points.  Johann Burrowes could pass him by winning both sprints and keeping Jerry out of the sprints on the final day.  This seems unlikely, and Johann currently has only one teammate registered and Jerry has no teammates registered.  

I'm thinking Lynn will want this controlled, but he could benefit if a breakaway goes off, provided Dioslaki doesn't show.  Without Dio', Jordan might give Jose Guzman a chance to shine.  He's a strong rider and good in a break.  

If Dioslaki shows, I think Brands will want to make the race fast and try to burn Lynn off, or have him miss the break.  Lynn has a good sprint, obviously, but he's not good in the wind.  

I'm guessing that the harder, more consequential times in the race will be setting up for the KoM sprints, but the intermediate sprints could break up the field as well.

A few team-less riders are pretty strong.  Alastair Sponsel, a tall guy with Boston someowhere on his jersey, and Scott Griffin, who will be in all black and riding a Felt, are good to get into moves with.  

No matter what, the combinations of who is up the road when matters.  Staying close to the front will pay off.  

Cat 4 & 5 crew take a good look at JP’s analysis and ask yourself how well you know your field.

If I could give my Cat 5 self one piece of advice it would be to learn how to learn my competition. One thing that always amazes me is how experienced racers can catalogue a rider they’ve never seen before and recall them years later. 

I rode with Michael Barry for an afternoon in Spain and five years later in Toronto he he recognized me even though I was wearing a different kit. I promise I’m neither that charming or interesting. 

@Jules thanks for the advice. Even though I only have 7 races under my belt I can definitely see the advantage of knowing the group you're riding with. When to make moves based on the players etc. See you guys tomorrow bright and early. 

I'm going to be haunted by this race for a while.

first, for the tl/dr:
JP-20
eloy-31
John-40
Joe-52

We started with the guys mentioned.  There were probably at least a dozen extra riders than the pre-reg.  Dioslaki WASN'T there.  Turns out he was on vacation.  It seemed like his team, while present, was kind of checked out.  And Jordan had everyone, but was riding their typical selves, no clue as to what to do.  

We were looking good.  

Things didn't get moving for a while.  I followed a few attacks early, but didn't do much when I saw how others were riding.  I even got into a move with John Loehner and Jose Guzman, but when I saw Jose wasn't going to ride as we were headed into the hill, I decided to sit back to see what Loehner did.  I didn't want to add gas and have him attack me, and then Jose follow.  He sat up.  It looked like Jordan was riding for the sprint.  

Going into the first intermediate sprint, I got behind Loehner and Jerry Kapko, the sprint leader.  Loehner set a hard pace up the hill, over the top, and into the sprint.  Johann Burrowes came up to Jerry just before the sprint and told him he wasn't going to challenge him.  Jerry went anyways and got beat at the line.  I just missed third, but my reason for being there was to be ready for counters.  They didn't come.

We did a fast lap into the first KoM sprint.  But it was clear the guys going for it were going to sit up.  

Just before 4 to go, there was a hard effort up the hill.  I didn't think it was brutal, but we, surprisingly, got a separation.  Like 12 guys, including Loehner, three from Brands, two from Mineola, and assorted others.  And people are starting to ride.  At first, I didn't believe we had a gap.  But on the downhill, I saw we did.

When the others realized it, they suddenly forgot how to pedal.  Really.  They had been drilling it, but now they were looking around.  So I took a pull.  My friend Chris Kaefer took a pull.  Loehner came through yelling, "c'mon, we'll go faster if we just pull through."  The three of us start to rotate into the hill.

I'm worried that I'm going to be jumped by the guys who were shirking.  while the Mineola guys don't help each other, each has a decent jump.  The three Brands guys should typically work together.  So, I start the hill in the lead, at a hard, but manageable, pace, fearing that I'll get jumped hard by a group.

At the final right-hand bend, Loehner comes around me, out of the saddle.  It's not an all-out attack.  I hesitate, thinking I'll just be towing other guys up to him, which might put me on the edge.  But no one comes by.

I realize, too late, that the brief threesome had gapped the rest of the break, which wasn't faking it--they were spent.  

And that was it.

While the race got cut on the next lap--we went from three to go to one to go--Loehner won solo.  the Jordan and Brands guys did nothing to chase down Loehner.

I even screwed up the sprint.  I could have slotted behind Kevin Molloy, but I was jockeying with Chris Loehner, and since he wanted Kevin in front of him, I figured his hill form was coming around.  Not enough it turns out. Molloy was the wheel I should have taken.

At least the form seems to be coming around.  As with everyone else's.  WE NEED MOAR RACES.

Jules said:

Cat 4 & 5 crew take a good look at JP’s analysis and ask yourself how well you know your field.

If I could give my Cat 5 self one piece of advice it would be to learn how to learn my competition. One thing that always amazes me is how experienced racers can catalogue a rider they’ve never seen before and recall them years later. 

I rode with Michael Barry for an afternoon in Spain and five years later in Toronto he he recognized me even though I was wearing a different kit. I promise I’m neither that charming or interesting. 

Seems totally obvious: one way to results is to know who the strongest players are, what might motivate them, and to be there when it happens. That's what "help them win" means... be there in the mix, pedal with them, don't just attack hard by yourself, attack with the riders that matter when it matters.

On Saturday's race, JP looked particularly sharp, and I had better legs than in any other 2019 Masters race. Was definitely fun to contribute a little bit, close some gaps, and generally represent. As JP stated, the group struggled to put a race together, there were some really long and fast moments (those were the best moments), some hard core splits, but then riders would hesitate and it come down, to then repeat, and then again...

At 41.4 km/h (26ish mph) one of the fastest park races in 2019.

Of note JP shoe game bringing it up a notch or 1000.

I just did a whole write up on the Cat 5 race but the forum ate my post. 

The gist is @Matt Budofsky , @MichaelKosche and myself were in the mix all race. On the second to last lap a group of 3 or 4 guys thought it was last lap and gave it full gas sprinting to the start/finish. They were subsequently caught in their confusion. On the actual last lap, Matt and I were at the front 1/3 of the group but the group was very strung out due to everyone pushing a very face pace. We both managed to make up quite a bit of ground on the final hill. Around GAP the front field had split with 1-3 out front then 4-12ish following a few seconds behind. I managed to catch the second group and snag 5th in a field sprint to the line. Matt grabbed 16th and Mike with a 20th place finish. All in all a fast and fun race as always. 

edit: after the finish another rider came up to me to say "nice race" as he was drafting me a lot during the whole race since I'm a "big guy". At 5'9" I shouldn't be the big guy. Think I'll take this comment as fuel to watch my diet and lose a few pounds. 

Eloy those photos are the hotness. Hittin me in the feels.
Jason great result. Talk to the greybears about some tricks to punish the guys who sit on your wheel too much. There are many, and they all work

@Jules does it involve drinking milk before a race even though you're lactose intolerant ? Because I tried that. 

JasonFugett said:

@Jules does it involve drinking milk before a race even though you're lactose intolerant ? Because I tried that. 

Milk beforehand is Cat 5. Full pro is never washing your race kit. 

There are are definitely more sanitary ways though

Looks like the casteli series has gone remote. If you're racing, what categories is everyone jumping in?? 

I’m in for the C race

I am on the C race.

I think I'm in for the C race

Matt Budofsky said:

I’m in for the C race

oh boy I'd better sign up for the D race then

Full gas from the gun. Only applicable way to race is to maintain space around you at all times. Either by being infront or behind. Drafting is cheating.  

I think full winter kit is appropriate. Two bottles, gloves and a hat.

F it, I’m in. This should be embarrassing 🤪.

I am hoping the groupetto is large so that I can hide my shame in the crowd.

Oh snap. Which thread do we post in, L&C or Zwift... 
24.5km is this thing going to be a screamer?
How do we identify one another? I put a "(KISSENA)" next to my name. Why are custom kits so darn hard?

Signed up for c race. I've been on a bike exactly once since January and that was today after I got my bike fixed up.

So this will be hilarious.

David Yang said:

Signed up for c race. I've been on a bike exactly once since January and that was today after I got my bike fixed up.

So this will be hilarious.

Whatever Yanger you get a GREEN JERSEY out of the deal! 

it’ll be a handicap race, it’s gonna crazy town hard!! only consideration, is don’t go so crazy deep you get sick 😷 

last week, Margrite came about 90 seconds close to lapping us (he didn’t) but doesn’t fare well 😬😬