Mark Taylor said:

I have been sick since Sunday , no race for me 

Oh no, hope you feel better soon!

Doing the short race, will ride for M&M (Matty&Max).

I'm setting 21 alarms this weekend.

I’m also doing 4/5s, thanks Dave Y for the kick in the ass. 

Thanks for the reminder- setting my alarm 30 minutes earlier so I don't flub the timing again

4/5 Crew- who's feeling good and thinks they have the legs to take it down? I felt good most of the week, but felt really extra flat today (hoping some carb loading and early to bed will get my legs to come around), so I'm down to work and blow myself to bits

Max had the legs to be in the money last week, let's try to work for him tomorrow.

Larger field with only 5 laps and everyone has strong summer legs so I don't think any breaks will stick, but we'll watch for anything that looks dangerous.

Let's try to gel back together on the last lap. If the stars align:

- I'll attempt to lead us out to the hill and as far up as possible. My collapse into the singularity is the signal to make the move.
- Matty, escape velocity from my black hole gravity by setting new power records up the hill and into the sprint.
- Max, you stick to Matty's wheel like super glue until he fades at which point you launch like a bat out of hell.
- Blake, you're going to stick to Max's wheel and fade like a pro, opening up a nice gap everyone has to sprint around.

Heads up, elbows sharp. See ya in the morning.

Last week in the 5s no breaks were able to stick (and Max tried to keep with a few). I helped control the group to not chase the first break that Max was in, others were annoyed but it was intentional. 

Today was a good team day. We discussed before the race, stuck to the plan, communicated throughout, made adjustments and got results. Congrats Max! 

Lap 5 leadout breakdown:

Here is where I turned into a black hole of suck and dropped off Matt and Max...




...then this is where Matt reached escape velocity and delivered Max to the sprint...


...and finally Max's bat out of hell sprint for podium.

Quick Verge Report.

• Thierry, Patrick, JP, and myself raced Masters
• I spend the full time clubbing in the famous Mid Packing District
• with 3 to go people are letting gaps open by GAP, Angelo is all like "Eloy, go around them" w/out that comment I would not have registered that peeps were dying -- good sign for me? haha
  
• 2 to go I ask JP "How you feeling?" "So so, not great" I reply "ok same, I might call it in"
• We get the bell, as we hit the bottom a bit past the temple JP full blast attacks and gets a mega gap - so much for so so
• Thoughts enter my head "if he survives the hill HE WINS, but it'll be the fastest hill of the day"
• JP gets closed by the zoo, still he fully animated the race, peeps are flying all over
• By the top it's all a group sprint 
• I ride it in 20ish, JP somewhere right behind
• At 42.1km/h (26.1mph) race is supah fasp 
• Coffee with everyone is a mega highlight, post race vibes are on the up n up
• Max podiums on another field

Meanwhile here's a 65 seconds POV doc of today's live shows at the Mid Packing District club:
https://youtu.be/gYqW9lnDoUM?si=XsxoC_PIfCdrGg6K

Today was a great day for the team. Dave and I were up at the front the whole race keeping track of things and Max was chilling behind us letting us know where we was. I chased one attack down into the headwind on lap 2 and realized it was a complete waste of energy, nothing was going to stick, so the name of the game became surf wheels and save energy. at the end of lap 4 I found Dave’s wheel and stuck to it like glue. He brought us up to the bottom of the hill and put us in perfect position. I pushed hard to the top of the hill with max right behind, came around GAP, let off the gas for a couple of seconds and then started back up until I dropped max off at the constructions. Ended up averaging just over 500 watts for about 2 minutes and sitting at 182 BPM (just about my max) for over a minute aka felt like I was dying a thousand deaths, but it was worth it! Couldn’t be more proud of our execution and how we raced today

Verge Series Recap

Not too much to add that Matt and Dave didn't cover.  I sat in 10ish wheels deep for pretty much the entire race, often on Matt and Dave's wheels, just staying out of wind.  Coming into final lap, found Matt and linked up with Dave.  Had a nice pull by Matt up over the hill (that ease off was much needed) before getting flicked off.  Had good snap, but wasn't geared properly and had to come back into the saddle to adjust before kicking off again.  About 810W for the final 14 seconds to nab 3rd.  Big thanks to Matt and Dave for the protection and lead out

Harlem Skyscraper Crit

This was my first ever crit race, legs were feeling a bit heavy today, but goal was to just stick to the front and see what happens.  Pretty much executed that, maybe staying too far up in some spots and eating wind.  Coming into last few laps, had to help chase down a break which we closed, but then with two to go a guy countered and got a solid gap, picked it up to close but at that point I knew I didn't have it in me.  Pushed as hard as I could to stay with the chase but was on the tail end of it across the line. Sat at an average of 180 BPM for 25 mins 

 Overall a very good experience. Outside of some positioning stuff, I cornered well, didn't ever need to brake and didn't get caught in the two crashes that happened.  12th or 13th place.  I think about 50ish riders started, and 29 finished

Just to add a little to Eloy's excellent report.

So much stupid!  Tom Mains spent loads of time telling people not to ride in the jogger's lane under any circumstance.  He did it for the 2-3 and then for the masters, and during the Masters repeat, two 2-3 racers rode through the joggers lane to get upto the race they just missed.  It was the end of their Prospect Park seasons--though one of them flatted and had to walk back to the finish as well.  

In our field, I watched at least three guys in the opening few laps ride up to the front, like second wheel, then look back at the field, then shift into a bigger gear, get out of the saddle.  Some surprise attack.  They went nowhere.

After three times up the hill, I knew I couldn't wait for the last time up the hill to position for the finish.  I needed something else.  So I watched for moves on the rest of the course.  I slid into a few, but they were short-lived.

I was trying to stay top 10-15 spots because even though it would be windier there, I wouldn't have to scramble when splits occurred.  A few times, when we were easing up, I rode to the front and just kept a manageable tempo, well under threshold, knowing a steadier ride up the hill would be better for me, and I had enough room between threshold that I could ramp up my effort pretty easily. 

I guess the flats had a headwind.  It was slow there.  

AFter I told Eloy I was feeling only so-so, I hatched an 'if all else fails' plan.  Maybe I should have told him.  Essentially, I was going to set myself up on the left side of the road near the front for the last downhill, and launch just at the last right-hand curve.  I figured that if I was on the white line, I would have the faster line and no one else would be with me.  I'd also have the advantage of taking the chute at the end at full-speed when the field would be funnelling to avoid the dirt.  I'd also keep my momentum onto the flats while the field often sits up.

While Rockstar Games' Yeates was ahead, I did get into position and attacked just as I wanted.  I was quickly closing the gap to Yeates, partially because he took the long line where the road curves right ont he flats.  But then I started to sputter about 1.5 minutes in.  I looked back, I had a big gap.  That was a real surpirse.  Equally surpriing was to have Tom Cipolla (Brands) roll up.  It didn't seem like I could go with him, so he got a smal gap ahead of me. Maybe I could have.  I looked back again, the field was far off.  While I was pretty dead, I was starting to think maybe I could hold off the field.  I passed the old finish line, I was still ahead.  I didn't get caught until the hill started. 

I had a good time in the Master's race especially given that I had questioned the wisdom of lining up two weeks after having had thyroid surgery. I felt sorta strange during the race. I didn't have the legs to get to the front of the race. I was forever relegated to the mid and back of the field, but on the other hand, I never felt like I was over my limit with the exception of the 6th lap when I let a gap open up on the hill and wasn't able to close it. Looking forward to the next race

I had two GoPro's on the bike and got some pictures and spliced the following video of some Kissenas, and friends of the club. Enjoy

https://youtu.be/Tb1wu0GbuHA?si=urwISjpjvwZmjjjJ

This picture of Paul Coluccio has to be my favorite. Mike Perlberg (wearing cool aviators) has no idea that Paul is losing it. BTW they are both educators. Summer can't come fast enough

Paul's "Celeste vibes" color matching is *chefs kiss*.

Mike wearing aviators is *chefs kiss*.

Getting non-glute focused GoPro footage is *chefs kiss*.

Love your wordsmithing

David Yang said:

Getting non-glute focused GoPro footage is *chefs kiss*.

@BlakeFoster @MaxBucksbaum @KevinWomack @Matt Budofsky @AlexandervanHatter @LennartZandbergen

...and anyone else joining the cat 4/5 crew, let's get a KCC on the podium this week!

https://www.bikereg.com/66567

id love to but I have a wedding out of town Friday night and won't make it back in time :'(

David Yang said:

@BlakeFoster @MaxBucksbaum @KevinWomack @Matt Budofsky @AlexandervanHatter @LennartZandbergen

...and anyone else joining the cat 4/5 crew, let's get a KCC on the podium this week!

https://www.bikereg.com/66567

I'm down. We register though the link? Alex mentioned we can register through a spreadsheet somewhere but that may have been for another series...

KevinWomack said:

David Yang said:

@BlakeFoster @MaxBucksbaum @KevinWomack @Matt Budofsky @AlexandervanHatter @LennartZandbergen

...and anyone else joining the cat 4/5 crew, let's get a KCC on the podium this week!

https://www.bikereg.com/66567

I'm down. We register though the link? Alex mentioned we can register through a spreadsheet somewhere but that may have been for another series...

Awesome - yeah we'll get a form soon to sign up for reg desk duties to race for free. If you pre-reg and put your name down, Tom refunds you through Bikereg.

I'm considering, not sure yet though

@David Yang I'm racing! Coming off a week and a half in Colorado, got to put my mini altitude camp to use 

For the 4/5 we've got David, Kevin, and Max.  So far.  they need co-conspirators.

For the Old Man race, I've registered.  Anyone joining me?

(I am not planning on racing Verge this Saturday, good luck y'all)

I’m in for 4/5s. Going to pay my way so I can get some extra sleep this time 

Excellent, so we have: Kevin, Max, Blake, and Dave Y.

How is everyone feeling? Any goals or tactics you want to try?

Max sounds like he is fit and ready for podium again, so my very basic goal is "help him win". This includes bringing him up to the front, chasing legit breaks, leading him out and sweeping his wheel.

In the most likely scenario of a field sprint:

• Bell lap: Let's gel together after temple as we round into the east side.
• If needed, eat wind to move Max up to the front. He will not to feel a breeze on his face.
• False flats and nerves typically prevents people from going for it before zoo leading up to the hill base.
• Max, you need to communicate so we know you're on our wheel.
• Two of us will pull Max to and up the hill and around GAP. Base to GAP is approx 1min.
• One of us needs to sweep his wheel and not let anyone into that position.
• One of us will lead out Max rounding into GAP and towards the finish. Leadout time is approx 30-40s
• Max will be dropped off with 10 seconds of all out sprinting.
• Max wins!

@David Yang

Legs are feeling good right now, so this works for me!

Looking at registrations, looks like L&D has a solid amount of riders as per usual, always odd/disorganized tactics from them though.  There is a strong rider from Linea who took the W in the CRCA last week from a break, otherwise no one else that is majorly sticking out to me that I recognize from past races

David Yang said:

Excellent, so we have: Kevin, Max, Blake, and Dave Y.

How is everyone feeling? Any goals or tactics you want to try?

Max sounds like he is fit and ready for podium again, so my very basic goal is "help him win". This includes bringing him up to the front, chasing legit breaks, leading him out and sweeping his wheel.

In the most likely scenario of a field sprint:

• Bell lap: Let's gel together after temple as we round into the east side.
• If needed, eat wind to move Max up to the front. He will not to feel a breeze on his face.
• False flats and nerves typically prevents people from going for it before zoo leading up to the hill base.
• Max, you need to communicate so we know you're on our wheel.
• Two of us will pull Max to and up the hill and around GAP. Base to GAP is approx 1min.
• One of us needs to sweep his wheel and not let anyone into that position.
• One of us will lead out Max rounding into GAP and towards the finish. Leadout time is approx 30-40s
• Max will be dropped off with 10 seconds of all out sprinting.
• Max wins!

Oh boy… I will try incorporate the above in my “do not crash and finish the race” strategy/tactics.

Kevin, I've watched you race and I see your numbers, you're more than capable of finishing top 10. Keep your eyes, wits and elbows sharp and we'll see each other at the finish line.

My goal is to finish with the bunch. If I can help, I will