Calling all old folks. Some strong teams lining up on Saturday for fresh asphalt and sunny skies. Who's joining?

I will be there.

With build in excuses: Lost quite a bit of fitness, over a cold that lingered for 3 f**king weeks. Goal is simply to survive.

eloy said:

I will be there.

With build in excuses: Lost quite a bit of fitness, over a cold that lingered for 3 f**king weeks. Goal is simply to survive.

I'm in the same boat. Not really been on a bike in a week and still wheezing a bit. But once I was afraid. I was petrified.

I am sorry gents, I am out of this one. I spent most of this week in bed with my lungs each trying to jump out of my chest, so I would be less than useless in the pack especially with a bunch of fast masters.

no like.

I'm in.  Cat 1, 2, 4.  That's my definition of a C race.  See you at the start line.

I'm in. (couldn't find the time to go to Coxsackie)

We've got: Eloy, Mark Taylor, Eric Robertson, Jim Nelson, Bruce, Dan Strika, and myself.  

There are some strong teams (Dave Jordan, Rapha, Axis, Mineola, Purium, Carl Hart), but unfortunately, the names are more about sprinters then rouleurs.  Rapha and Axis are the exceptions.  And solo riders Ray Diaz and Stephen Dioslaki can be counted on to be in the mix.

I'm feeling pretty ok, much better than last week.  

Yacks and his wonky cranks snuck in with a minute to go at regi.  You guys had to know???  Don't you know ??? Don't you know a rumble ain't a rumble without me ???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me9CWMoTL8o

Awesome.  

How ya' feelin'?  Ready to do some damage?

Bout as good as a 45 year old who has treated his body like an amusement park could feel

If I'm there at the end 'll smash the hill for yous guys...wants to keep away from these situations
www.gifs.com/gif/lYkk1g

www.gifs.com/gif/lYkk1g

!!!!!!!

dude...check that bike for a moto

Charlie needs 2-3 volunteers for Castelli Cup reg. Volunteers race for free. Just show up early (5:15). Please contact him directly at charlesissendorf@gmail.com.

Fellas,
   Thinking about tomorrow's racing.  I think it's key to be positioned well going into the laps where there's a points or KoM sprint.  I figure Axis will go for the KoM, maybe Rapha, and several teams will go for the sprint, as well Dioslaki.  I think there will be prime opportunities to attack immediately after those efforts, and being ready for that would help us all.

Jeffrey White said:

Charlie needs 2-3 volunteers for Castelli Cup reg. Volunteers race for free. Just show up early (5:15). Please contact him directly at charlesissendorf@gmail.com.

I will be there at registration harassing folks for their licenses. 

All, I will be in the Cat 5 tomorrow. Anyone else doing that? This will be my first ever race, so plan is to take it pretty easy. Looking forward, though! One question, still so new to the club that I don't yet have a club shirt. Anyone happen to have a spare I can borrow for the race?

What size jersey Andreas???

Would think large

Great! I will bring you one and will meet you during registration. I'll be the one wearing  a blue winter jacket.

Fantastic, Thierry, thank you! See you in 5 minutes.

There is a finish line vid... you can see JP grabbing what appears to be 8th...and me winding up my sprint for 27th...thank you very much
https://www.facebook.com/scott.gregoire.1/videos/1171750326177284/

Glad I skipped the post race doughnuts...went to my daughters softball game and bought some raffles...walked out with a booze basket and a wreath... Yeah baby !!!

@yack. There is a God after all!

JP in the $!
Report...?

Great time in the fives - small field, lots of attacking. Andreas made a strong first showing, comfortably leading the group for large portions of the race and Eduard made a heroic attack up the hill on the last lap. I managed to stick with the front of the group but was too spent to do anything other than hang on to the break. 

Managed one decent iPhone pic of JP on the last lap. Next time I'll bring a proper camera!

You've seen our start list.  Robertson didn't show, otherwise, everyone was there (Eloy, Mark Taylor, Eric Robertson, Jim Nelson, Bruce, Dan Strika, and myself.)  Pretty sure the field was full.  And with warm weather, the sun, and little wind, it was bound to be aggressive.

I wanted to be in a break.  I wanted that break to include Stephen Dioslaki (metra), Paul Carbonara (Axis), either Andrew McGee or Matt Seaton (Rapha).  It would be nice to have a few other larger teams represented.  A Brands guy perhaps.  But with 5-6 guys, I figured that would be enough to escape for good.

Because I felt we didn't have the depth to do lots of head banging--initiating or following lots of attacks, I brought up the idea of focusing on the points laps.  I figured the added speed and confusion could be used to our benefit.

Stephen Dioslaki (Metra) attacked from the gun.  A few years back, when we had the old finish, he'd attack from the gun literally every 1/2/3 race.  His characteristics are perfectly suited for the hill.  Back then, we'd literally give one guy the assignment to follow him on his move.  But he drew only one guy who wasn't much helping, and it was extremely short-lived.

That didn't end the attacking.  And when I saw that McGee and some other decent aggressors were making efforts, I decided to join in the action.  I knew 12 laps to go was long, but a big split early could be a good thing.  And in my experience, it was too early for the field to get going on serious counter-attacks.  Didn't work.  Pulled back at the start of the second lap.

There were lots of attacks.  I was trying not to get drawn in deeply, but rather stay in the first ten wheels.  Still, I did some moves.  Eloy would periodically come spinning by me on the occasions when I was farther back than I liked (excellent eye), and I'd take a tow from him until I could see he was losing steam. interestingly, in all the skirmishes, Axis was absent.  So, too Brands.  Eloy was hovering well and Jim was even able to roll off the front.  

When we got the bell for the first KoM, I figured I could just ride defensively to the hill, then go after the sprint. Only Mitch Jacaruso (weather channel) and Marc Cesare (Wonder Wheel) rolled off on the flats.  I expected some team to chase.  None did.  Dioslaki went for the 3rd place points and I stayed a bit behind so I could attack over the top of the hill.  Which I did.  And got some passengers.

The first sprint was also an opportunity that didn't pan out.  Though I did work pretty hard. and the second KoM as well.  I didn't see much of Seaton, none of Axis, so was trying to ride with McGee as he's strong and reliable.  

going in to the final sprint lap, I was following moves, and right at the front when we were neutralized.  Pretty much from before the chicane to the bottom of the final hill up to GAP.  Everyone had a chance to catch their breath.  The chance of a move sticking seemed slight, but there's only one way to find out.

We go pretty hard up the hill.  I have no idea who's behind, but I feeling good and fifth wheel with about 200m to the line.  The first two guys sprint.  I stay in the saddle and spin my way to third and keep going, while one and two sit up.  Three laps to go.  This seems like the last good shot, so I keep on powering, not looking back, until just before the descent.  

I've got Jacaruso, JP Rorech (Deno's, with big representation but not strong), Carbonara, and Greg Lee of Brands.  Not a bad selection.  I'm guessing that Lee is a passenger and Rorech has seemed uneven in the race thus far.  Dioslaki  and Carbo will ride, I hope Mitch will, and so long as Lee hangs on, we won't have to worry about his team chasing.

All pull.  Which is good.

On the next lap, two to go, Dioslaki and Seaton and Kevin McNeil join.  The first two pull, McNeil shirks.  Lots.  Guys are skipping pulls, but Jacaruso is stronger than I expected.  Rorech and Lee both seem like they'll crack at any moment, unsteady riding and labored breathing.  Our penultimate time up the hill, guys seem to be getting gapped.  I seem to be one of the stronger riders.

We get the bell and McNeil is finally pulling.  

After we descend, McNeil starts yelling "they're coming," yet he's back to skipping pulls. Rorech and Lee are having lots of trouble.  I've been shortening my rest to make sure gaps don't open up. I figure the hill will kill off at least two, if not more.

On the hill, I pull much of the way up.  It's hard, but I feel like I've got enough left that if I move over at the top, I'll have enough time to recover, and then sprint.  Don't expect to beat dioslaki, but thinking I'm good enough to mix with Seaton and Jacaruso.

Only as the guys start to come by, and nobody is dropped, I suddenly get that 'about to vomit' chain reaction going on from my lower abdominals to my throat.  I try to stay calm, stop pedaling, hoping it will go away.  It does enough for me to stay last wheel.  Then, when the sprint starts winding up, it hits again, and I'm powerless to do anything other than keep the field off.  I guess if I were a better rider, I'd keep going, vomit and win.

Dioslaki wins, Seaton second, Jacaruso third, Mcneil fourth.  I'm eighth, just ahead of the field. (let it rain muffins--next time I see y'all)

Kind of feel a bit played, at the same time, I didn't think I was that close to the edge climbing, so not sure if I should have cat-and-moused it so much.  Maybe I should have gone a bit easier into the climb and then attacked over the top.  Don't know.

Nice to get on the scoreboard for the year (hey, do we have a scoreboard?)

Fellas, thanks for the help.  The season is long and this is sort-of early.  I'm looking forward to seeing more faces at the front and more attacks in the coming races.  Being able to counter off each other would be awesome.

Well I nearly rolled back into bed , dreading the thought of getting popped out the back of a race with a load of cat 1 masters, So glad I didn't , first race this year and I managed to hang in , granted the pace was a little slower than normal , but I wasn't complaining .I even had some strength to go hard on the last hill and roll in at the back of the field 
Racing is Fun and coffee is always better with friends 

@Yacks

I don't think it's hidden if you put it on your BikeReg profile.


I and my Enve wheels are registered for this race, just to taunt you with their lack of flats on the smooth new pavement. 

lookin' forward to this.