Battenkill - Forum Archive

Nov 20, 2012 at 04:03 PM

tito said:

I was leaving the Runcible Spoon in Nyack last week and another cyclist was pulling his Pinarello out of the rack. He looked at my bike and said "winter beater, eh?" I was like "uh nope...this is the only one." He got embarassed and stammered out some follow-up comment. Whatever. I wasn't offended or annoyed, it just made me lol inside. Anyway, this kind of mentality is what I'm talking about.

That's like the time when I was 8 and I asked a kid when his mom was due. Have I ever told you what happens when you assume?

Jules

Nov 20, 2012 at 04:16 PM

tito said:

I think that everything Jules says is true - except the rather subjective matter of the entry fee. The fact that it's $90 and has sold out just speaks to Mike's point; it's part of a trend making amateur cycling an increasingly elitist sport. I'm not mad at anyone who has the means to pay their way for a race - I just know that as a broke student who is looking at a career with a pretty modest income, a race like Battenkill just isn't in my sphere anymore. And I think that's a bummer.

Yeah, it's a really fair point. That *is* a bummer. Like some others I came to cycling from (gasp) Triathlon where the money is clearly on display. I remember being completely priced out of that sport in college and it's sad to see cycling moving in that direction, but understandable that promoters want to make a living out of this.

Carlo Moser was agog this summer in Prospect Park when he told me with a dead serious face, "You realize that *most* of the bikes here are nicer than what the pros ride?"

Jules

Nov 20, 2012 at 04:17 PM

tito said:
of the rack. He looked at my bike and said "winter beater, eh?" I was like "uh nope...this is the only one." He got embarassed and stammered out some follow-up comment. Whatever. I wasn't

I do hope you scalded him up the state line hill after that though :P

vlad

Nov 20, 2012 at 07:14 PM

I don't like having to break it to you @tito, but that's just the way it goes.

Battenkill is cool, but not for everyone. It doesn't have to be. There are alternatives and personally, I'm ok with variety despite the threat of elitism.

As a musician, I played (and still play) on shitty equipment. That just turned into my thing. But I remember, when things started to pick up for me, wondering how the guys that painted houses or bar tended had the sweetest equipment. I envied them. It turns out that they worked hard and saved up because that's what they wanted so that's what they got. They had the patience and the balls to do it despite their caste in the professional world. I respect that attitude now more than ever.

Just saying. I'm still paying for my bike.

Jules

Nov 20, 2012 at 09:46 PM

vlad said:

I don't like having to break it to you @tito, but that's just the way it goes.

Battenkill is cool, but not for everyone. It doesn't have to be. There are alternatives and personally, I'm ok with variety despite the threat of elitism.

As a musician, I played (and still play) on shitty equipment. That just turned into my thing. But I remember, when things started to pick up for me, wondering how the guys that painted houses or bar tended had the sweetest equipment. I envied them. It turns out that they worked hard and saved up because that's what they wanted so that's what they got. They had the patience and the balls to do it despite their caste in the professional world. I respect that attitude now more than ever.

Just saying. I'm still paying for my bike.

I'd hate to see my favorite thread (Battenkill) turn into an economics forum...

Well all love to ride, and wish the sweet stuff were cheaper.

Di2 and Caviar GU for all my men!

Adam

Nov 21, 2012 at 02:41 AM

Fiscal cliff. Di2 more expensive, race winnings less plump. Blame Obama.

josephmueller

Nov 21, 2012 at 04:04 PM

I kinda feel like daytripping up to do the battenkill course when the time is closer. Would anyone else want to go up? I sucked pretty hard on the dirt sections so I wouldn't mind getting some practice in before hand.

Jeffrey White

Nov 21, 2012 at 05:54 PM

Owens agrees on which point?

I'd be down for a recon. Keep me in the loop.

Jeff Owens

Nov 21, 2012 at 10:01 PM

I agree on I'd like to go up for a fun recon/daytrip/long-ride, as I'm in the Tito bank of "$90 for one race isn't in my economic sphere of existence".

Jules

Nov 21, 2012 at 11:40 PM

I'm in for recon. Lets make a weekend out of it. First day recon, second day attack all the hills.

alyoshas

Nov 21, 2012 at 11:59 PM

would enjoy that too. keep me in the loop please.

vlad

Nov 22, 2012 at 02:44 AM

Third day/way back: Devils Kitchen TT.

Jules

Dec 09, 2012 at 03:20 AM

Not sure if we posted this earlier, but a fun video to watch. Norm's casette looks implausibly clean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wU_KO6dDYQ

Adam

Dec 09, 2012 at 10:43 PM

Jules, or anyone, can you post the elevation profile of Battenkill from your Garmin?

mugwump

Dec 10, 2012 at 12:34 AM

It's still cheaper and easier to ride to palisades Ny, get on the dirt path there, ride to piermont, get on the rail trail, take it to nyack, ride to Nyack beach, ride the dirt there to Haverstraw and then come back.

Jules

Dec 10, 2012 at 05:16 AM

Adam said:

Jules, or anyone, can you post the elevation profile of Battenkill from your Garmin?

Here are 2012 and 2011. It looks like 2013 may be slightly different.

Battenkill 2012.jpg

Battenkill 2011.jpg

ian ellis

Dec 10, 2012 at 05:52 PM

I hear that 2013 will feature fewer big climbs.

alyoshas

Dec 10, 2012 at 05:54 PM

weak

JohnMalcolmson

Dec 10, 2012 at 08:52 PM

Thoughts on which is preferable: Cat 3 (Sat) or 40+ 1-4 (Sun)?

I am thinking Cat 3 might be a bit sketchier, but 40+1-4 could be awful if you have the likes of Greg Olsen s-bagging. Either way I think I'd be hard pressed to make the selection.

This year's course looks gnarly:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1730389

tito

Dec 10, 2012 at 09:48 PM

yoikes.

Adam

Dec 10, 2012 at 09:58 PM

I'm kind of tempted by looking at that course.

vlad

Dec 10, 2012 at 10:20 PM

John Malcolmson said:

Thoughts on which is preferable: Cat 3 (Sat) or 40+ 1-4 (Sun)?

I am thinking Cat 3 might be a bit sketchier, but 40+1-4 could be awful if you have the likes of Greg Olsen s-bagging. Either way I think I'd be hard pressed to make the selection.

I rode with the 40+ group for a lap after I got dropped from the 3's at Cap Region this year. 40+ was a much more refined and efficient ride - faster on the flats, easier on the climbs. The 40+ race finished faster than the 3's who would scream up the hills and sit up on the flats.

I'm looking forward to legitimately riding in that field in a few years.

tito

Dec 10, 2012 at 10:42 PM

Adam said:

I'm kind of tempted by looking at that course.

lol me too. What is wrong with us?

josephmueller

Dec 12, 2012 at 02:21 PM

@JohnM Come do the Cat 3 I felt like the race didn't really get tough till the last climb, so my guess is it will feel similar to last year. And you will have more guys from your team there. What are the start times? Can you double up, two races in one day?

alyoshas

Dec 12, 2012 at 02:58 PM

This course will tire out the field, selection might not be made on the short climbs but a good attack, like last year, towards the end or at the finish I think will definitely pay off I. It won't make for boring racing though, that's for sure...which is why I am even more excited.

Jules

Dec 13, 2012 at 04:10 AM

Aaaaawwww. Same weekend. It's a Cross Race, but 45 miles long.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/44778539

Looks awesome.

JohnMalcolmson

Dec 14, 2012 at 12:56 AM

@JoeM Yourself, Dan and Vlad?

Sounds like fun, although not sure how helpful I would be as a domestique to you guys. Your power to weight on the hills and the saw-tooth profile this year... seems like a match made in gravely heaven.

I'd prefer to sip red wine with the masters, but if you have a plan where I could help then speak up.

Thierry Bonnaire

Dec 15, 2012 at 10:33 PM

I don't know if I am too late for this but where can I can find decent lodging around the area or are we as a team organize some sleeping quarters?

josephmueller

Dec 15, 2012 at 11:52 PM

@Thierry, It's still early I feel like people will post housing ideas want ads when the date comes closer. I did airbnb last year that was ok and the year before I stayed at a hotel in the area.

Thierry Bonnaire

Dec 16, 2012 at 12:18 AM

Thanks for the info!