Mar 25, 2014 at 06:34 PM
Battenkill
Mar 25, 2014 at 09:18 PM
A few of us dudes are staying at Best Western Albany Airport Inn. Pretty cheap, pretty nice, pretty close.
Mar 25, 2014 at 09:35 PM
aaand.... boom.
I'm out - broke my FREAKING THUMB-TIP today after ending just a few blocks from home. I found a previously invisible grate.
Pictures to follow.
Oh, and I toasted my lovely Orange helmet 
Taking offers of spare dignity if anyone has any - eating shit in front of the Key Foods is no way to go through life, son.
Mar 25, 2014 at 09:41 PM
@Jules, that sucks! Bummer. So sorry to hear that!
Mar 27, 2014 at 04:56 PM
https://www.bikereg.com/Confirmed/20091
Cat 4 lineup:
Thierry
Brendan
Jeff White
Yang
Should we be discussing anything other than "keep Brendan at the front"?
Cat 4 lineup:
Thierry
Brendan
Jeff White
Yang
Should we be discussing anything other than "keep Brendan at the front"?
Mar 27, 2014 at 10:10 PM
I'll also be there (registered prior to joining Kissena) but am unfortunately in a different start group. I've emailed them asking if they can change me to the 4C start.
Mar 28, 2014 at 01:34 PM
Battenkillahs,
If you're concerned about remembering the course, put a cheat sheet on your stem or top tube.
Mar 28, 2014 at 06:46 PM
Battenkillahs,
Get in a hard weekend. Monday is "Pencils Down." Increase rest, shorten rides, put in openers on Wednesday and Friday.
I'd take Monday off, tuesday easy, Wednesday an hour with some hard efforts thrown in (maybe four efforts, one 3m, one 2m, one 1m, and then a 10s sprint), Thursday easy for an hour. Friday, an hour, but with two hard efforts, possibly on the course if you drive up early.
Mar 28, 2014 at 06:53 PM
@yang - there is little strategy to be discussed before Battenkill. It's simply a race of attrition. If more than one of us is left near the end, we'll figure out the plan then. We're gonna have to channel our inner Bill O'Reilly and DO IT LIVE.
Mar 28, 2014 at 07:34 PM
@whitey,
I disagree. There's plenty to discuss. You should be passing on when to go easy, hard, move up, what to do if a break dribbles up the road, a split starts going away, and more.
Even the finale is good to discuss. I assume they're using the same final 10k, and having a plan for what to do when that's together is a good idea--attrition will have happened so knowing some options as to how to play it will make decisions easier.
In the past, I've lead a discussion about this leading up to B'Kill, but I seem pretty booked up during evenings these days. I wanted to do one for this, but when Mike put up a ride for this past thursday, I didn't want to do it then and now I don't think I've got room in my schedule unless people want to come to my 'hood rather than me going to Bklyn.
Mar 28, 2014 at 08:43 PM
28march2014
My2Cents...JP's Battenkill StrategyTalk is 'i n v a l u a b l e' or was 4me +preRide of 1st 5k &last 15-20k &drive entire rte if at all possible.
-h
ps. see also thread from years past for nutrition/sprint finish bike set-up etc...
My2Cents...JP's Battenkill StrategyTalk is 'i n v a l u a b l e' or was 4me +preRide of 1st 5k &last 15-20k &drive entire rte if at all possible.
-h
ps. see also thread from years past for nutrition/sprint finish bike set-up etc...
Mar 29, 2014 at 12:44 AM
EDIT: I can give one person and one bike a ride up on Friday around noon or 1 from Washington Heights. I intend to drive back right after the 4 race but can be convinced otherwise. E-mail me at rigby.b@gmail.com. You are welcome to try to convince me to stay later for your race.
As for the race, my goal is to stay near (but not on) the front and out of the wind. (This is a "strategy" that only works in the 4s and 5s I think.) I have tried to watch the course a bit on the trainer to mark when I need to ensure I'm at the front. Right now I'm thinking that once it becomes guardrails and double yellow, I need to be right up there. Also, can't let anyone get away on that final climb?
What's the wisdom on positioning into the final turn? Middle? Not inside, because you might get boxed? Not outside, because you will have to cover more distance? If I can stay with the herd the race will be decided in that corner and the ensuing straightaway.
Mar 29, 2014 at 12:50 AM
Outside; keep all your momentum. JP's advice that earned me a spot on the podium.
Killers; check your bike setups early this week. Make sure your computers are charged and you have a helpful screen (if you use one) set up.
I like Distance Travelled and nothing else for road races; keep in mind as you race how long (far) you've been racing and how much you have taken on in food & drink so you don't go shoving a full bar in your gob with 5km to the finish, etc
Mar 31, 2014 at 07:09 PM
Bump up, race is this weekend!
Following JP's advice, I'm "pencils down" today which means re-wrapping my bars, changing out cassettes, and other misc. bike maintenance points.
I rode through those gravel pits in Millbrook on 23mm GP4000s tires, but am mightily tempted to get a set of 25mm GP4 seasons anyway.
Following JP's advice, I'm "pencils down" today which means re-wrapping my bars, changing out cassettes, and other misc. bike maintenance points.
I rode through those gravel pits in Millbrook on 23mm GP4000s tires, but am mightily tempted to get a set of 25mm GP4 seasons anyway.
Mar 31, 2014 at 08:00 PM
Here's a picture of the weekend's preview ride:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=406738906130225&set=a.235753053228812.57240.167444976726287&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=406738906130225&set=a.235753053228812.57240.167444976726287&type=1&theater
Mar 31, 2014 at 08:37 PM
So long as it stays dry between now and the race, I'm guessing that will dry up. Cooler temps means more packed roads. Warmer means dustiier.
Marginally helpful course map:
http://www.tourofthebattenkill.com/storage/Course map 2014 - All Courses.pdfSeveral sectors to consider.
The start. You start on a straight road that I believe descends slightly. You'll be on it for about 5.5mi and then turn left to head over a covered bridge and then onto dirt. You need a good warmup so you can fight for position in the opening miles. Once you make the left, you have a little ways before the bridge. I think it's best to chill, give people a little room, so you don't get caught up in a crash.
Juniper Swamp climb. Try to err on the spin side of things in case you get bogged down or delayed by a crash.
Final six miles. There's a climb on dirt, followed by a decent descent, then gradual to the finish. I remember the hill as fairly short, but looking at strava, it seems harder. Big thing is it's hard to get away on this and make it still. More likely, the weak will get shucked if you're in a group. But a winning move from a big group is really hard. You used to get the whole road for those last 10k or so. In the final k, you go onto pavement, have a right turn and hten downhill a few hundred meters to the finish. If you take the left side and go wide with lots of speed, you can get a jump on the group. The distance from teh turn to the finish is such it's hard to make up many places.
All the same, ride this section before the race.
Mar 31, 2014 at 08:59 PM
Here is my advice for doing well as a 4/5
The early scrum for position "ahead" of the covered bridge is overrated in importance. It's always nice to be closer to the front but this is not a race/winning or losing move. Try your best to encourage those around you to remain calm early on.
Juniper swamp; you don't yet know who can and cannot ride so try to stay at the front - keep enough distance in front of you for safety; this is the place where people randomly go sideways and/or put a foot down fucking everyone behind.
Metrics: set your Garmin to total distance and keep an eye on it so you don't get surprised by the feAtures or the finale.
Attacks. This is really a fitness test with a little strategy thrown in for color, not the other way around, so ride accordingly - ie don't chase everything in the first third, let the course do the selection.
Don't Give Up! Lots of "bark" around this race and everybody thinks it's the local Roubaix. Don't do your opponents work for them, especially ahead of time. Remember when you are cramping so, so bad... So is everyone else! If you get dropped, then regroup (with your own field!) and work to catch back on.
Lastly, enjoy being fit and healthy enough to be lining up for a race like this. You cannot buy health or fitness (ok, you can always ask a buddy for a spare pint of blood...) so take this week to revel a bit in what you've already earned.
Sure wish I could be there with you all!
Singed, #becausethumb
The early scrum for position "ahead" of the covered bridge is overrated in importance. It's always nice to be closer to the front but this is not a race/winning or losing move. Try your best to encourage those around you to remain calm early on.
Juniper swamp; you don't yet know who can and cannot ride so try to stay at the front - keep enough distance in front of you for safety; this is the place where people randomly go sideways and/or put a foot down fucking everyone behind.
Metrics: set your Garmin to total distance and keep an eye on it so you don't get surprised by the feAtures or the finale.
Attacks. This is really a fitness test with a little strategy thrown in for color, not the other way around, so ride accordingly - ie don't chase everything in the first third, let the course do the selection.
Don't Give Up! Lots of "bark" around this race and everybody thinks it's the local Roubaix. Don't do your opponents work for them, especially ahead of time. Remember when you are cramping so, so bad... So is everyone else! If you get dropped, then regroup (with your own field!) and work to catch back on.
Lastly, enjoy being fit and healthy enough to be lining up for a race like this. You cannot buy health or fitness (ok, you can always ask a buddy for a spare pint of blood...) so take this week to revel a bit in what you've already earned.
Sure wish I could be there with you all!
Singed, #becausethumb
Apr 01, 2014 at 03:24 AM
I'm out. Gotta go out of town this weekend.
Apr 01, 2014 at 12:26 PM
I reaaaaalllly hope it doesn't rain on Saturday.
Apr 02, 2014 at 12:07 AM
Does anyone have a wheelset I can borrow for Battenkill? My rear wheel just got totaled in a very strange collision with a car (everything else is okay including me). Can be 10 or 11 speed, I have an 11 speed spacer for 10 speed cogs.
edit: I only need a rear wheel, but mixing wheels is like racing in hi viz.
Apr 02, 2014 at 12:13 AM
Brendan,
I have a Neuvation wheelset with a 10 speed cassette 11/28 that you can borrow.
I have a Neuvation wheelset with a 10 speed cassette 11/28 that you can borrow.
Apr 02, 2014 at 12:14 AM
@Brendan, I have some Mavic Aksiums you can borrow, but they're not too fast of a wheelset. On my GF's bike right now. Yours if you want em. Let me know.
Apr 02, 2014 at 12:53 AM
Rigby I also have wheels you can borrow. Aksium wheelset or a rear ultegra 600 32h laced to Mavic cxp33...anodized red for extra weirdness. Or shit race with my Heds, you will put them to better use than me. Let me know.
Apr 02, 2014 at 01:07 AM
i love how we pull together in this club. Brendan, i too have a neuvation wheelset you can borrow (same as thierry's).
Apr 02, 2014 at 02:33 AM
Thierry and I are staying in the same hotel so I'll grab his wheel. Thanks everyone for your willingness to share your own equipment!
Apr 02, 2014 at 02:34 AM
Brendan, I too have wheels available. Maybe a Dura Ace c24, and something else. Lemme know.
Apr 02, 2014 at 03:17 AM
Brendan….
I have a spare set of Boyd Vitesses. They're 23mm wide, fairly deep/aero, weigh around 1480 grams and they spin really, really fast. They're 20 spoke front 24 rear. They're strong. I used them for cross at low psi and they're perfectly true.
Sorry that shit happened to you brother
Apr 02, 2014 at 02:03 PM
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Apr 02, 2014 at 04:20 PM
NWS forecast for Cambridge, NY:
- Friday A chance of rain, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Southeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
- Friday Night Rain, mainly after 8pm. Low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
- Saturday Rain likely before noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Apr 02, 2014 at 04:24 PM
Skip the fender; make it miserable for the other guys to hide from the wind, not comfortable.