This is the first year in many I've been tempted by Battenkill. Fortunately, Dieter insists on charging like $325 to race.

My homies and battenkillaz (as JP likes to say), I'm completely unprepared for the race and it is probably best that I don't clip in at the starting line.

With that said, I'm still heading up with Craig and Sean and I'm offering to be the start line jacket holder and feed zone guy.  There are 2 feed zones, but because KCC racers are spread across Cat 3, 4, 5 fields I might be tight on time trying to cover everyone. 

I've never done feed zone support so don't know proper protocols.  Tell me how I can best help and I'll do my best to accommodate.

Also I'll be following this How to...

http://cyclingskills.blogspot.com/2009/05/feed-zone-tips-for-hand-ups.html



Unless you guys have mussette bags ready (so pro) in which case I'll be one of these guys:

David, there's lots to go into being a good feedzone person. The bottle hand-off position is critical, so you've got the info there. But another thing is to coordinate ahead of time roughly "WHERE" you will be with your riders. Towards the front, towards the back, so they know ahead of time when to head on over. Some kind of obviously identifying clothing is helpful. Sarah used to wear a fetching large sun hat! I've seen helium balloons. Team Jersey at a minimum. Bright white should stand out.

The other big thing is NOT to be a moving target. IT IS THE RIDER'S JOB TO FIND YOU. You stand there, hold that bottle out and let them grab it. If they drop it, IT IS THEIR FAULT. Sarah reports that lots of girlfriends and wives and friends get the riot act read to them by foolish and foul riders for missed feeds. That is wrong on so, so many levels.

Also, for riders, sometimes, if the feed is that important, you are going to have to slow down and catch back up. Don't expect you'll always be able to take that bottle at full speed. It's not ideal, having to slow, because some jamoke will ALWAYS attack in the feed zone, but if the alternative is dehydration and all the loveliness that that entails? Slow down, and get that bottle!

Awesome, thanks for the great advice Marc.

David -- I'll gladly trade a beer for a bottle. I'm planning on carrying a
third in my back pocket at the start of the race, but it would be splendid
to know I have a back up in case one gets lost or I suddenly become really
thirsty.

Yeah dude, once we get a critical mass in the discussions, we'll coordinate on:

1. Who wants in on the feed zone support?

2. Where to meet up beforehand so you guys can give me labeled bottles/bags?

3. Which feed zone will Yang be at for which category race?

4. Where will Yang be standing at the feed zone?

Keep it simple. You won't necessarily know the order of who is coming through the feed in advance. Also riders should not make complicated requests like "the bottle with X at the first feed and then one with the Y at the second".

Just have all the bottles the same: Water or Osmo. Then it does not matter which rider takes which bottle.

It will be stressful enough making sure the rider gets something, without worrying if is the special bottle that they needed for the last 20K.

Hey Dave, sorry to hear that. I was planning on doing a 3rd bottle in the back pocket as well, but I'd gladly take you up on that offer. 

Guys, Doubtless this is covered up somewhere in this thread, but I'm a huge fan of a super thick mix of something like perpetuum for fuel. That way you can a) keep track of how much you've "eaten" and take on as much water or other hydration as you like. Eating bars and gels does get confusing after a while...

The thick bottle works really well in my experience. It's super easy to know if your intake is behind at a glance. That said, I have also really enjoyed the Osmo stack.

Okay peeps, using Ian's advice I'm planning to have just one sent of bottles for everyone.  Is Osmo mix good or do you guys want thick mix (e.g. perpetuum)?

Also in case I can't cover both feed zones, which one is preferred? Mile 28 or 50?

Also bring your cell phones and keep this phone number handy in case shit happens (like last year when Jeff, Niall, and I were abandoned without support after being taken off the course...I'm not bitter or anything): 917-475-6422

Dave,

I think Mile 50 is the one you should cover. As Lisa discovered it can be very tricky to get between feed zones once the race is on.

Also, we should try and get a good list of all the folks who are going so we can do a quick roll call after everyone has passed out from too much #podiummilk

Agree with Jules -- Mile 50 is the marker I think makes the most sense.

Okay I'm going to prep enough Osmo mix bottles for the following.  Holler if you're not on the list or if you would rather have thick mix instead.

Cat.4
Whitey
Nelson
Adam F.
Jay Whalen

Cat. 4 40+
Peter Byyshe
Bruce v-S
Thierry

Cat. 5 55+
Joseph Iberti

Cat. 5
Sean Miles

OK Great news, I have a ride with Mike P. So I will be racing. See you guys out there. Also I'm out of shape so I hope I don't embarrass you guys to much while we race. 

Quick question on shoes and pedals. Does anyone think it would be better to use MTB shoes and pedals over road shoes/pedals. I heard there are some sections that people may have to run

David, you're a mensch of the first order. Thank you!!!

Its all good, we're here to help each other through this, whatever this is! 

Battenkillahz!

Here is some accumulated (top 10) wisdom from a guy with some decent lower category results (YMMV):

1. Congratulate yourselves, for whatever fitness you have today, you will be racing with - this was NOT an easy winter to train through, so take a second and pat yourselves on the back.
2. this is a fitness AND brains test - so keep your FACE OUT OF THE WIND. Every time I've done well at this it's been due to some ferocious wind-hiding and
3. eat properly. Only you know what this means, but he who over (or under) eats/hydrates will pay the piper - and even still...
4. EVERYBODY CRAMPS. Remember, when you are hurting bad, everyone is hurting bad. Don't give up.
5. no funny business - that means don't punch yourselves out with early attacks & counters. The race for the podium begins after the second feed zone.
6. STAY SAFE. This is the first "big out of town" race of the season, and people get amped up - stay to the front, keep your hands on the bars and your eyes front - people will get tired & clumsy so do your part to make the peloton a safe one
7. NO LAST MINUTE GEAR OR FOOD CHANGES.
8. If you're going to get dropped from the lead group - you have to make a choice about going 100% into the red to stay on, or save a tiny bit and try to bridge up later. Choose wisely.
9. Definitely, DEFINITELY pre-ride the final 5-10km of the race the day beforehand if you can.
10. Last but not least - enjoy yourselves - Battenkill fitness doesn't happen every year (trust me) and in that sense you've all already won. 

That's all - have a pint (or three) of chocolate milk for me! 

Spot opened up in the car/hotel if anyone still needs a ride and lodging. Let me know.

I'm not sure that the spacing will show up properly.  There's a link to a PDF on the battenkill site for start times and estimated times for feed zones and finish.  It's blocked at work but I downloaded the PDF.

From the teammates signed up, these are the estimated times.

What's everyone doing for dinner tomorrow night?

Anyone planning on a recon ride during the afternoon?

I'm staying at the Holiday Inn in Clifton Park, and we're heading up late
morning. Trying to figure out if I want to check in first and drop off my
wife, then go pre-ride/reg, or vice versa. No plans for dinner, though.

Seriously folks - preride those final 5-10km and take note of the landmarks.

^^^^ That's gonna be my openers.

Sean might be interested in hooking up with you (and others) for recon/openers after registration.  We'll register around 2-3p and head over to the course afterwards.  Going back to the hotels backtracks a bit so it would be smarter to go straight from reg tables to course.

Bruce and I will leave the city around 2PM, hopefully we'll be arriving by 6 and get our numbers at the Embassy Inn in Saratoga Springs. My phone number is 201 988 3446 if you want to reach me for the dinner plans.

I'm planning to leave around 11, check in in Ballston Spa, swing by registration, then head over to pre-ride some of the course. I'll text you guys to see whats up for dinner if we don't cross paths at some point before.

Good luck everyone! Looking forward to the stories...