Didn't see a thread started, only person I see pre'd is Vlad in the p123. Isn't this race a big deal, I may have to drag my ass from suburbia at 4am to make this.  https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15277

Ehhh...yeah sort of. It's a big deal to Mengoni. If I recall correctly, it's the race that they wanted to win so bad a few years ago, that they poached Neil Bedzek from Kissena.

It's nice that this race in the past has a bigger payout, 20-deep, and they actually list all finishers which is a nice thing. Of course, as I look at the registration, they are only paying 10 deep so it's even more like every other park race.

(do you realize that if you race in the parks, your entire career, and never place in the top-10, no one would ever have any record of you ever racing your bike?)

Also nice is the fact that some out of town pros and semi-pros come out for the fun. Last year some Swedish team or some other scandanavian country that was in town for Univest Grand Prix came and raced.

Ultimately though, it's still like a million other park races. Early in the morning, the show is run by Mengoni's, Foundations, We Stand Uniteds, and ultimately too short. I'll probably do it, because I usually do and I do like racing in CP when it's warm out, and it's a relatively good way to get some racing in without too much stress on the new family, but now that I see they are only placing 10 riders, I'm even less enthusiastic than I was.

Tour de Fairhaven, the next day in New Jersey, now there's a race that I enjoy and get a little amped up for...

Might try to sneak this one in, if social life allows

3 or 123?

Cat 3 is sold out. P123 is at 53 out of 100.

Consider registering fairly soon if you want in on this one.

Wow, no cat 4 kissena representation? 

I'm in for the I/2/3 with Vlad.  Anyone joining us?

I'm likely in the 4s - currently 62 entries out of 100. Anyone want to join me for 6 fun laps of CP?

would love to but can't. Out of town.

I'll probably join the 4s

I'm reg'd in the 4s...only 2.5hrs left to register ppl!

reg'd in the 4s - registration closes today (Weds) at noon.

OMG.

Douche

That's Ian Farrar, not Tyler.  Tyler is at the Tour of Utah, so there's no way he'd be able to do both.

Doh! Missed the window and no day-of. Field full anyhow.

I'm out of town on weekends in August. Good luck all.

who's going from BK? anyone want to meet at the BB wicked early?

Vlad, Rene, JP and I are the only Kissena's signed up for meaty looking field at the Mengoni Grand Prix this Saturday. We'll look for moves as always. And if it comes down to it, Rene, I expect will want to unleash the sprint he never got to in last week's canceled PP race. I still sound like a leathery 57-year-old, suntanning booth visiting, 2-pack-a-day smoker, plus I jacked up my wrist pretty bad the other day, so I'll be spectacularly useful as always I expect.

JP informs me that his wife has a thing for his old mesh skin-suit and far be it for me to get in between a man, a woman and their fetish, so it looks like JP and I will be in Kissena "classic" colors. Because we're both 2s, we have to wear the same kit. Vlad and Rene, feel free to wear whichever kit you prefer.

New one.

I'll let the cream of the elite sport the 'classic' colors.

Craig - 4:55am meetup at the BB. Don't be late.

Also, if it's coming down in buckets when I put my foot out the door, then I'm staying home. Otherwise, I'll see you guys there.

This should be a fun one.

4:45 at the BB... can't lose my spot to a wait-lister

4:45 oy - see you there.

I am so happy to be reading this with narry a worry about a 4am wakup tomorrow.

Vlad, Marc, Rene,

I'll be ready to do my thing in the final miles either solo or people with me.  Get ready to move up.  My feeling is it's better to be too early on the sprint than saving it for too late.  

For chriss-sakes, I hate when JP does this, so will someone just ride his wheel the last few miles, so it's not a total waste? He'll be at the front in those closing Ks, we just need someone to finish it off!

Tough racing in the Brazilian Rain Forest that is currently central park. So incredibly humid. In the 1/2/3s we had JP, Vlad, Rene and myself. Stacked field. Including all the Foundation "A" riders who have been traveling around to race and been placing in the national crit series events.

Fast start, JP and Vlad I'm sure will download some impressive numbers to start. I was/am feeling like a big pile of dog poo lately, but I used my knowledge of the course and spinning leg speed to keep up with the action for a few laps before a strung out section on the west side rollers left me exposed, weak and coughing up a delightful assortment of crunchy phlegmy bits that have been living in my lungs the past 10 days.

Watching the final few laps from the sidelines with fellow OTB-er, Craig, Kissena looked pretty good. Aly was comfortably at the front of the cat 4 peloton, Malcolmson the same in his cat 3 field, and during a dangerous break-away attempt, Rene was in the first chase group and driving hard, with JP at the front of the main 1/2/3 pack ready to react after Rene's move resolved.

In the end though, we didn't place anyone. :-(

for the 1/2/3's

I was surprised that Vlad wasn't up there, too. (V, you've got the power, come on up and join us).

I want to be up there. I was in pretty good position on the last lap, but I know I could have done a better job on the previous ones. I'm just starting to learn how to maneuver in these fields and at these speeds. The progress I've made, albeit slow, is encouraging and I'm looking forward to consistently being able to throw down on the pointy end. I'm working on it and I'll be up there sooner than later.

As Marc mentioned, I was OTB and joined him watching the final laps. The race was generally uneventful, with the exception of the crash 2 bikes in front of me on lap 2 in the curves just before museum mile. Sure gets the adrenaline going. Aly was up front the whole time, mixing it up and taking pulls at the front. I stayed in the front half of the field the whole time until I popped. On lap 3 I was fine going up HH though the field never let up after it, and I got popped in the rollers somewhere near 96th st. 

Oh one last thing, getting up at 4am sucks.