So team throwdown was a basic scratch race. So more of the same except with a silly trophy and some admonition to share the winnings. That really is a shame.

I would think a team throwdown would be a points race, where like you said, there are points given for each place, in intermediate sprints and the final sprint, and the total is cumulative points at the end. CRCA runs plenty of points races in CP every year. They even do points races where there are sprint points at the S/F line and at the top of Col du 110berg. I would assume AVD could pull something simple like sprints at the end of every odd lap. Points for 1sts through 5th in intermediate sprints and top 10 in the final. The team with the greatest number of total points at the end wins.

This would seem to favor the sprinters teams but would actually be a great chance for a break to get away. After the first or second sprint a small group can counter and get away and hold off a field that may be tired from doing the sprints.

Just want to add to the Throwdown report that I went to the front right before Tavern both for safety and for the low-probability chance that some team might be organized and try to do a real leadout. I drilled it, dragged Brian Breach with me, and got one of Ricky Lowe's teammates to come as well. I swung off at the south end of the park and Brian took the lead with the Die Hard guy in 2nd and a Breakaway Courier rider in 3rd. Me in 4th. This was basically the lineup from 59th to 72nd. I thought I might have finally guessed right and was actually going to have a chance in the sprint. Brian pulled off at 72nd. I thought, great, the Die Hard would take it to the start of Cat's Paw to keep the speed high for ricky, and then I'd be 2nd wheel as the sprint opens up. Only the Die Hard guy immediately swung off after Brian, as did the Breakaway guy. I saw three choices, swing off myself, attack at that moment and hope to hang on to something at the end, or keep a semi-hard tempo and hope that the field is waiting and I have legs to open up the sprint at the final curve. None looked good for scoring a top five. so I went for the last. Once five guys got by me, I pulled the plug, only pedaling hard enough so that the idiots behind didn't crash me in their desperate attempt to get 12th.

There is a lot going on this weekend in town, and more out of town for those who like to drive.

I will do the Race for the Wine Saturday at FBF because I can't go a week without racing down there. Then I have to head to Jersey for a wedding so no racing Sunday.

Sunday is Tour de Parc. Ragot is doing this one.

Others?

Mike

While I love Tour du Parc, great course, I probably will have to pass on it. I will probably be joining you, hopefully, as it's a handicap, at the wine race.

For those who haven't done it Tour du Parc is a simple course that's actually pretty selective. The course is always curving, there is always wind, and the teardrop at one end means that position is pretty important. While it could end in a sprint, more often than not a small break takes it.

I mentioned this on another thread, but I'll be racing up at the Tour de Syracuse this weekend. It's a small 2 day, 3 stage, stage race that I've done the past few years because I like to do stage races and also we visit family up there while we're there. And last year, we got our dog Penny. I expect to visit family again, race, but definitely will not be getting another dog.

dudes:

this is the last weekend before exam/school is over. i'm in crunch mode and i doubt i'll be racing either of the awesome Charlie I. productions.

good luck.

-wm

I think I am going to be taking the train out for this. The cat 4 race starts at 10:30AM. I was figuring getting there in the 8:42 train to Wantaugh from Atlantic Terminal

from atlantic to wantaugh:
start arrive Transfer depart time
8:42 AM 9:36 AM Jamaica 9:05 AM 54 min.
9:12 AM 10:06 AM Jamaica 9:35 AM 54 min.

Who's in?

I'm in. Looking forward to it.

I'm thinking about doing that 42 mile race. 150 miles from Manhattan. Anyone interested?

http://www.dutchwheelman.com/images/Course.jpg

I will be at Tour de parc.

JP and anyone who might be going to race for wine. I'm out for this one, sick. Took the day off work and feeling a bit better but don't think it is wise to go hammer 50 miles at floyd tomorrow.

Wise, no. What we do, yes.
Feel better, enjoy the rest week.

I'll be going too. Doing the 4's and driving. I can give a ride but there's a caveat:

- I don't know when I'll be leaving from Wantagh, may stay to the end, may leave as soon as 4's are over. Sorry I can't be a little more solid on a time.
- I don't have a bike rack so if you have one for a 4 door sedan I can fit more than 1 other person
- And I'm leaving from coney island so I probably won't be meeting everyone at GAP. You'll have to make the 6.5 mi down to CI.
- I'll also be helping with registration so I'll be there for the 5's

I'll try to be a little more accurate on the time tables tomorrow.

Daniel W.

sorry to report, I can't make the wine race today. rough night, lots of crying, lots of awake people.wondering if I can make tomorrow....

I'm in!
Dan, I'll see you at Atlantic Terminal

So it looks like we have a sizable group of 4's coming from Brooklyn on the train. Plan is to meet at the Atlantic Avenue station for the 8:42. See you all then.

Could not get enough sleep and race in Brooklyn, so I went to PA. Three loops with one steep 1 k climb 1 k before the finish. Nobody wanted to work (on the first lap I thought we were neutralized after the start), they were all waiting for the last climb and the last k to the finish. I got bored half way through the first lap, so for the rest of the race I spent my time attacking. The pack would catch me after a while and I would go again once rested. Nobody went with me a single time. I'm sure some (most?) of them thought I was a stupid racer, but at least I had fun and a good training day. It's too bad, because the best of those PA guys are really strong.

Well, after nearly destroying my legs today, I've finally regained the motor skills necessary to operate my iPad. As such, I am here to announce I'm going to race this one, as the group ride with Stokes and Ryan frankly sounds kinda hard. Plus I have a wickedly awesome sunburn (finally).

The plan organically formulating itself in my brain goes something like this*:

1. Stay cool near the front
2. Try for a mid-race break
3. Recover
4. Do a scorching lead out that is so powerful that Mr. Malcolmson himself wisely abandons the wheel and settles for a bittersweet second

* Due to having nearly destroyed my legs today, that plan will be for naught.

Posted By: mugwumpsorry to report, I can't make the wine race today. rough night, lots of crying, lots of awake people.wondering if I can make tomorrow....

word, I feel ya, jp, me too. good luck

Tallboys on the train home were my highlight. Flatted out on lap 13 after a couple breaks didn't stick. Dropped my glasses while in the pain cave and they were repeatedly ridden over by the peleton for the rest of the race. Retrieved them afterward, bent the frame back into shape, and intend to *fully* test Rudy Project's lifetime scratched-lens warranty.

Awesome course, definitely going to be back.

Hey Stephané... sorry that the group wasn't up for racing a broader portion of the course. Great that you enjoyed your own spirited race... good training, I'm sure!

My two lap flier in the middle of the race was for naught, except maybe photos of me making a moronic looking pain face. I figured somebody would try to bridge but it seem anybody who was strong didn't have any jump to actually get across.

The last lap attempt to ride in solo hurt like hell, but was for naught. Caught going into the straightaway and after all the paying places passed me I stopped pedaling and just rolled into the finish.

Hilltowns has been scheduled for July 23rd this year. This is a well-organized, well-run race up in Western Mass... big climb, really big climb.



https://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13745

really really big climb

like

4 miles and steep

that was the hardest 20 minutes of my season last year

bad craziness

Maybe I will do this one too. Cat 3 only races are cool.

Ugh, this race. So great and so awful. Agree that its well organized and run, and that it is the hardest 20 minutes of the season.

Also the first 20 miles or so are downhill, much of it at 40mph plus and shitty pavement. There were literally 5 crashes in the Cat 4 race in the first 20 miles last year. It was complete carnage.

I swore this race off last year after doing it twice, but I'll probably end up doing it again.

No takers in the cat4 Hilltowns punisher?

Actually, looks like I'm the only Kissena signed-on in any category. The climbing should be good practice for Catskills... and since it's on July 23rd, you'll have 2 entire weeks of bed rest to recover (recommended after racing up East Hawley Rd. at Hilltowns).

-Norm

Norm, I'm leaning towards doing it, though I swore it off

As with most things, I'll let Jake say it for me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwlYo8EYTWI

beautifully said!

It would be great if you do sign-on!

I intend to do it, probably in the 50+.