My name is Marc Bertucco, I've been racing bikes since 1991, currently am a category 2 racer who's primary strength is criterium racing, one of the club's mentors and am looking forward to being your captain this week. I'll be at JP's tactics talk on Monday night and if you are there please say hello and we'll continue the conversation.

Hey Marc

Can't make it tonight, unfortunately (really want to, but have some family duties to attend to) but will follow conversation on the board for sure.

Thanks
David

Who is racing this one? How are you feeling at this time, are you flying, or has your bike collected dust? No matter come out an race.

I am signing up for this one later today, but i'd like to see a show of hands of who intends to get out there and turn the pedals in anger in the first weekend in March.

I will be putting together a race plan based on who's racing and how they're feeling.

sign up below:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12747

Dan, I'm totally in. Feeling pretty good, been hitting the trainer and doing intervals consistently over the winter, but I'm a newbie 4.

Ah, what the hell. I can probably lead someone out on the Shaq-Fu. Gardiner? Rich? Ring ring ring....

I've been feeling like I have a pretty reasonable level of early season fitness.

Since I'm not much of a sprinter I was planning to roll off the front and get in some break-away action. If it has come together at the end go for a late attack.

Posted By: Jeff OwensAh, what the hell. I can probably lead someone out on the Shaq-Fu. Gardiner? Rich? Ring ring ring....

David's riding very strong right now & I'd be happy being part of that lead-out train as well. Jeff, you've been riding well too and can certainly turn the screws up the hills. Work some magic on the Shaq-bike.

Who's in?

What's the plan?

JP, Marc: one of you wearing the captain hat?

hey Cat 5s -

99% chance I can't make this Sunday or next Sunday in CP. I will be racing Branchbrook both Saturdays though and most likely the AVD Spring Series races after that.
See you at Branchbrook and the AVD events later.

Good luck out there !

Joshua Caesar

Just signed-on. Unlike Gideon, I'm not feeling particularly fit, but I will be happy to attack and chase in concert with our team plan.

Too bad there are no hills in central park...anyway, I took a turn back today and feel pretty ill (not ill'in). So I'm gonna wait until Friday to sign up. If the forecast is for rain and I'm sick, Im not gonna sign up. Boo hoo!

I'll be racing with the 5s with weekend in CP and am planning on doing the entire CP Spring Series with the exception of Apr. 10 for Battenkill. Looks like we have a good showing for the first race (at least 6 riders) so let's all try to show up early and meet with Marc to come up with a strategy for the team. With a good turnout of riders, there's no reason why we can't try to control this race and get some good results. See you all Sunday!!!

Andrew

I am going to be a game time decision on this one I think.

I've also signed up for the spring series (Cat 5). My intention is to race in all but the race on March 27th (out of town). See you all on Sunday (or Saturday if there's a group ride).


Yon

Looking forward to plotting and scheming with you this weekend. A nice group of racers, means we can have some fun. Attacking, countering moves, leading out. This is going to be fun.

Looking forward to the plotting and scheming! Said this on another thread, but I'll repeat here - I'm not at 100% of my game yet, but I'm 110% ready to leave it all on the road and work for someone else with better legs. Want me for an early attack? A counter? I'll give it my best. Not too concerned about where I finish for this one - but would love to help someone in a Kissena kit win. I'm also planning to race March 13. March 20 I might do the Battenkill pre-ride.

^ david had the right idea!

yeah buddy!

It's looking like rain is a real possibility. In which case, I might have to bail on racing and restrict my Sunday Activities to watching/captaining the cat 5s. Because, really, I got my fill of racing in the nasty years ago, and I just have a hard time amping up for such days, now that I'm a fat, slow grumpy old man.

JP on the other hand, seems to genuinely love that shit.

The good thing, is that if the weather is bad, the chances that a breakaway will succeed increases. And fitness wise, JP's certainly our protected rider. So William and I can do him a favor and cover the early stuff as much as possible.

Myles will want to race more aggressively, and with just 3 or 4 guys we're taking a healthy risk if we decided to go out on the attack after attack after attack. Perhaps we should practice what we preach though, and race hyper-aggressively at least once this spring.

At any rate, I want more purposeful success this year. As in, "yeah, I meant to do that."

p.s. as much as I can race for myself (a lot depends on how JP's doing in the points), it is my intention to spend a lot of time mixing it up in the sprints this year. If for no other reason than to stop listening to some people go on and on about how we don't have a sprinter.

FYI: i'm feeling pretty durn good right now

re: racing super aggressive - we definitely should get someone in the early breaks, but i think we have a bad habit of spending too much energy int he first half of the race and then being a little too wasted for truly aggressive racing in the second half.

i'm down to be attacking in the second half and trying to force a real break, but i will also cover early breaks.

we will see what happens.

marc: if it comes down to a field sprint, you just boss our asses around and tell us what to do for you

Hi Guys,

My name's Adam. I moved from the UK about 14 months ago where I raced for a couple of years. I'm hoping to get my first US race in the next couple of weeks. I was planning on this Sunday but the weather is meant to be terrible so I will not bother (at this stage of the season, there's no need to get out with a bunch a rusty racers for the first race of the season in a monsoon). Hoping to come along the week after that.

My goals for the season are basically to get to grips with the race scene here and hope to get somewhere near Cat 4, or at least be in a very good position experience wise to upgrade the following year. The reason my goals are so limited and tentative is that I live in Long Island in Cold Spring Harbor, hence, making races and group rides is hard. You might not see me about much but I hope I can make it for races at least.

Hope to see you guys out and about the weekend after this.
Adam

Final stupid question: where in Central Park is sign on/meet up for Cat5 races (a link on Google maps would be appreciated here-thanks!)?

So far we've got:

Rich
Gideon
Norm
Dan
and a maybe for Jeff.

Considering there are a total of 18 pre-registered at this point we have a pretty good shot at this (22% chance of winning this). Of course many more people will register once they have a definite weather forecast. One pre-reg to watch in this race is Celestino Hernandez, who can ride a breakaway all day long. We don't want to let him get out of sight of the field without one of us on his wheel.

We should plan to meet around 6:10 on the right side of the CP road in the field to discuss the plan, and go over roles.

Good luck yall, I'm a no for this one, but I may be doing Branchbrook saturday. If anyone is interested in getting a ride, email me at wac0202@gmail.com

Initial thoughts from the temporary dictatorship of team captaining:

Depending on the weather, this should be a good race for a break/split to form. Wet weather means smaller fields, and people are less inclined to hurt if they're already miserable. I like these, not because they're fun but it gives people other than pure sprinters a chance at CP.

I am thinking we should not be super aggressive at the beginning of the race. in the 4s with our huge numbers normally, we've had a habit of trying to initiate breaks in the first half of the race, and not leaving anything in the collective tank for the second half. This should be a small field, so it is critical to: stay near the front, follow wheels that look promising rather than trying to initiate. Save ourselves for laps 3 and 4, when the less fit have a chance to get weeded out, and the s*** should start to hurt.

This is more a general note depending on the weather, everybody bring a bag, and have dry clothes in there. I put a couple plastic bags inside my bag in bad weather, helps to keep things dry, and separate your dry from wet clothes after racing. It is amazing how much more human you feel when you peel off the wet grimy layers for a dry layer. Also a little travel pack of baby wipes are awesome to clean up a little after one of these races.

No Joe Mueller? I'm going to get antibiotics today (6th time in 18 months is a good sign, no?), so hopefully I'll feel better by Sunday. I don't have a lot of fitness right now; takes me a while to recover after hard efforts during rides. BUT, I can probably chase down anything or sit in a break. Just not a lot of sustainability...is that how you say it? Sounds pervy. Jones used to be on that furniture team, looks like Gorilla now. Easy to spot in warm weather with all the tats; a skinny cat4 Leogrande! He'll try something on the incline on the north side but he lacks the power to stay away without a lot of help.

I am fine with taking orders, so Dan seems to be having good ideas. Huddle!

ALL, I know Branchbrook holds allure to some people. All the same, I strongly recommend ditching BB this Saturday to come train with your fellow Kissenas at the Kissena Velodrome. What you will gain in terms of knowledge and experience will outstrip whatever experience you are going to get at BB.

@ the track this Saturday, we're going to work on pacelining, attacking, chasing, and leadouts/sprints. The track is the ideal place to work on leadouts as we'll have few distractions and few dangers, and with the short, open, enclosed space, we can repeat and observe in ways we can't do anywhere else.

I would love to be there JP, but I have to be at work at the bike shop at noon.

Oh man, this is getting me so psyched to race! I wish I could be there Sunday. :'( Dan, you really sound like a fearless leader with a plan - I'm so into it!
Btw, I'm generally feeling pretty good fitness-wise; I was off the bike for almost a month in Dec, but I rode a bunch in January and I've been trying to ride as much as my schedule allows since then. My strength is short, punchy climbs. My goal for this season is to learn how to sprint, even just a little bit.

i've ridden with tito a bunch lately

he is strong, especially uphill

also, he has a really firm handshake and smells like Old Spice

that's 3 things i can count that he has going for him

Right on! Sounds like we've got commitment, versatility and a fearless leader. I'm willing to help out the team any way possible but think i'm more of a flatlander than some of you billygoats Let's make some $#1t happen.

Posted By: Dan ReinersSo far we've got:

Rich
Gideon
Norm
Dan
and a maybe for Jeff.

Considering there are a total of 18 pre-registered at this point we have a pretty good shot at this (22% chance of winning this). Of course many more people will register once they have a definite weather forecast. One pre-reg to watch in this race is Celestino Hernandez, who can ride a breakaway all day long. We don't want to let him get out of sight of the field without one of us on his wheel.

We should plan to meet around 6:10 on the right side of the CP road in the field to discuss the plan, and go over roles.

Not to back seat team captain too much, but I've done 2 long rides with Gideon, and he is putting the hurt on me and hanging right with JP on the climbs and sprints. I think Marc can attest to his strength too. He is signed up for the entire spring series. He says he is not a sprinter but I bet he would be a good option at the finish if kissena can keep the pace high and the race strung out.

Rich also impressed me last night when he and Ragot dropped me in prospect park. ouch.

Mike

I'm most likely not going. Turns out I have a viral sinus infection that won't die (been 3.5 weeks). Doc basically channeled her inner Rooster Cogburn and told me "I can do nothing for you, son". Standing on your head and gargling lava helps, right?