It's this Sunday, May 29th.

https://www.bikereg.com/plainfield

I've never done it before, but I'll be trying out the 1/2/3 race.  It's an easy ride from a train station, so I'll be taking the train from Penn.

There are plenty of spots left in most of the races.

Just looked at the start list.  Curtis White is starting, a team from New Zeeland will be there as well.  

Oooof.  What a clusterfuck.

I planned on taking the 11:14 out of NY Penn, putting me in to Newark Penn at 11:32, meaning I had six minutes to switch platforms for th 11:38 to Plainfield.

The 11:14 was easy.  I could have even taken the 11:11.  But the 11:14 was stopped in the Meadowlands for seven minutes.  When I asked the conductor about the wait and my need to make the switch, he assured me "they'll hold the train at Newark."

Off the train at 11:39, I run down the stairs, over to the next platform entry and then up.  The train isn't there.  Not held.  11:40.  

I check with information.  It wasn't.  And there's no other train until the 12:38 which will put me to plainfield at 1:09, provided it arrives on time and is on time all teh way through.  for a 1:25 start.  I check the Apple mapping program.  It says 17 miles. It's 11:50.  I figure I can ride there by 1pm easy.  I set the thing and go.

Only, the bike route it mapped was more like 20 miles.  And it meandered a good bit.  I got there before the train, but barely.  Got off track a few times stopped to ask a guy on a bike if I had made the direct route, and eventually realized that route 28 was more direct than the backing-and-forthing.  

Race was still starting on time.  I had enough time to pin on my number, hit the bathroom, and roll to the start.

The race was quick but not as hard as the tuesday FBF.  I couldn't settle in to the race rhythm and got dropped 15 minutes in.  I'd like to believe with a few more minutes to re-set, I would have been ok.

There ain't no rush like a late-to-the-starting-line rush. Kudos for making the first time cut; sounds like a cluster.

Bump.

Just registered for this again.  This time, I'm doing the 40+.  As it's the first crit of the year for me and I haven't raced since Harriman, I think being conservative and rolling with the old guys is my better bet.

https://www.bikereg.com/plainfield