Kissena Forum Archive

Categories› Racing› Croton 'Cross

Croton 'Cross

36 comments · 271 views
mugwump
Sep 30, 2023 at 09:44 PM
Ok, the 2023 edition is next weekend.

Here's the BikeReg link: https://www.bikereg.com/crotoncross

Looks like five of us are already registered.

Mark T, James N, Dave Y, (all mens' 4) and Grant (Cat V) are all registered for Saturday.  And Dave for Sunday.

Who else is going?  What field?

I'm trying to decide whether I begin with one day or two?  If one, which day.

FWIW, it's an easy ride on Metro-North.  The course is a 6 minute bike ride at most from the station.  Last year when I did it, the trip up was on a mostly-empty train.  The trip back was a bit crowded.  
eloy
Oct 01, 2023 at 07:37 PM
mugwump said:
Ok, the 2023 edition is next weekend.

Who else is going?  What field?
I'm planning on racing the Cat 3 field both days.
David Yang
Oct 04, 2023 at 12:39 PM
mugwump said:
Ok, the 2023 edition is next weekend.

Here's the BikeReg link: https://www.bikereg.com/crotoncross

Looks like five of us are already registered.

Mark T, James N, Dave Y, (all mens' 4) and Grant (Cat V) are all registered for Saturday.  And Dave for Sunday.

Who else is going?  What field?

I'm trying to decide whether I begin with one day or two?  If one, which day.

FWIW, it's an easy ride on Metro-North.  The course is a 6 minute bike ride at most from the station.  Last year when I did it, the trip up was on a mostly-empty train.  The trip back was a bit crowded.  
Do both! But also Saturday looks like when we're all racing so maybe 

Re: Ride up - For anyone who isn't racing cross, but wants to check it out, this may be the most convenient way to see a race in action from NYC. Easy Metro North ride up with your road bike and then about a 45-55mile back depending on your route.


PatrickGrehan
Oct 04, 2023 at 12:46 PM
Looks like it’s gonna be a muddy race! 
GrantSeltzer
Oct 04, 2023 at 07:06 PM
I'm really hoping none of you stick around to watch me at the cat 5 race, it's going to be really embarrassing (haven't practiced at all, getting the bike i'm gonna use today), but i'm gonna have fun no matter what :-) 
David Yang
Oct 06, 2023 at 11:09 PM
Hm, heads up, NYC is warning there may be flash flooding tomorrow. Going to see how things are looking in the morning before I leave and call an audible.
Mark Taylor
Oct 06, 2023 at 11:26 PM
Should be fine, it’s not like we are next to a river or anything?
Mark Taylor
Oct 06, 2023 at 11:33 PM
I’m also going to decide in the morning 
David Yang
Oct 07, 2023 at 10:25 AM
Looks okay? I'll be heading up, cya up there!
Mark Taylor
Oct 07, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Jim and I made the decision last night to bail
the weather looks fine😩
David Yang
Oct 07, 2023 at 04:48 PM
You missed a fun one! Come race tomorrow!!

Grant sorry bud I have to head home but good luck on your race! It's muddy and awesome and tons of fun. Definitely get some pre rides in to get a feel for the slop. 
David Yang
Oct 07, 2023 at 10:14 PM
Today was a crazy day for racing. It started pouring in the middle of my race around 10a and by the time Eloy and Pat were on the course an hour later it looked like the mud pits of Woodstock '94.

But it's a fun and interesting course with a gorgeous backdrop and can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Bullet time!
  • During the pre-ride I cooked a corner and slid out on the grass and rolled my tire so the bead came off.
  • Came prepared today with the Airshot, sealant kit, pump and a set of pit wheels (with tubes in them).
  • While navigating the fix in the parking lot, random racer asked if they could offer help. I didn't, but reminder of how friendly and inclusive these races are.
  • Headed to the start line, called up in the last row which is totally fine with my fitness right now
  • Duked it out with a largish bunch but ultimately fitness ran out and I slid off to the back and formed a little group with 4 guys.
  • Surprisingly felt like my handling skills were pretty okay today! But also I'm on these crazy Ritchey Megabite 38s so maybe it's the gear?
  • Followed Pablo from KruisCX's wheel the entire time, was a really good one to follow, all I had to do was stick to him like glue
  • Bell lap, we're literally running and slipping and sliding up the muddy hill and Wahoo's zone lights are urgently flashing red at me, it's almost comical
  • We're in the trees, weaving in and out and I'm thinking if I can stick to Pablo to the straightaway I can attempt for a sprint
  • NOPE, but I'm grateful for his wheel
  • Had a blast watching Eloy and Pat race, including when Eloy employed me to be his pit guy. Never felt so pro in a bike race handing him fresh and clean bikes without interruption.
The drive back was pretty gnarly, one of those situations where the rain was so violent you couldn't see more than a car length in front of you.



GrantSeltzer
Oct 07, 2023 at 11:54 PM
Cyclocross is absolutely sick. I got there absurdly early but even still only caught Eloy before he left. I loved my bike, so much so that I gave it twice as much air in the tires than I should have. Since I got there so early I got impatient and transffered my registration from Cat 5 to the Open/Tracklocross which was over an hour earlier.

Had a great time, but I was so slow that I only got 1 lap in before being pulled (they only gave the open division 20 minutes). The leader got 2 laps in, everyone else did 1. I have a lot to learn and practice but still proud of how I handled it. Will discuss questions/pointers tomorrow with folks I manage to catch!
eloy
Oct 08, 2023 at 01:06 AM
Will write a longer disorganized report later. Two of many highlights today:
  • Dave working the pit and exchanging bikes -- I'm even getting comments on social media on the level of pro
  • Patrick catching me and passing with 50 meters to go on a 58 minutes race. 
But yeah, post race took me but a quick moment to realize how much fun and happy today was. So much stupid awesome! also, the cx nyc cat 3 world championships of the world!! 

Looking forward to more tomorrow!
GrantSeltzer
Oct 09, 2023 at 12:11 AM
Today felt more like a real race, had a lot more fun not being pounded by rain. Major takeaways are that a 3x drivetrain is way too complex for cross, and deflating the tires felt like riding a whole new bike. I love CX!
mugwump
Oct 09, 2023 at 01:25 AM
Quite the Kissena turnout.  

I traveled and raced with Thierry in the 55+ (thanks for the ride!).  Saw Dave Yang, Eloy, Grant (I htink), Josh Caesar, as well as several ex-K's--Marc Bertucco, James Reeder, Bob Mullen, Nate Picard-Busky.  

Trying to figure out what to say about my race.  I took the third step of the podium behind winner Paul DeBartolo and Paul Curley.  THere should be some podium pics out there, and I'm hoping for some muddy Hero shots.  

*definitely sloppy.  Glad I went with my winter boots for warmup.
*the steep wooded downhill wasn't as bad as it looked; the big threat was the bog at the bottom.
*the wooded sections at 8am were so dark, a clear lens would ahve been better.
 *the Pauls were definitely the class of the field.  I wanted to get on them right away.
*Thierry had a good start, slotting into third before the first turn. 
*Paulie D and I are typically fairly evenly matched on the road, with me often a little stronger, but he's way more focused on 'cross than I.
*Paul Curley won the first cross race I did, back when he was among the best 'crossers in the US.  Considering he's older, I expected I had a stronger engine, but he was probably way better at the technical stuff.
*I quickly moved into third and was trying to chase Curley.  While he opened a gap early, I was clawing it back, and think I got to about 10s of him on the second lap.  
*Too many dabs and poor lines.  
*I think I crashed once, and it was pretty minor.
*third lap, Curley was away for good.
*fourth lap, I was a bit slower, but I finally had figured out the lines.  
mugwump
Oct 09, 2023 at 01:26 AM
Dave Yang is my muse
(or that he was the only Kissena in his field)





David Yang
Oct 09, 2023 at 03:06 PM
Congrats to JP @mugwump on the podium win! Also seeing @Thierry Bonnaire out there racing was awesome and brought back good memories!



Race notes:
  • So. Much. Harder. than in the rain.
  • Cat4 race was the 3rd one of the day - rutted up from the previous races, but basically a soupy mess that was basically impossible to pedal through.
  • I definitely ran like half the course at one point.
  • My heartrate was hovering below max on Saturday, on Sunday I was at my maximum limit the entire time.
  • I'm not smiling wide, I just can't get my jaws to open up any wider to gulp in enough oxygen!
  • So much mud and grass buildup under my fork and rear stays on my bike - towards the end I could barely turn the wheels.
  • Still tons of fun!
  • Last lap, was lapped by the teenager who won right at the soupy mess after downhill out of the woods
  • His friends were there cheering "beat those adults!" - I cried a little.


David Yang
Aug 16, 2024 at 07:52 PM
Croton Cross is back baby! Mark your calendars for Oct 5 & 6th.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-vcj8DNzZN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.crotoncross.com/

It's been a long year, but we're excited to finally announce that the 2024 #crotoncross is back on for october 5-6! reg opens next week!
-
lots of folks have been asking us about our 2024 plans for a long time — unfortunately, while our 2023 weather produced some epic 'cross conditions, it also produced an epic impact on the park. since we're still very much a baby event (only our third year!!), it meant needing to work closely with our venue to ensure that the park was fully healed and to build trust that we'd be able to minimize any impact for future events before being allowed to return.
-
we hope that you still have space on your calendars for us — and fully understand if you don't! either way, we're stoked for another great event this year!



David Yang
Sep 02, 2024 at 06:32 PM
Croton cross registration is live! I'm planning on masters and cat 4 ...probably both days? Meaning I'll be there early and hanging out through cat3 races. If enough KCC pals are racing cat5/novice I'm happy to stick around!

Also Saturday races are NY State Champs!


https://www.bikereg.com/67499
David Yang
Sep 02, 2024 at 06:38 PM
Also team tent spots are cheap - would be awesome if we I grabbed a spot for both days! would love to coordinate a fun tent for the team.
eloy
Sep 02, 2024 at 10:15 PM
I'll have to see from here to there, but depending on fitness/weather I might aim for the 55+ on Sat. 
Matt Budofsky
Sep 03, 2024 at 09:11 PM
I can't make saturday but am in for the 4s on sunday
mugwump
Sep 04, 2024 at 02:43 AM
That's great news.  I had no idea it was the state championships.  

Now I've got a reason to race 'cross in September.  And figure out a quick build to a peak.  
David Yang
Sep 04, 2024 at 02:49 AM
Note it goes by '24-'25 racing calendar age - so I am racing in the 45+ category.
BlakeFoster
Sep 04, 2024 at 02:02 PM
Is this an insane race to do as your first cross event? I know nothing about cross but Croton is easy breezy access-wise for me 
eloy
Sep 04, 2024 at 02:14 PM
It is not crazy, Croton is a local race, but super well organized, at a beautiful location, and likely a pretty great race to do for the first time. It'll be a ton of new yorkers.
mugwump
Sep 04, 2024 at 03:07 PM
BlakeFoster said:
Is this an insane race to do as your first cross event? I know nothing about cross but Croton is easy breezy access-wise for me 
All first cross races seem insane.  

Embracing the insanity is what toeing the line for the first time is about. 
David Yang
Sep 04, 2024 at 06:54 PM
It's a great first race because it is so close by and they have a field open specifically for first time and novice riders! There is a pretty intimidating looking backwoods section with a gnarly steep hill but part of the discipline is realizing you can do this. 

Outside of the race itself, to get some extra experience, you can pre-ride the course or just sections between fields. And then of course it is a ton of fun watching and cheering (and heckling in good nature) from many multiple spots along the course all within easy walking distance.
Matt Budofsky
Sep 04, 2024 at 08:42 PM
@BlakeFosterI can't find the post, but I know @eloy has put it somewhere in the forum before with his typical timing for races and I found it super useful for my first few races. Basically you want to get to the race like 1.5-2 hours before you're actually set to race so you have plenty of time to pre-ride the course, warm up, register, etc. It also lets you watch the more experienced field navigate some of the places you may have ID'd as potential rough parts to see how they handle it
BlakeFoster
Sep 04, 2024 at 10:00 PM
@Matt Budofsky that’s awesome and great advice, and thank you @David Yang for the insight, too. 

I’m not sure I can do a cyclocross clinic ride until the week before (lol) idk if that matters or not or if I can just go in super raw. I’m kinda down cause YOLO…. 

Theres a chance I may be able to do CX this Sunday it’s Dave Yang if schedules allow