Mar 10, 2012 at 03:45 PM
JOHN - Let me like the 29th to congratulate you. Congratulations!
Pretty damn good too JOE!
Pretty damn good too JOE!
Grant's Tomb Criterium
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:00 PM
I'll take 30th - way to go John, Mattie, and team!!
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:14 PM
Now I can stoke the rumor mill on NYVELOCITY with tales of John's stint as New Zealand's national track champion. His flight from the country to Australia after being accused of shoplifting canned ham and pretzel rods. His subsequent years In Australia as Cadel Evans' training partner and Mel Gibson's stunt double. And finally his flight to the anonymity of New York after he was stalked relentlessly by Nicole Kidman.
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:22 PM
And his legal battle with Ronnie "Chopper" Johns over the ownership of the phrase "Harden the fuck up!"
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:32 PM
Well done John!
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:40 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBGtj2JA3A4&context=C49168edADvjVQa1PpcFN9C4b-6SFq83vMyVIwlFwOFPnKM2vb8Ko=
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:42 PM
The Kiwi Killer strikes! Well done, team!
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:48 PM
THANKS ALL!
I was proud to be wearing the Kissena jersey and riding with the team today. We made smart moves, counter attacks and breaks all day long. Dave Vollbach totally sacrificed himself last lap to set me up for that win, Mattie sat up to slow the other sprinters and before that we had guys chasing the two man break that was away to the last 250. Much appreciated.
Quick RR:
Pretty damned cold up there.
We lined up near the front, got to front position by first turn and realized that this was the place to be... even better all the team had made it up too and so I started attacking. It was hard, but I don't think as bad as being towards the rear—the whiplash out of every corner must have been awful. On the front you could just nail every apex full power and not touch the brakes.
A bit of a blur, but I think it goes: Jules winds it up, goes. Tito goes, dangles out there. Vollbach and Gardiner get a break and it started to move away. Velo and these big dudes from Arc chase, (seemed intent on slowly reeling in every break) and then Jaime Garcie BH tries to bridge and I jump on his wheel. Wasn't so smart in hindsight (sorry fellas) ... apparently three riders from one team stirs a Cat 4 hornets nest. NY Velocity were very active throughout (and post-race looked pissed! Ha!)... then I hear a shout "4 laps to go", so I'm trying to find Jules Renshaw, but his handle bars fell off (weak!). Then, I'm trying to stay near Vollbach, Jeff, Gardiner and Mattie. One guy solos then two guys attack and look good going into last 3 laps, but Vollbach drilled it from the bottom of punchy climb stringing it out. NYVelo guy tries to bridge to the two guys away. Coming into the final turn at top of course thinking if these two away have any sprint we're in trouble. Drill it out of the seat from the corner (as per practice laps with Marc B. weekend prior), pass them, hug the curb, bump one, bump two start to blow, back in the seat and mash it, look around, time to sit up! GYMKATA!
Had the pleasure of witnessing Joe duke it out in a full on bunch sprint—5th in the pack behind the Jacobs trio—super impressive.
I'm sorry that it took so long to get the winnings that Jules completely froze. He had that "I'm actually dying here" kind of look. Jim kindly transported his Han Solo frozen ass back to BK. Jeff's and I took the spoils to Le Monde and inhaled some eggy goodness.
Here's a photo of our bodega-take-over-base-camp:
I was proud to be wearing the Kissena jersey and riding with the team today. We made smart moves, counter attacks and breaks all day long. Dave Vollbach totally sacrificed himself last lap to set me up for that win, Mattie sat up to slow the other sprinters and before that we had guys chasing the two man break that was away to the last 250. Much appreciated.
Quick RR:
Pretty damned cold up there.
We lined up near the front, got to front position by first turn and realized that this was the place to be... even better all the team had made it up too and so I started attacking. It was hard, but I don't think as bad as being towards the rear—the whiplash out of every corner must have been awful. On the front you could just nail every apex full power and not touch the brakes.
A bit of a blur, but I think it goes: Jules winds it up, goes. Tito goes, dangles out there. Vollbach and Gardiner get a break and it started to move away. Velo and these big dudes from Arc chase, (seemed intent on slowly reeling in every break) and then Jaime Garcie BH tries to bridge and I jump on his wheel. Wasn't so smart in hindsight (sorry fellas) ... apparently three riders from one team stirs a Cat 4 hornets nest. NY Velocity were very active throughout (and post-race looked pissed! Ha!)... then I hear a shout "4 laps to go", so I'm trying to find Jules Renshaw, but his handle bars fell off (weak!). Then, I'm trying to stay near Vollbach, Jeff, Gardiner and Mattie. One guy solos then two guys attack and look good going into last 3 laps, but Vollbach drilled it from the bottom of punchy climb stringing it out. NYVelo guy tries to bridge to the two guys away. Coming into the final turn at top of course thinking if these two away have any sprint we're in trouble. Drill it out of the seat from the corner (as per practice laps with Marc B. weekend prior), pass them, hug the curb, bump one, bump two start to blow, back in the seat and mash it, look around, time to sit up! GYMKATA!
Had the pleasure of witnessing Joe duke it out in a full on bunch sprint—5th in the pack behind the Jacobs trio—super impressive.
I'm sorry that it took so long to get the winnings that Jules completely froze. He had that "I'm actually dying here" kind of look. Jim kindly transported his Han Solo frozen ass back to BK. Jeff's and I took the spoils to Le Monde and inhaled some eggy goodness.
Here's a photo of our bodega-take-over-base-camp:
Mar 10, 2012 at 04:55 PM
Ha, nice vid! You had enough time to look back and cruise over the line. Awesome.
Mar 10, 2012 at 05:11 PM
Proud to be in the blue and orange today gentlemen. We definitely ran that race. Big ups to John and Joe. I think we've definitely made an early season statement.
Mar 10, 2012 at 05:17 PM
Fun day!
I monitored the rear of the pack, made sure there was no funny business there. In my own little world, I came around guys getting shreded from the back and bridged 3 different times. I know it is easier to sit at the front and race there, but I just couldent feel comfortable in the middle of the pelaton today. Got a good workout, bummed I couldent help more. Somehow ended 46th? (how many guys actually started?)
Stuff to work on (personally): pack skills, feeling comfortable. I am hoping it comes with time, and that this discomfort is just early season jitters/
Again, Congrats John and Joe!
I monitored the rear of the pack, made sure there was no funny business there. In my own little world, I came around guys getting shreded from the back and bridged 3 different times. I know it is easier to sit at the front and race there, but I just couldent feel comfortable in the middle of the pelaton today. Got a good workout, bummed I couldent help more. Somehow ended 46th? (how many guys actually started?)
Stuff to work on (personally): pack skills, feeling comfortable. I am hoping it comes with time, and that this discomfort is just early season jitters/
Again, Congrats John and Joe!
Mar 10, 2012 at 05:39 PM
Awesomeness, all around.
My report goes like this:
This race scared me because I haven't done any criteriums before and I didn't want to sacrifice some good fitness to an injury early in the season. Nonetheless, when my cold cleared up I posted my intent to race and my HR shot straight to 160 sitting at my desk. Yikes.
Got a proper nights sleep Thursday (the important one) and prep this morning - have to say that getting up before 5am truly sucks. After some strategizing I settled on my clothing given the chilly temps end result - NOT ENOUGH!
Froze my ASS off on the ride up; bit of frost-burn on my fingertips by the time we made it to the race - thankfully we got our numbers and found our Base Camp (image above) where I clutched a large Coffee until my fingers reverted from corpse-yellow pack to pasty white...
Numbers pinned we headed back out to pre-ride the course where we met up with Mattio Yaks, Jim, Tito, Chris & co. We pre-rode and pre-rode and practiced that final high-speed northern turn what? Ten times? Definitely helped a huge amount. By the end I could nail it full gas with no brakes.
The race itself started like 40 minutes late; Yaks had to jet (family man's life is a tight schedule) but the rest of us lined up shivering and when the whistle blew we got a pretty decent hole-shot.
It is no accident that John won so commandingly. He was never further back than 10th I think. That man knows how to ride in a bunch. I made plenty of mistakes early on and slid farther than I liked, but on the northern straightaway I burned a little hotter in the wind to get back to top 10. Once I took a nice ride up on some giant Arc dues wheel.
There was one pretty good bump in the pavement at the bottom of the steep uphill; each time I hit it I heard a sharp "CREE-AK!" from somewhere around me. At first I though it wasn't me, but by the 3rd or 4th time I knew it was my bike. I couldn't figure out what it was - my rear wheel not on tight enough? My seatpost? Everything felt ok... maybe it's just a lose spoke I thought.
Other than the mystery noise things went pretty well early on; we had guys on or off the front constantly; enough so that I didn't really get a chance to counter.
At one point I found myself on the pointy end, but realizing I had all eyes on me I didn't jump; I just kept the tempo high for a lap hoping to keep things strung out. Looking back I could see 1/2 dozen guys in a line behind me so I knew I wasn't soft pedaling too badly.
Another lap, another alarming noise from my bike... suddenly it dawns on me - my stem is losing it's grip on my handle bars. As a mostly hoods rider I've been driving them down, down, down.
SHIT!
Noticing this I slip to about midway back and before I know it we're headed into that northern high-speed turn - farther back in the bunch things are a little sketchier - 4 or 5 guys do that bump, shout, swerve and swear maneuver right in front of me... and I jank my bars even farther down avoiding the chaos.
That was game, set, match for me. I cruised up the hill, took a small left into the pit and examined the damage. Bars getting looser by the moment... sigh.
Real bummer to DNF; but the positives were so many:
1) Committed, followed through and pinned on a number despite my fears going in
2) Raced like I meant it; this race is good that way - the front is the saftest and hardest place to be & stay
3) Took my corners hard and held my lines
4) last on the list but FIRST in PURE AWESOME was getting to watch John's Domineering Finishing SMASH...
The spectacle went something like this:
...is that them?
...is that *John?*
...is he going?!?
TOO SOON JOHN! TOO SOON JOHN!
... is he breaking away?!?
GYMKATA!!!
One small point of clarification though: John didn't out-sprint those guys. He *rode away* from them whilst humming "God defend New Zealand"
Chapeau!
My report goes like this:
This race scared me because I haven't done any criteriums before and I didn't want to sacrifice some good fitness to an injury early in the season. Nonetheless, when my cold cleared up I posted my intent to race and my HR shot straight to 160 sitting at my desk. Yikes.
Got a proper nights sleep Thursday (the important one) and prep this morning - have to say that getting up before 5am truly sucks. After some strategizing I settled on my clothing given the chilly temps end result - NOT ENOUGH!
Froze my ASS off on the ride up; bit of frost-burn on my fingertips by the time we made it to the race - thankfully we got our numbers and found our Base Camp (image above) where I clutched a large Coffee until my fingers reverted from corpse-yellow pack to pasty white...
Numbers pinned we headed back out to pre-ride the course where we met up with Mattio Yaks, Jim, Tito, Chris & co. We pre-rode and pre-rode and practiced that final high-speed northern turn what? Ten times? Definitely helped a huge amount. By the end I could nail it full gas with no brakes.
The race itself started like 40 minutes late; Yaks had to jet (family man's life is a tight schedule) but the rest of us lined up shivering and when the whistle blew we got a pretty decent hole-shot.
It is no accident that John won so commandingly. He was never further back than 10th I think. That man knows how to ride in a bunch. I made plenty of mistakes early on and slid farther than I liked, but on the northern straightaway I burned a little hotter in the wind to get back to top 10. Once I took a nice ride up on some giant Arc dues wheel.
There was one pretty good bump in the pavement at the bottom of the steep uphill; each time I hit it I heard a sharp "CREE-AK!" from somewhere around me. At first I though it wasn't me, but by the 3rd or 4th time I knew it was my bike. I couldn't figure out what it was - my rear wheel not on tight enough? My seatpost? Everything felt ok... maybe it's just a lose spoke I thought.
Other than the mystery noise things went pretty well early on; we had guys on or off the front constantly; enough so that I didn't really get a chance to counter.
At one point I found myself on the pointy end, but realizing I had all eyes on me I didn't jump; I just kept the tempo high for a lap hoping to keep things strung out. Looking back I could see 1/2 dozen guys in a line behind me so I knew I wasn't soft pedaling too badly.
Another lap, another alarming noise from my bike... suddenly it dawns on me - my stem is losing it's grip on my handle bars. As a mostly hoods rider I've been driving them down, down, down.
SHIT!
Noticing this I slip to about midway back and before I know it we're headed into that northern high-speed turn - farther back in the bunch things are a little sketchier - 4 or 5 guys do that bump, shout, swerve and swear maneuver right in front of me... and I jank my bars even farther down avoiding the chaos.
That was game, set, match for me. I cruised up the hill, took a small left into the pit and examined the damage. Bars getting looser by the moment... sigh.
Real bummer to DNF; but the positives were so many:
1) Committed, followed through and pinned on a number despite my fears going in
2) Raced like I meant it; this race is good that way - the front is the saftest and hardest place to be & stay
3) Took my corners hard and held my lines
4) last on the list but FIRST in PURE AWESOME was getting to watch John's Domineering Finishing SMASH...
The spectacle went something like this:
...is that them?
...is that *John?*
...is he going?!?
TOO SOON JOHN! TOO SOON JOHN!
... is he breaking away?!?
GYMKATA!!!
One small point of clarification though: John didn't out-sprint those guys. He *rode away* from them whilst humming "God defend New Zealand"
Chapeau!
Mar 10, 2012 at 06:13 PM
Mar 10, 2012 at 06:31 PM
Jules you stole my thunder I just copied the same link and was going to paste it. dang
Mar 10, 2012 at 06:32 PM
Sorry Dave! A lot of really good shots there. Cat 4 squat owned the front.
Mar 10, 2012 at 06:47 PM
Nice job John you really crushed the finish! Good work club you guys came up with a plan and followed through not an easy thing to do.
Mar 10, 2012 at 06:48 PM
Is that Tigger?:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=272083372867142&set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=272083372867142&set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3&theater
Mar 10, 2012 at 06:50 PM
Tigger being chased by a Snuggie?
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=272083519533794&set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=272083519533794&set=a.272077182867761.64563.175975939144553&type=3&theater
Mar 10, 2012 at 07:08 PM
@ Owens: dude I was so cold I would have snuggled nekkid with an Orc for warmth. They may look like seeping wounds in different stages of gangrene, but damn I bet they were warmer...
Mar 10, 2012 at 08:28 PM
Lol - every season, I get more and more proud of our kits.
Nice shot-by-shot sequence of the 3-up sprint finish in the Cat3 race on that FB page.
Nice shot-by-shot sequence of the 3-up sprint finish in the Cat3 race on that FB page.
Mar 10, 2012 at 09:27 PM
Congrats boys on an epic win! Proud to be Kissena!
Even big George Hincapie gave us a nice shout out via Twitter this morning
Even big George Hincapie gave us a nice shout out via Twitter this morning
Mar 10, 2012 at 09:51 PM
Best Pic of Grants Tomb
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_bro/6970471567/sizes/l/in/set-72157629191463850/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_bro/6970471567/sizes/l/in/set-72157629191463850/
Mar 10, 2012 at 10:04 PM
Posted By: David GardinerBest Pic of Grants TombTruth!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_bro/6970471567/sizes/l/in/set-72157629191463850/
Mar 10, 2012 at 10:26 PM
Mar 10, 2012 at 10:35 PM
10march grants Tomb Crit
i was KCC spectator today, SUPER LOCATION and interesting to see range of race profiles.
bravO! johnM &cat4's, aslo cat3 JoeM w/8th &good work by all KCC, JP finished in pack w/ALL but 6from long brake &bridge in pro1/2's.
COLD!!! serious tail wind, dry&sunny...managed to see ALL races &summary goes like this:
cat4 - Volbach attack, counter attack, early crash, Malcolmson out front early 3-4laps(why? thought he was going for spring finish w/Mattie &co), bunch back together, attrition &stragglers off back, after 36minutes 2laps togo, could'nt really see where spring train was in pack, final lap, kcc's moving up...Finish john bullets past 2man break as if they where standing still elegant, powerful, glorious finish win! think we'll need to practice "pro" finish stand-up for sponsors! ;>
cat3 - pack rubberbanded length of race and spit detritus with each lap, several attacks which did'nt really get away, late in race w/9-10togo speedwell, noTubes(axis?), +1 off the front with a gap up to 10-15sec, work definately done by speedwell, lost sight and didnt close gap. speedwell won 2man sprint w/race for 4th &JoeM in mix right to end w/8th finish.
womens open - slow, bunch together into final lap with sprint finish winner by 1/2 bike length. did see emily(kcc) &the nyc velocity crew.
pro1/2 - fast race. 2-2.5min/lap, break of 2 from 4th lap of 25laps. small guy & tall guy(notubes, axes). it looked like(from my vantage point at finish triangular green could see top of rise on to westside drive, finish straight &turn onto long course)the small guy did most of work, but they work together and rotate w/15-30sec pulls, they were away with 20sec to a much as 30seconds for entire race less the last 5-7laps when a bridge of 5guys plus 1notubes guy made it up to break, the 2break guys sat in and &group stretched the lead w/several notubes guys in the pack to block, JP right in middle of pack. final lap stretched out break of 7 with the little guy sprinting to capture 2nd or 3rd, big/tall notubes guy off in 6th& pack sprint for remaining top 10positions @15sec behind.
college race - small field, slow start like open women's w/men off back in 2nd lap...didnt remain for finish.
GREAT RACE!
-h;>
i was KCC spectator today, SUPER LOCATION and interesting to see range of race profiles.
bravO! johnM &cat4's, aslo cat3 JoeM w/8th &good work by all KCC, JP finished in pack w/ALL but 6from long brake &bridge in pro1/2's.
COLD!!! serious tail wind, dry&sunny...managed to see ALL races &summary goes like this:
cat4 - Volbach attack, counter attack, early crash, Malcolmson out front early 3-4laps(why? thought he was going for spring finish w/Mattie &co), bunch back together, attrition &stragglers off back, after 36minutes 2laps togo, could'nt really see where spring train was in pack, final lap, kcc's moving up...Finish john bullets past 2man break as if they where standing still elegant, powerful, glorious finish win! think we'll need to practice "pro" finish stand-up for sponsors! ;>
cat3 - pack rubberbanded length of race and spit detritus with each lap, several attacks which did'nt really get away, late in race w/9-10togo speedwell, noTubes(axis?), +1 off the front with a gap up to 10-15sec, work definately done by speedwell, lost sight and didnt close gap. speedwell won 2man sprint w/race for 4th &JoeM in mix right to end w/8th finish.
womens open - slow, bunch together into final lap with sprint finish winner by 1/2 bike length. did see emily(kcc) &the nyc velocity crew.
pro1/2 - fast race. 2-2.5min/lap, break of 2 from 4th lap of 25laps. small guy & tall guy(notubes, axes). it looked like(from my vantage point at finish triangular green could see top of rise on to westside drive, finish straight &turn onto long course)the small guy did most of work, but they work together and rotate w/15-30sec pulls, they were away with 20sec to a much as 30seconds for entire race less the last 5-7laps when a bridge of 5guys plus 1notubes guy made it up to break, the 2break guys sat in and &group stretched the lead w/several notubes guys in the pack to block, JP right in middle of pack. final lap stretched out break of 7 with the little guy sprinting to capture 2nd or 3rd, big/tall notubes guy off in 6th& pack sprint for remaining top 10positions @15sec behind.
college race - small field, slow start like open women's w/men off back in 2nd lap...didnt remain for finish.
GREAT RACE!
-h;>
Mar 10, 2012 at 10:37 PM
10march
see post in cat4 thread. nice job KCC!
-h;>
see post in cat4 thread. nice job KCC!
-h;>
Mar 11, 2012 at 12:20 AM
Wow, amazing! just logged on now...congrats John and Joe!
Mar 11, 2012 at 01:02 AM
awhhhh....sheeeeet. Awesome guys. Was looking forward to reading how the racing went today all day while I was at work. Could we get some Cat 3 and JP reports please?
Congrats everyone for some very exciting, awesome team racing.
Congrats everyone for some very exciting, awesome team racing.
Mar 11, 2012 at 01:39 AM
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: David Gardiner</cite>Best Pic of Grants Tomb
<a class="auto-embedded" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_bro/6970471567/sizes/l/in/set-72157629191463850/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_bro/6970471567/sizes/l/in/set-72157629191463850/</a></blockquote>
llluuullllz
That's a contender for best FredTastic Photo.
Saggy arm-and-leg warmers, bars turned up at an awkward angle, CroMagnon expression on the piehole. I should be hanging out with Tigger and Mr. Slanket.
<a class="auto-embedded" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_bro/6970471567/sizes/l/in/set-72157629191463850/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_bro/6970471567/sizes/l/in/set-72157629191463850/</a></blockquote>
llluuullllz
That's a contender for best FredTastic Photo.
Saggy arm-and-leg warmers, bars turned up at an awkward angle, CroMagnon expression on the piehole. I should be hanging out with Tigger and Mr. Slanket.
Mar 11, 2012 at 08:34 AM
not sure if this one is up or not yet
http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling/Grants-Tomb-31012/Cat-4/21877238_SSgZpG#!i=1744363155&k=dSNG9dX
http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling/Grants-Tomb-31012/Cat-4/21877238_SSgZpG#!i=1744363155&k=dSNG9dX