I expect ot be out sunday, though we're all going to have to play it by reports from Saturday.

I will be at BB on Sunday (8:00 AM) with my fendered steel tank!!

If roads are clear Sunday morning I'll be out. Though I have an appointment in BK at 1, so realistically I've got 2 hours max to play on the other side of the bridge.

Aaaaaaaaand then my Sunday was destroyed. Have some work that I need to take care of Sunday morning, I won't be riding. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze a couple hours in in the evening.

i ran a lap of CP this afternoon

if the roads/shoulders are passable tomorrow, it will be a miracle!

Hopefully the rain and warm temps will help clear stuff up. I see myself having to break out fender bike in my near future.

This Saturday, anyone? I could either do early morning or early afternoon.

I'm up for Saturday, but I'm coming off a big block of work at the hospital, one day off, then another big block of work, so it's going to be AFTERNOON-ish for me. Also, because I need to stop trashing myself on faster group rides (i.e. all the group rides I've done so far this winter), I'm going to be rolling slow...we're talking 250 watts or lower (yes, climbs will be higher wattage because of gravity, but not because I"m pushing it). If anyone needs a strictly slow ride and wants company for 3+ hours, this is the ride to go on. I'm thinking 11 to noonish departure time.

I got a question about inviting guys from other teams to Kissena group rides and personally I think it's a-okay. In fact, I think it's great. Kissena guys for years welcomed me on group rides before I was a member and I always thought that was nice. I would only suggest that you not invite any douche-bags.

The bigger the group, the more important it is to slow/stop for yellow/red lights, not block passing traffic, by moving far to the right as is safe, single filing up on narrow roads and just have good road manners.

A fuzzier issue is one of helmets. I recent went on a ride with a guy who was sans helmet. I don't know what the legal ramifications are if a helmet-less rider has an accident and decides to take action against the club and/or another rider on the club. Probably none. It's not like we sign releases before group rides, but there is a "paper trail" of posts that might allow some litigous types to point out that our group rides are official and require this and that and the other. I don't know...maybe Todd could weigh in here on this topic.

That said, guys should wear helmets when riding. That's what I think.

I agree. I was in the lead of the fated Ian-cash ride and I stopped at the red light after NY state line downhill. It was a big group and a couple of guys were (jokingly, but not really) saying, "Woah, we're stopping at a red light?!?!?". Part of the reason I swung out before the accident was bc the pod was 4 wide taking up the whole lane! Not just stupid, but rude. Also, I like meeting new people like Jon from tuesday, who's in great shape. Having people kick your ass makes you better. Where is Joaquin?

That said... HELMETS ARE FOR PUSSIES.

Okay here it is. I'm back on the bike. I'm feeling the slightest bit of motivation for the first time in a long while. But Sunday, February 5th is 43 and that means it's time for the annual stupidity known as The Birthday Ride/Super Bowl Ride/SuperBirthdayBowlRide/whatever. Last year I was in Texas and unable to lead the thing. It was kept alive by dueling rides of two very long standing training partners. Many thanks to both. Times may change but traditions are sacred. For a little history go here:

http://chasingstupid.tumblr.com/post/16549904674/its-about-that-time-once-again

For the details, rules, and other relative information keep reading. I'll post to the yahoo thing as well for those like me who hate the forum.

Start time is 9AM George Washington Bridge Jersey Side. This is the only official meeting place. Anyone who wants to meet up anywhere else to travel together to GWB, that's your thing. GET TO GWB BY 9AM. There will be no grace period, waiting, 10 minute etc. or anything resembling the "rules", "habits", or norms of The Group Ride, or anything Kissena Ride.
9AM. Period. End of Story. Only I'm allowed to be late. It's my birthday.
I will try to set a mapmyride route and post a link. I cannot guarantee that but I'll try. Expect 120 miles for those in the Park Slope distance. Aproximately 8000' of climbing. The pace could be brutal. There will be KOMs (4-5 with PRIZES!) and there has been a history of pointless racing to one place or another. There will be regrouping spots and turnbacks for those who need to get home earlier, etc. There will be several people who know the roads and usually there is a split at The Apple Orchard (1st or 2nd KOM) that heads back to NYC. After that you are in it for the long haul and need to be realistic about your fitness and abilities. The hard shit starts AFTER The Orchard. That said we've never had anyone fall apart. You'll probably freeze your ass off, bonk a couple times, want to quit cycling, etc. but that's the point. No one has ever cried. I'll try for that this year. It might just be me. Still looking for the first chick to do it. Girl we met at Orchard a few months back: you could be the first. WDC, Mueller, Stephane, you know of whom I speak. Anyone know here name/email send along the invite. No serioulsy, do it.

YOU MUST:

Bring Money. Not for me (although I will take any anyone wants to give me) but for food, drink, unexpected propblem, etc.
Bring food, drink, and whatever else you need to ride for 6-7 hours.
TWO tubes and a spare kit. That means a pump or air-not patching flats while others wait. That said check your ride for mechanics the night before. Make sure it's all good.
Dress properly then throw a jacket in you pocket. Tired means you fell colder. Easier to take off a layer and pack it for 60 miles than try to warm up when you are tired and cold.
I could blab on about the rest of this but instead just use your best judgment.

RULES:

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RIDER BEHIND YOU. That means you have to make sure the guy behind you is coming. Know he makes the turn, etc. I will try to have cue sheets but...
Since this is not a club ride there will be other folks in different clothing. Some of these people are there to tear my legs off (or in the case of 2010 get dropped by me before the became cat 1, hahaha) so the ride might differ from what you're used to. Personally, I plan to break my powertap or my body for that matter. If I am not sufficiently in pain while watching Tom Brady surgically and precisely embarrass The Giants then I will not be happy. Expect to be in a bit of pain for a while. This really doesn't fit into anyone's "training plan". So leave yours at the door.
No whining.
And of course no flat bars, sleeveless shirts, or anything a tri-person would wear or ride. Sarcasm, come on in.
Any questions send me an email. DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS ON THE FORUM. I DO NOT READ IT. Not sarcasm.

Total shit weather (subjective) cancels. I will post to the forum and the yahoo if anything changes.
Go here for a map link if and when I get it done. Course subject to change on my whim.
www.chasingstupid.tumblr.com

Peace Be Upon You,

Keith Snyder
kpsartless@verizon.net

Tom Brady is a douche. Fuck that retard.

excited for the Keith Snyder Memorial Birthday Ride and Silent Auction

and yeah - the girl we met at the orchards was extremely legit - our collective game completely fell apart in the face of her extreme beauty, perfectly set-up gear and the fact that she was heading NORTH while we were going home

Posted By: Marc BertuccoI got a question about inviting guys from other teams to Kissena group rides and personally I think it's a-okay. In fact, I think it's great. Kissena guys for years welcomed me on group rides before I was a member and I always thought that was nice. I would only suggest that you not invite any douche-bags.

The bigger the group, the more important it is to slow/stop for yellow/red lights, not block passing traffic, by moving far to the right as is safe, single filing up on narrow roads and just have good road manners.

A fuzzier issue is one of helmets. I recent went on a ride with a guy who was sans helmet. I don't know what the legal ramifications are if a helmet-less rider has an accident and decides to take action against the club and/or another rider on the club. Probably none. It's not like we sign releases before group rides, but there is a "paper trail" of posts that might allow some litigous types to point out that our group rides are official and require this and that and the other. I don't know...maybe Todd could weigh in here on this topic.

That said, guys should wear helmets when riding. That's what I think.

Marc, good questions. If you read the Kissena membership form you know that the club is indemnified from any liability, we require every member to sign that form. We should probably consider that non-members sign an indemnification form before rides, but that doesn't seem very friendly or inviting. I know that CRCA requires that everybody who attends any of their coaching sessions needs to sign a version of the rider release form before any of those. Maybe we should consider that for discussion amongst the board, but we want to be a counterpoint to the CRCA rather than a duplicate of it.

The Kissena release form:
In submitting this application for membership in the Kissena Cycling Club, Inc., I hereby freely agree to and make the following contractual representations and agreements. I acknowledge that cycling is an inherently dangerous sport in which I will participate at my own risk and that the Kissena Cycling Club, Inc. is a non-profit organization organized to provide cycling activities for its members and advancement of the sport, which will be a direct benefit to me. Therefore on behalf of myself, my heirs, assigns and personal representatives I hereby waive, release, hold harmless, discharge, promise not to sue and indemnify the Kissena Cycling Club, Inc., (its officers, officials, members, agent, sponsors, associates, representatives and affiliates collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all rights and claims including claims arising from released parties own negligence, which I have or which may hereafter accrue to me and from any and all damages which may be sustained by me directly or indirectly in connection with, or arising out of, my participation in or association with cycling, racing or any other activity or travel to or return from such activity.

As for the helmet question, we don't require it for rides, but it is strongly urged that you do wear a helmet.

Posted By: keith snyderI'll post to the yahoo thing as well for those like me who hate the forum.

There are many mysteries in life...one I'll never understand is why the hate for the forum, versus the old yahoo groups.

Posted By: Dan ReinersIf you read the Kissena membership form you know that the club is indemnified from any liability,

Great, now I have to read and train to keep up with the group? Jeesh, Reiners, that's an awfully big commitment.

Posted By: Jeff OwensTom Brady is a douche. Fuck that retard.

HAHAHA. reading this feels like i just stumbled onto the NY Velocity board....

signed,

Axle Seatpost

Quoting:
***********************
The bigger the group, the more important it is to slow/stop for yellow/red lights, not block passing traffic, by moving far to the right as is safe, single filing up on narrow roads and just have good road manners.

A fuzzier issue is one of helmets. I recent went on a ride with a guy who was sans helmet. I don't know what the legal ramifications are if a helmet-less rider has an accident and decides to take action against the club and/or another rider on the club. Probably none. It's not like we sign releases before group rides, but there is a "paper trail" of posts that might allow some litigous types to point out that our group rides are official and require this and that and the other. I don't know...maybe Todd could weigh in here on this topic.
***********************
Very good questions. My take is that it's not so much a legal issue as it is a "Character of the Club" issue. What kind of rides do want to lead?

My take is that I don't ride with people I think are dangerous - to themselves or to others. Riding without a helmet is for people who have nothing to lose - if they don't care (enough to wear a helmet) about themselves or their families they SURE AS SHIT DON'T CARE ABOUT ME OR MINE.

If we have a team ride, the organizer is the Patron and he/she/it calls the shots and sets the tone. I think it is great that the senior guys are leading rides, and that leadership extends beyond just setting the meetup time and the turnaround point - it extends to the tone of the ride - quiet, aggressive, safe, civil, etc.

I agree with Jules that we talking about a character issue, and a role model issue. But Dan is right, it is also a legal issue. We are exposing ourselves to liable to any nonmember whom joins a ride organized through the club, (i.e. the forum). That said perspective members often go out for a ride to see if they want to join, and often we invite friends to come along.

Simply put, if you ride with us a helmet is required for both character and legal issues.

Clayton

I love that rule.

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Marc Bertucco</cite>I'm up for Saturday, but I'm coming off a big block of work at the hospital, one day off, then another big block of work, so it's going to be AFTERNOON-ish for me. Also, because I need to stop trashing myself on faster group rides (i.e. all the group rides I've done so far this winter), I'm going to be rolling slow...we're talking 250 watts or lower (yes, climbs will be higher wattage because of gravity, but not because I"m pushing it). If anyone needs a strictly slow ride and wants company for 3+ hours, this is the ride to go on. I'm thinking 11 to noonish departure time.</blockquote>

I'm in for this.

I'm in for the Sunday ride. As last week was a wash and next week is The Big One That Shall Not Be Named, let's make this a good one.

@Konrad. Great, let's shoot for 11am on the Jersey side of the GWB. Severe weather may change things somewhat, but I'll check out the forecast when I get home around midnight tonight. I'm thinking route wise we do the traditional up to Rockland Lake and back. At a slow, endurance pace that should give us about 4 hours of saddle time. Which is what I want to do.

jp,
what time tomorrow R you planning 2meet-up at GWB? route?
-h

Harry,
Currently, I don't have a start time for tomorrow. Probably won't for a while. Sunday is all set.

Konrad, Tito, Marc, I will join you guys for this endurance ride tomorrow (Sat). 11am at Jersey-side of GWB sounds great to me.

@Marc I'd like to join for the Saturday late morning ride --but 4hrs for you is 6hrs for me, which is too much. May I join for part of the ride, then derail back to brooklyn a bit early? -Norm

@Norm. Of course! I won't be traveling on any crazy inner roads of New Jersey, so turning around at any point will be easy. Pretty much standard Kissena group ride route up to Rockland Lake.

cool... running about 5mins late... will try to minimize the delay!

norm ---917-578-0381

Great ride. Good to see everyone. Nice day. Even had a Keith Snyder and Greg Donovan sighting! Tito can climb. Joe bought me an eclair. Life is good.