I'm planning to go check it out tonight. Who else is going? Where's the best place to watch? Is it best to show up early?

the race will start promptly at 11

show up a little early

afterparty at Rocky Sullivan's - 34 Van Dyke St.

Jeff - I'll head down there around - I have never been before so I have no idea re best time or viewing spot.
What time were you planning on going ?

Joshua
646-235-2336

how did it go, willy dc?

chabs repeats

Soooooo fast and some crashes early that split the field so it was pretty much the guys who got call ups that put a train together.

awesome new course through the brooklyn cruise terminal

an extremely well-run race

literally HUNDREDS of spectators

my experience:

started in the second row (right behind the call-ups) but i can't clip in to save my life (maybe i need speedplays?!?) and was in the second half by 100 meters

big crash going through the first 180 turn - had to ride off course and start again from the very back

i felt pretty good and motored through the field until i was alone behind the three main groups, but then got lapped with 4 (of 20) to go

Al barouh, Neil Bezdek, Chabanov and Nate Trimble (dave's little brother) were off the front the whole race

the finally sprint was absolutely incredible:

there was a hairpin turn 150 meters before the line. i watched the front four lean over more than i thought was possible while exiting the turn - like 45degrees

chabanov, al and neil were all abreast, shoulder to shoulder and going so god damn fast. with 25 meters to go, al had them by half a wheel. some how chab's got by both of them, and as they were crossed the finish line, Neil and Al slammed laterally into each other. there was a horrible noise and Al bounced around but kept it upright. turned out neil's axle went into the spokes of Al's $500 carbon track wheel and tore the thing up.

great seeing some kissenas out there - robertson was 10th (he rode so hard he was tearing up afterwards!) and i saw Konrad and Joe Mueller out there and worked a whole bunch of laps with Andrew.

good times!

William and other Red Hook racers,

thanks for sharing your stories. Robertson, I'd love to hear your report. Seems like a neat event that I'd love to see. Last night, the sleep fairy was beckoning me so I didn't make it out.

Sounds fun. Robertson 10th! HOT.

I was out there spectating and freezing my toes off.

Eric rode a great race. After the winning group got away however they did, it looked like he murdered himself on the front of the small chase group for a couple laps, then as it looked like the leaders weren't coming back, he settled into the back of the chase and bided his time for the finish, probably 10 laps in the future. With the chase whittled down by a few guys, it looked like he attacked hard into the last hairpin before the finish sprint vying for fifth, and just got swamped before the finish and got across somewhere in the chase bunch.

Looked like William had a tough go (didn't see the crash, but it makes sense in hindsight). From my vantage point, he was riding across big gaps alone for the first part of the race, then settled into a little group of maybe three? dudes who drilled it until the end without getting lapped, which is more than probably 50 guys in that race can say.

There was also another guy in Kissena kit I haven't yet met going fast, dragging a few dudes around the course. I'm not talking shit when I say it looked like he was deep in the hurt locker.

Fun times, good crowd, hard racing. Makes me want to hop on a track bike and see what the big deal is.

Hey Everybody,
I had a really fun time at red hook and definitely felt like I was in the "hurt locker" the majority of the race.

Jeffery - Maybe i am the mystery Kissena rider you are speaking of?

I was really impressed and a little shocked with how organized the entire race was.

To be honest... I really wasn't so disappointed about the absence of a cobbles section.

For me, the race went something like this:

A much faster start than I anticipated, which involved getting stuck behind a few crashes within the first lap. Found myself in no man's land for a few laps chasing and trying to move up. Eventually crossed paths with William and did the whole team work thing for a bunch laps (which was a lot of fun), passing what felt like a significant amount of riders along the way. I'm not sure when, but eventually I popped and wasn't able to hold onto WIlliam's wheel. Within one lap of sitting up I was lapped by the leaders and pulled.

Congratulations to every one from Kissena who raced!

Definitely left that race really excited for track season.

Just want to point out that the three guys on the podium, all Kissena alumni.

Hurt Locker Guy:

http://www.cyclingcaptured.com/2011CyclingSeason/Road-Racing/2011-Red-Hook-Crit-No4/16358774_PXZRF#1229901638_LfSmA

Yup, that is it me.

Red Hook was awesome.

After standing outdoors for over 5 hours prepping for the movie version of the race (I'm doing a documentary), I was chilled to the bone. Missed the warmup lap as I was tearing off my street clothes and getting into uniform. No warm up, as is the norm for me.

Jumped into the pack at the start finish, and was at least 5 rows back. Not good. Luckily, I had to start up the on bike cameras, one of which was in row one, so I managed to start 2nd row. Whistle, and it's a mad sprint like a cross start. I'd say that 30 seconds into the race the lead group had 5-10 seconds and by the time we got the hairpin the gap was solid. 10 riders, couple of pros, and all serious. We killed it for the first 5 or 6 laps and the split happened, with 4 riders pulling away. Sheer horsepower. I felt good with the 2nd group, but lost at least 20 yards every hairpin which killed any chance of me finishing well. Half way through Gerry Adasavage attacked and I went with him - I thought we had a chance but they chased back and that's when I relaxed a bit.

I waited for the last lap and moved up on the outside, pre-hairpin, to try to get a good spot. Unfortunately I can't skid brake, so I was swarmed before the turn while braking, and coming out I was unable to maintain position, race over.

Still - I'm very happy with 10th. Lot's of guys who should have been up there with me but couldn't, really tough pace, great bike handlers, and it was a hard course.

Eric mentioned a Red Hook crit workout in a different thread, and I didn't want to clog that one up with this discussion, so here we go.

What is the course for a Red Hook crit workout? What kinds of drills/intervals/what-have-yous can be done there? Is it suitable for a solo workout (as in, not with a group)?

I'm just really curious, as I live near Red Hook and the idea that there's someplace else besides Prospect nearby sounds like a really good deal. I trained this morning, so I'm out for any crit workout tonight, but I'm definitely interested in what it entails.

Ride around the streets around the pool, make right hand turns that you sprint out of every minute or so. Do for 20 minutes and then repeat.

It can be done with others and you take turns leading.

Looks like we have a few Kissena dudes, myself, Mueller, Bloome (doing the run/ride double!). May have some rain on top of the newly added chicane. Loaded field, Chabs, Bremer, Farioletti, Kacey Mandefield, Gabe Lloyd, Prensky, various Eurotrash, etc. Should be wild, anyone spectating?

Date nite for me & the mrs. I'll try and come with SLR if it's dry but standing around in the rain on date night isn't gonna get me laid. Just sayin'

If the weather holds ill be there taking some pictures on the slr

I hope to be out there as well. Enjoyed it immensely last year even though the frozen ground caused bone death in my feet through two pairs of socks. Anyone want to meet up at Sunny's for a drink before?

I'll probably be there.

Jeff, the bodega and a paperbag are your friends.

Im up for a beverage before hand.
A

I will try but am going to be in the city beforehand. I may hit the bell house afterparty.

Ride Brooklyn is hosting a sale/party beforehand with a (safe) group ride to the event leaving from their shop.

i'm definitely going to spectate, brown paper bag in hand. will probably ride over from South Slope around 8.

Ditto; I'll be riding out (solo) sometime after 8

dave/jules - that's almost my plan exactly. Probably looking at more like 8:20-8:30 out the door.

jim/jules/all - excellent. will look for you so we can form a little K-train cheering section for handsome joe, mattie and bloome.

So as for strategy, my goal it to get a 2nd line start place. My thought is to get as close to the front then do some laps fight it out for space then line up behind Al or someone I know is going to get a call up then just follow them to the front. I can't imagine anyone is going to be pleased with this move but I feel the start is literally the whole race. I really hope the course isn't wet.

Mattie Chris do you guys have any big plans?

Joe, I haven't attended a RHC event yet, but from all race reports, save the guys who got call-ups, the start was everything last year.