Oct 10, 2013 at 06:46 PM
Bruce is fast becoming the Hotlist of am PP rides.
Prospect Park Weekday Morning Training
Oct 10, 2013 at 07:45 PM
That's it! That's the creature! But even with a picture, no one will believe it's real. . .
Doesn't Heidi translate to - 'from the deepest reaches of Hades'?
Oct 10, 2013 at 07:48 PM
Loosely, yes.Bruce van-Schalkwyk said:Doesn't Heidi translate to - 'from the deepest reaches of Hades'?
Oct 10, 2013 at 07:48 PM
Oct 10, 2013 at 11:03 PM
I thinking its a rain or shine yes for me tomorrow morning -- 6a gap
any takers? the positive is that it's only 60 degrees(?).
Oct 11, 2013 at 12:01 PM
Thank you Jeff and Jules for your time and todays training session... and good seeing everyone this a.m.
Oct 11, 2013 at 01:04 PM
Great to see so many eager learners out there this morning, especially with the threat of a deluge in the dark!
Joel, Erika, Kayt, Paige, Ingrid, Anna Maria... did I miss anyone? Paceline practice in the Fall will pay huge dividends come racing season in the spring...
Jeff & I broke off at the end to practice some stair riding where I promptly pinch flatted 
Oct 14, 2013 at 07:09 PM
I'll be out tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM
Oct 14, 2013 at 08:44 PM
Just got back in town and I'll be in the park at 5 today if anybody wants to roll around.
Oct 14, 2013 at 11:50 PM
see you there thierryThierry Bonnaire said:I'll be out tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM
Oct 15, 2013 at 12:22 AM
Cool!
Oct 15, 2013 at 01:19 AM
I'll be there. See you in the AM.
Oct 15, 2013 at 02:26 PM
Got there late this morning and was doing my thing when Erika sneaks up on me. We roll around the park and then she proceeds to rip my legs off going up the hill. I'm not too proud to say I had to grab her wheel to keep up. Good times. She is going to be one formidable competitor come Spring.
Oct 15, 2013 at 02:46 PM
Got there a little late as well and decided to do a few tempo-ish laps while dodging raccoons and enjoying the gorgeous misty sunrise. Then I caught up with (way too humble) Craig, whose pace reminded me how terrible I am at perceived effort on the flats. Good times, indeed!
Oct 15, 2013 at 03:07 PM
We had a big crew this morning with Thierry, Joel, Eric, McKay, Jessica, and Renat braving the dark morning with a slightly foggy mist hanging over the road. We did a couple of nice slower laps and then threw some spirit into it to pick up the pace a bit.
There are still riders out and about, and the Prospect Peloton came cruising by before our start. NYCC didn't look like they had any takers - I believe there was one guy waiting at GAP when we left.
It was a good ride with teammates. Jessica did great and held her pace with the group, Thierry was of course chomping at the bit to go faster (!), and I was dreaming of food.
And Craig, I agree with you, Erika attacks that hill like nobody's business!
Oct 15, 2013 at 05:21 PM
Hey Bruce,
I was the NYCC guy waiting at GAP when you all rolled out. Indeed, my NYCC comrades did not cover themselves in glory this morning as only one other showed up. Still, our little two-man peloton did, ahem, pass you guys like you were standing still (lap 3 ,bottom of the Park), so we got that going for us.
Am new to the club and looking forward to riding with you guys. Which will likely be very soon since my regular T/Th NYCC crew, with whom I've been riding since the Spring, seems not to enjoy the crisp autum air.
Oct 15, 2013 at 05:51 PM
Hey there Chris! In the past, you guys have had a pretty good crew show up some mornings. Yeah, the dark and chill air makes a warm comforter seem that much nicer these days.
Do introduce yourself next time you see the KCC crew hanging out at GAP, as it's always good to meet teammates and know who's riding around at such an early hour. And, of course, you're welcome to join in our group ride, even if we're not riding that fast!
Oct 15, 2013 at 07:19 PM
Thanks, Bruce! Will do.
Oct 16, 2013 at 12:17 AM
I'm in for tomorrow morning. Non-bright and early. 6 @ GAP
Oct 16, 2013 at 12:37 AM
I'll be there for some TT action.
Oct 16, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Saw Theirry for a second and a half this morning, but he was hot to trot for TT so he blew by me while I waited at GAP. Waited for 10 or so and took off but cold, lonely laps just did not sound like fun today so half way through the 3rd lap I turned it into a race to see if I could get to Coney Island by sunrise. It was good to break up the monotony.
Oct 16, 2013 at 09:18 PM
I'll be out tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM and I would love some company.
Oct 17, 2013 at 02:49 AM
I'll be there.
Oct 17, 2013 at 04:17 PM
Dark and super humid, like riding through clouds, the warm weather pervades, keeping things between the high 50s and low 60s and I'll take it because I know it can't last for much longer.
A good ride this morning with Thierry, McKay, Jessica, Erika for a solid lap. Who am I forgetting? And then on lap two, get ready... DAN! Dan came out to train! Welcome back, buddy! Looking good on the bike.
He organized us into a rotating paceline and then I have no idea how many laps we did, as I was concentrating on holding my line, sliding to the left when I was clear, calling last (I get this part, gotta let the next rider know they can move over, but honestly, I don't like the word 'last'. It resonates poorly with me in this sport. We should say 'First', or 'Premier!' with gusto, or 'Gusto!').
The sun never came up, it was so overcast. After some really solid laps, we all just drifted back into the dark, to put our bikes away and go do this work thing so we can pay for more tires and bar tape. Nice seeing you, Dan, and good riding with everyone today, I think we had a good paceline going and did a great job on the uphills.
Oct 18, 2013 at 05:35 PM
I'll try and do my best Bruce prose
imitation.
Feeling sluggish yesterday, I elected to stay in my warm bed rather than go out
and ride. So today I was determined to get out and put a few miles into the
legs. Got up and out the door to find it a bit blustery as I rode along the
dark water front. The only signs of life were the construction crews for
Brooklyn Bridge Park and the beer distributor trucks coming from the Port
Authority terminal at Atlantic Ave. Once I made the turn onto Union and began
my ride through the lovely brownstone neighborhoods I had shelter from the wind
and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather. I was joined for a bit by a guy on a
single speed singing some unrecognizable tune to himself.
I arrived at GAP just before the "cut-off" time to find a lonely
Jules, his powerful headlamps cutting through the darkness, waiting for the
crew to arrive. He was bundled up with neck gaitor, vest, leg warmers, clearly
looking a little worse for wear. Just as Jules was calling it quits to
crawl back into a warm bed, "El Presidente" Perlberg rides up and
says hello. Mr. President is there to do openers so I accompany him on his
routine. We have a great conversation about pedagogy and wedding planning. He
does his opening efforts and I sit on his wheel and then return to
conversation. After 3 laps, Mr. President bids adieu and I continue on my way
around the quickly illuminating park. As I pass GAP once again, I spy a rider
ahead in the shadows that might be wearing a KCC kit. I bridge the gap and I
come upon that once mythical being that is known as Lt. Dan. The recently
mended Lt. Dan and I ride around for another couple of laps and engage in a
wide ranging conversation, from Oktoberfest in Germany to injury recovery to
paceline practice. Now that the sun has shown its face, it is time for me to
bid Lt. Dan adieu and I ride off through the blowing winds to begin my day of
work.
Oct 18, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Motorized penny farthings, JP riding not-in-the-drops, Nathaniel, Keith with a number on his shirt and now Lt Dan? What's next, the U23 Sasquatch field in the spring series?
Oct 22, 2013 at 12:06 AM
I'll be out tomorrow morning bright and early (6:00AM) at GAP.
Oct 22, 2013 at 01:11 AM
OK, me too.
Oct 22, 2013 at 01:44 AM
I'll join you.
Oct 22, 2013 at 03:24 PM
It was dark when we started, and dark when I got home. This is the start of our super secret morning training sessions where we train in the silence of the moon's shadow, wheels against tarmac, spinning gracefully, working on form, cadence, group riding skills, our breath echoing across the road into the sleeping woods.
Several of us this morning, with Dan, Erika, Jules, Thierry, Tim. With a half-lap warm up, Jules jumped out ahead and began his tempo training. Graciously, he offered his wheel, but there were no volunteers this morning. We rode in circles, taking full-lap turns pulling at the front, being passed by Jules flying into greater fitness, his blinky light laughing with its staccato cadence.
It was cold this morning, and it was warm. We couldn't decide. The weather report gave us conflicting temperatures this morning, saying it was 52 or 58, depending on where you pointed your app, so we all over and under dressed, and then we rode through pockets of air in the park that had an ecosystem all to themselves.
It was good riding with all of you this morning, and seeing teammates keeps me cheery during these early morning rides. I went home, had breakfast, and, of course, got on my bike for my commute in.