Get ready to hurt, Johnny!

I'm in the 3/4

u still have room for one more
Nosson spielberg 917-586-0170

There are only 5 racers registered in the 55+, 6 in the 45+, so I'm wondering whether this race will take place. Maybe they'll combine us all with another category, such as the cat. 4 35+?

I am very close to the Mont Sainte Anne near Québec city but I have not had the opportunity to go and see the numerous high level races taking place there. Maybe this Sunday.

Posted By: StéphaneThere are only 5 racers registered in the 55+, 6 in the 45+, so I'm wondering whether this race will take place. Maybe they'll combine us all with another category, such as the cat. 4 35+?

"Worst-case scenario" is that they will combine you with another field, but place you separately. Start dreaming about what you are going to do with your prize money. No go eat some crepes and make fun of the french that the Quebecois speak.

Just wanted to check to see if anyone has room for one more person in their car? My email is: mueller.joseph.j@gmail.com

Pawling Mountain Road Race, Category 3/4, 1:07pm, Sunday, July 10

Confirmed Riders:

1. William
2. Josh Meny
3. Joe Muller
4. Wojciech
5. Ragot
6. John Sanderson
7. Norman
8 Dave Vollbach

not signed up, but racing (i think):
9. Mike Perlberg

that's a really good crew - we've got some climbing legs and some flat-terrain hardmen

i won Trimble's Gentleman's Race in the catskills on sunday (dropped Al Barouh for the first time in 2 years!), so i know my climbing is coming into shape. as such, i'd love some help this coming sunday.

that said, there's enough talent and enough riders in our crew to have several leaders with different plans. i rode the course yesterday, and there's a lot of flat/rolling terrain in the first third of each loop that could suit an early break. what worked last year was having people to initiate or follow an early break, having people to play "midfield" in the middle of the race, and then having a helper or two on the last lap.

if a break of Roleurs can get a minute on the field before you hit the first big climb, you can probably stay away from the field over the top. going early (a) takes the pressure off those of us in the pack, and (b) gives you a solid shot at the money, considering this can be a very discouraging course to a pack of chasers.

mike mentioned filling this role . . . perhaps eric and dave could also consider doing some early attacking or playing midfield.

i would be hugely grateful if you guys could give me two things: (1) a full-time helper with climbing legs to stay close to me and possibly drag me up to a move or two in the final lap (wojciech? joe?), and (2) some strategery such that i can hide from the wind for the first two laps. i would suggest that a third dude with climbing legs stick with me and also stay out of the wind the first two laps so he can be super ready for the fireworks on the last lap.

if the early break stays away, that would be awesome. i know myself well enough to know that i can't do early and late work in a race this hard, so i'm content to stick with a plan of late attacking and hope it comes together near the end.

I'm up for helping you William in the final lap or whatnot

Having said that wont the field split up on it's own during the first few climbs? Or are the riders in the 3/4's too strong for that?

WDC: I'm down to help any way needed. I'll hang with you during the race and push you up the hills.

thanks a million, Wojciech and Joe

if it's anything like last year, the pack will thin out during the first two laps, but not exactly split.

last year, a single rider attacked at the top of the big climb, second lap, and soloed for the win. there was a group of maybe 25 behind him until the very last climb, when a group of 4 got separation.

i'll need you to stick close and give me a draft should i need it here/there

Joe: if you have climbing legs, you should stay with me so we have more than one option should we get near the finish together

W + J: how about we all stick together and see who is feeling best near the end of the race?

I like the idea of keeping a few of you skinny guys protected for the final climbs.

I am on the fence and won't decide until the deadline. I have been fighting off an upper respiratory infection for the past 2 weeks and am finally making some progress with a combination of sleep, easy spinning, fluids, and nasal rinses. Despite this, my legs feel very strong and rested.

If I am there I like the idea of getting into an early break to take the pressure off our climbers. If another Kissena comes with me from the gun we probably need folks from other teams to not cause too much of a commotion.

If we can force you guys into being patient you'll have a real shot at it. If I am away and get caught by a smaller group with some of our top guns in it I will have something left to work. I did a pretty good impersonation of a climber a few weeks ago.

Mike

Interesting that Pawling doesn't have any cat 1/2/3 riders pre-registered as of yet. I assume, as the deadline approaches, some will sign on the digital dotted line. Traditionally, this category gets filled with late-comers, but with so few other racing options available this weekend, it is still a surprise to me that no one has signed up.

As for myself, I'm pondering doing a couple of New England crits instead of Pawling...although their pre-reg numbers are looking sort of pathetic too...largely because I am too large and weak to be competitive in climbing heavy races. Of course I'm going to have to get my "Honey Badger" on if I want to start placing crits.

"I won Trimble's Gentleman's Race in the catskills on sunday......."

Congratulations William! Or is ungentlemanly to congratulate someone for winning a "gentleman's race?" Was it it in fact gentlemanly? I picture the riders with waxed handlebar mustaches, dressed in Rapha tweed, and talking/gesturing like Disney's Chip and Dale..."No you...after you..No, don't be silly, I insist. you first"

More importantly was it as brutally climb-o-centric as Dave's e-mail suggested it might be?

William --I'm just back from vacation and feeling rather puffy and slow... so, after I get dropped Sunday, I'll be happy to hand-up some bottles of your choice cold endurance beverage on that final lap. And I owe you some soigneur services from Quabbin. -Norm

I will handle early duties. I have been riding well in the hills here in western Mass. Will go for the hardest hilly ride of the trip today and will report back.
I am angry at the hills and my ride at Housatonic. I should have been dropped on Constitution Hill, not the stair step. Must make up for that.
So, I am at your service. Save Joe and Woj to hang with William.
E

Posted By: neilx"I won Trimble's Gentleman's Race in the catskills on sunday......."

Congratulations William! Or is ungentlemanly to congratulate someone for winning a "gentleman's race?" Was it it in fact gentlemanly? I picture the riders with waxed handlebar mustaches, dressed in Rapha tweed, and talking/gesturing like Disney's Chip and Dale..."No you...after you..No, don't be silly, I insist. you first"

More importantly was it as brutally climb-o-centric as Dave's e-mail suggested it might be?

oh lordy!

thank you neil . . . it was a really cool day

the course was intense - mile plus sections of doing 50-60rpm in my 39x26. i'm glad i did it before pawling, because the climbs in the catskills put these hills into perspective.

i hung with al and dan chabanov and ben woodbury on the first big climb, followed their attacks on the looooooong descent,a dn when dan flatted (and ben went back for him) al and i went full gas. after the second climb, it was just us and our friend jon (who barely races, but is a total monster) and we worked together until the last climb. i was pretty sure al would just grind away from us, but he must have been having a bad day, because i gapped him half way up and rode in solo!

it doesn't happen much, so it's really lovely when it does.

Glade Hill is a beast of a climb, those false flats and sudden grade increases really psyched me out when I rode it. You should rock pawling after that kind of training.

Edit - meant to write Sugarloaf rd, Glade hill is the one that rivals devils kitchen at 12.5% average grade

the finish was Sugarloaf road to Glade Hill road

Anyone got a link to the Pawling course for this weekend? When I go to the site I can't seem to get it to work. Interested to see what's in store.

In case anyone's interested, I found this. I assume it's accurate?

http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/bike-ride-map/new-york/pawling/17587524

Any idea using your foggy, lactate blurred memory, what sort of average pace you managed last year on these two climbs Will?

That's only a cat 3 climb? pffffft.

I was training for hors catagory

Posted By: AdamIn case anyone's interested, I found this. I assume it's accurate?

http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/bike-ride-map/new-york/pawling/17587524

Any idea using your foggy, lactate blurred memory, what sort of average pace you managed last year on these two climbs Will?

i don't have a cycle computer, so i can't say what we were doing

guesstimate: 7-9 mph during the steep bits

shit is hard!

the link above is accurate

Finally signed up for the race. But I'm doing the IV 35-. For those that are also doing it, I'm driving so we can do the car pool. I have a sedan that can fit 4 comfortably, or just 2 comfortably and 3 not comfortably. The only thing is I don't have a rack so we'll need to borrow one from someone if this is going to be an option. The other option is that I can stuff one bike in the back seat, one in the trunk, and essentially bring just 1 other person.

dw

Hi Dan,

I'm also in the -35 group. I'm supposed to be going up with Dave Stearns this weekend although am not sure of the exact plan just as of yet. Perhaps we can co-ordinate and head up together. That way, if one car punctures, we can assess who has the best chance of winning and if needs be, the other car can donate a wheel. Will see if I can get some more details.

If you are racing on Sunday at Pawling and live reasonably close to Prospect Park. I will be there at 9am tomorrow - Saturday. To ride, talk shop, get the team ready for Pawling. Ouch.

Eric

Just in case, any Kissena's racing the weekend's criteriums, give a shout out here and I'll look for you on race day. I'll be racing the Pro 1/2 categories both days and with guys like Mark and Frank McCormack and Adam Myerson on the start lists, these races should actually live up to their "Pro" title.

I need a ride to the race anyone still have room 917-586-0170 Nosson spielberg

An FYI to anyone who doesn't get a ride: the race start is less than a mile from the Pawling metro-north station out of Grand Central

a $5 bike pass is good for life