I'm looking for feedback from anyone who has raced previous editions of this race.

There is a hill, that has a short 17% ramp. Other than that I know nothing about the circuit and unfortunately due to the nature of the course the organiser is forbidding any riding on the circuit: all warmups to be done on trainers in the parking lot. Therefore the first time I will see this hill is during lap 1 of the race !

Feedback on the hill and circuit in general greatly appreciated.

Ian-

I raced Colt's Neck about 5 years back so my recollection is likely imperfect. In addition, they've apparently moved the start finish line this year. See: http://www.tourofcoltsneck.com/?page_id=42

As I recall (other than as is described below) the course is generally pretty flat circuit with only a tiny bit of roll to it. I don't recall any tight turns or other technical elements. The day I raced it, wind was not a factor. There were a few rough road surfaces, particularly in the 1/8 mile or so stretch that approaches the downhill which leads into the uphill. The finish used to be just after the top of that climb.

As you would expect the hill seemed to be a key strategic element. There's a medium fast downhill leading into it. The downhill bottoms out, goes flat for a short distance, then you start a short "pre- climb"almost immediately -- (you still carry some momentum from the descent onto the beginning of the pre-climb). Then you make a left as the pre-climb tops out and hits the steeper "real" climb. The real climb itself is not super long but is too long to ride purely by muscling/powering up it as some can do at Bethel. Knowing that you've done Bethel, my fuzzy recollection is that the Colt's Neck hill may be 2-3 times the length of the Bethel "hill," significantly steeper with a relatively steady gradient, and unlike Bethel, is relatively straight once you've made that left onto it (so you see most of who's and what's ahead of you). The finish line used to come right as the hill started to flatten out at the top. With it moving this year I'm not sure where the hill sits viv-a-vis the start/finish.

In case you haven't seen it, the 2007 race video on the promoter's website shows small bits of the course:
http://www.tourofcoltsneck.com/
At 1:34, 2:21, 2:34, 3:20 and 3:50 you'll see the pack coming off the downhill onto the brief flat, onto the pre-climb and then making that left onto the real climb. You get a feel for the steepness of real climb in the video when you see the litte kid trying to tackle it.

Also at 3:50 and after you see the "old" finish line just after the hill tops out. Even if the finish line has now moved it gives you and idea of the grade once you crest the hill.

My recollection of the mileage to the hill section won't make sense if the start has now changed, but as a landmarks for the approach of the climb, I do remember the road surface getting much rougher (hopefully it hasn't been paved since then), the pack slowing, and a left-hand turn onto the descent which sets you up for the pre-climb and then the left hand onto the real climb.

Hope this makes some semblance of sense. Let me know if it doesn't.

I actually may do the race this year as either in 45+ masters or in the IV's. Not sure yet.

N.

Neil - this is awesome. Thanks very much.

Ian, I'm a probable for this race. Looks like fun. Can we get a few more 4s?

I'm thinking about this one for the 3s. I'm in South Jersey Saturday night for family stuff and then maybe I can drive up here and race on the way home Sunday.

Mike

According to the race flyer, this race is a points race in most fields, inlcuding the 3's and 4's.

I've never done a points race before. Anyone have any thoughts about tactics?

I plan on racing the 4's and I see Ian is signed up. Anyone else for the 4's?

Unclear... looks like they may have changed their minds about mens' cat4 points format:

http://www.tourofcoltsneck.com/?page_id=63

Well that's disappointing.

Still, it looks like it will be a fun race anyway.

Anyone want to do the Tandems race? I'm down if you bring the tandem.

reg'd for 4s

I'm signing up for Colt's Neck on Sunday. I'm trying to decide whether to register for Masters 45+ or 4s. I'll post when I decide. I can give up to 2 riders a ride out from Brooklyn as long as they are starting close to the same time as whichever group I'm going to register for. (For instance, 4s go at 9:30, Master 45+ at 11:25). I see we have Ian, Rich, Jim, and Chris signed up for the 4s. Is anyone planning to race there in the Masters?

I am signed up for 3s, I think Rene is in too. Should be fun.

Rich is riding with me and I think I could fit one more but if Neil also has space that would probably work better. I have to jet right after the 4 race ends so I can't stick around for the masters.

Would love to have you in the 4 race Neil but the Masters is a poitns race and that has the potential to be more fun (or at least more interesting).

Just FYI, the 5 boro bike tour is also on Sunday. Verrazano leaving Brooklyn is closed from 8am to 6pm. Apparently SI to Brooklyn is not affected.

Thanks for the reminder about the bridge closure on Sunday, Jim.

Hey Neil, do you still have room? I'm about to sign up and want to make sure it's not to late.

I still have room BUT am trying to decide whether I'm racing the Masters at 11:30 or the 4's at 9:30. I'll have it figured out by about 10:30 tonight. If we're both doing 4s, no problem on the lift out and back. I'll let you know as soon as I know.

Sounds good I'll hold out till tonight. Thanks for getting back to me.

I've registered for the 4s, so Joe, I'm happy to give you a ride out and back. I have room for one more if anyone else still needs a ride from Brooklyn.

nice, we'll have a good crew for this one! joe, maybe we can help get you that upgrade this weekend

No problem Jeff as long as you don't mind removing a wheel or two to get your bike in the back of the station wagon.

I can probably fit another bike if we all take the wheels off. Anyone else want to join in for the 4's? Leaving Brooklyn 7am. Back hopefully by noon at the latest.

<<Just FYI, the 5 boro bike tour is also on Sunday. Verrazano leaving Brooklyn is closed from 8am to 6pm. Apparently SI to Brooklyn is not affected.>>

I think this is just the lower level being closed Brooklyn->SI bound. I cant say for sure, but if its the same as what they did in 2009, I think the Upper level should still be open for getting over to SI by car.

Colts Neck was today. The 3 race was kinda lame. A guy got away solo and won. I made 2 bridge attempts after sprints when the field was soft and was close to being successful the first time, less so the second. The attempts were stymied by guys wanting to sit in and and not help. Annoying but part of the game. Even more annoying when your legs are dead and you really need the help.

Rene made a nice last lap flyer attempt for second, caught the field off guard, but was reeled in a little ways before the sprint. There was a nasty crash with 3-4 guys on the rise just before the finish. Yes, they were sprinting for 35th place (AKA the sprint to not cross the line last)

The race was a little frustrating with narrow roadways and a yellow line rule in effect. Tough to move up.

I think the 4s had a similar situation but even worse due to a bigger field.

Time for some rest. 3 races in 4 days is tough.

Pretty much similar to what Mike mentioned, sans crash, but definitely a few close calls. Narrow start/roads, yellow line rule, and a lot of terrible bike handling in the 4s made maneuvering in the field quite difficult. In a positive spin however, Ian had the skills to make his way through the mess and go off the front for about 2 laps but I only know this from chatting with him after. Hopefully he'll have some details as seen from the sharp end of the race. Jeff O. suffered a dramatic flat just before lap 4 -- perhaps a bit of a reprieve from the $#!tshow. Joe, Jim and I basically spent the whole race trying to get up front (without crossing the double yellow to make up places, as several others had) to make something happen and never could quite get there. Neil and I missed each other during the festivities.

Unfortunately this one became a fast, sketchy group ride, more or less, with a few sprints thrown in at the turns. For future reference, you're best off lining up at the front and being among the first ten wheels navigating the first left-hander. The race is short and all of the hills are big-ring power climbs.

I had a nice trip with Joe and Neil on a beautiful day out to the country. Great company out and back for race that was not very far away. Neil was very generous to drive us and denied compensation as well.

I did not enjoy the race.

It was well run (except for having just 2 portapotties) and the potential of the course seems good.

Unfortunately, it was a huge field in the 4's and if you were toward the back it was impossible to move up. Unless you went outside the yellow line. I like the fact the motorcycle ref was pretty strict about the enforcement of that rule though. Relegating people to the back if they strayed too long. The bad bike handling and random braking was actually worse than a NYC park race. Imagine.

I say it was impossible to move up, but Ian did a good job and took a nice flier with one to go. Oh, I was "filming" it b/c I got a flat. That was the funniest part: About half of the way through the race, I was telling Rich how I thought the race was lame and I was thinking about pulling out b/c it wasn't going anywhere, I wasn't even working, and was it too sketchy for the potential fun value. About a minute later....Krackkkkkkk Pfffffffffffhhhht!!! I thought someone had crashed behind me. Nope, I had my first flat in a race ever! Sweet. So now I get to stop for a good reason other than boredom.

I will not do this race again though, at least as a 4. Too many bodies, not enough road. I would rather have done the five borough bike tour. Probably would've been faster! I think I'll totally smash that thing on the TT bike I don't have next year.

That said, you can't entirely blame the course. I suppose I could stand to be more aggressive in jockeying for position, but in a "friendly" cat4 race, I just don't see the point in bullying my way up when the nervous riders are already behaving erratically . I know there is a skill involved in surfing the peloton that I could stand to improve on, but this was really super jammed. I think Joe, Rich, Jim, Neil, and Ian can attest to that.

Perhaps they could do something (pay more $) to use the full width of the road (I guess this is probably impossible?) or just make the field limit smaller? Of course, that would cut into the profits. But as I (and many others in the back third I heard) said, this was just too much of a slow clusterf*ck to justify the entry fee. Although the trip with two cool teammates was fun!

All the points Jeff raises are valid .... from a certain perspective, which I concur with. But i would like to shed another perspective on the race, which for the record I really enjoyed.

The roads were narrow and starting from the back it was super difficult to move up. I was hugely frustrated for the first 2 laps, even gaining 2 or 3 places was difficult and stressful. The big problem with being stuck towards the back of the race is that this is the most stressful and dangerous place to be. Typically it's the domain of the riders who are stuggling - which makes them more sketchy to ride with + you can't see the road ahead + you suffer from the whole concertina effect at every corner and climb as people slow and accelerate. The same is true for technical crits. And the same is true at PP races, but the road is wide enough that it's easy to move up front (and we could all probably ride that course blindfold).

At the start of lap 3 I decided I was going to do all it took to get to the front (without any yellow line infractions). I did 3 things
1) I took each corner like a crit: late on the brakes; on the inside; get under the rider that was in front during the corner and sprint SUPER hard out the corner because the pack stetches coming out of corners and that means bigger gaps to move through.
2) I was very vocal. In my best British commanding tone of voice I told people I was on their left (even when I was behind them). They move over to the right a fraction - move up. Also there would be times when I would be following a rider and a gap would appear in front of him and he wouldn't go for it. Again I was vocal e.g. "Hey Westwood Velo- move up". usually they obliged.
3) Sometimes I would be starting to move past someone and they began to move across into me. Rather than squeeze the brake lever I used that hand to better effect by giving them a firm push on the hip.

The above was not easy, but the challenge of it made the race more interesting and I'd like to think it's a useful skill to have.

Within 3/4 of a lap I was top 6 and now the race was exactly what we are all used to at the pointy-end of things. Better, safer riders, nicer lines through the corners, easier braking, etc. It also put me in a position to attack, which was great fun (although it hurt like hell), and again means that I have a different perspective of the race. For me the 1st 2 laps were awful but the last 3 were awesome.

With regards to the porta-john situation. We were surrounded by woodland .... and you know what bears do ...

For whatever it's worth, photos of yesterday's Colt's Neck race are at http://www.atlanticbicycleclub.org/Colts_Neck_2011.htm

Gallery 1-

Jim at IMG 7887
Ed Nolan (?) at IMG 8119

Gallery 2-
Mike Pearlberg at IMGs 9800, 9801, and 9847

Hopefully this attachment will work. It'll be hard to tell with my camera skills (lack of), but it's Ian with a nice 12 second or so gap!

The only thing I have to add to Jeff's and Owen's reports is that Kissena Chris Conde was in our pack as well.

Video is up of colts neck:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/23129559