I thought I'd start this thread after John asked me what I thought were the "can't miss" races for the season. I'm sure we've all got our own favorites, so put them out there, just in case a great race doesn't get picked up by another riders radar. I'll skip mentioning the local stuff, just because I think we all know when and where the 5 borough action is.

5/7 Sterling Road Race, Sterling, MA
5/7 Turkey Hill Country Classic, Lancaster, PA
5/15 Bear Mountain
Labor Day Weekend Tour of Sommerville Criterium (and associated crits/rr)
or Killington Stage Race, Killington, VT
6/19 Harlem Classic crit, NYC
6/19 Housatonic Hills RR, Southbury, CT
7/8-7/11 Tour de Toona (only if you are hunting out stage races, this one is a solid 5 hour drive from us), Altoona, PA
7/10 Pawling RR, Pawling, NY
8/5-8/7 Tour of the Catskills, Tannersville, NY. (the Devil's Kitchen climb is INSANE. I did it last year, OTB, by myself, slowly in a 39x27 and wished I had something easier to turn)

That's all that's on bikereg.com so far--I'm sure more will show up like the Green Mountain Stage Race and/or the NRC ranked Chris Thater Memorial Criterium. Right now the schedule seems a little thin to be honest. There are other races that are interesting to me, personally for one reason or another, but they aren't necessarily "can't miss" for you.

Tour of the Hilltowns 2011 --I wrote the race director and heard back that they are aiming for July 23rd OR 24th.

Those wishing for some good climbing fun should mark that weekend on your calendars!

Ooohh, good one Norm. This is brutal climbing rich race with all the kinds of climbs you love to hate. Steep stair stepper in the 3-5 mile range (the pain has blurred my memory), plus JP's favorite, long open road big ring drags that will shred your legs one tiny fiber at a time. Plus wind, always crazy windy as I recall. I didn't place this one on the list, because as of yet, it's not on the bikereg calendar.

As more races come online, I'll continue to add to the list. I'm also going to add a little bit of information as to why I think this might be a "must do" race for you. In part because I previously just listed Turkey Hill and having just competed in it, am more convinced, based on your race reports and what I know about your riding styles, that many of you would have LOVED this race.

5/22 Tour de Parc Criterium--easily accessible via the LIRR, this deceptively difficult and fun criterium combines sweeping turns and contained, narrow-ish roads to make it's traditionally small competitor turnout a non-issue.

5/22 T-Town "Try the Track" Day--it looks like they've got these scheduled throughout the season, but if you have only experienced the Kissena velodrome, and are curious about what racing on other tracks is like, this might be the perfect opportunity to race/ride a world class, steeply banked oval set in nearby Trexlertown PA.

6/11 Tour of Mt. Nebo--Their website goes on and on about how awesome this race is, and I think they are overselling it just a smidge, but I still think that there are plenty of good reasons to drive 163 miles for this one-day event. Especially, for those of you who can't get enough of the slug-it-out style of racing that is FBF. Lancaster County roads roll, covered in chip-seal surfaces to ensure that any momentum you might have gained on the back side of the last roller, will be instantly gone the second the next roller smacks you in the face. And this is farm country. That means gone are the traditional forests of wind buffers that you find in New England road races. These races draw a mid-Atlantic racing crowd and it's good to see new faces and see how you fair against unfamiliar foes. Finally, don't let the "short" distances fool you. You'll be wishing these races were 15 miles shorter. http://www.roadcyclingleague.com/index.php?option=com_races&task=listRace&id=134&Itemid=42

8/20 New York Capital Region Road Race--this is a classic upstate New York type race that has, in the past served as our state championships. Some significant climbing, plus flat stretches to recover. Many Kissena's are yearly visitors to Albany for this race.

Thanks Marc,

One of the big things I'm cloudy coming into the 4's is what races to do. I wasn't sure which races were the most popular or draws the most competitors, etc. I can't believe I didn't bring this up earlier but I'm glad you did.

Thanks again,

Daniel Wong

Daniel, hopefully other folks will chime in with their picks too. I'm sure I've missed some local/regional favorites that others "can't miss."

I cannot not miss Union Vale. I know, I'll be at Pawling on July 10.

I just checked Bikereg and Capital Region RR is in August:

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13358

Why did I think it was June 25th? For some reason I have it in my calendar as such.

I've been told that if you like short, punchy climbs this is the race to do.

Any thoughts?

Andy and I did the Try the Track day at T-town last year... it was great. For anybody interested in starting track/new to track, I would definitely recommend going. You get to hang with Marty Nothstein for a day, learn some simple (yet often overlooked) tips for staying safe on the track, do a few drills that really let you learn how to use the banking, and race a bit... and if you don't want to come out to the track five times as a Cat5, you can get an auto upgrade to the 4's.

And you get a pair of free socks.

About Capital Region RR : did it twice, liked it both times: during the short steep climb, don't let others get away, especially if you're by yourself (with others, you can come back); keep some power for the final uphill k.

Hey everyone, quick and important note about the upcoming holiday weekend of racing. If you are planning to race Monday's Tour of Sommerville criterium, register ASAP online because day of registration fee/penalty is an additional $25. That's right TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS.

Even if you aren't a big fan of crits there are a number of good reasons to come out for the Monday event. For one, it's not a crazy technical course, but it is a classic crit course that will allow you to practice your bike handling skills. For another, the Pro/1 race is a somewhat unique opportunity for you to watch real deal pro riders and teams compete for big money at this NRC race. This event gets very tactical and it's really pretty interesting to see full-on pro teams do their thing.

For family's, in the past they've had things like a mini petting zoo, face painting, etc. I'm not going to lie and say it's an awesome day out for the whole family (Sommerville, NJ is kind of a classic "bike race" town), but they do make an effort to get out food vendors and some entertainment as well.

This is a great weekend of crit racing. Marc is under-selling it.

For III's and IV's and I think V's, there is Manville Madness on Friday, Super Saturday on Saturday, and Bound Brook on Sunday. I don't know if i've done the Manville course or not, but Saturday's and Sunday's races are a bit technical. And all three can be reached by public transit and are all in the Somerville area.

http://www.tourofsomerville.org/

The one negative about Friday's race is that you'll have to deal with rush-hour traffic to get there. Definitely a turn-off.

for Monday's race, there is definitely entertainment for little and even mid-sized kids.

Peoples,
I am depressed by the road and crit offerings now available to us. There are fewer and fewer road races and criteriums available within a two-hour drive.

I bring it up because I registered for Harlem rather than Housatonic. Both are rare kinds of races these days and it's a shame that they both fell on the same day. The only reason I was pulling for Housatonic this year was looking at the calendar and seeing so few road races within two hours of here.

So, I took another look at the calendar. Jersey used to be great for crits and good for road races. Now there are almost no road races except in the deep south and the crits have generally shifted from downtown areas to schools or corporate parks. And are often south of Philadelphia.


On July 4th weekend

there is the South Jersey Omnium. It is three criteriums, two of which are in teh same place, Seneca High School. On the good side, it is a technical crit, with six turns in a mile and varying from wide roads to narrow. On the other hand, they are having two races there in three days. In between the two Seneca crits is the Greentree crit, a corporate park and only two turns, it seems.

Here's the bikereg page: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13666

Saturday, July 2
Dash for Cash Crit, by the track in T-Town, PA
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13536
points race, sprints every three laps

Sunday, July 3
Rodale Fitness Park Crit, by the track in T-Town http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13150


JUly 8-10 Tour d Toona, Altoona, PA (three stages, points,not time)


July 9
Brooklyn GP


Sunday, July 10,

Maplewood Crit in Maplewood, NJ. Don't know the course, but it's easy to take NJ Transit here: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12715

Pawling Mountain Road Race. Second-year event. Great reviews from last year. http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12045

New Britain Crit. http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13422


Saturday, July 16th
Mack Truck Test Track Crit, Allentown, PA. don't know anything about this, but I love the novelty.
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13367

Al Toefield Road Race, Prospect Park,

Sunday, July 17th

Pinecone Road Race in South Jersey. Also in the same neighborhood as the South Jersey omnium. Flat and fast, but will be hard.

The Lou Maltese Memorial in Central Park. There's a team-only 1/2/3 race. We typically field a squad.

Kissena Track Omnium

Donovan-Ruhlman Naugatuck Criterium. A classic New England Crit
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13130


Saturday, July 23

L&C Cup RAce

Tour of the Hilltowns--Brutal course in Western Mass, easy drive
https://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13745


Sunday, July 24

The Freedom Tour crit. In Stirling, NJ. You can take the train to within six miles of the race. It's a four-corner course, but has some tricks to it.

NY State Track Championships


Saturday, July 30th

Kirkwood Road Race, Kirkwood, PA, a bit short for a long drive, but a hard, fast course.
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=11667

is the NY State Time Trial Championship way up in Tioga Centre, NY. I think Bertucco's brother-in-law can put us all up.

part 2


Friday August 5th to Sunday, August 7th is the Tour of the CAtskills.


Saturday, August 6,

there is the Tour of High Bridge. If you like short, steep, lung-searing climbs and a tricky, technical descent, this is a great race. It's in Central Jersey, but almost inaccessible from Public Transit. The loop is about 3 miles around. If it's wet out, you'll definitely want a 27 for the climbs. A cat I friend of mile slid his rear wheel out going uphill in the rain last year.

L&C Cup


Sunday, August 7th

is the Longmeadow TT. Hard course. Last year, there was a screaming 40mph or more descent, followed by a grinding, depressing false-flat return.

L&C Cup


August 13-14

Tour de Millersville Stage Race


Saturday, August 13

Blistered Butt RR, Prospect Park


Sunday, August 14th is both the Calvert-Toefield (III-IV handicap race)

Tokeneke Classic Road race. A grinder of a course, finishing on a long hill.


Saturday August 20th

Capitol Region Road Race near Albany. This course boasts three tough hills and lots of shallow ups and downs.

Sunday, August 21st

Great Catskill Divide Road Race. I think this is a new Event
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13698

Saturday August 27th
Wilkes-Barre Pro/Am Twilight Criterium
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13469

Also probably the 27th is the Phillipsburg Crit

Topsfield Circuit Race, /topsfield,MA
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13463



9/2-9/5 GMSR


Sunday, September 4, there is the Blueberry Bicicletta RR. This is in the same neighborhood as the South Jersey omnium. Very flat, but typically hard.

Monday, September 5, there is the Tour of Basking Ridge. This is another technical crit with two hills in it. While it's all big-ring, it really wears on you.

Saturday

9/17-18 Tour of the adirondacks (interesting, but conflicts with our annual championships)
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12963

Giro del Cielo next weekend:

http://www.skylandscycling.com/cielo11/

pawling mountain road race

sunday, july 10th

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12045

70 mile/90 minute drive

Pawling. I'm doing it. Any other 55+ Kissena doing it? I'm already training for it (repeats up Mount Cadillac in the fog, eating lobster but no blueberry pie.=)

Being a purist descender, I signed up for this, I think this is the circuit:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/17587524/

I noticed there's a lot of vertical and a couple of 8% sections. Can anyone talk to the difficulty of this race? Pre-ride reccomended?

check out my report in the pawling thread

For anyone considering traveling to the Tour de Toona, looks like Friday's stage was canceled, making it a two-day, two-race affair for all categories except Pro/1.


http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/551408/Next-week-s-Tour-de--Toona-drops-2-stages.html?nav=751

Has anyone done the Tour de Millersburg? (This is the Tour de Millersville mentioned under this heading about Can't miss races for August 13-14)

http://www.tourdemillersburg.com/


http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13274

August 14 is Tokeneke, but this is a two day stage race (good training for GMSR, even if it's not hilly) with free lodging (you stay with locals, I don't know if you have to do the dishes).

Aug 27 is the Chris Thater Memorial criterium and for those who are interested in "scouting" out a pretty tough crit course in preparation for the crit stage at Green Mountain, you could do worse than racing here. A hump of a climb, fast 90 degree turns (and if they make you do the "pro" course, it's actually a VERY hard course), fast finish line sprint where position is very important.

Good prize money ($2500 twenty deep in the cat 2/3 race). Mini festival atmosphere and nice park for family fun too. And if it's little too far for a 1 day event, consider staying overnight, kick starting your cross season, with a 5k running race on Sunday (this race is usually won by some world class Ethiopian runner, but lots of other kinds of people do this race too), then hanging out and watching real-deal pro racers battle it out for a 15,000 purse and NRC points later in the day.

I would totally do all that...but I've got family visiting me that weekend probably.

http://www.bcstopdwi.com/bcstopdwi/thater-events

This weekend, for those of you who are not locked and loaded (safeties off) for the show-down in Baltimore there are two events you might consider doing. Saturday in Prospect Park is the Kissena Club Championships and for the first time in a few years, it's NOT a "catch-Kissena" format. Ragot reports that we'll have one neutral-ish lap and then it's game on. In the past, the winner has gotten a special club champion jersey with pinstripes on the sleeves or somesuch. It's actually quite nice looking.

Then on Sunday there is the Tour de Fairhaven in NJ. For the past few years, JP and I have hopped onto NJ Transit to get to this hybrid circuit/crit race that is shaped like a dog bone, the middle bit being up and down a main drag with businesses and the ends of the course full on crit style racing through neighborhoods. I've always enjoyed this race.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?EventID=14154

For you winners, you should probably know that they have had in the past, actual podium girls. And for you families, a couple of nice places to eat in town, plus they've had a bouncy castle thingy in the past there too. And for you runners turned bicycle racers, who are missing their "free" t-shirts, this race usually has them. And for you nerds, the ride from the train usually goes past Jay and Silent Bob's actual comic book store.

I haven't decided what I'm doing this weekend yet, but it's either this or crossing in Baltimore.