Jun 18, 2012 at 12:46 AM
ahhh shit
That's Harlem I guess.
Patrick - 11th? That's not too shabby in a race like that. Congrats!
Jeff and Aly, really sorry to hear about the crashes. Keep us posted and let us know if you need anything.
Harlem Skyscraper Classic
Jun 18, 2012 at 12:52 AM
Sorry to hear about all the McCrashy. Aly, Jeff - hope the pride stings worse than anything come tomorrow...
Word is Misha from Hudson went down on what looked like his head; out cold for a while, a lot of blood. No word yet on the blogosphere, other than a lot of people posting "get well soon" and "hope it ain't too bad" messages on his Facebook page.
Word is Misha from Hudson went down on what looked like his head; out cold for a while, a lot of blood. No word yet on the blogosphere, other than a lot of people posting "get well soon" and "hope it ain't too bad" messages on his Facebook page.
Ryan's favorite NYVelocity friend won.
Jun 18, 2012 at 12:56 AM
the latest on Misha: broken pride, chipped teeth, no broken jaw, no broken bones, bruised face, 7 stiches, bruised arm 8 more stitches.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:04 AM
You left out a concussion. Regardless, that is one lucker motherfucker. Good to hear it.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:09 AM
the finishing pack in the 4s was a third of the size it was when we started. however, it was getting faster and faster as the race went on and ppl were scared of the fast turning. the lines of the riders were horrendous at times and ppl did not keep a steady entrance into the turn but constantly readjusting their line...some riders straight up were cutting ppl off trying to move up exiting the turns. lots of riders were ok but the few that were bad really did cause much distress.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:10 AM
Daniel, Keith, Rene, Vlad and myself in this race. 120 entries.
I tried following Marc's advice and fought for a place before the start. Didn't work. And I got caught behind not one, but two guys having trouble clipping in. Not blaming Marc. It took only a lap or two to get into decent position.
Daniel and Keith, both claiming short on fitness, are long on experience, and seemed to have little trouble moving up when they wanted to. Keith had the added plus of having someone try to stick their foot in his wheel (the guy couldn't corner) and he was rewarded with broken spokes and a tweaked wheel. But he got a neutral one and was back. He even got off the front once or twice, which he later said was him faking it.
Rene seemed to be sitting comfortably. I think Vlad was, too, but I'll let him report.
I was on a good day. BH put two guys off the front early--of their twelve. As the field was starting to bring it back, I tried to jump across with a BH on my wheel. I figured I might get some help--three BH's up the road with one other guy could be good. But no. Must be because they feared my ability to attack and out time trial all three. Move failed.
I tried another move. And as it was starting to be brought back, got the bell for another prime sprint. Ended that chance.
At seven to go, I thought I saw the perfect moment. So I went for it. Got a gap with three other guys. I was thinking this was the moment, far enough from the finish that guys are still cagey, close enough that a small group could make it. I think we were getting a gap.
And as we went through the start/finish, THEY NEUTRALIZED THE RACE! crash in the first turn and they needed to get an ambulance in there. But it wasn't just any neutralization. They let the first third of the field roll through and then stopped everyone else.
So, myself, Keith, Rene, and Vlad finished a lap and were at the very back of the field. Daniel was second row.
Keith, angered, yelled out, "how come the yahoos get the front?"
They waited fifteen minutes or more and then gave us three laps to go. Thanks.
We started. I was once again behind someone who didn't know how to clip in to their pedals.
After I couldn't get to the inside after turn two, I decided to play it safe. Good thing. I think it was CRCA's president who nearly stacked it coming out of turn one and that took out someone in front of me.
Not sure where the others finished. We were all upright.
At one point in the race, BH's Eli Mernit came to the front to do what seemed to be an attack. No one else was in front. He came to the front before turn two and took the lead. I followed. He put on his brakes before the turn. Post race, I told him he needed to get better at turns and I offered to help. He said, "yes, I'm a pussy." They're easy turns. Really. Made me want to upgrade. He was the worst I saw, but Keith's wheel incident was allegedly because the guy braked coming out of turn four. And others were going outside to inside for no good reason.
It's a fun course--if only people knew how to ride it.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:11 AM
I felt good the whole race. Was able to stay at the front for most of it. I avoided the first two crashes and at the bell I chased down someone who went off the front. I was top 10 going through turn 3. I moved up a bit before the final turn and ended up taking the outside I think I was7th or 8th wheel. A guy ahead of me took the turn to wide and I think bumped the barrier and fell into me. I went down and landed on my face and another guy crashed into me. It may have looked bad but I ended up with just some mild road rash and a pretty sore quad. Bike seems to be in good shape just my front wheel is out of true. Despite the crashes I had a good experience at this race and I think I'd do it again.
It was good riding with Adam, Patrick, Whitey and Aly. Everyone was in it and looking good. Heal up, Aly.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:12 AM
The 2/3 race was probably the crashiest. Despite that, I had a lot of fun and am looking forward to next year's race. Today I learned what Marc means about having the fitness to finish a crit but not having the skill to place.
JP, Keith, Rene, and Dan Hubbard looked good and seemed to hold pretty good spots up towards the front for most of the race. After Misha's crash, we were neutralized. The race was stopped with about 6-7 laps to go. After a brutal 15 minute wait, we were told to race 3 more laps. I think 2-3 crashes happened after the restart. I don't think that any of us finished in the money. The aggression and frustration shown by certain (non-Kissena) racers following the restart made the last three laps fairly trivial and perhaps not the best part of the race to try to make a move. I'm glad that none of us got hurt (except for Keith's super spokey wheel).
Some of us stayed and watched the great racing that followed. The women's race and especially the Pro/1 race were a treat. It's a sweet course to race on and a fantastic place to watch others do so.
JP, Keith, Rene, and Dan Hubbard looked good and seemed to hold pretty good spots up towards the front for most of the race. After Misha's crash, we were neutralized. The race was stopped with about 6-7 laps to go. After a brutal 15 minute wait, we were told to race 3 more laps. I think 2-3 crashes happened after the restart. I don't think that any of us finished in the money. The aggression and frustration shown by certain (non-Kissena) racers following the restart made the last three laps fairly trivial and perhaps not the best part of the race to try to make a move. I'm glad that none of us got hurt (except for Keith's super spokey wheel).
Some of us stayed and watched the great racing that followed. The women's race and especially the Pro/1 race were a treat. It's a sweet course to race on and a fantastic place to watch others do so.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:16 AM
as per Misha, no concussion.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:18 AM
Wow, good for him.
How does one bleed out of the ear from landing face first into a tree without a concussion? He's a crafty one.
How does one bleed out of the ear from landing face first into a tree without a concussion? He's a crafty one.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:18 AM
its the russian gene I guess!
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:35 AM
he crashed into a piece of metal between the barriers that were installed but which is much lower than them. it sounded much worst than it was. I saw David Lipscomb right after it happened and it sounded really bad. Im glad he turned out ok despite the chipped teeth and the stitches.
Jun 18, 2012 at 01:39 AM
The first 36 minutes of the 2/3, at a 28.3 mph avg, were the fastest crit minutes of my (super short) racing career. That would have probably held for the full 45 had we not been neutralized.
Just saying.
Just saying.
Jun 18, 2012 at 12:24 PM
I had a pretty decent race even though the legs were heavy from racing hard Thursday and Saturday. Was fourth wheel for the hole shot, held similar position for the first half of the race, and tried to bridge up to a solo NYVelocity guy (Roy) about 20 minutes in. Went away between Turns 1 and 2, and was closing it down. Going through Turn 4, some other guy bridged up and past me. I had to dig so deep to get his wheel, I literally yelled through clenched teeth while closing down the last ten feet. I stared at his wheel for a while, but then we got caught again around the start-finish. So in all I was "away" for less than a lap. All in all, very poorly done.
Avoided the first crash in Turn 3 without losing position but wasn't so lucky for the second crash in Turn 3 with 2.5 laps to go. Had to slam on the brakes, locking up both wheels, then coming to a near-track-stand before slaloming through the carnage. I somehow picked my way through and then was treated to a demoralizing half lap chase back to the pack. I caught them well after Turn 1 and didn't have the balls to get all the way to the front in the two laps left. Did a fake sprint for like twentieth. Haven't seen results so that's a guess.
Jun 18, 2012 at 02:09 PM
This was my first crit this year having only done Rockleigh once and Green mountain two years ago. It was a fun race and the atmosphere was similar to a cross race. Having said that, the four crashes in the Cat 4 field were ridiculous. I was lucky enough to avoid all of them. Aly look okay after his two crashes but thought he had fractured a rib. Jeff C looked like a mess after his crash on the last lap. Heal quickly guys.
Results just got posted on www.skyscraperclassic.com. I managed 11th, Adam slotted in 24th and Whitey came in 27th. I tried to stay near the front the whole time - sometimes more successfully than others. Jeff W and Jeff C were impressive in how actively they surfed the front.
I got lucky in that a hole opened up on the inside right before turn four and I took it fast and tight. Was probably 6th going into the turn. I gave it all I had but "my sprint sucks balls" (tm) and I only managed to hang on to 11th. I think it will be time to start heading to the track...
Jun 18, 2012 at 03:42 PM
sounds like Harlem lived up to its Skinscraper name again this year. 39 years of taking out riders in silly crashes.
Jun 18, 2012 at 04:38 PM
just got out of the ER because the pain was unbearable this morning and there's no apparent fracture on rib series xray (which does not exclude the possibility of a fracture); this does not change treatment anyway. left the hospital with a prescription for percocet. It still hurts a lot but it shouldn't take too long to heal. see you at floyd? perhaps...
Jun 18, 2012 at 06:52 PM
Sorry to hear about the injuries—heal up Aly and Jeff.
I skipped this one because I'm not a huge fan of a tight course with those metal barriers with the angled legs. Glad no one was more seriously hurt, although it looks like Misha gave it a good go!
Jun 18, 2012 at 08:58 PM
just got out of the ER because the pain was unbearable this morning and there's no apparent fracture on rib series xray (which does not exclude the possibility of a fracture); this does not change treatment anyway. left the hospital with a prescription for percocet. It still hurts a lot but it shouldn't take too long to heal. see you at floyd? perhaps...Make sure you are drinking lots of fluids, eating vegetables. Percocet causes constipation. I had a patient recently who had to be admitted to surgery, because after 3 enemas (administered by yours truly, jealous?), she could not have a bowel movement. She was on pain medications, and stopped taking her stool softeners in the last month.
Jun 18, 2012 at 09:06 PM
Thank you doctor bertucco.
Yours truly,
Dr Smolarski
Yours truly,
Dr Smolarski
Jun 18, 2012 at 09:15 PM
Pro/1 race here - http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/23388362
Go to the 1:44:55 mark to watch young Pollo catch some elbows from the Mountain Khakis bros as he tries to sneak into their train (Mengoni on the right side of the screen).
Oh man... love this stuff.
Go to the 1:44:55 mark to watch young Pollo catch some elbows from the Mountain Khakis bros as he tries to sneak into their train (Mengoni on the right side of the screen).
Oh man... love this stuff.
Jun 18, 2012 at 09:22 PM
That would have caused 36 fatalities in our 4 race.
Jun 18, 2012 at 11:58 PM
For a guy who is our Olympic selection for track racing, Bobby Lea sure doesn't like to contest a group sprint, does he? He did the same thing at Tour of Somerville.
Jun 19, 2012 at 01:09 AM
did you see the kind of effort he produced? He was in a 6 man (7 after a guy bridged) break for about 10 laps and then attacked it when he saw it was getting weak for probably another 5 on his own...beast!
Jun 19, 2012 at 02:58 AM
True. Lea's move seemed impossibly long. Strategically dubious maybe, but somehow he made it look credible, even against the entire race. Fun to watch.
Jun 19, 2012 at 03:13 AM
I still can't believe Misha made it out with so little damage. Crazy
Jun 19, 2012 at 03:09 PM
Adam says no to Lea bashing!
Jun 19, 2012 at 04:25 PM
RE: Bobby Lea.
If you are going to the Olympics in less than two months for track racing, do you sit in the field and wait to fight for a spot behind the UnitedHealthCare and MountainKhakis trains with guys whose main goals for the year are staying in the points competition for the USA Crit Series, or do you instigate a breakaway and try to win out of that?
A broken collarbone will barely heal in time, provided you don't need to pin it.
Jun 20, 2012 at 03:27 PM
RE: Bobby Lea.Or do you stay in your basement doing breakaway/trainer miles, wearing your helmet, because that is the safest of them all? Sissy-girls 0, Real Men 1If you are going to the Olympics in less than two months for track racing, do you sit in the field and wait to fight for a spot behind the UnitedHealthCare and MountainKhakis trains with guys whose main goals for the year are staying in the points competition for the USA Crit Series, or do you instigate a breakaway and try to win out of that?A broken collarbone will barely heal in time, provided you don't need to pin it.
Jun 20, 2012 at 09:41 PM
