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Introduce Yourself, Post a Photo - Mugshots

1386 comments · 14270 views
mugwump
Jun 26, 2021 at 03:32 AM
Brian,
     According to my spies in Spain, you crashed like a pro.  I think the consensus was you did a good job of minimizing the possible damage.
David Yang
Jun 27, 2021 at 03:34 PM
Ow ow, welcome back Brian!
Brian Miele
Jul 18, 2021 at 02:35 AM
Thanks Jim, I do indeed still have those slippers. Mark, I don't know if I'd survive in Hollywood :#
DavidVibert
Sep 13, 2021 at 02:33 PM
Hello everyone, my name is David V from Brooklyn and I just joined Kissena as a new member. I'm excited to join the club and to ride with you all!

I grew up on Long Island and have been living in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for about a decade. I'm in my mid-30s. In high school I played lacrosse and track. I used to run a lot until an injury a few years ago. I biked a lot very recreationally my whole life, took a break about ten years ago, then got back into biking during the pandemic, and in 2021 discovered I really liked road and track racing. I have been glued to the grand tours, some classics, and olympic track. So far I have just focused on training by myself by doing many laps in PP, at Verrazano, and taking some 30-40 solo rides in BK and Manhattan. This year I entered my first Cat 5 road race and a novice velodrome track race. 

My goals for the next year or two are to meet more people into cycling like I am, to get into race fitness, to get more experienced riding with people and in races, and to try and become more competitive in Cat 5 road and track races. I also want to try out some crits and time trialing. I'm excited to ride with you all and to work towards these goals!
Joe Matunis
Sep 13, 2021 at 09:01 PM
Welcome David!


JohnMalcolmson
Sep 14, 2021 at 04:17 PM
Welcome to the club David! 
AlexandervanHatter
Sep 30, 2021 at 02:03 AM

Hello Hello! My name is Alexander and I just joined KCC! I grew up in Ohio and spent most of my youth cycling around Columbus. After spending a few years on the triathlon team in college I finally came to the realization that I didn’t like swimming and was just looking for an excuse to get on the bike. I moved to New York a few years back and now live in Brooklyn. 


I’ve always been one to enjoy exploring new places on my bike. But during the pandemic, I got a chance to take it even further with a few century rides and my first few races. I’m looking forward to the winter training season to come back even stronger next year! Hopefully, I’ll see some of you in prospect park!




eloy
Sep 30, 2021 at 04:02 AM
welcome!!
SammuelAuld
Sep 30, 2021 at 09:34 AM
Welcome! I'm fairly new to the club and I'm also from the Columbus area.  Always game to roll some laps and discuss the 614. 
David Yang
Sep 30, 2021 at 12:35 PM
Welcome Alexander!
Thierry Bonnaire
Sep 30, 2021 at 09:19 PM
Welcome to KCC!
AdamYaffe
Oct 01, 2021 at 12:39 AM
Welcome, Alexander!
Joe Matunis
Oct 02, 2021 at 03:13 PM
Welcome Alexander!

DagmaraLapins
Oct 29, 2021 at 02:16 AM
Hi everyone!



My name is Dagmara Lapins and I recently joined the club. I’m originally from Long Island but now live in Downtown Brooklyn.

Growing up I participated in a whole array of sports (dance, sailing, skiing, soccer, ice skating, swimming, softball, field hockey, volleyball, track/shot put) till I finally landed on rowing in high school. I continued rowing through college and occasionally after graduating. I have to admit that biking was a very minor part of life. (Does occasionally biking to and from practice count?)

Last summer (2020), my sister started going on bike rides with her friend on my old “to and from practice” bike. The idea of going on long bike rides outdoors was really attractive during lockdown so I started to tag along. This coincided with my college teammate posting her Zwift rides to Instagram. The Zwift rides looked fun and seemed like they would be a good outlet for my competitiveness while at the same time providing a good training opportunity. So I bought a trainer, a subscription to Zwift, and a bike off of Craig’s List. 

It was a great bike. (Specialized Roubaix SL4) My sister and I did a bunch of rides in Bethpage State Park, Jones Beach, North County Trailway -> Putnam Trailway, and Montauk Highway. But the problem with buying a bike off of Craig’s List, during a bike shortage, with no biking or bike buying experience, is that sometimes it’s not quite the right fit. The bike was the largest size available (61) and while I’m tall, I’m not that tall. So in March my dad and sister convinced me that I just had to drive all the way down to Richmond, VA to pick up this new bike because who knows when the next opportunity to buy the bike I wanted, in the right size, would come. 

That is how I ended up with the bike below and a much more comfortable ride. 



As you might have guessed, I’m not the most experienced rider, but I really enjoy biking. I’m very excited for this opportunity to ride with other people, learn from you all, and potentially race. I have sourly missed the team part of sports/working out. That you for letting me join your group!

(I’m always down for weekday morning rides in Prospect Park - so feel free to hit me up!)

Since I don’t actually have any photos of me riding a bike, below is a picture of me racing at the Head of the Charles this past weekend in our alumni boat. (3rd from the left.)


eloy
Oct 29, 2021 at 11:17 AM
welcome!!
Matt Budofsky
Oct 29, 2021 at 02:18 PM
Welcome Dagmara!
Thierry Bonnaire
Oct 29, 2021 at 07:05 PM
Welcome to KCC!!!
GregHoge
Oct 30, 2021 at 02:32 AM
Welcome!!
StephenAschkenes
Oct 30, 2021 at 01:55 PM
Welcome Dagmara!
AdamYaffe
Oct 30, 2021 at 07:19 PM
Welcome to KCC!
Joe Matunis
Nov 01, 2021 at 02:07 PM
Welcome Dagmara!

Jules
Nov 01, 2021 at 02:20 PM
It's a quiet time of year for new members when many people's road seasons are finished and the Cyclocross devotees are muttering about tire pressure, tread patterns and runups.

If all all possible go spectate (or even better race) at a cyclocross event. You will not regret it.

It's a great way to meet teammates and a window into the very best part of cycling.

Seriously, it will change your life.
LamboMDC787
Nov 01, 2021 at 07:34 PM
Welcome aboard @DagmaraLapins that specialized tarmac looks awesome !
StephenAschkenes
Jul 27, 2022 at 09:39 PM
We've got some new members in the club! Welcome to @Bennkatz @GrantHoskin @krodriguezlaw @KevinWomack @GrentSeltzer @JoãoPereira-Webber

Introduce yourselves!
David Yang
Jul 29, 2022 at 10:26 PM
Welcome to the club, can't wait to ride with you all.
JoaoPereiraWebber
Aug 01, 2022 at 03:12 AM
Hi, I am João and a new Kissena member! My family is from Brazil, but I grew up in Chicago. I am relatively new to cycling as a sport, and started riding during the pandemic. I got way too bored of laps alone in the park and was looking to get into racing, so I reached out to the club. I have had a great time on the rides with the club so far. 

I moved to Brooklyn right after finishing college a few years ago and now live in Prospect Lefferts Garden. I am a film producer making narrative films and commercials. So, when I am not cycling outside you most likely will find me watching movies in a dark room (quite the opposite to cycling). If you ever need a movie recommendation, just let me know!

I am really excited to be a part of the club, and you can catch me in Prospect Park doing laps. For now I am focused on building up my weekly miles and improving my bike handling skills so that I am ready for next years' race season.




GrantHoskin
Aug 04, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Hi everyone, I'm Grant. Glad to join the club. I started racing for the first time this year and have done a handful of races so far - a few CRCA races, one DNF in Prospect Park after getting a flat on the hill on the last lap, and the Highlands Gran Fondo (photo below). I'll get along to a few more PP races before the end of this season, life has gotten in the way for most of the other ones lately.

I live in Carroll Gardens now but I'm originally from Scotland. I left Scotland in 2010 to move to Spain and lived in Spain and France before moving to NYC in 2015. 

Looking forward to riding with you all.



StephenAschkenes
Aug 04, 2022 at 07:37 PM
@GrantHoskin Where in Spain did you live? Im heading to Mallorca, Barcelona, and Girona in two weeks... might bug you for recommendations :D 
GrantHoskin
Aug 05, 2022 at 03:32 PM
StephenAschkenes said:
@GrantHoskin Where in Spain did you live? Im heading to Mallorca, Barcelona, and Girona in two weeks... might bug you for recommendations :D 
I lived in Madrid for about 4 and a half years but I visited Barcelona at least once a year and when I was growing up, our family holiday was to Mallorca almost every year. I've been back to Mallorca a few times in the last 10 years or so too but sadly all of that was before I bought my first road bike so I don't have many cycling recommendations. If you need some pointers for bars/restaurants/sights in Barcelona or Mallorca, I'm more than happy to tell you all I can remember.

I'm hoping to get back to Mallorca soon, hopefully next year. Not having cycled there is one of my main regrets for sure.


LennartZandbergen
Feb 17, 2023 at 08:06 PM
Hi everyone! 

My name is Lennart and I just joined Kissena. Looking forward to riding with you all!

I moved to New York a month ago from Amsterdam, bringing with me not much more than a (severely overweight) suitcase and my beloved bike. My work brought me here: I'm a journalist for a Dutch business newspaper and cover pretty much everything that happens in the United States, which, as it turns out, is quite a lot. I live a block away from the southeast entrance of Prospect Park, where most of my rides in NYC have taken place so far.



As everyone in the Netherlands, I rode bikes since i was probably two years old, but I only bought my first racing bike five years ago. Before that, I only used bikes to get from A to B, and spend a lot of time with running, soccer and rowing. When covid hit and rowing wasn't allowed anymore, I used all that sudden spare time to explore The Netherlands on my bike. 

One of the things I enjoy most is riding uphill. Unfortunately the Netherlands doesn't really know what a mountain is, so I had to go abroad for that: the gravel climbs of the Strade Bianche (pictured) in Tuscany, as well as the stunningly beautiful cols surrounding Monaco.



One thing I look forward to especially is to experience bike racing! I've never participated in an official race before, but did participate in training rides and practice races with a group of riders from my rowing club.  I also did some cyclocross at a club in Amsterdam, until a new covid wave stopped that. Looking forward to doing that again as well next winter!

Oh and despite my nationality, I've always rooted for Van Aert over Van der Poel.