Kissenas Around the World

Aug 28, 2014 at 03:06 PM

Hey! Just got back from my longwinded summer. What an awesome time out in
CA then to WY for the Cycle Greater Yellowstone ride. I saw some other new
Yorkers there and met a lot of people from all over the states. Lots of
fantastic riders on the journey.

I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing in NY with you all.
Sounds like it's been quite a summer of races and rides. Congratulations to
all. . .

Here are a couple of pics of me sporting my Kissena kit (well, most of it):
good times out west!

On Wed, Aug 27, 2014 at 11:44 PM, mugwump <

Jessica Schpero

Aug 28, 2014 at 06:20 PM

Oops - -

Aug 29, 2014 at 02:28 PM

So it's official. Thanks to a well written slightly exaggerated race resume by Kieran. I'm in!

image.jpg

Marc Bertucco

Aug 29, 2014 at 02:31 PM

Andrew Da Silva said:

So it's official. Thanks to a well written slightly exaggerated race resume by Kieran. I'm in!

Dude...charge your phone.

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 09, 2014 at 10:15 PM

I can finally say I've ridden on a indoor 250. And Holly shit is it fun.

JohnMalcolmson

Sep 10, 2014 at 04:30 AM

Pics?

mugwump

Sep 10, 2014 at 05:55 AM

Andrew Da Silva said:

I can finally say I've ridden on a indoor 250. And Holly shit is it fun.

Results pics, bro.

mugwump

Sep 10, 2014 at 06:22 AM

file://localhost/Users/j.p.partland/Desktop/Writing%20from%20Vegas%202014/Mattie%20JP%202014%20IB%201.jpgfile://localhost/Users/j.p.partland/Desktop/Writing%20from%20Vegas%202014/JP%202014%20IB%20D21.jpgfile://localhost/Users/j.p.partland/Desktop/Writing%20from%20Vegas%202014/JP%202014%20IB%20D21.jpg

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 12, 2014 at 11:40 AM

Finally got to ride Herne HIll last night. really nice track. Dare I say smoother than t-town. Only downside is they are really strict about who uses the track and when. There was a little drama about me even getting a chance to ride it pre-race day. Initially there was a session scheduled Tuesday that Kieran thought i could ride. Great spin the legs out, get a few efforts in and meet the new partner. Most importantly do a few exchanges with the partner. Then we got word that I would not be allowed because i hadn't taken their certification course. Last night however it was arranged that i would be allowed to ride during a "coaches session". From what I've now gathered they just didn't want other people who had to take the certification course to make a stink that i was allowed to ride with out jumping through all the hoops they had to. This coaches session was kind of private and there was a bit of confusion as to "who the fuck..." I was. This guy who looked straight out of Motorhead's road crew, and in charge of the dernys approached me with some questions. Found and rode with my partner Jack, a 17 year old up and coming rider from London. Damn he is pretty fast. Got 7th at open crit the night before, won a jr. GP in Dublin and got over to Belgium back in March to do the Kermis thing. Good pairing as we are about the same weight and height. The guy who was interrogating me earlier eventually warmed up and directed us to do our Madison work behind the motor. Fun stuff.

Oh!

Almost forgot. I ran into Ashley's dad riding in Richmond Park in a Kissena kit. I was spending some time with my girl friend's family who lives out there. Her uncle was taking me for a ride through the park and boom within a few minutes I see a Kissena kit.

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 12, 2014 at 12:16 PM

Oh and i had to pick a Theme song for my partner and I.

Seemed appropriate as the Madison is known as the Chase in six day events.

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 12, 2014 at 12:16 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZSAWxwVw5A

mattie davitt

Sep 14, 2014 at 02:23 PM

Jah bless neon orange helmets.

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 14, 2014 at 11:42 PM

Racing went pretty well.

Not sure how we did in the Team TT.

Fifth in the Madison Miss and Out

3rd in my Derny Heat(Team mate got second)

Not sure about the split points race.

Then I crashed in the Madison final... Some wanker freaking chopped my wheel and i went sliding down track All is good. My partner finished the race solo!!!

Felix English was in the race. Anyone who had been following track cycling over the past five years will know who that is.

Kieran took pictures. Super tired will post tmrw

David Yang

Sep 14, 2014 at 11:49 PM

Andy that is so cool. Glad you're OK.

Also "wanker"? Sounds like you're picking up the local vernacular.

dstokes

Sep 14, 2014 at 11:53 PM

Wanker = Fred, more or less.

We are all wankers at one level or another.

Jules

Sep 15, 2014 at 12:26 AM

Wanker, Fred or James Fricking Bond... that sounds like a helluva tear you're on.

Can't wait for the pictures.

Because #derny

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 16, 2014 at 12:23 PM

Jack and I

image.jpg

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 16, 2014 at 12:24 PM

Derny heat.

image.jpg

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 16, 2014 at 12:32 PM

Bell lap in my derny heat. Bizzar feeling spinning out 100 gear inches for 16 laps with 7 other dernys packed around you. I passed this guy in turn 4. A lot had to do with the driver. Apparently I lucked out and got "... The most experienced derny driver in England".

image.jpg

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 16, 2014 at 12:35 PM

Jack is his separate derny heat and Jack post madison.

image.jpg

Mark Clifford

Sep 24, 2014 at 08:22 AM

Quick update from abroad.

Finding ourselves back in Bologna at least until November, I decided I missed riding with a club too much and sought out a local team. I eventually got involved with a group called Bitone CC. It almost exclusively consists of retired guys in their 60s and 70s. As I have found out to my detriment though, 70 year olds here, due to 65 years of accumulated training, can be extremely strong.

The group rides are interesting. My lack of Italian language skills and their general lack of English mean that I am rarely able to figure out what is happening during a ride. But I am learning: for example, I have noticed that before certain climbs and town lines whispering begins whereby I am able to pick out the words "attacco" and "americano". Almost without fail they then attack me. Other bits I am able to decipher are when the group passionately -- and I mean really passionately -- debates A) where we are going to stop for espresso and who's the "capo" and who's the "gregario".

They love cycling though. I think their passion for the bike can best illustrated by a conversation I had the other week with a guy in his mid 70s. He explained: "my doctor, he tell me if I keep riding my bike I will die soon. I tell him I don't care: I would prefer to die on my bike than in my bed".

Mark Clifford

Sep 24, 2014 at 08:31 AM

P.S. The legs you see here belong to a man in his early 70s. 70s!!! If my legs look half as good or I am half as fit as him when I am in my 70s, I will be happy.

P.P.S. No it's not weird that I take pictures of men's legs.

photo (12).JPG

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 24, 2014 at 05:06 PM

http://www.trackcyclingnews.com/hh240914.html

Results. Despite crashing in the 30k Madison we still finished 7th overall. Glad but also disappointed. Had we just finished in contention would have finished in the money... With some luck a podium. Ah bike racing.

mugwump

Sep 24, 2014 at 05:34 PM

Andrew Da Silva said:

http://www.trackcyclingnews.com/hh240914.html Results. Despite crashing in the 30k Madison we still finished 7th overall. Glad but also disappointed. Had we just finished in contention would have finished in the money... With some luck a podium. Ah bike racing.

Next year. Or perhaps go over this winter for some six-days.

Andrew Da Silva

Sep 24, 2014 at 05:39 PM

Yeah... I'd get killed In a real six. Apparently the u25 UIV pseudo amateur six days(Barry Miller does/did these) that happen during the day prior to the pro sixes at night are war zones. They are essentially auditions for spots in the pro programs and as a result guys race all out the entire time. This compared to the pro races where the patrons(Marvulli, Morkov, Keisse, at one time Rissi) keep the field together to keep things entertaining and easy to follow for the spectators. But yes maybe next year... Always a next year is this sport. British Cycling results https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/104264/Dave-Creasy-Memorial-Six#results

jesselash

Oct 15, 2014 at 06:12 PM

Heading to San Francisco this weekend, as my girlfriend's running a Half there. I'm going to bring shoes/pedals/helmet/kit and go for a ride one of the days we're there. Two questions for you all with SF experience:

Anyone have any specific recommendation of somewhere to rent from? Or have a friend in the area who might be interested in accompanying me on the ride? Would be nice to not head out solo, in case something happens to the borrowed/rented bike.
Anyone have a specific route they can recommend? From what I've heard, their 9W is heading over the bridge and into the mountains, but that's about all I've discerned thus far. Looking for a specific destination/route at this point. Hoping for around 50 or 60 miles with lots of climbing.

Jeff Apruzzese

Oct 15, 2014 at 06:36 PM

Muir woods, to seven sisters, to mt tam.

mugwump

Oct 15, 2014 at 08:40 PM

Jesse,

You can go over the Golden Gate, then basically make a left, go around the peninsula, climb Tam, descend to Fairfax or point reyes, and then make your way back around tam home

You can also go south along the ocean down to I think Half Moon Bay. then you climb over the pacific palisades, descend to the north-south road there, and ride north.

You could track down (ex?) Kissena William Doyle Capitman williamdoylecapitman@gmail.com for more suggestions.

Bruce van-Schalkwyk

Oct 15, 2014 at 09:08 PM

You can also search routes on ridewithgps.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2210820

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/631816

And take a look at the strava segments.

http://app.strava.com/segments/132513

Sort it by this week, or month, for recent rides and riders who go out often, then comment on their ride and ask if they're going out again. If someone was coming into town and wanted a river road tour, and they could keep up and were an experienced rider like you, I'd be happy to ride with them, especially if they offered a tube or gu.

Makes me think we should have a sister team out there.

There should be a site or app for this kind of rider exchange, like Grinder for cyclists.

But, well, not like Grinder.

mperlberg

Oct 15, 2014 at 11:55 PM

Hook up with William!! He's great to ride with.