Today, while Jules was checking on the TT course how to win the first stage next Friday, we (Adam, Christian, Jeff C. and I) had a hard training ride. Jeff and I rode the TT course with Jules then we rode the stage 2 course at a good pace. As Adam summed it up, it's simple: to get good results, one has to be in front during the first 20 miles till the first KOM, stay in the front group without working too hard till Devil's kitchen, to be able to climb it at a decent pace... and, as we say in French, "le tour est joué!"... I agree with Adam... simple, not easy! Having climbed DK two weeks ago and today, I can attest to the fact that it's much harder if you've already used your matches... If you had seen Adam's and Jeff's faces when at the bottom of DK I told them that it was worse further up!

I'll be "racing" in the Cat 5 U35 - anyone interested in setting up a shared feed?

@ Stéphane - Nice riding with you too. Had a hard time as it was my first real day in the mountains, but I loved it. I just registered for Cat 5 U35. Looking on eBay for a compact crank now. (Guys, it's true, you NEED the compact!)
@ Joel - Definitely
@ Adam -I've got your phone. Bringing it + chainwhip over in less than an hour.

Christian

Good times! Sorry I couldnt join you but the extra time on the TT bike paid off; as someone said earlier on this thread if you don't ride 'em regularly you only look fast... On a good day I think I can be respectable on that course.

I also pre-rode all 3 of the major descents:

After KOM 1 on Saturday
10 Mile Mark on Sunday
After KOM Sunday

The only one with teeth is the first - the others are tame even by my standards.

I may pre-descend on Friday morning if anyone is interested.

@ Christian

For Devil's kitchen:

Inexpensive Shimano 105 level compact crankset ($99 and if you're a performancebike member 10% for next buy and no surcharge for 2 day shipping, to get it on time before the race).

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1086505_-1_1589016_1586500_400943

hi ALL heading to T.o.C.,
i just confirmed reg for cat.4 35+ stage race. so, wondering if there is any room left in 'cabin' (floor, couch, etc) for the weekend, and/or spot in a vehicle for ride up friday&return sunday. feel free to contact me via email hbolick@gmail.com or mobile 718-640-8680.
thanks,
-h

ps. i have an extra shimano 105 compact crank w/ 11/28T cassette(4k miles), for anyone who either wants to buy or borrow for ToC.

oops i meant cat.5 35+
-h

Hi Harry,

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we just can't take any more.

I've been trying to respond to folks privately on this since but since Harry's not the first who has asked, I wanted to explain why I'm having to say no to folks asking to be included at the last minute.

You see, head counts are a key part of the lease on a lot of the houses up here. Basically, owners are trying to avoid their house being rented out by a fraternity who wants a cheap party house. That's why I posted reminders and "last call for the Catskills" house a few weeks ago. Since I've already been back to the owner to change the head count in the contract once, I'm not keen on doing it again. And frankly, since I fronted the whole security deposit for the house I'm being a bit anal about doing anything that could technically cause me to lose it - which bringing more than I agreed to could.

Finally, extra heads don't make it cheaper for everyone else. They increase the price as you increase the head count, and I think we're already pushing the limits of the space we need for all the people who committed and paid early to be comfortable. 13 dudes, 13 bikes (at least), and 13 wheelsets takes up a lot of space.

I feel bad telling anyone no as the across the board inclusiveness policy is why I love Kissena. But its a big club and we just can't all fit in one house. I've done this race three times, so if any of you last-second entries need advice on finding lodging, hit me off list and I'm happy to provide advice.

Have you seen the horse video? Sure you all have, if not, take a look. Not a bad little blog and this guy's handlebar camera gives a good feel for the terrain.


http://www.thresholdcycling.com/index.php/2010/08/tour-of-the-catskills/

I believe Jeff W was in that field during "Horse-Gate 2010"...

I was front and center for that!

In fact, I was wearing the KOM jersey having gotten 2nd in the TT. Skinny Nick from Hudson had flatted on the descent, which put me in the virtual lead. That confusion contributed to a two man break getting away and staying away (there was a huge protest from about 20 riders who claimed they snuck through and took off while everyone else was neutralized). Anyway, the chase never really organized, most guys didn't know they were up the road (I didn't), until it was too late.

So that cost me a race lead. I didn't make the selection the next day on devil's kitchen, so I wouldn't have kept it anyway, but I may have been on the podium.

Anyway...

I WANT REVENGE!

And by the way, if we don't win the team competition with the crew we've got, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Thanks for the added pressure Ryan.

By the way, about driving up there, does anyone have space for me? I don't have extra wheels so if space is a premium...

If there's no space with anyone, I can drive up there myself. In which case:
@ Ryan where is the house? I can't seem to find the address.

dw

Speaking of extra wheels, is anyone planning on putting spares in the wheel van?

Agree with Ryan on that, although there are some strong guys to watch, Warren St. James (Teany) in particular strikes me as an overall threat.

@ Harry

I was just about to buy my own compact crank, but I'd be happy to borrow yours for the weekend! Please let me know ASAP ...

I get the sense that a lot of people still need to find accomodation. Ryan, would it be possible for the stragglers (like me) to get a lodge of their own? I may just "super 8 it" in another town, but would prefer to be with club members if possible!


So for anyone interested, please let me know if you still need accommodation and want to try putting something together.

Christian

Hey Guys,
I just checked the map and I'll be staying just down the road in Tannersvill (5 miles?) from the Frat House.
I'll bring an extra workstand if it's needed.

This weekend = EPIC. Can't wait.

I will bring my 'Chasing Legends' and 'Lance Armstrong Tour de France DVDs'. Will be glorious.

I prefer Hell on Wheels myself...

christian,
my compact crank is @ R&A brooklyn. you can pick it up anytime...call me 718-6408-8680.

ryan j,
understand about 'last minute accommodations', just learned i could get into race, as was on cat.5 45+ wait list until ToC offical called on friday evening. i will look to get together w/christian &jules.
...still could use a ride up/back, or make take train to hudson,NY thursday morning.
-h

Thanks Harry... lemme just get official dibs on that crank so I can rest easy on not buying it...will give you a call later. again, thx so much.

christian,
it yours, for the w-end. sure what is your # ?
-h 718-640-8680

@crefakis and those looking - try homeaway.com and VRBO.com and look in Hunter, Windham, Tannersville, and surrounding, Woodstock, Phonecia, etc if needed. Craigslist is worth a look too.

This race is getting things booked up more and more each year, but I bet you can find something.

Remember that even if you have to pay a little extra for a house rather than a motel you're still better off because having your own kitchen is huge in stage racing, and cooking is better than eating out.

If you guys find a place you'll of course be welcome to come hang out. Or if you're in a motel we should have room if you want to join us for meals

christian(crefakis) etc,
check this place:

http://www.kayak.com/hotels#Tannersville,NY-c14813/2011-08-03/2011-08-07/2guests

-h

Guys,
Would love to offer a spot but right now it's me, the mrs, a toddler and a 3 month old... and a few gallons of chamois cream...

Thanks Ryan, Jules, Norm, Patrick, Stéphane for driving this whole operation along—looking to be an awesome weekend.
I'm just throwing this out there early, assuming we're all in the same Cat 4 field:
Jules Roazen
Norman Swygert
Jeff Condon
Ryan Johnston
Jeffrey White
Joshua Meny
Daniel Wong
John Sanderson
Stephen Geist
Adam Naguib
Patrick Grehan
John Malcolmson

Have we discussed captain and/or road captain? I know Norm will do well in the TT. Who are our favored mountain goats?
I'd like to offer my services as domestique. I am thinking if we had there or four riders who aren't climbers we could drill it for the first 20 miles pre DK. Favored riders could sit on, maybe we even try launching climber "A" while climber "B" sits in the pack. If everyone is thinking conserve for climb, then an attack from the blocks could potentially shake things up.

One thing is certain: with 39x28 I am going to be tacking like a sailboat on that sucker.

Enormous thanks for Ryan for sorting the accommo/food supplies. And to Patrick for organizing the Kissena tour bus.
Does anyone have a first aid kit kicking around? Otherwise, I will bring some tweezers/neosporin/bandages/peroxide/leukoplast/ibuprofen patch/icepack.

John, add Jeff Owens to the list.

I've certainly got designs on this race - I've done well here two years in a row despite some bad luck. I'm coming in I think with better form than ever and would appreciate any protection that can be given me. I'm also happy to act as road captain if folks want that.

I think we have at least 3 "mountain goats" - and possibly some others - I haven't ridden with everyone lately so I'm not sure who's on what kind of form. But for now I'm thinking me, Jules, and Norm.

The great thing is that after those 3, we've got some serious hoss's for the flats. John, Stephen (or is he a climber now?), the two Jeffs, Patrick, etc...

Many of these hilly races are pure attrition, but I find this race can benefit from tactics. Sending a guy or two up the road on the Devil's Kitchen stage is not a bad idea. For starters, guys will be scared of DK and wanting to be conservative. Secondly, most of the strong guys won't have strong teams, and they certainly won't ride as a team the way we often do.

Last year I entered the DK stage in third, and knowing that the leader and 2nd place didn't have strong teams, we initiated a break that got 2:30 min and eventually forced those guys to start chasing. They had no choice, their leads were evaporating and no one else would do it. And if not for a flat tire from the 3-man break's strongest rider, it may have stuck. They had 2:30 10k out from the start of the climb.

The race will be different this year. The last two years I've won or gone 2nd in the TT - and then just fought to hold it. But it was uphill. I won't be able to do that this year. Most likely a lot of the TT top 10 will lose gobs of time on later stages, like at Killington.

So, we should all do our best in the TT. Then lets see where we all stand and we'll talk tactics for Day 2 with the obvious goal of getting as many of us as possible over Devil's kitchen in the final selection. On day 3, things could get very interesting - we'll have to wait and see.

This is going to be really fun. Conversation to be continued around the dinner table.

I will bring my homemade first aid kit. I ran out of stretch net gauze tho. I'll try to pick some up.

Jeff Owens, you are a champion, and I'm not just saying that because Ryan told me to.

@ Ryan: I think you three are the contenders for sure. And my vote is for you to captain. Stéphane can climb (as long as he's been laying off the pie).
Alpine times give you a good gauge: I could probably throw down a 5.45 if I caned it—I'd lose 50 seconds every 6 minutes to the goat people. So, if I can do anything on DK it'll be pre-climb.
I say line up first at the start and team hoss goes from the gun until we blow-up on DK, dragging our protected climbers with! If a couple of the bigger teams bridged, we'd be all set. Of course I have no idea as to how tenable that plan is. Though if a 3-man can get 2.30 on the bunch, it seems doable.