Because there are other 1 or 2 other races besides Granogue and Battenkill, I'll get this thread started again for 2012. Post your picks here.

spring targets for me

3/10 Grant's Tomb
3/24 Red Hook Crit

I'm going all-in for Van Dunk's spring series! Charlie's jersey's are beautiful, but I want that ugly ass thing malcolmnson got to wear.

Seriously though, still thinking about what to focus on. Primarily, I'll go where teammates are. I'd like to do some longer stuff that is more selective without having crazy steep hills. I think Marc described Turkey Hill this way?

I'd also like to do something with a real TT so I can justify keeping my TT bike. Maybe that Syracuse race weekend? Or Connecticut stage race gets it's act together, than that.

Then comes August, when I'll be hoping to do some of the Chicago Crit scene.

MIke

Posted By: Dan Reinersyou can't say you've raced in the Northeast without doing Battenkill at least once. It is like being a New Yorker and not having a rat story. You're not really a New Yorker unless you've got a rat story.

In the spirit of Dan's bkill comment, I am going to suggest some races at the Kissena velodrome. You shouldn't be a NYC bike racer and not have ridden the velodrome at least once. So one of my 2012 goals is track racing.

I know, I know, this is vague, and the Wed night series is the equivalent of a park race, not a "can't miss" race . Trackies - can you suggest some can't miss races as well ?

I think my big targets are

Killington Stage Race (very underrated - awesome early season stage race)
Housatonic Hills
Pawing
Tour of the Catskills

Somerville Race Weekend is my target again (end of May). To get there:
Branchbrook - as many races as I can make.
Rahway Crit
any other crit I can race that is local (NJ) until the end of May.
NJ Crits in June
Housatonic - right after Somerville - take my crit form and go up hill.

Spend July in Europe.

Get back in the groove in August - preparing for CX

Sept - December - CX season.

I'm definitely going to do those branchbrook races again. I drove last year; is that the best way to get there?
Is it true it is better to attack with a tailwind?

@Jules. This response probably should go in another thread, but I'll briefly say here, that the best time to attack is when you are most likely to get a gap and the field is least likely to be motivated to chase. Traditional thought says that in a tailwind, when everybody is feeling fast and fiesty, then you may have more trouble getting away. Conversely, when you are feeling like dog-meat, groveling in a headwind, the field having chased down a dangerous move already, if you can dig extra deep, you can get your gap and get away as the field collectively catches its breath and spins out the lactic acid from tired legs. Of course there can be exceptions in which a tailwind attack makes sense. For example at FBF, maybe at the end of one of the tailwind sections, you could use the wind to give you a burst, if soon after you are turning into a difficult crosswind section. Taking away the advantage of the tailwind from the field, because by the time they have to react, they have already turned onto the cross wind section.

I'd like to hit up some Branchbrook this year as well. Great early season course, and it's possible to do 2 races if you're old enough.

I'm going to be doing a few branchbrooks, likely all the ones that don't conflict with grants and red hook.

As far as track, the big ones are:

Opening weekend, first weekend of May. And states, near the end of July.

sup dudes

just wanted to say that i'm happy to work for anyone this spring in whichever race we're at.

the winter training schedule is way behind, so i think i'll be of best use eating wind for my kissena homies rather than trying to bring home bagel money

just ask!

p.s. i respond well to being yelled at in races.

Battenkill is out for me due to conflict, blast it! Suggestions for alternate early season goal? Thinking Grants Tomb might suit.

Dude. You would smash Grants Tomb.

@JohnM, it doesn't count for USA Cycling points, but you might consider doing Quabbin Reservoir Road Race (not "Tour of the Quabbin")... "Quabbin" makes it sound like a gothic fairy tale* race, but it's just really cool and -though it has a heaping portion of rollers and 5k long (non-steep) finish, big power riders can do well there. It's scheduled for 2 weeks after Battenkill --and I'd say it's sort of a "Battenkill Light" --no dirt/gravel sections, and the climbs are not as steep.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=14436

*All said, if the Ice Princess and Lord Deluge visit Quabbin this year... well, it's a slightly harder race.

-Norm

@ John - maybe a race like Cherry blossom out at branch brook. was around battenkill time last year. Grants too.

John, if your CompuTrainer form is any indicator, the question, "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?" will take on special meaning for the rest of us chumps in your race.

I have really enjoyed the Bethel Series. I prefer it over the NY spring series because the level of organisation is way better. If anyone is after points the results actually get posted to USA Cycling.

Last year I did the Trooper Brinkhoff (johnnycake) series up in Coxsackie. 40-60 miles on quiet, twisty, lumpy county lanes.

I am aiming to do these again, although my surgeon advised against riding outdoors until Mid-March so my first ride might actually be a race ! For this season these races might have to be Priority C races for me.

"Coxsackie." (Sorry.)

If you have the means, I would definitely do Bethel over the park. Better vibe, better organizer, hot coffee stand.

Like Ian and Mattie (and Ed Nolan), I'm a big fan of the Bethel races in early spring. (I'll add that the races up there feel safer at that time of year--I've probably cursed myself now.) I drove up there two or three times last spring for Masters field races. I'll try to post enough in advance if I end up going again this year in case anyone wants a ride from Brooklyn.

The Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic is back as a stage race this year.

http://longsjo.com/Racers.html

June 28th to July 1st

Posted By: JoshuaCThe Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic is back as a stage race this year.

Woo-hoo! So exciting. The Fitchburg SR is without question the best New England style "long-weekend" stage race. 2nd best from a sporting point of view (but first best from a isn't this area beautiful) is the Green Mountain Stage Race. Both races have tough circuit races, tough crits, tough road races and ITT's that challenge but don't ruin your weekend if you have a bad effort.

Both of these races haven't drawn well from the Kissena crowd very well over the years, but if you are serious about stage racing, both of these races should be on your calendar.

Sweet. I might have found my A race. Would be a fun race to take a crew to.

Tons of fun. You can be a new England racer without battenkill, but not without fitchburg!

@ Josh - where did you find the 2012 details? The website seems to be lacking in up to date information.

Yeah, the website has surprisingly few 2012 details, and a lot of 2010 and 2011 items. Oh, and an email address "info2008" . ooops. They have a reg link that takes you to the "2011 Longsjo Cancelled" bikereg...good job on that one guys. I tried searching bikereg for the 2012 event but don't see it yet.

Commentary aside - I got the dates from this banner graphic (which says 2012 on it , so I assume the dates are current) http://longsjo.com/Racers_files/droppedImage_2.jpg
I don't have the links in front of me but I was also reading in the blogosphere about it coming back.

NJBA has a nice calendar of races scheduled:

http://www.njbikeracing.com/calendar/calendar.pl?event_id=563&month=2&view=Month&month=3

Some notables: Tour of High Bridge Moves up to May 19th (I think this was in the summer previously)

of course memorial day weekend - 4 races if you're an eager beaver.

June 2nd: Watermellon Crit - fun course. Ragot and I will probably be there.

June 23/24 Giro Del Cielo



NYSBRA: has some confirmed dates and some unconfirmed dates, but should should still be able to get an idea of your racing schedule.

http://www.nysbra.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2012-NYS-Road-Race-Schedule.pdf

My #1 can't miss this year is Pawling - I got top 10 last year, and I think I can really smash it this time (especially if my homie Ryan is in the mix).

Other than that, I'm looking to do a number of longer out-of-town races - especially those that don't require an entire weekend's commitment (although I plan to do at least one stage race this year).

I would definitely do Quabbin again, if I had a place to stay or very cheap accomodations. That's a fun race, with a pretty varied terrain.

Spring-wise, not sure; school demands will probably trump everything else. I plan to do Grant's - if I'm feeling awesome, try for placing; if not, help Mattie get a win.

Oh and RHC - don't really know. I think Trimble is bringing the course will be back to the cobbles, which I really prefer - last year's course was totally nuts and favored the swift over the dextrous. I got 6th two years ago, but didn't even finish last year. Ugh.

Pawling was great. Weird bc the one big climb is harder than Housatonic, but overall it seemed like there was less total elevation. Which I guess is why I got top 15 and totally sucked at Housatonic. Plus Joe made me stop for the wheel truck and our ridiculous cat 4 chase-back-on scheme exploded.... Just kidding. It was the most wannabe proasshit thing I've ever tried (and failed).

Yes, although I most likely won't race this year, pawling is cool. Do it.

Posted By: titoOh and RHC - don't really know. I think Trimble is bringing the course will be back to the cobbles, which I really prefer - last year's course was totally nuts and favored the swift over the dextrous. I got 6th two years ago, but didn't even finish last year. Ugh.

Dave wants cobbles, but the event has grown too big for its street racing britches. It'll be on that same closed off pier, he is looking to add a chicane in to simulate the old course.