Mar 14, 2013 at 04:38 PM
even better: rain AND snow .. http://www.weather.com/weather/weekend/Newark+NJ+USNJ0355:1:US
saturday morning, in newark, in 35f snowy-wet weather. it's the stuff dreams are made of.
Branchbrook NJ Spring Series
Mar 14, 2013 at 05:03 PM
Have you guys ever considered starting your season a month or two later and spend September, October and early November racing cross in near perfect weather? ;-)
Mar 14, 2013 at 05:09 PM
@Marc
NOOOOOOO! Sacrilege! Heresy! You can't say those things. We want to exercise our right to ride road bikes in terrible weather to prove how tough we are, even if you're an unfit mess like myself.
Shhhh, don't tell folks that cross is awesome, and has perfect weather. We want people to think it is always threatened by snow, flooding, and the potential to be carried off by wild beasts at any moment.
NOOOOOOO! Sacrilege! Heresy! You can't say those things. We want to exercise our right to ride road bikes in terrible weather to prove how tough we are, even if you're an unfit mess like myself.
Shhhh, don't tell folks that cross is awesome, and has perfect weather. We want people to think it is always threatened by snow, flooding, and the potential to be carried off by wild beasts at any moment.
Mar 14, 2013 at 05:47 PM
@Marc I've had that debate inside my head every weekend this month, and that logic has won out each time. Also, to be fair, the promise of pancakes and bacon, and then a ride, have also factored into the decision as well.
Mar 14, 2013 at 06:01 PM
mmmm....bacon.
Mar 14, 2013 at 06:09 PM
If it rains, I will be forced compliment my high-vis jacket with a full poncho and headlights.
Mar 14, 2013 at 06:09 PM
I don't see it as that bad (snow) but the chance of rain has increased from 20-40%: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?hourly=1&query=zmw:07101.1.99999&yday=74&weekday=Saturday
Mar 14, 2013 at 06:39 PM
Rule #5 Gents, Rule #5.
*unless we're talking about your knees (bruce & yacks I'm looking at you two), take care of those things because you don't want the artificial ones.
*unless we're talking about your knees (bruce & yacks I'm looking at you two), take care of those things because you don't want the artificial ones.
Mar 15, 2013 at 02:16 PM
the weather is not looking so bad anymoreMark Clifford said:even better: rain AND snow .. http://www.weather.com/weather/weekend/Newark+NJ+USNJ0355:1:US
saturday morning, in newark, in 35f snowy-wet weather. it's the stuff dreams are made of.
Mar 15, 2013 at 02:20 PM
Wow, 10-20% of rain only? That ain't bad.. I was hoping for rain in one section and snow on the next turn.. haha..
Mar 15, 2013 at 03:02 PM
I have a spot for one more bike/rider in my car. Leaving Brooklyn at Schemmerhorn & Smith at 5:45 and should be there in time for the 7AM Cat 4/5 35+ race and sticking around for the second race 4/5 and Open Masters. Give me a shout if you want a ride. dhreiners@gmail.com
Mar 15, 2013 at 03:14 PM
Ditto that for me. I've decided to do the Masters double and have some spots in my car. Will also be leaving at 5:45am. Let me know if anyone needs a lift.
Mar 15, 2013 at 05:47 PM
It looks like there are 49 registered to race in the 4/5.. I feel like that's a lot of people for a narrow course like BranchBrook. Siggi's have 5 guys in it.
Mar 15, 2013 at 06:15 PM
Wowza. I was thinking of going for the 4/5 tomorrow, but 50 mediocre bike-handlers (myself included) on a narrow course, early in the season, in probable snow ... that sounds like armageddon. Base ride it is!
Mar 15, 2013 at 06:28 PM
who are you calling mediocre? i'm a terrible bike handler, thank you very much.
Mar 15, 2013 at 06:53 PM
I truly doubt there will be snow on the course for that race. the Cat4/5 Geezerfest will soak the course in our blood and that will warm the road enough to ensure all other races are on snowfree, but somewhat sticky roads.
UPDATE: apparently there are only 12 of us pre-registered for the geezer race. maybe they'll roll us into the all categories geezer race, or I have a great shot at a top 10 I just have to stay upright.
UPDATE: apparently there are only 12 of us pre-registered for the geezer race. maybe they'll roll us into the all categories geezer race, or I have a great shot at a top 10 I just have to stay upright.
Mar 15, 2013 at 07:41 PM
that is a lot of people. i am going to wear elbow pads.
Mar 16, 2013 at 01:18 AM
Good luck to everyone racing tmrw!
Mar 16, 2013 at 01:38 AM
OK, here is the roster for tomorrow:
1-2-3 - Vlad, Me, Ryan, Vollbach, JP, Keith, Hubbs, London
a pretty good crew. just my strategy thoughts - obviously stay near the front and try to get into a break. Vlad, Ryan and myself might be a bit gassed from the Masters race beforehand, so we'll be riding in support. I figure JP or Vollbach might make the break and we support hem by blocking and sitting on. But we also look to take rides across and if the person going to the break with our guy in it is strong, we actually help get across to give us two teammates in the break. Look for Breech and a host of day of registrants to be there as well. If the break gets established with one of us in it and the gap is secure, we get off the front and setup for the sprint for the remnants. I'm happy to sprint at Branahbrook and was relatively successful in the masters and 1-2-3 last week and feel good, but I think that London or Vollbach would also be good to setup. I'll be vocal and it's up to us to gather around our sprint options as the bell lap approaches. We'll be the dominant team, but not necessarily the dominant riders in this race. We can use that to place well in both breaks and the sprint. Let's make sure that we play the endgame well and deliver one of us, well-rested to the final left hand bend for the W or the remains of the race.
Masters 35+ - Me. Ryan, Vlad, Hubbs.
The danger guy is John Durso. He should be marked, but tends to slip away by just riding off the front ala Mike Perlberg. I'm marked, but will be active early and often. If Michael Goret (Wachtung Wheelman) is there, he's got a 3rd and a 1st the last two weeks - make sure that he doesn't slip off the front. It's up to us to make sure to counter any moves we make. I'd love to join the rest of you in a break and it's possible. If it happens as its happened both weeks this year, we need to make sure we setup to win from the group.
Let's kill it tomorrow and if you're looking for inspiration, find the video of Mike shirtless last week.
E
Mar 16, 2013 at 02:39 AM
Guys Branchbrook is one of the safest courses you'll encounter. It's not narrow at all. Or it doesn't end up feeling narrow, anyway.
Mar 16, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Welp... totally effed up the train scheduling this morning and will definitely not make it to the race. Sorry dudes, was really looking forward to this. Next time i will understand the difference btw PATH and NJTransit...
Mar 16, 2013 at 03:08 PM
^sucks, dude.
However, you have made me feel infinitely better about not making it today. I started working on my bike at 9pm last night and realized I had no rim tape and no new cassette for my new chain. My bike looks like a sad, half-dressed child who can't go out and play because dad forgot to do laundry.
Mar 16, 2013 at 04:31 PM
the 4/5
unfortunately rick's bad luck continued and his shoe broke. a sidi shoe. broke. wtf. i suggested he call them ("is sidi italian for shitty"? -rick). rick is having a terrible week (see deals & steals thread; someone stole his around-town bike) and everyone should send him tender thoughts. but stop there before it gets creepy.
mark began a late break that unfortunately got swallowed up as there were not many laps to go and the field was having none of it. mark can provide more on this.
phillip learned that a cross bike creates substantially more on-road friction. too much, in fact, to overcome with early season fitness.
that's all i can glean regarding other people's experiences. i learned a lot and got a lot more comfortable on the bike in a race setting:
- elbowing fools who are trying to get in on you stops them from getting in on you when done with delicate firmness and without upsetting your own balance
- need to stop using my energy to maintain a position that is unnecessarily forward in the field. if you're not going to break away, wtf is the point of pedaling away for a couple seconds. ugh. (depleted my energy for no real reason but got to recover when they neutralized the field to let 3's pass)
- do not sandwich yourself between two other people when it comes time to sprint; the smart one will dig into you to slow you down then pull away
- figure out where you can really sprint from on each course before the race
Mar 16, 2013 at 04:32 PM
how were the other results? i didn't stick around
Mar 16, 2013 at 04:55 PM
KONRAD!!!!!!!!!!
First Kissena win of 2013!
Mar 16, 2013 at 05:29 PM
It is also a win for a Spooky Skeletor ! take THAT fancy plastic bike people!
Mar 16, 2013 at 07:44 PM
Race reports from others and other fields?
Mar 16, 2013 at 07:48 PM
Mine was less an attempt at a break, more an attempt at getting towards the front and then all of a sudden finding myself -- erm, shit! -- leading out with about half a lap to go. Definitely not where I wanted to be.
Killed myself in that little move and then had bugger all in the sprint and so sat up.
Konrad flew by on the right at some point in a pink blur and killed it. Brilliant result.
I'm learning slowly. Need to get better at metering my efforts so I have enough in the tank at the end. Spent a lot of time moving up and down the pack versus just staying towards the front.
Mar 16, 2013 at 08:38 PM
Jeff Condon got 6th in the 4/5 35+ race, after spending the race being very active at the front. I died 1000 deaths in the final meters of the same race and popped my 2013 racing cherry in that VERY COLD early morning race.
Mar 16, 2013 at 08:52 PM
Handsome Joe got 2nd down in Philly!