Mar 16, 2013 at 09:21 PM
Handome JOE!!!!
(Pictures please folks)
Branchbrook NJ Spring Series
Mar 16, 2013 at 10:04 PM
For the most part, this race was uneventful. I saw pretty early on that the field was determined to not let any breaks go so I just sat in for the most part and observed who was sketchy, who was strong, who was good at finding gaps, focused on staying near the front, etc. I knew the park really well thanks to growing up three miles from it and was thus very confident in where I could sprint from without fear of blowing up. Of course there was the hand to hand brushing and casual bumping that happens in any crit, as well as the loud whistle of tires kissing from various parts of the pack and so I applaud everybody for staying upright. Especially with that Toga guy rolling around. Daaaamn, that guy has zero handling skills and/or spatial recognition.
Anyway, what happened in the end was I employed a little argy bargy (in the safest manner possible, flaring elbows but not quite throwing them) during the last lap to get to the front end of the field and avoid getting boxed in. An Arc train was pulling around me at the bottom of the slight rise/world's tiniest hill. This is totally the perfect place to start leading out a sprint and so I hopped on. Upon noticing that they were pulling me along, the Arc sprinter launched and tried coming around his leadout on the curbside - I suppose hoping to sneak in a hole I wouldn't follow. It was too small of a gap since the leadout man was ready to peel off and heading toward the curb and I leapt to the left and went for it at about 300 to go. I just kept my focus on the line, stayed in the drops, and did what I could to keep any doubts out of my head.
For the rest of the Kissena crew, you all looked strong! If I could cut up the crappy tires I was prized into little pieces and share it with you guys I would... and if you want to I will.I noticed many times that Brendan was positioned pretty well but probably eating too much wind, but still- very nice work. However, don't you ever talk smack on my pink Spooky decked out in Hello Kitty stickers! Anybody who isn't going to take that seriously best recognize.
I missed the majority of the other races because I was picking up Dunkin Donuts for whoever wanted it, which only happened to be Rick and my buddy Nelson. Sorry about the shoes, Rick. I hope the donut eased the shoe pain!
Okay, that's it. I'm going to resume watching Netflix and eating sushi with Big Andy D. See you guys next week!
Mar 16, 2013 at 10:27 PM
@Brendan - I blame the lack of rain and snow for my utter failure (which I hoped would make the roads terrible and thereby giving me the advantage with the cross bike).. that and the fact that I couldn't spin fast enough to hold on to the pack with my cross specific gearing. It was a much faster race than last week's..
@konrad, congratulations bud! Well played.
Mar 16, 2013 at 11:40 PM
@konrad Good job on hitching on the opposing team's train. What happened, as you described, often happens. Their team's sprinter just wasn't confident that his team could take him to the finish. And so he jumped early. He would have been better off, riding his train closer to the finish, to give you less of a chance to come around him.
Great job! We gotta get podium pics, whenever possible, also, if no real podium, find 2nd and 3rd and make one up on your own!
Mar 17, 2013 at 02:16 AM
Fantastic work K-man! First "W" of the season but second for you in (as many?) races. Sweet muffin rain!
Mar 17, 2013 at 03:55 PM
Question is... Is it the first win for the orange helmet?
Mar 17, 2013 at 08:44 PM
Exciting to see the 4/5's doing so well, and lots of healthy post game analysis. Congrats Konrad!
Since Brendan, Mark and Konrad all have seem to have a sprint, you guys might want to practice some leadouts yourselves (although be warned it's a tough nut to crack).
Mar 18, 2013 at 04:18 PM
Super dope to hear good things from the 4/5s. Congratulations, guys, it sounds like a strong start to the season.
Who's going this weekend? I'm trying to get my entry moved forward since I missed Saturday. If not I'll probably just pay again and go anyway. If anyone is driving for only the 1/2/3 race that would be rad. Since I'm not distinguished enough (polite way of saying old, BURN) to race twice and I apparently suck at public transport it would be cool to hitch a ride. May be convince-able to wake up mad early, if necessary too.
Mar 18, 2013 at 07:56 PM
in the 1/2/3's we had: Eric, Ryan, Vlad, Hubbs, all of whom had also been in the masters race. And they were joined by Craig, Keith, and myself.
While we rolled off slow-ish, after less than a minute, there was a hard attack. Keith quickly countered up to it. It had some fast guys in it, and there were some fast guys behind whom I was guessing would want to attack early and take the race away. I was close to the front, as was Craig. After the one turn, there was a flurry of attacks. We were in there, constantly shaking our head "no" because of Keith. Unfortunately, on lap two, Keith came unglued. And then it was reabsorbed
Felt like much of the race was kind of the same. An attack, often with a Kissena in it (Keith, Eric, Vlad, Ryan, myself), then a counter, then a flurry of attacks, and it was brought back.
Most of the guys seemed to be keying off of Ricky Gargiulo, a local kid who just joined up with the BikeReg team. He attacked alot. I was trying to take advantage of this--wait for the move that came after he was pulled back--but it wasn't working.
I also tried to see if I could engineer a split. So a few times, when Craig and one other Kissena was in front of me and the field was strung out, I soft-pedaled a bit to give them a gap. They could get three or four seconds, and then people would start jumping across.
Eventually Ricky went out on his own and we left him there to weaken. It was a big gap to cross at the speed we were going, it probably couldn't be done alone. It didn't happen and he was brought back right before the bell.
On the bell, two Somerville Bike Shop guys went to the front and drilled it until after the turn. I was sitting in fourth position. Felt good. Then they blew and the swarm came. Ragot tried to organize us. Didn't work, as the field was moving too slowly--the whole thing felt like slow motion. And despite seemingly losing the race when their leadout blew up, a Somerville guy came out for the win.
While we rolled off slow-ish, after less than a minute, there was a hard attack. Keith quickly countered up to it. It had some fast guys in it, and there were some fast guys behind whom I was guessing would want to attack early and take the race away. I was close to the front, as was Craig. After the one turn, there was a flurry of attacks. We were in there, constantly shaking our head "no" because of Keith. Unfortunately, on lap two, Keith came unglued. And then it was reabsorbed
Felt like much of the race was kind of the same. An attack, often with a Kissena in it (Keith, Eric, Vlad, Ryan, myself), then a counter, then a flurry of attacks, and it was brought back.
Most of the guys seemed to be keying off of Ricky Gargiulo, a local kid who just joined up with the BikeReg team. He attacked alot. I was trying to take advantage of this--wait for the move that came after he was pulled back--but it wasn't working.
I also tried to see if I could engineer a split. So a few times, when Craig and one other Kissena was in front of me and the field was strung out, I soft-pedaled a bit to give them a gap. They could get three or four seconds, and then people would start jumping across.
Eventually Ricky went out on his own and we left him there to weaken. It was a big gap to cross at the speed we were going, it probably couldn't be done alone. It didn't happen and he was brought back right before the bell.
On the bell, two Somerville Bike Shop guys went to the front and drilled it until after the turn. I was sitting in fourth position. Felt good. Then they blew and the swarm came. Ragot tried to organize us. Didn't work, as the field was moving too slowly--the whole thing felt like slow motion. And despite seemingly losing the race when their leadout blew up, a Somerville guy came out for the win.
I was the best-placed at 16th, and never felt like I opened my sprint, spent most of the time waiting for daylight. I was followed by Craig, then Keith.
Mar 18, 2013 at 09:43 PM
my face reflects my disappointment that I cannot keep my stripes aligned on the sleeves of my skinsuit and the jersey.
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0HS2002W000013&po=13&pc=455
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0HS2002W000013&po=13&pc=455
Mar 19, 2013 at 11:48 PM
Looking for a ride to the early BranchBrook race on Saturday. I'm going to jump into the 4/5 35+ and maybe stay around for the 35+. Anyone driving with a spot?
Mar 20, 2013 at 01:20 AM
If Jim finds a ride, I would also be interested in the early race
Mar 20, 2013 at 04:16 AM
I'd be keen to give Branchbrook a whirl too if anyone has a combi van.
Mar 20, 2013 at 05:23 PM
It sounds like a lot of people could use rides to the early races. I'm racing in Masters 35+ 4/5 race along with regular 4/5 race. I was planning on taking the 545 PATH train but if anybody has any room for me, I'd heartily accept a ride. I'm in greenpoint right off of the Humboldt Mc Guinness exit Cheers
Mar 22, 2013 at 09:10 PM
I'm planning to do the 4/5 race. If anyone is driving and has room, lemme know. Otherwise I'm getting the 6:20 PATH train from WTC to Newark and riding up to the park.
Mar 23, 2013 at 10:55 AM
Well that was a colossal fucking waste of time. Sat on the WTC Path platform for a bit sipping my shitty bodega coffee before coming to the realization that either my train left early or didn't come. The question now becomes, can I go back to sleep after downing two coffees?
Mar 23, 2013 at 11:42 AM
That sucks.
Mar 23, 2013 at 01:47 PM
condolences. That totally sucks.
I had some anxiety as I rode into a VERY quiet CP with no other riders in sight - wondering whether I was going to be like those strange people who get up before dawn to jog. But a swarm of marshals at the top of Cat's Paw reassured me. I was just uncharacteristically early, having assumed that the start time was 6:30.
I had some anxiety as I rode into a VERY quiet CP with no other riders in sight - wondering whether I was going to be like those strange people who get up before dawn to jog. But a swarm of marshals at the top of Cat's Paw reassured me. I was just uncharacteristically early, having assumed that the start time was 6:30.
Mar 23, 2013 at 02:55 PM
I flatted at 2nd ave and Houston at 5:55 on my way to catch the 6:20 WTC Path after having decided last minute to do only the 4/5 race. I fumbled around in the dark for a while looking for tire lever, tube and pump and quickly arrived at the conclusion that it just wasn't gonna happen today. So I threw on my sneakers and walked bsck to my GF's house at 5th and A. I was bummed but it sounds like it wouldn't have mattered anyhow if the train wasn't there at the appointed time
Oh well. I'm looking forward to racing PP tomorrow
Oh well. I'm looking forward to racing PP tomorrow
Mar 23, 2013 at 08:54 PM
Results? Race reports? The sick and stuck at home would appreciate some entertainment besides DVR-ed episodes of Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares (a fella can only handle so much yelling).
Mar 27, 2013 at 01:32 AM
I'm signed up for the 4/5 race. Is anybody else heading over to newark on saturday?
BTW Konrad got 4th last week in the 4/5 race
Mar 27, 2013 at 03:04 AM
Hey Rick I think Phillip and me are rolling out at our usual 6:30am time saturday. I'll check with him if we get a van or not- There should be room for you.
Mar 27, 2013 at 01:46 PM
Mar 27, 2013 at 02:03 PM
Hi Wes. I think 3 is our max for the van. Sorry about that. Ill check with Rick and Phillip to confirm but I think we're full.
Mar 28, 2013 at 03:45 PM
Who's doing Branchbrook this weekend?
I see Craig, Rick, & Phil in one car.
I know Wes and Nathanial Miller are looking for a ride. Anybody know if they can give a brother a ride?
I personally am feeling like a pile of crap warmed over right now (dayquil makes it better though), so my chances are looking slim that I'll be ready for this event.
I see Craig, Rick, & Phil in one car.
I know Wes and Nathanial Miller are looking for a ride. Anybody know if they can give a brother a ride?
I personally am feeling like a pile of crap warmed over right now (dayquil makes it better though), so my chances are looking slim that I'll be ready for this event.
Mar 28, 2013 at 03:54 PM
I would be interested in the 35+ race
Mar 28, 2013 at 08:15 PM
Is anyone else driving out on Saturday?
Mar 29, 2013 at 08:31 PM
I have been cleared to race...Branchbrook is looking like a strong possibility tomorrow
Mar 29, 2013 at 09:57 PM
Yacks, I'll bring that crank for you.
Mar 30, 2013 at 01:44 AM
Horribly sick for the whole week and only starting to get over it so I'm missing this weekend, and the one after for RvM. Kick some booty, boys!