N I C E !!!!!

Awesome, Craig!  Get those points, buddy.

Hi All,

Nice work Craig!

BOOM.  It's back.

Love these races....more than Nutella

Hi all- I'm looking for a ride to Saturday's race. I'm pre-reg'd for the 1/2/3 race which goes off at 9am but am open to leaving earlier if need be. I'm located in Hell's Kitchen by 9th ave and 46th street but can meet anywhere nearby. 

I'm registered for this weekend. Not sure if I want to race in 20 degrees (before wind chill and all that is factored). Aaaaah decisions, decisions! 

I just checked my weather app and Saturday in Newark is the highest temp of the week- 37 and sunny. 

Yup, but it'll hit that in the afternoon and the morning looks a bit drearier than that. I'm honestly not even sure how to dress for a race in those conditions.

I'm dressing super warm, head thing, long fleece jersey, layers, puffy gloves and neoprene booties. Basically all the kit I own. My logic is smaller fields=better results and potential upgrade points. Also, I'm so burned out on training indoors I can rationalize the cold by thinking I'll be riding outside anyway so why not race?

I hear that. I mean... it's only an hour, right??

It's going to be around 20F during that time in the morning and warm up to about 35F in the afternoon. Layers.....

You nutters are actually going to be racing in this weather?  I am mightily tempted.

Last year, there were some cold mornings at Branchbrook.  I brought layers and stripped a lot of them off just before the race, including my hat because it's difficult to hear with it on.  Racing warms you up and, unless you're in front, there's a nice pocket of still air while drafting.

Bruce is right, bringing extra DRY clothes for post race hang-out is critical. While you are racing, if you're not smart, you'll probably be overdressed. In fact even as we hit days in the 50s, where you are lightly dressed for racing. Standing around to watch the finish of your friend's race, you will get too cold too fast. Get used to packing extra layers in your race bag, until, basically late July. Just kidding. Kind of.

Key here, as in all riding recommendations for cold weather is going to be keeping your hands and feet appropriately warm.

But if the sun is out, and the air is dry, you should have no problem with just a few core layers. Fleece lined shorts/leg warmers are my new go-to jam for cold weather riding/racing.

I like these races and hope to do a few before they're gone, but this cold is bullshit. The vortex broke me and I'm staying home. There will be a billion other races in the NYC area this year. I counted.

Honestly my biggest concern is the early season twitchyness everyone seems to have. Would smaller fields be less prone to crashes?

David Yang said:

Honestly my biggest concern is the early season twitchyness everyone seems to have. Would smaller fields be less prone to crashes?

As much as everyone tries, it's basically impossible to predict (other than the cat 4 sprints) Some days it's wet and crowded and everyone is well behaved; other days it's dry and sparse and people ride like they're drunk. Pick races you want to do, and keep your wits about you...

I have found branch brook to be the safest early season venue.

@Yang Branchbrook is safe, all the corners can be taken flat-stick. The only thing that I don't love is the stone lip/edge on either side of the roadway, which you definitely don't want to be near at the pinch points/sweeping corners in the back section. It's something you get used to very quickly though. Definitely measure out and practice your sprint pre-race (pick a marker on the side of the road) — easy to go too early or too late on this course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gSQnBU0dh8

Something to note.  In the above video, that's me in the black and blue PP (Prospect Peloton) kit on the right (before the video starts).  This was before my KCC kit arrived.  This is March 2, the first race of the season, and my first crash.  I don't like bringing it up because I don't want to bring bad vibes into the mix, but want to note that @David, your concerns are correct about early season racing, that fitness levels are all over the place, which is why these should be considered your C race, something to practice with.  But I think this also makes these races a lot of fun.

I don't know if this course or the fact that it's got less people would make it less prone to crashes. In one race last year in March, there were two crashes in the 4/5. The first one took two people out (directly in front of me), and towards the end, the second crash brought Wes and Rick down and several others. I think you roll dice at Branchbrook just like in other races. Like Jules said, "...keep your wits about you".

If you go into a race thinking too much about crashes, you will crash, or race terribly, or both. IF YOU are ready to race, pin that number on and get to gett'n. Race heads-up, notice who is around you and move appropriately through the pack to deal with those folks. #gottagetoffthecomputrainereventually

^same could be said of racing your new bike (cough, cough)

Jules said:

^same could be said of racing your new bike (cough, cough)

Just sayin...

heh...yeah true. We all need a kick in the pants every now and again, don't we!

Alrighty I guess I'm in.

I'm leaving Brooklyn by 6am.  Can pick up 2 more with bikes along the way.

Right now the forecast is for 18. If that rises above 30 in the next 24 hours, I'll race.

@Aaron, sure if there is a spot open on the way back, but people I pick up in the morn get first dibs.