For anyone who decides not to race Branchbrook, consider coming out to Central Park in the early morning for a 1 hour-ish course run-through on March 1. See mentoring thread for more detail.

Wes and Apruzzese are in.  Full car.

It's going to be cold - before, during, and after the race - dress appropriately:

http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/Newark+NJ+USNJ0355:1:US?pagenum=3&nextbeginIndex=24

It's going to feel like 12 degrees? Ouch. Anybody have experience racing in a thermal jacket? It sounds like it'd be hell, but then again, so does racing in weather that feel like 12 degrees.

Just regd I hope it warms up good thing I have my fleece skin suit!

Aaron Blum said:

Looking for a ride back to Brooklyn. Just a ride back, taking the path train back home in that cold sucks.

ill give you a ride home. but we have to wait until craig finishes his race. probably around 10:30 or so.

Aaron I can give you a ride to the NJ path or the ferry after the race. Just let me know.

if i go Arron ill bring yu hom but you have to wait till im done with my race 

There is a good Cuban coffee place down on mt. Prospect you can hang out in if it is too cold 

And a Dunkin Donuts a simple cooldown stroll away.

Somehow I don't think cooling down is going to be a challenge.

On the 4/5 registered list:

Jeff A
Aaron
Mark I
Phil
Nelson
Konrad
Wes
Yang

Let's designate our leader/s and go from there.  Konrad?

Full disclosure: I haven't been riding in the past two months so I'll be useless (for now). I'm looking at these races to kick off my training.

Have fun lads...

Though I've stated I would like to upgrade this season, I don't think I want results to be my focus at this time of year and want to concentrate on getting fitter and developing as a racer. I want to roll the dice and try to get more effective at attacking/counterattacking and get some longer intense efforts in. Results would just be a nice bonus (it's my birthday weekend!). So... I'm going to try to attack and establish a break or try to bridge up to some breaks and make an honest effort. I suspect some other Kissenas will be doing the same and with as many of us as there are, we should have someone in every move anyhow, or have the ability to shut down moves we don't like.

Dave, I agree with Konrad. These races are great training opportunities. It is the first one of the year and to be quite honest it is very difficult to organize a group of riders who have varying degrees of fitness and who have barely ridden together. Staying attentive is always key in a race and we should all look out for our team members. Certainly if one us has made it into the break of the day I will do everything to create chaos in the pack. Fake attacks, blocking, farting : ). Anyway I am going to take this race as an opportunity to work on areas that I wasn't so hot at last year.

Sure, I'm not proposing to take this too seriously, but I figure we can designate a leader and work around him so he doesn't have to burn up too many matches.

Burning.  Matches.  Riiight.  

I don't see the magic eye image....

I have so much respect for you folks who are racing tomorrow.  Good luck and have fun!  I look forward to reading the results when I wake up.  In my bed.  Warm.

All you 4/5 guys racing tomorrow are badass. If you're contemplating breakaways:

Johnny Malc's looks like a young Froome Dog

Good luck gents and I will join you next week-end!!

Okay, okay... if any of us win, we will do naked pushups.

Win, lose or draw we all expect PICTURES!

How did the fishing go this morning?  Where you guys able to set up an ice shanty ?

Konrad took 2nd in a break with 2 to go. Good teamwork blocking (and it didn't hurt that there were 5 of us for that job)...

Hey not to be a noodgeball or anything...but in the future, EVERYONE PLEASE wear a Kissena jacket or jersey for those podium shots!

Fuck that.  Konrad looks super konRAD.  Everyone who's awesome knows what team he's on. Team Cool that's what. 

Motorcycle Leather Boy on the podium rewlz.  Much better than an orange t-shirt.