Mar 05, 2014 at 01:25 PM
I'll be at Branchbrook this weekend in the 4/5 field.
Branchbrook NJ Spring Series
Mar 07, 2014 at 02:10 PM
Is anyone racing Branchbrook next weekend? I need a ride. Hit me up if anyone has extra room.
Mar 07, 2014 at 03:06 PM
I. Can't. Wait. To. Race. Tomorrow.
I don't recall being so giddy about a first race of the season - ever!
Mar 07, 2014 at 05:08 PM
just saying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTFFQkdhw6Q&list=AL94UKMTqg-9A9mC6KlxPLKq7QNiv39V4hRyan J said:I. Can't. Wait. To. Race. Tomorrow. I don't recall being so giddy about a first race of the season - ever!
Mar 07, 2014 at 05:19 PM
So inspiring
Mar 07, 2014 at 05:38 PM
See you guys there! If we by some chance get there in time I'll be doubling up, buuuuut probably just doing the later 4/5 race.
Mar 08, 2014 at 05:33 PM
Konrad took second again for the 4/5.
Mar 08, 2014 at 06:24 PM
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Mar 08, 2014 at 06:42 PM
We raced well in the 123s. Ryan and Eric guided Andy to a top 15 placing in the field sprint. Before that, we were very active attacking, counter-attacking, establishing breakaways, etc. etc.
I probably raced too hard and too aggressive, but whatever, I needed to bust the rust off a bit and take out some aggression on the bike.
Glad to get some nice weather. I forgot how much I enjoy this shit.
Mar 08, 2014 at 06:45 PM
It was one of the more fun days I had.
In the Masters, a break of 4 went at the start. Ryan and I weren't ready to go. It stayed away. Sprint for 5th saw me hanging toward the front with dead legs (hard week) and Ryan, Condon and Stokes all pushed up in front of me and did what they could to keep the pace up. We never talked about this, but it was a really nice show of teamwork to support the sprinter and made my day. Thanks. I appreciate it and the teamwork will pay off.
Mar 08, 2014 at 07:00 PM
I would agree that our biggest success today was that we did a better job staying organized.
The Masters ended up being kind of easy because the break went away so early. So I actually had legs for the second race for once.
Was in a big promising early move that United just completely obliterated by riding like crap. So annoying. Just refusing to ever pull through to keep any steady tempo going and then absolutely flying off the front every once in a while as if they wanted to ride away solo. Which they can't do because they all look fat and slow right now. No one could figure out what the hell they were thinking.
But yeah like Eric said did my best to keep us represented near the front at the end during the whole last lap. Ramped it up as hard as I could after the left turn and stuck it for about 30 to 45 seconds. Then that was it. Eric did a nice job shepherding Andy into a position where he could contest the sprint. It didn't quite work out but I like the way that we did it. I think once we can get one or two others into the mix we will be looking good.
Mar 08, 2014 at 10:31 PM
Today was a lot of fun. Nice weather meant both the stronger guys and the sketchier guys made it out. A lot of wobbles and half wheeling meant I stayed in the top 10 for the majority of the race. I hopped into a break that stuck for a little bit. Some strong guys and some guys who didn't know how to ride in a break. Two or three fewer guys and I think it would've been a strong move, but hey - that happens, right? I joked with Hatchmap from last week that we'd go at 2 to go and pushed around the parking lot but that definitely wasn't going anywhere.
That left me a little gassed and I drifted back. Surfed wheels up until the last turn. I saw a hole out by the edge near the curb and was going to pop through for my sprint. As others geared up that hole closed and I had to sneak through fast. Yelled "outside" and launched too early, pipped in the last few seconds or so, but still happy to have gotten second.
Big ups to the crew - there were more teams present today, but we really covered that race well. Jeff, Thierry, and Tim were up front almost the entire race and dictating the pace, Jeff hopped into a break for a bit, Nelson rode up front and came in to round out the top ten. Good good work all around!
Also, I wore my jersey this time but there weren't any podium pics.
Mar 08, 2014 at 10:46 PM
Is there a leaders jersey for that field?
Mar 08, 2014 at 10:49 PM
Nah.
Mar 09, 2014 at 02:22 AM
Dang....I think Kissena can capture the elusive yellow jersey at the Castaldi cup this year...so many strong IV's. Nice job Konrad
Mar 09, 2014 at 03:41 AM
Konrad may not be 4......
Mar 09, 2014 at 03:55 AM
i know it....
Mar 09, 2014 at 02:51 PM
Going into my first race for this year, after very mixed experiences last summer, I wasn't sure how this would go and how my fitness level would compare to the rest of the field. Felt pretty strong and rode at or near the front with Jeff and Thierry. I wasn't paying enough attention to positioning, did too much of the race on the left side. Found myself boxed in coming into the finish, but was glad to see Konrad get himself out into the sprint. Overall, I don't think I was aggressive enough. Probably should have tried an attack or two, just to see what would happen.
Mar 09, 2014 at 03:02 PM
Yes! Racing in the parks of NY/NJ/CT is like racing in a cycling laboratory. With two constants, the course and the competition. You are the variable. And to get the best results, you are going to want to mix it up from week to week. Trying new approaches to see what works in varied conditions.Tim Heckman said:Probably should have tried an attack or two, just to see what would happen.
That said, it was your first race of the season, it sounds like a solid outing, and I'm glad you are ALREADY thinking of trying something else next time out!
Mar 10, 2014 at 01:34 AM
I forgot to mention, big shout out to Jeff Condon. If I'm not mistaken, this was his first race with the big boys.
Mid way through the race, Eric asked Jeff if he felt ok to cover moves. Jeff said no. Eric gave him a big ol push and into the next breakaway he went.
Found this gem. This is me yelling at Jeff to be ready to counter attack at probably the hardest point in the race. Jeff showed some excellent positioning and race awareness. If a move went late, he had a shot to be in it. Not bad for his second race of the day.
Mar 10, 2014 at 03:20 AM
Heh. Jeff got bossed around a lot by Eric, me, and Mike. Agreed he handled it very well.
Mar 10, 2014 at 01:10 PM
I had a hell of a good time following Eric's wheel the last 3 laps. Had I not lost his wheel as we were exiting the tree line coming into the last 500 meters I would have been in absolute perfect position. Once I lost Eric i burnt a few matches to try and move up on the right side, but that did me in. I didn't have anything for the final 200 meters at that point and rolled across the line 12th.
Mar 10, 2014 at 01:19 PM
You can see my faded orange helmet behind the United train that I was swarmed by.
![branchbrook_bike_race_207[1].jpg](https://kissenacycling.vanillacommunity.comhttps://kissenacycling.vanillacommunity.com/api/v2/media/download-by-url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus.v-cdn.net%2F5019667%2Fuploads%2FFileUpload%2F9d%2F49b75568e157be4ac520ec67591f26.jpg){kind=link}
Mar 10, 2014 at 04:59 PM
Does anybody have an extra spot for this weekends race? I'm looking for a ride. Let me know.
Mar 11, 2014 at 05:46 PM
Shoot me a message Craig
another cool pic
Mar 11, 2014 at 07:12 PM
My ride fell through as well. Looking for a ride that will get me there in time for the 7 a.m. 4/5 race. Holla!
Mar 11, 2014 at 07:22 PM
@Whitey, I'm on the fence on this one, but will firm up plans later tonight.
Any other 4/5s in Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan?
Any other 4/5s in Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan?
Mar 11, 2014 at 07:46 PM
I'm watching the weather before i make a decision, as it looks like it might be rainy on saturday.
Mar 11, 2014 at 07:50 PM
I'm sitting this one out this weekend. If anyone wants to do some base miles saturday or sunday let me know. I'm doing some LSD (Long Slow Distance) miles. 2-3 hrs easy Zone 2 with some tempo.
Mar 11, 2014 at 08:36 PM
@Yang I'm also looking for a ride. I'm in Brooklyn, reg'ed for the 8am cat 4/5 race.