anyone going to do the March 4 branchbrook race? I think I will but hoping to get a ride from someone if possible

@Brendan Rigby If you can't find a ride, it's pretty easy to get to the park using the PATH train. Take it to Newark Penn station. From there it's an easy 15-20 minute ride, which serves as a nice warm-up. 

I've done that but if someone is driving a car over the GWB I could get an extra hour of sleep

I'm planning on going and have a car! If I track down or purchase a bike rack before March I'd be happy to take however many people we can fit in a Mini Cooper.

I have a 2-bike rack, https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/saris-bones-2-trunk-rack. also, an ez-pass!  got rid of my car though...

what time would you want to arrive?

It's January..

i've heard branchbrook is a great way to sneak in upgrade points before people take the races too seriously and get fit

Truth.  Konrad and Weird Al Yackovich both upgraded to the 3s after doing well at Branchbrook.

Brendan, are you looking to move up to the 2s??

I'd like to but I'm looking into it and it seems quite difficult. 30 points in 12 months.  Seems like stage races are the most bang for your buck in terms of points per place

Yack's got his upgrade at Branchy as well....cuz sneaking into breaks is way easier when half the field isn't fit yet...

Brendan Rigby said:

I've done that but if someone is driving a car over the GWB I could get an extra hour of sleep

Brendan,

I'm thinking of riding there and back.  I'd rather spend the time on my bike than sitting on the train.  For you, it should be even easier.

Safer racing at Branchbrook... Basically like riding Zwift, except you can move left and right.  

Mostly safer. It's still racing and I've seen a serious crash there that wiped out someone's season.

David Yang said:

Mostly safer. It's still racing and I've seen a serious crash there that wiped out someone's season.

you can also die sneezing...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/06/18/when-sneezing-kills/

Branchbrook is a fantastic place for 5's and 4's to practice riding in a bunch. You can race twice (back to back) and get in double the learning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wALArd2rvo

https://www.bikereg.com/branchbrook-park-spring-series-bloomfield-tour

We are two weeks away from racing in NYC.  As Steve Miller once sang,"I'm the pompatous of love."

Also,"Time keeps on slipping slipping slipping into the future."

I can probably only do the first race and have to bounce.  Don't see any other Kissenas signed up.  Pretty sure it is the only open local race before Grant's Tomb the next weekend.

i reg'd ... 14 person field, sweet!

Haha that number will definitely balloon next week.

Protip; if you're racing twice, pin the first number on top of the second so you can just peel it off. You probably won't have time to do a full lap before the second wave of races starts.

Jules said:

Protip; if you're racing twice, pin the first number on top of the second so you can just peel it off. You probably won't have time to do a full lap before the second wave of races starts.

and bring scissors in order to quickly remove the top number.

I was just writing that Thierry!

Protip v2. If you have the windvest pin the first  number to that and the second to your jersey. that way you can just throw it in your pocket and it usually warms up a tad by the start of race 2.

Are most people doing both races? Seems like an easy way to knock out two races and advance faster to CAT 4. If I do both men's 4/5 races, is this how it works? I'm a CAT 5.

Greg,

Yes, Cat 5 -4 upgrade is finishing 10 mass start races (15 miles min for road races and 10 mile min for crits). Branchbrook should qualify as a road race (assuming an average speed of about 24mph). Both races would count separately towards your upgrade.

Keep in mind there are two well argued schools of thought about Cat 5:

A) Cat 5 is a great place to try out racing and learn some valuable skills that will help you in the higher categories. The races are shorter so there is perhaps less risk to trying moves on which you might hesitate when the races are longer and more of the field has better fitness. Don't rush through the 5's but use it for all its worth. You can upgrade at any time (past your 10 races).

Cat 5 is a fearful place of sweatpant wearing noobs just waiting to chop your wheel. Get out quick.

I don't think we've ridden together so I don't know your background, fitness level, riding skill, etc... but of course the reality is a mix of the above.

And also of course, we'll be happy to have you move up to the Cat4 squad. Looks like we've got some strong riders this year. 

if you make sure there's only ever 4-5 people in front of you, it's less likely you'll end up behind some abysmal pileup.  less going on in front of you seems like less of a chance of disaster

my personal perception was that the 4 field in terms of safety was not much different than the 5 field. in fact one of the biggest scratches on my frame is from a pileup in the 4s.  i was unable to sagan and dance over the pileup, so down i went.  the mixed 1,2,3 fields do feel markedly safer than the 4s.  (although i think i have footage of someone endoing in a 3 field over a finish line cone in central park) all the more reason to upgrade!

you might also consider it a personal goal to upgrade quickly just for the sake of goal-setting

jim_nelson said:

Cat 5 is a fearful place of sweatpant wearing noobs just waiting to chop your wheel. Get out quick.

Can I just say that the capital letter b and a closed parantheses is not a smiley face in sunglasses. I hate the modern world.

I think Cat 4 is a bunch safer than Cat 5 but part of that I think comes from experience in knowing where to be and how to avoid the dangerous characters. That said, give me 45+ Masters any day.

thanks @jim_nelson and @Brendan Rigby 
I have 6 races down (GMSR, Floyd Bennett's, PP). So just trying to get the last four checked. I am in ok shape considering I haven't trained much this winter. Branch brook sounds like a good opportunity to get more racing experience and edge closer to CAT 4. I'll sign up for both. Thanks! 

I grabbed the last spot for CAT 5 at Grant's Tomb as well. 

There is no reason not to do both races if time permits.

reg'd for both 4/5 races!