Mar 03, 2013 at 07:22 PM
here you go Brendan http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8860644
Branchbrook NJ Spring Series
Mar 03, 2013 at 08:00 PM
can you find the kissena riders?
Mar 03, 2013 at 08:00 PM
eh, that link sucks. photo 198
Mar 03, 2013 at 08:53 PM
@ Brendan and Bruce
It is great that you guys are sharing your experiences in detail on the forum. This way, we can debrief and do virtual mentoring. If you take the time to learn about racing, you'll be a much better racer. It is as simple as that.
So two quick topics: When to be on the front and when to attack.
When should you be on the front in a bike race?
The simple answer is almost never. When you are on the front, you're doing more work than the people behind you. That is not good. There are some exceptions to this rule, but let me clear up a few common misconceptions first.
1) you are almost never "hurting" the guys who need hurting (because they are skillfully sheltered in the field).
2) "keeping the pace high" as a goal, is usually not a good goal. You kept the pace high, and now you're tired. Your chances of winning are now less. There is no bonus for finishing a race quickly. This isn't running where you shoot for PRs in the local 5k. You have to focus on top 10s. The way to get there is to conserve energy until the key points in the race.
3) Doing your fair share of "work" - again - the suckers do the work. The winners stay sheltered.
When to be on the front:
1) when leading out a teammate for a clear goal. This is for the final kilometers of a race or before a KOM or sprint point and can (and has been) discussed in great depth on the forum. This is a good time to be at the front because you are helping a teammate.
2) when chasing down a breakaway - again, you should almost always let the other teams do the work unless you are clearly the largest and strongest team in the field. In a cat 5 race, if you have 2 racers, and you kill yourself to chase the break, the other riders will thank you and then beat you.
3) when at a potentially dangerous part of the race. The front is the safest.
4) when there is a photographer at a designated point in the race and you want a glamour shot.
- now being on the front and NEAR the front are very different. Pack positioning is crucial. That is a whole separate topic.
When to attack:
The point of attacking is to establish a breakaway (Like ryan above). If you are attacking you should have the understanding that you're committing yourself to a long day of suffering (if it works).
Key points:
Early attacks seldom work because you won't find the right folks to join you that early in a race. If you have a decent sized group, it is worthwhile to send a rider up the road with the early attack.
Solo attacks also seldom work. Pick your spots and battles. It is much smarter to recognize that a strong rider is attacking, hop on their wheel, follow them, and then pull through and start rotating with whoever is on your wheel.
Attacking when a breakaway is being caught (counter-attacking) seems to increase the likelihood of success. The field is ready to make the catch and relax a bit, and some savvy riders will take this opportunity to pounce. be aware and ready.
You should also look for lulls in the pace. It is much easier to get a gap if the field is relaxing. It also might mean that the field is tired, which gives you a chance to get out front.
You'll want to attack from a little ways back in the field to gain some momentum and have a bit of a surprise factor. Attacking off the front also seldom works.
When you attack, realize that you have to put in a very hard effort (to get the gap) , and then hope you can stabilize your effort with your breakaway companions (if you have any).
I hope that helps a little. Hope to see you guys hiding away and then attacking at key points in the race next weekend.
Mar 03, 2013 at 09:15 PM
@mperlberg thanks for the tips. will incorporate them into future races!
@rene herrera thanks. how did you find that? did you just ask him? i'll want to know how this works for future races
by the way, this picture of me sprinting just caused a lot of laughter in my apartment: http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0HS2002U000162&po=162&pc=294 i look like i'm tremendously upset or trying to make a face capable of driving an infant to tears
Mar 03, 2013 at 09:47 PM
@brendan don madson is one of the main race photographers in new jersey.
Mar 04, 2013 at 07:42 PM
@Brendan - we're all narcissists here, so we know where to go to find pictures of ourselves.
Don shoots at NJ races.
Victor Chan can be found at most of the PP races: http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/
Anthony Benavides (ToneB) also a lot of NYC races: https://www.facebook.com/ToneB11
SKN Photography (I think a woman whose name I don't know) more NYC races: https://www.facebook.com/SKNPhoto
Cross races by Anthony Skorochod: http://www.cyclingcaptured.com/
I'm sure there are some others
Don shoots at NJ races.
Victor Chan can be found at most of the PP races: http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/
Anthony Benavides (ToneB) also a lot of NYC races: https://www.facebook.com/ToneB11
SKN Photography (I think a woman whose name I don't know) more NYC races: https://www.facebook.com/SKNPhoto
Cross races by Anthony Skorochod: http://www.cyclingcaptured.com/
I'm sure there are some others
Mar 05, 2013 at 02:30 AM
I think Stevil Kinevil accurately dubbed Mondays as the official "post your lame and boring race photos" day
Mar 05, 2013 at 02:34 AM
I am realizing that any aero benefit I got from my deep dish carbon tubs was negated and then some by the balloon jacket I was wearing on Saturday....
Mar 08, 2013 at 01:53 AM
Hey is anyone going this Saturday? I'm looking for a ride to the 1/2/3 race. I'm in Washington heights by the gwb and I have gas money.
Mar 08, 2013 at 05:04 PM
@Craig London - if the race is on, I can pass by you and pick you up. My race is at 8:07 though so it'll be an early pick up (around 6:30?)
Mar 08, 2013 at 06:54 PM
I'm in for the 4/5 race at 8:07 . I'll happily take the PATH like I did last weekend if I need to but was wondering if anybody had any room in their car. I'll be staying on 5th Street and Ave A in the East Village.
Or holler if you're heading out via PATH and want to ride together
Mar 09, 2013 at 04:52 AM
@Phillip Maronilla I'm at 664 W 163rd st (W 163rd st between Fort Washington and Riverside drive). I'll be ready at 6:30am Saturday. It'll be just me, my bike and a set of wheels. Please call me in the morning to confirm. 917-602-1366.
Mar 09, 2013 at 05:54 AM
OK. We will swing by around 630. I'll text you when I'm on my way.
917 232 8731 - Phil
917 232 8731 - Phil
Mar 09, 2013 at 05:55 PM
i got 3rd in the 123 race from a 4 man break. We got up to 2 minute lead on the field.
I did everything I could to save energy. Short pulls, skipped pulls, etc.
It was clear to me I was the weakest in the group. I figured I could beat the guy who had just won the masters race solo (I didn't know he was the winner at the time, but he looked tired).
Rafael Uridowski or whatever his name is and a big metra guy demolished me in the sprint.
I replayed in it my head a few times but I'm pretty sure I got the best result possible for me today given my breakaway companions. Maybe being a little more patient in the sprint would have gotten me less destroyed in the finale but I doubt I could have gotten around them.
Oh well. Gotta work on the finish a bit.
I owe money to you all. They paid via check. lame.
Mar 09, 2013 at 06:11 PM
Nice work
Mar 09, 2013 at 06:45 PM
Me Stokes and Ryan in the masters. We. Dan Strika too,but not in kit.
Last week's third place mike goret solos off after a couple of laps. Disinterested chase. A guy goes to bridge solo but is out there and I bridge to him. The two of us work well together, but the pack didn't like us out there,so we came back after a little over a lap. I thought we had It as we got a nice gap,but no.
Ryan asks what to do with two to go as some guys roll off the front. Cover it I say. He does. Then hes in a 4man chase.
Bell lap. A small group chases the chase and gets to about 6 riders. I bridge to it and through it and up to Ryan's group at the corner. I was totally cross eyed but got there cleanly.
But the the homestretch was headwind. The group sat up and looked at each other. A guy slipped away to solo in for second. As I recovered and we went slow,the 6man group caught us.
Ryan gave it what he had to lead it out but at the rising right hand curve,he was done. I was up front and unsure where to open up the sprint, but then Doug O'Neil started his sprint. I figured I could open up mine. Ugh. It hurt, but only one guy got by. So I got 4th.
Ryan 10th.
123 race had me wanting to vomit from the bridge and sprint effort, but I settled in had a gel and felt OK. Stayed up front followed to moves,but generally was only trying to support Mike. Mike slipped away,the blocking with Craig London and Ryan was effective and as the race wound down,I let Ryan and Craig handle the front so I could rest for the sprint.
Bell lap I stayed near the front as Craig and Ryan rode the front. We didnt lead me out as I took care if myself and the sprint opened up with me in a good spot. I just accelerated seated and ended up 11th.
Not my best sprint effort,but I was there. And that's more than normal. Well coordinate lead out efforts better next week.
Good work by the crew today.
My legs both cramped up at the Cuban place after. The guys said that people looked at me kinda weird as I started making pained noises and could barley stand while fighting them. Ouch.
Next week. KILL!
Last week's third place mike goret solos off after a couple of laps. Disinterested chase. A guy goes to bridge solo but is out there and I bridge to him. The two of us work well together, but the pack didn't like us out there,so we came back after a little over a lap. I thought we had It as we got a nice gap,but no.
Ryan asks what to do with two to go as some guys roll off the front. Cover it I say. He does. Then hes in a 4man chase.
Bell lap. A small group chases the chase and gets to about 6 riders. I bridge to it and through it and up to Ryan's group at the corner. I was totally cross eyed but got there cleanly.
But the the homestretch was headwind. The group sat up and looked at each other. A guy slipped away to solo in for second. As I recovered and we went slow,the 6man group caught us.
Ryan gave it what he had to lead it out but at the rising right hand curve,he was done. I was up front and unsure where to open up the sprint, but then Doug O'Neil started his sprint. I figured I could open up mine. Ugh. It hurt, but only one guy got by. So I got 4th.
Ryan 10th.
123 race had me wanting to vomit from the bridge and sprint effort, but I settled in had a gel and felt OK. Stayed up front followed to moves,but generally was only trying to support Mike. Mike slipped away,the blocking with Craig London and Ryan was effective and as the race wound down,I let Ryan and Craig handle the front so I could rest for the sprint.
Bell lap I stayed near the front as Craig and Ryan rode the front. We didnt lead me out as I took care if myself and the sprint opened up with me in a good spot. I just accelerated seated and ended up 11th.
Not my best sprint effort,but I was there. And that's more than normal. Well coordinate lead out efforts better next week.
Good work by the crew today.
My legs both cramped up at the Cuban place after. The guys said that people looked at me kinda weird as I started making pained noises and could barley stand while fighting them. Ouch.
Next week. KILL!
Mar 09, 2013 at 08:09 PM
my first race: didn't crash, finished 15th overall and 9th in the 5s. am happy overall.
was an interesting start as right from the bell a group of five jumped ahead. wes was in the pack and so i did my best to sit around the front of the chase group whilst not aiding other teams (one guy, and i cannot remember his team, got really pissed with me that i wouldn't take a pull whilst it was the two of us at the head. does that make me a dick? at the end of the day the lead group wasn't getting any farther ahead and we had three laps to go).
wes pulled back after i think three laps and at that point rick and philip were around the front of the chase group. it kind of got a bit messy in the last two laps as people attempted to bridge but there was little organization and so most attempts were pulled back. the lead group was down to three or four i think and so that left a bunch sprint for top 10.
i messed up on the sprint on a few levels:
1) i was thinking, ok, i'll go when the other guys go; this was whilst people were riding by me in what i thought was non-sprinting mode. i just didn't correlate the two events.
2) when i did go, i was on the inside right (first mistake) but i also didn't latch onto another wheel.
3) i didn't set up properly. i had wanted to sprint out of the saddle at around 120-130 but ended up seated at <100. from my own limited experience i know that's not when i am fastest.
i definitely need to work on sprinting (perhaps just as likely making sure i can finish strong overall). interestingly, i had expected 40 mins of balls-to-the-wall threshold, but looking back i was in tempo for over 50%. i was not expecting that ebb and flow at all.
definitely lots to think and act on here. i don't think i raced the best team effort to be honest, but i guess that will come through practice together.
anyway, loved every single moment of it. i fear this could get really addictive.
Mar 09, 2013 at 08:33 PM
Mar 09, 2013 at 09:47 PM
This is how serious racers prepare.
Note Coldplay blasting in the background from the car for all the neighborhood to hear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eisbnRJHyL4
Mar 10, 2013 at 02:50 AM
This is what inspired me to my 3rd place finish:
Mar 10, 2013 at 02:52 AM
yeah dude. you nailed it. tell your wife / girlfriend you won't be seeing her much until you get over this sport.Mark Clifford said:my first race: didn't crash, finished 15th overall and 9th in the 5s. am happy overall.anyway, loved every single moment of it. i fear this could get really addictive.
BTW - thanks for brining your trainer. the good warmup served me well.
Mar 10, 2013 at 07:11 PM
Mar 10, 2013 at 08:04 PM
(IF anyone buys pictures, please post them so we can upload them to the Flickr page)
Mar 10, 2013 at 08:15 PM
i bought one from branchbrook 2 weeks ago, mostly because i'm making a ridiculous face. it's attached.
Mar 10, 2013 at 08:38 PM
Awesome. Uploaded 
Mar 10, 2013 at 09:24 PM
A couple of my own pictures of the 1/2/3 race yesterday.
Mar 10, 2013 at 09:28 PM
Thanks for posting that Phillip,
I wonder if photo #2 is me starting the winning break. My breakaway companions are all clustered right behind our guys.
Mar 10, 2013 at 09:57 PM
This is the next picture (next lap), not as clear. The break is well under way here so I think you're right about the pic above.
Btw - the orange helmet is awesome!
Mar 11, 2013 at 02:12 AM
@Phillip very nice. Feel free to upload stuff to Flickr and add it to the Kissena "group" if you like. When I do it the copyright is either me or KCC because it would be crazy to try and watermark any and every photo that gets added here.