Hi Cat 5 Riders,

CRCA has approached us for help putting on an open Cat 5 rider clinic in Central Park.

The event is listed here.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=15188

http://www.crca.net/racing/open-clinics/mens-clinic/

It is basically a clinic and race combined with experienced riders racing with the Cat 5 group to give advice and pointers.

Who would come out?

Essentially, the mission of kissena has always been to train and mentor our riders. If you're going to come out, we can get some of our mentors and experienced riders out to race with you.

Please reply directly to this thread if we can count on you being there. It is a pretty unique opportunity to race with experienced guys as a cat 5.

Perlberg

I will be there.

Most likely a typo in the subject line here.

BikeReg says the clinic is Saturday March 17th - not March 27th (which is a Tuesday).

michael, i will be there as both recipient &advisor based on 1st yr experiences. -h

is it on saturday?

Yup Saturday March 17th. Sorry for the error.

I did one of these many years ago. They are great, since there are Cat 2 riders who ride along side the group, to advise and coach the new riders. These are great opportuities to have actual coaching in a cat 5 race.

Bumping this up.

Cat 5 riders. Sign on. It will be a great experience.

Ideally, we are looking for folks who are very new to the sport, i.e. in their first 5 or so races but any cat 5 can race.

While riding in CP this afternoon with JP, we were rolling with an Irish CRCA member named Anthony and the subject of safe riding and racing came up. Unfortunately Anthony had specific memories of Kissena riders "causing crashes" from last year. I don't know how true his memory is, but, I hate that that's what he thinks of when he thinks Kissena. I didn't argue, but sucked it up and pointed out all the things we do to help our riders become better, safer riders. I also said that with such a big club as our, we mentors and other club leaders can't see/know everything that is going on, but we always want to hear about guys who need some extra attention to improve their bike handling skills.

So hopefully, if myself, or JP or Ragot or one of your race-day teammates comes up to you, or sends you an email, or has some suggestions, you take them with the spirit that they are intended, and that is to make you a better safer rider. I've been lucky to ride and race with some amazing riders over the year, and I've learned a lot from them. Information that I want to pass along to you.

As such, I want to emphasize the importance of taking advantage of clinics, group rides and co-promoted events such as this one in CP (although this CRCA guy had no idea that Kissena was co-promoting this event).

But more important than getting out to this event, is getting out to a group ride where you get experience riding in close quarters with your teammates. It's really, really, really important. Please get out to as many group rides as you can. The less race experience you have, the MORE important these rides are. And for the more experienced guys, it also important for us to show up to these rides too, so that we can not only share information, but also be an extra body in the paceline/pack riding experience to more closely mimic the feel of riding in a race-day pack.

Also, I want to mention the idea of riding in bad weather. To be honest, I don't do it a lot anymore, and if you have years of experience racing/riding in bad weather, or NEVER plan on racing when the weather turns sour, then fine. Stay indoors on those foul days. BUT, if you are ever going to race in the rain, especially on a slippery course like central park, you owe it to yourself and your competitors to know what it feels like to descend down the backside of 110-berg...for example. JP is rarely turned away by foul weather, so if the weather looks bad and you want/need some motivating company for a ride. He's your guy. Send him an email.

JP if you are around for a clinic on that 110-berg chicane in CP (rain or shine) I'm there any time you're willing to put it on. I sat up in the rain last year because I decided I wasn't good enough to do it safely - for myself or others.

here is the race flyer.

16march
so, are there any Kissena's attending this cat5 clinic tomorrow 7am.
would be great to have JosuahC, Ros & AshleyB to attend an myself to do a bit of practice paceline before sunady race in PPk.
txt if you are in/out?
-harry

718-640-8680 mobile

Hey Harry...I'll be there, as will David Stokes, Perlberg and WDC I think.

we're riding up to piermont afterwards

meet us in CP around 830 (i think) or call me (917 572 3741) if you want to join us

16march
oh,
looks like registration is closed...so cat 5's lets coordinate a time to ride in prospect tomorrow sat17th march...how about 10am?
-h

I will be there at the clinic, psyched of course.....

I tried to get on this a couple of weeks ago but it was already sold out.
Ill be in Prospect park tomorrow doing some hot lap interval openers from around midday. Definitely agree would be great for the 5s to all get together.