I'm getting over this cold and I should be there on Sunday for 1/2/3.

I was BLOCKING b/c I was trying to get Joe more KOM points, which were still up for grabs.

But the fat part is true. Fat people are good at getting in the way. I still remember the look on your face: Perplexed meets disgust!

@ Jeff: I was soooo happy to to have made it to a break with 2 other strong looking guys... and I didn't really understand the whole series points/jersey rules. Meanwhile I have been waiting like a coiled spring to unleash that excuse on the next unsuspecting sap....

Just remember, when something need to be ruined, call in Owens. I'm the Powers Boothe of amateur cycling.

@Jeffrey White thanks very much, this is very useful.

Interesting to see you peak <=10 minute efforts seem to occur early on in the race

Whoops. Forgot my link...

http://tpks.ws/mPSh

*your peak <= 10 minute efforts sorry not you peak.....

Thanks Jules

Yeah, they can definitely start off fast and furious. I can find a few races where I tried late attacks. The club championship comes to mind. But not all my races are uploaded to the site, unfortunately.

In those breakaways given your powerdata would you have done anything different? Gone earlier and more measured or later and harder?

Bit of a general question here but based on the races so far in the 5's how organized are the teams? Presumably you do get people burying themselves for their sprinter? I guess it will unfold on the day but im wondering as far as a plan goes how late I should leave it to try and spring assuming I remember my legs.

Cat5 races are totally disorganized, I don't care what teams try to do. There are generally a small group of guys who are strong and drive the pace a bit. There tends to be a mentality that suggests "The race is short, if I just hang in, I have a shot at winning." This mentality makes breakaways somewhat unlikely unless you have a Sean Smith, John Malcolmnson type dude in the field. It also leads to a lot of unnecessary risk taking and guys who are hanging on by the skin of their teeth but still think they should fight for position to sprint.

^ what Mike says is true. Not all that much better in the 4's

One thing to be super wary of is the dreaded "all-out-sprint-for-fortieth-place"

If you're not top 15 or 20 going into the final straightaway be careful. Guys will do all kinds of crazy shit in their mad sprint for non-glory.

Ive been mulling over a number of different tactics, one moment I think I've decided on a plan I start thinking of another option. I guess it all comes down to how I feel on the day and what the field is like.
One thing is for absolute sure though, I'm not sprinting for 15th. @jules, I had a feeling that was the case and id rather sit up having totally cracked in an attempt of something than a race for nothing.

Posted By: ashleyBAnyone racing Prospect Park on Sunday 18th?
Im making my debut to racing and the club this Sunday in the 5's. Any tips or team plans?

Ashley, I registered for the Prospect Park 5 race on Sunday 18th as well. Gotta get this season going...

Joji,
Very sorry to hear about your crash. Hope that you feel better soon. Best,
Jef K

Joji
Hope you heal up and feel better soon!
Nathaniel

I plan to be there as a 4. This week I am renewing my club membership as well as my racing license. I think there is a glitch on the usac website as I made four attempts to renew my license and still do not have it. My card was billed four times, but alas, no license. Made me a little angry. I'm looking to sort it out by the weekend. As for the race, just let me know how I can help.

An angry Kaiser is a frightening thought...

@Christian. I renewed my license a couple of weeks ago and am surprised not to have received it in the mail yet. Last year they were amazingly quick. This must be a busy time of year for license renewals. But you don't need to wait for the mail. You can print out an "Authorization to ride" and bring that to the race. I'll have to check my credit card, though. Not sure how many times they have charged me.

Feel better, Joji. Hopefully we'll see you out there soon.

14march

@Ashley, Ros, JoshC, i am in for the cat5 Spring Series &Prospect this sunday, 6:45 start (7laps). Given that we will have a couple teammates i can give the low-down on the last two race in Central Park and know one or two of the characters in the field. the Cat5 Race is a 7lap race 23.45mi and will likely be pretty fast with (8-10riders from)CRCA Siggs, (3)experienced Menolia's, independant "Sami Torres" leader's jersey, a fast Junior independant "Andreas" and a team of (4)with red&white stripped shorts, cranking it up at final lap for a sprint.

race 1cpk - bunch sprint of 15-18, i took 9th. (3laps, 19.5mi)

race 2cpk - break away win @1st lap after Harlem Hill w/15sec gap for entire second lap(frankly did not know there was someone up road&pack did not organize &chase even with @12Siggis in group. bunch sprint for 2nd-5th, i took top15-20? (2laps, 13mi)

If there is a KCC plan i think it could be to make a monumental KCC break together at 3-4laps to go hammer a coordinated (very, non-cat5) rotating pace line of 3-4riders and shut down the sprint.

hope you will ALL be @happy hour tonight. If no lets ride together in PPK tomorrow&friday. my number 718-640-8680mobile; txt/call.
-harry

14march

Joji sooooSorry about crash, sounds&looks like you gave it a courageous go at on the break, congrats for that, hope you heal fully&quickly!!!!!!

re: cat5 Race Report.
short race(2laps 19mi), with full 51rider field, 8-12CRAC Siggs, a team of 4w/red&white strip shorts, JoshC, myself and plenty of independents, relatively fast start on a cold, too early, morning(daylight saving), blackness; i did not take usual front position as planned to attempt a break if legs would help, but moved up to 1st 5 by descent to 110th ST, plenty of bumping at base of hill and a small crash climbing Harlem Hill, up and over there was an attack at apex of hill...i did not take note(mistake1) and by the old Tavern on Green at south west side someone called out "15sec" for some reason i thought it was a nut saying the cat4's were 15sec ahead of our pack(mistake3), i rode wheels to top of Horses Alley, then as pack slowed opened a gap with one other past start finish and on to museum mile, did not really feel it and pack closed by descent...road inside of hill rather easily 1st to top of climb, someone asked if there was a rider up the road and i said no(mistake4), west side felt like i had some legs but stayed in 4-8th back behind some big legs, after Tavern road wheels to front and was 1st then 2nd passing the Boat House, w/no legs on Cat's Paw Hill finish was crushed by 12-14sprinters.

winner was the gut on break, i finished top 15-20? JoshC improved on last weeks race w/contact with field past 1lap &hill, then TT'ed it back off back with determined 1 or 2riders.

btw, does anyone know how to find full results/photos for the Spring Series Races?

after race watched finishes, saw Joji@ambulance, had breakfast w/JP&JoshC then out to Kissena Veledrome in Queens for 30miles of pace line, 200m sprints and track tactics. thanks JP&Eric R.

-h

Dan - I was brought to an error page with each attempt. The website says I have no license, and my "cart" shows the road license in it. My card got hit for each attempt, but I never actually reached a printable confirmation page. Printing it was my plan all along because the actual license would never arrive in time for the 18th.

So yeah, PISSED...

@Christian

Email Susan Dilelr at USA Cycling.

sdiller@usacycling.org.

She can straighten this out.

E

I've got a good week of riding in. So I think I'm ready to get back in. I'll be doing the 3/4 race. Also if anyone wants to join me for a run afterwards you're more than welcome.

@ Eric, thanks, emailing her now. Mailed my membership renewal check to you yesterday, so hopefully you'll have it before I race. Let me know.

I got it today.

Alright, I'm registered.

Sunday 3/4's
Eric Mehlenbeck
The irreplaceable Adam Naguib
Christian Refakis (how's the sprint?)
Daniel Hubbard
Jeff Condon
Jeffrey White
John Malcolmson
Jules Roazen
Mckay are you riding? Who else.

- Big Sam Salisbury (Breakaway Couriers) is a monster and was one of the few who got close to bridging to Jo Jacobs at the Tomb. Excellent breakaway accomplice
- Speedwell have a full and strong team
- Hudson will be trying to protect/lead out Misha, likely chasing breaks down
- Cosmic are ones to watch (flouro green kit) guy Anthony Tatuzo nails the long sprint—same team won the post crash 1st race sprint https://player.vimeo.com/video/38433784
- Let's try meet by the toilets 6.15 for strategy talk/drug dispensing
- Forecast is for fog/46 degrees/5mph right-left sidewind into the finish—fast bunch sprint.
- No parking in the park (towing)

We have 380W 3 minute Roazen, who will be attacking or leading out. I am still backing my "two K-man" attack idea. We had Vollbach and Gardiner away for quite a stretch last week, if someone bridges then we just let them go. So maybe we make duo's with equal size and power and play attack/counter in second third of race. If all together into the bell and everyone to the front at top of hill to try and control sprint, start lead out. If you prefer different race plan, let us know. Let's take the win/as many places as possible.

I plan to bust out post race and meet up with the 8am BB>Piermont crew for Battendeath miles.

Who is in for the 1-2-3s?

I see that WDC, Perlberg, Ragot, and myself are already registered.

Marc? Myles? Joe M? Rene? Anyone else?

14 laps should be fun. Maybe Dioslaki will show up for the patented first hill attack.

^ That should sum it up. ^

I would like to add my impression from last year that anyone on Breakaway Courier (white jersey with a blue vertical stripe down their backs) is worth bridging to. Not only are they opportunistic and strong, they are good eggs in a move.