what is the best way to find out if la primera is on or not? i cant recall where to find out the race status at say 8 am tomorrow...

continued....

I mean, in direct response to your first question, that "last prayer" attack in Central Park happens at Tavern on the Green. One of Kissena's stronger 1/2/3 racers who is no longer with us, used to love that attack a few years back. It drove me nuts. It never works. Ever.

And it will especially not work to help your teammates if they are 30 riders back, stuck in the bunch and have no idea that you are going to go for it and try to win the lottery.

Last lap attackers also like to go over the top of 110berg. (see earlier post for more about this spot)

Other famous full-on hero moves that rarely (possibly never...but maybe Malcolmson pulled this one off last year in the cat 5s?) work: Leading out the final sprint from the bottom of Cat's Paw and expecting to win.

Posted By: mckaywhat is the best way to find out if la primera is on or not? i cant recall where to find out the race status at say 8 am tomorrow...

I think nyvelocity.com used to be the place to check.

Charlie just posted to NYVelocity:

** Important Message ABout Tomorrow's FBF Race **

Tomorrow is the La Primera Carrera race at Floyd Bennett Field. The weather forecast is calling for rain throughout the evening and the course we race on has no drainage. This results in large "lake-like" puddles forming on the course. If the puddles are too large we may be forced to cancel the race. A decision will be made at 7AM tomorrow morning if the race will be held.

An announcement will be posted on the BikeReg.com registration page: https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15282

Charlie Issendorf
Race Director
Kissena Cycling Club

Quick reminder: St. Patrick's day in Hoboken tomorrow. Keep it in mind with respect to cops, drunken yahoos, goat rodeos, etc.

Posted By: Marc Bertucco

• CommentAuthorchrisbloome
• CommentTime3 hours ago

I pulled it off in prospect once!

Never tried in CP.

I just saw that Kissena has 13 guys in the cat 3/4 race on Sunday! Yikes, with those numbers we could start having our own sub-teams. harhar.

p.s. Hudson Furniture...they don't appear to be CRCA...what race do they promote to fulfill their USA Cycling club requirement?

for the record, Mike is the powerhouse, not me.

13?! I think the record was like 21 in a Prospect race. With those numbers, I might pull a yacks and drop out to take pictures in my hoodie for the last couple of laps. SNAP.

re: cat5's sunday NYC Spring Series,

looks like 3 Kissenas signed-up in field of 50, JoshC, MurrayH, harryB, there are 12 Siggi's CRCA half which i suspect are ready to move up to cat4, so, they will likely be strong and try to control race on last of 3laps for a bunch sprint at Catspaw Hill finish.

i think best bet is to get away with a break of 3-4riders on lap1.75 of 3; so, i/we will have to sit quietly in for 1.75 laps 6-10back and then go/hammer! from top crest of the Tavern rise through Horses Alley; 1.25 laps of TT w/24 minutes of pain. goal to be in top 5finishers. am fairly fit but not like cat4 KCC Power houses. is this realistic?

have noted points above re: break best @a) top if harlem hill, b) after harlem hill on winding 'climbs' on the west side, c) west side at rise Tavern on Green&through horses alley.

any thought from the ye sage racers?
-harry

just got this from Charlie I

All,

The weather forecast is worsening and heavy rain and now thunderstorms are being predicted for this evening and tomorrow morning. I am making the decision now to cancel tomorrow's La Primera Carrera race at Floyd Bennett Field.

Please spread the word about the race being cancelled to your fellow racers.

Charlie Issendorf
Race Director
Kissena Cycling Club

__._,_.___

Harry - my goals right now are working on being able to sit in.

If I am there at 1.75 laps and able to go for the break I will gladly take direction - but I make no guarantees of being there!
I am working on it - should be in a better place soon.

@JoshC,
i know what you mean, will look for you& if i am in position&feel strong/capable, will give it a go; frankly, dont know what my fitness is at this point, feel good on the bike outdoors, but, consistently under perform in the computrain sessions...will use sunday's race to spring legs.

definitely use sunday's race to hone skills and confidence,
-h

@ Cat 5's - remember - since Floyd has been cancelled due to wrath of (insert deity here) weather, Central Park will probably be the first race of the year, lots of nerves, and possibly lots of first time racers in the field.

A few things to remember for first time (or first time in a while) racers:

1) get to the race early enough to sign your form and pin your numbers, and get a bit of a warmup in
2) you MUST HAVE your USAC license with you
3) if it is cold, you can leave extra layers at the start; you won't need them during the race. It is good to be a little chilly on the start line
4) unless you are old hat at this, stay to the front and keep your head up; watch what's going on in front of you - not just the wheel that happens to be there
5) there is no glory in sprinting for 27th place
6) don't chase your own teammate - if they go up and get reeled in, do them a solid and ATTACK LIKE A CRAZED WOMBAT as soon as they are caught
7) hold your line, keep BOTH HANDS on your bars at all times. Riding no-hands in a pack is for Seasoned Pros, or Alyosha
8) it's an hour long race, you won't need 2 bottles and 3 power bars
9) the front 15-20 is the safest place to be - and everybody knows it - expect to have to work to stay there
10) if you find yourself far back, and decide to take a self-powered trip back up through the wint to the front - DON'T GO ALONE AND WASTE IT. Look for a teammate and give him a ride up if you can.

Be smart, be safe, have fun.

Have I missed anything?

Ok, *one* more guy can apparently go no-hands...

Awwwwww, so cute! Luka better look out. Looks like a cx wizard!

The only thing I would add is that the 3/4 race likely won't be much safer. A lot of these guys don't do much group riding. Even if they're on a "team" or club, it's either not large enough, or they lack the experience/instruction we get from the Marc, JP, and Ragot's of the group. In fact, if it's feeling insanely sketchy, I have no problem pulling out in the last lap. Not worth a broken collarbone or pelvis in early March, especially when you can't sprint anyway. There was a crash in almost every cat 4 race I did last year. Usually the park ones more than the out of towners.

That pertains to point #5. You know better than to sprint for 43rd....you'll be surprised at the immense number of idiots who will do it anyway. So even if you're mid-to-back of the pack, be aware of the swerving morons that think they have a chance and will accelerate into, irrespective of positioning.

@Jules & jeffO,
thanks, goods points for 5's, especially no, no-hands-riding, drats!, &i've practiced that 'no-hands' glory finish on the trainer &really have it down!...will have to save that one for race2. ha, ha.

'lil' jules is lookin' like a champ!

i'd offer point 8) that the field is relativly small, generally disorganized and when the feild breaks accelerates early find a strong wheel and hold it for dear life as pack will split like a dry log, i suspect, it will happen on lap 2 @harlem 'hill' bump climb.

&point 9) as mentioned many times late last year take a careful/controlled line on the right hand turn of curving descent at Herlem on the east side.

haveFUN!
-h;>

re no hands glory finish

Jeff posted a great link re # pinning the other day. Even if you are the clear winner, sitting up at the finish means the officials can't read your #. Now, you guess that they can figure out who the one winner is - but we are grown men racing our bikes for fun each weekend morning, and they are working for pennies to enable our sport. play nice for the officials and situp AFTER you cross the line.

My $0.02 for the day

Anyone want to meet up at BB tomorrow morning and ride over?

Yes I want to

I'm suddenly thinking that I want to race tomorrow, but online reg is closed and bikereg says 8 spots left. It's been so long since I've done a CP race - what is the likelihood of day-of reg? Worth waking up at the buttcrack for?

I would think chances are good with such a big field

I'm so damn confused. Is the Central Park race tomorrow, today, or both?

http://9wmag.com/2012/03/03/season-opener/

Today was the CRCA Season Opener . You came from the dark side, you don't remember ?

Sunday (tomorrow) is the first event in the AVD NY Spring Series

Where is the bathroom meeting place for CP?

OK. What time at the BB, dare I say 5:15am? Too early?

Hey you all whats the deal for tom race? BTW start finish line is on e72 right?

roll out from BB 5:20 AM.

EEEK!

See you there, don't be late.

@ Tito, I would say 10% no-shows is normal for even registered riders, so i think you'd be fine to roll up.

@ Racers — There's very little wind, 4mph tail wind on start/finish, temp in the 40's. Which means easier sit in. I'm not sure how well I'll be going tomorrow on Computrainer+tennis week.

Owens goes from blocks. I propose we have 2 breakaway squads that go 2nd or 3rd time up Harlem:
Ryan, Owens, Vollbach, Aly to counterattack Gideon, Bloome, Adam, Jeff C. Mattie and I sit in near front. Nosson, Patrick, Joji chase/sit on other teams. I'd rather have us up the road than be chasing Sid's, Hudson, NYVelo.

If it's all together last time up Harlem, we line up 6 guys half way down last lap for Mattie... Ryan, Vollbach, myself then Mattie.

Jacobs Bro's will likely try last lap attack on Harlem (they've won that way before).

I'm going to try and show for this; whole family is sick so I'm 50/50 if I can make it.