Aviv was an unhappy camper with his shattered fork and road rash after the race. What a way to start the season. Waiting for Ti comment......

I just got up from a nap and I'm still trying to decide if that race actually happened. I think it was just a weird dream of some alternate dimension where everything is made of gumdrops, it's always sunny, and people live forever, so none of the bad stuff is really so bad.

Thanks David. 150 did seem preposterously high. I was taken by an early April Fool joke.

Hi,

We really like Foundation's kits. Can you make them uglier?

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=335528683150130&set=a.335525846483747.73367.216689561700710&type=3&theater

Good LORD!

Is that foundation or "echelon?" Either way I'd have to consider leaving a team with kit that bad. There has got to be a line in the sand...

I must admit, I am mesmerized and partially hypnotized by their chevron-ed crotches.

As and aside, I know that many on the club would like us to redesign our kit, and JP recently swore by the talent of at least one of our club's professional designers, John Malcolmson (which means he must be REALLY good, because JP's not impressed by much), but I have to say that I like the fact that we have the colors of NYC's flag, and the current balance of those colors makes it really easy to pick us out from a crowded field. Even today, from the cheap seats, I was able to see Perlberg get in the day's first and possibly only significant breakaway.

That said, I'm open to the idea, especially when/if we bring on new sponsors for this year or next.

uhm... wtf is that guy wearing on his head?!?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=335531526483179&set=a.335525846483747.73367.216689561700710&type=3&theater

a green condom?

First, Sorry for leaving without the post-race breakdown/gabfest. HAd to hustle home so Beth could do the Coogan's Bluff NYRR Race and the bring Oscar to do his race.

Yes, the ambulances on the course effectively ended any chance of a successful last-lap attack. Yes, it ended the race. I didn't see the crash, but part of me feels it was probably due a lack of pack-riding skills. The "shit happens" excuse would be ok if these kinds of crashes happen once in a while, but they happen far too often. To newer riders: learn how to handle your bike before messing with pack sprints. Learn how to handle it before starting mass-start racing.

The crashes and yellow-line violations aren't AVD's fault. Ragot, as an official, might have some thoughts on what to do about it. I didn't see the WS United/Mangoseed guys cheat this way, but I saw several people do it more than once and most of them were totally deliberate. I don't know if the course marshals should have been taught to go up the road to slow the field; I would have known, but I have years of racing experience behind me.

The race itself was attacky, but no one seemed terribly interested in committing. No one seemed to have super fitness, though many were riding pretty well. I expected Brian Breach to be far more aggressive than he was. I found the riding of the two AXA riders particularly intriguing. I got away with both guys (John Loehner and Mike Margarite) and neither was wholly committed. It was like they were looking over their shoulders for "the real move" to come along. It could have been they believed I wasn't as strong as they, but as neither are sprinters and both have been at this a while, they seemed to let opportunities slip away rather than riding hard and worrying later.

With three to go, there was a good attack over 110berg that Eric was right on. I thought this looked pretty good. I got up to it, then went hard up the next rise. Got a decent gap, but then the lack of commitment from other riders was doomed chances.

Once the race was neutralized from the Boathouse to the bell, I didn't think there was a chance for an escape. I got myself into position shortly after Tavern, passing both Joe and Rene, and hoping they got on. Probably should have yelled at them; sorry I didn't. Got myself up to fifth wheel by the south end of the park. Tad Marzalek tried to come in on Ricky Lowe and the WS United/Mangoseed train. Ricky used a firm hand to keep Tad away. the train got swarmed because they weren't riding fast enough and I lost position as a result, but moved back to ok position by E70th, then we got the cancellation. Hope others learned a few things as well.


power was 2.97 w/kg average. My normalized (which seems to be like XPower) was 3.89 w/kg.

Posted By: mperlberghttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=335528683150130&set=a.335525846483747.73367.216689561700710&type=3&theater

That's weird Henry told me we wasn't allowed to race till August?! Said he had an altercation with an official....

Oh here is a link to the endish of the 3/4 race, is that a couple Kissenas shooting through the carnage to race it out?
https://player.vimeo.com/video/37906740

Green condom guy was one of the many squirrely "stay away from that guy" riders today.

BTW, There were 117 Cat 3/4 riders pre-registered on bikereg.com Saturday. So 150 is entirely likely.

Yikes. Aly, glad you're OK.

And glad I was sleeping off beers at 6.30am rather than witnessing that meshegas.

Is that a full on carnage-slalom at 1:50?

That was Malcolmsen, myself and maybe Dave rolling through at the end. I know personally, I came to almost a complete stop, rode through carefully, and just worked it after I was clear. The guy in all neon green you see sprinting through is the guy who "won". Unlike the p/1/2 field, they never announced a neutralization or warning, we came around the final bend, lined up and fighting for position and landed in that. Not a good scene.

JP...if we can get guys to report on what their taint hairs are doing during weekday Alpine PR assualts, surely you could provide us with some additional power/speed/timing details of today's race.

Will do... later

321w normalized power for 48 min. Then a bit less after passing the crash. I can parse it out later.

Here is my taint hair report:

pulled out the last lap to look at numbers since we basically stopped twice and sat there. Ragot's idea.

race 1:10:08 29.92mi 938kj 223avg 267x 1201max 169avghr 99avgcad 25.6mph
race minus last lap 55:25 24.00mi 773kj 233avg 275x 1201max 171avghr 100avgcad 26.0mph


didn't get lap details.

Maybe its just me but it sure looks like the front of that group (which did not contain any Kissenas) completely ignored the marshall waving the flag and slalomed straight through a bunch of their fellow racers lying on the ground bleeding. Doesn't look too good to me.

Man. I just watched that video. That's fucking disgusting on so many levels. The Hudsons (the dude with the yellow bike is an absolutely horrendous handler) and other guys shooting the carnage gap, only concerned about themselves and their cat 4 placing. The complete lack of communication between race officials and the marshals and motopacers to slow the race down farther ahead (they must've had time, if there was an ambulance there already. Yes, it was just stationed up the road, but if they can get word, they should be able to relay that info to other marshals).

So yeah, AVD deserves some blame. But I'm more disappointed in the riders. You've got a guy on his back, writhing in pain, waving his helmet in the air just hoping not to get plowed into. Not to mention other guys on their backs, not moving. I know it came up suddenly, but to seize upon an opportunity like that to benefit yourself is beyond the pale. Makes me wonder why I associate with these types of individuals by lining up with them.

@ Eric: sheet!

Ok, the video is pretty crazy and hard to defend.

BUT. the official pacer should have stopped the field. as soon as the motorbike sped up again - game on.

you all know nobody is actually using their brain at that point in a race.

Yeah, the blood is pumping and it's survival instinct....and I'm not trying to sound all self-righteous, but jeeeeeeze. That's just a sad video.

ugh

the end of that video is just fucking horrible

the worst part is that some of those jokes have undoubtedly been bragging about their "placing" all day

@JP. I attacked third time up hoping to get a group you could get to or that would form because people hurt chasing up 110-Berg.

Also, when Mike attacked to bridge, I was on the right side with nobody looking. I thought about going too but figured two kissenas would draw too much attention.

Other than those things, I patrolled the front, ferried joe and Renee up to the front a couple of times. Turns out it was a reasonably hard race given bikescore of 86 for the 48 minutes before we restarted. Once the legs shake out the trainer, I think we'll be going well.

The third lap was brutal. single file. Now I know it was your fault Ragot. thanks. My legs hate you.

@ Eric, The setup worked. I probably should ahve waited, but seeing as people were splintering going up 110berg, the time seemed nigh.

@Marc, My story really should have begun Saturday, when I went to River road to shake out my legs after a rest week. Did a hard effort up the end hill for five minutes thinking about how no one else was out there with me. Numbers were good,though I felt 'blocked.' Maybe one of my problems today was I only put in one sprint, so distracted was I by Zeb Nelessen's conversation (ex-Kissena: the nerve of the guy to want to race with his biological brothers). He says 'hi' btw. My story continues early Sunday morning when I was awakened not once but twice by the same woman screaming on her phone outside my window. It had something to do with respect, child support, being a man or not, showing up or not, and a few other htings. The desire to find out what wack job would be yelling into a phone at who knows how late was great, but I fought it because I knew it would keep me up even longer. And my tale continues to Sunday morning when I carefully weighed my cornflakes and measured my milk, and yet swear I had two flakes too many according to how my stomach felt.

2012-03-04
My Cat 5 report, Central Park, NY Spring Series presented by AVD and the Metropolitan Cycling Association - part 1

first, my general observations on safety:
- On a plus side for AVD - I noticed ambulances and police stationed at various points throughout the course.
- come home post Nyack ride though, I did half a lap in CP, and saw the cops in all the same spots, one would guess waiting for red light runners ? So maybe AVD didn't arrange those cops from this AM.
- at 40 min into the cat 5 race, garbage truck parked in the right lane by museum mile....WTF parks dept.
- really unfortunate how crashy today was.
- thank you to Marc for going down the road and verbalizing things - not just waving his arms. "SLOW DOWN - CRASH AHEAD" breaks you out of race mode pretty quick, much faster than someone waving their arm (though maybe that's just me).

my stuff:
lined up with Harry and a mixed crowd of cat 5s. What do I mean by a mixed crowd ? some looked very green (numbers upside down, numbers horizontal across their backs, etc), some looked slightly more seasoned, and some just had these total bling bikes with full on carbon deep dish deliciousness. I have mixed feelings on equipment that advanced in an entry level race - yes, lots of us can afford it, yes, you want people learning to race on the same stuff they will race on later (no one should buy some gear for cat 5, then have to buy new gear for 4 and up) - but at the same time - its an ENTRY LEVEL RACE. and sadly my legs are still entry level, but that's a whole other topic. If this was cat 5 bkill or cat 5 catskills, ok to the fancy wheels. But for a park race or a training race, I kinda feel like it is overkill, and places a barrier to entry for the newbie racer. "ok, I have to spend 1000 to 2000 grand on a bike, how much for shoes ? ok, helmet too? shorts and a jersey - yeah sure. and wheels that cost as much as my bike?" If we have equipment regulations for juniors, maybe they should be there on 5s as well. That being said, so many folks had nice wheels, I am considering them, even if I would then be the guy I am ranting about - I just feel disadvantaged right now.

2012-03-04
My Cat 5 report, Central Park, NY Spring Series presented by AVD and the Metropolitan Cycling Association - part 2

Ok, rant done, back to my report. I was getting some good general strategy advice from Harry, and couldn't take my eye off the guy next to me with # on his back "runner style" . I get Harry to pause for a second and show the guy how it should be pinned, and he was like "oh, in case they need my #". "Yes, they need your # at the end of each race". Got that out of the way, was able to focus on what Harry was advising better. General plan, push off fast, try to be towards the front, but let the larger teams drive the pace. Stay on Harry's wheel.

Easier said then done. Race started, I didn't start awesomely , but was able to spring up to speed relatively quickly. Was midpack through museum mile, as we approach the runners gate everyone starts braking. For no reason. From there until harlem hill was all accelerate, brake, accelerate again . I told this to guys later and they just laughed - "welcome to bike racing" . But every time it happened I slipped back a drop. going down the hill I was at the back and trying to move forwards - going up the hill I lost the pack - had them in sight but just couldn't make it. Spent the rest of the race riding pretty hard, trying to make sure I didn't get lapped by my own field (didn't, woooo) - and trying to make sure I didn't get lapped in the sketchy sections by the other fields (did some intense riding throughout, but especially tavern to start/finish). safe interactions with each pack - was looking back often, riding in the middle when it was obvious it was clear , hugging the right when it looked like a group was coming. Safe except for...the group with no lead car or motorcycle . "oopps, your motorcycle didn't show up" . Well, thats nice. I didn't hear them coming until it was too late, and bamm, I am in the middle of a faster moving group. luckily I got yelled at , and I yelled my presence back "cat 5 in the middle", etc, and was able to get over quick and out of the way.

Sooo, on the surface, one might read this and go "wow, dude, you went off the back pretty early, how was this a good race?" . Because I went otb much later than I expected. I didn't race CP last year, but compared to my 2 CP races two years ago, and compared to most of my prospect races, this was great. Slow and steady, though lets see if JP's workout plan helps me ramp this progression up a little more. A testament to Kissena mentor-ship, and just general riding with the gang, I have learned a lot, and feel fairly comfortable on the road, riding in a pack, working on my descending (it was so much easier when I was FAT), etc. .... or so I thought. I realized, I am comfortable riding with a high caliber group of riders. Not as much with the general public . People were braking at random , not holding lines, etc, and I was not as ready for that as I would like to be.

Some mornings in CP to spend more time on that road are in the works for me, and I am excited for next weekend's race - time to do it all again !

I survived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!