Jun 26, 2014 at 07:07 PM
I have a wicked flu this time being, therefore no racing for me this weekend.
L&C Cup
Jun 26, 2014 at 07:34 PM
Also we should identify the riders we need to keep an eye on to defend/attack against. Are we looking to see if we can put Brendan in the green as well?
Overall
Edikson Pena @ Montecci
EriK Fernandez @ Dave Jordan
KOM
Louisgie Shoy @ MBCR
I haven't raced with the new finish, but it seems like we need some serious speed leading up to the climb, the climb itself, and around GAP onto the west side. Where did last week's crash happen?
Overall
Edikson Pena @ Montecci
EriK Fernandez @ Dave Jordan
KOM
Louisgie Shoy @ MBCR
I haven't raced with the new finish, but it seems like we need some serious speed leading up to the climb, the climb itself, and around GAP onto the west side. Where did last week's crash happen?
Jun 26, 2014 at 07:49 PM
Oh and Patrick, you're not too far off from the 3rd spot in the Master's overall!
Jun 26, 2014 at 09:48 PM
David
If we can get a larger Kissena presence than we can help Brendan get some green jersey points, although he has been doing a fine job surfing wheels on his own. He has the fitness to burn a few matches during the race but he is a real contender for the yellow and we should keep that as a main focus.
I agree that setting a torrid pace up the hill would help, but as was the case last week, we probably only have the depth in the team to have a few guys drill it on the hill and a little bit beyond to get him in a great spot. My effort to lead things out after the classic finish was not helpful.
The crash occurred before the turn in the hill when the field accelerated.
If we can get a larger Kissena presence than we can help Brendan get some green jersey points, although he has been doing a fine job surfing wheels on his own. He has the fitness to burn a few matches during the race but he is a real contender for the yellow and we should keep that as a main focus.
I agree that setting a torrid pace up the hill would help, but as was the case last week, we probably only have the depth in the team to have a few guys drill it on the hill and a little bit beyond to get him in a great spot. My effort to lead things out after the classic finish was not helpful.
The crash occurred before the turn in the hill when the field accelerated.
Jun 26, 2014 at 09:48 PM
Oh and Patrick, you're not too far off from the 3rd spot in the Master's overall!Yet another reason not to lead out before the hill
Jun 26, 2014 at 10:16 PM
Patrick and Brendan need to be top ten over the crest.
Jun 26, 2014 at 10:27 PM
There are 8 Kissenas pre-reg'd and 6 need to protect 2. Sounds doable.
Jun 27, 2014 at 12:03 AM
Brendan's wearing green..!
Jun 27, 2014 at 12:21 AM
Not pre regd but planning on leading out Patrick for a KOM and Brendan for the finale.
Jun 27, 2014 at 01:19 AM
It's true! Tapping those Irish roots.Phillip Maronilla said:Brendan's wearing green..!
Yacks or anyone who knows: do I get to keep this stuff? Or do I have to give it away once someone else takes the green jersey?
I was there last time but jumped too late. I thought Jesus went too early but...he didn't.JohnMalcolmson said:Patrick and Brendan need to be top ten over the crest.
http://youtu.be/XdvRRtANTsc?t=1h25m32s (sorry, camera got bumped into bird-watching mode)As far as the plan for this Saturday, I'll assist with the 1st KOM leadout but the second one I might sit out if it's also a green jersey lap (as it was last time). However, I recognize that Patrick has a narrow lead and if it seems like he doesn't have the appropriate buffer I will do what's necessary to help him secure the sweet dots. Shoy is definitely going for that jersey and we need to assist Mr. Grehan.
Jun 27, 2014 at 01:26 AM
Ditto Jeff "Oh Snap!" Owens.
Jun 27, 2014 at 04:49 PM
The plan for tomorrow's race should look similar to what I posted last week. I recommend you go back up and read the descriptions of the lead outs/sweeper roles if you didn't read them last week. Even if you did, it can't hurt to review them so we are all on the same page.
We are defending the KOM and attacking the yellow, with a slight wrinkle. Last week, Charlie made the first KOM and second green jersey sprint on the same lap. If this happens again, I think Brendan should sweep the first KOM as he will have kept something in reserve and be in perfect position to take more green points. I am willing to drill it after the KOM to take him into position for the green. Last week after the KOM there was a substantial gap behind Shoy and myself and the guys interested in green.
Based on who I see signed up here is my recommended lead out trains:
First KOM
Leadout: David, Jeff, Craig
Sweep: Brendan, Ian
Second KOM
Loudout: Ian, Phil
Sweep: David, Craig
Finish
Leadout: David, Jeff, Craig
Sweep: Phil, Ian
Note that if Shoy is in front of you, jump on his wheel and try to stay with him and pass him at the KOM. This is not an easy task, but it helps ensure out lead in the competition.
We are defending the KOM and attacking the yellow, with a slight wrinkle. Last week, Charlie made the first KOM and second green jersey sprint on the same lap. If this happens again, I think Brendan should sweep the first KOM as he will have kept something in reserve and be in perfect position to take more green points. I am willing to drill it after the KOM to take him into position for the green. Last week after the KOM there was a substantial gap behind Shoy and myself and the guys interested in green.
Based on who I see signed up here is my recommended lead out trains:
First KOM
Leadout: David, Jeff, Craig
Sweep: Brendan, Ian
Second KOM
Loudout: Ian, Phil
Sweep: David, Craig
Finish
Leadout: David, Jeff, Craig
Sweep: Phil, Ian
Note that if Shoy is in front of you, jump on his wheel and try to stay with him and pass him at the KOM. This is not an easy task, but it helps ensure out lead in the competition.
Jun 27, 2014 at 05:40 PM
Here's a tip: Charlie has been using the same laps for the sprints, and the same laps for the KOM for years.
Unless there's some motivation for change because of the new finish. They'll be on exactly the same laps than last week.
Extra tip: Ask Charlie. If he has the time, he'll tell you.
Jun 27, 2014 at 07:04 PM
FYI from Charlie's email. DO NOT be the Kissena that gets called out for rec lane violations.
1. Serious “Recreation Lane” Violations Last Week At The Top of the Hill: I heard a number of riders say they saw “Recreation Lane” violations in last week’s race at the top of the hill on the last lap of each race. Since we moved the Start/Finish location to the new 3rd Street location, positioning on the hill on the last lap is more important. When you reach the top of the hill the finish is about a ¼ mile away. The road narrows at the top of the hill and some riders are going into the “Recreation Lane” to advance their position. We do not have an official there (since we barely have enough officials at the finish) to catch these cheats and the follow motorcycles are too far back to get the #’s of the violators.
THIS ENDS NOW. I’m serious. If you need to move up in the rec lane to advance your position you really are a first-class idiot and loser. You are jeopardizing racing for everyone. I fought hard with the Park to have the new start/finish location and from the feedback I have received everybody is enjoying it. There is no perfect finish area in the Park but this location seems to be the best (and safest) so far. The only downside I can see is the VERY BRIEF narrowing of the road at the top of the hill on the final lap. If you get boxed in for those 5 or seconds it takes to get through that area – deal with it. Exit that brief narrow area and try to move up again the LEGAL way.
1. Serious “Recreation Lane” Violations Last Week At The Top of the Hill: I heard a number of riders say they saw “Recreation Lane” violations in last week’s race at the top of the hill on the last lap of each race. Since we moved the Start/Finish location to the new 3rd Street location, positioning on the hill on the last lap is more important. When you reach the top of the hill the finish is about a ¼ mile away. The road narrows at the top of the hill and some riders are going into the “Recreation Lane” to advance their position. We do not have an official there (since we barely have enough officials at the finish) to catch these cheats and the follow motorcycles are too far back to get the #’s of the violators.
THIS ENDS NOW. I’m serious. If you need to move up in the rec lane to advance your position you really are a first-class idiot and loser. You are jeopardizing racing for everyone. I fought hard with the Park to have the new start/finish location and from the feedback I have received everybody is enjoying it. There is no perfect finish area in the Park but this location seems to be the best (and safest) so far. The only downside I can see is the VERY BRIEF narrowing of the road at the top of the hill on the final lap. If you get boxed in for those 5 or seconds it takes to get through that area – deal with it. Exit that brief narrow area and try to move up again the LEGAL way.
Jun 27, 2014 at 09:10 PM
@eloy wanna remind us what those are? 
Jun 27, 2014 at 09:13 PM
@patrickg i have not been assigned a role in the master plan, i have to assume that makes me some kind of secret double agent, responsible for spreading maliciously false rumors about prime lap timing through the pack?
Jun 27, 2014 at 10:33 PM
Nialls and Aaron are in?! Awesome. I thought you guys were racing Hunter tomorrow.
Jump in on the lead outs and sweeping as you see fit. Given what I posted above we will need help on the second KOM, but fill in wherever you see the need.
Jump in on the lead outs and sweeping as you see fit. Given what I posted above we will need help on the second KOM, but fill in wherever you see the need.
Jun 27, 2014 at 11:38 PM
in for the 4 as well, what does sweep mean?
Jun 28, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Sweep = Get on the rear wheel of the train to add distance that other teams will have to overcome if they want to pass the protected rider. And when you see Patrick jump for the crest you slow a bit...But don't cause any crashes. No braking. Just stop trying so hard.
Jun 28, 2014 at 02:01 PM
Patrick stays in KOM dots and Brendan should have enough points for yellow next race by taking 3rd today.
Jun 28, 2014 at 02:10 PM
lost my bottle on the second lap, those bumps after the finish were killers
Jun 28, 2014 at 02:11 PM
Jun 28, 2014 at 05:16 PM
Post race I saw a Kissena peeing behind that odd, little, concrete sentry post (just by the triangle near registration).
DO NOT URINATE IN PUBLIC
It only takes a member of the public to complain to the Park and Charlie will lose his permit and we all lose the ability to race locally.
There are porta-johns around the park and two buildings close by with bathrooms that should be open at 8am. Or just pee in your shorts.
DO NOT URINATE IN PUBLIC
It only takes a member of the public to complain to the Park and Charlie will lose his permit and we all lose the ability to race locally.
There are porta-johns around the park and two buildings close by with bathrooms that should be open at 8am. Or just pee in your shorts.
Jun 28, 2014 at 05:57 PM
Was great watching you guys race today. Here are some photos from the day–feel free to share them wherever. Photo credit is always appreciated. Shameless plug for my Photography page on Facebook, where I've been posting a lot of race photos lately: http://facebook.com/jesselashphotography
Jun 30, 2014 at 02:13 AM
Great shots Jesse - but this is the only one I care about today...
Brendan's New Shirt!
Jun 30, 2014 at 03:47 AM
A belated race report
First of all, the Cat 4 team was awesome Saturday. They set up two great KOM lead outs and helped Brendan get the Yellow for the next race. I continue to hold the KOM jersey which is a small miracle given that I felt flat during the race. I was only able to ride this week and had tapered some last week which contributed to my feeling gassed during the warmup lap with Brendan, Jeff C, and Ian. Not a good way to start the day.
The race started more calmly than last week. Jesus has upgraded to the 3s so we didn’t have his surges to contend with. Brendan was able to nail the first Green Jersey sprint.
On the first KOM sprint, David, Ian, and Nialls did an awesome job of setting up a good lead out. Shoy was trying to work into the lead out train on the inside and Brendan who had been sweeping slid right up to him and kept him from passing. Brendan was sticking out his elbow and forcing Shoy to go around if he wanted to pass. Shoy got annoyed and vented after the race and we worked it all out. Getting back to the race… Shoy finally had an opening and jumped. I was fast on his tail and when he slowed briefly I had to jam on my brakes so as not to run into him. We both relaunched our sprints and I was able to win the sprint. Better yet, a 5th floor rider was able to take second in the sprint giving me two points on Shoy. I thought that perhaps my legs were better than I thought.
On the second KOM, the lead out train was lined out with Nialls, Ian, (and someone else? Craig? Chi? Aaron? Sorry I’m fuzzy right now) leading it out on the right side of the road. Near the bottom of the hill Shoy jumped hard from behind and David who had been sweeping jumped after him and I followed. At this point I felt my dead legs as I was not able to close on either one of them. David made a valiant attempt but could not come around Shoy. I rolled in third giving me the same three point lead that I started the day with. Strangely, David is not listed as having earned any KOM points on Charlie’s chart. I lists some FGX guy.
Over the top of the hill two guys started yelling that we had a gap. This was the last lap so David and I took pulls but not everyone was taking pulls and the field was on us as we hit the descent. The KOM and effort afterwards meant that I did not have the legs to be near the front on the final surge up the hill. It did give me the chance to see the motorcycle pull up and DQ a guy for riding in the jogger’s lane. There was also an official hiding in the bushes after the KOM. Good to see some enforcement.
I know that Nialls put in another strong pull that Brendan said helped him get his 3rd place which was ahead of Pena and enough to secure the Yellow for the next race. Vladi came in an impressive 6th. He has a strong and consistent motor. Chi was strong in his first Cat 4 L&C race experience. David, Ian and Nialls were huge motors that gave it all for the team. Aaron and Craig were starting to show some really good form.
Overall the team worked really well together - communicating and being flexible as the circumstances dictated.
Jun 30, 2014 at 03:48 AM
Some comments about strategy for the next L&C cup
The bad news (for the jersey competition) is that I will be in Europe during the next L&C cup race on July 27th which means I will not be able to defend the Jersey until the final race in August. Shoy has been a tough and consistent competitor so it will be difficult for the team to keep him from taking the jersey during the next race.
Someone needs to act as team captain for the next race and take responsibility for organizing a strategy and assigning roles. I recommend that the team allocate resources to helping support Brendan keeping Yellow as this would be Kissena first for the L&C cup. Brendan is too far out of the Green Jersey (although he is second in points) to win that competition so it does not make sense to allocate resources to that jersey.
There are a couple of strategies for minimizing the points Shoy earns during the next race. As David or Mark can attest, having guys shadow him and try to pass him is unlikely to work. The team could try and lead out another fast man (Brendan? Vladi? Aaron?). In either of these scenarios the likelihood is that even if Shoy doesn’t win the sprint he gets second. We could collaborate with other teams but I don’t think anyone other than Saul from BVF (who is a distant third in the competition) has any real interest in taking KOM points.
This leaves us with what I think is the best option: to use our strength in numbers to establish a break and have teammates disrupt the chase. This could consist of a serious break that gets away for several laps (or even to the end) or if that has not materialized an attack before the KOM sprint. Perhaps from the classic finish line. Yacks was a master at attacking fields early. If the field realizes it is for the KOM they may not chase as they don’t have a vested interest in the jersey. If a “break” sticks, it shuts Shoy out of the points. If he chases and the attack gets caught he may be gassed enough that others (our team or otherwise) could counter and take the points. Trying to do this all by ourselves would be difficult. We might want to include Saul and some representation from CIS or other active teams.
Is this a lot of work for a KOM jersey competition? Yes. Then again, if the team could pull it off it would be an awesome feat of teamwork.
Jun 30, 2014 at 01:28 PM
Great report @Patrick; just awesome to see & read about you guys coalescing as a team and getting it done.
Nicely done guys!
Jul 01, 2014 at 06:53 PM
Contacted Charlie about the second KOM mixup. Maybe my number was similar to the W&D rider who is listed as taking the 2 points. Not actually important since there's no danger of contention, but it would be nice to set the record straight.
@Patrick, if I were a smarter man I would have let Shoy go and then led you up to the KOM line for 2 points. In the heat of the moment I thought I could get around him to snatch the 3 points. Now I know better. Would have been nice to pad your lead to 4 points total in your absence. Sorry!
If we can hold Shoy off for 3 points or less while Patrick is out of town, we can seal the deal at the last race of the series.
Even more exciting is Brendan being so close to clinching the yellow. He is only one precarious point ahead of Pena with two races to go. As good as Hi-Viz is (iz?) at surfing wheels for the sprint, and even with none-or-miniscule leadout practice we've had, Kissena should still be drilling it up over the hill as Ryan suggested last week:
"...there needs to be guys going absolutely ballistic leading up to the hill, and then again from the bottom.
Not only does it benefit our goals, but IMO the speed keeps things safe for the entire pack since there isn't a bunch of twitchy guys, overlapping wheels, and looking to sprint for 20th.
@Patrick, if I were a smarter man I would have let Shoy go and then led you up to the KOM line for 2 points. In the heat of the moment I thought I could get around him to snatch the 3 points. Now I know better. Would have been nice to pad your lead to 4 points total in your absence. Sorry!
If we can hold Shoy off for 3 points or less while Patrick is out of town, we can seal the deal at the last race of the series.
Even more exciting is Brendan being so close to clinching the yellow. He is only one precarious point ahead of Pena with two races to go. As good as Hi-Viz is (iz?) at surfing wheels for the sprint, and even with none-or-miniscule leadout practice we've had, Kissena should still be drilling it up over the hill as Ryan suggested last week:
"...there needs to be guys going absolutely ballistic leading up to the hill, and then again from the bottom.
It
seems like it ought to be doable. It's usually pretty easy for a group
going full gas to get a gap on the hill. On most laps that's usually not
a great move because you have to go hard enough to get the gap that you
blow up too much to go fast enough on the next section.
But on the bell lap, there is no next section!"
Not only does it benefit our goals, but IMO the speed keeps things safe for the entire pack since there isn't a bunch of twitchy guys, overlapping wheels, and looking to sprint for 20th.
Jul 01, 2014 at 07:19 PM
Very exciting shit going on in the IV's....wish I was there...good luck in the last few races of this series.