Congrats Jason on the 6th place! To all those who raced last weekend I'd love to hear race reports. As part of KCC development I want to foster teamwork with the goal of race over race improvement. It's really healthy to share one's take on team strategy and tactics—what worked, what didn’t, what we learned, areas to improve and adjustments to the plan for next race. Also great for me to hear what people feel they want to work on.

Holy smokes.... I just looked at whose registered for the masters race this weekend and there’s a team called Brands Cycle/Gold Coast/Porsche/Metra Team with 9 guys. Anyone know anything about them?

JohnPowell said:

Holy smokes.... I just looked at whose registered for the masters race this weekend and there’s a team called Brands Cycle/Gold Coast/Porsche/Metra Team with 9 guys. Anyone know anything about them?

They've been around for a few years, slowly snatching up some strong master's level racers (even some ex-Kissena). They often factor in these races and this year's acquisitions should bolster that record.

I mean, Eric Ragot rides for them, so Brands can't be that impressive JK JK 
isn't Magrite also in the team?

This time I won't let the Cat 3/4 race close out on me so I will be able to lend a hand. Having not raced since Rainey Park (unless you count the Roller Races in January) I have no idea what I can bring to the table. None the less, I'll do my best to help out.

@JohnMalcolmson Thanks! I had a blast out there. I believe I was the only Cat 5 Kissena guy there. Although, I signed up for the race prior to joining this club (so it's not noted in the results). I plan on doing the next round on 4/7. Would be great to have more Kissena Cat 5 guys out there. 

Kind of surprising to see Perlberg registered as Kissena

this little highlight vid actually shows how active we were 🔥🔥

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvef-TKATi1/

eloy said:

I mean, Eric Ragot rides for them, so Brands can't be that impressive JK JK 
isn't Magrite also in the team?

The big thing is they picked up Stephen Dioslaki and his sponsorship dollars as well.

Chris Loehner seems to captain the squad (tall, thick guy who talks a lot).  In years past, he was also the lead rider.  This year, at least from what I've seen, he doesn't seem as strong.  I expect they're going to work for Dioslaki first, but with Chris directing.   

I think there is another ex-Kissena on Brands, not remembering who right now.  Senior moment.

I don't have a lot to add to Sunday's race reports. Even though I've been racing for more years than I can count, I still get wound up the night before the first race of the season and slept poorly. Before the race I spoke with Charlie about figuring out how registration volunteers can make sure to get into the races. Unfortunately the 3-4 field got closed out quickly and three of our volunteers were shut out. Charlie and the board will figure out a solution soon. 

The race started out easy enough, but we expected some action from the guy who won Grants Tomb. When on the second lap Rob and a guy matching the description attacked, I joined for a brief break that was caught later in the lap.

My legs felt good, but it was too early to expend energy. We had a plan for the KOMs and the finish and there hadn't been break that stuck to the finish in our field in several years. When a break got away in the third lap we talked amongst ourselves and decided to stick to the plan and let the field catch it. The odds were on our side.

In my experience, the teams looking to contest the KOM and green jersey sprints start sending guys to the front and the break should have gotten swallowed up. Alarm bells started going off in my head when the pace did not pick up. Clearly the guys in front were blocking and there appeared to be several teams represented in the break which meant very few people were willing to chase.

I and several Kissenas tried to get a chase going, but the blockers kept a steady tempo and no one joined the chase. The pack had become a Sunday group ride. On the final lap I tried to move up on the left side, but got boxed in a few times. Some of it was bad luck and some of it was my own fault for not moving up sooner. In the end, I was too far back to safety contest the sprint so I rolled in with the rest of the peloton.

Here is a video if you want to see how the action (or inaction) unfolded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xk6CWn6lR0&feature=youtu.be

Currently 59 people signed up for Sunday in the 3/4...worth signing up sooner rather than later!

a bit from Adam Myerson that is kinda gold on what to look for when trying to make a break that looks dangerous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=830wkvZjACg

I’m going to be out of town this weekend. Wish I could be there with you guys in the 3/4. Race hard, keep the speed up and the wheels down!

Don’t forget to wear hockey protective equipment 

The good news is that I'm now registered, yay! The bad news is that even though last month I changed my team affiliation with BikeReg and USAC to Kissena, I still show up as racing for East End Cycling Team. I've contacted BikeReg to see what the issues might be.

AndrewJohnson said:

The good news is that I'm now registered, yay! The bad news is that even though last month I changed my team affiliation with BikeReg and USAC to Kissena, I still show up as racing for East End Cycling Team. I've contacted BikeReg to see what the issues might be.

You have to change your profile in BikeReg. Login and then https://www.bikereg.com/Users/Participant/Edit/Default.aspx
Enter Kissena Cycling Club and http://kissenacycling.com

I did that. I didn't put the web page, not sure if that makes a difference?

Heard back from support from BikeReg and this seems to be what is going on: "The manual entry tool has certain criteria to determine what team name to list, usually it's either blank or whatever team name was used on your last online entry on BikeReg."

So it seems that if I register myself it should show up as Kissena. I'll test it tomorrow when I register for the full Twilight Series at the track, since it's payday tomorrow.

Signed up for Cat 5 on Sunday

Here we go again! L&C Cup on Sunday the 7th. Contact Charlie directly if you want to apply a prior volunteer “credit” to this race. He is holding a few spots for that purpose. charlesissendorf@gmail.com

Otherwise, go ahead and register on BikeReg before it closes out. Also sign up to volunteer or to be a Marshall Patroller here. The cycling gods (aka Tom Boonen) will smile upon you. 

Were you planning on racing Cat 3-4 field in Sunday’s L&C Cup?  Charlie is holding a few spots for registration volunteers today. If you want in, email him NOW before he releases them to public. Other riders  are asking him for them. charlesissendorf@gmail.com

registered for the 1/2/3/

Hi all, does anyone have a spare large Kissena jersey I can borrower for the race? I placed an order with the newest kit order but obviously haven't gotten anything yet and would like to rep Kissena on Sunday. 

@JasonFugett I can lend you a short sleeve jersey. 

@RobertPeras Thank you! Will you be at the race on Sunday?

Being my first L&C since joining Kissena, (I have raced the course a whole bunch of times in the past) I plan on being on site and parked by around 5:15ish. For the 3/4 race do you guys meet up after reg/number pinup, and discuss the race, a plan or roles?

I will admit that I have some pre-race jitters coming on due to a. First race of the season for me, b. new team.

@JasonFugett yes, I signed up as the Marshall Patroller. I would actually be racing with you, but I need to save my legs for a track event later in the day.

Time to get a Cat 3-4 team plan going. I will let Eloy do the official organizing, but will put out some notes get the conversation started. For the most part we want to follow Eloy's plan from the last L&C cup, but we have a larger group which means more horsepower to execute our plan(s)!

Registered for Sunday's L&C Cup are: Andrew, John O., Joe, Eloy, Robert M., Ricky, Erik, Phil, Rich, Max and myself. Now that's a team!

I assume the following:

• Given the size the of group we will want some members to patrol the front to join in any breaks or be ready to organize a chase if we are trying to set up sprinter(s). Another successful break is unlikely, but for the love of god, let's not get caught out again!
• We still want to lead Robert out for the KOM jersey. We should get a group to organize near the front on each KOM lap and then drill it up the hill (pull off to the left).
• We want to lead out Ricky for the win. Not sure who else has grand intentions. I'd like to be near the end of the leadout to help Ricky and get myself some grey jersey points. 

Notes: 

• Angelo Calilap of 5th floor has the Yellow Jersey and has 5 teammates to help him.  
• Jonathon Laurie of Rockstar has the KOM jersey. Given he won both KOM sprints last race he may be looking to defend but only has one teammate in the 3-4 field. 

What are YOUR plans during the race? Do you have other goals? What can you help out with? Hoping just to hang on for dear life?

Let's get the chatter going!

BUMP

Also, we need help with registration. Please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h68kb_QnO2NSAaAd2gradwBk12Q3uw__kjm2yTAv8Zg/edit

My goals are the same as last week. I’m hoping to move to the front 10 or so wheels starting at the bottom of the big downhill before the KOMs. Rich, Ricky and I did an pretty good job organizing on the final lap last week and if we can replicate that before the KOMs, I’d be stoked. 

If the Rockstar guy scooped all the points last week and he looks like he’s going to try and defend, I should probably get sat on his wheel?

I like the idea of working for Ricky at the end and if we can get things rolling to the climb on the last lap again, I think some good stuff can happen. 

Some of us are racing tomorrow so I’m thinking we won’t have that “oh shit this is fast” feeling at the beginning of the race. That should help us stay sharp for any significant attack’s off the front. But like Pat said, I’d be surprised if a breakaway stays away again. But I was surprised last week so it can’t hurt to keep it in the back of our minds.