Race this weekend in Central Park (is this the right thread?)

https://www.bikereg.com/crcalco

I signed up for the Cat 5, is anyone else thinking of joining?

I'm possible for cat 3/4. New member group ride at 9a GWB afterwards.

KevinWomack said:

Race this weekend in Central Park (is this the right thread?)

https://www.bikereg.com/crcalco

I signed up for the Cat 5, is anyone else thinking of joining?

Probably not.  PRobably should be in a Central Park or general racing thread.

But it works for now.

YEs, let's get a crew.

Registered for 3/4 fully expecting to be kicked out the back lap 1. Headed up to GWB for new members chill ride in time for 9am meetup.

Dude Strava tells me you’ve been setting some serious power records left and right, you’ll rock it

Haha thanks Lennart, been working on FTP for a bigger base to train for the "race" fitness that I'm lacking - sudden and violent accelerations and faster recovery. The CP race this spring was a rude awakening - I think I made it half a lap before being spit out the back.

L&C #7 happening this Saturday.

https://www.bikereg.com/66848

I'm most likely in for 3/4.

David Yang said:

L&C #7 happening this Saturday.

https://www.bikereg.com/66848

I'm most likely in for 3/4.

I'm down.

possibly in for 3/4.  just getting back on the bike today so we'll see how much rust I can shake off.

GregHoge said:

possibly in for 3/4.  just getting back on the bike today so we'll see how much rust I can shake off.

Have you posted about your adventure?  Haven't seen anything (I think).

+1 for the 3/4


+1 for Greg's report too, but no pressure.

In for the 1/2/3s.

Unfortunately I'll be out of town. Hoping to get back into racing soon!

I’m in for the 3/4 race

I don’t think the volunteer link for Saturday’s race got posted so here goes https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBW3TagLeX-RBm1Wweh1GLbY4XBv01wJCjlMylO82cIA1fOA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Greg, did you shake off enough rust to race?

Kevin, you might be alone in the 5s, but have an excellent chance at podium. L&D or Sanba teams with multiple riders may shoot flyers off the front with the other teammates blocking the field. Watch out especially for counter attacks.

If you want to try some fun tactics out, draft a bridge attempt and just as they make contact with the break's rear wheel, give it the beans and attack hard. See who comes with and see if you can take turns pulling.

As you learned last time, bell lap sprint position up the hill definitely counts for a lot. Being close to the front will keep your lines clear, but you can also risk waiting mid pack for a watt monster to start flying midway up the hill (usually on the right side) and drafting their wheel around GAP and into the last stretch.

I actually have to go up to NH this weekend, so I'm out.  I wouldn't have been much help anyway cause I've been shaking of a mild cold all week.

Quick report from Saturday L&C

• Dave, Patrick, and myself signed up for the 3/4 (JP was in the 1/2/3, Kevin in the 5)
• It is crazy town muggy humid
• About 50ish racers in the 3/4
• We stay close to each other and riding towards the front
• We communicate well, but from me is a lot of "wait, are they away still?" haha
  
• Dave closing gaps and bridging important moments
• Patrick top 10~15 full race, sharp
• The race feels slow, but at 41.1 km/h (25.5 mph) avg it is not really
• It is surgy, there are times we’re moving close to 50 km/h and tons of moments and 30 km/h
• There are a few break attempts, specially promising a twofer mid race, but eventually all comes back
• That moment where we get 3 bells back to back, sprint/kom/sprint is totally crazy awesome
• Word is that they neutralized the Cat 5 as it was catching us
• They cut one lap from our race so the 1/2/3 doesn't catch us
• One solo 1/2/3 rider on a long breakaway does catch us, moto officials let him as he is solo
• I think it'll get messy but the field never comes, and we simply pass the solo dude as we set for our sprint
• I find myself in an ok position on the hill
• By the top I am losing the front group, but as we veer pass GAP I somehow come back
• I wonder how aggressive I should be in these moments, but default towards safety
• HR is kinda maxed tho 
• Cross the line P18, with Patrick and Dave close behind
• We then gather JP and Kevin and head to grab coffee 
• Coffee hangs are definitely the highlight of these races

Let's go race bikes!

Photo by Dave


Video from my GoPro:
https://youtu.be/ar_wud1FRdc

Cat 5 Race Report

- No teammates to crash ride with this time so went it alone (get well soon @MaxBucksbaum )
- With the goal of finishing this one I aimed at staying in the front of the pack as much as I could, I was around 10/15 (out of 36) for the majority of the race
- As David had suspected, L&D were employing team tactics & launching off the front twice a lap, typically doing this at the top of the hill with a rider behind slowing down, to hold back the pack i guess
- A couple of riders went off the front lap 2-3 so I tried to gather a couple of other to bring then back.
- We brought them back but took the whole pack with us at the same time (oops)
- Took it easier lap 4 to recover for the last lap
- Was around 10-15th place coming up the last hill with a little bit left in the tank saved for an attempt at a sprint
- Race was neutralized with ~1/4 mile to the finish
- I can confirm the Cat 3/4 neutralized our race, we caught them around the GAP entrance. There was probably no point passing them as they'd have re-passed us shortly after the line.
- I sat up for the last 1/4 mile and rolled in, everyone was given the same time. 3 peeps DQ'd for passing the moto
- We averaged 25.6mph. @PatrickGrehan @eloy @David Yang come ride with us in the Cat 5's next time if you want some more speed!

Another race under the belt and some good experience.

Eloy the b-roll is perfect and the vid synopsis captured the good morning vibes.

Good to see Patrick and JP as always and a shoutout to Kevin who has really grown exponentially since his first race at Grant's. There are podiums in his future.


Dissecting a moment in the race:

As I eased up after I think the last KOM on lap 7 I could see a group of 5 or 6 riders rolling off the front and gel together as they realized there was a sizable gap behind them. I thought that might be the winning move, but knew I couldn't bridge on my own so put in a little kick to get the field motivated behind me. After maybe a 10 second effort I flicked my elbow and swung off only to find the Yellow Jersey sitting behind me with no expression. I soft pedaled looking under my armpit figuring he didn't want to miss the break and would come to his senses and pull through - no dice. I practically stopped pedaling daring him to miss the move. Silly me, 2 or 3 guys jumped along the construction section and instantly the Yellow was on their wheels and I was eating their dust. A bunch of others peeled off and I found myself cross eyed and digging deep. When all hope was lost I found myself behind a junior rider who barely provided any shelter, but was muscling through. I was gassed, but gave him some encouragement, "You're almost there, let's go, let's go..." and for the first time this season it worked! We finally reached the the break - who thankfully sat up as we approached the downhill.

Using charts to illustrate, you can see...
- Sustained KOM effort (and a weird 900w surge before the zoo that I don't remember)
- Little kick headed toward GAP trying to follow the group of 6
- Soft pedaling and waiting for the yellow jersey (or anyone) to pull through
- Desperate attempt to chase/bridge
- Final jump to sit on the jr's wheel after the a few racers peel off toward the break

Here are some onboard pics from Saturday's 3/4 race. Dave and Eloy looking sharp. I haven't had the time this week to do more than select some vid caps for you all.



My favorite is the last lap climb where Dave is out of the saddle giving it his all

L&C #8 is this Saturday.

I'm in for the 1/2/3.  Kevin Womack is in for the 5's.  

Who's joining in for the festivities?

In for the 3/4s.  

I'm in for the 3/4's.

I'll be in the 3/4

In for 3/4.

If at all possible please wear your newest, sharpest, sponsor correct kit. Will hopefully get some individual and team photos after the races.

That's is the White Kit @David Yang

I’m in for 5s in the L&C Grand Prix on the 31st 

I should be in for 3/4 after a weeklong fam vacation in Maine. You might not recognize me outside of the kit since I'll be mostly lobster when I return.

https://www.bikereg.com/verge-8-31-24

Quick L&C 3/4 Report from Saturday:

• Joe, Dave, Greg and myself joined about 65ish racers in the cat 3/4. Kevin joined the cat 5, JP the cat 1/2/3
• At 41.6km/h is barely faster than last time, yet it felt faster, maybe it was a bit steadier?
• We keep a bit towards the frontish
• Dave looking specially sharp and leading me thru the climb to the start/finish most laps, not letting that critical single file gap
• There are some real attacks, and a group of 4, that then turned into 6, then into 5, gets and stays away for a good chunk of the race 
• Yellow jersey, and green seem ok to let them be, but as we head up the hill for the penultimate time, green jersey chases, a few people follow, it is all kinda hardcore and the gap is real
• "We need to close this, that's the race" I tell Dave -- he drills it
• That chase brought maybe one too many people, and the full pack comes together as we approach the downhill 
• It takes some effort, but I keep an ok position heading into the last uphill
• Make the GAP turn, the lead ish group is definitely bigger than last time
• I cross the line 20 something with Dave and Greg close behind
• We'll take a few photos and then grab some hungry ghost coffee
• Fun times

Let's go race bikes.

Photos by Dave:


GoPro Movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8vmuD2KU-8