David Yang said:

I'm signed up for reg desk and 3/4.

same 

I'm sitting this one out, likely will ride Sunday though, just want another week to recover.

I signed up for the 34 race and to volunteer Sunday

Good times with good buds at L&C. Glad to have Pat back in action and somehow the first time I've raced with Eloy in the same field in 2025!

The only high/lowlight for me was accidentally getting into a mini break on lap 6 right after temple and into the rink. Even sucking wheel I was doing 800watts. At some point I thought I was dragging the field up but was too crosseyed to look under my shoulder. By the time I got the elbow flick I was at max heart rate and was being yelled at by my break-mates to work. I put in a meager effort but pulled off quickly and sucked wheel some more. I think the field caught us by zoo and I went backwards up the hill watching the field ride away while my HR was spiked. Rode 3 solo laps to finish, got caught by the 123s on the last one, but saved some dignity by not getting lapped by my own field.

Coffee and pastries at hungry ghost and Phil Castaldi randomly walked in and joined us for a bit. We had good conversation around the city's cycling scene and changes over the years since he got involved sponsoring teams and eventually races. Super nice guy.

Hope to see you at Verge this coming Sunday!

Alright last park race for about a month. Who's in?

https://www.bikereg.com/lccup-4-20-25

I’m planning on cat 5 as of today 

Aaaand I am out. Going to opt for a structured ride instead.

Think I have to miss this one.  Girlfriend wants me to join in for midnight mass greek easter tradition, could still show up on about 2 hours of sleep. I do think I'll sign up for Mengoni on Saturday though

I'm in for 3/4! Will be hiking all day on Saturday so we'll see if I can hang on!

I’m in for Sunday’s race. 

@MaxBucksbaum You’d be surprised how well you can perform on 2 hours sleep! And if you underperform you’ve got the best excuse!

@MaxBucksbaum just turn up to mass with your bibs on under and don't go to sleep.

I'm still working on a pass for this one....

I expect to be there for the 3/4 race

I’m in for the 3/4.

Fun solid racing today with Pat, Eloy, Kevin and myself in the largish 3/4 field. Warm temps meant shorts and a single long sleeve over a base layer. Found myself mostly skating around the middle of the pack where it was easy to maintain speed without much effort. Ran into the rest of the crew throughout the race and everyone looked strong. Today I was on the lookout for Kevin's nemesis in the masters points jersey and was determined to keep him from gaining any more points over Kevin for the final line. Kevin needed no such help, positioned himself perfectly at the end and took max points.

Three notables for me today:
1. After hill #3 I found myself off the front with a few guys after I followed some wheels to catch a draft over the top. By the time I rotated through I looked under my arm and saw the field just about on us, I quickly flicked off and sat up and the field swallowed us up.

2. After hill #7 or 8 - I think the 2nd KOM - a group with the yellow coalesced off the front and slowly pulled away. I hitched a ride with a big guy in a blank kit and a Sanba and hammered all the way to the downhill. I glanced back and there was a small gap. Alas, no matter how fast you go the downhill the field has the advantage and we were caught by temple. Rob from ROR went up the right side and attacked but eventually after some hammering the group gelled back up and Kruis and NYCC who had big representation all sat up and we had a pretty chill climb into the bell lap.

3. There was one guy who kept moving up in the joggers lane throughout the race - along temple, up the hill, several times on different laps. I caught up to him after the finish and gave him some shit. He tried to give a weak excuse but I shut him down and he seemed to recognize he was in the wrong. Someone else started to give him shit too and he kept trying to make excuses. I shouldn't have but interrupted and gave him some choice words, at which point he actually challenged me to a fight and then proceeded to tell me to stop cursing so much.

Post-race coffee and hangs at Hungry Ghost is always the best.

We have about a month off from racing so plenty of time to get some solid group rides and strategizing in, including our road bikes at the track next Sunday!

Lucarelli & Castaldi Cup #4 Race Report

Here are some on board pics of the three amigos

On the last climb before the finish a Kruiscx guy touched wheels with someone next to me and fell into my back wheel! I felt him hit me but he (and I) kept upright. My legs gave out on me by the GAP but that had nothing to do with this guy.

i loved the Samba guy’s expression so I thought I’d share the pics of the sequence

Excited to return to prospect racing after the hiatus.  I am in for the 3/4, looks like Kevin is also signed up as of now.

Sorry folks I'm out of town this weekend, but please sign up for reg table and race for free! If you are already signed up look for Tom at the race and he'll know to reimburse you.

I am planning on the 3/4 race 

Do we have @PatrickGrehan in for this?!

I'll be there and willing to help lead out whomever is feeling good

I'll be there in the 1/2/3, hoping to have good enough legs to hold on and maybe put in an attack.

#racingistraining

In for 3/4.

Hell yeah, we've got size! KruisCX, Sanba and Linea all look like they have decent squads as well.  Anyone have thoughts or feelings about race strategy here?

Let's make a plan....

If this goes like the last 4 there are a few surges and break attempts over the hill but it has always ultimately come back together, with a team or slowing the front round by the Temple on the last lap. 

If there is no break and it goes as normal, what's the plan? Do we have the firepower to form a train and go all out for the last mile e.g. 30/40 second pulls max effort? Is this even a strategy/has anyone tried this before? 

Eloy - Patrick - Myself - Greg - Max (in no particular order)

Who has the legs to cover breaks @MaxBucksbaum?

Of Note:

• Steve Flinchbaugh who won the Dave Jordan 4/5's is a break monster and will be racing tomorrow. 
• Koontz doesn't seem to be there (he did an hour @340W in the Dave Jordan the other week...)
• Saul Metnick is still 4pts ahead of me in the Masters, I should be keeping tabs on him, predictor has him coming in 15th... me at 36 :-(. If i do manage to sneak ahead, if any of the other old timers in the team could get in between that would be great
• 86 people in the 3/4's tomorrow, most of the year so far!

I've likely only got chasing breaks or lead out.  Likely not both.

If we're going towards lead out, I think Kevin should be next to last so he has the best chance to beat Saul.

Who does Flinchbaugh race for?

Solo i think but does evening ride's with R&R up here in Central Park. 

@KevinWomack I think Koontz may have already moved up the the 2's. Another one to watch is Sergio Pachon, really strong rider and seems to like being in the break.  Linea also has numbers and Casey Ritzer on their team seems to like to go for breaks as well.

I'd be down to cover/try to get in a break.  Legs have been feeling good and its always good to mix things up.