Jun 16, 2012 at 02:48 AM
Crit racing. Beating up on NJ!
L&C Cup
Jun 16, 2012 at 01:49 PM
I killed the second sprint! huge thanks to David S, Jim, Gideon, Whitey and Patrick for an awesome leadout. Great job guys. Volbach took 2nd in each of the two KOMs, and great teamwork to shepherd him up to the front and give him a good leadout. Volbach and Kaiser came in 3rd and 5th in the final. Great teamwork today guys.
Jun 16, 2012 at 01:59 PM
and me have 2 point in the first sprint being away. from being at the front or around it pretty much the whole race I must say Kissena did rock it.
Jun 16, 2012 at 02:18 PM
I had the unenviable, unintentional, but illuminating role of sideline watcher for the day. So from my point of view, congrats to all the racers out there. Kissena looked good in all categories. Our 4s were obviously most successful, 3rd, 5th and killing the green jersey competition with a fierce and organized leadout. I look forward to seeing that kind of dominance in the sprint for the finale. I know you can do it!
Our cat 5s were in the mix all day too. A few more races together and they'll be launching themselves for victory in the final 200 meters!
The 1/2/3 race started out a little snappier than usual. Thanks to JP. After arriving late enough to the start to require an in the field number pinning, JP bullied his way to the front-ish row and attacked right away. Joe and I got stuck at the start behind some dude with Di2 and a jammed front deraileur or somesuch. No matter, we moved forward pretty quickly and by the shoot at the bottom of the hill, I was side-by-side with Jared "one of many" Bunde from Mengoni. JP's rein at the front was coming to an end, and as I promised in this thread last night, I attacked hard on the right.
Got a gap and settled in. By the base of the climb though the field was on me and I was being shot backwards faster than you can say "zzzzz-ipit." I see a move go about 1/2 way up the climb, and Rene is there to respond immediately. I'm gapped and a WS United rider takes pity on me and attempts to pace me back up. No go. I'm terrible. My race is over.
The rest of the race was pretty exciting to watch. I have to say that almost every time through the start finish, I saw a Kissena at or off the front. In the end, they couldn't quite seal the deal, but for most of the race, there was Kissena leading the pack. Results be damned, a good day for the 1/2/3s I would say.
Our cat 5s were in the mix all day too. A few more races together and they'll be launching themselves for victory in the final 200 meters!
The 1/2/3 race started out a little snappier than usual. Thanks to JP. After arriving late enough to the start to require an in the field number pinning, JP bullied his way to the front-ish row and attacked right away. Joe and I got stuck at the start behind some dude with Di2 and a jammed front deraileur or somesuch. No matter, we moved forward pretty quickly and by the shoot at the bottom of the hill, I was side-by-side with Jared "one of many" Bunde from Mengoni. JP's rein at the front was coming to an end, and as I promised in this thread last night, I attacked hard on the right.
Got a gap and settled in. By the base of the climb though the field was on me and I was being shot backwards faster than you can say "zzzzz-ipit." I see a move go about 1/2 way up the climb, and Rene is there to respond immediately. I'm gapped and a WS United rider takes pity on me and attempts to pace me back up. No go. I'm terrible. My race is over.
The rest of the race was pretty exciting to watch. I have to say that almost every time through the start finish, I saw a Kissena at or off the front. In the end, they couldn't quite seal the deal, but for most of the race, there was Kissena leading the pack. Results be damned, a good day for the 1/2/3s I would say.
Jun 16, 2012 at 03:57 PM
In lakehurst NJ eric and I raced a cat 3 25 mile crit.
We got into a 5 man break. We worked well together.
Eric rested a bit towards the final laps but by then we had firmed up a 25-30 second lead.
Coming in to 1 lap to go I do a quick acceleration to see if folks are chomping at the bit to go. Metra big guy sticks right on my wheel with the rest in tow. Coming into the compound right left 130 degree right eric attacks and gets gap. I sit up and only one guy chases across, but eric has enough to hold through final two turns for 1st.
I sit back and force others to work and take the sprint for 3rd.
Fun day, good results. Time to hit the pool, crack open some beers, and let luka play with all my legos.
Bo and my mom took some great pics. I will post later. This is a good race worth checking out in the future.
We got into a 5 man break. We worked well together.
Eric rested a bit towards the final laps but by then we had firmed up a 25-30 second lead.
Coming in to 1 lap to go I do a quick acceleration to see if folks are chomping at the bit to go. Metra big guy sticks right on my wheel with the rest in tow. Coming into the compound right left 130 degree right eric attacks and gets gap. I sit up and only one guy chases across, but eric has enough to hold through final two turns for 1st.
I sit back and force others to work and take the sprint for 3rd.
Fun day, good results. Time to hit the pool, crack open some beers, and let luka play with all my legos.
Bo and my mom took some great pics. I will post later. This is a good race worth checking out in the future.
Jun 16, 2012 at 03:58 PM
@ ryan, how was your first 123 race?
Jun 16, 2012 at 04:03 PM
Nice work guys. They're going to be putting your picture up at the tunnels and bridges if you don't be nicer to those Jersey folks.
Jun 16, 2012 at 04:06 PM
Course it might end up being my picture.....
Jun 16, 2012 at 04:10 PM
Congrats MIke and Eric!
Jun 16, 2012 at 04:10 PM
great report michael - and even better results for you and ragot! fantastic.
Jun 16, 2012 at 04:16 PM
brilliant work, all
psyched for you
Jun 16, 2012 at 04:31 PM
Good show guys! All around.
Jun 16, 2012 at 04:33 PM
Does this mean Dave V has enough points for his upgrade?
Jun 16, 2012 at 05:42 PM
Sweet results, congrats all.
Im looking forward to getting back on the bike and racing soon!
A
Jun 16, 2012 at 05:47 PM
Damn Eric and Mike, nice work!
Always good to see the big dog get the W
@ ryan, how was your first 123 race?I had a blast today, actually. It wasn't a super hard race but I followed enough moves to get myself in the pain cave a couple of times.
I think I did an OK job of staying near the front. My biggest problem was that I could not shift in to my 11 and with the compact on the front that made the downhill tough. If I wasn't 10-20 bikes back I had trouble keeping my speed high enough to feel safe. And in the early break I was in I had to spin about 135 RPM to not get dropped.
But overall it was really fun and I'm looking forward to the next one with you and Ragot there!
Jun 16, 2012 at 06:45 PM
Jun 16, 2012 at 06:55 PM
So, me and Mike beating up on NJ again. If we were NJ residents, we'd be fighting for the Cat 3 overall. But,we're not, so we're not.
Smallish field. We felt good about of ourselves to start - good openers will do that.
Start quickly from the front, take the right, left 130 degree right combo at the front, ease up to wait for people to catch up. Mike and I followed / bridged to a couple of moves, but nothing was happening. I stayed in the top 8 or so, Mike a bit further back. He asked me about mid-race whether he should keep attacking. I told him to move over and let me through. Not exactly my most responsive answer ever, but I wated to be at the pointy end hitting the ecompound corners.
Mike then bridged / followed a guy. They were away for about 1/2 lap and thn out of the compound corner, was the time to go across and I went hard. two other guys followed suit. I went through Mike to the front, eased and then gunned it on the tailwind backstretch. We then slowly pryed the gap open as the five of us worked well together.
Then, we were out of sight of the field and started to get gaps 17 seconds and then we got it up to 25 and I took a monster pull on the back side to get the gap higher. 30" or so is where it then hovered.
With 6 to go, I told Mike that I wasn't going to work anymore. The other guys in the break weren't happy about this, but we were going to win. After we got the bel, I thought my best shot was to attack through the compound turns and then hammer for home - maybe a minute and change to the finish - my kind of attack.
I went from the back and hit the turns hard, but I ddin't get the gap I hoped, but I figured I was still fresher than the other guys, so dumped it in a big gear and took off. Along the back stretch I saw a Liberty guy (Steven) coming across to me! I figured he was workign harder than me, so I hit took the 90 degree turn into the headwind hard, still with a small gap, stood and pured it on again, but Liberty was still there, so I eased up a bit into the final turn and then punched it hard, dropped the gears and hammered. He was there, but not able to come around. I gave a finish salute and was stoked.
Mike caught up a while later - 3rd. Rocking.
I talked to the 2nd place guy Steven and he was like, damn, I got beat by the same guy twice - at Watermelon and today! I had to explain to him, that despite white bikes, white bar tape, white saddles and black shoes, Mike and I were, in fact, different people! Ah ha!
Mike will post pictures.
Jun 16, 2012 at 07:01 PM
Sweet job Ragot-mike duders!
Yeah, Vollbach said he got enough points. Good job in the sprint to Christian as well.
I couldn't see anything bc I was at the back all day in a haze. But it was nice chatting with kissenas when they'd drop back after a hard effort and say "hi, didn't know you were in the race". No. No I wasnt.
Props to dan too. Looking resplendent in his emerald armor while smashing the intermediate. And to everyone else who actually helped!
Yeah, Vollbach said he got enough points. Good job in the sprint to Christian as well.
I couldn't see anything bc I was at the back all day in a haze. But it was nice chatting with kissenas when they'd drop back after a hard effort and say "hi, didn't know you were in the race". No. No I wasnt.
Props to dan too. Looking resplendent in his emerald armor while smashing the intermediate. And to everyone else who actually helped!
Jun 16, 2012 at 07:31 PM
When folks started complaining that Ragot wasn't working, I replied "well, he's old, he needs to rest."
I think he actually bought it.
I think he actually bought it.
Jun 16, 2012 at 07:40 PM
Nice job guys. Can't wait to see the pictures.
Jun 16, 2012 at 07:58 PM
HFS the Two Man Wrecking Squad is on a tear!
Nicely done. Damn we need some better hats if we're going to rack up this much podium time.
Chapeau lads!
Jun 16, 2012 at 08:16 PM
Brief Cat 5 report.
Joshua, Ben, Derek and I lined up for the 5s. Race started off rather slow or so it seemed. I think a few who were more inexperienced than me got stuck at the front setting the pace. At some points it got so slow the pack accordion-ed up and condensed setting off the typical swerving and braking of Cat5s. My aim was to ride near but not at the front (10-20th) the whole time for as long as I could so I could stay safe and avoid the yo-yo ing at the back that kills me. A couple of laps in and I'm feeling great. This is not a feeling I'm accustomed to.
Ben and I are chatting 3-4 laps in about nothing in particular. It was good having Derek and Ben around as we looked out for each other, letting one another into the paceline or giving a pull when needed. With 1.5 to go, I'm seriously thinking about talking with Derek and Ben and organizing a lead out for Ben, though having never finished a PP race with the pack I'm not going to jinx myself.
The pace up the hill the last time is fast but manageable. The pace accelerates just before the top of the descent as people try and get near the front for position. I'm still 10 -15 th coming through the pinch and the pace is now really ramping. About 50m before the boards people are now jumping full on out of the saddle. I'm attached to Ben's wheel as best I can and hang on for awhile. At that point I realize I'm sprinting for 15th and I dial it back and cruise in. Probably placed 20-25th, but finishing with the pack was a great day for me.
Avg speed 24.6mph.
Jun 16, 2012 at 08:17 PM
Short report today guys. Got a good (2 lap warmup) and felt like I had good legs. Sat in, and waited. Watched Javier Mereles adjust his shoe cover with both hands whilst going downhill to some amazement and got a first row seat to the Best Kissena Leadout yet. Six or seven guys(?) complete with a sweeper put Dan easily across ahead of the others for the first preme.
My plan was to roll off the front after one of the last KOM's and with 3 to go I saw Dave (Freight Train) Gardiner appear out of nowhere near the front. I took one look at him and knew he was thinking exactly the same thing I was.
Near the top of the hill he jumped on the left and I went on the right, making VERY sure nobody was with me. By Grand Army Plaza we were alone and together, "It's just us!" I shouted and we drilled it.
Dave was certainly stronger but I kept up my part of the bargain averaging about 380 for the first five minutes. I have to say I thought it was a done deal at this point. We were going to roll in 1st and 2nd unless one of us had a mechanical.
Three laps is a long way with a chasing peloton though, and we were caught with a little more than one to go.
Huge disappointment; they must have chased like hell to get us.
Power file says I averaged 355 for 10 minutes and 335 for 15. Still not enough though as we were just hovering over 25 mph on a windy course.
Bitterness.
Great to hear that DaveV and C-Raf killed it in the final charge though. Third and Fifth is no joke.
Also bears mention that everyone stayed upright today. Always a cause for minor celebrations.
Jun 16, 2012 at 08:23 PM
@craig: this sounds like a great result to me. The first time you finished with the field and you are in a position to sprint for 15th! I don't think there is that much difference between 5th and 15th, except as Renshaw says in his recent blog entry:
I took a lot from the Giro. Apart from the Tour of Turkey it was the
first race where I got some consecutive sprints which allowed me to
analyse how I was going and then try and change things the next day. If
there was a recurring theme, it was that I was always two or three
positions too far back – that really showed that positioning is
everything.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/mark-renshaw/the-final-push-towards-the-tour-de-france
Oh, and congrats to the NJ slayers and to Dave and Christian.
I took a lot from the Giro. Apart from the Tour of Turkey it was the
first race where I got some consecutive sprints which allowed me to
analyse how I was going and then try and change things the next day. If
there was a recurring theme, it was that I was always two or three
positions too far back – that really showed that positioning is
everything.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/mark-renshaw/the-final-push-towards-the-tour-de-france
Oh, and congrats to the NJ slayers and to Dave and Christian.
Jun 16, 2012 at 08:38 PM
@david thanks for the kudos. Aside from everyone in the club that has provided encouragement, I have you, Reiners, and Ben to thank for killing me last weekend and then towing me home. I think that ride got me over the hump in terms of fitness.
Congrats all. Kissena had a very good weekend, and it's only halfway through. I think it shows the team effort.
Jun 16, 2012 at 09:11 PM
Nice work Craig!
Great judgement as well on not risking it all by hammering for the glory of 15th vs 25th.
Jun 16, 2012 at 09:38 PM
Oh wait; I almost forgot the D-bag comment award for the morning that goes to Josh Sarkofsky (actually a nice guy in real life)
Sporting his new BH kit like it's no big thing, "Yeah, I don't really like this course. I'm just here for some quick upgrade points..."
Not sure if they're giving out points for finishing NOWHERE these days but if they are I'd sure like to get some.
Jun 16, 2012 at 09:44 PM
^lulz
i want some too!
Jun 17, 2012 at 04:32 AM
@Jules - The chase to bring you and David back was serious business. Alyosha and I triesd to block, but it was single file for 10 -12 riders for the better part of a lap. All we could do was get in line. I even started lobbying hard to a couple of the Hudson guys to try to bridge someone across instead of burning up guys. One of them instructed me to chase my own guy back "like usual."
Jun 17, 2012 at 06:25 PM
lots of pro tour action in yesterday's L&C cup
