Dumb crash at 35 mph. I rode it out on top of a fat guy as opposed to cx
ing it through the trees. The field didnt get nuetralized for at least a
lap, since the marshalls didnt know until they came around

More disconcerting was the marshalls attempt to put injured riders back in
after they had missed laps.

Damn heal up guys.

Congrats Jeff c on sneaking in there. Bummer you missed it Jim... tis better to try and fail....

A big thanks to Tito, Dan and Aly for delivering me perfectly to middle of the hill. It was beautiful.

Were the rest of the 123's neutral right away?  It seemed like there was some pretty contentious yelling in the pack it was passing the start/finish.

I was in front of it, having just followed wheels to cover a meaningless move. There was some arguing at the front about whether to neutralize ourselves. Mangoseed wanted to wait and let it come back together. Some others didn't. After some arguing about that the organization finally decided for us and that was it.

Racers cant neutralize a race technically..

Officials neutralize a race. There are no freelapse at prospect park.
Putting stalin and the boroughs boys back in the race or attempting to do
so is a big no no.
On Aug 4, 2012 10:48 AM, "Ryan J" <

The only weird thing was that the marshals right next to the cat5 who broke his collarbone hadn't called Jimmy or anyone at the start-finish. Apparently none of them have walkie talkies? They should at least be given his/Charlie/maurice's cell number so they can relay info. I just always assumed they did.

So marshaling actually came in handy as I was able to ride and fetch the volunteer ambulance. The miscommunication actually turned out well though, bc the police had called an ambulance and by the time they showed up, the other crash further down the hill had happened. Lots of confusion as the EMTs were with different agencies and didn't know where they were supposed to respond to.

Oh, the poor cat5 didn't have his cell on him, and the ambulance wasn't going to take him back by the bag drop to pick up his gear. I asked him if there was someone I could call, but didn't have one single phone number memorized and seemingly no teammates/friends in the race! We also had no idea which hospital they took him to. I think a Dave Jordan rider finally came through with some connection though.

Memorize at least one number in case of emergencies, kids!

Jimmy earned his $ today. The back of his van was a carbon fiber trauma ward of about 6 bikes and busted wheels. Fine way to close out the series!

Stalin is a douche-scrote taint stainer

I liked him asking Maurice if he could jump back in the field. Maurice was like "uhhhhhhhhh" and Stalin was saying "it's ok if you crash, I'm leading the series". I looked at him and just laughingly told him, "NO". He kept asking.

The fluorescent yellow vest didn't not work it's magical powers on him.

Thats a huge problem....maurice sucks

There was certainly a debate.  Moments after the crash, Euris of Foundation signaled his guys that they should ride.  After the temple, Pollo came up to the front and yelled at Euris in Spanish and he slowed down. Then Metra took over so Dioslaki could sprint against Cesar.  Cesar won.  It wasn't clear what was going on at all.  We raced down the hill past the multiple ambulances, several riders going into the joggers lane--super stupid, as there was a clear lane.  Then the debate continued the next lap.  Ryan asked me what was going on.  I told him that considering the ambulances on the course, we probably shouldn't go crazy until the ambulances are clear.  On the next lap, five or four to go, they neutralized us.  Pollo came up to me and explained in halting english that he was concerned about the race leader.  With two to go, just after the ambulances were off the course, they canceled the race.  

Despite the crashes and subsequent neutralizations and canellations, the race ruled... becuase this picture happened.

I love this club.

Once again...thank god I shaved my nipples before the race...you can see right through the new white kits.

My muse..... http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoTHyVB1QLBgAKdSJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&va=movie+staying+alive&fr=ipad&tab=organic&ri=10&amp;w=580&amp;h=775&amp;imgurl=www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/468622.1020.A.jpg&amp;rurl=http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_product_static.asp?master_movie_id=7565&amp;sku=468622&amp;size=49.2+KB&amp;name=Staying+Alive+movie+posters+at+MovieGoods.com&amp;p=movie+staying+alive&amp;oid=513aa7593be8a7610345061c01c3c2fe&amp;fr2=&amp;fr=ipad&amp;tt=Staying+Alive+movie+posters+at+MovieGoods.com&amp;b=0&amp;ni=64&amp;no=10&amp;ts=&amp;tab=organic&amp;sigr=12ms01k09&amp;sigb=13dcvfmo4&amp;sigi=11vcf2goc&amp;.crumb=SNDY23O32s7

Some things c_a_n_t be unseen

How come some of your comments I can read from my email, others I have to click on the link? Another question in my series of questions, "things that don't really matter."

On to the race of the day. Rolled out of bed as usual about 15 minutes to late, which meant I was booking down the west side of Manhattan. The humidity was disgusting and by the time I made it to pick up my number, my new jersey was completely soaked.

We had a big crew of riders out, and since this was my first post baby ride (never mind race), I wanted to ride conservatively, but be close enough to the front to help out where I could without riding myself out of the race. There was a funny little split with me, Ryan and another Kissena (baby brain, sorry) coming down off the hill on the first or second lap. We had a little gap, some dudes bridged, Myles was covering a wheel and suddenly we had a little something. Unfortunately, the field was having none of it and chased it down pronto.

The rest of the race felt "weird" to me. At one point, it seemed like everyone was riding for a group sprint. I was hoping we could get some Kissena's to throw in some sharp attacks to kick start the action. Much of the race felt like a fast group ride...and actually bits of it were downright slow, with riders curb to curb.

JP has some perspective on this, and he reports that he got into what may have been a somewhat promising move about 5 laps in, but that too was shut down. Then it seemed like we were quickly into the whole crashing scenario.

Couple of random notes...

Immediately after the crash, I wanted to "take inventory" of who we had left. Most of us it turns out. The reason I mention this is because a while back, JP and I disagreed on the value of guys who were out of the race, standing at the side of the road letting his team know they were out. While I still believe from a technical point of view the points I was making about it not being terribly relevant to what the team needs to do, I must admit, my instinct screamed in my ear, "FIND OUT WHO'S LEFT!" So JP, I guess you're part right too in our little "argument."

It was nice seeing a lot of the guys that I haven't seen/ridden with in a while; thanks for asking about my baby and my baby-mommy. It's a really happy happy time. I had to hustle home to help straighten up the apartment for afternoon visitors, otherwise I would have like to hang with you more.

Near the end of the race during our neutral laps, Rene and Christian were both chomping at the bit. Which is good. We had guys at the front, we were ready to rock it. Rene, told me he was feeling good and would let me know if he needed help getting to the front. Christian was super amped and wanted a plan (or that's how it sounded). I tried to communicate to him that we would be there, we would get it done. But what I couldn't communicate to him on the fly was that while we were still neutralized, we didn't know how things were going to play out once the race was restarted, how many laps, etc.

What was important is that in the top 20 guys we had JP, Ryan, myself, Christian, Rene, Robertson, Vlad...plenty of guys to help our sprinters unleash the beast. I guess what I'm saying here is that sometimes, if you look and see your teammates, trust that they will do the right thing and be there to support you. Sometimes, it's too hard or not practical to come up with a specific plan on the fly like that, but we know who likes to sprint on the team, and know that we would have been ready to lay it down for you guys had we been allowed to continue.

Alan buday got taken out by stalin first. Claims he caused it 100%. Totally overlapped wheels did some usually sketchy move took out a burrows brother and half the field.

They both tried to negotiate their way back in with maurice. Maurice didnt take a stand and they were in the midst of getting back in when mangina guy threw a fit on the line and they called the race.

Maurice seems like a nice guy, but to be a really good official, you gotta know the rules, and have some balls and be able to take a stand.

Which is why I'm not an official. Tiny balls, and I like to sit more than stand.

Something really important for charlie.....

It was obvious to me that no one knew wtf was happening during the crash.
Meaning race personnel.

Jeff was there in a flash which was great. Real issue is that no ones sure
if the meat wagons getting called. Or the cops. So the lead motos just
cruise along normally. Which in this case is bad cause you end up with
fields racing by ambulances in potentially in oportune locations.

Whats even worse? Cops and ambulances driving onto the course with np idea
a racing field is coming BEHIND them .....

Long post short we either need to neutralize fields or control ESV movement
to ensure safety of other firlds. I witnessed two sketchy situations thst
could have been realllky bad while i was directing traffic.

M
On Aug 4, 2012 1:16 PM, "Marc Bertucco" <

Christian and David V, remember you both won $ in the Cat 4 overall. So check in with charlie when he gets back from Asia to pick up your money.

It was a bummer that people got injured and today's race got cancelled.  It was unevenly fast if you were at the front, and even though nothing seemed decisive, and I think Vlad is right that the Somerville shop guys were trying to slow the race down, the field was getting stretched.  On the sixth lap, we did 7:11 for the lap.  27.5mph.  I think that led into the KoM, and then we were setting up for the sprint when the big crash occurred.  I could easily have seen a group going away after the sprint.  I think the crash was on lap seven, and it was still a 7:48 lap even though we slowed.  And the next lap we did 7:54 where we half-assed being slow.  Then we were neutralized.

The only bit I'd like to add is that I would have loved it if Christian, Marc,Eric the red had let me known they were still around.  I didn't see them and didn't drop back and was wondering who made it. 

Grumble, grrr...

You didn't see us because after the crash the field was split. Myself, after slamming on the breaks, going sideways Fast & Furious Tokyo-drift style, taking a bike/body blow into my right ankle, had to chase back on to the field that was first hammering (then not so much). Then we caught on, so there's a moment or two where I need to catch my breath. Then I'm looking around the field, going up to our guys as I see them and taking stock/updating them as to what I know. I'm talking to other guys on the club finding out who's where and what's what. At this point I don't know if you got caught into the crash, because based on my position before the crash, I can tell the mess happened near the front.

I actually had an exchange with Doslowski right behind you, when he interjected when I was updating another Kissena who was riding on my left at this point (pretty sure it was Ryan). I don't know if you knew I was there, but my point is, I got to the front as soon as I could so that we could regroup. You were literally the first person on the front for many of those neutral laps too, so that took some time to work my way up in a non-jack-assy way, unlike the Mengoni's who were up to all kinds of bizarre motorcycle passing.

Sorry you don't think I got to you quick enough with the message.

How many among you can say you're in a race photo with MYLES?

Love this shot of Tito, Jeff, and Aly:

A special shout out to Dan Reiners for taking home the GREEN JERSEY this year.  Dan is the consumate teammate and tireless worker who helped me win that jersey the past few years...(sorry again to Malcomson for poaching it last year).  Many Kissenas threw down over the past 4 years to win that jersey for the club.  Dan has been a constant presence in all those campaigns.  Never afraid to take a pull or shred himself for the team.  Always aware of the sprint, KOM and finale strategies. I think the green jersey is the most painful one to grab.  The overall tends to come down to the finishing sprint.  The course is mostly downhill after the KOM's.  To take the green jersey you have to sprint twice, mid-race before the climb.  There is no other word but SUCK to describe the pain of climbing after throwing down in a sprint.  Dan did an awesome job of organizing his leadouts and finishing his sprints.  He fought for every point, until he was numerically unbeatable.  The French may bemoan his lack of "panache" but nobody can argue his ability to accessorize (see green converse shoes on podium).  Buyer beware ladies, rumor has it Dan has been soaking his condoms in green food coloring.  France is blushing... yacks

Congratulations Dan!  Sorry I wasn't there to witness the Green Flash on his last parade.

With regards to potentially poor officiating at the start line (read Stalin
and Burroughes being almost placed back in the race)

It would appear that re joining the race under the observance of an
official is allowed, however, since no free laps are given, and distance
clearly increased since the incident, they would be on their own to chase,
and forbidden from riding with the pack until they had "caught up". had
the race continued, it might have been potentially interesting to see what
would have occured. (more crashes!)

I have to say a huge thanks to everybody who helped with leadouts and chasing dangerous breaks down all season long. I want to especially give a shout out to Jim Nelson, Chris Yack, and David Stern. They were there week after week putting in a killer leadout twice a race and running the front of the race in between. Whenever the bell went off for a sprint lap, I knew I had those three setting up shortly. They controlled the race and consistently put me in a spot where all I had to do was to not let anybody come around. Perfect leadouts and I couldn't have done it without you all.