Hey guys

You'll hear more about this soon, but on April 20 there will be a party held at Ride Brooklyn, sponsored by KCC and Ride Brooklyn, to kick off this year's L&C cup.

We could use a couple of volunteers for this event; helping pick up hot dogs and beer, manning the grill, helping Al at Ride set up and tear down.

Anybody wanna do it? If you've got a car that's probably extra helpful.

(New members / Cat 5s, great way to earn some street cred...)

Just signed up, anyone else getting involved?

John: You'll be happy to know that the jerseys for the series leader, sprint and mountain champs don't look nearly as shit as that jersey you won.

I'm away this weekend...
Good luck!!

Ride hard and ride fast fellas. Sorry I won't be able to join you.

The local Kissena PP series is almost upon us and we should have a strategy for this first race, and also for the series.

Who is racing this weekend ?
Who plans on racing the entire series ?
Who has designs on yellow, green or polka-dots ?

For the last two seasons Yacks has won the Green Jersey, I am assuming he intends to continue his Titanium-powered, Zabel-like dominance of that jersey ?

Who would like to be road captain ?

With respect to personal ambitions: I am fit and motivated but I am only going to race 2 or 3 of the series this year, so I harbour no serious designs on the sprint or GPM jersey (having said that: if no one plans on going for the climbers series then I will try my utmost to win it in the first week - simply because i will be the least likely wearer of a spotty jersey since Gilbert Duclose-Lasalle wore the TdF one). Other than that I plan on being aggressive and trying to get a break going.

Typically these are hard to make stick at PP, but there is a greater chance of success in early series races. (Come June everyone thinks they are a field sprinter.)

I've not raced locally this year (except a disaster at Grant's Tomb, but I tend to gloss over that debacle) so I haven't seen first-hand who is going well, but the Teany team have certainly performed away from home. Bryan Fried won Jonnycake #3 (and again at FBF the other day I think). Etsu totally dominated the bethel series and he marshalled his team very well to maintain that position. If they are racing - they will be tough, but good competition.

I'll be around for most of the spring series races but not this first one (family obligations near philly 'round easter).

Getting a break going sounds stellar. Kissena 4s have been sticking breakaways in just about every park race this season. I'll certainly take part in attacks & counters, mark moves in the field, or in a train for Yacks if he wants to defend the jersey... whatever the team needs.

As for other clubs, Scotto's (fmr. Luzzo's methinks) are holding together a pretty good 3/4 group and Hudson seems to be making moves stick as well.

I'm also going to miss the first one but should be around for most of the good times after that.

From what I understand, the Scotto's guys are all cat 3 and won't be with us in the 4's this summer. Anyone know different?

So, who is in for this race?

who is in for the series?

Series dates are 4/24, 5/1, 6/19, 6/27, 7/24, 8/7, 8/8

Last year, there was a full field for the first four races. I think, like last year, we can expect that the first two races will probably favor breakaways and as the series goes on, whether or not a break succeeds will depend on turnout.

I'm on the fence for this one for several reasons, not the least of which is I want to defend or improve my 8th place overall in the Spring Series final race which is this Sunday (4/24). And not ready to commit to doing the whole series as I haven't figured out my summer calendar yet.

Anyone else?

i'm going to be at quabbin this saturday

good luck at spring series, jp

Wow, that Giro pink leaders jersey definitely is styling, and cringe-free! Unfortunately I can't make Saturday. Right now we have Adam and David Vollbach. What's the plan fellas? David V. you're riding super strong and Adam you're getting close to the same form, be cool to try ride together as a unit.

McKay and Jef are out of town. AndrewA upgraded. (how'd the TT go?). Who else do we have in the mix/intact?

Sunday's is the final SS with Graham, Brian and myself. I'd be psyched to get a win to finish the series. How do you guys feel about an attack/counter attack strategy with me covering? Sam Salisbury is riding and he tends to do monster pulls, particularly on the hill. Laurent is no slouch either. Those would be the two big dangers at this stage. Looks like small fields both days.

Stearns, how's that shoulder?

http://customcyclewear.com/2010lucarellicastaldicup.htm

I plan on wetting my beak in the green jersey chase again...I'll employ my painfully obvious "attack at 1k" strategy. "If something works for you...you stick with it" (John Candy in Splash)

I just registered... see ya guys nice and early

shoulder? what shoulder? oh you mean the shoulder-like hump next to my right ear? bah. i'm knee-deep in burritos and beers over here. i'll be the guy volunteering at check-in with the bearclaws in my back pocket.

I signed up for the 1-2-3 race.
Eric

I'm in for the first one, most definitely. I'm feeling like my form is coming up, but they're not exactly July legs yet. My personal goal for the race would be to try to stick a break, which I haven't managed yet this year. In an all-4s field and with our numbers, we should have even better chances of getting away and foiling the sprinters.

I think a good baseline team goal might be to have all our riders near the front of the race for the whole race. Scotto's and Hudson have been really good about that this year. It's our race series and we should have a bunch of guys, so why not make our presence felt up front?

I'll be there on Saturday and Sunday. Don't really care about series standings, so I'll gladly ride for anyone that does.

Eric

Yes...ride at the front this way you don't miss moves and you have opportunities to block for teammates that make the moves. I'm not sure how many races I can make...but I will give it a go in the sprint competition. Initially I plan on just attacking at about 1k before the sprint as you would be surprised how often that works...In the finale I plan on hitting the front and driving it as long as I can before the sprint...this usually strings things out nicely and keeps it safe. If we can put 2 guys on my wheel when I do this then we would have a nice train...
yack

Jeff, agreed that being near the front (but not necessarily on the front) is sound advice. We'll be able to chase, bridge, etc.
BUT if we do that then we absolutely without fail HAVE to put someone in every move. If we miss a move, but are riding mob-handed at the front of the pack - then all the other teams will expect us to flex our collective muscle and pull the break back.

Some people might still be finding their legs and not be up for being at the front for the whole race. So here are my thoughts, and I'd really like feedback from the higher cats here.
Regardless of fitness really try and stay top 30 - I predict sketchy riding in the pack on the back of the course - the descent and the road by the temple will cause problems.

We can reduce risk to ourselves, teammates and fellow racers by doing the following:
1) PEDAL downhill - if you coast, then those also coasting AND drafting behind you will catch up and have to brake - causing bunching, crashing, bleeding, etc
2) Don't ease up until after the temple: the majority of the of the road there is badly potholed. Thin line to the left - wider access to the right. A longer thinner pack will navigate it better.
3) if you find yourself heading right into a pot hole. Tough - suck it up. Ride through it. Your $2000 carbon hoops stand a better chance of surviving that than the crash you caused by swerving into another rider in an attempt to avoid it.
4) be prepared for all the other riders to swerve round potholes !
5) if you are top 15 coming into the home straight for the final sprint - then you have a chance of placing. If you are not top 15 - you won't be top 6 over the line, no recognition, no glory. What this means is don't sprint for the line unless you can place well or are leading out someone who will. The number of crashes (some serious) caused by riders (me included) getting a rush of blood and sprinting to get 29th instead of 30th is legion !

Regarding the aforementioned leadout we should discuss our plan for the final sprint on the day - assuming we have a corral somewhere beforehand.

My final point may be contentious, so let the feedback begin. Given that this is a team sport and Charlie only posts results 6 deep, there really isn't any difference between finishing 11th and 100th or even DNF. My opinion therefore is that it is of greater benefit to the Kissena cause to ride one's heart out and DNF than just sit in the pack and finish for experience or to get the miles in (there are better and cheaper ways of getting miles in). So maybe we have a couple of guys chase down everything in the first half of the race until they blow and get dropped, while the rest of Kissena keep their 'powder dry' until the later stages of the race.
I recognize that this may cause alarm because each individual pays their own entry fee and so would like to at least get the satisfaction of finishing.
Well maybe we can replace that with the satisfaction of helping the team to the win or place (and a share of prize of course).
Maybe I am being too ambitious for the start of the season - just putting it out there.

Ian, I don't think your final point in contentious at all. Divide up the race by laps.10 laps? Assign people to cover breaks (or initiate breaks) at different times during the race. If you have numbers (at least 6 guys) you can put 2 people for the first 4 laps covering breaks, 2 for laps 5-7, and 3 for the final 3 laps. This will help avoid confusion. Others should be close enough to the front to block, cover chase groups, etc. A race captain should do this before hand once you know who is in for each race.

Most people with reasonable fitness can cover breaks for the first 3 laps and then pack sit to recover with enough left in the tank to help with the sprint if it comes down to that. If you guys think a break will go early, assign two people that are riding strong to that role. If you think the break will happen late, assign your strongest guys to those laps. Rotate the sweet spot in different races so everyone has a chance to play different roles. That is what team bike racing is all about.

On Saturday look for breaks after the sprint and after the KOM.

@ David Stearns
LOL. I hope that hump gives you some aerodynamic advantage.

@ Team Cat 5!
The article below is a great primer on team smarts. As Cat 5 El Capitan, I'm going to endeavor to assign everyone specific roles/goals for races. This weekend, let's all aim for wins and riders top 5. I'm not super sure where everyone's fitness is at, so when you get a sec, focus on what you'd like to achieve and share in this thread so we can weave that into a plan for race day.

My initial thoughts: David V or Andrew Da Silva, you could win from a breakaway Saturday with Adam supporting (ideally all three of you together). Brian and Graham if you guys are OK playing pawns, I feel like I could play "Queen" Sunday (er…can we switch to LOTR analogies?).

The thing is, let's make a plan, talk contingencies/conditions/competition and then make it happen!

Team Race Strategy
- http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=7452
Sprint strategy breakdown
- http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5000

Hey Guys --I'll be racing Quabbin Saturday, but should be in for much of the L&C action in the coming weeks.

Good luck and have fun!

I am down for the L&C races - but not the first one... will be in DC with the family.

My personal ambition is to go for a break and make it stick. Having said that, I am also willing to contribute to the team effort - whatever that may be.

Good luck this weekend.

Patrick

Ian,

Agreed, if we have a big presence at the front, people will expect us to handle our share of the general care and feeding of the peleton. I think we can manage that, and I think it actually comes with a bit more opportunity than responsibility. If we decide not to chase something, people will be busy bellyaching about how we have all these guys and aren't chasing -- instead of just shutting up and chasing themselves. Those kinds of things can very much work in our favor. I think we have the opportunity to make a real statement at OUR race with our firepower and up-front organization.

As for the DNFs, I'm personally on board with you. I really feel like caca every time I sit up after finding myself in poor position when the sprint begins. That said, I certainly wouldn't fault anyone for trying to finish strong, even if they won't be in the money. But yeah, I'd rather shatter a few legs, puke on myself, and wobble off the back than not burn all my matches and end up 10th.

Rainy Saturday & Sunday means, I'll probably stay indoors Saturday and suck-it-up Sunday to help JP defend. Except, according to the pdf standings I saw JP was like in 15th. But if he says he's in 8th, I guess I'll have to race in the rain.

i'm going to try and make it on saturday, havent raced yet this year.
been training, feeling good except i ended up with a 2 week break due to travelling.
the +1400w sprint isnt back so i'm down for whatever happens during the race, if theres a sprint at the end i'll try and see what i can do but i dont expect much,
just want to stay safe...

alex

My inclination is to race. However, Saturday is Beth's birthday, and she's expressed an interest in having a weekend morning when I stay in.

That's why I chose someone whose birthday falls in October (I don't do CX races).

Yes, glad to see we'll have a crew out there Saturday. I'm always up for pushing a break. If we have a couple shirts in there, I'm sure we can bring home some points. Whether it's myself or Andrew or whoever has the legs (and is in our kit) doesn't matter. Three in the break would be huge.

Great articles, John. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it out Sunday. Best of luck!

I will be out Sat and am willing to put in work for whomever. Lets set up a plan of who will cover breaks for what laps at the bathroom meeting just before the race.

Alex if you want to try and grab the green jersey...I'll ride for you...otherwise I'm going for it...unless we have someone else who has a great sprint?? If not...I'm going for it.
Yacks

I'm back in NY May 3 and hope to do most of the series, though my life recently seems to demand a lot of surprise travel. I'll ride hard and chip as needed and directed, no real designs on the series.

I'll say that having seen Alex accelerate away from me on a short power climb a few weeks ago ya'll could do worse than to put him at the back of your leadout train!

If you guys follow Yacks' plan in his first post with him protected for the sprint competition and then recovering enough to start the leadout train for Alex you guys will be a force to be reckoned with, you might just clean up.

And then you've got enough super strong guys to have a backup sprinter and still have plenty who can attack and cover breaks throughout. I can't imagine there is a 4 squad with more overall strength and versatility than we have right now! Can't wait to get back!

In the meantime, I'll be out this weekend trying to represent at "The Devil's Punchbowl" on Saturday - find out if I trade blows with these friggin' California mountaingoats!

R.