nice work fellas! real nice!

Not as windy as last Saturday but definitely worst then most of the time, headwind sprint.

3/4's started of great, Mike, Jeff and myself staying at the front most of the time. Mike goes off the front pretty early solo, I try my best to block for him. Soon there's a group of 3 (or 4)? including Mike up ahead. Another small group goes consisting of Lance, a long haired Hudson rider, a guy wearing a breakaway couriers jersey (or are they a team?) and another in a Blue/Yellow kit. I'm on the front a bit when a guy in a colorful jersey tells me to go and let's bridge up to 'em (why do I listen to random people in races? It worked never the less. He tried following my wheel but ended up dragging the whole field behind him, same as last Saturday. So I shift down and really attack, make it to the chasing group in about 1/2 lap. 1 lap in it I decide to bridge up to the lead where Mike was. That was preety disastrous as I just couldn't make it so I ended up dangling between the two groups for a lap and a half. Rejoined the chase group, realized we weren't going to get caught from behind so I sat in back. The blue/yellow guy kept getting preety angry with me and the Hudson rider (Lance told him to shup up) So I finally told him I have a team mate up front and I'm obviously not going to chase. This was a revelation to him and he decided to drill it by himself on the front for a lap until he got tired and drifted back. With 1/2 lap I attacked on the back section. Got a little gap, Lance chased with Hudson following. Near the end I think they just gave up and let me have 4th.

Great racing! Congrats to John Malcolmson who got 2nd in the 5's

Congratulations to Mike and Wojciech and John...and Jeff, for sitting in so well : ).

McKay and I lined up for Cat 5. Plan was for McKay to follow my wheel. Into the first corner Sam from breakaway couriers did his predictable Cancellara-like acceleration, and there was an immediate split of 10 or so. I lapped through and then Sam and I were away for next half lap before 8 man break caught. Gradually shed riders, NY velo guy dropped 2 to go (they had 3 in race) and then we were 4. (BVF, and strong vet). Final lap Sam solo'd early, I waited for the other two to chase and vet went, but gap got bigger! I attacked 300 out, closed gap but not before line
McKay sprinted bunch for 5th (not sure)... If we could get him to the finish, it'd be game over! Cat 5 PP sunday riders take note that Sam will be riding, and I guarantee he will attack on the first hill--race will be won and lost in first 5 minutes.

Well done plata and michael--that was gutsy stuff out there bridging solo in that punishing wind.

and McKay....

Only a little to add. Jeff Owens got in a group after the first turn with all the favorites. Pack got within a wheel or two. I decided to accelerate up the right (sheltered from the wind) and see if I could drag the group clear. Went too hard I guess and spent a lap off the front by myself. Caught by Dan Schmaltz (BH), Graham of Setanta from last week and James Jospeh. Shook Joseph and it was on, good riding by all in the break.

1/2 lap to go I attack with the tail wind. Shook Dan. Graham was right on my wheel, I could have used more than a 48x12 (rode my cross bike) but soon I was spinning out flying with the tailwind. Traded a few pulls, after turn 3 Graham attacked and got a good gap. Couldn't close it, clawed back into the head wind but course was not long enough.

Happy with 2nd. Good day and good team riding.

One thing I noticed as well: riders jumping on the passing category breaks. Isn't this grounds for DQ? A United rider (I guess it's their race!) hung out with Gavi and his companion for a LOOOOOONG time, but I don't think he made it to either two of the cat 3/4 groups up the road, not sure. Another guy in my bunch said, "It's okay, let's get a free ride." Uh, no, it's illegal? I pointed this out to him (he's been racing a while and should know better) and he just said "ah, noone cares". Ummmm, I'm pretty sure they do! Anyway, I didn't wanna be a goody-two-shoes, but at what point does someone riding along with a passing field qualify for notice? A few people shouted "let them go", but this didn't stop the United guy.

I think this is another good point about riding with a team or club: you pick up on basic stuff. A lot of the unattached riders in the 4's (and some of the attached ones for that matter) not only have no idea how to rotate and have bad pack riding skills, they also do stupid stuff like jump in other fields. One of my pet peeves: SPIT DOWN PLEASE. In about half of the races I've done this year, someone has spat to the side and it's gone right in my face. Maybe it's personal (entirely possible), but just like their pack maneuvers, they have no concept that in a group of 50-100 people that someone just might be behind and next to them. You are going to be sweaty and gross after the race anyway, so your slobber on your top tube, sleeve, or shorts is going to wash right out. I'm sure the more experienced riders have other good tips for etiquette.

Can someone clarify the rules on this (Jeff's post)? When the break I was in during the Spring Series was lapping straggling riders a United rider jumped on us - but only for a little while as we were on the hill and he was dropped. Gavi told him to get off and he responded with something like "shut up and ride."

Rules?

Also - I have seen riders (even a Kissena I think) getting dropped and jumping back in on the next lap - how does the "free lap" rule come into play here? Do you have to have a mechanical or a flat?

Curious. Mike

It's grounds for immediate DQ, especially in a points series.
Two things the race organizers could do:
1) Reiterate the rules on the start line so riders feel enabled to protest scofflaws.
2) Have a race ref with bullhorn to neutralize bunches and give warnings. I've been in races where they'll call riders out by number if they are riding out of bounds or latching. In general I'm surprised at how hands-off most local race organizers are when it comes to enforcing and communicating the rules, it'd make for much safer racing.

Respect the biohazard! In the middle of bunch I'll do the same—just gob straight down to road/bike or chin to chest and farmer blow on shirt! I know, that's like, so gross.

Basically there are riders that will cheat if they can. Officials are weak and the ethos is to not really enforce rules. When officials follow the rules everyone complains. Boo hoo.

Also you cannot work with other fields.

Eric

Sitting on the back of a breakaway of a race you're not in is not only cheating for yourself but also helping the break. That tagged-along rider is helping provide a draft for the person he's riding behind. As such, there are grounds to disqualify both the hanger-on and the driving breakaway.

The "free lap" thing (a rider getting back into a race after a mechanical or getting dropped w/o an official free lap rule) also has the potential to have the lapped rider aiding the field. With big fields, by this I mean 90+ riders, that one extra rider sitting on the back "putting in miles" is probably not making a difference to the race. However, if the field is small, 10-40 riders, that lapped rider has the potential to help prevent people from getting dropped, and at the small size, potentially has an opportunity to coach teammates or friends. I think fields in between 40-90 that rider not in the race sitting in is a harder call.

Officials often accept riders they trust slotting in at the back of a large field. Racers don't always like it, as the rider slotting in can be someone who is strong enough that sitting at the back is their "taking it easy" pace and as such, they can be downright chatty. Riders at the back struggling or those who see themselves as racing are often displeased by this chatter, unless it is coaching and coaxing them to stay in teh field.

I am amazed at all the terrific results getting posted. Yay team!

We will miss you in the 5s John.

I am not sure why the first few laps were so painful, but i basically could not hold on to the front guys on Thursday, and didnt really warm up untill 3 laps in, and by then the break was out of sight. I attacked on the front windy side on laps 3 and 4, thought 5 was the last lap, (it wasnt) and put out my all for a sprint.. alone... but it netted me a big jump on the field up to a guy who hadnt been in the break, but i guess was floating out in the middle somewhere. i tried to get him to work a bit thinking we could bridge, but he just sat in, and by the home stretch the pack had caught up. I was pretty surprised to beat the pack in the sprint, but it seems that the two guys who got dropped from the break stayed away, so i got a 7th. one of these days i will get in the break!

results here:

http://wsunited.org/results.html

Looks like we've got Michael Perlberg in the 3/4 lead. So who's going to come out to help make sure he keeps getting in breaks and keeps the excitable cat 3/4 field from turning into a sprint where James Joseph's has a shot?

Posted By: Dan Reinersresults here:

http://wsunited.org/results.html

Looks like we've got Michael Perlberg in the 3/4 lead. So who's going to come out to help make sure he keeps getting in breaks and keeps the excitable cat 3/4 field from turning into a sprint where James Joseph's has a shot?

Dan, thanks for posting. I am actually tied for the lead with a guy who won the last race so I'm hoping he gets to wear the jersey and I can remain anonymous.

I can't promise this, but every week so far we've had enough payout at the end of the race to at least cover everyone's entry fee, usually a little extra.

Also, Wojciech is up there in the overall. So we have multiple cards to play.

For those who don't race at FBF often, it is always great workout and a chance to practice race tactics: creating breaks, following moves to breaks, bridging, blocking, pace-lining, etc. Come on out!

Mike

P.S. I've been doing some pretty serious military style training this week:


http://epg.modot.org/files/9/9e/748.9_Clarksville_Sandbagging.jpg

I plan to race Thurs... there's a slight chance that I'll get stuck at work, but I should be good to go.

I plan to as well, but thunderstorms and/or childbirth could change that.

I plan on coming out, unless the aforementioned storms hit. Glad to assist Mike in his quest for that 1st prize frameset. But, if he wins, he has to do this:

http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cyclings/NYC-Spring-Series-Race-2011end/16755779_kJ6rLb#1264191379_DZnb9CH

Actually, Michael, if you do that, I will not longer acknowledge that you exist.

See you guys Thursday!

i'm planning on doing this

thunderstorms may change my plans, though - i have a party to go to afterwards!

Posted By: Jeff OwensI plan on coming out, unless the aforementioned storms hit. Glad to assist Mike in his quest for that 1st prize frameset. But, if he wins, he has to do this:

http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cyclings/NYC-Spring-Series-Race-2011end/16755779_kJ6rLb#1264191379_DZnb9CH

Actually, Michael, if you do that, I will not longer acknowledge that you exist.

See you guys Thursday!

Actually Jeff, I figured out what he meant with that victory salute. The 2 fingers on the left stand for yesterday. The 2 fingers on the right stand for 2nd place (duh!). So actually the whole thing is a shout out to yesterday's second place rider. ME. Thanks Amigo!

I was lucky enough to catch this victory salute in action. And lest you think it was a simple crossing of the arms, I'm here to tell you there was some serious gesticulating and articulation leading into the final pose.

Posted By: Bill CareyI plan to as well, but thunderstorms and/or childbirth could change that. .

I hope you're not implying that thunderstorms cause childbirth, because, that means I have to go back and revisit what I know from HS health class.

Posted By: Dan Reiners

Posted By: Bill CareyI plan to as well, but thunderstorms and/or childbirth could change that. .

I hope you're not implying that thunderstorms cause childbirth, because, that means I have to go back and revisit what I know from HS health class.

damn, KNEW I shoulda taken that class!

Just checked radar and FBF looks like a go—possibly wet, but not predicting thunderstorms.

Anyone driving out from BK could give me a lift? McKay?

Finished my 10 and upgraded to 4. Boom!

way to go girl!!!

Uh, that sucked. 3/4 condensed with the 123's? Nooooooooo. Let the record show I led the race for about ten seconds on the first lap....then got dropped. The course was cut in half and was full of fun muddy puddles.

Michael worked his ass off and finished strong. Some insane German dude TT'd off the front and won.

Wojciech had an awesome Roubaix-esque face going on after the race. Wish I would've taken his picture, but he kinda looked like this:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/road/2011-paris-roubaix-photos-ben-delaney-visits-with-racers-before-and-after_168628/attachment/i-cant-move-my-fingers

I think Charlie I would have cancelled this race, FWIW. There were huge puddles everywhere and the course was cut in half, we had to come across the middle runway. I thought it was a little sketchy.

Fields were combined. Racing for separate points but only 6 cash places.

At the end of the day there were 3 people with 3/4 numbers left, and maybe 15 others. I took 3rd of 3/4s, Lance and some Scottos guy sprinted by me at the end.

I hope I earned a little street cred by helping chase the breakaway German. I was trying to stay near the front near the end, 2-4 guys were working to bring the breakaway rider back and I was sitting right there. Either I refused to help or got in the mix. I was feeling frisky and thinking about the catch and counter-attack so I lent a hand. We never got him, and maybe that took enough out of me so the two 3/4 guys sitting in beat me. I guess I'm ok with that. I was working for the win and not riding to not loose, and that is a good thing I think (maybe a bit stupid).

John had a nice welcome to category 4 racing. Got to race with the 1/2/3s and even had some flats to deal with. Owens, Wojciech, Norm were also slogging it out.

Mike

You guys got it all wrong.

The 3/4 race started 6 of us, John, Jeff, Norm, A CRCA guy, a United guy and myself. Since we had such high numbers we dominated the race. By the 13th lap we lost the United guy and John had gotten his 3rd? flat. We were really cranking it out at that point. On the 15th lap it was me norm john & the crca guy. John gave me a nice push as I was dropping off the back, didn't really feel like sprinting at all so crca got the win, I came in second.

Kidding. We all got dropped and then lapped. Sad day.

On a side note James Joseph amused me once again by yelling and cursing at me for not pulling hard enough to get him and his friend back up to the main group once I got dropped and they caught up with me. He eventually decided it would be easier to just drop out and rejoin the group on the next lap. Very classy.

Funny thing about these races is that the higher you go in the categories the more important it is to make sure your "in" the race at all times. I probably let my mind wander for a few seconds, lost the wheel in front of me, and off the back I went.
The next dumb move I made was actually trying to chase back on. Hah.

That is a much better race report!

Wait a second....he got dropped, then blamed YOU for not pulling him back on...THEN, dropped out and just jumped back on the next lap? As per Mike's question last week, you have to actually have a mechanical or crash to latch back on for the free lap, no? Not just "take a break" lap, right? And he curses at you....Point him out to me at the next race.

On another note, when we were warming up there was a cat5 crash and we assisted the two fallen riders. I think it was fully appreciated and spoke volumes about the club when 4 guys stop and make sure everyone is okay, offering assistance back to the start/finish.