I won a trophy - Pro 1, 2, 3 Most Improved Rider

(let the player hating commence)

^ That photo is why I love this club

I won a trophy - Pro 1, 2, 3 Most Improved Rider

(let the player hating commence)

Bookmarked. This is going in the stack with ryan's head shot and Mike's moving day photo. One day there will be a glorious collage. 

#MenofKissenaCalendar

What, Vlad, the wicked game pic WITH BIKE only goes on Facebook and not here to the gang ? ?

What, Vlad, the wicked game pic WITH BIKE only goes on Facebook and not here to the gang ? ?

You got it gang!

Lordy, I lol'ed so hard...it's really a toss-up as to which pic is more pure gold.

^ That photo is why I love this club

+ 1

I think we could devote an entire calendar to Vlad...

so so good

Does anyone have an extra jersey they can bring to the race tonight?
Nosson spielberg
917-586-0170

How were tonight's races ? 

our Trophy Tent is getting MIGHTY CROWDED

save some room for the kegs. Think of the KEGS!

Fun night. Outstanding weather. Looks like Malcolmson and I finished just outside the top 10 in our respective races.

I'll let the pictures do the rest.

CAUTION:  SAUSAGE SUIT SIGHTING!!!

Did Axis really go 1-2?

How did that happen?

John, I'd be worried about the guy with dreadlocks wearing the Catlike Whisper like a yarmulke.  I hadn't seen him this year and hoped he had retired.  Possibly the sketchiest cat 4 out there.

@ Owens: not possibly, definitely

So...is tomorrow the last night?  I never know where Charlie posts this stuff...

Three more including tomorrow's race. Come get some!

You know I'm there, V!

John - I agree about going for ours in a break.  The Axis dudes have the right idea.  I've been feeling a lot stronger at Floyd and I'm pretty sure that you, Patrick and I could do some serious damage.

Jesus Christ on a Boogie Board Vlad, that is some serious pain.

Got a new thresh

p.s. face tat pistachio bro (Riquelme) came through

Jeebus - that was hard last night.  The race was fast as heck from the gun (we were often clocking upwards of 30mph on the long side stretch), and every break attempt was being chased down.  My left hand went completely numb a couple of laps in (been having this problem a lot lately - hoping it's just a fit issue) and I couldn't manage to work any feeling back into it.  I seriously considered pulling out of the race - for my safety and others' - but instead decided to attack with two to go on the warped logic that if I stayed ahead of the field my gimpy hand wouldn't harm anyone except me.  After half a lap of that a Bicycle Planet and another dude bridged up (ok, they flew by me) and I hopped on their wheel for a minute before fading back into the pack.  On the final lap I decided that with my hand feeling like a pound of olive loaf resting on the brake hood I had no business contesting the sprint, and sat in the back for the finish.

Ugh. 

Can't wait for next week!

Last one of the year. Bonus points!

6:30 start for the 1/2/3 and 3/4. 5's go at 6:00.

How'd it go?

Pretty fast racing out there tonight

It was beautiful night. Lots of people came out to race. Charlie publicly thanked his staff and we were off.

The temperature was perfect, but the wind was howling. Even with a fairly large field, it's nearly impossible to hide from gusts this strong. This type of wind also becomes extra hard to deal with when the prolonged surging kicks in.

The green jersey sprints came early and were on back to back laps (5 and 6 I think). The repeat was new which made it hurt more. I stayed up front and got in some moves, but everything got pulled back. Late in the race, I was in a promising move with 7-9 of some of the strongest riders, but the field pulled us back... and then immediately sat up. Two of the guys in the move used that opportunity to roll off the front. Those two were Brian Breach and Matt Seaton, so I didn't see them again until after the race. Augusto bridged with Victor 'Face Tat' Riquelme from the Wonderful Pistachios team. Mengoni kind of blew it by letting Victor beat them in the sprint. I was close behind finishing somewhere just outside the top 10.

I had a blast this year out there. Learning how to race in the 123's on Tuesday nights is a privilege. Despite all the times I got dropped early on, I'm really glad that I stuck it out, got into shape, and stepped my game up so that I could actually race. Persistence does pay off in this sport.

Before I left, I shook Charlie's hand and thanked him for everything he did to put these on. He deserves adulation for the consistent quality of his work.

As I rode back down Flatbush ave, I did my best to soak it all in because it would be a while before I made that trip on Tuesday night again. I miss Floyd already.

It was great to see you out there so much this year Vlad - bummed that my injury caused me to miss the last one.

Thanks man. Here are some P/1/2/3 shots from last night.