May 08, 2012 at 12:48 PM
From Charlie:
I really need reg and marshal help at tonight's FBF race. Anybody that helps tonight can race at PP for free. Please show up by 6.
Thanks!!
Floyd Bennett Field
Apr 07, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Went out to Floyd Bennett Field tonight to do the Cat 3/4 race. We had one Kissena in the Cat 5 race (very small field, 10 guys?) but I forgot his name. His last name was catchy though. It was his first race since a crash at prospect 1 1/2 years ago.
In the 3/4's we had a good sized field, 25-30 guys I think. It was a bit windy, certainly less them most of the time out there though. The race started at about 6:50 and ended around 7:50, the darkness certainly made for an interesting display of lights over the horizon, but with a smaller field I don't think it made the conditions all that much more dangerous.
Race Report: I talked to (and met for the first time actually) Lance Snidowski (organic) before the race. I knew that if he was in it he had one thing on his mind: break. After a lap of the United guys trying to control the front (it is their race after all) there was a break of about 4. A Hudson guy tried to bridge up to it but actually ended up dragging the whole field along. In the second lap Lance, 2 United guys, A Hudson rider and a un-attached rider created a second break. Two guys go to bridge up, James joseph and a unatt rider. With them about 20 meters off the front I attacked. I bridged up to them and we worked together to get to a lead group of just two now (lance and a unatt) At about lap three our lead group was down to 4, Me, Lance, James & a unattached. We worked together rather well given the fact that it was myself and Lance doing most of the work. We got a plan together (in Polish, language barrier success as far as the other two riders are concerned) to attack and loose the two guys with 2 laps to go. Lance attacks right after the turn on the straight-away which is the sprint to Charlies races, and I try to follow. We don't get anywhere as the two other riders weren't willing to let us go. So a pace line resumes, with lance up front, unatt, then James, and then me off to the right a bit. Bam, James & unatt go down. Probably because the unattached rider was not only to the wrong side of lance (left, when we were pulling off to the left the whole time) he also overlapped wheels. I moved a bit to the right and avoid them by a few feet. When I turn around James is already up so no need to stop. Me and Lance ride the remaining 2 laps solo, and he get's the sprint (obviously) He also won a sprint prime at the fourth lap worth 20$. I get my best result thus far in a 3/4 race.
James and the other rider cross the finish line 3rd & 4th. How they managed to sprint I don't know, their bikes didn't look in all that great shape. They didn't look too badly hurt though, so that's a plus. The come over to the line where were standing and start calling Lance out. The story they came up with was that he hit his brakes intentionally and caused the two of them to go down. (not possible since lance did not loose any momentum before/ after the crash) At first they said he must have tapped his brakes, then that he hit them so hard they heard his wheel screeching. I was off the back and saw the whole thing but they didn't have much use for my opinion, so they told me to stay out of it or else. I say or else what? At that point James got pretty mad but continued his "you're not listening to us! you (Lance) tapped/ pulled your brakes intentionally on us!" rant. In all seriousness I think he was a bit drunk.
In any case great race as far as "race time" is concerned. The field had no intention of chasing us I heard later.
Lance gave me a ride back home to Staten Island which cut my bike-train-ferry-train-bike commute back from 3 hours to under 1/2 hour in the car lol.
In the 3/4's we had a good sized field, 25-30 guys I think. It was a bit windy, certainly less them most of the time out there though. The race started at about 6:50 and ended around 7:50, the darkness certainly made for an interesting display of lights over the horizon, but with a smaller field I don't think it made the conditions all that much more dangerous.
Race Report: I talked to (and met for the first time actually) Lance Snidowski (organic) before the race. I knew that if he was in it he had one thing on his mind: break. After a lap of the United guys trying to control the front (it is their race after all) there was a break of about 4. A Hudson guy tried to bridge up to it but actually ended up dragging the whole field along. In the second lap Lance, 2 United guys, A Hudson rider and a un-attached rider created a second break. Two guys go to bridge up, James joseph and a unatt rider. With them about 20 meters off the front I attacked. I bridged up to them and we worked together to get to a lead group of just two now (lance and a unatt) At about lap three our lead group was down to 4, Me, Lance, James & a unattached. We worked together rather well given the fact that it was myself and Lance doing most of the work. We got a plan together (in Polish, language barrier success as far as the other two riders are concerned) to attack and loose the two guys with 2 laps to go. Lance attacks right after the turn on the straight-away which is the sprint to Charlies races, and I try to follow. We don't get anywhere as the two other riders weren't willing to let us go. So a pace line resumes, with lance up front, unatt, then James, and then me off to the right a bit. Bam, James & unatt go down. Probably because the unattached rider was not only to the wrong side of lance (left, when we were pulling off to the left the whole time) he also overlapped wheels. I moved a bit to the right and avoid them by a few feet. When I turn around James is already up so no need to stop. Me and Lance ride the remaining 2 laps solo, and he get's the sprint (obviously) He also won a sprint prime at the fourth lap worth 20$. I get my best result thus far in a 3/4 race.
James and the other rider cross the finish line 3rd & 4th. How they managed to sprint I don't know, their bikes didn't look in all that great shape. They didn't look too badly hurt though, so that's a plus. The come over to the line where were standing and start calling Lance out. The story they came up with was that he hit his brakes intentionally and caused the two of them to go down. (not possible since lance did not loose any momentum before/ after the crash) At first they said he must have tapped his brakes, then that he hit them so hard they heard his wheel screeching. I was off the back and saw the whole thing but they didn't have much use for my opinion, so they told me to stay out of it or else. I say or else what? At that point James got pretty mad but continued his "you're not listening to us! you (Lance) tapped/ pulled your brakes intentionally on us!" rant. In all seriousness I think he was a bit drunk.
In any case great race as far as "race time" is concerned. The field had no intention of chasing us I heard later.
Lance gave me a ride back home to Staten Island which cut my bike-train-ferry-train-bike commute back from 3 hours to under 1/2 hour in the car lol.
Apr 08, 2011 at 12:20 AM
Nice work Wojciech... congrats on a good race and fine placing!
Sorry about the shenanigans with the irrational riders. Unfortunate.
Sorry about the shenanigans with the irrational riders. Unfortunate.
Apr 08, 2011 at 12:34 AM
Way to go, Wojciech, that's a nice result, and nicely earned.
I recall during the last TdF somebody asked Cavendish after a crash who's fault it was, sort of insinuating that one of his rivals had done something wrong. He shrugged in his Cav way. "I dunno," he said. "It's just a bike racing incident."
Anyway, glad you and Lance won, and glad no one was hurt.
R.
I recall during the last TdF somebody asked Cavendish after a crash who's fault it was, sort of insinuating that one of his rivals had done something wrong. He shrugged in his Cav way. "I dunno," he said. "It's just a bike racing incident."
Anyway, glad you and Lance won, and glad no one was hurt.
R.
Apr 08, 2011 at 06:21 AM
Dobro Wojciech.
Eric
Eric
Apr 08, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Great job!
Apr 08, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Great report and fine racing! Unfortunate that you had to experience that kind of tom foolery.
E
E
Apr 08, 2011 at 10:13 AM
I seem to remember a post from Wojciech a month or so back wondering what happened to his fitness...I guess you found your legs again! Congrats on the great race. Next time though, no 'obviously Lance won the sprint,' okay? ;-)
Apr 08, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Thanks guys!
Haha yes Marc, looks like I found them. All it took was a week of some hard efforts, that's what I neglected in the winter. It might be "obvious" for some time to come lol, I have to really work on my sprint in order to counter his
I think I remember that Ryan, the people around were saying the same thing (it's dark, these things happen) Eh it's unfortunate but what can you do.
I'll be at Floyd every Tuesday & Thursday nights so of you guys want to come out you know you have a teammate there.
Haha yes Marc, looks like I found them. All it took was a week of some hard efforts, that's what I neglected in the winter. It might be "obvious" for some time to come lol, I have to really work on my sprint in order to counter his
I think I remember that Ryan, the people around were saying the same thing (it's dark, these things happen) Eh it's unfortunate but what can you do.
I'll be at Floyd every Tuesday & Thursday nights so of you guys want to come out you know you have a teammate there.
Apr 08, 2011 at 12:28 PM
I don't know James Joseph from Adam, but people talk immense shit about him on NYVelocity. They claim he's caused more crashes than just about anyone who comes out, and that you shouldn't take his wheel if you can at all avoid it.
Apr 08, 2011 at 01:54 PM
James Joseph is a very savvy rider, who has years of experience winning races. He gets slammed quite a bit in NYVC forums, mainly because he continues to remain a Cat 3, while winning/placing frequently. Considering the guy is in his 50s you can't really fault him for not wanting to upgrade to a cat 2, and honestly I don't blame him for not racing Master's races here. Unless you're on Bauer, those races are 12 laps of getting beaten up by Bauer to get 3rd at best.
He can be dangerous because he is a good bike handler, and can squeeze through spaces that don't really exist, near riders who are not comfortable bumping. For most of any race you'll find him tailgunning in the 53/14 doing very low cadence. 2 laps to go, he'll start moving up and getting ready to sprint. He can be a tough wheel to follow moving up since most spaces he goes through close up as soon as he's through and he leaves a trail of riders swearing behind him as he puts them in situations that are dangerous.
He can be dangerous because he is a good bike handler, and can squeeze through spaces that don't really exist, near riders who are not comfortable bumping. For most of any race you'll find him tailgunning in the 53/14 doing very low cadence. 2 laps to go, he'll start moving up and getting ready to sprint. He can be a tough wheel to follow moving up since most spaces he goes through close up as soon as he's through and he leaves a trail of riders swearing behind him as he puts them in situations that are dangerous.
Apr 08, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Great job. Congratulations.
Apr 08, 2011 at 07:37 PM
Good job! I love the "or else" and your response. Or else what? Or......else else!! Seriously, have you ever seen two cyclists throw down? It's like little kids in romper room. Very sad but funny. There are some good clips online.
Apr 08, 2011 at 09:05 PM
Nice job, maybe we can ride you into the overall jersey on tuesdays. (i want the sprint jersey haha)
Apr 12, 2011 at 06:50 PM
I'll be at Floyd again this Thursday if anyone would like to join. I'm going to try and go for a top 5 overall, (in the 3/4's) so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mattie, I'm totally open to helping you into the sprint jersey on Tuesdays
Mattie, I'm totally open to helping you into the sprint jersey on Tuesdays
Apr 12, 2011 at 07:17 PM
Wojciech - I just might join you Thursday night. Probably will do the 3/4s, maybe the 1,2,3s if I'm feeling manly.
Apr 13, 2011 at 09:25 PM
anyone riding Cat 5 at FBF tomorrow evening???
Apr 14, 2011 at 09:34 PM
Great night at Floyd! Michael 1st, Jan 5th, & I got the 20$ prime
I Will let Michael post a race report
I Will let Michael post a race report
Apr 14, 2011 at 09:40 PM
I sense sand. Nice work men.
Eric (Sandman number 2).
Eric (Sandman number 2).
Apr 14, 2011 at 10:20 PM
HOT! Good job Michael et al! Good turnout? I'm on SPRING BREAK (college rules the third time) next week, so if I'm not sick maybe I'll join you guys.
Apr 15, 2011 at 12:15 AM
that's awesome
report please!
report please!
Apr 15, 2011 at 12:40 AM
Super impressive. Congratulations!
Apr 15, 2011 at 07:14 AM
Quick Report:
Decided to do the Thursday night 3/4 race at Floyd instead of my V02Max workout - I think it was successful. Emailed with Wojciech before hand with some ideas. I thought it'd be easy to get a break established with Wojciech in it but that wasn't to be the case. Eric told me - if you can't get Wojciech the win, then you win. So I did.
Here is how it went down. Fast start. Ouch. These races start on what is usually the 3rd stretch of Kissena run races. I went towards the front and followed moves but nothing was sticking. I was looking around and couldn't find Wojceich but Jan was lurking towards the front. I went and found Wojceich riding on the back (hey, that's my spot!) and told him to follow me up to the front. He did as he was told. With about 1.5 laps til the prime a move had just been reeled in and we found ourselves on the front. Wojceich asked "what do we do now." I said "attack now, hard." Being a good soldier, he did and got a sizable gap. I was hoping there would be some counter attacks and me or Jan could follow something up to Wojceich. The attacks came, but they were feeble. Nobody got anywhere close. Poor Wojceich dangled out there. I went and blocked and got in the way as much as I could. I figured....at least hold on for the prime. It looked like he was going to get caught but he did end up grabbing the prime.
At this point I was really tired from following wheels, blocking, etc. I fell back a bit but fell back too far. I got gaped by some slow person and couldn't chase back on. Shit. I'm dropped. What? In a 3/4 race? No! I started chasing hard but wasn't gaining any ground. Thankfully, the field slowed into the tailwind and allowed me back in. Phew.
We now had 3 or 4 to go. Wojceich attacked again and bridged up to a solo W.S. United rider. Unfortunately, that dude was toast and Wojceich spent another lap out front all alone. There was one promising bridge attempt I was sitting on the back of that got caught. Those same guys organized a chase, I sat 4th or 5th wheel and allowed just those guys to slot back in and tried to limit the number of people chasing. One rider said to me, is that the same dude that attacked the last time? (Yes) I'm not chasing him, he's got too much heart and deserves the win.
Wojceich was caught with about 1.5 to go (I think) and the chasers slid back. So I find myself first wheel riding kinda slow. I kinda roll off and get a small gap with a Setanta rider. Realizing this, I rode harder and the field didn't react. We worked well together and he seemed happy for a 2nd place, at the start I was gaping him and having to sit up and wait. We took turns pulling and with 1/2 a lap to go it seemed like we had it in the bag. On the final stretch, I figured I'd go for a longer sprint sine he was tired and no need to give him a chance for a short jump. I got a really big gap and was able to roll across the line well clear.
Jan got 5th and $25, Wojceich got the $20 prime. All together we $115 between the 3 of us. We split it up evenly and all went home happy campers. Great job out there. Wojceich deserved a break but I guess it just wasn't in the cards today. On a silly side note - lots of lame ass comments from the field. "why are you blocking" "oh we didn't see that attack coming" etc. etc. On a less silly side note, nobody had shit to say when a Kissena won it.
Decided to do the Thursday night 3/4 race at Floyd instead of my V02Max workout - I think it was successful. Emailed with Wojciech before hand with some ideas. I thought it'd be easy to get a break established with Wojciech in it but that wasn't to be the case. Eric told me - if you can't get Wojciech the win, then you win. So I did.
Here is how it went down. Fast start. Ouch. These races start on what is usually the 3rd stretch of Kissena run races. I went towards the front and followed moves but nothing was sticking. I was looking around and couldn't find Wojceich but Jan was lurking towards the front. I went and found Wojceich riding on the back (hey, that's my spot!) and told him to follow me up to the front. He did as he was told. With about 1.5 laps til the prime a move had just been reeled in and we found ourselves on the front. Wojceich asked "what do we do now." I said "attack now, hard." Being a good soldier, he did and got a sizable gap. I was hoping there would be some counter attacks and me or Jan could follow something up to Wojceich. The attacks came, but they were feeble. Nobody got anywhere close. Poor Wojceich dangled out there. I went and blocked and got in the way as much as I could. I figured....at least hold on for the prime. It looked like he was going to get caught but he did end up grabbing the prime.
At this point I was really tired from following wheels, blocking, etc. I fell back a bit but fell back too far. I got gaped by some slow person and couldn't chase back on. Shit. I'm dropped. What? In a 3/4 race? No! I started chasing hard but wasn't gaining any ground. Thankfully, the field slowed into the tailwind and allowed me back in. Phew.
We now had 3 or 4 to go. Wojceich attacked again and bridged up to a solo W.S. United rider. Unfortunately, that dude was toast and Wojceich spent another lap out front all alone. There was one promising bridge attempt I was sitting on the back of that got caught. Those same guys organized a chase, I sat 4th or 5th wheel and allowed just those guys to slot back in and tried to limit the number of people chasing. One rider said to me, is that the same dude that attacked the last time? (Yes) I'm not chasing him, he's got too much heart and deserves the win.
Wojceich was caught with about 1.5 to go (I think) and the chasers slid back. So I find myself first wheel riding kinda slow. I kinda roll off and get a small gap with a Setanta rider. Realizing this, I rode harder and the field didn't react. We worked well together and he seemed happy for a 2nd place, at the start I was gaping him and having to sit up and wait. We took turns pulling and with 1/2 a lap to go it seemed like we had it in the bag. On the final stretch, I figured I'd go for a longer sprint sine he was tired and no need to give him a chance for a short jump. I got a really big gap and was able to roll across the line well clear.
Jan got 5th and $25, Wojceich got the $20 prime. All together we $115 between the 3 of us. We split it up evenly and all went home happy campers. Great job out there. Wojceich deserved a break but I guess it just wasn't in the cards today. On a silly side note - lots of lame ass comments from the field. "why are you blocking" "oh we didn't see that attack coming" etc. etc. On a less silly side note, nobody had shit to say when a Kissena won it.
Apr 15, 2011 at 09:55 AM
nice one, guys. a job well done!
whining about "blocking" (does anyone really actively 'block' as opposed to sitting on the front riding slow tempo?) from those sitting in for the field sprint is ever-amusing. they're free to move up and set the tempo themselves but almost never do!
it seems like someone's always got something negative to say. at least attacks shake the race up instead of letting it boil down to a predictable formula. i wish people would just stay cool, make their moves, and ride.
whining about "blocking" (does anyone really actively 'block' as opposed to sitting on the front riding slow tempo?) from those sitting in for the field sprint is ever-amusing. they're free to move up and set the tempo themselves but almost never do!
it seems like someone's always got something negative to say. at least attacks shake the race up instead of letting it boil down to a predictable formula. i wish people would just stay cool, make their moves, and ride.
Apr 15, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Textbook stuff. Well done fellas.
Michael, I think you mean "gapping".
Michael, I think you mean "gapping".
Apr 15, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Fortune favors the bold, and it sounds like Kissena rode the race A1-style. Looking forward to racing with Wojceich soon.
Apr 15, 2011 at 12:08 PM
congrats to the three of you!!!!
Apr 20, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Anyone coming out tomorrow for the 3/4 race? I promise a good workout.
Apr 20, 2011 at 04:30 PM
I'll be there
My plan is simple, break early and make it atleast to the prime. Then Break again and keep it through to the finish. Anyones welcome to accompany me (unlike last week lol)
My plan is simple, break early and make it atleast to the prime. Then Break again and keep it through to the finish. Anyones welcome to accompany me (unlike last week lol)
Apr 21, 2011 at 02:12 PM
I think I'll be rolling out. Looks windy! Although not this bad:
http://youtu.be/H8qgjyqibwY
@ 45 seconds is the really only good part.
Anyway, if anyone wants to meet around GAP or someplace, I'll be riding down from greenpoint around...5:30?
http://youtu.be/H8qgjyqibwY
@ 45 seconds is the really only good part.
Anyway, if anyone wants to meet around GAP or someplace, I'll be riding down from greenpoint around...5:30?
Apr 21, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Michael 2nd and Wojciech 4th. Woooooo!
Pretty windy. Field was fairly shredded. Once you could see their two little groups working up the road, what was left in the third group decided to ride like it was rush hour traffic, with random accelerations and 30 meter heroes blowing up (myself included for giggles) followed by my favorite way to ride: sittin' in!
Congrats to them both, it was blustery and my lips are chapped. Boo hoo hoo....
Pretty windy. Field was fairly shredded. Once you could see their two little groups working up the road, what was left in the third group decided to ride like it was rush hour traffic, with random accelerations and 30 meter heroes blowing up (myself included for giggles) followed by my favorite way to ride: sittin' in!
Congrats to them both, it was blustery and my lips are chapped. Boo hoo hoo....