Aug 16, 2012 at 06:54 PM
Last race today. I'm going to race the 123 race then turk it up at the back of the 45.
Rockleigh Crit - Thursday Night Race series
May 22, 2013 at 03:59 PM
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/19466
is anyone doing it this year? looks like you have to register for them all at once? it begins tomorrow.
i could do tomorrow's. the commute out from brooklyn sucks, huh?
May 22, 2013 at 05:37 PM
Looks like $20 per race
May 22, 2013 at 08:59 PM
This is a really nice series. And while the commute "sucks" from Brooklyn in terms of distance, it's actually very pleasant otherwise. I mean, it's the same way you take to get to the start of Kissena group rides on the Jersey side of the GWB.
Folks in Manhattan should really try these races out. Very nice training. 1 hour medium pace to get to the race, 1 hour race pace, 1 hour-ish easy ride home through trees and grass with crickets chirping along the way. And if you take the secret back way back into New Jersey through Columbia, I guarantee you you will see rabbits and deer.
I wish I could do this series again this year...
May 23, 2013 at 02:29 AM
I'll be doing the whole series. race the 123, then sit in on the 45 for bonus miles. weather updates on the Facebook page.
May 23, 2013 at 12:00 PM
I'm thinking about it...what time does race start? couldn't find the start time anywhere- its says registration starts at 5:15 until start of race but there's no indication of it...help!
May 23, 2013 at 12:42 PM
alyoshas said:I'm thinking about it...what time does race start? couldn't find the start time anywhere- its says registration starts at 5:15 until start of race but there's no indication of it...help!
Bikereg to the rescue!
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/19466
6pm is the start of the 1/2/3 race and cat 4/5s go at 7pm.
May 23, 2013 at 02:31 PM
it's unlikely that i'll go tonight due to the forecast of thunderstorms. but i'll make the call later in the afternoon, hoping for winds of change
May 23, 2013 at 03:31 PM
Take meBrendan Rigby said:it's unlikely that i'll go tonight due to the forecast of thunderstorms. but i'll make the call later in the afternoon, hoping for winds of change
To the magic of the moment
On a glory night
- Scorpions, "Winds of Change"
I strive to quote Scorpions lyrics whenever applicable.
May 23, 2013 at 03:47 PM
what is this weather doing? i don't know. it seems to be going back and forth between thunderstorms and clear. it's as if it's trying to...
Tease me
Please Me
And no one needs to know...
May 25, 2013 at 09:43 PM
I'll second Marc's emotion - this is a great little crit series. Somewhat technical course, yet totally flat, super friendly organizers and racers. And the ride home, although often in the dark, is a nice casual spin through quiet roads.Marc Bertucco said:This is a really nice series. And while the commute "sucks" from Brooklyn in terms of distance, it's actually very pleasant otherwise. I mean, it's the same way you take to get to the start of Kissena group rides on the Jersey side of the GWB.
Folks in Manhattan should really try these races out. Very nice training. 1 hour medium pace to get to the race, 1 hour race pace, 1 hour-ish easy ride home through trees and grass with crickets chirping along the way. And if you take the secret back way back into New Jersey through Columbia, I guarantee you you will see rabbits and deer.
I wish I could do this series again this year...
I work Thursdays now, so I can't do it either.
May 30, 2013 at 12:36 PM
I want to race tonight but work and the lengthy commute to nj might prevent me. I'll post later today. Also, would probably take subway to gw bridge to cut out ten miles
May 30, 2013 at 03:55 PM
is there water at the venue? long ride in 85 degree weather to get there
May 30, 2013 at 04:04 PM
Wow, you guys are willing to race in hip-deep mixture of diesel, model airplane fuel and sewage water at FBF and if there isn't a bubbling Evian spring, Rockleigh is out? harhar.
Seriously though, the promoters generally do bring a cooler of water (but it's always empty by the time I get to it), but there is a gas-station on the corner entrance to the "park" that has soda for sale in a vending machine. $1.50 for a 20 oz bottle.
For long rides I recommend bringing an extra bottle or two, stuff it in your jersey and/or ride with string backpack. This is what we Manhattan kids do when we ride to race in your neighborhood.
May 30, 2013 at 06:11 PM
planning on going tonight. 4/5 field, registering upon arrival. i will depart brooklyn via A train at 4:45. is this too early? i plan on NOT hammering it once i cross over the GW. little ring style so i have some gas left for the main event.
what A line subway stop is best to get on the GW's bike ramp?
May 30, 2013 at 06:31 PM
Give yourself 45 minutes of tempo riding once you get to the Jersey side of the GWB to get to the start. The A train stops at 175 and 181. If you get out at 175, you will recognize the streets and the turn offs.
________________________________
From: Brendan Rigby
To: Marc Bertucco
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 2:11 PM
Subject: Re: [KissenaCycling] Rockleigh Crit - Thursday Night Race series
planning on going tonight.
________________________________
From: Brendan Rigby
To: Marc Bertucco
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 2:11 PM
Subject: Re: [KissenaCycling] Rockleigh Crit - Thursday Night Race series
planning on going tonight.
May 30, 2013 at 06:57 PM
@aaron: yes. meet at bottom of GWB bike entrance ramp at 5:45? what's your contact info, in the event of a flat or something?
Brendan Rigby
(774) 219-4511
rigby.b@gmail.com
May 30, 2013 at 07:09 PM
is there still that construction on closter dock? that was a detour last time rick and i tried to ride out
May 30, 2013 at 11:14 PM
good luck homies
May 31, 2013 at 12:37 AM
rock it tonite Kissenas!
May 31, 2013 at 04:48 AM
good race. Raced with Aaron and Brendan (Mattie sat in for extra miles after doing the earlier race). Brendan got 6th -- last paying placement!
May 31, 2013 at 12:53 PM
John: it is almost certain that i am the only one who cares about this distinction, but i got fifth place, not sixth 
given how difficult the race was, i am more than happy with this result.
given how difficult the race was, i am more than happy with this result.had a lovely ride out to the race with aaron. good to meet john, a new face for me!
not sure why, but that was the hardest race i've ever done. maybe it was the heat, or maybe i went a little too hard on the ride out there. got a huge stomach cramp after the tempo went up bigtime for a preme lap. at one point, a word i use loosely because it was in fact a long stretch of time, i thought i was going to projectile vomit on the wheel in front of me. or just dump more traditional vomit onto my own top tube.
race highlights, lessons learned:
- john made the good point that the stomach cramp was probably related to the aggressively-sized chili bowl i ate before leaving for the race. mmm, chili. ewwww, cramp.
- chasing down breaks is exhausting.
- saw some good teamwork by other teams (and some bad teamwork). i saw somerville guys chase down somerville breaks. but i also saw teams attack as teams, blocking and whatnot. that made it a lot harder.
- people take a wide line in turn two that enables you to move up if you swing inside them. this inside line does not endanger them, especially if you announce yourself; it is just a different line that puts you out in a different place but comes close to the more traditional line at one point. it also puts you on the left side in the chicane, which generally has more open space and can be used to move up. not sure if this line was available as a result of bad racing by my particular race group or if it's a common trend at rockleigh, but i used this line to move up nearly every lap. most importantly, i used it on the bell lap.
- other riders notice when you do work. somebody gave me respect after the race (even though he beat me; chivalry lives on!) because i spent a lot of time at the front and chasing down breaks. or because he perceived me as doing so. i'm happy with either one. but i think too much time spent chasing left me with too little energy to meaningfully contest the podium gang. i was determined NOT to let a break win the race as it did at FBF the other week.
- had a funny moment where a Somerville guy is in a newly-minted 3-person semi-break, and his teammate in the pack shouts "let them go" and i responded "you're just saying that because he's on your team." cue awkward silence that acknowledges a shameful truth. his fraud shocked me. i'll never trust another mid-race declaration again.
- arrived at finishing straight with just enough energy to cling desperately to the guy's wheel in front of me. it was the right wheel; he got 2nd i think. but i just didn't have the gas to keep up with him when he turned on the gas. i did one of those weird sitting sprints for most of the straightaway. or rather, i told myself i didn't have the gas to keep up? sigh. this is where i could've used @alyoshas yelling at me from the stands as we did to him the other week @ FBF.
- $15 was divided evenly among me and john and aaron at what might be the world's least-welcoming gas station. i was the last one to go inside and the attendant instructed me to stop looking around and come pay. i had not yet selected what i wanted, and had been in there about 45 seconds. seinfeld soup nazi, meet new jersey's gas station nazi. he then proceeded to treat the $10 bill that i handed him as a lost dead sea scroll, pondering what to do with it for about five minutes, shuffling other bills around, before finally just opening the drawer and giving me my change. lots of ceremony. odd.
really fun race. turn 1 is hair-raising but fun.
i pulled a muscle in my buttocks, so this race was and continues to be a pain in the ass. it is unlikely that i will do it again, given that it took 2 hours and 27 miles to get home on a school/work night (i know, i know...just go faster). arriving at home starving, stinking, and dehydrated at 10:30 pm just ain't my thang.
May 31, 2013 at 02:03 PM
Great race report, and nice job!
The gas station sounds like the embodiment of that athletic let-down after a race when, after hard efforts and forced focus on a technical course, we come back off the track and ride next to commuters, fixed gear hipsters and cyclists 'just out having fun'. This keeps us humble.
May 31, 2013 at 02:13 PM
Good job @Brendan!
May 31, 2013 at 06:24 PM
Awesome job, Brendan - and awesome race report. A rare melange of insight and lol's.
Good work, all.
May 31, 2013 at 07:36 PM
OMG! Someone nabbed a shot of Brendan "The Butcher" Rigby pulling his © inside corner chicane slice.
/swoon
I didn't mind the ride up there and back (not first time) -- it was nearly 65 miles including the race and I didn't feel all that tired after the race. I actually was feeling kinda good. Good training there and back.
The race itself: I chased down a few guys off the front, cardio felt fine it was just my legs had no power for any hard efforts off the front. I tack that up to a long week of training and doing Red Hook fixed gear training on the industrial corridors of Greenpoint with Aaron the night before.
Some sketchiness on turn 1 from other riders. I felt like the corners were being taken very slow -- I was often going through the inside just so I wouldn't have to brake as much as others were doing and then accelerating out, hence wasting (E)nergy.
/swoon
I didn't mind the ride up there and back (not first time) -- it was nearly 65 miles including the race and I didn't feel all that tired after the race. I actually was feeling kinda good. Good training there and back.
The race itself: I chased down a few guys off the front, cardio felt fine it was just my legs had no power for any hard efforts off the front. I tack that up to a long week of training and doing Red Hook fixed gear training on the industrial corridors of Greenpoint with Aaron the night before.
Some sketchiness on turn 1 from other riders. I felt like the corners were being taken very slow -- I was often going through the inside just so I wouldn't have to brake as much as others were doing and then accelerating out, hence wasting (E)nergy.
May 31, 2013 at 07:56 PM
haha i can't see what the picture is, and i don't claim that i didn't make some people uncomfortable by taking the inside line. but if they wanted it, they should've taken it! i deny any allegations of being a wheel slicer and dicer! though i suppose every wheel slicer does...sigh...
May 31, 2013 at 08:02 PM
Why is everyone taking that turn so wide?
Caveat: I've never been to this course.
May 31, 2013 at 08:03 PM
oh i see that picture now.
i'm glad someone agrees with me, phillip!
the guy in the front's look over at me screams "what are you doing, you big jerk?"
one reason people might not take that line is it makes for a slightly sharper left turn once you get out of the view of the camera. but it's totally doable. bertucco or other Rockleighologists, what say you?
May 31, 2013 at 08:34 PM
race report highlight:
"traditional vomit"