5:30 am work call!
Likely excuse.

I'm going to try and make it out for this also.

Would love to go but it won't be possible 

who's gonna be the last one to leave a comment before they go to sleep and still make it out? Just asking...

That was fun and hard. Nice way to start the day. It would be worth it to practice with category specific squads to get the feel for eachother.

The park was very crowded. Let's get the ball rolling on these earlier next year.

Thanks john and eric for the advice and coaching.

yea, was mucho fun. thx guys.
what i found hard was obviously pulling in front but also finding the timing and the ability to improvise when things get crowded around you. This is especially gonna be challenging within the pack but this was definitely a good start because we had a few teams. Being vocal is crucial as well! didn't think it was gonna be as much as i realize it is now. We should do it again for sure. maybe 5:30 and get rolling by 545 after short instructions.

Fun indeed. Thanks John for setting this up and Eric for your coaching. It was really helpful to do these multiple times in different positions and situations. It showed me how you may need to adapt the plan on the spot and jump on another train to get the sprinter in the best position. And of course communication is key and sometimes hard to accomplish in the heat of the action.

Agreed - that was fun.  And yeah - an earlier start time to this would be preferable.  Got a little sketch a couple times with recreational riders suddenly appearing.  Evasive maneuvers!  

Bummed to have missed this one. The alarm went off at 4am, but couldn't rouse the body. It sounds like having the rec riders accidentally mix in was a happy circumstance as they were probably good stand-ins for other riders from other teams on race day.

Lt Dan's small group of leadout guys has been getting the job done really well so far. I would consider having the whole team use the intermediate sprints as an opportunity to practice getting together at the front and leading out. It won't be quite as hard as the final sprint, and you'll have a few chances to really coordinate in real world conditions. All the while, not killing yourself for breakaway attempts.

Damn I am bummed to have missed this.  Listening to people squabble on the phone was a poor substitute indeed.

I am really sorry I missed it. I was awake at 3AM staring at the celing thinking about work. I finally went back to sleep around 4AM and promptly slept through my alarm and woke well after you guys had started.

I wish I could have made it.

Reminder of our Wrenching Workshop Monday June 25.
7:30-9:00 at Ride Brooklyn. You are welcome to bring in drink if you feel thirsty.
Plan is to have relevant tools for sale.
Agenda:
1) Tire changing competition - who can replace a tube the fastest.
     (prizes for 3 deep)
     (Please bring a clincher wheel or two if possible and your favorite tire irons)
2) remove chain
3) remove cassette
4) remove freehub and clean pawls and bearings
5) reassemble above
6) adjust rear derailleur
7) true wheel

Don't forget to attend the Wrenching Workshop tomorrow (Monday) night at 7:30, Ride Brooklyn.

Don't care about wrenches? Bring some food and drinks and watch the tire changing race.

Rules of the race:
start with a fully inflated, unfamiliar wheel/tire (please bring some wheels with you if possible)
First person to completely remove the tube and then reinstall wins

Although you do not have to reinflate, the winners will be asked to reinflate their tires to make sure it holds air (i.e., pinch flats during reinstallation or reinflation disqualify)

Prizes 3-deep

oh, and bring your favorite tire irons.

Hopefully, Ryan will bring his amazing calipers for hard-to-mount tires and show us how they work.

Ryan's secret weapon for tires with tight beads.

http://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tire-Bead-Jack/dp/B001AYML7K

Hereby declared illegal for tomorrow's competition (but maybe useful for home use).

Results of the tire changing race:

1. Eric R
2. Alyosha
3. Jeff C
4. David
5. Ryan
DNF Adam

Thanks to Al Barough and Ride Brooklyn for supplying the space and the prizes

Results of the tire changing race:

1. Eric R
2. Alyosha
3. Jeff C
4. David
5. Ryan
DNF Adam

Thanks to Al Barough and Ride Brooklyn for supplying the space and the prizes

I got last because I got stuck with Ragot's shitty goddamn tire that's been on that rim since 1984!

I declined the winner's honors so that alyosha could have tire changing materials...

you're too kind. i would have rather had the tshirt.
On another note, thanks to David for all of this. I would be interested in another workshop where we learn how to re-cable a bike and do more advanced stuff.

Aly wanted to know why one would want to remove the chain.

One reason is if you wanted to change the pulleys on your rear derailleur. These do wear out and I join JP in recommending TACX pulley wheels. The stainless steel bearings are surely fine for most mortals. Ceramic is for gods (and spendthrifts).

http://compare.ebay.com/like/320916916124?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y

@alyoshas  Agreed thanks a lot David (S)! Also keen for another advanced session...

Cross posting from the PP Morning workouts.

If you missed this session, there is another opportunity at 6AM tomorrow morning for some paceline/leadout practice with the group. Always worthwhile to practice, clearly this last week really says something about the practice we've put into this since the workshop has paid off with high quality leadouts from our Cat 4 team.

Hmmm, I am not certain that this goes here. We've mashed so much together.

Monday July 16th at 6AM in Prospect Park. Pack Skills Clinic:

Become comfortable with close riding, holding your line, and moving
within the pack. We’ll go over bumping, leaning and wheel touching, as
well as basic pack etiquette.  Great for new racers as will as racers
looking to practice their on-the-bike skills. If you want to know how to stay upright when things get sketchy, this is the clinic for you.

Meet at Grand Army Plaza at 6AM and we roll out from there.

Cornering clinic. July 4. Meet at grand army plaza at 6am. We'll then ride to IKEA and practice there.

Meet us at IKEA at 620 or so if you are inclined to live closer to there than here.

Please show interest on this thread.

I'll meet you at Ikea.

I'll meet you at IKEA.