CRCA Central Park Classic 6/30 [*Cat 3's*]

Jun 30, 2012 at 04:22 PM

13th

End of first lap felt crazy hard and a big break looked dangerous and sans Kissena, spent a lot trying to get up there with a bridge group. Lot's of splintering and gaps opening, the chasers from behind caught us. Took another lap of hard chasing to bring it back.

Perlberg made a couple of strong moves that looked really healthy, brought an immediate and sustained response from the other teams. Vlad was away with four, and hung 50m off the front for a half lap.

Before bell lap, Vlad and I moved up to Perlberg and we tracked down Ragot near the front. Ragot took us to the front and then I went around him and rode on the front at a pretty average tempo on the big straightaway near resevoir. A couple of guys were away. Something about the four of us lined up made the field chill. Then Paul from Axis made a big attack and Ragot jumped and managed to get across to him after a 40 second chase. When I saw us catching the Women near Harlem I thought they'd stick it by slipping by the women and the pack would get waylaid. Unfortunately, the opposite happened. Bummer. I got near the front and kind of hung out on the joggers lane side to make it difficult for people to move up. Didn't dissuade Rapha guy from buzzing stroller mom—great PR dude! At that point I didn't know who was with me, and it turned bun fight coming into HS. Two crashes: One guy just messes up, other is FGX lead out going backwards at 15 mph through sprint like cannonball. FGX are strong guys and they organize well, but I was waay unimpressed by their skills in general—swinging into gaps without looking, and generally being oblivious on a few occasions. Sprinted on the hill, but the front got a little bunched. Needed to be top 5 coming into it, which was a difficult proposition with lead-outs happening.

Results:

http://www.fastalracing.com/CP20120630.pdf

Jules

Jun 30, 2012 at 04:52 PM

Ugh. Sounds like no good deed went unpunished today guys.

Hope everybody is feeling better soon.

Thierry Bonnaire

Jun 30, 2012 at 04:59 PM

Josh Sakofski is becoming the king of Central Park. He's been winning in his category continuously on this course.

Best recovery of those who went down today (Aly and Mike).

mugwump

Jun 30, 2012 at 05:02 PM

This was going to be a bit different. Besides the length and only one teammate, there was no team that really seemed the controlling type. BH had a bunch of guys as did Champ-Sys, but I didn't expect much out of either. Wasn't sure what kind of difference the KoM would make, but figured it could create enough chaos to help spring the winning break.

the first lap, at 13:59 was the slowest of the day. The fastest was12:42. The last lap was a respectable 12:58. Funny stuff. Somebody attacked from the gun, and based on his ride, it seemed he was going for the first-lap KoM, which didn't exist. A number of riders seemed to think there was a finish line KoM, but I didn't recall any declaration of that.

A few big splits occurred, like one with 15 guys in it mid race. That hung out there for a while, and there was a chase, but the chase didn't seem as decisive as the result of it suggests.

The finish was taken by Brian Breach, who attacked through horseshit alley on the final lap. Glad to see that move worked out for somebody. My own finish was limited by non-racers riding on the course. Three times between 59th and 72nd I braked to go around somebody not in the race. My mistake for not being at the front.

Jules

Jun 30, 2012 at 05:06 PM

Josh has been winning everything in sight for a while now.

http://www.usacycling.org/results/?compid=286215

He's a really nice guy, despite his affinity for Rapha (http://9wmag.com/2012/06/23/rgr/)

I think he is writing for NYVelocity now too.

Thierry Bonnaire

Jun 30, 2012 at 05:18 PM

I have known Josh for at least 15 years while we both lived in Central Jersey and he wasn't riding back then. He had very long hair and was really into hokey!

ashleyB

Jun 30, 2012 at 08:16 PM

Heal up dudes

eragot

Jul 02, 2012 at 01:38 AM

I just want to say, I don't think I've ever looked like I was going this hard before:

http://nyvelocity.com/gallery/image/7956?page=49

Good teamwork: http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling/CRCAAccelerade-Central-Park630/temp/i-ST5KZwW/0/M/8O2T0063-copy-M.jpg

And this was the best bit of teamwork I've seen in a while. Then of course, I attacked...

http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling/CRCAAccelerade-Central-Park630/temp/i-KB6Ctjp/0/L/8O2T0655-copy-L.jpg

mperlberg

Jul 02, 2012 at 02:08 AM

aarrgh. That last pic pisses me off a tiny bit because who has the chillest look in the picture? This guy.

Here is a good one of the kissena gloves in action:

http://nyvelocity.com/gallery/image/7955?page=22

vlad

Jul 02, 2012 at 02:49 AM

Good points and great photos, but I'd like to chime in and say that this guy had the chillest look of our entire race

http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling/CRCAAccelerade-Central-Park630/Cat-3-CRCAAccelerade-Central3/23908138_rBrBhP#!i=1937351132&k=BmLqPjd&lb=1&s=A

Suck it FGX...

http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling/CRCAAccelerade-Central-Park630/Cat-3-CRCAAccelerade-Central3/23908138_rBrBhP#!i=1937453548&k=VS9BM9j&lb=1&s=A

I just KOM'd yo ass!

http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Cycling/CRCAAccelerade-Central-Park630/Cat-3-CRCAAccelerade-Central3/23908138_rBrBhP#!i=1939076210&k=vsWBgKb&lb=1&s=A

Respect.

twoyacks

Jul 02, 2012 at 03:11 AM

I used to see that guy on the triangle ride for years...riding either a track bike or an ancient oclv. Fast. I hear he was big on the track...back in the day.

Yack

eragot

Jul 02, 2012 at 03:36 AM

Chris chong ten. Still is a man
He can sprint. Its genetic.

Christian Refakis

Jul 02, 2012 at 01:07 PM

He's still doing the triangle ride I see him all the time

dstearns

Jul 02, 2012 at 05:53 PM

i guess this is what you're likely to run into at races that start in CP before 6 a.m.

http://nyvelocity.com/gallery/image/7955?page=61#comment-102963

WilliamDC

Jul 02, 2012 at 07:38 PM

shhh

that's Jules's brother, Antoine Roazen

be nice

Christian Refakis

Jul 03, 2012 at 12:10 AM

RR:

Dropped by the 4th lap. Grabbed way too much brake on the S-turn right before Harlem hill. I sent myself to the back each time, only to fight for the position I gave up on Harlem hill and the rollers. By the 4th lap, I was dead. I was demoralized, as I knew I had no chance of doing well since I didn't have the confidence to countersteer that turn at high speed and put myself in a good sprint position. On the last lap, fighting for position from the back is next to impossible in CP.

I don't think Zipp 808's are good for high speed park races either?

mugwump

Jul 03, 2012 at 02:03 AM

Christian,

I had a set of toroidal 808 tubulars (aka pre FIrecrest) for a month a few years back. I raced them at speeds over 50mph and never had an issue.

In Central Park, the top of the S-turn is probably taken by the cat III pack at a bit below 30mph. The bottom probably around the same. The bottom turn is easier if you take the inside as its slightly banked. The fastest part of Central Park is actually the drop between 85th and about 76th on the west side. You can get going around 40mph as its a straight line.

I think what you're experiencing is probably a lack of experience on the wheels in those situations. While they're race wheels, see if you can find a fast, twisty downhill in Long Island and try riding fast down it on the wheels.

Jules

Jul 03, 2012 at 02:02 PM

That S turn is my nemesis as well.

Jules

Jul 03, 2012 at 02:05 PM

@ William: actually this is my brother. He is both thinner and smarter than I am, and a good deal nicer to boot.

WilliamDC

Jul 03, 2012 at 07:27 PM

your brother is a badass!

does he ride?

i'm in Ptown pretty regularly.

Jules