PatrickGrehan said:

You can get a one day license at the race. Actually you must have one to race road or cross. Some gravel races are unsanctioned and therefore don’t require a license. 

If you are planning on racing this and next year you can sign up online and get a license pretty quickly. I’m not certain, but I think that your license fee would include both 2019 and 2020

Remy Forgues said:

James Reeder said:

I've signed up for Westwood (11:45am 40+ 4/5 race) - anyone going/carpooling/need to share a zip car?

Hi. I signed up for it as well. I can drive you there. I don't have a USA cycling License and Bikereg did not ask for a number. Does it mean I don't need any for that race?

Thanks. I'll get one. It doesn't look like I can transfer it to 2020.

@Remy Forgues - okay its not "free" but: 

Save $30 by purchasing your 2019 and 2020 race licenses together at the discounted rate of $130.

https://www.usacycling.org/race-licenses/2019-20-2xcx

Although I am unclear about the math given that a license costs $80

https://www.usacycling.org/race-licenses

If you do sign up, make sure to indicate that Kissena is your club!

Given the above, it might be cheaper to get a one day license for this weekend IF that is your only race. If you plan on doing more CX races (and you totally should!), then the combo above makes more sense

airbnb dccx hotness

dccx hangs, wishing you were here...

this, btw is the most confortable i’ve ever been at a bike race

You are now “semi pro”

full on rain at dccx 🌧 
while the photo doesn’t show it, the course is already a wet, slippery, muddy mess. 
still miss you tho.

first muddy race of the season done!

Westwood got gnarly! The course had a bit of everything: sand, fast grass, muddy grass, a really muddy run up, a few technical wooded bits. I think most of the early races were dry but it was really coming down by the time our race rolled around. Brian and I got after it in the 5s and we totally got our moneys worth.

I battled it out with a guy from Rutgers and Graydon from Redbeard (super strong dude) for most of the race but I cracked a bit on the last lap. I'm really happy with how I managed all of the features though and I didn't have any real bad, race-changing errors. I would have liked to crack top-5 but I'm super pleased with my handling and how I managed in the muck. 

Brian and I talked about how to get mud out of a white jersey and I brought up the baking soda trick, but I realize now the best way is to go to the "pet grooming" center in your building that has never actually been used and blast your stuff with a goddamn hose.  

Was definitely a blast today! Echoing Rob's sentiment (and he had a great race!) Past me on the last quarter of the first lap and he was gone after that. I'm pretty happy with my result, 12/31 and my last race in the 5's. Nearly got 11th, finished half a wheel length behind the guy. I beat my cross results race predictor though, so that's pretty cool. 

A really helpful technique for me today was - "when in doubt, run it out" especially on the sketchy off-camber by the lakeside bathrooms. 

I've tried washing my skinsuit 2-3x now and unfortunately, the baking soda didn't quite get everything. I worked in some dishwashing soap with a brush and am letting it hang out overnight before trying again tomorrow night. I may pick up some oxy-clean as well to nuke it. 

Now living in a walk-up without access to a hose made the bike wash a bit of a challenge, ha. Was hunched over in the hallway with a mop, a bucket and the hope that the landlord wouldn't notice (he didn't). Hoping SCCX has a wash station.

quick new yorker cx tip: take your dirty bicycle to a car wash.

----------------------

-- if the race will be muddy, google self service car washes near the race or on the route back. Else, the BP station at 4th ave & Douglass BKLYN has a car wash.

here's Patrick doing it in style:

Oxyclean may help with an already dirty kit. A few years back, cyclocross magazine did a feature on cleaning dirty kit. They tested various methods and concluded that rinsing muddy kit before it dried up after a race was the best method to keep kit from getting stained. 

Yeah - my kit was still damp when I got home after being in the bag. Put it in a bucket with baking soda to soak for 30 min, then washed it. Will report back tonight on the oxyclean front! 

@eloy - smart idea, thanks a ton! Hadn't considered that (haven't had the need to until I moved in September). Good place to power wash the kit as well. 

relevant, GCN video released today, washing your bike at a petrol station

eloy said:

relevant, GCN video released today, washing your bike at a petrol station

Would I spray a degreaser that contains most likely heptane in the confinement of my shower? I don't think so.

i would never put a bicycle in a shower.

take it to a car wash.

regarding degreasers,  i can say this: Simple Green is your friend. If I think i’ll need to wash the bike, I have simple green w me.

Agreed - I've washed my bike in the shower in past apartments, and let me tell you, the amount of scrubbing needed to get it looking "normal" was obscene, haha. Never again. 

eloy said:

quick new yorker cx tip: take your dirty bicycle to a war wash.

----------------------

-- if the race will be muddy, google self service car washes near the race or on the route back. Else, the BP station at 4th ave & Douglass BKLYN has a car wash.

For now - the way gas stations are disappearing in Brooklyn I wouldn't put my money on that station being there on your way home from work today.

DCCX Reports:

Jess and I headed to Washington DC. I was searching for cyclocross.., she is smarter, so she was searching for a nice break in a cool town.

I've mentioned it before, it is sweet to see Baltimore and Washington DC taking over the place that once belonged to Providence and Gloucester. 

DCCX Day 1.

• Masters 40+ 3/4 95+ Starters, I'm 3rd row
• Bertucco is here, 4th row, Ed Nessen is 1st row
• Absolutely gorgs blue skies fall day 
• Mostly flat course, best flow ever, some tricky corners, including the world famous W turn
• Have a very good start, still find myself in traffic, no matter, we are moving
• At some point I'm battling Chris Kolster & Michael Thaxton, for 13~15ish, they got fans cheering for them. Sarah and Peter and the NYC crew cheer for me!!
• Generally think I got them, I'm the stronger of the 3, also I am able to fully ride the W, while they are dismounting or messing up the last portion
• but the W is at the start of the lap, so I won't win there
• One to go One to go One to go
• still convinced I can dust them
• but, oh uh, starting cramp(ish) feels...
• hold on, just a few more minutes
• I am deep and loving it
  
• There's a set of stairs late in the lap
• And ugh, I totally fuck up the first step
• bike down, bike down, bike down
• blood on the left knee, both shifters are turned sideways in
• Chris and Mike are now a turn ahead
• But then, worst: shoooun, shoooun, shoooun, shoooun, fuuuuuck!!
• four riders fly by, they weren't even in my radar -- it is a 90ish field after all
• jump back, most awkward with the shifters both bent in
• try to go as hard/fast as I can without killing myself in the corners
• 21st for the 4th time this season. WTF
• Still, overall, save one mistake, I am happy with my race, almost putting it all together
• Confidence is a funny thing.

DCCX Day 2.

• Forecast says light rain from 10 am to 1pm
• Reality has other plans, we'll wake up to torrential rain at 6am. It will not relent all day.
• I pre-ride before the races, and realize that the corner after the w, not the w, will be the trickiest thing.
• Fully aware the course will change dramatically by the time we race
• About 60 peeps show up
• line up 2nd row
• Have an amazing start
• Front group here we go!!
• Front group there they go!! haha ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• It is stupid wet, super soupy mud everywhere
• settle with a bit of group, but the conditions don't allow for group riding
• everyone is making mistakes, today will be about making less mistakes than the competition
• I am killing the sections I figured out and planned for while pre-riding, but messing up other spots, it is slip & slide everywhere
• Last lap is kinda simple, everyone is going all out, all in.
• Settle for 16 across the line. Not amazing, but ok considering the conditions
• Those that finish ahead of me made a mistake or two less than me, those that finish behind make a mistake or two more than me
• Mud and smiles abound past the line 

What an awesome race. What an awesome weekend.

Let's go race bikes!

https://youtu.be/mAQyfJjrH4E

So for next weekend I'm thinking of switching up to Cheshire Cross in CT instead of Caffeinated in NJ, both on Saturday. Thoughts? Opinions? Constructive Criticism? 

Sunken Meadow (LICX) update: 

had an email exchange with Greg (the organizer). He is awaiting park approval of his proposed race dates. Here is what he has requested (so ou can plan your late season)

AndrewJohnson said:

So for next weekend I'm thinking of switching up to Cheshire Cross in CT instead of Caffeinated in NJ, both on Saturday. Thoughts? Opinions? Constructive Criticism? 

I'm thinking of doing that one too

James Reeder said:

AndrewJohnson said:

So for next weekend I'm thinking of switching up to Cheshire Cross in CT instead of Caffeinated in NJ, both on Saturday. Thoughts? Opinions? Constructive Criticism? 

I'm thinking of doing that one too

Looks like @AnthonyOtt might be back for Cheshire, and I'll give him a ride, I am not sure about your location but maybe you want to carpool? If it's dry I would like to get two races in.

If racing this weekend, Cheshire is great, but I'll hit Caffeinated as it is organized by Barry Jones.

Rainey Park registration opens today at noon. If past years are any indication, the 3, 4 & 5 fields will likely get closed out, so don't hesitate to register early if you are planning on going

https://www.bikereg.com/44823

PatrickGrehan said:

Rainey Park registration opens today at noon. If past years are any indication, the 3, 4 & 5 fields will likely get closed out, so don't hesitate to register early if you are planning on going

https://www.bikereg.com/44823

It's actually tomorrow the 31st (Thurs) at noon, but definitely agree with the sentiment, it will close out early. 

I thought today was Thursday. Not sure to be worried about my mental state or relieved I have an extra day

BrianStan said:

PatrickGrehan said:

Rainey Park registration opens today at noon. If past years are any indication, the 3, 4 & 5 fields will likely get closed out, so don't hesitate to register early if you are planning on going

https://www.bikereg.com/44823

It's actually tomorrow the 31st (Thurs) at noon, but definitely agree with the sentiment, it will close out early. 

So, for Cheshire, I am looking to race the Men 3/4 and then the Single Speed as my second race if they allow me to disconnect the Di2. I have an inquiry with the RD to be sure before I reg up. I plan to give @AnthonyOtt a ride. My plan would be to pick him up on the Upper West Side around 7:45am or so. Anyone in the area need a lift? I have room for two more bikes and two vacant seats in the back.

Looks like my race would be to early to make the @AndrewJohnson van to Cheshire.

Anyone have room for one more to Caffeinated (12pm race)?