Bump-- is anyone racing the Cat 4 field on Sunday at the Horseshoe Scramble and driving from Brooklyn? I will pay for gas and bake scones. Holla! kaytmathers@fastmail.net. 

No retirement yet.....looking to finish with a flourish...being that I only race CX now, I don't have to worry about spring yet, and with a 12th place finish last week,  I'm still looking for more. One last shot at Hotlist!!!! Hear me Hotlist????

Hotlist: Weekend Preview.

"Rumors of my death, have been greatly exaggerated." --Cyclocross

Yes folks, it's true, despite the desperate hand-wringing of certain alter egos bemoaning the state of December Cross participation, a robust assortment of Kissena crossers are ready to pin on race numbers for at least one more weekend.

Straight from a bizarre barnyard brunch menu we've got at least nine KCC eggs going into the omelet that is the Horseshoe Scramble.

In the Cat 4 40+, James Nelson makes what will be a triumphant return to racing after struggling with a probable rib fracture for much of the year. He's predicted to finish in 7th, and if he was able to get in race-like efforts on his trainer these last few weeks, Hotlist wouldn't be surprised to see that result or better. Harry Edmund Bolick emerges from his southern United States slumber and returns to where the sport is great. For the first time this season, Harry is giving the open class 40+ ass-kickers a break, and will instead be terrorizing a group of riders who have no idea what they are in for. Predicted to finish 10th, Hotlist looks forward to seeing how Harry will do when he doesn't have to race against the Magurs and Aspholms of the world. Predicted in 11th is Rick Perner. Dude was struggling with mighty coughing fits and breathing problems at Cheshire a few weeks back--this could be his best race of the year.

In the Cat 4 race there are 4 great KCC racers ready to scramble for podiums. Patrick Grehan is predicted to WIN. That's right, WIN. And you don't go to a race this time of year, where you are predicted to win and not be motivated to kill it, right Grehan? Crossresults puts Nelson Martins in 5th, but dude has been coming on SUPER strong these last few weeks. He's been racing since Nittany, has 17 races under his belt and doesn't look to be slowing down at all. Jeffrey White wants his first top 10 of the season. You know he does. Hotlist knows it's possible. Three KCCs in the top 10? Hell no! David Sanossian says FOUR KCCs in the top 10. Dude is motivated and Hotlist believes that there is going to be some serious KCC destruction in the Cat 4 field this weekend.

In the Cat 3 race, Todd McLoughlin is predicted to finish in 5th, but podium looks to be well within reach with just 26 crossresults points separating 5th from 2nd. McLoughlin, focusing on cross for years now, went all JPOW long before JPOW made it cool when he dumped Jelly Belly. I'm sure he'd like a sweet sweet podium to finish off the year...

Kayt Mathers is bringing her fierce to women's B field. After finishing solidly mid-pack in a 26-rider field at Supercross in her first cross race ever, we can't wait to see what she can do in her second race.

In the Cat 5 race there is a mysterious stranger named Andrei Fluerasu. Hotlist doesn't like to be in the dark about any crossers claiming Kissena as their team, but this man is a mystery. Is he another James "wait, is he on the club, really? Then why no Kissena kit, ever?" Gironta. Or just a recent addition to our ever-expanding club?

Finally, heading up north to Warwick, RI's NBX Grand Prix, one and a half Kissena crossers will be lining up to race the finale of the Shimano/Verge pro series this weekend for two days of racing on what has been described as the most awesome cross course (Supercross notwithstanding, natch) ever?

Marc Bertucco is attempting to finish the season in a way that he has never finished a season before; namely, "strong." A season full of weak performances means he's stuck with a 5th row call-up in the 120-ish rider Cat 4 field. But as long as the ground isn't frozen, he's got a legit shot at a top 20.

On the other end of the racing spectrum (and day) is Van Dessel's (and onetime KCC racer) Mike Garrigan. Last year at this time, he was in a desperate chase for UCI podium spots in order to secure his spot on the Canadian World's team. This year, he's looking to put mechanical woes behind him and step up to the podium for the 4th time this season. With the biggest guns out in Oregon hunting C1 points, Garrigan's chances are better than even. But he still has to deal with guys like Raphael Gagne, Justin Lindine, and new kid on the block Curtis White (who might very well get his first UCI win this weekend).

If people need a ride to NBX, contact Keith Snyder.  He's got a car and a spot.

Check the forum for a edit...first Hotlist weekend preview, I inadvertently left out the entire cat 4 field! woops.

"Mr. Pink," otherwise known as Michael Theesfeld, has in 6 of his last 10 races never finished off the podium. 3 wins, 2 seconds and a third. When I was talking to him at Marty, he all played the "I don't know anything about this cross thing...wuhhuh? What's a sandbagger?"

This is the problem with the new Cat 5 system where there aren't enough 5-only races. So cat 5s enter 4/5 races, kill it and "upgrade" to cat 4 and continue to kill it for as long as the taste of victory is sweet.

Theesfeld should be a cat 3, but I'm sure he's going after the New Jersey 40+ Cat 4 cup or whatever...

I don't think that's such a great deal.

Marc Bertucco said:

"Mr. Pink," otherwise known as Michael Theesfeld, has in 6 of his last 10 races never finished off the podium. 3 wins, 2 seconds and a third. When I was talking to him at Marty, he all played the "I don't know anything about this cross thing...wuhhuh? What's a sandbagger?"

This is the problem with the new Cat 5 system where there aren't enough 5-only races. So cat 5s enter 4/5 races, kill it and "upgrade" to cat 4 and continue to kill it for as long as the taste of victory is sweet.

Theesfeld should be a cat 3, but I'm sure he's going after the New Jersey 40+ Cat 4 cup or whatever...

Or not. Who cares. I am bored with my own rants. Sorry.

I ride eggbeaters and like them a lot for 'cross. I also have candy's, which I do not like at all. They got all muddy and hard to clip in . They are now on my commuter.

dsanos said:

                                                             me + Horseshoe = death

I know that formula!!!

If anyone has a last minute jones to do NBX on SUNDAY in Rhode Island and needs a ride I can probably fit ONE bike and will be leaving EARLY and leaving the race probably dead last.
If interested CALL ME.  646 250 3144  or 347 763 1501.

Super morning out at Horseshoe Scramble - my final cyclocross ride (avoiding the use of the word race here) of the season.

Rode out with Kayt, Harry, and my friend John. Harry and I did the 40+ Cat 4, John did the Cat 5, and Kayt, in order to be able to race in the morning and not wait around all day raced the Women's A race.

The course was half the same (the grassy parts by the road) and half very different from previous years. Instead of long power sections along old farm roads, the back part of the course was in the grass with some muddy (once they thawed) corners that were tricky and fun.

Unless you count going up the Manhattan bridge, the last hard efforts I've had on the bike were at HPCX, about a month ago. I was well rested to say the least. Ended up finishing about dead middle to cap a middling and frustrating cross season (at least results wise - there are tons of high points as always). Harry finished a couple spots ahead of me.

Kayt, in only her second cross race ever, looked awesome riding with the A women and 50+ men. She did not finish last and did not get lapped, something I'm sure I would not have been be able to say if I raced against the A men.

Watched Todd claim a hard fought 6th place in the B race. Some other Kissenas around - Andre placing 8th in the 5 race on a Mtn Bike and Nelson getting ready to kick some ass in the afternoon 4 race. And passed Mr Grehan on the drive out arriving for his crossresults predicted win.

Fun ending to the season.

Horseshoe was definitely a fun and tricky one. Especially with those frozen corners earlier on in the morning.

Right, Jeff and Paige were there too! Sorry y'all!

Congratulations Patrick!

Neil - Sorry for the misleading language. Patrick was predicted to win, not sure how he actually did....

Mr Grehan?

Also, Nelson mentioned that if he scored 1st or 2nd he would win the Cat 4 overall for the NJCX series.

Any reports guys?

Quick report: Course got muddier and sloppier as day progressed. Started snowing during the 4 race... but the big news was that Nelson killed it! He won handily. The announcer originally referred to us as the "kissena sandwich" but a few condiments got in the mix and I finished 5th. Loved how the mud and grass that stuck my bike "froze" to the bike! I was surprised that my derailleur worked during the race. 

Sweet! Awesome Nelson. And good result for you too Patrick.

Nice report guys - well done.

I could have sworn my bike was 10 lbs heavier

Kayt Mathers said:

 Oh, and mud, it turns out, is a lot of fun.

Yup!

Thats how ive always pictured my bike after a cross race @PatrickG

Please somebody tell me we got a picture of Nelson on the podium?