Time to line up who is doing the clinic on Saturday.

Jim and I are driving. I have room for two. I think White is with me. Who else?

Jim.?

Anyone else?

can't make it Saturday - bummed.  Will be out at Nittany though

I'm in.

Will ride from Manhattan. Pls bring tires.

Reg'd for Staten.

Tandem looks fun - any interest?

Psyched for SICX. 

In for Sat. Will bike out with Stokes. 

I reg'd for SICX. Hopefully I won't get the absolutely dead last call up this year as I did last.

I'll be at the clinic.  I have not decided whether I'll drive or ride.  If anyone wants company or a ride, let me know.  It might sway my decision.  I'm up in Washington Heights now.

Craig Zolan said:

I reg'd for SICX. Hopefully I won't get the absolutely dead last call up this year as I did last.

I was called dead last at last year's SICX!

@Jeffrey White: Unless that is you in the Rutgers kit, I think this is indisputable evidence:



and number 499:

I will be at the Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg Bridge at 7:15 am. Leave by 7:20 (unless I know you are coming). We should be able to get to Cunningham Park by 8.

646-284-8775

Re call-ups. Couple of thoughts to share.

Getting called up "dead last" sucks for sure, but there is at least one benefit. Namely, I find that it frees me up, allows me to race without the pressure associated with a 1st through 3rd row call-up. I feel "looser" and in cross where tension and death grips can have a negative effect on how you handle all-important cornering sections, it helps to be loose.

It also gives you an opportunity to race your best race, take your best lines, where and when you can in a way that is frankly harder when you've got podium placers breathing down your neck.

At last year's Northampton cross weekend, it was a tale of two races for me. Both days I placed in the 30s, but the days couldn't have been more different. I actually did get a call-up for both days, but on day 1, my nerves and lack of timekeeper during my pre-race warm-up, ensured that I lost my front-row call-up and started exactly last in a field of 130 riders.

I briefly slumped in shock and disappointment as a strictly by the rules officiating team and a roudy spectator or two shouted me to the back of the pack at the start. But then I regrouped mentally, allowed the madness to unfold at the start in front of me and carefully and aggressively chose where, when and how to make my way through the pack. In the end, I managed a 36th place and I felt terrific.

The next day however, was a diff't story. My warm-up was "cycle-ops mag-trainer perfect," the legs felt great. I got my front row call up, wasn't late and proceeded to race terribly. The course conditions were slick with icy-mud, and I dumped it in a few key places, jammed a chain big time, but the net result was another finish in the 30s (31st), and afterwords I felt terrible. Now certainly the course and conditions had it's way with me, but I also feel that I raced with more tension and pressure and that hurt my overall performance.

Back a few weeks later at Myles SUPER AWESOME RACES, my tardy pre-registration habits, ensured that in a cat 4 field of Kissena riders and about 50 other dudes, I was in the 2nd to last row. But unlike racing a 100+ rider field from the back, I still felt okay about my chances at a top placing. I took the "free" loving energy of being a back starter that had served me well at Northampton day 1, kept in mind that a blistering first 2k, would allow me the opportunity to pass riders in clumps and got down to business. In the end I finished in 7th place.

Listen, my point in this post is not to brag about my results, but rather illustrate how you can mentally turn a negative situation into a really positive opportunity. I've signed up for Nittany...and I literally took the last open spot in the cat 4 field on day 1. And in a way, I'm going to be happy to start my first cross race at the back. The only pressure I'll feel is to not get lapped and maybe not be last. (although maybe last finisher isn't all that terrible either)

One of the things that I really like about the New England cross races, is that they use the bizarrely accurate crossresults.com ranking system to line up all pre-registered riders in all categories. And that always seems fairer than the MAC system of lining up cat 4s by order of pre-registration only. (Effectively giving a significant advantage to guys with predictable schedules and  lightning quick keyboard reflexes the minute race registration opens up.)

P.S. I'll be with you cross practicers only in spirit this weekend. I can't say enough about how one session chasing Perlberg and Ragot around a grassy field helped me last year. And it sounds like Myles is going to be there too. Shoooot, you guys are in for a real treat. Get ready to be schooled. I'll be moping around the emergency room trying to find grumpy patients pillows and urinals and wondering why I'm getting yelled at for offering them cornflakes for breakfast.

I'm in for the old man rollout 35+ SICX.  Looking forward to rupturing my achilles!

@Jeff Owens. You still down for the Tandom? I found one at the grocery store. 

HELL FUCK YEAH

driving out to cunningham tomorrow if anyone needs a ride from park slope or environs. 7:30ish departure.

I will take you up on that Jim.

Mike, Pick you up at Lincoln and Flatbush at about 7:25.

Only caveat is that I need to be back in the slope by 11:00 so need to leave Cunningham at 10:30ish.

I'd be happy to ride over to park slope if that makes it easier for you.

Nah, I'll get you then we can hop on Empire toward the Jackie Robinson.

Anyone else? I'll check board again in the AM

Jim can I hitch a ride?

Jim, I'm interested – shit scared of 'cross!! – but do you have room for one more (plus bike) in that car of yours??

I have room for both of you, Jules and Jef.

Can you meet me at my place at 7:15?

371 2nd Street just above 5th Ave.

i'm just pulling it together but not sure I can get there in 15 mins – if you don't see me at 7:17, don't wait - just go ahead without me!

Lots of fun. Thanks Eric and Myles.

ditto!;>