Continuing from the 2012 Bethel Discussion

I've mentioned to a few of you the early spring races at Bethel, Ct. I like them because among other things, they start later than the local races, they tend to be well organized, feel a bit safer than the Central Park and Prospect Park races (probably just because of the nature of the course), and have a good Masters field. I've think Ian Ellis has raced there in the past and I"ve been in the field with Ed Nolan on one or two occasions. I'm suspect that JP, Eric and others have raced there over the years as well. The course is an office park oval crit with one short hill to the finishing line. The big downside is that it's about 1 hour & 15 minute drive from Brooklyn. Anyway, I just came across footage on nyvelocity of yesterday's Bethel 1/2/3 race. It'll give you a slightly stylized view of what the races there are like.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/37996515

That looks like a shitload of fun. What time do the races start?

Cat 4 at 9:30am, cat 3-4 at 1pm. I usually double up and try to be competitive in the first race and hang in the second for some fast training.
Doing both means climbing the short hill (shorter than PP, but a lot steeper) 50 times.
I've found the locals to be very friendly - especially the Danbury Audi team. For them and the Bethel cycles team it is their local series, but Bethel are so keen that they do NOT ride a smart race.
Organisation is very good, but strict (act like a dick, offensive language, urinate in public, take both hands off the bars as you win = DQ).
Having said all of this (and having bought a car to enable me to get to this and other out of town races) I'm not doing it this year as I'm only just returning to riding outdoors again.

@Neil: What time do you usually roll out of Brooklyn?

I'd be down with doing a couple of these if I could bum a ride off one of you guys.

Hmmmm... sounds very appealing. All the Danbury Audi guys I've met have been very friendly.

Also Masters 45+ for any of you among the ag-ed like me, is at 11:45.

It does sound appealing compared to waking up at 4:30 for a central park crash-fest.

The bethel website lists each race by laps.

How long is each lap?

I'd guess about 1K (or .6 miles), maybe a little more. Basically the course is a big traffic circle.

start at the top of hill, immediately turn sharp right and then the road gradually descends in a big, easy, clockwise loop until you get to the foot of a short, sharp climb. BANG - back at the start/finish.

(Yes this is an uphill sprint finish)

I have a friend who regularly used to race these and liked em. I would def be interested in participating if we can organize a ride out of brooklyn!

@alyoshas me too!

as per strava it's .8 miles long. http://www.strava.com/segments/bethel-spring-series-lap-643354
20 laps for the first race puts it at 16miles. 30 laps for the second (cat3/4) puts it at 24miles. its 20bucks for the first and 12bucks for the second race
only thing is waiting around between the 2 races making this pretty much a whole day excursion but nonetheless attractive.

Related: I have a 3 bike rack,

Related: Race once and ride the 60 mile bike path back to the bronx?

I would certainly consider participating in these, as long as Branchbrook is canceled. I would prefer the second race because it is longer and harder. Plus it allows me to sleep in, which is a novel concept.

Is there anywhere nearby worth riding? I'd like to go and race, and then ride for an hour or more nearby before driving home. Call it the "Family Man's" Bethel.

The afternoon race would be great but take too much of my day.

However, the tripple does sound appealing if I was a little older Cat 4, Masters 45+ then 1/2/3

Stephane! We need you back!

@ Jules.

Cat 4, Masters 45+ then 1/2/3

This combo is not possible unless you are Sam Frias.

Doh. Mean to type

Cat 4, Masters, then 3/4

tired eyes...

I'm sure there is...this is CT. i like chris' idea too.

If you make a RIGHT out of the office park where the race is held the main road is rideable. I've headed out to the right to warm-up/cool down. (A left out of the office park on the other hand takes you into very busy and confusing network of roads on which you drive in.) The way to the right has at least a couple of miles of rideable road and I've experimented with some quieter offshoots as well. However, by mid-mornong that main road starts to get a lttile too busy and there's little to no shoulder. I don't know that area but my guess is that with a little local knowledge there might be some very good riding around there if you wanted to make a post ride afternoon of it. Try Bethel Cycles (race sponsor) they may have some good suggestions for routes.
http://bethelcycle.com/

I know some folk that live out that way, including in Bethel. They complain that the roads out that way are heavy and lumpy which makes even a short ride tiring.

what I meant to add, was that I will ask them for route suggestions ...

For those not in the know, there is a summer series at Bethel too. Wednesday evenings. 1 week a month is a TT, last of the month is a "feature" race that gets USAC upgrade points, the other weeks are just series points. 

Nice going Mattie.  (I'm a big fan of Bethel.)

I like it a lot too. The hills makes it break up just a little bit. I may do next month's feature race as well, although it's looking like I'll be a 3 by then.

Nice one Mattie! 

Nice job Mattie.

Bruce van-Schalkwyk said:

 it doesn't actually mean anything, other than another awesome race this spring.

...other than "house of God", of course.

But whatever.

Guys,

@Jules, this is indeed the race that Marcus died at.