Jul 09, 2014 at 09:01 PM
I'm in for @Kayt! I've never raced PP before, so I'm all ears as to what strategies have been trending in the women's field.
R&A Cycling Series
Jul 10, 2014 at 01:54 PM
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format not-found
Jul 10, 2014 at 02:09 PM
I'm in for Saturday.
With the old men, it's me, Jules, Vladi, Yacks?
Jul 10, 2014 at 02:11 PM
Yep, although I'm afraid I'll be along for the ride only.
Jul 10, 2014 at 02:28 PM
New start finish or old?
Jul 10, 2014 at 02:30 PM
I think it's all-new-all-the-time now!
Jul 10, 2014 at 03:11 PM
That makes sprint points extra challenging as moves go before the climb and on the climb...I like the sprints at the old start finish better but the finale at the new start finish. Probably moot as me getting onto the podium would require a confluence of events including other guys getting flats, hail storms and stampeding zebra's.
Jul 10, 2014 at 03:15 PM
Keep hope alive!
Jul 10, 2014 at 04:01 PM
Erika, this is going to be awesome for you and Kayt and Gwynna. Dynamically it's going to feel much more like a road race than say, Grant's Tomb, or Harlem, so I expect you are going to be in the mix. The big thing is going to be making sure Kayt doesn't get into trouble. Like if for some reason, a hard acceleration goes and she's caught on her heels a bit, then you back off, make sure she has your draft and get her back to the front 1/3 or better of the field.Erika Tarte said:I'm in for @Kayt! I've never raced PP before, so I'm all ears as to what strategies have been trending in the women's field.
If she is absolutely smoked and can't match the pace (not likely, but you know, she might flat), then Erika is to take over racing like she knows how to race.
If you guys are all in the mix and feeling good and it gets down to just a handful of laps, and its all together, and there are some other women who you think would be good for a breakaway, then Erika's job might be to turn the screws to the peloton to thin things out a bit. Gwynna will ride close to Kayt in that case to make sure she's protected.
Kayt has had some experience sprinting, so it will be nice for her to have a wheel to draft as she hits the closing few hundred meters.
Communicate, communicate, communicate! And be awesome. I know you all will be.
Jul 10, 2014 at 04:02 PM
Whatevs...this dude is going to crush it.Jules said:Yep, although I'm afraid I'll be along for the ride only.
Jul 10, 2014 at 10:07 PM
Thanks @Marc--really looking forward to an opportunity for some strategizing with teammates! @Erika witnessed the strategy machine that is Stan's No Tubes at Giro de Cielo 1-3 field, so she has some good ideas, no doubt. Thank you for the sound advice and outlining of various scenarios.
As of now, there doesn't appear to be much in terms of competition, just a couple of Cat 4's, but that could change on the day of. I hope so. Because what would be the fun in no competition?
Jul 10, 2014 at 11:02 PM
Thanks for the strategy @Marc! Looks like Stans decided to join the party. KruisCX and Radical are representing in the women's as well. I'll work my ass off bringing @Kayt back from any accelerations, then turn up the intensity in the final few laps... kinda like a repeat of the Tour de Syracuse crit, only this time Kayt wont get stuck behind a junior 500m from the finish!
Jul 10, 2014 at 11:52 PM
No, because Gwynna will be there to clear the lanes for a frighteningly fast finish! Can't wait to read all the reports.Erika Tarte said:only this time Kayt wont get stuck behind a junior 500m from the finish!
Jul 11, 2014 at 03:32 PM
Where's the start tomorrow?
Bikereg puts it by Lincoln road. I wrote charlie to confirm and he hasn't gotten back to me.
Jul 11, 2014 at 03:36 PM
3rd st
Charlie Issendorf
Vice President Sales and Marketing
Champion System
charlie@champ-sys.com
www.champ-sys.com
[http://shop.champ-sys.com/Signature_s.png]
[http://shop.champ-sys.com/fbicon_s.png] [http://shop.champ-sys.com/twicon_s.png] [http://shop.champ-sys.com/instachamp_s.png]
**This e-mail may contain confidential and/or privileged information and is intended only for the use of the person(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not
the intended recipient, you must not use, commercialise, disclose, read, forward, copy or retain any of the information . Please delete this e-mail and any copies
made and notify sender immediately. Champion System can not guarantee that any attachments are free from viruses. You assume all liability for any loss damage
or other consequences arising from opening or using e-mail and attachments.**
Charlie Issendorf
Vice President Sales and Marketing
Champion System
charlie@champ-sys.com
www.champ-sys.com
[http://shop.champ-sys.com/Signature_s.png]
[http://shop.champ-sys.com/fbicon_s.png] [http://shop.champ-sys.com/twicon_s.png] [http://shop.champ-sys.com/instachamp_s.png]
**This e-mail may contain confidential and/or privileged information and is intended only for the use of the person(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not
the intended recipient, you must not use, commercialise, disclose, read, forward, copy or retain any of the information . Please delete this e-mail and any copies
made and notify sender immediately. Champion System can not guarantee that any attachments are free from viruses. You assume all liability for any loss damage
or other consequences arising from opening or using e-mail and attachments.**
Jul 11, 2014 at 10:35 PM
tomorrow morn, there will be at least 70 guys starting.
We've got the ones named above plus Dan Strika.
looks the the biggest competition will be from Brands and Jordan. I take it Brands will want a break. Jordan will want a sprint.
Eugene Boronow of Mengoni is on hand and he wants a break.
Same goes for Matt Seaton of Rapha.
Lots of packfill happy to chase and sit up.
Hit the fill at the right moment, and the break will take it. I think it's going to go from a moment when the peloton is spread out.
Jul 12, 2014 at 12:06 AM
If you ordered OSMO, I can give it to you tomorrow morning at Konditori after the race. Just let me know. I'd actually prefer if you could pick it up at the coffee shop, it'll lighten my load.
Jul 12, 2014 at 12:10 AM
Dump it on me @Craig, I'm a coffee drinking preload-carrying fool
Jul 12, 2014 at 02:11 PM
PPFFT!
(prospect park front flat tire...)
(prospect park front flat tire...)
Coming off a solid month of life-stress (moving, travel, etc) I wasn't expecting anything dramatic today.
I biffed on my early week preparations (sorry Max!) but managed a decent hour+ on thursday/friday so I knew that even though I might not be able to recover from attacks, I *hopefully* wouldn't get dropped today.
Picked up my newly glued front wheel yesterday and played a little fast & loose with my pre-race nutrition but the early (day-before) number pickup has made the day-of race mornings much easier.
Saw plenty of friendly faces pre-race; I have to say I really do enjoy the camaraderie of the early-morning local race gang. Most people seem to enjoy the absurdity of it all.
Also was stoked to see the women's team out in force defending Kayt in her leader's jersey - well, her "virtual" jersey because Charlie forgot to bring it.
The whistle blew and we were off; a pretty mellow first half - it was basically a Cat 4 race for the first hour. There was one point where I saw a small group up the road and I asked JP if he wanted me to work to bring it back. "No," he said "but *that* you should go with!" as a bridge charged by. I jumped on but it was a train bound for nowhere. Lots of fresh legs in the pack.
Second half of the race I saw Erin moving up the side as we approached the hill; he jumped and I went with him, followed by Eugene from Mengoni. I was worried I wouldn't have the legs to stay with Erin on the climb, but I did, and the three of us came over the top with a gap. I though "sweet, these guys can roll (Erin just won state RR champs a week or two ago) and we'll have help from a bridge soon..." but it wasn't to be. Caught before the bandshell.
Somewhere in there I got away with a second much larger group; there were about a dozen of us - too many it turned out. Despite having two (three?) Brand riders, Willy P, two Axis guys and myself, we still couldn't get it together. We had a pretty big lead on the pack but eventually I pulled up next to one of the Brand riders who was yelling the loudest for people to get organized and said, "Look, I want it as bad as anyone, but there are a dozen guys here and I'm taking every third pull... you do the math."
So 30% of the break was shaking it's head in frustration but with three laps to go we were about to abandon our lead.
With two to go we were caught and a counter began; I'd been saving some powder for the inevitable so I felt good when guys railed it over the top of the hill; it was single file and a little "lefty-righty ziggy zaggy" which ended up putting me straight into a monster pothole just before the bandshell, my front wheel went instantly flat.
As I struggled to stay upright people rode by saying, "keep it straight!" and "ride straight!" I was laughing inside (once my heart dropped out of my mouth) because I WAS keeping it as straight as I could with a noodle for a front tire.
And *that* is how it went.
Double super awesome to hear that Kayt defended her leader's jersey.
Jul 12, 2014 at 02:11 PM
Kayt defends her Jersey!
Jul 13, 2014 at 12:43 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otm4RusESNU![http://shop.champ-sys.com/Signature_s.png]](http://shop.champ-sys.com/Signature_s.png]){kind=link}
![http://shop.champ-sys.com/fbicon_s.png]](http://shop.champ-sys.com/fbicon_s.png]){kind=link}
![http://shop.champ-sys.com/twicon_s.png]](http://shop.champ-sys.com/twicon_s.png]){kind=link}
![http://shop.champ-sys.com/instachamp_s.png]](http://shop.champ-sys.com/instachamp_s.png]){kind=link}
Jul 13, 2014 at 01:17 AM
Y'all are gonna LOVE the video...
Jul 13, 2014 at 01:19 AM
Uhm, can I say...told you so? Just did. Bam! More race reports please! Especially from the women.Marc Bertucco said:Whatevs...this dude is going to crush it.Jules said:Yep, although I'm afraid I'll be along for the ride only.
Jul 13, 2014 at 01:34 AM
^25mph average made that much less impressive.... but I appreciate the vote of confidence 
Jul 13, 2014 at 01:39 AM
More than 70 toed the line. We had Jules, Vladi, Yack, and myself. First road event in two weeks; hoping to blow out cobwebs. Haven't ridden with Vladi before, so new venture for me. Should have talked more before the start. (vladi, we had a huddle going; with you, it could have been a cuddle...kidding)
I think no one was wearing their leader's jersey. A bit confusing, but then racing is confusing.
Right away my fears seemed realized. Seconds into the race, a group of eight had already rolled away and people were just looking at it. Brands was represented. I didn't want to see the race go away at the start, so I crossed to the break. We got caught by the temple.
Yes, Jules describes our first-lap conversation accurately. My concern is that the field was riding as pack fill already.
I mixed it up in a bunch of moves. A few sorta, kinda had a chance. Just needed another minute or two to destroy the will of the pack fill. BUt the field was riding to keep things close then sit up and regroup, take attendance, and move forward. Felt like it was always the same folks attacking. And I didn't understand much of hte chasing, as few teams were represented.
Yacks did a good job of following Seaton during the points sprint. Not sure if he pipped him or not.
Brands was having it both ways. Attacking, getting two riders in a move, then chasing it down. I think they were focused on getting Loehner into a winning move, and if he wasn't there, they were out to tire the other guys off the front.
Jordan was working for Lynn.
Wonder Wheel was better than I expected. With John Olsen and Marc Cesare aggressive.
Jules made a great move to go with Erin and Euge'. Erin seemed to wait for much of the race whilst his teammates attacked. I was trying to surf wheels, see who would tow me up. After playing this game for a bit, some guys jumped on the otehr side of the road, and I wasn't in position to chase. Felt dumb that we couldn't get anyone in that bridge.
Coming up to two to go, I think, I saw Vladi for the second time of the day (talk to me, brother), it was by GAP and he had just let a gap open up. I figured he was done.
Did a good job holding position up the final hill, fading a bit from my earlier efforts. As we're ramping up for the sprint, Vladi puts in a good move.
I think he was fifth or sixth, which could move him into the top ten for the series. I was somewhere between 9th and 11th. Considering there were 10 paying places, I probably got the dick spot.
We averaged 25.7mph for the distance.
Good to be back.
Jul 13, 2014 at 04:27 PM
Jul 13, 2014 at 07:53 PM
Hold your horses...
Jul 14, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Race report! Between impending parenthood and recently upgrading and subsequent getting my ass kicked by the women's 1/2/3 field at Giro, I've been laying low on the race scene. But with Kayt's cat 4 leader's jersey to defend, I just had to do R&A this weekend. No pressure to win or even place well myself (in fact, I proudly finished 19/20 in the field sprint), just make sure Kayt stays in the lead.
I've actually never raced Prospect Park, but that's gonna change because IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! Kayt said past couple races started really really fast, got slow, and finished fast, so I showed up early to warm-up and be ready to hammer from the start. We actually started fairly mellow. Not neutral, but nothing extreme.
After finding myself behind one of the worst wheels in the NYC women's peloton (Erica from Radical) I made my way to the front with the idea of controlling the pace. I pretty much stayed on the front for 9 out of our 10 laps, eating wind like it was my #breakfastoftheday.
There were a couple attacks which I managed to chase down with Kayt. We kinda played leap frog, since I was on the front and my reaction to attacks was a bit delayed and fatigued. Then on the first QOM lap, I attacked the hill at the base and didn't let up until I was foaming at the mouth. This forced the hand of the QOM leader and sprint leader, who had to start their efforts earlier than probably necessary, resulting in some very fatigued leaders jerseys going into the next lap. Kayt caught up with me and asked for a repeat of that early hill attack for the final lap. Yes ma'am!
Last lap, I started my hill sprint just past the zoo. By mid-hill, I was foaming at the mouth and well into my red zone. Kayt came up around my wheel and I yelled "go! go! that's all I've got!" and she was off! I caught my breath, jumped on a wheel, and got back into the field by GAP hoping I could help Kayt again... but basically just managed to get myself into field sprint rather than finishing off the back. I was happily exhausted, knew I gave it my all, and so THRILLED that Kayt gets another weekend in the maillot rose et noir! Woohoo!
Also, a shout out to Skillz & Drillz! Tonya Miller from Major Taylor hit a pothole on an early lap and her only water bottle went flying into the field. No crashes, everyone remained calm, and the field slowed down for a moment. Kayt, in an act of extreme largesse, gave Tonya her extra bottle. Classy lady, that Kayt. But upon seeing this exchange, my only thought was "but Kayt needs water too!" so I offered her my extra bottle. She declined, but took me up on the offer later in the race, when increased speeds and fatigue made for a slightly more treacherous exchange. But no sweat. Skillz & Drillz prepared us for a smooth and nerve-free hand-off. Thanks Skillz & Drillz!
Jul 14, 2014 at 02:24 PM
So awesome yo! Love it. Foaming at the mouth, then do it again. Exactly Erika, EXACTLY.
Jul 14, 2014 at 02:36 PM
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format not-found