Charlie has the permit, he is running this series. He's out of town, (at sea otter, if I have to guess) so Charlie asked Greg to run the race today.

Who's signing up this coming Sunday? I'm on the fence because of the road conditions.

I will be there Sunday.

I will be there...with my Geritol and Ben Gay rockin

I'm out. Racing NRC Crit in Delaware, then Baltimore. Good luck gents, be safe.

I was thinking this was Saturday not Sunday.  Pity.  Probably will make it.  

I'm in. Already 90 people reg'd 

I'm in.  

Condon, Eloy, Yack, myself thus far.  Anyone else?

In

Just reg'd...5 spots left.  I'll be there with my CARBON TUBULARS ON.....take THAT pot holes !!!!!

In...first race ever.  

Let's see: stay toward the front of the pack, keep nose out of the wind, what's 3rd pointer?

Don't overlap wheels.

Gotcha, good one - thanks!

106 riders.  

We are Condon, Eloy, Vlad, Vladi, Yack, Mark Taylor, Dan Strika,myself.

While I think that a few squads, namely Brands, Brauer, and Jordan, who are looking for a sprint.  There are  just as many looking for the break.  I'd include Rapha, Weather Channel, Rockstar.  

Metra's Dioslaki will be going for KoM points and a breakaway.  The two Lupus guys could be tough or could be just hanging on.

I think we want the break.  I think it can go at any time because combinations will matter more than anything else.  It could be the right people up front, or the right people sit up behind, or both.   Positioning will be important--be ready to burn some matches keeping yourself in a good place. 

The moments around the points and KoM sprints are going to be particularly dangerous.  If you're at the front, fight to stay there and look around; it could be time to press an attack, even if you're feeling on edge.

I'm feeling pretty good and think I'll be able to ride aggressively Sunday.  

Dioslaki has both the kom and sprint jersey...depends on what he wants to chase.  Ragot is in 2nd place in the sprints.  I may take my chances on the sprint laps...just to see what I got.  Looking forward to this one.  There will be strong cat I's and not so strong cat IV's out there so stay towards the front...if a gap opens, be ready to close it on your own lest you be left behind.  I doubt this one comes down to a sprint, what with the kom and green sprints loosening things up. 

I forgot to register in time. May do day of reg if I have energy to help the team after Saturday's TT. If so I'll get there really early...

twoyacks said:

Dioslaki has both the kom and sprint jersey...depends on what he wants to chase.  Ragot is in 2nd place in the sprints.  I may take my chances on the sprint laps...just to see what I got.  Looking forward to this one.  There will be strong cat I's and not so strong cat IV's out there so stay towards the front...if a gap opens, be ready to close it on your own lest you be left behind.  I doubt this one comes down to a sprint, what with the kom and green sprints loosening things up. 

Molloy won the KoM in the past and will be racing.  He could beat Dioslaki up the hill.  Actually, Molloy could challenge for the sprints as well.

And there are several guys who fancy themselves sprinters.  Gary Steinberg of Brauer, Lynn Murray of Jordan, Chris Loehner of Brands, Juan Pineda of Brands (was a pretty good sprinter pre doping bust), Mihael Ghinghina of Houlihan/Lokey, Mitch Jacaruso of Weather Channel, Hammean Walker of Major Taylor, Horace and Johann Burrowes.  

I never thought of Mihael as a sprinter, the Burrowes brothers always find some "magical" form at some point in the season... Pineda yes. 

How about we make a TEAM PLAN fellas, like the good old days? You know: pre-race strategy/tactics planning. A road captain (JP?). Pre-race meetup to decide roles and responsibilities. Ride around a lap and do a post-race review and debrief. Definitely the post Ragot sprint lead-out is going to be a good spot for us to launch our breakaway artists. (As I take another sip on my beer down here in NZ). 

Also, let's take some bets on flat tires.

came very close to registering as "Gymkata"...true story

Wanna wish all of you guys good luck this weekend. To John's point, I think the most important thing for the team to consider is your end game. During the race, you'll be making your breakaways, bridge-ups, sprint attempts etc. That's a given. But what to do if there are 3 or 4 of you left in the last two laps?

IMO, you focus all your energies to getting close to each other at the front. And when/if things start to bunch on the last lap, on the lead-in to the old finish line, then you put a couple a guys on the front to drill out some high VO2 until you are pooped. JP will be on the throne, and if he's say 5th wheel going up the climb before the finish, and it is strung out, he should have a legit chance at placing.

I think where things get tricky is if it stays bunchy until the climb then all hell breaks loose. But if we've got some muscle at the front at the end when it counts...that's a diff't story.

Chris is really heavy this year, compare to the last year. Shows no form so far, struggles on the hills. Bad winter, I guess.
Give me some rumors on Pineda pls)) what up with doping?

Google to the rescue. That was a while ago, but he was a pro... Good to compete against former pro)

Loehner is heavy and was getting dropped in the hills on the triangle ride this winter...Tom Cippola seems the strongest Brands rider as of today.  The Pineda's are in these races but I've yet to see anything from them.  I don't believe Brand's is going to make the race tomorrow.  You've got Foundation, South Shore, United, Weather Channel, Metra, Axis & Rapha...anything with those guys moving off the front would be something to bridge to or bring back.

basically, everybody)

Yes...also noticed this bulge in my front rim wheel just now...it does not extend to the brake track

 :'( 

I bet that Paul Carbonara can repair it easily.  Track him down (I think he lives behind Jules).

Chris Loehner might be fat, but when he flatted at the first R&A race, Brands was lost.  At the last L&C race, Cipolla led him (and me) out.  

Pineda followed Dioslaki on a off-the-line attack at the las R&A race.  They held it through the first KoM. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Dioslaki wants to try again.  We need someone ready to go on the front line at the start.

cipolla led him out from mid pack, thats where he finished...

Thanks... JP I will bring the wheel tomorrow...hoping I can either get the wheel to Paul or drive to a teammates house till Paul can get it...yes I saw that suicide flyer last weekend...but optimistic to go from the gun...updated rim pick...I'll be on my clinchers till further notice 

Ouch!!