twoyacks said:

Andrew Lacorte is reg'd

twoyacks said:

Geritol fueled, fat sprinter types 

If only we could win through the use of animated gifs....

Brimley has a jump.

Jeffrey White said:

Brimley has a jump.

... and diabeetus

Spaulding...this calls for the Old Billy Baroo....

What has this thread turned into?

I'm in as well.  

Mugwump makes us a dozen!

old gray mare she ain't what she used to be, ain't what she used to be, ain't what she used to be...

Nice KCC crew racing this weekend. Big fields. Which means it's going to be harder to stay up front and on top of our game. Malcolmson already hit on some good points that bear repeating.

First, everyone on the team has a chance to win. I'm going to suggest designating a couple of guys as our A&B protected riders, but that doesn't mean if you get in a break, you don't ride to win. In fact, everyone rides to win. What that means for you as an individual is up to your experience and fitness levels. Guys like JP and Ragot will work hard to drive the break. I on the other hand, will sit like a passenger, and jump my sure-to-be-angry breakmates in the last 100 meters of the race unleashing my beast. The rest of you will probably be somewhere in between. DO NOT RIDE YOURSELF OUT OF THE BREAK. Know thyself.

Second, we may have to sprint. We'll know with about 2 or 3 laps to go if we've got to show our big and hair balls in a group sprint. You start planning for the finish, position around this time. In the last lap, you want to be comfortable on the climb, spinning those legs, drifting back a bit to save some energy if you have to. Because on the descent, through the chute, it's time to be on the front. Look for your teammates. Who's sprinting? Talk to each other. Don't worry about "secrets" shout out directions/questions to your guys. Go hard at the front, drill it. 350-400 watt, one minute pulls. With 250 to go, penultimate guy, sprint like you are going to win it. Sprinter guy, on his wheel and come around. Trust in your teammates. Ignore the last lap hero attacks. Trust in your train. Avoid freelancing if possible.

Third, we can't go after everything, can we? We've got 11 guys. Those are good numbers. But this is not our race to run. Let the Eddie Bauer and WonderWomen do their thing. And we crash their party. They've been battling in Master's-only races for longer than any other NYC team and I expect them to be well drilled. I will be asking JP frequently who's dangerous and who's not. He still knows NYC riders better than most. You do too. Don't be afraid to tell me or another one of your teammates that such and such up the road is dangerous. I haven't raced all season. I'm going to need some help too.

Men to Mark. While I'm hesitant to assign one Kissena to cover Diosloski, that dude does need to be covered constantly. I recommend we do it as a team. The Cheating Team Metra Fireplug is pretty hard to miss. So if you look over and see him without a KCC rider on or near his wheel, then it's your job to keep an eye on him for the time being. If you are lucky, you might get a 3 lap rest period? harhar. We should meet early and start pointing other danger dudes out to each other. I don't particularly care about being secretive, so lets just be there and point with our big pointy pointy fingers so we all know.

Protect our strongest. Let's give our biggest beasts a chance to shine. I don't want to read another report where our strongest guys are all like, "I was riding 310 watts at the front for 8 laps because the field was going too slow, so when Dioslowski went, I had nothing to go with him." Yeah, duh.

When to attack? It's been said before, and is not new news, but after a hard effort, whether that be pulling back a dangerous break, or a mid-race sprint for points, the field is going to be tired and so will you, but that is your best time to escape and get a gap.

The players.

Leaders = JP and Ragot. Unless Ragot has been doing VO2 max intervals all week and/or just returned from a 2 week trip from his European/Bahama time share again, he should be one of our two top strong men. JP should also be our back-up "road General" due to the fact that I very may well get dropped after two laps (I've been sick a lot these past 6 weeks, consequently next to no training...and no, I'm not exaggerating here). It's also our job to protect these guys from themselves too. JP rides at the front too much (mostly when he doesn't feel the support of his team, and the field is too slow) and Ragot has been known to surf the back (although that appears to have changed somewhat these past few years...still, old habits)

The Beasts = Harry and Yaks. Harry is THE HONEY BADGER. That guy is an attacking beast, and while I was counseling him to ride more conservatively when he was solo in the Carolinas, now is the time when he can attack the field like a maniac. Harry, I know you want to. Saturday is your day. We'll be there to back you up with well timed COUNTER ATTACKS when (if?) Harry's efforts get pulled back. I could be very wrong (feel free to correct me anyone) But Yaks (kissena bike club), based on race reports over the years strikes me as one of the more independent riders preferring to rage when he's ready to rage, and that's that. He's also done more local master's racing than most of us and should know the older guys pretty well too. I'm thinking Yaks can take his titanium fists of furry out on the field whenever he feels the spirit move him. Let's just be ready to counter his punches though.  I see both of these guys as being key to softening up the field, making it possible for our breakaway bangers to get and stay away.

Breakaway Bangers 'n Mash. The quiet warriors. Everyone else...(I'm the soft and creamy mashed potatoes here though). Stokes, Ellis, Condon, Malcolmson, Zolan, Grehan. Going for breakaways. Ideally, on or more of these guys is in a breakaway that lasts >1 lap. A sweet 3-lap breakaway that requires serious chasing by the sprinter teams would be great. I don't know how everyone is going, but I know from past conversations that Grehan is motivated to shine, Condon looked rock solid at Grant's Tomb, Stokes is always steady and reliable, Malcolmson isn't afraid to rage. And I will introduce myself to Ian Ellis for the 15th time in 18 months, making him rage at my idiocy so much that he takes it out on the field. If you get in a break, do what JUST what you can (and not one ounce more) to make it last as long as possible.

And then we're back again to the sprinting scenario if the breakaway doesn't stick.

If folks want organized efforts towards any mid-race jersey competition, speak up now. I'm sure we can rally, especially if any of you old farts are committing to doing the whole series.

Nice analysis Marc.

I take offense to the back of the pack thing - except for Sunday when I was hanging on for dear life, I've stopped racing at the back as of three seasons ago.

No VO2 or anything hard, I'm coming out of the hard training.

I did threshold efforts yesterday - easiest they've been in ages.

Eric...yeah, it's been a long time since we've done a park race together, especially one where I've been fit as you! I'll have to figure out a new way to rag [ot] (get it?) on you now!

Bonus round info:

Smart ass responses to jerk-holes yelling at you for not pulling "hard enough" in the break.

1) Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I was wearing a Kissena jersey, not a [CRCA] jersey.
2) [blank, f-you stare]
3) I'm doing my best here, if you want to try and drop me, go ahead.
4) You can bitch about me skipping pulls, but right now you have 10 Kissena riders blocking for you, so why don't you shut up and thank god I'm here chilling, smelling your smelly butt crack.
5) You don't want me in the break? You want 10 Kissena's chasing your ass down? Okay, I'll drop out of the break. No problem.

Marc Bertucco said:

Smart ass responses to jerk-holes yelling at you for not pulling "hard enough" in the break.

1) Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I was wearing a Kissena jersey, not a [CRCA] jersey.
2) [blank, f-you stare]
3) I'm doing my best here, if you want to try and drop me, go ahead.
4) You can bitch about me skipping pulls, but right now you have 10 Kissena riders blocking for you, so why don't you shut up and thank god I'm here chilling, smelling your smelly butt crack.
5) You don't want me in the break? You want 10 Kissena's chasing your ass down? Okay, I'll drop out of the break. No problem.

You forgot the ULTIMATE DEATH STAR REPLY, "Sorry, I'm fat."

I'm totally using the "Sorry, I'm fat" line. Pure gold. Thanks Owens.

I guess the I'm old line doesn't work for this race?

There are going to be some cagey bastards that attack right after the sprint and KOM competitions....be leery of this.  I think the inter-race competitions are going to play a major role in how the race unfolds.  I would be near the front when these go down and jump across any gaps fast.

"cagey OLD bastards"

Got an email from Charlie this morning saying we can pick up numbers from R&A anytime today. Neat.

I am good in a break and have been working on sprinting as well. I think a break goes earlier than the last part of the race.

My thought is to help keep JP and I protected and when things look right he and I will go for it in a break. If someone else makes it we'll try to bridge.

If it's staying together them with 3 to go I'll move to the front and want bodies near me. Same at the end.

Random: Looks like someone named Philip Castaldi riding for the Lucarelli & Castaldi team is registered to race. I'm no genius type, but I'm guessing this is one of the principal sponsors for our race series so maybe, don't be dicky to him during the race? Not that we ever are, but if he's in the wind, and needs a wheel, it's not going to kill us to back off the pedals a bit and let him slot in, for example.

@eragotWIll be interesting to see — last 14 miles. Maybe after half way is safer bet.

I think a break goes earlier than the last part of the race. 

Whether the break goes early and lasts, or goes late and fizzles, the one common denominator is that there should always be a Kissena in it. And/or we are within shouting distance of the front of the pack at all times in order to respond appropriately.

With 110 guys in the field. It's going to be way easy to get lost in 70th position and be unable to contribute. Tomorrow is going to be a challenge, no doubt.

We've got a solid team. 2 strong leaders who can legit top-10. 5 other guys who can be there too, depending on circumstances, if we race smart and get a little lucky. And a few of us who will at a minimum cause a few seconds of field-wide angst here and there. I for one, despite 10 years of racing around here still get confused for JP (you know, white dudes with long hair), so I intend to attempt to put in one attack that draws out some jamokes who would ordinarily let me (actual me) go.

One other thing to note is that not all of us have the bright and shiny orange helmets. So don't solely look for the orange helmet if you are looking for a team member.

R&A

hi ALL...well seasoned ones(40+), looking forward&slightly frightened 2race w/jedi kcc masters! have spent early spring riding solo &discovering a multitude of being dropped by cat2&3's w/occasionally clawing back on to pack &finishing solidly in the middle of he pack...lessons learned for me:
a) it will take 2laps for me to warm-up,
b) when the pack goes with viscious(sp) attack have to go all-in or will be dangling 200m off back for next 14mi,
c) am stronger late in race;

so, @road captBertucco&co i am in for effort(s) to soften up field!

i would like to help Chris Yacks(tazmanian devil) go for a 1st or 2nd KOM sprint...i seem my role as threading a line(way finder) from temple/drum circle ahead of either Patrick or Malcolmson who will take over at start finish &pill Yacks to the bend on the hill for Yaks to unleash his inner fury!

then i will attempt a counter attack from the top of hill as far as i can go around the park...likely by the Temple i'lll be toast& try to hang on for another late race effort.

ChrisY please choose your train(kcc names)& call which KOM you are targeting, 1st or 2nd...both?

re: race strategy to 'soften field or set up a break for Ragot/JP doe it make sense to call out a rotation of attackers? ie. 1. zolan, 2. stokes 3. bolick, 4. condon, etc... or pair up and ride the opportunities?

i do not know he players and will not be able to compete with the sustained speeds of cat1-3...if i go at he right time can&will go ALL-in to bring home some Kissena Bling!

-h;-)

Harry, don't over-think this. Attack like a fierce honey badger when you feel the groove.

Inter-race communication is going to be important, if you want to coordinate better with YaksAttacks (TM) then just ride close to him as much as possible and talk to each other.

But #1 advice for you: Ride as hard as you can, beat yourself to a bloody pulp, and don't worry if you get dropped or whatever. You've done your job and any and all Kissena money dudes will ensure you get your cut.

Just in case you haven't seen it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg