Would love to do this race (3/4) and join Vlad.  Would really need another person or two to split car rental/fuel/tolls with.

Lots has been written about this race already, and I don't want to get into anyone's personal economics, but this is a good hard road race that will give you an opportunity to test those legs against an unfamiliar crew of competitors from the mid-atlantic region. If you are fit and ready to rage on heavy, slow PA roads, and have a strong 600-400 watt punch to get you up the extremely steep "Gamblers Wall" in the closing laps of your race, you will have fun.

Very family friendly. Lots of free food. 5 and 10k running races.

Looking for some advice on Gamblers. Do I keep the 23 or should I throw on the 28? Those are the only ones I've got. I'm pretty good with the punchy stuff. I've also got a chain catcher for what it's worth.

Advice here is of two types:

Stay near the front. Try to Id the teams and who looks strong. Follow moves for a bit to see which teams get into them or try to bring them back. Then I think you may have a sense of what's going on.

Or, just stay near the front and get a feel for the riders. Find a place on the course that seems to suit you and toss an attack in or even better there will be someone else who likes that spot too and you go together.

That's the best I got.

JP?

I got my ass kicked. Only lasted about 50 minutes. Very hard day, more thoughts later.

Must've been a seriously large boot...

I really like this race. Well run. Great vibe. Great roads. Challenging. Punchy climbs. I'm starting to develop an appreciation for these Pennsylvania Dutch country Kermesse style races (e.g. Farmersville and the Coxsackie series upstate).

Not much excitement in the 3/4 race. Tactically it was a duck. We rolled kind of slow with some surgey parts yet somehow shed about half the field by the time we got to Gamblers wall on the last two laps. Nothing looked dangerous. Nobody gave a shit. Fledgling fliers were chased down and nobody was bright enough to counter. My asthma was acting up and I didn't feel like I had the legs to try anything, but without teammates in the race, I doubt it would have worked. 305NP for two hours ain't so bad.

Field sprint. I drop back. Kaboosh and I move up 30 spots. This fucking field sprint crashing shit really needs to stop Cat 4's (and 3's), no offense. It was heinous.

Lovely day otherwise.

Next year, I'll target the 123 race. The 3/4 is not my style.

Big number V, chapeau.  We could power a small village with the watts guys are putting out right now.  Glad to hear you made it through the carnage unscathed; hope nobody was hurt.

hmm

Bummer I didn't have this thread "starred" so I missed those last few questions. Vlad, I would have said go for the 28. Clearly you didn't need it. It's not a surprise to me that anyone who loves racing Floyd as much as you do, will enjoy the "PA Kermesse."

Let Mike's 50 minutes be a warning/challenge to you guys looking for a hard ass race to target for next year. (One where gravel pits of despair won't take you out of contention because you opted to race a road bike instead of a 29er.)

My wife wants a full report from the Baby Derby. She's sure Peter would have kicked all those other baby's butts.

mike&vlad,
thanks 4reports&mighty strong effort(s)!!
-h

I'm planning on doing this one again. Likely the P123 race.

This is a great race all around. Truly family friendly and inclusive. Sharing a moment with a Mennonite while glombing off some free Turkey Hill (edible) shwag is a very special thing.

I'm thinking the 3/4

Bump.

If you are planning on Orchard Beach, the day before is Turkey Hill. A great Belgian/Midwest style road race that rolls, throws you up a steep short climb a few times, and rewards your effort with lots of free Turkey Hill ice cream and other treats. Good race for guys who don't consider themselves pure climbers.

Very family friendly event. 5 and 10K running events in the morning before bike events. Baby crawling races. Kid running races. Sports team mascot racing.

Hey @Marc, how's the course for those who do consider themselves pure climbers? We've been meaning to take a trip out to that part of PA to visit family, and the one thing that would get my wife to watch me race is ice cream. Or donuts, basically any sort of pastry, all cream-based pies, most fruit-based pies...

Here is what the course looks like

Note the wall on the last two laps.

Erika Tarte said:

Hey @Marc, how's the course for those who do consider themselves pure climbers? We've been meaning to take a trip out to that part of PA to visit family, and the one thing that would get my wife to watch me race is ice cream. Or donuts, basically any sort of pastry, all cream-based pies, most fruit-based pies...

Erika,

@mugwump True. Not calling myself a pure climber and not aspiring (or, at least, limiting my training) to be one. But those longer, steep, seemingly relentless hills certainly help me out. Gotta work on maintaining a break on the descents. @vlad, I like the look of those walls!

Erika Tarte said:

Hey @Marc, how's the course for those who do consider themselves pure climbers? We've been meaning to take a trip out to that part of PA to visit family, and the one thing that would get my wife to watch me race is ice cream. Or donuts, basically any sort of pastry, all cream-based pies, most fruit-based pies...

Check with your coach, but I think this is a good race for EVERYONE. I emphasize "not for pure climbers," primarily because so many of our road races now become a game of power-to-weight ratio. Can you hang on to that last big climb or can't you? There are a number of us on the club that would like to do more road racing, but spending money to miss time cut because of getting dropped on a 10+ minute climb or whatever...that's sucko.

Anyway, here's why it's good. Because you have to really use your head and plan and actively race. From positioning yourself well at the base of the climb, to really light it up, to keeping the power on, on the rollers that follow the climb. Is there a cross wind? Then you better get to the front and drill it and make the poorly positioned pay. Power on, keep it on, the field shreds, then you are racing the last lap with only the strongest. Don't let them catch back on the descending rollers that go into the home stretch. You'll be flying, but you need to keep the power up.

Wait, what's going on with your legs, are you starting to cramp? Despite the early date in the year, if the sun is out, it gets blazing hot and there is no shade. You will really have to pay attention to hydration and food intake.

Some of your KCC teammates felt frustration racing a race that felt too easy overall, and then coming into the finish with a big group only to get swarmed and finishing out of the money. I think in these kinds of races, races where you are one of the top competitors, you have to focus on making the race unfold the way you want it to for a period of time, but then be ready willing and able to close the deal, race the race that is actually given you.

So doing a circuit multiple times, you should take note of where the wind is coming from, where the field flows, where there might be room for you in the last lap sprint. Where you might have to burn a few matches to have a good out in the sprint.

Also, coming past the start-finish, is pretty quick, and the right turn is pretty narrow. And that stretch of road is a gentle big ring rolling climb up. Not a bad place to try and pull away from the pack-sitters. Attack through the finish line. Take turn one, crit style, fast and hard, then just motor up the 3-4% grade of a climb.

Also, you'll see racers you haven't seen before. Lots of PA and other mid-Atlantic folk will probably show. It's good to get out of the local scene and test yourselves against others.

I guess what I'm saying in a very long-winded way, is that, while there is no single climb that will shrivel the field down to the top 10, there are plenty of good reasons to see how you fair in such a race. Because if you are destined for the big time...then you're going to want to experience as many types of races as you can.

But really the absolute best reason to do this race, is if you and your wife were thinking about planning a trip out to the area anyway, and she's willing to give you Turkey Hill Ice Cream hand-ups? Sheeeeet...book your rooms now!

http://www.turkeyhill.com/community/country-classic.aspx

I'll be doing the 3/4

I'm going to try for this, with the newly enlarged family.  Think I should be pretty far past #jankeythumb and back to racing by then.

Jules said:

I'm going to try for this, with the newly enlarged family.  Think I should be pretty far past #jankeythumb and back to racing by then.

Because, basically after not paying attention to @Marc's recommendations for CX races when I finally DID I more or less swore a blood oath (under a lunar eclipse while standing at a crossroads) to #alwayslistentoMarc when it comes to family friendly race advice.

Jules said:

Jules said:

I'm going to try for this, with the newly enlarged family.  Think I should be pretty far past #jankeythumb and back to racing by then.

Because, basically after not paying attention to @Marc's recommendations for CX races when I finally DID I more or less swore a blood oath (under a lunar eclipse while standing at a crossroads) to #alwayslistentoMarc when it comes to family friendly race advice.

Awww, shucks. Thanks!

Fair warning, for those used to making a quick pit stop for last minute munchies, sodas, whatever, close to the race...the way you get there weirdly takes you past almost no close gas station/convenience stores etc. It's like you're on the highway and then bam....long time on small roads in nowheresville. So be sure to fill all your Osmo bottles the night before, pack your healthy savories, sunscreen, and be prepared to stuff your face with the sweet stuff at the race. One year they did have hot dogs too...and for someone who has spent most of his life in Chicago or New York, I have to say, I'm going to avoid the dogs if possible this year.

I disagree with the avoiding hotdogs... 

I'm in for the 3/4, though I wish we could climb this wall more than just once.

konrad said:

I'm in for the 3/4, though I wish we could climb this wall more than just once.

No you don't. The wall sucks...really really sucks.

Yours truly,
Fatty McFatPants