Don't get me wrong, Mr. T. I'm down with the tribalism! Randall's Island was my first race and there were bodies littering the course, piled up on the rocks. But fun to deal with all the turns and fast accelerations. 

Also, Kissena kit is righteous. No competition. 

The races available in the tri-state area have been very limited these past two years. That should change next year with a full schedule in Prospect Park, Floyd Bennett Field, and Branchbrook. In addition to the new series like Randall’s island, there are great single day races like the Harlem Crit, Fort Lee crit, Watermelon Crit, Giro del Cielo, Grants Tomb, Bear Mountain, orchard beach, and others. 

Hey, registration is still open for this race.  Looks like there are lots of spots.

https://www.bikereg.com/crcadjc

I'm in the 1/23.  Greg Hoge is in the 3/4.  

It's a fun, fast course, where positioning well is a challenge.  

This was a fun one.  Dragged my ass out of bed at 4am, but didn't make it out the door till just passed 5.  Ended up having to do a TT effort just to make it to the start in time; at least I was warmed up.  According to the tech guide, it was supposed to be a neutral start will the bottom of Harlem hill.  That didn't happen.  What did happen was all the fields got stopped at about 97th st on the west side because there was a robbery and police were blocking the road.  We got started back up after a few minutes.  Position for the downhill leading into Harlem hill got a bit sketchy with the construction, but after a few laps every kinda figured it out.  There were a few riders trying to go for a break, but kept getting pulled back.  I ended up finding myself on the front going into the prime.  That ended with me getting swarmed about halfway up Cat's Paw with the finish at the top (this will be a theme...).  Fast forward to the last lap.  I'm sagging up Harlem hill and know I need to start moving up cause this sucker is coming down to a sprint.  As we pass the Tavern, a TBD rider rolls by me up the right side.  Free ride!  He get on the front as we round the turn at the Center Drive entrance, then pulls off as we pass the East Dr. entrance.  That leaves me on the front. Heading into the sprint. Again.  This is where I made a bad decision.  Instead of pulling off and slotting in, I ride.  Hard.  I look down at my computer. 180bpm. 184bpm.  I don't have much longer.  We hit the bottom of Cat's Paw (this feel familiar...).  I YOLO and send it.  Got swarmed halfway up.  Rolled in for 25th.

Other than leading out the bunch for both sprints, I think I raced pretty well.  Kept average power down <220 till the final bit and stayed with the group.  I really just need to remember to be patient when things are coming down to a sprint.  It's paid off in the past, so I know it works.

I enjoy racing Central Park.  It's not a hard course, but it's always varied and you have to be paying attention to do well.  

LIke Greg's race, we did not have a neutral start, much to my surprise.  Getting stopped completely at West 93rd seven minutes into the race was a surprise. as well.  I assumed we'd have laps cut because of the seven-minute plus wait, but we didn't.

The race was kind of weird.  the Jordan and Foundation teams wanted to keep it together, so they kept it steady and didn't allow much leash for any breaks.  

The above didn't really matter to me as I wasn't finding my rhythm for much of the race.

On the last lap, I finally got it down.  Was third wheel going down the hill at the north end, stayed in the top 20 for much of the lap until Tavern.  Even had a moment where I was getting poked by someone's brake lever on my left elbow while I was just about brushing the armhairs of the big guy on my right.  Tight.  

At Tavern, there was a sense of a gasp, and things let up.  I lost a bunch of places, but was set to use the curves on the east side to get back into position.  Then the front of the race sat up.  It was like the Jordan and Foundation teams were done for the day.  We were totally wide and taking it easy until the curve at 72nd, where things started to speed up...and there was a panel truck blocking the left lane by the boathouse.  Race over.  Foundation got second.  A guy from Verazzano won, considering his team, the other teams blew it.  Third was Ryan Jastrab a pro from Wildlife, and the guy who was sticking his brake lever into my elbow.  

If it hadn't been for the delay on the first lap, our pace was 27.1mph.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7255928393

This race is next Saturday. I've never raced central park before so I'd like to get that off my bucket list. I'm still debating whether to do the 4/5's or 3/4's.

Anyone else in? Or, alternatively, any good advice for how to race CP?

LennartZandbergen said:

This race is next Saturday. I've never raced central park before so I'd like to get that off my bucket list. I'm still debating whether to do the 4/5's or 3/4's.

Anyone else in? Or, alternatively, any good advice for how to race CP?

First, the second part...any good advice for how to race CP?

I think we must have extensive advice on that subject somewhere on the forum.  It's a trickier course than Prospect, more rolling hills, more curves, you need to be more attentive to position.  

I'd suggest the 3/4, thinking it might be faster and safer.  Surprised the fields aren't full yet.

FWIW, I think I'm going to skip this one.  Cruising along in the 1/2's is awesome, but I haven't had good luck of late in CP.    

I’ll read through some old threads! 

@LennartZandbergen

We actually had a clinic about CP several years ago.  And lots of advice is contained there

https://forum-archive.kissenacycling.com/discussion/1256.html

Supposedly, the following goes to a detailed analysis

Marc's overview is here: http://kissenacycling.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/33369/#Comment_33369

But the link seems dead.  perhaps another person can locate it.  

I added the following way back then.

"so much to add.

The first climb heading south, 110berg, might seem like a launching pad for racing-winning attacks.  It rarely is.  The problem is the fast downhill on the other side.  Lots of people can struggle over this hill and recover on the descent.

The second and third rises are better springboards for attacking.

The drop from west 85th to west 74th is actually the fastest section of the race. I've hit 45mph there.

The false flat from about West 73rd to Tavern (west 67th) typically causes the field to slow and go wide.  If you attack a bit before 67th, you can get a gap, then shoot down the hill to the southern end of the park.

It's easy to move up on this section if you want.  The problem is the same goes for everyone else.  Move up, then fight for wheels.  The road funnels as it heads north, and  it's best to be at the front.  Better to take wind then have to deal with guys slamming brakes.

The curves from E59th to E72nd can make and break races.  It's hard to hold position on the various sweepers.  the good thing is that if you're out of position, you can use the sweepers to your advantage.  If you're out of position on the right side, wait till the road curves left, everyone usually moves left.  Jump up then.  

Because the finish is at E90th, the finishing dynamics are different.  It's better to ride at the front over Cat's Paw then have to jump around guys blowing up.  You'll go hard up the hill, try to hold position over the top, keep position until the left curve at E87th, and then it's drag race time.

Have fun!  In the warmer months the course is very flowing, very dynamic.  In position one moment, out the next.  Try to take advantage of the hills and curves for attacking.  Like there's the dip from W90th to W85th.  If you start several riders back at W92nd, and go hard, you can use momentum to get over the rise.  Problem is continuing the move."

Just a note, the finish us at the top of Cat's Paw, not 90th street.

Also it looks like there might be rain Saturday morning, so keep you mouth as closed as possible through the south side, aka horse shit alley.

I see Lennard is the only Kissena registered.  Pity for the others.  good on him.

Rode CP today.  (actually did a lap or so with Fabian Cancellara)  So, a few things for those who don't ride there regularly.

The descent at the north end still has the barriers on the right side awkwardly placed.  The barriers jut out the most just after the apex of the turn.  Don't fight for position on the descent.  Do it before, and if you're poorly placed, let some breathing room accumulate in front of you, so you don't have to jam on your brakes at the last moment.

Horse shit alley isn't that nasty right now.  hopefully it won't get worse between now and the race.

mugwump said:

Rode CP today.  (actually did a lap or so with Fabian Cancellara)  

Wait.. What?!

Apparently, he was in NYC for some Tudor Watch event.  Tudor is the sponsor of his Division 2 team.

He and a guy in Tudor Pro Cycling clothing were doing laps in CP.  I caught up with them, made a joke about them being lost, and went from there.  They did River Road yesterday.  They were doing other stuff today.  Cancellara was in a blank jersey, but his bike had all-white tires.  The guy in the Tudor clothing works for the watch company.  

Cancellara made a joke when some guy in a yellow jersey passed as we were tooling up 110berg.  He's more qualified for that joke than just about everyone in the United States.  

Was a really nice race. 

Summary:

• 3:50 am is very early
• Eating at that time is difficult
• Cycling on a completely empty 6th ave is glorious - didn't have to unclip once between Flatbush and Central Park
• 5:30 is still pretty early
• Race started pretty relaxed, had the time to get to know how to use the course a bit 
• Moved up to the front by the second lap, group of 8 or 10 riders then already broke away
• No one really worked hard enough to get them back
• Me and one other guy started yelling for people to work on getting them back and take quick turns at the front
• That kinda worked, and it took people a long time to notice that I wasn't really participating
• Did a few very short pulls but didn't want to burn my matches too much
• They came a little closer, but I lost hope of us getting them back and made the mistake of trying to make the jump to them on Harlem Hill in the 4th lap
• That hurt. A lot. 
• And failed, but did help in catching the break 
• Could recover somewhat after, but oof
• Was well-positioned in the last lap, I thought: all the way on the right side of the road, just 10-15 riders in front of me
• One of them decided to pretty much stop cycling after we arrived at Cat's Paw and I was stuck behind him
• Finished somewhere in the back
• This course is so cool

A Reminder.  This race is coming up SATURDAY JUNE 1.
registration closes Friday, May 31st.

https://www.bikereg.com/crcadjc#Register

Lots of spaces open at the moment.

I generally highly recommend racing in Central Park.  There is advice above in terms how to ride it.

I'll be skipping it again this year to ride the Highlands Gran Fondo on Sunday.  My legs didn't do well the last time I raced the Jordan then did the Highlands GF.  

A reminder we also scheduled the ride brooklyn ride on Sat June 1st 

https://strava.app.link/RNDA6pAGYJb

This is now up on BikeReg:

https://www.bikereg.com/70244

Kev I'm registered in the 3/4 with you. 

I'm still 50/50 for this as I registered for the Highlands Grand Fondo the next day and I currently have no recovery powers (that + a general lack of endurance...).

Max mentioned he may be up for it also!

I got a bit excited and signed up for this and the Highlands Grand Fondo the next day. I'm not going to do both so will offer this up to anyone that might be interested? The entry is transferable.

Will knock $10 off, so it's then $55 all in.

The date is Friday May 30th from 5:30am onwards.

https://www.bikereg.com/70244

I'm planning to do the race, which are you signed up for?

3/4 - I'll be racing as well. Any other KCC want to join in one of the few open CP races?

I'm in boss-taking Kevin's slot.

Looks like it might be a wet one. Anyone else before reg closes?

https://www.bikereg.com/70244

Max, I'm in over my head tomorrow with a smaller field and big legs in the 3s, but will do my best to hang on to the front as long as possible. There will be attacks at the gun and it will be rough for at least the first lap before things settle so watch out for splits. Dave Jordan has some star junior riders and numbers so they'll definitely be making moves and blocking back at the bunch. Max Davis of RNR is the guy I'm going to mark, I know he's crazytown strong and will be racing aggressively at the front. 

https://www.road-results.com/?n=racers&amp;sn=pred&amp;url=https://www.bikereg.com/Confirmed/70244#resultsdiv

I’m not going to race on wet roads. Risk of crashes too high for me. Stay safe and have fun!

Results?  Bros?

I woke up to pouring rain and decided to go back to sleep. Kind of regret it but the idea of heading to the park in the dark in the rain was a bit too much at 330am.

I also skipped, but sort of resigned myself to that by the evening before.  Training this last week has been very meh and my heart wasn't in it.  Likely would have bailed anyway had I woken up to the rain