i should do this next year.

Has anyone heard of "Waffle Cross" ? I hear rumblings of a race by this name coming up, but I can't find any concrete info on it.

"The first rule of waffle cross..."

http://www.cyclosport.org/31-Jan-2014/news/stephen-roche-to-ride-campagnolo-gran-fondo-new-york-2014.html

For those of aren't familiar with this Irish legend, this is how he won the '87 tour — pre EPO (just steroids and amphetamine): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQojh-wqL04

It was one of my favorite Tour of all times, and I've seen plenty....

That's pretty cool and all, but holy crap $280?

European cut cycling jersey ($110 value)
+
$250 value goodie bag, finisher medal and product from sponsors

How come Keith didn't give us any goodie bags last weekend?

I think teams get to start at the front, if people are interested.  All reports from past rides were positive, save the expense.  Seems unanimous that having the roads completely devoid of cars was magnificent.

Take the $280, put it in your SRM fund

Just in case anyone's thinking "what we really need is Kissena presence at a charity ride in Hawaii", I got to do this one last year and can thoroughly recommend it: http://paradiseridekauai.com/paradise/

Beautiful location, good mechanical support, plenty of refreshment stops, small-ish and friendly.

John Malcolmson said:

http://www.cyclosport.org/31-Jan-2014/news/stephen-roche-to-ride-campagnolo-gran-fondo-new-york-2014.html

For those of aren't familiar with this Irish legend, this is how he won the '87 tour — pre EPO (just steroids and amphetamine): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQojh-wqL04

There is some doubt on the above.  Some believe that Roche's Carrera team was early on the Conconi medical program. EPO was already in trials by 1987. 

@mugwump winning the Giro, The Tour [edit: and World Champion] in the same year, not often repeated. I believe the evidence is clear that Rocci, Rochio, was on the program at some point, but isn't the evidence 1992/93? Do we have any evidence of EPO use in cycling pre 1990? Definitely cortisone and speed, possibly blood doping?

Tim Heckman said:

Just in case anyone's thinking "what we really need is Kissena presence at a charity ride in Hawaii", I got to do this one last year and can thoroughly recommend it: http://paradiseridekauai.com/paradise/

Beautiful location, good mechanical support, plenty of refreshment stops, small-ish and friendly.

I was all for going to Hawaii until I clicked on the link and saw a recumbant with windscreen/fairing and a guy in a superman tshirt in the promo photo.

when I was in Atlanta there was a guy who would come on the Thursday night group ride in his recumbent.  wearing sandals.

I just entered the raffle (lottery) for entry into L'Eroica 2014. Fingers crossed.

I would like to do one of these rides at some point when it's warmer:

JohnMalcolmson said:

@mugwump winning the Giro, The Tour [edit: and World Champion] in the same year, not often repeated. I believe the evidence is clear that Rocci, Rochio, was on the program at some point, but isn't the evidence 1992/93? Do we have any evidence of EPO use in cycling pre 1990? Definitely cortisone and speed, possibly blood doping?

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jun/04/tour-de-france-stephen-roche

Can't say I'm thrilled by Roche's drug use, longtime support of McQuaid or castigation of Kimmage, but I respect him as a champion.

I read somewhere that there was some evidence that something wasn't kosher on the 1987 Carrera squad--was it blood boosting or early EPO, don't know.  I've been looking for this info again (maybe in The Crooked Path to Victory).  Conconi had definitely been associated with the team in 1986.  I interviewed Kimmage several years ago.  At that time, he thought that Roche hadn't won the Tour clean.  

Interesting note from the NYSBRA newsletter from this morning:

UCI defers “Forbidden Races” Rule enforcement.

The USAC is a UCI national association and therefore must follow all rules imposed by the UCI. The UCI has had a rule for a long time that forbids racers from taking part in non-National Association (i.e., USAC) sanctioned races. This was interpreted as only affecting professional racers for many years, but in 2012 it was clarified by the UCI to affect amateurs as well. This rule effectively bans all racers from taking part in many different types of events like charity rides or many MTB races that are not USAC permitted, etc.

 

Last week the UCI announced that they will suspend enforcement of this rule for 2014 while continuing to work towards a long-tern solution. Details are at: http://www.usacycling.org/decision-on-uci-rule-12019-delayed-until-2015.htm

Woo Hoo. I was selected in the lottery to ride this years l'eroica. I'm only doing the 75Km ride, but it is nearly all on the strade bianche and it will be on an old steel bike with downtube shifters and dubious brakes. And for maximum authenticity there is a choice of the leather hairnet helmet or the cloth cap (I'll probably go with the latter).

However they serve glasses of fine chianti at all of the  plentiful food stations so I won't worry too much.

&Ian that's fantastic! Pictures please; lots and lots of pictures!

Cyclists of that era often (in addition to fine Chianti) consumed steaks, ham, spinach, and hot tea to fuel the ride. Enjoy l'eroica! Be sure to post pics of your ride and your kit. And the food stations.

Jeffrey White said:

Cyclists of that era often (in addition to fine Chianti) consumed steaks, ham, spinach, and hot tea to fuel the ride. Enjoy l'eroica! Be sure to post pics of your ride and your kit. And the food stations.

For you CX fans, here is your chance to get your indoor spin class on with Tim Johnson and raise money for Transportation Alternatives...

http://bikenyc.org/event/5958

"Inside the ride with Tim Johnson

Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 4:30pm to 5:15pm

Short on time and want to make your Thursday ride REALLY COUNT? On April 24th, join U.S. Cyclocross National Champion Tim Johnson and other leading NYC cyclists at Flywheel cycling in Tribeca for the perfect indoor interval session to get ready for the weekend's riding or racing.

Beyond sweating bullets and honing technique with some cycling greats, Inside Ride raises funds for two of the country's top bike advocacy organizations — People for Bikes and Transportation Alternatives — helping make streets better for cyclists in NYC and beyond.

Riders will set their own resistance, though premes will be awarded for wattage-based, gender and age-categorized winners, including overall and 6 sprints. Prizes include a Cannondale Bad Boy, tune ups at SIDS, Flywheel passes and Giro bike accessories.

RSVP to Inside Ride today to ensure your spot (minimum tax-deductible donation of $150).

Inside Ride is a 45 minute class co-led by Tim Johnson and a top Flywheel instructor. The class will start promptly at 4:30, so please arrive at 4pm to get situated. Changing rooms and showers will be available. Complimentary cycling shoes, water, and towels are available to all participants. Flywheel bikes are compatible with SPD and Look Delta cleats should you wish to bring your own shoes.

Host committee: Tim Johnson, Paul Steely White, Brandon Jones, Tom Vanderbilt, Susi Wunsch and Helen Hatch."

Looking for some fondo training advice.  Debating doing a 117 miler when I'm in OR, on June1st.  My longest ride to date has probably been 80 miles.  Insane or manageable?  I'm wondering how to use the month I have to prepare for that distance.  How to get in some training, but still taper a bit at the end to recharge.  If a few weeks go by and I still feel ill-prepared, I can back down to the 71 mile course, but I'd like to set the bar higher.  Anyone ever tried to "cram" like this?   

Emily: I broke my wrist in July and was off of my bike until September 20th. Then I did Escape from NY on September 20th and met a Kissena who told me I should join the club. I really don't think there's any reason NOT to do it. You don't have to race, you just have to eat a lot, hydrate, and make sure that you like your bike fit and your seat. As for prep, just try to get in a ton of miles or, do like I do and don't even get on your bike for three months. You'll be fine. BUT if you want to ride 80 miles or so this Sunday, I'd love that since I'm trying to get in some miles for that Ride the Rockies trip (also in June). 

@Meredith, re Sunday, I would love to but will be out of town for a tri.  After that I'll be all for it!  @Ian, good points.  My 80-miler was two weeks ago and included Bear Mountain, so that was probably pretty good training for this, but otherwise I'm a bit all over the place since I've been working toward other things.  The point about food running out is pretty major though.  I will be very cranky if I miss out on the food...

I'll have to ponder.

Thanks!

@Gwynna - I got burned years ago riding out to Montauk.  I did the 140miles route from Penn Station and all I got was a small portion of pasta, a side salad, and a tiny burned cheeseburger because everything else was gobbled up by the riders who did the shorter routes.  To top it off they ran out of the Blue Point beer.  Never again...

You mean people like me @Yang? haha. I did that century (which turned out to be 112 miles) two years ago. Lots of food and beer and a shower after. But I also finished around 2pm.