More race reports

Connecticut Coast Criterium - 8/26 - 4th place
35 minutes plus 5 laps. A very plain course with a short hill and one turn. The uphill sprint helps keep it clean (53x19 or 17). There were 7 preems none for me. But 4th place at the finish line resulted in my first cash prize. Next Friday is the start of gmsr!

Kissena Velodrome Racing - 8/22 - 3 points.
Using a 48x15 gear ratio instead of 48x14, it was much easier to accelerate and this produced good results. Qualified for the A feature. I think it is worth trying 49x15.

Prospect Park Master's Race - 8/18 - finished with the breakaway in a category 1-4 field!
34 miles. This race started fast from the first lap. It was a little on the chilly side (about 65 degrees) and windy. In the first 3 laps there were a few random breaks off the front but poorly organized. On the fourth lap the peloton caught up to a small group and a strong counterattack was organized by Global Locate. Charlie was in the group that had just gotten caught, and I'm not sure but Eloy might have been too. In a flash I looked up the road and I could see nothing but GL and Deno's lycra getting away. One of us had to get up to the front and I didn't see Mark T up front making a move.

I chased and caught up with the group. We started making good time. More riders joined us and we grew to about 15 strong. I took several turns pulling. I didn't want anyone to think I was the sandbagger. The preem lap came right after our breakaway and two GL guys worked together to win back their entry fee. It was all I could do to be third man across the line. Another rider thanked me for it; meaning that I'd kept the group together instead of letting the GL guys get away. I was cautious with my pulls, trying to keep them short. There was some complaining about pulling through but it was not directed at me. It's remarkable that the guys tittering off the back have enough breath to complain as much as they do. At one point the wind was blowing hard across the road and three of us rode in echelon. That was fun especially when it seemed like other guys were having a hard time keeping a paceline together.

With three laps to go I wanted to quit and I didn't think I could handle the effort. I looked around and realized I might not feel as bad as the other guys (relatively). So I kept going.

With two to go I knew I'd finish - but was still dreading being dropped.

Just one lap to go, not so bad.

Final lap. A global locate guy jumps the gun and roars down the hill with about a mile to go. He put a good distance between us. Later as we're nearing the finish I'm remember that in hard races I have a good windup but no jump. I should try to wind up for the sprint instead of jumping for it. As we're nearing the finish line guys behind me jump for it. I think I'll grab a wheel somewhere... there's still room. A guy cuts very close in front and his pedal touches my front spokes with a ping... this guy had space on the other side so it was not a nice move. My desire to stay upright overcomes my desire to jump for a wheel. 5,6,8 guys pass me. Maybe more. They all get away. I pass a few guys who provided leadouts. Finally I hobble across the line on my own, somewhere around 12th place.

We stayed away for a total of 6 laps, and rode fine but I didn't race well enough to place.

When the results were announced I realized some of the winners did not participate actively in our pace lines. (ie., 6th-10th place) There's one guy I didn't even see riding with us. Poo poo on them for hiding! I guess sandbagging is a small offense when there's a large split compared to when it's a five man breakaway.

two new race reports

Raced Saturday morning (6:30am start!) in prospect park. Somehow I got boxed in at the sprint for the line. I was on the inside and kept trying to go around a ML guy for what seemed like minutes... then we were at the line.
Today was the last FBF race of the year. It's looking better for next year's races, or so Charlie writes in his email.
I tried to race well, not giving anything to the other teams and always working with and countering my team-mates attacks. There was a split at the end, and although we caught the main group, 3-4 guys still managed to get away but just barely. Coming up to the finish line, I noticed I was towing 3 guys behind me. I pulled off a little... but unfortunately none of them had any steam. So we lost momentum and I finished with the pack. It might have been better to keep pulling even if I was burning steam - I think I just need more confidence (or a bigger engine).

Another FBF race... maybe the last?

I mostly sat in today, only made one or two efforts. Johanne said he'd give me a good lead out and thought I could place in the top 5. He's a really nice guy. Unfortunately I took 7th. Still, it was a really fun race and I felt comfortable in my tactics... a first for me in road racing. Maybe need to work on max power and the jump for the sprint - although I did pass 2-3 guys in the final 50 yards.

Charlie announced that the parks department might install barricades to block cars from entering floyd bennett field. Although that doesn't sound like a big problem for a bike race it is. Unfortunately every sanctioned bike race needs a pace vehicle.

Mucha Carrera!

Entered and finished three races this weekend. Prospect park on Saturday morning. Didn't push too hard - finished top 15. The HED Jet60 wheel Mike gave me makes a difference. Less effort. It's a wind cheater!
On Sunday I drove out to Doylestown for the Zaveta circuit race. I was registered for two races back-to-back. This is a technical course... mostly due to a big field and the yellow line rule. There was a break that stayed away for 4 laps after the first preem, but nothing stuck so we all finished together. I did not use the HED wheel.
The first circuit race was with the 4/5 field first. I got boxed in for the sprintinished in 12th place. Immediately after that I raced with the 3/4 field (28 miles) and didn't have legs for the sprint. Finished with the pack. Having run out of water during the second race, Gary gave me a sip of his.
Oh, and I had a spill on the brooklyn bridge on Thursday last week with scrapes on my arms and right leg but it's no big deal.

SummerSlam07

6/29/07 - Did the river road hillclimb on Sunday, from the boat basin to the sheriff station. I timed myself even though I was carrying a lot of stuff. My time was 6m, 15s to the brown road sign, and about 6m 45s to the entrance of the parking lot.

6/30/07 - Four hill repeats in central park for lunch. Then out to prospect park on Monday night for summerslam07. It was fun and much more interesting than a typical road or track event. I wasn't planning on riding hard or fast, but then the urge to compete took over and I finished 5th in the first heat, 6th in the final. The blue schwinn rides great! (might need a slightly longer stem).

7/1/07 - Racing in floyd bennet field. Apparently we were in the 'break of the day' but then we got caught in the last lap. I don't remember who was in it... andrew riss, an iron riders guy on a yellow kestrel, and a tall guy on purple lemond. There was very little wind and we didn't work together long enough. A few started attacking each other too soon, imo. Finished somewhere 14 or 15th.

Next time I need to be more aware of who is in the break, and if the break fails I should try to position myself for the sprint and contest it. Need to keep an sharp eye out for the strongest finishers. Looking at the photos of the 123 sprint, the winner was the first with a strong jumpe from the outside, but he cut across the field, and took sprint on the inside. This is a smart move - since any rider who tried to pass on the outside would effectively shelter him from the wind. Also starting on the outside and cutting in might bring some of the slower riders across the field too, blocking the other sprinters who were already on the inside.