2008 Goals

The new season is starting so it's time to think about goals for 2008. I was a little under-ambitious with my 2007 goals and that's fine. It felt good to meet every goal. Goals are set in the spirit of this being a hobby not a career.

Here are ideas for 2008,

1. Do the river road hillclimb in under 5 and a 1/2 minutes.
2. Top 3 in a cat 3/4 race at Floyd Bennet Field
3. Get out to the track at least 6 times
4. Get out to Trexlertown at least once and compete
5. Top 5 in a master's 35+ road race
6. Win a field sprint
7. Do a timetrial
8. Upgrade to category 3 on the road and/or "A" on the track
9. Ride through the cyclocross season

I think I need to choose 3 or 4 of these goals.

Edited on 7/23/08 -> I think I will have a better season overall if I stop obsessing about getting a result at Floyd Bennett Field.

First Race of 2008 - Grant's Tomb

This seemed like it would be the perfect race for me - a late start time at 2:20pm in the afternoon, a couple of technical corners, and a nice high speed high-G sweeping downhill turn.


Fast!

I was probably overconfident coming into this race and didn't achieve a great result - 19th of 89 racers. But it was the first race of the year and a successful experiment.


Sneaky!

I was able to steal a couple of places by using with the outside line. In retrospect I was too far away from the front for the whole race.

The experiment was to sit in the race near the front, conserve energy, and wait patiently for the sprint. Because I was not close enough to the front I couldn't establish a clear line for myself coming into the finish; getting boxed in and shutdown just at the moment when full power was unleashed. Next time I'll need to be closer to the front with the racer leaders and also make sure there is a clear line in a no-holds barred sprint.


Ugly!

It was an intense and short race just 30 minutes long with some sketchy bumping and getting cutting off especially on the last laps - but but both wheels stayed on the ground. The cobwebs have been expelled from my lungs.

Luscious bicycles

I never cease to be amazed by the effort, innovation, and craftsmanship that people put into their bikes.

Lacking anything better to say about it, these are some of my recent favorites.


Chris Brooklyn's Brooklyn Machine Works


Innovative braking mechanism for fixed gear (from nahbs)



Asymetrical Landshark seat stays



Bayliss lugwork



Hampsten Tournesol



Combo chainstay protector and spoke carrier.



Alex's erotic bottom bracket (submitted by turd)