Maybe some of you have forgotten that this time of year is when MANY cat 5s become 4s and 4s to 3 and so on it goes. A lot of these guys are excited to be in the 4s and sometimes get overzealous about what they are doing. These newly upgraded riders should be reminded (politely) by their piers as to what they should be doing during a race.

If you were a beginer rider last month you have no business being near the front of said 4 race, especially in the final lap. Take your time and learn your new found level of competition before you decide that you must be the one whoaccidentally leads the sprint early. For example, don’t be stupid and pass in impossible places. If you have to wait for wider road and muscle your way toward the front than do that, recover and be happy.

There are sketchy riders in all levels of racing, so for those of you very experienced riders not ready to upgrade I recommend trying to get away form the city. When you attend races in which some travelling is involved you often find other guys who have dedicated enough time to travel as well. These riders are often used to handling different courses each week with different riders and more corners, hills, etc.

You’re racing amature races on a course with tiny, dangerous cones along the side. Be a man and race a course with a curb and no jogger’s lane.

“Son, you got a panty on your head”

Is this cup cake? Did he give up track racing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5cZ7jfGwH8

Alexander Bremer(CRCA/Foundation) won the 1/2/3 race at the Historic Riverton Criteruim with teammate Rafael Meran taking 2nd.

In the Cat 4/5 race, the NYC Velo team (is that the right team, black, white and pale yellow kit?) made an impressive break going up the hill in Prospect Park – I believe it was on lap 7 – and it was a nice sight, to see all the team members working hard pulling each other up the hill. It was a good example of teamwork and it was unfortunate I had to watch it from behind as they pulled away. But they couldn’t keep it and got folded back into the pack half a lap later.

The race itself was really twitchy, as riders kept swerving right and left, pushing other riders to the side. No crashes occurred because of this, from what I could tell, but riders should know better, especially since most of them were cat 4s doing this. One guy in Echelon kit kept doing it and a buddy of his yelled at him.

Echelon, man, hold your line. That’s not what his buddy said, that’s what I’m saying. You need more practice riding straight.

On the final, 9th lap, the energy picked up, as it does, and there were no breaks, everyone was riding in a pack. When we started our final descent down the big hill, we picked up the pace, around 34-36 mph and an NYC Velo rider slammed into one of those orange cones in the joggers lane and it looked like it got wedged between his front wheel and frame. I’m not sure if someone was in front of him and knocked it back, or he got it all on his own, but I saw his front wheel turn hard right, his bike shake, and he went down. Fell on his right side, and right behind him an Asphalt Green guy I’ve ridden with often (he’s a good, solid rider, good handling skills) went down also. This was a split second. I think that’s what happened, but other’s may have had a different viewing angle.

I slammed on my brakes, as I had nowhere to turn – I have carbon wheels so needless to say they began the process of slowing down and heating up so that wonderful burnt carbon and blue brake pad smell danced into the air.

The Velo rider was bleeding from his right side, but was sitting up cradling his arm. Another rider, on the ground, got up but had a broken rear derailleur hanger and would have to take the train home. Asphalt Green did not get up and a bystander called an ambulance. There were others who went down but I didn’t see them and most of them were able to get up and leave on their own. I saw torn jerseys and shorts when I got back to the finish line.

The 123s came up on us then and we had to waive them to slow down and they picked their way through.

Any word on Asphalt Green? And NYC Velo (if I have that team name correct)? And anyone else who was hurt. My thoughts go out to them.

I’m not sure why this happens, every damned race. Ride straight, take the opportunity if it’s there, back off if someone’s being more aggressive and threatens your riding line so you come in 26 instead of 25, and if you want to win, make a break 2 laps before the final lap, and hold it, otherwise, man, ride safer than you ride fast.
I realize the crash was an accident, no one deliberately did this, and this sucks for the guys who got hurt, and who broke their bikes, but everyone has to be careful.

And I just invented the idea of Nerf orange cones that don’t get jammed in wheels. . .

…Roger won the 35+ at Wilmington. Don’t call it a comeback.

Amazing win against all the climbing goats Canada, VT,MA and NY could muster. Breaks away in last 750 m on an 8 pct 1.6 mile climb to the finish line and holds it.

First off, I think they’re the Waffels & Dinges team, not NYC Velo (red, black & white colors).

Secondly, I’m glad you have this forum to exercise your voice. Better here than being one of the dooshes [SP] who like to coach mid-race. You’re not one of them, too, are you?

Thanks for your assessment of the Cat 4/5 race. I don’t understand either why some riders swerve so much and can’t seem to ride in a straight line. Bike racing, especially at our levels, is a hobby, it’s supposed to be fun, and no one should have to leave a race in an ambulance, ever.

Is the rumor true – that FBF TT was shortened to 9.8 miles. Some of those times look fast (over 30 mph).

any cat 4 women win anything?

so many thing wrong with that race report… facepalm.

“……..the NYC Velo team (*actually waffles & dinges*) made an impressive break going up the hill in Prospect Park – I believe it was on lap 7 – and it was a nice sight, to see all the team members working hard pulling each other up the hill…..but they couldn’t keep it and got folded back into the pack half a lap later.”

a breakaway involving multiple members of the same team working together that gets pulled back 1/2 lap later is impressive?

i’m not saying W&D don’t have good, strong riders – i’ve raced w/them, and they do, no doubt. but people, let’s save the hyperbole. that ain’t impressive.

The W&D racers did do a lot of work in the 4/5 field, but omg was that final print sketchy. First this W&D riders drop back one by one when everyone starts to sprint. They just stop pedaling … Then another guy in a black and yellow speed suit goes down… I am sorry for him but this guy was going left and right all the time unable to keep a straight line. Anyway, both events ruined the final sprint for many of the 25+ guys that did not take the left side train that went down in the final lap on the west side of the park.

Do not stop pedaling when you are in the final 10/15 group of racers going into a sprint!!@^$&$% YJHN

I heard a W&D rider shout “Leggo my eggo!” as they were sprinting for the line.

FBF Update. Tonight’s race at Floyd Bennett Field is still on as scheduled. Another update will be made around 4:30pm.

Remember, we race rain or shine. Only if the course is flooded is the race canceled.

Charlie Issendorf
Race Director
Kissena Cycling Club