Bicycle Races Are Coming Your Way

• CRCA Twofers, TT on the way

  8/4/2007

  

  Last weekend there were two crca races in one weekend. a scratch race followed by a points race. I was interested to see what the dynamic would be with two CRCA races in two days. Would the same people show up? Would i have enough juice left for the points race? What was our team strategy going to be? Would i end up crashing and further adding to Campagnolo’s profit margin for 2007?

  photo by team organic

  The first race was your typical CRCA B/C field scratch race. slightly sketchy, kind of humid, but still fun. A few of our guys tried to get into a few breaks but non of them pulled through, including Kyle, who was in a few of them. I’d be lying if i said it didn’t make me happy that it came to a field sprint. Organic had a good lead-out going and took 1 and 2- with my buddy Gustavo taking 2nd. I managed to not hit any orange road work barrels this time and came in 7th, while Chris price got third. I heard he just got his upgrade to cat 3- good job Price, it’s well deserved!

  The points race the next day was probably one of the most entertaining CRCA races of the season. We had a plan, everyone was making moves, and it paid off. We had some of our guys push the pace right off the first lap. No warm-up lap this time. noooo noo. I believe the B field managed at least one sub-13 minute lap, which was pretty great- it was a super fast race. Pushing the pace on the first lap in the B/C field ripped a good number of riders off the back right off the front, and it kept people on their toes. I did my best to sit in, hang on, and mix it up in the sprint points.

  The lap 2 sprint ended up getting neutralized because we came across the women’s field RIGHT at the top of the hill. Not good. Given the circumstances (no one crashes), it went as well as it could have. my buddy chad had worked really hard to get me a good position for that sprint point and it was to no avail. ah well. back into the pack.

  after the 2nd lap, attacks started to happen. I believe we had at least one guy in every break, which was great. I think everyone had alot of fun with that.

  photo courtesy of Andy Shen @ velocitynation.com

  The man of the hour for NYVC was Kyle Peppo. Sandbagger! Again! He’s a crazy man and is quickly becoming our breakaway specialist. He got away with a few laps to go and they were able to stay away. It must be nice to have the energy to attack all the time. That must be pretty painful. I much more enjoy the sit-my-fat-ass-in-the-pack-till-the-field-sprint sort of deal, but hey- whatever floats his boat. two B field wins in two weeks- If he wins another he just may get upgraded to the A’s!

  photo courtesy of Andy Shen @ velocitynation.com

  Price was able to rock 3rd on the points race- again, justifying the upgrade. have fun in the A field bro- it’s time for a new level of pain!

  I wasn’t able to get any points at the hill sprints, but managed 5th at the final field sprint, which got me 6th place. All in all, a great and exciting race weekend.

  After my painful cannibal TT experience @ owasco, i got it in my head to build up a TT rig.

  I’m not turning into a tri geek. promise.

  If you see me wearing sleeve-less jerseys and a mankini, kindly stick a frame pump in my front wheel. I’ll deserve it.

  Sure, bike racing isn’t about the bike. You’ll hear lancey-pants and all the purists spout that off. And while it’s true, I think in some way it is about the bike. A beautiful race bike, TT rig, or cyclocross setup is a gorgeous thing. Form meets function. Style meets speed. I’m not saying that justifies riding a $12K Derosa just for Rides up the runcible spoon, but I think that there’s no problem with getting a beautiful bike to race on if you can afford it.

  
  So i decided to build up a TT rig to dabble in TTing for the next few seasons. See if I like it. I managed to nab a Hed Aerolab for a great deal on Ebay. I built it up with nice new campy stuff and an oval A-700. All in all it cost me $1500 without wheels. I’d say that’s a pretty good deal.

  

  The saddle that came with this thing is obscene. All it is is a Sliver of carbon fiber. The leading edges of this thing were SHARP. As pretty and as light as it is (122 Grams to be exact). There’s no way I’m putting my Grundle through that every time i race a time trial. I figure I’ll be in enough pain as it is. Fizik Arione It is!

  

  I tweaked my TT fit over the week and think I’m in good shape for tomorrow. hell, I can only improve after the cannibal suffer-fest at Owasco, right?

  Off to bed, TT in the morning. Good luck to everyone!

  

Subscribe to this Feed