My weeknight racing this summer has been the tale of two Floyds. On Tuesday nights I do the category 1/2/3 "big boy" race, as I won the category 3/4 championship last year, and the phrase "returning category 3/4 champion" sounds a bit sad to me, like "11 time minor league MVP". So I am racing with the really fast people on Tuesday nights. If my schedule doesn’t allow a race on Tuesday night, I have the option of racing on Thursday night also—I cannot do both races every week—the maintenance of marital harmony doesn’t allow for a two weeknight race schedule. (One of my main goals in bike racing has always stayed consistent —don’t end up divorced.) And while I take the classy route on Tuesdays, I have no such obligation to be dignified on Thursday nights. I race the category 3/4 race, and so far I have placed in the top five every time I’ve raced it.
In fact, I am a completely different racer on Thursday than I am on Tuesday. Tuesday Dan (which is coincidentally the name I perform under on Karaoke Blues nights) races at the mercy of the field. I cannot expect to go with every move, and I have to be in the right mix of racers to hope to have a chance of success. Shortly stated, on Tuesdays, I need help. On Thursdays, I can be more aggressive, as there’s a lesser chance that I will get shot out the back of the race by a blistering counterattack, as there tends to be less attacking in the category 3/4 field. Granted I still need help to stay away on Tuesdays, but Thursday Dan can be more of an instigator.
Take last Thursday’s race for instance, we were racing a new version of the familiar flat circuit. For reasons I’m not too sure of, we were turning right halfway through the straight which would normally be between turns 1 and 2, taking the diagonal cutoff and turning at the final corner. This made the course a three corner layout instead of a four corner, with the final turn becoming a sharp hairpin instead of the gradual bend of the four corner course. This is important for two reasons: one, the final corner makes the race more like a crit, because you have to get to the corner early in the sprint, lest you get bottled up behind; and two, losing that long straight before the final corner eliminates the most crucial crosswind section. If you hope to get away, you have to do it on strength alone, you can’t hope to have the wind knock people off your backside. I enjoy a little variety in life and the new course is a bit like boudoir role playing, for reasons for modesty I won’t go into intimate or revolting details, but a little role playing can be good. For instance, my wife likes it when I dress as someone who pays attention better and doesn’t lift the bed sheets with awful "body winds".
Last Thursday, I was able to be aggressive. I leapt on every acceleration like a trucker pouncing on the last hot dog turning in the tubed meat observation box at a Flying J Truck Stop. None of the moves bore aerobic fruit, so I was able to gather myself for the finishing sprint. There was a tailwind, so if you were ahead at the last corner, chances were that you could hold your position. And that’s what I did. Just before the corner, I moved off the front, picked my own line through the corner (and avoided being killed in any sort of mass pile up on the hairpin—being not dead is very important when it comes to being a successful racer), and got the jump on the field. I was passed at the line by four racers, but I was happy with fifth, and I was especially pleased with being un-killed.
Tuesday Dan by contrast, had to survive by his wits last night. There was a pleasingly large field last night, which meant that there would be more chances for recovery from hard efforts. There were also six Mengoni riders present, so any move without them would be pointless. There was a faint wind, not enough to tear the race apart, but enough to create a slight tailwind in the sprint. If anyone was to get away, it would take a hard effort with at least one Mengoni involved, Tuesday Dan’s chances at success were slight, but not out of the question. The race started and there were about twenty accelerations in the first four to five laps, Mengoni seemed content to chase and cover moves in the first half of the race. I slipped into moves that I thought were promising, but was pulled back each time.
Near the halfway point of the race or so, Godfrey P (I shorten all last names to initials to keep the Google at bay) attacked, Brian B of Mengoni covered, and my teammate Michael B jumped up to them. I remember thinking at the time, "That looks like a good combination.", and then I thought, "I’m in a lot of pain right now." Others must have been thinking this also, because the break established itself after Jose C of JV Racing and Kevin M of Major Taylor joined them. With Mike away, I just had to follow dangerous looking accelerations. As we came to the bell lap, the break had about a straightaway’s lead on the pack. Paul B of Mangoseed did a vicious acceleration just before turn four, and I followed. We immediately got a split, and Paul turned to me and said that we should go for the placings left on the road. I turned around to see where the pack was, and since we had a gap, I agreed.
But things were not to turn out well for Tuesday Dan, it seems that in the confusion of the race Paul had lost track of the lap count, and instead of a last ditch ONE lap effort, he was setting himself up for a HALF lap effort to the finish line; and as we got to the bell, he sat up, convinced that the race was over. This left me by myself off the front in no man’s land. There was no hope for a sprint placing now, so I put my head down trudged away for another quarter lap, hoping the field behind would somehow be temporarily struck blind and not see that I was dangling just in front of them. Sadly, the peloton retained their eyesight, and I was gathered up between turns one and two breathing like a carp on a cot. Mike ended up staying away with the break and finished a fine fourth, Tuesday Dan was left to sing the blues and recall fond memories about Thursday night.
Thirsty firsty . . .
Here are the results for last night’s Floyd Bennett Field race:
http://spasport.com/tuesday_night_race_series_results.htm
Charlie Issendorf
Race Director
Kissena Cycling Club
why was he dq?
1J13. Club Membership Fraud. No rider may enter a race as a member of a club who is not amember in good standing of that club and, if licensed, is licensed as a member of the club[disqualification and 30 days suspension].
Not in good standing with CRCA? He’s been on Organic forever, i dont get it
Did someone tell Lance he has been DQ’d from the last 4 Tuesday night races?
http://www.usacycling.org/results/?compid=279704&all=1
I’m guessing all it means is that his license says unattached not Organic. Will he be suspended for 30 days as well or did they back date the suspension? Kinda sucks, nothing malicious on his part I don’t think.
What’s with the photo of Paul Stanley and a guy who looks like he’s Andy Shen’s dad?
That’s Paul Rogers, alleged blues singer
that’s harsh, seems like a silly mistake?
Whats with WS united riders losing track of the lap count?
no way dude, it’s FRAUD
did he claim to be on another team? Is he no longer with organic? i’m so confused.
Not sure who dictates these rules but this is borderline idiotic to DQ someone for basically a licensing error. This is not the ProTour, its FBF Category racing for fun.
I totally agree. It’s not like we are sticklers for rules (hello Catlike helmets) or anything, and it’s not a safety issue. Did Alan ask him about this? Mention it to him? Has he been allowed to race and the results are just not counted? I guess that would be ok if he owes CRCA money or something
I’d prefer if dangerous riders were DQ’d
I dont think he needs to race for CRCA. He could race unattached and so long as he has a valid USA license, races in the appropriate category and the race is open to nonCRCA members whats the harm? Kick him out of CRCA, but what does his affiliation have to do with racing saftey and results? This is the equivalent of fining a ProConti team rider for racing non-UCI status races in a team kit. At least there, its a Professional racer and not Floyd Bennet.
With that said, I cant believe I just wrote all of this about FBF and Alan Atwood’s ruling.
And you all thought the NYPD came up with their nit picking enforcement policy by themselves. USAC was their inspiration!
but wouldn’t he at least need to be an assoc with CRCA, ie, have paid dues, to be on Organic? In other words, if he lapsed in paying, wouldn’t be active withCRCA, but license still says Organic? seems stupid, but can’t see what else it would be, I mean, after all, it’s not pre-reg, couldn’t he change at the time, just say unattached? If i decide on my way to FBF that I don’t want to be on x team anymore, get there, put on a plain jersey, and write unattached, I am dq’ed because i didn’t change on USAC website? that’s fucktarded.
Sorry to let all of you flamers down, but I’m not driving this one bit. I agree that’s it a bit silly; but it’s not my call here.
Alan
According to the roster the CRCA publishes before each race, Sniadowski has not paid dues to the CRCA this year. If he’s wearing an Organic kit when he’s not an official member of the team, that’s against USACycling rules. Is the penalty harsh? only if you get caught.
What’s the penalty for racing under a name that isn’t yours?
you don’t need to be in the crca to race FBF. Thanks AA, I don’t think we are flaming though *yet*
Would this change the Spring Series Results? Can I get my Throphy?
this all sounds like another good reason to join Kissena.
that dont put on the required races each year and still are wearing team kits etc. Under USA cycling rules, they are not in compliance. Do these guys all get DQed? What if you wear Organic bibs and a team discovery jersey? This is dumb!
Is it the fact that he wore the kit or the fact that his license was not updated to say unattached?
I can see not letting him race crca races, but he’s still a licensed usac racer
This is a very serious matter and demands an immediate investigation.
Why is there always some buddy of his doing all the debating?
The rules are clear, if he is not part of a club he has to pay and extra $5 per race, I believe. Joining CRCA costs money and you have to marshal twice a year, if you are part of a team, you have a team duty as well.
I’m not going to list the obvious reasons the USCF has had this rule in place for decades.
Lance, pay your dues, or join another team/club and then race. Whats the big deal.
CRCA racers that race week after week for non CRCA teams and then do the club race in a yellow crca jersey.
He hasnt paid his CRCA dues because those idiots screwed him out of getting two trophies last year for overall wins. Even though they admitted to being wrong, they would not change the results. Talk about fraud. Honestly I think they are the ones pushing this whole suspension/ DQ thing.
Last night he was allowed to race, but after the race and after he placed 3rd someone changed their mind and decided to DQ him. On top of that it looks like they revoked all his Tuesday night placings.
He never got anything from CRCA nor usacycling telling him to pay his CRCA dues. As far as I know he can race with organic as long as he covers the CRCA patch on their jersey and changes the tean name on his license from CRCA/ organic to only organic.
It’s all a bunch of bullshit. If he gets a 30 day suspension over a technicality I will loose all my faith in USA cycling.
except for the original problem. he’s pissed over trophies?
Why does CRCA have like a monopoly on racing teams? Why are most NYC teams part of CRCA anyway? Can’t they have a CRCA team and promote an open central park race instead of having a cluster fuck of a hundred separate teams?
Yes, just like people get pissed over not getting placed for 38th place and constantly complain? He’s pissed for a) not being placed in a top 5 overall win (twice) b) not getting those trophies.
Seems like a good enough reason to not want to be a part Of crca
http://www.crca.net/marshaling/suspensions/
What about people who are not in good standing with their club, and are suspended. Should they not be allowed to race?
this is making me rethink the future. i am on a crca subteam now, but things like this make Kissena or unattached seem pretty attractive.
He should get a better lawyer and PR person. Now that is racing!
what wins did he get screwed out of and why?
(a) take CRCA off your license or (b) pay your CRCA dues like the rest of us.
so what about all those other suspended folk from the crca? none of them are racing?
Even if you are on a non CRCA team your club is supposed to organize one USAC event per year.
but if they are going to be real sticklers for it, what about people who make up their own kit, call it a “team” and race in that? should those people be suspended too? or is it ok if they just sign up as unattached?
Suspended to mengoni
“this is making me rethink the future. i am on a crca subteam now, but things like this make Kissena or unattached seem pretty attractive.”
with thinking like this, I’m sure Unattached would love to have you. Kissena and your current team will be happy too.
16 x $10 = $160
$160/$32 = 5
This is not ‘Nam. This is bike racing. There are rules.
Bad karma from his Cat 4 sandbagging days.
@Paolo: I think your math is a little off considering CRCA dues and kit cost…that and the value of the time spent marshalling 2-3 races in the season.
And if you’re looking at it from a purely finanacial standpoint like that, you’re basically forcing yourself into a contract to race X number of times to make it actually worthwhile for having joined; whereas, if you crave any sort of variety, racing that many laps of Central Park really might not be worth it.
Just saying (and not that I’m a member), joining CRCA is worth it to some people and not worth it to others.
What does buying a kit have to do with CRCA?
You pay more each race if you are unattached.
CRCA has 1000 members, there are reasons it’s so popular.
Join Kissina or what ever club/team you want, but join and pay their dues there.
Bottom line, even if unwillingly, Lance cheated the system, and now he paid for it. He should have to return the prize money he won.
I can deal with losing Lance from the racing scene, its the loss of Gina that has been too much to bear…
Kudos to the Organic dude — he should have raced “bandit”, like most “runners” in NYRR races — ie, never pay and just show and sneak into races. Little harder with CRCA b/c of the whole “number thing”, but, hell, if you’ve raced long enough you have every color of every catagory laying around somewhere.
Truth game though, if the dude has a USA cycling license (and CRCA makes you list CRCA as your “team” if you ever want to touch a peddle stroke in CP, notwithstanding that they provide no upgrade points for park races on your USA license – ok, altogether, “weird”), I say, KID SKID says that the Organic Bandit racer is “dah, winning”, ala Charlie Sheen style . . . talk amongst yourselves.
PS — Alan Atwood is the match that lights all flames . . . just saying . . . just opinion . . . .
For fucks sake. This is the dumbest debate on here yet. Let all pitch in and buy him a stupid trophy and maybe he’ll cat up and do the 123 race. Not paying dues for not getting some B field trophy is the whiniest thing I’ve heard on here. Might as well complain about AVD’s lack of prompt results.
Thank you engaging in what you have termed the “dumbest debate ever” and thus, tacitly conceding that you are, well, . . . dumb . . .enjoy.
PS – love the Kid Skid dude.
Belated query – why can’t Shen and his time trialing prowess finish above fifth the Spring Couples Relay???? Inquiring Minds want to know. Is it a weak run or row?
Complete lack of rowing ability.
i’m with 1:00–you have to buy a kit and pay club dues no matter what
Time to BULK UP Andy, damn it ! Get moving on those deadlifts and quit the damn TT wind tunnels, aero wheels, long training rides and other assorted nonsense. If you start training now, you and Danielle can finally “win it all” at the SCR . . . . Protein, carbs, lift, repeat. Do us proud for goodness sake!
and has clearly not read the posts,(or can’t comprehend) or understands rules, or reasons for rules. Sounds like a rider that would get dropped in a race, jump in a lap later then go to the front of the race and help his team mate, who may have a name that rhymes with Bance.
i love the finishing pic. thanks to AA and CI for supplying us with a finish line stretched photo. those are so cool.
He’s not doing any CRCA races. Why does he have to pay CRCA dues if he doesn’t want anything to do with em? Huh?
why does he have CRCA on his license and race in a CRCA/subteam jersey (warned repeatedly) if he wants nothing to do with CRCA, his is upset for over 2 years about a B field throphy…resolve with the parties involved directly or move on…the guy is a very strong rider, and no doubt has some resentment/anger issues…if his team continues to allow him to manipulate a rather petty offense, they will have to be held acountable too…simple solution is to sign up in CRCA/Moronic Athlete as Associate member. He gets to race with his team, does no marshaling or club races…instead this is about as important as Congressman Weiner’s weiner!!!
The officials don’t even want to enforce the rules here is a bigger issue!!! Like repeated crashing/dangerous riding, drugs, and other safety violations…
officials not enforcing drug rules? do tell.
Curious that only certain officials are enforcing the license rule. Whoever is officiating the Thursday night series hasn’t DQ’d him, and he is committing the exact same offense.
Lance tried to do the masters races in the spring and it didn’t work out very well for him. He ended up back in the 3/4 field after a couple of weeks. Why he doesn’t just quit CRCA is a legit question. You can’t be a member of the club and not play by the rules. He could have paid the money and joined as a non racing member and then he wouldn’t have to marshall. If the idea is that he’s not paying to protest not getting some B field trophy or something like that it seems like the strategy should have been thought though better. With 1000 members, however many races they actually put on, and everything else a club the size CRCA has to do (note: there aren’t very many) they’re just not going to entertain this kind of stuff.
Laugh it up. Wait until Versus TV complains to CRCA that its ratings are down for its B field coverage, and Mike Green will be at Lance’s door, helmet in hand, with an apology and a trophy.
funny you should mention that, I thought I saw the same thing, a dropped rider, all of a sudden in front of the pack helping a teamate out. I like that tactic actually, I can be supper fresh for the last lap if I only sit a few out in the bushes.
that is funny