Hopeful Friday 5/8/2009

by schmalz

Hear ye, hear ye.

There’s a full docket of proceedings pending for this racing weekend, so let’s bang the e-gavel and get on with it.

Saturday has the Big Apple Bicycle Classic in Prospect Park; the Union Grove Road Race in East Earl, PA; the Somersert Circuit Time Trial in Whitehouse Station, NJ; and the Bristol Mountain Road Race with its new incline-free finish.

Sunday brings the big one, Bear Mountain, the race for those who have absolutely no Oedipus Complex issues whatsoever.

 

 

82 Comments

Wheelsucker

Giro broadcasted in USA by Universal Sports

Universal Sports will carry every stage live, but has yet to announce the exact times of each stage. Italy’s Rai will have up to 12 hours of Giro d’Italia coverage daily (includes live feed, pre- and post-coverage and sideshows).

Wheelsucker

Tuesday News and Notes: Bunde accepts suspension
Posted Nov. 20, 2007
Jared Bunde, a 31-year-old member of the GS Mengoni Cycling team, accepteda two-year doping ban by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Tuesday after testing positive for the banned substance clomiphene.

Bunde, a member of the GS Mengoni Cycling team, tested positive July 28 at the International Cycling Classic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His two-year ban began October 15, the day he accepted a provisional suspension.

As a result of testing positive for the anti-estrogenic drug, Bunde forfeits all results since July 28, including his win in the Masters National Track Championship, Points Race August 28 at Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.

Also wiped out was Bunde’s sixth-place overall finish and third-place points effort at the Vuelta a Nicaragua, which included a victory in stage five on September 8.

Wheelsucker

will my wife let me ride more on saturday mornings if i slip in some of that anti-estorgenic drug in the morning coffee?

Wheelsucker

Can we now at least stop complaining that cyclists are unfairly persecuted for doping now that Manny has been suspended?

Wheelsucker

Universal will broadcast the Giro live everyday online without commentary. Then it will broadcast each stage on its cable channel at noon EST with commentary from Todd Gogulski and Steve Schlanger. Scott Ogle will be on the ground for Universal in Italy. The TV coverage will then repeat from 9-11 p.m. and 11 p.m.-1 a.m. EST.

Wheelsucker

50 games = 1/3rd of a season, a pittance of time by cycling’s anti-doping standards

$7,000,000 in confirmed forfeited salary = more money than 99% of pro cyclists will ever make in their career

Will never be voted in the Hall of Fame – as effective a lifetime stigma as most busted pro cyclists suffer + surrendering untold more future earnings from nostalgia/appearance/merchandise revenue

Oh, and Bear — looks to be ideal conditions on Sunday. Looking forward to racing. I think you can get cell coverage by Lake Welch — you can call/text Mom while warming up.

Wheelsucker

Guys miss more games when they just tweak a hamstring — so almost no penalty there. But the money — wow, wouldn’t that solve lots of problems for many of us?

And not getting into the Hall — for any major leaguer with the numbers, why bother playing in the first place?

Six of one, half dozen of the other.

Wheelsucker

Drugs Drugs. Blah Blah. Let’s talk about something that actually makes a difference to the other 95% of cyclists.

Beer?

On tap?

Wheelsucker

What’s a good cat 4 ratio – I can choose between a 12-23 or a 12-25. No need, for a 27, right?

Wheelsucker

The only thing that sucks about upgrading to Cat 2 is that you can’t race Cat 3 anymore.

Wheelsucker

He/she didn’t ask what ratio they need for the FRONT group. Big ring only for that group

Wheelsucker

You’re right – 7 million is a boatload of dough… until you realize he still makes 18 million this year…

Wheelsucker

nothing at bear is particularly steep – if you need to worry about your cassette, you are in trouble – but the constant pitch changes and deceptive false flat which is really a climb before the feed zone can wear you out.

Beetjeveld

Cat 3
Should be Prensky. Andrew Walsh beat him at the finish line last year, but I don’t think anyone has improved as much as Prensky has. Filip Capala gets to use big-boy gears now, so watch for him in the sprint. Matt Cuttler is strong, but the downhill finish doesn’t play to his strengths. Tadeuz Marszalek will be there at the finish and has been honing his leg speed at the track. Keep him in mind. Westwood is bringing a lot of horsepower (Goldman, O’Donnell, Cosgrove, Chapman, Rungsgaatcher), but how much do team tactics really come into play at Bear? And a word to the wise, figure out who Guido Wollmann is and get rid of him before the finish.

Cat 4 young
Lots of names I don’t recognize, so I probably won’t be right here. Of the names I do know, I’d expect to see Alex Betko, John Cutler, Jeff Ingraham, Alastair Siebert, and Dusty King all contest the finish, which should favor Ingraham and Siebert. Mark Spottiswood from Babylon has been getting closer to the end of the race and will have a fast finish if they let him stay in the lead group.

Cat 4 Old
This field has a few contenders and a lot of guys who wont get anywhere near the finish. My favorite here is David Richman. Top 10 last year, knows how to ride the race and has probably been thinking about it everyday since. I also think James Mernin is in shape and lookin to have a good day. Craig Goodstein, David Trumpf and Danny Habig all finished in the front group last year, of the three I like Habig to score. Dave Junius coming off a long awaited win last weekend, probably feeling good, might be a factor if he makes it.

Masters 35+
Have you seen the start list? This field is gonna hurt. Even without Roger A., this is gonna be fast and painful. At the end of this slugfest, the selection will include Badger, KarlwithaK Rahn, his teammates Armand Della Monica and Matt Howard, Dave Taylor, Troy from Westwood, Gregg Galletta, Greg Olsen, maybe Ken Harris if he’s been on his bike. Pascal Sauvayre too. At the finish line, Troy, Badger, Karl.

45+
The Quinteros, Orcutt, Joe Straub, Tony Settel, Morgan Stebbis, Jan Micko and Chris Long. The other guys better find and keep a close eye on Jan Micko or they will get a rude surprise at the finish line. If you’re in this field, re-read that last sentence.

50+
Should be Mike Allaire, Brian Rafferty is also a possibility, but Allaire has a better fiish.

Women’s 1-2-3
If the entire field conspires to work together and they all repeatedly attack and block Evie Stevens, she will still win. Barring flats and other mishaps, its the Evie Stevens show.

More to come later.

Wheelsucker

13:20 might know NYC but doesn’t seem to know Benitez and Artemis teammates and Buben.

Wheelsucker

Hey “Beetthis”,

Nice pre-race commentary. I’ll add this:

Cat 3’s — If you like Walsh, Prensky and Cutler because they did so well at this race as 4’s last year, you have to like Adam Zimmerman (MaxPowerCycling) too. He was 2nd last year in that race.

45+ — you named half the field but left out Andy Ruiz and Paul Carbo.

60+ — Scott Phillips.

Old 4’s — Dave Richman?? He’s 38+?

Pro/1/2 — No picks there? I don’t care either.

Sandy

Hi guys,

I need to get to NJ by bike from Astoria Queens, can anyone tell me if I can do this by bike and which is the best route. Or is there any group of riders that ride up this way to train, if so when?

Thanks
Sandy

xoxox

Wheelsucker

he looks like he’s holding water. maybe he’s on creatine. maybe he’s tired of being tired. maybe he’s secretly menopausal.

Wheelsucker

Crescent Street to the QB. North on 1st Ave. Left when convenient. To CP. CP loop to 110th Street. 110th to Riverside. Riverside to GWB. 45/55 minutes one way.

Sandy

I need to go over the GW… isnt the Triboro shorter (I’m closer to it, but never been on it), have any of you ridden a bike over it?

Thanks
Sandy

xoxo

Wheelsucker

Triboro’s a nightmare — gotta walk most of the way. Queensboro is way more comfortable and faster, even if it looks less direct on paper.

Wheelsucker

I second that … I used to practice dismounts on the Triboro on my way to ‘cross practice on Randall’s Island. Good practice, but a real pain for commuting or riding to the GWB.

John Cutler

Wheelsucker

yes i always take the Triboro on the weekends when i have to go to jersey is a bit of a pain with the stairs but is definetly faster
cross the triboro keep on 126 till you hit st nicholas ave and make a right turn go all the way up to bridge really easy

Sandy

u mean I have to carry the bike up the stairs & cant ride it across the whole bridge… what kind of s is that?

😉

Wheelsucker

Not just at the ends — there are stairs at multiple points along the span of the pedestrian walkway. (Officially you’re not allowed to ride your bike on it at all.)

Capt.Kirk, of the Starship Enterprise

if you use 11-25, you can cross with big ring 23, never worry about using little ring at all…
Shoot Alfalfa! We used to stomp 53×17 on the steep parts and get up on the 14 on the easy parts of Tiorati…the key part is the last bit before the dam, and twist full throttle where there is some wind and the first roller after…then not let up until after the little rise after Tiorati Circle…thats where to attack. Near the end of the climb where there is some wind.
Shoot Buford! The Tri-Geeks have to do the course in reverse, up Lake Welch, straight shot, 5 times then run a half-marathon in nothing but a speedo and arm warmers!
Mamby-Pamby!

Krik, Out!

Wheelsucker

White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It) Lyrics
Artist(Band):Grandmaster Flash
Review The Song (12) Print the Lyrics

Send “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)” Ringtones to Cell

Aaah, aaah, aaah, aaah)
Uhraah!
Bass!

Ooh White, White
Ooh White, White
Ooh White, White

(Ooh White Lines) Vision dreams of passion
(Blowin’ through my mind) and all the while I think of you
(High price) a very strange reaction
(For us to unwind) the more I see, the more I do
(Something like a phenomenon) Baby!
(Tellin your body to come along, but white lines blow away)
(Blow! Rock it! Blow!)

Ticket to ride, white line highway
Tell all your friends, they can go my way
Pay your toll, sell your soul
Pound for pound costs more than gold
The longer you stay, the more you pay
My white lines go a long way
Either up your nose or through your vein
With nothin to gain except killin’ your brain

Ruh!!!

Wheelsucker

Here’s last year’s top 10 in the 35+

1 Ciaran Mangan
2 David Taylor
3 Edward Angeli
4 Max Lippolis
5 Troy Kimball
6 Gerard O’Shea
7 Gary Steinberg
8 Stephen Badger
9 M. Andrew Ruiz
10 John Funk

there’s a reason that field didn’t close out this year.

Wheelsucker

someones girlfriend at cadence cup last week. shoot me an email if you are missing her.

Wheelsucker

If I were to win Paris-Roubaix.
I would be sniffin coke off a strippers tits faster than you can…

Wheelsucker

Cadence is still the title sponsor of the Cadence Cup and Cadence Tuesdat Night Races Series. Nothing has changed. The NYC store is closing but Cadence-Philly is honoring their sponsorship commitment.

Charlie Issendorf
Race Director
Kissena Cycling Clu

Wheelsucker

Hey, overall your race predictions aren’t bad, but you need to sharpen the pencil a bit more on the 35+. I’d keep an eye open for Mark A and David T, they’re super motivated and the BR team is always one of the top teams to beat in most Masters road races.

’nuff said….

Wheelsucker

Does Neil 105 have brothers named Neil Ultegra and Neil DuraAce. I hope there’s not a Neil Sora

Wheelsucker

Neil spent a few wild nights in Saigon last summer and got himself a bad case of Tiagra.

Wheelsucker

guy’s a rock star in belgium … this is bull5hit. no doubt he’s tittie bumpin a different lady every night – as he should be. 28 yo. world champ. 3 time paris-roubaix winner. let him party like a rock star. this anti-drug crusade is gettin ridic.

Wheelsucker

Should start bumping lines of coke of strippers asse’s if he keeps winning all these park races

Wheelsucker

the brass rail in toronto is a fine establishment, just in case you happen to be up there buying a cervelo or something…

Wheelsucker

not sure who the guys were that 1-2’d the cat 3 race. not locals.

3rd bernstein
5th prensky
6th capala
7th cuttler

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