Flame on! Upgrades, Points Races and NYVC Love/Hate
What a busy week it's been. After Last week's CRCA C-race antics and it being my 10th race, I decided to upgrade. My teammates/coaches had been giving me crap about it over the past couple of weeks, so I guess this'll get them off my backs. Well, I'm now part of the proud tradition of Cat 4 mediocrity! I'm excited to see the new challenges that will come with a higher category, and hopefully there will be less crashes.
photo courtesy of Andy Shen @ nyvelocity.comI raced in my first CRCA B race this past weekend. It was a 7-lap points race, with points at harlem hill on laps 2, 4, 6, and the finish. I found the race to be tougher than the C races (duh,) partly because it was longer, and partly because everyone's in better shape. Moves are harder to make- people react. Teams are more cohesive. It makes it more challenging. I like it.
Puttering out in the final sprint- courtesy of Andy Shen @ nyvelocity.comI wasn't able to pull any sprint points off this time, although i came close on lap 2 with 4th across the line (which equals zero points for yours truly.) I had a good position for the final sprint, but my leadout started a bit too early, and i couldn't keep the sprint up long enough. Leave it to a sprinter to blame his lead out! there's always an excuse! I've also got to remember to use smaller gears in the sprints- leg speed is what its all about. That's what I love about cycling- you can always blame something/someone in order to preserve your fragile, spandex clad ego!
I was happy to be mixing it up in the race, and our team rode aggressively. Big ups to the Settanta boys, who pulled off a 1-2-3 finish at the line, and Ave A/razorfish rode a good race as well. It was also great to not have the customary final lap crash like we normally did in cat 5 races. I'm excited to see how things go for the rest of the season.
My upgrade to chubby cat 4 also allows me to take part in all 3 stages at Owasco in two weeks. (is that Littlefield doing "blue steel" on the website??) I'm excited for this event- it'll be my first stage race. I'm planning on "Canniballing" the TT, since my bars aren't clip-on compatible and I don't have Deep Carbon Rims (although that would be nice...). I might replace my k-wings eventually with some carbon bars that have a more traditional bend and are clip on compatible... I'm super excited to be doing the Crit at Owasco- I enjoyed the experience @ Harlem (even with the crash), and think it'll suite my type of riding. However, I'm a bit wary of how 3 races in 3 days will affect me- does anyone have any exp with stage races? Any tips on recovering between stages? Right now I'm thinking it's all about the Massage stick, Steak, and Beer (half kidding, that's for after the 3rd stage!)
It also looks like i briefly made it onto the Hangover spotlight on NYVC.com - who know that a chubby cat 4/5 writing about his racing & training could cause so much vitriol?!? It's pretty hilarious. Either way, a bunch of people said they love the blog, and I've gotten mucho support for it since I've started. So kudos to you, my friends- I'm glad that people enjoy this. I figure there's many people just getting into racing these days at an amateur level, and It's fun to document these shared experiences. (it also keeps my ego nice and inflated!) Getting some Hate on the NYVC msg board is almost a rite of passage- and frankly it's pretty funny.
Above: Me submitting another blog post onto NYVC.comWent for a 4th of July Ride with Bill$$, Richard and some of his magazine buddies. Good times up to Piermont. Good muffins. Highlight of the ride- watching a guy going up alpine road (the climb up to the police station)- he ATTACKS at the base, giving it his all. His upper body is swaying so much that he looks like he's dancing at a Euro Club. I provided the soundtrack and off he danced. Too bad he died halfway up the hill.
I'm probably racing the New Britain Criterium next Sunday. should be good times if a bunch of us go. anyone else doing this one? how was it last year?
I have an idea for a ride... Let's call it "Jan's night out." Everyone shows up wearing pink T-mobile kits and one earring. We proceed to go to a German restaurant (think Heidelberg), Stuff ourselves with Sausage, Schnitzel & Beer, and then try and race 1 lap in the park. Winner gets a Jelly donut. Bonus points if you do it while on Ecstasy. Who's in??
Happy 4th of July. Go drink some beer and have fun. Don't blow your hands off lighting M-80's!
4 comments:
From what I've learned from omniums (3 races, 2 days):
Carb load 2 days before your race.
Stay well hydrated for several days.
Increase the salt intake of your diet just a tad before races (esp in the summer time)
Eat a good balance of protein and carbs between races.
If you have 2 stages in one day, eat after the first stage, but give yourself at least 2 hours to digest before the next stage.
Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.
Lay off booze for a few days in advance.
Oh yea, and Coca Cola is your friend between races.
People who flame others online are cowards.
Congrats on your upgrade!
Hey, fuck you wlm.
Hey man, my friend Ernest bought a bike from you. Fondriest, I think. He told me about your racing. Cool to read. I'm also cat 5. I have just started racing. But I am in pretty good shape. I got 3rd place in the mulholland Challenge here in Southern California. I would like to do one of them races in NY. I grew up in the BX. My plan is to get to cat 3 as soon as possible. Good luck racing.
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