Rollin on DUBS

I wouldn't call myself a "fanboy" of too many things (George Hincapie, Bacon, and Jeff King notwithstanding...), but when a rare opportunity comes to ride with the big boys, you sure as hell take it. Plus, I needed an excuse to take off of work today and make it a three day weekend.

If you don't already know, Sunday is the Harlem Crit. If you're in the city and you race, you should sure as hell be racing it. If you don't race but like to check out cool sporting events, you should sure as hell be watching. This year the race is being promoted by John Eustice and sponsored by Michael Ball and Rock Racing. With people Like Ball involved, it 's sure to be an awesome event that's full of action. and hot podium girls.


Somehow our coach Alex got in touch with John Eustice and got us an opportunity to go for a ride with Fast Freddie, Michael Ball, and the rest of the Rock Racing crew. What better excuse to take a day off???


we all got together at tavern and eventually few of the Rock racing guys rolled up. about 30 teammates and bike racing peers skipped work to go for a ride with these guys, and off we went. The Rock racing guys were really approachable and everyone got a chance to shoot the shit with them. I think the average cat 4 racer dreams of a chance to casually ride with someone like Freddie Rodriguez and nonchalantly engage in generic bike-banter. you want to talk and act like its totally normal and no big deal, but then the minute they ride off, you squeal like a girl and almost pee your pants. you know who you are.



Actually, my teammate and local Tech-dork Michael Beckerman proceeded to query all of the Rock racing teammates on their max wattages. he'll be publishing his findings shortly. I was more concerned about how much bacon each of them manages to get in their diet. (not enough)




After one or two laps a few more characters rolled up. All of a sudden Michael Ball is riding with us, along with a few more rock racers, Ivan Dominguez, and Garcia from Toyota-United. It was a super-ultra-mega-meta-hyper pantheon of awesomeness. the ride started getting a little faster at points, with some of the overzealous CRCA guys (cough, cough, Colin P) wanting to sprint up Harlem hill with Freddy. That was pretty funny to watch, as it was probably the most patronizing sprint I've ever seen anyone perform...



All of the Rock racing guys are super-pumped for this weekend, and rightfully so. As fun as Harlem was last year, this year is going to donkey punch it right out of the park. Crits like the Harlem race are Perfect venues to bring spectators back to cycling, which is what it needs. The average Joe six-pack on the street doesn't know how exciting a bike race can be to watch, and this is the perfect opportunity to show the general public why we do what we do. the Harlem Crit is going to be the Epitome of fast, furious (and probably crash-filled) bike racing. people are going to want face-time on the Jumbo-tron, and the attacks are going to be nonstop. It's going to be one of the hardest 30-minute races of the season. I'm so pumped for it i could pee myself (but i won't).



After four laps, we stopped by tavern and the Photo/autograph/butt kissing session began. The guys were really cool with being swarmed by men in tights, and once we got it out of our system, we said our thank yous and goodbyes. And then like magic, the Rock Racing Escalades Rolled in on 'dubs and whisked them away. too cool.



Love him or hate him, Michael Ball is doing great things for our sport. He's bringing it back into the public spotlight in a way that no one has the balls to. He's also also a master at bringing back the "rock" hand symbol. I miss using the "Rock" symbol, and frankly, the hand symbol i've been using as a substitute has been pissing some of my friends off and messing up family photos...



Sure he's a bit controversial, and challenging the status quo is bound to attract some haters. I think those people should wait until Sunday to cast judgment. It's going to be awesome.



After a fantastic day of riding with pros and not going to work, I was so overcome with joy that I whipped out the hula hoop that i keep with me at all times and put it to good use. It's a good thing I'm prepared for such situations.




See you on Sunday.

look back- Harlem and CRCA race

The last two weeks were a whirlwind- Last Sunday was the Harlem crit, and today was a CRCA race.

Harlem:

I was so stoked for Harlem. I was finally going to try out a crit and give it a shot. it was a combined 4/5 field. it was a beautiful day, hot and sunny.


Our team lined our trainers together for the warm up for the pro effect, and we started spinning- our warm up was cut short since we thought our race was started before it actually did, but no worries.



As the race starts, we go into our first turn. Already someone doesn't hold their line and the go into me. I held my line and didn't give an inch- the guy went down and we kept going. first lesson- hold your line.



There were alot of short accelerations in the race, after pretty much every turn, but I enjoy that sort of effort profile- quick effort, quick recovery. it gets brutal but it keeps the race exciting.



With two laps to go, the crap hit the fan. coming out of turn 4, some guy in front of me (don't know who) just fell. we were going straight, why'd he fall!??!!?

took me and 2 of my teammates down. with two laps to go. ugh.

I guess that's the name of the game in crits- they're aggressive and they're tough. people get tired near the end and they get sloppy. Luckily, I was barely scratched. I didnt let go of the drops when I fell, and my shifters took the blow. Unluckily for me, both of my chorus shifters where totalled, and i snapped a front spoke. ah well. I walked back to the start and watched the rest of the races.



Big ups to my boy Bill$$ for taking such awesome Pictures. especially of me. way to encourage a narcissist, bro. I didn't even care that I crashed since he had gotten some great shots of me!

Since I refuse to pay $340 for a new set of shifters, I ordered them for $200 new @ totalcycling.com; downside is I have to wait for them to get here. I've been on my 'cross bike all week (although it was a rest week, and a much appreciated one).

Today was a long CRCA race. I realized it was my 10th cat 5/C race, so i figured I'd have some fun with it- try some tactics I'd never tried, be a little crazy. It was a 6 lap race- I rolled up with my obnoxiously green cross bike and off we went.

Our team kept it aggressive at the beginning to thin out the herd. there were a couple of sketchy riders out there, and I wanted to avoid them. two and a half laps into the race, I see one of my teammates and on of the Juniors, Liam, break off. I followed suite, along with a few other guys. we kept the pace up, and once we got into a good rotating paceline, it was just the three of us.

I was worried about staying in a 3 man break for 3 and a half laps- I've never pulled something like that before (Especially not on a cross bike). I'm usually more of a hang-in-the-peloton-and-do-no-work-until-the-sprint sort of guy, but I figured why not.

It was a hard, hard effort. we kept the pulls short and sweet, and Kyle and Liam were strong and smooth (much like the drinks i'll be having tonight). I was losing track of the laps again -

"is this the last lap?!?"
"2 to go!"
"shit...."

we stayed away and built a pretty good lap- about 1 minutes 30 from what I was told.



As we came around horseshit alley, I heard two dogs on the road- unleashed. I screamed and let out a fury of expletives and the dogs and the owner- mostly to scare the dogs off the road, but also cause I was LIVID. this new leash rule in central park is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. It's a liability to both dogs and cyclists to let them run free like that with an active roadway right in the park! I'm all for dogs running and having a good time, but it needs to be a fenced in area. I heard that one of the female racers had an accident this morning because of a dog as well. Dog owners- please. If you care about your dog, leash them when near the road.

As we got to the boathouse, kyle asked for a lead-out for the win. why the hell not- he had been super strong all day. I pushed up the hill and off he went. I saw Liam ahead of me- we lined up side by side, I shook his hand, and we sprinted for second.



I nipped him at the line, but it was close. He's a strong kid, a class act, and only 16- I scared to see what he'll be riding like in 3 or 4 yrs...

We had a great break and it stuck- I'd be lying if i said it wasn't the most exciting (and painful) experience I've had in a while. Awesome.

ok, time to drink!