"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Excuses, excuses

Just got back from Nyack. The Hamer Droped today, average speed by mile 25 was 24.1 mph, and that included several dead stops at traffic lights. Saw Cat 3 Ben from West Point who says hello to KP even though he's not sure he remembers him. That's class. I asked him if he'd be training in Baghdad in a Stars and Stripes jersey if he is deployed there. Alas, no. WP Ben did finish in the top 5 today, but the usual suspect (43 year old former Turkish Nat'l Team member) Luke topped Hook Mtn. first. PCad was 10th or so. Big pack, 60+ guys @ the start.

But I digress. The REAL point of this thread is making your excuses sound good when you get shelled. We had Mike Gisler, the perpetual NJ TT Cup points leader (arguably the fastest guy in NJ, ergo one of the fastest amateur guys in the whole USA) on the ride. I told Mike it was EXCELLENT to have him on these rides, because I can always say 'yeah I got dropped by the fastest guy in NJ'. Mike turns to me and says 'But Pete, what do I say when I get dropped?'. I replied 'Then you're F'd Mikey'. We nodded in agreement.

Which underscores something every racer has learned over the years: sooner or later EVERYBODY gets shelled.

http://atdp.soe.berkeley.edu/pix/random/yodaandbikes.jpg

Which underscores something every racer has learned over the years: sooner or later EVERYBODY gets shelled.

And it doesn't hurt to have your excuse ready beforehand...

And it doesn't hurt to have your excuse ready beforehand...

PCad's Bag of Excuses is deep and wide. Never be without the Correct Excuse for any unfortunate competitive cycling outcome.

http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/images/interiors/leather-beanbag-aubergine-lg.jpg

My one excuse (it's really happened the last two Saturdays--WTF?!?!?): My brake caliper was mis-aligned and rubbing.

My one excuse (it's really happened the last two Saturdays--WTF?!?!?): My brake caliper was mis-aligned and rubbing.

This sort of happened to me 2 years ago on a hilly century with my old man. I was a young gun holding back all day for the old man, and then I remember watching my near 50 year old father drop hard me on one of the final hills of the day.

Remember that time you beat your dad at basketball for the first time, the opposite feeling......

After the old man humbled me, we were walking to the bus, and I felt like I was dragging my bike. Well I pretty much was, since my wheel without me noticing broke a spoke. So the wheel wasn't exactly rubbing it was mostly braking hard the whole time... I still learned much about humility that day.

Just got back from Nyack. The Hamer Droped today, average speed by mile 25 was 24.1 mph, and that included several dead stops at traffic lights. Saw Cat 3 Ben from West Point who says hello to KP even though he's not sure he remembers him. That's class. I asked him if he'd be training in Baghdad in a Stars and Stripes jersey if he is deployed there. Alas, no. WP Ben did finish in the top 5 today, but the usual suspect (43 year old former Turkish Nat'l Team member) Luke topped Hook Mtn. first. PCad was 10th or so. Big pack, 60+ guys @ the start.

But I digress. The REAL point of this thread is making your excuses sound good when you get shelled. We had Mike Gisler, the perpetual NJ TT Cup points leader (arguably the fastest guy in NJ, ergo one of the fastest amateur guys in the whole USA) on the ride. I told Mike it was EXCELLENT to have him on these rides, because I can always say 'yeah I got dropped by the fastest guy in NJ'. Mike turns to me and says 'But Pete, what do I say when I get dropped?'. I replied 'Then you're F'd Mikey'. We nodded in agreement.

Which underscores something every racer has learned over the years: sooner or later EVERYBODY gets shelled.
Hello to ben.

Hello to ben.

You could at least capitalize his name. erik.

I'm starting to think this ryanf sindrome is kontajious.

is that Ben from WestPoint the guy who rides the Soloist Carbon?

he usually does VERY well in Collegiate A, good rider.

i'm still impressed that a racer from west point has managed to finish a race, let alone be worthy of a mention in a patentcad thread.

back when i was still racing in NYC, the west pointers were always crashing at inopportune moments in central park spring series races.

correct.

there is one kid who races for West Point, that I've got to know quite well.

One problem: he crashes EVERY DAMN RACE. Usually at the most inopportune and unfortunate times he would get taken out, drop a chain, slide on wet grass

damn army kids, haha.

Nyack ha ha what the hell is that? Just kidding but I love that name.....


So you raced and had to stop at traffic lights?????? Whats up w/ that?

Nyack ha ha what the hell is that? Just kidding but I love that name.....


So you raced and had to stop at traffic lights?????? Whats up w/ that?

never done a balls to the wall group ride before?

never done a balls to the wall group ride before?
My local Wednesday ride is about as balls to the wall as I care for, every Wednesday out and back with a 3 mile climb finish and a few sprints along the journey for 'prizes'. But out here in the country we aint got no traffic lights just the occasional tractor hauling hay.