Road Bike Racing - Is Kelly Cup worth it?

$30 to do 20 laps around a park? in Baltimore? Where I'll more likely find my car broken into than a free parking spot?

$30 to do 20 laps around a park? in Baltimore? Where I'll more likely find my car broken into than a free parking spot?

it's a fun atmosphere, a really enjoyable venue and a challenging, technical course. also, the pros come out for it so the spectating is a blast. tons of spectators, live music, displays, a t-shirt.... i wouldn't miss it.

$30 to do 20 laps around a park? in Baltimore? Where I'll more likely find my car broken into than a free parking spot?

Geezus you NOVA people are wussies. Baltimore is fine. Don't go near the med school or west of MLK, however.

...and don't leave anything visible in your car. Baltimore is the kind of city where folks leave their windows rolled down when parking on the street in the summer, so that they don't get smashed in by idiots looking to steal.

And, btw, I've heard alot of grumbling about that race... usually occurs during the week or so right after the race. If I remember correctly, last year there was a big problem with a wreck in a women's race and the lack of response from the promoters... or something like that. But I do remember safety being a concern.

Honestly, new guy's comments are the first positive kelly cup/bikejam comments I've ever heard. I dont know anyone who likes Kelly Cup. IMO, it's a stupid course that is basically like an industrial park crit, except instead of an industrial park, it's in patterson park, which is in Baltimore, which is one big crack junky slum. Good lawd I hate baltimore.

There are always lots of crashes at Kelly cup, 2 yrs. ago I did the Masters 30/40 race, I can remember there being 7 crashes, I've never been more scared on my bike, ever. Except maybe when I rode back to my car and was approached by hoards of panhandlers.

The atmosphere is festive, but the bands are always loud and annoying, I wish they'd unplug them. I really cant believe its an NRC event.

I'm sure I'll be there, but every year I swear I'll never do Kelly Cup again. Off to bikereg I go....

edit: at least there's beer, and parking is free, they close a street down adjacent to the park. Free if you dont mind panhandlers.

Well, now you sorta know someone who likes the Kelly Cup.

I just think it's refreshing to do a race somewhere so different. It's not tucked away in some suburban office complex or industrial park; the venue is right smack in the middle of gritty ol' Baltimore... I realize that the vast majority of folks who show up to race there are completely out of their element, but maybe that isn't such a bad thing.

new guy: I just can't justify driving all the way up there to race for less than an hour. The value added just isn't worth the total cost.

new guy: I just can't justify driving all the way up there to race for less than an hour. The value added just isn't worth the total cost.

The answer is clear. If you don't want to come, don't. It's just one spot closer to top for me--if I decided to race it.

The promotors sort of pi$$ed me off last year when the Cat-5 field had openings; they wouldn't go to their waiting list. Why have a Cat-5 waiting list if you're not going to use it?

you people that think baltimore is scary are wussy

Live smack dab in the middle of downtown Baltimore for 3 years. It is not a pleasant place to be after dark.

either is 4/5 of dc

either is 4/5 of dc

True! Lived there for the three years after Bmore.

you people that think baltimore is scary are wussy

+1

new guy: I just can't justify driving all the way up there to race for less than an hour. The value added just isn't worth the total cost.

WTF are you talking about? It's like an hr. to 1.5 hrs. from NoVA.

I'm just being surly about kelly cup and baltimore in general. If you're going to start doing value added/total cost in analyzing which bicycle races you should do, you might as well quit now and start playing keno.

You should do kelly cup, it's an NRC event with lots of entertainment going on for your sig other to enjoy, a watchable race course with lots of fields and a "pro" environment, and a MABRA showcase criterium, so lots of BAR points up for grabs.

Im glad this race is on a satuday so I dont have to worry about it :D

It does get me thinking about charm city cross which is oh so far away

i don't hate baltimore and certainly am not aftaid of it. this is all moot though as the race is memorial day weekend and i'll be out of town.

I have an old Oldsmobile 98 I could loan ya! It's such a sad car that people break in and INSTALL a car stereo out of pity :p


$30 to do 20 laps around a park? in Baltimore? Where I'll more likely find my car broken into than a free parking spot?

it's a really fun race. I'm with *new guy*.