"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Prospect Park Vets Race Report, April 27

It was a dark and gloomy night. Errr.. morning. Light rain, 50º, small field for the penultimate race of the NY Spring Series. We queued up and rolled out, and it quickly became apparent that no rain from above was necessary, the peloton wheels would be providing all the required car wash elements today. Very soggy indeed. And very fast. Just about 25.0 mph average speed for a 13 lap race (that's 44 miles) on a cool rainy day. In doesn't get any more Spring Classic than that. We caught and passed the 3/4 field on lap 4 or 5. There were plenty of attacks, but none got anywhere, there weren't too many pauses in the tempo, and when there was nobody launched with enough authority to get a gap.

Came down to a field sprint, that was the original Global Locate Racing game plan, and somewhere up there my team mates were doing something right, because GL took 1 (Gary) 2 (Juan) and 3 (Jerry). Gary (gsteinb on BF) clinched the Spring Series trophy for overall points. I didn't ride as strong as I wanted to even though I tried real hard, almost got detatched on that last charge up the hill, but hung on for ADFL (Almost Dead Friggin Last). But I did get to the front and do a little chasing at one point. Oh well.

Good day for the team, crappy day for me, but ultimately any day you finish a race and don't crash out is a good day. I even got a 'Hey Pcad' fan callout from some unknown BF Stalker on Lap 13, which gave me extra motivation to avoid getting shelled. I look at it this way: I have a stylin' jersey, I'm on the best vets team, so people see me in GL colors and figure I must be one of those fast GL guys. You can't pose any harder than that weenies.

You can't pose any harder than that weenies.

Oh yes we can!! At least you RODE:D

For all his self loathing PCad is going to be a fine bike racer. He made the split when many others got left behind. This was far more a team effort than anything I did today. I got to spend the day in the easy chair...my race was only about 200 meters long.

For all his self loathing PCad is going to be a fine bike racer. This was far more a team effort than anything I did today. I got to spend the day in the easy chair...my race was only about 200 meters long.

'Going to be'? Dude, I'm friggin FIFTY. If it hasn't happened yet, it's not going to happen, all that's left is the Self Loathing.

And yet, what else do you need for Cycling Zen?

Only the Schwag.

Nice race today pal. Your race wasn't 200 meters long. It was 44 miles long, and you had to be within spitting distance of the front the whole time. Plus somebody had to cross the line first. It wasn't going to be me. Regardless, the Spring Series was Big Fun, the GL boys are great guys, the NY City Peloton is very chill, and hopefully it will be warmer and brighter going forward. Hopefully there's another 10 PP races in store for me and the boys this summer. I like racing there.

Good job guys, congrats! It's impressive that it stayed together.

i'm going to be close to NYC this summer and will surely be one of those Pcad fanboys at one point or another. You'll have a crew of cheerleaders there eventually, male cheerleaders in lycra.

'Going to be'? Dude, I'm friggin FIFTY. If it hasn't happened yet, it's not going to happen, all that's left is the Self Loathing.


nah, you're strong enough to contribute, but there's always more to learn. Christ, I still sprinted from the wrong side of my lead-out.

That was me shouting encouragement to you, Pcad. Glad it helped!

I thought today's race was pretty dismal and monotonous coming off the epic of Battenkill, but gotta stay in the game.

Congratulations on your team's performance. Will we see you at Bear Mountain in two weeks?

i was 40/60 at best last night, but i got up this morning, had a look outside and wimped out- didn't show... i know, i'm lame. the cadence series starts soon though :)


good on ya for racing!

nah, you're strong enough to contribute, but there's always more to learn. Christ, I still sprinted from the wrong side of my lead-out.

And you shusshed you sponsor with that 'no talking on the last lap' comment. But Gary, technically there were still several hundred meters left to lap 12.

Don did point out that I made it up to the front group after that split that formed when we passed the 3/4 field. I have no idea how many guys got left behind, I was focusing too hard on not getting shelled myself. But I do believe I was the last guy that made it across that gap. Don says three GL guys got gapped at that point. That really was a fast race today. When it strung out on that last lap at the base of the hill I'm in the back thinking 'Pcad's on the rivet. This is bad for Pcad. I hope Pcad has the snot to hang on as they storm the upgrade.' And I barely did.

That was me shouting encouragement to you, Pcad. Glad it helped!

I thought today's race was pretty dismal and monotonous coming off the epic of Battenkill, but gotta stay in the game.

Congratulations on your team's performance. Will we see you at Bear Mountain in two weeks?

Thanks Davey, the team did great today and in the Spring Series. I was in the House of Pain when you saw me. But Pcad is never too tired to wave at the fans.

Bear Mountain? Not for Pcad. I have been humiliated on that course once or twice. I will however be honking up to the High Point monument at the TT next weekend. You can't get shelled in a TT : ). I hope to race in PP a bunch more this year however.

And you shusshed you sponsor with that 'no talking on the last lap' comment.

you know, I really don't mean to be a dick at times like that. I just am. It does take quite a bit of focus in the last several miles to make sure you stay in the right place with the snot to wind it up.

you know, I really don't mean to be a dick at times like that. I just am. It does take quite a bit of focus in the last several miles to make sure you stay in the right place with the snot to wind it up.

Pal, you gave me Road Nazi goosebumps and I got all dewey eyed when you did that. I was so proud. Besides commander, you say anything you want to me during the race as long as you win it.

Oh yes. I should mention this: besides GL sweeping the podium, by far the best part of that race was that part where us 35-50+ year old mopes zoomed by the 3/4 kids about 30 mins. into our race : ). It doesn't get better than that. Now if you'll excuse me, it is time for my Advil.

I've been popping advil today too. Yesterday, I started feeling pain in areas that I've injured in the past before getting dropped.

I've been popping advil today too. Yesterday, I started feeling pain in areas that I've injured in the past before getting dropped.

I don't know about you, but it's the pain that keeps me coming back.

I don't know about you, but it's the pain that keeps me coming back.

Definitely. It sort of a round-about way to continue my self-injury without the scars.

keep on keeping on pcaddy!

keep on keeping on pcaddy!

The only thing missing is you b. There are open races in PP May 10, June 14, July 13, July 19, August 16, plus another series also put on by some other Kissena guy (separate dates, the ones I listed are all Saturdays).