"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Jefferson Cup

T-8 days!

Crap, I forgot to train. Is that enough time for me to get in shape for it?

Wait, isn't it 9 days? I thought it was on sunday. Man I got all kinds of problems.

125 guys, all who think they can win the first big MABRA race of the season.

can't wait.

Crap, I forgot to train. Is that enough time for me to get in shape for it?

Wait, isn't it 9 days? I thought it was on sunday. Man I got all kinds of problems.

I just started riding my bike again last week so I dont know why I signed up this year.

Crap, I forgot to train. Is that enough time for me to get in shape for it?

Wait, isn't it 9 days? I thought it was on sunday. Man I got all kinds of problems.

No no, the race is on Saturday. Tell your teammates. :innocent:

granted it's a week away, but looks like it might be wet this year :)

Wet and nasty is a requirement for that race I thought.

And for those of you who have nottrained for it, don't worry no body does ;)

Wet and nasty is a requirement for that race I thought.

And for those of you who have nottrained for it, don't worry no body does ;)

"'Guys,' I said one time in the locker room, 'I've been training my butt off.' There was a shocked, giggly moment of silence, but I was afraid they would think I was serious."

BTW, nice try bd. You scared me though, I actually went and checked bikereg to be sure.
Now it's T-8.

It's the VA Masters champ race this year though. Who knows what kind of prep people might have put into it?

I'm not old enough to race in the "slow old guy" group, so someone enlighten me.

i am about 90% sure I will not be showing for this race

"slow old guy" group. Nice troll attempt.

What? The first race of the year is the VA Masters Champ race? That's nuts.

I'll be doing about 90 miles today. Hope that shakes out the winter cob webs.

Yup. From the VACycling site:
March 29
Jeff Cup (state master RR) * (http://www.vacycling.org/2009/flyers/jc2009.pdf)
Online Registration (http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=8003)
MVC

Surviving Jeff Cup will be hard enough for the first race of the season. Add that to the typical mid-atlantic CRAP weather, and I'm going to just be an irritated racer.

Can't Wait!

Last year I found jeff cup to be a really easy race. I signed up last minute after having a horrible race the week before. Driving down to the race I kept asking myself why I was driving so far to get dropped on the first lap. It turned out to be one of the easiest races of the year for me.

Last year I found jeff cup to be a really easy race. I signed up last minute after having a horrible race the week before. Driving down to the race I kept asking myself why I was driving so far to get dropped on the first lap. It turned out to be one of the easiest races of the year for me.

Sitting in does that. :eek:

It's definitely an easy race to sit in on. The field is huge and you can pretty much always let some one else chase down the suckers like me who try to get away because I can't sprint for jack. This year will be different in the P123 for me. I probably won't make a pack finish but who knows.

Last year I found jeff cup to be a really easy race. I signed up last minute after having a horrible race the week before. Driving down to the race I kept asking myself why I was driving so far to get dropped on the first lap. It turned out to be one of the easiest races of the year for me.

Aw... it's not that far! This race would not be possible where it not for people driving in from Northern Virginia and beyond. There aren't too many road races close to that area otherwise.

nearly 3 hours is too far for me when there are 4 or 5 road races within a hour from me

^^^ you drove all over the east coast for cross races last year... :)

yeah but generally north. Driving to a cross race is different because its more like going to a big party where it can be an all day event. road racing just isnt the same.

also no offense to anyone but I dont find driving a few hours south into VA very appealing. I didnt go to charlottesville for that cross race either.

yeah but generally north. Driving to a cross race is different because its more like going to a big party where it can be an all day event. road racing just isnt the same.

also no offense to anyone but I dont find driving a few hours south into VA very appealing. I didnt go to charlottesville for that cross race either.


driving south a few hours into VA is much better than driving north in I-95 up to philly...

a bit farther, but no worse than going to the Tour of Washington County or something...

tour or washington county is less than an hour and a half from me where jeff cup is almost 3 hours

philly is less than 3 hours and i find the north a lot more appealing than virginia

tour or washington county is less than an hour and a half from me where jeff cup is almost 3 hours

philly is less than 3 hours and i find the north a lot more appealing than virginia


funny, I think the opposite. wilmington seems like a million miles from me whereas although I know jeff cup is too farther away, it doesnt feel as far as DE or philly.

I'm definitely putting some of the lancaster stuff on my calender this year though as opposed to the in district crits all summer long. I like crits, but am going to try and be more selective about which ones I'm doing if there are other road race option up in dutch country.

-Rudesiggy: towc/hagerstown is probably less than 75 minutes from you, c-ville is at least 2.5 hrs.

I like crits, but am going to try and be more selective about which ones I'm doing if there are other road race option up in dutch country.


You know, I was thinking the same thing, but I just did Farmersville last weekend and it reminded me why I didn't like those (formerly) Red Roses Races. No ref trailing the pack, no enforcement of yellow line rule, almost getting hit by cars/hitting buggies, poor (if any) reporting of results, 5 hours of driving and $37 for a 1 hour race...not my idea of a good time. And I am better at crits anyway.

You know, I was thinking the same thing, but I just did Farmersville last weekend and it reminded me why I didn't like those (formerly) Red Roses Races. No ref trailing the pack, no enforcement of yellow line rule, almost getting hit by cars/hitting buggies, poor (if any) reporting of results, 5 hours of driving and $37 for a 1 hour race...not my idea of a good time. And I am better at crits anyway.

good points, gotta be selective about which of the pa races to do as well.

turkey hill country classic, that's one to do for sure, it has never been part of the red rose races debacle.

How much jackassery has there been on the turns on the race course in the past? They look pretty sharp, and I'm wondering how fast or slow the fields have taken them.

None of the turns are really an issue, except turn 2 which comes following a descent.

You know, I was thinking the same thing, but I just did Farmersville last weekend and it reminded me why I didn't like those (formerly) Red Roses Races. No ref trailing the pack, no enforcement of yellow line rule, almost getting hit by cars/hitting buggies, poor (if any) reporting of results, 5 hours of driving and $37 for a 1 hour race...not my idea of a good time. And I am better at crits anyway.

How about Millport RR this weekend? Anyone done that one before? It's put on by the same people as Farmersville, and I'm registered for the 4/5 race. I'm not sure what to expect after reading your post.

How about Millport RR this weekend? Anyone done that one before? It's put on by the same people as Farmersville, and I'm registered for the 4/5 race. I'm not sure what to expect after reading your post.

It'll be fine (although it seems that there is at least one crash in every one of their 4/5 races). Just keep your head up and look out for things like buggies and cars in the road, don't get frustrated if a couple other people keep passing and riding left of the yellow line, and don't give in to the temptation to be one of those people. The roads are narrow so moving throught the pack is difficult without doing this. Choose your opportunities to do so the right (and safer) way.

Some of it is just expectations, too. I kind of knew what I was getting myself into because I have done these races before, I was just really itching to race and that was the only thing going on. So if you know that you are driving a long way and paying a lot for this, and you are okay with it, you will still (hopefully) have a great time. I just wouldn't skip a well-run race to go to one of those.

Thats the one thing that I love so much about the Jeff Cup - full rolling enclosure. That's rare in any road race.

It'll be fine (although it seems that there is at least one crash in every one of their 4/5 races). Just keep your head up and look out for things like buggies and cars in the road, don't get frustrated if a couple other people keep passing and riding left of the yellow line, and don't give in to the temptation to be one of those people. The roads are narrow so moving throught the pack is difficult without doing this. Choose your opportunities to do so the right (and safer) way.

Some of it is just expectations, too. I kind of knew what I was getting myself into because I have done these races before, I was just really itching to race and that was the only thing going on. So if you know that you are driving a long way and paying a lot for this, and you are okay with it, you will still (hopefully) have a great time. I just wouldn't skip a well-run race to go to one of those.

Thanks. There were crashes (nothing major) in all of my races so far. Crashes don't really bother me at all. It's not too far of a drive, and I missed out on Jeff Cup - it filled up reallllly fast - so I've got nothing better to do this weekend.

Thanks. There were crashes (nothing major) in all of my races so far. Crashes don't really bother me at all. It's not too far of a drive, and I missed out on Jeff Cup - it filled up reallllly fast - so I've got nothing better to do this weekend.

There's also a training crit in Lancaster County on Sunday. I think its called the New Holland something or other. I'm too lazy to get the link.

Thats the one thing that I love so much about the Jeff Cup - full rolling enclosure. That's rare in any road race.

this really is awesome and what makes me consider it every year

this really is awesome and what makes me consider it every year

It's also what makes it really important that folks come down from Mabra to do the race. That stuff is really expensive. We're going to have ten motos. :O

It's also what makes it really important that folks come down from Mabra to do the race. That stuff is really expensive. We're going to have ten motos. :O

I don't think that will EVER be an issue. Didn't the 4 & 5's sell out in like a minute? You all could probably run two of each of those races and have them sell out.

I don't think that will EVER be an issue. Didn't the 4 & 5's sell out in like a minute? You all could probably run two of each of those races and have them sell out.

jeff cup owes its existence to being on the mabra bar. it should be able to self sustain now, but in its inception it was brought by the promoters to the mabra bar asking for entry so that it could grow as a regional race.

jeff cup owes its existence to being on the mabra bar. it should be able to self sustain now, but in its inception it was brought by the promoters to the mabra bar asking for entry so that it could grow as a regional race.

ahhh, I understand. I'd say its firmly in the regional race calendar these days...but what do I know? Seems like there's an incredible amount of interest in it. This is the first year for 5's right?

^1st time in a # of years. the promoter has done alot of tweaking with the fields offered over the years.

Oh there is a cat 5 this year? cool. Yeah it will never be an issue to fill fields in this event. This is a local spring classic.


30% chance of rain 63 degrees, I can handle that :)

Wow, the women's 4 field is almost full! I hardly recognize any of the names. Maybe I should've put in for my upgrade after all. I don't know what's worse: chasing down the 1-2-3 field with a bum shoulder (which has NOT been getting better) or avoiding 50 scary, new racers (riding the brakes is really uncomfortable for the shoulder). My climbing is a lot better than it was last year. I guess I'd better launch an attack. I'm happy to see us fill a field for once, but I don't necessarily want to be in it.

Wow, the women's 4 field is almost full! I hardly recognize any of the names. Maybe I should've put in for my upgrade after all. I don't know what's worse: chasing down the 1-2-3 field with a bum shoulder (which has NOT been getting better) or avoiding 50 scary, new racers (riding the brakes is really uncomfortable for the shoulder). My climbing is a lot better than it was last year. I guess I'd better launch an attack. I'm happy to see us fill a field for once, but I don't necessarily want to be in it.


I'm doing this race again.. Last year it was my first... but I"m glad I'm only doing 20 miles...the 40+ women and 1/2/3 are three laps... and there are even more than a couple of twitchy rides in the 40+ and 1/2/3s.. GLAD I'm riding with the 4s.. they'll slow up for the turns.. and I'll attack.... even more if the roads are just a little damp.....

There are several more wheels that I trust in the 1/2/3 than in the 4 field. I would probably get dropped along with some other 3s when people like Kenda Tire and Colavita put on the hurt, which is why I didn't try to upgrade yet. That and my season is off to a crappy start.

20 miles is so weak, though. It doesn't even count for road race upgrade points! Last year's race was terrifying. Plenty of poor bike handling in the pack. And then there was the wreck during the "sprint" (which really meant that everyone gearing up for a sprint ran into a wall of a certain purple team going about 16mph on the front in the last 100m and slammed on the brakes....that's probably what caused the crash, looking back. That and the one who went down hard couldn't hold her line on a dead straight downhill much less anywhere else).

I was going to avoid launching attacks because it puts a lot of stress on my shoulder, but if I can work my way into a break, I'll be happy.

:)2008 - me following clean currents, rmd pro, d. fuentes, and r. langley. no matter what this year brings, I wont be as cold as I was in this photo

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w294/MDcatV/2008%20Race%20Pictures/IMG_43601.jpg

There are several more wheels that I trust in the 1/2/3 than in the 4 field. I would probably get dropped along with some other 3s when people like Kenda Tire and Colavita put on the hurt, which is why I didn't try to upgrade yet. That and my season is off to a crappy start.

20 miles is so weak, though. It doesn't even count for road race upgrade points! Last year's race was terrifying. Plenty of poor bike handling in the pack. And then there was the wreck during the "sprint" (which really meant that everyone gearing up for a sprint ran into a wall of a certain purple team going about 16mph on the front in the last 100m and slammed on the brakes....that's probably what caused the crash, looking back. That and the one who went down hard couldn't hold her line on a dead straight downhill much less anywhere else).

I was going to avoid launching attacks because it puts a lot of stress on my shoulder, but if I can work my way into a break, I'll be happy.

There is a really strong gal coming up from the beach.. Ali Ingram; she's racing for Vanderkitten. She went out on a break during the Bryan Park training Crit; and did A LOT of work last week at the Smackdown Crit; she's done a LOT of TRIs and is strong... IF she goes.. I'm going to try and get on her wheel... If I get on a break.. I'll do my share.. to keep us away from the field...

It won't count as ROAD points.. but it will count as Circuit points.. there are 43 signed up.. SO if I remember correctly from my oficial's clinic. You'll get points; but use the circuit breakout verses road break out...

here's the quote from the rule book.. so based on the field size you get 5 points for first; 4 for second.. etc.

(b) Qualifying Distances for each category
To qualify for upgrading points, races must meet distance standards. Races shorter than the minimum distance do not qualify for upgrading. However, if a road race is less than ther road race minimum but above the criterium minimum, it will count for upgrading using the criterium points schedule.

Man - 70% chance rain now WTH. Can't you guys put in for a nice day up there?

There is a really strong gal coming up from the beach.. Ali Ingram; she's racing for Vanderkitten. She went out on a break during the Bryan Park training Crit; and did A LOT of work last week at the Smackdown Crit; she's done a LOT of TRIs and is strong... IF she goes.. I'm going to try and get on her wheel... If I get on a break.. I'll do my share.. to keep us away from the field...

It won't count as ROAD points.. but it will count as Circuit points.. there are 43 signed up.. SO if I remember correctly from my oficial's clinic. You'll get points; but use the circuit breakout verses road break out...

Yeah you're right about the points. But the thing with circuit points is that they aren't as high and don't go as deep. With a bunch of new people, I'd welcome a longer race to help weed out the weaker links.

What team do you race for? I'll be the only one sporting a GW collegiate kit.

I will take rain this year over the sleet last year, but hopefully it'll clear by mid-day.

Yeah you're right about the points. But the thing with circuit points is that they aren't as high and don't go as deep. With a bunch of new people, I'd welcome a longer race to help weed out the weaker links.

What team do you race for? I'll be the only one sporting a GW collegiate kit.

I will take rain this year over the sleet last year, but hopefully it'll clear by mid-day.

I am with you.. maybe even three laps.. that would meet the RR minimum requirements.. and long enought to weed some out.. but NOT too long for us older CAT 4's

I race for Rostello p/b Fiorucci; see my pict... my teammates are racing the 1/2/3 so I'll be the only one from my team...

Weather man is calling for rain early.. but clearly by mid morning.. we might have some wind to contend with by our start time of 1230...

Yeah I just saw that. Ugh. My cursed rear training wheel is apparently not dished right now, so it sits REALLY close to one chainstay of the new bike. It's close enough that I worry about flexing the wheel into the frame. But I don't like riding in gusty winds with the deep dish wheels. The front end gets wobbly, especially descending. It must just not weigh enough ;). I was planning on racing on the new bike. I really don't want to schlep both bikes down there just because of wheels. Damn.