Stas87

you're probably safer at Rikers than at Floyd, with said I avoided Prospect Park entirely last year. This year, I will probably do the same

gsteinb

I have a new teammate who lives in Brooklyn. I might consider doing the R&A again out of deference to his local race. But I'd not do a 1,2,3 race in PP. It's one thing if you can sit in and pull out before the finish. Entirely another to be bumping elbows the last few miles. Far too many catastrophic crashes in those races for me.

Gramercy

So are Park Slope races generally less safe than Central Park races?

gsteinb

prospect park? never heard them referred to as 'park slope races.'

prospect park races are less selective so it's more difficult for breaks to stick. that leads to bigger bunch finishes, and if they're not strung out all hell can break loose. the relative danger of both courses depends on the condition of the pavement, and in the case of central park which finish they use. Central Park in any of the big races will typically have 3 or so major crashes in the last few miles. There aren't really any 'big' races in PP, so the cash crash is somewhat mitigated.

globecanvas

Does Floyd always start that early in the year?


Not that I'm going. My teammate loves them though and does the 3+ hour drive every week. Pretty sure he sparks up before racing too.

Stas87

The one central park race I did last year (Dave Jordan I think) had a prime on every lap, effectively making it a points race. The 3s had 2 crashes, as usual they were on the last lap. I know there was a crash in the 123s about half way through their 10 lap excursion through the park. If it's not strung out with 1.5 miles to go, you get knuckle heads flying up the joggers lane to make up for poor positioning. Leads to all sorts of carnage, which is why I try to avoid racing in NYC as much as possible.

gsteinb

That one big guy joined that other guy's team. Huh. interesting.

shovelhd

I'm going to be working the Plainville race on 3/20. Stop by and say hi if you're going.

gsteinb

Who are you again?

shovelhd

The Chief Referee. Best mind your P's and Q's.

YMCA

hoping to make it up to race a few in NYC area this year, ex-wife (bff) has an apt in Flatiron now, maybe Harlem crit, or White Plains state crit, or who knows, I'll be in touch if I do!

Stas87

What are the chances we race in snow tomorrow morning at Branchbrook? Hopefully by 9am (123 start time) the course won't be as icy.

gsteinb

I don't expect it to be icy at all.

And there's no "as icy." It's binary. If there's ice the race is canceled.

globecanvas

There's no precip expected at all is there?

gsteinb

this morning. otherwise, no.

globecanvas

They don't make it easy to race Grant's Tomb. $45, no day of, 30 minute race.

I was hoping to keep all the options open, go to Branchbrook if I wake up early enough, maybe do Grant's Tomb on the way home if I feel like it, or just do Grant's Tomb if I don't make it to Branchbrook. But $45 is a lot to spend on a placeholder.

gsteinb

I heard that somewhere before

globecanvas

Did I say it before? Repeating oneself is the prerogative of the masters racer

FFJ

NYC does not make it easy to host bike races on city streets.

gsteinb

No, I've been a broken record on it. I don't complain too much when it comes to orchard beach, but registering a month or more out for a race that occurs in the winter is just dumb. Once you tack the GW on there, and consider it's mid day on a saturday and there's really not much of a reason for an old guy like me to do it.

echappist

i once got pulled over by cops while doing something (previously agreed to by the cops) to promote Grant's Tomb

mike868y

thinking of heading down for plainville on sunday, although the 70% chance of "showers" isn't exactly enticing.

TheKillerPenguin

I was really feeling Plainville until I saw the weather report. I think I will be skipping the organized bike games this weekend.

mike868y

i'll probably wait and make the decision later on this week. NOAA says only 40%...

TheKillerPenguin

Maybe I wake up Sunday morning and say fugg it and go race bikes. Or maybe I roll over and duck my head under a pillow.