Kevins Holiday Harbor Hills Ride

It is Memorial Day and time for Kevins annual HHH ride. Starting at Tildas this year! How convenient :-) It was a humid warm morning. And some heavy loaded clouds were rollign in from West...

As about already expected, we got a little soaked...

Returning home a little dirty... time to clean everything up and dry.

Tour of Somervile Series -- Bound Brook Criterium -- GAB Karl wins!

Somerville Series, Sunday: The three Green Arm Bandits Karl, George and Py traveled to Bound Brook, NJ on Sunday morning. Py picked up Karl fairly early to have plenty of time and make sure to beat traffic issues crossing over to New Jersey via Staten Island, Verrazano Bridge. Making it to NJ with almost empty tank looking for gas and having a good find at some little place -- almost 60 cents less than in NY!!! It got pretty warm with high humidity. A pretty easy and nice drive, just little over 2 hours. Karl already had some ideas for the race and in particular what Py should do -- "Get in front right off the gun and drive the pace a hard as you can for the 1st few laps." Py was skeptical if he could manage that, however -- the key would be to line up in 1st row and fly off.
Arriving in Bound Brook around 11am, little shopping and having a Danish + Cappuccino in Manville. All set, returning to Bound Brook and finding a good parking lot with shade from big trees right on the coarse -- nice.

Signing in for the race, checking out the coarse getting ready and warming up on the trainer under these trees. Not that Py was not warm already... but a little moving and warming up his knee was for sure a good thing -- it was hot, really a need to move fast to get cooling.

As time went by, a few bananas and snack bars got eaten, plenty of water consumed including it's great cooling use on top of the head.... Also George arrived soon. To our little surprise Carol and Paul showed up and did a little support -- thanks for that!! -- they were already done with an ITT earlier in the day near by. Time to line up.

Here the three GABs on the right front of the pack at the start line (The 3rd is a little hiding in this picture, Py all the way to the right (left in the picture)).



[Photos by CyclingCaptured.]

Py took off at the start and lined up within about the 1st 5 riders towards the next 2 turns as he moved up and little to his own surprise stayed there for about 2 1/2 more laps -- no one attacked until this time as he moved to the back of the field to recover. That part worked out OK.

Now just let Py cite George for the following race report:

"It has been a few weeks since I have been able to do an edition of TWIG notes. I am glad to say it will be on a high note. Over the past few weeks the GABs have been racing and training around the NY metro area. With solid performances at the Bear Mt Road Race by Karl, 6th CAT 3, and Mike Innuza who has been strengthening into his normal self. George hit the WS United Roubaix series at Floyd Bennett Field in the 123 race last Thursday. Finishing this weekend with the Tour of Somerville. Last Memorial Day Karl traveled to Somerville to take part in one of the longest running races in the country: http://www.tourofsomerville.org/news.html . He traveled alone and found some success in placing 3rd. Upon his return everyone congratulated him. I remember him showing a bit of frustration, "If I only had a teammate, maybe...." he said. With this in mind we set out to support him as best we could this year. The GAB's were represented by Karl, George, & Percy. The pre race plan was to have Percy go from the gun, trying to cause an early break. George was to cover any mid race moves, and escort Karl through the last lap, leading him out for the sprint. Karl's job was to win. During pre-race discussions we believed there would be a field sprint, and after all was said and done, we needed to be up front on the back stretch on the last lap, top 5 into the 2nd to last turn. It was a large field of 80 or so riders. We lined up up front, and set off. Percy did his job well, amping up the tempo on the first laps. Nothing developed, and Percy suffering from his hard effort slid back. The mid race saw a few breaks drift off the front for a while, George had to cover one or two strong surges, nothing stuck. The pace was high enough, for most of the race, to discourage opportunists. With 2 to go we were in position top 20 or so. As we approached the finish there were attacks. Well they turned out to be sprints to the bell. Some overanxious riders miscounted. As the race passed through the S turn, the familiar sound of broken bikes became evident somewhere in the back of the field. Karl was tucked safely on George's wheel. With a flick of the hand to signal Karl, George ushered him to the front of the field. Sitting nicely, third and fourth wheel, into the 2nd to last turn. Coming out of the final turn Karl opened up his sprint, easily passing the remaining 2 riders for the win, George held on for 5th. Congrats to Karl for a job well done!!!" -- Green Arm Bandits Cycling Team.

The story is not yet complete as you may wonder where or when Py came in and how he eventually managed to take these pictures above of Karl. It's simple like this: Py was doing just fine hanging on for the coming laps, but had not really much left struggling a bit at times, but felt like he could just about do it. However, a pretty harsh sounding pop of a spoke snapping off the nipple shortly before the 2nd but last turn of lap 8 all sudden ended his race -- he was not hitting anything in particular, just some normal bumps you find every where and he went over and over all the time... put a good wobble into his rear wheel and he rolled off the coarse. This now ended his race as he did not put a space wheel set into the pit.

Slowly rolling back to his car and stowing the bike away. So what, he did his part of the game and did not expected any placing for himself either way. Getting out the camera, still a little nervous using some wrong settings for the first few shots. But it all should turn out just perfect as you already read above. Including his chance to take these finish shots himself!

That all done the GABs and friends were watching the next few races, Masters and Pro.

Ride with Paul/C -- just picking roads

Bellport 10am -- meeting Paul and Carol for a ride some where. As it was such a nice day and 10am late enough to take an esay spin South from Rocky Point -- not yet knowing what and where it will go -- what so ever, anything would work, flexible enough, no car to get back to, all options open :-) Py loves that! So he left home a few minutes to 9am to have plenty of time -- about 16 miles on the most direct way taking this newly paved "Rocky Point" road he was eyeballing to take for a spin already since a while. Little South wind, tucking a bit down and cruising at some steady easy recovery level of 160 Watts average. Getting to Bellport at about 9:45.

To his surprise he found Paul&Carol taking out there TT bikes -- hey, if he would have known that... he just swapped the power wheel back on the road bike from his TT rig this morning! So what, the red bike is so much more comfortable and fun either way.

Saying hello to Gregg&Chris at Krebs... while P&C got ready to roll.

Heading East some where... -- no plan, beyond let's go for an hour east or so before returning. Fine. Suggesting a few back roads like Beaver Dam in Brookhaven, before hitting County 21. Merging on Trevors route backwards for a while... and followed that as this was our best plan that moment. At the end of the 1st section of Mill Rd we decided to take Edwards to 25 going West as return. Py kept going more North on 25A while Paul&Carol proceeded on 25 possible to the Floyd and heading for a more strait return.

Py could not resist to get off the main roads (25A) in Wading River to return as usual.

Ended up with a nice 50 mile loop:

Tour de Parc - Criterium

Race Day. After skipping Bear last Sunday -- Py was just not in the right mood for that for several reasons.... he went to

the Criterium

race hosted on Long Island in Wantagh.

citing the promoter: "The Tour de Parc is the longest continously run bicycle race on Long Island. It takes place in Wantagh's Cedar Creek Park on a fast, spectator-friendly 1 mile course."

GABs Karl, Mike, Chris and Percy attended. About the CAT4 race (sorry no pics as Py raced it) -- in brief:
Simply said -- not much happened. Just starting out, trying to stay in top 1/3 most the time. Some crunching behind Py the1st or was it the 2nd lap's U turn -- well, guess that sorted some rider(s) out not handling his bike right... Beyond that and a few sketchy actions around him nothing really was happening. He was also not up to solo actions and just kept it safe and was actually a little bored beyond the few excitements.

Py in the CAT4 race:

A few pictures of the other CATs he took later (and before a few of the CAT5) and many more -- click the thumbs to see more:

TDP in numbers:

no obligations RP2IPBP

Kevin took care of leading my ride today ;-) Nice once in a while just to sit in easy and watch things fly by. Good riding today. Good not to have ride lead obligations a day before a race ;-)

Turkey Hill Classics, Lancaster, PA

Race day. Py decided "last day" to join George and Karl for the Turkey Hill Classics Road Race in Lancaster, PA -- CAT 3/4. Early start from home leaving at about 4:45 for a good 4:30 hours travel -- meeting with George and Karl at LIE P&R exit 49 to car pool. Getting there with plenty of time to sign in and setup. Looking like a very nice day and good setting. Everything went smoothly looking for a good race. Little road exploration and warm up -- getting ready.

A little hope the longer race, 9 laps of 11.8km, in a little hilly setting may turn out doable just fine for Py... got destroyed soon. 1st lap was going fine, but he noticed running for quite a bit in and beyond his red zone way too long, basically at every turn accelerating more of less full gas -- that will not work for 9 laps, he knew by the beginning of lap 2 already. He did not found a good spot to hide and did not managed to get up far enough to avoid the amplified bungee effects of speed changes in front starting already form about the 2nd half of the pack of about 100 riders. With lap 2 on this more "ultra" Criterium like setup featuring in particular eight 90 degree turns per lap + climbs including one short but 20% wall and a nice set of fun rolling hills he got stick with a few riders at the wall, few seconds delays and the pack to off. Chasing like speedy down this hill with nearly 50mph flying no solo way faster around those turns was fun but used up all his short term reserved. Actually on the long strait of the end of every lap he caught up to the field but lost contact soon again at the next climb or turn -- nothing left and no a tiny chance of recovery near the end of the just too open end of the pack. And he could not manage to hang on for longer. And saw the field taking of with start of lap 3 :-(

However, he did gave up and proceeded and turned the remaining of a short lasting 2 lap race into a still great training ride on closed roads and finished with 8 laps -- one down on his field, because they he got lapped towards the end.

And never the last -- some footage of lap No. 1 to review:

May 1st: really Early Birds now -- South

With May first the EBs ride starts at 7:30 and thus Py had to leave a little earlier from home -- little past 6:30am. A little morning chill in the air but looking like a nice spring day. In the need for a simple wind breaking layer, but not wanting this all day -- he got back to one of the oldest and cheapest tricks: Just placing one folded page of newspaper in font below the jersey. Light and recycled disposable fibers doing a great job!

Meeting Jenn at the start in the bagel store warming up a bit and soon many more -- good group today and fairly steady pace -- basically the field stayed all together today.

Bad luck for one with a double flat hitting a bad spot of (missing?) pavement early into the ride. A nice good move on Dune Road, a strong pull over the few rollers at the bay and moderate return -- with one more flat wait up. Py was sitting in a bit more today but took his pulls rotating though, even just briefly. Some how managed to find a few strong good wheels and with a quick rotation at a pretty speedy finish and ended up coming in first... how does that happened? Not even a huge sprinting effort, a bit so... -- max reading for the finish was just 740W-- at the end.

Total real measured work: 2553 kJ