We chose to begin our 2012 campaign on a relaxed note at home... in NYC. Columbia University provides the perfect opportunity to kick the season off right with the Grant's Tomb Crit in Harlem. Each year, we use this weekend to start our season by bringing the non-New Yorker teammates into the city for a little racing, a little riding and a lot of fun.
Racing started in the frigid 37 degree shadows of the NY skyline on Saturday morning. We kept it active with a flurry of early attacks and after about 10 minutes, sent Brian Hill out for the long haul. Brian and his breakaway companion were joined mid-race by Clayton Barrows and two other riders. Unfortunately, the cold weather and extended time off the front had taken it's toll on Brian while the bridge effort left Clayton with little energy for the finale and we cruised in for a respectable 4th and 5th. Meanwhile, returning veteran Stephan Kincaid held a session of crit racing 101 for some of our new racers. Teaching them the art and science of peloton control, break-away management, and honing the lead out skills.
We spent the afternoon showing off our good looks and awesome new equipment to the camera of our resident photographer, Maria Quiroga. As always, special thanks to Stan's NoTubes, Hutchinson, Cannondale, Sram and Zipp for setting us up on great equipment. And thanks to Endo Customs for making us look great!Meanwhile, Clayton Barrows spent the afternoon suffering behind the next generation in the collegiate race:
And finally we capped off a great day with a fantastic team dinner (with adult beverages) at Cotta on the Upper West Side. Here DZ, Whitman, and Geronimo demonstrate the surgical procedure that removed a 4" screw from Dan's femur 3 days earlier:
A team weekend is never complete without a Sunday training ride. But first, a stop at the Hungarian Bakery:
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