2013 RHC 2: BROOKLYN NAVY YARD

Jun 10, 2013

With the 2013 RHC Brooklyn Navy Yard in the books, we are back home in SF, and back to work. Processing the event, and it’s memories, both in mind, and in photographs. Chas, Walton and I flew in late Friday night, catching the tail end of the storm. Kyle is living with Evan this summer, racing and working with Tom. With a nights rest, and some morning laps in Prospect Park, we met up at the Navy Yard for the qualifiers. It was not but a few laps into group one, when a horrific crash took one racer away in an ambulance. With the collective racers hearts with that athlete, we all set ourselves up for an exciting night. Enclosed are some moments from the night of racing. We are looking forward to Barcelona next!Two hundred athletes compete for 100 slots in the main event. This front row quickly becomes prime real estate.Dan uses this 2007 NACCC shirt as his barometer summer has started. The first sleeveless T to come out each year! Frank would be proud.Evan upgrading his Wallgreens lotion.

Tonight athletes will be tested on every front.

We found a nice birds eye view for the qualifier, and the sunset.

This is the first time the Navy Yard has been opened up for an event like this, and we all felt lucky to be part of the experience.Takuya Sakamoto scouting for camera angles.With record levels of rain the day before, the skies broke offering a spectacle of light for everyone to enjoy.Mr. Bobe in the qualifierEvan putting in the second fastest qualifying time behind Neil.Base Camp

Walton floating the dirt corner

The warm weather helped keep muscles loose between the qualifier, and the main event, but rollers, and neighborhood laps kept riders loose, ready for what comes next.

Walton inside, doing what he does second best.Kyle will be getting a new bike soon, weather he wants it or not. This sample histogram tape used to be white.Moto support doubled this time. With two on course, they were able to clear the lapped riders more efficiently, allowing those still in the race to have a safer envionment to do what they came here for.Dan had an onboard camera mounted with the best that hollywood has to offer.Evan, Kyle, WaltonThere was a shotgun mic recording the conversations at the start. Hoping this info shows up down the road. It could really reflect the friendships, and camaraderie that goes on between the athletes. Authentic friends on and off the course.

This moment never gets old. Calling up the rows based on qualifying times. All three of our team members made the first row of ten. Neil, Evan, and Dan also knew this front row start would help avoid the crashes that were to follow.

Chas leaning in leaving the last 90 degree corner before the finishing straight on the course. This spot proved to separate those with handling skills, those who did not, and those caught in the middle.Citibike is a new sponsor for the event, with their new bike rental system in the area. This has been a major undertaking, and Neil Bezdek was heavily involved from the ground up. The chase group heading into the cobble sectionWalton and Chas set the pace early, including earning the first lap prime. Both were crashed out in separate instances before the 10th lap.

Dan was down in the first lap, but ok. He raced on the road the following day. This video has been bouncing around. It gives the viewers an idea of the intensity of these crashes. This one caused by a racer from State Bicycles.Several racers riding tubulars and Stans no tubes flatted in the cobble section. Racers really needed to float this section, while holding their line.This sort of sight became numbing. It will be interesting to see if there is data showing of the 100 racers who qualified, how many were lapped out, crashed, or ended with a mechanical. This course was a blast, and could have been a more intense race on the bike if the qualifier was cut down to the 50 fastest. With the narrow/tight corners, and long dark straights, the bottom 50 were quickly lapped, or became laying obstacles on the course. There were only 29 racers left at lap 12. I think only three racers from the front row finished, with seven out from crashes or mechanicals.Kyle got a front row seat in his second ever Red Hook Crit, finding himself working with Neil to open up the leaders gap.Like Dan’s solo break in 2012, there must be a thousand photographs of these two, who broke 10 laps in, and ended with a 51sec gap in the end.With one to go, Neil and Kyle took turns testing each other in different spots on the course, to see if they could shake the other racer. With a pedal strike by Kyle in the chicane, he lost his moment to attack leaving Neil’s strength on the last straight overpowering Kyle for the finish.Kyle meeting the press

Chas worked with our team, and secured the first lap prime. He divided the cash, and shared the whiskey.Tradition: 1: Neil Bezdek, 2: Kyle Murphy, 3: Marc Marino, 4: Alex Barouh, 5: Cooper RaySave some for DaveA few of the podium bikes, including Kyle’s clapped out 2010 Cinelli MASH Bolt with alloy clinchers. Also his brother Evan’s bike post-rear flat taking him out of the race.Again, we want to thank the Trimble camp for everything. This series of races has continued to grow, reaching an upmost level of professionalism, while still giving riders and fans aspects of where these illegal street races came from. We are all looking forward to Barcelona, and hopefully Milano too this year!

CALM BEFORE THE STORM: RHC BROOKLYN 2013

Jun 9, 2013

Categories: Redhook Crit

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Enclosed is a grouping of moments stilled during the national anthem at the 2013 Red Hook Criterium at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Last nights event proved to be the most challenging course of the series, and shed new light on just how dangerous, and fun, these events can be. Today we fly back to San Francisco and will work on a race report when we return. For today, we want to celebrate these athletes, and the organizers who breath life into these races.

RED HOOK CRIT 1 2013

Apr 4, 2013

Categories: News, Photo, Redhook Crit

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Last weekend a small group traveled to New York for the first installment of the 2013 Red Hook Critirum Series. Landing late the night before the race, we built bikes on the sidewalk, and some of the guys headed to the tail end of the team dinner to see friends and family. Enclosed are some images and notes from our 48 hours in New York.

After a homemade waffle session at Walton’s sisters apartment, we headed over to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal for registration. These moments prove to be exciting for friends who have not caught up for six months or more. Racers who register for these types of events, find themselves in different cities around the globe, building the same bikes, jumping onto a new street or course, and digging deep to see what they are made of.

Puerto Rico is passionate and creative surrounding the Cinelli brand and it showed at the event. Custom Vigorelli

The first day of spring had sprung on the day we landed, and it was not lost on the locals as families, cyclists, and what felt like the entire general public all found themselves on the streets of Brooklyn and Red Hook on race day.

Many of the racers, including Chas, ride a flip-flop hub so they can run a steet gear, and flip it for race days.

This was Kyle’s first Red Hook event, and he was powered up. He is a full time student at CCA in SF, so he was happy the event timed out with spring break.

The terminal building was converted to a multi-use space with areas dedicated to team pits, racer registration, bag check, media, and a press conference zone. The heat was set to high, which kept the racers loose pre-qualifier / pre-race.

Crihs recently came off the podium at monster Track, and traded in his position as a participant for directing a new Red Hook video with Dave. We look forward to seeing their efforts at BFF later this year.

When we are 2300 miles from home, it is awesome to see our hometown favorites qualifying for the same event. Marc Marino was out in full force, clocking a respectable qualifier.

Rainier lined up for the qualifier.

Our group of four worked as a team for the qualifier, and lead out Walton for the fastest qualifying time.

The Trimble camp has their work cut out for them prepping the route. There must be a glass recycling facility on sight, because the level of broken glass was off the charts. Walton flatted in the qualifier, but was able to get a loaner wheel, and still set the fastest qualifying time of all four groups.

Neil was hungry for redemption. With a crash in Milano last fall, he was poised to make his mark on this event again. Having competed as a traveling Critirum pro for 3 previous years, that training and effort stays with the racer, no matter the format.

With a podium at Red Hook last year, and a win in Milano last fall, Kyle’s brother Evan had a target on his back (illustrated as magnets via Death Spray Customs)

The Red Hook App was a powerful tool for the athletes. After the qualifier, the guys were instantly able to confirm their placement to the main event. Friends and family around the world were able to view live updates throughout the night.

Between the qualifier and the main race, the guys were able to make adjustments to their gearing. 50X15?51X15?

Evan working to recover

Up or down?

The week prior, Chas flew out to NY for Monster Track, where he placed 4th overall. Since last fall, he has been developing a messenger based start-up company in San Francisco. Ambitious on and off the bike.

Heads down, legs up.

The view from the rail on this night was flawless, with the iconic lady watching over the bay.

With the lights on, and the venue packed, the racers pre-rode the corse as a group, then lined up in their quailing order.

We were stoked to celebrate Dave’s birthday in this tradition. Happy Birthday!

Giro gave the team Air Attack helmets for the event, and the guys lit up.

Waltons qualifier put him in the number one starting position, which helped him to win the first lap prime.

Rainier began to feel flu-ish between the qualifier, and the race. He was able to lead out the sprint on the back straight, bringing Neil and Walton into the last hairpin.

Evan and Neil race road on Foundation together, but out here it is every man for himself. Neil took the nights win, with Even taking second at the line!

The iconic Pace Vehicle is being pushed to it’s limits in some corners of this race, with riders catching it’s wheel through a few spots.

Pedal Strike

Walton and Evan at the line. 2nd and 3rd place.

Dave has done an impeccable job growing this series to what it is today. He owns this format of fixed racing, and the depth and attention to every detail reflects his own personality, and his neighborhood.

Rainier

With one event under his belt, Kyle is hungry for more. We will see him out there again soon, as he races road for Champion System when not in school.