4:45AM on Saturday morning. While most sane people are asleep, I am bombing down 2nd Avenue with Lucia. The streets are largely empty, save for a few blocks with revelers who have managed to keep the party going into the wee hours of the morning. Our destination: Prospect Park in Brooklyn, for our first early morning NYC bike race in almost two years.

All of the inconveniences of bike racing in NYC were back in play: the far too early wake-up alarm, dodging potholes on dark city streets, and the long lines for the two port-o-john’s available at the race. But to be back at the races with teammates and friends from the cycling scene makes it all worthwhile.

As for the actual racing… Matt and Russell raced with French-like abandon, going off the front early and often. Lucia and Cullen both had successful if uneventful races in their field. And I had a bad day (and maybe bad fitness) but still walked away happy with the morning after post-race coffee with pals.

Let’s do it all over again this coming weekend?

Photos by Scott Rettino

Photos by Matthew Vandivort