May 1st Floyd Bennett Field - Season Opener- "Tony Maisto WINS!!"

Cat 3-4

Results: 1st Tony Maisto

Distance: 22 miles

Report: Chilly and Windy at FBF, Chris Castaldi ,Jackson Wandres, Jimmy Russo, Eddie Burlem and Tony Maisto. Easy first 2 laps with Wonder Wheels at the front, Chris is in a group off the front for about a lap that comes back then Eddie is in a group off the front with me and Chris controlling the field. the gap grows and Chris tells Tony to bridge up. which he does. when Tony sees that they have a nice gap and trys to organize a nice pace line but half the break is either spent or not willing to work. when it looks like they might regroup with the main field Tony went go to the front and pick up the pace. 5 or 6 guys are with him and They are able to break clear. with about 7 laps to go the break is working good together, then guys start to drop off. with 5 to go there is 3 left in the break, A champion dude, Andy Reiss and Tony. Andy is just barely hanging on and missing a ton of turns at the front but he agrees not to contest the sprint which is fine with Tony. With 1 lap to go Tony and the champion dude agree to a straight up sprint after the final turn which turned out to be a bad decision on his part. A fun race and a great team effort, Tony said he knew that WW was totally shutting down any chase from the main field because with 3 laps to go they had a 2 minute lead on the field.

Kenny and Jerry did the 123 race where Kenny got 9th.

April 29, 2007, NY Spring Series Last Race - Prospect Park

Masters 35+

Results:None

Distance: 43 miles

Report: Big Carbo attacks over the hill half way through separated the field. Tom, Doug, Dave and Jackson make the split... Jackson being lucky to be at the front and on Carbo's wheel when he launched!

Anyway, with a few to go Geoff Bickford goes with a couple Sony's and a Kreb and Carbo bridges up... five away, no WW's. Doug, Tom and Dave sit on the front of the field for many laps thereafter killing themselves to keep the gap down with little help from the many single riders in the 20 or so rider group. Jackson takes a few hard pulls. On bell the break is right in front of us on the hill, Doug launches with one Kreb and gets caught in limbo, break picks it up again and Doug hangs on for 6th despite surging group at the line. We rode well and then missed the break and then rode well some more. Oh well.

April 22, 2007, NY Spring Series 7th Race - Prospect Park

Masters 35+ Results:
None

Distance: 33 miles

Report:Only 10 laps & 25.5 mph is 3 mph faster this week, warm air moves out of the way easier. Large WW turnout in SS masters and a strong field. Krebs and Axis wanted a field sprint and got it. WW's were the aggressors all race, and small break groups formed but were brought back repeatedly. Tom did a good job specifying the domestique role after the race. Chris organized an effort mid-race. (More of that is needed). In the field sprint finish, Tony M had a good spot to go for a place, but a TRUCK in the race lane stopped him for the third time in two years, luckily no crash.

Category 1-2-3

Distance: 37 miles

Report: The Prospect 1-2-3 was very fast. The race was cut from 17 to 11 laps at the start due to the duathlon, but they might have thrown in an extra lap somewhere. JT was in a break with some horsepower from the start line to third street and pulled two (2) times. After that JT rode far back because there was no wind and the field flying. T Settel was near the front when a break did go-- with seven or ten guys but we didn't think it was serious because the field was just a few seconds behind for several laps. But then the gap went large and that was it. Amaury from Mengoni won, while El Pollo crashed hard in the sprint from the field. 17 laps would have been different.

April 14th - Battenkill Roubaix "Wonder Wheel Continues 50+ Winning"

Masters 50+ Results:

1st Doug O'Neill

4th Brian Rafferty (2006 Winner)

9th Ken Hochman

Course: 55 miles 4100 ft vertical, 16% grade section, climbs of 2 miles, 12 miles of dirt roads

Report:1st:At mile 2 (!!!), with a rider 100 yards dangling off the front, Doug O'Neill jumps up to him and those two ride away. Doug drops that guy on the first stiff climb (8 mile mark) and rides 40+ miles to solo victory. Nice of Doug to do his training ride in front of the 50+ field., Brian Rafferty drives the field hard & often for the first 30+ miles, and when he isn't driving it, the field is recovering. Great blocking by Brian to keep the field hurting and NOT chasing Doug. The front of the Peloton is whittled down to 30 over the early climbs, but regrouping mid race on flats, Lead group knocked down again thru the second steep dirt sections, and with about 10 miles to go Brian gets away (with 3 others?) to a great 4th place. Ken Hockman's hardest race ever done. He is dropped by lead group at the peak of the 2nd steep (mile 10) & 7 min solo to chase back,, dropped again at the last of the steep dirt sections (mile 30) and 40 minutes with one guy helping to chase back on. Downhill run in to the line & 4th in the sprint from the group of 20 survivors. Damian rode strong and his fall at 2 miles to finish is a big ouch, but he's fine.

Report: 40+ Tony Settel 28th spends 30 miles off the front with Bill Thompson, Tom Luzio 40th has a very rough day with stomach cramps, Tony Maisto 63rd rides the whole race with no water bottles, but survives the climbs JT 61st , who catches back to Tony at mile 40 and they finish together.

Report: 30+ Titus Leung 24th and Jerry Kapo 41st

April 8, 2007, NY Spring Series 6th Race - Central Park

Masters 35+ Results:
9th Tom Luzio

Distance: 24 miles

Report: Freaking Cold!! With only JT and Eddie Burlem and Tom Luzio in the field Tom made a decision only to go with only Gerry Martinez, Gary (Global) and Paul Carbo, because counters were not an option. A group of 7-8 got away. JT was awesome keeping the gap close (less than a minute), meaning that anything could happen. Eddie also took a long pulls. On the last hill, JT set a solid pace and Tom went over the top, thinking maybe the lead group would slow up toward the finish. Of course this drewout Carbo, Gerry and Gary and they had a little fun attacking each other. Juan (Global) had already been dropped by the break and Tom passed Global's other guy 200m from thefinish. For what it's worth (nothing), Tom was likely 9th. Tom thought Global had made a bad decision to not bring back the break and told them so during the race. Turns out Tom was right. You can't get dropped from abreak, especially when your team is back in the field killing themselves for you.

April 7, 2007, NY Spring Series 5th Race - Prospect Park

Masters 35+ Results:
3rd Tom Luzio

Distance: 40 miles

Report: This week was another chess match,each move carefully thought out and each team leader well marked. Before 2 laps into the race Tom Luzio rode off while Axis and Global watched each other. After 2 more laps Gerry Martinez and David Taylor joined Tom and they Rode together for 4 more laps. It was Kreb Cycles that choose to reel Tom and his break in after 6 laps off the front. The race again turned into a cat and mouse game this time Kenny Drove it up the hill and Titus and Tom slipped off the front with a group and the race was done. Tom got 3rd after Titus drove the break to insure it's success.

April 7, Sandy Hook Time Trial 45+ "The Race Against the Wind"

Masters 45+ Results:
5th Doug O'Neill Time: 16:19.6

Distance: 7 miles

Report: It was a cold and very windy morning at the Jersey Shore forcing a race against the clock into a race against the wind. It was Jimmy Russo's first TT and a cruel baptism, while the experienced TT Doug showed his power.

April 1st - Cycling Team Helps Open the Wonder Wheel

The Wonder Wheel Park opened today despite cold weather. TonyM & l'il Toni, ChrisC, Leyton, Jerry, Jimmy, Ash, Chris S, Eddie, Doug (w/CG), Rob & kids, Dave and family. Our sponsor Dennis really appreciates the team appearing at his "Blessing of the Rides" Opening Day each year. Big kudo's for the teams donations to the Salt N Sea Mission of the bike and the $$, After the ribbon cutting free pizza was enjoyed by the team.

April 1, 2007, NY Spring Series 4th Race - Prospect Park

Masters 35+ Results:

5th Tom Luzio

9th Dave Melcior

10th Doug O'Neil

11th Tony Maisto

Distance: 40 miles

Report: Dave and Ken set up a break then Tom and Doug counter off of Ken and Dave's Break. Dave is just able to grab on to the 9 man break, which includes leaders from Kreb, Axis and Global. The field is happy to stop working and they do. Brian having missed the break tried twice to bridge but is foiled both times. In the slow down of the field Damian gets caught in a crash and Jimmy waits with him. In the end the sprinters show their strength and Wonder Wheels gets 3 top ten places, while Tony Maisto leads a late 4 man break to the finish.

Cat 1,2,3 Pro

Distance: 48 miles

Report: Tony Settel, JT and Leyton had their go against ex Once Pro Miguel Morras. Leyton and Tony had a chance to test the new race radios. The Wonder Wheels mixed it up with Tony in an early unsuccessful break

March 31, 2007 Branch Brook 45+ "The Team is Marked"

Masters 45+Results:
1st Dave Melchior
6th Chris Castaldi

Distance: 20 miles

Report:This week the field was set on watching everything that the Wonder Wheels did and chase it. The pace was slow and our few attacks were marked by chasing and sitting up by others. While Chris, Ken and Dave were bored sitting in the feild without all the regular troops it was a wise move. On the second lap Ken got clipped by a rider on the desent after the turn around and was knocked down. He was quickly back on his feet with a few scrapes and chasing back. The race came down to a sloopy and uncontroled sprint and Dave was able to squeeze through for the win. Wonder Wheels Won all the 45+ races this year at Branch Brook Park!

March 25, 2007, NY Spring Series 3rd Race - Prospect Park

Masters 35+ Results:
4th Doug O'Neil
6th Eddie Burlem
8th Brian Rafferty

Distance: 40 miles

Report:
Doug O'Neil goes early in a 9 lap 5 man break, including the new points leader, Which ultimately get a 1:35 lead on the field , For a while there was a 6 man chase group with Brian Rafferty, Titus Leung, Ken Hochman. With 2 laps to go, the masters field, bridge attempts & chase are swarmed by 1/2/3, leaving only the break to survive.

March 24, 2007 Branch Brook 45+ "The Winning Continues!!!"

Masters 45+Results:
1st Dave Melchior
5th Brian Rafferty
6th Chris Castaldi

Distance: 20 miles

Report:
This week there was a much bigger field, so our normal barrage of attacks didn't seem to have the desired effect and every time we got someone up the road the guys from other teams just seemed to be covering and not inclined to work, though they seemed to have a lot of enthusiasm for chasing people down. On the early part of the third lap Chris went and got a gap Brian and Ken quickly bridged but the group of 8+ didn't seem to have the organiaztion to make it stick. With one lap to go it was clear we were facing a field sprint, Dave sat on Chris' wheel while Ken, Will, Brian, and Damian made various moves designed to stretch out the field. Damian took a very long and hard lead followed by Ken and then Chris with Dave right behind, In the final 100 meters then Dave saw a guy go who looked dangerous, got his wheel and kicked past him in the last twenty meters. The team functioned perfectly and put its sprinter up right near the front of a stretched out field at 150 meters without his having done any work for the last lap and a half, which is exactly the goal.

March 11, 2007, NY Spring Series 2nd Race - Central Park "Rafferty Repeats!!"

Masters 35+Results:
1st Brian Rafferty

Distance: 24 miles

Report:

Damien, Brian, Tom, Titus, and Rob are at the predawn start time on a very wet course. Titus made the mistake of talking to Brian before the race and flatted his tubular before he made it to the line. Because of the weather everyone was cautious early, a 3/4 break catches the Masters, and in the confusion Damien gets away with a few others. No one sure if there was mixing or not, but we block, and after a couple of laps Brian slips away.Long story short Damien DQ'ed, Brian gets his second solo win of the weekend.

March 10 2007 Branch Brook 45+ Win, Place and Show!!!

Masters 45+Results:
1st Brian Rafferty
2nd Dave Melchior
3rd Chris Castaldi

6th Ken Hochman

Distance: 20 miles

Report:
Brian, Dave, & Ken attack the 45+ field from the gun, It seems that there are never four Wonder Wheels in the field, someone is always up the road. After a half lap break with Brian and Dave, Ken and Chris and the field roll back up on the 6 man break. Brian goes again with 2 to go and no one responds with in a lap Brian has a minute on the field. On the bell lap Dave is placed on Chris' wheel for the lead out, at 300 meters Chris goes while Dave sits tight until the last 100 meters since no one else is coming around, Chris holds on for third, and Ken 6th, keeps all the Wonder Wheels in the money. A real sweep!!!!

March 4, 2007 Spring Series Opener Masters 35+

Masters 35+Results:

4th - Doug O'Neil
6th - Tom Luzio
10th - Eddie Burlem

Distance: 24 miles

Report:

With a first lap break Doug O'Neil takes 4th in Central Park Opener.

March 3, 2007 Branch Brook Season Opener 45+

Masters 45+Results:
1st Tom Luzio
4th Dave Melchior
6th Brian Rafferty

Distance: 20 miles

Report:
Brain, Tom, Dave, & Ken dominate the 45+ field. Wonder Wheels (WW) attack from the gun, always one WW off the front and as field reels him in, the next WW goes off the front. Everyone working in turn! Brian stayed off for 20 minutes solo(photo right), softening the field asWW's blocked chase attempts. Tom's final winning move is riding up to and thru Dave and Ken off the front early in the bell lap. On the final "hill", a solo rider bridges to Tom, who is towing Ken, Ken pulls thru to help Tom, Ken got gapped coming out of the 180, (trying to get to the line in no-man's land) as Tom stuck the win! while Ken was within sight of the line, the field sprints past and Dave not knowing where the finish line was, otherwise he would have wons the field sprint instead of 2nd.(4th overall) Great team tactics.