Kissena Cycling Club

Kissena has a strong presence in road races, criteriums and cyclocross races in and around New York City. Many of our riders travel to regional races and further afield—from Green Mountain Stage Race in Vermont, to Trooper Brinkerhoff 1 day series in Poughkeepsie, to KMC CX Fest in Rhode Island. We also have a core group of track racers racing at the Kissena Velodrome and a few members who enjoy hitting up mountain bike trails.

Since 1963, we’ve strived to create an inclusive, fun and supportive bike racing club culture. New members can join training rides most day of the week, an opportunity to develop their skills, ability, and forge new connections and friendships. In addition, we offer:

• Daily group training rides in Prospect and Central Parks, with longer weekend group rides
• Social events, including annual club awards/holiday party
• World-class coaching programs led by world renowned coach Tim Cusick (coached Amber Neben to ITT World Championship gold)
• Racing skills clinics in road and CX
• Club championship races with championship jerseys awarded by category
• Speaker series on training and racing preparation
• Discounts on Giant bikes and support from our amazing shop sponsor, Ride Brooklyn.
• Access to our club forum and resources
• Access to professional race photos by Victor Chan

The founders of Kissena Cycling Club – Peter Sienna, Al Toefield and Lou Maltese – were instrumental in getting the Kissena Velodrome built back in 1963. Today the club is not directly involved with racing at the velodrome. We have a core group of members who race track and we have a yearly KCC “Road Bikes on the Track” day. Check out the Kissena Velodrome page for more info about the track.

Yes. All track races are open races. Please refer to the answer above for more info.

No. Although we occasionally co-promote events with CRCA, we are a separate club. There are numerous open races in Central park open to all, but CRCA—with its unique “club-within-a-club” sub-team structure—limits its club races to members only.

We do hope that members will volunteer to help with club activities (we’re a volunteer run club), but marshaling is not a requirement. For club run races we often ask for volunteers to work registration at Kissena races in exchange for free race entry.

Local races are at Prospect Park, Central Park, Kissena Velodrome and Floyd Bennett Field. We participate in a variety of other races around the region.

Absolutely! Depending on the time of year you may be able to join a clinic that is being offered or attend a ride with a mentor rider to get advice (see next question). Either way, we have plenty of experienced memebers who are more than willing to provide guidance to help you meet your goals.

Kissena has a mentorship system where riders with years of experience riding and racing provide mentorship to newer less experienced riders. In the past, the mentorship program has included weekly group rides, coached Prospect Park morning workouts, criterium racing clinics, and cyclocross skills clinics. Members have access to a deeply discounted coaching from Tim Cusick of Velocious Endurance Coaching who has coached national and world championship athletes.

Yes, members are expected to race in current team uniforms (a.k.a. team kit).

Group Riding Basics

• Pull through without surging.
• If two of you are peeling off the front of a double pace line, try to do so when there’s a gap in traffic.
• Rotating pace line: When you’re at the front and someone is pulling past you, say “yes” to let them know they can safely slot in front of you (without chopping your wheel). Say “last” when you’re in last position to the person coming back from the front of the pace line. Elbow flick tells someone when to come through AND which side to come through.
• Hold your line in corners.
• If you want to stand up (out of the saddle), do so smoothly and learn to not throw your bike back (that means no freewheeling, esp. on a hill). This is harder than it sounds.
• give the person ahead of you on a climb a little more room to stand up.
• respect the yellow line and switch to single file when impeding traffic.
• When at the front you’re responsible for pointing out significant road problems to the group — if you see a dangerous hole, say “hole” (middle, left, right). Cars coming from front: “car up”. Car wanting to pass: “car back”.
• brake less, especially in a pace line. Learn the art of feathering your brakes. Keep a high cadence—85+rpm.
• follow the wheel in front and do not overlap.
• if it’s a no drop ride, we always reassemble at top of major climbs. If it’s a drop ride, know the route.
• You’re responsible for the person behind you. If someone punctures or is dropped, get to the front and inform the front rider — by default the group always waits/assists.
• change clothes as soon as you can post-ride #saddlesores.
• hydrate and fuel regularly during your effort (budget 1 bottle per hour).
• remember you’re repping the club whenever you’re wearing the kit.
For more detail/explanation, watch GCN’s How To videos or read about etiquette here (thanks to the Morning Glory Cycling Club).

You need to read and agree to follow the Prospect Park Bicycling Riding Protocol and Kissena's How to Race Your Bike guide (on our members forum).