Welcome to 2019 kid
The ride kicked off with a tough group of 18 riders. It's not a Tuesday on bikes in Hamden if Big Red isn't chasing the group from a couple of minutes back. Sure as snuff, Grome was late. The group waited about 125 seconds before saying screw it let's go. Mike has an excuse now, he's a freakin PHD and those guys are late because due to their intelligence.
Back to the ride, it was a steady start into a headwind. Once off route 10, the group slowly got going with Alan B, Chris C, Kyle C, Mountain Man Returns, and Nate U all taking turns up front. Everyone stayed together except when Hunter P was dicking around with opening up gaps to teammates. Heading to Mountain Rd, Tom K, Mountain Man and Brian G had to close down a gap to a group of Crowells and CCR's.
First attack was from Hunter P, who jumped off the front with 500 meters to go to the corner for route 68/70. Nate U gave chase but it was all for nothing because the light was red.
On to Moss Farms, where Alan B and Hoyle were doing most of the pace setting. Everyone rolled thru the chicane together, and up the hill to Marion, Kyle C took off with Alan B in tow. Then Hunter P jumped, and those three stayed on it past the corner. Chris C jumped hard then, bridging the gap but leaving the shrinking pack behind.
The group of 4 turned into the industrial park with 50-60 meters. Kyle C was going hard off the front, with the CCR'ers working together to keep the gap alive. The chase was down to just a few meters by the corner, thanks to Tom K, Nate U, Mountain Man, Dan Smith and a couple of others.
Up front, Hunter P attacked on the rise up West Johnson, with the others responding. The gap went back up again. Then Alan B attacked heading up to the light. It was red, which allowed everyone to re-group for East Johnson.
Alan B took off again soon after, but this time, teammates Nate U and Hunter P gave chase, keeping the gap to a minimum. Then Kyle C drilled it going downhill on E Johnson. Hunter P went as well and then attacked on the uphill to the 4-way intersection. Alan B was the only one to respond, making it two up the road on Cheshire St. The gap initially went up, then started to come back down as the ride got closer to Route70/Meriden Rd. The Crowells and Hoyle were working together with the chase. Alan B and Hunter worked to keep the gap to the sprint, with Alan leading it out and Hunter P scooping up first points of the season.
The chase had brought the leaders back within a stone's throw, but they snuck thru the light at route 68/70 whereas the six or so riders that remained in the chase got caught at the light. That was all that was needed to seal the breakaway for the night.
Great ride everyone!
