Tuesday the 23rd

The CCAP kids bring it to the SG Ride

The biggest group of the year rolled out with a lot of new faces, including the return of Tommy Dudzik's hairy legs! Tommy D was there with his father Dan. Chris Hong, the Hongster was back for the first time this season. Special Ed was out. Karel Citroen was back out for another SG ride. There was even a Sherpa rider, John Daut, who made the trip up from Fairfield County to ride. Noteworthy in attendance was the yellow triumvirate of C-Capper juniors; Nic V, Curly Huesman, and Johhny M. They stuck together during the early parts of the ride like a well-oiled machine, showing the other teams how to do it.

The first quarter of the ride was quickish, but it was clear that several of the stronger guys were playing it close to the chest in anticipation for the haymakers to start. Traffic slowed the approach to Mountain Rd. Alan B looked like he was going to jump on the early parts, and then Aaron B was pushing it. Dan Smith and the C-Cappers had a dig or two. Past the halfway mark, Alan B saw a chance to jump, and it was soon him, Curly, Dan Smith, and a couple of others (Richard Knowles?) with a gap. Hongster and Aaron B  jumped across, taking along Hunter P. There was some hesitation upfront, allowing Hunter P to go for it, but the light was red.

Onto Moss Farms where Alan and Aaron B stayed on it but not fast enough to get a gap. Tom Dudzik was getting involved in the mix as well. Towards the end of Moss Farms, going downhill towards the intersection, Alan B, Hongster, Aaron B found themselves off the front with a gap. Behind, the response lagged a bit but then Dudzik got to the front with a strong pull. Then Dan Smith came thru with a few guys in tow. Everyone made it thru the intersection safely. Up to Marion Ave, Hunter P jumped across the gap and to the front to keep the break going. That got the CCAP kids to the front, drilling it hard. The gap to the break held for close to a km, but it was all back together soon after. Hongster, Alan and Aaron B, and Hunter P were all looking twitchy near the front, but no one took a chance to counter, and the light on 322 was red.

Past the light, heading towards Mount Vernon, Alan B, and Curly rolled off the front and were going at a pace good enough to separate from the rest. Karel C, and Daut rolled off the front in chase. Once onto Mount Vernon, with the gap to the two going up, Aaron B attacked hard, taking along Hunter P. That set up off a chase in the pack behind that stung for a minute or two. Chris C, Special Ed, Daut, Gibertoni, Hunter P, and the Dudziks all were working hard in that time. Once it was all back together heading up the false flat everyone looked around at each other for a bit. Chris C took off the front with Dan Smith but that was short-lived. More touch and go upfront as it was truce by mutually assured destruction. Hongster had enough of it and attacked with a ways to go before the corner. Alan B jumped to bridge but didn't make it across the gap. Confusion reigned at the front of the pack as it was clear the threat was minimal if the two powerhouses couldn't get together up the road.

Hongster held his gap all the way onto Welch, and up onto West St. Impressive riding! Behind Little T jumped hard at the base of the climb to the corner, and was quickly in pursuit. He caught Hong and went thru alone. Behind, Chris C, Aaron B, and Hunter P all were rotating thru the front but it was clear that T was going to get it. As the rest hit the top, Hunter P jumped with Alan B and Hong to create some space but it was pretty much all together for the ride back into Cheshire.

Dan Smith jumped off the front going underneath the highway on Canal St and was able to hold the gap to the light. The chase was close behind and everyone got the light on 322. Dan Smith kept on the gas all the same. Curly soon after jumped hard to close the gap and took not a soul with him. That led to two up the road with a 15-20 second gap heading up to Route 10. Alan B jumped on the last climb on West Johnson but had to hold up for the light. Dan Smith and Curly got thru the light and so everyone was once again faced with a "let's work together" chase situation.

Once everyone was on the same page, the chase was on, but it was primarily Hongster, Alan and Aaron B, and Hunter doing the early chase. Rosenthal jumped hard on the climb up to Cheshire St. Then a small group led by Alan B broke off the front. Max A and Estaban S were in the mix chasing down the small group. The leaders were still out of sight once on the long uphill drag to the second sprint. Alan B and Hunter P led it out early on, then Hongster attacked the chase. He took along Hunter P immediately, with Aaron B and Tommy Dudzik matching the pace. Curly and Dan Smith held the gap thru the sprint and did not race for it. Curly didn't know where exactly the line was.

The front came together going through the intersection at route 68. The chase was bearing down at that point but the main pack had to hold up a second bit for traffic. The lead group went to work immediately and with good teamwork, was able to stay away for the rest of the night.

Toward the end, Hongster's repeated attacks shed Dan Smith and Dudzik. Heading into the final kilo, Aaron B jumped the remaining guys hard and was able to get a gap which he was able to hold to the line.

Awesome ride everyone! New PRs were set on the night. Hope to see the speedsters from the CCAP out more until racing resumes at the 'Rent later in the summer.

Tuesday the 16th

Big Crowd... Mellow Pace

The turnout continues to increase bit by bit each week. There were close to 30 guys at the start this week, though once again, it dwindled down during the first half of the ride. Aaron B got the turnaround sprint by surging off the front from a ways back and holding it all the way.

Hunter P then attacked on Canal St, going underneath the highway. He got the gap and held it to light on Route 322. He got the green as Chris C was trying to bridge. He had to stop at the light, as did the entire pack. That was the ride. Hunter P stayed off the front for the rest of the way back into Hamden.

Back in the pack, Aaron B snuck off the front in the transition from the Hickory Hill Sprint to the backroads of East Cheshire. He rolled solo as well, and came close to closing the gap to Hunter P but the gap from the lights was too much to take back.