Red Lights 5, Human Beings 1
Memorial Day holiday interrupted kept the turnout at today's ride on the low side. This tonight, of course was the kickoff to Connecticut's underground SpeedWeek:
- SGR on Tuesday
- Rentschler Field on Thursday
- The big finale Saturday at Nutmeg State games in New Britain
Then to top it all off. Jordan Lynn's Colorado-sucks-so-let's-go-live-there ride is happening Sunday morning 8 am from the Southington Library. Get in touch with Dave Rustico if you'd like more details.
Tonight's ride started off calm. The shenanigans started when Hunter picked up a motor pace from a slow-moving van. Even a slow-moving van is faster than the pack so he got a gap pretty quickly. Only Aaron B and Steve B were bold enough to chase, and they took off in pursuit. A corner later, additional traffic slowed everybody down bringing the pack back together. From there no attacks were attempted and it stayed reasonable all the way to the light on 68,
There were some early pushes off the front on Moss farms. Gibertoni, Steve B, Buxom Blue, Chris C as well. A group of about four or five had a chance to push off the front, but it stayed together. Another opportunity for attackers as the ride got down to the chicane. Chris C, Joe k, Little t, Hunter P, and a couple of others. Hunter P. attacked going up to Marion. Steve B, Chris C, and Big Red responded and made it into the group.
One of the evening's strongest established breakaways ensued. The gap hovered around 4 or 5 seconds as everybody barreled into the industrial park zone. However, the break lacked the ump needed to create lasting separation and the downhill sections gave the chase just enough to reconnect before the tricky parts heading over the highway. Dan S attacked upon regrouping and got a gap going towards the light. Joe K responded from the chase but it was all being sewn back together. The light was red anyway.
Erin Rand, Steve B, Aaron B took the helm onto Mount Vernon, and the pace stayed normal all the way up to the turnaround. A couple of guys had some surges off the front, but there was nothing that was newsworthy. Onto Welch where Damien R and Buxom Blue rolled off the front and were allowed an initial gap. They stayed on it and eventually worked up 150m or so heading to the climb onto West Street. Behind it seems as though everyone was content to recover before the turnaround and let the break set up a bit.
The first one to jump from the pack was Dan S. Then Hunter P then took control and slowed it down through the corner for Damien R up the road. Next up was Steve B who rolled through, then Chris C briefly had a pull. Up the road. Damien and Blue were fading and as they hit the final uphill stretch to the sprint line, their gooses were cooked. Behind Aaron B and Dan S. Launched it for the sprint. Hunter P. came around and was on his way to the line when he sat up briefly, allowing Little T to go over the top with his bike throw.
On the back side it all came back together again and everyone was all too content to recover. On the way back into Cheshire. CW had the obligatory attack on Atwater, this time taking a long Dillon P and Hunter P. Again, the light was red, bringing the whole bunch back together. No further attacks until Steve B took off going up the hill on East Johnson Avenue. That started an interesting few minutes where riders were taking turns forming chase groups, bridging up to the front, or blocking for teammates. All the while Steve B was on the throttle leading the way.
On the greenhouse climb, a mismash-composed group of about six riders had a few seconds gap over the pack and the main sprinters. It came down to Rusty to hit the front and try to bring the gap back on the second half of the climb. All the while, there was plenty of dead weight hanging out *near* the front as guys were being respectful of teammates clawing for air *up front*
The climb into the headwind took its toll and before the light it was all back together. This set up a big sprint for the whole group. Dan S was the first to go, then Little T. Hunter P got his revenge and was able to go through to get to the line first in front of Little T and Dan S.
Dan S then got HIS revenge by staying on the gas and rolling towards the light on route 68 alone. Traffic was backed up but he was able to sneak through alone and cut off some cars to get through the corner. The rest of the pack stopped for a few seconds. There were some grumblings of Dan's move being unsafe, but we've definitely seen worse this year. The chase was slow to get going and once it did the ride back into Hamden was standard fare. Dan S was not going to be caught. Behind. Little T gets his revenge by going through the final sprint first ahead of the Sernyak.
Great ride everyone! The battle continues on Thursday in East Hartford. Let's see which SGRers can hold their own in an ACTUAL race!
