Tuesday the 23rd

Eyes Bigger than his Balls

Another great turnout for ride as everyone is training for the 62.5 miles race disguised as a fundraiser, the CCAP's Breakaway Benefit. More new faces were out, (Great to see Sean Cahill out) as well as a couple of the stronger riders from the last couple of weeks. 

Soon after route 10, Hunter P jumped off the front and took along Steve B. Those two were going hard for a couple of streets worth, but some traffic in a corner gave the pack the chance to come back up. From there the pace stayed high as guys like Rich N, Jon Fecik, Sean M, and TCC were rotating through the front, keeping the pace high. The start of mountain rd saw a few guys looking like they were getting ready to gun it but it didnt amount to much. Hunter P and Steve B launched it again off the front as the light on route 68 came up. The light went green at the last second, giving everyone the pass. 

On Moss Farms, Steve B wasn't done. He stayed near the front and that turned into an attack with Hunter P and Chris C. There wasnt much of a gap from that. Just a hard push that drove the pace up. 

Tom K and Sean M lit it up going up to Marion, and with Hunter P attacking the gap, then Steve B, it looked for a moment something could be developing but enough guys responded and filled in the gaps before the ride went by the industrial park. Tom K was still working the front as the ride got close to route 322. He had a couple of guys with him. 

The light was green as everyone approached. The leading 3 or 4 guys made it clean. There was a 10-15 meter gap to the next group of 18-20 riders. Then another similar gap to approx 10 riders making up the third group. The first group was fine going under light. The next group, if it was adhering to what certain loud mouths on the ride bitch and moan about, should have slammed on the brakes and stopped for the safety of all those behind them. They didn't. No one rider can be blamed or penalized of course, but this was another illuminating instance that shows the reality of the ride.

We're going to do what we're going to do. Some moves will be considered dumb or unsafe, but in the end rarely anything is done that is truly dangerous. Everyone wants the ride to be as safe as possible, however we ALL are going to break the "rules" at some point. Anyone that complains about specific actions but shows a double standard is not to be taken seriously.

The group that got held up continued on after the light and reportedly had a great time working hard as a smaller group. "Way harder and better than with the entire pack"  

Up the road, Steve B continued his assault off the front with repeated attacks. Sean M was up there as well. Steve went all in for a big attack halfway on Welch and was able to take it all the way to the sprint. Little T was second over the line. 

Back into Cheshire, Steve B and Chris C slipped off the front on East Johnson ave after the light on Route 10. Seeing an opportunity up the road, Little T bridged up to that group on the hill before the corner for Meriden Rd. That made 3 up the road cruising toward the greenhouse climb. Out of nowhere like Batrman, Sean QuadZilla Cahill was spotted charging across the gap. He came up a bit short and would latch on after the sprint, which Little T took from the breakaway. Cahill still gets old-man points 

Steve B stayed on the gas after the sprint, and managed to just barely catch a yellow/red light as the rest stopped. This also gave a chance for most of the group to get back together. The group got organized to chase Steve B but lots of tired legs made for a slow ramp-up. TK got to the front and pushed the pace higher just after Half Moon rd, then Sean C pulled up the riser to the corner. Chris C stayed on the front up the hill to the stop sign, where Steve B was back in sight.

 

On the descent of Tuttle, Sean C attacked to get across the gap. Those that made for two opening up a gap until Alex DS and a few others put in some work to limit it. Coming around the final turn bend through the stop sign, it was nail-biting tight, but a big surge up the second-to-last riser from Little T and Sean C ended it. Little T was able to get the final sprint, with Steve B next across the line. 

The "first half" of the year ends with a good ride, albeit with some drama. Next week, a good number of guys will be up at Rentschler Field pinning a number and actually racing bikes, so the ride could change flavor. Or, you know, it could be the same ol same ol SGR.