Tuesday the 3rd

Everyone's Tired Tonight

Good sized group, beautiful weather. Featuring the triumphant return of Casey King. (also Chris C)
Casey was gone too long, Chris is back too soon. 

The early pace was set by Turner Frnech, Sean Hurley, Dan Smith and Peter Morgan. Throw in a few attacks by Mike Hons and it resulted in a solid pace. Everyone stayed together for the run to the light at the end of Mountain Rd.  

More of the same on Moss Farms. Visitors to the ride, Andrew Hudacek and Christian Stahl took a couple of pulls in addition to a few new-to-the-front guys pushing the pace. There was a short-lived gap to Stan Prushinski, Hons, Sean Hurley and Tom K, but by the chicane it was all together. Turner French was pushing going into the 4-way stop there. It got strung out going up to Marion, and Hutner P attacked thru the corner, but no one went with and shortly after it was all together again. 

Turner pushed off again heading over the highway. Dan Smith jumped up to join and he had Hacker and Hunter P as well. the light at 322 was red so it was all back together again. 

Onto Mount Vernon where Chris C and Hacker were leading a decent sized group (Stefano P, Sean Hurley, Christian Stahl, and a few others) off the front, but with a couple of strong guys left behind it didn't stand too much of a chance. So it was all back together for the next few minutes. Later on Mount Vernon, Joe K, Stan P, and a newer ride in white pushed off the front and was allowed to get a bit of gap. Dan Smith wound it up again and took a long a few guys to bring it all back together for the corner onto Welch. 

A group of four (Hacker, Hons, White Kit, and Brent de la B) were allowed to roll clear. Joe Rod tried to get across but it was a little to late. The break worked up a 150 meter gap before the hill to the corner broke it apart. Hacker pressed on alone and had a good enough gap to make it to the sprint point alone. Behind the rest were absorbed shortly after the corner, and Hunter P took the group sprint in front of Little T. 

The entire group stayed together on the backside. No attacks until after the light on 322, Dan Smith jetted off the green light quickly. Everyone responded. Then Turner took advantage and drilled it into the corner, leaving Hacker, Peter Morgan, Andrew H, and Hunter P to chase him down. Hunter P attacked next but then sat up. 

No fireworks to report on the other side of Route 10. Steady, solid pace for the rest of the night. Turner French once again set a fast pace up the greenhouse climb, leading out Hacker and Hunter P for the sprint. Hunter P collected that with Hacker and Turner behind. 

Down the road, for the finale Brent DeLaBeeeee jumped early for the sprint.... A bit too early. He would get swallowed up by Little T, who took it at the line by a decent margin ahead of SP the Italian and Brent.  

Great ride everyone. Next week SGR shares the love with the TNC Race Series at Rentschler Field. Although with TNC on a Wednesday for the first week, it will be interesting to see who shows up on Tuesday with their A-game and who is there just to hang out.  

 

Tuesday the 27th

 It Was Fast, Until it Wasn't

The streak of new faces at the ride ended this week. A normal-ish looking crew of 25 or so was out for a great night weather-wise. One notably absent was Turner French, who is preparing to take on Unbound out West. 

Early pace was set by Steffen H, Matt Z, and Sean Maher. The brothers Black would also get involved here and there and it was a steady pace, albeit much slower in the first 30 min than the week prior. Dan Smith tried to get off the front a couple times but was not allowed to do so. 

Onto Welch where sentiment changed... Sean Maher and the Tom Seleck of New England cycling, Peter Morgan, were allowed to roll clear headed to the turnaround sprint. They got to it, and starting building a solid gap by the turn onto West St. They would take the sprint point and keep it rolling to the lights. Behind, there was little to no chase.

Back in the pack, Aaron B edged out Hunter P for the last points on offer. 

The leaders would benefit from sneaking a couple of lights, and they were nearly out of sight as everyone made their way onto Atwater. Joe K was allowed to roll clear on that stretch and he took a gap going over the light on 322. He was still well down on the two leaders though. 

Onto the Greenhouse climb where Gregory Rodriguez came out of his Big and Tall sized shell to set the early pace on the climb. Then Evan Woodford took off in pursuit of Joe K. Those two would connect near the top and get to work together keeping clear off the front of the pack. Ahead, Sean M and Morgan were out of sight. 

The two leaders would not be caught. Joe K and Evan W would be caught at the top of Tuttle, and that's how the ride ended up.