Tuesday the 5th

Those are not my nipples, they are my pecks

The tone this week was a bit more relaxed than usual. The Tuesday after Independence Day is usually a mixed bag. Throw in some foreboding weather and there were just 14-17 out tonight. It was great to see Ciocci out tonight. He was riding hard and burned some matches sewing things up after attacks.

Hunter p rolled out of the parking lot quickly, which got the pace going right from the start. There were a couple of surges from Gibertoni, Dan Smith and Hunter P during the first 20 min but nothing stuck. Same story for Moss Farms onto Mount Vernon. Little T had a dig up to Marion, Hunter P had a push off the front on Mount Vernon. The rain started halfway up to the turnaround. It started out light but turned steady after a bit.

Dan Smith jumped first on Welch but it was just to draw out others. On West St, it slowed down a bit. Then there was traffic at the light where everyone usually starts the sprint. Hunter P timed the light and squeezed thru between cars and curb, Little T timed the light and went to the left of the cars. He had a better jump and took the sprint ahead of Hunter and Dan.

Hunter P stayed on the gas after the sprint and dove down toward the highway with Chris C in tow. Those two would catch a light near I84, and with the headwind, and the rain, there was no immediate chase. Dan Smith sensed what was about to happen and jumped across the gap. He joined up with the 2 just as the downhill was starting. The 3 kept it up all the way over 322.

Chris C then decided he had had enough and dropped from the break. That's the way it would end. Dan S and Hunter P rolling clear and staying together until Dan got hit with a flat a couple of miles from the end. Little T soaked up any remaining sprinting to be had from the small group.

Next week should be a good one, since there is no Rentschler Field race that week. Everyone should make sure to sign up to race at the CCNS Kermis on Friday the 15th!

Tuesday the 28th

Smaller Group = Clash of the Sprinters

More than a couple of stronger SGR riders were up at Rentschler Field, leaving just about 20 riders to push off for the ride tonight.

The pace was downright polite for the first 15 min of the ride. Big Red and Dan S finally had enough and started pushing as the ride got to Mountain Rd.

Dan S kept the pace going on Moss Farms. Hunter P and Little T had big efforts getting onto Marion. Despite a smaller group, and some solid pushes, everyone stayed together going over 322 and onto Mount Vernon. A few minutes into Mount Vernon, Dan S pushed off the front with Joe K. That was allowed to roll, and those two built up a decent gap and were holding it in front of a chase that had TF and CCR not chipping in all that much.

Big Red, Rusty, Chris C, Jason Williams and a couple of others were responsible for keeping it close. On the false flat section, Hunter P jumped across the gap, which got TF chasing. That morphed into Hunter P, TF, and Dan Smith off the front powering a real-deal gap with a few minutes left before the turn onto Welch. Dan S attacked the group a couple of times, which broke up the paceline and slowed it down enough to let the pack catch back on.

The pace on Welch was slow, as everyone was catching their breath and trying to figure out what was to come next. Little T jumped hard before the corner at the base of the hill, taking Hunter P with him. Others would fill in the gap. Little T rounded the corner alone and stayed on the turbo. Behind, TF wound it up after the corner and came around Hunter P, but could not catch Little T.

T, TF, HP thru the first sprint in that order.

The pace stayed fast heading over 84 and back towards 322. Dan S and Dillon P each had surges in the usual spots. Dan S had a solid dig off the front heading up to the route 10 crossing, and seemed like he was in a place to make the light but opted instead to discuss cornering principles with Chris C as everyone waited for the light.

On the backside, the action paused until the Greenhouse climb. Big Red once again was done playin, and kept the pace high early on. Hunter P,  and Chris C rolled through a couple of times as well. For the sprint it was a similar outcome as the first. TF got it started, Hunter P kept it going, Little T finished it off. Those three finished order, T, HP, TF.

On the backside Dan S took advantage of the lackadaisical pace and rolled off the front on the climb up Boulder. He pulled off an impressive final 7 minutes of riding to stay away. Behind, there were only 5 or 6 willing to, or able to chase hard on Tuttle. For the finale, TF jumped hard first but Little T had the timing a bit better. He rocketed thru the final couple hundred meters. Hunter P was on this wheel. Those two were in full sprint for 12-15 seconds as they went around TF and came up on Dan S.

Dan S by a couple of seconds. T and HP were too close to call, but leadout points go to Alessio.

Tuesday the 21st

You Chase Him... No YOU Chase Him!
 

There was a smaller than usual turnout tonight for the sleeping giant ride. The weather was a little foreboding, which may have kept some people away despite the smaller size.

Despite the smaller group, the ride got going quickly early on. It was great to see Kieran H back out. Also Costa Rica John has rejoined us. As soon as the ride took off into the back roads. Kevin M, Dan Smith, Brian Suto, and a couple of others were pushing the pace. Leading up into Mountain Road Turner French was near the front and pushing the pace. On the first rise up Mountain Road. Kieran H pushed the pace and led a group of four or five off the front. That set off a stern chase behind and the pace was then rock solid all the way down Mountain Road.

Onto Moss farms. Dan Smith must have been getting bored, as he was messing around with everybody off the front of the pack. Since there were no major attacks on Moss Farms, he was able to get away with it, and it was all good. Going into the chicane it started to heat up a bit at the front. Hunter P lit it up going on to Marion, which dropped a few guys from the pack and spread things out single file. Once it came back together and a reshuffle took place, a small group rolled off the front, being led by Steve B and Ben Bruce. After that there was more hard chasing from those that didn't want to get left behind.

The leaders were back as the ride rolled by the industrial park. Hunter P went off the front again but the light was red at the 322 crossing. After that, Steve B stayed on it and led the charge onto Mount Vernon. For a few tenuous moments, there was a super-strong group led by Kevin M, TF, Kieran H, and Steve B off the front with 50-70 meters.

Hunter P jumped across the gap and in doing so brought the rest of the pack up to the leaders. The pace had gone out of the lead group though, so once it was all back together, things calmed down for a bit.

It slowed down quite a bit on Welch as everybody set up for the turnaround. Costa Rica John launched it into the corner with Jason Williams and Ben Bruce right behind. Costa Rica John started to fade as the top of the uphill came up. Ben Bruce was able to stay on it and nab it in front of it flying Little T, who was charging his sprint from the back. On the back side it all came back together, and despite a couple of surges from Kieran H rolling down West St the pack stayed together. Heading back up to 322 Steve B, Erin Rand and Rusty rolled off the front.

Kevin M would join them after everybody got the green light going over 322. The green light gave motivation for the leaders to stay out there. Hunter P. bridged across on West Johnson and once again, brought more than a few riders across the gap. It was all for naught as the light on route 10 was red.

Things calmed down for a little bit as everybody prepared for the greenhouse climb. Once there, Little T was one of the first to jump with Kieran H and Hunter P right behind. Then Kieran H jumped hard, taking TF. Steve B. And Kevin M. Those four were able to work up a gap as Big Red and Chris C chased from behind. The four upfront became three as TF came off the pack near the light at the top of the hill. The 3 then rolled up together to the sprint, and a late jump by Steve B sealed it, and he took it just in front of Kevin M. Those three would stay on the gas, and they got the green light on route 70 so they had a decent gap heading into the backroads.

Behind Dan Smith, Hunter P. And Little T tried to form a chase but eventually they would get swallowed up by the pack, which was now just 8 to 10 riders. The climb up the greenhouse combined with the fast chase in the backroads did more than a few riders in for the night. The 3 up front would not be caught and Kevin M got his revenge by nabbing the final sprint in front.

Great ride everyone!

Tuesday the 14th

No lack of speed tonight!

There were some fast segment times put down tonight, despite quite a few of the regular fast-men heading up to the 'Rent. Instead of teams attacking each other for victory, everyone seemed content to ride together for strong tempo at the front.

One rider who was still looking to mix it up was Wild Bill, who put in a big attack early on Mountain Road. He worked up a 200m gap, but the chase was on and organized. He held off a hard-charging pack for a good portion of Mountain, but it was all together heading onto Moss Farms.

For the turnaround sprint, Little T and TF jumped the pack late on Welch. No one was able to respond fast enough, and by the time Chris C, Ben Bruce, Wild Bill, and the Badger started chasing, the two were too far up. Little T took the sprint, and it all came back together on the backside.

Wild Bill had a couple more digs off the front as the ride went south, but as it was in the second half, everyone was working well together.

The greenhouse sprint was Little T. He got the jump and stayed in front of Wild Bill.

For the finale it was Little T again for the hat trick, followed by Ben Bruce.

Tuesday the 7th

Is it the return of the summer slowdown?

There were more than a few familiar faces missing from the ride tonight. About 22 riders at the start, The pace was meandering for the first several minutes. Ben Bruce took the bull by the horns and had an early escape that lasted for a couple of kilometers. He would be eventually brought back, mostly from the efforts of TF. After that everybody was playing nice and taking pulls as the ride wound through the back roads of Cheshire.

A new guy, Joe from New Britain, wearing a Red Shift Racing kit, punched it at the front on Moss farms and spread things out. TF, Hans, Ben, Bruce, and Hunter P. Responded immediately. TF and Hunter P. Put a couple of big pulls in on the later parts of Moss farms leading to a gap of about 100 m going into the chicane.

Sensing blood in the water, the group stayed on the gas. Behind them, Rich Nadeau and Brian Suto humped it triple time to make the bridge up. That made for a group of seven up the road. In the pack, Dillon P was playing a bit of defense for his teammates, allowing the group to stay off 100-150 meters or so.

The break got the light on 322, the pack did not. That was all that was needed to seal the deal. The break worked well together, knowing they simply had to keep a responsible pace to stay away. There wasn't much of a sprint at the turnaround. Ben Bruce when thru with a tie to TF after an abbreivated sprint. New Guy Joe peeled off going back over 322, making it 6 up the road.

Behind, the chase was a mix of CCB, Rusty, Buxom Blue, and TK. It was already a smaller group to begin with, so chasing the pack allowed for more riders to get involved.

Up the road, Hunter P outkicked TF at the Orchard sprint. A little later on the games started in the break. Ben Bruce and TF got a gap. Brian S and Hunter P bridged up a bit later. Ben Bruce then attacked with 2k to go, setting up Hunter P, but in the upset of the year, it was actually Suto that went thru the line first. The main pack finished a minute and half later, with Dillon P taking the bunch sprint.

Tuesday the 31st

 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:

1. SGR on Tuesday
2. Rentschler Field on Thursday
3. 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!

Tuesday the 24th

More New Faces, Everyone has FOMO!

 

The SGR ride is a hit! It was great to see Stephen Badger and Johnny Daut out tonight. We also had the return of the Haugs, Ryan and his son Kieran. This was perhaps the send-off ride for Max A. He's getting ready to move to North Carolina in the next week or so.

As the ride got started, Gibertoni and Joe K kept the pace high right on route 10. As soon as the ride turned off route 10, Joe and Hunter P rolled off the front and they took Big Red and Thule Tom with them. That group didn't make it too far though, as Steve B was leading the chase and it was caught within a couple of streets. Kieran H moved to the front and was punching a big hole into the wind when he took the front but no attacks.

Mountain Rd was fast but there were no attacks. Ben Bruce rolled off the front briefly but it was mostly all together. Onto Moss Farms, where it started out fast again thanks to Kevin M, Aaron B and Kieran H, but the majority of the field was attentive right from the corner, which led to minimal  gaps on the way to the first light.

Onto Moss Farms, where it was fast in the early going thanks to Kieran punching big holes into the wind at the front. Dan S started getting involved at the front as well, which kept things interesting. Aaron B, Chris C, and a couple of others were pushing off the front as the ride came up to route 322 but the light was red.

On the other side of the light, Dan S punched it up the hill, followed by Hunter P and Steve B. Nothing doing off the front though, and everyone was more or less together as the pace on Mount Vernon started ramping up.

Going onto Welch for the turnaround, the pace dropped off at the front quite a bit, allowing Joe K, Big Red, and a couple of others get a good look at the front of the field. Most of the other sprinters were cueing up several bike lengths behind. Little T punched it up the hill, taking along Hunter P and Dan S. Little T started the run in to the sprint, then Hunter P took over. Dan S attacked from about 350 meters and was allowed to get a gap. He hung on to it to the line, but just barely ahead of a charging Little T and Hunter P in that order. Everyone rolled back together on the backside.

Gibertoni slid off the front on the downhill of West St but was brought back when the chase caught both lights by I84. Reset and recollect going under the highway, then Dan S and Steve attacked with Hunter P in tow. Response to that was swift and there was barely  a gap as the three came up on the red light at 322. Dan S tried again heading up to the light on route 10 but it that one wa red as well.

Damien R attacked on the downhill of East Johnson but nothing came of that. The pace up the hill onto Cheshire St was mild this week. Everyone was setting up for the greenhouse. Aidan C rolled up to the front and kept the pace honest up the first part of the hill. That strung it out single file when it is usually bunching up a bit before the rest of the climb starts. Kieran H attacked from second wheel. Steve B was right there in 3rd position and went with Young Haug. Those two quickly got a gap as Erin Rand sat at the front of the chase all the way up the climb in defense of his CW teammate up the road. Up the road Kieran surged near the top of the climb, right before the light, got a gap, and was off like a piece of cheese. He rolled thru the top alone, got the light at route 68 and was not going to be caught.

Behind, Steve B clung to his gap over the rest, but it was closing down as the pack rolled they the light. Aaron B jumped from way out, taking along Hunter P. Hunter came around the two to be next over the line, followed by Aaron B. Kevin M kept on the gas but the pack had to pause at the light, giving everyone the chance to collect.

Dan S, Steve B, Kevin M, and Hunter P resumed full pace soon after and got a gap going. That made everyone behind chase hard. Chris C, Max A, Badger, and a couple of others brought that gap back quickly. Reset and recollect for the next few minutes. Dan S and Kevin M attacked on the Boulder road climb and took a 5 second gap onto Tuttle. Those two worked well together and despite a couple of strong pulls from Damien R, Chris C and Badger.

The gap came down a bit by the crest of the climb, but the two drove it hard down the hill and were able to stay in front of the cahse. They went for the it at the sprint and Kevin M rolled across ahead of Dan S. BUT, the main prize goes to Kieran up the road.

Great ride everyone! Next week everyone is in for a treat. SGR on Tuesday, and then Rentschler Field on Thursday!