A running account of the "race without an entry fee"..... The Tuesday night ride

Tuesday the 11th

The Predictable Version of SGR

Slow Start:
The ride kicked off with a slow start, as everyone settled into their positions and got into the rhythm. Everyone was chatty as they geared up for the exciting ride ahead.

MTN Rd Stretch Out:
As the pack hit Mountain Rd, the pace started picking up, and the group began to stretch out. A few riders, including most of the New Haven Angels, CW and Steve B, took charge at the front, setting a reasonable pace for the rest of the group. Steve B shot off the front and held a gap for nearly the entire run to the light at route 68.

Breathtaking Attacks and Chases:
Suddenly, the peaceful stretch was interrupted by an explosive attack from Joe K. He made a daring move, and Chris C was quick to respond, chasing him down with all his might. The adrenaline was pumping, and it seemed like everyone was on the edge of their seats.

Brian O's Bold Move:
Not long after, Brian O and Turner launched a surprise attack, catching everyone off guard. The pack struggled to respond to the unexpected move, and some riders found themselves fractured at the chicane.

Hunter P and George E Bridge the Gap:
Amidst the chaos, Hunter P and George Elias managed to bridge the gap, taking advantage of the moment to surge forward and stringing out the group all the way.

Quad Z and the Mysterious Rider:
At the base of Mount Vernon, Quad Z made a bold jump, pushing hard to gain some distance. Another rider, whose name eluded the AI, also took a chance, making the climb an exhilarating spectacle.

Joe K's Tenacity:
Joe K wasn't done yet, as he once again initiated a chase, with Chris C attempting to keep up. However, Chris couldn't sustain the effort and stalled out, leaving Joe to forge ahead.

Welch Hill Climbing Battle:
The next challenge was Welch Hill, and Joe K was back at it, taking off up the incline. Turner was right behind him, and Little T closely followed, creating a thrilling hill-climbing battle. Little T took the prize less than a bike length ahead of Hunter P. Brian O got the final points place.  

Group Cohesion and the Angel's Effort:
On the backside, a group came together and collaborated to shut down any attacks before the road went uphill again. The Angels, and Rusty worked hard to bridge the gap and put in an impressive effort.

Henk's Uphill Power:
As we hit the uphill section, Henk displayed incredible strength, accelerating and leaving others in awe of his prowess.

Accelerations up East Johnson:
The ride concluded with a few more accelerations up East Johnson, leaving everyone breathless and exhilarated after an action-packed adventure.

Turner and Brian O Take Charge:
As the ride progressed, Turner and Brian O continued to showcase their dominance on the challenging Greenhouse climb. They surged forward, leaving other riders in their wake. Vlad Z tried to keep up with the powerful duo, but they were a force to be reckoned with.

Quad Z's Sprint Jump:
As the ride approached the anticipated sprint, Quad Z made an audacious early jump, hoping to catch others off guard. The rest of the group quickly followed, each rider vying for the top spot in the final dash to the finish line.

Hunter P Secures Second Place:
In the thrilling sprint, Hunter P displayed incredible speed and determination, securing second place just ahead of the tenacious Steve B.

Tom-Foolery at Route 70:
A strong group of riders, including Hunter P, Steve B, Little T, and Quad Z, continued to push on, engaging in a bit of light-hearted tom-foolery as they approached the light for Route 70.

Breakaway Efforts:
Hunter P and Steve B took charge in the breakaway, shouldering the workload as they maintained their lead ahead of the rest of the pack. Little T and Quad Z collaborated (sort of), adding their strength to the mix.

Brian O Leads the Charge:
With a flying Brian O at the helm, the main pack charged relentlessly, determined to close the gap and catch up to the breakaway. Brian O displayed remarkable tenacity as he drove the pace.

Brian O's Sneaky Move:
As the group approached the uphill section of Boulder Rd, Brian O attempted to sneak away, hoping to gain a crucial advantage. However, the rest of the riders were quick to react, preventing him from creating a significant gap.

The Final Showdown:
With the ride nearing its end, the entire pack bunched together for an intense and fast finale. Tensions were high as riders jockeyed for position, each eager to secure a coveted podium spot.

Little T Takes the Win:
In the last few meters, Little T found an extra burst of energy and skillfully maneuvered to the front, crossing the finish line triumphantly, claiming the well-deserved victory.

Hunter P's Consistency:
Hunter P showcased impressive consistency, securing yet another second-place finish, showcasing his tenacity and skill throughout the ride.

Steve B Clinches Third:
Not to be outdone, Steve B displayed a strong performance, earning a commendable third place in the fierce competition.

In the end, this unforgettable cycling adventure saw exhilarating sprints, daring breakaways, and impressive teamwork. The riders' passion and camaraderie were evident throughout the journey, making it a truly remarkable and thrilling experience for all involved. It's safe to say that all participants had an unforgettable and adrenaline-fueled experience on this cycling journey!

Tuesday the 4th

 The redcoats are coming! The redcoats are coming! (also, it's raining on the 4th of July, and so there is no ride today)

Tuesday the 27th

 Another Smallish Group Lays Waste  

It was a fast night headlined by CW crushing it at the front. They drove the pace FAST on Moss Farms, which split the field and spit out riders. Steve B took advantage of Little T (Club Med holiday) and Hunter P (the 'Rent) being away from the ride on this night, and he racked up all three sprints.

Turnaround!
Steve B
Brian O
Turner F

Greenhouse!
Steve B
Sean M
Erin Rand

Finale!
Steve B
Rich Nadeau
Turner F

Tuesday the 20th

MidSummerDoldrums

Wild Bill started the evening off by surging off the front on Mount Sanford. A combo of Angels and CW up front, increasing the pace, eventually rounded him up once again. There was the usual separation taking place as the ride got to Mountain Road but it was all together with no one attacking on Mountain. George from New Haven was up front looking to attack at a couple of spots but there were plenty of guys (Greg the XC guy, Sean M, Noah B, Turner French, etc) keeping it close. Also helping out was the strong tailwind from the south, which kept the pace high without anoyone needing to crush themselves.

Things got going harder for the start of Mount Vernon, where Turner F, Hunter P, George M, and a couple of others ramped up the pace and drove a gap into the front of the group. That led to Brian O and two others off the front pushing hard with a gap going onto Marion. Sean M came up and thru, closing the gap with Hunter P and Noah B on his wheel.

It the chase was on and everyone would be caught soon after, and the pace reset as it came up on the light for 322. On the otherside of the light, heading to Mount Vernon, there were a few accelereations but nothing that was going anywhere. Once things settled down on Mount Vernon, the pace dropped down quite a bit. Either everyone was tired, being aided by the tail wind, or was thinking about the inevitable hammerdrop to come at the turnaround.

CW moved to the front at Welch and set a quick pace into the crosswind. Erin R, then Brian O, then Turner F. That drove the peleton into an unfamiliar single-file formation heading to the climb and the corner. Brian O took the front the corner, then Turner F took over halfway to the sprint. There were 4-5 cars lined up at the traffic light. Even though the light turned green before the sprinters arrived, getting safely around the slowly accelerating cars meant slowing down big time. The sprint to the mailbox on the right at the very top of the rise was negated.

On the backside, Steve B was using his postion at the front to get a look at pushing off the front. George M was moving up to the front as well, but red lights by the highway shut that down. From there, the group reset, came all back together, and went slowly as it headed back into Cheshire. The pace was downright leisurely at times. This allowed XC Greg to roll off the front getting onto Atwater and he held that gap for a km or so.

The ride crossed over 322 again without action. The next to attack was Grumpy Paul, who pushed off the front with Big Red chasing as the ride got up to the light on Route 10. Steve B also tried to sneak off close to thle light but it was red which killed that. On the other side, Tom Krol and a couple of New Haven Angels took off the front and got to work on a gap as the rest of the pack lazily got going toward the greenhouse. Then another group, with Tim Cormier and more angels got into the gap chasing. Behind, CW massed at the front, with Erin R once again making the early push to ramp up the speed.

CW controlled the front up to the base of the Greenhouse Climb, which set up Turner F and Brian O to lead the field up the hill. Vlad Z also chipped in with a pull. For the sprint, Steve B jumped, along with Little T and Hunter P. Hunter P came around with a few meters to go, with Little T, then Steve B 3rd over the line.

There were plenty of surges heading back into Hamden, but nothing that stuck. Little T got the final sprint again, with Brent DB just staying in front of a charging Steve B, who got third.

Tuesday the 13th

 

Tuesday the 6th

Turnaround!
Little T
Cahill
Hacker

Greenhouse!
Little T
Hacker
Cahill

Finale!
Little T
Cahill
Tom K

Tuesday the 30th

Turnaround!
Little T
Sean Quadzilla Cahill
Sean M

Greenhouse!
Little T
Sean Quadzilla Cahill
Sean M

Finale!
Little T
Rich Nadaeu
Maher