Tuesday the 29th

Oh Hi Headwind 

The crowds were back in force for this week’s SGR, drawn out by solid weather and the usual antics of the pack. A strong headwind out of the south had everyone guessing how the night would unfold. A few new faces joined the fray... Dan Forgione and Chris Sima... Along with welcome returns from Aaron Black, Jon Fecik and Amity Matt!

The action started early. A small group toyed with a move right around Route 10, but everything came back together before the left hand turn. Once the tailwind hit, the pace ratcheted up quickly. Turner French, Chris C, Sean Maher, and Young Savino the 19th were ever present on the front. Hons got frisky with a couple of early digs, testing the legs to see who would potentially roll it.

Heading toward Mountain Road, Turner French and Sean kept the throttle open right up until Little T hit a rock and double flatted. Tom Krol barely escaped going down. The crash split the group as the road tilted upward, and a front selection of about ten forged ahead, mostly unaware. A couple of surges later and the gap was around 10 seconds. But a red light at the top of the hill reset it for everyone.

Once onto Moss Farms, the pace turned a bit more surgical. Turner French, Sean, Hunter P, Chris C, and Hacker were drilling it. Riders chasing from the earlier split started showing signs of fatigue. Those that weren't as good in the pack or who are not as comfy at race speed weren't benefiting from the tailwind as much, and it was starting to show.

Through the chicane, Turner French, Young Savino, and Hunter P kept the pace high, but nobody punched it hard enough to cause separation. It was fast, but controlled. The group hit Mount Vernon with urgency but no fireworks, just sustained speed. It felt like a top 5 fastest night heading north. But that changed as soon as the turnaround on Welch.

Heading to the corner to go south, Hacker attacked at the base of the climb, taking Turner Frnech and Hunter P with him. The trio gained a few meters, rounding the corner into the headwind. But cooperation up front was brief, maybe nonexistent, as everyone tried to navigate the season’s first encounter with that cratered stretch of pavement.

Savino and Hacker opened the sprint early, but Hunter P jumped and took it. On the backside, everything regrouped, and with the stiff headwind, it seemed everyone was willing to choose peace over violence through the highway zone.

Atwater saw a few late digs... Joe Rod upped the tempo under the highway, then Hunter P and Dan Smith hit it heading to the light on 322. The light was red so all together once again. From there, nothing of note heading up to and across Route 10.

On East Johnson. Amity Matt, Young Savino, Sean Maher, Chris C, and Jon Fecik opened a gap. Hacker bridged across on the downhill and helped bring it all back just in time for the uphill to Cheshire Street.

Into the Greenhouse Climb, Sean Maher and Young Savino did the lion’s share of the work, keeping the pace sharp. Turner took his place at the base of the climb, setting a steady tempo. Chris C then drove the pace into the final meters, giving Young Savino and Hunter P a launchpad for the sprint. Hunter P took this one as well, with Tom Krol and Hacker rolling through next.

From there, the ride settled down heading back into Hamden. The only notable action came from Joe Rod, who pushed off solo up Talmadge and onto Wallingford Road, only to miss the turn for Coleman and have to double back.

The group rolled a steady tempo from that point on. Turner French, Hunter P, and Amity Matt stayed glued to the front, keeping it honest on the rollers. For the final segment, no real attacks landed until the downhill on Tuttle. Young Savino led it out hard but didn’t fully launch.Steffen H also had a big dig off the front, trying to time success like he did a couple of weeks ago. No dice this week though as it was mostly together heading into sprint, where Hunter P took it with Turner French putting a partial effort in to keep it close at the line. 

Tuesday the 22nd

Quick Recap Post Cuz Steve B Needs Reading Material!

Steve B was was involved in a accident late last week and will be off the bike for a bit. Get better soon Steve! The ride isn't the same without you.

Slow start to the ride this week. Without Sean Maher, Turner French, Hacker, and Steve B, the 20 or so riders had less reason to get up and go. Dillon P had an early dig off the front. Then Mike Hons had one as well. Besides that, early pace-making was from Tom Krol, Sean Hurley, Chris C and Dan Smith. An old dump truck in front of the pack early on slowed things down so it was a lazy start to the ride.

It got going a bit once onto Moss Farms. A few new guys got involved up front, which was great to see. Dan Carbon, Greg Rod, Stefano P, and not-so-new Brian Suto were all chipping in at the front, pushing things along as they should be.

There was no real action until well after the chicane, when Hunter P attacked going over the highway. He got caught by the red light on 322 and so it was all together at first going onto Mount Vernon.

Chris C rolled off the front and was allowed to go. Then Mike Hons took off. Chris C stayed off until halfway down Prospect and the cut thru for the medium loop. The pace behind was decent but increasing as everyone could sense the tailwind.

Gruppo compacto for the heading onto Atwater St. No surprises. Hunter P attacked hard a few hundred meters from the 322 crossing, but this time, Little T and Dan Smith were close behind. The light was green for all, and only a small pause was needed to get thru the intersection. No one took advantage on the other side though and it was all togther going thru the next intersection..... Lame....

Brian Suto punched it hard on West Johnson, and Hunter P and Little T went with. That was a breakaway but again it was stimed by a red light.  

After the light, Suto would stay off the front by accelerating down East Johnson, but it was all together for the turn onto Cheshire St. The pace into the climb was steady. Greg Rod pushed off the front at the beginning of the Greenhouse climb. There was not too much of a response. Chris C, Sean Hurley, and Henk lifted the pace a bit behind. GRod would never have more than 75 meters and it was coming back as everyone made it to the light. Chris C kept the pace up going thru and past the light, but it wasn't crazy-fast. This lead to Hunter P jumping a bit early for the sprint. Little T was right on his wheel and nearly came around by the line, but Hunter P got it.

Little T kept it rolling and got the light at route 68 but would soon after sit up and let everyone come back a few hundred meters later. From there the run into Hamden was normal with no attacks. Steady pace up front from all the same guys that had been working all ride long.

For the finale, Brian Suto slow-rolled a group of 3 or 4 with a few hundred meters to go, but they didn't get enough of a gap to thwart Little T, who jumped the sprint proper with Stefano P on his wheel. T got the finale with Suto hanging on for second, Stefano close behind. Good ride everyone.

Next week >>> the long loop!

Tuesday the 15th

Breakaway Filed, Legs Taxed

Another SGR, another windy war of attrition. With a relentless cross / headwind, the transition to Spring has been rocky. Great to see Jeff Pappy-naw out there. A certified New England cycling legand.... Few riders have spent more time off the front, off the back, and occasionally off course.

Chris C and Turner French turned the screws into the wind heading up route 10. Once off Route 10, Turner did what French does, rolled casually off the front like it was a big dare. The pack let him go. Tom Krol, not one to let a free ride go un-redeemed, bridged across just as the gap was getting good.

The peloton took their sweet time organizing a chase. Credit to Steve B, Steffen Huber, Sean Hurley, a bit of Hacker for finally punching the clock.

As the two escapees pushed on, the group encountered the real villain of the day: an overly cautious car that crept up Mountain Road like it was trying to avoid spooking deer. However Steve B and Sean Mayer., got around before it became obnoxious, and the rest of the pack got stuck in slow mo for a few hundred meters.

Tom Krol realized he has more fun enduring the pack's mental problems and let Turner French go. He gets bonus points for trying, which is more than can be said for a few riders enjoying the draft a little too much these days.....

Tom Krol joined the Steve B and Mayer, but instead of boosting the bridge, it ended up stalling the effort. Meanwhile, the main group, now led by Hunter P, Steffen H, allegiance-challenged Chris C and a couple of others were reeling it back in and a red light on route 68 sealed the deal.

As soon as the light turned green, Steve B dropped the hammer and successfully tempted Hunter P along for the ride, Chris C, and Sean Mayer also jumped, and those four quickly had a gap just a few hundred meters into what would become the decisive break. With a stiff head crosswind punishing the pack behind, the four were determiningly rolling away, fueled by double pulls from Steve B and Hunter P.

The break caught Turner on the second 322 crossing, forming a group of five that stayed tight through the final segments. Turner rolled away on the Greenhouse climb and grabbed the extra point there. In the finale, Steve B took the sprint.

Tuesday the 8th

Winter’s Surprise Encore

Winter made a surprise comeback this Tuesday at SGR, with temps hovering around 30–32°F and a stiff wind whipping in from the west. It felt more like a January Sunday ride than Tuesday in April. As a result, only about 12 to 14 brave souls showed up, bundled and questioning their life choices.

The group was a bit too eager to get moving and rolled out a minute or two early, which left a couple riders chasing and unfortunately missing the group. Always a bummer when that happens.

The wind, mostly from the west but swirling just enough to make you question your sanity, made the entire ride feel like an uphill grind, except for the two short Easterly stretches where the tailwind felt like nature apologizing.

Back to the start, Turner French and Sean Mayer took charge pretty soon after the group turned off Route 10, setting a brisk pace that foreshadowed the pain to come. With about 500 meters to go before Mountain Road, Turner launched it. Only Chris C. and Hunter P. jumped with him and those 3 creating a 20-meter gap onto Mountain Road while the rest of the group scrambled in scattered chase mode.

Up front, on the first hill on Mountain, it quickly narrowed down to just Turner and Hunter. They kept the pressure high all the way down Mountain Road. The group behind came together and had a sort-of screw it moment, letting the two up front roll away for the night. 

Little T scooped up the sprints from the "peleton."

Tough day out there. One to write off and maybe laugh. The good news is that Spring-like temps are forecasted for next week. Let's pretend this one never happened.

Tuesday April 1st

The United Nations Version of the SGR.

A solid group showed up despite the iffy forecasts... There were a bunch of new(ish) faces in the mix, including Dave Hildebrandt, Steven Savino the 23rd, Ciaran Mangan and a new riders from New Haven. Even Hacker was out!

The early part of the ride was smooth n standard stuff until Mount Sanford, where Hildebrandt and Young Savino pushed the pace. Cairan was right there as well. The group was dodging potholes like a Bosnian minefield, but things regrouped after a few moments.

Not long after, Turner French threw down on North Brooksvale, opening up a 50-meter gap. Cairan M and Dan Smith kept it close as the ride turned onto Mountain Rd. Turner sat up a bit and by the time they hit the first rise, it was all back together. After that, things split again. Turner and Hildebrandt took off, with a group forming behind, but there was never too much a threat for a break. Then Steffen H had a dig on Mountain Rd. Then Steve B. 

It was the Medium Loop for today, so the pack crossed 322 for the first time this year. Turner French rolled off a gap after that, to which Hildebrandt and Hunter P responded with a dig on the uphill before Mount Vernon. Hunter P and Hacker kept it up after that but that didn't last long. It was all together for a brief bit, until Steve B attacked hard. He hung out there for a bit but was slidding back to the pack as the ride turned onto Prospect for the medium loop. The pace stayed high on Prospect with a few guys rotating with the tailwind.

Things got a bit spicy turning back onto Atwater, as Steve B, Hunter P, Hacker, and a couple of others were using the corners to maximise gaps. The light by the highway was green, which encouraged the hard riding. The pack stretched out. A couple of guys got popped, but it came back together with the aid of the tailwind. Hunter P had a dig off the front going up the riser under the highway and held a gap for a bit, but was brought back in good enough time for the light back over 322.

The pace picked up a bit heading to Route 10, but no one attacked. On the other side of Route 10, the new guys seemed to be pushing into the downhill, then up to Meriden Rd, and then onto Route 70, unaware of how the ride flows through that section.

So the pace stayed high into the Greenhouse climb, which encouraged Turner French to keep it going up the climb. Steady hard all the way up as others were The Good The Bad and The Ugly.

For the sprint, Hunter P jumped a bit early and got it, Little T was there to go with him. Steve B as well, who was able to come around T for second place. Steve B again hit it after going thru the intersection for route 70/68. Hunter P and Cairan Mangan went as well. A bit pf panic ensued behind them. It was not enough to get anything more than a momentary gap. For the rest of the ride back into Hamden, the pace stayed high with a couple of attacks/surges here and there.

The finale got interesting with Young Savino drilling it up front with Chris C and Steve B. The front paused a bit right after the fast turn through Mansion, and Steffen H took the opportunity to attack. Chris C went after him a second or two later, but would end up in no-man's land, soon to be passed by the sprinters. Hunter P sat on the front, allowing his teammate just enough of time to build up a gap. Turner French took over the last 30 seconds of the chase, taking Hunter P, Little T, and Steve B right there, ready to pounce. Steve B went for it it next and got close to Huber but not close enough. Steffen H took the finale, Steve B, then Little T and Hunter P next through.

Tuesday the 25th

Slowly Gathering Steam...

Tonight there were a few more guys out, a few more of the in-season regulars, which made for a legit ride. On the flip side, a few were clearly knackered from the Natchaug Epic gravel ride over the weekend, which put a dent in the willingness to chase once it got down to brass tacks.

Turner French set the early tone. Steve B was in the mix, along with Sean Maher. A sharp surge up South Brooksvale from Turner nearly opened a gap, but instead turned into a wake-up call for the group. The pace stayed hot thanks to Turner and a new rider Sean H(urley).

The tempo stayed high onto Mountain Road. Then Hunter P hit the overtake button and launched on the first uphill. Things cooled briefly until Steve B lit it up with a hard attack about a kilometer before the light. Turner, Steffen H, and Hunter P shared the load to reel it back in. Not that it mattered—the light was red anyway.

Onto Moss Farms, where Turner and Steve B kept things spicy at the front. Heading into the chicane, Turner, Hacker, and Hunter P punched through the corner with intent. A small gap formed heading up Jarvis to the intersection at Marion. Little T added a solid pull and that was the spark. A group of six was away.

Turner French, Steve B, Hunter P, Steffen H, Hacker, and Little T.

Behind them, the Cheshire crew let the gap stretch. Sean Maher opted not to chase, and the move was gone by the turn into the short loop. A few guys traded pulls through the industrial park, but the breakaway was clicking. Smooth rotations, solid power. The gap held at 15 to 20 seconds.

It started to come down slightly as the break eased up near the Route 10 crossing. That didn’t last. Hunter P and Steve B turned the screws again. The break made the light. The pack got stuck at red. That was it. Curtains. Breakaway gone.

Up front, Steve B rolled over the top of the greenhouse sprint uncontested. The group kept it steady, even on the climbs. Until Tuttle.

Steve B launched a hard attack. Turner French and Hunter P had to jump to bring it back. That gave Steffen H and Hacker just enough space to slip away on the Tuttle backside descent. Steve B hit the gas again to close it down, setting up a fast and furious final.

It all came back together with 500 meters to go. Hunter P kicked first and held it to the line with a comfortable gap over Little T.

 

 

Tuesday the 18th

Week #2 was a bit more competitive, with Sean Mayer and Little T getting involved in the sprints. Steve B attacked a couple of times and got points at the greenhouse, but in the end, he couldn't break free from the chase. Little T got the finale.