Tuesday the 11th

 Unexpected Expected Road Furniture

If only the rain could have gotten started 10 min earlier! It poured on the group in the parking lot and then for the first 10 min. Then the sun poked thru and it was dry. 

The road spray and wet conditions took their toll. On Mountain Road, a turning Porsche cuased some confusion and late dodges, leading to Little T, Tom Krol and Hacker to touch earth. No one was too hurt though.

The pace was calm for a while after that. Everyone wanted to make sure the affected riders were OK. Hunter P and Chris Kicked it open again on the riser up to Marion. Those two rolled off the front without a fuss and build a gap. The chase got going soon enough. And the light on 322 was red so it was all back together. 

More steady riding without too many antics from there until the turnaround. Turner French jumped hard at the base of the hill and only hunter P was able to go with. Those two rolled thru the sprint with a big lead and were not going to be caught. The night wrapped with Steve B taking the pack sprint in front of Stefano P.   

Tuesday the 4th

Old Faces, Same Games 

It was definitely notewrthy to see SGR legend John Interlandi out on the ride this evening! Everyone was riding well and getting a good workout as the pace was steady and lots of opportunities to put in efforts at the front.

 The first fireworks were set off by Hacker who jumped away late on Mount Vernon. Little T went with, making for a dangerous pair up the road. The field responded and brought them back before the corner for West St. Mike McG took the pace-making over and then Dan Smith jumped for the sprint line. Little T went after him and was able to get the points. Hacker rolled over the line in 3rd. 

Onto the next sprint where once again mike McG along with Chris C set the pace heading up the Greenhouse Climb. The pack split on the climb. Jacob jumped early for the sprint, once again forcing Little T to cover the gap, this time with a couple riders in tow. Simon Milette from Montreal and one other. That was the finishing order for the sprint. 

 Going into the final sprint, the pace was high and Dan S was playing his games opening up gaps to the would-be sprinters. Little started the sprint with Christian Stahl was on my wheel. Those two went all the way to the line with Little T taking it. 

Tuesday the 28th

 Play Nice Or Else!

Small group out tonight. the pace was steady and Mike McG kept everyone in line. Working hard and honest up front. He rolled thru the points on sprints 1 and 2. Dan Smith took the Greenhouse Climb midpoint sprint. 

Tuesday the 21st

Rained out!

 

Tuesday the 14th

 Quiet Night on the SGR Front

Still, it was a good ride with a lot of guys contributing to the pace. The result was a fast, steady ride with very few lulls and plenty of strong pulls from the group.

Jacob launched an attack just before the turnaround sprint on Mount Vernon and managed to open a small gap, but the group stayed organized and brought him back before the climb.

Mike McG then took the reins and led Little T out from the bottom of the hill, through the turn, and to the light, where I took the first sprint. Jacob came through for second. Third place to Tom Krol.

The pace stayed high as everyone contributed back into Cheshire. Little T took the Greenhouse sprint, followed by Tom Krol with a huge seated effort, and then Jacob.

The group had thinned a bit by then but still numbered around ten riders, and the pace never really let up.

Little T got the finale as well, with Christian Stahl, and than Inma Ruiz taking third.

That third-place finish deserves a special mention. As far as we can remember, Inma is the first female rider to score recognized SGR sprint points. A well-earned result after riding confidently in the group all night. Hopefully it's the first of many.

Tuesday the 7th

 Losing two average-size dudes' wattage

Vacations took their toll on attendance today. A slightly smaller crew out there meant that the mid-pack was a little more tense than usual. It was also Sean Maher's final SGR with us as he is moving down south. We're all bummed to see him go, as his assertive, confident riding at SGR always made it a better experience.

The apprehension proved true as, once onto Mountain Rd, Sean blasted off, taking Sean H and Hunter P with him. Once that settled down, Turner French and Steve B countered with a surge off the front. Hunter P jumped on, and that caused everyone else to as well.

At the end of Mountain, Chris C had had enough for the night and turned off. Moss Farms calmed it down a bit for all. No big moves for a while. Mount Vernon also was a bit more tranquil than normal, until Sean Maher had a big dig toward the end, but enough guys jumped on to bring it back before the corner.

Heading up the hill to the sprint, Turner lifted the pace enough to roll through with a small gap. Behind him, Sean Maher was looking ready to chase, but it set up a little late. Steve B was able to accelerate through and into second place, but well off Turner's wheel. Sean was right there in third. That trio set to work pushing the pace on the other side and got all the needed lights. They had a 200-meter gap at one point, but behind them the pack was in full chase mode. Tom Krol helped at first, and then Mike McG and Hunter P kept the pace high, especially on the riser past 84. It was enough to bring it all back together on the downhill before Atwater St.

From there, there was a reset... and fewer guys as well! A few had been dropped and were not coming back.

Sean Hurley attacked off the front on the East Johnson uphill, and he took a few seconds' gap onto Cheshire St. That would be brought back a little while later. Sean Maher was at the front again up the Greenhouse climb, setting a solid pace for most of it, and then Hunter P later on. Hunter P launched it for the sprint early and was just able to hold off a charging Turner French.

Turner kept on the gas while Hunter P peeled off the route. The pack would not catch Turner. He ended up staying away the rest of the night. Steve B was able to get the final sprint for the pack.

Tuesday the 30th

Post Nationals Social Club

Tonight the ride started out casually as the group was a bit smaller than normal. The pace picked up mid way down Mountain road. The light at route 68\70 was green so that kep the engines going onto Moss Farms. 

Some descent surges here and there and fast tempo until a little ways down Mount Vernon. Turner French attacked during the lull on Mount Vernon bringing Steve B with him. Then Little T jumped across the gap making it a group of 3. From there, the group worked hard trying to stay away.

Missing out on the action, Joe K and Stefan H from Cheshire were a big presence in the pack making hard efforts to bring the break back. They helped cut the lead down to less than 100meters at a few points but couldn't seal the deal. 

 At the turnaround sprint, Turner French rolled through #1 as he was mostly responsible for the pace.  After the tough turnaround section, that breakaway had all the gap it needed. They got a couple of the lights at the I84 interchange and were gone for the night. Each of the 3 went over a sprint point in front. Even-steven on points.