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.

Tuesday the 23rd

Sweet Summer Rain...

The steady rain in the early afternoon got the core group of guys talking about skipping the ride. Those that waited for the final moment to make the call were "rewarded" with drier than anticipated conditions. So it was a much smaller group than normal. That allowed some guys who normally see the front of the pack the chance to score some well earned points on this off-week for Sleeping Giant. 

Getting going Hunter P tried to attack off the front a couple times but Mike McG stubbornly refused to let that happen. First place points at the sprints points went to Hunter P with runner up points for Mike McG, Dan Dudzik, Nate B from the New Haven Angels and National Champ Dave Rustico. 

Tuesday the 16th

Give the Position Back Oscar

A few notables were missing from the line-up today. Little T, Sean Maher, and Chris C the headliners. So a smaller group. No surprise guests dropping in to wreak havoc. 

The pace was slow to tick up during the early backroads. Dan Smith and Matt Wigton looked ready to go a couple of occasions, as did Turner French but there were no big moves to speak of. Mountain Road was more tranquil then usual. Peter Morgan and Hunter P were pushing the pace, and for a small time there was a gap. But Stefano P, Sean Hurley and Noah Black kept it under wraps. 

That led to Steve B and Turner French counter attacking, and they took a 20-30 meter gap to the intersection. Then the marshals got involved...

Turner French and Steve B rolled up to the red light 2-3 sec after it had switched from yellow, behind Stefano P was making a late connection and was closer to them than he was to 2 or 3 guys just a few meters off the front of the pack. The gap was borderline to say the least. However Steve B moved under braking, making it appear he was going to hold up (the responsible move) but then veered left again and rolled it with the 2 others. Behind the peleton had plenty of time at the red light to voice their opinion and it was overwhelmingly calling for the DQ of the trio and points against their super-license. 

Stefano P would later sit up and rejoin, but that was likely becuz he couldn't keep up and not because he was remorseful. 

 With the pack now reset for the rest of the night, things quieted down. This gave Mike McG plenty of time to yell at guys for their crap pace-lining ability. Steffen H had a couple of big moves, Hunter P as well. He tried to get off the front going over I84 but the light at 322 was red. 

Going into the Turnaround sprint, more drama! 2 cars at the intersection caused it be single file thru the right-hander. Noah Black resorted to the sidewalk for a hundred meters. This resulted in Joe K, Hunter P, and Noah B getting off the front and thru the sprint line ahead of the emotionally deflated chase. 

From there it came back together. Hunter P jumped hard again on Atwater. Peter Morgan was able to bridge and they were working a gap but there were multiple cars going multiple directions thru the green light on 322. That gave the pack a chance to catch up. Hunter P jumped again before route 10 but the light was red. 

Going into the Greenhouse sprint, Peter Morgan was allowed to roll off the front. He held a gap up to and thru a red light at the top of the hill. He was a bit slow to get going after the light but he had a teammate sitting up for him at the front. The chase got going and from it, Hunter P launched late and just edged Peter out at the line. Ben Bruce picking up 3rd from a ways back.

From there the reminder of the pack finished up the ride together. Stefano P rallied for the last sprint along with Ben Bruce. 

Tuesday the 9th

 Another Banger

 Sprint points

Turnaround Sprint:
Little T
Turner
Hacker

Greenhouse Sprint:
Little T
Rob Dux
Hacker 

Final Sprint 3:
Little T
Christian Stahl
Turner French

Tuesday the 2nd

Fast and Furious! 

Many attacks throughout the night (despite a couple of the regular attackers going up to the 'Rent)
For the first sprint, Sean Maher jumped early and was able to stick the landing. Little T and then ??? after that. (please come forward to claim your prize).

Well after that, a breakaway of 6 was formed at the corner of Cheshire street and east Johnson.
Turner French, Fritzi Johne, Seam Maher, Mike McG, Chris C, and Little T. that group stayed away, but since there was an extra rider past the 5, points were diluted a it. The group still went for the sprints though, and Sean M took #2. Little T the finale.