Riding..... Not hiding...... from the rain
The rain kept the field down to about 20 or so guys tonight. But it seemed everyone was happy to be out on their bikes. Right off the bat, turning off route 10, Chris B from CCR came straight out and set a really stiff pace. Dillon P, Hunter P and Eric M were on him and the ride got rolling long. Chris soon turned over the reins to Rondo and Mike McG. The small crowd out tonight meant that it was going to be a spirited ride. No hiding today….
The front of the ride onto Mountain Rd. was controlled by the Medics, a Devils Gear rider, and Julio L. Midway thru Mountain Rd, there was a nice rotating group of 7 or so, ready to share the work load.
The field met up with Tall John and Chris C at the light on route 68. Onto Moss farms, Rondo early on kept up the pace and then turned it over to CT Coast Ben and a Devils Gear rider ( Jefferey Weaver ?). All in all, everyone was together for most of Moss Farms. Tall John found a chance to sneak off the front before the chicane and we went into chase mode. Mike McG was up there making sure everyone paid attention. Traffic turning onto Jarvis St slowed things down a little and that meant that everyone was together for the climb up to Marion Ave. Mike McG, Hunter P, Todd H and Eric M drove the pace up and past the corner, but no one was willing to attack and so it stayed all a bunch into the industrial park. In the industrial park, there were a few guys doing most of the work. Tall John and the Medics were up there predominately. Turning onto West Johnson, Eric M flatted and a couple guys held back to wait for him. Mike, Ron, Chris C and a couple of others. The group that forged ahead was down to about 12-14, and they slowly ramped up the pace again toward reinhart. Chris B came again up to the front and was setting a really hard pace thru the peck lane intersection and up the hill before the turn onto Reinhard. He actually just rode off the front in pursuit of the sprint. Behind him the rest of the group was sorting things out Julio L was looking to get a good position. Tall John was at the front of the chase. CT Coast Ben and John Gregory were up there too. Hunter P jumped from the back of the group, and set out to gun down Chris, who by this time had a solid 50-60 yard gap going on the field. Hunter P, with Julio L on board, needed the whole length of the road to close the gap, but ended up coming around Chris with 40 yards or so left before the Schoolhouse corner. Down the backside Tall John jumped hard into TT mode and Chris B tried to follow him. But by the turn onto Peck, it was all pretty much together.
Meanwhile, behind, as Eric was changing his tire, Chris C had gotten taken out by Greg Cimino while he was making a U turn back to Eric. The 2 guys went down hard. Chris C was deemed ok, his new bike was not too badly damaged. He limped back to his car at Stop n Shop. Greg was a little worse off, and needed to wait for a car ride pick up. We need confirmation that he is in the hospital right now. Mike and Rondo waited with him. Chris C says don’t ride your new bike in the rain, only bad things happen.
Up ahead, the front of the ride was turning a nice gear past Cheshire Park. Ct Coast Ben, Todd H and Tall John were setting a good tempo. A couple of lights slowed things down but heading up to Stop n Shop, Chris B was again at it, trying to ride off the front. This time he had a couple of guys with him. A devils gear rider ( who had taken a shortcut to be up front ) and BlingBling Maison. Chris was on his way to collecting the stop n shop prize when the light turned red, so everyone sat up. But Chris had it in the bag.
A couple of riders turned off in Cheshire, which meant that there were less guys to drill it back home. Tall John again tried to sneak off the front, but was marked this time. Todd H was up there, Julio L, Elder Foley, and Entry level Chris ( on a Scott ) was up there too. John Gregory took everyone into the final 200 meters, along with Tall John, but there was no duking it out to the bitter end this day.
A good ride, had it not been for the unknown accidents and incidents. Lets hope for better skies and better fortune next week.
12 comments:
I'm happy Chris C's bike is okay. As for the other rider he broke his hip and punchured a lung. Currently in ICU. His name is Greg Cimino and just started riding again, in his day was one of the strongest. Lets hope for a quick recovery.
On second thought that was me that took over for Ron, but I was wearing a CT Coast Kit. I hope that Greg gets well soon, too!
Noted and Revised. Thanks. Anyone with news of Greg?
Did Chris C start the U turn and that's what caused the crash or was he still going straight when he got hit?
Was that broken hip and lung comment a joke or was Greg really that muffed up?
I'm very sorry to hear about the crash. Riders' health comes always first, bikes and helmets are replaceable.
My get-well wishes go out to both riders.
Guido
As much as we all love the TWC ride, we all also know that the potential for a serious accident is always there and accept it. I hope Greg gets well quickly and rejoins the ride once again.
Eric flatted, Ron and Mike turned around, I had slowed and came off the back of the pack to go back with Ron and Mike. I was still going straight and had not yet turned back when I got hit from behind. Greg was going at least 25 MPH and I was barely moving. I think I got launched over the bars and onto my shoulder and head. I was stunned but not too badly hurt. I was more pissed about getting hit so hard without warning. It was like getting hit by a car. I let my pissed off feelings known to the guy that hit me by unleashing some F-bombs at him but now I feel bad about it. I had know idea the guy was so badly hurt. When I left, he was standing with what looked like a busted up nose. I want to let the guy know that there is no hard feelings. There are risks when we ride our bikes and we all know that going in. I just hope the guy gets better soon. As for me I just got a bruised shoulder and leg and my bike is scratched. It now looks like a bike Ron would own. It was bound to get scratched sooner or later.
Chris C.
Crowell
Lets file that report in the who gives a shit file . Greg is in the Hospital until his lung re-inflates I will try to get in touch with his wife tonight . Greg is a very seasoned ride and used to train with me all the time back in the 90's . I'm sure the blame lies somewhere in the middle . That's bike racing , you just get up and dust your self off .
Rondo
Rondo,
Isn't what I just said, you dope
Chris C.
why so angry Chris?
Angry Crowell Thats his name .
Post a Comment