The Sleeping Giant Ride…. Safer than training alone!
A lean and mean crowd out tonight.. Maybe 45-50 guys and a couple of girls too.
The ride got off to slow start but that lasted about 2 blocks as Old Man Josh Gewirtz came up to the front breathing fire and brimstone. He tried to get a gap on a couple of occasions… Guido, Hunter P, Mike McG, Brian K, Eric M, and a couple of others were up there at different times to help out. Nothing doing on the breaks tho and a lot of traffic turning onto Mountain Rd slowed things way down. There was another gap going up Mountain as Old Josh, Chris MaHoney, Jay Pearlman on a Parlee, Ken just Ken, and the Non Kiwi rider in black hit it hard. Things got strung out, but it stayed together.
Yalie Adam was the only one to make it thru the light at route 68, and all reports have him not being heard of again as he didn’t wait.
*Apparetnly, Tall John and Chris C had been off the front. Attacking everyone in the only spot that could allow them to get away, on route 10, right around Wentworth's, 30 seconds into the ride. Whether or not that counts as a true breakaway is your call. General consensus is that it is not. Save those bullets for when it counts boys....
The pace down Moss Farms was respectable as Thomaas B got involved as well as TriGuy with Knee highs. Chris Mahoney was up there as well. Crap nearly happened as a nice big golden retriver nearly got away from his owner in order to run into everyone. That woulda sucked.
No one really attacked going thru the chicane and then the hill after. The pace was crisp though and a small group formed after the hill. Mike McG, Guido, Old Josh and others with a 30 yard gap. Crazy Chris and Todd H kept the speed up in the pack and brought it back within 300 meters though. Mike McG stayed up front and was drillling it past the industrial park and to route 322. Good to see Rondo arrange his busy schedule to stay on the long loop tonight. He stayed on probably cause Chris C was no where to be found.
The trip down Mount Vernon Rd was fast… Again Old Josh and Not a Kiwi were up there. Guido got involved and gaps would form briefly. On the long riser where the strong guys can turn the screws on the weaker guys, there was some activity… Though not enough to spring anyone. On the next small riser Hunter P shot off and was joined by Guido. The two weren’t given any room though and were brought back with a kilometer. As soon as those two were caught, Mike McG attacked and took a new rider, New Haven Jacinto (on a Duratec) with him. The 2 worked a small gap heading onto Welch as guys behind started realizing that Little t wasn’t around. Cha-Ching Cha-Ching as dollar symbols flashed up in everyone’s eyes and it was game on for the sprint. Meanwhile Mike had left Jacinto on the Duratank behind and was calmly beginning the long assualt of Welch Rd. Chris B then shot up the left side, as expected, and took along Hunter P with him. Those 2 quickly left the front of the group, now being led by Not a Kiwi and Ciocci along with a couple of others. Guido responded to the surge, sensing Mike McG would not have the gap needed. Guido took along Joe K and Julio L. Chris pulled away from Hunter ( or he let a gap open to make Guido chase ) just as Mike was killing the thottle. Chris was caught by Guido just as the hill kicked and although Guido gave it a good sprint after chasing for 300-400 meters, Joe K was just sitting there ready to jump around him and was able to with room to spare. Good team work from the CCR guys to get to the corner first.
It has been decided though that for the remaining long loop weeks ( 2 or 3 max? ) that the reported winner of the sprint needs to get to the very top of the hill first… The top of the hill past the corner… Call it to the light at Spring St. This should make things interesting and create a chance for a true sprint. Let’s hope Little T gets over his fever and is back in the protection of the fold next week.
The rest of the ride into Cheshire was uneventful. Old Josh and Jacinto were up there along with Mike McG and Rondo setting tempo on Atwater and Canal St. Then on Peck ln. going up toward Sandbank Josh G was back at it, trying to find guys willing to drill it. Once back onto Route 10 the speed dropped probably cause of the head wind. That didn’t stop John Gregory and Not a Kiwi from setting a good tempo going up past Cheshire Park. Heading to Stop n Shop, the speed went up again as guys were getting ready for round 2. Julio L was not to be beated this time, riding away from the rest…. Jay Parlee, Ciocci, Thomaas B, Ken just Ken, Peter K etc…
Heading into the finale, Todd H hit the front with too far to go. Hutner P followed with still too long way to go. That led to a gap opening that Julio L and Guido closed in hurry once the end was in logical sight. Guido was able to come around Julio at the end….
This report may undergo a couple of changes as reports start filling in Wednesday morning.
Good ride….
41 comments:
Tonight, the peloton was truly "sleeping" on the Sleeping Giant Ride since there were 3 guys up the road, including Yalie Adam who bridged up to Chris C and Tall John.
So, it seems, all spinrts were won by this group.....cha-ching.
You guys must have been sleeping. John and I rode away on Rt-10. Once on Mt Vernon Rd, we noticed the Yalie Adam bridging across so we slowed to let him join. Once he attached, we set a fast, steady tempo. So yes, we won all the sprints.
Chris C.
you missed the bit at the end, on 10, where Mike McG took a flyer.
- non kiwi guy in black.
Thanks for the updates all. believe it or not Kiwi, its ok to be on a first name basis. ?
indeed it is.
- otto (non kiwi in black guy)
It seems the following 2 statements contradict each other. If the "slow" ride lasted 2 blocks and the "break" went at Wentworths, then wouldn't this be considered the same location? It seems the guys in the long "break" timed it correctly shooting their bullets (blanks in the case of Chris C)?
STATEMENT 1:
'The ride got off to slow start but that lasted about 2 blocks as Old Man Josh Gewirtz came up to the front breathing fire and brimstone
STATEMENT 2
Apparetnly, Tall John and Chris C had been off the front. Attacking everyone in the only spot that could allow them to get away, on route 10, right around Wentworth's, 30 seconds into the ride. Whether or not that counts as a true breakaway is your call. General consensus is that it is not. Save those bullets for when it counts boys....
2 blocks from the true start of the ride..... which is the turn off route 10... is what the writer meant.
attacking at wentworths doesnt count for sh%t. riding at 26-28 for half mile or more while everyone else is going 20 !?
Otto is a cool name. Is he here to stay?
Yeah, attacking on the rollout, when 95% of the peloton are remembering how to hold a line, is like, um, not cool, or something...
-Yeti
I love how three guys attack a neutral start and then claim to "win" all the sprints!??
Keep the ride up RT 10 neutral! Anything else is to dangerous. If time or placement meant anything at that point the left turn off rt 10 would be a death trap.
You guys won nothing. You weren't part of the SGR. And your behavior is childish because some in the peloton aren't mature enough to watch you ride away. They'll give chase and the turn off will get worse then it already is.
I don't think Chris C or Tall John are claiming anything... They are smarter than that. Cant blame them though for wanting some good hard effort off the front. But really can't you go out and do that any other day? Yalie Adam deserves props for riding up to them I guess.
2 fags
You guys are funny. Neutral start??? What's this the TDF??? "F" all of you. John and I wanted to ride a hard tempo from the start. We weren't in any one's way. We thought, you guys all knew we were out front and were drilling it all ride thinking you guys were chasing us down. Don't blame us you guys fell a sleep. And yes, I beat all of you at every sprint point.
Ha...Ha...Ha...Ha...!!!
Chris C.
2 wimpy fags
Crowell the only thing you beat is your pecker .
I love the controversy.
Can we again have a sprint on the end of the ride on Route 10?
Tall John
Me thinks we should all ride slower on route 10 so we can be 5 abreast on this busy road. This may be safer?
Signed,
Childish Poster
I was waiting for Rondo to chime in. I missed you last night.
Chris C.
Do you think that it is smart to have the first sprint point at a light which is slightly downhill, as opposed to an uphill light where you can slow down much easier? Who wants to sprint to a light where you would most likely have to brake???
Rules for the Tuesday ride.
1.The ride starts when the official starter Angry Ron says lets go and he means go! not "go neutral"
2.Attacking is permitted as soon as you pass the guard shack when exiting the parking lot.
3.Sprints are awarded to Little T unless a rider gets himself into a break or creates a break without little T.
4.Sleeping is no longer permitted on this ride...zzzwho?zzzwhen?zz
5.Chris C. has to do the short ride now that Ron is going long.
Bubblelicious
I heard that Chris Crowell is now the NEW Rondo? Any truth to this?
true
You know, there are more than a few out there that opt out of Tuesday because of the obvious "sketch" factor. Attacking as soon as you leave the Lot is "all fun and games" until somebody busts a skull/lung/neck/back. It's already bad enough that some of you (read: most) have the maturity level of a twelve year old when it comes to safety.
Please don't over-estimate a cyclist's intellegence level. If you're riding a bike fast (obviously something the last poster does not do), then there is inherent danger with cycling. Please take up the sport of underwater basket-weaving if you need a safer alternative or go on the C-ride. (ie...by yourself)
And where has Nick been??
True, we need Nick to chime in on this debate.
Chris C.
For me getting out of bed every morning is a "sketch" factor.
Rule # 6. Rules 1-5 only apply to immature riders... after all we're a bunch of grown men??? ridding bikes, right? Hope I never grow up.
Bubblelicious
OK...here's my take on things:
1) It is OK to attack out of the parking lot. If you're stupid enough to chase like a beagle (or as Ron would say, a "bagel") with your head to the ground, crossing a lane of traffic with no regard for your safety...then you're an ass and should be subject to natural selection.
2) Those who opt-out of this ride due to the sketch factor are usually the guys that increase the sketch factor ten-fold.
3) Chris C WAS the new Rondo (hairy, balding, rageful, blabbing his mouth while no one else listens), but now that Rondo has done some more training and decided that he's strong enough for the long ride, I say that the title of "Rondo" is up for grabs. Whoever is more obnoxious next week wins the title! Ron...do you really want to be referred to as "Crowell" for the next year? You'd better pour it on, big guy.
Nick
Jeez... The drama....
Attack right from the parking lot, thats fine. Sit on wheels the whole night and then try to pedal around Guido at the end... thats fine. Attack going past the 84 off ramp... thats fine.
One of the reasons for the blog is to note what is noteworthy*.... All of the above is not really that impressive. There's no "acting" strong out there. That's why the ride is so awesome. Go ahead and claim victory of all the sprints. It's not like anyone is keeping track. No one is gonna remember 2 weeks from now.
But-
Ride off the front when everyone is going hard, really hurt guys, hurt the STRONG guys... That is what gets remembered.
There's more posers out there then we'd like to admit. But there's also some hurtin to be done by some.
(*nothing Rondo does is noteworthy)
what says you Rondo?
(QUOTE:) Please don't over-estimate a cyclist's intellegence level. If you're riding a bike fast (obviously something the last poster does not do), then there is inherent danger with cycling. (END QUOTE)
Oh, I'm sorry, because you are in favor of chaotic public street racing, you must have nuts of steel, a sick vo2 max, and I'm a pansy, because I don't like riding with sketchballs "attacking" across lanes of route 10 traffic. Get a life.
They should make a reality show about this ride every week. Air it on Versus between bass fishing and bull riding.
we are in production talks
But are the stars of the TWC going to show their stuff at the Green Mountain Stage Race? Did they podium at Barkhamstead, Union Vale, Housatonic, Jiminy, Quabbin, etc? The Tuesday ride is a great workout and a lot of fun, but anyone thinking it's a measure of bicycle racing ability ought to go back to underwater basketweaving.
agreed
Some facts to ponder:
- Despite spelling beagle as "Bagel", Rondo won Jiminy Peak. How many Posers on this ride can say that?
- From my vantage point, I don't remember the 2 riders "attacking" on Route 10. I'm also inclined to believe they crossed Route 10 more safely than the group
-A few weeks ago, a number of riders almost got clipped taking an unsafe left while in a "break" (no names will be mentioned here)
-We're all trying to get a good workout, not impress people.
-The 3 riders did an admirable job of staying away the entire ride, including Adam who bridged
-Bubblelicious and Nick are GODs
.
Thanks on bringing this blog to us weekly, we always love the controversial write-up and the subsequent responses it garners.
I almost got hit.... That was me. I'll fess up. It wouldnt have been the first nor probably the last.
And as a side note... I'm constantly trying to impress Robyn on the ride.
(See, i spelled her name correctly!)
Rumor has it that Hunter almost crashed into his teammate before the SGR started. Any truth here?
..I think I was predisposed to underwater basketweaving. The problem seems to be finding Adult Ed classes that teach such a refined and graceful skill.
Reality show is not a bad idea as long as the public gets to vote someone off the ride each week.
holy shit... this blog is real?! this is why i havent done a group ride in probably 3 years.
also i mooned the group going by one night screaming venga over my pasty white ass and no one even cracked a smile.
you people are all thats wrong with bicycles. well, after fixies.
Crowell the only thing you beat is your pecker .
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