Welcome to the Sleeping Giant Gran Fondo.
Special thanks to cheshire residents and the Police force for their patience.
Official apology; see below....
Special thanks to cheshire residents and the Police force for their patience.
Official apology; see below....
All the fair weather riders oozed out of the wood work tonight. Nearly 70 riders eventually hooking up with the ride. Thankfully there was a southerly wind and some fast guys up front to make everyone feel good and fuzzy about themselves. The ride started off slowly as everyone was content to enjoy the nice weather. Either that or everyone was ogling the monstrosity that Dillon P was demo'ing tonight. ( Litespeed Archon C1... super stiff, uber fast, gets few points for comfort. ).
Mike McG, MoHoney, Vivid shorts guy ( aka Danny B ), Dillon P and a NYU rider finally got things rolling along right before the crap road section. Chris C was the first one to really dig in the heels on Mount Sanford Rd but Mike McG, Eric M and NYU lifted things, keeping Crowle on a short leash. That took everyone to Mountain Rd where the gent on the older litespeed, Hunter P and Guido kicked things off. Guido rolled off the front along with Hacker for a brief moment but there was PLENTY of guys rolling thru. From there, all the way down Mountain, you pretty much had to take a number in order to trade paint up front. Plenty of guys to do work + tailwind meant any ol fred could roll along with the boys... But that's a nice change right?
Once onto Moss Farms Bob German, Hacker, Guido and Eric M hit it hot up-front right away to keep everyone on their toes. Rattatat moved up front along with Joe K and kept it fast up to the chicane. Mike McG got it rolling up to Marion Ave. followed by Hunter P and Thomaas B but a parked truck at the corner brought everyone to a screeching halt. It took a little to regroup and get rolling again but Chris C put himself out there along with Mike and a CCB rider. Into the industrial park with guns blazing. Again, it was perfectly possible to wind along, work pretty hard and never make it to the front cause there were plenty of guys. The hills on West Johnson started to thin out the front. Yalie with the vivid shorts (name?) launched off the front in a bid to get himself a sprint upset. Mike McG, Jacinto, Bob German, Eric M, Julio L and Everyone's Favorite Dave also took the chance to move off the front but everyone, including the Yalie was brought back pretty quickly. Mike McG, looking to get in a get workout, stayed up front and kept the speed high as everyone started looking for position. Mike actually rolled off the front alone as everyone figured their best chance was to sit and wait. Die schnelle maschine, Guido, wasn't cool with that and hit the front to close the gap. That gave everyone something to follow up to McG just at the crest of the hill on Rienhard, before the sprint. Guido passed Mike alone as Eric M, Hunter P, and Ratta were queuing up behind. Ratta started if off, Hunter P was next, but Little T was waiting in the shadows and had plenty of time, plenty of room, plenty of kick to come around all, taking it over Hunter P easily.
Larry M and Eddy A quickly rolled off the front on the descent, looking determined to pounce. But Eddy was just teasing us and ended up turned to head north. Gruppo Compacto heading up Peck Ln toward Route 10. But not before Joe K rolled off the front alone, into the headwind, throwing caution out the window. He was uncatchable for a bit as everyone on the front was either a teammate ( Ratta, Hunter P, Larry M ) or gassed from the effort. He came back just as the cut up pavement section was crossed. Eric M, Rondo and BikeShopBob peeled off due to flat tires.
The headwind on route 10 stood everyone up. It was slooooow. No one was willing to drill it for obvious reasons. Guido moved up to the front not giving 2 craps about wind speed. He had a little help but overall it was lollygag time. A few guys rolled off the front, plus a few guys who took shortcuts were getting caught in time for the stop n shop sprint. There was a small group off the front being led by Rattatat. On his six was last weeks winner, Blue tires \ blue shorts ( Danny Blizzard ). Behind Guido was catching up and Jacinto was leading the usual suspects across the gap. Guido gets the prize for this one tho, well deservedly so.
The rest of the ride was a circus side show........Fine motorists of Cheshire ( and the officers who police them ), many apologies..... Bicyclists get all jittery when the wind blows at our face. We will be better next time. Promise.....
For the final kilometers Rattatat gets the Big Balls Award for stomping his way up and ahead of everyone a couple times. In the end Guido rolled off the front with Little T in hot pursuit. Up the hill, Hunter P had a head start and stayed in front of Mahoney, Tri Doug and Gregg F.
Good ride everyone. Next week the big loop, which hopefully will dilute traffic on the return home. If not, things are gonna get all.... Bacon-y
48 comments:
Lets hear it for tri Doug who came that much closer to actually hitting the front before peeling off on the way onto hamden
If ya aint gonna pull through stay off the front.
Ka-Boom!!
It was all I could do to keep on Mike's wheel for that long pull at the end. I'm trying my best. If its not good enough for someone, then maybe they should ride faster earlier to drop me. Otherwise I will be doing my best to be up there each week.
Keep cracking that nut Doug.
Changing the subject, thanks to the more than the usual amount of info submitted after the ride. It is all appreciated. Everyone by now knows the highlights of each week. If you have details to share, emial them to:
info@cheshirecycle.com
Should have added that all tips and details, flattering or not.... Are kept anonymous
no no no. fuck no. Screw you guys.
First of all, his name is Tri Douche. Get it right. Its because of statements like that that's why. There are 20 some-odd miles to get to the front during the ride. All we ask is that the finish be as fast as possible. That's not gonna happen when your poser ass is slwoing things down! You got on Mike's wheel. Whoopdee fuckin doo. You deserve a pat on the back.
I'm not sure who the last anon poster was, but I actually took 2 pulls on the front prior to that so I was up front for a decent portion of the 20 miles.
By the way, I love the fact that most of the negative posts on this blog are anonymous so that when you act like an asshole no one knows who you are.
I'll say the obvious - if you get near the front and aren't sure if you are ready to follow a fast wheel or pull through, sit in or suffer more. Otherwise you piss off everyone else that has to close your gap. The last 2 miles is not the place to test.
SS
Understandable, but I did not expect Mike to take such an extended pull. That being said, he pulled up a second or two after I did so there was really no gap to close.
Mike did take the monster pull and I couldn't come around him --last night -- either. But the reason he took such a monster pull, and thanks mike, was that everyone was queuing up but not putting in any digs. By the time we are at that point, headwind or not, we should be doing over 30mph no problem. When its windy like that short fast pulls are the best. Hell, I launched off so early on 10 only because I went to the front expecting to lift the sorry, slow pace and no one got on my wheel. Why?
Anyway, allow the bs comments to follow . . .
That must be the largest collection of words and letters that do not make any sense whatsoever.
You mean the largest collection of riders that do not make any sense
The Lyrics to "Friday" is longer
Not bad a triathlete can hang at the front at all, considering some of you guys live, breathe, and shit cycling.
Remember, 99% of America doesn't give a shit about how fast you are on two wheels. So you can get over yourself, ANON, you ain't as badass as you think.
Here's your bike Al:
link
They dont call them rules of etiquette for nothing... Tri guy is semi-strong. But he disses all the other semi-strong guys who know to stay out of the way at the end. ( BenGay ) Zing - oh yea !
Definitely doing the long loop next week. I would say that by the West Street turn around, most of the "posers" will be weeded out.
Chris C.
That's my bike, fair enough. But here's your bib:
http://www.google.com/m/search?site=images&source=mog&hl=en&gl=us&client=ms-android-verizon&q=Borat%20thong#i=0
this blog continues to amaze me.
I'm not trying to diss anyone or piss them off on purpose for that matter. I am also not posing to be something I'm not. I am just trying to transition from triathlons into bike racing and am a cat 5 looking to get better.
I am still figuring this whole bike racing thing out, both etiquette and when my brain thinks my legs can do more than they can. I've many several instances where my legs felt strong one second and then 30 seconds later they were shot.
Frankly, until SS posted about someone having to close the gap I create when I don't pull through hard enough I had not really understood what the issue was. Now that I know, I will be more cognizant of it and endure the pain a little longer so as to not create a gap.
Thanks to:
- SS for his comment (please everyone read this!!)
- Doug L taking comments on this site as constructive feedback (we have all been there....)
- To Mike McG and Guido who always push the pace (and are NOT trying to win the dumb-ass sprints)
Stay at home and ride your trainers or stop your bitching. What is it about a group ride that your not getting? Ride with the group...its a group! right? as in group ride. Seems simple.
This weeks slogan "It not a dream, being in the way its real and its good".
Count Dracula
Doug, another bit of advice: don't take the complaints too seriously. As long as you are trying hard and learning how to get better, don't listen to 'em.
CW Dennis
Anyone know if Tuesday@theRent is on next week? If so, it might serve to thin out the SG ride a bit.
Remember
"...As long as you are trying hard and learning how to get better..."
.
means that all riders, especially new riders, need to learn and respect group ediquette.
For a little levity. Some local news.
Ride like you stole something.
Awesome! He got caught but we didnt.
I don't know bout you guys, but i breathed a slight sigh of relief when we hit the border into hamden this past tuesday....
Unfortunately the Rent won't be until the 2nd or 3rd week of May this year.
May 10th is first event at the Rent
For those of us not in the know, what is Tuesday at the Rent?
Its a true parking lot training crit. Held at rennselaar field where the huskies play.
There are no lights and it's fast. Faster than this ride by far. There are several teams that show up and it is an actual race. Same thing in Ninagrit on Wednesday nights.
For info on the Rent, including rain cancellations, check out the twitter feed at:
http://capitalveloclub.com/
Doug, there's no need to apologise to anyone. This ride belongs to everyone. If folks aren't able to tolerate the crap that might happen on a group ride then ride by your fucking selves. Otherwise simply ride your fucking bike in the group, and the stop the silly ass whining. Bitches!
'..... Faster than this ride by far. ....'
.
I guess you were never strong enough to do any work at the front of the group.
The Rent is definitely faster. The CCNS team shows up most weeks and pushes the pace. There are full speed open corners and things usually get blown apart... just speed and gaps opening up.
It's not just CCNS. Ther are usally 5 teams and a bunch of unattached riders that show up and it's a race. 55 mins, no stops, there's always a hard headwind on one side of the course and it has no predictable dynamic. Everybody knows where the SG ride picks up and slows down. Breaks rarely happen on the SG ride. At the Rent there are many before one sticks --and one always does. Come out and see if you can make the split.
If you want a great leg speed training, without having to think about cars, trucks, and Cat 5's, try this one:
http://www.cyclefitness.com/2011%20Cycle%20Fitness%20Summer%20Training%20Series%20Flyer.pdf
Only downside is the $18 entry fee.
to add to the last comment, the average speed for the "A" race is over 27 mph (yes, faster than the Spring series) and average for the "B" race is about 25 mph.
Are we all forgetting that the "rent" thing is pancake flat and costs money? There is no question that your Tuesday night is better spent at the SGR!
Anon's gotta stop posting "adds" for their crit.
Don't know if i completely agree with D there but yea - you all should head up there to the race. Thin things out a little for the locals round here.
Dillon,
Like you never pitch anything for Cheshire Cycles.
speaking of advertising. What's the verdict about tonight's route? I would like to ride the long loop and hope we get a sizable group.
For those riding back to New Haven it's probably better to have a light on your back for the commute home.
G
Yea guys, we should only be putting sleeping giant related ads on this blog.
http://www.mybobs.com/Rondo.aspx
yes long loop tonight.
Chris C.
That's where Rondo spends his days now.
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