The Windy Return of Ben Bruce
The ride showed no signs up letting up tonight. Yale came
correct with a couple more loaded guns. Ben “the slackest of em all” Bruce was
back out and ready to go with his mismatched Cheshire teammates.
Right away off route 10 everyone was fighting into the head wind. Cross winds were pushing folks around and Hunter P and Mike McG would use it to drive out a couple of gaps before the ride hit mountain road. Chris C and Kyle were up in the front as well, keeping the pace high. After the dust settled from a couple of early attacks, Markowitz jumped out in front and Landry went with him. Those 2 held onto a respectable gap for the majority of route 10. Then Ben Bruce and Alan B took off on Moss Farms but that was corralled quickly. The headwind allowed another group to go clear when Hunter P punched it again with Mike McG. That led to a group of about 5 up the road and fighting for space but the pack would claw back thanks to the Yalies and Markowicz. The duo of Landry and Markowicz was back at it again in the industrial park but the tail wind erased most gaps quickly.
Heading into the turnaround section it was Chris C leading the early charge, which morphed into a dangerous trip of Alan B, Ben Bruce and Markowicz off the front working a 50 meter gap thru the corner for Reinhard. Markowicz stayed on the throttle with Ben Bruce sitting tight. He was able ot jump out and around to get the sprint ahead of a late charge from Mike McG. The headwind brought it all back together on the descent. Markowicz would keep on it through Peck Lane but it was once again Alan B and Ben Bruce getting a bit of a gap. Once through the false flat, Markowicz was done with that and he tore across the gap with Hunter P and Cassie Max in tow. That led to Gibertoni and Hunter P striking out before the corner for route 10. Everyone slowed down a fair bit in the name of safety but Hunter P was thru alone and charging up the hill, aided by the tailwind. He nearly made it all the way to the Stop n Shop sprint but Markowicz once again was tear a swath thru the concrete. He led a strong select group up and thru the front. From there, Landry popped out and took the sprint point.
No huge surprises going back thru town. The tailwind made it easy as pie. For the finale, it was Markowicz once again charging off, this time with Ben Bruce. Ben was allowed to roll thru the line in front for the final prize of the night.
Good ride everyone!
Right away off route 10 everyone was fighting into the head wind. Cross winds were pushing folks around and Hunter P and Mike McG would use it to drive out a couple of gaps before the ride hit mountain road. Chris C and Kyle were up in the front as well, keeping the pace high. After the dust settled from a couple of early attacks, Markowitz jumped out in front and Landry went with him. Those 2 held onto a respectable gap for the majority of route 10. Then Ben Bruce and Alan B took off on Moss Farms but that was corralled quickly. The headwind allowed another group to go clear when Hunter P punched it again with Mike McG. That led to a group of about 5 up the road and fighting for space but the pack would claw back thanks to the Yalies and Markowicz. The duo of Landry and Markowicz was back at it again in the industrial park but the tail wind erased most gaps quickly.
Heading into the turnaround section it was Chris C leading the early charge, which morphed into a dangerous trip of Alan B, Ben Bruce and Markowicz off the front working a 50 meter gap thru the corner for Reinhard. Markowicz stayed on the throttle with Ben Bruce sitting tight. He was able ot jump out and around to get the sprint ahead of a late charge from Mike McG. The headwind brought it all back together on the descent. Markowicz would keep on it through Peck Lane but it was once again Alan B and Ben Bruce getting a bit of a gap. Once through the false flat, Markowicz was done with that and he tore across the gap with Hunter P and Cassie Max in tow. That led to Gibertoni and Hunter P striking out before the corner for route 10. Everyone slowed down a fair bit in the name of safety but Hunter P was thru alone and charging up the hill, aided by the tailwind. He nearly made it all the way to the Stop n Shop sprint but Markowicz once again was tear a swath thru the concrete. He led a strong select group up and thru the front. From there, Landry popped out and took the sprint point.
No huge surprises going back thru town. The tailwind made it easy as pie. For the finale, it was Markowicz once again charging off, this time with Ben Bruce. Ben was allowed to roll thru the line in front for the final prize of the night.
Good ride everyone!
8 comments:
Fun ride last night. As I mentioned to Hunter last night, we need to make the transition onto RT-10 from Sandbank road, safer. It is going to be a matter of time before someone gets hit by a car. Riders routinely cut the corner at speed by swinging wide left into the oncoming travel lane. I suggest that from now on we come to almost a complete stop and slowly proceed out into RT-10. Just because we have been riding like a bunch retarded monkeys for the past 20 years, doesn’t mean we need to continue doing so. For the collective good, let’s start riding safer before someone really gets hurt. Especially now since we have a younger generation of riders participating in this ride.
Also, Dave Rustico got a call last week from the Southington Chief of Police. He told him that he has been getting a lot of calls about the bicyclists riding through town taking up the roadways. He told Dave that he encourages the ride but that we need to start obeying the traffic laws. That means no more than two abreast riding to the right of the travel lane, slowing down if not stopping at the stop signs and stopping at all red lights. That means coming to a complete stop at the top of the turnaround hill onto West Street, if we get a red light. The Chief said that he will have officers watching the ride.
Chris C
One more comment. There seems to be a lot of new riders joining us on Tuesday nights. That's great but please learn some basic cycling etiquette before jumping into this ride. I heard and witnessed some dangerous and stupid riding. 1st, if you do not know where the ride route goes GET OFF THE FRONT!!! You jeopardize your safety as well as the safety of others around you by taking a wrong turn at speed while at the front of a large group. 2nd, please learn basic bike handling skills. Learn how to corner and ride safety in a pace line, at speed before joining this ride. All right, I’m done sounding like the “asshole dad” of the ride.
Chris C.
For the record, Mike McG came around me in the final meters to bag the Stop n Shop sprint.
Landry
so what we're going to do now is be super obedient, super calm bike stars? if so may I suggest we start to discuss a route change? because it seems this ride "aims" for stop light riddled, car packed stretches of road... If we are getting this much negative press and some "seniors" of the ride think we need to start watching out for sketchy areas maybe we should pick a more suitable, "scenic" route.
I vote a more hilly route so I can get dropped earlier and make it home for dinner.
Dillon P.
Amazing thing is the comments about this ride haven't changed in 30 years
Amazing thing is the comments about this ride haven't changed in 30 years
except all the hooting and hollering for Ben Bruce..........
dillon, first... you could stand to miss dinner!, second, you and your homo brother are the first to divebomb a scetchy intersection... "just sayin" ahhh puking on the keys!
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