Tuesday the 4th

Final SG Ride of 2016…

The switch to 5:30 has traditionally been met with smaller group sizes and tonight was no different. There was only 16 or 17 dudes out tonight. 5 or 6 of those riders would get popped at some point during the fast ride. The SG Ride does NOT go quietly into the night!
   Once again, Alan B was driving the pace in the early sections. He rolled off the front a couple of times. The Sernyak and Chris C were there to keep things together. Dana R and Dillon P were also up there. Turning onto North Brooksvale, Hunter P took off and was allowed to roll off. The chase got going slowly so the gap went up and Hunter P lasted out in front until after the first risers on Mountain Rd. Eventually Chris C would jump across the gap but many others responded. From there the pace stayed decent all the way the light on 68\70. The light was green which didn’t help any of the guys who were struggling to stay connected.  Once onto Mount Vernon, Dana R and Dillon P once again hit it pretty hard. Steve Grey joined in, but the trio never got organized off the front. Chris C would again come across the gap with the Sernyak bringing the rest of the field over.
      After the Chicane, Hunter P attacked up the hill to Marion, taking along Alan B and Chris C. Those 3 held onto a slight gap into the Industrial park but it was soon after all sewed up with Little T and Rusty leading the 10-11 guys who were left. Turning onto West Johnson, Hunter P went again, taking along guess who… Alan B and Chris C once again. And once again they would slowly be brought back.
     As they were caught past the 4-way intersection with Peck Lane, Little T jumped hard and most thought that was that for the mid-point sprint. Chris C and Steve grey stayed on the gas up front though. Little T would have to come off the throttle after turning onto Reinhart and Steve Grey was flying across the gap by then. That led to Hunter P jumping hard at the start of the sprint hill and no one went with him. Alan B took off in pursuit with New Guy Glenn several seconds later but Hunter P had it locked up from afar.
     Alan B and Hunter P kept on the gas on the backside and succeeded in hitting Peck lane with a real gap over the rest of the field. Those 2 stayed off the front of the chasing pack all the way till past the old rail road tracks. From there it was standard stuff getting back onto Route 10 and then up the hill.
    For the run into the Stop n Shop sprint, green lights made it quick. Steve Grey, Tall Dennis, and Chris C were at the front, driving the pace. Alan B tried to snooker the group with a 300 meter attack. Hunter P then bolted off the front but still very early on for the true sprint. A few seconds later Little T took off from a few bikes back and charged up fast. It was a close one between Little and Hunter P but T got it going away.
      The ride back into Hamden was as you would expect, fraught with traffic. The smaller group got thru a little easier than expected. For the finale, it was a blacked-out battle between The Sernyak and Little T. To close to call so someone can fill in the blanks.
      A good ride to close out the season of the Sleeping Giant Rides. It was generally another solid year for the ride. Sure it had its ups and downs and weird moments but overall, the riders that make up the core community should be proud. Quite a few new faces were seen throughout the year. Although they may not have had chance to make the ride a regular occurrence, having the fresh blood always made for more interesting rides. Be sure to leave a vote on the new poll.
    Don’t forget to support CheshireCross on October 29^th. Here is the link. It will be a good time. Long lost Sleepy Giant rider Todd H will be up to his usual shenanigans, leading the “Hill People” in massive revolt against good taste and spectator manners.