Tuesday the 24th

Hong's Haymakers Prove the Difference

     The final "final" ride of the year. The pack was smaller but the speed was still there. Ryan O and Hunter P rolled out of the parking lot quickly, and the nuetral start down 10 was faster than usual. Traffic getting into the backroads brought everyone together. Hunter P took a couple of pulls at the front, Dillon P, and Grome as well. Getting onto Mountain Rd, Alan B Dan Smith and Hacker were near the front ready to rocket off, but there was no big attacks to get free. Pace was fast and a couple guys were dropped. COming up to the light on 68\70, Dan Smith was rolling off the front but the light was red for all.
     Hunter P rolled thru onto Moss Farms, whereas the pack dillegently waited for green at the Notch Store light. Hunter P kept on the gas and held the solo gap until shortly before the turn into the industrial park, where Grome, Chris C and The Sernyak took over up front.
     Turning onto West Johnson saw some digs up front but it stayed all together until later towards the light. Alan B and Hongster rolled off the front, leaving it to The Senryak and Hunter P to keep it together in case the light was green. It wasn't. It was red. On the backside, Gibertoni rolled off and took towards the second half of the ride solo. He would be caught on Meriden Rd \ route70.  From there guys up front were sitting up to get ready for the climb.
      Ryan O and Hunter P got the climb started, and then Hongster took a shot, immedtialy to be matched by Alan B and Hunter P. Then it was Alan who swung a punch. Then Hong. In a skit played out nearly a dozen times this season, Hong + Alan traded blows more than once, Hunter P sat on, the rest who were up to it clawed on the train for dear life, and more than few checked out the back for the evening. Some caught back on at the red light, some did not.
      Up front, what was now a breakaway (Hunter P, Alan B, Hongster, Chris C, The Senryak) got green towards the sprint. Alan B ramped up the approach, but Hunter P was quickly able to come over the line next in front the Sernyak. Break and elite chase came back together at the red light. Hongster kept the pressure on after the light, and Grome, Dan Smith, Alan B, and The Sernyak stayed on it to make sure it stayed together.
     On the next street, Hong jumped. Then on the next street, Hong jumped again. And the next. And the next, etc etc etc. In a bold move, He jumped on the Coleman Rd downhill leading to Jinny Hill. Alan B went with and the 2 sped off despite the lower power to gravity ratio. Behind them, Hunter P, The Sernyak, Chris C and maybe one other dude was willing to nose out and chase. The two were caught before the climb up Boulder Rd, and it settled down a bit. Hong kept on the gas though and was able to put a little dusklight between him and the chase on the early parts of Tuttle. He opened up that gap on the rise when the chase slowed a bit. Chris C rolled thru at tempo, then Hunter P. Hong had 5-7 seconds going through the intersection, and that was enough to get a head start on the final 2000 meters. He ripped through the downhill section quickly, whereas there was a slight hesitation in the pack due to the dark. By the time everyone got onto the final rollers thru by the farm, Hong was out of sight and had it sealed up. Final points went to Alan B who took off uncontested for the sprint 10 seconds early and held on in front of a semi-charging Sernyak.

Great ride, everyone! Great season of SG.
Don't forget to come out and support Cheshire Cross on November 2nd. Rumor has it that the Hongster will be out bringing his brand of racing to the party.

The Sunday ride has its early adopters... Planning even to ride this week. Expect it to slowly pick up momentum and riders as we get thru the month of October.