Tuesday the 15th

 Construction Alert! 

The ride had to detour around Collela's favorite spot to attack. Hunter gets the Hickory Hill Orchard sprint, and the effort shot an elite group off the front for good. Later, Chris C and Aaron B snuck off to take the final sprint.

Tuesday the 8th

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Tuesday the 1st

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Tuesday the 25th

Sweet Summer Rain... Like Hong's Own Mercy

Good on everyone for getting out there despite the thread of rain. Sure enough, the sky opened up right at 5:59 in the parking lot. But just minutes later up the road over the Cheshire town line, the rain stopped. A few minutes later, it was back to dry roads for everyone. 

Early on Lucas Curly Huesman and Aaron B, both fresh off of podium'ing nearly every Tuesday night crit at the 'Rent were pushing the pace up front. It stayed fast for the first 20 min, and there were a couple of new faces pushing off the front with strong flyers. Julio L, Tautkus, Alex D'Sousa, Rosey, and Jordan Lynn, were all up front as well. Heading towards the end of Mountain Road, Erin Rand and Hunter P had a jump off the front but the light was red.

Aaron B tired to push off the front on Moss Farms and had a couple of guys willing to work (Alan B, Tautkus, Jordan Lynn, Noah B, Alex D, and maybe one or two others but it wasn't enough to break clear. Once Hong jumped across the gap, everyone kicked into 6th gear and it was all together heading past the industrial park. Heading towards 322, Aaron B continued to lead up front, as well as Jordan L. 

Once onto Mount Vernon, the pack reshuffled a bit but once back up to speed, the front was occupied once again by all those already mentioned. Estaban S, fresh off scoring some sprint points, put in a dig or two to bridge gaps to bring it all together before the set up for the sprint. Hunter P jumped and got a gap before the corner but that wasn't going very far. Jordan L, Dan Smith, Chris C and Aaron B were up front chasing but also trying to set up for the sprint. Once Hunter was caught, teammate Hongster rolled off solo and was allowed to get an initial gap that didn't look all that intimidating. Hong put in the real attack up to the corner and had enough to hold it all the way. Behind Steve B put in a solid attempt the bridge, but came up a bit short. Once everyone was onto West St, Aaron B took off at max speed, and only Hunter P was able to go with him. Those two created separation quickly and Hunter P was able to come around in the last meters to get second for the sprint. 

Hong kept on the gas and got a green light near I84, whereas the pack got held up. Magnanimously (or perhaps it was a big-time show of confidence) Hong turned around and rejoined the pack as it got going again. Either way, Hong showed himself as the strongest one out there, as he would still go onto take the finale of the ride solo. 

But to get there, everyone had to get thru the second sprint and the climb. Dan Smith attacked from 1k out, but was swallowed up on early slopes of the fast climb as Hong and Tautkus took off with an attack. Behind, Little T and Curly were able to get on and soon it was just Hong, T, and Curly flying thru the sprint alone in the break. Alan B was caught in no-mans land between them and the chase and just quite couldn't get across. 

That's the way the ride would end for the peleton. Up the road, Hong attacked the break on Coleman Rd, shedding Little T. On the next grade, he would go again, getting clear of Curly to finish solo on the night.

Great ride everyone!

Tuesday the 18th

SGR Gets a Week Off From Being Competitive 

The ride was split tonight between guys going to the final Rentschler Field race and the SGR. Little T took advantage of the lack of fire power and cleaned up on the points again... Taking all three sprints

Tuesday the 11th

Vacations decimate the group size.

Alan B stays away because it wouldn't have been hard enough for him.
The pack gets torn in two as Jordan Lynn says "I'm back in shape!"
Chris Hong rips everyone up for the midpoint sprint, and then rides off solo to finish alone. 

Tuesday Hurricane Isaias

Hurricane Isaias took all the sprint points tonight.

Tuesday the 28th

Little T takes all the sprint points!

Tuesday the 21st

Recap coming, but it will go something like the break, anchored by Tommy D, Dan Smith, and Little T, rode away. T took all the firsts. Tommy took all the seconds.

Tuesday the 14th

Big Group... But Will it Last?

An exciting day at the SGR with over 40 riders coming out as the group continues to grow week over week! Once again there was a great mix of young guns new guns old guns and Little T’s massive guns. As the group hit the road there was mucho energy but everything was calm and steady up to Mountain Rd where the hard efforts started. Aaron B had the first dig but his SRAM battery was dead, limiting him to only 1 gear. Thankfully it proved to be a sufficient enough gear for the night. He would be able to make a surprising amount of digs throughout the evening.

Hard pulls continued from the group. Little Mullaly (Little M?) came through along with Alan B, Chris C, Little T, Dan Smith, Black Jr, Special Ed, Rapha Steve, Mayor Bill, K Haug, and Curly. This bunch would keep the pace high but nothing got off the front. Jordan L joined up before Mountain Road and together with Alan B, and Special Ed had small gaps and efforts that lasted a few miles.

Heading into the turnaround, Dan Smith had a dig from a ways out, but that was swallowed up. Alan B was then upfront pushing it but it all just served to keep the pace high, and the sprinters protected. The sprint was uneventful, besides Chris C leading out Little T for a decisive mid-point sprint victory over SingleSpeeder Aaron. Heading back into Cheshire the group was again all together and going steady but once again the bridge was still out at W. Johnson, and no one wanted to trigger Chris C, so the group was put into neutral status to climb/detour around. Word on the street is that segments attempts will come after the bridge goes back into use as the enemies to the east had recently come out to steal a KOM but didn’t stick around for the actual SG ride.

Back to the action it remained steady into the Hickory Hill sprint with little T taking the sprint again and Dan Smith grabbing second. Curley got Angry Chris excited at the bottom trying to roll a red light with the group in tow and no cars in sight for miles. Chris C still gave him a mouthful (cuz... no one makes Chris C go hard without chances to recover!!!)

Curley had a dig after that but nobody was letting him go tonight after last week’s late escape. Going into the final stretch, on Tuttle Ave, a road in which the group has never seen a car before in the existence of the ride, tonight there were 3 cars all at the stop sign before the "Tuttle Bump". Of course, the cars panicked going all different ways which sent everyone on the brakes. Chris C almost lost control and had to whip out those well known CX skills to stay upright. Everyone was fine and back on the gas as everyone wanted a piece of little T for the end but it wasn’t to be. In the mad dash, it was hard to see who takes first and second loser prize. Leave remarks below. Tonight, the hattrick goes to T.

Great ride everyone! So... Are you going to race the 'Rent next week, or do SGR? Leave those comments as well.

Tuesday the 7th

Big Guns and Tiny Riders

The ride was at full volume tonight. It was by far the strongest field in a long time. It was great to see the Badger out on the ride. The NE Devo team was out in force, and the Haug duo was out there, Young Kieran and his dad Ryan. Kieran was breathing fire tonight and had several hard digs at the front. Brian "Chocolate Brain" Suto was there again. It was also great to see Rusty out and riding strong.

Off the start, Hunter P attacked as soon as the flag dropped and quickly tore off a gap that got up to about 20 seconds. Behind, the reply was slightly slow but it got going within a minute or two. Aaron B and Noah B, along with Tommy D were among the main chasers. Hunter P would eventually be caught on Mount Sanford Rd, by Aaron B. The two briefly kept it going off the front, but by the corner for Mountain Rd, it was all back together again. The next to hit it upfront were Kieran, Lucas H and Tommy D. A kilometer into Mountain Rd, there was s small gap to a group of leaders, and it was looking like it was starting to stick as some guys were making the deliberate choice not to chase. Hongster jumped across the gap as his Cheshire teammates were holding back a bit. Then Chris C and Dan Smith got going across the gap, which brought Hunter P over as well. That led to the entire field coming back together. Chris C tried to sneak off the front in pursuit of green light on route 68 but it was red for everyone.

Once onto Moss Farms, it slowly got going again, Chris C put in a dig that got him a gap, and everyone looked around at each other. Chris C worked the gap up to 10-12 seconds by the intersection for Jarvis. He kept it going up the hill to Marion, but it was coming back. Dan Smith, Hongster, Alan B, Hunter P, and the Blacks were smashing the pace. Once the catch was made, Aaron B put his head down and kept charging off the front. He ran up a 50-meter gap as the ride was passing the industrial park. The bridging attempts came quick and fast, with Dan Smith first, then Hunter P, then Tommy D, then Hongster. The field was strung out as Tommy D and Hongster kept on the pressure, but the light was red, which gave everyone a chance to reconnect.

On Moss Farms, the Devo team hit the front and kept it going. No breakaways, though. Alan B had a dig, as well as Steve B. All the strong guys were upfront while the pace wasn't out of control hard, it was fast enough. Aaron B and Hongster were upfront as the ride pushed onto Moss Farms. A group of 6 or 7 were rolled off the front and were allowed to a small gap. The last Mullaly closed down the gap for the chase, which set up a 4 or 5 guys in a good position to attack West St. Kieran was there but faded without knowing exactly was coming up. Alan B was there. Dan Smith was there as well. Hongster lit it up with a hard acceleration early on West St that initially no one responded to. The chase eventually fell on Aaron B, but he had no help from Hunter P, who was sitting on for Hongster his teammate. Chris would roll though the sprint with a tight gap. Alan B got into a position to sprint after Aaron B was done with the front, but Hunter P jumped to go across the line second.

On the backside and back into Cheshire, the ride was boring. Some surges here and there, but no hard attacks. The ride got a shot of excitement when Rusty appeared on Atwater St with his 10 buck prime. Chris C started got a headstart and only Dillon P challenged.... but came up short. The ride took a detour around the construction on West Johnson, and it will have to do more of the same for the next few weeks so take note. Straight on Peck, left on Schoolhouse, left on Reinhard, back onto West Johnson and the normal course, right before crossing route 10.

The next big moves were turning off of East Johnson onto Cheshire St. The Devo kids, Lucas H, Tommy D, Dan Smith, Kieran, and a couple of others charged off the front and were thundering away from the rest. Alan B, Brian Girard, Hunter P kept it close. Then Gibertoni went full plaid to get his teammates across the gap before the climb up route 70. Great piece of team riding, as Gibbers was cooked for the night with that effort. Alan B took advantage and surged thru the break as the climb started, with all the familiar guys in tow. His pull put more than a few on the ropes. Hongster then attacked, and only Lucas H, Hunter P, and Aaron B had the get up to go. The four rolled up the hill, rotating nearly flat out, with the chase behind going near flat out as well. The gap never got more than 50 meters, and Alan B chipped away at it until a few guys were able to make the juncture right before the light, which was green. Hongster stayed on the gas enough that no one had it to come around, and then Hunter P was able to jump out for the Hickory Hill sprint uncontested, with Hongster still going hard enough to back everyone else off. Alan was there to make it the second 1-2-3 of the night for the Cheshire squad.

Through the back roads, incident struck as Hongster and Alan B crossed wheels to test the shear resistance of their spokes (Guess what, it's not that high). At that moment, Aaron B jumped the pack, taking along only Lucas H. Despite an eventual full-flight chase from the pack, those 2 would end the ride alone, with Aaron B taking the sprint from Lucas, who is still working out where the line is.

GREAT ride everyone!

Tuesday the 30th

Shaved Legs = 10watts

 

Another good size crew was out for the ride this week, despite the threat of rain. Roughly 25 showed up. Tommy Dudzik went full plaid and rolled up with proper shaved legs, so everyone knew it was going to be a hootinnanny of a ride. 

Nobody wanted to take the early action, as you had the young gun who is becoming an SGR regular in Aaron B was upfront often, many times chasing down his Jr Black brother. Chris C, Little T, and Dan Smith all chipped in over the first several miles. The few Cheshire Cycle riders in the pack rolled along as passengers as their instigator teammates were still lost in the land of the Canuck.

All was quiet until Aaron B went off like a rocket at the start of Moss Farms. He took along Tommy D and the duo would stay out for a solid 30 min effort. The peleton got some reinforcements with Jordan L and Rusty (great to him back out on the ride) joining in on the ride, and the subsequent chase. 

Chris C had extra grumblecakes before the ride and was angrryer than usual with the lackluster group that didn’t want to pull. Pretty much just him, Dan Smith, Jordan, Little T and a new kid in a Fordham kit were doing all the work. Father time Dan Dudzik tried his hand at blocking several times and got a mouth full of those cakes bits of encouragement from Chris C going up Southington mountain. Some were pissed, some had chuckles at Father's effort. But that's teamwork folks.

Up the road, Aaron B rolled thru the sprint ahead, but they weren't fighting for it, as Tommy D is still wet behind the ears as far as the easter eggs of the ride go. The rain hit everyone hard, but it was brief. The chase was enough to bring the duo back into sight, and it was all together again as the peleton descended into Plantsville. Little T then attacked to get a small gap, with Aaron B trying to latch on as well. The duo was brought back by a brief red light pause going over route 322. At that moment Dan Smith countered. He held the gap long enough to get under a green light on route 10, whereas the peleton had to stop. That was the ride for the night! 

Good ride everyone!

Tuesday the 23rd

The CCAP kids bring it to the SG Ride

The biggest group of the year rolled out with a lot of new faces, including the return of Tommy Dudzik's hairy legs! Tommy D was there with his father Dan. Chris Hong, the Hongster was back for the first time this season. Special Ed was out. Karel Citroen was back out for another SG ride. There was even a Sherpa rider, John Daut, who made the trip up from Fairfield County to ride. Noteworthy in attendance was the yellow triumvirate of C-Capper juniors; Nic V, Curly Huesman, and Johhny M. They stuck together during the early parts of the ride like a well-oiled machine, showing the other teams how to do it.

The first quarter of the ride was quickish, but it was clear that several of the stronger guys were playing it close to the chest in anticipation for the haymakers to start. Traffic slowed the approach to Mountain Rd. Alan B looked like he was going to jump on the early parts, and then Aaron B was pushing it. Dan Smith and the C-Cappers had a dig or two. Past the halfway mark, Alan B saw a chance to jump, and it was soon him, Curly, Dan Smith, and a couple of others (Richard Knowles?) with a gap. Hongster and Aaron B  jumped across, taking along Hunter P. There was some hesitation upfront, allowing Hunter P to go for it, but the light was red.

Onto Moss Farms where Alan and Aaron B stayed on it but not fast enough to get a gap. Tom Dudzik was getting involved in the mix as well. Towards the end of Moss Farms, going downhill towards the intersection, Alan B, Hongster, Aaron B found themselves off the front with a gap. Behind, the response lagged a bit but then Dudzik got to the front with a strong pull. Then Dan Smith came thru with a few guys in tow. Everyone made it thru the intersection safely. Up to Marion Ave, Hunter P jumped across the gap and to the front to keep the break going. That got the CCAP kids to the front, drilling it hard. The gap to the break held for close to a km, but it was all back together soon after. Hongster, Alan and Aaron B, and Hunter P were all looking twitchy near the front, but no one took a chance to counter, and the light on 322 was red.

Past the light, heading towards Mount Vernon, Alan B, and Curly rolled off the front and were going at a pace good enough to separate from the rest. Karel C, and Daut rolled off the front in chase. Once onto Mount Vernon, with the gap to the two going up, Aaron B attacked hard, taking along Hunter P. That set up off a chase in the pack behind that stung for a minute or two. Chris C, Special Ed, Daut, Gibertoni, Hunter P, and the Dudziks all were working hard in that time. Once it was all back together heading up the false flat everyone looked around at each other for a bit. Chris C took off the front with Dan Smith but that was short-lived. More touch and go upfront as it was truce by mutually assured destruction. Hongster had enough of it and attacked with a ways to go before the corner. Alan B jumped to bridge but didn't make it across the gap. Confusion reigned at the front of the pack as it was clear the threat was minimal if the two powerhouses couldn't get together up the road.

Hongster held his gap all the way onto Welch, and up onto West St. Impressive riding! Behind Little T jumped hard at the base of the climb to the corner, and was quickly in pursuit. He caught Hong and went thru alone. Behind, Chris C, Aaron B, and Hunter P all were rotating thru the front but it was clear that T was going to get it. As the rest hit the top, Hunter P jumped with Alan B and Hong to create some space but it was pretty much all together for the ride back into Cheshire.

Dan Smith jumped off the front going underneath the highway on Canal St and was able to hold the gap to the light. The chase was close behind and everyone got the light on 322. Dan Smith kept on the gas all the same. Curly soon after jumped hard to close the gap and took not a soul with him. That led to two up the road with a 15-20 second gap heading up to Route 10. Alan B jumped on the last climb on West Johnson but had to hold up for the light. Dan Smith and Curly got thru the light and so everyone was once again faced with a "let's work together" chase situation.

Once everyone was on the same page, the chase was on, but it was primarily Hongster, Alan and Aaron B, and Hunter doing the early chase. Rosenthal jumped hard on the climb up to Cheshire St. Then a small group led by Alan B broke off the front. Max A and Estaban S were in the mix chasing down the small group. The leaders were still out of sight once on the long uphill drag to the second sprint. Alan B and Hunter P led it out early on, then Hongster attacked the chase. He took along Hunter P immediately, with Aaron B and Tommy Dudzik matching the pace. Curly and Dan Smith held the gap thru the sprint and did not race for it. Curly didn't know where exactly the line was.

The front came together going through the intersection at route 68. The chase was bearing down at that point but the main pack had to hold up a second bit for traffic. The lead group went to work immediately and with good teamwork, was able to stay away for the rest of the night.

Toward the end, Hongster's repeated attacks shed Dan Smith and Dudzik. Heading into the final kilo, Aaron B jumped the remaining guys hard and was able to get a gap which he was able to hold to the line.

Awesome ride everyone! New PRs were set on the night. Hope to see the speedsters from the CCAP out more until racing resumes at the 'Rent later in the summer.

Tuesday the 16th

Big Crowd... Mellow Pace

The turnout continues to increase bit by bit each week. There were close to 30 guys at the start this week, though once again, it dwindled down during the first half of the ride. Aaron B got the turnaround sprint by surging off the front from a ways back and holding it all the way.

Hunter P then attacked on Canal St, going underneath the highway. He got the gap and held it to light on Route 322. He got the green as Chris C was trying to bridge. He had to stop at the light, as did the entire pack. That was the ride. Hunter P stayed off the front for the rest of the way back into Hamden.

Back in the pack, Aaron B snuck off the front in the transition from the Hickory Hill Sprint to the backroads of East Cheshire. He rolled solo as well, and came close to closing the gap to Hunter P but the gap from the lights was too much to take back.

Tuesday the 9th

Quick, send reinforcements! 

There were 20 or so riders out today for what ended up being a barn burner of a ride! Early accelerations came from Dillon P and a couple of the CVC boys. Alan B, ABlack, and a new guy on a Specialized tarmac were up front as well. Alan B put in a couple of digs in the first 15 minutes but there were plenty of fresh legs to keep everything together.

Mountain road was chopped up due to road paving, so that broke up the pack a little bit as Alan B, Little T, and a couple of others were upfront pushing the pace. The disorganization allowed Alan B and ABlack to roll off the front midway through Mountain Road. They met up with Jordan Lynn who was backtracking on the course and all of a sudden that threesome looked like it was rolling away. Back in the pack CVC went to the front to try and bring it back. Chipping in also was Gregg F and Hunter P. The three up front would have rolled away had it not been for the red light RT 68/70.

Damage was done in the pack though, at least four or five guys got dropped and were not to be seen of again. Once the ride got back onto Moss farms, Alan B looked ready to strike out again, and then Ablack as well. But it stayed all together as everybody ripped through the chicane and then on to Marion Avenue. Little T jumped off the front getting to the intersection for Marion, and a couple of others followed suit, but it wasn't enough to drive a wedge in the pack just quite yet. Then Alan B took advantage of the soft legs and jumped off the front. A couple of chasers, Chris C, Aaron B went along and then that created a gap to the rest.

As everyone was rolling by the industrial park Hunter P jumped across the gap which set into a set into motion a quick response from anybody who had the legs to go for it. Hunter P got across the gap but dragged a few other guys all with him, leading to a truce up front which allowed it to come back together. The result: More guys dropped. The now smaller front group got a green light quickly going over Rt 322 and from there the group took a moment or two to reset and catch their breath.

There are a couple of early moves on Mount Vernon but nothing serious enough to be considered a breakaway. Most of it coming from Alan B, Chris C, or Ablack. Eventually, the persistent surges plus teamwork from the CCR guys gave Alan B and Ablack a chance to roll off the front. The chase came from CVC once again, and it all came back together just in time for the false flat section. Hunter P  then attacked taking along Chris C and those two got to work on a gap.

Never to be left out, Alnn B and Ablack bridged up taking also Little T with them which made for a group of five up the road. Behind Brian G, the aforementioned new guy, Steve Beaulieu and a couple of others kept the pace honest but it was not enough to bring the quintet back by the corner for Welch road. Upfront Ablack took to the front keeping the pace high before any cat and mouse games could start. Going into the sprint, Little T jumped from behind all and hit the headwind. Hunter P came around and was took it by a few bike lengths. The gap to the breakaway was 8 to 10 seconds at the start of Welch Rd but after the leaders settled in on West Street it was much higher. With the gap in hand, the breakaway stayed away for the rest of the ride.

There was plenty of drama in the break as it was CCR versus CVC with Ablack playing the wild card. For the Hickory Hill Sprint, Alan B took it over Ablack. And those two ended up holding the escaped despite the chase from Little T and Chris C.  The remnants of the peloton, just six or seven guys, rolled in three minutes later. Great ride everyone!

Tuesday the 2nd

The ride is back!

Last week was the soft opening for the post covered 2020 sleeping giant ride season. There were about 12 guys out which was more than expected. A couple of days ago restrictions within the state had been loosened, allowing up to 20 riders. We took advantage of it today! Just about 20 or 19 riders were out and it was a great ride. Alan B, Aaron B, Hunter P, Chris C, and even Kyle Crowell even got into the action! There were numerous attacks in the first half of the ride, but nothing got away from more than a few minutes. On Mount Vernon, Alan B had a solo breakaway that lasted a little bit, but it was altogether by the turnaround sprint. Despite some strong attacks from the usuals, it was Little T who came around and got the sprint easily.

Onto the next sprint on route 70 in Cheshire, where Alan B led the entire field out up the climb. A stiff headwind pushed him back and minimized any chance of him riding away. In the final 500m Aaron B and Hunter P jumped off and went head-to-head to the line with Hunter P getting it by a bike length. From there to the finish, the dwindling pack of seven or eight guys kept it fast. Aaron B had a couple of flyers off the front, but the CVC guys were usually there to close it down. Max A, Chris C and Dan Smith all had good pulls in the final kilometers. Dan had an excellent final dig for the finish line chasing down Alan B and Aaron B but it was too late. Alan B took the final sprint.