Tuesday the 23rd, 2021

SGR officially got a proper start tonight. Great weather meant a big crew was out—25 or 30 riders at the start. The pace was reasonable, rolling into the back roads of Cheshire.

Aaron B was one of the first ones to strike out off the front. He accelerated a few times early on and had Dan Smith and Nic V from the CCAP along for company. Also jabbing off the front was William "Wild Bill" Strebel. He would go on the attack a bunch of times during the ride. On Mount Sanford road, Lucas "Curly" Huseman jumped off the front and that set off alarm bells behind. Eventually, a trio of curly, Dan Smith, and Aaron B got off the front on mountain road. For a moment it looked like the three would be able to stay away, or at least build a gap heading into the traffic light, but there was enough horsepower behind to bring it back.

Chris C put in a big dig, and the Hongster covered a big gap to bring it all together. Onto Moss Farms where again Lucas was active off the front. A couple of half-hearted attempts to break away going into the chicane but everyone was together heading up to Marion. Curly hit the front and drove a split in the front of the pack leading to a small gap of about five or six riders..

Before the industrial park, Kieran Haug jumped off the front, followed by Little T. Into the industrial park It was all together though. Some strong pulls from Nick V, Curly, and the CW guys kept the pace high but no attacks. Turning on to West Johnson, Hongster looked like he was ready to go, along with Chris C and Curly. Keiran also was up there taking advantage of the uphill, but nothing stuck.

Over Route 10 Wild Bill S attacked up the first rise and had a gap going down to the greenhouses. He was brought back by corner though. Chris C and Keiran were back at the front then, but no one delivered the big push to spring a gap. Everyone was waiting for the hill it seemed.

Up the hill on Route 70/Meriden road and Hongster and Keiran were the first to go at it. Curly held them in check, with Hunter P and Dan Smith behind. A group of 5 went clear but then sat up a bit. Curly took that as his cue and he attacked hard. Only Hunter P went with him. Those two got a gap but the light was red and slowed the front of the ride down, giving everyone a chance to catch up.

It wasn't a complete stop, though, and the front riders were through and ripping to the sprint after a brief pause. Chris C put in the last leadout, then Hunter P jumped around and got the sprint ahead of Keiran H and Dan Smith.

The reduced group, now just 10 or so, stayed together for the most part back into Hamden. Kieran attacked a couple of times. Each time, Hongster and Lucas were left to defend, all to the benefit of the rest of the pack. He did manage a good gap in a last ditch flyer, but was brought back with a little less than 1k to go. That set the stage for a monstrous sprint between Aaron B, Little T, and Curly. That was the finishing order on the night.