Tuesday the 29th

 Winter has its revenge... Brrrr

There was a smaller than usual crew out tonight as the weather it was cold. A solid core group or stronger riders meant that the attacks were sure to keep coming this week.

The pace was steady but controlled as the ride took to the back roads. Dan Smith and Rich Nadeau took a small gap heading into one of the early corners but there were a few guys that pounced on it soon after. Little T had a dig on Mountain Rd, but it was all together heading down to the first light on course.

On Moss Farms, there were a couple more moves. Dan Smith, Steffen H, Kevin M, Chris C, all with digs off the front. There was a solid move off the front from Dan Smith, Hunter P, and Rich N just past the chicane on Marion. That was given a very short leash, and it was all together going into the industrial park—no big attacks heading up to the light this week.

Going up the hill on East Johnson Ave to Cheshire Rd, Little T put in a huge dig. Turner French, Hunter P, and Ben Bruce all responded and shut it down. There was a gap to the group after the corner, but there were too many fresh legs upfront and not enough cohesion in the break to keep it going. That let everyone sit up a bit, no doubt to prepare for the Greenhouse climb.

Steffen H used the drawdown to roll off the front with 750m to go before the climb. The only chasing came from Turner French, who lifted the pace at the front just enough to start eating into the gap. Steffen H was caught by the climb but stayed out there in front for a bit, setting the pace. Then Turner attacked, taking Hunter P and Rich N with him. Behind, Little T led all other would-be's 20-40 meters back.

The three up front traded pulls and rotated for a good portion of the climb, then Turner attacked once more, with only Hunter P following this time. They came up to the light at the top of the hill with an empty intersection, a solid gap behind them to the pack, and the light turning red by a couple of seconds.

Turner waited, Hunter kept going to roll thru the sprint. Hunter P then rolled thru a green light at route 68, whereas the rest had to stop at red. That was enough of a gap for him to roll away solo on the night.

Tom K slid out after a flat tire and the pack waited. That was basically the end of the action. Let's hope for warmer temps next week!