Tuesday the 2nd

The Breakaway Nearly Drowns Out There!

There was a BIG turnout at SGR this week. The race at Rentschler Field took place on Thursday this week so more guys (and gals) were out in Hamden. It was great to see Inma, Grace, and Lisa visiting the ride. Together with Patsy, the women enjoyed a good ride. Until the skies opened up that is! 

It was HOT out, so the pace was not too much at the beginning. Hons was active for the CCR crew, along with Dillon P. Kevin M was in attendance, as well as Aaron B. Those two would animate the front of the ride as well. 

Little T and Hunter jumped the group at the chicane and the uphill to Marion. That put TF and Hons in a good place to counter going by the industrial park. They couldn't get that to stick, which lead to Hunter P attacking over the highway on the way to the light on 322. Kevin M followed that up with a big push off the front. Kevin M and Hunter P got to the light (which was green) with 20 meter gap to Big Red, Aaron B, and the sleeper of the night: Mike Frisk. That second group got under the yellow-changing-red light, and the pack, while it less than 50 meters behind, wisely stopped.

The leaders went to work on the gap, and the chase had to wait a full cycle. Once they got thru and onto Mount Vernon, it was game on. Everyone was chasing hard and working together to keep the pace up. The break was in sight as everyone barreled down Welch for the turnaround. Up front, into the headwind, Big Red put in a huge pull to get everyone over the crest, where they did not contest the sprint. Big Red and Frisk came off the pace. 

Behind, Little T was not going to go quietly. He jumped the front of the group in his usual spot and kept the pressure on long enough to catch the break as it descended towards the I84 interchange. He caught up with barely anyone from the peleton in sight. Impressive! 

From there, the four (Aaron, B, Little T, Hunter P, and Kevin M) worked well up until going over route 10 which is when Aaron B pulled off for good. The leading trio did not go for the rest of the sprints. They, along with everyone else, hit a wall of rain at the top of the Greenhouse climb. 

Back in the pack, riders scattered from there, with some going the full route back, some going to Stop n Shop fully soaked, and others some heading south on route 10. The rain stopped within 30 min and by 8:15 roads were dry again.