The Long Loop is back!
The traditional route returned tonight, and it seemed as though most were ok with taking it a tad easier on the first night of the long loop. About 30-40 guys were out tonight. There were a couple of new faces out there to spice things up. Brent DLB and Evan W were out adding to the strong riding that TC Chioffi and Valesquez have been laying down in recent weeks.
As soon as the ride turned off Route 10, Even W rolled off the front and no one said anything in protest. Dan Smith accelerated but the first couple of corners brought him back in. Hunter P rolled off the front and used one of the next corners to escape in pursuit. The two linked up on South Brooksvale with a 150-meter gap and got to work. A late-to-arrive to the ride Jason Williams was there on course and joined in the fun to make it a trio.
The breakaway lasted until about halfway down Mountain Rd. Steve Be then took a flyer but the light on Route 68 was red. Onto Moss Farms where Turner F, Little T, Chris C, and Noah B were active on the front, but it all stayed together. Hunter P tried once again to create a gap heading to the light on 322, to no avail.
On Mount Vernon, the pace settled as guys strapped in for the additional miles.
Heading to the corner for Reinhart, Steve B put in a dig and took along Dan S, Joe Rodrigues and Chris C. Those three were allowed to roll, as a couple of the other would-be sprinters looked around at each other. Sure enough, the new guys kept it going up front. Evan W and BDLB stayed active. The leaders hit the corner with a gap that was going out. Once the chase turned onto West St, it was apparent that no one would be catching them. Hons, the BOB guys Jeff Scala and Rich N, and a couple of others tried to bridge the gap with a strong surge but a little too late for that. Up front, Steve B rolled over the crest first to pick up the bonus points.
On the backside, sensing an opportunity, the leaders stayed on the gas and got thru the first couple of lights no problem. Behind, Hunter P jumped hard across the gap with Noah B in tow. At the light for Jude Lane, the leaders coasted thru the intersection (fair play), Hunter P and Noah B rolled thru at full speed, the pack had traffic to contend with. That allowed the two chasers to get up to the leaders, making it 5 up front (Joe R had come unhitched at the sprint)
Reports say the group generally cooperated up front, although some of the pulls were a bit too spicy for Chris C. Going under the highway on Atwater, the peloton came alive, with Turner F, Little T, Steve B, and others not wanting to miss out on any of the fun up the road. After the uphill. It all came back together before the light going back over 322.
The pace settled down for a while. Dan S and Steve B unsuccessfully tried to sneak the light at Route 10. Heading to the Greenhouse climb and sprint, there were no legit early moves, just solid pacing throughout. Turner F hit the base of the climb and rolled a steady 4.6-4.9 w/kg all the up the climb. Behind him, there was record-low churn and turnover. Proving the power and pace TF was setting, everyone was content to sit in line, and there were no attacks. Right there ready to pounce, was Little T, Jeff Scala, Hunter P, Steve B and Noah B. Steve B was the first jump, from 250 meters out. Hunter P responded and was able to come around. Noah B was right there second over the line, next was Little T.
Turner F and Rich N hit the front for the section right after the light at 68-70 but it all stayed together for the backroads. Turner F and Steve B attacked hard going over the top of Tuttle and rolled the descent with small gap, but nowhere near enough to hold on for the entire sprint. Little T got his revenge on the night by launching early and holding on, with Noah B fighting hard for it all the way to the end. Hunter P was a distant 3rd past the street sign.
