Tuesday the 14th

 Quiet Night on the SGR Front

Still, it was a good ride with a lot of guys contributing to the pace. The result was a fast, steady ride with very few lulls and plenty of strong pulls from the group.

Jacob launched an attack just before the turnaround sprint on Mount Vernon and managed to open a small gap, but the group stayed organized and brought him back before the climb.

Mike McG then took the reins and led Little T out from the bottom of the hill, through the turn, and to the light, where I took the first sprint. Jacob came through for second. Third place to Tom Krol.

The pace stayed high as everyone contributed back into Cheshire. Little T took the Greenhouse sprint, followed by Tom Krol with a huge seated effort, and then Jacob.

The group had thinned a bit by then but still numbered around ten riders, and the pace never really let up.

Little T got the finale as well, with Christian Stahl, and than Inma Ruiz taking third.

That third-place finish deserves a special mention. As far as we can remember, Inma is the first female rider to score recognized SGR sprint points. A well-earned result after riding confidently in the group all night. Hopefully it's the first of many.

Tuesday the 7th

 Losing two average-size dudes' wattage

Vacations took their toll on attendance today. A slightly smaller crew out there meant that the mid-pack was a little more tense than usual. It was also Sean Maher's final SGR with us as he is moving down south. We're all bummed to see him go, as his assertive, confident riding at SGR always made it a better experience.

The apprehension proved true as, once onto Mountain Rd, Sean blasted off, taking Sean H and Hunter P with him. Once that settled down, Turner French and Steve B countered with a surge off the front. Hunter P jumped on, and that caused everyone else to as well.

At the end of Mountain, Chris C had had enough for the night and turned off. Moss Farms calmed it down a bit for all. No big moves for a while. Mount Vernon also was a bit more tranquil than normal, until Sean Maher had a big dig toward the end, but enough guys jumped on to bring it back before the corner.

Heading up the hill to the sprint, Turner lifted the pace enough to roll through with a small gap. Behind him, Sean Maher was looking ready to chase, but it set up a little late. Steve B was able to accelerate through and into second place, but well off Turner's wheel. Sean was right there in third. That trio set to work pushing the pace on the other side and got all the needed lights. They had a 200-meter gap at one point, but behind them the pack was in full chase mode. Tom Krol helped at first, and then Mike McG and Hunter P kept the pace high, especially on the riser past 84. It was enough to bring it all back together on the downhill before Atwater St.

From there, there was a reset... and fewer guys as well! A few had been dropped and were not coming back.

Sean Hurley attacked off the front on the East Johnson uphill, and he took a few seconds' gap onto Cheshire St. That would be brought back a little while later. Sean Maher was at the front again up the Greenhouse climb, setting a solid pace for most of it, and then Hunter P later on. Hunter P launched it for the sprint early and was just able to hold off a charging Turner French.

Turner kept on the gas while Hunter P peeled off the route. The pack would not catch Turner. He ended up staying away the rest of the night. Steve B was able to get the final sprint for the pack.