Lots of love on display tonight... awwww, everyone gets along so well.......
Tough ride tonight as the southerly wind made sure no one got a free ride. There was a decent sized crowd out tonight, maybe 35 guys and Robyn. A couple of faces, strong legs, fast bikes, need to be ID'd.... ( Tall Saturn jersey, Devils Gear, Cervelo rider ).
Heading off route 10, no one was really in a hurry. Eric M, Dillon P and Tri guy on a LeMond were setting an easy pace. Then Eric M, who this weekend prolly raced more miles than you drove, stepped it up and the rest was content to watch him ride away. Chris C then decided to meet up with him and the 2 were away by the middle of Brooksvale ave. That didnt last very long and soon, they were sitting up and everyone was back together. There was some strange gaps that opened up thru the next sections as motivation seemed lacking... Heading onto Mountain road, Chris C, Eric M, Dillon P, and one of the new guys took off thru the intial risers. Again, a slow responce time from the rest meant that they would get up a bit of a gap. Moving thru the small step-ups past Higgans, Hunter P shot off the front with an attentive Crazy Chris from Stage1 right in tow. He covered the 40 yard gap pretty quickly but it also got the rest of the field going and soon it was all together and for the rest of the way down Mountain, back up to respectable speeds.
Onto Moss Farms, where the scappy Todd H snuck off the front with Rich Foley. The 2 worked up a good gap as the rest were sorting themselves out behind. Eric M, Hunter P, and Chris C chipped in and covered the bill... Leaving a bit of a tip as well. Heading into the chicane it was Eric M, Chris C, and Hunter P driving it with Rondo leading the field up and thru in pursuit. But things calmed down again heading into the industrial park. Moving up to the hills before Reinhard, Joe K moved up to the front and helped Eric M and Mike McG with tempo setting.
For the sprint, there were a bunch in the mix... Eric M started it off first, Chris C was there, Hunter P and Joe K. Mike McG was sliding back... Little T, rocketed it off from his usual spot and the only one that was going to try was Joe K... Joe did a good job keeping close on the wheel, but T, as expected, had little problem in staying in the front thru the corner. Hunter P and Chris C led the rest up and thru. Onto Peck ln, Luekens ( Craig ) Rondo, and the new guys were up front. Rondo pushed the pace on Sandbank a bit, but everyone seemed to be getting ready for the Route 10 headwind.
After pausing for the light at Maple ave, Rondo jumped off the front in a bid to snooker everyone to the sprint. He made it about halfway before being pushed back by the wind. Crazy Chris, Hunter P and Daddy Luekens were up there bringing everyone up. Luekens lept up for the sprint... Hunter too. It's hard to win a sprint unless you are keeping track of Little T and Mike McG and sure enough the 2 came rifling thru everyone else. Anthony saw the top of the hill the whole time but Mike is getting the credit for this one... Slipping past just at the last moment.
Heading back into Hamden, everyone did a good job working together into the wind. Toward the end, Todd H & Crazy Chris (?) tried to TTT it off the front but that got cock blocked pretty quickly. Speeds were crisp heading into the finale, with a good amount of guys trying to time it better than last week. Eric M, Mike McG, Rondo, Chris C, Luekens... The usual suspects.... Little T was in good position again and throttled it, in-saddle, clearing the field... Hunter P was right there on his wheel and was able to come around him for the finish.
Tuesday the 10th
Its too early for this.... Wake me up in April....
Smaller than expected crowd for the inaugural TWC... Not more than 20 guys (and Robin) out in the cold. There were a couple of new face in the bunch which always makes for a warm fuzzy feeling.
Soon after turning off route 10, Eric M decided he would be the first of the year to cast a stone in everyone's glass house and bolted up the road. Hunter P quickly joined him and the throwdown was officially afoot.
The rest of the field was pretty much content to let the showboating duo ride away... Normal pace was kept up by the Stage one guys, Chris C and Little T Mike McG and Rondo were up there as well, keeping things going. Once onto Mountain Rd, Chris C decided to try to cross the gap. He made it about halfway before cutting power. Up the road, Eric and Hunter were splitting the work load nicely in half and churning out a respectible pace.
Coming up to the light at Route 70. The lead pair had to pause briefly for the light, while the rest of the riders had to wait for a full cycle. That def helped the break along. Also, the chase got disrupted when Rondo flatted.
Getting back to business on Moss Farms, the speed went up went as the ride hit the Chicane and the hill up to Marion, Chris C, chomping at the bit along with Craig L from CCNS drove a wedge in the peleton that spit off a handfull of struggling guys. The catch would be happening soon.
Up the road, Hunter went up and thru the corner for Schoolhouse first, but no sprint happened.
As the 2 came down the hill, the field was right there and they would sit up on Peck lane.
Nothing too interesting on the way back into Cheshire and into Hamden. A couple of squirley moves from some rookies, some lights caught... So old story. Heading into the finish, maybe everyone forgot the distance to the finish, maybe teamwork was bad, but the pace was disrupted by choking afterburners from some of the strong guys... Rondo ( back with the ride after a fix-a-flat), Mike McG, Hunter P, Little T... all pulled thru strong.... and then sat up when there was no one to follow, the ride then reloads and keeps up the pace, but in the end, it was a bleak finish with Eric M soft pedaling thru the Shepard Ave light first.
All in all, a pretty decent start to the year... Perhaps a 6 pm start for next week? ( comments...? )
Smaller than expected crowd for the inaugural TWC... Not more than 20 guys (and Robin) out in the cold. There were a couple of new face in the bunch which always makes for a warm fuzzy feeling.
Soon after turning off route 10, Eric M decided he would be the first of the year to cast a stone in everyone's glass house and bolted up the road. Hunter P quickly joined him and the throwdown was officially afoot.
The rest of the field was pretty much content to let the showboating duo ride away... Normal pace was kept up by the Stage one guys, Chris C and Little T Mike McG and Rondo were up there as well, keeping things going. Once onto Mountain Rd, Chris C decided to try to cross the gap. He made it about halfway before cutting power. Up the road, Eric and Hunter were splitting the work load nicely in half and churning out a respectible pace.
Coming up to the light at Route 70. The lead pair had to pause briefly for the light, while the rest of the riders had to wait for a full cycle. That def helped the break along. Also, the chase got disrupted when Rondo flatted.
Getting back to business on Moss Farms, the speed went up went as the ride hit the Chicane and the hill up to Marion, Chris C, chomping at the bit along with Craig L from CCNS drove a wedge in the peleton that spit off a handfull of struggling guys. The catch would be happening soon.
Up the road, Hunter went up and thru the corner for Schoolhouse first, but no sprint happened.
As the 2 came down the hill, the field was right there and they would sit up on Peck lane.
Nothing too interesting on the way back into Cheshire and into Hamden. A couple of squirley moves from some rookies, some lights caught... So old story. Heading into the finish, maybe everyone forgot the distance to the finish, maybe teamwork was bad, but the pace was disrupted by choking afterburners from some of the strong guys... Rondo ( back with the ride after a fix-a-flat), Mike McG, Hunter P, Little T... all pulled thru strong.... and then sat up when there was no one to follow, the ride then reloads and keeps up the pace, but in the end, it was a bleak finish with Eric M soft pedaling thru the Shepard Ave light first.
All in all, a pretty decent start to the year... Perhaps a 6 pm start for next week? ( comments...? )
One week to go
Hard to believe that the Throwdown will commence in one week's time...
Will Little T continue to sprint like a Ducati?
Will Guido finally pull off the lone Berliner-Breakaway?
Will Rondo finally be elected First Selectman of Sh*t talking?
Will Todd paint himself into a corner?
Will Hunter P learn how to ride in a straight line?
Will someone get arrested by Cheshire's finest?
So many questions.... Only time will tell... Speaking of time there is still some doubt as to the start time... 5 Pm or 5:30... Leave your comments below
Will Little T continue to sprint like a Ducati?
Will Guido finally pull off the lone Berliner-Breakaway?
Will Rondo finally be elected First Selectman of Sh*t talking?
Will Todd paint himself into a corner?
Will Hunter P learn how to ride in a straight line?
Will someone get arrested by Cheshire's finest?
So many questions.... Only time will tell... Speaking of time there is still some doubt as to the start time... 5 Pm or 5:30... Leave your comments below
Sunday the 15th
Hats off to those who set their own speed on sunday.
Mike McG
Hunter P
Curt Davis
Chris C
Guido
Chris Butler
the devils gear rider ( cervelo )
the storm clouds are gathering.....
Mike McG
Hunter P
Curt Davis
Chris C
Guido
Chris Butler
the devils gear rider ( cervelo )
the storm clouds are gathering.....
Tuesday the 6th's Sunday Preride ( the 4th )
Peter P won the Stop and Shop sprint..... But Chris C probably let him.
Tuesday the 14th
The official last ride of 08....
There may be a few guys out next week. But the weather will have to be exceptionally good.
There were only a handful out today....They were:
Gregg F
Chris B
Chris C
Tri guy Trek
Rich on a Giant
Eric M
Hunter P
Rondo
Guido
Dillon P
Joe K
Guido was drilling it early on. Eric M and Hunter P were not letting him go. Chris C kept it going till Mountain rd. Hunter P went up the hill fast, a couple of riders popped off the back after the second group of risers...
Joe K jumped and had a nice solo ride for the second half of Mountain rd. The trio of Eric M, Chris C and Guido slowly brought him back.... Credit Guido for doing the lions share of work.
Rondo was in "spin" mode, so he simply kept the group together. Chris C led everyone up the hill after the chicane, Hunter P stepped in after the corner and went off alone, but that was short lived and he was caught be the industrial park. Gregg F, Chris C and Joe K were working the group up thru the industrial park and up to Rienhard.
Eric M jumped for the sprint first. Hunter P came around him but started his celebration too early, cause Joe K was pulling himself inside and out to catch him by the corner, which he did. Great job Joe! Everyone was together for the ride to Route 10. Joe K peeled off at Sandbank, Hunter P pulled up the hill by Cheshire Park. Chris C led everyone up to the stop n shop sprint. Hunter P got that one ahead of Eric M. Everyone had a chance to work during the run in back to Hamden. Eric M got to the end first.
Great year everyone!!!
.What was your best memory of the 2008 Sleeping Giant Ride? Maybe next week ( or at some point ) we will do a year in review blog.
There may be a few guys out next week. But the weather will have to be exceptionally good.
There were only a handful out today....They were:
Gregg F
Chris B
Chris C
Tri guy Trek
Rich on a Giant
Eric M
Hunter P
Rondo
Guido
Dillon P
Joe K
Guido was drilling it early on. Eric M and Hunter P were not letting him go. Chris C kept it going till Mountain rd. Hunter P went up the hill fast, a couple of riders popped off the back after the second group of risers...
Joe K jumped and had a nice solo ride for the second half of Mountain rd. The trio of Eric M, Chris C and Guido slowly brought him back.... Credit Guido for doing the lions share of work.
Rondo was in "spin" mode, so he simply kept the group together. Chris C led everyone up the hill after the chicane, Hunter P stepped in after the corner and went off alone, but that was short lived and he was caught be the industrial park. Gregg F, Chris C and Joe K were working the group up thru the industrial park and up to Rienhard.
Eric M jumped for the sprint first. Hunter P came around him but started his celebration too early, cause Joe K was pulling himself inside and out to catch him by the corner, which he did. Great job Joe! Everyone was together for the ride to Route 10. Joe K peeled off at Sandbank, Hunter P pulled up the hill by Cheshire Park. Chris C led everyone up to the stop n shop sprint. Hunter P got that one ahead of Eric M. Everyone had a chance to work during the run in back to Hamden. Eric M got to the end first.
Great year everyone!!!
.What was your best memory of the 2008 Sleeping Giant Ride? Maybe next week ( or at some point ) we will do a year in review blog.
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