Tuesday the 2nd

Back to the usual hi-jinks

      When there actually is a SG ride this year, the crowds have been very good for it. Today was no different. At least 50 riders started but it was quickly winnowed down from the hard riding.
       First to bat, Dillon P rolled off and was joined by Simon B. Those 2 gained a decent gap as the pack slowed for corners and traffic. Eventually it all came back together on Mountain Rd though Simon B stayed on it a bit longer. There was some cagey riding, and some strong pulls from the usuals. But it stayed together to Route 68.
      Hacker was quick to get the pace going on Moss Farm, and he immediately had Sernyak and Hunter P along. Then Big Red hit the front and pinned it for a solid kilo, as the guys behind were content to let him power the front. The tailwind meant that everyone was riding 385w+ just to stay where they were. No surprise that a good number of guys weren’t able to keep up, even with the tail wind. As Hacker lead the front into the chicane, a gap had formed from the front 7 or 8 guys.
     The leaders would keep it going, with Hacker and Then Hunter P leading up the rise to Marion and past. A couple of Yale riders were able to get across the gap, along with a couple of others. But a handful were donesville for the day. Up front Big Red continued his dominance of the front, this time rolling off as the ride went over I84. Hunter P joined and those 2 held a gap to the red light on 322. The pause gave a few riders the chance to get back on.
     Big Red kept it going once past the light. He got off the front with Alan B and Hunter P as the ride turned on Mount Vernon but the field was chasing hard and it was soon back together. From there the ride down Mount Vernon was normal. Getting close to the turn, Alan B took off and he was joined by Big Red. Those 2 held onto a slim gap turning on Welch. Mike McG was in full pursuit along with Rob Dux. Once thru the corner, Hacker jumped hard across the gap, which set off a flurry of counters. It led to an elite group of 6 or 7 off the front with a real deal gap, 250 meters before the corner onto West St.
     Behind, the chase was slowly coming together. Little T, Hunter P, Matt from Yale and a couple of others jumped across the gap on the hill, making for a reshuffling of the front. For the leadout, Alan B would do the final long pull with Hunter P, Mike McG and Little T jumping for the sprint. It went down to T and Mike, with Mike taking advantage of his earlier jump to stay out in front for the points.
     It came back together on the backside. However, as the pack was going over the final light for the I84 interchange, Big Red, Hacker, Sernyak and a new rider on a Single Chain Ring set up (?!) drilled it on the front and peeled off a gap. Chris C also jumped in at the last minute and that group just made the light at Jude Ln. The peleton stopped and the group rolled. Into the headwind the small break was able to put time into the rest, and when they were able to squirt thru the light on 322, it was all over the chase.
    The Stop n Shop prize went to Hacker, although most of the guys were looking to primarily keep the paceline rotating smoothly.  The final prize goes to Big Red.

Great ride everyone!

Tuesday the 25th

RAIN!!!

Tuesday the 18th

Gate Crashers & The Putting Aside of Unwritten Rules

    Another tailwindy night meant that it was going to be fast for the first half. Aidan C and Hoyle played the disruptors early on, steam-rolling off the front right on route 10. Big Red and the Roving Reporter followed, making 4 up the road. Behind, Chris C took the bait and started across the gap. He was joined by Timmy J and Hunter P. The 2 groups came on Mount Sanford and despite some head shaking from Chris C, the leaders kept on it. The traditionalists would sit on for a bit but then they too , ate of that forbidden fruit.
     Behind, the group got caught at the light by Sleeping Giant Driving Range, which allowed for a big enough gap that the upfronters were out of sight. After a little while, things started to ramp up behind. It mostly became Kyle C, Burgess, The Sernyak and a couple of others, fighting to supplant Freight Train Markowitz off the front.
     The break (using that term loosely) held advantage all the way to the turnaround sprint. Roving Reporter and Timmy J would get dispatched from the group, but it picked up firepower when Sean Cahill met the ride and jumped into the rotation. The sprint would be taken by Cahill. Soon after the field would come fighting its way back into contact. From there attacks were squished by the headwind and Freight Train on the front.
     Once onto Peck Lane, Burgess sprinted....lept.....skipped....sashayed(?) off the front in a hurry. He was soon joined by Big Red and those 2 held a gap for 750 meters or so. The Sernyak, Special Ed, and other CVC riders jumped across the gap and brought it all back together before the ride got to route 10 again.
     More fighting into the wind, but the sprint for Stop n shop was an honest affair, with Little T getting over the top of Hoyle. After that, Gibertoni tried to drill it thru town but traffic and plenty of pack fill was there to keep it together. The remainder of the ride was ho hum, not many surprises. The final was swept up by Ben Bruce.

Great ride everyone! Got something to complain about??? You know what to do....

Tuesday the 11th

After weeks of rainy Tuesdays, the ride was out for blood tonight! A strong tailwind made for a record-breaking night. There was also a HUGE crowd out tonight so there was mucho gusto ready to go. Little T cleaned up with the sprint points, although Big Red gave him a run for his money for the Stop n Sprint and the Sit n Sprint.

Tuesday the 21st

The SG Ride roars back and young Crowell is so far, the revelation of 2017.
Chris C was giddy with excitement all ride long.

Tuesday the 14th

RAINED OUT!
(sad face)

Tuesday the 4th

Final SG Ride of 2016…

The switch to 5:30 has traditionally been met with smaller group sizes and tonight was no different. There was only 16 or 17 dudes out tonight. 5 or 6 of those riders would get popped at some point during the fast ride. The SG Ride does NOT go quietly into the night!
   Once again, Alan B was driving the pace in the early sections. He rolled off the front a couple of times. The Sernyak and Chris C were there to keep things together. Dana R and Dillon P were also up there. Turning onto North Brooksvale, Hunter P took off and was allowed to roll off. The chase got going slowly so the gap went up and Hunter P lasted out in front until after the first risers on Mountain Rd. Eventually Chris C would jump across the gap but many others responded. From there the pace stayed decent all the way the light on 68\70. The light was green which didn’t help any of the guys who were struggling to stay connected.  Once onto Mount Vernon, Dana R and Dillon P once again hit it pretty hard. Steve Grey joined in, but the trio never got organized off the front. Chris C would again come across the gap with the Sernyak bringing the rest of the field over.
      After the Chicane, Hunter P attacked up the hill to Marion, taking along Alan B and Chris C. Those 3 held onto a slight gap into the Industrial park but it was soon after all sewed up with Little T and Rusty leading the 10-11 guys who were left. Turning onto West Johnson, Hunter P went again, taking along guess who… Alan B and Chris C once again. And once again they would slowly be brought back.
     As they were caught past the 4-way intersection with Peck Lane, Little T jumped hard and most thought that was that for the mid-point sprint. Chris C and Steve grey stayed on the gas up front though. Little T would have to come off the throttle after turning onto Reinhart and Steve Grey was flying across the gap by then. That led to Hunter P jumping hard at the start of the sprint hill and no one went with him. Alan B took off in pursuit with New Guy Glenn several seconds later but Hunter P had it locked up from afar.
     Alan B and Hunter P kept on the gas on the backside and succeeded in hitting Peck lane with a real gap over the rest of the field. Those 2 stayed off the front of the chasing pack all the way till past the old rail road tracks. From there it was standard stuff getting back onto Route 10 and then up the hill.
    For the run into the Stop n Shop sprint, green lights made it quick. Steve Grey, Tall Dennis, and Chris C were at the front, driving the pace. Alan B tried to snooker the group with a 300 meter attack. Hunter P then bolted off the front but still very early on for the true sprint. A few seconds later Little T took off from a few bikes back and charged up fast. It was a close one between Little and Hunter P but T got it going away.
      The ride back into Hamden was as you would expect, fraught with traffic. The smaller group got thru a little easier than expected. For the finale, it was a blacked-out battle between The Sernyak and Little T. To close to call so someone can fill in the blanks.
      A good ride to close out the season of the Sleeping Giant Rides. It was generally another solid year for the ride. Sure it had its ups and downs and weird moments but overall, the riders that make up the core community should be proud. Quite a few new faces were seen throughout the year. Although they may not have had chance to make the ride a regular occurrence, having the fresh blood always made for more interesting rides. Be sure to leave a vote on the new poll.
    Don’t forget to support CheshireCross on October 29^th. Here is the link. It will be a good time. Long lost Sleepy Giant rider Todd H will be up to his usual shenanigans, leading the “Hill People” in massive revolt against good taste and spectator manners.