Tuesday the 25th

Everyone is excited to be back together as one big happy family! 

With there being no race up in East Hartford, it was back to 2011-like numbers at SGR tonight!

It was great to see a couple of the Essex crew back out again. Guess they weren't completely scared off after last week. Out of the gate,Big Red and Aaron B were ready to go.  Once off route 10 the ride was a bit slow to get going though. Soon enough, the pace got going behind Wild Bill, Dillon P, Steve Grey, a rider from Class Cycles, along with others.

Aaron B pushed the pace up the early parts of the Mountain Rd, and no one went with him. He had a bit of a gap when Wild Bill jumped to bridge, and then Hunter P which created a dangerous trio off the front, and the rest of the pack got to chasing hard. The break had 200 meters at one point, but it started to come back as everyone drew close to the light on route 68/70. The light was red, and it was grouppo compacto.

Onto Moss Farms, where the Body Over Bikes guys pushed it thru the corner, along with Hacker, Chris C, The Sernyak, Hunter P, Steve B, and Aaron B. The reaction was quick from the pack, and it came back together soon after. Hacker jumped and attacked once more, taking along Kevin M and Rich N. Traffic at the 4-way intersection brought it all back together. Going up to Marion, Little T jumped along with Dillon P, but that fell apart a little way up the road as Bill Clark, Scala, Aaron B, Costa Rica John, and a couple of others chased hard.  

Then Aaron B led off the front with Kevin M and Hutner P. That stretched it out as the ride came up to the light on 322. The light was green but there was a trailer that wasn't turning right away, which caused a problem when everyone shot thru on the far right. The leaders in the pack were in a tough spot. Slamming on the brakes when the whole pack saw green could have caused a pileup. So slipping thru as best as possible was probably the only option.

Four riders got thru first and then kept the hammer down. Steve B, Rich N, Turner French and Steve Grey. That group got to work heading onto Mount Vernon.

Back in the pack, CW and BoB took care of early pace-setting, but it was a bit short of a full-on chase. Wild Bill then hit the front, then Joe K, then Costa Rica John and Aaron B. That got the pace going. More tricky riding around a UPS truck by Mount Southington slowed everyone down, giving the break a few more minutes.

Up front, Steve B was setting a big pace, and as the break hit the false flat section on Mount Vernon, Turner French and Rich N were dropping off the pace. The two up front stayed on it though. Wild Bill put in another dig as the pack rolled thru the false flat section. Xander Beck and Hacker also pushed the pace, which brought the gap back to the two leaders. Before the catch was made, there were some shenanigans from Aaron B, Erin Rand, Hunter P, and Costa Rica John, but the bullets were spent by the time the two leaders came back for good.

As everyone reshuffled, there was a big surge from Class Cycles, Costa Rica John, Wild Bill, and Hunter P. That let Noah Black slip off the front going the corner for Welch, and the pack let him roll. Aaron B tried to encourage a bit of a chase as everyone got close to the uphill corner, but overall it was mellow. Then Little T jumped for at the base of the hill, Steve Grey jumped, Costa Rica John, Aaron B, Kevin M, HUnter P, Hacker, and Steve B all jumped as well. Noah was caught, Kevin M kept chasing, and LIttle T led everyone out into the wind. Aaron B jumped first for the sprint, but Costa Rica John was able to stay with him and then scoot around for the sprint with Hunter P rolling in behind.

The front group of sprinters kept on it and then caught a green light. They got held up at the next light though, which gave the pack a chance to catch back. Chris C gave someone an ear full, but most didnt know what he was talking about, which often would qualify as senility. Then Chris was trash-talking Mike Hons, mistaking him as Hunter P, which is also a sign of you-know-what.

Everyone stayed together heading back into Cheshire. Bill Clark, the Sernyak, and one other tried to sneak off the front but no dice. The pace stayed calm all the way to the base of the greenhouse climb. Costa Rica John was the first to jump on the climb. Then the pace slowed down a bit as no one was eager to test themselves into the wind. Evan B rolled off the front briefly, then Mike Williams and Steve B punched it. That got the pace going up the rest of the climb but the light was red at the top. Costa Rica John, Aaron B, Hons and Hunter P jumped hard on green, then Little T started the sprint from a ways back. Aaron B then jumped with Hunter P behind. Aaron sat up after passing T, giving Hunter P the sprint.

There were the usual attacks on Coleman and Boulder but nothing stuck. Billy Clark, hit the front, then Wild Bill, then Costa Rica John, then Hunter P with Scala on the early uphill of Tuttle. It was all together, though by the downhill on Tuttle. For the finale, Little T took the sprint in front of the usual crew.

Tuesday the 18th

 Most of the fast guys were notably absent (the first rentscheler field race was tonight)

It was great to see a bunch of riders from the famous Friday Morning Throwdown in Chester. 

The ride? It was more steady than usual, and Little T took all three sprints.

Tuesday the 11th

Chris C is back, let's raise his blood pressure! 

The ride was spicy early on thanks to Wild Bill and Hunter P who attacked hard in the first couple miles and kept the gap going until North Brooksville. After they got caught the ride turned on to Mountain Rd and it stayed together all the way to the end. Hunter P and Aaron B tried to sneak off the front, but the two were held up at the red light. Soon after the ride turned down to Moss Farms hacker took off the front along with Steve B and a couple of others. They had a little bit of a gap heading into the chicane, but when Kieran age and Aaron B made a move to jump across up the hill to Marion, the rest of the field followed. Heading up to the light on route 322 Chris B jumped off the front and had a good gap. Everyone was content to let him take a chance at the light, but it was red as well. Onto Mount Vernon, where Rich N, Aaron B, Steve B, Nic V, and one or two others had a small gap early on. It only lasted a short time. The group started to break up and the chase was soon upon them.

To pace stayed high all the way down Mount Vernon and onto Welch Rd. The Body over bike guys, Big Red, and Wild Bill kept the pace high there. Little T jumped off the front early, before the corner, and had a small gap heading through the corner. Steve B, Hunter P, Hacker, Aaron B, and a couple of others were right there chasing. Little T was caught soon after, and then Chris C made his way through the pack and led it out. Aaron B jumped hard and was able to get the sprint uncontested. On the backside it all came together and of course there was a couple of red lights that slowed everybody down. Hunter P jumped hard with Hacker once all the lights were past but there were enough guys to respond, plus a light up the road was red. Onto Atwater street where Scala surged off the front, taking Hunter P with him. Those two created a gap that Thule Tom, Kevin Mullally, and Steve B fought hard to chase back. That group of five held the gap all the way to the light going back over 322, and they came within moments of getting it green. Hunter P and Scala held up at the last moment, with the pack bearing down on them. It was one of the few moments of responsible riding all night long.

Scala was back at it on West Johnson avenue, where he tried to attack before the light on Route 10. He drew out a couple others and those had a slim chance at the light but alas it was red. The ride ripped across East Johnson avenue and then on to Cheshire Street. Gibertoni and Steve B tried to have a go off the front but the pack goes downhill much too fast.

Onto the greenhouse climb where the usual characters jumped off the front early on. Kieran H was the first to go, and he took along Little T, Aaron B, Scala, Steve B, and a couple of others. Behind them, the response came from The Sernyak, the rest of the Body Over Bike guys, Turner French, Alex D, Rosey, and Chris C. Guys played musical chairs between the groups all the way up the hill. Some moved up, some moved back. It came down to Hacker, Aaron B, Keiran H, Little T nursing a short gap that was falling to the chase as they all came up to the light. The light was red is red gets but the group charged through all the same. Behind the chase was led by Turner French, Hunter P, Steve Grey, and a couple of other guys. Everyone went through the light as a pickup truck was heading up through the intersection.

Blatant foul on this one so no one in the front group gets credit or points for the sprint. Be careful everyone! It's one thing to go through a light that just turned red with stopped traffic aside. It's a totally different matter to lead the whole pack through a light that's been red for 5 seconds.

To add insult to injury, the next light up the road at route 68 was red, and Gibertoni and Hunter P rolled that one. In their defense, the driver slowed for the corner and waved them through.

The rest of the ride was quick but there was little activity or attacking off the front. There was a small break on something something street. Steve B, Hunter Thule Tom, and a couple of others pushed off the front but it didn't go very far. Charging down the hill to final km, Aaron B rolled off the front but that also didn't get anywhere. It all came down to the usual 10 guys jostling around for position in the final kilometer and in the end it was Little T sprinting around Aaron B for the final line.

A messy but fun ride. Next week the sleeping giant gets a bit of respite as the CCAPs Tuesday night training series starts up in East Hartford. No doubt many SGR riders will be getting their actual race on up there at Renschler Field.

Tuesday the 4th

What's that quiet sound?

Great ride tonight everyone! 

Steve B gets the big balls award. He got the light on 322 and stuck it out off the front for the whole way of Mount Vernon. The pack behind had to wait at the light forever. Steve managed to stay out front long enough to get the sprint point after Welch. A-A-Ron and Hunter got the rest of the point. 

Keiran almost nabbbed victory at the second sprint, but A-A-Ron tracked him down. 

A-A-Ron managed to get the final sprint as well. 

We hope Chris C gets better quickly!

Tuesday the 27th

Another week of At the start of the ride tonight, guys had a few ants in the pants. The Body Over Bike guys especially. They were quick to dart out of the parking lot but, at the same time, respectful of route 10 etiquette.

Once the ride turned off route 10 it got going a bit more but there were no big attacks. Aaron B led everyone at first with a respectable pace. The body over bikes guys stayed up there, as did Jason Williams, Gibertoni, and Scott Rosy Rosenthal. Jordan was spotted up front quite a bit, setting tempo with his teammate Rusty.  All in all, the pace was calm all the way up to the light on 68/70.

Wild Bill took a dig off the front early on Mountain RD. The pack reeled him in a kilo or two later though. Getting onto Moss Farms, Wild Bill was quick to hit the afterburners along with Gibertoni, Hunter P and Thule Tom. It wasn't enough to get a gap though. Aaron B then attacked, and the timing looked good, but everyone was coming around. When Jordan Lynn jumped as well, everyone got going. Steve B was the last to get across the gap but traffic at the 4-way intersection meant a reset. Everyone was together going up the hill to Marion.

Next to attack was Hunter P, who took a flyer on the way to the light. It was red so nothing doing there. Onto Mount Vernon where Aaron B, Rich Nadeau and Wild Bill got things going initially. The pack stayed together all the way down Mount Vernon. A good bit of posturing, no real attacking. Once the ride turned onto Welch for the turnaround though, Wild Bill took off. Then Steve B jumped up to bridge the gap. Behind, The Sernyak, Rosy, Thule Tom, Joe K, and Chris C were que'd up at the front, ready to pounce on the hill. Then Jordan L struck off the front, and the rest gave chase. Wild Bll was caught on the hill before the corner, and Steve nursed a slim lead onto West St. Joe K moved off the front, and had teammates right behind "blocking." That made it two up the road, as Steve B was able to gain on the rest in the headwind.

With 300 meters to go, Joe K rolled away from a fading Steve B, who was not sure of where the sprint point was. Joe was all-in when Kieran H, Aaron B, and Hunter P jumped for the sprint. Aaron B had a good jump and was able to hold it in front of Hunter P, with Joe K's effort netting him 3rd across the line.

Down the backside, Kieran and Hunter P stayed on it, as did Aaron B. The headwind + everyone behind realizing if they had an inch, they'd take a mile, kept the leaders close, and it was all together going over 84. After that, the pace stated steady. It was good to see Big Red back at the front pushing the pace. Heading onto Atwater, a small group led by Wild Bill was pushing off the front no one was willing to let that go. Hunter P attacked going under the overpass and had a gap heading to the light. At the last second, he got the green light but the chase, which was 75 meters behind, slipped thru a yellow/red turning light, which brought the pack together for the ride back into Cheshire.

Heading up to the light on route 10, Jeff Scala, Joe K, Hunter P, and Evan B made a break for it, but the light was red (sad trombone). Grouppo Compacto for the now weekly slow-down approach into the Greenhouse climb, which also gave everyone a chance to rinse the sand out of their you-know-wheres. Give the Body Over Bike guys credit for at least keeping the pace respectable. The usual suspects were near the front for the start of the climb. One could almost feel the sigh of relief when young Kieran took off off the front. This gave the chance for a few new guys to set the pace up the climb (A rider from Class Cycles, Rich Nadeau, Scala, and Wild Bill) as well as Chris C. They set a good enough pace that Kieran was on his way back as everyone went under the light. Steve B and Turner French once again got involved in the chase. Aaron B jumped first again and had the legs to stay in front of Hunter P as the two passed Kieran with 50 meters to go to the sprint. Once again, the three stayed on the gas, but everyone got the green light at the corner.

The ride back into Hamden was uneventful. Thule Tom and Hunter P attacked once, then the Sernyak. Then Aaron B, Esteban S, Rich N, Scala, and Rosy. Then Hunter P rolled off the front and hit the downhill with a 100-meter gap. That was eaten up as the road flattened out, setting up a the positioning showdown between Body Over Bike, CW, the Sernyak, Wild Bill, and a couple of other riders thrown in for good measure (Vitaly, Esteban, Thule Tom, Alex D). Aaron B jumped with Rich N on his wheel. Hunter P came around Dillon P late, but neither could get around Aaron, who made it three for three on the night.

Tuesday the 20th

The Long Loop! 

More new faces out on the ride today and more guys were willing to dip their toes into the deep end. It helped that a big wind from the south pushed all the strong guys into submission on the way home. The ride was going the full long loop today, and it was evident that a few riders were worries about how the legs would fair with the increased effort. 

Early prognosticators were once again Wild Bill, Nic V, and the Body Over Bike team. Hacker, Nuemotion, and Little T were up there as well for good measure in the first 10 miles. There was another woman out to do the ride with Patsy and Lisa Lochner, which is tip top in our book. 

The pace was solid, with no real attacks in early parts. Steve B took a flyer on Mountain Rd but didn't get too far. Aaron B lifted the pace in a couple of spots. Hacker was looking like he was ready to rumble as well. Hunter P took a flyer into the light on 68/70 along with Wild Bill, but it was red. 

Moss Farms was more of the same. Little T took a dig going up to Marion and he had a crew willing to do the same. That led to a small breakaway before getting to the industrial park. Little T, Chris C, Hunter P, Aaron B, Gibertoni, The rider on the orange C-Dale, and Mike Williams from BOB. That group kept it ticking along but by the I84 bridge it was all back together again. 

There were no attacks on Mount Vernon worth telling mom about. The pace was steady but no one was willing to overextend themselves with the new turnaround looming. It also didn't help that Nic V got a flat on Mount Vernon. With Curly, Johnny Meyerle, and Costa Rica John all stopping to assist, the rest of the pack immediately had no over-anxious youngsters to worry about. 

Into Welch, Steve B attacked again, taking along Hacker this time. Those two build a decent gap but as the corner came up, it fell apart. Hacker stayed on it but as the headwind smacked the front of the group,  everyone went into slo-mo mode. Vitaly Kantorovich, and Chris C pulled up front as the group came past Hacker. Then Aaron B got to the front and punched it with several hundred meters to go. He rolled off in front Kantorovich without much response and was able to stick it all the way to the sprint. Behind, Steve B battled it out with Nuemotion for the table scrapes. 

On the backside, Kantorovich and Hunter P tried to sneak off into the headwind near the 84 interchange, but a red light brought it all back together. From there, back into Cheshire, it was steady-eddy with nothing too exciting up front. Gibertoni got a good gap heading down Atwater, but the headwind was too tough to overcome. 

Fast forward to the greenhouse climb, the headwind made for a super-slow approach to the climb. The early part of the climb was Cat5 like. Vitaly was setting the pace. Scala as well. Rosy made an appearance near the top. Going thru the light, Turner French moved past Chris C to take a dig, but Aaron B and Hunter P were queuing up behind. Aaron launched it hard with 300 meters to go was able to stay in front of Hunter at the line by a wheel or two. After that, the rest of the pack hit a reset for the ride back into Hamden. 

The rider on the Orange C-Dale (Name???) had an attack up Coleman. Then Alex D' Souza attacked up Boulder. Then Steve B attacked going into the downhill on Tuttle, which finally riled his CW teammates up, as well as everyone else who wanted to be up front for the final kilometer. 

It was a fast run into the end, with Kevin Mullaly and Erin Rand challenging Sernyak and the usual sprinters for position. The final was all Little T and Aaron B though, and Little T was able to edge it out to get the points.

Good ride everyone. Next week will be another good one!

Tuesday the 13th

 

More Mellow More Smiles

Another large group for today's ride. A couple of big guns were not in attendance so the ride overall was a bit calmer. However, it was great to see some new (and new old) faces out on the ride. 

Steve May, Rich Nadeau, Steve Grey-Gray?, Jeff Scala, joined a few new faces from Fairfield County. Also good to see was Hacker, who, like the creators of South Park, has been trying to get canceled for like 3 years now. Either that or he's been waiting responsibly to get his vaccine to get back to Tuesday night action. 

He was one of the guys attacking Mountain Rd. Steve B and Dan Smith from CW were up there as well. Aaron B was rolling off the front before that, but he took a corner a bit early and had to chase back on. "Early and eager" is his MO these days (Congratulations Aaron and Goldie!)

An attack by Steve B briefly saw the light of day halfway down Mountain Rd, but it was all together getting up to the light on route 68\70. Hacker was back up at the front, along with Aaron B on Moss Farms, but it stayed together all the way toward the light on route 322. Nic V, Hunter P, Steve May, Scala, and Bill Thompson had a bit of a dig after the corner for Marion, but that was short-lived. 

There were no attacks on Mount Vernon. Chris C, like the good and always positive leader he is, raced everyone to be at the front for the corner of Prospect. The pace headed eastward was steady if a bit unimpressive. Scala, Nadeau, Costa Rica John, and Chris C dictated the pace. Next week should be the first week of the full long loop, but you'll have to wait for confirmation on Tuesday for that. 

Onto West St and then Atwater. Hunter P surged going under the highway but there were plenty of guys to go with him. Then to West Johnson, where there was more "I don't know where we're going" shenanigans from the Body Over Bike boys. The light crossing route 10 was red, so it wasn't too big a deal.

The next attack came from Evan B, heading up to the corner of East Johnson / Cheshire St. He rode off a gap that lasted close to the base of the greenhouse climb. Then, Scala, Nic V, and Dan Smith rode charged hard off the front. That trio was allowed a small run off the front. Then Aaron B jumped hard. Just Costa Rica John and Hunter P went with him. Behind Black, they got a gap that no one was going to quickly bring back. Aaron attacked again and gapped the others, leaving John to set the pace. The chase was coming up, and Chris C was able to latch on. Black was fading by the top of the climb and the light. This set up Hunter P for an easy sprint, followed by Costa Rica John and a Body over Bike rider (?). 

It was altogether heading back into Hamden. Along the way, Nic V attacked, Steve B had another go, Body Over Bike as well, but nothing stuck until Aaron B attacked hard up the Coleman climb. Initially it was just Costa Rica John, Chris C, and Nic V that responded, but soon the entire pack was back on the gas. Up the climb on Tuttle with Aaron B holding his 50-meter gap, Chris C had a coronary on the front when no one would come through, nearly crashing Nic V and a couple of others. That slowed the chase a bit. 

Once it got going again, Aaron was diving down the Tuttle descent. Steve B and Erin Rand from CW hit the front hard and brought back some of the gap. Then Mike Williams and S.May rolled thru. On the short risers near the 1K to go mark it was all together. A group of 5 or 6 (CW, Sernyak, Hunter P, Scala, Nic V,) jostled near the front for position heading to the sprint. That was enough to spring a short gap to the rest of the pack. Behind Dillon P timed his finish line run to perfection, coming thru the pack, across the gap, and even thru the front pack without ever leaving his saddle. He cruised across the line at 700w with a few bike lengths to spare.