RONDO'S RAGE

2/13/12 supplemental

2012-02-13T16:13:00.002-05:00

When we got going again the dude the was up the road was safely tucked into the 1/2 field never to be seen again. Florida has 3 big teams and you live and die by that they decide what goes up the road and what comes back. Its a shitty way of racing but when in Rome. The race picked up and a group of ten had pulled its self clear which I was in the only problem was that we caught the 1/2 pack. There was the Kenda guy a group of 15 at 1 minute then the pack at like 3 minutes they were on there last lap so the official would not let us by but they wernt racing anymore. This allowed the pack to come back to us just as we were hitting the longest of the climbs. I told the guys I was with we should just ride through the caravan. I got mixed reactions, so I just rode through and they all followed. The they neutralized the 1/2's and are break was done. The official told us the one guy from our race was 2:30 up the road . We were now one the last lap so we wernt going to see him, we were racing for 2nd. The last lap was pretty fast they were trying to whittle down the pack fill. The last time up the long climb I was pushing the pace and when we got to the bottom of the decent there were 10 of us or so. The head wind was killer though and nobody wanted to work and the field came back. I was going to wait until the last little hill 1k from the finish to make my move. There was a guy that was hammering up all the climbs and I marked him as the person to follow so I was all over him when we approached the climb. He attacked just as everyone knew he would. A Zmotion guy was on him and I was on the Zmotion we got a good gap but when we got over the rise the headwind smacked us in the face. I was waiting for the Zmo guy to make his surge and go over the top of him but he waited to long and I saw guys coming on my left. They had a head of steam and my legs were to stuffed to get on the train. I should have not waited for the Zmo guy but them is the breaks. I was pretty bummed 70 miles in the 30mph wind and I got nothing but hey there is always the crit on Sunday right. Note Rich Foley and his wife Roz are down here to Rich got 4th in the 50+ race. Robyn was also in the 50+ race and finished in the field.

Sunday the crit
This is an awesome course there is 200 meters of brick road a small rise and 6 corners in under a mile a perfect breakaway course. It was cold about 37- 40 with a strong headwind on the start finish straight.The race was an hour and 5 minutes +5 laps. I was not going to get caught out so I stayed on the front at the beginning. I was in every move for the first 25 minutes and I shit you not the one move I didn't go with was the one that stuck. Besides me there was 2 other guys that wernt on one of the 3 Fla teams so I got fucked again. I waited to see if one of the 2 other guys was going to try to pull the move back and they didn't seem to care. That's when I said fuck it and attacked the break had 30 seconds on me and I had a Florida velo guy on my wheel. He helped a little but not much. I had the break at 15 seconds and was closing but the pack came back and a few guys attacked. I was gassed took a breather for a lap and had to chase the second group down now. I got on them but the break was back to 30seconds i knew that my day was over so I went into make the pack suffer mode. I pulled for 7 laps straight just to get a workout in. As we hit the bell lap a few guys attacked I jumped on but didn't have anything left to sprint. I will say this I got some good hard miles in the wind this weekend.

2/13/12

2012-02-13T06:27:00.002-05:00

Ok I limped back to the start finish and assessed my damage. I had 3 bent spokes and a really out of true wheel. I asked the promoter if there were any mechanics that he knew at the race. He told me of a bike shop down the road. I got Robyn's wheel and ask him if I could jump back in the race on the next lap to get the miles in. This one will blow your mind he replied why don't we sign you up for the 40+ race. I said I didn't want to pay and he was like no we will put you in the race. There is something you will never see up north. As rubeish as these fucks are down here they are light years ahead of us at races. Its all computerized and you don't need you LIC they also have chips that you put on your fork with sensors so there is no cameras. You can also pay for your race with a Credit card day of. I had to wait like 25 minutes for the 40+ race to start. When they lined us up they said the 1/2 race us 2k out and they would catch us if we didn't ride hard from the get go. We started off pretty fast but nothing like the 1/2 start. Dont get me wrong it was still fast. We got around the course with no sign of the 1/2's then with 2k to go on the lap a Kenda rider came up there was a guy up the road from our race suffering in the wind all by himself but I didn't think any thing of it at the time. Then something I never saw before in a race the official made us pull over a stop. We waited 5 minutes for all the 1/2's to come by. I will finish this when I get home, got to catch a plane.

2/12/12

2012-02-12T07:34:00.002-05:00

Holy FUCKING SHIT!!!!!!!!!! Raced in Fla on Saturday 70 mile PRO 1-2. The course was rolling but as I told Robyn on Fridays recon that the wind would be the factor. When we lined up there was a full team type 1 squad and a few Kenda guys. The first lap was warp factor 9. We had about 6 500 meter climbs at about 4-6 % but the wind was kicking at 30mph. When it was a cross wind it was single file and we were in a echelon from curb to curb. This was a problem because of the strict yellow line rule. There was one longer hard climb at 15 miles of the 17 mile loop. I went over that in like 10. I was sitting pretty after the decent there was a hard right into a block headwind. Some of the guys that got gaped on the climb made a big push to get back to the front on the wrong side of the yellow line, we were right on it to protect our positions. There was a big truck coming and the guys on the wrong side of the road had to shift over but there was nowhere for them to go expect for my front wheel. This big ass mother put his rear derailleur through my front wheel. I have to go to the crit now I will post the rest of my shit day later.

2/6/12

2012-02-06T07:49:00.002-05:00

Holy Shit that was a huge ride!

I haven't seen a ride that big at the Giant since the 90's. Everybody was out the S&S boys had a full squad, New Haven crew was full and Iden brought a sizable group also. Throw in the Swiss family Bethel and Chris Peck and you have a ride. I have to say there were over 60 riders. As far as the ride goes not much happened due to the size the ride really didn't break up. Idens guys tried to shake things up but there was always someone to parry the move in a flash. Krusty was quite I guess that he was a little intimidated by the newcomers. As for me I found how long my Di2 battery lasts. Which meant I was to do the ride in small ring. To be honest there was not much to talk about from my perspective. The ride was fast but easy. I say post your take to fill in the blanks. My mind is in Fla already. E will do next weeks post I need to work on my farmers tan a little more. I posted a photo of Matt he takes pictures of everyone so I thought I would take one of him.

Krutsy how did the Pats do last night?

1/31/12

2012-01-31T07:05:00.003-05:00

Krusty's Khronicles

OK I will attempt to write the report. First I will say that we were missing Rondo, Mike and Todd but little t made an appearance. A good group of approximately 25 to 30 started out. The wind was steady out of the west which made for a difficult ride out and back. I started out at a moderate pace on rt-10 and rich Foley went with me. We stayed away until brooksvale park when Josh, hunter, MT man, guido and hunter bridged up. We stayed away until we got stuck at the rt-68 light. After the light things stayed together for the most part. Another attack happened when me, Josh, MT man and hunter went hard after the rt-322 crossing. We stayed away until the false flat. Ed then went to the front and drilled it past the riffle range. It stayed hard past the turn around onto west St when me, hunter, ed and Josh attacked at the climb where I think Josh took the hill. Ed then went to the front and drove the pace to the hi-way. Things came back together at the lights. The ride was status quo until canal St when big john launched an attack hoping to catch the 322 light. He git stuck at the light and all was back together to rt-10. It was a steady ride to the s&s hill where hunter and 't' went for the sprint. T took the sprint and the ride stayed together at a hard steady pace back to Aunt Chilada's. I'm not sure who finished first because I was in my small ring barley able to peddle after lots of hard efforts. All in all a real hard ride but we missing, Mike, Todd and Rondo (can't believe I actually missed Rondo) I must have a fever.

I am sure I left things out but this is the best I could recall. Sorry to any of you I left out.

Chris (Kristy) Crowell

1/25/12

2012-01-25T06:56:00.003-05:00

Screw you guys I'm going to Florida! Robyn and I will be in Fla this weekend so I will need a guest breakdown. Let me know if you are interested. bugno91@gmail.com Please someone besides Krusty respond. Better yet maybe it will snow!

1/22/12

2012-01-22T17:59:00.000-05:00

We all know this guy.

1/15/12

2012-01-15T18:09:00.002-05:00

GREAT GOGLI MOGLI!!!!!!!!!!

Wow what a fucking day. I started out solo (surprise, when I say it was fucking cold it was 9 when I left the house. The wind was in my face the whole way to S&S. I was riding as hard as I could at one point and going 13mph. I had a set of brakes for McG and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it in time to give him them. I just made it and to tell you the truth I wasn't that cold but when we rolled down to the park I froze my balls off. I thought about going home but I new that once the ride started I would warm up. The ride started off at a good pace do to old Krusty taking off. That was good though, I warmed up quick. The pace was steady and didn't get going hard until the false flat after the ski slope.The pace heated up at the turn around. Jancinto and Ed A took off, I went off in-pursuit. Krusty came with me I caught them just before the turn at the light. I drove the pace to the sprint and Krusty and Jancinto went for it I think the latter got it. They pressed on I sat up and waited for the group and everyone was back together at the bottom of the hill. The ride settled in but was still moving along do to the tail wind. Kursty and tall guy Jim attacked at the greenhouses. The pack let them go a few guys started to chase once on rt10. Guido, Jancinto and I went after them at the jail. Tall guy Jim was the first to come back we had Krusty in our sites but backed off when it was apparent that he had the S&S hill we rode up to him at the rt68 light. With the wind at our backs and the gap in place the break was done deal. I think some guys dropped out at S&S (PUSSY'S). I was a little stuffed at the end but its only January. The ride home was cold, I had to do another hour once back in the hood. I opted to ride on the trainer (what a fag). I think that's the biggest Beardcicle of all time.

1/9/12

2012-01-09T09:28:00.002-05:00

Wow what a ride!!!!

I met up with McG and the guys at S&S after some early miles. On the way down to the park we had some close calls. Robyn got elbowed by an old lady who thought that she needed more of the path. At the park there were more than the usual amount of people there. I guess the nice weather brings them out. The ride left into a pretty good headwind so the pace was slow. Out of nowhere a piece of 1 by 3 wood was laying on the floor. I hit it and I kept hearing bikes rolling over it. Then the inevitable someone went down. It was Dave the spitter and Todd. The pack pulled over while they sorted things out. When we got going again and Dave's bike was shot. True to form Krusty took off. The pace stayed steady and he came back due to the wind more than the pace. The wind played a big factor on the ride no one was willing to press the pace to hard. Guess what happened next? If you guessed that Krusty attacked again you would be right. Once again he came back on his own. When we got to the ski slope Big Johnny and Todd too off with Thomas. After the false flat Thomas came back and it was just the two fixed gear guys up the road. They quickly got out of site. At the turnaround Krusty attacked and I went across I had planed to go up the hill hard. Once over the top we were in between the break and pack (AKA) no mans land. We pressed on but with the wind at our backs the field was on us after the Milldale turn. The two fixies were right in front of us know and a group went right after them. They made it through the light just as we were going to make contact. Once through the light Krusty and Steve Grey went after the break. The field stayed steady and we real them in slowly and by the S&S. With a few guys taking some chances at the lights a new group formed. The field caught back on after the high school. The ride in was the same old same old. Another one down in the books.

1/4/12

2012-01-03T19:48:00.012-05:00

SL4 with DI2 review!!!!!

I want to first talk about the frame. This is the SL4 pro I'm told the S works version is 2 ounces lighter and stiffer. The pro is lighter and stiffer than the SL3 sworks from last year. I will say this it is light years ahead of my SL2. As far as the weight it tipped the scale at Zanes less the bottle cages at 15.7 pounds with pedals. Throw some tubs on there and you have a sub 15 pound bike for sure.

They have stiffened up the front end a considerable amount check out the beefy top tube bulge ant the head tube. The bike tracks straight and true when you ride though washboard and bumpy sections.

The rear end has also changed with tapperd seat stays.

I prefer a Thomson elite seat post. If you you ride a carbon frame and seat post try an aluminum one I think you might like it. It gives you a more ridge feel.

On to the DI2. This SHIT SHIFTS!!!
The rear derailleur shifts no matter what load is on it. The buttons are well placed and have pretty good sensitivity. I would prefer a little bit of a lighter touch, but who am I. The front derailleur is where the magic happens though. It effortlessly moves from small to big and back again. I have tried it with heavy loads and also at high cadence and it just flat out shifts every time. Checkout the gear install of the brain unit that Dave the master mechanic did. It usually is attached to the brake cable. I think this is much cooler.

Last but not least throw in the Dura Ace bar and stem its just an awesome bike. If you want a kick ass bike like this give Ciocci a call at Zanes.

bugno92's photostream

2012-01-01T15:57:00.002-05:00

bugno92's photostream on Flickr.

The sun is rough but I will gt it next week, The file is low so its grainy, if anyone can give me tips on getting large files up let me know.

12/26/11

2011-12-26T15:57:00.008-05:00

A six hour tour. A six hour tour. Robyn, Guido and I went on a Christmas pilgrimage. When we met up with him he asked where we were going, I replied to Bethlehem of course. We set off on our journey like the three Magi. Guido didn't know that Jesus was born in Connecticut. Here is the tail of the tape 6 hours 5186 feet of climbing and 90 miles for a 15mph avs.

12/24/11

2011-12-24T14:10:00.001-05:00

This is the guy I wanted to be as a kid.

12/18/11

2011-12-18T16:43:00.009-05:00

MOTHER FUCKER, as I have said a few times 2011 has not been kind. On the way home I got doored on Orange ave. Jelle, Jacinto and Tommas were my eyewitnesses. We were cruising along and some dude opened his car door just as I was riding by. I had no time to react. I swerved and just clipped the door and had to counter steer back to stay out of the middle of the road. Then I slammed my forearm into the car's mirror that was parked in front of the guy. I broke the mirror right off the car and then rode into the bumper of the the car in front of the mirror car, then hit the ground. I looked back at the guy and cursed him up and down. He looked at me and I swear I thought he was going to cry. Tommas asked if I needed a ambulance and to be honest at that moment I didn't know. I took a second to get my head straight and told him I didn't need one. I got up and saw Robyn riding down the road she had eased up because she was cold. When she got to us, I calmed her down and told her to go get the car. Tommas called the Police and we waited for like 30 minutes for him to come. The guy who hit me was in a frazzeled state. We started to look at my bike and the head tube was cracked like an egg. Fuck Me, thats two bikes in one year. The cop got my story and stats and then sent us on our way. The guy had insurance and it was 100% his fault so I should be good on the bike. I think that my new video camera is shot to. My arm started to hurt when I got home pretty bad so Robyn took me to the ER. No breaks just a bad knock it will be fine in a few days. It hurts like a fuck right now though. I will try to down load the video from today and post it mid week. No I didn't have it on during the crash damm.

12/17/11

2011-12-17T20:41:00.004-05:00

This is the infamous Calhoun rd in Washington if the dirt isn't enough the paved section at the top has slopes of 25% in a few spots. OUCH!!!!!!!

12/13/11

2011-12-13T06:32:00.002-05:00

If you were wondering what I meant by a whole new level!!!

12/11/11

2011-12-11T16:19:00.003-05:00

Wow I made it through a week without an incident. The shit weather kept me inside for most of it though. Robyn and I went to Southbury yesterday and rode 4 hours and 2 1/2 of it was with the wind in our faces. When I say my legs were a little cooked today that's why. We met up with E,Jelle and the Squirrel then rolled out to S&S to meet McG and the rest of the wingnuts. When we got there to my suprise the whole CVC elite team was there. I said shit, the ride was going to be hard (A whole new level) one might say. It was good to see Henk, Trent and Buckels. I noticed that Krusty the Crowell wasn't there and I asked coach Ed if he wasn't allowed to do the ride? He said that wasn't the case and actually he was given the green light to ride as hard as he wanted on Sunday. Then I offered him $20 a month to tell him he couldn't do the ride. The offer still stands Ed. We picked up old krusty on the bike path(Dam. Down at the park there was a better showing than last week. Guido and the rest of the Egg heads were there as well as Swiss family Bethel. The ride started out slow and everyone was chatting, it was looking like a replay of last week. Then on cue Krusty broke the peace,McG went with him, E and I just eased off the gas and I was hoping that was that, but Guido wanted to play to, so the field brought it all back. It was pretty tempo until the ski slope when Josh G went on the war path for a spell. It was all good until the turnaround, Kurst and Josh went for a flyer, they were back by Lowes. The rest of the ride was a good winter pace. I think the ride avg 21.5 mph. There you have it another week down in the history books of the Sleeping Giant ride.

2011-12-08T07:18:00.002-05:00

For those of you who think Lance is tough click the link and see what a American Fahlute is.

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12/5/11

2011-12-05T07:07:00.006-05:00

Its December and as I have said before I cant wait for this year to be over. After last weekends follies I had an unprecedented rash of flats last week training. In 4days of training I had 5 flats. With my limited training schedule in the morning one flat is bad but two is a death blow. Twice I was forced to head home and finish my ride on the trainer. On Friday morning I came out sat on the couch looked at my bike and the front tire was flat. Sometimes I think the Cycling Gods are testing me. This was a recovery week for Robyn so we didn't go out to the burbs to do hills. Not wanting to do 4 hrs by my self I did the Yale ride. Bad fucking move!!! If you put Guido, Hacker,a few other wing nuts together and then throw in Steve Grey what do you get? If you guest a steal cage penis death match, you are correct. I met up with E, Jelle and the Squirrel at 8 and we rode out to meet the S&S boys. Upon are arrival I was told the our old pal Krusty the Crowell was being trained by Ed A and could only ride in zone 2-4. I have three problems with this.
1)Crowell has no self control.
2)The wing nut doesn't have a heart rate monitor.
3)Crowell has no self control.

My legs were cooked from Saturdays cock off so I was hoping that the ride would be easy. When the ride started it was nice and easy but E and I were going to test Krusty. We kept letting groups of guys go up the road to test the will of Krusty. He was calm for a while but a group of guys MtBman, Dennis,an on form Greg Cocci and someone else I cant remember sorry were way up the road. At the turn around Todd and Thomas went for a flyer. Krusty cracked and went after Todd he can handle anyone but his teammate going up the road. Ed I would say that was over ZONE 4. The break was in site and the wind was in our faces now. I was cooking with my hat on under my helmet so at the light at Lowes I took it off but the light changed and I didn't have my glove back on yet. I held it in my hand and waited until the light at the short cut. Also my helmet wasn't clipped. At the light I put on my glove but I couldn't clip my helmet and had to take my glove back off. The light changed the pack went then I dropped my glove FUCK! With the wind and the break in the fields face the pace picked up and I was 30 seconds down. I fucken chased until the green houses before I caught on. (Ed I think that was over ZONE 4) Just as I caught on another break went and Kioski was in it so the field went easy and Zanes didn't need to chase. Thank God. I am very happy to put this week behind me.

11/28/11

2011-11-27T19:22:00.003-05:00

What a weekend, the weather was awesome on Saturday. Robyn and I went to Washington to do hills. With the promise of more great weather we left at 8am to meet the S&S boys. We hooked up with E on the way (no Jelle hes sick). The fog was so thick in the Havens that you couldn't see 5ft in front of you. We were soaked but the temp was in the 40's so we were good. This trio of would be weekend warriors would get there first test of mental will power. We dropped down into Hamden and the fog was gone but the temp dropped 10 degrees. Robyn and E were first to plant the seed of frozen bits. I have found that once you say it out load that it only gets worse. We pressed on and got to S&S. once there and standing still my hands went numb. McG gave me a dry pair of gloves but the damage was done. I was shivering on the bike path on the way to the Giant. It was warmer there but still not what it was when we left the hood. The ride started out slow and I nestled between Koski and Big Johnny to stay warm. Krusty the Crowell started to ride hard (Shocking). On the back roads the pace was steady and got fast as we approached the light at rt68. It settled in and was steady until the ski slopes. The pace was high as we hit the false flat then I hit a hole and my day

went to shit. My handlebars fell off I thought I broke my fork. I road no hands while holding my handlebars and veered to the opposite side of the road for fear of taking down the field. Someone tryed to help me but I TOLD him to get away from me. I brought the bike to a slow stop. Upon checking my bike out 3 of the 4 bolt that hold the handlebars on snapped. Mike and the boys stopped but there was nothing they could do. FBI Greg who lives down the road came and got me with his car. He brought me back to S&S, I grabbed McGs keys and cranked the heat. When the boys got back Mcg said he had people at his house so I grabbed two of the bolts from his stem and set off on my way. The ride home with fully stiff legs was pleasant to say the least. I'm sure you guys can fill in the blanks missing from the ride.

11/20/11

2011-11-20T18:04:00.006-05:00

What a nice day! Robyn, E, Jelle, the Squirrel and I left early and rode to S&S to meet the group. I had to do 5hrs so it was the best way to get in the extra hours. I could sit on the wheels all day and not do to much. We rolled down to the park on the bike path. I wont be surprised when they kill someone. The path was full of people and the speed was way to high. At the park the peloton assembled was stellar. The brothers Foley, Swiss family Bethel and Cocci were among the list. The pace was steady at the start a few guys went up the rode but with the tailwind everyone is a hero. We started to pick up the pace at the industrial park. I wanted to get Jelle off the front today I figure he's young and can burn some matches this time of year. Cocci, Koski and I ramped it up at the ski slopes. I gave a big push with Jelle and Mike on my wheel and they were off. Ed A, Foley and the squirrel went after them. Ed and Kyle caught on and we just sat on the wheels. The Squirrel was road kill. Game over for us, E and I had a nice easy ride the rest of the day. I don't know what happened to the MCG and Jelle's group but I'm sure we will hear all about it in the comments. Here is a riddle, what does 5 hrs in the saddle get Rondo? Answer: A 12oz Filet mignon and Robyn's homemade fettuccine Alfredo. YUMIEEEEEE Don't eat to much this week Sunday worlds are only 7 days away.

11/13/11

2011-11-13T17:17:00.004-05:00

Wow the year is almost over, THANK GOD!! To say that 2011 has been a shitty year for me would be an understatement. I just got done with my second week of a 4 week macro-cycle. With that said I didn't know how my legs would be. When I left for the ride I felt good and knew that I would have a good ride. I met E and tall guy Jim at the cafe. We spotted the squirrel a few minutes then got on are way. The wind was at our backs so it was a nice easy ride to the park. When we got there the brothers Foley were there and that was it. People started to trickle in then the S&S guys showed up. After they did there buttfucking or whatever they do in the bathrooms we got going. The ride started out pretty fast, not surprising due to the tail wind. There were a lot of tailwind hero's up front setting pace. Then a small group rolled off. We had E and Koski up there so Mike and I just sat in. They never got more than 10 seconds and were back at the top of the hill after rt42. The ride stayed steady until the chicane, that's when our old friend Krusty the Crowell started to yell at Pete Kenny for not going fast enough. Krusty took off, a group formed and joined him (MCG, E, Hunter, Kyle Foley and Guido). I just sat on the front, but the pack would not allow them to go. At the light after the industrial park they were back in the fold. At the top of the hill before the ski slope a group of guys got a slight gap Pete Kenny little guy Rick and Chris from laurel. I rode across to them thinking the pack was on me but after taking a pull I saw we had a gap. I knew that there wasn't enough horse power to stay away so I sat on and waited for the field. I saw Hunter coming across so when he got on I went to the front. Hunter and I pulled away on the false flat before the shooting range. Once over the top I saw Foley just in front of us. I didn't know he was up the road but it made a nice trio. We kept the hammer down all the way to the turnaround, I thought the field would concede the hill top sprint and then brig us back. I rode with that tactic in mind but when we got over the top and looked back they were know where in site. We got the light at Lowes and talked about what we should do and Hunter wanted to press on, so we did. When your off the front you try to size up who is strong and who isn't. Its usually pretty cut and dry but with the headwind, one of us would seem to be the strongest and then someone else would be the hammer. The wind was horrible on the way in there were times on rt 10 we were going 18mph and we were all in. Hunter pulled off at the bottom of the S&S hill but luckily we picked up Guido who had a mec and took the short cut. We kept it steady all the way back to the Giant. When the New Haven group got to us at the park we were told that Krusty the Crowell was flipping out that the Zanes guys wouldn't chase. Chasing down your own teammates is a bubble boy thing Krusty. I heard that he did console himself with a giant piece of Lemon-loaf though. OK now I'm going to make it so we don't have to read the first few comments:

Krusty said

We weren't chasing.

Anon said

You ran all the lights (I saw you)

Anon said

nobody cared you were up there

Now go think up something fucking original.

11/7/11

2011-11-07T09:05:00.002-05:00

I did the ride yesterday, all the usual suspects were there. The ride started out easy 18mph and change. The pace stayed pretty low, I told Cocci that it felt like just before a cat4 crash. Hence I stayed near the front. When we got to rt68 they told me that MCG flatted near the gingerbread house. He said he would chase back on, good luck with that. After the announcement of the flat Hunter and co started to pick up the pace. E, Cocci, Koski and me just sat in. With the thought that MCG and his droogies would catch back on. When we got to the ski slope we all started to work knowing that he wasn't coming back. At the turnaround Hunter tryed to make a move but didn't get to far. Then it was Todd's turn to give it a go. He was given a little more leash than Hunter. I saw that they were going to let him go so I started the chase with Cocci and E in tow. We made the connection and E tipped off for the prize at the top of the hill. Then Koski gave it a go he looked good but the light at Target put an end to that. At the bottom of the hill (where the right left) is the traffic was backed up. Thats were we met up with the guys that waited for MCG. ( Crowell, LT Jullio) As soon as we made the junction Crowell took off, nobody cared because he was DQed. The pack just stayed steady the rest of the way. No prizes were handed out at S&S and the end due to guys that were off the back getting involved. How about the beard on Cocci WOW can you say grizzly Addams.

11/6/11

2011-11-06T06:34:00.004-05:00

OK I'm going to give the SPG ride a whirl. Cafe Romeo at 915

10/16/11

2011-10-16T15:50:00.002-04:00

Do any of you wonder what Guido does in his free time? I just got this spy camera video form his car. ENJOY

9/18/111

2011-09-18T10:17:00.003-04:00

One week down!!!

I got the first week of training and probably the hardest done. I did two weeks of easy hour spins before this week but this is the first time I turned the pedals with force. I have been working the 2-10 shift at work so its easier for me to get out and train. As for this season it was a wash for me. When I got back on the bike (after the stroke) I still had some residual fitness. My plan was to do short intense rides due to my being tired all the time. I milked that until I was cooked. I didn't touch my bike for over a month. I don't know if it was the med's, the stroke, work or a combo of all of them but I was shot. I would come home from work and lay on the couch until it was time to go to bed. Then I just got tired of being tired, Robyn pushed me to get going again. I went out with her and she put a hurting on me (pay back is a bitch). How many times did I say to her just sit on my wheel? Well it was my turn now. I hope to be back on the SPG ride by October. I think that I will need the next couple of weeks to get some legs back. At least I'm motivated and I'll see how far I can go. I want to jump back into the FEATURE races next year just to see if I can do it. You all know what that means lots of miles and pain.

9/15/11

2011-09-15T07:44:00.002-04:00

For those of you that wondered why I have a goatee! I went to the Neurologist yesterday a got some good news. The damage area didn't get any larger so he believes that it has healed and whats left is scar tissue. Once he talks to the doctor in NY I can get off the blood thinners and just be on aspirin. Then MOTHERFUCKERS the gloves are off I can start to ride like I want to.

9/13/11

2011-09-13T06:57:00.003-04:00

Two weeks back on the bike. Whoa I'm out of shape its going to be a long road back. I went for my 6 month MRI yesterday and I will go to see my Neurologist on Wednesday.
I hope to have photos with arrows that you all love show much. (Guido is drooling right now.) When does the Sunday ride start Anyone Anyone?

9/8/11

2011-09-08T12:48:00.002-04:00

Whoa back on the bike! I got back on last week just doing short 1 hour rides. I had this week off so I wanted to do some long easy rides but as you all know the weather sucked. I did a couple of trainer rides and finally I got out today. I did a nice 3 hour ride, the legs felt good but the hills were killer. I think due more to my fat ass that the gradient though. I would say I'm about 10 lbs up from where I should be but that will come off quick. I'm going to night shift for a month or two so I will be able to ride during the day. My form should come back quick (I hope).

9/7/11

2011-09-07T06:04:00.006-04:00

OK I'm back!!!! I just want to share this little video with you, my wife and friends have officially drank the KOOL-AID.

8/1/11

2011-08-01T18:31:00.002-04:00

Here is Prof that Tom Boonen is not a Falute and never will be. This is him and his 16 year old girlfriend. If you know flemish you can hear him say she looks older.

Thanks Jelle

What the FUCK

2011-06-27T20:59:00.001-04:00

What the FUCK can anyone beat this guy? Philippe Gilbert is unstoppable this year.

2011-06-20T17:14:00.002-04:00

Do you want to motor pace? Rondo And Eric are offering motor pace sessions, if your in the New haven area drop us a E-mail for days and times. We have a 150 Honda with a roller attached to the back.Its $30 per hour, we will take you down the beach in West Haven and Milford speed of your choice. Hey you pay more that that for a 45 minute crit. bugno91@gmail.com

5/4/11

2011-05-04T06:47:00.006-04:00

It been awhile since my last post. I have been getting my life going again and I haven't been on the computer at all. I went back to work and have started training again. All of my rides have been an hour and a half so I'm lacking endurance. On to the good stuff, I went to the Neurologist and got a good prognosis. The blood flow to the left side of my brain has improved and the damaged tissue is looking good. I guess it repairs its self some what. I have an MRI scheduled in 3 months and if I don't have any episodes form now till then they will transition me from cuomodon to plavix. Its a blood thinner but not as strong. On Sunday I also threw my hat back into the racing ring. I did the tour of Clots Neck NJ it was a points race on a 3 mile loop. I didn't know what my legs would be like so I stayed near the front and planned to go for the last sprint with double points. I figured that I would win or come in the top 3 if I pulled it off. It was a punchy course with two steep climbs and two fast downhills stretches. The finish was at the top of one of the climbs. On the last lap I got in a good position. I was top 10 and on the inside out of the wind. The guy in front of me made a move as we approached the hill. I went with him he kinda died when we hit the hill so I was forced to go for it a long way out. I got a good gap over the hill and I must say I was felling like I might do it. After the hill it was 500 meters of false flat and a kicking crosswind. I put my head down and dug deep. The wind and distance proved to be to much, I got passed by 5 guys just on the line. When the tallyed the points I ended up 10th not what I wanted but I will take it.

4/23/11

2011-04-23T17:12:00.001-04:00

Sunday ride at 10

4/7/11

2011-04-07T06:47:00.003-04:00

Well my droogies I have a tail to tell today and it doesn't involve the old in out in out either. I went riding yesterday, I was going to do a couple of small hills to see where my heart is at. When I left I was mindful not to get amped up so I kept it nice and easy. I was out for about an hour and decided to roll home along the beach. I battled the wind all day and thought it would be nice to get the tail wind home. Nothing makes you feel good about your fitness like a 25 mph tail wind. I rolled along from Milford to the Haven. When I got to West Haven there was a fire in a big beach house and the rode was closed. I hoped the curb and rode the sidewalk and was on my way in no time. Every cop in the hood was there, I thought to my self I hope nothing gets robbed. The tailwind was epic I was soft pedaling and going 25mph. When I got to the high school for those of you who don't know the area its a double lane road. There is also a raised rain gutter and the road is all chopped up its been this way for years. As I approached I moved left just enough to just miss the hazard. Then this dickhead in a truck drove up along side of me and pushed me into the shit I had to jump my bike over the sewer. I just made it then the fuck gunned the gas it was a diesel truck and he must have had excavator fuel in it. He covered me in thick black smoke. Not thinking I set off in pursuit. With the tailwind I was going like 35mph, he made the light at Jimmies but there were car ahead so I stayed on the gas. The next light was green also the dick must have thought he was in the clear but I knew that the light at Campbell ave was going to be red. That fucking light is always red. The tough guy is now stuck and he sees me coming. There was two cars in front of him and two on the side so what does he try and do? Thats right drive over the sidewalk. Only the sidewalks by the beach are like a foot and a half high. He couldn't get a running start at it so he was stuck. When I got there he was waiting, he cracked his window ohhhh what a tough guy. He yelled though the crack that I should ride on the side walk. That was it, he did that shit on purpose I said to myself. I fucken slammed his window with my forearm to my surprise the window fell off the track and smashed in the door pocket. I wasn't done yet with fucker I threw my bike on the grass and went back at him I was going to pull this dick out of the truck. The light turned green I was in front of the truck not letting him go and when I made my move to get to the door he took off. There was a big black dude that saw the whole thing said wow I guess that guy wont fuck with you again. When I got my bike and started to ride away, it set in that I could have blown a gasket. I guess I cant do the things I used to do anymore. Count to ten Ron count to ten. On the bright side if I was going to have another stroke I think that would have been the moment. Also I didn't get arrested due to the fire up the road. If I did get pinched I could use the brain damage defence though.

4/4/11

2011-04-04T14:54:00.001-04:00

Check out this painful last 5km, Chris Horner has been killing it for years now.

4/3/11

2011-04-03T18:33:00.006-04:00

Back on the bike? Wow guys I want you to go and shake Pete Johnson's hand when you see him. I got on the bike today and let me tell you it was no picnic. I was gasping for air with my heart rate at 115. My heart goes up to 196 still so 115 is me riding at 12mph. The blood thinners are killer, my hands are always cold now to.He told me he has been on them for 15 years. I groveled around New haven just trying to keep moving. I'm not going to lay down and die either though. I promise you will see me ride at a high level again. It may not be next week but I will be back. I feel myself getting stronger every day. I didn't realize how week I was after my stint in the hospital. Today was the first day that I didn't have to take nap after being out and about. I meet with my doctor this week and find out what my rehab will be. I doubt that he will be happy I'm riding again. When I was on my way home Tomas drove up along side me in the family wagon (German of course) and started to cheer me on like I was off the front of a race. That put a big smile on my face for sure, crazy fucking German.

4/1/11

2011-04-01T06:55:00.011-04:00

Robyn and I went to NYC yesterday to Columbia Medical Center to see a specialist. This is THE GUY to do the stint. End game we would hope for him to say it's no problem I can do this its a slam dunk. I stay there and it gets done right away. Well my droogies that just didn't happen. That was a swift kick in the balls to say the least. Three hours stuck in traffic and 1 minute into the consult we hear this. Dr Meyer believes that it is a dissection of the M1 artery. What does that mean well from what I understand its like a blister on your finger and when it pops that flap of skin would be the dissection. In turn the flap flutters around and cuts off the blood flow. We were given three reasons that a stint was not the way to go. 1)Its really never been done before. Although dissections of artery's in the brain aren't unheard of they are very rear. 2) There is no data on how long the stint would last, they are usually put in 80year old people and me being so young the build up of scar tissue could close off the artery completely. 3) He just doesn't know how the artery would react in the condition its in. It might just sever and that would be that. He says that we should treat it with medicine and hope that it heals on its own and hope that I don't have a big stroke in the mean time. Our game plan from here is unknown, I guess I start cumidin and ween off the shots and wait and see if the thing heals. I want to back up here a little right now. The shit that went down on the SPG blog yesterday was wild. I didn't see it but may WIFE did while she was sitting in a doctors office waiting to hear my fate. Lets go on the record here they did all the blood work in the world to me in the Hospital last week and if you don't think they checked for any and all sport enhancing drugs you are fools. If I can get the files I will and post my blood work. It doesn't bother me but Robyn didn't need to see that. Say what you want about me but I challenge you to come up with a bad word about her. If you are going to point fingers the at least have the balls to post you name. If you do have a set, post it on this blog and then come and say it to my face. As for E I know that that motherfucker has been riding his balls off all winter long, doing the work that would put him where he is. He is also riding smarter, you can have the best trainer in the world but if you don't know how to race you will be pack fill. Until last week he had a TEAM (not a bunch of guys riding in the same clothes) riding for him. Any results that E got the team got. In the end I say post what you want but have the balls to post your name.

3/31/11

2011-03-31T08:07:00.004-04:00

OK here we go, I'm off to NYC today to meet Dr. Phillip Meyer to hopefully get my melon fixed. I really hope they keep me in there and do the operation soon. I cant stomach sticking another needle in my stomach.(pun intended) Here is a funny story from this morning. I was making coffee and was looking for a piece of the coffee maker, I couldn't find the thing for the life of me. Robyn started laughing at me and said its in your hand. I looked down and sure enough there it was. My reply was sure make fun of the guy with brain damage. It will be interesting to see how much damage there is and what it is. I guess we will find out as things like this pop up.

3/29/11

2011-03-29T08:42:00.005-04:00

Wow I got out at 3 yesterday and pretty much slept until 8am this morning. Enough of that, yesterday started out with the 7am consult and they told me I was getting moved to a new room and would be there for 3 days. They needed to transition me form femoral to cumadin. At 10 they said get ready they were cleaning a room for me. I wouldn't have to have all the wires and attached to me so I wasn't complaining. Then at 11 the doctor came in and asked if I would be able to give myself an injection. If you guys don't know I am petrified of needles. She saw the look on my face and said that would be the only way I could go home. My reply was absolutely! Then I asked when would this be? The reply right now. When I asked what was up I got a cryptic reply. My end goal here is to go to Columbia hospital in NYC and get a stint put in. They cant say that because its a competing hospital. Now I'm not being put on cumadin I will stay on femoral, you cant be operated on with cumadin in your system. It takes days for it to leave your system. She told me to call Dr Schindler for a referral to a neurologist at Columbia. This is were the cryptic comes into play, I read into this as I will go there and get the surgery ASAP. Who knows though time will tell.

3/28/11

2011-03-28T13:33:00.003-04:00

Guys its 1:30 and I getting out so if you planned on coming down I wont be here. Things change fast around here. I will make a post when I get home.

3/27/11

2011-03-27T13:00:00.002-04:00

OK I'm not going to continue my story for now I'm waiting for my options to be laid out clearly for us. Then I can finish my story. As for now just a quick update they finally let me get out of bed and stand up. Also i am writing you while sitting in a chair. Anyone who has been bedridden will know what I'm saying right now. It feels so good to stand and stretch, my back was screaming for a day or two. I'm being moved out of the ICU the MRI they did last night showed increased blood flow to my brain. That's a good thing but its due to the meds not a solution to the problem. I will post more when I now more.

3/25/11

2011-03-25T20:34:00.005-04:00

Well I'm back in the hospital again just where I wanted to be! Since I last posted thing have moved fast and changed a lot. After Guido looked over my MRI he passed it off to one of his co-workers with a little more background than him. I guess hes not the smartest guy in the world. They got me in with a specialist at Yale and he gave Robyn and I a totally different opinion. He basically told me to go back to my life. If I can walk around the block then do so. That kinda thing but not over do obviously. We talked it over and decided that we were going with this guy. I did not relish the thought of laying in bed for three weeks. What it comes down to is, if it happens again it doesn't matter whether I'm in bed or not. I had to go on Thursday for one more test a CT scan with die. Then they could really tell me what as up. I did some running around in the morning and was fine. Then I went home and was chilling on the couch with the dogs. Then I started to get dizzy and my hand was a little numb. I didn't want to wait for a meat wagon so I got in the car and drove to Yale. Its like 2 miles from my house. When I got there, they have valet parking at the ER so I through the guy my keys and told him I was having a Stroke. When I got in the er I started to lose my speech again. They had me on a stretcher and were rolling me into the back and just like that it was over. I looked at the doctor and said that's it its over and they did all the poking and shit just to make sure. Then I got my 5th CT scan in less than a week then I was put in ICU. Fuck me this shit sucks. Now I get IV'S right were the old ones were that felt special. Then a shit load of blood was taken and I g ot another CT scan I swear I will be glowing by the time this is over. Then at 12:30 am I went for another MRI. No sleep for Rondo yet again. I got back to my room at 1:30 and was woken up 3 to get 3cc of heparin in the stomach let me tell you the shit fucking burns. At 6 they drew more blood so by this time I'm shot. I had a consult with 8 white coats at 9 Now the room was spinning. Then at 11 they told me I was having an angiogram at 1:30. Never a dull fucking moment a YNH for me. Robyn came at noon and she can a test to this one the nurse took 8 vials of blood. She said that she never took that many at once before. This angiogram thing is a wire that they stick in you groin and push up into your brain via the femoral artery. Then they inject die to get a good image of the obstruction in my brain. The image showed that there was a 50% blockage in the M1 artery. Guido will no doubt correct me on all the thinks I get wrong here. They whacked me up with some goods meds and they didn't really kick in until I got back to the room. This was the first time I got some sleep in days. I am going to post this and finish on Saturday because I'm pretty shot right now. I know about the spelling errorsNick I have IV's on my hands.

3/24/11

2011-03-24T07:10:00.013-04:00

OK Guido and Dr McG have gone over my MRI and here is what they have come up with.

This image shows the damaged tissue from the TIA (transient ischemic attack). Guido thinks its a rather small area and Dr McG thinks its CREEPY.

This is a labeled image, it also shows a suspected older stoke estimated that I had 2weeks ago. Guido concurs with that but Dr McG believes that's from Robyn hitting me in the head with a frying pan.

OK now we get to the exciting stuff as Guido puts it. These images are like a mirror. So the right is really the left. Now the brain is wired so that the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. The Green arrows on the left (really the right side) show what the artery should look like. The red arrow on the left you can clearly see the obstruction. The next two images are just different views of the arteries.

Now if you go back to the first image, the damaged tissue is indicative the symptoms I had. It is in the right side of the body's motor skills and also the speech area of the brain. Shunting of the artery is not an option in this area due it being in the speech and also the understand of speech area of the brain. If something went wrong you may understand someone talking to you but not be able to speak (what happened to me) or you can speak but not understand what is being said to you. For now I am taking baby aspirin and an large dose of Zocor. Zocor is a cholesterol medicine, my cholesterol is perfect but it makes the blood (slippery). This will keep the blockage from growing. The Zocor has a side affect due to the high dose though, it makes my legs ache like when you have the flu. OK lets recap Guido thinks this is really cool stuff YAH, and Dr McG thinks its CREEPY. I will post shit as it comes down the pipe to me. I really want to thank some people who went above and beyond for me during this, Robyn (goes with out saying) Pete & Bridget, E and Brit, Dr McG and especially GUIDO.

3/21/11 supplemental

2011-03-21T14:17:00.006-04:00

Where was I, The doctor had them put 3 iv-s in me they have only used 1 so far I guess the other 2 are there for shits and giggles. Then the put this tph shit in me to break up a clot if there was one. Then about 11 pm they moved me into the ICU when they rolled me in I was like fuck I'm not going home tonight. For the next 8hours I was examined every 15 minutes. By examined I mean dilate my pupils with a police sized false light apparently bigger is better. Then they would scrap a metal thing on the bottom of my feet make me squeeze there hand little shit like that. Until 8am on Sunday. Then they only had to do it every hour. Thankfully the nurse skipped everything but the blood pressure and let me sleep for 2 hours straight. Luckily Robyn came and stayed with me all day long. E, McG, Kiosk and CXChris came down after bethel. Bridget and Pete brought home made chocolate chip cookies and Britney E's girlfriend brought me a Zuiaardis pizza thank God the food here sucks. It was like a big party.Mike was showing the nurses the mangina and Kioski had the lampshade on his head. After they left Robyn and I hung which was nice we don't often get to do that with the three dogs running amuck. Then I had to go get a CT scan at 1030pm (nice)It was a looooonnnnggg day. Then at 6am Bridget (who works here)came in my room and handed me 20oz of love, Starbucks baby. At 8am the fun started, they did an ultra sound of my heart. The tech guy blind sided me and just ripped the chest sticker things off me with out saying anything. After they pulled me off him they put air bubbles though my heart which was weird it felt like soda was injected in to me. Next up on my plate was an ultra sound of my juggler. Then after a brief rest I did the double. CT scan rolled right into a MRI. OH yea at least 3 rounds of blood work. They are running out of places to stick me. When I got back from my MRI Guido was waiting for me. We had a good chat he tried to put some of the techno babel into English for me well as best as a German guy can. He told me that all the test they did were pretty much a non factor and the MRI would be the tail of the tape. Let me tell you guys he wasn't lieing. Now my friends I come to the end of my story and like I tell Robyn when we go see some big holly wood movie. You know the kind where the world is saved and the hero rides off into the sunset. Then I look at her and tell her that that wouldn't happen in real life. In real life the Asteroid hits the earth right were the hero is standing. That's kinda what happened to me this morning. The Neurologist told me that I have a significant blockage in a main artery in the left side of my brain and my life was about to change and not for the good. I guess the butt of the story is I lived my life full throttle for 42 years thinking that I was invincible. When in reality I just got the forearm to the chest. You feel that big boy that life fucking with you. I guess now I regroup and try to get this straightened out. I have a few options and Robyn and I will choose the one that we feel is the best. I would like to thank all you guys who wished me well.

Cao for now
Who am I kidding FUCK YOU

3/21/11

2011-03-21T11:49:00.003-04:00

Contrary to the rumors out there I'm not dead Motherfuckers! You ain't getting rid of me that easily. Here is the run down so I don't have to tell you fucks when I'm riding on Tuesday. After the race on Saturday E, Kioski Bob German and I went for a cool down ride I felt fine. I had a great race and yes the fucking birds were chirping. Then we went to Starbucks, that's when the shit hit the fan. When we were in line my right arm and foot started to get real hot. I knew something was up so I went into the bathroom to get myself together. By the time I sat down my leg and arm were dead. I also could not talk to well I was slurring my words. I just sat and tried to keep myself right. When we left I just sat in the car and tried not to let E know something was wrong. He thought I was just a little bonked. When I got to my house a just dragged myself into bed. E hung for awhile with Robyn and when he left she went to the gym. That was prefect for me I thought what ever was happening to me would pass if I took a nap. When i woke up I was out of it, I looked at myself in the mirror and when I tried to talk myself down I realized that I could not speak. That's when I knew something was wrong. So I got in my car and drove to the gym to Robyn so she could take me to the hospital. Fuck you guys I don't want to here it, don't judge until you are there your self. Wren we got there Robyn dropped me off and went to park the car. The front desk nurse must have seen me dragging my leg and came running out the door and when I couldn't speak she shoved me in a wheel chair and went running through the halls in to the trauma room. They rushed me into the CT scan. When i got back from the CT it was over just like that. At that moment I could have got on my bike and done 50 miles. By this time Pete and Bridget were there. Iwas telling Pete my story fully expecting to walk out the door in five minutes and go home. Then the neurologist came in and I told him my story and started to yell at all of us Pete and Bridget too. The dude looked at Pete and said right to his face how could you let him go to sleep. Bad Petey Bad Petey.Then he was talking to Robyn and I wasn't paying to much attention to him because in my mind I was out of there in a few minutes. Then he left thank God I said to my self. I asked Robyn what he said and she was like he thinks you are having a stroke. I laughed what the fuck does he know.I ain't having a stroke I said then I looked at Pete and Bridget, Pete his best Doctor patient look on his face and Bridget wouldn't make eye contact with me. Then and only just a little bit did I start to think I wasn't getting out of there in a few minutes. They are doing some test on me know so stay tuned for part chapter two POKING AND PRODDING.

3/14/11

2011-03-14T14:59:00.001-04:00

Tuesday ride 5:30 due to light issues. Race report to come later.

3/10/11

2011-03-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

Enjoy

3/7/11

2011-03-07T15:28:00.003-05:00

Bethel week 1

E and I headed up early so I could watch Robyn race. She was going to double up doing the woman's then the 45+ race. Robyn sprinted in for 2nd place in the woman's race. It was raining pretty hard while she raced so I'm sure they were all cold so she bailed on the second race. See her race report on the Zane's cycling blog later today. When it was our turn to roll it was pouring out. We warmed up by doing about 4laps.There were about 20 guys on the start line. Don't let the quantity fool you there was a quality field there. When we were waiting for the race to start I noticed that the Kenda guy was shivering out of control. I pointed it out to E and told him we should hit it when they said go. I thought E was going to attack but when we turned the first corner and he still hadn't attacked I decide to do it my self. I put my head down and didn't look back until I got to the glass building and guess who was on my wheel? You guessed it the great pumpkin him self. I giggled to myself because I knew that I was going to twist him on the climb. I got caught at the top of the climb but the field eased up so I went again even harder than the last time. I had a good gap but when I went over the hill 4 guys went by on the opposite side of the road I saw that E was on it so I waited for the field. The gap grew and the break of the day was gone. We just sat 4th or 5th wheel for the rest of the race not getting in the way of the guys that were chasing. (AKA BLOCKING) The break lapped us with 6 to go and we got the OK to work with them so we threw away are chances for 4th place and drove the race for E. The V8 splash guy won and E got second Linden got 3rd. Oh yeah Timmmmyyyy got lap on the 7th lap. I will not speak of him anymore on my blog until he brings some fitness to the table. Picking on him at this point is like shooting fish in a barrel. Until next week Fuck You!!!!!

3/5/11

2011-03-05T17:17:00.003-05:00

Plainville week 1

We had a four guys out there today E, McG, Kioski and me. The plan was for E to look for the early break McG and I were going to look for the move to go across and Kioski was to ride us up and keep out of trouble. Iden had a full squad 6 guys maybe there was a Kenda guy and a few strong Massholes Ed A, Hunter had some guys to. E got in the first move and was basically up the rode all day. The break would evolve from a 5 man break to a 15 man break all race long. I went across to the move on 3 occasions, the problem was that I never got a breather when we got there. They would attack as soon as we crossed. So the guys that went across would go back but in doing so the break never got clear. Iden had 3 guys in the main move all day but for some reason they would let the race die behind? They would chase 1 guy that would attack into the wind???? What ever I guess, the third time a group went across I noticed that LT was on my wheel so I didn't even try to push the pace as I planed to. I looked at him and motioned that I was cooked so that he would have a go at the next surge. That went nowhere so now the pack was all back tighter one of Idens guy and the Kenda guy gave it a go for the 9 lap to go prime and that was that. E was up front all day and we missed the move that counted. I will say this with 8 laps to go I saw TIMMMMEEEYYYY (who looked like the great pumpkin from charlie Brown) get lapped. Feel that big boy (and I mean big) that sting? That's pride fucking with you. You might want to go to the store and buy a Bic lighter, because you don't have enough macthes fatboy!!!!!

2/27/11-1

2011-02-27T18:21:00.003-05:00

It was a perfect day out there so all you guys that decide to stay in to bad for you. You can say that its better off to be safe. I know guys that go out west to avoid the conditions but lets face It if your going to crash your going to crash NO? On to the ride! I met the new haven crew at the Cafe' and we ventured off into the wet wilderness. CXC was there with his 25c pave' tires and proclaimed that they were the safe tires for the wet/slushy conditions. I told him that they were going to be toboggan's but what do I know. When we got to the park the turn out was grim. There was the Swiss family Bethel, Foley and Hippie Chris. The S&S boys pulled up with the same turnout. Most noteably missing was Crowell. As we rolled out Jancinto and Guido showed. Whewwww now we got a ride. MTB man set the early pace, someone has to do the light work. When we hit the back roads they were in great shape. At the second stop sign MTB man yelled all clear and I guess in the woods that means car. E had to make a quick line adjustment and CXC and his Flexible Flyer tires hit the ground. A few guys kept going with the rest of the group soft pedaling. He was a little disheveled and E and I waited while he dusted himself off. When we got going the whole New Haven crew waited for him and we paced him back to the group. When we got up there Crowell was in the field. We got rolling and by the chicane the ride was moving at a good clip. The wind was in our face so anything that tryed to go clear was doomed to come back at this early stage of the ride. The ride started to unfold at the ski slope Guido put in a good pull so did E and I. That got the guys rolling. I put in a long hard pull on the false flat by the shooting range. Crowell and someone else I cant remember who rotated through and I pushed the pace for a little while longer. McG, Hunter, Guido,Jancinto and a few others took up the pace for a bit. We were know approaching the turnaround, that's when Hunter put in a dig. Guido was on the front with E and me on his wheel. It was clear that Hunter was going nowhere so we let him cook for a little bit. He was back in the fold! As we hit the steep part of the climb before the corner Hunter went again. That's when I took over for Guido. We were setting up E for the sprint so I went hard till the turn then I kept upping the pace all the way to the last pitch before the sprint. McG took off and E went off him and EASILY won the prize. A group of 6 pulled away,I was pretty gassed and had to dig deep to stay with them over the top. The group came back at the light at Lowes but it was a little smaller. The ride was tempo for a while and nothing really happened until we got on to rt10. Hunters boy form Mass went off the front. It was a long way to the S&S sprint so nobody was to intent on chasing just yet. By the prison Crowell went off in pursuit. There was still a long way to go and we did alot for the last sprint so McG and I let Guido start to real them in we were on Crowell and about 50 meters off the other guy when the light turned RED for everyone but the two MASSHOLES blew the light. We had a nice rhythm going and the light fucked it all up. I had to set off after them and leave Mcg and E in a bad spot. McG had to go from to far out and Hunter got E's wheel. Oh well you cant win them all. Note Hunter turned off right after that. We had to recover for a bit to get ready fore the finale. We let Guido and Crowell push the pace for a bit but as we came close to the finial KM MCG took hiss pull then I went to the front for a long tug. Hippie Chris came off my wheel and E was on him. E finished off the everyone that was left. Well that's it for the SPG ride for 2010/2011. Lets see who got the training right and who got it wrong. PLAINVLLE - BETHEL NEXT WEEK.

2/27/11

2011-02-27T06:28:00.000-05:00

Looks like the ride is a go today.

2/26/11

2011-02-26T07:34:00.003-05:00

We won't be at the Cafe' this morning again off to the Gimbals.

2011-02-21T14:49:00.001-05:00

Pictured below is a young physician by the name of Dr. Starner Jones. His short two-paragraph letter to the White House accurately puts the blame on a "Culture Crisis" instead of a "Health Care Crisis". It's worth a quick read:

Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular musical ringtone.
While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one costly pack of cigarettes every day and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer.
And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture", a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance. It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me".
Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.
Respectfully,

STARNER JONES, MD

2/20/11

2011-02-20T17:44:00.004-05:00

Robyn and I met CXChris, E, Big Jim and a couple of other guys at Romeo. The wind was in our faces, for Robyn E and I this was a second day of this shit. We had our fair share at the Gimbals ride yesterday. When we got to the park the S&S boys were there already. The turnout was so so, I would guess about 25-30 guys. All the usuals and throw in a RonL3 and we got a ride. Crowell and E started off on rt 10 pushing the pace. It didn't take long for the ride to start the thinning out of the pretenders. The wind was whipping and there was nowhere to hide, so I think everyone at the front just decided to get on with it. The sooner we got to the turnaround the sooner the wind would be at our backs. My legs were pretty good even though I rode hard yesterday so that's a good sign. When we hit the climb after rt42 E and I put in a little dig and then the ride went hard all the way to the light at rt68. The light was green so if you werent in the field you were done for the day. I don't think anyone could catch on in that wind. The way I saw it there were 6 or 7 guy that did the majority of the work. Not in any order RonIII, E, Hunter, Crowell, CXC, Hacker and me. The new guy in the bike rights clothes made a classic rookey mistake as he rode straight in to the parking lot at the chicane. Don't set the pace if you don't know the route. The pace was high all the way past the industrial park, well that is if you were at the front. I did see Crowell directing the way we should rotate with the wind. (Did you have to lick your finger dude?)After the light RonIII put in a dig and Hunter said we had a gap on the field, but it was to far and windy to press the pace so it settled down for a minute. When we hit the false flat after the ski slope, I put in a dig and got a gap. I was alone but I kept a good pace so that the group would keep the pace high and twist some legs. Crowell and CXC were the first across and Crowell was a little tired so I put in another bit and got another gap. I kept it steady past the firing range, RonIII dragged a group across but everyone eased to catch there breath before the turnaround climb. RonIII put in a bid on the climb Crowell and E let him go so I waited a bit then I closed the gap and pushed the pace for the corner. E, Hunter and Crowell came around me at the turn. I wanted to give E a clean ride for the sprint so I went back to the front to keep the pace high. A group of 4 came by be for the sprint. E, Hunter, Hacker and Jiancito. I think Hacker got E at the top? There was a group of 7 over the top I was sitting at the back recovering. I looked back on the downhill and the ride was in splinters. We got the light at Lowe's so that put an end to that. The wind wasn't really a tailwind it was more a cross head tail if that makes sense. The ride was pretty stats quo till we hit rt10 then the pace picked up for the S&S sprint. I would again lead it out for E and he took the prize with room to spare. On our way to the finish RonIII and CXC got a gap but I knew that I could bring them back so I waited to make my last push. I rode E and the usual cast of poachers that like to hide on the last bit of the ride right past the two nohopers. I left him a little far out but I told him he would have to make due. I jumped on the back of the 10 guys that were left. I didn't see the man to BEAT anywhere? I don't remember him taking any death pull at the end what could have happened to him? I looked over my shoulder and there he was about 100 yards OTB the big gun him self Chris Crowell What's the matter Crowell did you not believe in the break or were they going to fast for you?

PHOTO IS WHAT CXC LOOKED LIKE AFTER THE RIDE!!!!! NO LIE.

2/19/11

2011-02-19T06:07:00.002-05:00

No Cafe' Romeo ride today guys. Robyn E and I are going to do the Gimbals ride to recon the NYC teams.

2/14/11

2011-02-14T15:18:00.005-05:00

First off I would like to thank the guys that stepped up and donated money to the Torch fund. I will post what we got and will let him know who donated thanks again. On a sad note today is also the day that Marco Pantani died.

Now on to the ride Robyn and I met E, CXChris and Capo Jim at Romeo and it was clear that the wind was at our backs. When we got to the park we were the only ones there. It was looking like the turn out would be small. Then Swiss family Bethel showed up in force sporting a new camera position. I'm sure they will post a link for it some time this week. The S&S boys rolled in and McG was a no show due to the flu. Hunter and some new guy showed up and Hacker was also there. As we rolled out Rocky the flying squirrel almost ran into a car coming toward us. When we hit rt10 the pace started to pick up due more to the wind than anyone putting the hammer down. The back roads were in good shape no ice this week. E went off the front to soften up the packfill. A small group went in pursuit and got about half way and stalled. Crowell made a comment that they were flailing out there. Then Hunter put in an attack to get across. Crowell went with him, then got flicked from Hunters wheel(who flailing now big boy)Silent Steve brought him back as Hunter bridged the gap. Crowell wanted me to help chase I refused, I was comfortable that E would handle Hunter. Oh yea there were 30 miles left on the ride to. After Crowell tried and failed to bring the gap down the group caught them at the light at rt68.Crowell flatted at the notch so he was done for the day. It was nice to see the bubble boys wait for him. That's one hell of a team. The ride started to gather speed after the light and at the chicane there was some ice and we heard someone hit the deck. Hacker and the new guy that Hunter brought kept going and the rest of the ride slowed down. Once we learned that everyone was alright we set off in pursuit of the breakaway. We had them in our sites but they made the light after the industrial park. With the gap opened up again we set out to chase them down. At the ski slope we had them in our cross hairs once again. Then we hit a traffic jam, there were cars blocking the road. The parking lot was full and they were redirecting traffic so the break got another minute up the road. This time E and I took control of the front with the help of Jacinto and a couple of others. The ride was rocking now. The break was out of site and the turnaround was looming. We put in a few solid minutes and we had them under control again. I wanted to let them Stu for awhile so we let them stay out until the turnaround. Hacker put in a dig to get the sprint. I was fine letting him have it and I think everyone else was pretty gassed from the chase. The wind was now in our face so the pace slowed. Nothing much happened until we hit rt10 and the pace rose. I guess for the S&S sprint, when we hit the base of the hill no one went for so I gave it a go. I went a little to soon and Hunter came by to take the prize. The pace was hard all the way in and a small group pulled away and E took the finial. It appears that E is the man to beat for the early spring races this year.

2/10/11

2011-02-10T18:29:00.007-05:00

AHHHHHHHHHHHH do you know what these little gems are? Nope they aren't sausages, they are German sausages that Guido brought back from the fatherland for me. I stress ME, Robyn do you hear me they are mine!!!!!!!!! I must say they were fucking awesome. I had them with some spinach pasta with olive oil and a little Romano grated cheese. YUMMMYYYYYYYYYYYY. Thanks Guido safe travel.

2/7/11

2011-02-07T15:34:00.005-05:00

Just to let you guys know Franco passed one year ago today. For some of you newbies, he was the hardest of the hard men of his day. None of this soft men shit that they pass off today as a classic specialist. He may not have won alot but he always shaped the finale of a race. If he could only sprint he would have been the king of the classics.

On to the ride. Robyn and I met up with e and CXChris at the cafe. The wind was killer on the way out. E had said that he was going to take it easy today, all three of are legs were knackered from last weeks races. When we got to the park the S&S group was there already. I'd say a group of 20 or so set out. We skipped the first sections off of rt10 due to the ice. The ride was pretty easy at first the wind and sketchy road conditions had a lot to do with that. Once we got passed rt42 the pace started to pick up. By the light at rt68 the ride was moving. We made the light so anyone that got detached in the beginning was left behind. When the ride went yup the false flat before the industrial park a small group got the jump on E and I we both put in hard digs before the turn. McG jumped across I think Hunter and Crowell were up there with someone else. The group came back together on the 84 over pass. Once again we made the light but this time some guys got a reprieve due to Robyn's handle bars dropping when she hit a pot hole. Special thanks to Arlen Zane for stopping with a tool. CXC Arlen and I paced Robyn back up to the soft pedaling pack. We caught on by the ski slope, I went right to the front and tryed to twist the pace. There was a few guys setting a hard tempo all the way to the turnaround. McG, E, Kioski, Eddy A, Crowell and me. At the turnaround sprint E and Hunter went for it and Hunter got the best of E. When we went over the hill a group of 6 had pulled away. I tried to press the gap past rt84 but I got through the traffic and was on my own. (No Crowell I didn't run any lights, that's was your eyes seeing red)I pressed on and by the light at the trestle I couldn't see anyone. Seeing that I was on my last day of a rest week I sat up and waited for the field. Once back in the fold McG and I decided to soft pedal in. E, Crowell, Eddy A and Hunter rode off the front by the green houses. With me and McG not interested anymore the gap grew. It looked like Crowell was tail gunner of the group I must say. when we hit rt10 small groups would pop off the front and at the end it was McG, Hippie Chris and me left.

I want to take up a collection for the Torch next week so bring some money. I will get the stuff and ship it to him. I will put all the names of people who donated money. Remember freedom isn't free.

2/6/11

2011-02-06T07:03:00.002-05:00

The Sunday ride is on!!!!!!!! Be there or be dropped in the spring. Just ask bengay next time you see him. He cant go to the ride due to his coaches advice and got flicked in the Tuscon shoot out yesterday. Train by yourself on the weekends and race by yourself during the season. SUCKS TO BE OTB

2/2/11

2011-02-02T17:59:00.002-05:00

And here is E's take.

The day started out with the status of my legs in question. After two fast races the day before and coming from 4ft. of snow, I had no idea what to expect. We rode out to the race staging area, about 6 miles from our hotel, into a light head wind that made the idea of anything over 20mph completely tedious. "If this was a sign of things to come, I'm fucked." I thought to myself. I led the way out with help from the turn by turn directions via my Garmin 800. Always apprehensive of gps directions, this thing did a great job. It took us over the 'hilly' part of the course and it gave us a good idea where action might happen during the race.
We arrived to the start/finish area which was just outside a huge horse farm. Great venue for a 7mile circuit.
Shortly after getting settled with registration we were told that the races were running about an hour behind due to morning fog(??) and that led to sleeping in the back of the rent-a-burban. I woke up to a Louis Garneau rider banging on the truck to let us know the races were back on schedule. Damn, nap cut short.

At the start line we were given the normal pre race jibber jabber... Wait, what? We get the whole road? No yellow line rule? Sweet. Real open road racing. As the promoter starts the race, we aren't 100 meters up the road and attacks start to fly. Oh yeah, 20 minutes ago I was sound asleep. I quickly snap to attention and go with the train now single file. After a couple more solo flyers it looks as if a group is forming up the road. With a small chase group looking to bridge I make my way out of the pack to latch onto the chase group and now we have made it across to the initial few guys and as I look back, we have a 300 meter gap. I notice around me that all the major teams are represented. Garneau, Plan B, Z Motion, Fitlab, and now Zanes. 10 guys total.
My new thought: "Hmmm, 6miles in, all represented, settle in, it's going to be a long 50 miles."
The day long break has been established and we haven't even crossed the line to complete lap one. For the next lap It seemed like every time I looked at my computer we were doing 28mph. Remember I said there was a hill? I lied. It was really about 300 meters of a 5% gradient. As we climbed this I was really surprised at how these guys around me, who looked more like track sprinters, huffed and puffed up this thing. Don't confuse this as weakness because these monsters will tear your legs off on a flat road. Things remained civil until we started getting updates through the feed zone that a few Zmotion riders were trying to come across. Our Z guy now becomes the anchor and some of the other guys start to panic. I then inform them all in the nicest way possible that if the break gets caught that I promise I'll stab them all in their faces when the race is over.
With two laps to go, and guys getting tired I find myself doing more work than I know I should be doing to keep this break in the clear. New update, no more chasers. Z guy starts to work again.
Last lap, I really wasnt looking forward to any upcoming attacks from my fellow compatriots now turned my most despised enemies. Luckily, nothing. With a strong pull around the last corner from the Plan B rider, we once again go single file to the finish where my tired, flat, legs half sprinted me to fourth. Not a bad day considering it's my 3rd race in 2 days and up until 2 days ago my bike hadn't been off the rollers in 2 weeks. Not looking forward to training inside again.
E.

Now that I have your attention!!!

2011-02-01T19:08:00.003-05:00

Rondo asked me (Robyn) to write a race report for Sunday but he also said "remember this is Rondos Rage", what do you think he meant by that? Does he want me to be angry about the report? Well, that just is not me. So with that said, you will get a very basic non-angry report. Let me start by saying that I have to give big props to Eric's girlfriend, she took great care of us, getting us drinks and food for after the races and just being there to cheer us on! Thanks Brit!!! Back to my report, should I mention that my race (women's 1-3) started with men 35 plus and guess who was racing the 35 plus? yep..Rondo. So i raced in Rondos and Eric's group. Prior to the start Ron told me just stay in pack and keep my eye on the women. I have to admit I was really nervous, I always get super nervous before I race and looking around at the guys that I would be racing with was really intimidating, not to mention the women in the race that looked like pros had monster leggs. One thing I have to work on is my confidence in bike racing (I used to line up in triathlons ready to kill) not there yet in cycling. The race was a 7 mile loop that we did 8 times. The first lap started pretty fast but nothing crazy, there was one little tiny rise on the course and you would think we were climbing holiday hill with all the racers huffing and puffing, but onto the second lap a break got away (E was in this break) so Rondo just sat at the front waiting and watching, while I was trying to get used to the corners and keeping my eye on the women. Then all of a sudden a crash, i saw a guy fly over his handle bars and hit the ground hard and I was forced into a grassy area. Several other racers crashed too. I was able to chase the pack down and sit in to recover. With each lap the chase pack got smaller and smaller and I noticed that one of the women racers that was killing it was no longer in the pack, I have to guess she crashed or never caught back on after the crash. By the third or fouth lap rondo who was at the front the entire time realized that I was still in the pack. He told me he thought I got dropped or something (nice). By the sixth lap there were only about 5 women left in the pack. two of them jumped and were up the road and we were in the process of chasing when the pro men came by and offiical told us to get to right side. Well when they went by Rondo went up the road, but I stayed back in fear of getting DQed. Lesson learned, the two women jumped in the mens field and got a large lead on us, so catching them seemed like a daunting task, especially since I was only getting help from one of the women racers. The men decided not to chase and let the women fight it out. Well, we never caught the two women up the road, but at the finish, I out sprinted the other two racers to take 3rd. I was happy about that...thanks to Eric for teaching me how to sprint on Friday. Okay one last thing...in the process of writing this, Rondo choked on some food for real and I had to perform the heimlich maneuver on him. So basically, I just saved his life. Please dont be too mad at me.
Hope to see you all Sunday!!

2/1/11

2011-02-01T14:18:00.002-05:00

guess where we are#%&*%#

E and Robyn will have a race report for Sunday. My legs were for shit on Sunday!

1/29/11 supplemental

2011-01-29T20:27:00.004-05:00

The course was flat with only one real corner but with a long headwind section and the laps were almost 2miles. OK lets start with Robyn. She did the woman's race and came in 6th. They did the roll around at 15mph and then sprint thing, so she did the 45+ race right after. She held her own and finished mid pack. Props to her!! Next up was the 35+ race it was 45min + 2 laps. E and I discussed what we should do and came up with E trying to get in an early break if not it would be all him in the sprint. I would look for action in the middle of the race then look to lead the race out for him. E was all over the front during the first 3 laps but nothing stuck. I made a few attempts but it was way to windy. When a move got to the headwind nobody wanted to work. It was your typical attack then rest counter attack 35+ race. With 2 laps to go E was on my wheel and we were siting about 6th in line. I kept him there until there was about 1 mile to go. Then I went to the front and drove it as hard as I could. When i hit the finishing straight I was cooked. I pulled off, E went for it and got 9th. These guys have been racing for a few weeks already so I think that's pretty good. After all the digs we made our legs were still pretty fresh. We hooked up with Robyn and super soigne Brittney and grabbed a sandwich. Then we got right back on the bikes because we had the 1/2 race in a couple of hours. Just enough time to get some stiff legs. We rolled around for a hour and a half and jumped in the big boy race. There were a few pro and some big strong FLA crit riders. The 35+ race was pretty easy as far as crits go but the feature would be the exact opposite. We tried to stay at the front in the beging just to get the legs going again. E was in the mix right from the get go he made a couple of great digs but once again nothing was getting away. It wasn't for the same reason as the masters race though. This was a fucking barn burnner. It was a constant 30mph head wind our tail wind we were full gas. Moves would come and go all day, E went off the front with 6 laps to go.
Everyone was in a panic the pace went to PLAD. I was near the front and the shit hit the fan. The move was made, all the teams were represented. I was on the last train across It was a grouop of 11. A guy from the Kenda pro team was in the move and he was keeping it real hard. We had a good gap with 4 laps to go but it wasnt a slam dunk though. Then some guy from a local team(?) took a fuckin pull at 37+mph for about 3/4 of a mile. I was in my 11 and my legs were quivering. I looked down and my heart was in th 190's. This was the 3rd or 4th time I was out powered today and I must say it stung. We were gone now I just had to stick it. With two laps to go I got stuck with a long pull into the wind. When I got to the back of the group the guy in front of me let a gap open. I was spent! I got fuckin droped they group was inching away. I buried my self and got back on. I took a few deep breaths and got ready for the finish. I started down the finishing straight and the legs wernt to bad. I was in like 5th or 6th with 200 meters to go but thas when the legs went to jelly. It was like fliping a switch I will say this I was the only one in the move that had raced already. Now there were 11 in the move they paid 8 take a guess what place I came in? Yup you got it 9th! All in all we all had a good day considering that there is 4 feet of snow on the ground and the training has not been optimal. Tomorrow we have a 56 mile road race, hopefuly the legs will recover enough to pull somthing off.

=

2011-01-29T06:57:00.002-05:00

GUESS WHERE WE ARE??????????

1/24/11

2011-01-24T17:14:00.003-05:00

After a few calls with McG, Robyn and I decided we would give it a go for the Sunday worlds. We were expecting the worst with the temp so I broke out my winter shoes. When we left it wasn't that bad. I didn't say anything so as not to jinks us. When we got to the cafe' CXChris was the only one there. We spotted E 5 minutes, and then rolled out without him. I would later find out he was riding his trainer in the sauna where he lives to assure he will be ready for the balmy temps in fla. We meet Guido at Eastrock and that's when we came to the conclusion that the temp wasn't that bad. At the park, the S&S crowd was light, all in all I think that there was about 15 people there. When the pack hit rt10 the wind was whipping and it wasn't pleasant. I was about to start a day of pain. The cleat on my right shoe was too far forward and it was like I was pedaling with my toes. If any have experienced that you will know that your thigh will pump up. I thought here we go it seems every time I go on a training trip I get injured just before I leave. My hamstring is still not good and I could feel it tweaking with every stroke. I just layed low for the hole ride. As far as I could tell Guido and McG were the main protagonists of the day. There were moments where a nice pace line formed. The wind was pretty bad so I think a few guys did a little to much and blew them selves up (CXC). With the wind at our backs the ride picked up speed. I cant say that anyone was really sprinting for glory. I think we just wanted this ride to be over. You guys can bicker on who did what on the ride in the comments. The best part of the ride for me was when Robyn and I pulled into Cafe' Romeo and took that first sip of coffee. OK so go fuck yourselves, I'm Fla bound, have fun in the snow, we will be riding in short sleeves.

1/23/11

2011-01-23T07:50:00.002-05:00

Don't listen to Dr Smell the cold air is good for you. We will be rolling out from the Cafe' at 9:15

1/22/11

2011-01-22T07:36:00.001-05:00

I think I'm going to ride inside today guys. I will be at the giant on Sunday though.

1/18/11

2011-01-18T19:25:00.008-05:00

Better later than never. I met up with E, CXChris at the cafe' most notably missing was the flying squirrel. I think he may have been in the fetal position on his kitchen floor still for the Saturday ride. The ride out was into the wind as usual. When we got to the park there was a small crowd there. The S&S group rolled in and it was a quite group. Then I realized that Crowell wasn't there, NICE!! We hit the road and the pace was so-so. On the back roads there was some snow patches here and there but nothing to get your panties in a bunch about. E and Guido went up the road by rt42. Over the hill a second group formed with MCG, CXChris, Foley and some guy dressed in a Spiderman mask that kinda looked like Hunter. The gap to the second group was getting outta hand so I jumped across. The guys I left behind were never to see the field again. After the light at rt68 E and Guido went again but they were caught at the light after the industrial park. When the light went green E went again with Chris B (he joined the ride late.) The gap wasn't much but MCG, Koski and I wernt going to help with the chase so Guido and co had there hands full. On the false flat after the ski slope the field slowed down and the gap went up. By the time we hit the turnaround the gap was HUUUGE. The only way they were coming back was if the field worked together but you know how that goes. The wind was never at our backs it was more of a crosswind so nobody wanted to work so the duo was gone. The light at the trestle was pretty scary when a big rig couldn't stop. It rolled right through the intersection. The rest of the ride was pretty easy we didn't contest any of the sprints. So that was the Sunday ride for 1/16/11 looks like E has some good form for our FLA trip at the end of the month.

1/16/11

2011-01-16T19:53:00.003-05:00

I will post on the ride on Monday. Tonight I want to rub a little salt, no scratch that, a lot of salt into a gaping wound in Crowells heart. Last week at S&S he was telling me how "His Pats" were going to the stupid bowel. Just let me stop you guys right here, I don't watch nor like or care about football. Now I will say this I have a special hatred for the Pats. You see, my dip shit brother was the guy that would go to the game with no shirt on painted half blue and the other half red. Then would need to get bailed out of the Foxboro jail after the game was over. So here it goes. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS. You feel that Crowell? Yea the sting. You know what that is? I'll tell you. That's pride FUCKIN WITH YOU!!!!! Here's a riddle.Q) What does 14-2 get you. A) A low draft pick.

1/15/11

2011-01-15T17:57:00.003-05:00

Photo from today's ride.

1/14/11

2011-01-15T07:52:00.002-05:00

FUCK IT I'M RIDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9:00am Cafe' Romeo bring your snow gear.

1/12/11

2011-01-12T16:12:00.003-05:00

Rondos blog supplemental.

I just got Craig(the torch)Hayes mail address. He is in Bahrain keeping us free and safe. From the sub-human scum that wants us to all to die in there Jihad. If you can he is in dire need of Muscle Milk, Cytomax, cycling mags and DVDs. They can be old mags and such. I know that he would appreciate it. He is jonesin for so good old bike porn. Its funny how are lives keep on going but guys like Craig's grind to a halt. I think that a lot of us forget that there are men and women fighting and dieing for us everyday in the mid-east. Next time you see a VET thank him or her for there service

BM1 Craig R Hayes
PATFORSWA
USCGC ADAK WPB 1333
Unit 3950
FPO-AE 09501-3950

1/9/11

2011-01-09T14:07:00.003-05:00

Only the tough ride in the snow. I went out to S&S to meet the guys. Knowing that E was moving and the rest of the New Haven crew were PUSSY'S I would be on my own. There were five men there McG, Crowell, Silent Steve, MTB Man and yours truly. We flew down to the park kinda knowing that nobody would be there. We waited till 10 and headed out. The wind was unbelievable, the roads wernt that bad though. The five men set a nice pace 18-20 mph into a 25+ mph cross headwind. We hit the back roads and they had snow on them but it was soft and you just road right through it. I took the lead on these sections, I have a lot of experience on riding snow covered roads. I set a pace that was just on the edge of being in control and still getting a good workout in. Once we got to the light at rt68 the roads were just wet and we were clear to ride as hard as we could. The wind was are only foe now. Everyone took there turn at the front some taking longer pulls than others but everyone did what they could. It was funny the wind would come from the left then you would get a gust form the right at about 35mph for 200 meters. I was trying to echelon but with the wind changing directions it was a problem. There were a couple of times the wind almost brought us to a stand still. By the ski slope we were soaked and with the wind, my dick was starting to get cold. If that has ever happened to you you know what I mean. Mike took a long pull up the false flat then I took one to the turnaround. When we hit the tailwind my tool was frozen. Crowell offered to warm it for me but I think that Robyn would get mad so I declined. With the wind at our backs now we had an easy ride back. When we got back to S&S we pulled in got dressed and had coffee and cakes. The coffee always tastes better after a hard ride. Just a little fact guys the avg age of the guys that showed up was 45. That's pretty sad, back in the day there would have been at least 25 guys there. For all that didn't show up put a little Vagisil on it, the rash will go away in about a week. I don't want to hear about quality of your work out either. You got a shit workout compared to us.

1/3/11

2011-01-03T15:57:00.003-05:00

There it is 1/3/11, one more year to see if the Mayans were right. First I want to say that I have taken over the Saturday ride. It will no longer be know as the Yale ride it is now the Cafe Romeo ride. Who needs the eggheads anyway, should they be growing a monkey with four asses or something like it. Now on to the ride! Robyn and I had to do something at 1 so we drove to S&S. E and CXChris rode there via the Tuck. We rolled down to the park with the wind at our backs. There was a few of the hard core guys there Hippie Chris, Foley and Mario. Also Iden was in attendance along with two of his droogies. When Mike saw them E and I got the Brave-Heart speech. I know that I have used this one before but it never gets tired to me. The ride started out slow and didn't get rolling until after the light at rt68. The droogies set out on there cookie cutter tactics of whined up the pace and send a guy up the road when they think everyone is tired. I think that one is a little played out. There were a few moves off the front but nothing that stuck. Then at the turnaround McG, Crowell, one of Idens guys and a guy that looked like Otto from Gaul only with a Chris Kringle beard. They got a small gap then at the turn on to West st Otto had a mechanical and Idens guy got popped. It was crowell vs McG for the first sprint of the day. 1 guess who won that one? Now with the wind at our backs the pace sped up. At the milldale turn E and Ron the III went off the front only to get the light at the train tressel, we let them go back up the road when it went green. Bengay went after them, He is like the Tinman and the Scarecrow all in one. He needs a heart and a brain and he might become a bike racer. (there's no place like home) Dorothy made it across to the duo and everyone had the same thought, for how long? The trio and I use that term lightly made the turn on to rt10 and Ron the III went left to go home I guess. That left Dorothy a long way from home and a flying monkey gnawing at his neck. Looks like the house fell on Dorothy this time and he was back in the fold by the prison. E was on his own now and heading for the S&S checkered flag. That's when LT went off in pursuit. It was the age old battle of good trying to banish evil. LT was pedaling like he had the father, son and holey ghost with him. I told Kioski to go after him, we didn't want all of E's work to go for not. I thought that McG would be on my wheel so when Kioski pulled off I went all out and much to my dismay Foley came by me with no McG in site. I think we will have to wait until next week to see who wins the Good vs Evil battle. This is where I end my story if anyone wants to fill in the rest of the story, that would be cool.

12/27/10

2010-12-27T20:20:00.003-05:00

Well the last ride of the year was a dusie! With the threat of a nor'easter Robyn and went to S&S to meet the bubble fags and McG. When we got there Miguel showed up and was none to happy with the weather but with a little verbal bashing form Robyn he caved and got ready to ride. The group was small McG, Crowell, SS, LT and Koski on a mtb. The snow hadn't started yet but you could tell it was on its way. When we got to the park there was only E and CX Chris there. Wow don't you guys know that the first race is 4 months away! As we pulled out Hacker showed up and we picked up Chris B on the back roads. On the way down we decided that we would keep it tempo and not let anyone get dropped. Crowell and E were the first to break the truce. The field just let them go so kudos to us for not getting sucked in. I got a flat before we pasted rt42. My fucking fingers were frozen after that. We had a decent pace line going, everyone was rolling through so that was nice. There is not much to say about the ride it was the right pace for the weather and time of the year. The wind was dead in our faces and it was whiping. I will say this it was a three out of three for the Zane's squad. Mike blew by a over confident Crowell at the turnaround sprint. Then E took the S&S sprint Crowell was on the short end of that one to. The ride in to Hamden was uneventful. After some jostling back and forth I took the finial prize. Zane's 3 Crowell 0. On the way back to the parking lot my rear hub started to lock up I had to jump on the pedals to free it up. I hope Ciocci can fix it because I don't want to break out my new D-Ace carbons in the shit weather. The coffee and cakes went down nice after the cold ride back. Robyn got a good photo while riding back on the path in the snow.

What the fuck??

2010-12-09T15:26:00.003-05:00

Hi I was just at a Krauser's food mart. I saw a disturbing thing while standing in line. I was third in line the people being waited on had 4 sandwiches 2 bags of chips, 2 energy drinks and two Hostess apple pies. Totaling $33.75 all bought with a WIC card. The person in front of me bought 5 sandwiches totaling $22 also with a WIC card. I don't know how the system works so I asked the teller if it was legal for them to buy food like this with the card. He informed me that it was. This blew my mind with the money that they both spent they could have and should have bought enough deli meat and bread to last 1 week not 1 day. As a hard working taxpayer of this state for many years I see this as a slap in the face. Mind you both customers were dressed in expensive clothes from head to toe and also had expensive jewelry on. To top off my angry customer #1 left in a BMW the other in a new SUV. I will tell you this I am not going to be one of these people to just look down and ignore this activity any more. With the state in financial difficulties I think that such wasteful practice's should be put in check. Lets here you bleeding hearts talk your way out of this shit. Don't cry when your taxes go up either.

12/5/10

2010-12-05T15:28:00.004-05:00

Fucking WINDYYYYYYYYYYY

Robyn and I were up in Schenectady for a swim meet this weekend. We did a loop on Saturday which went 20 miles on one side of the Mohawk river then 20 on the other. The way out we had a cross tail wind, the way back block head. There was one point on the way back on a flat stretch we were going 8!!! FUCKING 8. That should have been an omen for Sunday. When we left the house the wind was at our backs. As we hit the city the wind changed and was now in our faces. (Memories) We hooked up with E and cyclocross Chris at the cafe. The roll to the park was interrupted by and local Yale kungfu master. That thought it was necessary to tell me that the light that we were rolling through was red. Everyone's a tuff guy in a Toyota minivan. Once at the park Hippie Chris and Joey Scambini were there. Good to see old Joe back in the fold on a regular basis. The S&S crew showed up with a few new faces. Max Acapulco and Mark (Henk) Paggoli from CVC graced us with there presence. The ride rolled out really slow. I heard a few shouts from the back about the pace. If you don't like it go to the front and change it. The pace stayed steady a good group of 10 or so rotated in a some what symbiotic fashion. That is until the rise after the chicane. Crowell showing his sense of tactics attacked into the 25 mph headwind. A few super geniuses went after him. Mike and I sent E along for the ride just in case the RED SEA parted for them somehow. Crowell I don't want to hear you. Lets break it down 25mph headwind + 20+ miles to go = you lose. It was all back together by the industrial park. The group was getting smaller due more to the wind not the pace. If the door got opened then I think it would be hard to close any gap. We picked up big Johnny at the ski slope. I went old school and got on his wheel in the pace line. A little note here the big guy was my main domestic back in the day. I give him credit for my wins in a few races, most notably Jiminy Peak. Any way the guys willing to rotate now was dwindling. When we approached the turnaround the wind almost stopped us dead. At the turn I set the pace. Mike and E were looking for Jancinto's wheel. I kept the pace hard enough that if the move went he would be stuffed and not have a jump on them. Hacker jumped away at the corner and no one reacted. Checkmate for the college boy. I was fucking shot from my pull. I was near the back at the corner on 10and the field was falling apart. I had to dig deep to stay near the front over the hill. Now to the tailwind, wrong it was a crosswind and made it not to much fun. With the legs like jello I tried to recover. The ride was not to hard until we hit rt 10 in Cheshire. Mike took the sprint at S&S with ease. We marked E for the finish but a group slipped away with 3k to go. We had Koski up there so we waited it out. I wanted to wait for Guido and Hacker to make there move, but Mike called it so I took my death pull with about a 1.5 k to go. I got us across 500 meters out. What went on from there you have to ask Mike and E. I had to turn around and go get my left lung. I hacked it out with 800 meters to go. I vote that we slow the pace down on the ride for a month or so. What do you think?

2010-12-01T17:29:00.003-05:00

I passed off the blog to Crowell this week. I have been busy.

It was good to see Guido back in the peloton. Guido, you have been missed and we wish the best to your family. The ride started out nice and mellow. It was good to see the Muffin Man back in town. The head wind down Rt-10 was a bit stiff with no one wanting to take much of a pull. The pace picked up a bit when we hit the first hill on Mountain Road when E and Crowell jumped to open a small gap. The gap was closed and the ride to the Rt-68 light was quick with the regular crew taking the pulls. It was status quo until the chicane when Crowell jumped on the false flat taking with him E and Hacker. The group was caught just before the Rt-322 light. It was groupo compacto for most of the ride down Mt Vernon Road with the regulars taking most of the pulls into the wind. Mike, Rondo, Koski, E, Crowell, Todd, T, Hacker and a couple others did most of the pulls. Little T made the big jump at West Street to take the first of the sprint’s. The group stayed together with a nice tailwind the whole ride back. Koski Jumped on the RT-10 hill but Crowell came around him and then by the top there were a couple others to sprint for the points. I think Mike got the sprint. We were traveling at speed when the BMC rider got to the front. The wind was from the West so we were all pulling off to the right when all of a sudden, this guy shot across to the left all the way to the other side of the street almost taking out muffin man. It was a bizarre move and luckily no one got taken out. It was steady and fast down RT-10. Not sure who took the final sprint.

Pic is for those of you who wondered what Guido does in his spare time.

11/22/10

2010-11-22T18:05:00.006-05:00

Robyn and I started out at 9am to go meet the guys at Cafe' Romeo. The cast was E, the mad cyclo cross man and Bengay. The wind was in our face as usual. At the park the cast had assembled. The ride left with a stiff head wind bahhhha. There was a nice group of 10 guys willing to set the pace into the wind. I was pretty surprised at that. Notables were E, Crowell, Mike, Hippie Chris, Jacinto and me. When we got to the light at rt68 there wasn't much damage. I think that the pack fodder thought the ride was going easy. Let me tell you this, anyone that was working didn't think so. Here is where I give the loser of the day award out. The winner is (drum roll) the guy on the BMC. You know the guy in all black, if he could bottle up all his nervous energy he could go to the moon and back. I know I know you thought that Bengay and his pace line skills was going to get the award. You cant give it to the same guy every week. The group of ten was pretty solid all the way to the turnaround. Once on the hill Mike took the reigns. When he hit the corner Jancinto tryed to come around Mike and the big guy pushed him wide. I knew this was going to be a good one to the sprint at the top of the hill. Mike stayed on the front all the way with some help from E. When the sprint started Mike went from a long way out. Jancinto started to come around him but Mike took him to the curb. He tried again and was put to the curb again. Ed and I discussed it and give it the OK, sprinting is not for the faint of heart. Welcome to the big league's Jancinto. The pack was smoked from the head wind and didn't set the world on fire on the way back. I was in the small ringing so I just sat in with the wind at our backs. I did see some all out sprinting at the finish from Zeroff. No standing after the 1km to go banner. We rolled back to the Haven and the fucking wind changed directions. Its like when I had to walk to school up hill both ways when I was a kid.

11/15/10

2010-11-15T14:20:00.004-05:00

OK the ride started out with Robyn and myself meeting the boys at the cafe'.Lets see there was E, Rocky the flying squirrel and a special guest appearance by our old friend the Torch. He's fresh back from training at the Blackwater warfare center in South Carolina. When you see him next week give him a pat on the back. He will be deployed just after Thanksgiving. I wish him nothing but the best. Happy hunting bro. Freedom isn't free you know, it takes people like Craig to keep us safe at night. When we got to the park all the usual's where there. Plus one pint sized Irishman, the Franer.(OUYAH Ronnie) As the ride started I was shooting the shit with Mike and the Franer for a while. I noticed that guys were coming back to the field. I guess a move went up the road when I wasn't paying attention. E and little Rick were doing the bulk of the pulling. I saw a Bubble fag up in the distance and ask E who it was. He replied Crowell. I laughed and told them we should let the Olaf stay off the front for 31 miles and blow by him right at the end. The field was just about on him when we got stuck at the light on rt68. You could see him tearing him self apart to press the gap open again. After we spotted him a good minute and a half the light changed and we were off in pursuit. The pace was steady nothing to fast there was a pretty stiff headwind. Once again we were just about on him when we got the light after the industrial park. Mr Crowell got spotted another 2 minutes. The field really didn't start moving until the shooting range. That's when the fat lady started to sing for the no-hoper up the road. I'll give him this he made it to the turn and the top of the hill before the pack over took him. I think he was trying to make the light at Target to prolong his pain. With Crowells bubble burst and the wind at our backs the pace started to rise as we got closer to rt10. We made it by the prison without any incident's this week which was good. Koski and Crowell gave it a go for the Sprint at S&S. Brian took him down with ease I must say. Then comes the best part of the ride. Crowell starts saying to Chris the flying squirrel and I quote "Ben Its good to see you not on the ground today. When he didn't reply Crowell said it again. Once again no reply. Crowell started to get mad now and said it louder. I was fucking laughing so hard inside. I got this warm fuzzy feeling when I told him his name was Chris not Ben. What would this ride be without that dude. Back to the ride. Mike took a few good pulls at the end but it wasn't enough to get rid of his Nemesis Jancinto. It looked like he would take it but my man the Torch came through to take the prize.

Buggers and Koski

2010-11-10T21:15:00.002-05:00

You asked for it you got it.

11/8/10

2010-11-08T15:28:00.005-05:00

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!

Robyn and I meet up with E at Cafe Romeo. The slog out to the ride sucked. The wind was kickin pretty hard. At the park the turnout was low. I noticed that Crowell was not with the S&S boys, which made me happy. Its a CAR not CAARRR. We rolled out nice and easy, I think the wind had something to do with that though. Once onto the back roads E, Mike, me and a few others set a nice rotating pace. When we got to the light at 68 the pack seemed to be all intact. The field rolled at a nice tempo all the way to the ski slope. That's when we met up with Big Johnny. It was good to see him, Mike and I sat up a little to stay hey. That's when a group of 3 went up the road. It was E, Jacinto and the bubble gnome. They got a decent gap but nothing to cry about. E was up there so we didn't care if it went all the way. When we hit the new pavement where the pave' was. Mikes buddy Greg jumped across the gap. I think Chappy went across just before he did also. Greg got on just as they hit the false flat. Even with his new Colnago his fate was written in stone. We were just about on them anyway. Then the pack just sat up and the gap went though the roof. About a mile before the turn around a few guys got organized and brought the gap down. The problem was that they ran out of steam and no one wanted to extend them self's before the climb. That's when Juillo jumped across the gap in his areobars. The move was set we had a guy up there and the bubble fags had 3 so I guess it was a fair fight. At the top of the hill Chappy got flicked. The break was pretty much gone now, the only team not represented Was CVC. MUSH PETIE MUSH. The field just rolled for a while. When we hit rt10 a few guys started to ride hard again. Koski was up there in the rotation. That's when buggers got in the line and wouldn't or couldn't pull. Koski yelled for him to roll though, buggers said fuck you. Then he spit at Brian. Brian flipped out (NO SHIT) He got off his bike looking to throw down, but buggers kept going. Koski rode up to buggers and they both got off and it looked like they were going to go at it. Mike and Chappy got in between them. I say fuck that let'em fight. When we got back on our bikes the field was gone. Five or six of us just rolled in, buggers was up the rode a little, so the drama was defused. Buggers definitely deserved a beat down for that shit. That being said, it's over that was last week and next week is a new week. In closing I have to say this ride never fails to amaze me. I guess that why I love it.

Buggers - Koski incident

2010-11-07T17:06:00.002-05:00

I have video from today. I know the footage is grainy but what do you think?

10/31/10

2010-11-02T15:32:00.003-04:00

I drove out to the S&S parking lot and met up with the bubble brain trust. Mike showed up with his new circle of friends. Pinky's out guys he lives in Glastonbuy now. We strolled down to the Giant, thinking that we were riding into a headwind. When the ride started I soon found out that we were wrong. The back roads had just been paved so it was less stressful of a start.The ride was pretty easy out to the light t rt68 due to the wind. After the light the ride started to pick up. After the chicane E and Ciocci decided to motor pace up the rise before the turn. The gap that they eked out wasn't much. This lead to the brain trust to lead an assault to jump to the gap. Now there was a group of 5 with 5 second gap and a few guys in between and the pack. We absorbed the guys that didn't make the move except for one, that is. This was to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen in all my cycling days. Chris Mahoney was about 10 meters behind the break and 10 in front of us. OK you cant make this shit up, with his head down he went from the middle of the road to the curb. He hit the fuckin curb, goes superman into the air then into a full roll. Now comes the funny part. In the middle of his roll he says I'm OK. He hadn't even stooped crashing yet, and was tell us he was alright. The ride was all strung out and sad as it may seem, there was no time to stop for him. My rule is if you take your self down then your punishment is to catch back on your self. The ride came back together at the light. I figured that Chris got on, there guys were saying he was alright so the ride pressed on. Next on the menu was the pave' sector after the ski slope. The word on the street was that they just put down 3/4 inch binder stone. Mike and I disguised the best way through and came up with fast and lose. It's the only way to get through the rough stuff right? We hit the stones hard and fast. I was on E's wheel and I think Mike was on mine. 50 meters in I hit a big ass rock and insta-flatted. Then E and Mike did too. I think at least 10 guys flatted on the stones. A big group waited for us but we lost big time. We decided to take the shortcut at Jude lane. The way I look at it we were the laughing group now and there was no need to hammer the rest of the way in. You know a nice 20-22 mph ride in. Not to be. Crowell and E turned onto Jude and we were going 30 mph. There were guys that had just waited for us getting shelled out the back. My tire had a massive hole in it so I left it soft and planed on just stopping at S&S. I rode in with a few of the casualties of war. I dont know wht happened after Milldale. It was an eventful day to say the least.

10/25/10

2010-10-25T20:02:00.003-04:00

Robyn and I rode out to Cafe Romeo and met up with E and bengay. Robyn left before us becaues we waited for Ciocci, he never showed. Guess who got slamed on the way to the ride? This is the part were Sho Nuff comes in. We tried to figure who would win in a Thunder Dome, death match Ciocci, Bruce Leroy or the Sho Nuff?

Now on to the ride. One might think that with most of the Cheshire crew on their yearly retreat at broke-back mt.The ride woukld be easy. "There's a sausage fest if I ever saw one"!!! You would be wrong. Iden and his patient's showed up. My idea of keeping my heart rate below my LT went out the door. I just stayed near the front not trying to do to much. E was able to handle all the shit that Iden and his droogie's threw at him. I was glad for that. The ride was just fast on the way out, with repeated attacks but nothing got away. At the turnaround hill there where some ejection notices handed out for sure. We hit 3 lights on the backside of the hill, so I think a few guys got back on there. The ride was tempo until we hit the false flat near the greenhouses. When we got to Peck lane the field had split. I would say that there were 12 guys in the front group and the rest were scattered in the head wind never to return. I must say that the guys in the front group all did their share, the only one not pulling was me. I was on my limit in the small ring. I had to say good bye to the group with 1km to go. There was a surge that I just could not respond to.. 32mph is the max in the 39 for me . If someone wants to post who won that would be good. Untill next week FUCK YOU.

Late post

2010-10-25T14:45:00.004-04:00

I will post later on tonight. I hope this will hold you over until then.

The days of yore!!!!

2010-10-21T07:30:00.001-04:00

The days of yore. This is when the big guns did all the races... Not just the Tour.

The return of NICK

2010-10-17T19:13:00.004-04:00

I went to S&S to meet the boys today. I had a long day yesterday so I didn't want to do 65miles. When I got to the lot, low and behold Nick was there. I thought he moved to China or something. I caught up with him for a few then got ready to roll. The ride down the bike path was hairy. I wont be shocked when one of us run somebody over. At the park there were a few missing guys, and some old faces to. Most noticeable was a bodybuilder sized Chappy. The ride started out pretty easy. I had a nice chat with special Ed, then I realized that we were just about to the notch. The false flat after the chicane saw a Guido, Crowell attack move off the front. True to form the bubble fags started to chase. Some things never change! It was all back together before the industrial park. The tempo was hard to the light, but as usual it was red. Next on the route map was the dirt. I moved up so not to get caught behind any chum. We hit the sector and Crowell was on the front with MCG LT the me. 50 meters in I slammed into a hole and my bars dropped about 2 inches. I kept my place in line until we left the sector. Then I dropped back and was trying to push them back up. The field broke in two, I was in the second group with all the heavy hitters. The groups were going to connect so I wasn't worried. Then Mahoney started to open a gap, I thought to myself he opened it he can close it. Guys went into panic mode. Chappy killed it to get across with a few others. I just sat in the wheels and let them do the work. It felt like I was riding Robyn's bike. With my bars pointed down my stem went from a 120 to a 90. When the groups connected they slowed up and the 3rd group caught on with ease. The turnaround climb sucked with my bars all fucked up. Nothing great happened over the top. When we got down the bottom of the hill it was all together. When we went though the light in Milldale a group made the arrow light and got a 5 second gap. That move went nowhere when we got the light at the train trestle I got an allen key from Zeroff and fixed my bars. The ride back to the park was pretty easy nothing to rave about. The ride was just the right pace for a cold day in October. It was nice to grab Coffee and cakes with the boys after. Chappy never disappoints with the laughs. Good to see Mike hang two weeks in a row. I knew you could do it big guy!!

Sven Nys

2010-10-15T20:04:00.001-04:00

Hunter this is a cyclocross course!! Get to work.

Dirty Dozen

2010-10-13T16:00:00.001-04:00

Greg Comen, manager of Zanes cycles, is having a cool supported ride oct 17, it's called the dirty dozen. Ride easy to the base of a dozen hills in the area where a whistle is blown and we race up. Total points are accumulated. Prizes and trophies to the winner of a mens and womens category. Contact Greg for info and details:
gc@ctcyclecenter.com

10/11/10

2010-10-11T16:46:00.003-04:00

Just another Sunday! This Sunday was relatively quite as opposed to last weekend. Robyn and I left the house and meet E and KO-Chris and the cafe. We rolled to the park with a nice tailwind. When we got to the park Hippie Chris came up with the idea to fuck with Mike, we would keep asking him if he was alright. IE was he getting droppped. OK now for the good stuff. A guy pulls up right at the last minute and asked us to wait. Its October, no problem right? The dude gets ready and puts his bike upside down to put his wheels on! Yup like when you were 10. I started to think we should have just left. The dude then asked how fast the ride was when the reply of 23mph he almost shit him self. I told him to just stay at the back and see how it went. Hey you never know.The ride started out nice and slow. Even when we hit the back roads it was pleasant. I was trying to keep my heart rate below my LT so that was fine with me. Mike asked the new guy if he wanted to where his arm warmers and the dick said something about him not wearing a helmet. This dude got in the express line for the SPG ride. I here Mike was just about to take him in the woods for a talk but E talked him down. More on the new guy later. The ride was pretty low key all the way to the pave'. When we hit it though things changed pretty quick. Mike entered first put just pulled off and went backwards. E then took the reins and led the charge with Crowell in tow. I went with them until I hit my LT then just rode easy until the pack caught me just as we exited the sector. NICE!!! E and Crowell were about 1 minute ahead so we had some work to do. The pack regrouped and kept the two numnuts in site until the turnaround. Then Mike took a long pull from corner to corner and cut the gap down greatly. Then Hacker and someone else tryed to jump across but failed. The pack regrouped at the top of the hill and rode the break back on the down hill. Grouppo compacto! The ride went pretty easy for the rest of the way. Not much to say about it, but that's the way it should be this time of the year. When we were rolling home Robyn told me she got gaped on the dirt and Pete Johnson flatted so she waited with him. While they were changing the tire Miguel and the new guy rolled up. Robyn said that Miguel looked like he was ready to kill the dude. Robyn was soon to find out why. The prick started to tell Pete how to change the tire and spouting prices of co2's and why he should use a pump. Then he said something about the guy without a helmet and how he yelled at him and that hes just not a nice guy. Mike you say I'm unapproachable!!! Way to make a new friend. I guess Pete started to get annoyed with the dude and they dropped him as they made there way back to the field. If he comes back I say we give him a atomic wedgie. I hope he does it will be interesting. Let this be a lesson to all new guys just sit at the back and keep your mouth shut.

P.S. Mike made the ride this week, Hip Hip Hooray!!!

2010-10-08T06:22:00.001-04:00

Here is one for Guido and all you young ones out there. This is when cartoons were great. No PC bullshit!!!!!!!!

10/3/10

2010-10-04T07:30:00.003-04:00

WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The day started out nice the sun was out and the birds were chirping. Then a shit storm moved in!!!!!!! Robyn and I started out in the chilly air at 9:00am like always. Instead of meeting up with the guys at Brueggre's we are now meeting at Cafe Romeo. This is a better spot so as we don't have to run the gauntlet of Trumbull st. We have all had close encounters there at one time or another. When we got there KO Chris was there waiting. I had not talked with E or Coicci so I didn't know there status. Robyn wanted to get going because when someone is late the ride out gets pretty crazy. I was going to give the guys a few minutes and we would catch up with her. As she was pulling out of the driveway, there was a guy parked in the space right before it. I could see that he was looking back down the street and started to move forward. Chris and I started screaming, hopeing to get the drivers attention or Robyn to make some kind of Hail-Mary maneuver. It was not be The dude drove right over her. It was in slow-mo. I was dumbfounded. I ran over to her and then out of nowhere a guy in a blue Malibu jumps out with a radio and is calling the police. Robyn got up then sat back down.She looked stunned more than anything. I could tell there was no serious damage. She asked how her bike was so I was checking it out, and the guy with the radio was talking to her and the guy who hit her. I fixed her seat and then I see the guy who hit her take off down the road. Now you can here the sirens coming from both directions. The guy in the Malibu was a New Haven detective and when we brought up the topic that the guy just took off. He said he had his plate and they would pick him up later. Now the ambulance is there and 2 cop cars. My head was spinning I didn't know what to do. By now Thomas had rode up and was trying to see what he could do. We told him and Chris to go to the ride. Robyn landed on her knee that she hurt in the fall on the Tuesday ride a few weeks back and her wrist was dinged up. We talked to the police for a while and got going. I didn't know whether to take her home to the hospital or to the ride. She said she wanted to go to the ride but I knew we were way late. I started to ride a hard tempo looking back to see if the pace was good for her, she seemed up to it so I kept upping the speed. We rode 22mph the whole way there and anyone who rode yesterday knows how windy it was. Yup just like when your grandfather told you the story about walking to school uphill both ways. We slogged it out into the headwind. When we got to the giant I was gassed so I know that she must have been shot. She is a tough cookie, I guess you have to be to live with me. Now for the ride.... Of course fucking Crowell had to go hard right out of the park. (dick) Robyn was on my wheel and I was keeping an eye on her. I was fucking hurting so I can only imagine what she felt like. She said she was going to the back at the turn off rt10 so I figured she was good. At rt42 or so I went to look for her, Hippie Chris told me she turned around. I did the math and I would have never caught her if I went back and she would have been pissed if I did. I plugged froward. My heart rate was through the roof, I was seeing high 180's on any little rise. I was in survival mode the hole day. When we hit the dirt section I went to the front and pulled across it and just about got myself dropped. I rode smart and let others do the work of closing gaps. Let me tell you there were a lot of gaps out there. The wind was shredding the field. Crowell set off to take the kom after the turnaround. Thats when Mike went out the back. FEEL THAT BIG BOY THAT'S PRIDE FUCKING WITH YOU. Once in the tail wind the heart rate went down. I wanted to do as little as possible so I just rode in the pack the hole way in. At the S&S sprint Crowell went off on his own again. His form seems good for the Giro DE Lombardi next weekend. Look for his name in the results column.(not) Then the dick ran two red lights that we saw so no victory for you big boy. Well my finger is sore from all this typing so FUCK YOU until next week.

9/26/10

2010-09-27T07:49:00.003-04:00

Guess what? Its time for the Sunday worlds! If you ride out of New Haven we have a new departure point. We will be meeting at Romeos cafe on Orange st at 9:15 Sharp. Robyn, E, Cocci and I rolled to the giant battling a stiff head wind all the way. At the park we met up with the usual hard core guys. Most of the S&S crew , Hippie Chris and the Bethel family Robinson. Throw Guido, WCK and a crazy guy from Yale in Pippy long stockings and you have a ride. It started out mellow witch was alright with me. The legs are still on vacation. The full Zanes team started to rotate at the front during the first sections off rt10. The pace started to hot up after the crossing of rt42. We made the light at 68 so the pace steady all the way to the industrial park. One thing of note was Pippy almost took everyone out on the chicane, with his great cornering skills. (Guido he is your responsibility do something) The ride got really moving at the ski slope and when we hit the dirt section MCG set a pace that only E, Cocci, WCK and me could handle. The main group was about 30 seconds behind us. Once off the drit I sat up to wait for Robyn, she still cant put the power down after her crash. We took the short cut at Jude so I cant tell you what happened at the turnaround. I do know this the group was the five I left Guido, Crowell and Jucianto. I can guess that they had to make a hard effort to get on. Everyone else was OTB. The ride was mellow until rt10, the ride got scary at the bottom of the hill. WCK and E thought it was a good time to do some motor pacing. I bailed with 1km to go so if you have any info post it. We headed back to the city and had coffee and cakes at the cafe, and had a nice chat about the ride. I hope next week will be more eventful. Come out and see for your self.

9/25/10

2010-09-25T17:38:00.002-04:00

Can you smell it? That's right its time for the Sunday ride. Maybe we can settle the Bengay and his liberal ways debate. First one to get dropped loses. Mike says that there is a nice dirt section after the ski slope so that should be exciting. See you there.

TWC

2010-09-22T08:35:00.005-04:00

OK with the boys from CCR at interbike I was elected to write the blog this week. Good to see Robyn back on the ride after her crash last week. Here we go! Hunter P and Dillon P put in two monster pulls and had everyone on the rivet!!!! Oh thats right were in the real world this week I forgot. The ride started out low key, rt10 was taken at 20mph or so. As we turned off onto the back roads Eric , LT and Crowell were doing most of the work. With a strong tailwind the speed was high and nothing was going up the rode. It was good to see Brain Spiotti out he was on the front for a spell. At rt42 Eric , Koski and Crowell got a gap but Guido brought it back before the turn onto the climb. The pace was high on the road to the light at the rt68. Going toward the chicane the work on the front was pretty much stats quo with MCG and Petey thrown in the mix now. The ride was all strung out as we hit the hill after the chicane at the top a CCR rider attacked (Joe K?) but MCG brought him back and took a long pull into the industrial park. Once into the park the pace was a steady 30+ all the way! Gotta love that tailwind. When we got out of the park the pace settled in with the crosswind from the right. As the ride approached the first sprint of the day. Eric and MCG set up LT for a easy win at the top. The next guy was 100 meters behind! Eric got tailed off from his long pull so I sat off the back to help him back. Thats when I saw group of 5 OTB with Bengay leading the charge back up, they didn't make it. Round 12 to Mahoney I guess its a TKO. The false flat after the green house was taken at tempo due to the dug up road. When the ride hit rt10 the pace was tame with the wind dead in the face. At the S&S sprint Guido took the title of king of the hill. Down 10 we got every light so the ride was pretty uneventful until the finish. Guido showing some late season form took the prize once again. It was almost dark at the finish so I think this was the last 6:00 pm ride so 5:30 next week.

Back on the bike

2010-09-19T12:59:00.003-04:00

I got back on the bike after a 3 week rest. I had pulled a hamstring a while back and I had raced the last few races of my season in mild pain. I give it a rest, thinking it would get better. I did the LuLu's ride the pace was nice and easy so it was prefect. Boy its funny how quick you get out of shape! I was suffering on the climbs. I was getting dropped by guys on hybrid's. (there is a softball for someone to hit out of the park) I got my legs back after 2 hours though they loosened up and the heart rate went down out of the red zone. First day back the hammy feels sore still but its getting better. Boy it sucks getting old. On another note I have been asked to write the TWC blog this week due to the CCR guys are at interbike so be nice to me on Tuesday. FUCK YOU and goodbye for now.

Just when you thought I would never post again

2010-08-04T20:36:00.003-04:00

I had to post this E sent it my way. Like West coast Sid says Slayer can bring all races and religions together.