2/14/11

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.