Any predictions? I don't think I will make it for this one. My plan is to ride it solo this Saturday AM.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

I don't think much time will won on this loop.

I expect us to go to Georges Mills first with no major attacks on Dewey hill, there may be a slight separation, but it would be all back together as we road toward springfield.

The climb out of Georges Mills to 114 is when a little action will take place. There should be some drops, and small groups will form. The climb will be the only time difference as, all small groups will work together to limit the loss and maybe try to catch the front pack on the downhills to 10, then the flats to home.

A solo victory would not be impossible, but highly unlikely. If someone is solo off the back, they could be in trouble.


Brian, greg, Nathan and Tim

Gurney will try to hang on

Dan PJ, Ryan, Ken, Dana, Adam will fight to not get dropped on the climb. Then the big engines will reel the escapees back in.

We will pick Gurney up on the way and chase down the leaders, who will go hard for awhile, but try to save their legs to sneak out a win at the end, thus allowing us to come wihin sight and make a run for the stage win.

Lauren, Sandy and Mike will have a great ride, only losing ground a bit on Dewey, then working together until the climb to 114. Will they stay together to maximize their time, or will they break up and have to solo home?

Does time Start/Stop at the HS? I remember some of the times we started at Coronis.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

Full lap for time.

Messing with Gurney is like messing with sasquatch, just bait him a little and he gets motivated......good time!

Looks like he laid down a pretty good time solo yesterday:

[url]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/local-loops/pacer.php?region=9&sport=1&loopID=29[/url]

6 PM Group ride start time to enable folks to get there.

Meet at Newport High School parking lot. Neutral start through town until Coronis Market (meaning no attacks at the traffic circle).

We will pick a start and end point Wednesday night for possible Sprint purposes.... Football tower comes to mind. Bring the pinecone.

Ippedico? Feeney? Will you be there?

Points will be updated this evening.....

Comish

We are planning to ride.
Why do you ask? Are you guys planning to draft on us all around the loop? Well forget it. We are pit-stopping at Coronis' for grinders and beers for the ride. Need to wear the jersey with really big pockets.
 
"there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about on bikes (sic)" Grahame Greene from Wind In The Willows

Post ride refreshments, now your thinking. I'm not picky, I will draft anything.

FYI
I found a used sweatshirt in my garage several weeks after stage 1. I think it belongs to the Comish. I listed it on ebay but there were no bids.

I will sell it after stage 3. Priceless.
 
"there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about on bikes (sic)" Grahame Greene from Wind In The Willows

just to confirm the loop:

under stage races it is described as:
North on route 10, Right on 114 through Springfield, Take right towards 89 and Georges Mills, under 89 and take right on Route 11, through Sunapee, into Newport right on 10 back to High School.
but,
my impression is that we will be going the opposite direction starting from the football tower and heading south on Route 10 to start??

That's correct Tim.

The loop direction tends to be safer this way, ecspecially in a group.

I would rather finish coming south on route 10 from Grantham, without the worry of finishing through Downtown Newport.

An added bonus would be, the chase group may acually see the leaders.

Soloists can choose either direction.

Has it been raining there (Newport-Springfield) today?

Its been rainy all day in NCentral MA where I am.
Just wondered if it will be weather like the Sunapee Loop?

I'm seeing light rain at the moment for the first time today,... rains gone already.

Temps will be much more favorable tonight and the radar shows only isolated pockets of rain. I'm optimistic the weather will be far better than the Lake Loop, might even see a bit of sun, but that might be asking too much.

Ryan