Reparto Corse: Ride #1 completed...

Ducati, Ferrari, and Bianchi define Reparto Corse as their top end racing team.

Although HUP New England's Reparto Corse is nothing like a top end racing team, we certainly were organized like one last weekend. We began the season off by completing the 1st of 6 quasi-semi-regular epic rides last Saturday in the relentless, but breathtaking hills of New Hampshire.

This was to be the virtual recon training for the upcoming Battenkill Roubaix (Ride #2 of 6)


The Course:
We rode out from Mines Fall Park in Nashua NH for a total of 100KM, 8-10 serious dirt climbs and one long paved climb for a total of around 1400 meters of climbing.

Led by Ronnie and Tom, many of the yuppie city boys, including myself, had very little concept of what 1400 meters of climbing in 100km meant, but we would soon find out within the first 3kms.

At the core this event was a Boston Vs. New Hampshire battle. Jeff from the Boston crew honorably battled all day with an equally strong and punchy Mark from the north. They pulled at the front almost the whole time and attacked every single hill possible.

In honor of Milan San Remo that day, I put in a stern effort at the 40km mark on what looked like the Poggio. Little did I know that the climb would go on for another 10-12 minutes at 6 miles an hour. At least I was able to keep a steady tempo and launch my man Bramhall to capture maximum points at the top. As you can see, I can hardly stay standing during the photo op.


Some of the dirt climbs were steep, and was mushy due to the snow which had melted on top of it earlier. Descending some of the wet dirt roads was challenging, but also just so fricking cool.

At arond 4 hours, many of us were on the verge of looking in our jersey pockets for loose change to pay our final fees to Charon as he waited to take us on a ferry ride deep into Hades.

But somehow, we made it through the ride with no mechanicals. We did not get lost once, and the ride was incredibly tight, just perfect.

Most of us went through some derivative of bonking or cramping several times during this ride, but we all finished in very good form, and had an amazing Post Ride meeting at the Peddler's Pub.

What made this ride especially exciting was the arrival of the HUP noir wool jerseys the night before. Pretty much all of us were wearing these jerseys before and after the ride. I chose to wear mine on the ride while others chose against it, fearing getting it dirty.

For how thin they are, the jerseys were surprisingly warm, and seemed to get a lot of attention at the bar. Thanks Dave!!!!

Ride #3 will be from Concord MA up to Watchusett mountain and back.


Start list 3/21/2009 Nashua NH 100KM

HUPUNITED New England

101) Chip B
102) Tom N
103) Jeff B
104) Yash K
105) Kerry VDK
106) Roberto H
107) Mark B
108) Ronald S*
109) Eli*
110) David L
111) Jay B
*Our honored guests


The bikes...

That is my ass...at the back. There was a lot of talk of supple muscles on the ride. more pictures to come.