Big Steamer April 22nd - Deuce Doubles Down
SAG WAGON NEWS - CORINTH-The first really warm evening of the year greeted the Yellow Train as 19 riders gathered at the Ronny Crownover Depot for Tuesday night's Big Steamer rumble. The pelton lazily pedaled through the neutral zone anticipating the hurt that was sure to come. One half mile to the start and a hissing sound is heard. The mighty Hollywood punctured and his dreams of a victory fizzled faster than the John Travolta movie “Battlefield Earth” at the theater. The combatants crossed over I-35 onto the Killing Fields and things began to get serious. Thrasher led the group towards Dead Man’s Slough before Deuce put in his first attack of the night. One by one the peloton responded and he was reeled back in up Shady Hill. Dewey Decimal took a position up front and set the pace through Ceilo Ranch. His filing system was off on this night, however, as he missed a turn and headed towards a dead end. The missed turn caused the peloton to briefly slow the pace as they snaked through the Ranch. Sensing the lull, Deuce hit the gas again and The Boss jumped on his wheel. The duo flew down Shady Shores road at 25mph and they were able to open a gap of about 100 meters. The gap was holding as they climbed Cowpattie Hill and continued to work together. About this time, The Boss’ bike threw a tantrum and wouldn’t stay in a gear. The Boss had to slow to try and get his bike in gear which slowed the breakaway and Deuce stopped working as well. The slowing of the pace allowed half the peloton to get back on and a group of 10 or so remained. The group took a brief rest and eased the pace back to 21mph as they hit the bottom of the Col de Shady Shores. Over the top they were still together. The speed was rising again as they rounded the corner into Dinosaur Forest. Deuce attacked again here. Dang it Dake immediately stuck his wheel and Thrasher showed some impressive acceleration as he quickly joined the other two up front. The group of three had a gap of 30 meters. The Boss, DC, The Wrench, Sir Roy and Scooter spun their pedals looking at each other like freshman boys at the Senior Prom without dates. Finally, The Boss jumps and gets back on about 1/4 mile from the Col. DC, The Wrench, Sir Roy and Scooter rejoin as well at the bottom of the climb. The Wrench decides to apply some torque and hits it hard on the Col. He opens a gap and leads everyone over the top. They turn left over the summit and Deuce attacks yet again. Sensing the seriousness of the move, The Boss immediately goes with him with Dang it Dake also making the junction. The Wrench, struggling after his hard effort, fights through the pain and gets on with DC right there as well. The pack of 19 has been reduced to five. They enter the Loop of Pain with Dang it Dake up front setting a steady tempo of 22 – 23mph. DC takes over the lead as they head up Cowpattie Hill one last time. DC asks for help on the front but none is coming. The Boss senses the slowing pace and moves up as the pace increases over the top. Dang it Dake takes over again on Garza curve but forgets to turn right onto Shady Shores. A group of four is now down the road but no one attacks and Dang it Dake works hard and is able to rejoin. They turn right onto Dobbs and Deuce attacks again. He quickly gaps the group and has 50 yards. DC stokes his boiler and pours on the gas. The pace is now at 26mph and it will not drop below that point for the next three miles. They turn onto Corinth Parkway and Deuce is holding onto the gap. He was in the pain business and business was good. As they approach the finish, it is clear that Duece is going to hold on for the victory so 2nd and 3rd places are up for grabs. DC is still working hard with The Boss directly on his wheel. Jamie is still there but The Wrench has called it a night. The Cannibal and Thrasher can see the leaders now but they will live to fight another night. Dang it Dakes rolls around DC and The Boss and is able to somewhat narrow the gap on Deuce just before the finish. The Boss tries to answer Dake but his tank is flashing empty. Deuce takes the victory and the bonus points for attacking and holding it until the finish. Dang it Dake finishes second and The Boss rounds out the top three. 87 degrees and sunny Winds from the east at 12mph Avg speed 22.7 mph BIG STEAMER STANDINGS ________________________________ Deuce - 12 points Dang It Dake - 4 points The Boss – 4 points Da Kaiser - 3 points Mexican Professor - 3 points Jack The Ripper - 3 points Boss - 3 points Big Rick - 3 points Hollywood - 1 point Thrasher - 1 point Dice - 1 point Tornado Tom - 1 point Big & Rich - 1 point Cannibal - 1 point Scooter - 1 point DC - 1 point
Deuce is able to sit up as he crosses the line.
Dang It Dake holds off The Boss
The Cannibal and Thrasher offer congrats to Deuce at the finish
SAG WAGON NEWS - CORINTH-The first really warm evening of the year greeted the Yellow Train as 19 riders gathered at the Ronny Crownover Depot for Tuesday night's Big Steamer rumble. The pelton lazily pedaled through the neutral zone anticipating the hurt that was sure to come. One half mile to the start and a hissing sound is heard. The mighty Hollywood punctured and his dreams of a victory fizzled faster than the John Travolta movie “Battlefield Earth” at the theater. The combatants crossed over I-35 onto the Killing Fields and things began to get serious. Thrasher led the group towards Dead Man’s Slough before Deuce put in his first attack of the night. One by one the peloton responded and he was reeled back in up Shady Hill. Dewey Decimal took a position up front and set the pace through Ceilo Ranch. His filing system was off on this night, however, as he missed a turn and headed towards a dead end. The missed turn caused the peloton to briefly slow the pace as they snaked through the Ranch. Sensing the lull, Deuce hit the gas again and The Boss jumped on his wheel. The duo flew down Shady Shores road at 25mph and they were able to open a gap of about 100 meters. The gap was holding as they climbed Cowpattie Hill and continued to work together. About this time, The Boss’ bike threw a tantrum and wouldn’t stay in a gear. The Boss had to slow to try and get his bike in gear which slowed the breakaway and Deuce stopped working as well. The slowing of the pace allowed half the peloton to get back on and a group of 10 or so remained. The group took a brief rest and eased the pace back to 21mph as they hit the bottom of the Col de Shady Shores. Over the top they were still together. The speed was rising again as they rounded the corner into Dinosaur Forest. Deuce attacked again here. Dang it Dake immediately stuck his wheel and Thrasher showed some impressive acceleration as he quickly joined the other two up front. The group of three had a gap of 30 meters. The Boss, DC, The Wrench, Sir Roy and Scooter spun their pedals looking at each other like freshman boys at the Senior Prom without dates. Finally, The Boss jumps and gets back on about 1/4 mile from the Col. DC, The Wrench, Sir Roy and Scooter rejoin as well at the bottom of the climb. The Wrench decides to apply some torque and hits it hard on the Col. He opens a gap and leads everyone over the top. They turn left over the summit and Deuce attacks yet again. Sensing the seriousness of the move, The Boss immediately goes with him with Dang it Dake also making the junction. The Wrench, struggling after his hard effort, fights through the pain and gets on with DC right there as well. The pack of 19 has been reduced to five. They enter the Loop of Pain with Dang it Dake up front setting a steady tempo of 22 – 23mph. DC takes over the lead as they head up Cowpattie Hill one last time. DC asks for help on the front but none is coming. The Boss senses the slowing pace and moves up as the pace increases over the top. Dang it Dake takes over again on Garza curve but forgets to turn right onto Shady Shores. A group of four is now down the road but no one attacks and Dang it Dake works hard and is able to rejoin. They turn right onto Dobbs and Deuce attacks again. He quickly gaps the group and has 50 yards. DC stokes his boiler and pours on the gas. The pace is now at 26mph and it will not drop below that point for the next three miles. They turn onto Corinth Parkway and Deuce is holding onto the gap. He was in the pain business and business was good. As they approach the finish, it is clear that Duece is going to hold on for the victory so 2nd and 3rd places are up for grabs. DC is still working hard with The Boss directly on his wheel. Jamie is still there but The Wrench has called it a night. The Cannibal and Thrasher can see the leaders now but they will live to fight another night. Dang it Dakes rolls around DC and The Boss and is able to somewhat narrow the gap on Deuce just before the finish. The Boss tries to answer Dake but his tank is flashing empty. Deuce takes the victory and the bonus points for attacking and holding it until the finish. Dang it Dake finishes second and The Boss rounds out the top three. 87 degrees and sunny Winds from the east at 12mph Avg speed 22.7 mph BIG STEAMER STANDINGS ________________________________ Deuce - 12 points Dang It Dake - 4 points The Boss – 4 points Da Kaiser - 3 points Mexican Professor - 3 points Jack The Ripper - 3 points Boss - 3 points Big Rick - 3 points Hollywood - 1 point Thrasher - 1 point Dice - 1 point Tornado Tom - 1 point Big & Rich - 1 point Cannibal - 1 point Scooter - 1 point DC - 1 point
Deuce is able to sit up as he crosses the line.
Dang It Dake holds off The Boss
The Cannibal and Thrasher offer congrats to Deuce at the finish