The Cannibal Gets Full
It was another beautiful afternoon for a bike ride on Thursday as the large group headed east to the Shady Shores battlefield. The Yellow Train steamed down Corinth Parkway at a brisk 22mph enjoying the 82 degree temperature and sunny blue sky. As the group turned right out of Cielo Ranch, tensions started to rise as they moved ever closer to the dreaded Col. With still a 1/4 mile to the bottom of the climb, the Duke tipped his cap and said "Out here a man settles his own problems" and then proceeded to floor it. Oh the horror. Immediately the speed is at 27mph and everyone is looking for a wheel. Just before the climb, the gaps have been closed and with tongues hanging, the group hits the bottom of the climb together. Halfway to the top and the Cannibal licks his lips and attacks. The Boss is straight onto his wheel and The Duke pullls off the front and sits on. The Cannibal, still inspired by his new wheels, is flying up the climb. The speed is 28mph and increasing. The Cannibal and the Boss managed to gap the group and go over the top 1 and 2. The speed of the climb has taken its toll and the pace briefly slows up Cowpattie Hill. Thrasher will have none of it though and immediately stokes the fire and the speed is back up to 23mph into the wind. Around the loop they pedaled and hit the Col de Shady Shores again. There are small attacks from all directions this time with the Wrench doing most of the pace making. The group stays together though and crosses over the top again as they turn left at the top for the final loop. The pace is a steady 19mph as they hit Cowpattie Hill one last time. Stewey launches an attack that was best described as "brief". He is quickly gobbled up by the peloton as the speed is now 24mph as they head east down Shady Shores Lane. Sir Roy moves to the front and decides now would be a good time for an interval and begins to hammer. A few of the boys react and get on his wheel while others stay out of the wind preparing for the finish. Almost four miles to the finish and the group turns west onto Dobbs road. The Boss hits the front and pushes the pace up to 25mph for the next mile trying to soften the field up for the approaching finish. The group turns into the wind on Corinth Parkway with the Cannibal and Stewie on the front. One mile to the finish and everyone is still together. The speed is 25mph and the Cannibal steps on the gas. Stewie begins to lose his mojo but Dice is still there along with the Mexican Missle. This is the first Crit ride of the year for the Missle but what a show he is putting on. Dice pulls out into the left lane and punches the gas. The Cannibal, Dice and the Mexican Missle have a gap of 10 meters with 300 yards to the finish. Meanwhile, Thrasher is hanging onto the front and The Boss, trying to stay out of the wind, is boxed in by the FlyBoy and Stewie. Finally he pulls out into the left lane and gets on his horse. 30 yards to paydirt and somehow Dice has misjudged the finish line. The Cannibal has taken the win and a hard charging Boss nips Dice on the line for second. The Mexican Missle finishes a very impressive fourth. Only a few weeknight rides left on the schedule so come out and join in the fun. _____________________________________ CCC Crit Standings Big Rick - 26 points The Boss - 21 points The Cannibal - 11 points Dice - 9 points Hollywood - 8 points Gentle Ben - 3 points Scooter - 3 points Tornado Tom - 3 points Thrasher Tim - 2 points Gramps - 2 points The Wrench - 1 point
It was another beautiful afternoon for a bike ride on Thursday as the large group headed east to the Shady Shores battlefield. The Yellow Train steamed down Corinth Parkway at a brisk 22mph enjoying the 82 degree temperature and sunny blue sky. As the group turned right out of Cielo Ranch, tensions started to rise as they moved ever closer to the dreaded Col. With still a 1/4 mile to the bottom of the climb, the Duke tipped his cap and said "Out here a man settles his own problems" and then proceeded to floor it. Oh the horror. Immediately the speed is at 27mph and everyone is looking for a wheel. Just before the climb, the gaps have been closed and with tongues hanging, the group hits the bottom of the climb together. Halfway to the top and the Cannibal licks his lips and attacks. The Boss is straight onto his wheel and The Duke pullls off the front and sits on. The Cannibal, still inspired by his new wheels, is flying up the climb. The speed is 28mph and increasing. The Cannibal and the Boss managed to gap the group and go over the top 1 and 2. The speed of the climb has taken its toll and the pace briefly slows up Cowpattie Hill. Thrasher will have none of it though and immediately stokes the fire and the speed is back up to 23mph into the wind. Around the loop they pedaled and hit the Col de Shady Shores again. There are small attacks from all directions this time with the Wrench doing most of the pace making. The group stays together though and crosses over the top again as they turn left at the top for the final loop. The pace is a steady 19mph as they hit Cowpattie Hill one last time. Stewey launches an attack that was best described as "brief". He is quickly gobbled up by the peloton as the speed is now 24mph as they head east down Shady Shores Lane. Sir Roy moves to the front and decides now would be a good time for an interval and begins to hammer. A few of the boys react and get on his wheel while others stay out of the wind preparing for the finish. Almost four miles to the finish and the group turns west onto Dobbs road. The Boss hits the front and pushes the pace up to 25mph for the next mile trying to soften the field up for the approaching finish. The group turns into the wind on Corinth Parkway with the Cannibal and Stewie on the front. One mile to the finish and everyone is still together. The speed is 25mph and the Cannibal steps on the gas. Stewie begins to lose his mojo but Dice is still there along with the Mexican Missle. This is the first Crit ride of the year for the Missle but what a show he is putting on. Dice pulls out into the left lane and punches the gas. The Cannibal, Dice and the Mexican Missle have a gap of 10 meters with 300 yards to the finish. Meanwhile, Thrasher is hanging onto the front and The Boss, trying to stay out of the wind, is boxed in by the FlyBoy and Stewie. Finally he pulls out into the left lane and gets on his horse. 30 yards to paydirt and somehow Dice has misjudged the finish line. The Cannibal has taken the win and a hard charging Boss nips Dice on the line for second. The Mexican Missle finishes a very impressive fourth. Only a few weeknight rides left on the schedule so come out and join in the fun. _____________________________________ CCC Crit Standings Big Rick - 26 points The Boss - 21 points The Cannibal - 11 points Dice - 9 points Hollywood - 8 points Gentle Ben - 3 points Scooter - 3 points Tornado Tom - 3 points Thrasher Tim - 2 points Gramps - 2 points The Wrench - 1 point