Thursday Night Ride Caps Summer
The American flag fluttered gently in the breeze on top of the hill at Ronny Crownover Middle School, the starting point for the final ride of the summer. If you listened closely, however, the breeze whispered ominous warnings of what was to follow. The whining began before the peloton even had left the parking lot as ROW began telling everyone how lousy he felt. If there is a bigger sandbagger in America than Metz I haven’t met him. Stories from the work week and thoughts on current events drifted back and forth through the group as we lazily pedaled through Corinth on our way to Lake Dallas High School. The Yellow Train crossed over I-35 and Thrasher and DB were on the front as the pace quickened to 22mph. After a few miles, the Cannibal made his customary move to the front and drove the paceline down Corinth Parkway at 26mph into a light southerly wind. A quick U-turn at the end of the parkway and we headed west at tempo speed. The group, still altogether, turned right off Corinth Parkway and headed into the hills where it was time to get serious. The Cannibal hit the gas at the bottom of the first small hill and the Boss replied with a “Si Señor” and drove at the front over the top. Scottie, still feeling the effects from his bout with the flu, peeled off the front and the Cannibal floored it down Fritz Lane. The group was roughly eight miles into the ride and everyone was still together. It was only a matter of time before the elastic snapped. Think of a time in your car when you’re at a stop light and an insect lands on your windshield. You begin driving again and watch the bug just wondering how long that little guy can hang on until the turbulence is too much and he is knocked off. The same principle applied on the Thursday evening ride. The Cannibal was feeling good and kept the hammer down all the way down Shady Shores road. The group began to splinter at this point and Dice came to the front as we entered Cielo Ranch and he kept the tempo up with the Boss on his wheel. The Cannibal, not happy with the 22mph speed, came back to the front and kicked it up to 28mph, softening the boys up for the Col. The now splintered peloton exited Cielo Ranch and headed towards the Col de Shady Shores. Tensions were high and groans were heard as we turned left onto 6th Street heading up the beast. Who would make it over the top first? In a daring move, which only served to strengthen his sandbagger label, ROW went straight to the front and was spinning like a madman. Dice got straight onto his wheel and they had a gap. They were doing 24mph up the Col and were looking strong but could they hold it? ROW and Dice were one quarter of the way to the top, and they still had a serious gap. What a story this would be, the man who only a few weeks ago, was surrounded by a team of heart surgeons only the likes of Dick Cheney has ever seen, has a chance to be first to the top. Halfway to the summit, and they still have a gap. The Cannibal is at the back and makes his move. He puts his nose into the wind and pounds the cranks. The speed increases to 26mph. The gap is closing and lungs are burning as the bronzed legs of the boys of summer glisten in the sun. Finally it happens. The Cannibal has closed the gap and the Boss is on his wheel. The Boss returns the permission slip to ROW and it reads “DENIED” as the Boss attacks. He gaps the Cannibal and is the first over the top. The Col de Shady Shores hasn’t seen a battle like this in days. Sweat dripping and tongues hanging, the boys turn right at the top and Thrasher comes to the front and picks the pace up yet again. No rest for the weary. The Yellow Peloton snakes back through Shady Shores and arrives back at Ronny Crownover with an average speed of 20.2mph. A fantastic ride and a great way to cap off the last weeknight ride of the summer season. Tuesday and Thursday evening rides will continue for the next few weeks so come out and join us before the time changes and we can no longer ride on the weeknights
The American flag fluttered gently in the breeze on top of the hill at Ronny Crownover Middle School, the starting point for the final ride of the summer. If you listened closely, however, the breeze whispered ominous warnings of what was to follow. The whining began before the peloton even had left the parking lot as ROW began telling everyone how lousy he felt. If there is a bigger sandbagger in America than Metz I haven’t met him. Stories from the work week and thoughts on current events drifted back and forth through the group as we lazily pedaled through Corinth on our way to Lake Dallas High School. The Yellow Train crossed over I-35 and Thrasher and DB were on the front as the pace quickened to 22mph. After a few miles, the Cannibal made his customary move to the front and drove the paceline down Corinth Parkway at 26mph into a light southerly wind. A quick U-turn at the end of the parkway and we headed west at tempo speed. The group, still altogether, turned right off Corinth Parkway and headed into the hills where it was time to get serious. The Cannibal hit the gas at the bottom of the first small hill and the Boss replied with a “Si Señor” and drove at the front over the top. Scottie, still feeling the effects from his bout with the flu, peeled off the front and the Cannibal floored it down Fritz Lane. The group was roughly eight miles into the ride and everyone was still together. It was only a matter of time before the elastic snapped. Think of a time in your car when you’re at a stop light and an insect lands on your windshield. You begin driving again and watch the bug just wondering how long that little guy can hang on until the turbulence is too much and he is knocked off. The same principle applied on the Thursday evening ride. The Cannibal was feeling good and kept the hammer down all the way down Shady Shores road. The group began to splinter at this point and Dice came to the front as we entered Cielo Ranch and he kept the tempo up with the Boss on his wheel. The Cannibal, not happy with the 22mph speed, came back to the front and kicked it up to 28mph, softening the boys up for the Col. The now splintered peloton exited Cielo Ranch and headed towards the Col de Shady Shores. Tensions were high and groans were heard as we turned left onto 6th Street heading up the beast. Who would make it over the top first? In a daring move, which only served to strengthen his sandbagger label, ROW went straight to the front and was spinning like a madman. Dice got straight onto his wheel and they had a gap. They were doing 24mph up the Col and were looking strong but could they hold it? ROW and Dice were one quarter of the way to the top, and they still had a serious gap. What a story this would be, the man who only a few weeks ago, was surrounded by a team of heart surgeons only the likes of Dick Cheney has ever seen, has a chance to be first to the top. Halfway to the summit, and they still have a gap. The Cannibal is at the back and makes his move. He puts his nose into the wind and pounds the cranks. The speed increases to 26mph. The gap is closing and lungs are burning as the bronzed legs of the boys of summer glisten in the sun. Finally it happens. The Cannibal has closed the gap and the Boss is on his wheel. The Boss returns the permission slip to ROW and it reads “DENIED” as the Boss attacks. He gaps the Cannibal and is the first over the top. The Col de Shady Shores hasn’t seen a battle like this in days. Sweat dripping and tongues hanging, the boys turn right at the top and Thrasher comes to the front and picks the pace up yet again. No rest for the weary. The Yellow Peloton snakes back through Shady Shores and arrives back at Ronny Crownover with an average speed of 20.2mph. A fantastic ride and a great way to cap off the last weeknight ride of the summer season. Tuesday and Thursday evening rides will continue for the next few weeks so come out and join us before the time changes and we can no longer ride on the weeknights