The Corinth Cycling Club's 2008 Mt. Scott Cycling Camp is over, but the memories will remain.  Despite some windy conditions on Saturday, the campers all had a great ride and enjoyed some terrific scenery in the Wichita Mountains.

You can read all about the 2008 camp by clicking here. A special thank you to Deb Franklin and Emory Brincks for driving the SAG vehicle and for managing the Lodge for us.  Plans are already underway for Mt. Scott Camp 2009 so make plans now to join us.

HCTT #1 - Everybody Wins

by Yankee Professor

AUBREY- Bucking all calculable odds and, indeed, shattering precedent, ALL SIX CCC racers at the year's first Horse Country Time Trial WON.

The biggest winner was "Crossfire" Jim Otts, racing his first race and possibly the most senior among the registrants, finished with a time that I'm guessing many folks in their thirties and forties couldn't match. Tell you something: the older I get, the more in awe I am of our sixty-plus-year-old riders. Thanks for this weekend's dose of inspiration, Jim! (And keep pouring it on, Mary and Gramps!)

Dale and Sam finished too.

Okay, I'll start that paragraph again. Three cheers as well for Dale and Sam, also first-time racers, who battled brutal and blustery conditions and notched results that any newcomer to the competitive side of the sport should be proud of. Perhaps Dale should be just a tad MORE proud than Sam, but I'll let that go. I'm proud of the both of 'em.

I finished too.  

Judging results by the old-fashioned criterion of speed (i.e., vulgarly, "success"), well, hats off to Francisco, our silver medalist, and to the weekend's golden boy, Jamie, who actually earned REAL RACING POINTS by finishing in the top twenty of our forty-man field. These dudes are fast, and I own a CCC jersey that looks JUST LIKE THEIRS, so maybe someday I'll be fast too.

HUGE thanks to Kevin and the IC3 Gang for beyond-great planning and implementation. I remain hopeful that we can get ten CCCers or so out for the next race, now set for 10 May. This is serious fun, y'all; and I can pretty much promise that Sam, Dale, Jim, and I won't make you look TOO bad!

OCNP Smackdown

Just about the only thing “frozen” at DORBA’s third Frozen Four-Hour race were the legs of CCC combatants Tim “Thrasher” Miller and Alex “Professor” Pettit. Race-day at Oak Cliff Nature Preserve was a dry and nearly windless 70-plus degrees—perfect weather for a race on this new and challenging course in south Dallas. But Thrasher and Prof, perhaps having too much Fun in the Sun or perhaps devastated by the absence of the bedridden Roland “Hollywood” San Miguel, were unable to marshal the strength needed to humiliate (or even to attract the attention of) the competition.

By the time the Fat Lady started warblin’, Tim had heroically endured an afternoon of drivetrain problems and had grinded out 4 laps over 04:06:13, good enough for 40th place—one spot ahead, let it be noted, of perennial XC speedster Mike D’Aurelio, also hampered by mechanical issues. Prof managed 5 laps over 04:06:10 , finished 20th, and particularly enjoyed riding the last lap with Thrasher and coming across the finish line as part of a Dizzying Duo of Yellow, however late in the day. For now, at least, plans to turn pro are on hold!

Leap of Faith

Judging from the sounds emanating from the activity room in the Dogwood Estates on Wednesday night, one might have concluded that some sort of strange porno movie was being filmed.  That wasn’t the case, however.  Those sounds were actually the repercussions of pain as the Corinth Cycling Club held the 1^st ever Twistin' With the CCC Yoga class.  

Faith, sister of acclaimed UNT professor and CCC member Alex Pettit, led a spirited and determined group of 21 folks through a beginner Yoga class.  Many of the poses that were performed were geared especially for increasing the performance of cyclists.  These poses help develop balance, breathing and core strength needed while on the bike.  

After the class, Faith provided everyone with a cheat sheet to take home that illustrates many of the poses practiced in class.   Scott McCall had the wonderful kitchen staff at Dogwood whip up some tasty banana muffins and drinks that we all hung around to enjoy.  

All in all, it was a terrific class and Faith is a wonderful instructor.  She will be back in the DFW area in a few months, and the CCC will make every effort to schedule another Yoga class with her.

Discuss this article here.  

Corinth Cycling Discount Cards

Big Steamer Is Back

The Corinth Cycling Club's Big Steamer Series begins on Tuesday, April 8th from the Ronny Crownover depot at 5:45pm.

The defending Big Steamer Series Champion is Big Rick Phillips.  Surprisingly, his nickname was in place before the championship.  Sag Wagon news reported late last week that Big Rick had been resting on his laurels over the winter and wasn't riding much. Anticipation is sky high as the series and the tifosi around the world wonder if he will he be able to defend the sacred jersey?

For all the Big Steamer Series information click here.

Eine Prachtige Radtour

by Wild Bill Cassidy

MUENSTER -The crowds gathered during the cool of the morning eagerly awaiting the start of what everyone knew would be a challenging and enjoyable ride. Before the starters command to start one could look over the colors of jerseys represented and it looked like a giant peacock with every color imaginable there. But above all the others the proud Yellow and Blue of CCC were so valiantly waiting to do battle with the hills of Cooke and Montague Counties. Proud riders from CCC included Mary, Linda, Darren, Jim, Tim, Jack, Chris, Johnny, Bill, and there may have been others I did not see.

As the ride started and the long line of riders snaked out of town it was only moments before we were in the beautiful country of these northern counties and enjoying the freedom only a bicycle can bring. The hills were not far into the distance but the ride organizers had the compassion to let you get your legs warmed up before you would get into some of those hills that made your lungs burst and legs tremble. As we rolled into the first rest stop we were greeted with a very polite and efficient group of volunteers who made you feel good about coming out. This level of politeness was seen throughout the ride and very much appreciated by all who participated.

 Between RS (rest stop) #1 and RS #2 the hills started becoming more pronounced, both up and down. Descending a couple of these hills could have gotten you a speeding ticket in the right place but going up the other side was going to average it all out. Immediately after leaving RS #2 we passed through Forestburg and there was steering problems with the CCC'ers who wanted to turn and get one of those great hamburgers we had just a few weeks ago while we did the Forestburg ride. But on we went and as the 40 mile group split from the 100K the hills kicked up the price of pain. Hills became not only steeper but longer and there was no saving grace as the wind also turned into your face.

Looking at a long steep hill after 30 miles of legs burning pain is almost enough to cause a slump in motivation. But suffer through we did and finally arrived back at Muenster tired but happy with the ride. Overall the ride had excellent support from start to finish, the roads were patrolled very well, and the markings were prominent. All in all a very good ride in an interesting town with good food at either the fair or local restaurants. 

A Sweet Ride In The Burg

by Scottie

FORESTBURG- The Corinth Cycling Club welcomed 23 riders to the Still Can't See The Forestburg For The Trees group ride on Saturday.  The ride got under way around 7:30am with three different groups heading out into the North Texas Hill Country.  It was a chilly start to the day with temperatures in the upper 40's and sunny blue skies but it quickly warmed into the 60's during the ride.

If you combine the mileage for all 23 riders, the total distance pedaled on Saturday was 1,366 miles.  Alex and Bill Smith won the mileage challenge as they pedaled  122 and 114 miles respectively.

Of course, one of the great things about CCC organized rides, is the SAG support and well stocked rest stops.  Sag Queen Deb and her chief lieutenant Amy Miller, kept the riders rolling with cookies, cold drinks, fruit and encouragement.  Their rest stops rival any paid group rally anywhere.  A big thanks to both of them for taking care of us along the way.

The last 16 miles of the 72 mile route proved quite the challenge as hill after hill had to be conquered into a driving 20mph north wind.  It took awhile, but soon everyone had finished and polished off some terrific burgers and washed it down with birthday cake and ice cold coke.  Thanks to all of you that came out and helped me celebrate my 37th birthday.  I feel lucky to ride with such terrific people on a regular basis.

Yellow Train Chugs In Aledo

by Yankee Professor

ALEDO- Lots of CCCers showed up for yesterday's Ride for Heroes in Parker County. For those of you who haven't done this ride, my advice is to mark the calendar, in ink, for next year: it's an extremely well-organized ride through some lovely areas along (mostly) very nice roads. Definitely the best organized ride I've done in the area.

Gotta bring your climbing legs, though: the rollers start early and never let up.

Thanks all for the camaraderie; thanks especially to Dale and Francisco for en-route conversation and for an early morning opportunity to cruise NE Tarrant County for someplace to buy a helmet (for someone who forgot his).

[Note to the Membership: now that someone has forgotten a helmet (it wasn't Dale, and it wasn't me, by the by, perhaps we can move Shoegate '07 to the back burner, conversationally speaking! Thanks for getting me off the hook, F********.]