10/16/09
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)
Hemet, Ca.

Leaving the house this morning almost felt like I had been transported back months in time from fall to summer. The sky was clear light blue and the weather was moderately warm. This was no day for arm warmers or leg warmers it was more of a day for sun screen and dark glasses. It looked like the perfect day for a ride.

It seemed like as soon as I pushed off from in front of the house it felt like it would be a good day to ride because even the bike seemed to roll easier and my legs seemed strong and balanced. I was in no hurry to get to the meeting spot because I had left early and wanted to enjoy the ride to the parking lot before traffic started and before we had a destination in mind. I could see plenty of flat bar bikes and mountain bikes on the road but at the time I was on the only road bike within my field of view. The cruise to the parking lot came to an end all too quickly and yet I was looking forward to the group ride just as much.

Just before I was able to see our traditional meeting place I saw Deacon shoot across an alleyway about 25 yards in front of me. As I rounded the corner I could see him pull up next to Parky and Duramax. Parky had a new “Bent Trike” that he called his Model T and he allowed me to give it a spin. The little thing was like driving a Go-cart and had it been set up for my shorter legs it would have made a great long distance touring bike/trike. Just as I brought Parky’s Trike back Sherpa pulled into the lot followed by Raptor, Hit Man and Von Richthofen. Next Surgeon joined us and lastly Huntress pulled up and unloaded her backup bike. Seems she had a flat on the new Specialized so she had to change her shoes and bring out the Jamis. We were ready to go and at least to me it seemed like a perfect day to climb Batista Canyon. No one seemed to object so we took off on the most direct route down Lyon to Thornton and headed east.

We rode easily up Thornton heading towards Lake Street. We talked and visited and caught up on each other’s lives. It is almost an unwritten law that the ride will not start in earnest till we get to Batista. Still Hit Man seemed to be feeling frisky and took the lead all the way down Stetson and up Fairview till we made the turn onto Batista Canyon.

Surgeon and Von Richthofen were leading the way up the canyon till we made the first left turn. I was feeling pretty strong so I decided to push myself a bit just to see if I could beat my best time. Batista is one of those rides that takes it out of you but at the same time lets you know how well you have improved. For me the improvement was 4 minutes better than my best time up and back.

Once everyone had made it to the top of the Canyon it was supposed to be a easy ride for the 8 miles back down to Fairview. I am sure it would have been except for the curse of Batista canyon that manages to give you a head wind somehow in both directions.

We only lost two riders this time. Hit Man had to rush home for a meeting and Von Richthofen had to get home to go to work. The rest of us managed to run the 8 miles up and back on Batista and get over to Carl’s by 11:00 to meet up with Parky and Deacon. It was simply another good day and another ride worth remembering. Not a bad way to get in a 39 mile ride in 80 degree weather and to have coffee with good friends.