11/27/09
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Hemet, Ca

Due to technical problems I have been unable to post and ride reports for more than a week. But finally I am back on line and once again hope to catch everyone up on how our group has been doing. First I will attempt to bring everyone up to date.

On November 14, 2009 we had one of our monthly Coffee Shop rides. It was a great day and an easy ride. We try to make Coffee Shop rides short and flat so we will have more time to visit and get to know each other. What made this a special ride was that later on that afternoon we would be having a bar-b-cue at Backdraft and Gazelle’s home.
By Monday the 16th we were ready for another typical good fall day in Hemet and decided to make a run down Domenigoni to Menifee and over to Scott Road. We split up before we got back to Newport road and managed to regroup in Sun City at Jack in the Box. At that point we left for home in separate groups. Still by the time we some of us got home we had a respectable 40 miles on the odometer.
By Wednesday the 18th it was time for a run up Batista Canyon and once again the weather seemed to be made to order just for us. The ride out to Fairview was smooth and we all entered the canyon together, except for Tool Man who had to wait for Shadow to meet up with him to ride towards Mountain Center. Hit man and Huntress both had appointments so the turned around before the top of the canyon and Rocket was on his way down before I got to the top. Four of us regrouped at the turn around point and bucked a head wind most of the way back to Fairview. The Red Rabbit and Whippet broke off for breakfast at Stetson leaving Duramax and me to go to Carl’s to see if Deacon and Parky were still there. We were joined in the end by Tool Man and Shadow and once again had a good time reliving the ride and just talking. I was just shy of 40 miles by the time I got home.
By Friday the 20th it was time for another quick run down Domenigoni to La Ladera. We stayed together pretty well as a group with only an occasional break from the pack by Hit man or Cossack. By the time we got to the little hill on Domenigoni right after Leon Shadow proved to me that he could still pass me going uphill just about any time he wants. Only about three of us stopped at Chris’s the rest seemed to have other commitments so Shadow and I took a long break for coffee and conversation. It was another day that was just a tick short of 40 miles with very little wind.
Monday the 23rd started out pretty cool for this area. But of course standing in front of Burger King we are standing in the warmest place in Hemet so just about everyone ends up taking off leg warmers and arm warmers before the ride starts. We decided to take on Cactus Valley for a ride that would end up on the eastern side of town but we started off by going west to Winchester. This turned out to be a rather quick ride for our 40 miles. At least for those of us who did the whole ride. Somewhere after we turned onto Domenigoni Rocket and Hit man took off with Highlander in tow and we didn’t see them again till State Street. Well we did see Highlander because he and Tax Man turned to head for home on Sanderson. Red Rabbit never made it passed Chris’s in Winchester and Rocket had an appointment so he left us at State. By the time we got back to Carl’s it was Duramax, Hit Man and I. Still it was a nice ride and we got in another 40 miles.

Tuesday the 25th was a very different ride for our group. We were heading for Nuevo and then over to Chris’s, or at least that was the plan. Red Rabbit and Shadow took a short cut at Warren road and Raptor turned off at Bridge Street. We were traveling along in a semi pace line with Rocket pulling us along at a reasonable rapid pace. About the time Hit Man took the lead we could see Red Rabbit and Shadow ahead of us about ¼ of a mile. Hit Man put the hammer down and we closed the gap much faster than I had expected. The problem was we had dropped part of the group and when we stopped at Lakeview we go separated. Rocket, Cossack, Hit Man and I looked back down Ramona to see where everyone was only to miss them when they turned at the light and went straight to Nuevo Road. We ended up riding all the way back to Warren Road to see is anyone was having trouble. Rocket and Cossack left us as we got back to Cottonwood and Hit Man and I managed to ride over to Stetson and back to Winchester only a few minutes after Shadow and Red Rabbit met up with Parky at Chris’s. I was pleased to get in my 40 miles but I was very surprised at my 17.5 MPH average speed when I got home.
Friday the 27th brings us up to date. It started out pretty cool and I was planning on a recovery ride. We opted for Bridge Street, Gilman, Soboba and over to Carl’s. All in all I think we were pretty successful with the exception of some grumblings from Highlander about the pace going up Bridge to Gilman. I did remind him that he was in front of me so I could not be blamed for the pace even if I did pick the route. I never did have to take off my leg warmers so setting at Carl’s seemed very comfortable. Drafting Highlander on the way back down Florida pushed my average speed up even if I ended with just over 32 miles for the day. I look forward to what Monday has to offer.