A little climb

11/04/09
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Hemet, Ca


There are a lot of days when things start off well and then turn bad but today was something different. Today was one of those days that start out wrong but get better as they go.

Shortly after we started assembling deacon noticed that Duramax had a flat tire. Duramax has always been a mentor to me and I was not surprised to see him calmly remove the front tire and start to replace the tube. Rocket, Hit Man, Huntress talked as the repair process went along and Wart soon joined us as we watched. Connie pulled up or should I say walked up and she had a flat tire. Wart was quick to remove her front tire and begin the repair process himself. Quick Sticks pulled up about the same time as Raptor and we waited as Wart worked and discussed riding to Juniper flats. Just as Wart was pumping up one tire Duramax told us to leave without him because he now had a flat on the rear tire? Quick Sticks decided against riding the Flats and so we left Connie, Deacon, Parky, Wart and Quick Sticks and headed out parking lot towards Kirby and Cottonwood.

The Red Rabbit warned us he was going to run hard today so it was no surprise to see him riding near the front with Hit Man as we traveled down Kirby.


Hit Man pulled most of the way from Cottonwood to Ramona and Rocket started the pull down Ramona towards Nuevo. It was a easy pull of about 18 to 19 MPH and we all seemed comfortable. When Rocket pulled off of the front Huntress took over and kicked the pull up to 20 then 21 MPH and held it there for quite a while. We were surprised as he pace and we were surprised by an Ultralight the circled us and waved as they passed and climbed back into the sky.


Hit Man took off towards Lakeview and Surgeon wanted to stop to pick up some Poweraid or juice so most of us stopped to wait. Red Rabbit didn’t wait and he continued on towards Juniper Flats. Once we were all refreshed we took off again and waited one more time to regroup as we made the turn at the stop sign on Contour. It was about here that Hit man decided to take off and give chase to Red Rabbit and the rest of us stayed together till we passed the school on Warren Street. We spread out from that point and I tried to stay on Rockets back wheel for the first 1/3 of the climb. Once I downshifted

Rocket pulled away but I still managed to keep a rather respectable pace. Rocket and Hit Man went back after reaching the top to look for T-3 and I stopped at the top and took some pictures as the group pulled in behind me. Once down the back side we made quick work of the ride to Winchester for a quick Coffee break and the ride home. Just over 38 miles and the temperature was just over 80 degrees by the time I got home. To me this was a good day.