2/10/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Hemet, Ca

To be honest I went to bed last night thinking that there wouldn’t be a ride today. The weather man said we were in for rain and Tuesday it rained pretty hard. When I got up to look outside this morning the sky looked pretty good and the road seemed to be drying up. I made some coffee and watched a little news and decided to get dressed and head out for a ride. I was sure Huntress would be up for a ride but I wasn’t sure about anyone else. It ended up being Huntress, Bounty Hunter, T-3, Rocket and I in one group and Parky and Connie in the other. It was cold and the streets were still a bit damp so it seemed like a good day for a short ride east.


A quick jump down Latham to Lyon and we were on our way to Ramona. I talked casually with Huntress as we tried to warm up in the cool morning air. The plan for the day was to make a easy run up to Ramona and then over to State and back up again to Soboba. As we rode we speculated that Soboba might not even be open with the amount of rain we had the night before. Some of us even discussed the century ride in Palm Springs this coming weekend. One obvious thing I have noticed about those of us that have been riding so much in the last year or so is how well we know our machines. Bounty Hunter had to make a head set adjustment first thing this morning. Rocket had to stop and check his front wheel because it didn’t feel just right. I had to move my saddle about a ½ inch forward to get my position just right. We may be a group of social riders but we are cyclists at heart.

After turning onto State Street Rocket started to pick up the pace a bit and Bounty Hunter went with him. Huntress, T-3 and I followed about 50 yards behind and stayed that way as we turned onto Soboba road. As we topped the first two little hills Huntress zeroed in on Bounty Hunter and I fell in on her back wheel at let her pull me up. We tagged on to Bounty Hunter and Huntress, T-3 and I stayed with him till I managed to pull out and head for the last little hill at Golf course. I thought I had made a clean break putting myself about halfway between the group and Rocket.

I was running along at a pretty good pace and my legs were just starting to warm up. It seems like the cold weather takes its toll on me because I can’t seem to get my legs loose until I have in about 10 miles in the winter. As I was thinking about these things to myself I noticed Rocket was starting up the last little hill at the golf course. I decided to pick up my pace a bit and planned on hitting the hill a bit harder than normal. I made good run on the hill and didn’t slow down till I reached the last sign just before you crest the hill. When I sat up I saw a rider closing on me. It turned out to be Huntress living up to her name. I was just lucky she didn’t have another 200 yards or she might have run me down.

Rocket and Bounty Hunter left us when we made the turn off of Ramona towards Fairview leaving me with T-3 and Huntress. Even though we had been told that the road to the Ranger station might be closed we decided to give it a try and when we got to the road closed sign they allowed us through telling us that we would not be allowed passed the big sink hole, road washout about two miles from the sign. Once we got passed the Pepper trees Huntress chased me all the way to the Ranger Station driveway where we regrouped and turned back towards Carl’s. After some coffee and conversation T-3 and I headed back towards the western side of town and home. I had just over 30 miles on the computer by the time I got home. But I can assure the hot shower felt very good after the chill of the morning.