2/22/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Hemet, Ca

We weren’t supposed to get a ride in today at all. We were expecting rain and Sunday evening that is just what we got. When I got up this morning you could tell it had rained but the streets were starting to dry up and the temperature was sitting on close to 50 degrees. I decided I should get dressed and fill my water bottle in case it cleared up any before 9am. Fortunately I was ready when Attack cat and Highlander called to conform they would be there for a ride. By 9am I could see some blue sky so I pushed the bike to the street and took off for Burger King.

It was a small group today so I expected it to be an easy ride. Highlander, Tax man, attack cat, John (Casey Jones) left the parking lot heading for Domenigoni at a rather easy pace. Once out onto the expressway we settled into a steady pace line and managed to stay together more or less all the way to Winchester Road. Each person took their turn at the front and I found myself in the pull position right after we passed Leon. I had Hoghlander and Tax man in tow when Attack cat and Casey Jones started the run at Domenigoni saddle. I looked down and noticed my heart rate was well below 75-80 percent and my legs felt good so I took off with them. I may have made the run a bit early because I had maxed out my heart rate about 100 yards from the top of the saddle. Still I managed to get to the top in pretty good time and get a few pictures of the group.


Once everyone was collected at the top of the hill we decided to change the route a bit and make a turn when we got to Bradley before going over to Macall. Due to traffic lights we spread out a bit and I ended up following Attack and then Casey Jones most of the way to Bradley where we made the turn north heading towards Macall. While the weather seemed to be clearing up and getting warmer the wind decided to hit us directly out of the North and it was just our luck we had to ride right into the teeth of that wind. Still it was relatively flat so we made good time all the way to Macall as we headed back east. Once we passed the Freeway Casey Jones took off after a young commuter rider to burn off some excess energy and then slowed down so the rest of us could catch up. Once we did I managed to get to the top of Macall to get some pictures of everyone ascending the hill.


Casey Jones decided to ride on when we got to the top of the hill and ended up waiting till all of us were on our way down before heading across Menifee and turning on Heritage and finally over to Simpson. I took the pull all the way to Leon and we turned North to 9th before making a fast turn onto 9th and finally a sprint towards Winchester Road. It was a bit of a mixed relief turning towards Chris’s. It was nice to stop and get some coffee and visit with each other but it seems like we were all eager to get on with the ride. The wind had come up so we decided to go home down Stow, California and Stetson. For me it was a great 37 mile ride even if I had the new rider, Casey Jones, in front or right behind me for most of the whole ride. If the new riders keep getting stronger like this one I may have to move to the C group.