3/08/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Hemet, Ca

I had been looking forward to today’s ride for quite a while and for more than one reason. The first was I have been waiting for my new bike frame to get here and it finally did. The second was because I had planned our first monthly pursuit ride. When I looked outside it was dry but rather overcast still it seemed like a good day to try out a new frame and ride format.


Once at the Parking lot I got to show off the new frame and play with my bike computer. Seems I had set it for Kilometers and forgot how to switch for miles. I didn’t figure it out till we got to Domenigoni. Once it looked like everyone was assembled I let them know how the pursuit was going to work. Figuring out the typical difference between the A and B group speeds on Domenigoni I decided to send the A group down State Street and the B group down Sanderson. I had figured that if they worked together the A group should catch the B group by the time we got to the top of Macall on the LaLadera Loop. The only problem was the group was smaller than I had expected and only Rocket and Cossack were there to represent the A group. I let them know the pursuit was not mandatory and they could ride with the B group be when we reached Acacia Rocket and Cossack went left as we turned right.


On the way to Domenigoni we picked up Casey Jones at the Wall-mart parking lot. We agreed that if the B group got to the Domenigoni Saddle first we would wait and ride most of the rest of the loop together. The B group got to the saddle first. However we were only about 2 to 5 minutes ahead of the A group and if they would have had more people to work with they just might have caught us well before we made the turn off of LaLadera heading for Macall. Still we had a chance to catch our breath before heading down the back side of the saddle and towards Sun City. It was especially good to have Sherpa back with us and Highlanders friend Scott had rejoined us after a rather long absence. Whatever sharpness they may have lost being gone was hard to tell on the downhill side. Downhill is a great equalizer for a cyclist and it makes everyone look better than they might feel.


Once down the hill we pulled together till we got to the overpass at the freeway. Traffic lights began to spread us out until we were once again in two groups. Duramax, Sherpa and I followed Cossack, Rocket, Casey Jones and Scott as they moved down Newport passed Bradley and Murrieta. I have to admit Rocket and Cossack didn’t look like they had just spent the last 40 minutes running at 80 or 90 percent down Domenigoni they looked pretty strong. Once we turned on LaLadera it was time to regroup again and we did at the local park. After a few minutes of talking and laughing we got back on the road and headed for the turn next to the Ground Owl habitat. After the left at the end of the block we sprinted most of the way to Cherry Hill and then coasted down Macall passed Murrieta again and over the freeway.



The ride over the hill and through the housing tract was pretty normal and I managed to get in a draft behind Rocket and Cossack till we got to Leon and turned towards Grand/9th Street. About that time Casey Jones passed me and gave chase as Cossack started the run down 9th. I followed to Winchester and waited for the rest of the group to join us. Duramax and Sherpa decided to head for home and I joined the rest of the group at Chris’s. Rocket and Cossack had to leave early so I ended up riding home with the C group and what was left of the B group. The ride home was filled with conversation and a more relaxed pace. I ended up with 39.5 miles and felt better than I have in a long time. I was still cold when I got home but I was glad we had the ride.