11/01/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


Getting up and looking out the front window told me it was going to be a good day for a ride. It was clear and cool but not cold and not wet. All I need now was to know that it wouldn’t be windy and it would be just about perfect. The only way to know about the wind was to go out and ride so I got dressed and out I went.

I got to Burger King and several riders were waiting for me. In fact I was one of the last ones to arrive and we still have 15 minutes before we left. We were missing Highlander and Raptor because they took of on a different ride at 8:30 am. Parky showed up with his new electric trike and we were all reasonable impressed. Once T-3 and Quicksticks arrived we got ready to leave and took off down Gilmore heading towards Acacia. Surgeon, Valkyrie and I made it through the light and had to wait for the rest of the group to catch up.


I could almost feel the power of the group as we turned onto Acacia heading for the light at Kirby. I for one was feeling real good and anticipating running with Rocket, Puma, Centaur, Surgeon and Sea Lion. I was grateful that Dura-max would be leading Valkyrie, T-3, Quick-sticks and Sherpa even if I didn’t at the time know Sherpa would be staying back with them. Looking back as we got close to Cypress to make the turn towards Johnson I could see determination on the group’s eyes.

We moved through the housing track a lot quicker than we usually do and were out onto Johnson ready to make the turn on Sanderson. Sea Lion, Centaur and I made the turn together onto Sanderson and managed to get through the light at Wentworth where we were joined by T-3 and Puma. The rest of the group weren’t that far behind.

It didn’t take long before we were all riding together again and moving like a flock of birds driven by the wind currents. We may have been still warming up and it wasn’t all the serious yet but we all knew what was to come once we moved passed the airport and onto Stetson. The pace would pick up slowly as we got to California and then we would jockey for position as we turned onto Stowe. We could smile at this point but it would be all we could do to catch our breath by Winchester.

True to form we got in line on Stetson and started towards Warren road in one long line. No one dropped off by the time we got to California. We were still strung out in single file and a connected pace line as we turned onto Stowe and no one broke for the lead out pull for the first ¼ mile or so and then things started to pick up. There was just a slight wind in our face but nothing uncomfortable and I got a chance to start a hard pull. I was within 40 yards of the parking lot on Winchester when Puma pulled passed me and I just didn’t have much left to answer. I pulled into the lot and looked back and say the group dynamics had changed. Sherpa had burned too many matches on Sunday and decided to cut back on his effort so I had one less fast rider to chase.

After we pulled out of the parking lot and headed for Grand I found myself behind Rocket, Puma, Centaur and Surgeon and followed closely by Sea Lion. A short distance back was Dura-max, T-3, Quick-sticks, Valkyrie and Sherpa. We turned onto Grand headed for Leon and the pace picked up again and I found myself in the middle of the lead group. Once on Simpson we pushed it up another notch and Centaur took us all the way to Lindenberger Road. I took the pull to Domenigoni and Rocket flew passed me as we started up the saddle. I dropped down a gear and tried to keep pace with Rocket only to have Centaur run by me and take the lead over the top of the saddle. They both took off down the other side of the saddle and I just couldn’t close. I ended up riding with Surgeon till we did catch them just passed Warren road. Rocket and Centaur turned off at Sanderson and Puma was about 200 yards behind us with Sea Lion about 100 yards behind that.

Somewhere we lost Puma as Surgeon and I waited for Sea Lion who had been riding behind him. We rode to State Street and worked our way onto Stetson making the dash over to Columbia and the housing track off of Crest. We always enjoy the neighborhood on Crest so it is an enjoyable part of the ride. We finally had to cut over to Chambers before making the turn north on Lake that would take us back to Stetson.


Once back on Stetson it was time to pick the pace up again and run hard for Fairview. I find that part of Stetson hard to maintain any speed on but today I was holding my own. I almost always do much better running down Fairview towards Florida and today was no different so soon I found myself turning east on Florida and making the stop at Carl’s. I was joined by Surgeon and Sea Lion as we waited for the rest of the group. Dura-max and Valkyrie were the only other ones to show up so we had coffee together and soon headed for home and back to Burger King. Like I expected it was a great ride and we had a great time. I can only hope Wednesday is even better.