1/07/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)





The mood at the parking lot was a bit different today. We tried on jerseys from a fit kit so we could start ordering our team jersey but there was some pent up tension as the riders talked and walked around waiting for the 8:30 start time. Daredevil stopped by t
Work out some jersey details and the group slowly got bigger. Rocket, Gambler and Bandit looked like they were going to be our Rabbits and would be pushing the pace and they were even joined by D’Artagnon. Dura-max had his group early with T-3, Ruby Tuesday, Double-time, Highlander and Warden. Huntress and Sea Lion were uncommented and Raptor may or may not ride the same route as the rest of us. Last but not least we were joined by our northern neighbor Traveler. Without a C group Traveler would be on his own once we got to Winchester but I was assured that was fine with him.


As soon as Warden got on his bike we started to ride out of the parking lot. Even at the slow warm up pace you could tell things were going to get a bit hectic early. We joked at the light on Florida and Gilmore but the fast guys were already at the front as if waiting for the light to change at a drag strip. I moved over to trip the crosswalk button and we sat and waited till the light changed allowing us to get on our way. One thing that became clear early was that Huntress was not intending to be a back marker on today’s ride. Every time one of the fast guys made a move she went with them.

After turning onto Acacia were started to bunch up a bit and ended up all coming to a rather rapid stop at Kirby. I was sitting towards the front of the line when I noticed Raptor had take Florida to Kirby and then made a turn towards Sanderson while we waited at the light. Once the light changed we made a quick turn south on Kirby and headed for Cypress. We waived to a few people walking and ate up the distance in pretty short order. Over the railroad tracks and a hard right at Cypress and we were starting to warm up. Not enough to remove any jackets or Balaclavas but at least we were no longer shivering.

It wasn’t long before we made the turn onto Johnston and got caught at the light at Sanderson. Ruby Tuesday got to the light first but just as she put her foot down we were able to roll through the green light. Now the pace started to pick up just a touch more as we crossed Stetson and the driveway into Wal-Mart. Looking back I noticed Traveler was still with us but I wasn’t sure how long that would last.

We were rolling along at a pretty normal pace as we passed Mustang and then the High School. Once we made the turn onto Domenigoni things started to change in the group dynamics. We managed to get into one long pace line and were quickly rolling along at 23 till we passed Warren Road. Traveler was left behind on his own and both the A and B group were running hard at the river overpass. That is where the group broke into pieces. After one rotation I found myself at the back of the pack and soon the aforementioned rabbits took off like they were on fire. Warden, Highlander and I could see them but we couldn’t close at all. Dura-max pulled his group over and waited for us and I gave chase to the quickly disappearing A group that included Double Time, Huntress, Sea Lion, Rocket, Gambler, Bandit and D’Artagnon.
Someone must have kicked into overdrive because the group exploded like a hand grenade and I started reeling in the fragmented riders. One thing that has changed is that people don’t tend to give up just because they see someone gaining on them and it was all I could do to catch the very tail end of the A group as they reached the Domenigoni saddle. Just because Sea Lion saw me on his back wheel didn’t mean he was going to slow down any so I could pass.

We regrouped at the top of the saddle and then took off in two stages with D’Artagnon, Gambler, Bandit, Huntress, Rocket, Double Time, Sea Lion and I in one group and Dura-Max, Highlander, T-3, Ruby Tuesday and Warden in the other. The lead group took off on a fast ride to the Menifee grade and I tried to hold on as the big dogs attacked the hill. While I couldn’t hang on the hill took its toll on Double Time. As Huntress took off for Scott road Double Time decided to wait for Dura-Max and his group. The rest of us decided to suffer on.

Huntress pushed us down Scott road and we turned onto Hawn. Here was another example of a long sprint. We quickly got in a pace line and were knocking down a respectable 22 or 23 MPH when Huntress pulls out of line and sprints to the front. Now the sprint was on and it wasn’t long till Huntress had to give up the lead and we were hitting speeds closer to 28 or 29 as we got to Holland Road. We regrouped at Newport before working our way over to McCall and over the hill towards Lindenburger.

We had one more out and out sprint on the dump road were Bandit tried to leave all of us in the dust. Once we made it to Winchester Road we all turned for Stowe and then the Airport Coffee shop. Rocket didn’t stop but a few of us did and finally we were joined by Double Time. A quick cup of coffee and we were back heading for home. I ended up riding home with Gambler, Bandit, D’Artagnon and Double Time.


I had a good 40 miles in by the time I got home and a respectable 17.6 MPH on a day when I wasn’t expecting to go nearly that fast. If there is one thing that is clear it is this whole group has taken a big step forward in how we ride. The A and B group are not as far apart as they once were. The pace we considered quick last year is just cruising this year. We have a few quick riders and they have been more than willing to work with some of the not as quick riders and so we have all become stronger.