1/28/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)



I wasn’t sure about the wind today so I postponed our longer pre-century till next week. The very last thing we needed was a 60 mile ride around Lake Elsinore and just as we got to the far side of the lake a head wind would hit us in the face while we were still 30 miles from home. So I opted for a bit shorter 40 mile ride to Murrieta and back just to get in the miles. It turned out to be a great day for a ride. I got to the parking lot and some of the riders were already waiting for me. In just a few minutes I could tell the A group was going to well represented.


It took us a while before everyone arrived and it looked like it would be a slightly smaller group than earlier on in the week. Still we had seven or eight riders standing by ready to go by 8:30. I knew Dura-max was taking the day off but I was surprised when I didn’t see Huntress or Nick before we were ready to leave. But I knew it was going to be a hard running day out on Domenigoni because Cossack was with us and he always puts the hammer down once we cross Warren Road.

Once we got out onto Gilmore and got rolling along it seemed like everyone was very eager to get to Acacia and then to Kirby so they could get on the road. I rounded the corner on Acacia and followed Centaur to the light. As we were stopped there I kept hearing someone honking their horn at us. The rest of the group kept trying to get my attention and finally I noticed it was Huntress in her car. She pulled up next to us and said she would meet us at the Wal-Mart parking lot. She fell in behind us and we quickly made it to Domenigoni. I pulled almost all the way to Warren when I heard someone yell out “flat” and we came to a stop. Turns out that Huntress had a flat and everyone stopped while she changed it.

As we waited Casey Jones pulled up coming from Warren and waited with us. It proved to be of no avail however because there was a serious cut in Huntress’s side wall and she was going to be unable to continue. Rocket stayed with he and they rode back to her truck on a booted tire while they told the rest of us to continue on without them. I told Gambler and Bandit to take the main group and go ahead while Centaur, Highlander and I would follow to pick up any stragglers that might fall off the pace line. We didn’t get far till the main group was pulling away and I watched as Casey Jones pulled around the group and made a solo break after the rise over the river bed.

The group looked like they were going to let him get away as they got close to the Winchester. It seemed like he had at least a quarter mile lead on them as they rolled past Winchester and headed towards Leon. It was about then I noticed that Cossack had rotated to the front of the pace line and it looked like Casey’s breakaway was doomed to fall prey to the Peloton. It looked like they were closing and by the time they got to the bottom of the saddle Cossack and the group had caught him. I can only imagine the sprint over the saddle was brutal. None the less they continued on and we managed to catch Traveler who was riding all by himself as the lone member of the C group. We stopped at the top and talked to him for a moment before heading on to Menifee.

Highlander, Centaur and I followed the route the rest of the group had in case we had to pick up any stragglers but we didn’t see any on Menifee or Scott Road. We made a quick run out of Haun before making the turn on Holland and up the little hill before turning north on Murrieta to McCall. It took us a while to get over the hill and out on Simpson but we were still moving along at a good clip as we cut over to Stowe and east to California. I pulled us to the airport where we stopped and met Double Time, Bounty Hunter and Traveler for coffee. A short break and we were ready to head for home after another great ride. It added another 43 miles to my total for the year so I can’t complain. I rode back to Burger King with Centaur, Double Time and Highlander before heading home myself. I have to admit I like this group.