3/11/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


Fridays are unpredictable. Sometimes that can be hectic and sometimes t hey are laid back. Today was pretty laid back for the most part. The plan was to go out to Winchester and back to Cranston Station I just wasn’t sure how many were going to be with us.


The turnout wasn’t bad because Dura-max was back with Ruby Tuesday, Rocket, Highlander, D’Artagnon, Gambler and Surgeon. At the last minute Raptor, Quick sticks and Traveler also arrived and were ready to hit the road. Raptor and Traveler planned on meeting us at Carl’s while the rest of us headed towards Acacia and Kirby with Ruby Tuesday leading the way.

Ruby Tuesday said she was going to take it easy but with the pace she was setting I wasn’t so sure. We quickly made the turn onto Kirby and again on Cypress where we backed it down a bit as we worked our way towards Johnston.


Quick sticks hadn’t been out with us much this year any more than Surgeon had but both were riding well. In fact the entire group seemed to me moving effortlessly as we approached Johnston where we were going to turn towards Sanderson and then over to Wentworth to head past the airport.

We scooted past the airport and out onto Stetson heading for Warren Road. Still we were riding well within ourselves and the pace seemed rather relaxed. Rocket took the lead just before California and we turned south towards Stowe. Once heading west on Stowe rocket picked up the pace a bit but before we got to the old barn Gambler and D’Artagnon dropped the hammer and I tried to stay ahead of the rush only to be ran down at least 200 yards before the parking lot. After we regrouped Rocket, Gambler, D’Artagnon, Ruby Tuesday and Surgeon took off first with Highlander, Dura-max and I following. Quick sticks had left us at Warren Road so we didn’t see him after that cross street. We did manage to regroup with everyone at Domenigoni and once again at the entrance to the water park before heading east to State Street and back to Stetson.

Rocket led Gambler and D’Artagnon rapidly towards the golf course while I pulled the rest of the group in the same direction. I started out pulling on Dominigoni and continued pulling as we headed north on State. We were rolling along at just a touch over 20 as we got to the little rise just before Chambers. It was here that Highlander decided to come around me in a full sprint and started to pull away. It was a well timed pass and I never had a chance to catch his back wheel. So much for going east being too hard for him?

We ended up taking Stetson all the way to Fairview where Gambler and D’Artagnon had to catch up to us at Fairview and Florida. Rocket had already gone home but the rest of the group headed towards Cranston Station and regrouped once more. As we were sitting there we noticed Quick Sticks coming back down the hill.

Shortly after Quick Sticks passed us we started back towards Carl’s and soon we were in a pace line and could see him in the distance. Much to my disappointment the wind seemed to be blowing from the west and made it hard to hold a fast pace or give us a chance to close on Quick Sticks but we did our best all the way back to Fairview. Surgeon took the lead after Fairview and we followed him all the way to the Carl’s Parking lot. However I kept an eye on Highlander all the way in case he got another spurt of energy but he gave me a break and followed us to the parking lot as well.

As we sat down to have coffee Raptor and Traveler pulled up and joined us. We had some good conversation and caught our breath for about 20 minutes before we all decided to head back west and home. Raptor and Dura-max broke off by the time we got back to Park and Ruby Tuesday left us at Lyon while I continued on with Surgeon, Highlander and Quick Sticks back to Burger King. It turned out to be a pretty good ride and the wind wasn’t real bad. Still I ended up with just over 40 miles and maybe just a touch of Sun Burn. Not bad for March?