3/16/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)



I was asked for another west ride for today so I picked a group favorite, Elsinore and back. Looking out of my front window it looked like a pretty nice day even if it was just a bit cool as I left to meet everyone.

I got to Burger King to find Blood Hound and Dura-max waiting and Centaur unloading his bike. I noticed Sea Lion was back again and Gambler showed up just before Rocket and D’Artagnon. Highlander and Huntress pulled up within minutes of each other and Attack Cat rode in about a minute later. Traveler and Raptor showed up but they were planning on doing Lake Paris today so they left in another direction. The rest of us pulled out and headed south towards Dominigoni at 8:30am.

Everyone seemed like they had already warmed up before we got started because we were moving along pretty quickly on Gilmore and picked it up even more on Acacia. At this point in the ride I was feeling pretty good but you never knew if your legs would feel like running with the big dogs or of you should have stayed on the porch till you get out on Dominigoni. So Acacia and then Kirby don’t feel like a real test even when the group is pushing it a bit.
After we left the light at Acacia and Kirby heading south again we started to get in line as if the pace line was already starting to form. This seemed a bit unusual to me because it is the first part of these rides where most of our conversation takes place. Conversation would have to wait when we regrouped or stopped for coffee because everyone seems like they wanted to ride and were enjoying it. When we rounded the corner on Cypress I caught sight of T-3 cruising along waiting for us to catch up and our number was up to 12.
Once out onto Sanderson things picked up again. Attack Cat jumped out in front as if trying to pick up the pace again but I was trying hold us back so we wouldn’t keep running into red lights till we passed Mustang. Shortly after Mustang and the High School we did turn it up a bit and soon we were stretched out for maybe 100 yards. Once we turned west on Dominigoni the group split with several people passing me to give chase to Attack Cat while the rest of us settled into a constant 22 MPH pace line. It wasn’t long before we were all regrouping on top of the Dominigoni saddle and getting ready to run to Murrieta Road.
I took a quick head count and figured the group would be split in two with Rocket, D’Artagnon, Gambler, Centaur, Blood Hound, Huntress and Attack Cat in one group and Highlander, Dura-Max, T-3, Sea Lion and me in the other group. I knew all we had to do was make it to Murrieta where we would regroup before hitting Railroad Canyon. I just wasn’t sure how far the first group would be ahead of us.
We weren’t that far behind when we got to the little store at Murrieta and after some quick refreshments we were off again for the canyon and Elsinore. We all stayed together pretty well all the way to the first climb and we didn't spread out all that much till we topped the hill. Huntress pulled up on my wheel and pushed me all the way to the big downhill heading into Elsinore. She pushed so hard I ended up closing on Attack Cat and catching him just before we got to the rest stop at Mickey D’s. I parked my bike in the enclosed playground area and walked in to get some coffee only to have one of my new Gator Skins blow out a tube while I was parked. I had to change the tube and put a boot in the tire because I had a side wall cut but soon we were back on the road and headed for home.
Highlander and I pulled over when we got back to Murrieta and waited for Huntress and Sea Lion to catch up. Sea Lion was running with a broken spoke but was moving along at a pretty good clip anyway. We let Blood Hound and Centaur go ahead and once we regroup with Huntress and Sea Lion we gave chase. I caught Blood Hound and Centaur and the bottom of the saddle and managed to climb the hill first if one just edging out Blood Hound. I told Highlander I would wait for him at the bottom of the hill and so we pulled over at Leon only to have Centaur and Highlander go flying by to be joined by Blood Hound before Sea Lion, Huntress and I could even get clipped in. We almost caught them at Winchester but they made the light green and we got it just as it turned red. We didn’t see them again till we got back to Burger king.
I have to admit it was a rather good ride and the weather turned out just about perfect. I was showing 18.2 as an average when I got to Burger King and 18.0 when I got home. So it was a rather quick ride as well. I also got to another 47 miles to add to my yearly total. I will need a few weekend rides and a century here and there to top 7000 miles this year but if my health holds I can’t see any reason I can’t accomplish that as a goal. Beside I just like getting out with friends and riding.