6/23/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Just because it was there


Today was unusual for several different reasons not the least of which was a group ride to Idyllwild on an off day for group rides. It was also a strong showing for the A group riders. Some if not most of the A rider had never been to Idyllwild and they were in for a challenge they might not have planned on. We had decided to meet at 9am at the Carl’s parking lot to allow for Shadow to join us and I wasn’t sure just how many people were going to join us. To my surprise there where more than I expected.


I ended up giving Shadow a ride to Val Vista so he could make it on time and we were there before anyone else. But it wasn’t long before other riders joined us and slowly but surely we had a group of about 9 riders willing to take on Idyllwild.

As we got ready to start our trip I lead the group out onto Ramona to the light so we could cross Florida and head east into the morning sun and up the mountain. I pulled us up to Fairview and then to Cranston Station before falling back to call out oncoming cars

About a mile past Cranston Station we started up the small rollers and I noticed Shadow moving towards the front. Gambler, Bandit, Centaur, D’Artagnon and Rocket started to pull away while I closed with Warden and Vortex. I looked at my temperature reading and it was already over 90 and we were only at the 2500 foot mark. I passed Warden and started to pull up next to Vortex when I noticed warden was slowing down. By the 3000 foot level it was close to 100 degrees and Warden was cooked. I stayed and talked with him till he started back down the hill and then followed Vortex up the hill.

Vortex noticed I was fading a bit and fell back to pace me because I couldn’t seem to get my heart rate fewer than 165. I dropped into a granny gear and slowly continued up the hill till we came up to the 3500 foot mark. Rocket was pulled over to the side of the road with Centaur and he was having trouble cooling off as well. The computer read 109. He decided to head back and Centaur decided to ride with him to make sure he got back to the vehicles. I sucked down about half of a bottle of electrolytes and followed Vortex all the way to Mountain center. We took it easy trying to keep my heart rate down and fluids in and still I was fifteen minutes slower to Mountain Center than two weeks ago. We continued on for the next four or five miles till we got to the Idyllwild sign where we took a picture.

It is just a small climb from the Idyllwild sign till we rode into town and headed for Mile High Café where everyone else was waiting for us. I will admit I had been thinking about stopping to get something to eat for miles. In fact I wanted some pie and ice cream. When Vortex and I pulled up everyone was relaxing and bandit’s wife and family had driven up to have lunch with us. I ordered apple pie and a scoop of ice cream.

Once we were cooled off and refreshed it was time to head back down the hill and head for the cars. Vortex took off and we ran down to Mountain Center in front of the pack. We stopped briefly so everyone could catch up and then took off again down the hill. Vortex was flying down the hill and it was all I could do to hang on till we got back to Cranston Station. However well before we got there the wind hit us right in the face and the temperature felt a bit like a blast furnace. Bandit and Gambler caught us just as we entered the trees and I noticed the heat was pushing my heart rate up again. Gambler pulled me back to Carl’s and we regrouped one last time before heading for home.

All I can say is we have a good group of riders to ride with and ones that I am glad to call friends. It may have been a slow 37 miles but it was one filled with challenges. But it was also a good day because we all made it home safely and with a feeling of accomplishment. In my case I also had the feeling of sore legs.