7/11/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


The weather started out cooler than I expected and the group was a bit smaller than the last two rides but it still looked like we had 14 riders ready for a 40+ ride to Lake Paris and back. We left just a bit after 8am and headed out towards Lyon before heading north to Ramona.


Blood Hound, Highlander, Goliath, T-3 and Dura-max were close behind me followed by Ocelot, Wolf, Spartacus, Shadow, Sea Lion, Full Throttle, Dart and Surgeon. We kept the pace reasonable and moved smoothly down to Ramona Road before heading towards Sanderson and then up to Ramona Expressway. Everything was going good and we picked up Casey Jones just before we crossed Warren. I pulled us to a stop and discussed my plan for the run west on Ramona Expressway and we took off west planning on stopping at Hansen or Lakeview. We started to run into problems before we got to Bridge Street and the group fractured into three or four parts before we got to Hansen. We took a quick break and stopped for a restroom break before getting back on Ramona and heading up to the Marina gate for Lake Paris.

We took some time to rest at the Lake’s Marina before heading off around the lake on the bike path. T-3, Casey and I followed at a distance behind the main group till we regrouped at the top of the hill leading out of the park. Once out onto Ramona we worked together till we got back to Hansen where I stopped for a head count. We were missing Goliath but he had gone ahead without realizing we were stopping at the marina in the first place. The group split into two shortly after we got started and I noticed Highlander and about half of the other riders were following me. We came upon Surgeon, Sea Lion, Dart and Full Throttle changing a tire and I had Highlander take the group ahead.

We got to see an ultra-light take off and fly over us as we got back on the road. I have seen the same Ultra-light flying past us before and can only assume one of the farms or dairies we pass owned the thing. It got a little far away from me before I could get a picture but I got one none the less.

Sea Lion and Shadow waited for us as we turned off of Sanderson and headed back towards Lyon. Full Throttle fell off the back and I went back to get him so we could close with Dart and Sea Lion before we finally pulled up to the back of the lead group and start down Lyon.

Dart closed with the lead group as if he was rested and we had just started the ride. It took Full Throttle and I a bit longer to catch the group but finally we saw we were closing by the time we got past Seventh or Cottonwood. At least we were back in one big group much like we had been before we got out to Ramona Expressway in the first part of the ride.

At this point I discovered that Blood Hound had been pulling the group for miles and had managed t give everyone enough rest that they were more relaxed than I expected. We rolled past Esplanade and Menlo in one big group and I finally managed to get in front to take one last picture. It was a surprise I had any battery left considering I had a low battery light after the second picture I took today.

It was more or less just a hop skip and a jump down Lyon till we got back to Devonshire and then Latham where we made the turn for home. About six or seven of us returned to the Burger King and talked about the ride and what we can do better in the future. I ended up with just over 44 miles by the time I got home and I still felt pretty good about the ride. It wasn’t our most organized ride ever but it was still a good ride.