8/08/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Normally I feel rested and ready for Monday rides. Today I was just a bit nervous because I was going to try a different ride and it is always a fine balance between too long and too short and too hard or too easy. Still I left the house a bit early and managed to get to Burger King first. The group slowly trickled in and it looked like we might have a small group. By 8am we had a respectable 11 riders and as soon as T-3 arrived we were ready to go. So off we went and headed for Acacia.


The day could turn out to be interesting because team Full throttle was out in full force and promised to challenge every climb and every sprint we would have today. Only one of the Musketeers was here today and only two of team 4 Seasons. If the rest of us didn’t work together team full throttle just might dominate the ride. As much fun as we have teasing Full Throttle about his team we enjoy watching Jack Rabbit and Dart develop into fine riders. It was clear they were going to push us today but With Surgeon, Rocket and Goliath the climb wasn’t going to be a given. Once we got out over 30 miles T-3 had the stamina to make it harder for any of the teams to get into position and keep the independents out of the mix.

We made it to Kirby and then through the housing track on Cypress with a very tightly packed group. We pulled up to the light at Sanderson and Johnston and made the turn south towards Domenigoni. We managed to catch the light green at Stetson and were quickly past the driveway into Wal-Mart. As we got close to Mustang it was clear the whole group planned on getting to the Marina ramp climb together.

We turn towards the Marina hill as one group and everyone started out pretty well. As soon as we hit the steep first big left turn Rocket lit the after burners and Surgeon gave chase. Team Full Throttle sent Jack Rabbit and Dart after Rocket to challenge the hill. Goliath made a great climb and everyone seemed to be pushing themselves all the way to the top.

I watched as Surgeon and part of Team Full Throttle chased Rocket and Goliath up the hill and once I looked over my shoulder I could see Dura Max and Highlander gaining on me. I had to kick it up a gear just to keep from being run over. We turned around at the top of the hill and then headed back down to regroup in front of the water park.

Once we all got our breath back it was time for the next leg of the ride. We had to get over to State Street and then work our way over to Fairview on Stetson. Team Full Throttle decided to attack the sprint point on State just before the rise leading to Chambers. Rocket had the lead out and Surgeon was on his wheel when Full Throttle sent his domestiques out on a lead and sprinted up the rise with only Surgeon challenging. We had to give one to Team Full Throttle. As we rode down Stetson we heard them planning their attack for the Fairview sprint. Rocket had to leave us before we got to Fairview and Highlander attacked the rise on Stetson in perfect gear. We regrouped on Fairview and got ready for the next attack by Team Full Throttle. Once we started it was clear they were going to jump sooner or later. Jump they did but Surgeon jumped with them and broke their pace line. No points for Full Throttle on Fairview.

We regrouped once more at Florida and made the run up to the ranger station. At first we were split into two groups but Full Throttle pulled up the trailing group to catch the lead group before they came out of the trees and headed uphill. When we got to the Ranger station we met Quick-sticks who was out on a ride by himself.


The ride was far from over however because we still had to ride back down Florida to Fairview and then north to Ramona and finally onto Soboba. Highlander pulled us all the way to Main and then up to Soboba and I took over as we past the golf course.

Once we got to State Street we regrouped and headed for Ramona Expressway. We made the turn back east and started back to Main Street so we could head back to Hewitt. We were moving along pretty well when one of Team Full Throttle’s rides got a flat. Once it was fixed we headed east some more with T-3 pulling the group at a rather good pace all the way to the light. It was a short ride back to Park and then Yale before we made the turn on Devonshire. With the exception of Rocket we still had the whole group headed for the last regroup at the Bagel shop.

We rode down Devonshire towards the Hospital and the younger full Throttle members were looking about as fresh as they were when we left to start the ride. After turning on Santa Fe we headed past the Police Station and then the Library and came to the light at State Street. From there it was an easy cruise to the Bagel shop where we sat for a few minutes before each of us headed or separate way home. I got back with43 miles on the computer and still felt pretty good. If everyone enjoyed the ride as much as they said they did it will be worth keeping for the future.