8/26/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


The weatherman said it was going to be hot and humid and by the time I got up and out onto the road it was already both. I took it easy as I made my way to Florida and wondered to myself just how many of our riders would be willing to come out on a day like this. Turned out I didn’t need to worry because Surgeon and Highlander were already there as I pulled into the parking lot. I just had time to say hello when Dura max and Ocelot pulled up and Sea Lion came right behind them. By 8am we had 16 riders ready and willing to go. So we pulled out onto Gilmore and stopped at the light on Florida.


It has been pretty typical lately to see Blood Hound, Highlander and T-3 up front in the early stages of the ride. Today was no different as we got to Acacia and turned towards Kirby. It was muggy by the time we caught the light on Kirby the temperature was still under 90 degrees. There seemed to be a light breeze but it wasn’t slowing us down any and so we rather quickly made it down Kirby to Cypress.

We had discussed the ride before we left the parking lot and I indicated that if the A group wanted to run hard I would hold the pace down for the B group so they ride in the heat would be easier to do. I was thinking about this as we rode down Cypress and wondered to myself just how many would go with the A group if they did take off on a break. As we got close to Johnston I noticed Puma was coming at us from the other direction. He joined us just before we turned towards Sanderson.

I should have known the ride down Domenigoni was going to turn exciting when I saw how eager everyone looked as we picked up speed passing Walmart. I looked behind me as we passed Mustang and there were no gaps between riders from number 1 to number 17.

I turned the corner and started the pull towards Warren but gave it up before we were halfway there. Highlander and T-3 took turns pulling and we were almost all the way to Winchester before the group took off and picked up the pace. I never caught the lead pack before they topped the saddle and regrouped but I did motive we had added Bandit at Winchester. We regrouped now 18 strong.

After we rested a bit it was decided that we would continue on to Carl’s on Newport and Murrieta. The plan was for Gambler to take a few of the A rides and attack Goetz while I took the B group off on La Ladera. We were going to divide up after rehydrating at Carl’s and then leave in two groups. Once we got to Carl’s several of the B riders decided to give Goetz a shot and that group of 11 took off just before the 7 of us pulled out onto Newport after them.

We had very little trouble cutting the pace back a bit as we rode towards La Ladera and crossed Murrieta on a long slow green. Highlander and I followed Surgeon most of the way to La Ladera where we turned and picked up Rocket who had decided to stick with us so he could make a quick stop on his way home. T-3, Dura max and Ocelot rounded out our group of seven as we past the little park on La Ladera. We were all still together passing the ground Owls on Honeyrun.

From there Surgeon took over setting the pace as we made our left on the street heading to McCall. Rocket pulled up to ride with him while the rest of us followed at a respectable distance. T-3, Highlander and I filled the gap between the lead two riders and Dura max and Ocelot.

Highlander pulled up next to me and asked if I wanted to pace him up McCall hill but shortly after he asked me he took off and caught a light green at the bottom of the hill and I didn’t. He made it to the top well before T-3 and I. Once we regrouped it was a fast run down the hill, past the housing tract on Heritage and out onto Simpson to make a run to Winchester. Only Surgeon, Rocket and I stopped for coffee at Chris’s and we only stayed for a short cold drink and conversation before heading for Stowe and home. Rocket left us at the airport and Surgeon and I made it back by ourselves. Huntress and Shawn pulled in about 15 minutes later and we talked for a minute or two. When I got home I had 38 miles on the computer and got inside just before it broke 100 degrees.