12/02/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


I woke up this morning to the news that the high winds have blasted through Southern California and hit the area around Pasadena and the cities up against the mountains in that area. The weather channel had been predicting wind for our area as well and we did get some light breezes in the evening but by this morning it was relatively calm and looked like it might be a good day for a ride. It was cold for our area so I wasn’t sure how many others would join me. I headed to the Burger King to find out.

Dura Max was already waiting as was Centaur and Blood Hound pulled up just after me. Vortex was the next to arrive followed closely by Highlander. They no sooner got over to the window when D’Artagnon and Gambler pulled up. That gave us a well divided group with 4 A riders and 5 B riders. We left the parking lot together and rode to Acacia to begin our ride. We didn’t get far before Centaur flatted.


It took a bit longer than planned for Centaur to fix his tire so we are pretty sure a TDF sponsorship in not in his near future. Then he had a CO-2 pump destroy itself while filling the tire with air. After using a different pump he was back on the road and we pulled up to the light at Kirby. We finally turned south and headed for Cypress.

I took a quick picture and then quickly headed for the railroad tracks before making the turn on Cypress and starting our westward journey. The housing tract is normally quiet and has very little traffic. Today was no different and we rather quickly made our way through the houses and over to Johnston.

As we pulled up behind a Chevy on Sanderson Dura Max decided the cold was getting to him and that he would have to turn around and head back to the other side of town rather than staying with us all the way to Menifee. We watched him leave as we turned south on Sanderson heading for Domenigoni.

I pulled us to Domenigoni and for about ¼ of a mile west before turning over the lead to Highlander. The pace line was formed and the run for the Saddle had started. One after another took their turn at the front as we rolled past Warren and zeroed in on Winchester. The pace slowly picks up as we get close to Leon and I was working my way back to the front as Gambler turned the lead over to D’Artagnon. We hit the bottom of the saddle and Centaur and Gambler flew past from the back and attacked. I didn’t have much left in the tank to give chase and it was all I could do to pull in forth to the top of the Saddle.

After a brief rest we headed down the back side of the saddle towards the light at Lindenburger. Some of the group raced ahead and caught the light at Menifee green but Huntress, Centaur and I did not. We pushed along on Menifee heading for the little hill just past Holland. Lucky for us the rest of the group waited for us at the top and we continued on to Scott Road and once again west towards Haun. We turned north and I started a pull once again.

Because it was still pretty cold I was content with a steady 20-22 MPH but soon the group thought better of it and passed me at a good clip heading back to Holland. Highlander fell back to check on me but as soon as we started riding together we came upon Gambler, D’Artagnon and Centaur on the side of the road. Gambler was stranded with a broken spoke. He called for a ride and told us to go on while he waited for his wife so Centaur, Highlander and I took off in pursuit of the rest of the group.

Blood Hound, Vortex and Huntress missed the turn at Bradley and rode all the way to Murrieta so we managed to beat them to the top of McCall where we regrouped before heading down the hill towards Chris’s for our morning coffee.

After coffee and conversation Centaur took us on a more roundabout route to Stowe. What he didn’t tell us was part of the road was dirt. You would think a fellow roadie would know that dirt is like water to cats for us. Still we worked our way over and then up to Stowe before turning east towards California.


We encountered a light wind coming from the south as we headed towards California but riding in a tight group limited the effects of the wind and the sun made it feel warmer than it was. We had a few cars pass us but overall the road was quiet and we picked up speed gradually.

We fell into a pace line again and Vortex took off down California with Highlander and me in tow. It took most of the way down Stetson for Blood Hound, Centaur and Huntress to catch up to us and by Warren Vortex turned off and headed for home. The rest of us scooted past the airport and out to Sanderson before heading trough the Lowes parking lot and back out onto Acacia. Highlander went into sprint mode like a horse heading back to the barn but he caught the light on Florida red. We all stopped to talk for a few minutes before heading for home. Another great ride with some of my favorite people. It was also another 41 miles to add to my yearly mileage.