1/09/2012
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


After having a pretty good day Friday I was looking forward to a good ride today. The weather looked like it was going to co-operate. There was a very light breeze and a mildly cool morning facing me as I moved my bike outside and headed for the parking lot to meet up with whatever riders wanted to join me. I did see Centaur’s truck as I pulled in to the parking lot but that was about it for the first 15 minutes. Finally people started to show up and I was surprised to see Dura Max and Ocelot ride in. By 8:30 there were 8 of us heading out for a day of riding.


As we made our way to Acacia and turned west I thought it might be just a touch cold for me without a jacket. But I was pretty sure things would warm up and that the energy expended on today’s ride would keep me toasty. As we pulled up to the light on Kirby my two wing men from last Monday pulled up next to me so I was sure that at least I was going to make it back after the ride. After a brief wait the light changed and we were off south on Kirby and moving easily towards Cypress.

As we moved west on Cypress again I chatted with Highlander and Tax Man thinking how comfortable the pace had been up to this point. In fact was kept the pace down on Johnston and even on Sanderson as we moved north to start our ride towards the airport. As we got back out onto Stetson Vortex got out front and started a long pull all the way to California and then up to Stowe. For some reason he held the lead after the turn onto Stowe and set the pace just a bit quicker than when we were on Stetson. I was happy to follow at whatever pace he set till we got to within clear sight of the big Steel Barn on Stowe. I looked over my shoulder and Centaur jumped out of line and passed me like a cork shot from a Champaign Bottle. Hot on his back wheel was Rocket with afterburners smoking. I managed to hook onto Rockets back wheel followed them till Rocket lit the match on his afterburner and pulled me around Centaur like a utility trailer. Looking at my Heart Rate Monitor I could see I was in the red zone for the last 120 yards to Winchester where we stopped to regroup.

After we got back on the road I got a chance to pull to Grand where Dura Max and Ocelot broke off to avoid the Saddle. After turning west on Grand I pulled for a while till Vortex got back in front and started to pick up the pace. For some reason Highlander was off the pace today so I could see no reason to give chase but that didn’t stop Centaur and Rocket from taking off after him. Highlander, Tax Man and I watched as they turned onto Leon and then disappeared around the corner on Simpson.

They made it to Briggs by the time we were out onto Simpson and that was the last we saw of them till we saw Vortex waiting for us on the bridge over the dry wash just before Warren. He took off just as we got there and pulled us all the way to the light that turned into the Marina entrance. We took a brief break and then continued on to State Street and once again headed north to Chambers before working our way up to Thornton and passing the old golf course.

Once back on Stetson all we had to do was work our way east to Fairview before making the last turn heading back to Florida. Tax Man started to stretch his legs a Bit after we passed Lake and finally Vortex was free to chase after him. Highlander and I followed quite a distance behind and regrouped at Fairview. Tax Man and Vortex left when they asked if Highlander was OK. When he said yes they took off and we ended up chasing them all the way to the elementary school. We made the turn back to Carl’s and had coffee with Dura Max and Ocelot.

After we spent some time together Vortex, Highlander, Tax Man and I headed for home. We cruised by Huntress’s house but no one was home so we continued on to Park then Devonshire, Santa Fe and at Last to Latham. I broke for home on Palm and let all three team 4 seasons riders go on alone. I had an easy ride home and felt good about the 39 miles on my computer. Another good ride on another good day.