3/14/2012

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


Things were looking up a bit when I looked outside this morning. I expected to see cloud cover or at least a deep marine layer but it was relatively clear even if it was a bit cool. But after the cold ride we had Monday I decided to play it safe and put on a base layer and a jacket before leaving the house. I had a good ride planned and I was looking forward to it because today was 3-14 or Pi day. Tradition in the cycling community is today’s ride ends with PIE and I knew just the place to stop for the best pie in town.

I got to the parking lot to see Blood Hound was already there and Wolf and Centaur were already parked alongside of Highlander. Chinook rode into the parking lot and we all stood around talking and wondering when Huntress would arrive. Last week she was almost 15 minutes early and to our surprise she was almost 10 minutes early today. It was shaping up to be a good start. We were able to ride down Gilmore and west on Acacia to Kirby right at 8:30am.


It was pretty clear on this side of town and we could begin to feel the sun as we moved towards Cypress and made our turn west again to curve over to Johnston. We chatted easily through the housing tract and finally came to the light at Sanderson. Once the light changed we headed for Stetson with Blood Hound pulling up front. We made it through the Stetson light green and past Wally World on our way to Mustang.

I was wondering how the group would hold up as we worked our way west on Domenigoni but I shouldn’t have worried because everyone took turns pulling on our way to Warren. Highlander pulled through Warren and over the dry wash. Huntress pulled most of the way to Winchester and Centaur pulled part of the way to Leon before Wolf got the lead. I was forth passing Leon and thought I could challenge for the sprint up the saddle. But before I could make a jump Centaur flew by me and I never caught his back wheel. Still we all regrouped at the top and caught our breath.

As we sat on top of the saddle it was easy to see the fog down towards Menifee. Wolf had warned us it was still a bit thick when he came in from his house. As we started down the Saddle it seemed to be getting just a bit cooler and as we past Lindenburger traffic started backing up. It turned out there was an accident at the light before Menifee and traffic was so heavy we had to gross at the light and wait for a green before we could head south towards Holland.

As we moved towards Holland and the little 8 percent hill I talked to Huntress and discovered she had never been on the ride we call Country Roads. We would have to climb Holland Hill and make it to Scott before turning left and heading back towards Winchester. Centaur led the Holland Hill climb followed by Chinook, Wolf and Blood Hound. I stayed with Highlander and Huntress and we rolled by the lead group as they waited for us and the wide spot on the road. We rolled past the stop sign and made for the light at Scott. We took turns pulling all the way back to Winchester and finally crossed the light to the long downhill on Washington. Blood Hound and Huntress kept us at a very good pace as we moved to Benton Road.

Once we were headed back west on Benton we rolled past some real nice houses on both our right and left. Highlander was following close on Blood Hounds wheel and Blood Hound is hardly ever interested in talking so they started to pull away. I closed with them and Wolf and Huntress joined me as we made our way to the gas station on Benson and Winchester.

As we talked at the gas station I told everyone that we were duty bound to celebrate Pi day by having some pie so we should ride back to Hanger One and se in Bambi had baked any on our way home. We left north on Winchester and turned on Thompson towards Leon and then back to Scott. We were still riding as a group as we turned back to Menifee and then headed towards Domenigoni. Once on Domenigoni we rode over the saddle and made our way back to Winchester and headed north towards Stowe. We could almost taste pie the closer we got to turning east. It was even more tempting once we were on Stowe.


We headed towards California with Huntress leading the pack. We did have a dog try and give chase but the yelling from the whole group seemed to give him second thoughts and he stopped before reaching the road. I took us the rest of the way to California and then down to Stetson and Highlander pulled us most of the way to Warren where he gave it back to me so I could pull us to the airport road and then to Hanger one. When we got there the place was pretty full and Huntress had to head for home. I walked inside and noticed we were in luck because there was a whole counter full of different baked pies. We scored. I also got to see Gazelle having breakfast and we talked briefly. We then went outside and enjoyed Pie and Fritters in the sun.

We talked and joked about being glad we put on extra miles today to make room for the extra calories we were consuming when they brought a Fritter out for Centaur. I am always surprised how big their apple fritters are and this one didn’t disappoint me or Centaur.

It took some extra effort to get back on the bikes and head for home. Something about rich food and coffee just seems to make it hard to get on the bike and make a run for the cars. But being the strong élite of our cycling group we manned up and headed for the Burger King parking lot.

It was a quick ride and the sun did come out by the time we were headed home so I would have to say a good time was had by all. I will have to look to see when the next special day might be. I had 51 miles today and I enjoyed every mile of it.