4/16/2012

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


After the long ride Saturday I wasn’t sure how I would feel today as I got up. After all my legs were still a bit sore ad I didn’t get in a recovery ride Sunday. Not that I ride Sunday anyway. But I got out of bed and got some oatmeal before getting ready to meet everyone for a 40 miles easy ride today. It was clear and relatively warm so I decided to forgo arm and leg warmers and left the house. I got to Burger King to see Coyote unloaded and putting his shoes on. We moved over to the big glass window to gather some morning sun and waited to see who else was going to give the ride a chance. Highlander and Tax Man were the next to arrive. Surgeon, Dura Max, Ocelot, Blood Hound all arrived within a few minutes of each other and we got ready to go. We even got a visit from Red Rabbit before we hit the road, after a tire clinic on Ocelot’s bike.


It didn’t take long to get to Acacia and not much longer to catch the light at Kirby as we started today’s ride. Personally I started out rather sore and stiff but for the first time in weeks I could shift with my right hand and that made today special. We finally got a green light and headed south on Kirby to Cypress. I was a bit surprised at how quickly we made it to Cypress and then to Johnston and Sanderson. Then once we turned south on Sanderson it was obvious everyone was feeling eager to get out onto Domenigoni. We got the light green on Stetson and were on our way to Mustang.

Surgeon got the best jump at the light on Mustang pulled us to Dominigoni and gave the lead to me. I pulled most of the way to the rise before Warren and gave the lead to Highlander. Blood Hound took over before the dry wash and pulled us all the way to Winchester and then past Leon to make the last run to the Saddle. I pulled out the hit the hill and Surgeon got by me before we crested. It took a minute or two before we all regrouped and had something to drink.

Once we started down the back side of the Saddle we could see the Snake waiting at Lindenburger. As the light turned green he jumped in line and followed us to Menifee. As we started towards Holland Hill Highlander, Surgeon, Tax Man and Blood Hound pulled ahead of the rest of us most of the way to Holland. I managed to catch Snakes back wheel and he pulled me up to everyone but Blood Hound. I jumped the hill pretty well and managed to top out in third place. We then regrouped and continued on to Scott where we met up with Snake and Blood Hound and followed them to Haun and headed North back towards Holland.

We stayed together pretty well till we got back to Holland and Snake took off to do a hill repeat with Highlander in tow. We spread out in a long line going up the hill towards Murrieta and headed back north till we hit a detour and had to work our way back to Newport and then up to Carl’s for a nature break. After a short break we moved back onto Murrieta and headed north to McCall. I fell back to check on Dura Max and Ocelot but Coyote got back there before me so I pulled Tax man back to the lead group when they caught the light at Bradley. We hit Hospital Hill pretty hard and once again I topped the hill in third to see Snake and Blood Hound waiting for me.

We took off down Hospital Hill and Snake left us once we got to Heritage. We made good time working our way over to Simpson and Lindenburger where Coyote pulled us all the way past Leon and part way to the trees where he let Blood Hound have it. I was in third as we got close to the trees and Winchester. Blood Hound started to drop the hammer and I had to gap around Surgeon to cover. Highlander had my draft and was closing fast just as I caught Blood Hounds wheel. For a change I held off trying to make a break till the last 100 yards and just managed to get in front before we started our move to the left lane. Wonder of wonders we caught the turn signal and headed to Chris’s for Coffee.

We finished our coffee and conversation and headed back to Winchester and Stowe. It took a while for the group to reassemble on Stowe and start a pace line towards California.


Before we got to California the dogs came after us but were dissuaded from chasing because we kept yelling at them. Highlander started to pick up the pace as we headed for Stetson and I didn’t catch up to his group till half way to Warren. After we made it through the stop sign and pulled to the front to tell everyone I was heading for home. Blood Hound joined me at Sanderson and we rode down Johnston together till we got to my street and he headed east towards Yale. I got home with 42 miles and much better feeling legs.