5/14/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was a great day for a ride and so it was also a great day for a challenge. We have been going west a lot lately so it was time to go east and one of our more challenging rides is Bautista Canyon. It isn’t however one of Highlanders favorite rides still I put it up for today and that is where we were headed. By 8:30 it was Highlander, Vortex, Coyote, Surgeon and I ready to head over to Lyon ad start the ride to Thornton and directly east to Fairview to begin the climb.

We decided to take it easy going to Thornton and heading east so we would be able to get the full group up Bautista and back. Some people hate Bautista and some love it and then there are those of us who put up with the climb just so we can hammer to downhill. I fall into the latter class. But still it was hard to keep the pace easy and we crossed State and headed for Santa Fe. We decided to modify the route and go straight down Stetson and make our way to Fairview so we would be down on miles even if not in effort.

The turn south on Fairview was just the beginning of the run and we all followed Vortex to the start of the Canyon. Coyote started to ramp it up a bit and I knew I would never be able stay with him but Vortex and Surgeon weren’t as timid and they decided to go with him. From talking with them later he picked up speed on every climb. Highlander and I got there after the other three were resting. But we didn’t get a long chance to rest before we were headed back down the Canyon for Fairview and Carl’s. We started out sedately but it wasn’t long before we were flat out. I took the lead for a while and gave it up before we got back to the white fence just before the dry wash crossing. I got a good rest on the back of the pace line till we dot to the rise at the Dam and I took the jump and was gone. I made it to Fairview alone. We regrouped at Florida and had coffee at Carl’s. Some of the group looked a bit tired but I think that was because it has been warmer and we haven’t gotten used to it yet. So after downing something cold to drink and a fiber bar we were ready to head for home. Vortex and Highlander lead the way down Lincoln and headed for Park.

Once headed for home Vortex and Highlander didn’t give us a lot of chances to rest and we moved around Park and onto Devonshire heading west. Still no breather as the two seemed intent on heading for the barn. I chatted with Coyote for a while and we both knew better than to fall too far behind because we had been dropped on the ride home before. We stayed with the leaders back to Santa Fe and down to Latham and were right behind then as we crossed State. I left them and headed for home on Palm. I got there with 34 miles on the computer and a touch of sunburn on the back of my legs right behind the knees. Still it was a good ride and a good day to have a climb.