7/13/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) No matter how people feel about Friday the 13th we were going to have a ride today. The only problem was it was supposed to be hot and muggy. In fact we had rain the night before. The news called it a monsoonal condition but having been in South East Asia during the Monsoon I would disagree. But it did remind me a lot of summer in Florida where I first discovered east coast humidity. So the plan was an easy flat ride west and a stop at Chris’s. I headed for the Burger King parking lot not knowing who would be there. However Coyote, Centaur and Dura Max were already waiting as I pulled up. By 8 am we were ready the hit the road with the addition of Barracuda, Highlander, Hornet and Gambler.

We pulled out of the parking lot and rode down Latham to turn north on Lyon. Highlander was in a talkative mood so we chatted as we moved towards Devonshire, Menlo and Fruitvale. I have to admit that I was feeling a lot better about the ride today than I did Wednesday. My knee wasn’t bothering me and I seemed to have more energy for some reason. Everyone else seemed to be stronger as well so I wondered just how quick this ride might end up being. Still I was allowed to set the pace all the way down Lyon and stayed out front as we turned on Ramona.

For some reason I still felt like leading as we moved towards Sanderson. As we rounded the corner and stopped at the light on the Expressway waiting to make the long run towards Nuevo I wondered how the pace might pick up. As the light turned I stayed out front till I got to Warren and turned things over to Highlander and Centaur. Everything was going fine till there was a mix up on a pace line change and Dura Max and I got dropped. We weren’t all that far behind as we got to the light just before Lakeview and stopped at the gas station to regroup. I knew things could get difficult once we started south on Lakeview with four A group riders near the front. Lucky for me Hornet started us towards Nuevo Road and held things at about 18 or 19 all the way. We made the right and then the left to head over to Central will the fast four pressing us all the way.

The pressure fell off a bit when Centaur got a phone call and we could slow down while he thought of business. Still Hornet and Gambler pushed it just a little as we moved South on Menifee. We stayed together till we got to Mapes and worked our way over to Briggs and south again. Centaur got another call and Coyote stopped just before the housing tract and Barracuda went straight across the dirt road leaving Gambler, Hornet, Dura Max, Highlander and I to head for the dump road without them. I got off of Briggs first and started towards Leon but soon Hornet pulled in front and started the pace line. I was very impressed with how strong Highlander was riding but at this point he was in third position behind me and I was concentrating on staying with Hornet. It wasn’t long before Gambler kicked things up a bit and pulled past both Hornet and me. Highlander was stuck to Gamblers back wheel like a shadow and I had to jump around Hornet to get on the train. By Leon Gambler had ramped it up to 24 and I wondered if I could hold on. Then just past Leon Highlander fell off and I had to close on Gamblers wheel or be spit off the back like a piece of flat tire on a big rig. It took all I had but I got there and held on till the last sprint for the flag at the Western Bar. All in all it was a pretty good run.

I was pleased with myself as we pulled into Chris’s. Once everyone was there we had our coffee and conversation while we rested. Not wanting to fight the traffic on Winchester and Domenigoni we decided to head north towards Stowe after coffee and once again I felt good enough to pull. I got us past the Railroad tracks and quickly up to speed as we closed in on the yard where the big Pit Bull used to live. At this point I still felt like I had another ten miles in my legs easily.

After the turn on Stowe we stayed in a pace line all the way to California. Hornet took over the lead and headed us to Stetson and then to Warren Road. Gambler, Hornet, Dura Max and I broke with the rest of the group at the airport and continued on towards Sanderson. Hornet left us at the Sonic driveway and Gambler went straight down Sanderson while Dura Max and I moved down to Johnston. Dura Max and I rode together till we got t my street and I left to go home. I got back with 36 miles on the computer. It was cooler than I expected but so humid I must have lost 3 pounds in perspiration.