7/18/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) The temperature was predicted to be just about perfect for a Wednesday ride and so I mapped a ride to Bautista and pulled for a good group to ride it. It had been a while since we had attacked Bautista as a group and normally we don’t get a chance during the warmer summer months. I left the house wishing for a good showing of both A and B riders. When I pulled into the parking lot Coyote and Dura Max were already there. Surgeon arrived and I noticed Highlander talking with the group but without a kit and not looking like he was planning or riding. Bandit, Gambler, Torpedo, Blood Hound and The Shadow pulled up as well and we thought that was about all of the riders, but just as we expressed that thought Huntress pulled up. Highlander decided not to attempt the ride today so the rest of us headed down Gilmore to Acacia and over to Lyon to start the ride.

For some reason Blood Hound started pushing the pace early and moved us to Thornton a bit quicker than we were used to. He turned onto Thornton and Torpedo moved up to ride with him. The rest of the group started to pick up the pace and I found myself trailing the pack cruising along at 15 MPH or better all the way to Santa Fe. I was at least 50 yards behind after we turned onto Stetson but I was in no hurry because Dura Max came back to keep me company. We were at least a block behind when we got to Columbia and maybe 200 yards back by the time we got to the high school. We didn’t get to the first dip before Fairview before the leading group turned south towards Bautista. We were three minutes back as we turned on Bautista and settled into a climbing pace. We didn’t close on our group but we did pass three other riders as we got to the Dam and headed for the river wash. We rounded the corners past the picket fence and commented on what a nice day it was for a ride in the canyon. About five or six miles into the climb we say Torpedo descending and he yelled and asked if we had cell service because Gambler had gone down in a corner. We pulled up just as someone was giving Gambler a ride back down the canyon.

We pulled over to see what had happened and noticed Gamblers Bike with a shredded back tire and ground down back rim. Without Gambler to explain what happened we were left with Bandit who had an equally bad looking front wheel and rim to explain the damage. It seems as if after reaching the top of the canyon well ahead of the rest of us, Torpedo, The Shadow, Gambler and Bandit decided to let the other four wait for us and they would head back down the hill to Carl’s. However after making the top three turns dropping off of the last three climbs on Bautista Bandit started to feel his front tire going flat. As he tried to slow down the tire left the rim and tossed him sideways. He managed to slide to a stop by putting a foot down but noticed Gambler rolling by just as he got off into the dirt.

We didn’t know what caused the flats so Dura Max and I rode up to retrieve the other riders and get them to come back to where the accident happened. We searched the area as best as we could while we waited for Huntress to ride home and come back with her truck to haul the two wounded bikes back to Gamblers. We couldn’t find any tacks, thorns or glass as we searched so we still don’t know what cause Bandit to lose it but we were assured it wasn’t speed because they were still coasting at the time.

After Huntress got back and picked up the bikes and Bandit we headed down Bautista ourselves. I led the way as we more or less cruised back to the Picket fence and headed for the dam. I was still in front after the dam and took everyone to the hard right and hard left heading out onto Fairview. The accident seemed to sober everyone were all happy to allow me to pull them back to Stetson.

Once past Stetson it was a very quick trip over the bat bridge and past Mayberry and the elementary school. We almost coasted all the way to Fairview before turning west to Carl’s for coffee and conversation. Torpedo and The Shadow didn’t stop but Huntress rejoined up before we mounted up to ride back to Burger King. We got there to find Torpedo and The Shadow talking to Centaur and we joined to conversation for a few minutes before I followed Huntress back to Palm where I headed for home. It was a great day for a ride even if the results were not the best. Gambler got a good case of road rash and some stitches in his hand but he will heal and be back with us when he can.