8/31/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was another Friday and another decision about what kind of ride we wanted. I have tried to make Fridays a bit easier and in many cases flatter but the group always make the ride the way they want it no matter what my plans are. Today was a little bit of both planning and unexpected drama. I got to the parking lot in time to talk with Dura Max and see Sidewinder drive up. Surgeon rode his bike to the parking lot as did Barracuda and Digger. I got a message that D’Artagnon was on his way just about the time Highlander pulled up followed by Wart and Gambler. We were waiting for D’Artagnon when Dura Max left to go pick up T-3 and Wart followed him. Shortly after than D’Artagnon arrived and eight of us headed down Gilmore to Acacia before turning south to Cypress and headed towards Johnston and Sanderson.

Surgeon led us to Wentworth where we caught the light and I took us to the airport and past Hanger 1. Highlander and Surgeon past me and I thought that they were planning on pulling out onto Stetson first so they could start the pace line. But they let me get out onto the street first and I pulled us along to Warren Road before turning it over to Surgeon who took us to California and started us onto Stowe.

Gambler told me that Bandit was on his way to meet us at Winchester letting me know that we would have a serious A group for the rest of the ride. I made up my mind at that point that I would stay with the B group no matter what the other riders did. I was still thinking about this when Surgeon turned up onto Stowe and I stayed on his back wheel all the way to Winchester and the little parking lot where we regroup. Everyone seems to be willing to stay in a group because no one else took off on a sprint before we got to Winchester either.

Just as we had expected Bandit pulled into the parking lot while we were waiting. One thing was for sure when Bandit arrived it would make Gambler antsy. Those two are like cats and dogs and always seem to be pushing each other a bit faster than most of us are willing to go. However today Barracuda and Sidewinder would be with them and both of those riders can hold their own. Not only that Gambler was feeling pretty good and showing off just enough to push Bandits buttons so I knew sooner or later one or the other would be dropping the hammer.

I was in front as we moved down Winchester and could almost feel the pressure for the line as Gambler, Barracuda, and Bandit, D’Artagnon and Sidewinder waited to pounce. The held off all the way to the dump road and allowed me to lead out as we headed west towards Leon. I got us to the Wild West Arena and Surgeon took over as we started up that short little hill before Leon. It was about 50 yards before the hill that Bandit rode past me with a big grin with Gambler, Barracuda, D’Artagnon and Sidewinder hot on his back wheel.

Surgeon took off after them but I held back and let them go making sure Digger and Highlander made it over the hill and to Leon before we made it out onto Simpson. Imagine our shock as we came up on the A group standing on the side of the road. At first we thought someone had a flat but then we noticed Bandit laying on the ground.

It seems he ran off the road, caught a wheel in the dirt and the bike threw him off and onto his hip, shoulder and head. We all waited around while we contacted his wife to see if she could come get him. The Shadow and his wife were driving by and they picked up and took Bandits bike home. D’Artagnon and Surgeon showed them where the house was and soon Bandit’s wife was there and taking him and Gambler to the hospital to be checked out. The rest of us pulled away from the side of the road and made our way to Lindenburger and then over to Menifee to head for the AM/PM and regroup with Surgeon and D’Artagnon. We took off again and made a fast run north on Menifee and headed through Nuevo to get to the Valero on Lakeview.

After rehydrating at the Valero we jumped back out onto Ramona Expressway and headed for home. Things were going pretty smooth till Sidewinder decided to jump out front and kick up the pace. Digger was having trouble staying in the draft and finally fell off the back so I dropped back and pulled him to Sanderson. We made the jog to Ramona Boulevard and found Highlander waiting for us by the fist stand of big trees. Once we pulled up to him we rode together towards Lyon to start the last leg for home. Once on Lyon I backed it down to a mild cruise so we could talk on the way back to the parking lot.

Digger turned off before we got back to Devonshire so Highlander and I rode side by side all the way back to Latham. I continued on for home while Highlander went back to his car and drove home. It is only about a mile from Burger King to my house so it didn’t take long for me to get back to my house and a cool shower. It was a good day weather wise but we were sad to see Bandit all covered in dirt. I understand he will be fine but his helmet has seen better days.

8/29/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Some people have told me they like their life spontaneous and unpredictable. It is one of the reasons I try to mix up the rides as much as I can and am willing to take suggestions and requests for special rides. But as much as we plan nature has a way of making things even more spontaneous that we can ever do. I was about to learn this lesson as I rode to the parking lot to see who would be going on our rather flat 40 mile ride west. By the time we started to arrive in any numbers it was clear we would have two groups. Gambler and D’Artagnon would be the core of the A group with Sidewinder and more than likely would take Surgeon with them. Huntress, Highlander, Digger, and I would more than likely make up the B group. At least that is how I thought it would work out as we started down Gilmore to Acacia.

As we turned onto Acacia and then Kirby I felt a drop or two of water on my wrist. I didn’t think much of it however because it was supposed to be over 100 degrees and I didn’t see much chance of rain. Normally rain will sent us scurrying for home but it just didn’t seem possible we would get any real rain so I pushed on to Sanderson and headed south. The problem was it started to really rain as we got to Stetson and I could see it was all coming from one big cloud hanging over the Wal-Mart area. I simply put my head down and headed for Mustang and then to Domenigoni. What I didn’t notice was that Gambler, Surgeon and D’Artagnon had dropped off to take cover under a tree while Huntress, Highlander, Sidewinder, Digger and I just lowered our heads and plowed forward west on Domenigoni. The rain left us at the dry wash and we took turns pulling all the way to the saddle just in time to watch T-3 and Dura Max drop down the back side. We regrouped and followed moments later.

We had passed Bandit on Winchester and at first it looked like he was going to follow us but it seems as if he decided to wait for the chasing A group. We didn’t waste any time getting to Menifee and we past Dura Max and T-3 at the park just before Holland. Huntress had been dogging me all morning and after our sprint up the Saddle I was pretty sure she would attack me on Holland Hill. After we past Holland Road she jumped on my back wheel and didn’t look like she had any intention of falling off. Not only that Sidewinder as coming on a bit like a CHP pursuit car and I was tired. Somehow I managed to hold them off and after we were all back together I pulled them to Scott. Huntress took us to Antelope and Sidewinder took us to Haun. We could feel the A group gaining so we quickly made our way back to Holland and over the hill to Murrieta. We were determined to make it to the Chevron station on Newport before the A group caught us but there was no need to worry because they decided to take Bradley and cut over to McCall.

We headed for McCall on Murrieta and kept the pace down knowing the McCall hill would be coming soon. I also knew Huntress would attack me again so I needed all the time to recover that I could get. After passing Cherry Hill I took us to McCall and started us east towards the golf course and freeway. I started thinking about the hill at least two miles before we got there and I was worried that Huntress would attack again and I would be too tired to respond. Not that Huntress isn’t a strong rider but because she insists if she attacks I give 100 percent effort or “else”. Highlander took us over the freeway and Sidewinder took off and made the light at the Valero well ahead of the rest of us. I held Huntress off once again and we dropped down the back side of the hill with Sidewinder nowhere in sight. We worked our way through the housing tract and out onto Simpson to start the run to Winchester. I pulled for a while and then Huntress took over. We called Digger from the back and had him pull at a comfortable pace all the way past the Eucalyptus trees. I pulled around and took the lead till we got to the last stand of trees on the right before Winchester. Huntress attacked again and got past me. However she didn’t pass quick enough to avoid me getting on her back wheel and I worked my way by just before we had to stop for the light. We all pulled around the corner together and pulled into Chris’s to see Gambler, D’Artagnon and Sidewinder waiting on us.

After a brief stop we were ready to head back to Stowe on Winchester. However as I stopped to look for traffic I noticed my tire was low and once I pulled the cap off it wouldn’t hold air at all. So I got to give a tire changing clinic.

It took me a few minutes to get the new tube in and filled with air. Once everything was back together we were back on the road and I was pulling easily along with a tire that felt a lot more like rolling than it did when I was back on Simpson. For some reason I my legs were still tired from the sprint and that was unusual after making a coffee stop. Still I felt pretty good as we headed east on Stowe and for reasons not known by anyone I decided to pull again.

Just as soon as we turned on California it was like I ran out of gas. I realized that because of the rain I had only gone through one bottle of electrolytes in 33 miles. So my energy was a bit low but it was also 106 degrees and I was concerned that I was overheated. Highlander and Digger nursed me to the trees where I took a break and cooled down while Highlander headed past the airport for home. Digger and I rode down Stetson to Sanderson and then jumped over to Johnston and over to Palm where he headed for home as I turned for home myself. I cool shower and about 20 ounces of cold water and I was back in business. It was a great ride even if it was stranger than we were used to. I have never spent that much time in a hard rain since I started riding.

8/27/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was another nice day and another nice cool morning. Or at least that is how it looked as I stood out on the porch first thing this morning. Many times Mondays are not the best attended days for our rides but I had high hopes for today. So I headed for Burger King feeling relatively good after a nice breakfast. I got to the parking lot a bit after Dura Max and went in to get a small coffee while I waited for Tax Man and Highlander to arrive. Surgeon pulled up as did Gambler and Digger and I realized that was as big as the group was going to get. So we moved down Gilmore to Acacia and then to Kirby and south.

I was thinking my description of the ride might encourage the riders in such a way that they wouldn’t feel so reserved during the ride. That might have been true but everyone seemed extra quiet today and in fact I was feeling a bit lethargic myself. Still we were moving along pretty well as Surgeon and Highlander moved us through the housing tract and out onto Sanderson. We caught the light at Wentworth red and had to wait to make it west to the Airport.

I took us out onto Stetson and set the pace to Warren that seemed very satisfactory to the rest of the group. No one came up to push me and it was easy to give up the lead once we were west of Warren. About halfway to California Gambler started to pick up the pace and he ended up pulling us most of the way to California and Stowe. Once heading west on Stowe he started to increase the pace and had us rolling at 25+. I drafted him for a while and considered going out to pass but I simply didn’t have the will or the energy. I looked down and saw I was bumping a HR or 170+ so it was time to drop back and save some energy for later so Surgeon past me and grabbed Gambler’s wheel. Gambler took them both to the parking lot where we regrouped. It didn’t take long before we were back on our way and heading down Winchester to the dump road. Surgeon took us to Leon where we turned towards Simpson.

I took us past Lindenburger and started up the hill to Menifee where we would turn to head to McCall. For some reason even this small hill slowed me down and soon Surgeon came spinning past me. Gambler was next and I only managed to round the corner just ahead of Tax Man and Highlander. On the way to McCall Tax Man past me and we turned at the light on McCall together. Tax Man headed for the hill at a pretty good clip and I managed to just stay on his wheel till he slowed. Having stayed with the Cast a Shadow group over this hill a few weeks before I thought I would cruise right over it. That didn’t happen in that about half way up the hill I was maxed out and had to down shift. I was now in a gear two steps up from the last time I took the hill and one again got past by Surgeon and Gambler. I waited at the top of the hill and then followed everyone down to Highpoint. We made it through the housing tract and to Sumner where we climbed over Antelope and headed to Jack in the Box. Once back on the road we quickly made our way to Garboni and back towards Menifee.

Once past Menifee we only had the Briggs TT left before heading for home. I was feeling a bit better as we started north on Briggs and pulled briefly as we started towards Holland. Gambler came flying by followed by Surgeon. I dropped in on their back wheel and we were well on our way. Looking back Highlander and Tax Man were on my wheel. Gambler had us rolling at a very fast clip but it looked like he was backing off so I broke off and past him to help the pull. I knew full well I would never be able to go flat out all the way to Newport but at least I could help pull Gambler so he could get a better time. About 50 yards later I was cooked and Gambler came by again. Surgeon was still on his wheel and I thought about pulling in behind him but I knew I couldn’t help anymore so there was no point in keeping the pace up and I put it in Cruise mode. Once back out onto Domenigoni we all hit the saddle and started over the top. Surgeon rode over the hill first, he had been climbing well all day, and I backed down on the top to collect Highlander, Tax Man and Digger. As we crossed the hill everyone followed Surgeon by grabbing Gamblers wheel. Digger missed the draft and fell back so I dropped back to ride with him. I pulled him almost to the back of Tax Man and Highlander but we couldn’t quite maintain 21-22 MPH and they started to pull away. We were almost on to group when they got to Winchester and I started to move over for a left turn when I noticed they were going straight. Once we decide to follow then we ended up catching the light red and lost any chance of catching up. The bad part was we had to ride back to Sanderson alone. The good part was we got a chance to talk and get to know each other better. So that is just what we did all the way back to Sanderson and then to Johnston. We finished the ride together when we got to Palm and Digger headed north and I headed for home.

8/24/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Another Friday and we had a good ride planned. I had a request for a ride that has some nasty little climbs in it about half way to the coffee stop. I didn’t know how many had looked at the map but it is one ride that often gets a lot of comments. It is one reason I used to call it Gibbel Grumble. There should be a hint as to the kind of comments I used to get. None the less I left the house with some positive thoughts and headed for the parking lot to see who would be joining us. I got there to find Centaur and Dura Max waiting. To my surprise Sidewinder was there as well. We hadn’t seen him in our group for more than a year. Surgeon, Huntress, Gambler, Digger, Highlander and Barracuda rounded out the group as we got ready to leave. We headed down Gilmore to Acacia to get started.

We turned to Kirby and got there just as the light turned green. Only Highlander and I made it through the light so we had to wait for a cycle for the rest of the group to join us before we headed to Cypress and through the housing tract. I found the morning pretty cool and a bit overcast but it seemed like perfect riding weather as we got to Johnston and made ready to turn south on Sanderson. We would have to make a quick stop at the gas station just past Stetson because Centaur forgot his water bottle. Even if I privately might have thought denying him hydration might have given me an advantage when we got out onto Domenigoni. But being the nice guy I am we stopped while he got some bottled electrolytes. Soon we were back on our way and headed for Domenigoni.

Huntress was looking strong and over the last few rides has pushed me whenever we made any long runs like Domenigoni or Ramona and today she was right there as we turned west and headed for Warren. In fact I felt pretty good and pulled to warren before giving the lead to Huntress. We rotated through the line till I was pretty close to being back up front when Huntress pulled up next to me to let me know Digger was falling out of the draft. I fell back to bring him up to the group but once Gambler, Barracuda and Centaur were in front closing was out of the question. At least we were still in sight as they made the turn at Leon and started back east. We regrouped just past the turn before heading back to Winchester.

From here back to State Street is where the ride gets its name, Gibbel Grumble. Several riders started to say they were not going to make the climb. I told them that all they had to do was go as far as they could and they could turn around when the leaders came back down. Still several were more than willing to wait at the bottom of the first rise before the climb. Huntress even threatened me with the prospect of running up my back wheel if I didn’t hit the climb hard. Gibbel isn’t a climb I ever plan on hitting hard I just try to survive it. I did manage to stay with Gambler to the top of the rise but shortly after that he pulled away. I was caught by Centaur and Barracuda but stayed right behind them as we worked towards the first serious climb. I had gapped Sidewinder and Huntress and once Centaur and Barracuda decided to stand up I started to down shift. Just before I topped the first hill I slipped into my granny gear and realized it was a lot easier with my new climbing gears than it had even been before. About Halfway up the second hill Gambler decided to come flying down the hill and I decided to turn around and follow him down. First I past Sidewinder and then Huntress looking pretty tired. Sidewinder got past me but I repast him and got back to the waiting group shortly after Gambler. Once we were all back together we were on our way back north on State Street and working our way east first on Chambers then Thornton and finally up Santa Fe to Stetson.

Now we were on the easy part of the ride. Highlander and Surgeon got out front and managed to get through a light that the rest of us caught red. The made another light at the High School and were over the little rise before the rest of us got to it. I pulled as long as I could to try and close the gap but had to give up before Lake and fell back to cruise to Fairview with Digger and Dura Max. No one stopped at Stetson and Fairview but we could see the main group at the light on Florida. We didn’t make it to light in time as the rest of the group rolled through so we waited through the next cycle and finally headed for Carl’s to join everyone for coffee.

It looked like Sidewinder had decided to head for home so we were down one while we took the time to have a conversation and rehydrated. Soon we were back on the bikes and headed for home going north on New Chicago and then west on Lincoln were Huntress and Gambler dropped off and headed for home as well.

We cruised back past Lake and Hemet Street before Surgeon and Dura Max pulled off at Park. By now we were discussing what a good ride it had been and how the weather had co-operated. Highlander and I talked casually all the way back to Santa Fe and then down to Latham. Digger turned off at Palm and I continued on to Burger King with Centaur and Highlander. After a short conversation I headed for home to end up with 40 miles and a smile on my face.

8/22/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Finally! We had a picture perfect morning for a ride. We were starting early and it wasn’t supposed to break 90 degrees till after 11am and we should be back home by then. I was also excited about trying a new modified ride to French Valley and I was feeling pretty good when I got up. Now all I needed was a goo the parking lot d group to join me. I pulled into the parking lot to see Centaur unloading and shortly after that Dura Max and Ocelot arrived. By 7:15 we had Digger, Highlander, Surgeon, Gambler, Red Rabbit, Coyote and Huntress. Right at 7:30 we were ready to hit the road and head south to Acacia.

It had been some months since we had the Red Rabbit join us and it was good to see him on his steel Holland as we rode up to the light on Kirby and waited for it to change to green. The Rabbit was a bit tentative about staying with us for the whole ride both because of the speed and because of the distance. We had a 49 mile ride planned and that would be the longest distance he had done in about two years. It would also be Diggers longest ride. I was thinking about that as we moved down Kirby and turned onto Cypress with Highlander riding next to me.

We chatted away easily thinking about how nice it was to have a cool morning to start our ride. At least we had a good spread for two groups. Gambler, Coyote and Centaur made a solid A group. Huntress was looking strong so she might join them and Surgeon as always might stay with them as they charged down the road. Dura Max and Ocelot would be consistent but wouldn’t push it and Digger was new so I didn’t know just what to expect. I was still considering how the group would be divided when we pulled up to the light at Sanderson. When the light changed Red Rabbit took off like in the old days and it took us all the way to Stetson to catch him. We broke into a double pace line and headed for Domenigoni.

I got back up front and managed to lead us all to Domenigoni and headed west. I didn’t pull all that long and fell off about three minutes. Surgeon was the next to head up the line and for a while he kept the pace right at 19 just as I had left it. Soon however it crept up to 20 or 21 and we started to stretch out a bit. Red Rabbit was falling back a bit till we got to the rise at the dry wash where he started to come on strong. Once on the downside of the dry wash the group split and Gambler, Huntress, Coyote, Centaur, Centaur, Surgeon and Highlander pulled away while Red Rabbit, Digger, Dura Max, Ocelot and I followed. Digger pulled around as if to give chase and close the gap but we reeled him back in by Winchester and I started to close on the tail markers but we just didn’t have enough time. Still we all regrouped at the Saddle.

As soon as we were all ready I started us down the back side of the saddle and towards Menifee. Surgeon had to leave at Lindenburger but I was expecting that. What I didn’t expect was a pickup buzzing Ocelot. We were lucky and she wasn’t knocked down but we had to wait for her and Dura Max at Menifee before heading south towards Holland and the killed little hill. For some reason the hill seemed pretty easy for me today and we all regrouped one again past the stop sign where the road get wider.

Our next challenge would be Scott road to Leon and south again. Gambler took the lead and as he started to pull away Huntress and Coyote jumped around me and jumped on his wheel. I picked up my pace and stayed with them all the way to Leon but decided to stop at the corner and let them go so none of the other riders would miss the turn. I got a chance to pull everyone else all the way to Winchester. We continued on and worked our way to Pourroy and down to Benton and back to the gas station at Winchester for a break. Once we were refreshed we were back on the road but didn’t get far before Centaur flatted and we got to watch a tire changing clinic.

After listening to Gambler and Highlander kibitz while Centaur must have made fixed his flat in record time and we were back on the road and rounding the corner on Winchester. There has been some road work on Winchester so the farther north we went the more traffic we saw. It wasn’t till the last minute that we could merge left to get into the turning lane for Max Gillis and work our way back to Leon.

We quickly moved along to Leon and started a run to Scott. I stayed with the leaders till we got to Scott but decided to let Gambler and Coyote take the lead group and I would follow with the B group. We started to gain on Highlander but he decided to turn on Menifee and we moved on to Antelope. I understand he was picked up by the A group and they took him back down Domenigoni to Sanderson while the B group planned on turning on Lindenburger and taking Simpson to Winchester. Red Rabbit didn’t turn with us and headed for Warren and Domenigoni. Ocelot, Dura Max, Digger and I stopped at Chris’s for a quick cold drink before jumping back on Winchester and making our way to Stowe.

Digger must have caught a case of horse heading for the barn from Highlander because he was moving along at a pretty good pace as we started down Stowe. I got on his back wheel and he started to pull away from Dura Max and Ocelot. As the gap started increase I pulled up next to him and tried to encourage him to back down so we could regroup on California. That worked OK till we got back to Stetson and he pulled away again. Dura Max and Ocelot were in Cruise mode so I dropped back to ride with them as we approached Warren Road.

As we got to the corner we saw Red Rabbit again just as he rounded onto Stetson from Warren. He was back to moving along pretty good as we moved east and he was right on my wheel as we got to the airport road. Because he hadn’t been with us at Chris’s Red Rabbit decided to stop and Hanger 1 for coffee while the remaining four of us continued on to Sanderson and made the turn to Lowes to get over to Acacia again.

I have to admit for the longest ride Digger had ever done he was riding pretty strong and he got back onto Acacia in front of all of us and made a strong run towards Kirby. We pulled up behind him at the light and he took off strongly as soon as it turned green. We all rode to Gilmore and then to Burger King where we stopped to talk with Centaur before heading for home on Latham.

Once we got back to Palm I turned south, Digger turned north and Dura Max and Ocelot stayed east. I got home with 52 miles on my computer and 48.8 on Strava, the extra mileage coming from the ride to and from Burger King. Not Dura Max Mileage but pretty good for a summer day. And we had a great group to ride with so what was not to like?

8/20/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) The triple digit heat was supposed to break and we had moved our starting time up to 7:30 so there was every reason to feel that we would get in a ride and be home before it got too hot. Originally I was going to put together another short ride so as to not tempt fate but Highlander requested so distance so we were going to split the difference and do a forty plus ride directly to Lake Paris. When I got up this morning and stepped outside on the porch it was cooler and a calm blue morning. I got dressed, had breakfast and eagerly headed to the parking lot to see who would be joining me. Today I got to Burger King first and decided to get a cup of coffee while I waited for Dura Max to arrive. We were talking in the shade as Tax man and Highlander pulled up followed shortly by Surgeon. Richard, (Digger) Gambler and D’Artagnon rounded out the group and we were ready to head out. First out onto Latham then north on Lyon and we were on our way.

I was expecting a slow run up going north but after the first few blocks I realized we were rolling along at a pretty good clip and my legs were felling better than they had for weeks. A few times Highlander pulled up next to me to talk but the pace didn’t seem to change much and we were past Seventh Street without much notice. I managed to say up front all the way to Ramona and the turn west towards Sanderson. As we made the turn I remembered that I had forgot to turn on my Strava so I flipped it on and continued on to Sanderson and waited at the light till we turned west again.

Somehow I was still in front till we got to Warren where I fell back and watched as Surgeon, Gambler, Highlander and D’Artagnon slowly pulled away. I ended up pulling the second group till we were all back together at Bridge. Digger, (Richard) pulled around and stretched his legs and it took us all the way to Lakeview to catch him. We all regrouped at the Valero except for Gambler and D’Artagnon. We took off to give chase but couldn’t keep the pace line over the rollers and spread out all the way to the entrance to the lake.

I made the hill easily and made sure we were all together as we turned onto the frontage road and we made it to the Marina just behind Tax Man and Highlander. It was time to take a break and talk about how good the ride had been so far and what good weather we were having. As we sat down Torpedo joined us and I knew the ride home could turn into something intense. As we pulled out onto the east lake trail it looked like my prediction was going to come true.

Just as we got out of the trees on the east side Torpedo, Gambler and D’Artagnon lined up and started to make the TT run. They started to pull away and Surgeon kept us within sight for quite a while. We rode in a double pace line for most of the east end and when we made the curve back west to head for the little climb I broke away to get a chance to catch a picture of each one making climb.

Surgeon was too close for me to catch as I got off of the bike and Tax Man was the next one right behind him and he was still looking strong as he started up the hill. Most of the group was spread out evenly behind him. Highlander hit the hill next and he was running strong as well.

As Highlander rode past me I could see Dura Max coming up to the hill next in line. What has always impressed me about Dura Max’s pedal stroke is how he takes a hill. It is truly like a diesel in that his pedal stroke seems to stay the same when he transitions from the flat to a climb. Today was no different.

Our newest rider, Digger, was pulling up the drag position but still was riding pretty well for the time and distance we were doing today. For a relatively new group member he has proven to be a strong rider. Today was proving to be a test for him and so far he was passing the test.

Once everyone had rolled by it was my turn to get on the stick and try to catch everyone before they left the park. It was a good thing that the first 50 yards is a bit of a downhill as we moved towards Bernisconi so I could at least build up some speed so I got a chance to close on the back markers before everyone topped the rise before leaving through the back gate and back out onto Ramona Expressway. I can’t tell you how glad I was to see the rest of the group, minus Torpedo, waiting just over the rise leading out of the park.

After we were all back together we started back down the road to Ramona and I got out onto the expressway first. I got us rolling along at a pretty good clip and was planning on giving up the lead at Lakeview or the light after when Gambler flatted. He was riding tubeless so he had to call for a ride and told the rest of us to go on. We lowly brought the cruising speed up behind Surgeon until D’Artagnon pulled around and the pace picked up. We were spread out over half a mile by the time we got to Bridge and I was trailing the group as we rounded the corner at Sanderson. Looking around the corner I could see the group had been waiting for me.

We were on the last leg of the ride and heading back to Lyon with most of the group still together. D’Artagnon left us at Lyon and Ramona while we turned south heading back to Cottonwood. Once again we were in a pace line but this one was going to break up early. Dura Max and Digger would be leaving us by the time we got to Menlo and Surgeon was going to leave by Esplanade. Suddenly I started to run out of energy and had to let Tax Man finish bringing us home. The three of us, Tax Man, Highlander and I, made it back to Burger King and talked briefly before I finished the ride home and had lunch. I ended up with just over 44 miles and still felt pretty good.

8/17/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I didn’t exactly spring out of bed this morning but rather I slowly rolled out of bed and staggered into the kitchen to start breakfast. Oatmeal, Raisins and a big glass of crystal light didn’t perk me up much and to tell the truth as I got dressed I was feeling just a bit like a slug and could only hope I would perk up after I got to the parking lot and got a chance to talk with the other riders. I cruised down to Acacia and started towards Florida when an electric scooter pulled up behind me. At first I thought I would just let it pass me but then I realized it didn’t take much effort to stay in front of it till I got to the light. The scooter chased me to the Harbor Freight driveway. Now I was warmed up and ready to face the day. It was a small group that pulled out and started the ride on Gilmore but we have learned we can have a great ride no matter how many people are with us.

Surgeon told me he would be leaving early so it was no surprise that he started us moving over to Kirby and south to Cypress a bit faster than normal. It didn’t bother me because I was perfectly happy to draft off of his wheel as long as he wanted to stay out front. So we followed him out to Sanderson and Johnston and the again past Stetson and onto Mustang. Before long we were turning west on Domenigoni and starting to get into a pace line. I was cruising along in fourth place with Surgeon, Dura Max and Highlander in front of me and only Richard following.

Slowly we worked our way to Warren and then over the dry wash before Dura Max and then Highlander took their turn at pilling and before I knew it we were at Winchester. When the light changed it was my turn to pull and by then I was feeling ok so I slowly brought things up to about 19 and set my cadence to maintain that pace all the way to Leon. But as soon as I pulled off and let Surgeon pass I noticed we were all by ourselves. We soft pedaled till everyone was back in line and then moved on to the saddle where we picked up Bandit who would only be with us for a short distance, being a new dad limits his time a bit.

Once we were back on our way we dropped down the back side of the saddle and lost Surgeon at Lindenburger. I continued to pull till we got to antelope and Highlander took off over the freeway overpass and headed towards Carl’s where we planned on regrouping. Bandit left us at Bradley and I tried to close on Highlander but never made it till he stopped at Carl’s so we could refill out water bottles. By now it was Just Richard, Highlander, Dura Max and I as we moved on to Laladera and the ride to the Owl Sanctuary.

The pace up to this point had been reasonable and no one seemed to want to push it as we worked our way north to join up with McCall and head back east. We enjoyed the downhill back to Murrieta and were once again chatting as we moved towards the golf course and the light at Bradley.

Once the light changed we raced over the freeway and down the hill to the Valero Station to start the run at Hospital Hill and a regroup at the top. As we crossed the light I started to make the run at the hill with Highlander on my wheel. When I attempted to increase my pace Highlander let me know he intended on staying with me all the way to the top and as I kept checking behind me it was clear he didn’t want to get dropped. We stayed together over the steep part of the climb and onto the false flat and he followed me all the way to the top where we waited to regroup. We dropped down Hospital Hill and onto Heritage to work our way to Simpson and Lindenburger. I set the pace at an east cruise of 17 and got us back to Leon where Highlander pulled up next to me and told me if I was getting tired he would ba happy to take over for me and pull us to Winchester.

My pride allowed me to keep things going till I got us to Chris’s where we took a break for cold drinks and conversation. As soon as we were refreshed and hydrated we were back on our way up Winchester and onto Stowe where at first it looked like we were going to get a tailwind. But as we all know tailwinds never last and before we got to California it had changed. It was never at our back again as we turned on Stetson and finally rode past the Airport and back to Sanderson. I decided to ride back to Burger King with everyone so we turned north to Lowes and around the back to Acacia.

Once on Acacia Highlander seemed to get a second wind and he motored back down to Kirby and then to Gilmore for the final turn. We dropped Highlander off at his van and Richard and I rode back to Palm together and as he turned north I turned south and headed for home. I got back before it got too hot and realized I had 38 miles on the computer. Not bad for an easy Friday.