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.