8/8/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was supposed to be hot all week and so I have been planning shorter easier rides just so we don’t burn out, so to speak. I knew we would be down some riders with at least two being out of town but it didn’t matter because as long as I managed to get to the parking lot I knew there would be someone like me wanting to get in a quick ride. True to that thought Dura Max and Ocelot were already there. Wart showed up as did Highlander and Surgeon. Just as I was about to think we had a full crew when Gambler rode up. It was the first time I had seen him since he and Bandit laid down their bikes in Bautista Canyon. As soon as we had our greetings we were headed out to Latham and onto Lyon to start our ride and try to beat the heat.

We started out pretty slow but soon we were up to our normal cruising speed and passing one block after another. People seemed extremely friendly today and several of them stopped and waved us through one intersection after another. But the time we crossed Cottonwood I was out front and setting the pace and I stayed there all the way to the jog leading to Ramona Boulevard.

After we started east on Ramona Surgeon got out in front but no sooner had he started till a Fire truck came rolling by and where we started to pick up speed again Gambler took over and led us to State Street. We made the turn north and Gambler took us to the College before he started to pull away. Surgeon went with him while the rest of us stayed at our same cruising pace. Gambler and Surgeon turned onto Soboba at least 100 yards ahead of us and we settled into a pace line just to follow. Wart had left us at State so there were only 4 of us as we got close to the first of the rollers.

I fell back to ride behind Ocelot while Highlander ad Dura Max seemed to start to close on Surgeon. I pulled around Ocelot and started to close on the fleeing duo of Highlander and Dura Max. I will give her the credit due she stayed on my back wheel all the way to the top of the second roller matched pace with Dura Max as I caught him. Dura Max stayed with Ocelot as I tried to chase down Highlander who had closed on Surgeon. I just got up to the two of them before Surgeon took off again and headed for the last roller before we regrouped at the golf course. I tried to pull for Highlander but he must have been out front too long and couldn’t kick it up again. We regrouped by the trees and waited till everyone arrived before heading for the river overpass and Ramona.

After Highlander and I turned onto Washington to cross the river bed we quickly picked up speed and got into a tuck to coast till we had to start pedaling again. We didn’t get far however till Surgeon and Dura Max came roaring by and over the hill to catch the light first. We all caught up and rounder the corner and headed east together. Highlander was running out of gas by the time we past Hemet Street and he decided to head for home when we turned onto Cedar to work our way to Florida. Surgeon led us part of the way till Gambler passed and I dropped onto his back wheel.

Soon Gambler was picking up the pace again. It seems as if he is pretty much recovered from any aches and pains he had when he crashed. I could see Dura Max and Ocelot falling back and soon I noticed Surgeon was even farther back. Gambler and I turned onto Florida and headed towards the Ranger Station just in front of Dura Max and Ocelot but as we got started we didn’t see Surgeon. We pulled over and waited but he never came in our direction so I decided he must have turned to try and catch Highlander and the rest of us continued east towards Cranston Station. I stayed on Gamblers wheel all the way through the trees and then backed off to same myself for the ride back to Carl’s. We regrouped at the station and headed back to Carl’s. Ocelot left at Fairview and Gambler left at Ramona so only Dura Max and I stopped at Carl’s before heading back west and home.

Once Dura Max left me at Park I rode around to Devonshire and started the final run west. I got to Santa Fe and dropped down to Latham before rolling past State and finally to Palm where I turned south and worked my way home. It was a short ride and not as hot as Monday and I think I enjoyed it more. Just 30 miles at 15.5 but a good ride none the less.