10/26/2012 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I got up this morning thinking it was going to be cold, windy, and maybe overcast. Several of the group had things they were going to do Saturday and Sunday from hiking to TT racing so a request was made for a short ride where we would either becoming home with the wind to our back on downhill. I had planned just such a ride and was looking forward to it as I rode over to the parking lot. There was a small group waiting for me as I pulled up to Coyote’s truck. There were people there trying on Jerseys. By 8am everyone that was going to ride was there and we pulled out onto Latham to make or way to Lyon and north.

We rode in a double pace line almost all the way up Lyon as we past Devonshire, Fruitvale, and Esplanade. Digger and Highlander were the first two behind me as I looked back followed by Huntress, Barracuda, Centaur, Gambler, D’Artagnon, Dura Max and T-3. I expected the view to remain pretty much the same till we got to Soboba and then the group would break into pieces and the As would take off on a high speed run leaving the Bs to either work as a team our own. Still that was ahead of us as we got to Ramona Boulevard and headed east. It didn’t take long before State Street came in sight.

As we finally pulled up to the light at State Street I noticed the sun was feeling pretty warm and it just might be time to shed some clothing. In my case the jacket had to come off and just maybe the leg warmers. I wasn’t sure about anyone else but I signaled a stop at the Mickey Ds just in case I wasn’t the only one getting too warm. It turned out several took advantage of this stop and made themselves more comfortable as we moved north on State past the college and towards Soboba.

Now all we had to do was turn onto Soboba and the pace would pick up. It started out well with Centaur and Barracuda in front followed by Huntress, Highlander, me, Digger, Dura Max, T-3, D’Artagnon and Gambler on their TT bikes. After the first roller D’Artagnon and Gambler came flying by and Barracuda broke out to give chase. Centaur picked up the pace with Huntress, Highlander and I right behind him. Digger started to fall off and Dura Max with T-3 decided not to play. Centaur made a great pull after the second roller and Highlander fell off but I was close enough to catch Huntress and Centaur and followed them to the driving range. I past them on the rise but couldn’t hold off Centaur at the last hill and couldn’t catch the other three before the regroup at the trees.

We were back on our way and headed for the riverbed crossing and the turn on Main to Ramona and southeast towards Florida. Once again D’Artagnon past my on the little climb and ended up leading us all the way to Cedar. We were back as a group and easily riding in a double pace line again working our way to Florida to head east towards Cranston Station. Once through the light on Fairview it is normally a mad dash up the hill to Cranston but today D’Artagnon and Barracuda took us all the way to the trees and then to the beginning of the last climb at a reasonable pace. Finally we started up the hill with Huntress in the front. It didn’t last long as D’Artagnon took over again only to have Gambler and Barracuda blast past giving me a chance to grab a wheel and create a gap myself. We regrouped at Cranston.

Once we got back on the road towards Carl’s it became a series of sprints and fast runs through the trees and onto the flats heading back towards Fairview. D’Artagnon started a hard pull that got us most of the way to the gas station before Gambler, Barracuda and Centaur rolled by. I held onto D’Artagnon’s back wheel and Highlander was on mine followed by Huntress. As D’Artagnon started to close he kept picking up the pace and I was able to stay with him with Highlander and Huntress in tow. Just before we reached the fleeing A group Highlander and Huntress fell off and when I looked back they were gone. I pulled up and they Centaur and Barracuda were parking their bikes and well all took a break and told stories till time to head for home.

Gambler and Huntress left by the first block while D’Artagnon, Dura Max and T-3 headed towards Acacia. Highlander, Digger, Centaur, Barracuda and I made it west on Lincoln before turning on Park and making our way to Devonshire. For some reason we still seemed to have a lot of energy left and moved towards San Jacinto and a pretty good clip. Barracuda left us first and the four of us stayed together till we got to Palm were Digger went north, Centaur and I went south and Highlander stayed on Latham till he got back to his car. I got home for a light lunch and a hot shower feeling grateful for living where we do.