1/1/2013 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) 2012 didn’t exactly leave us with a whimper, it was cold and damp and a bit of a challenge for some of us. It was my hope that I could recover from this cold and get is a good ride on a warmer day to start the year. Huntress was good enough to put a ride together and for reasons know to no one I said I would try t make it. Little did I know I would be riding into the mouth of a beast and that 2013 was more than willing to stand up to me and make me work for my ride on the first day of the year. I will freely admit I was not in the best condition first thing this morning. I set the alarm but ignored it and over slept. Then I tried to think of an excuse to stay home, it was cold, I had a cold and we did a 31 mile ride yesterday. But Huntress is a friend and when you tell a friend you plan on attending her ride wimping out just doesn’t seem like an option. I tossed on my kit, base layer, and jacket and put the bike in the truck and hot footed it across town to New Chicago to see if I could get there before everyone left. I did get there in time to see Dura Max, Digger and Rocky talking. But it was at least moments before Gambler and Huntress arrived. Shortly after we started Huntress pulled us to Fairview and I took a turn to Mayberry. Gambler passed us and started to pull away to make a Strava run at Bautista. I was determined to keep my heart rate down and use my gears rather than my legs to get me up Bautista. By Stetson we picked up Goliath as Gambler faded into the distance. Slowly but surely we made it up Fairview and turned onto Bautista to start the climb. By the Dam I was in the back of the pack and Huntress had to fall back to check on me. But I assured her I was fine and attempting to keep my effort down so I wouldn’t start coughing. I managed to keep my breathing shallow by down shifting at every incline and keeping my spin at about 80 rpm. It wasn’t the fastest climb of Bautista I have ever done but it was a climb none the less and we made it.

The wind had joined us on the way up and it was making the climb a lot more difficult. Not only was it in out face but it was cold. We didn’t expect it would stay coming from the east however because Bautista has a habit of letting the wind turn a 180 and hit us in the face all the way down. Not this time however and we got a push that was a surprise. As we started to pick up speed Huntress went speeding by me followed closely by Goliath. Because we were going downhill with the wind at my back I dropped in on Goliath’s wheel and enjoyed the ride. The three of us worked together all the way to Fairview and waited to regroup. Gambler had already gone home by the time we got to the top of Bautista so one we were all back together we headed for Carl’s.

Goliath left us at Stetson and Rocky ended up pulling us all the way back to Florida. We all pulled up behind him just as the light turned green. We then turned west and headed for Carl’s for some hot coffee and a chance to thaw out before heading home. I simply loaded my bike in the truck and drove back to the west side and home. I took a hot shower and rested before heading over to the store and picking up a warmer base layer for the next ride.