1/16/2013 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) The day was supposed to be warmer but we had a chance of a bit more wind than we like. Still with warmer weather it seemed like a good day for a few extra miles and a split group. I had to get a new jacket yesterday because I made the mistake of washing my old one and the dirt must have been holding it together. The side looked like shark gills when I took it off Monday. I will admit the new jacket was warmer than the old one but I was still just a bit cold as I headed towards Burger King to see how many wanted to make a fast run west. When I pulled into the parking lot Digger was off talking to Highlander and getting his new bike computer mount attached to his bike. I didn’t go in to get coffee because one of our local street people was hanging around the paper stand and that would have been far too close to where I parked my bike with camera and Garmin exposed. However soon Dura Max arrived and the person left. By then Digger walked over to the warming windows, I swear the windows on the east side of Burger King make that spot the warmest in Hemet. Rocky and Bloodhound rode up and Highlander came over. The next ride to pull up was Josh Fields, (Bulldozer) and we were waiting for Gambler and D’Artagnon. To my surprise Red Rabbit rolled up with his new bike ready to go. Dragon Slayer unloaded his bike just before Gambler showed up and we waited to the last minute for D’Artagnon before the whole group was ready so we pulled out onto Latham and headed over to Lyon to get started on a 42 mile ride.

I pulled north for the longest time till Gambler decided to come up and relieve me. I told him that I was planning on turning the A group free once we got out onto the Expressway and regroup at the Valero. We got to the corner at Ramona and headed west towards Sanderson. I tucked safely back into the middle of the pack and accepted a draft all the way to Sanderson and up to the stop light on the Expressway. Gambler, Bulldozer, D’Artagnon. Rocky, Highlander and Dragon Slayer all rolled by just as we got started on the Expressway and we quickly dropped the Rabbit. Soon it was just Dura Max and me chasing Digger as we came up to the first dairy farm. I finally pulled Dura Max up to Diggers back wheel and we followed him all the way to bridge before I took over again and pulled. Dura Max relieved me and pulled us the rest of the way to the light just before Lakeview. Rabbit wasn’t that far behind us so we all regrouped and got ready for the next leg of the ride. Rabbit took off first as was well over the first hill before we ever got started. Dragon Slayer and Highlander set a pretty good pace to the bottom of the first hill. Dragon Slayer started to pull away and I was able to close on Highlander till we got to Burnisconi. There is a Strava segment from there to the School as we turn onto Rider so Gambler, Rocky, D’Artagnon and Bulldozer all gave chase to Dragon Slayer. (I believe Gambler and Bulldozer both got a KOM on one of those segments.) Highlander stretched it out on the flat before the last roller but I managed to catch him halfway up the hill and found the right gear to spin to the top and down the hill to Rider. I think I improved my time on all three segments before Evans and we did catch Rabbit. I stopped to collect Highlander, Dura Max and Digger while Rabbit continued on. Highlander, Digger, Dura Max and I rode on to Orange and then moved back out onto Nuevo where the rest of the pack was waiting for us. I stuck Highlander out front and as soon as we topped the bridge we hit a head wind. But the time was pulled up to the construction zone the big dogs had caught and passed us and started to pull away and around the corner on Menifee.

The wind has slowed those of us in the B group down but it didn’t seem to bother Gambler, D’Artagnon, Dragon Slayer, Bulldozer or Rocky. Lucky for me Rocky decided to drop back and help me with the B group. We got back to Menifee and turned south out of the wind heading towards Central. All in all I was pretty satisfied with my day as far as riding had gone so to me the rest of the ride could be a cruise.

After Bloodhound gave chase to the Big dogs Rocky, Highlander, Digger, Dura max and I were into for a straight shot down Menifee to Mapes and a slight downhill to Florida. I didn’t know how well Digger was doing but once we passed Mapes he seemed to perk up a bit. I pulled up next to Rocky and told him he could pick it up all the way to the AM/PM where I thought we would have to stop. However as we got to the light Highlander said he could make it to Chris’s so we rolled on and noticed the Big Dogs sitting on the side of the road waiting for us. I yelled back to Dura Max that I thought we should turn on McCall and he agreed we planned to turn on McCall when we got there. Just as we were making this decision I saw Bulldozer getting ready to pass Digger just as we were ready to move left at McCall.

The A group beat us to Lindenburger so we formed a pace line to start down Simpson. I started to pull and held it steady at about 18 all the way to Bridge. Looking back I wasn’t sure Digger had 18 in him because we were now headed straight into the wind. Highlander took over but I wanted to move digger to the front So see just what pace he could hold. He took it to 19 but soon tired and Highlander took it back and I finished us off the rest of the way to Winchester. We caught the light red on Winchester but it wasn’t long before we joined the rest of the group at Chris’s. We had coffee together until Gambler, D’Artagnon and Bulldozer decided to leave and ride down Dominigni. Rocky took the rest of us up to Stowe on Winchester and we turned east to start for home. Dragon Slayer took over to start the pull all the way to California.

The wind had shifted and we hit the wind again on California. It wasn’t bad but after 40 miles we were getting just a bit tired. It did seem like we got a slight push on Stetson and dragon Slayer, Highlander and Digger headed down the airport road. Bloodhound, Dura Max, Rocky and I headed straight on Stetson to Sanderson. Bloodhound went straight while the three of us moved over to Johnston and headed east to Lyon where Rocky left us. Then Dura Max escorted me to San Francisco where I turned for home and a hot shower. I don’t know about everyone else but I had a good time today.