1/7/2013 By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) The weathermen were wrong again and while we did get rain on Sunday this Monday morning was clear and a bit cold. That is cold for those of us living in Southern California but maybe a heat wave for those living in the frozen North East because it was about 40 degrees when I left the house and headed for the parking lot to get ready for our ride. Still as cold as it seemed to us we had a pretty good turnout. We pulled out onto Latham right at 9am and quickly made it to Lyon for the turn north. Bloodhound was right behind me as we made the turn followed closely by Highlander, Digger and Tax Man. Soon Bloodhound took the lead and kicked it up a bit and I noticed Punisher, Rocky, Dura Max and Coyote gapped just a bit.

Highlander pulled up next to me to see if I had fully recovered and I assured him I had not. I always have a suspicion that some of the guys ask me how I am feeling so they can punish me during the ride. I am not sure why I am the target because there are plenty of riders in our group that are faster and stronger than I am but for some reason a lot of riders think I make a good target. Still it wasn’t till much later in the ride that he was able to take advantage of the information on my health. We made the turn off of Lyon and headed west towards Sanderson with Highlander in the lead. He pulled us all the way to Sanderson and turned towards the Expressway.

We continued to make the run west as the light changed and Bloodhound got out in front and started us towards Warren. He was picking up speed as I looked back to make sure we didn’t drop anyone. What I didn’t notice was that Dura Max wasn’t with us. Seems as if he had stopped to see if T-3 was going to join us and I didn’t notice till we got to Bridge Street. We picked up the Dragon Slayer on Bridge and then we all made it to Gilman to regroup and wait for Dura Max. Once he rejoined us and recovered from the chase we headed east on Gilman and made our way to Sanderson and then back to Ramona Boulevard with Punisher in the lead.

I was beginning to fade just a bit but both Coyote and Dura Max stayed with me as we made our way back past Lyon and towards State Street. My group was too far back to catch the light at State with everyone else so we lost even more distance to them at the light. We could hardly see them back at the Expressway but as we crossed that light I noticed they were waiting for us at Taco Bell. We regrouped there and somehow I ended up front as we left and started for Soboba Road.

As we got to the bridge just before Soboba Highlander and several others pulled around me and started the run for the rollers heading to the golf course. I stayed with Digger, Tax Man, Dura Max and Coyote while I watched Dragon Slayer, Punisher, Highlander, Bloodhound and Rocky pull away. After the Second roller Dura Max and Coyote let me slip away and I started to close on Highlander. I didn’t catch him but it gave me a false sense of feeling better than I really was and that would come back to bike me in the tail end in just a few moments. As we pulled away from the trees at the regroup point I heard Highlander tell Rocky to watch out for me as we headed for the river over pass. I wasn’t going to sprint it so I fell in behind Highlander and Rocky and we headed for Lakeview and the bridge. Rocky pulled wide at the corner and Highlander got the lead. At the base of the overpass Highlander stood on the pedals and like a fool to took off after him. Rocky caught me at the top of the rise and I realized that while my legs could take it my breathing couldn’t, I was like a car starved for air. About that time I realized my mind had made demands on my body that my body simply couldn’t deliver. My head was throbbing whit pain as I followed Rocky and Dragon Slayer to the stop light at Ramona Expressway. I ended up drafting off of Highlander’s back wheel all the way back to the Coffee shop. Punisher and Bloodhound left by the time we got to Cedar so we were down a bit as we had coffee and warmed up. Surgeon stopped by to talk with us and then we got up to head for home on the west side of town.

We made it to park and parted company with Dura Max and then Highlander established himself at the front and pushed us all the way around Park and onto Devonshire. Highlander didn’t back down at all as we past street after street heading back to Santa Fe and dropped down to Latham. Dragon Slayer left us to head up to Ramona and head home. Digger and I split off at Palm and headed north and south to our homes and I rolled in looking forward to a hot shower and lunch.