It was predicted that we would have another beautiful day and I had suggested a rather simple ride just to keep us loose for a Monday. I got up and had breakfast before getting into my kit and heading for the parking lot to get ready for a big odd shaped figure 8 ending up at Carl’s on the east end of town. Once again I got there first and was able to watch one ride after another arrive and get ready for the ride. In fact while standing there waiting it was almost warm enough to ditch my jacket. By 9am there were twelve of us ready to pull out of the driveway and onto Latham to Lyon and north.

As we started north I was feeling pretty good and thought I should have removed my jacket before we started out. Only a few of us had theirs on and none of the A group was wearing theirs. Highlander pulled up next to me and we chatted easily as we slowly picked up speed until we were finally in a pace line. Behind me were 11 friends, Highlander, Bloodhound, Tax Man, Chinook, Artemis, Dura Max, Rocky, D’Artagnon, Bulldozer, Gambler and Red Rabbit. At 18 mph we seemed to stay together just fine all the way to Ramona and west.

A bit to my surprise everyone seemed willing to stay behind me as we headed for Sanderson. Normally anything under 21 mph brought the A group up and out front and broke the pace line at least into two parts. But today everyone stayed in position till we got to Sanderson and the Expressway where I instructed Bloodhound to stop so I could finally remove my jacket. We only had a few minutes before I was ready to go and as soon as I got on the bike Bloodhound was off like a shot and I had to struggle to get on his wheel. That was fine for me but it caught the rest of the group off guard and the A group had to drag everyone up to us by Warren. Still that was good for me till I realized that pace had blown the group apart and we had at least two that lost the draft. I fell back to wait for them while the big dogs took everyone to Bridge. I thought they would stop and wait for us but they didn’t and they were long gone by the time I had my small group rounding the corner. We did find Tax man taking off his jacket so he rode with us to regroup with the rest of the group on Gilman.

At the corner of Gilman and Bridge most of the rides were waiting for us but the fearsome four had gone on heading for Sanderson. For the rest of the day we would be chasing Gambler, Bulldozer, D’Artagnon and Bloodhound and I would be sweeping when the group spread out over a half mile. As we started east on Gilman we say the A group waiting for us and we pulled up behind them as we headed for Sanderson. we fell back until Rocky came up to relieve me and then we were between a rock and a hard place. Try to close on the As and we would lose some of the Bs. So we decided to let them go and regrouped the Bs at Sanderson before heading down Sanderson after giving Rabbit a head start. Rabbit turned on the Expressway and we followed on old Ramona.

Running parallel to Rabbit we came back to State below him on State and Bloodhound had us at the Expressway just as Rabbit got the light. At first thought the big dogs had left us and we didn’t stop at Mickey Ds like we normally do. However as soon as we past Ramona Expressway we could see Bloodhound waving at us from behind Taco Bell so we made a quick stop to see if anyone needed to visit the restroom before heading back out onto State and heading for Soboba. As we started north Dura Max mashed down on his diesel powered motor and pulled in front and stayed there all the way to the turn in front of the Jewish meeting place where we turned east to start the long run to the golf course.

I was in the back of the line as we started towards the rollers on Soboba. I would have been happy to stay there until Bulldozer can rolling by heading for the golf course as if he was late for an appointment to knock down a wall. In truth the wall would be the Soboba road climb to Ramona. Looking back I could see two of the big dogs behind me looking like they were waiting to make a run of it as well. Once Bloodhound was in front of my group I decided that if Gambler and D’Artagnon did go after the leaders so would I. As Bloodhound crested the second roller the group started to splinter and soon D’Artagnon, Gambler, Dura Max and Rabbit and I were off the back by several yards. It was then that D’Artagnon started to close the gap and Gambler was on his wheel. I grabbed Gamblers wheel and we closed onto the back of what was left on Bloodhounds group. About then it started to hand grenade and riders were getting blown off the back. D’Artagnon pulled off letter Gambler close the last few yards and I waited till we hit the rise at the driving range to attack and gap the group. At the base of the last little hill my rockets fizzled out and Gambler and two others rolled by me and onto Ramona while several of us regrouped at the golf course. I managed to lead the rest of us to Ramona and picked up the As who were waiting for us after the light.

The ride to Carl’s from there was more or less uneventful except where all but three riders turned on Cedar to ride the Strava segment to Florida. I followed the two rebels and we all regrouped at Carl’s. Most of us were standing there when Artemis proved her worth as a group cyclist by doing a great body roll into the Carl’s driveway sacrificing her body and some skin to save the bike. Such a worthy sacrifice was almost worth applause but instead it only got a standing ovation.

We, or at least most of us, stopped for coffee and conversation while giving Artemis the proper amount of teasing for rolling into the driveway cloth side down. I will admit she took it well and of course we passed most of the blame onto Chinook for not warning her before they turned into the driveway in the first place. After about 20 minutes we were ready to head for home so the few of us that stopped were back up onto Lincoln and heading west.

After we past Lake street Highlander and Bloodhound were pushing the pace a bit and I warned Rocky that it was about time for Highlander to catch the horse to the barn syndrome. However I decided to close on the two of them and we rolled on to Park where Dura Max left us and was still chasing when we got to the jog onto Devonshire. I caught Highlander shortly before Yale where he left us and once I pulled up next to him Highlander slowed down a bit so the remainder of the group could catch up. We stayed in a loose pack till we came up to Palm where Rocky and I were going to turn and leave Highlander, Artemis and Chinook come continue on.

Rocky and I were in luck as we got to the light on Florida and we made it through on the green. We had an easy cruise past the ice house to Acacia and then to Mayberry where Rocky headed for home and I continued on till I got to my house looking forward to lunch and a hot shower. I was surprised at how relaxed I felt and thought that maybe I could use a nap. I didn’t have time for one but I am sure I will sleep well tonight.