By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)
4/22/13
Yes spring is here and the sun is out to welcome us to another week. But there is more than just the sun to let us know a new cycling year is in full bloom. We not only had 15 riders we had a full A group and a full B group. After I arrived at Burger King I was overjoyed to see Dura Max, Tax Man and Highlander first thing. Shortly after we started talking Surgeon, Bloodhound, Bulldozer, MacGyver and Dragon Slayer rolled up and joined the conversation. Ruby Tuesday and T-3 pulled up as did Red Rabbit. Gambler, D’Artagnon and Bandit were the last to arrive before we eagerly left the parking lot and headed for Lyon to go south and begin a great ride.
I led the group south towards Johnston as Bandit and the A group hurried to catch up. We were rolling along at a reasonable 16 mph as we crossed first Whittier then Johnston and finally got caught at the light on Stetson. By the time the light changed the whole A group was with us and ready to head down the broken pavement on Lyon all the way to Thornton and east towards State Street.
I noticed as I looked back the Rabbit was already falling back well before we got to South Gilbert. I had a feeling he was going to have a hard time once we got to Domenigoni but I didn’t think he would drop back this soon. But there wasn’t much I could do by the time I got to State and started south. By the time we were past Chambers the A group started to move forward with Bulldozer passing first followed by Bloodhound, Gambler, Bandit and D’Artagnon. I could see no reason to give chase because I was pretty sure they would drop the hammer and run hard towards the saddle. The turned west about 50 yards in front of us and I turned the same corner about 30 seconds later. Well before Searl I signaled to give up the lead because there were only four of us in our group. I fell back to get Dura Max, Ruby Tuesday and T-3 and let Highlander, Surgeon and Tax Man run after the A group. Dragon Slayer and MacGyver had to first catch us and then speed away and try and run down Highlander and his group. It took all the way to Winchester before they reeled the three in and waited for my group at the Saddle.
We dropped off the saddle and rolled past Lindenburger to set up for the turn on Laguna Vista and start south. Highlander, Tax Man, Dragon Slayer, MacGyver and I made the turn only to see that Dura Max, T-3 and Ruby Tuesday caught the red. We waited till they made the turn and managed to regroup with everyone else on Rocksport and then followed them to Briggs for another turn south past the Chicken ranch and dairy. Looking up the road at all of the colorful bikes and jerseys heading for Carboni I was reminded of a flight of exotic birds of colorful butterflies stretched down the road all the way past Holland. I stayed with the Dura Max group all the way to Antelope as the A and B group drifted away down the road.
We easily cruised to Newport and headed east. The A group was on a mission so the stayed on Newport/Domenigoni and raced over the saddle heading east. The B Group rushed headlong to Linderburger and started towards Simpson. They decided to wait for us at Rock Canyon road but we had no clue they were there until we had made the turn ourselves and came around the curve to see them waiting. We joined them with Dragon Slayer leading us to Simpson and starting us east. Surgeon took over and I fell in to the third slot as we rolled by Briggs and headed for Leon.
The plan called for us to turn onto Leon and ride up to the dump road. Traditionally Highlander doesn’t make this turn with us but today Dragon Slayer tossed the gauntlet down and said we should try the dump road sprint. No it isn’t part of the Strava segments but it is a tradition with the DVV group. When we got to Leon Surgeon stayed on Simpson as Dragon Slayer, MacGyver, Tax man, Highlander and I headed for the dump road. The whole group was together as we were heading east again and headed for the rise just before the sprint. As we got to the sprint point Dragon Slayer, MacGyver and I were riding three across and I told them the run was to the flag at the Rodeo Bar gate and we took off. I was a great run and challenged all of us all the way to the flag. We recovered and stopped at Chris’s with Surgeon and Red Rabbit for coffee.
Once we were back on the road we quickly made it up to Stowe to head for home. Once the group made the turn towards California I noticed Rabbit was off of the back again and so I stopped to make sure he got back to the parking lot. The rest of the B group was out of sight by the time we got to California and they were nowhere in sight as we pulled onto Stetson and headed to Warren. As we got close to the stop sign I noticed a rider fixing a flat and we stopped t watch Tax Man demonstrate a tube change before heading for the Airport road and home.
Tax Man soon pulled away from us and managed to make the light at Sanderson before we got there to wait on the red. Once it turned we headed to Lowes and around the building to Acacia. I took Rabbit back to Gilmore and then to the parking lot where I talked to Dragon Slayer, Highlander and Tax man before heading for home myself. It turned out to be just over 40 miles but the weather was close to perfect and I felt good as I went inside my home for lunch and a shower.
I led the group south towards Johnston as Bandit and the A group hurried to catch up. We were rolling along at a reasonable 16 mph as we crossed first Whittier then Johnston and finally got caught at the light on Stetson. By the time the light changed the whole A group was with us and ready to head down the broken pavement on Lyon all the way to Thornton and east towards State Street.
I noticed as I looked back the Rabbit was already falling back well before we got to South Gilbert. I had a feeling he was going to have a hard time once we got to Domenigoni but I didn’t think he would drop back this soon. But there wasn’t much I could do by the time I got to State and started south. By the time we were past Chambers the A group started to move forward with Bulldozer passing first followed by Bloodhound, Gambler, Bandit and D’Artagnon. I could see no reason to give chase because I was pretty sure they would drop the hammer and run hard towards the saddle. The turned west about 50 yards in front of us and I turned the same corner about 30 seconds later. Well before Searl I signaled to give up the lead because there were only four of us in our group. I fell back to get Dura Max, Ruby Tuesday and T-3 and let Highlander, Surgeon and Tax Man run after the A group. Dragon Slayer and MacGyver had to first catch us and then speed away and try and run down Highlander and his group. It took all the way to Winchester before they reeled the three in and waited for my group at the Saddle.
We dropped off the saddle and rolled past Lindenburger to set up for the turn on Laguna Vista and start south. Highlander, Tax Man, Dragon Slayer, MacGyver and I made the turn only to see that Dura Max, T-3 and Ruby Tuesday caught the red. We waited till they made the turn and managed to regroup with everyone else on Rocksport and then followed them to Briggs for another turn south past the Chicken ranch and dairy. Looking up the road at all of the colorful bikes and jerseys heading for Carboni I was reminded of a flight of exotic birds of colorful butterflies stretched down the road all the way past Holland. I stayed with the Dura Max group all the way to Antelope as the A and B group drifted away down the road.
We easily cruised to Newport and headed east. The A group was on a mission so the stayed on Newport/Domenigoni and raced over the saddle heading east. The B Group rushed headlong to Linderburger and started towards Simpson. They decided to wait for us at Rock Canyon road but we had no clue they were there until we had made the turn ourselves and came around the curve to see them waiting. We joined them with Dragon Slayer leading us to Simpson and starting us east. Surgeon took over and I fell in to the third slot as we rolled by Briggs and headed for Leon.
The plan called for us to turn onto Leon and ride up to the dump road. Traditionally Highlander doesn’t make this turn with us but today Dragon Slayer tossed the gauntlet down and said we should try the dump road sprint. No it isn’t part of the Strava segments but it is a tradition with the DVV group. When we got to Leon Surgeon stayed on Simpson as Dragon Slayer, MacGyver, Tax man, Highlander and I headed for the dump road. The whole group was together as we were heading east again and headed for the rise just before the sprint. As we got to the sprint point Dragon Slayer, MacGyver and I were riding three across and I told them the run was to the flag at the Rodeo Bar gate and we took off. I was a great run and challenged all of us all the way to the flag. We recovered and stopped at Chris’s with Surgeon and Red Rabbit for coffee.
Once we were back on the road we quickly made it up to Stowe to head for home. Once the group made the turn towards California I noticed Rabbit was off of the back again and so I stopped to make sure he got back to the parking lot. The rest of the B group was out of sight by the time we got to California and they were nowhere in sight as we pulled onto Stetson and headed to Warren. As we got close to the stop sign I noticed a rider fixing a flat and we stopped t watch Tax Man demonstrate a tube change before heading for the Airport road and home.
Tax Man soon pulled away from us and managed to make the light at Sanderson before we got there to wait on the red. Once it turned we headed to Lowes and around the building to Acacia. I took Rabbit back to Gilmore and then to the parking lot where I talked to Dragon Slayer, Highlander and Tax man before heading for home myself. It turned out to be just over 40 miles but the weather was close to perfect and I felt good as I went inside my home for lunch and a shower.
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