By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)
4/24/13
Today seemed like a good day to plan for a longer ride. The weather had been close to perfect on Monday so I had no reason to expect it would be all the different today. However when I got up to look outside it was a bit overcast and a little cooler than I like but not so bad that I had to put on arm and leg warmers. I had breakfast, got dressed and headed for Burger King to start the day.
Dragon Slayer and Digger were waiting for me as I pulled up and Dura Max joined us only a few moments later. Highlander and Surgeon arrived next followed by Bulldozer and Gambler. Next came Bloodhound and MacGyver and that looked to be close to it. So we mounted up and headed down Gilmore to Acacia before heading over to Kirby.
Everyone was just getting warmed up as we started south towards the railroad tracks. To me the group looked relaxed and full of conversation. We were riding groups of twos and threes and still making our way to Cypress at about 17mph. I was thinking that if people didn’t back down a bit we would have a very fast 50 miles in front of us. But the traffic was very light as we turned west on Cypress and headed towards Johnston and Sanderson.
Once out onto Sanderson the group was happy enough to let me lead over Stetson and past Wally World. Surgeon was up front with me and I was my hope that he would pull out onto Domenigoni first. He was ahead of me at Mustang and did indeed pull onto Domenigoni first and started us west. I was both surprised and pleased to see Digger near the front because he has been getting stronger every week.
I dropped back to make sure Dura Max stayed in the draft as the pace slowly picked up. We were started to fall off of the back as we got close to Warren and we ended up catching the light red after the rest of the group cruised through on a green. The main group didn’t make it to the dry wash before Dura Max and I started our chase. As we crested the little rise we noticed a small group of out riders parked on the side of the road. Dragon Slayer, Bulldozer, Gambler, Highlander and Surgeon are just standing there looking at Bulldozer’s bike with two flat tires. Dragon Slayer had a front flat and they were just starting to change out the tubes. There was some debate as to how the piece of pavement wasn’t pointed out before some of our riders ran over it but in the end we had to put together enough tubes for three deep dish rims and three CO-2s before Bulldozer and Gambler decided t call it a day rather than risk another flat. (Turns out Bulldozer did get another flat and had to call for the SAG wagon.
Now our work was cut out for us. Dura Max had gone on with Bloodhound and Digger while we changed the tubes on the two bikes. I pulled us to Winchester and we took turns pulling to the Saddle where we picked up Digger. Dura Max and Bloodhound were still ahead of us so we dropped down off of the Saddle to see if we could catch them. We didn’t see the on Lindenburger or Heritage and Dragon Slayer pulled us to the AM/PM only to discover they weren’t their either. I thought my head set was just a touch loose so I gave it a half a twist. (That turned out to be a bad move.) We then headed north on Menifee and quickly were rolling over the rise on the other side of Mapes. We started a speed run to Central where I discovered a too tight head set makes it hard to stay in a fast pace line. I stopped and fixed my mistake and then pulled Digger and Highlander to Nuevo were we fell in behind the rest of the group. We still didn’t see Bloodhound or Dura Max.
All we had to do now was make it to Evans and up to Ramona to get to the Park entrance. Digger was starting to slow down a bit but then we were almost 30 miles into the ride. I rode with him to the park gate where we had to slide under the gate to get in and ride to the Marina. We regrouped at the Marina and had a short break and finished off some of our electrolytes before taking off again on the bike path heading to the east end of the Lake.
Once we were heading south towards the back gate of the park Dragon Slayer, Bloodhound, MacGyver and Highlander made a run at the Perris TT. Surgeon, Digger and I simply enjoyed the ride around the lake and ended up regrouping with Highlander before we rode down the hill and headed east on Ramona. I pulled us to Lakeview where we were waved on by Dragon Slayer who was heading for home. Highlander took the lead after Lakeview and pulled us most of the way to Bridge. I was impressed with the pace and I was impressed with Digger for staying with us till the wind turned and Surgeon took over the pull. I pulled from Warren to Sanderson and then onto Ramona Boulevard and Highlander pulled to Lyon where the wind turned right into our face. Digger was struggling and so Highlander and I pulled over to wait for him and let Surgeon go on to the cars once we got to Cottonwood. We all road together past Fruitvale heading for Menlo.
Digger and I left Highlander at Menlo and we headed for Palm so I could at least move a few blocks closer to home without the wind in my face. Digger lives just off Menlo so I turned on Palm and headed home myself and fought a fading wind back to the house and was happy to sit down and have lunch. 51 miles for the day seems like a good Wednesday and a great start on my weekly mileage.
Everyone was just getting warmed up as we started south towards the railroad tracks. To me the group looked relaxed and full of conversation. We were riding groups of twos and threes and still making our way to Cypress at about 17mph. I was thinking that if people didn’t back down a bit we would have a very fast 50 miles in front of us. But the traffic was very light as we turned west on Cypress and headed towards Johnston and Sanderson.
Once out onto Sanderson the group was happy enough to let me lead over Stetson and past Wally World. Surgeon was up front with me and I was my hope that he would pull out onto Domenigoni first. He was ahead of me at Mustang and did indeed pull onto Domenigoni first and started us west. I was both surprised and pleased to see Digger near the front because he has been getting stronger every week.
I dropped back to make sure Dura Max stayed in the draft as the pace slowly picked up. We were started to fall off of the back as we got close to Warren and we ended up catching the light red after the rest of the group cruised through on a green. The main group didn’t make it to the dry wash before Dura Max and I started our chase. As we crested the little rise we noticed a small group of out riders parked on the side of the road. Dragon Slayer, Bulldozer, Gambler, Highlander and Surgeon are just standing there looking at Bulldozer’s bike with two flat tires. Dragon Slayer had a front flat and they were just starting to change out the tubes. There was some debate as to how the piece of pavement wasn’t pointed out before some of our riders ran over it but in the end we had to put together enough tubes for three deep dish rims and three CO-2s before Bulldozer and Gambler decided t call it a day rather than risk another flat. (Turns out Bulldozer did get another flat and had to call for the SAG wagon.
Now our work was cut out for us. Dura Max had gone on with Bloodhound and Digger while we changed the tubes on the two bikes. I pulled us to Winchester and we took turns pulling to the Saddle where we picked up Digger. Dura Max and Bloodhound were still ahead of us so we dropped down off of the Saddle to see if we could catch them. We didn’t see the on Lindenburger or Heritage and Dragon Slayer pulled us to the AM/PM only to discover they weren’t their either. I thought my head set was just a touch loose so I gave it a half a twist. (That turned out to be a bad move.) We then headed north on Menifee and quickly were rolling over the rise on the other side of Mapes. We started a speed run to Central where I discovered a too tight head set makes it hard to stay in a fast pace line. I stopped and fixed my mistake and then pulled Digger and Highlander to Nuevo were we fell in behind the rest of the group. We still didn’t see Bloodhound or Dura Max.
All we had to do now was make it to Evans and up to Ramona to get to the Park entrance. Digger was starting to slow down a bit but then we were almost 30 miles into the ride. I rode with him to the park gate where we had to slide under the gate to get in and ride to the Marina. We regrouped at the Marina and had a short break and finished off some of our electrolytes before taking off again on the bike path heading to the east end of the Lake.
Once we were heading south towards the back gate of the park Dragon Slayer, Bloodhound, MacGyver and Highlander made a run at the Perris TT. Surgeon, Digger and I simply enjoyed the ride around the lake and ended up regrouping with Highlander before we rode down the hill and headed east on Ramona. I pulled us to Lakeview where we were waved on by Dragon Slayer who was heading for home. Highlander took the lead after Lakeview and pulled us most of the way to Bridge. I was impressed with the pace and I was impressed with Digger for staying with us till the wind turned and Surgeon took over the pull. I pulled from Warren to Sanderson and then onto Ramona Boulevard and Highlander pulled to Lyon where the wind turned right into our face. Digger was struggling and so Highlander and I pulled over to wait for him and let Surgeon go on to the cars once we got to Cottonwood. We all road together past Fruitvale heading for Menlo.
Digger and I left Highlander at Menlo and we headed for Palm so I could at least move a few blocks closer to home without the wind in my face. Digger lives just off Menlo so I turned on Palm and headed home myself and fought a fading wind back to the house and was happy to sit down and have lunch. 51 miles for the day seems like a good Wednesday and a great start on my weekly mileage.
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