By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)
5/01/13
I had such a good time on Monday’s ride it was hard to wait for Wednesday to see how it would turn out. We would be heading east but it was one of our more popular rides running east to Fairview and then out to Soboba and west to State. I got up and looked out and was just a bit disappointed to see overcast skies but it wasn’t all the cold so I had hope it would burn off and make for a nice day. I got dressed, had breakfast and headed for Burger King to join Digger for coffee.
As I pulled up I was real surprised to see Surgeon already there. Dura Max was next to ride up followed by Highlander and Dragon Slayer. We stood around for quite a while and no one else showed up. So because it was the first of the month I awarded the Trophy to Dragon Slayer to keep for the month of May.
We waited till Dragon Slayer took the Trophy back to his car and returned. After one or two quick nature stops we were ready to head out of the parking lot and move out onto Gilmore and head south. First thing we did was catch the light on Florida red. As we looked down Gilmore we saw another ride that turned out to be T-3 so now we had seven heading for Acacia and over to Kirby to start south.
It was a bit cooler than I expected but still I didn’t feel without arm warmers and leg warmers and in fact I was beginning to warm up. Surgeon took us around the corner onto Cypress and west towards Johnston. I don’t believe we saw any cars on Cypress and Johnston was clear as well. We waited at the light and pulled onto Sanderson before being held up for a few seconds at Stetson. It was little more than a foot tap before we were on our way to Wally World and heading for Mustang.
Surgeon and Dragon Slayer took over the pull and took us past Mustang and the High School before we were ready to start to move left and merge into the turn lane for Domenigoni. As luck would have it we caught the light red and had a long wait till we could start out again and head east on Domenigoni towards Searl, where we picked up Bulldozer. Highlander pulled us most of the way to State Street and finally we headed south towards McSweeney.
As we moved through the McSweeney housing tract Bulldozer mentioned that he and Dragon Slayer were going to break off and do Ramona Bowl and the Lake Street climb while we stayed together and headed east towards Fairview. Just as we pulled out of McSweeney Dragon Slayer and Bulldozer picked up the pace and charged north on State and Highlander was hot on their wheel. I was talking to Digger and we both wondered if Highlander knew they were attacking Ramona and Lake. The rest of us cruised State and watched the trio disappear around the corner on Chambers. When the rest of us got there Highlander was waiting for us and we rode together to Buena Vista and east on Thornton.
We didn’t see the two climbers as we past Girard and we continued on Stetson to the High School and then up the little hill before Lake street. A glance down Lake didn’t show any riders heading our way so we continued on with Surgeon slowly pulling away from us. We stopped to check on Dura Max’s tire when it looked like he picked up a nail and by the time we got rolling again Surgeon was out of sight. We made our way to Fairview for a regroup and waited to see if anyone was coming down Stetson from Lake. Not seeing anyone we finally headed north towards Florida and then past the Fire Station heading back to Ramona.
We pulled out onto Ramona and headed west towards the river crossing heading to Soboba. Before we got there Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer caught us and pulled away over the bridge. They made the turn onto Soboba just before we got to the light and were a good 100 yards ahead of us as we started onto Soboba ourselves.
As we moved west on Soboba I started to pull the group in a chase of the fleeing two riders, Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer. Our group couldn’t hold on to the pace necessary and so I tried to pick up the pace with Highlander on my wheel. At times it looked like I was gaining but Strava indicated I was about a mile an hour slower than the two speedsters. Still we pulled up to State just after Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer Stopped to let us regroup. Once we were all collected we started south on State and headed towards Ramona.
It didn’t take long before we made our way to Ramona and headed east towards Main Street and the River Bridge. I pulled for a little while before turning it over to Highlander. Before we got to main T-3 had the lead and she took us past the stop light and east. Bulldozer pulled around us and soon Dragon Slayer followed him and not long after that they were joined by Highlander. The rest of us stayed together till we got to Cedar and Highlander turned off while we continued on towards Carl’s for Coffee.
Bulldozer took Florida back up to Casino to check on Highlander while the rest of us stopped for coffee and conversation. Surgeon was gone so I don’t know if he stopped or not but I for one was happy the sun had come out and it was turning into a beautiful morning. It was interesting that while Dragon Slayer and I were getting our drinks a woman walked up to us and asked is we were the riders they were going to come watch up on Fairview and Florida. We looked at each other and realized they were talking about the AMGEN riders that will be coming through on the 13th. I will for one admit it made my jersey fit tighter that they even thought we might be racing pros. But we confessed that they would be looking for much younger and faster riders and gave them so information on where to watch the race. We finished our coffee and got back on the road to head home. Dura Max and T-3 headed for Acacia and the rest of us headed for Lincoln and then to Devonshire.
I was surprised how well I felt as we rounded Park and jogged over to Devonshire. I had to chase Dragon Slayer a bit but it wasn’t all that bad as we quickly made it to Santa Fe and back to Latham before I had to break for home on Palm. I went a little out of my way to get in 40 miles but it was worth it because it made me even more ready for Lunch. Once again it was a great day to be with friends and a great day to be out on a bike.
We waited till Dragon Slayer took the Trophy back to his car and returned. After one or two quick nature stops we were ready to head out of the parking lot and move out onto Gilmore and head south. First thing we did was catch the light on Florida red. As we looked down Gilmore we saw another ride that turned out to be T-3 so now we had seven heading for Acacia and over to Kirby to start south.
It was a bit cooler than I expected but still I didn’t feel without arm warmers and leg warmers and in fact I was beginning to warm up. Surgeon took us around the corner onto Cypress and west towards Johnston. I don’t believe we saw any cars on Cypress and Johnston was clear as well. We waited at the light and pulled onto Sanderson before being held up for a few seconds at Stetson. It was little more than a foot tap before we were on our way to Wally World and heading for Mustang.
Surgeon and Dragon Slayer took over the pull and took us past Mustang and the High School before we were ready to start to move left and merge into the turn lane for Domenigoni. As luck would have it we caught the light red and had a long wait till we could start out again and head east on Domenigoni towards Searl, where we picked up Bulldozer. Highlander pulled us most of the way to State Street and finally we headed south towards McSweeney.
As we moved through the McSweeney housing tract Bulldozer mentioned that he and Dragon Slayer were going to break off and do Ramona Bowl and the Lake Street climb while we stayed together and headed east towards Fairview. Just as we pulled out of McSweeney Dragon Slayer and Bulldozer picked up the pace and charged north on State and Highlander was hot on their wheel. I was talking to Digger and we both wondered if Highlander knew they were attacking Ramona and Lake. The rest of us cruised State and watched the trio disappear around the corner on Chambers. When the rest of us got there Highlander was waiting for us and we rode together to Buena Vista and east on Thornton.
We didn’t see the two climbers as we past Girard and we continued on Stetson to the High School and then up the little hill before Lake street. A glance down Lake didn’t show any riders heading our way so we continued on with Surgeon slowly pulling away from us. We stopped to check on Dura Max’s tire when it looked like he picked up a nail and by the time we got rolling again Surgeon was out of sight. We made our way to Fairview for a regroup and waited to see if anyone was coming down Stetson from Lake. Not seeing anyone we finally headed north towards Florida and then past the Fire Station heading back to Ramona.
We pulled out onto Ramona and headed west towards the river crossing heading to Soboba. Before we got there Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer caught us and pulled away over the bridge. They made the turn onto Soboba just before we got to the light and were a good 100 yards ahead of us as we started onto Soboba ourselves.
As we moved west on Soboba I started to pull the group in a chase of the fleeing two riders, Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer. Our group couldn’t hold on to the pace necessary and so I tried to pick up the pace with Highlander on my wheel. At times it looked like I was gaining but Strava indicated I was about a mile an hour slower than the two speedsters. Still we pulled up to State just after Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer Stopped to let us regroup. Once we were all collected we started south on State and headed towards Ramona.
It didn’t take long before we made our way to Ramona and headed east towards Main Street and the River Bridge. I pulled for a little while before turning it over to Highlander. Before we got to main T-3 had the lead and she took us past the stop light and east. Bulldozer pulled around us and soon Dragon Slayer followed him and not long after that they were joined by Highlander. The rest of us stayed together till we got to Cedar and Highlander turned off while we continued on towards Carl’s for Coffee.
Bulldozer took Florida back up to Casino to check on Highlander while the rest of us stopped for coffee and conversation. Surgeon was gone so I don’t know if he stopped or not but I for one was happy the sun had come out and it was turning into a beautiful morning. It was interesting that while Dragon Slayer and I were getting our drinks a woman walked up to us and asked is we were the riders they were going to come watch up on Fairview and Florida. We looked at each other and realized they were talking about the AMGEN riders that will be coming through on the 13th. I will for one admit it made my jersey fit tighter that they even thought we might be racing pros. But we confessed that they would be looking for much younger and faster riders and gave them so information on where to watch the race. We finished our coffee and got back on the road to head home. Dura Max and T-3 headed for Acacia and the rest of us headed for Lincoln and then to Devonshire.
I was surprised how well I felt as we rounded Park and jogged over to Devonshire. I had to chase Dragon Slayer a bit but it wasn’t all that bad as we quickly made it to Santa Fe and back to Latham before I had to break for home on Palm. I went a little out of my way to get in 40 miles but it was worth it because it made me even more ready for Lunch. Once again it was a great day to be with friends and a great day to be out on a bike.
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