By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) 6/28/13 I knew it was going to be hot today and I had a shorter ride planned just because of it. My hope was to make it shorter but with just a bit of climbing and trying to get back before 11am. When I got up and took the dog out first thing it was already in the seventies and clear as a bell. I decided to add a few carbohydrates to my breakfast to try and avoid another bonk and then got dressed and headed for Burger King. The group assembled slowly but by 8 am just about everyone was there and we got ready to head out onto Gilmore and head to Acacia.

My plan for the day was rather simple, I was going to stay in my aerobic zone as much as possible and only pull when it was my turn. My goal is to make this new diet work and make it better for me in cycling in the future. As we turned onto Acacia I thought I had more energy today then Wednesday so it was my hope I could keep my head in the ride all the way out and back. I also wanted to work with Quicksilver on her climbing and spinning so there was a lot to do as we worked our way onto Kirby and into the housing tract on Cypress where Shadow joined us. He turned around and followed Dragon Slayer and Daredevil out onto Sanderson and north to Wentworth before turning west towards the airport.

True to my plan I didn’t follow Bulldozer or even Surgeon out onto Stetson. I did manage to Catch up to Surgeon and Highlander at Warren and then watch Daredevil and Dragon Slayer take off with Surgeon not far behind them. I fell back to talk with Quicksilver only to have her pick up the pace and head for California. Once we got there I dropped back again and rode with Dura Max as Highlander, Quicksilver, Surgeon, and Digger headed for Winchester. We ended up regrouping at the Country Store parking lot on Winchester. We did wait long before Highlander motioned for us to head out and I led us to the Dump Road and west again.

The dump road is always an interesting run because it allows for some sprinting and grade acceleration. As we came onto the straight heading for the Wild West bar Quicksilver started to pick up the pace. By that point Dragon Slayer and Shadow had already gotten away and surgeon was halfway between them and us. I pulled to the front and thought Quicksilver was on my wheel. As we hit the rise I noticed the shadow on a helmet rolling up on my right and figured Quicksilver was on an attack. I thought, to heck with aerobic heart rate and picked up the pace again. But I didn’t lose the shadow and as we caught up to Surgeon I realized it was Highlander on my wheel all the way to Leon and south.

While I didn’t want to pull I ended up out front on Simpson and pulled us to Heritage where I expected to see the rest of the group. However Daredevil and Bulldozer must have sprinted up Simpson to Menifee and over the hill at McCall well before we worked our way through the housing tract and out onto McCall ourselves. Surgeon and Dragon Slayer headed for the hill first followed by Highlander. I dropped back to suggest some gear choices for Quicksilver and then took off to try and overhaul Highlander. I crested the hill just before he did and stopped to wait for the ones behind me. Highlander, dragon Slayer and Surgeon didn’t stop. I took what was left of the group down to Hillpoint and found everyone but Highlander waiting under a shade tree as we turned south towards Sumner and up to the top of Antelope. Quicksilver found a gear she could spin at least 85 rpm easily to the top of the hill and down towards Newport.

We stopped at Jack in the Box for a short break. It was short because none of us wanted to wait till it got any hotter before heading for home. I took us out onto Newport and headed back to Menifee.

As we got back to Laguna Vista the A group started to line up for a rush at the Saddle I told Quicksilver to grab Dragon Slayer’s wheel and try to stay with them. It looked like she lost them at the top but she made it over the hill very well. We caught her when she pulled over to wait for us at Leon. All that was left of the B group was Highlander, Quicksilver, Digger, Dura Max and me. But we worked together and got back east on Domenigoni to Warren. We continued on to Sanderson where Dura Max left us. I got us back north to Mustang where Highlander once again took over and pulled us to Johnston where I headed for home.

It was closing in on 100 by the time I got to Kirby and I guess it was the same for Quicksilver, Highlander and Digger. I has tossed it into the small ring and hit cruise mode myself while finishing off another bottle of water. It didn’t take long for me to get to my street and head for my house, lunch, a shower and air conditioning. For me it was only 32 miles but I felt better than I had Wednesday so for me it was a good day.