By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) 7/24/13 Another fine morning was dawning as I looked out and had one of my breakfast bars. I got a big glass of Crystal light and sat down to watch the news. My dog had other ideas however so I got a chance to take a 15 minute walk through the neighborhood to assess the temperature before going back inside and changing into my DVV kit and heading for our group ride. As I have been almost ever since I went on my new eating program I felt that I had just enough energy to do the planned ride today but I looked with just a bit of trepidation on the climb up Bautista Canyon. I knew Quicksilver would be back and she is improving so much on climbing I worried about being dropped early on the climb. I noticed Dura Max was missing as I pulled up to Digger and only a few riders had arrived by 7:45. Now I thought too many had seen to post on Bautista and decided to pass. But by the time we were ready to leave the A group showed up in mass and followed us out of the parking lot and onto Lyon to head towards Thornton to start the ride east.

As we made our way to Thornton I thought about how our group has morphed into two groups with two needs and styles. Today’s A group had already been up Bautista once before joining us at 8am and now on their second trip they were one rider stronger. Gambler, Daredevil, Bulldozer and MacGyver now had Bloodhound with them. The B group had Surgeon to lead us out with Digger, Quicksilver and me following. To the B group Bautista was a ride in itself to the A group Bautista was simply a training aid. But even with the two different sets of abilities the two groups get along quite well. My reflections faded and I got back into the ride as Bloodhound pulled us up the State Street on Thornton and then took us to the golf course to get ready for the turn on Santa Fe.

Once we made our way onto Santa Fe and up to Stetson Bloodhound started to push the pace a bit and I started to wish I had a fuel gage to see how a low carb breakfast would hold up to a ride east. The A group soft pedaled behind us as we got to Columbia and Bloodhound turned towards Crest. Surgeon did join us going through the old homes and over to Lake but I was sure he was heading for Fairview on Stetson. As we popped over the rise on Lake Bloodhound took off like his namesake looking for an escaped convict. We were still in cruise mode and watched him go.

Once we started down Stetson Quicksilver started the pull and pusher herself a bit farther than she should before she fell back. I had most of the A group on my wheel as we turned onto Fairview and just caught sight of Surgeon turning onto Bautista. That was like flashing raw meat to a wolf as the A group came around me and dropped the hammer for their second try at Bautista. Once I made the turn they were almost out of sight so I pulled up to wait for Digger and Quicksilver. I stayed with Quicksilver and Digger as we made the right turn at the orange trees and felt the pressure on Quicksilver pushing me all the way to the big left. It was there I started using my gears and once I found the one I could spin I jumped away at the Dam. I never saw any of the A group and always felt that Digger and Quicksilver would close on me before the end of the road. But they didn’t and I managed to make the climb in time to take a picture of Quicksilver’s first ride to the end of the pavement on Bautista.

The A group had already started down the canyon and I noticed they had picked up D’Artagnon. Because it was Quicksilver’s first decent of the canyon I stayed back to make sure she got the correct line and between Surgeon and I we took both Digger and Quicksilver back out onto Fairview to get up to Florida.

When we were coming down Bautista we were surprised to see some of the As making a third run up Bautista. It looked like Gambler was driving Daredevil, Bloodhound, MacGyver and Bulldozer hard. I didn’t think they would be back at Carl’s before we were ready to leave. However before I had time to drink my first cup of coffee Bloodhound and MacGyver joined us. MacGyver had to leave early but Bloodhound joined the rest of us as we headed for home on Lincoln. He was still with us as Surgeon turned at Park to head for home.

Bloodhound was feeling good and took us around Park and onto Devonshire. He stayed with us as we moved west and finally left us at Yale. Quicksilver, Digger and I continued on to Santa Fe and then down to Latham before we headed west again. So far I have been able to finish a ride and today was no exception. The weight loss seems to make it easier for me to spin up a hill but it also leaves me pretty low on reserves in case of any sprints. So today I give a lot of credit for my gear selection and the good company I was riding with. Digger left us at Palm and I stayed with Quicksilver till she got to her car and headed for home. I got back to a welcoming shower and another pound less than I was Monday.