By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) 8/23/13 Friday seemed to rush up on us today. The week has been filled with good rides and from my perspective I have felt better than I have in a long time. The good part of that is I feel like I am getting back into form. The bad part is it makes it hard for me to stay in zone 3 or less. However I was determined to behave myself today so I brought out Klein and planned of spending the day in cruise mode so I broke out the Klein and headed for Burger King. The group was a bit slow in forming but we had at least a baker’s dozen by 8 am and headed for Gilmore and Acacia.

I sort of had a feeling the group was feeling a bit frisky this morning because I had to sprint almost from the beginning to get in front of Bloodhound to get a picture. In fact we were well ahead of most of the pack as we made the light on Kirby. In fact there were only three or four of us that made it through the light and headed south towards Cypress. Once we got there I had our small group stop and wait for the rest of the group. It only took a minute or two before they came rolling around the corner and headed west towards Johnston.

When I was sitting at the light on Sanderson I realized if I wanted to cruise today I would have to turn the group over to Gambler or Bulldozer in case the A group wanted to head for seven dollar hill. Sure enough the A group with Gambler, Bulldozer, Bloodhound, MacGyver, Dragon Slayer and Barracuda headed or the hill followed by Surgeon, Quicksilver, Kendra and Digger. I stopped on Searl to wait for Dura Max only to watch him and Sea Lion head for State Street. I was setting the time and date on my camera and took off after them when they were at least a quarter of a mile ahead. Sea Lion turned at McSweeney before I got there and Dura Max was crossing Newport before I got to the housing tract. I pulled up to Dura Max at the golf course and continued on to the end of Cactus road. Dura Max only took a short break and left while I waited for the group.

Once everyone was ready to go and Rick from Beaumont started back west I knew the fun would begin. I started out towards the back of the group stationed in Quicksilver’s draft as we headed up the rise and towards the Baptist Church. I could see Bloodhound getting ready to drop down the hill followed by Surgeon So I kicked it up a bit and dropped off as well and soon caught Bloodhound and followed him for a moment before pulling around to give him a rest. Surgeon went around both of us and Bloodhound pulled us back up to him. Once we were on the flat I pulled around again and took off for State Street. As we neared the corner where Sherpa used to live Bloodhound dropped the hammer and it was all I could do to get back on his wheel for a breather before pulling around again and running hard for the Housing tract. I didn’t have much left when Gambler, Bulldozer, Barracuda past me with Bloodhound now affixed to their freight train. Dragon Slayer and MacGyver weren’t far behind as we all turned the corner.

We talked and joked as we waited for a major regroup as we headed back out towards State. I knew I had spent too much time in zone 4 and would have to answer to my health coach or delete my ride from my Heart Rate monitor but it seemed worth it at the time I was doing it. Surgeon was waiting on State as we got there and once again we regrouped.

Once we were back on the road Quicksilver, Rick, Bloodhound, Surgeon and I made it through the light on Domenigoni first and the rest of the A group caught the light red. Bloodhound and Surgeon created a gap and Rick had to come around to help me get on their wheel. I was more than happy to sit in forth with the Klein and pulled around to the front just as we started up the rise. Rick caught me just before Chambers and we rolled on towards the golf course and Santa Fe. After turning on Stetson we could see Digger off in the distance and we could tell he didn’t turn on Columbia. Most of the rest of us did except Surgeon and we headed through the old homes to work our way to Lake.

We finally made our way to Lake and Stetson before heading towards Fairview. I decided to actually cruise like I had planned after Rick and Dragon Slayer had me back in zone 4 just keeping pace on Stetson. I ended up following Quicksilver. Surgeon and Barracuda parked on Stetson and Fairview while the ones that remained headed for Wilson Mesa. On the way back Bloodhound and Gambler headed up Bautista, Dragon Slayer and Bulldozer headed for Carl’s so Dragon Slayer could catch a ride home. I dropped off the Mesa first and made a reasonable run to Florida before turning towards Carl’s with the reassembled group. Once we had something cool to drink and relived parts of the ride we headed for home dropping one ride after another as we got further west.

By the time we got back to State Street there were only five or six of us. When we crossed Lyon there were only 4 and I could tell Quicksilver was setting me up for a last sprint to the parking lot. However, having Chicked by her before, I managed to get the jump first and held her off till I got to the driveway. Rick blew by me just as we got to the end but at least Quicksilver didn’t get by me this time. Yes I know time is on her side, but for now I can mark one on my chalk board.