By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was another great day for a ride but it was also a bit different than many. It was a new ride and Dura Max was planning on a C group today. Many of the A group were heading on a training ride with CAS and the group that did show up was rather small. Still by 8am we were ready to head down Gilmore and start the ride. We did pick up Barracuda before we got to Acacia and then worked our way over to Kirby and south.

To tell the truth I thought today would be pretty laid back with this small group but I was soon to learn that wasn’t going to be the case. As soon as we got to Cypress Bloodhound put his head down like he was tracking a fugitive and dragged us to Johnston for the turn north on Sanderson. He didn’t back down much as we turned on Wentworth and headed for the airport. Quicksilver and Highlander were right with him until we past Hanger 1 and pulled back onto Stetson where I pulled us to Warren. To be honest I was glad to give up the lead after Warren and Bloodhound was more than happy to head for California with Quicksilver and the rest of us in tow. Once headed for Stowe I could tell it was going to be a hard pace headed to Winchester. Bloodhound had us rolling along at about 24 and Quicksilver was stuck to his back wheel like a trailer. My goal at that point was to stay in zone two if at all possible. Slowly Bloodhound increased the pace and the wind must have been with us because I was still in zone two and still hanging on. I kept expecting Quicksilver to make a run for the front and soon Digger dropped off and I noticed Barracuda moving up. The next time I looked back Barracuda was pulling up to my back wheel. I went into a panic sprint and pulled around Bloodhound before he could get to a full spin. All I could hope to do was reach the metal barn before I reached zone four. With luck I didn’t have to shut down till I made it to the barn and coasted into the parking lot on Winchester. We saw Dura Max and T-3 ride by as we regrouped and soon we were giving chase on Winchester. Once again Bloodhound took the lead and got us to Ninth before turning west. He could see Dura Max and T-3 off in the distance and that was like waving a red cape at a bull because he was soon gone. I wasn’t planning on chasing Bloodhound all day so I didn’t go after him. He must have caught them just as they turned onto Leon and the rest of us caught them by the time we got to Heritage. They stopped and we continued on to McCall and the back side of Hospital Hill. Once again I tried to stay with Bloodhound but pushed too hard too early and fell off towards the top where Barracuda caught both of us. I did make it off the hill first and then lost Bloodhound as he rode past the gas station on Bradley. The rest of us followed to the end of McCall and turned south.

We past Cherry Hill and were soon well on our way to Honeyrun. We turned west towards LaLadera and looked to see if any of the burrowing owls were out but we didn’t see any. Once on LaLadera we headed to the park where Bloodhound was waiting and joined us heading to Normandy.

We pulled out onto Normandy and quickly made it to Goetz to turn south again. As we turned west onto Railroad Canyon I could almost feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up knowing Quicksilver was just waiting to roll by me on the hill. So I selected a small ring gear and took off as quickly as I could. As I got by Barracuda he simply said, “Too soon” and sure enough he caught me before the hill flattened out. Quicksilver pulled up next to me at the next stop light and Highlander passed us before the next downhill. Digger was still plugging along as we came to our turn where Barracuda and Bloodhound were waiting. Highlander didn’t regroup with us but that only created another rabbit for Bloodhound to chase. The rest of us made the ride through the housing tract and onto Holland all the way to Murrieta where we regrouped at the second Holland stop sign. As we headed over the little rise Quicksilver took off like a sprinter and beat us all to Bradley where we caught her and road to Haun together and reacquired Bolldhound and Highlander before riding down to Newport and then to Antelope for coffee at Jack in the Box. We decided on the most direct route home so we left Jack in the Box and headed for the Saddle and Domenigoni. At this point I knew Quicksilver was plotting on how to out sprint me over the saddle and by giving Bloodhound a five bike lead I felt she was planning on closing on his wheel and sling shot around him before I could get up a head of steam.

Quicksilver’s plan didn’t work because I struck first and managed to slip away and over the hill before she could catch a wheel. She made a good try however and indicated she had fun trying to catch me. I know that it is only a matter of time before she drops me on every hill every time. At Leon we all regrouped except for Bloodhound who had to make a run for home. We stayed together as we rolled by Winchester and did well as a group all the way to the dry wash where Barracuda took off after Bloodhound.

Highlander, Quicksilver and I continued on to Sanderson where I pulled up and waited for Digger so we could ride together back to Johnston. I left him there and headed for home myself. I got home with 44 miles on the computer and the knowledge I had to work hard for a ride I thought would be a cruise. It was a great day none the less.