By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was cold when I looked outside this morning and it was even later than usual. We had changed the start time and I got at least 30 or 45 minutes of extra sleep. But it was supposed to warm up a bit so I had a half century planned and was looking forward to it as I got dressed and ready to head to Burger King to have coffee with Digger. I was surprised to see Ranger from Beaumont on a Monday as well as seeing Dragon Slayer back from another trip. Quicksilver arrived about the same time as Highlander and a Friend of Isaac’s pulled up right after. He introduced himself as Elmo but I gather that is a nick name. Daredevil pulled up and Isaac said he would meet us on Lyon on our way out. At the time that looked like the whole group so we headed for Latham and Lyon. On the way we added MacGyver making it a good group for a cold half century.

We headed north on Lyon and I was a bit surprised by how much traffic there was this morning. I guess there we a lot of people trying to get to work so they could go on line and shop for Cyber Monday deals on the company computers. I know I am a cynic at times. Anyway we dodged most of the traffic and headed for Ramona and picking up Isaac. He met us by the time we were crossing Cottonwood and headed back to Ramona and west towards Sanderson.

While sitting at the light on Sanderson and the Expressway I had no idea if we would be able to keep the group together or not. The run on Ramona can get a little intense but it started out well and we were pretty close together all the way to Warren and only started a slight split and it extended a bit was we moved past Bridge. By the time we were most of the way to Lakeview we had split in two and Dragon slayer had broke off to go by his house and get his heart rate monitor strap. Most of us regrouped at the Valero Station and waited for Dragon Slayer to get back to us. As we were standing there we watched as Digger rolled by heading for the rollers in front of Lake Perris. He figured we would catch him before he got to the park entrance road but he didn’t count on how long it would take for Dragon Slayer to get back to us. We finally found him waiting for us in front of the Lake entrance.

Dragon Slayer had moved past us once more heading to Rite Aid on Perris and Nuevo and we followed a few minutes later. We were pretty much all in a group as we turned south on Perris Boulevard and only got separated by a light. However after leaving one stop light I noticed a low tire and stopped to change out a tube. We got started again as quickly as we could only to come upon many of the rest of the group changing flats as well.

All the flats put a strain on some of the rider’s time and we decided to split up so some could head for home. At first it was just going to be Ranger, MacGyver and Daredevil because I was pretty sure I could get Quicksilver back to the parking lot by 1pm. But not two blocks later Isaac flatted and we were running out of time, at least for those that had to get back before 1pm. So Highlander, Quicksilver, Daredevil, MacGyver and Ranger headed for home on Nuevo while Isaac changed his tire.

Once we were ready to head south again it was down to Isaac, Dragon Slayer, Elmo, Digger and me to head for Goetz. I think we only had one or two good tubes between us so I was hoping we could make it to Newport and Murrieta with no more flats so I could pick up at least a new tube if not two. Dragon Slayer pulled us over to Goetz and most of the way to Ethanic.

As we crossed Ethanic and headed for the back side climb of Goetz I was thinking about how I used to dread that hill. It was shorter than the front side but it was also steeper towards the top and if you burned your matches too early it can really tired you out, or at least it can tire me out. Isaac paced me part way up the hill and then pulled away as I settled into a nice easy spin and I pace that didn’t hurt my legs at all. Isaac got to the top first and I was a few seconds behind. Dragon Slayer pulled up as Isaac and I were talking and Digger topped the hill next followed by Elmo.

We were ready for the ride down the front side of Goetz and I changed the route a bit so that we would go straight down the hill and regroup at Newport. Dragon Slayer and I gapped the other three and I managed to get away from Dragon Slayer before we got to the fire station. However once I relaxed he pulled up on my blind side and blasted by me on his way to Newport. We laughed about it when I caught him and waited for a regroup at Newport. Dragon Slayer and I made it to Murrieta first and headed straight to the bike shop to get some new tubes. Once we were all set we headed north on Murrieta to make our way to McCall. We easily made it over to McCall and I hit hospital pretty well and waited for everyone at Menifee. As soon as we were all back together we made our way onto Heritage and then to Lindenburger and Simpson. Once again Dragon Slayer and I made a run on Simpson and waited for a regroup on Winchester before heading to Stowe.

Elmo Isaac and I stopped at Winchester Market while Digger and Dragon Slayer headed back to Burger King. Our group followed a few minutes later and made it first to California and then down to Stetson and east. Isaac and Elmo stayed with me all the way back to Sanderson and then over to Johnston so I could head for home. They were heading to San Jacinto and so we turned north on Palm and I broke off and let them go as I rode to my home. I did have to make a short stop after I got home but I was still feeling pretty good s I took my bike and got in a extra mile or two before having lunch and a hot shower. Tomorrow I will pull both tires off and check them out before remounting them for our next ride.