By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) The countdown to the Tour de Palm Springs is started and we will be getting ready for it by putting in several different rides. Today was a simple flat ride of medium distance to get some of the newer riders used to riding with our group. We will add distance and climbing in the following weeks. But today our only worry would be wind. I got dressed and headed for Burger King for coffee. Digger was talking to Highlander when I pulled into the parking lot. Soon Dragon Slayer and Steve arrived followed by Quicksilver and Bloodhound. Albert and a new rider, Scott, arrived along with Akira. Once again we had ten riders when we left the parking lot. We pulled out onto Latham and turned on Lyon to head north.

My goal for the day was to keep the pace at a rate the whole group could stay together. There was a problem with that in that Bloodhound is like a lead sled dog that has escaped his harness and starts to push the pace almost out of the gate. This is no problem when we have a big A group to go with him but it becomes a problem when most of the riders are part of the B group. I really didn’t mind the pace and was going to just let Bloodhound go when Dragon Slayer went with him followed by Steve. I kept everyone else with me and pulled them to Ramona Boulevard and then Sanderson where we caught the three of them at the light on the Expressway. I started us out heading west and quickly Dragon Slayer took the lead and pulled us towards Warren. We were doing a comfortable 20 MPH when Bloodhound came around and got in front. Soon he had Dragon Slayer picking up speed and as we got close to 21 I saw the group starting to stretch out so I backed it down and Steve came around followed by Akira. I kept us at a steady 20 past Bridge and watched the four riders fade into the distance. We stayed together all the way to Hansen as we caught one of the fleeing foursome. Somehow I lost Scott and thought he had turned back as we regrouped at the Valero.

After going back to look for Scoot we regrouped and headed south on Lakeview towards Nuevo. Dragon Slayer and Steve were going to leave us in Nuevo and so they decided to take the lead of course that only prompted Bloodhound to kick it up a bit. This time we let him go and all stayed behind Dragon Slayer till we got to Nuevo.

As we rounded the corner onto Nuevo and got ready for the quick right turn towards Central Bloodhound was waiting for us. We followed him to Central and turned towards Menifee. It is a long downhill to the stop sign and with the exception of our lost rider Scott we were all making the turn south together. We followed Bloodhound all the way past the stop sign where Akira past us to chase Bloodhound and did Albert. At the base of the rise to the Nursery I got a flat. While I was changing the tube Scott showed up. It seems as if Dragon Slayer had found him and told him where we were headed. We finally headed for the AM/PM on Florida and I pulled till we got to the light. Bloodhound, Akira and Albert were gone so we took a quick break and headed for Simpson ourselves. We took McCall to Heritage and then over to Simpson and started east. We stayed together till Quicksilver took over at Leon and soon separated Highlander and I from digger and Scott.

I took the lead back and pulled us to the last stand of trees where Quicksilver tried to sprint past me and head for Winchester. She almost made it but I caught her by the turn lane and we cruised around the corner onto Winchester and pulled over to wait for Digger and Scott. Digger led us about half way to Stowe and Highlander fell back to make sure Scott knew we were stopping for coffee. Once at Winchester Market we took a break for coffee and conversation. As soon as we were finished reliving the ride we headed back out onto Stowe and headed for California and Home.

I stayed with the group as we turned onto California and made the turn onto Stetson. Highlander and Quicksilver pushed it a bit all the way to Warren. I decided to head for home on Stetson and so I left the group at the airport and headed for Sanderson by myself. I got over to Johnston and worked my way back to Palm and then to my house. Not many miles and not our fastest ride but it was very relaxing and hopefully one that will make the new riders want to return.