By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Training for the Tour de Palm Spring has officially started and we have started with a Metric Century going around Lake Elsinore and will end with a Metric Century going through wine country and bake down Sage with a Half Century through Perris in the middle. So I got out one of my DVV jerseys and headed for coffee with Digger and Highlander. It didn’t take long for the group to arrive. Huntress and Quicksilver were eager to ride as were Daredevil, Bulldozer and Gambler. Pony Express and Bloodhound were mounted up as was Albert, (Sasquatch) and MacGyver. It was a pretty good group for a Winter Wednesday. Right up front I tried to let the A group know they were free to set their own pace because I intended to pace the B group at something close to what I planned on as a century pace and I was willing to pull all the way if necessary to keep them together. We headed down Gilmore to Acacia and headed west towards Kirby and Bloodhound already started to pick up the pace.

As we turned onto Kirby Bulldozer picked up the pace and I could see Bloodhound go after him. Papillion had just turned around to join us and Gambler started after the fleeing two A riders. By the time we got to Cypress MacGyver and Daredevil had left to chase the other three riders and The B group was left to me. We got to Johnston and Sanderson just after the A group made the turn and disappeared into the distance. I moved us past Stetson and then towards Mustang to begin the ride west on Domenigoni.

Once on Domenigoni I pulled till we reached the rise and gave it over to Highlander. He pulled to Warren and Huntress then Quicksilver pulled to Winchester. Pony Express and Digger pulled to Leon and we started to line up for the saddle sprint. I noticed Quicksilver and Huntress were zeroed in on my back wheel and I expected one or both of them to attack me on the saddle. However quicksilver was not going to commit to the sprint until I went and as soon as I pulled out to pass she became my shadow. She stayed with me almost all the way to the top of the saddle. All she said was one of these days she will beat me up the hill. To tell the truth I believe she will and the day she does I will be about as proud as I can be. Once the entire B group was together we dropped down the back side of the saddle and headed for Lindenburger. Highlander, Huntress and Quicksilver were already on their way so they could stop at the park and we could see the A group on the side of the road and we thought they were waiting for us. Turns out MacGyver had a flat and they had to chase us to Menifee and head south to the park.

We made a rather short pit stop at the park and while we waited for the two women one male after another decided to take advantage of the stop as well. Just as we got ready to leave an exercise class must have finished and we had to thread our way out of the parking lot and back out onto Menifee to head around the corner and towards Antelope.

When we turned west again on Newport the A group took off and for reasons only known to my bicycle I went with them. We managed to catch the light on Haun green and separated from the B group and rolled on to Bradley. I stayed with them till we got close to Carl’s Jr. and they said they were going to head straight through Railroad Canyon. I decided to wait for the B group and stay with them to the lake. The A group was limited on time and most of them were planning on turning back at Mickey Ds anyway.

Daredevil turned for home early and we watched the A group head for the Canyon well in front of us. We followed at a much more sedate pace and stayed pretty much together all the way to the last downhill before the freeway where we picked up Bloodhound and the rest of the a group headed for home. Then we regrouped on the corner after Mickey Ds before heading south towards the turn on the south side of the lake. We got up to the west side of the lake and Bloodhound left us was we tried to keep a steady pace line going north.

We started to spread out a bit as we moved to the north end of the lake and headed east. I fell back to get Sasquatch and Digger but Sasquatch rode by and chased the rest of the B group to Jack in the Box while digger and I followed. As we left jack in the Box disaster reared its ugly head and Digger sliced a tire. We had to boot it before we could get back on our way and made it to the east side of the lake and headed south again towards Elsinore proper.

Once we got back to Railroad Canyon and headed east it looked like we would have a smooth run to Murrieta. But it simply wasn’t meant to be. As I planned on waiting for the group at the Fire Station I watched as Bloodhound continued on for home. Pony express stopped with me until Quicksilver and Huntress arrived. They had to get back home so they let as well taking Pony express with them. Highlander pulled up and headed towards Murrieta as well. Finally Digger pulled up and told me that Sasquatch had tossed a chain and after fixing it his pedal pulled out of his crank arm taking the threads with it. We called Highlander and he headed for his van to come back and pick him up. I ended up pulling Digger all the way back to the parking lot before heading for home myself. It may not have gone according to plan but it was a good ride anyway.