By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Sometimes the plans you make work out and sometimes they do not. Today was one of those do not days. We didn’t plan it that way and it didn’t start that way but as the day went on the planning slipped away from me. I put together a medium distance ride on a reasonably nice day over fairly easy roads and posted it on Thursday night. I had no idea who would show up, I never do on Friday, but I didn’t care because I was looking forward to it. I got to Burger King and had coffee with Digger while other riders arrived. We had Sasquatch, Bloodhound, Scott show up almost at the same time. Once Quicksilver, Huntress and Newsboy drove up we had about as many riders as we were going to get. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do once we got started because my knees were a bit sore but once we got rolling down Gilmore I felt better. We made it to Acacia and headed west on an overcast morning that was none the less relatively warm.

We all pulled up to Kirby and waited for the light to turn green, I was chatting with Huntress just as we got the green light and headed south on Kirby. She quickly would up her Ruby to a fast spin and kept pace with Bloodhound who as normal was already running hot by the time we got to Cypress. As we turned the corner I could see we weren’t that far apart so I could only hope we would be able to hold the pace to Sanderson and then south towards Stetson.

We finally rounded the corner onto Johnston and headed for Sanderson. Only Bloodhound and I made the light s we had to soft pedal and then wait in front of Wally world for the group to catch us. We then headed to first Mustang where Newsboy tagged up on Bloodhounds back wheel and then to Domenigoni where we headed west. Bloodhound waited till we regrouped and then slowly ramped it up till we were in a pace line with just five of us, Bloodhound, Newsboy, Huntress, Quicksilver and me. We started rotating to the front by Warren road and Huntress made a powerful pull halfway to Winchester. But she may have pulled just a few yards too long because she fell off the back of the line and had to wait till we got to Winchester to close on the back again. This time Huntress was right in the mix of things as we headed for the bottom of the saddle and I found myself in the sacrifice spot. I pulled off as soon as we started up the saddle and waited till Bloodhound and Newsboy rode by. Newsboy let a gap develop and I got by him to take Bloodhounds draft all the way to the top of the saddle. I was concerned I might have burned too many matches on the saddle but I had plenty of time to compose myself before we would be ready to start up Scott to Murrieta.

We took a few minutes to collect everyone and have a morning snack as the women teased us about taking it easy on Domenigoni. Quicksilver was delighted with the 25+mph run at the saddle. It was here I should have realized the Women were out to get me and had something planned for when we turned onto Menifee and headed for Holland and Revive hill. Huntress decided to take a close up of me jersey only so I could get photo bombed by Quicksilver. That was just the first of their double teaming of me for the day.

We finally dropped off of the back side of the saddle and headed for Lindenburger where we pick up Newsboy. He then fell in line with the rest of us as we worked our way over to Menifee and south. Like most days Bloodhound was setting the pace as we headed for Holland and I fell back to talk with Digger. The problem was neither of the two women trusted my motives and so soon I found myself being blocked by both Huntress and Quicksilver. They were just close enough together that I had to fall back to be comfortable and if I moved to the right or left they simply moved over to block me. They were even willing to let Digger, Scott and Newsboy get part way up the hill as long as they could keep me pinned in. I finally managed to catch Quicksilver napping and got by her only to have Newsboy believe I was coming after him. I was way too far back to give chase but I knew I would get another shot at him before we got to Scott. We regrouped at the wide spot on top of the hill before getting ready to run down to Scott.

Bloodhound and Scott looked a lot fresher than I would have expected after the Revive climb but then I can never judge if Bloodhound is tired or not. Scott was doing well but once again I didn’t know him as well so I could only assume he was going to be up for a rather fast run down Menifee to Scott.

I was also impressed with Sasquatch and Newsboy as new additions to the group. Sasquatch is getting stronger every ride and Newsboy is pretty quick as a climber and a new rider to the group.

As we headed out again Bloodhound headed for Garboni followed by Newsboy with a gap of about 50 yards back to me. I had Huntress and Quicksilver right behind me and Digger was with Scott not far behind them. Newsboy was in Cruise mode after the stop sign on Garboni and so I zeroed in on him and closed on him before he ever saw me coming. I think Huntress and Quicksilver got by him as well but I wasn’t sure because they fell off after the rise and they hadn’t caught me at the corner. But they didn’t stop while I waited around the corner with Bloodhound so we had to chase them over to Antelope and caught the light there. I made sure to tell Bloodhound that we were going all the way to Menifee but he turned on Haun anyway taking Newsboy and Sasquatch with him. I shouted at them as I followed the women up Scott and soon Bloodhound was giving chase as we moved to Murrieta. Quicksilver, Bloodhound and I turned onto Murrieta first and I pulled over to wait. Next thing I knew Huntress went flying by followed by Newsboy and Sasquatch. Quicksilver and Bloodhound went after them as I waited for Digger and Scott.

They rolled by me as well so I ended up chasing everyone most of the way to Holland where I thought everyone would be waiting. That didn’t happen so I headed west on Holland and gave chase through the rollers. At first Scott stayed with me and I thought he might beat me up the hill to the housing tract. However he fell back to ride with Digger and I ended up chasing down Quicksilver at the construction zone. Quicksilver and I got to Railroad Canyon and I sent her ahead to meet up with the rest of the group while I waited to see what happened to Scott and Digger. Turns out Scott had a problem with some left knee pain after the two long grades and we had to gear down to get home. Huntress took the rest of the group back to Burger King while Digger, Scott and I worked our way back east on Railroad Canyon. We worked our way back to Murrieta where I adjusted Scott’s saddle a bit and it seemed to give him some relief. I was prepared to pull us all the way back to Burger King but Scott decided to pull most of the way from Lindenburger to Leon on Simpson. He started to have some pain again so I pulled to Winchester and then to Winchester Farms for coffee and an ice pack.

When we left on Stowe I pulled us to California and then to Stetson. Scott seemed to be moving better and I stayed in front all the way to the airport road. I let Digger take Scott back and checked with Huntress to make sure she got everyone else back before heading for home as well. It wasn’t the ride I expected and it will be my last one for the week but it was a good ride none the less.