By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I was really looking forward to today’s ride. It was supposed to be warm and hardly any wind and it was going to be a short day. I even tossed in the Marina just to add some miles and climbing. All I needed was a good group and I would be ready. I got dressed, had breakfast and headed for Burger King. I got to the parking lot first and had already bought my coffee before Digger arrived. After Digger had his coffee other started to arrive. First we had MacGyver then Bulldozer and Jackal. Then Highlander, Tax Man and Sasquatch arrived followed by Mark, Daniel and Pony Express. Lastly Newsboy rolled in and we were ready to go. Just as we got ready to leave Bulldozer got a flat on one of his aero wheels on his TT bike. I offered to wait but he said he had it covered and even told MacGyver to go with us. We headed down Gilmore and got the ride started.

As we moved to Acacia it looked like we were going to set a easy pace and this might be a restful Monday ride. At least everyone was staying together and they let me lead to Acacia the Kirby and up to Cyress. As we pulled through the Housing tract Highlander pulled up next to me and said he was thinking about climbing seven dollar hill to the Marina when we got there. I figured he must be felling pretty good today because the marina hill is not his favorite. We made it Johnston and Sanderson before heading south past Wally world the zero in on Domenigoni.

We turned east on Domenigoni after everyone made it through the light and headed for Searl. I soft pedaled to try and get everyone in line when Newsboy and Sasquatch rolled by me heading for the marina. When the two of them we about 50 yards in front Bulldozer came out of nowhere and rolled by giving chase even after changing a tire. We rounded the corner on Searl and watched as Sasquatch and Newsboy headed for Seven Dollar hill. Bulldozer was pushing some big gears but I still couldn’t catch him as we headed for the first big left and closed on Sasquatch. Mark was with me and he even stood up and took off from me at the last big right hander and we turned around and headed back down after everyone climbing the hill made it to the top. We regrouped at the bottom and learned that Tax Man, Digger and Daniel had headed for Cactus Valley.

Bulldozer took MacGyver, Newsboy and Sasquatch with him as he headed for State Street while I pulled Highlander, Mark, and Pony express in the same direction. Jackal was chasing the lead group as we rounded the corner onto State and we had to chase him all the way to Sherpa’s old house before turning onto Cactus Valley and heading for the Golf Course. Mark and I caught Jackal at Sage and I beat him to the Baptist church before being joined by Mark as we regrouped at the end of the road.

The ride back started to shape up as anything but a cruise. Sasquatch and Jackal pulled by Highlander and I and I realized they were simply setting up an early run at the Cactus Valley run. I had Highlander and Mark on my wheel and wasn’t intending on letting them get away so I kicked it up a bit and got on Sasquatches wheel. Sasquatch dropped down the little hill like a rock with me following like I had a van in front of me while Jackal and Mark were right with us. I thought we would smoke the segment but I also thought it was longer than it was so we pushed all the way around the corner onto State and started a run at Newport. However Bulldozer ran us down and kept going all the way to Domenigoni. When we got there MacGyver and Bulldozer left for home and we headed for chambers. It was a very fast run but we did have a small sprint at the rise and turned on Chambers and worked our way to Stetson and Santa Fe. We decided to stay on Stetson rather than turn on Columbia, I know Highlander hates the old houses on Crest, and moved on to the High School. About a block later I stopped to take some electrolytes and the headed for the little hill and east to Fairview. Mark and I had to wait for the group at Lake when Newsboy and Sasquatch pulled up to us and headed for Fairview. We then saw Tax Man, who we thought we had lost, waiting at the corner and Highlander left with him as we headed for Wilson Mesa. One more regroup and we were prepared for a fast ride down Fairview to Florida.

Jackal thought we would have a tail wind but as soon as we got to Bautista I could tell we had wind right on our nose. Daniel had taken an early lead and it took quite a while for us to catch him before Sasquatch picked things up and past me. As we rolled by Stetson the pace flattened out and either Newsboy or Sasquatch seemed about to pull away. But they ran out of gas before the bridge and I was still able to kick it up enough to hold everyone off to the water district driveway. Mark and I finished the run to Mayberry and led everyone to Florida and then to Carl’s. we had a brief meeting with Tax Man and Highlander before they had to leave and we followed a few minutes later after something cold to drink and conversation.

Riders started peeling off as we moved west towards park and continued on to the Devonshire jog and finally Sasquatch, Newsboy, Jackal and I were about the only ones left. I headed for home on Lyon and was looking forward to a hot shower and a something cold to drink. A great ride that would only be better if we didn’t have wind in our face on some of the segments.