By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was Wednesday and the weather was perfect as I looked outside first thing in the morning. If you are a cyclist it doesn’t get much better than living in southern. You can pretty much cycle twelve months a year and ride either in the mountains or down by the beach plus everything in-between. And to put icing on the cake Wednesday is my play day. One in which I can go out and play with the big dogs if I can hold on. Or if I wish I can sit in the middle of the pack and let someone else pull all day. With those thoughts in my head I had breakfast, put on my kit and headed out the door to meet my friends. I wasn’t the first to arrive but I was there to see most of the others pull up before we got ready to leave. As we pulled out onto Gilmore I looked behind me to see Jackal, Sasquatch, Highlander, Quicksilver, Digger, Willy a new rider, Huntress and Mark, Surgeon was out in front of me. But it wasn’t a bad group for a Wednesday.

We quickly made our way to Acacia and over to Kirby only to catch the light red. Everyone seemed to be in a pretty good mood and was very chatty as we turned onto Kirby and headed for the railroad tracks. Surgeon seemed to be channeling Bloodhound because he was still well in front of us as we turned onto Cypress and headed for Johnston. However we finally caught up to him just before Johnston and were all in one group as we waited at the light on Sanderson. As we crossed Stetson and the driveway to Wally World I had to kick it up just to get in front for a picture before we got to Mustang.

I took the lead leading to Domenigoni and led us west at about 20 over the rise before giving up the lead and falling to the back. I don’t know who was pulling as we crossed Warren but we held the pace well crossing the dry wash. Huntress must have hit something and received a pinch flat because we soon had to stop and repair her back tire. Most of us waited around while she worked on the back wheel and about halfway through digger left to get a head start.

I am not sure who might have gone with him but I do know I ended up chasing the lead four or five rides almost all the way to Leon and was almost out of gas as we hit the bottom of the saddle. But we all made it and regrouped at the top of the saddle where we picked up The Closer.

Once everyone was ready we dropped off of the saddle and followed Closer and Highlander past Lindenburger and towards Antelope. After we crossed the freeway we were strung out a bit and only half of us made it through the light on Haun. Once it changed there was no way we were going to catch the lead group so we set it on Cruise and regrouped at Carl’s for a nature break. I thought Surgeon was going to take the Murrieta bypass to Goetz and Jackal had left with him so I thought we were down two before we started off towards Murrieta.

As we rode out onto Newport and rolled by Murrieta I started a conversation with Quicksilver about the climb coming up on Goetz. She couldn’t remember the last time she was with us and I explained it was the longer but easier side on the hill. Once we made the turn north on Goetz I was pretty sure Quicksilver and Huntress would zero in on me like a laser guided missile. I thought Jackal and Surgeon were gone and didn’t know how well Willy could climb. So as I turned the corner onto Goetz I think I got a glimpse of what a fox feels like when being chased by hounds and horses.

After I turned back around and headed for Normandy I started to make my run and pull away from the group. Willy caught my wheel and Mark was right behind him. I pulled over the first hill and headed for the Fire station and stop sign at the store. Somewhere after the stop sign Jackal came out of nowhere and left me. Not long after than Mark went after him. I was still pulling Willy so I didn’t change my pace but I didn’t lose any more distance to Mark and Jackal. After the Elk or Moose hall both Mark and Jackal pulled away a bit but I came back and closed on them on the next climb. Mark saw me coming but it was too late for Jackal and I got him with no matches to spare. Willy got by me just as we crested the hill and waited for the rest of the group to ride by. After the last rider crested the hill Jackal, Sasquatch and I dropped down the back side on Goetz and regrouped with everyone at Ethernac. I then led the way back to Murrieta and took the short cut over to Bradley at the cemetery.

We made our way to McCall and headed east with some of us stopping for water at the Valero and then onto the climb at Hospital Hill. I decided to stay and pace Huntress and Quicksilver as we rolled by Antelope and then Hillpoint waiting for an attack that never came. As long as they knew I was watching them they stayed in my draft and followed me to the top of the hill and then down the back side and to Heritage for a, cell phone call, regroup.

As we headed for Lindenburger and Simpson we planned the ride towards Winchester. We decided to a practice pace line at 20 with 20 second pulls once we were past Briggs. I started the pull till we got by the Briggs stop sign and watched as we rotated through the lead several times before Leon. I had not ruled out the sprint at the last stand of trees before Winchester. As we got close to the trees I warned everyone the sprint was coming up and started my move forward just as Jackal and Sasquatch ramped it up. I held them off t the stop light and started us north towards Stowe. I pulled till we only had about 50 yards left when Jackal and Sasquatch attacked and I opted to ride Sasquatch’s wheel to the corned and into the parking lot for coffee. Half of the group left for home and the rest of us followed about 10 minutes later. Jackal kept coming up with sprints where no segments existed and finally we made our way to Stetson and Warren. Jackal took off again but we didn’t go with him. we caught him and the airport and followed him to Sanderson where he set up another sprint to Lowes.

We rode around the back of Lowes and out onto Acacia before heading to Kirby where Sasquatch left us and then to Gilmore and Florida where Mark left us. I stopped at the parking lot and saw Jackal off before heading for home and a hot shower. I don’t know everyone else but I enjoyed the ride today. I am also looking forwards to some more climbing Friday. Yes life is good.