By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Another Monday ride and I believe another success. It may have been a bit longer than the last few Mondays but there wasn’t much climbing and only a few sprints. SO I figured it would make everyone happy. But you never know how riders will feel from one day to the next. So I got dressed and had breakfast before heading out of the door and starting off towards Burger King. Like most days Digger was already there and so was Dragon Slayer. Sasquatch and Surgeon rode up and Highlander pulled into the parking lot just before Tax Man and Quicksilver. Mark and Pony Express finished off the group as we got ready to pull out onto Gilmore and ride down to Acacia and over to Kirby to start the ride.

As we moved south I could feel the warmth of the sun on my skin and was glad I had applied sun screen this morning. It wasn’t supposed to be horribly hot but with the kind of sun we were going to get today. I also felt that for a change my legs were much rested and if there was any way to stay with the lead group once we got to Domenigini I was pretty sure I would give it a try. Dragon Slayer pulled up next to me on Cypress and I knew he was feeling pretty good as well. I also believe we were both thinking of attacking the Mustang to Domenigoni segment if we got a chance and maybe even started to plan the run as soon as we made it to Sanderson and started south past Wally World.

Just as we were ramping it up to make a run at the Segment after Mustang we caught a red light. Knowing we needed a running start at the segment we slowed the pull down and headed for Domenigoni at a normal pace. True to my expectation we started out as a group headed west and slowly but surely Dragon Slayer had us at a steady 23 or 24. I took over just before Warren and tried to keep that pace going, I gave up the lead and fell back with Dragon Slayer and we started thinking about the saddle sprint. We had rotated about halfway through the group when we got to Winchester. As the light changed we reshuffled a bit and I ended up about three riders back with Dragon Slayer right behind me. Not long before Leon Pony Express took the lead and I breath a sigh of relief. I wouldn’t get the lead till just before the hill and by then I had a good shot at a good start up the saddle. Dragon Slayer sprinted past me But I managed to stay close and get the lead back just before we got to the end of the fence and the top of the saddle for a regroup.

I waited till we were refreshed, refueled and rehydrated before deciding to drop off of the back side and head for Lindenburger and towards Menifee. What had impressed me up to this point was that the whole group more or less stayed together almost all the way to the saddle and it looked like we would stay together for the rest of the ride. We got to Menifee and headed for Holland and the hill listed as Revive with Dragon slayer in the lead and Quicksilver breathing down ma neck. She said she was going to attack the hill so I fell in behind her and waited for her move. Dragon Slayer was well up front and Mark was in my blind spot. Never the less I got by Quicksilver before the stop sign and regrouped with everyone but Dragon Slayer at the turnout on top of the hill.

We were going to stop at the gas station on Antelope and get water for Surgeon and Quicksilver so Dragon slayer and I followed everyone west towards Antelope but only found Sasquatch and Surgeon at the station. The rest of the group was at the light and getting ready to head for Haun, Dragon Slayer went in to get Quicksilver water and I chased he down to get her to wait at Haun. Tax Man a Highlander turned for home while the rest of us headed for Murrieta after Quicksilver refilled her bottles. We headed to Murrieta and then down the hill to Holland only to find Pony Express coming back towards us. Turns out the road had been torn up and only Digger rode on the hard pack towards Railroad Canyon.

The rest of us turned around and went back to Murrieta and over to Newport. We waited at the corner for Digger but soon Dragon Slayer said he had to get back and he took everyone but Sasquatch with him. While we were waiting for Digger sasquatch showed me where he Welgo pedals had started to break and I offered to give him a spare pair of my looks when we got back. As we talked Digger showed up so we all headed east back towards the saddle. Once over the saddle we worked our way past Winchester and then Warren heading for Sanderson. We headed north on Sanderson and stayed together to Johnston before heading east again. Digger left us at Lyon and Sasquatch and I went to my house to change pedals. Once that was done he headed for home and I took the dog for a walk before getting a hot shower and a cold drink to finish the day.