By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I knew it was Friday and I knew I had no control over Friday rides so I simply put together a favorite one to Lake Parris running down Ramona and back. I knew Quicksilver and Highlander would enjoy it and no one else has ever complained about that ride anyway. I dressed warmly and headed to Burger King to meet with Digger. Almost everyone that was planning to ride got there early. Bloodhound, Highlander, Daredevil and Dragon Slayer were first. Soon Surgeon, Mark and Pony Express arrived followed by Quicksilver and then Huntress. Finally Sasquatch rode up and we were about ready. By 9am we headed out of the parking lot and over to Lyon to head north and Pick up Mantis along the way.

We started off pretty easy and took one block at a time with me pulling till we got to Esplanade. As we passed through the light Daredevil, Bloodhound and Dragon Slayer took over the pull and soon had Quicksilver and Pony Express in tow. I didn’t plan on giving chase at first and fell back to check the line when Huntress pulled up next to me and let me know Quicksilver was moving towards the front and pulling away from me. Truthfully I didn’t mind much because I was planning on cruising this Friday and was sure I could get t Lake Perris with the rest of the group. Still I closed by the time we were turning on Ramona and Started west.

We didn’t get all that far on Ramona before we were led into a large patch of glass. We didn’t get that far into it before a heard the air rush out of someone’s tire and we had to pull over for a flat repair. It turned out Dragon Slayer was the first victim and had to boot his tire before he put the tube in. He put on a fine tire changing demonstration before we got ready to leave. The problem was while we watch Dragon Slayer change a tire Quicksilver’s tire went flat. SO we changed that one before getting back on the road.

The plan was to have an A and a B group but A group had decided to keep the pace down and try to keep the B group with them all the way to Lake Perris. Things were fine as we turned onto the Expressway and made our way to Warren. They were still fine almost all the way to Bridge Street when we missed a signal for a 2x4 in the bike lane and I thought we would lose Sasquatch when he rolled over it. The group split and I led the back half to Hansen and pulled unto the little driveway by the liquor store while some of the A group took a nature break. Then the A group took off for the back gate at late Perris and we followed a few minutes later. I got a phone call just before we pulled back onto the Expressway and had to chase everyone to the back gate. We then moved onto the Marina and got ready to split again as Quicksilver, Mantis, Huntress, Daredevil and Bloodhound had to leave for home while Sasquatch, Highlander, Mark, Pony Express, Digger, Surgeon and I took a break before heading back out the front side and headed back towards Lakeview.

After climbing the last roller before Bernasconi and dropping onto the downhill before the Bridge Sasquatch took off on us and we had to chase him all the way to Hansen before we caught him. From that point on we worked as a team and took turn pulling back to Bridge. It was a pretty consistent 21 MPH. I was impressed with both Pony express and Mark when they took their turn at the front and got us back to Warren and Surgeon headed for home. The rest of us moved on to Sanderson and Ramona Boulevard where we waited for Digger.

Once he was back with us we had him lead us back to Lyon so he could set the pace and we headed south back towards Burger King. Digger took us to Seventh before I got back in front and pulled us to Menlo where Digger left for home. I continued on with Highlander, Mark, Sasquatch and Pony express to Burger King. We got there just before Dragon Slayer left and after that we all went our separate way and I rode home for hot shower.