By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Last week was hot and windy and we were sure summer had arrived early. So far this week it has been anything but summer like. We had a 50 mile ride to French Valley planned and overcast and cold or not I was eager to do the ride. After breakfast I changed into my kit and headed out to meet my friends for the ride. Like most days Digger was already there but so was Minotaur and Bloodhound. Highlander and Pony Express arrived as did two newer riders, Ben and Nate. Bulldozer and Gambler rode up and Red Rabbit stopped to visit with us. We only took a few minutes before we were headed down Gilmore and onto Acacia to start the ride.

As we turned onto Kirby Bloodhound started to pick up the pace a bit but for change no one really responded and it was my hope we would try and keep the group together at least till we got to the saddle. As we turned onto Cypress that seemed to be the way things were going. We moved smoothly to Johnston and turned right to the light on Sanderson. I managed to be rolling as the light turned green and we moved south towards Stetson and Wally World.

We caught just about all of the lights on Sanderson at least pink and had to slow for each of them before moving past Mustang and getting to Domenigoni. Bloodhound took the turn first and I managed to be right behind him as we moved west towards Warren. I could only see four riders behind me so I pulled out of line to see who we might have dropped only to watch Gambler, Bulldozer, Bloodhound, Pony Express and Highlander pull away from the rest of us. I ended up pulling Minotaur and some of the other riders till we finally caught the lead group at Winchester. We headed for the saddle but once again dropped a few riders so I decided to ride sweep and pick them up. After all it was a long ride and I had plenty of time to play later. We crossed over the saddle after picking up another rider and pulled up to the lead group watching Pony Express changing a tire.

Our next move was onto Menifee and down to Holland before cutting over to Antelope and heading south into the wind. That caused us to lose the rider that had joined Bloodhound at the college and then Highlander left us at Garboni. I ended up pulling Digger and Minotaur almost all the way to White Wood where we recovered Pony Express, Nate and Ben. Next we made a mad dash for Murrieta Hot Springs down White Wood before turning east towards Winchester. We lost Pony Express who decided to visit a friend and made our way north on Winchester to regroup with the A riders on east Benton.

It was as we got ready to leave that the groups decided to split up with Gambler, Bulldozer and Bloodhound heading to Washington before getting back to Winchester and heading home. Digger, Nate, Ben, Minotaur and I headed for Leon and back to Scott to work our way back to Menifee. I took us to Mac Gillis before moving over to Leon before turning north.

Everyone one stayed together pretty well as we moved past the old homes and the new ones and took the small rollers before getting to Scott. We did have to make a short regroup as we turned towards Menifee and Nate, Ben and I took a lead heading west. As we got to the light on Briggs Ben forgot to unclip and tried to take Nate and I down like dominos. But it was no harm no foul and we continued on to Menifee and north t regroup just pace Garboni before heading down the hill towards Dominigoni. There I noticed Ben had a proper cut that should have counted as a sacrifice to the cycling spirits and stopped the wind for us.

I gathered the group together and headed for Domenigoni and then to Lindenburger where we turned north towards Simpson and east. As we rounded the corner I started the pull but soon Ben rolled by me and pulled away. I kept pace with him about 100 yards back and gave to pull to Nate. At Leon I got back and tried to reel Ben in. I had to work hard t catch him before the last set of trees just before Winchester and got to the light about the same time. We then turned north again and headed to Winchester Farms. I was pulling most of the way till Ben decided to go around and I noticed we were all alone. I pulled into the parking lot a few minutes after Ben and we regrouped there for coffee and conversation. Minotaur left first because he had an appointment and Ben and I had to chase Digger and Nate most of the way to California. We made the turn onto Stetson together and headed for Warren and home.

It didn’t take long before we got to the Airport and worked our way past Hanger One and onto Wentworth before catching the light on Sanderson. Once again I got us to Lowes and around to Acacia and headed to Kirby. We made the light just as it turned green and managed to get to Gilmore together before stopping at the vehicles so some of the riders could drive home. I had got get home and take a quick shower before going back out again to do our grocery shopping. The cupboards were bare as they say. But all in all I had a great day. Hope the other riders did as well.