By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I will admit it was hard to roll out of bed this morning. I did not sleep well and I did not go to bed early. Those are both bad signs before a good ride. But the predicted weather was going to be close to perfect and I didn’t want to miss any of it. I managed to get breakfast down and showered before putting on my gear and heading down the road to meet with friends. I got to the parking lot to find Digger waiting with Surgeon. I went in for coffee and came out to see Brian, Pony Express and Jackal had joined the group. Tax Man and Quicksilver drove up about the same time followed by Newsboy. It was a small group but we looked ready to go so right at 8am we were off down road to Acacia and headed for the light on Kirby. Tax Man and Digger took us south to Cypress before turning west to get to Johnston.

As we moved west I chatted lightly with Quicksilver about her time off of her bike. We all know it takes time to get your cycling legs back after a layoff and what makes it even worse you know how much you need to get back in shape. Just as we were talking about bike legs was came upon the construction work being done on the big sink hole just before Johnston. Once around the road blocks we made it out onto Sanderson and headed south again past Wally World and towards Domenigoni.

I took us past Mustang and onto Domenigoni before pulling over the rise and giving the lead to Surgeon. We took turns pulling all the way to Warren and over the dry wash. Newsboy finally got the lead and pulled to Winchester and then to Leon and a very good pace. After Leon he picked up the pace but he was being shadowed by Jackal riding in third. Newsboy increased the pace and Jackal moved up to catch his wheel. As they started up the saddle Jackal took off in a sprint and got t the top first. We all regrouped a few seconds later. We also noticed Pirate had joined us just before we got ready to drop off the back side of the saddle.

As we dropped down to Lindenburger Tax Man turned to head for home and a shortened ride. The rest of us moved on to Menifee and headed to the little park for a quick nature break. By the time we got ready to leave we discovered a goat head in her front tire so we moved to the shade and fixed it before heading south towards Holland and the little hill called Revive. Surgeon was well out to the front and the rest of us just cruised the hill till we got to the top and collected everyone where the road get wider.

The next leg was going to be south to Garbani and the fast ride to Scott. As we got to Garbani Digger was in the lead but Jackal was closing fast. Newsboy pulled up on his back wheel and I made it three as we headed for the Menifee segment to Scott. Jackal ended up passing Digger but neither Newsboy nor I were interested in letting him go. At the rise Newsboy got up to pass and I stood to sprint around them both. Jackal was caught off guard and Newsboy managed to hold the sprint a few feet longer than me but he dropped off pretty fast and I came back past him to round Scott first. We waited till everyone was by us before we followed them towards Antelope. Newsboy headed over to Haun and made the turn north first. I pulled the group up- to him and we ran as a pace-line all the way to Holland.

On Holland we headed west and soon Jackal and Newsboy were pulling away to catch Surgeon before he could get to Bradley and then the hill. Pony Express and I were just in front of Digger and Quicksilver but behind Pirate and Brian. Pony Express and I crested the hill together and I waited for Digger and Quicksilver. We then dropped down to Murrieta before heading back north to the Chevron and a regroup. Once refreshed and rehydrated we headed for McCall and turned east to get back to Bradley.

We seemed to be one light behind Jackal and Newsboy all the way to the freeway and then past the Valero station. They did catch the light at Sherman Red but they must have been color blind because neither of them decided to stop and ran the light before the rest of us could get there. I may have to post the red light rules once more because they are both new to the group. By the time we got to Hillpointe Dr. I was right behind Surgeon and Pirate was right behind me. I was able to my gear a bit longer and managed to get to the top of Hospital Hill first and waited till the rest of the group crested before dropping down to Menifee and regrouped with Newsboy and Jackal before heading to Heritage and then back to Lindenburger. We turned onto Simpson and headed for Briggs and the stop sign with Surgeon leading. Jackal decided to push it and took off on a run towards Leon. I caught his wheel a few yards later taking Pony Express, Newsboy, Pirate and Brian with me. Jackal ran hard till he got to the trees past Leon and then started to slow a bit. Coming out of the trees I pulled around to give him a break and soon Newsboy came around me and picked up the pace again. Still Pony Express wasn’t going to let him go and even Jackal came back around me and gave chase. We got to Winchester in three groups and I was in the third group after going back to get Newsboy’s bike pump. I pulled the rest of us to Stowe for coffee and conversation.

Quicksilver had to get back so a few of us decided to leave with her and head back on Stowe while Digger and Pirate stayed to relax a bit before heading home themselves. About half-way to California Jackal took off and created a gap of about 100 yards. He extended that gap as he got to Stetson. It wasn’t as if anyone was chasing however because we all realized the ride is more or less over by Stowe and Winchester. Plus there are no segments on Stetson, the airport road or Sanderson heading back to Lowes.

All we had left was to get to Acacia and back to Burger King to finish the ride. I got back with Quicksilver before heading for home myself. I only have about a mile and a half and I always use it to cool down and spin the lactic acid out of my legs. Well always may be a stretch because I didn’t spin easy all the way home today and so when I got home and took my shower my legs were stiff and just a bit sore. But just as I predicted it was a great ride with good friends. What more could am person ask for to start the week?