By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) We had made it to another free ride Friday and my hopes were simple, I was going to cruise to Lakeview and attack Bernasconi to see if I could get a PR and that would make my day. Some things simply don’t work to plan. My blue print for the day came apart early but I didn’t see it coming till we got ready to pull out of the parking lot. It was a surprising turn out with two of the young riders joining us, Zack and Noah. Gambler, MacGyver, Minotaur, Highlander and Surgeon were there as well. Quicksilver, Magic Man and Dragon Slayer were ready early and Digger decided to play Rabbit even though Rabbit joined us early as well. Sasquatch and Newsboy were with us as was Barracuda. They all followed me out onto Latham and then made the turn North on Lyon with the exception of Digger leaving early and Rabbit leaving late.

As some of our English friends might say things were going swimmingly as we passed Devonshire and Menlo and I started to bear down to start the run towards Ramona when Someone yelled Flat and we all stopped. Turns out Sasquatch had a broken spoke. Dragon Slayer was inspecting the rear wheel on Sasquatch’s bike when the offending spoke was discovered. That pretty much ended the day for Sasquatch. When he turned for home we started north again only to see Mantis changing a flat with Newsboy watching.

It wasn’t the fastest tire change we have ever seen but Mantis did a good job of replacing the tube and getting back on the road. We were soon back up to speed and I finally took the lead and pulled all the way to the corner of Lyon and Ramona to head west.

As we headed for Sanderson the second stage of my planned ride west started to take effect. I got to Sanderson and the Expressway with everyone else and started the pull west towards Warren. I didn’t get far before Gambler came by with his entourage following him. I started to follow them but by the time we got to Bridge the whole B team was falling back. I waited till MacGyver pulled them up to me and then we worked together to get them to Bernasconi and up the hill into the back gate at Lake Perris for a regroupat the check in booth. We never did catch Digger even if we did catch Rabbit. I did attack Bernasconi and felt like I did pretty well until MacGyver easily passed me and pulled away. We then all regrouped at the ticket booth before leaving for the bike trail. Highlander and Surgeon left first and I followed shortly after. As I made my way to the little hill I notice someone following me. Could have been a wild animal for all I knew but it turned out to be even more dangerous; it was Quicksilver with her race face on.

I waited for a few moments after Quicksilver past me and then gave chase after no one else came through the gate. It turned into quite a long chase as she closed in on Highlander while I closed in on her. But before I could catch her I saw the rest of the group closing on all of us rapidly. I did catch up to her first but the group was on us in a matter of seconds as we closed in on Highlander.

We rode at a more sedate pace to the Marina for coffee, conversation or hydration that lasted for about 20 minutes. Digger said he had been there about 11 minutes telling me he didn’t need a 15 minute head start. Still he wanted to leave first when we got ready to head for home. The difference this time was he would be going out of the back gate as we headed for the front gate. And just as he left and we started to head out News Boy discovered he had a flat. By the time he changed it digger was once again well on his way. We sped down the hill and headed for the front gate spread out like grass seeds on a new lawn.

I found myself about in the middle with some in front of me and some behind. I didn’t pick it up however till Quicksilver flew by me and questioned my manhood. SO I got up to the front as soon as I could.

As soon as we got out onto the Expressway Surgeon started the pull east and I plopped myself into the second slot. We past the Moto Park and MacGyver pulled around and once again I activated my tractor beam and fell onto his back wheel. He pushed my ability all the way to Rider and started up the roller with MacGyver punishing me every pedal stroke. I decided to toss caution to the wind and tried to pull around MacGyver and managed to get by and over the rolled first. I suspect he cut me some slack expecting me to explode from the effort to pass him and of course I had one of the young riders in my shadow all the way over the roller and down to Bernasconi where the big dogs ran me down. I held on to Lakeview where Dragon Slayer and Magic Man left for home. I ended up waiting for the rest of the group with Surgeon being the first to arrive. When Minotaur arrived he and Surgeon left and soon Highlander and Quicksilver rode by. Lastly Newsboy and Mantis pulled up and I went with them in pursuit of the fleeing B group. We caught them at Bridge and caught Surgeon and Noah at Warren where Surgeon left for home as well. Finally I caught Noah and pulled everyone to Sanderson.

We regrouped at Sanderson where Newsboy and Mantis left. We then headed straight down Sanderson rather than turning on Ramona Boulevard and heading for Lyon. Quicksilver started the pull and got us to the water district before giving the lead to me. About half of a mile into my pull the wind shifted and I had to drop a gear to save what legs I had left. I pulled a while longer and Highlander had to give me a break. At the next light Minotaur wanted to pull so we let him take the lead all the way to Devonshire.

We were more or less cruising this last part of the ride and soon came to the light at Devonshire and had to wait to make the turn. Minotaur pulled us all the way back to Girard and then to Burger King where we picked up Zack and Barracuda. We found them talking to Papillion. We all stood around talking for a few minutes before heading for home. I for one was looking forward to a hot shower and lunch. After than I had some errands to run before I could download my Garmin and copy my pictures for the day. On and I did PR Bernasconi even after feeling I blew it.