By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) The morning have turned out to be much milder than I expected and so I guess I didn’t need to be quite so conservative in planning our rides as I had been. Still today looked to be a good ride and was better attended than I expected. So I had breakfast and put on my Club kit and headed for the parking lot to get some coffee and wait for everyone to arrive. Digger, Dragon Slayer, Minotaur and Highlander were already there as I pulled up with Bloodhound in tow. Surgeon rode up followed by Bulldozer, MacGyver and Mantis. Quicksilver and Gambler were the last to arrive before we pulled out of the parking lot and headed south on Gilmore.

I knew today was a play day for me but to tell the truth I wasn’t feeling it at first. I was happy to follow Bloodhound at a reasonable distance to Kirby only to catch the light before being able to make the turn south towards the railroad tracks. I chatted lightly with Highlander as we crossed the railroad tracks and made our way to the right turn onto Cypress.

When we got to Johnston and turned right to Sanderson four of us made the light and turned south on Sanderson. Bloodhound, Surgeon, Highlander and I made the light at Stetson before the rest of the group even made the turn onto Sanderson. We started off as soon as the group did make it past Stetson and it was just our luck to make the light at Thornton as we separated from the main group heading for Mustang. Before I could reach the light at Mustang most of the A group past me hand headed flat out to attempt the Mustang Sprint. They rounded the corner onto Domenigoni and headed west. We started to spread out at that point and I picked up the dropped riders as I followed the turn. MacGyver and worked together to bring the trailing group up to the lead riders and were assisted by the light at Warren and then Winchester. I was well back on the pact as we rolled by Winchester and approached Leon. After making it through the light I decided to make a break for the saddle but I just may have gone out too hard too early and had the wind taken out of my sails when Gambler caught and passed me on the saddle climb. Seeing no reason to keep the effort going I simply shut down to save my legs for the revive climb after we went through the stop sign at Holland.

I was pacing Bloodhound at the beginning of the climb and was being paced by Surgeon. For a change I had picked the right gear and was able to spin all the way to the stop sign without being run down. I then planned on a run at the Garboni to Scott sprint but got caught by a car making a left in front of me at Garboni.

We quickly made it to Scott and headed for Antelope and the freeway overpass. The group broke into two pieces and I waited for the stragglers on Haun while the big dogs headed for Newport. Highlander had left us on Domenigoni and somehow Mantis missed the big dogs at the gas station. As soon as we had replenished out water we headed for Bradley and I made a run at Golf Cart Racing. For reasons only known to the Strava Gods my time never registered. I wonder just how well I did. Anyway I got to McCall and headed for Hospital hill only to catch all of the lights red. Unlike the two riders in front of me I couldn’t bring myself to run the red light at Sherman and had to wait till Surgeon and Quicksilver caught me. I then got stuck at Hillpoint and had to run the last part of the hill from a dead stop. From there it was over the hill and down the back side to Heritage and finally to make the turn onto Simpson. I caught the wheel of MacGyver to Leon and then hitched a ride on the wheel of Gambler and Bulldozer as they closed on Bloodhound. We caught him coming out of the trees and hit it hard heading into the last stand of trees where Bloodhound tried to out sprint Gambler only to get passed by Bulldozer before they could reach Winchester. Gambler and Bulldozer headed south to Domenigoni while the rest of us headed for Winchester Market and coffee at Stowe.

We didn’t stay long and both Highlander and Bloodhound had already left by the time Quicksilver was ready to head for home. I tossed what was left of my coffee and joined them as we headed back out onto Stowe and towards California. Mind you Dragon slayer had assured Quicksilver we wouldn’t drop her so I wasn’t expecting much of a run to California.

What I expected and what happened are two different things. Dragon slayer, MacGyver and I played tag all the way back to the airport before being joined by Quicksilver, Digger and Minotaur. Surgeon left at Warren so I didn’t see him after we pulled off of Stetson. We teased each other a bit as we made our way to Wentworth and made the turn onto Sanderson north and had to take the lane because of construction. As we headed for the corner at the back of Lowes Quicksilver broke into a sprint and made it to Acacia before I could catch her. That seemed to give her no end of joy and I followed her back to Kirby and then led her to Gilmore where she attacked again and made it to Florida before I could catch her. Chicked twice on one day is a great blow to me and a big accomplishment for her. I guess I will have to keep a closer eye on her in the future.