By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was another Monday and another day when the weather was better than I expected. I was sorry I had to plan a short ride today because of a doctor’s appointment but I knew I could push a bit more if I wanted to simply because we only had just over 30 miles to go and that was just enough time to get warmed up. I took a bit longer than normal to get ready to leave the house but I still got to the parking lot just after Dragon Slayer and Digger. Bloodhound had returned to us and we were joined by Bill, a rider we met last week. Gambler and Bulldozer rode up together just about the same time as Tax Man pulled up in his Jeep. Minotaur, Hacker and Surgeon soon arrived and Quicksilver pulled into the parking lot ready for this little ride. Jackal rounded out the group as we all got ready to ride out to Latham to head to Lyon.

It only took us a few minutes to make it to Lyon and head north to start our day. I wasn’t planning on pulling all that much but noticed that we had split up quite a bit by Devonshire. At first I tried to slow things down a bit and allow the group to close back up but that just wasn’t happening until Bloodhound caught the light at Esplanade and we all had to wait for the red to turn green. We were soon headed north again towards Ramona.

Knowing that we had a long way to go before we got to Ramona and made the turn east I was simply looking for a way to fall towards the back and rest my legs for what I expected to be one of those rides where the pace picks up seriously without warning. And I wasn’t to be disappointed. I didn’t get a chance to fall back on Lyon so I led through the jog from Lyon onto Ramona and started us headed east towards State Street.

As we headed east no one else seemed interested in leading the group so I stayed out front almost all the way to State. I kept looking over my shoulder expecting Jackal or Hacker to come blasting by any moment. I did managed to hold onto the lead all the way to State and was only able to give up the lead after we headed north towards the Expressway. By the Expressway Quicksilver had pulled up to the rest of the group with Digger and we crossed the light together.

I was finally in the back and cruising along talking to Quicksilver when the leaders pulled away gapping me before I realized it. Hacker took off after them but was quickly being outdistanced by the fleeing Bulldozer, Gambler and Bloodhound. Quicksilver turned me loose from pulling duties and said I could go play so that is what I did and soon I had run up on the back of Hackers wheel and rounded the corner onto Soboba. The leaders were fading into the distance as I started my pursuit. Dragon slayer and Bill were soon the only riders with me and we were closing in on Hacker. Hacker was on our wheel for a few moments but gave it up on the second roller and had to wait for Jackal to join him. They chased Bill, dragon slayer and me to the driving range but couldn’t close. We found the leaders waiting at Ramona and Main and we waited to regroup there as well. We started off as two new groups as we headed towards Cedar and the cut over to Florida and Fairview.

In this case I found myself with the chase group but I was in good company with Gambler and Bulldozer.

When Bloodhound and Gambler started to make a run to Cedar, Jackal and Bloodhound whet with them. I started to give chase again only to ride up on Jackal who had a flat tire. I stopped to help only to have him insist that we go on and he would meet us at Cranston. I gave him a tube and headed off with Digger in tow. Tax Man and Minotaur stayed with him while he changed the tire. Except for the tire changing crew we were all together on Fairview and Florida. I started us east and soon Bloodhound took over. He pulled for the longest time till Bulldozer rolled by with several riders in his slipstream. I managed to just get on the last back wheel as we headed for the trees and the last little climb to Cranston Station. Bill had left us back at Cedar so it was down to Bulldozer, Gambler, Dragon slayer, Hacker and me to make it to Cranston first. I made a break for it but was hauled in by Bulldozer just before the driveway to Cranston station. We took a very short break and headed back to Carl’s for coffee. Bloodhound was way out front going into the trees and I started a chase to see if I culd catch him. As I entered the trees Gambler, Bulldozer, Dragon Slayer and Jackal flew by me and started to pull away. I simply could close on them all by myself so I settled into a 85 percent run that had me rolling along about 30 till I did catch Bloodhound but he caught my wheel and followed to the gas station where I attempted t draft a truck and horse trailer to catch the leaders. I did get it up to 33 or 34 before the truck changed lanes and that was enough to catch up when the leaders backed down a bit at Fairview. A few of us stayed for coffee and conversation before heading for the west side together. We didn’t get far before Jackal had another flat.

Once the tire was repaired we started off again only to have to return when someone tried to run off with Minotaur’s phone. Once that we retrieved we were back on the road and headed back to Lincoln where Quicksilver, Surgeon and Hacker were waiting for us. Dragon Slayer and I set the pace towards Park and home.

We got back to Park and over to Devonshire with little or no problems and soon had rolled by Yale and made our way to San Jacinto and caught the light just as it turned green. Quicksilver started to pick up the pace as we headed to Santa Fe and started our final run as we left State Street. She pulled all the way to Lyon only got get blitzed as an impromptu sprint started heading for the parking lot. We only stopped to talk for a moment before I had to head for home for a quick Shower and Lunch before heading to the doctor’s office. All in all I had a great day.