By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) When we started to plan for the Monday ride it was touch and go wondering if it was going to rain. It had poured Sunday and there was a chance we could get some showers again today. When I got up and looked outside it was very overcast but the street was dry so I got dressed and headed for the parking lot to see if we could get in a short easy ride before the sky opened up. Digger and Highlander were already there when I arrived and we all agreed it more than likely would be a small group that decided to risk a ride today. At times a small group is a good thing because it is easier to control. Today looked to be about perfect with all of the B riders and a short and easy ride planned. We had two of the young guns in Newsboy and Sasquatch and we had Closer plus Highlander, Digger and me. At 8AM we headed out onto Latham to start the day.

We were moving at a moderate pace as we turned onto Lyon and headed north and I found myself pulling once we got past Devonshire. It was very easy to hold it to 18 mph or so and with the small group we had fewer near misses with cars coming from our left and right. In fact I normally dread the blind corner at Cottonwood because so many times one of our riders will roll the stop sign just as a car is ready to leave from the left or west side. Today the intersection was clear and I continued to lead all the way to the jog at Savory Lane heading to Ramona Boulevard.

For some reason I found myself in front again as we turned east on Ramona but before I got to the stop sign Newsboy and Sasquatch pulled by me and took us all to the stop light on State Street. Once we were headed north Newsboy took the lead again and pulled us to the expressway before he and Sasquatch pulled away and headed for Soboba without us. I had found it best to let them burn their matches early and stayed with Highlander, Digger and Closer and soon was headed onto Soboba myself.

I pulled the small group over the first roller before dropping Closer and Digger. Highlander stuck to me like glue all the way to the driving range at the golf course and only fell back at the last little hill. We regrouped with Newsboy and Sasquatch and rode back over the bridge to Ramona and headed east towards Cedar. We were going to lose Sasquatch on Fairview so we would be down one rider before we got to Florida.

After Sasquatch dropped out Newsboy left us again and we strung out heading to Florida and a turn east towards Cranston Station. I started the pull but soon Newsboy came up to take over. I was impressed with how he kept the group together but by the time we got the Eucalyptus trees he had managed to drop all but Highlander and me. I stayed on his wheel as he started to pick up the pace and stayed in my small ring to spin as we started up the slight climb after the trees. Newsboy pushed the pace up and up till finally he flamed out and I got by to take the lead and get to Cranston first. If he had started the run 100 yards later I never would have passed him. We had a quick regroup at Cranston before heading back down towards Fairview. I took us back into the trees and Newsboy pulled by before the Baptist Church. I took over again and we soon found ourselves alone and heading for Fairview. We stopped at Ramona to make sure everyone would see us turn towards Lincoln and ended up regrouping on the corner of Ramona and Lincoln. We were back on our way and headed for Park where I expected to head for Devonshire and Digger would break off for home.

After we turned onto Devonshire and Digger left we stayed together till Newsboy headed for home somewhere around Yale. Highlander, Closer and I rode back to Santa Fe and down to Latham to ride back to Burger King and the parked cars. I then had to head for home to meet with a friend that was leaving for Florida in a few days. I got home only to discover our friend stayed home because of a flash flood warning and the fear that their new Pony Car would get stuck in the water. Oh well I made the effort.