By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Finally it was beginning to feel just a bit like fall and I was looking forward to an easy Friday and a relaxing ride. I eagerly headed to the parking lot for some coffee and conversation with Digger while we waited to see who would join us. I got there just before Digger and watched as Highlander and Tax Man drove up. They were soon followed by George visiting from Germany and Jackal. It wasn’t a large group but it was just about the right size for the ride we had planned.

It was an easy ride down Gilmore to Acacia before we made the turn west to Kirby. We all caught the light at Kirby and had to wait till it turned green before heading south again. Tax Man led us to Cypress and started us west for the short ride over to Johnston.

The next part of the ride is the easiest as we get to Sanderson and wait to turn south towards Stetson. I took the lead and moved us past Wally World to head to Mustang. I had Highlander, Tax Man and Jackal right behind me while Digger and George were just a few yards back. They fell back a few more yards as we past the High School and got to Domenigoni just as the light turned green. But it only stayed green for the first four so we rode to Searl and waited for George and Digger. Once we regrouped at Searl Jackal took the lead and moved us towards State Street and south to McSweeney. Once we turned into the housing tract and made the trip back out to State I started us north back towards Domenigoni. Jackal made a break for it before we got back to the light but he didn’t get a big enough head start and I caught his wheel. I knew from there to the ride before Chambers it would be nothing but a waiting game and that was what it turned out to be. I beat him to chamber and we rode to Buena Vista together and waited for the rest of the group before heading up to Thornton.

Once we were on Stetson I started pulling again and pulled all the way to Hemet High. As we got to Speed bump Jackal took off trying to get a PR. Highlander and I followed him and pulled in behind him before Lake Street. Once again I pulled and got us to Fairview for another regroup. Once everyone was ready we headed for Florida and had t make a detour around some construction before working our way to the Fire Station for some more water.

Once we were back on our way I again pulled us north on Fairview and curved around onto Cedar and then to Ramona to head to the river bridge on Lake before crossing it to get to Soboba. We soft pedaled till we were all back in line and I got us started west on Soboba. I didn’t think I would have to pull all the way back to State Street but it looked like that was just what was going to happen.

I pulled past the driving range and over the first roller with everyone in tow. As we closed in on the second grade and second roller I knew I was not going to be able to hold the pace but no one else looked like they would jump out so I dropped a gear and kept the spin going. It didn’t do me any good however because Jackal broke out of the pack on the last rise. I should have let him get away but I didn’t. I caught him only to be buzzed bay a SUV before we got to State. Add that to doing an endo stopping in the parking lot and it was a perfect ride. We headed south on State before working our way to Ramona and back east to head for Carl’s and a coffee break. I took us all the way back to Main Street and continued on to the next light.

We made it to Carl’s with Highlander and Tax Man leading all the way to New Chicago. It felt good to sit and have coffee and tell stories while getting a little rest and listing to George talk about life in Germany and his good feeling about riding with us as his group. Once we were ready we moved back out onto New Chicago for the trip west and home. I got home feeling pretty good with only a few new scratches and a bit of torn skin on my elbow so all in all it was a good day to be riding a bike.