By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) A new week has started and we needed to get the group into the mood for energetic week. So we normally start with a shorter flatter ride and work up from there for Wednesday and Friday. It was much easier for me to get up and get dressed this morning knowing the ride was supposed to be the easiest of the week. That idea only partially turned out to be true. I got to the parking lot right after Digger and before Highlander and Closer. After a few minutes Sasquatch and Bloodhound arrived. I was surprised when one of our Canadian riders Rocky pulled up just ahead of Tax Man. MacGyver rode up shortly before we were ready to leave. We were supposed to meet Jackal out on State Street so we left Burger King and headed over to Lyon to begin the ride. The group let me lead till we got past Acacia and part way to Whittier.

Once again Bloodhound was way ahead of us and headed for Johnston before we ever crossed Whittier. He came back to check on us and rode back to Stetson with us. Because of the broken pavement Bloodhound didn’t drop us on our way to Thornton but he did lead us east towards State Street. We were supposed to pick up Jackal somewhere before we got to Domenigoni. I pulled in behind Bloodhound and planned on following him to Domenigoni and planned on drafting him west towards the Saddle. Before we got to the stop light we heard the dreaded, “Flat” from back in the pack.

When Closer started to change the tire Jackal rode up to assist him and we waited till he finished before starting out again and heading west and a long drawn out pace line. Bloodhound pulled all the way to the dry wash and I took over and headed us to Winchester. Somewhere along the line the group split and I gave the lead to MacGyver. The lead group turned into MacGyver, Sasquatch, Jackal, Bloodhound and me. I decided to leave the pack after Leon so I could save some energy Briggs after the regroup on the saddle.

The wind had been in our face all the way to the saddle and I was looking for maybe a side wind once we turned through Laguna Vista and made our way over to Briggs. So when we dropped off of the saddle I kept my fingers crossed. Digger decided not to fight the wind so he left us and went to Menifee to cut over to Simpson while we continued to Laguna Vista and turned south. I sat up to look at the flags wishing that just maybe they would be blowing from the north giving us a push but there was no such luck as we worked our way over to Briggs and a slight wind.

Wind or no wind I decided to take a crack at the segment on Briggs to Garbani and pulled away from the group and closed on Bloodhound. I knew I didn’t have the time to catch him but still I was closing. Everything felt fine as I passed Holland and zeroed in on Garbani. Before I got to the grade I could see MacGyver closing on me but by then the wind had worn me down so I just kept my pave steady and headed for the stop sign. MacGyver and I started to follow Bloodhound and Sasquatch finally caught up to us as we headed back to Menifee to pass Bloodhound at the stop sign and regroup at the turn out. Once we were back on the road I took us to Antelope. Sasquatch and I made it through the light first and headed towards the college. We got caught at the last light before Newport and pulled everyone to Newport.

I lead us back to Menifee and headed for Simpson. I pulled most of the way up the hill, well behind the solo Bloodhound, till Jackal decided to chase Bloodhound to the corner. We regrouped after the turn and everyo0ne except Bloodhound headed for Lindenburger together. Several of us caught the light at Lindenburger and were sitting there just as it turned green and Closer flew by. That move set the pace and he pulled most of the way to Leon before MacGyver took over. I gave MacGyver a break and pulled through the first stand of trees when MacGyver tried to return the favor. Just as he passed and I called “clear” Jackal came by. But when I said “clear” to him he simply went wide and made a break for it. MacGyver wasn’t going to let him run free and he gave chase. We were already doing 27 when Jackal made his break and it took 32 for me to close on them just as MacGyver rolled by the exhausted Jackal. When I went by and got a 25 yards lead I backed down and Sasquatch went by as well. We regrouped at Winchester and I pulled us to Winchester Farms where Tax man, Highlander, MacGyver, Rocky and Bloodhound headed for home. Digger, closer, Jackal, Sasquatch and I stopped for coffee. All civilizer rides need a coffee break.

We decided not to make a sprint out of the run back to California or on California itself. We stayed together all the way to Stetson and I took the lead at Warren and pulled us all the way back to Sanderson before turning north and making our way to Lowes to come around the back and get on Acacia.

Sasquatch and Jackal picked up the pace heading towards Kirby but got caught at the light and I caught it just as it turned green and blasted through to make it to Gilmore and up to Florida way ahead of the rest of the group. I pulled into the parking lot to find Highlander was still there and Centaur was there with him. The rest of us pulled up and we visited for another half of an hour before finally heading for home for a well deserved rest.