By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I love Wednesdays because I am warmed up from Monday and ready for a bit longer ride and one that can be split into a real A and B group. Today was just one of those days. I got up early, had breakfast and headed for the parking lot. This time News Boy was already there and Digger got there after me. I had coffee in time to see Highlander and Tax Man arrive and Dragon Slayer. Me-109 rode up just before Bulldozer and Gambler and they were joined by Shooter and MacGyver. A new rider visiting from Oregon arrived to join us about the same time as Rooster. And even Hacker was there by 9am. But we couldn’t leave because Sasquatch showed up with not one but two flat tires. But as soon as we had the tubes replaced we were on the road heading south towards Acacia.

It looked like we had two separate groups today with a strong complete A group and a B group. I planned on keeping the group together till we got to Winchester Farms and then releasing the big dogs to run. I knew once we were headed towards Murrieta there would be no holding them back and with the group we had today they would be far too fast for most of the Bs to hang with them even drafting. So I pulled steadily to Acacia and then to Kirby to get us to Cypress and head west.

Up to the point where we turned onto Johnston and stopped at Sanderson I had stayed in my small ring and that allowed Tax Man and Digger to stay on my wheel and near the front of the group to the light at Sanderson and then stay with me to Stetson. I stayed in the small ring all the way past the airport and headed towards California with the group easily cruising behind me. Things stayed that way and we moved around the corner to head south towards Stowe.

As we headed west on Stowe we slowly picked up speed till ME-109 went by followed by Hacker and Shooter. A moment later Bulldozer went by and kept going to the front to ride with ME-109. I dropped in on a wheel and quickly we gapped the rest of the group. Before we reached the metal Barn Gambler brought a trainload of riders by and caught us when Hacker blew up. We all regrouped at Winchester farms and waited to assess how the rest of the ride was going to go.

As we got ready to head out from Winchester Farms it was decided that the As would stay with us till we got to the dump road and then they would be set free to head for Menifee and finish the ride to Murrieta and then French Valley. So I took us out onto Winchester and headed south. However they didn’t just leave us as we turned on the dump road.

We held together as one big peloton as we moved by the few houses on the dump road and closed in on the Wild West Arena. We rode in a double pace line as we headed for the slight rise and I was sitting in third as we got close to Leon and made another turn south to get over to Simpson.

News Boy took us to Simpson and got us started towards Briggs. He didn’t pull that long however and I ended up taking us to Briggs and pulling out of the way as the As finally picked up the pace. I noticed we had dropped three riders so I want back to get them and pulled them to Lindenburger and up the hill to Menifee to head south. We picked up Hacker and Sasquatch. The A group was long gone as we picked up what was going to be the B group. With an A group to chase we turned to having a fun ride between us, with Hacker and Sasquatch taking turns attacking me. Our first test was Revival. Then we had to change the route a bit for a restroom stop on Scott and Antelope. We then headed to Baxter and the Hospital only to be yelled at by a driver in a pickup truck for not riding single file and making a left turn from the lane at the stop light. The driver slammed on his brakes and got out to further discuss what he considered our errant riding style and acted like he was considering throwing hands at Highlander and me. But when Sasquatch pulled up and blocked out the sun the driver had second thoughts and left without further debate on the vehicle code. Our next challenge was the drop down Whitewood and then the turn onto Murrieta Hot Springs. Hacker and Sasquatch took a good jump onto Winchester but I had picked the better gear and got to the stop light first as Hacker got a flat. We regrouped and headed for the gas station to rehydrate before heading north on Winchester to make the long ride to Domenigoni and the trip home.

Hacker, Sasquatch and I stayed together followed by Highlander, Tax Man, Ray, and Digger at a distance. The three of us played tag all the way to the dry wash where I caught them napping and crossed over the bridge first. We were getting close to 44 miles and some were looking tired but I was feeling pretty good considering how poorly I had slept the night before. The three of us headed north on Sanderson but pulled over to wait for the other three before heading to Stetson.

When the light changed I started us towards Johnston and then asked if anyone wanted to go to the Healthy Pub for lunch. Shooter and Dragon Slayer were already there and I had snet a text telling them I was on my way. Digger, Ray, Tax Man and Highlander headed for Burger King while Hacker, Sasquatch and I went to the Healthy Pun and joined the other two for a smoothie and some tea. After we had spent some time there telling stories and refueling we all went our separate way and headed for home. For me that was a 50 mile day and I still felt good.