By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was a beautiful looking morning as I looked out of my front window today. We had a clear blue sky and almost no wind. I also had a flat ride planned and was going to use my old Klein just to show her I still loved her. I got dressed early and had breakfast and finally headed to the parking lot to see who would be joining me. Digger was already there as was Dragon Slayer. It was a bit of a surprise to see Newsboy’s car and bike parked as well. Highlander and Tax Man pulled up as did RacerX and Crystal. I let Quicksilver know we had another woman riding and she said she was on her way. Sasquatch and MacGyver pulled up followed by Gambler and ME-109. Bulldozer pulled into the parking lot with Minotaur close behind. The last to arrive was Steve, (Shooter) giving us 16 riders to start. With everyone ready we headed out onto Gilmore to start the day.

We made it to Acacia where Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer took the lead. The only problem was only the first two made it through the light at Kirby so the rest of us had to stop and watch them fade into the distance. After we turned Tax Man and Minotaur got us started heading south and got us almost to the railroad tracks before I took over and got us around the corner and onto Cypress heading towards Johnston.

We were moving along at a reasonable pace and I was thinking that Dragon Slayer was going to have his hands full trying to chase Bulldozer all day. Still the group was staying with me and I managed to lead us to Johnston and turned to Sanderson only to catch the red light once more. As we turned onto Sanderson and headed towards Stetson I got back in front and got us through the light just in front of Tax Man and the rest of the group. Just as we past Wally World we spotted Bulldozer and Dragon Slayer waiting for us and they joined us on our way to Domenigoni.

We managed to get the light at Mustang green so we all rolled by and made our way to the turn lane at Domenigoni. We didn’t have long to wait till we were heading east with Sasquatch and me leading the way. About halfway to Searl Bulldozer pulled up next to me and said he was taking the A group up to the Marina and they will meet us at the Corner of Domenigoni and State. I took over the lead but it seems as if I had just a bit too much pace going so I had to pull up at Searl and wait for the B group to catch me and head for State. I stayed out front as we rounded the corner onto State South and pointed us at McSweeney. Before we got there we spotted Prosecutor and he joined us as we headed for the housing tract. We made the loop and got back onto State and headed North to wait for the A group.

We started towards Chambers just before the A group made it to State knowing full well they would catch us by the time we got back onto Stetson. Quicksilver and Highlander were leading most of the way to the trailer park and the short little incline. Sasquatch caught up to them and RacerX sprinted past him to get to Chambers first. I caught him at the corner and turned everyone towards Buena Vista and up to Thornton and the Golf Course. Shorty after we headed towards Santa Fe The Big Dogs caught us.

I took us around the corner onto Stetson again and got us pointed east. We were still moving easily past one street after the other and I even considered tossing in a climb to Ramona Bowl. But I thought better of adding a climb after promising a flat ride so we cruised by Girard and headed for Columbia. Highlander and Tax Man didn’t turn with us as we headed to Crest. By now the whole group, minus two, was together and cruising through the old homes and heading to some of the horse property.

I was surprised at how quickly we moved through the houses and got over to Hemet Street with Sasquatch and Prosecutor leading the way. I was pretty sure the A group was saving themselves for the run through Soboba. So I jumped out front again as we turned onto Lake and headed for Stetson one more time. Shortly after we crested the little hill on Lake I could see Highlander and Tax Man roll by on Stetson. We were all back in a group at Stetson and as we headed towards Fairview and ME-109 spotted the fleeing twosome in the distance and gave chase taking Prosecutor with him.

It looked like ME-109 and Prosecutor pulled up to Fairview right behind Highlander and Tax man and we all waited to regroup and some had to snack before we were ready to head north towards Florida. Once we were ready to go Tax Man started off first and Highlander and I gave chase almost a minute later. I pushed it as we built up speed and we caught Tax Man before Mayberry and soft pedaled till everyone was together at Florida. Tax Man left us there and we headed past the Fire Department with Sasquatch and Dragon Slayer well out front. Once Newsboy past me and Quicksilver fell in on his wheel I decided to give chase at that point and chased the two down just before Ramona. Shortly after making the turn the big dogs came by me and I fell in on their wheel only to notice we had dropped some riders. I went back to get them and followed them to main and Lake only to regroup at the beginning of Soboba. Quicksilver rode on by us and I decided to get in the A group freight train as we headed off after her. Bulldozer pulled us up to her before the driving range and Prosecutor took over as we rolled by the first roller. By the second roller Bulldozer was back in front and I found myself in second. Bulldozer turned it over to me and I pulled the group to the little hill and gave all my matches to get them over it at speed. I was past at the top but got back by several riders only to run out of steam just before the regroup at State.

Dragon Slayer and Digger told me they would be leaving us when we got back to the Expressway and the rest of us would head back east to have coffee, regroup and break up at Carl’s on New Chicago. I pulled us back down State to Ramona and waved as Digger and Dragon Slayer as they turned west and we turned east. We started out easy enough but soon the A group was running the new Bike Path section of the Expressway. I pulled the B group back to Main Street just catching Minotaur and then moving on to Esplanade where the A group was waiting. We made it through the light and headed towards Cedar and Carl’s.

We regrouped at Carl’s but only about half of us went inside for coffee and conversation. The other half stayed outside and talked till Bulldozer, Gambler and MacGyver had to leave. After a few minutes of rest and hydration those of us left got up and got ready to head home. Sasquatch and ME-109 left us there and those left headed after Highlander and Quicksilver who were already to Lincoln as we pulled out of the parking lot.

We managed to catch Highlander, Quicksilver and Crystal at Park and followed them to Devonshire. We lost Minotaur at Columbia and the rest of us cruised to Santa Fe before turning down to Latham and heading back to the Burger King Parking lot were RacerX won the very last sprint beating Newsboy to the corner at Gilmore. We stopped for a short while at Burger king and said our good-byes before I had to head over to replace a cleat cover and head for home. It was a great ride with some great people.