By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It has been said many times that Fridays are unpredictable. This Friday was a perfect example of just that idea. We had a small group both Monday and Wednesday and I really didn’t expect a large group for Friday. It was going to be warm so I skipped the arm and leg warmers and headed for the parking lot a bit early. I got there too early so I rode around the block and up to Menlo before getting back just after Digger parked his bike. As we had coffee and talked people started rolling in every few minutes. Highlander and Surgeon were among the first to arrive followed by Minotaur and Sol. Bulldozer, Ferret and MacGyver pulled up just before Rooster and Ray1. Tax Man and a new rider named Clark pulled up about the same time as ME-109 and Sasquatch. Quicksilver was one of the last to arrive just as we were getting ready to leave. We pulled out onto Latham for a short easy ride to Soboba and Cranston Station.

The whole group seemed like it was in a rather good mood as we got to Lyon and headed north. People seemed more willing to talk and visit as we past Devonshire and then Menlo so I figured we would have a steady cruise for the day and consider it a recovery day. By the time we reached Fruitvale Tax Man had moved to the front and set the pace as we headed to Esplanade. He was still leading as we crossed the street and headed for Seventh. As we hit the downgrade I took the opportunity to move back to the front again but only briefly.

The group was split pretty evenly between the A riders and the B riders and I hadn’t planned on having the A group pull us all the way to Cranston. I simply didn’t know when they would break away and wait for the rest of us along the way. But they didn’t break away and Tax Man pulled us almost all the way to Ramona Boulevard and then east to State Street where for the very first time we caught a green light and didn’t have to wait. Tax Man, Minotaur and Rooster led us to the Expressway and started us towards the College and then Soboba. I rolled by just before the last light so I could control the group till we got to Soboba and headed east.

When the last stoplight on State turned green we headed for the trees and the bridge that would take us to the Synagogue at state and Soboba. I kept the pace steady and made sure not to drop anyone till we got to the corner and made the turn towards the rollers and the golf course. As soon as we made the right turn I stopped the group and called Bulldozer forward to lead the A group through the rollers and back out onto Ramona while I brought the B group with me so we could regroup at the end of the golf course and then move on to join them by the Native American clinic. To my surprise the A group spread out quite a bit and we were in sight of the stragglers as we made it over the rollers and split into two parts ourselves.

I pulled the fractured B group to the driving range and managed to close to within and one hundred yards of Minotaur and we almost caught him at the last hole we would pass on the golf course. He didn’t stop however so I regrouped the B group and we headed over the river Bed and onto Ramona to pick up the A group and head east towards Florida and the run to Cranston.

Surgeon seemed to be riding well but said he was a bit under the weather. Still he didn’t seem to have any trouble staying with me as we pulled for first Hemet and then the run to Cedar. Somehow surgeon and I were still out front as we came up to the light on Cedar and we watched as Tax Man left for home when we turned at the light to head for Fairview and Florida. Still it didn’t take long before the A group started to move up through the B group much like water draining through sand and we knew it would only be a matter of time before they would pull away from us again. Out first hint was when ME-109 and Sasquatch came up front.

My self control was fading as some of the A group went by. Still I fell back to pick up the B group. Soon however Ray1 and Quicksilver rolled by me and started to close on Minotaur. I more or less got caught between trying to pull the rest of the B group up or trying to stay with Quicksilver as she overhauled Ray1 and Minotaur. It didn’t matter much because we all caught the light at Florida red while Bulldozer, Ferret, MacGyver, Rooster, Sasquatch and ME-109 headed east towards Cranston. Once the light changed I started to pull the group east at a reasonable pace and regain my self control. Everything was looking good till Minotaur decided to run me down and then make a break for the Eucalyptus trees. He didn’t create a big enough gap and I dropped in on his wheel to wait for the trees and my second bit of energy. When Minotaur downshifted I made a run for the Cranston Parking lot. I joined the a group as we waited for everyone that was going to come to Cranston got there.

As we rehydrated and rested a bit I told all of the new riders that the run back down Florida to Carl’s might turn into a drag race but that it didn’t really matter because we would all be stopping at New Chicago anyway so they couldn’t get lost. I pulled out onto Florida about four riders back to see Minotaur making a run at Ray1, Sol and Quicksilver. MacGyver pulled by me and soon the whole was in a accelerating pace line heading back to the Eucalyptus trees. Ferret, Bulldozer, Rooster jumped out to give chase and I grabbed the last wheel. Sasquatch and several others were right behind me as we streaked through the trees and headed for the Baptist Church. I was holding on for dear life. I kept waiting for my turn at the front and it was coming up as Bulldozer took the pull. Just as he pulled off Ferret and MacGyver jumped out front with Rooster and I had to try and close. Bulldozer gave me a shove and I was back on a wheel when ME-109 jumped out front and pumped it up again. Ferret and MacGyver came by again but with another shove from Bulldozer I was on them and even considered heading for the front. Just about them Rooster fell off then Ferret pulled up and finally MacGyver pulled up as Bulldozer pulled by and got us to Fairview for the end of the segment.

Quicksilver wasn’t far behind as we crossed Ramona and headed to the coffee shop before heading for home. The group broke up at Carl’s with Bulldozer heading back to Casino and ME-109 and Sasquatch headed for home on the east side. Highlander, Minotaur, Rooster, MacGyver, Quicksilver, Digger, Ray1, Sol and Clark rode back west with me to Park and then Devonshire where Digger left us. The rest of us went back to Burger king before heading for home. I rode back to Palm and Stetson with Sol and then went home for lunch. It may have been a short ride but it was a good ride.