By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Monday was set up to be the last day Cutter would be with us before heading back home to Oregon. With that in mind we wanted something special and a bit challenging so he could take the experience home with him. According to Cutter himself he has gained about three miles per hour average speed over what he used to ride. That isn’t bad for the short time he has been here. In fact it is a bit like we were a Top Gun School he had come to attend before heading for home to strut his stuff before his friends. By 9am there were only nine of us and with the exception of Bulldozer on his Cyclocross bike we were a relatively well matched B group getting ready for a half century. We started out by pulling onto Latham and heading to Lyon to head north.

I started out by chatting with Highlander and Surgeon as we headed north towards Devonshire and Menlo. I had no intention of pulling because I knew we had a long way to go and I knew I would be running from Sasquatch and Dragon Slayer all day. Highlander and Surgeon would be leaving early so they might push the pace on Ramona and Hacker had been indicating he might push me as well. Digger is steady and Cutter can be an unknown. Bulldozer was going to leave us at Ramona Boulevard so I knew I wouldn’t have to chase him. So all I wanted to do was keep Sasquatch, Rooster, Dragon Slayer and Hacker in front of me so I could rest in the draft. I did have to pull after we left Bulldozer on Ramona and got out onto Sanderson. I did pull all the way to Warren and gave up the lead falling back behind everyone but Digger. I stayed there almost all the way to Lakeview and the Valero were Highlander and Surgeon was going to leave us. We were still talking at the gas station when Digger and Cutter rode by and headed for the first of the rollers. We let them get to the bridge before we pulled out onto the Expressway leaving Surgeon and Highlander. I started us off and soon Dragon Slayer took it away from me. Hacker got in front as the climb started and when he stood up I pulled by Dragon Slayer and offered to pull him up the hill. He was still getting used to the new gears on his new BMC and didn’t have the jump I did so he fell off and Sasquatch came after me. I made it past Digger and almost to Barnesconi before Rooster got by me; he has a much better climbing rate than I do. He caught Cutter about half way to the second roller and I caught then a few feet later. Just before we were ready to climb the roller Sasquatch came by me with full after burners. The problem with full after burners is he flamed out and I caught and passed him before the crest and headed for Evans before he caught up by drafting a truck. We stopped at Mickey Ds for a short regroup and water refill.

It was a bit harder than I expected to get out onto Perris Boulevard and head south. Draagon Slayer took over the pull and headed us for downtown Perris and the City Hall. It takes a lot to go from a Compact with 50x34 and 172.5 cranks to a 53x39 with 175 cranks and I had to admit he was adapting better than I do when switching between my Specialized and my Klein but at least my cranks are closer to the same size. He took us almost to the stop sign on Case and over to Goetz before we turned South once again. Now all I could think about was the steep side of Goetz and the hot breath on Sasquatch breathing down my back all the way to Ethernac.

As we crossed the light and headed for the climb I was side by side with Dragon Slayer and just in front of Sasquatch and Rooster. I could see where Hacker was so I had to assume he was close enough to run me over. Dragon Slayer started to run out of spin and I simply put my head down and headed for the climb. At the first kick up I dropped a gear to keep the spin going and started to look for a shadow pulling up on me. No attack came and we started the steeper climb and Rooster jumped and I jumped with him. We headed for the top and looking back I could see Sasquatch was still suffering from his roller attack so once I made to top I didn’t stop like Rooster and dropped down the hill and headed for the Circle K. It was time for another regroup and water stop. Once back on the road Dragon Slayer, Hacker, Sasquatch and I raced all the way to Newport Road to start the group east to Murrieta. As soon as everyone was through the light we headed for Murrieta and then north to McCall for the last climb of the day, Hospital Hill. After we turned onto McCall Hacker took over the pull and got us to Bradley. I took us over the freeway and Cutter got us started to Hillpoint. Hacker and Dragon Slayer got up front and the chase was on. Sasquatch was behind me with Hacker and Dragon Slayer was in front and setting the pace. After the kick up Hacker picked it up and I decided to jump at him before he burned me out. Sasquatch didn’t respond but Rooster did and the two of us crested Hospital together and collected the rest of the riders before dropping off of the hill.

Once we were headed down the hill it was decided we would head over to Simpson and make a quick trip east to Winchester. Dragon Slayer dropped off of the hill like a bomb from a plane. He was still out front as we turned onto Heritage and he pulled us all the way to Lindenburger and the light. Once on Simpson we headed as a team towards Briggs with first Dragon Slayer and then Hacker pulling us to Leon. As we headed for the trees Rooster came by and broke away. Hacker looked like he was going to let him go so I pulled in front and started to pull the group up to him. I had to burn a lot of matches to get on Rooster’s wheel and as I did Hacker and Sasquatch sprinted by. Dragon Slayer offered to pull me back up but my work was done and I was content to cruise up to Winchester before rejoining them and heading north to Winchester farms for our last regroup before heading home.

We decided that because this was Cutter’s last ride we would all ride to the healthy pub and spend time visiting one last time before he had to head for home. I think Rooster may have thought when we said pub they might serve something other than healthy smoothies. But alas there was no rum and coca cola so we had our shakes and smoothies and headed back up to Devonshire to turn for home. We dropped Dragon Slayer off at Gilmore and I left the rest of the group at Palm before going home and having lunch and a hot shower. It was a good day for a half century and I was pleased with my climbs and how I felt.