By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was a nice morning as I looked outside today. Maybe the day was a bit overcast but not too cool and no wind to speak of. I had a simple little ride planned and a new rider joining us. So I was looking for a full on recovery ride and a chance to get back home as rested as when I left. I had breakfast and headed for the parking lot to get the ride started. I got there well before anyone else and had some coffee about the time Dragon Slayer and MacGyver arrived. Melanie pulled up filled with enthusiasm and Highlander was right behind her. Tax Man drove up about the same time as Dan and Minotaur showed up surprising me because he doesn’t normally ride on Monday. Bulldozer and Bloodhound joined us as well. Quicksilver and Rudy rolled up last and we were about ready to leave. We pulled out onto Latham and rode to Lyon before heading south to Johnston.

Once we turned onto Johnston we had to shout at Bloodhound who had been on autopilot heading for Stetson. He made it back to us and led us to Elk before the rest of the group started to close on us. We passed Palm about a block behind Bloodhound and finally got to Gilbert and turned south. Bloodhound made it to the light on Stetson first and we all waited while the group closed up to join us before Thornton and the turn east. Bloodhound stayed out front as we closed in on State Street.

We made the turn south on State and Bloodhound got held up slightly at the stop light causing Melanie to pull out and give chase. As we rolled by Chambers Dan and Tax Man we closing on her and Bloodhound. I decided to make a run at the front and Chased Bloodhound all the way to Domenigoni.

I fell back to ride with Rudy and Quicksilver and watched as the group split into three parts heading west towards Sanderson. At Sanderson Minotaur and Dragon Slayer made the light while the rest of us caught the red. When the light changed we started a slow pace line heading for the rise. Bulldozer pulled up front for a while but gave it back to Bloodhound before Warren. We made it over the dry wash where MacGyver and I formed a two man draft to pull the group towards Winchester. After the dry wash Bloodhound and I found ourselves off the front of the second group and within sight of Dragon Slayer and Minotaur. I noticed there was a third rider with them and it turned out to be Allen from Florida. He had joined then before Winchester. They had to slow at Winchester so Bloodhound and I closed quickly as they made it to the trees, I took over the pull and we had reeled them in my Leon. Bulldozer pulled us to the bottom of the saddle and Dragon Slayer dropped into his small ring and pulled out front. We raced to the top together and regrouped with everyone.

Up to this point Rudy had been doing quite well for his second ride. I can remember my second ride and I don’t believe I was over the dry wash by the time they were regrouping at the Saddle. Today our slowest rider is much faster than I was for at least the first year. He still looked pretty fresh as we got ready to drop off of the saddle and head for Laguna Vista and the ride south again. We turned back east on Newport and headed for Briggs.

Once on Briggs there was a long straight run that would go all the way to Garbani. It is deceptive because once you roll by Holland you are climbing. It is hard to tell because it gets steeper just before Garbani and your eyes naturally drift to that point. Quicksilver made the climb with the lead group while MacGyver and I rode with Rudy to Garbani where Quicksilver was waiting. We turned west towards the rollers and Menifee and soon regrouped and took a head count.

Once we got started again Melanie took the lead and made it all the way to Antelope and started north in front of us. She got up the hill and down to Holland before the rest of us but got caught at the light where Bloodhound and I flew past as the light changed. MacGyver took us to Newport and Melanie took us to Menifee before we turned north to get to Simpson and head east. We had to chase Melanie all the way to Lindenburger and I didn’t catch her till we got to Briggs. I pulled to Leon and fell to the back. I had to start working back up to the front as Bulldozer and Shooter pulled by. We had lost Dragon Slayer at Menifee and picked up Shooter at Antelope. We were almost at the last stand of trees before MacGyver and I caught Melanie again we all stopped at Winchester before heading to Winchester farms. That was all but Bulldozer, Allen and Bloodhound who had gone back to Domenigoni to head for the Marina. After some hydration and conversation we remounted and headed east on Stowe to make our run for home.

Shooter had pulled Melanie up to California and we had to chase her all the way to Stetson and Warren. Finally we had hauled her back in line after MacGyver headed for home. We then rode together to the airport where Tax Man and Highlander caught up and took us to Cawston for the left turn and jog through the industrial park to get back to Sandeson and Johnston.

We stopped for a red light and Sanderson and followed Minotaur north over the railroad tracks towards Lowes. Shooter jumped around us and I grabbed a wheel and followed him to Lowes. As we headed for the back of the store Quicksilver ramped it up and headed for Acacia getting to the street first. I chased her down at Kirby but she didn’t give up without a fight and followed me onto Gilmore and headed back to Burger King to load up the cars and visit for a few minutes to relive part of the ride. Once again I was impressed with how relaxed both Quicksliver and Rudy looked after the ride today.

We all visited for a few minutes before we were joined by Centaur and had a discussion about brackets and computer mounts. I took that time to head for home and was looking forward to lunch and a hot shower. I have to say it was just the kind of ride I was hoping for today. I am looking for many more in the future.