By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was another Wednesday and another chance to get in some climbing. I wanted to take us up just a bit as we work towards August and a benefit ride with CAS. So I had a big breakfast and headed for Burger King for coffee with Digger. As Digger and I had coffee we watched Minotaur arrive followed by Gambler. I was surprised to see the CAS riders with us today knowing they have a race coming up but here they were. Shooter and MacGyver arrived as well followed by Quicksilver and Siren. Lastly we had Bulldozer pull up and figured we were ready to leave. We pulled out onto Gilmore and headed for Acacia. Picture 36

For the second ride in a row Digger seemed to be starting out a bit harder than he needed to but that was Ok with me. He got us to Kirby and was out front as we turned headed for the rail road tracks. Siren saw Digger out front and almost gave chase thinking I was in front of him but noticed me before she caught him. We rode together as Digger led us to Cypress and started us towards Johnston and the light at Sanderson. Bulldozer had taken off earlier and waited for us at Wally World. Digger was also the one that led us to Stetson and almost to Mustang before I got up front and pointed us at Mustang and Domenigoni.

Once we got on Domenigoni Bulldozer and Minotaur took the lead and started the pull west. Quicksilver and Siren hooked onto their wheel and I was sitting in fifth as the pace started to pick up. Siren let me by when Bulldozer started to accelerate and I followed Quicksilver till she dropped out when we hit 28 mph. Bulldozer had us going 30 to 31 by Warren where Gambler, MacGyver and Shooter joined us. By then we had dropped Quicksilver, Siren and Digger so I fell out and waited for them. I picked them up and pulled them west as we noticed someone had dropped out of the CAS train heading for Winchester. I managed to pull up behind Minotaur with Quicksilver and Siren in tow and then pulled everyone towards Leon. Siren took her turn pulling before Minotaur took over heading for the saddle. I blew by at the bottom of the saddle and we regrouped at the top to wait for Digger who wasn’t that far behind.

As we dropped off of the Saddle Minotaur and Siren took off on us and we had to follow them west. Once they got a green light ahead of us we kept losing ground as we caught each and every light red all the way to Haun. Siren and Minotaur waited for us just past Haun and just before Bradley and we all headed for Carl’s and a potty break before our attack on Goetz. Digger left a bit early to get a head start on the climb and we followed about three minutes later. Minotaur and Siren pushed us a bit heading west past Murrieta and kept the pace up as we rolled by Brea towards Goetz.

Minotaur and Siren took us to Goetz and turned us north and here is where the fun began. I started to pick things up at Normandy and when I looked back I found Quicksilver on my wheel. I offered to back down a bit but she held on well till the hill kicked up and I gapped he a bit so I kicked it up a bit trying to get away. It didn’t work all that well as she held the gap to the same distance I had gained on the first bump. So I picked it up again on the flat heading to the Mini Mart and Fire station. My thought was she would slow down when she thought she was going downhill but for a change she pressed on and stayed about a minute back. I saw Digger just before the Elks Club and caught him before the last short downhill. Quicksilver was still coming and I thought I would have to make a run for it. She wasn’t giving up and I wasn’t ready to slow down so she could catch me. My next thought was I would drop her on the downhill after we crested. I was sure she would give up on the downhill. I started down towards Ethanic and was soon dropping down the road like a rock from a cliff when I looked back to see Quicksilver cresting as well. I pushed it all the way to Ethanic and looked back to see Quicksilver had not lost a yard to me after cresting the hill. I was impressed and a bit worried that it won’t be long before she is beating me up these hills and waiting for me. Siren was a minute behind her so I had two of the bling team breathing down my neck. I got us started east and Siren pulled by and took us to Murrieta and south. We didn’t get far before Minotaur pulled by and got us to the Mortuary and turned east again. Siren and I stopped to look at the Lamas and Emus before chasing Digger, Quicksilver and Minotaur to Bradley and back to McCall. Digger made it to McCall first and was through the light before the rest of us got there.

While we waited at the light on McCall Digger was making a run at the freeway and Hospital Hill. When the light turned green I followed Siren and Minotaur over the freeway and headed for the light at the Valero station. Minotaur pulled to highpoint and I took off after Digger who had made it almost to the false crest and the dark pavement. I caught him just before the top and Quicksilver was close behind me. We dropped over the top and headed for Menifee. I decided to lead us through the park and around the lake. Digger bypassed the park and beat us to Lindenburger and Simpson. We then headed east on Simpson with Siren and Minotaur once again taking off on us. I got Quicksilver in tow and slowly closed on Minotaur and caught him just last Leon. I recovered for a moment before pulling around and giving chase to Siren. I did catch her by the last stand of trees and we all made it to Winchester together. Quicksilver pulled us north to Stowe at a pretty good clip and we had to pause at Stowe for just a minute till Digger joined us and we headed east again towards California.

Siren wasn’t through pushing it however and I had to chase her to California and tell her to move into a lactic acid cleansing spin as we headed to Stetson and east to Cawston for the jog through the industrial park and out onto Sanderson at Johnston. We then made our way to Lowes and around to Acacia. Minotaur and Siren led us back to Burger King where Shooter was waiting and we talked for a few minutes before heading for home. It was a great day for a short climb and a friendly ride.