By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Today was a different Friday ride. We often climb on Friday and sometimes we go to Beaumont through Lambs canyon on Friday but hardly ever do we set up a Lambs canyon ride right after an Idyllwild ride on Wednesday. So I took a chance and posted the ride late Thursday and decided to see just how many wanted to climb back to back. I got to Burger King just after Digger and maybe we were both a bit early but we had quite a while before Hacker drove up. Earth Dog came in just a little bit later followed by Chance. Now the group started to fill in with Gambler, Bulldozer, Minotaur, Ferret, Siren, Anaconda and Quicksilver arriving close to the same time. Shooter pulled in behind Elaine rounding out the group to fourteen. It looked like a good group to leave with so we did.

We moved out onto Latham and over to Lyon to start North. I led part of the way but Earth Dog and Digger decided they wanted to be out front. They stayed there past Devonshire and Menlo where Digger came back to the group and Earth Dog pulled away. Bulldozer decided to give chase and then he took the lead. Chance joined them as Bulldozer came to the light at Esplanade and we all caught up to him. Digger, Chance, Earth Dog and Bulldozer led the way to Seventh where they were held up for a car and I got by long enough to get a quick picture before they caught and passed me heading for Ramona.

As we moved north I started to feel a definite catch in my side very much like a stomach cramp. I had to deal with it almost all day Thursday and thought it was gone. I sort of figured it would work its way out if I didn’t push real hard going up Lambs Canyon. I had promised to ride up the hill with Quicksilver so there was a chance I could simply spin up the hill. All this was going through my head as we came up to Ramona Boulevard and headed west towards Sanderson.

Bulldozer led us to Sanderson and the Expressway where we caught the light. Now the fun was about to begin as we headed north to Gilman and started the climb. I fell to the very back to make sure we had everyone and then moved forward to try and catch Quicksilver, Hacker and Minotaur. Ferret, Gambler, Bulldozer, Chance and Shooter were long gone. I managed to catch Hacker and Quicksilver just as they got to Minotaur and started to pull around till I looked back and saw we had dropped Siren, Elaine, Anaconda, Digger and Earth Dog so I dropped back to get them. Hacker, Quicksilver and Minotaur pulled away and the pain in my side rejoined me for the climb. Before I got back to the trailing group Chance came back to work with them so I started a long chase of Quicksilver, Hacker and Minotaur. Soon Hacker had gaped both Quicksilver and Minotaur. I decided to try and push through the pain even though I couldn’t get a good spin going and by the top of the first climb I caught Minotaur. I topped the hill first and hit the big ring to try and close on Hacker and Quicksilver. It turns out Quicksilver was setting the pace and I don’t believe I was going to be able to catch them and surely not Quicksilver when I saw I was gaining at the bottom of the next hill. I was hitting it pretty hard when I decided to drop into the small ring under power and dropped a chain. I had to stop and replace the chain and I could see Minotaur was coming up fast. I got back on the bike and headed up the last climb even though I could no longer see Quicksilver or Hacker. At the top next the side turnout the a group was waiting with Hacker and Quicksilver as I pulled up. Siren made a late attack on Minotaur and we all regrouped before heading north again heading for the freeway and Beaumont Boulevard. After the freeway we made our way on Beaumont and headed for Oak Valley parkway.

We made our way north as a group with the exception of Digger with Gambler, Bulldozer and Shooter leading the way. I had turned out to be a beautiful morning and up to this point the weather was almost perfect. The group was riding two and three across in the slow lane but traffic was pretty light so most of the people in their cars didn’t seem to mind. At least everyone was pretty friendly till we got ready to turn on Oak Valley when someone yelled at us but we couldn’t hear what they said so we can assume it was a greeting of support. We were moving along rather quickly with Gambler and Shooter in the lead when Siren pulled out front and made a run for Highland Springs. She was only about 40 yards ahead when Shooter flatted and we stopped to watch him change it.

Up to this point it had been a rather pleasant ride and the break while Shooter changed his tire was a welcome one. We chatted like old friends for a few minutes before Gambler and Shooter led us to Highland Springs and we made the turn south for the first time today. We didn’t know that digger was now within sight of us as we turned the corner but we knew he would follow us to Starbucks sooner or later. We got back to the freeway and started under it so I took the lead and pulled us into the parking lot on the east end of the mall and headed for Starbucks and coffee or tea. It was a pretty good sight to see this many riders on a two climb back to back D V V ride.

After a good time of story sharing and conversation we finished off our drinks and got ready to head back to Lambs Canyon for the drop down the hill and the ride home. Digger had taken a head start and was out on First Street before we left the parking lot. Ferret and Anaconda were leading our group but the mist the left turn heading to First Street and had to turn back. We then all made it to First and could see Digger fading into the distance. We got to Lambs Canyon only to catch the light red and giving Digger more time. Finally we got to make the turn and started to give chase.

We all crested the hill in a pack with Earth Dog, Minotaur and Hacker leading the way. As we started down and just started to build some speed I heard Elaine say she had a flat. I was the closest so I stopped while everyone else continued the chase. I decided to help her change the tire to save time and when we tried to put the new tube in we discovered she had a Presta that was too short. Thank goodness she had an extender so we fixed the flat and headed down to the Expressway to see if anyone was waiting for us. Chance came back to look for us at the bridge and then he followed us to the Expressway where Siren and Minotaur were waiting. We all pace-lined together back to Devonshire almost catching Digger at Menlo. Minotaur pulled us from Sanderson to Burger king where we found Shooter, Hacker, Anaconda and Quicksilver loading up their cars. I headed for home after stopping with Siren to get some cleat covers. My side ache was gone or at least subdued and after some lunch my headache was gone. So I may have been running on empty today but at least I was still running and not being a couch potato.