By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Mondays are just for getting started so I try to plan a getting started ride. Sometimes they are flat and sometimes they have a little climbing but today we had a flat ride with some nice rollers and a fast run home. I got to the parking lot right after Digger and Dragon Slayer and just before Minotaur and Earth dog. We talked and waited but the five of us were all there were so we hit the road right at 8am and pulled out onto Latham and over to Lyon to head north. It was a bit quicker than I expected but then Dragon Slayer and Minotaur are pretty much my equal on the flats and Dragon Slayer can hang with me on most of the climbs on a good day so we made our way to Esplanade and got the light just as it was about to turn green before taking off again and pulling way from Digger and Earth Dog.

We were talking on our way towards Seventh Street and decided that once we got to the east end of town we would stop and check on Bulldozer to see how he was doing. He had been in a bike crash over the weekend in a “Crit” race and suffered a bit. Dragon Slayer and Minotaur knew where he lived so they said they could lead the way. We rolled by Seventh and then Cottonwood before at last coming to Ramona Boulevard and turning west.

Three of us rode together towards Sanderson with Digger and Earth dog following some distance behind. We planned on stopping after the turn on Sanderson and the Expressway but once we were at the light on Sanderson both Digger and Earth Dog caught up. Dragon slayer started to ramp it up just a bit as we headed for Warren and we ended up dropping Digger and Earth dog at the rise. I dropped off of the Dragon slayer train and pulled Digger and Earth Dog all the way to Bridge where we rejoined Minotaur and Dragon Slayer.

As we headed north and then east on Bridge Dragon Slayer, Minotaur and I started working together and took turns pulling as we went through the dip and made the curve right to head towards Gilman springs and a regroup. I took the last pull to the stop sign and we waited till Digger and Earth dog were rested before starting east on Gilman springs. Dragon slayer started us east and once again three of us worked together and took turns pulling all the way to the Sanderson Bridge under pass where we waited in the shade before heading east some more to Soboba. Once we got to Soboba it turned into pace line with four of us, digger got caught by construction, heading over the rollers and to the driving range. Dragon slayer and I stayed together over the last little hill and headed to the river overpass to turn and wait at the medical center. When everyone was back together we headed east on Ramona to Cedar and then to Bulldozer’s house for a quick visit before heading onto Fairview and heading on to Florida. Minotaur left us at Florida and Dragon Slayer and I pulled everyone to Cranston before heading back to Carl’s JR and conversation. We then headed back to Lincoln and west towards Park.

Digger left us as we turned onto Devonshire and we started the run back to Santa Fe and over to Latham. Earth Dog was making a run for the barn but dragon Slayer and I weren’t letting him go so we stayed with him through the light at State and I followed them back to Lyon before heading for home and resting up for the Bautista ride later this afternoon.