By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) After a hard Friday for me I was looking forward to a good rest over the weekend and a flat ride on Monday. As many know it rained most of the weekend so I could do little but rest and clean up my bike. Friday had been hard coming home because I had a hard time breathing coming home and assumed it was pollen and humidity. However in the back of my head I was concerned because the discomfort was so sudden. None the less I felt better Monday morning and after breakfast left to join Digger and Earth dog at Burger King. At first it looked like we were going to be it as far as a group goes but finally we were joined by Highlander and Anaconda. Just as soon as they parked Shooter and Tax Man drove up and we were ready to go. I took us out onto Gilmore and headed south.

I had determined not to pull today and was going to ride a bit tentative just to make sure the chest pressure was a off the wall thing Friday. As we turned on Acacia Digger pulled and he pulled again as we got to Cypress. I was pulled through the housing tract and finally onto Johnston and to the light on Sanderson. I was feeling just fine and even stronger than normal as we rode through Industry and out to Stetson off of Cawston and headed towards Warren. Everything was going good as we crossed Warren and I fell back to talk with Anaconda. We finally turned onto California and headed for Stowe.

As we headed for Winchester I started to feel a bit of discomfort in my chest again. Not like Friday but there none the less. I followed the group to Winchester farms and stopped to see if the pressure would go away. As we got ready to head south on Winchester I informed Shooter and Anaconda I wasn’t feeling well and was planning on heading home. I headed back east on Stowe feeling like I need to make an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible. Suddenly I burped and the pain was gone. I am not saying it was simply a matter of mind over matter or that I had obsessed over Friday all weekend but something I was relieved enough to see if I could rejoin my friends on their ride east. I got to State and Chambers before the group but that may have been because Shooter had a flat and half of them got held up while he changed it. Still Highlander, Digger and Tax Man looked surprised to see me as they turned the corner. After checking to see how I was feeling we moved on towards Buena Vista and Thornton. We managed to make it all the way to San Jacinto Street before Shooter pulled Anaconda and Earth Dog up to us. We then rode together straight east on Stetson all the way to Fairview for a regroup. As we headed north on Fairview Earth Dog and Anaconda led us toward the bridge and Earth Dog slowly pulled out front. By Mayberry Anaconda, Highlander and I were slowly closing down the gap.

Earth Dog rounded the corner and headed for Cranston. I followed a few yards later as Highlander pulled up and waited for Tax Man so they could head back to Burger King. I was slowly closing on Earth Dog as Shooter pulled by with Anaconda in tow. I fell in behind them and we passed Earth Dog before we came into the trees. I looked back and noticed we had dropped Anaconda so I dropped back to get her and then pulled her up to Cranston. We regrouped with Digger and after a short break headed back to Carl’s with me drafting Shooter all the way. Earth Dog didn’t stop so it was down to just four of us for coffee and conversation before we headed for home on New Chicago.

We turned on Lincoln and headed for Park to circle back to Devonshire. Digger left us at Devonshire so Shooter, Anaconda and I cruised all the way to Santa Fe before moving over to Latham and west once more. We managed to get back to Burger King and I was still feeling fine so I headed for home and a hot shower. Just so you know I still made an appointment with my doctor just to be on the safe side.