By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was Friday and it was supposed to be hot. The solution for that was a shorter ride and a more sedate pace. At least a shorter more sedate ride was planned what remained to be seen was if that kind of ride would be possible and I wouldn’t know that till I got to the parking lot and saw who was riding. As I pulled into the parking lot Digger greeted me so I knew there would be at least two of us. The Bling Team had called off so we might be short a few riders. Earth Dog and Highlander drove us followed by Closer and Bugler. We had a good B group going at first. Minotaur arrived if full CAS kit followed by Gambler and a car full of riders in the CAS car. Jay, Jonathan, Jeff would be with us from CAS as well. Bulldozer was on his TT bike and not dressed in CAS kit but Ferret was dressed in CAS when he arrived making us A group heavy. Tax Man tossed in some B group balance but we were outweighed again when MacGyver rode up wearing full CAS as well. Not a bad group for a short Friday ride but it turned out Closer had forgotten his front wheel and had to wait till his son dropped one off. So we left and planned for him to join us on our way to Cranston. We pulled out onto Latham to get the ride started.

I got us to Lyon to head north and made the turn. I had already made a change in the ride map and we would be heading all the way to the Expressway before turning east. Highlander and Digger flanked me and all of the CAS team followed in a group about 15 yards behind. We stayed that way as Digger took the lead followed by Highlander and Tax Man as we made our way to Esplanade and caught the light red. Naturally we all stacked up at the light and started north as soon as the light turned green.

As we moved past Seventh CAS started to move up and slowly shuffle through the DVV group even as I tried to hole the pace down to a comfortable 19 mph. I pulled them through Cottonwood and headed for Ramona Boulevard just in front of CAS. What I didn’t see was Tax Man had pulled over to adjust his saddle and fell off the back of the group I was still pulling as we came up to the stop sign before Ramona. Picture 28

I pulled us all the way to the Expressway and made the turn east towards State Street. As we moved along Bulldozer buzzed by heading for State and leaving us in the dust. Gambler pulled up next to me to let me know that Tax Man dropped off so I planned on stopping after we turned north on State. While the road was smooth and they had a nice sized bike lane it was littered with glass in several places. As we got to State Earth Dog flatted so the Stop was needed even if Tax Man hadn’t dropped back. Jay helped Earth Dog change the flat and we were back on our way before seeing Tax Man. We didn’t get far before MacGyver flatted. We had just past the College and started into the trees so once again Jay helped change the flat. While we were waiting Closer sent me a text and said he was headed our way with Tax Man. Gambler told us to take off while they changed the tire so I took us north again to Soboba. As we turned east again Digger flatted and we were in the process of changing that when the CAS riders caught us again. Once more into the breach came Jay and he changed that tire as well. We all waited while he was working on it except Closer headed east on Soboba.

Once we were all back on the road Tax Man started the pull to the first roller. He bogged down just a bit and as Ferret pulled around I tagged in on his wheel and headed for the second roller. This action turned the CAS group loose and they all pulled by and headed for the driving range. I followed them for a while till we came up on Closer who was moving rather slowly. Once Digger caught Closer I circled back and rode with the rather fading Closer to get him to the last hole on the golf course and some shade. I found the B group waiting in the shade and Closer and I pulled up. Closer was finished, full bonk, so Highlander and Tax Man volunteered to stay with him till he could make his way back to the car. I took the rest of the B group towards Cedar to make our way to Cranston. We saw Bulldozer heading home as we headed to Florida and turned east. I rode with Earth Dog to Cranston and Bugler and Digger joined us there. We took a quick water break and headed back to Carl’s for coffee. I thought CAS had gone to Mountain Center so I was surprised when they joined us, without Minotaur, before we finished our drink. It turns out the A group had done Bautista and Minotaur left them at Stetson. Once we were all ready we went outside and Discovered Earth Dog had another flat.

This time they gave Jay a break on changing the tire and he got to sit back and watch while it was changed. It really didn’t take that long but it was getting hot and everyone was looking forward to getting back home. Finally we got back on New Chicago and headed up to Lincoln to do just that. For some reason Gambler stayed with us as we headed to Park and made the turn towards Devonshire where Digger left us.

We made the turn onto Devonshire but didn’t make it to Yale before Gambler flatted and once again we watched the CAS tire changing team in action. Once back on the road we all headed west to Santa Fe and drop down to Latham and head home. Earth Don got back first because he didn’t wait at the last flat. But we all made it back safely and headed our separate way to end a perfect ride on a rather hot day.