By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Friday took a long time to get here for me. It will be weeks before I am done with doctors visits and tests so I missed Monday and Wednesday this week and I was getting antsy. I put together a flat ride as requested and was looking forward to getting out and stretching my legs even if I had to watch my output more than I like. After a light breakfast I headed over to Burger king and got a cup of coffee. Digger showed up well after I did and we were still talking when Earth Dog arrived. Dave drove up next just before Highlander and Tax Man. Anaconda arrived about the same time as Ferret. Bugler drove up just before Quicksilver and Huntress arrived just before we were ready to leave. It was just after 8am as we pulled out onto Gilmore and headed for Acacia.

The group already knew I was no longer able to lead the B group so I didn’t expect to pull much after we got to Acacia and Kirby. Digger and Tax Man did pull in front and got us to the turn on Cypress and headed west through the housing tract. I was surprised at how strong Tax Man has become as he took the lead and got us around the corner on Johnston and headed for Sanderson. As we followed him Digger pulled up next to him and they both made the light at Sanderson while the rest of us got caught at the red. They were long gone before we got a green and started a slow chase.

Now it was time for our only A rider to move to the front and get us to Cawston so we could jog over to Stetson and head west towards Warren. As we left the corner on Cawston Ferret slowly picked up the pace and I switched my Garmin to heart rate to draft him towards the airport. At this point we had everyone in tow and to me surprise we were gaining on one lone ride way ahead of us. Once we got to Warren Quicksilver pulled in front of me and I started to draft off of her. She took us almost all the way to California and made the turn south to get to Stowe. Ferret moved up to give Quicksilver a break and I jumped up front long enough to get a picture before falling in behind Huntress and just in front of Dave and Anaconda.

Ferret got us heading west on Stowe and slowly we were reeling in Tax Man but we couldn’t see Digger. Quicksilver and Huntress were right on Ferrets wheel and I was trying to get all the draft I could from Huntress as Highlander moved up on my right when I pulled out into the wind to not overlap her wheel. I found myself out of the draft and watching a gap develop between Quicksilver and Ferret so I jumped in front of her and caught his wheel. Ferret pulled away and I followed till we got to Tax Man and I drafted him till we got to Winchester Farms. I felt pretty good about the ride down Stowe because even at the pace set by Ferret was only running in zone three and I had plenty of power and energy left. That would be put to the test on the next leg of the ride. As we left Winchester Farms Earth Dog and Highlander took the lead and dropped us as we pulled out of the parking lot. Ferret tried to form us up for a chase but by the time we were all in line we were pretty far behind the two of them. They made it throught the light at Simpson and we didn’t but Ferret kept us moving forward after the light changed for us. But by the time we were passing the Liquor store Highlander and Earth Dog were almost to Domenigoni.

By the time we got to Dominigoni Highlander and Earth Dog were long gone. I told Ferret he could chase them if he wanted and I would stay with the rest of the group and meet them at State Street. Little did I know the ride was going to go downhill from there. Ferret took off after the fleeing twosome and Quicksilver pulled in front of me to pull and after a while Huntress took over from her. Bugler and Anaconda pulled by on the right and I drafted the four of them to the dry wash with Dave and Digger on my wheel. Digger and Dave fell off at the dry wash and I went back to get them while the four continued on towards Warren. Quicksilver came back to pull for me and we all followed here to Searl where I picked up a big sheet metal screw and flatted. That turned out to be the end of the group ride more or less for the day. Digger had a flat at the same time and while we both got our tires back on abou the same time Diggers went flat again. I gave him my extra tube but he flatted once more and quicksilver had to leave. I stayed till Digger called for a ride and then pulled Dave to State and north towards Chambers where we picked up Earth Dog. He said Highlander and Tax Man had gone ahead and we were about ten minutes behind the rest of the group. The three of us worked our way onto Stetson and east to Fairview before turning north towards Florida where we found Huntress with a flat. Dave flatted at the same time and we changed two more tires before heading towards Cranston to meet up with Ferret and Bugler. We saw them coming back west and turned around to go back to Carl’s for a water refill. A quick break and we were headed for home.

Ferret left after we turned towards Lincoln and Huntress headed for home about a block later. I stayed with Earth Dog, Bugler and Dave till we had to take a detour before we got to Park. We finally made our way to Devonshire and pushed towards San Jacinto and the Hospital. Earth Dog Pulled me to State Street and all the way back to Burger King before we seperated and I headed for home and lunch. It looks like I have at least a month where my riding will be hit and miss but I hope and pray the doctors can give me a clean bill of health by the Tour de Palm Spirngs.