By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Well any thought of Fall weather drifted away pretty quickly once the weather wizards posted this weeks forecast. It wouldn’t break triple digits on Monday but the rest of the week was going to be hot. But being Labor Day we generally have a good ride so I plotted a course for Elsinore and posted it for the group’s approval. I got up and got dressed and headed for the parking lot for coffee. I felt better than I had felt in weeks but still was planning on taking it easy till I could see my doctor Friday. Digger was waiting as usual and once I had my coffee we talked thinking most of our riders would be out of town and it might be a small group. Soon Earth Dog arrived and we knew we had at least three. Gambler rode us as did Luis and his friend which was a pleasant surprise. Huntress and Quicksilver drove up as well making a nice little group, normal for a Monday anyway. By 8am we were on Gilmore heading south.

I did take the early lead to Acacia and turned us towards Kirby. I wasn’t planning in pulling any but there was no hurry in the group as we made Kirby and turned south towards the railroad tracks. I rode side by said with Digger as we talked and made the turn on Cypress. I had already apologized to the group ahead of time for the planned pace but everyone seemed satisfied that they could make this a recovery ride. We made it to Johnston and got stuck at the red light. Once it turned green we were off towards Stetson and making out way past Wally World.

Now would come the interesting part, could we hold the group together once we made it to Domenigoni and headed west? Digger got us started and I was concerned that the new riders would want to kick up the pace. Gambler came to the rescue by suggesting and then instructing the group on doing a pace line from the back to the front. We stumbled around a bit at first but by the dry wash we were doing pretty well and managed to climb the hill and head for Winchester as a group. We had to start all over at Winchester and once again we took a while to form up but once we did sync all the way to the saddle and we split into a double line going over the saddle and finally Gambler pulled us to the gas station at Menifee. When we left the gas station we got separated a bit as we moved towards Antelope. Highlander had Luis and his friend with him as well as Quicksilver and I had Huntress, Earth Dog and Digger. I managed to get my group up to the back of Gamblers group at Antelope and we followed then over the freeway only to watch Gambler fade into the distance. We were all back together sans Gambler at Murrieta but had lost Digger at the light. Huntress, Quicksilver and I waited at the next driveway past Murrieta and pull Digger towards the next light.

By this point I was being hovered over by two guardians to make sure I was following my doctor’s orders. They decided to do most of the pulling so I could draft them at my leisure and I did just that as we headed to the stop light where Luis was waiting with Earth Dog. We were then headed towards the first roller and climb into Railroad Canyon.

At Goetz Earth Dog started to make a run while Huntress and Quicksilver seemed to be blocking me from chasing but as soon as they ran out of gear I managed to catch Earth Dog before reaching my agreed to heart rate and backing down. Luis and Earth Dog past me heading up the next grade and as I closed in on them and Canyon Lakes Quicksilver caught me as well. Huntress joined me and we managed to follow the whole group to the first big downhill where I pulled Huntress up to Earth Dog and then to Luis before getting to the freeway and turning into Mickey Ds to meet Gambler and have coffee before returning home. Digger and Earth Dog left first wanting a head start back up Railroad Canyon. I wasn’t planning much of a chase because it had started to get hot and I don’t do hot well anymore. Luis took us out to Railroad Canyon and past the first two lights before I took over and got us to the first big climb.

As we started the climb I dropped into the small ring and as Gambler past he said he was heading for home and would see us Wednesday. Huntress and Quicksilver scooted up the hill wile Luis escorted me to the crest and down past the Stater Brothers store. Whe climbed the next hill and found Huntress and Quicksilver waiting just as Digger rolled by them. Once Luis and I got there we chased Digger back past Goetz and caught him halfway to Murrieta where we met Earth Dog waiting. We picked him up and headed for Haun to cross over the freeway and then Antelope.

We headed for Menifee and Luis pulled us towards Lindenburger before Earth Dog took over. Quicksilver was drafting Earth Dog at the bottom of the saddle before he attacked the hill and I rolled by them both. I ran out of breath at the top of the hill and slowed to soft pedal so everyone could rejoin me but Earth Dog rolled by and headed for Leon. Luis finally came by and pulled us after Earth Dog and we caught him shortlu after we got to Winchester. He stayed with is to the dry wash and lost the draft when Quicksilver sprinted to catch Luis and I with Huntress in tow. Luis pulled us all the way to Sanderson while I joined him at Stetson and we rode together to Acacia where I took us to Gilmore to get back to Florida and Burger King.

It was a short ride up to Burger King where the cars were parked and I stopped while they were loaded before riding for home myself. As I said I felt better than I had in a long time and was pretty hungry to boot. I got home, had lunch and took a hot and then cool shower before downloading my Garmin. All in all it was a good day.