By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Wednesday is almost always a big day and typically a longer ride but this Wednesday it was going to be hot and humid. Still we planned a ride west and a little climb just to stay in practice. After breakfast I went out to get my bike and noticed a front flat. I replaced the tube but the valve leaked and I had to replace it with another. After the second change I headed for the parking lot and joined Digger waiting for anyone to arrive. As I pulled up Digger was indeed waiting and it was indeed humid. It was getting late and only Digger and I were there. Finally Highlander and Bugler arrived and I got a text that Huntress was on her way. All of the stop lights were out on the east side of town. Once Huntress was there we hit the road and headed for Acacia to get the ride on the way. I took the lead to Kirby and pointed us south.

There was no rush with this small group as we headed towards the railroad tracks and the turn onto Cypress. It was time to let Digger lead us through the housing tract and out onto Johnston with Bugler staying near the front. We turned right onto Johnston and stopped at Sanderson. When the light changed we headed straight across the street and headed towards Cawston to jump over to Stetson and west. I had enough energy to pull is to Warren at a reasonable pace but nothing too stressing because it was already turning hot and humid.

I didn’t get far after crossing Warren before Huntress took over and moved us towards California. Huntress picked up the pace just a bit and we started to string out into a pace line doing just about 19 mph. I was in the second slot and felt pretty comfortable in the draft as we got to California and headed south towards Stowe.

Huntress was still feeling strong I guess because she took us to Stowe and settled into a steady pace towards Winchester. I was surprised at how well she kept the pace as we headed west and I stuck to her back wheel like a trailer. The pace was perfect and the air was felt cool as long as you were moving. Huntress kept the pace all the way to Winchester Farms all by herself without anyone challenging her for to first spot. We made a quick regroup at the parking lot before Huntress once again pulled us out onto Winchester and south towards the dump road at just a bit more pace than Stowe. When she turned west on the dump road she didn’t slacken the pace one bit. She got us within sight of the Wild West Arena when Bugler took the lead from her and pulled us to the rise at the beginning of the D V V flag sprint. He started to fade ever so slightly so I pulled by and held the pace at 20 or 21 till we crested and gave the lead back to him. Bugler pulled us almost all the way to Briggs where we turned north and headed towards Florida and the High School.

Once we caught the light on Florida everyone but Digger was back together waiting for a green. Huntress started us off towards the elementary school and it was all I could do to catch her by the time we got to Mapes. I had to chase Huntress all the way to Menifee and then Highlander and Bugler turned the corner first and headed for the AM/PM on Florida. I was the last in line as we got to the AM/PM and regrouped once Digger joined us. Huntress decided, as is every woman’s right, that the heat and humidity was causing her to “glow” as they say so she was going to head for home on McCall. Highlander decided to join her while I took Bugler and Digger to McCall and right to finish the ride. I worked with Bugler on the McCall climb and he managed to beat me over the top and down to the Chevron Station on Bradley. We were still feeling pretty fresh as we headed west to the end of McCall and over to Cherry Hill to head back to Bradley and south to Newport. We made the turn east and worked our way to Jack in the Box for a break before heading home on Newport. We had to stop and check Digger’s tire several times because he kept losing air. We managed to make it over the saddle and down to Leon before changing the tube and heading for Winchester. But this time it was getting hot so we slowed it down a bit and stayed together all the way over the dry wash and then to Sanderson before heading north towards Acacia.

I think we managed to hit every light green all the way to Acacia and the turn east. In fact we caught Kirby green as well and I pulled us to Gilmore before heading to Burger King with Bugler. Digger headed for the bike shop and I met him there t cool off before heading for home. It was hot and humid just like they predicted.