By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It looked like the perfect Wednesday for a ride at least weather wise. I knew my doctor had a test scheduled for me Thursday and I wouldn’t be riding Friday so I thought we needed a good route. Double Dutch came it and I posted it so that was where we were going. I got to Burger King just after Digger and we had coffee while waiting for ME-109, Minotaur, Brian, Highlander, and Bugler so we could take off on Gilmore and ride down to Acacia. I did lead to Kirby but we caught the light and Digger took over with Minotaur to get us to Cypress and west towards Johnston. We caught the light at Sanderson and waited till we could ride to Industrial and head towards Cawston.

Brain and Minotaur led us out onto Stetson and headed us west towards Warren. The whole group stayed together pretty well till we crossed Warren and headed for California. Minotaur led us as we rounded the corner onto California and pointed us towards Stowe. Normally Stowe turns into a sprint but Minotaur kept us in line and we made our way to Winchester and the parking lot on the corner. We took a short break before ME-109 was ready to lead us out onto Winchester.

As soon as we could we started south with ME-109 leading and I was slotted in behind cruising in the draft and enjoying the day. Cruising has become relative because now 21 to 22 mph is cruising. ME-109 was taking it easy on me and the rest of us because he is one of our A riders and maybe to only one with us today. He got us to Grand and made the turn west when we noticed ME-109 had a skipping cassette and so Minotaur took over the pull and headed for the Wild West arena. Bugler took over as we past the Arena and headed us towards the slight rise. Brian rode by and we made our way to Leon and south.

Once again we followed Minotaur to Simpson and started west. Once again were took turns with Bugler and Brian assisting in moving the group towards Briggs and heading towards Lindenburger. We decided to reroute and bit and turn on Lindenburger and head for Heritage to cut back on at least one little climb. With ME-109s defective cassette he didn’t object all that much. We rode north on Heritage and headed for McCall and the turn towards the back side of hospital hill. Minotaur was looking forward to attacking on his new back and I was concerned about being dropped if I couldn’t keep up and keep my heart rate down to make my doctor happy. Bugler attacked the hill first but Minotaur closed and passed him. I held onto Minotaur’s wheel but in a lower gear and higher rpm. Once Minotaur closed on Bugler and got by he powered down just a bit giving me a chance to roll by and head for the top just as I was nearing zone 4. I got to just before the top before I hit zone 4 but the beta blockers shut me down. Not enough to get caught by Minotaur but I was caught by Brian and at the very top by Bugler. We dropped of of the hill and made our way to the gas station on Bradley for a regroup before heading to the end of McCall and down to Honey run and finally to LaLadera.

As we got past the park Minotaur took us onto Normandy and over to Goetz. We then turned south and headed for Newport and the first of two climbs on Railroad Canyon. Minotaur left us and I noticed ME-109 was gone as well. Once again Bugler hit the first hill first but this time I ran him down all by myself and held off a counter attack by Bugler and Bryan. And this time zone 4 came right after I crested. I made it to the Stater Brother’s mall and turned south east to wait for another regroup. By the time Digger got to us he and Highlander took off while Bugler, Brian and I got stuck at a light. The three of us chased them almost all the way to the middle school before heading down the rollers towards Murrieta. I got there first and took us left back to Holland and right towards Haun. We regrouped once more before making it to Haun and heading north towards Newport.

Highlander took us to Newport and east to Jack in the Box on antelope where we stopped for coffee and a break. Digger was dragging a bit and was the last to pull into jack in the Box but we went inside and spent some time telling storied before packing up and heading back out onto Newport and heading east. I pulled to Menifee and there Bugler started to think about the next two segments on the saddle and all the way to Winchester. He hit the saddle hard but once on top realized the wind had turned into our face so he thought better of attacking the next segment. We had to wait for digger at Leon because he flatted. He joined us but his flats experiences were not over.

We pulled him most of the way to the dry wash where first Brian pulled away and then Bugler left us. Digger dropped back while Highlander and I chased Bugler all the way to Sanderson. Highlander and I chased Bugler all the way to Stetson before we caught him and then we rode together to Acacia and back to Gilmore. Digger flatted again at Gilmore and walked his bike to the bike shop to see what the problem was. We left for home from the parking lot and I enjoyed lunch and a hot shower. I will be looking forward to getting a clean bill of health from my doctor after this Thursday but till I do my riding may suffer.

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I know the Friday ride report is late but I have discovered that sometimes I just need my sleep. After getting home from the ride I had shopping to do and then took the dog for a walk. After dinner I watched a movie and then just felt like I need to go to bed. I had a simple easy Friday ride planned and by 8am we had a small but eager group ready to do Bridge to Soboba. We Started with Digger, ME-109, Highlander, Tax Man, Anaconda, Dave, Karl and Me and headed off on Latham to Lyon and north.

We were lucky as we got started because the weather was being very cooperative by being cool and clear. Soon after we started north on Lyon Digger and Highlander moved to the front and pulled us towards Fruitvale. I did take the lead temporarily and pulled us to Esplanade but it was still a cruise more or less till we caught the red light. Highlander and Digger and Dave took over and pulled us past Seventh and then Cottonwood. They picked up the pace ever so slowly as we got close to Ramona and made the turn west towards Sanderson.

The ride west on Ramona to Sanderson is almost always a pretty easy one with a reasonable pace of 20 mph for everyone in the group. Today was no different and Highlander took us all the way to Sanderson. All we had to do was make the turn and wait at the light on the Expressway to make the next leg of our ride, the trip to Bridge. Tax Man started the first pull towards Warren and managed to keep us all together as we moved west. He kept the pace steady till we got to the slight rise just before Warren and slowed slightly before giving the lead to Highlander who took us past the first of the driveways before giving the lead to Digger. Just before digger got us to Bridge out of nowhere Ferret caught and pulled in front. He had been chasing us all the way from Latham. He then took over and moved us north east on Bridge.

From that point on Ferret and ME-109 took over doing most of the pulling until we rounded the big right turn and headed directly for Gilman. At that point they picked up the pace and left us to follow as best as we could. I decided the energy level was low enough that I could pull the group all the way to Gilman where we rejoined Ferret and ME-109. We talked it over and decided to modify the route a bit and head all the way east on Gilman to Soboba rather than make the turn on Sanderson. ME-109 and Ferret left us and we took turns following at a distance. Once again we took turns pulling till I fell back to pick up Dave after he fell off on a little hill. Highlander took over pulling him as I rolled forward to join Tax Man and Anaconda and led them to Soboba to join Ferret and ME-109.

The ride east on Soboba started out more or less much like the first part of Gilman with Ferret and ME-109 leading us till after the first roller. After that they once again left us and I took over the pull till we got to the golf course driving range and Dave sprinted by me and headed for the last little rise where he blew up and we rolled back past him. We took everyone to the turn at Main and Ramona where we picked up Ferret and ME-109. We then rode east to Hemet Street where Highlander and Tax Man left us. I then pulled everyone else to Cedar and around to Florida to get back to Carl’s for coffee and conversation. Both ME-109 and Ferret left before we got back to Lincoln to make the ride home. Digger left us at Park and Devonshire. Anaconda, Dave, Karl and I rode back to Burger King to get there just as Tax Man was pulling out of the parking lot. All in all it wasn’t a bad day and even if I still have several doctor appointments left I will enjoy such days.