By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I know I missed Monday and at first I was glad because it was so cold. However Highlander is on vacation for a week or two and I am back to try and recover from Last Wednesday. I have almost no real stamina and after two hours I am about through. Wednesday I had pushed it and the group has insisted I cut back and build up more slowly. So I headed to Burger King determined to just ride as much as was comfortable and let someone else lead if I broke off and headed for home. When I got to Burger King Dragon Slayer and Digger were already there. Earth Dog was held up with car trouble but ME-109 joined us just before 9am as we headed out onto Gilmore and headed south.

I wanted to see how far I could go and if possible I would make the decision to finish the ride or not once we got to Fairview and Florida. I knew I could count on Dragon Slayer to lead those that wanted to side Soboba to State and I could wait for them at Carl’s. I followed Dragon Slayer and ME-109 to Acacia and over to Kirby thinking that this was the first ride on my Tarmac in almost three months. The drop was a bit more than the Klein but I felt pretty good as we turned onto Kirby and worked our way down to Cypress to start west towards Johnston.

We made it to Johnston and got caught at the light on Sanderson for just a moment before turning south towards Stetson. Dragon Slayer led us to Wally World and headed for Mustang where spotted Earth Dog driving north. He flipped a turn and pulled us over so we made arrangements to meet him at Searl and he would ride with us east. Dragon Slayer took us to Domenigoni and started us east till we got to the light at Searl where ME-109 took off for the marina climb and Dragon Slayer went to pick up Earth Dog. We left and headed for State Street before ME-109 got back but we figured he would catch us before we got to McSweeney. Only problem was he didn’t realize we were headed for McSweeney. Dragon Slayer and Earth Dog took us to State and then to McSweeney, through the housing tract and back to State to head north.

Dragon slayer thought he could see ME-109 about a mile in front of us but we were in no condition to give chase, at least I wasn’t so were cruised over Domenigoni and headed for Chambers to start the move east again. I hooked onto Dragon Slayer’s back wheel and he pulled me to Chamber then Buena Vista before turning on Thornton and heading to Santa Fe. I was still hanging on as we got to Columbia and headed for Thornton again and finally Crest to ride past the old neighborhood there. We ended up Chasing Earth Dog to Lake before heading north again towards Stetson once more.

We were getting close to decision time by the time we were headed east on Stetson. I was coming up on 20 miles and over an hour so I started thinking about how much I had left in the tank. This time I remember to eat and drink so my energy level seemed up but I was still concerned with stamina as we turned on Fairview and headed for Florida. I decided to forget Soboba and head for Cranston and the group decided to stay with me. Dragon Slayer and Earth Dog pulled us east towards the trees and the fruit stand and once again I did the best I could to stick on Dragon Slayer’s wheel. He had to slow a bit when bee got in his helmet through an air hole but he stayed in front and got us to the Cranston parking lot and a short break.

Once we were ready we headed back west towards Fairview and Carl’s. Dragon slayer pulled most of the way with Earth Dog taking a turn till we got down to Casino where Dragon Slayer saw ME-109 standing on the parking lot. He stopped while the rest of us headed for Carl’s and a coffee break. Dragon Slayer joined us a few minutes later while we enjoyed coffee and conversation. Once we were refreshed we headed back to Lincoln but we stopped to see Huntress on our way back home. After a quick stop and a few hugs we headed for Park and home. Digger left us at Devonshire and Dragon slayer had to pull me up to the fleeing Earth Dog and we caught him at San Jacinto. We stayed with him to State where he left us to go pick up his car at the Museum. I left Dragon Slayer at Lyon and headed for home and lunch. Yes I was tired and a bit sore but I had made it over 2 hours and could still walk pretty well, which I had to do once I got home and was greeted by my little dog. So far 30 miles and two hours and fifteen minutes seem to be my limit for a group ride but I will have to do better than that if I plan on doing the fifty at the TDPS.

A hill too far

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Many will tell you I may not know my limits but I tend to test my limits either for the good or the bad. Today might be just such a test. My longest ride to this point after my surgery has been Monday. That ride lasted 23miles and just over an hour and a half. Today I plugged in a 38 mile ride with two or three little climbs in it just to see if I could stay with the group. I got to Burger King not knowing just who that group might be. My hope was to see if I could do the whole ride but I didn’t want to hold up the group in doing so. I got to Berger King in time to see Digger and Dragon Slayer talking. We visited till Highlander and Earth Dog arrived and then spent less than five minutes waiting before heading out onto Gilmore and pointed towards Acacia. It was still pretty cold, at least for me, as we got to Acacia and headed west. There was more traffic than I had expected but as I said I haven’t been riding much since October. We all caught the light at Kirby and had to wait before we could head south towards the railroad tracks.

It seems strange to not be pulling the group even as we moved towards Cypress. Just the effort of taking pictures puts be in the back of the group and it is all I can do to catch back up and work my way into a good drafting position. I was too far back to work my way up to Dragon Slayer and Highlander but I did hook onto Digger and Earth Dog. We worked our way over to Johnston and across Sanderson to get to Industry and work our way to Cawston. Highlander took us onto Stetson and we headed for the airport. As we crossed Warren we picked up MacGyver and headed for California Street. I did my best to stay with everyone but it seemed had to hold on. I am simply not used to pushing into a head wind and my legs aren’t used to pushing for more than 30 minutes anyway. But I did stay with them as we turned onto California and was still with them as we got to Stowe. Dragon Slayer and MacGyver led us all the way to Winchester and we stopped to catch our, read my breath, before continuing on with the ride.

After we were rested a bit Dragon Slayer, Earth Dog and MacGyver took us south again, this time into the wind and pilled us all the way to the dump road. After as turned west Earth Dog sort of took off on us but the rest of the group held back for me and pulled me west with them. We passed the Wild West Arena and up the little rise towards Leon. We knew I was fading a bit already so we didn’t got to Briggs and north to Mapes but rather took Leon to Simpson and headed back to Briggs and then north to McCall. Earth Dog took us to Heritage and we finally caught up to him at Menifee. The back side of McCall has always been a test for me and I was interested to see how today went. I hit the hill well and was riding next to MacGyver. I began to tire rather quickly and MacGyver mentioned I was in my big ring. A shift into the small ring made my life much easier and I made it to the top and was at least not the last one up. We dropped down the front side of McCall and I was able to get uo to just over 30 mph but I had little or no spin getting me there. We all caught the next two lights and made it to the Gas Station for a regroup before heading in.

We had already cut the rode short but we agreed to shorten it again by turning on Murrieta and heading south to Newport. By this time I was starting to tire and we were almost at the point where I had in as many miles and I had for the whole ride Monday. We were also once again heading into the wind and I was struggling just to hold on. I did hold on however and made it to Newport with the group. we separated a bit heading to Haun and Digger led us over the overpass and into the parking lot at Jack in the Box. I was allowed to rest and rehydrate for about 20 minutes before we were back on the road heading east on Newport with a quartering wind. I was fine as we crossed Antelope but started to fade a bit by the time we got to Menifee. By now the group had the shepherd me a bit like an old elephant as we got close to the Saddle. I hit the saddle well but by the time I crested I was almost out of energy. I had forgotten to bring anything to eat because I was out of practice and so my energy store was almost gone when we got to Leon. Now drafting had become imperative and I followed Dragon Slayer and MacGyver all the way to Winchester. We had one short stop while Highlander fixed a flat while Digger and Earth Dog left a bit early because they were getting a chill. MacGyver and Dragon Slayer pulled away from Highlander and I so they could attempt a PR on California. Highlander pulled me to Stowe and then to California where my tank was running on red. Highlander was concerned enough than he pulled me to Warren where we picked up Dragon Slayer and got back to Cawston and finally to Sanderson where Dragon Slayer left us and Highlander escorted me back to my neighborhood. I had errands to run so I took a hot Shower and had lunch to refuel plus hydrate some more while feeling more or less exhausted. I will stay with it but I may have to work my way back slower than I thought if I have any hope of making half of the TDPS on the 23rd.

A New Beginning

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I know it has been a while since I posted a ride report but I have been restricted from riding since October and have just now felt good enough to get back out there and join the group. Highlander let me post the ride and I picked a short easy one to get back at it. I showed up at Burger King just after Dragon Slayer and Digger. While we waited Minotaur and Highlander arrived just ahead of Earth Dog. Just as we got ready to leave Anaconda drove up for the first ride since her crash. With that we were ready to go and headed out onto Latham before turning north on Lyon pointed toward Ramona.

I had already informed the rest of the group that they didn’t have to wait for me but everyone insisted on riding at my pace as we moved by Devonshire and headed to Esplanade. I even got to pull for a few blocks but that didn’t last long before Minotaur and Dragon Slayer took over pulling work. Minotaur was leading as we turned east on Ramona Expressway and headed for State Street. I stayed in the middle of the pack all the way to State and stayed there till we rode past the college and headed for Soboba. As we rounded the corner after the bridge we took a break so everyone could ask me if I was doing OK. I was and took the opportunity to take a drink before we headed east again towards the Golf Course.

We held it together as we got to the first little roller and I stayed with the leaders as we crested and headed for the second one. As we started up the second one Digger, Earth Dog and Anaconda fell off a bit before we crested but caught us before we made it to the driving range. I drafted Dragon Slayer and Minotaur past the driving range and up the hill towards the trees and the last green where we normally stop. Dragon slayer and Minotaur continued on to Ramona and Main while the rest of us took another break at the trees. We then headed for the River Bridge and met Dragon Slayer and Minotaur after the light on Ramona. We were all back together as we headed for Hemet Street and on to Cedar.

As we headed east on Cedar to where it curved around to meet Fairview Highlander started to question if I should hold out for the run up to Cranston Station but I told him I was feeling fine. We past the Fire station and I was questioned again. Finally they stopped me at Fairview and Florida to see if I wouldn’t consider turning west for coffee at Carl’s. I relented and decided that discretion was the better part of valor so we cut the ride short and headed for coffee. After we visited for a few minutes we got back on the road and headed for Lincoln and home.

I still felt pretty good and the riding position in the Klein was relaxed enough that I didn’t feel sore or uncomfortable as we rode by lake and headed back towards Hemet Street to get to Park and head around to Devonshire.

We finally turned on Park and headed towards Devonshire where Digger left us. Earth Dog headed for the barn and Minotaur had to get back to he left us as well. I road back to the car with Anaconda, Highlander and Dragon Slayer and caught up to Earth Dog just before he loaded up and headed for home. We said our farewells and headed our separate ways. Dragon Slayer and I went to The Healthy Pub and had lunch before he took me home and I headed to the dentist office. I was slower and the ride was shorter but I felt good to be back.