By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was finally Friday and we had a simple little ride planned to finish the week. Not everyone likes Bautista but it is one of our better rides and I needed to test my climbing before the Redlands Ruff Ride. So the ride went on the site and the chips would fall where they may. I got to the bike shop not knowing what to expect as far as a group to ride with but Digger was already there along with Karl and Cutter. ME-109 rode up followed by MacGyver. Bandit and Gambler arrived and I knew it would be good for the A riders. Highlander joined us along with Klink. Bulldozer arrived without Minotaur. Earth Dog pulled up just before Huntress making a pretty good group for a Friday ride. We pulled out of the parking lot and headed south on Lyon towards Acacia. We had a chance to visit a bit as we headed past Acacia and lost a few riders at the light. Bandit and I caught up on my progress after surgery and his progress after his last crash. In fact he had a pretty bad one on Bautista but he looked fully recovered to me. We rode together to Johnston and then east to Gilbert before heading south again towards Stetson.

We were all back together by the time the light changed at Stetson and rode down to Thornton to head east again. Gambler pulled up next to Bandit and I and soon the two of them were taking the lead and moving us to State Street to once again catch the light. We moved on as the light turned green and ME-109 and Bulldozer moved up to join Bandit and Gambler. The group was starting to sort out into A and B riders. By the time we turned on Santa Fe and headed to Stetson again MacGyver had joined the A riders and we were joined by Minotaur as we rode by San Jacinto. Highlander was drafting the leaders as we approached Columbia and I thought they had all turned towards Thornton again and worked their way to crest. I rounded the corner a few moments later with the last half of the group with me, or so I thought. I chatted with Huntress and Indicated that I intended to just cruise Bautista to make sure the whole group made it to the top.

We worked our way to Hemet Street and then back to Crest and over to Lake to get back to Stetson and head for Fairview. Cutter, Earth dog and I watched as Huntress and Karl took off after the fleeing a group and we followed them to Fairview where I stopped to wait for Digger and Klink. I waited quite a while before Klink arrived and I discovered that Digger had followed Highlander and not turned on Columbia. They were both in front of me and already on Bautista. Cutter and I headed towards Bautista pulling Earth Dog and Klink and we managed to make the turn with them on our wheel. Cutter wanted to climb Wilson Mesa so I pulled Earth Dog and Klink towards the big left hander and the curve towards the Dam. I had them both in tow till the Dam and then I dropped them and had to wait till Earth dog caught up only to notice Klink was gone. I fell back to get him and Earth Dog continued on. I had to stop by the last dirt road and then I noticed Cutter had picked up Klink and they told me to go on while Klink got a drink before heading up the hill. I saw Bulldozer coming back down the road and headed for home. By the time I made the last three climbs section I had caught Digger and at the last climb the rest of the group started back down the hill. Karl turned back and joined me heading to the top of the canyon where Highlander and Earth Dog was waiting. We waited till I had an energy bar before starting back down the hill ourselves. Earth Dog and Highlander were leading us as we saw Klink and cutter heading for the last climb to the top themselves. Karl and I turned back and joined them before heading back down the hill ourselves.

By the time we got back to the white picket fence Klink had joined Karl and me as we headed for the dam and the last mile to Fairview. Digger and Cutter were not far behind but I had every intention of stopping at the first driveway on Fairview for a regroup before heading north back towards Florida. We took a real short break before shoving off and heading for Stetson and the run to the bridge.

Karl and I were cruising and talking when Digger and Cutter rolled by and Cutter went into a sprint to the bridge. I decided to burn a match or two and try to run Cutter down but he flamed out just before the bridge and we had to back down to wait for Digger and Klink anyway. We were pretty much all back together by the time we crossed Mayberry and Cutter led us to the light at Florida. Once the light changed we headed for Carl’s Junior and a quick coffee. Highlander and Earth Dog were waiting as we pulled up. Once we had taken a break for coffee and conversation Earth Dog and Highlander took us back out to the bikes and got us started for Lincoln and home. It took a moment for everyone to catch up but once we did we headed for park in a pretty tight formation.

We had to chase Earth dog and Highlander to park but everyone still seemed to have enough soup left to stay together. We lost Digger as he headed for Menlo and we cut over to Devonshire. We stayed together till Klink left before State Street and the rest of us headed to Lyon and back to the Bike shop. I checked in at the shop and then went home for lunch and a hot shower. I was pleased with myself and the Bautista climb.