By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I decided to make Wednesday a test day in my journey back into cycling health. I put together a short ride up to Beaumont for coffee and a fast trip back. There wouldn’t be much getting ready or warmed up on this ride only a short trip to Lambs Canyon and up to Beaumont. I had no idea who would be joining me when I left for the Bike Shop but I knew I would be attempting the climb for the first time since I have been home from the Hospital. At the bike shop I found Digger and Dragon Slayer talking to Minotaur. They were soon joined by Earth Dog and Brain on his single speed. ME-109 and Bulldozer joined us as did Anaconda and Huntress. That made ten of us heading out onto Lyon just after 9am to get the day started.

I let everyone know that I wouldn’t be pushing more than 140 beats a minute heading up Lambs Canyon. I didn’t know if that was enough effort to stay up with the group but I expected it wasn’t and that I would be left behind well before we started the climb at Gilman Springs. So I settled in as we moved north on Lyon and tested my legs and checked to see how my saddle position was after adjusting it down on Tuesday. Earth Dog got well out front and we all had to follow him all the way to Esplanade with Brian and Minotaur close on his wheel. I knew there would be a minimum of picture taking on this ride because we would be all split up once the climb started to I took advantage to a slowing of the pack as we turned onto Ramona Boulevard and headed west towards Sanderson.

I was able to stay out front all the way to Sanderson and even got us to the Expressway and headed north. The group was more than happy to follow me to the bridge just before Gilman and didn’t pass me till we started the climb at the Gilman overpass. Digger decided to cut the ride short at Gilman and I followed the group as they moved passed the Gilman onramp and headed up the hill. I found a gear I could turn about 85 rpm with and headed up the hill after them with a heart rate right at 142 BPM. I wasn’t going to close on anyone but I wasn’t going to blow up either so I kept the pace until I noticed Huntress pulled over removing her jacket. I rolled by her and she started to chase me up the first grade and towards the hump leading towards the dump. Huntress caught me before the light turning into the dump and at first I started to ramp up to follow her but soon saw my Heart Rate hitting 150 so I backed off to avoid hitting the beta blockers and a shut down. I slowly followed the fading figure of Huntress to the top of the second climb in Lambs Canyon and to a regroup at First street before leaving for Beaumont and Oak Valley Parkway. Some of us got separated after the light at the freeway and I managed to stay with the lead group as we past first through Eleventh Street to get to Oak Valley Parkway and a turn towards the east with the wind at our back.

It didn’t take us long to get to Highland Springs road and drop down to Second Street for a regroup at the Starbucks. Half of the group was in a bigger hurry than the other half so Minotaur, Bulldozer, ME-109 and Brian headed for home while Dragon Slayer, Earth Dog, Huntress, Anaconda and I took our time and finished our coffee and conversation before heading west on Second and then First to get back to Lambs Canyon and the decent back to Hemet. Earth Dog started the decent first and Dragon Slayer was the only one to chase him. I stayed with Anaconda till I saw Huntress pulling away about halfway to the dump. I closed on Huntress and pulled around her as we passed the Dump so I could pull her to the last drop just before Gilman. The road opened up so we had the whole left lane as we dropped down to Gilman and then to Ramona Expressway for a regroup and the trip down to Devonshire. I started the pull and Huntress took over and pulled past the water company. Dragon Slayer pulled to Cottonwood and Earth Dog blew by us as we waited at the red light. We took turns chasing Earth Dog and finally caught him by the time we got to Fruitvale. He got away again and we had to chase him to Devonshire where Dragon Slayer took over and pulled us back to Lyon and to the Bike Shop. I picked up a tack when we got to Huntress’s truck and she offered to give me a ride home. I was just tired enough to take her up on the offer and gladly took the ride home.