By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was a good looking day for a Friday ride. It wasn’t too hot or cold and it wasn’t too windy. I decided it would be a good day for a flat ride and maybe a good day for the Peugeot set us as a single speed. I headed to the bike shop feeling reasonable well and ready to go. It turned out to be a small group with Digger, Brian, Barracuda, Tax Man, Bruin and me. We left the Bike Shop right at 9am and headed north on Lyon led by Digger.

I did take a turn at pulling and took over from Menlo to Esplanade before giving it back to Digger and Bruin. The thing about riding the single speed is to keep up with the group I have to spin all of the time. We are not talking a cruising spin of 90 rpm but at least 100 rpm just to hold a back wheel. With a 53x20 gear it takes 100 rpm just to do 20 mph and the group was cruising along at about 19.5. Still that is a good gear for cadence training and is easier on my legs. After leaving the light at Esplanade I fell into the middle of the group and followed Bruin and Digger all the way to Ramona Boulevard for the turn west. I picked it up and bit and got to the corner and made the turn first to start the group west and test the wind to see if we would be fighting it all the way to Bridge once on the Expressway.

Bruin took the lead from me and pulled us west towards Sanderson. The group was taking it easy on me by trying to match my gear selection so as to not just pull away from me. Brian was riding a single speed as well but he is a lot younger than me so he can spin a lot faster. Anyway Bruin got us to Sanderson and pointed us to the stop light at the Expressway. Digger started us west on the Expressway but soon gave to lead to me and then Barracuda took over from me and headed us towards Warren. Barracuda set us right on 19 mph and cruised us westward towards the first of the dairy farms. We had to move outside of the rumble strip till we passed the first driveway. We sometimes have to out run a dog or two by the second gate but today we were dog free and I was able to hold on to Barracuda’s wheel as we continued towards Bridge. I was pretty relieved as we finally made it to Bridge and headed north towards Gilman because I expected that we could back it down a bit. We had to wait for Digger anyway so we slowed and finally stopped till he joined us before we headed for the big curve.

We ended up following Bruin after the turn and headed for Gilman and a regroup. I had to work to stay on Bruin’s wheel and follow him all the way to the stop sign for some hydration and a quick regroup before heading east back towards Sanderson. This time we followed Tax Man almost all the way to the top of the grade where Gilman flattens out and heads for the mini rollers and the last dairy farm on Gilman. We had a short downhill and a short uphill before the drop down to Sanderson where we waited for Digger before heading east again on Gilman. I chased Barracuda and Brian past the Scientology gate and up the little hill till it flattens put and headed towards Soboba. Tax Man and Bruin caught me before Soboba where we once again stopped and regrouped and headed east towards the golf course. We made it over the rollers and to the last hole on Soboba before turning towards Ramona. Swe stopped at the corner before heading over the river bed and out onto Ramona and east again.

We easily made our way east towards Esplanade and through the light. We were pretty much all together as we got to Hemet Street and moved on towards Cedar. We decided to ride straight down Ramona and headed for the jog at Lincoln to ride over to Carl’s for coffee and conversation. It was a well needed rest for me but Brian had to leave. Tax Man and Digger left next to get back early. A few minutes later Barracuda, Burin and I headed for Lincoln and the ride west towards Park and home.

We really didn’t have to face much wind heading west as we got to Park and made our way to the Devonshire jog and headed for San Jacinto. Barracuda left us sometime after Yale and the left Bruin and I to ride back to State and then to Lyon to finish the ride and head for home. I got home and had lunch before taking the dog for a walk to get the blood moving in my legs.