By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I had been off the bike for a week and it was going to be hot today so I posted a short easy ride to start off the week. I decided to ride the Klein and tried to post a ride with at least part of the ride that had wind at our back. Once I got to the Bike Shop I noticed Dragon Slayer was sitting there to give us an update on his operation. Digger and Earth Dog were talking with Minotaur and to our surprise Highlander came back from a long vacation. We wanted to get out on time and try to beat the heat so we left right at 8am and headed north on Lyon. I started out slowly and rode at the back with Minotaur as we rolled north towards Devonshire and then Fruitvale. However as we got close to Esplanade Minotaur had picked up the pace and we found ourselves getting to the light first. Once it turned green we headed north again and started to work our way towards Ramona.

We were scooting along pretty well as we got to Ramona and I made the turn first and pointed us towards State Street. We had been lucky so far and there was just enough cloud cover to keep the heat down. It was still rather humid but as long as we were moving it felt a bit cooler than the 80 degrees it was supposed to be. We quickly made our way to State and headed north once again trying to get to Ramona and then Soboba.

Minotaur and I easily chatted as we worked our way to the college and moved on to Soboba and a short break. I told Minotaur to make a run at Soboba and I would bring the rest of the group through even if I had to pull all the way. Minotaur took off and we made our way to the first roller. After the first roller Earth Dog took off after Minotaur and I pulled Highlander to the second roller. Digger fell off a bit and Earth Dog crested if front of both of us. I continued on at a reasonable pace and pulled Highlander to the driving range and up the hill to the last hole before the trees where we could wait for Digger. We picked up Earth Dog as we headed for the river bridge and the turn onto Ramona to head east. After we turned we saw Minotaur waiting for us.

As we got to Hemet Street Highlander left and I had to hurry up to catch Digger and Earth Dog as they followed Minotaur. Minotaur pulled Earth Dog away with him and I couldn’t get Digger up to them. They made the turn on Cedar and faded into the distance and I finally gave chase. I found them waiting at the Fire station and pulled in to join them. Digger continued on to Florida and we had to chase him to the corner. Once we got up to him Minotaur and I once again took the lead and ended up pulling away into the trees. We got to Cranston station and waited for Digger and Earth Dog so we could take a short break before heading back to Carl’s Jr. for coffee. We let digger and Earth Dog have a head start and decided to make a run at the Cranston to Fairview segment. Once Minotaur and I were out onto Florida and heading west I took the first pull and chased Earth Dog and Digger who were just starting up the ramp into the trees heading west. I rolled up the ramp only dropping a maybe 1 mph as we entered the trees they were exiting from. To my surprise I was running in zone 5 and had no effects from my beta blockers. I caught Digger and then Earth Dog and rather than draft in behind them rolled by and took Minotaur with me. Just then I could see I was deeper in zone 5 and Minotaur thankfully pulled around to take the pull. I drafted Minotaur as we pulled away from the other two and waited till I had dropped into zone 4 before taking my second shot at pulling. I waited till me zone 5 and gave the pull back to Minotaur who took us to the light at Fairview. We had to stop briefly and Minotaur pulled me to Carl’s for coffee and conversation. When we got back on the road we rode up to Lincoln and headed west towards Park and home.

Digger left us when we jogged over to Devonshire and Minotaur left on Yale. I stayed with Earth Dog all the way to Santa Fe before we cut over to Latham to head west once again. Earth Dog pulled all the way back to Lyon and to the bike shop where we parted our ways and headed for home. It was only 32 miles for me but it was a good 32 miles.