By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) After a disappointing display of no energy on Monday I wasn’t really looking forward to the Wednesday ride. I knew I had to add a bit of distance because Monday was so short but I also knew it was going to be hot. I wasn’t sure if my legs had rested enough but I did know I wanted to stay in bed when it was time to get up. Still I posted an older ride of about 40 miles and headed for the bike shop. Digger and Earth Dog met me and I was joined by Highlander and Tax Man just in time to leave the bike shop at 8am. I started us off towards Acacia and took us to Kirby before heading south to Cypress.

I wasn’t conversing much as we rode through the housing tract and headed towards Johnston. At the light I felt pretty good and had a reasonable expectation of being able to stay with the group once we got past Stetson and made our way to Domenigoni. Digger led the way towards Mustang and was still leading as we turned west on Domenigoni. I took the lead at the rise and pulled us to Warren where Earth Dog took the lead and pulled us over the dry wash. We held together on the down side of the dry wash only dropping Digger on the little climb. Earth Dog went back to get Digger and Tax Man took over the pull at Winchester. I took things back at Leon and pulled Highlander to the bottom of the saddle. I tried to keep the pace even but Highlander couldn’t hold the wheel so I backed off as Tax Man took over. I crested the saddle with Highlander on my wheel and dropped down the back side gaining on Tax Man till he was slowed by the light on Lindenburger and I caught him just past the stop light. We headed for the gas station on Menifee and regrouped. Once we were on our way again I was told that Highlander and Tax Man were going to cut the ride short. I will admit that for a moment I thought of joining them but decided against it. As we headed for Holland and the Revive climb I wanted to test my legs and see if I could attack the climb.

As we closed on Holland I put it in the small ring and started a spin heading for the climb. As it kicked up I held the spin till it fell to about 90 rpm and then got out of the saddle and headed for the top. I am still not up to making the whole climb out of the saddle, not in a sprint anyway. But I did crest the climb and stayed on it heading for Garbani. I was way ahead of the group at Scott and so I stopped after the light and waited for the other four to join me. Once we were all back together we followed Highlander and Tax Man to Leon where I turned right and headed for Max Gillis with Earth Dog and Digger in tow. I pulled most of the way and Digger only fell back slightly as we turned onto Max Gillis and headed for Winchester. We got caught at the light before crossing over to Thompson and heading for Pourroy.

I got us to Pourroy and down to East Benton before heading back west to the Gas Station on Winchester to refill our water bottles. We rehydrated and got back on the road to turn north on Winchester. Digger took us to Thonpson Max Gillis and Earth Dog took over and pulled us to Scott. I was feeling pretty good and think I had just the right gears for today’s ride north. We stopped to collect Digger at Scott and then headed for the rise and run to Holland. I was pulling hard up the rise and crested after Digger fell off of Earth Dog’s wheel. Earth Dog seemed to slow a bit at the crest and I pulled away on the down grade. When we hit the flat I was still pulling the same gear and pulling away. It turned into one of my better ride to Domenigoni and I finally made it through the light and up to Stowe and Winchester farms for a banana and some more water. Se took a break before heading back out onto Stowe and east towards California. At that point I was still felling better than I had Monday and was glad I had made the ride today.

I took us onto California and down to Stetson. Digger took us to Warren and Earth Dog took us to the Airport before dropping back to get digger and I took us to Cawston and then Sanderson. We headed north once more and I got us to Lowes. We made our way to Acacia and down to Kirby. I then led us back to the bike shop and we talked for a while before heading for home. It was not my best ride but it was an improvement over the last few weeks.