By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) We normally have a long ride for Labor Day and Memorial Day. Today was supposed to be a beach ride but there was little or no interest so an alternative had to be devised. One ride with about the same distance and just a bit more climbing was the one around Lake Elsinore. I wanted to post that ride but to be honest it struck fear in me. It was a Lake Elsinore ride that exposed my heart problems that resulted in a quadruple bi-pass. To be more specific about the fear I am not back into anything like the fitness I had on that previous ride. However we cannot be paralyzed by fear so I posted the ride and headed for the bike shop to meet with anyone that wanted to get in about 60 miles today. It turned out to be a pretty good group with Digger, Earth Dog, and Dragon Slayer waiting for me as I arrived. We were joined by Barracuda and RCMP followed by Gambler and MacGyver and Highlander. By 8 am we were on our way and headed down Lyon to Acacia. We don’t have many choices heading east or west from the bike shop so these two streets are well traveled. We made our way to Kirby and headed south towards Cypress and the housing tract.

As we move west towards Johnston my mind and body showed me how much reluctance it had on doing this ride. My ankle had been sore all day Sunday and it was still tender today. My right leg felt tight and sore as well. I knew it was partly my mind trying to get me to give up and cut the ride short but I was determined to see how well I could do or if I could even ride 60 miles after almost a year of recovery. So I stayed with it and made it to Sanderson with the group and then turned south and led the group towards Mustang.

I was still pulling as we turned onto Domenigoni and came in right behind a guy named Chris riding a Titanium bike. I came up beside him as we creased the first little rise and encouraged him to join us. He had not ridden in a pace line with a group our size before so we gave him some pointers and I fell off of the lead to move to the rear of the pace line and explain what we do and what the hand signals mean. He held on very well and was still with us even after digger and Earth Dog fell back and we pulled away at the dry wash. We were in a double pace line as we rolled by Winchester and run down a smaller group just before the saddle. We pulled them over the saddle and down towards Lindenburger before one of the smaller group pulled around on a TT bike and headed for Menifee. Chris pulled off at Laguna Vista and we stopped at the gas station for a regroup and refresh. There was another group there and it looked like a lot of road riders were out for this holiday. Once our water bottles were refilled, snacks were eaten and we were rested we headed out onto Newport and west towards the freeway. We were pretty much all together all the way to Antelope and only lost Digger as we crossed over the freeway and rolled by Haun. Now we were focused on Murrieta and Railroad Canyon.

As we got to Goetz and ready for the climb I moved from fearful to determined and stared up the first hill in second or third. I was able to make the hill without much effort but with far less speed than I used to have. But I was able to stay seated and made it to the second hill and through the light. I headed for the second climb but got stopped at the light by Stater Brother’s where Highlander joined me. It was a long light and Highlander was trying to do a rolling track stand and kept moving farther and farther into the intersection. Soon he was halfway across and the light was still red. Two trucks were coming through the intersection and had to stop so they wouldn’t hit him as he continued to roll slowly through the intersection. After they got by him one of the trucks signaled to me that either Highlander was number one or I was I am not sure. When I caught Highlander at the top of the rise he just said, “wow that was a long light, I thought it was going to change.” The two of us rode down the hill together past Mickey Ds and regrouped with fast guys and waited for Digger and Earth Dog. When they joined us Digger turned back and I pulled us towards Coryadon.

It had been a long time since I had been up to Grand at Lake Elsinore and I had heard they had repaved it as smooth as glass. However as we got to Grand I had to stop and get some vitamin I for a sore chest. It seems as if the pushing through Railroad canyon may have put more stress on my breast bone than I am used to and I needed something for the minor pain. Whatever the reason it was time to back off and just enjoy the ride if I could. Gambler had to stop and change a tire so at least I got a chance to rest. Once the group was back on the road I settled into cruise mode and watch most of them pull away except for Earth Dog and Highlander who fell back to stay with me. We took turns pulling all the way past 74 and turned towards Lake and the Jack In the Box. When we decided to get back on the road we also decided to break onto two groups. The fast guys would leave us heading back to Elsinore and Highlander and Earth Dog would keep me company heading back to Railroad canyon.

We said good bye to Gambler, Barracuda, Dragon slayer, MacGyver and RCMP as we rode by the lake and then the three of us stopped at Mickey Ds for a soda and a rest before heading through Railroad canyon. I stayed on cruise as we started up Railroad canyon and watched as Earth dog led Highlander over the first climb. I closed on Earth Dog on the second climb but pushed just hard enough to activate the old beta blockers when Highlander joined us at the real estate office before dropping off towards Murrieta. We had to make a potty break at the Jack In the box on Murrieta and then Earth Dog pulled us towards the freeway and back over Antelope to make our way to Menifee. We hit each and every light red all the way to Menifee and again at Winchester. Highlander pulled me to the dry wash and Earth Dog kept pulling away till Highlander finally gave me the lead to pull. I had enough energy to get us up to Earth dog and we made it to Sanderson together. I followed them down to Johnston and we separated as I headed east towards home and a hot shower. I made the sixty miles and had a reasonable average speed. I was more tired than I used to get on such a ride but I made it and felt good about that. I will have to test myself again but next time the fear will be less I am pretty sure.