By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) We had a few days off because of the rain and the holiday. In those few days it went from a warm fall to winter, or at least when I looked at the weather for Monday it looked like winter. It was supposed to be cold all week and it might rain once or twice. I posted what I thought would be an easy flat ride and dressed warmly and headed to the bike shop. Digger and Earth Dog were at the shop as was Minotaur. We were all just kicking back as we waited to hit the road when Gambler showed up just to visit. While we were talking Bruin arrived making it a small but friendly group for the day. I rolled the bike out and we headed to Acacia. I pulled all the way to Kirby and then headed for Cypress. The cold was filtering all the way to my bones and I had almost no real energy as we moved through the housing tract and out onto Johnston and the light at Sanderson. Once we moved through the light I gave up the lead and was willing to let someone else pull once we got out onto Stetson. Digger and Earth Dog took over the lead and pulled away as Minotaur, Bruin and I talked and headed for Warren. Once we rolled by Warren we started to close on Earth Dog and Digger and trailed them to California. We caught them at Stowe and headed for Winchester Farms directly into the wind. The predictions seemed to be holding at least at the early part of the ride. About half way to Winchester farms Digger fell back and the four of us headed for the metal barn and a regroup at the parking lot. I was chilled pretty much all the way to the core. W took a short break and confirmed the rest of the route before I took the group south towards the dump road.

My legs were starting to hurt and my fingers were tingling as we made our turn west and headed for the Wild West Arena. Digger stayed with us till the Arena was in sight and fell off as we increased speed heading for the rise just before Leon. I stayed with the group to the rise but fell off when my foot unclipped on the left. I followed the other three to Leon and then to the corner of Leon and Simpson where we waited for Digger.

I felt rested enough to start us west again and pulled part way to Briggs before Bruin took over and pushed us west. It was pretty comfortable in the draft but the wind was still hitting us on the left shoulder and face so whenever you moved left at all the cold took a bite of you. This time we were all tucked into a pace line and holding on like we are supposed to and we came to the stop sign on Briggs and rolled on. We didn’t get far because Minotaur flatted and we had to pull over for a tube changing class.

When we started off again Earth Dog and Digger led part of the way to Lindernburg and started us south. We caught them just before we got back to Domenigoni and we headed for the saddle. Bruin and Minotaur crested with Earth Dog and I attempted to hold back to keep Digger in sight. At the top of the saddle Earth Dog and I waited till digger caught us but he lost me on the down side heading for Leon. I was still cold and sore and tired but I thought the wind would be at my back but it wasn’t. The wind was directly out of the south and was no assistance to heading east at all. Soon I noticed Earth Dog fell back to get Digger and I found myself halfway between the two in the front and the two in the back. There were places where I had to drop a gear or two to keep my legs spinning but soon I got to the light at Winchester and saw Minotaur and Bruin waiting. Just as the light turned green Earth Dog joined me and we rode up to the waiting two and waited for Digger.

As soon as we were ready to go I started us out heading for the dry wash and Warren. By the time we got to the flag it was clear that we were not going to get any wind at our backs and Digger was feeling cold and tired. He told me he would be leaving us at Sanderson so I knew we would be down to four if we continued to Fairview. About a minute later Minotaur pulled up next to me and said he would be leaving at Sanderson because he has a class to attend. By the time I got to Sanderson I could only see Earth Dog and we decided to finish the ride if we could and at least get some hot coffee. I didn’t know what had happened to Bruin. Earth Dog and I finally got a bit of a tail wind on State Street as we headed north and made our way to Chambers. By the time we turned on Chambers and headed for Buena Vista Bruin joined us. When we asked where he had been he said he had made a nature stop and wanted to finish the ride with us. I got us to Stetson and started east at an easy pace. Soon Earth Dog rolled by and we had to chase him all the way to the high school. We had to follow him to the speed bump and attack the rise. About three quarters up the bump my hands went numb and my left hand almost came off of the bar. It took me to Lake Street to get the feeling back into my hands and I was the last one to get to Fairview for a short regroup. Earth Dog took us almost all the way to Florida and believe it or not we made the light green and headed for Carl’s for coffee and a chance to warm up. The ride home wasn’t any better than the ride out was. The wind was still in our face somehow and we fought it all the way back to Park and then Devonshire. We took turns pulling hard first to San Jacinto and then to State Street. I decided to leave at Palm and head for home and a temptation of a hot shower. My legs were sore and I was cold. Even a hot shower had to wait because the dog needed a walk. After the walk I did take a shower and a short nap. It took some Motrin and more hot coffee to get me through dinner but by the time I sat down to write the report I was feeling a bit better. I think I may be getting too old for this, but who knows how I will feel by Wednesday.