By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Wind is a bane to cyclists. Looking at the predictions for Wednesday it looked like we would have three or four hours on an east wind on Wednesday. That makes it hard to decide if I should post a ride west and enjoy the ride out and then fight the wind all the way back or go east and ride with the wind at our back on the way home. I posted a west ride that was a little shorter and headed for the bike shop. Once again we had a few waiting for me when I arrived at the shop. Digger, Earth Dog, Dragon Slayer and Centaur were there. Tax Man and Highlander were the last to arrive and we got ready to head out to Lyon and head to Acacia.

When we turned onto Acacia the wind wasn’t much help but we could tell it was there. Once heading south on Kirby I had the lead and the wind was no help at all. True to the prediction the wind was out of the east and puffing at about six mph or for you flyers and sailors about 5 knots. It was supposed to get to 10 knots on the way west on Domenigoni which is good. The bad part is it was supposed to be blowing at about 12 knots on the way back home and it would be right in our face. The group followed me to Cypress and then over to Sanderson to head south. We cleared the light and crossed Stetson making our way towards Mustang. After clearing Mustang Dragon Slayer took the lead and pulled us to Domenigoni. Dragon Slayer pulled us to the rise and I got a chance to head towards Warren. Dragon Slayer got the lead back and pulled us over the dry wash before Highlander took a turn at the front. We all took turns heading for Winchester till we dropped Digger and Earth Dog. I pulled almost to Leon and Dragon Slayer got to lead again. I thought he was going to pull us over the saddle and Highlander was safely on his wheel par way up the saddle when Centaur rolled by and headed for the top. Highlander fell off and I started to chase but Dragon Slayer beat me to it and chased him over the top. I caught then at the bottom of the hill and we pulled into the gas station on Menifee to regroup.

By the time we were ready to head back put onto Domenigoni Tax Man said he had to head for home and left us heading for Simpson. I pulled us towards Antelope and the freeway overpass. Traffic was horrid as we crossed over the freeway so we might want to rethink going that way till the finish the road work there. We rolled by Haun and headed for Bradley and noticed we had lost Digger and Earth Dog. We stopped by a construction sign and waited till they caught up before heading for Murrieta and the Park at La Ladera.

I Pulled for a while and then Dragon Slayer pulled till we got to the turn and headed over to Normandy and then east to LaLadera and our rest stop. After a break and a snack we got back on the road and headed north to Honeyrun and make our way to McCall. Dragon Slayer and Earth Dog took off on us and got a pretty good lead as we turned north again. I pulled the rest of the group back up to Cherry Hill and then to McCall before heading east. Dragon Slayer and Earth Dog were stuck at the light on Murrieta and it doesn’t change unless you push the button or a car trips the light. We got to the light and waited with them before heading east some more heading for the overpass at Bradley. We crossed over the freeway and I noticed we had lost Digger. I sent the rest of the group over Hospital Hill and and then waited to pull Digger over the hill and regroup at Menifee. Once we were all collected we headed for Briggs and cut over to the dump road.

I know Highlander teases us about getting his tires dirty on the transition from Briggs and the dump road but it is shorter than Simpson. Once again Dragon Slayer took off on us taking Centaur with him. I watched as they left and then slowly picked up my pace as we headed for Leon and I had Highlander in tow. I pulled hard into the wind as we rolled by Leon and headed for the rise leading to the D V V flag sprint. It wasn’t a good day for the sprint because the wind was right on my face. But I pulled through the flag at the Arena and headed for the big turn before the Pentecostal center. Just as the road headed up I got hit by a gust of wind and decided to stand up and attack it. That move lost Highlander who haad stayed with me from Leon to the rise. I tried to close on Dragon Slayer and Centaur but I couldn’t so I had to settle for a regroup at Winchester Farms. We took a break before heading for home on Stowe.

Once headed for home I stayed up front till we got to California and then chased Highlander down heading for Stetson. The wind was still a bit fluky so O backed off and waited for Dragon Slayer to pull the group to me and then rode to Stetson with him till I noticed both Digger and Earth Dog were falling off. I slowed to pick them up and ended up pulling them back to the big shop to say our good byes and head for home. Not a bad 38 miles for a Wednesday.