By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) At least it was a bit warmer today and I had slept well. I put together one of Highlander’s favorite rides and headed for the bike shop expecting just three of us like Monday. I got there and Digger was there with Minotaur. Well maybe we would have four riders. Bruin arrived with a friend Paul just after I arrived and Highlander showed up last. I had adjusted my saddle down a bit hoping to ease a sore right leg so I wasn’t planning on pushing it at all today. So we waited till 9am and headed down to Acacia and headed over to Kirby with me pulling. I had no idea how much Paul rode and I wanted to keep Digger with us today so I was keeping the pace right at 16 to 18 mph on the way to Cypress and towards Johnston. We rounded the corner and stopped at the light on Sanderson. I continued on after the light changed and pulled us to Cawston before heading west towards Warren.

After we rolled by Warren Minotaur pulled by and started to kick up the pace with Highlander on his wheel. Bruin had joined me to pull to California and we were followed by Paul and Digger. We were well behind Minotaur and Highlander and turned onto Stowe thinking about giving chase. But I didn’t know how Paul would take a pace line and Digger more than likely would fall off at anything over 22 mph. I fell off after Bruin took over the pull and pulled digger to Winchester Farms for our regroup and nature stop.

Once we were ready to hit the road again I pulled south towards the Dump Road to continue west. We had changed the route a bit and decided to head to Briggs and ride up to Mapes before turning towards Menifee and north again. I continued to pull past the Wild West Arena and up the grade before looking back to see Digger off the back again. I dropped back and once again pulled him towards Briggs and the fading group led by Minotaur. As I pulled Digger onto Briggs we could see at least one rider in front of us and we managed to catch him at the light on 74. It was Paul and he had fallen off of the pace set by Bruin, Minotaur and Highlander. I then pulled the two of them north on Briggs and up to Mapes where I expected to see the others waiting for us. True to my expectations the lead group was waiting for us and we regrouped before heading west to Menifee.

Things were about to pick up a bit as we got back on our way and Digger was leading down towards Menifee till a rather large white dog started running next to him. Digger slowed down considerably and I took over heading to Menifee and then north towards Nuevo. I pulled over the rise and started down past the Nursery. On the second drop Minotaur pulled by me and we started to accelerate on the long pull to the stop sign. Highlander was the only one to stay with us and I took a second turn at the front and got us to the first stop sign. Minotaur took over again and pulled to Central where we had to accelerate again and Highlander finally had to turn lose and let us slip away. Minotaur and I stayed together to Nuevo and started east towards Lakeview. We took turns pulling to Lakeview and regrouped by the do-nut shop. We had decided to make a straight run to the market on Hansen and the Expressway. I started us north but before we had gone half of a mile Bruin took the lead and pulled us past the post office and the elementary school. By 9th street I took the lead back and pulled us to the Valero station and the regroup at the market. As we headed back east I was determined to hold the group together and was doing pretty well till Minotaur took over and Digger couldn’t keep the pace. I dropped off to get Digger and ended up collecting Paul by the time we got to Warren. We headed south to Cottonwood and I took us out to Sanderson and then south once more till we got to the Starbucks on Esplanade. We pulled out of Starbucks and headed to Esplanade and Kirby before turning south once more. Somewhere just past Seventh Street Bruin pulled over and I rode back to get him thinking he had flatted. He had just forgotten to close his seat bag and we were soon on our way again this time with Paul making a second group. We made our way to Devonshire and then to Lyon and back to the bike shop to finish the ride before heading for home. It was one of my better rides.