Almost half way through the year now, but lots of cold weeks to push through yet. The regular Saturday morning lap had 16 brave souls with nothing better to do but enjoy the cool 6 degrees outdoors. Only the hard core regulars these days, the "wannabe's" tucked up under their doonas. A nice slow build up for the sprint, but got spooked by a newish rider thrashing up the inside whilst others were cranking up the speed to the right. We all want to get home safely dont we? (A kind reminder put things straight, i'm sure he'll settle into a good rider when all his enthusiasm calms). The regulation coffee post ride at the Butterfactory - cakes, muffins, toast, eggs & bacon, and lemon drops on display and at the tables had the appetite fully pumped! Stayed tough and just had coffee....(raisin toast awaited at home).
With a Sunday at Winton planned (historic bikes and cars) i got keen for an early lap. Daniel, Nev, Bo & Kel went the soft option of a 7am start, so i tapped out a quick 30 at 6am to meet them for the 35k loop at 7. The fog was a pea-souper! Blessed the white line at the edge of the road to guide me, but panic set in when the white paint budget ran dry 7km out of town! (No traffic about at that crazy hour, so sat up the road a little to be mesmorised by the centre white line as a guide). Every 50 metres called for a wipe of the glasses, each little bump caused dozens of drops of water to fall from the helmet! Good to have the others for company at 7, but the machine that is Neville knows no limits! Pushed hard most of the way and legs felt it after, but coffee relieved them.
Monday's lap with the P&W's was well paced and free of hard attacks. A steady build up in Raftery Rd was upset by Jeremy (caught earlier) pouring on the power to take the lead, then blew up and free-wheeled on the business end of a bunch sprint! Much use of brakes and profanities, Ryno punctured and braked hard, lots swerved and we came to a halt. No harm done, even Meag's unceremonious fall doing a U turn at walking pace was injury free.
Monday nights ride was solely to clear the head. Lots on my mind for some reason. MP3 & Sony's bass boost earphones attached, i questioned the meaning of life, why i'm on the planet and for what purpose, wrestled with the hiccups of life and pondered the trends of the FTSE 100.... to the tunes of Caribou, Tame Impala and Radiohead. Good therapy. A great 33.4 average brought to a resounding halt by a stinking puncture (the first in four months would you believe?) And in the dark too. Repaired, i turned for home as a safe bet, tube supplies now exhausted. You guessed it, 3km from home the new tube let go! Walkies!!
Tuesday's Couldabeens only mustered 4 (when the going gets tough eh?......) Maybe zero degrees had something to do with it? The great suggestion of single file was well received, good concentration and rythym ensued, great training for the newer riders. Hope it's a regular habit. Daniel (running late for the start?) caught on and a good circuit was enjoyed by all. Back in town before the Cats, and got to see the 7am train leave!
Suprised with 17 rolling up to the hospital group at 6pm. A fresh 7 degrees tested the insulation. Good steady pace (and no breakaways tonite!) all the way round. In the final 2km, speed picked up and i managed to latch onto the rocket Robbo for the last 300metres, but 50 metres from the finish Nath fired out of the barrel to take the chocolates. (Robbo's bounced back fast from the big knee operation)
Great to roll out with the P&W's Wednesday, a steady tempo enjoyed by all. Inspiring to see a few who usually sit on the back come up for a solid turn at the front. Even THM having a crack! The smaller group seems to be better suited to the conditions, no big variations in speed or half-wheeling. Wednesday night off the bike but on the chips, loading up.
8 starters on Thursday (even Trev gave up his much loved doona!) though the 6 degrees felt mild compared to Tuesday! Back to the usual rotation but the heavy atmostphere was like pedalling through treacle. Considering seperating Matty & Bo, the two are terrors on the front together! In all, an enjoyable lap, beating the Cats and seeing the train (again!) means a good lap time. Broke with tradition Thursday night and joined IronmanAyto for a toaster loop. Great to spend some quality time with the legend and we each earned our dinner going the distance without drafting at a decent 31km/h. Friday, lapped a quiet circuit with great mate Marion. Nice to crank at a smooth pace and let the legs recover a bit.
Week 22 469km 17306cal (865 licorice allsorts) 32,6av
The meaning of life? Well, surely it would haveto include, pumping up all our tyre's and making us sound much better than we probably are! Being the wise and o so observant one to create plenty of laughs and giving all the youngen's something to aspire to when they become wise old fossils! It seems to come pretty natural to an old fella! haha, keep it mate!
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