The sound of rain on the roof at 4.30am put big doubts on a Saturday ride. Peering out the back window at 6 confirmed a rare sleep-in was to be enjoyed. The first Saturday ride abandoned since early February! Obviously others craved turning the pedals over 'cause the sms's ran hot Saturday arvo for a sunday circuit.
A good turn up of 10 despite a cool 6 degrees. The suggestion of breakfast after may have enthused some? Bit foreign lapping the usual Saturday circuit on a Sunday, however great company had. Settled for a lesser podium position with Nev in the bunch, then demoted to third with Bo firing on all cylinders to steal 2nd. All good fun amongst friends. Much contentment at the Butterfactory with eggs and bacon / raisin toast breakfasts being consumed with passion. Temple was nearly like the growling dog if you got near his, Trev's plate of scrambled eggs nearly as big as Trev himself! A breakfast ride to be repeated....
The chilly 3 degrees of Monday morning saw only the tough P&W's turn up. Scotty and i, with egos and chests pumped, had four cute quick chiks all to ourselves! A great friendly ride without severe attacks or being comprimised by Cats. All enjoyment vanished just a km from home with a puncture. Bugger! Stace suffered the same only a few metres ahead but was lucky having a chauffeur husband only a phone call away. Mine finally repaired, i scored yet another just 10 meters from home! The cold and wet Monday evening was spent with the entertainment of repairing tubes and rotating tyres.
Tuesday was another cold one. 10 couldabeens braved the cool breeze for a good lap, but were victims of the Cats trying a crazy overtake just 50 metres from the finish, despite an oncoming car! Some who sat up over the line tested our reactions with brakes but they were given a proper spray as payback. Nice work Marion! The day was as winter as you could get and a check of the radar in the evening spelt a night off. At least an early night was enjoyed.
The intention of a quieter lap Wednesday turned into a big effort, the mercury barely made half a degree and a gusty southwesterly straight off an iceberg tested Marion & i . Thursday morning the wind had picked up to a howler (officially 24-30km/h) but 5 couldabeens hardened up for a push into Boundary Rd. Great effort by all to be back in town to see the train leave town and not see the Cats.
Thursday night was at least clear, the wind eased a little too (SW at 17km/h). Just 10 turned up to the library to circulate, and then there were 6, with 4 short-cutting home down Channel Rd! Nath on a new Oppy Pro and Dean sporting a new Cannondale were keen to justify the expenditure and took the 1,2. (Robbo hard to recognise without the ubiquitous Opera) Me, happy just to roll out 46 k's on a very cold night. Justified a big bowl of spaghetti bol for tea!
Friday morning's suprise was "shagger" Stew waiting at the start. Good to see him on a brief visit since his transfer to Gippsland 6 months ago, but that south east climate has turned his sprinting ability soft & mushy! A great crew as always, Grasshopper taking the chocolates and the much improved Scotty as bridesmaid. Really enjoyable having all the crew all together at the finish. Well rewarded too, minus Cats, the bonus seeing the 7am train still sitting at the station. A fine 34km/h average for a cold day.
This morning the odometer clicked over 10,000kms since Jan 1, so quietly chuffed with that considering there's another few weeks till years' half way. Mmmm....maybe a 20k year?
The motivation bottle is quite empty in the depths of winter (and it's only just started!), so difficult even to throw the doona off of a morning. The driving factor is a great bunch of mates (all having a genuine crack at it) to suffer with, most of us having a quiet little chuckle at the one's hiding under the doona dreaming up excuses.
Week #23 = 335km 12,361 calories ( or 154 bananas. Yikes! That's $369 dollars worth!!)
31.8km/h average
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