Sometimes there's a feeling to take an extra good look at an intersection. 6am and dark, a pair of headlights would stand out, but a distant, quiet sound told me to slow to a crawl and take a good look. Was just about to cross the intersection when a doggy old Hyundai shot through, no headlights, in the dark! Mmmm.....divine intervention? So, a big moment to contemplate on the way to Saturdays OC lap.
20 starters for the 7am off (the premature peleton of 5 jumping the gun 17 minutes earlier!) Lots of familiar faces and a couple of new ones too. Big Dave getting back into riding after a nasty prang. Daniel still breaking in the new Ridley, a mass of "Couldabeens" gunning out front again. Nev along too (to give us all a big dose of reality) great to have Barnsey & Hoffy with the group too. (Had to remind John Brett, when he stretched his legs in top cog, that i have a patent on that gear!) 10 degrees felt mild (considering all this years winter laps) and barely a puff of wind to annoy us. A steady pace prevailed until the adrenalin overload of Wanganui Rd. Lots of excitable boys and girls eagerly upping the tempo at the Rudd Rd turn. Capt. Marion had set up a fine train for the finish with Nev, Bo, Matty, Vince, Kel, Daniel & others heading up to the pointy end. With 100m to go, in the wink of an eye, Vince almost pulled a foot and backed off, Nev shot a monster win with Bo breathing down his neck and young Adam speared alarmingly through to take 3rd, and nearly a wheel or two on the way! Impressed with Ryans turn, barely a month on the bike taking 5th place, straight, smooth & strong. A hearty intake of caffine and exuberant yarns at the Butterfactory, enjoying the suns warmth for a change.
Forecast looked bleak for Sunday. On the day though, there was a glimmer of hope. "Do i / don't i" for several minutes, look at the clean bike, stand outside squinting at the sky, a proliferation of procrastination you could say. Pondering in the backyard i finally decided to try a 6am lap, then a solitary rain drop hit my arm! Walked calmly in the back door and crawled back into a warm bed! A hefty rain shower barely an hour later made me smug. Coffee, toast & Bathurst was the new Sunday agenda.
Needed oil on some creaky joints on Monday morning. (one day off the bike and rigor mortis sets in! Ah the joys of being ancient!) Rolled up to the P&W start....Bart, the Fishy one, Mino, Leon, Greendog, Scotty, Marion, Bo & Kel were ready to roll. Bugs Bunny played rear gunner half a km back as usual, a light easterly made for a push out Old Dookie. (more creaking!) Rabbit finally joined in but restrained from a breakaway (cricket had taken its weekend toll he said) A steady ride (apart from a bit of half wheeling) for the duration, Bo & Kel turning off at Melb Rd. Pace slowly increased (benefitting all) at Arcadia, but Bart, Rabbit, Greendog & Scotty spooled up the turbo with 400 to go, me left in no-mans land but happy to play tow truck for the remainder. 35.2 average was nought to sneeze at. Train & Cats marked absent.....again!
An evenning toaster loop begged Monday, allowing some much needed deep thinking time. "please could you stop the noise, i'm trying to get some rest, from all the unborn chicken voices in my head" (song title and artist please....1st prize a night out with Ken. 2nd prize..a week out with Ken!) Just love my new
i-phone paired with Sony's bass expander phones, Deadmau5 & Underworld on tonights playlist. A tough little northwester @ 22km/h made lots of hurt from the toaster onward. Struggled with all roads heading west, much anguish in Raftery too. Happy at the end though, clocking a solo 33 average for the 50km. (1.26.57)
May have pushed a bit hard last night, legs were sore Tuesday morning. 16 Couldabeens lined up, and a little domestic rivalry had Bo & Kel punishing each other for the first leg, the rest of the pack gasping at 40. Calm restored soon after for an orderly ride, a chance to yarn too. Greendog & Goose were back, Trev too in attendance. A south westerly and 7 degrees didn't do any favours for Boundary & Mitchell. Struggled for much of the ride with legs like licorice, well distracted by an oversized 'moonset' just above the settled fog. The young guns fought out the sprint, i was happy just to finish, a 34.5 good reward.
Skipped the hospital group Tuesday night, a quiet celebratory glass of wine in order.....employment at last!
Wednesdays recovery ride at an easier steady pace was just the tonic too.
Thursday set a new Couldabeen record of 19, a testament to fine teamwork. Amused by an angry little man in the car park, clearly overdosed on grumpyflakes for breakfast. Good to have Tim & Bill back again. Rabbit and his TT boys rolled past in Mitchell Rd, Greendog jumped across, lured along by the aroma of eau de testosterone. We copped a long wait at Melbourne Rd, must have arrived at peak hour. Scored the drivers seat beside Ryan at Arcadia Downs, the lad has some serious horsepower winding up to 50, but we'd unwittingly towed Rob, Matt and the other young artillery up for a thrash to the line. Pocket rocket Rob took the honours, but we all won though, smashing the train departure with a 34.4.
Thursday night 13 were ready at the library. Good to see Gav joining the bunch again. (Mr Mobile Chichane and his son regrettably joining up late). Trev called a 'keep going' when he punctured barely 300 metres later (he'd repaired and joined the bunch later skirting up Old Dookie.) The big ranga and his squad joined in out Lemnos Cosgrove Rd. Nath dished out a big serve of pain pushing into the wind at 38, but it went sensibly back to 35 when the rotation happened. The group had grown to 21 by the Church, tempo had grown too with the northeast breeze aiding instead of abetting. Eggy flicked the afterburner switch after the toaster (mmm.....how appropriate!) suddenly big rings coupled with 12's or 11's were fashionable at 45km/h. Young Carla took the standards of the bunch to professional, back in the country after her tour of duty with the Garmin-Cervelo pro team in Europe. ('09 Aust national TT and road champion, stage winner of the 2010 Tour Ardeche) Now that's one quick chick! Some mercy was given in Boundary (back to 38's) but the whole length of Mitchell Rd was spent between 42 to 45. Ouchy! The lure turned out to be masterblaster Nev, finally caught him near Archer Rd. All fell silent (except for gasping and moaning) and mostly single file after Melb Rd, only a few (including this sucker) coaxed into a righthand train to rotate. Copped the last turn on the front at 48 with 500 metres to go, but the jellybean jar was bereft of beans. Gently peeled off to the right with no horsepower, giving Dave, Nath, Leigh & co the gap to let loose. Glad to finish mid field (funny how lots of strangers suddenly appear on the front near the finish) and quite chuffed with the 37.9 average for 50k's. (humbling to think of the many that do far better than that every week)
Fridays P&W tour had 18 starters chatting at SPC. 10 minutes up the road Daniels Ridley burst a tube that woke half of Shepp East, so a pause at Central Ave was a chance to gossip & sledge. Even the cows got interested! Things went a bit haywire from then, a few rolling out just before Daniel & crew had finished the repair. Several groups formed, Rabbit and his TT fans keen to get firing. Some attempted to latch onto the breakaway, others settled into a group rythym, tailenders were still trying to catch on. In the meantime, two teams of Area 51 passed as if to confuse everyone! A few trying to bridge the gap up to Bugs ran out of go juice, falling back to the main bunch. Turning into Mitchell Rd the chase was suddenly on again, some just trying to hang on at 40+, others battling to make it to the front without success (all most uncharacteristic of the P&W's regular team philosophy). By Euroa Rd, it had fragmented to 3 groups again. With a 7.30am work start, i opted to shortcut up Archer Rd, Meags, THM, Marion & Temple also choosing the route. Noticed a threesome ahead of us also bailed out the same way. Finished with a 36.4 and kept the new boss happy turning up on time.
Week 41: 395km 14,575 calories (53 Mars bars....oohh the toothache!) 34.4km/h average
Quote of the week "For a gallant spirit there can never be defeat" Wallis Simpson
No comments:
Post a Comment