A big blanket of cloud kept the cold out and the humidity in for Saturday. 14 degrees @ 6.30 is a bit more humane to ride in. Skipped the Thunderbirds and got going a fraction earlier, a slow warm up benefitting groaning legs. A reduced attendance of Couldabeens today, but 16 to start was an ideal bunch size (only 6 crawled away early) and just a puff of 11km/h breeze from the south west. The feline formation headed west in Mitchell Rd (shaken, stirred and stretched to breaking point by Eggy & Carla i'm told) Simon being spat out the back. He u-turned just after our paths crossed, and set about chasing us (for an easier paced lap?) but was still struggling to bridge the half a km gap in Boundary Rd. I dropped back to give him a tow up....only so we could sledge the 'defector'! (seriously....remembered the wise words that 'good riders look back'. Team spirit reigns supreme) Don was on a maiden voyage, chopping turns quite short. Big Andrew mimicked a mobile sauna kitted up in a winter jacket! (admired he, Hoffy, Barnsey etc having a crack at the none-too-lazy pace). Still a hint of southerly resistance on the turn into Ford Rd., Temple & Leon upholding the speed reputation of the missing Kel, Bo, Matt, Daniel, Nev etc. A great even tempo for the rest of the westward leg, i scored the front again with young gun Ryan for the Alp d'eca and the Rudd Rd lead out. Took the speed up slowly, but the rolls went fast. A car up and a car back signalled caution, but they'd cleared with just 70 metres to go. Master tactician Marion had kindly opened the sprint path so i stood on the loud pedal to 54, only just relegating Chris to 3rd & Norm 4th (yes, i should have more respect for the statesmen!). Ryan a fine 2nd. A good get-together for coffee, Simon undoing his 70k effort with an heart stopper egg & bacon sandwich! Rolled home after with a tail breeze, the odometer rolling over 18k for the year to date, a grubby bike therefore treated to a decent clean.
Sunday morning's sleep in was non-existant, waking at 4.30. Blogged for a bit, then the circuit begged. Rolled out a 35k @ 34, spying Rob McLean on a similar but anticlockwise lap. Was intent on a moderate pace but riders ahead came into view, dangling the carrot of a chase. (had uploaded Caribou's Swim remixes which provided great musical motivation....well, for my weird musical tastes). Got back to the lake in time to join the 8 o'clock team for a clockwise 55k toaster loop. An earlier light southerly had swung to a strengthening north easter. Rolled past kiwi Dwight at the golf course who latched on. My version of a "quiet sunday roll" was clearly a hard hit for him, but credit's due for his good go at it. Good company with Bo, Kel, Daniel, Chris, Leon, Graeme, Nick & Scott too. Back in town with a 33.5 av, Daniel plagued by dodgy cleat syndrome, went horizontal arriving for coffee!
Summer almost arrived Monday morning, 18 degrees with a 15-21km/h northerly. That great time of the year to ditch the porridge and welcome back muesli, shave minutes off the preparation time too, just knicks and jersey instead of multiple layers of thermals, arm warmers, base layers and booties etc. 14 P&W's had assembled for the SPC off, me being the unenviable meat in the Shirms / Sly sandwich of rotation. (the big wookie has lost none of his great speed or consideration). The pace kept climbing, particularly after the turn into Boundary's favourable breeze. The torch was set on 'scorch' by River Rd, Chaddy steaming along at 45 stretching us mortals. THM apparently dropped off the back in Mitchell, but Rabbit ,Aka, Chaddy & co were still driving the train in the low 40's. Sly attempted a bold stretch at Archer Rd but was gobbled up with traffic pegging his progress at Melbourne Rd. Great work by Marion, Meags & Dutchy matching the hectic pace all the way to the finish, stoked with a fantastic 38.9km/h average, just 47 minutes to cover the 31km. The train driver would have still been in bed when we rolled over the tracks! Opted for a lazy Monday night, an omen with a few light showers falling after 5.30. Bike stays clean.
Total change of seasons for Tuesday morning. Wind had swung around 180 degrees, blowing at 20-33 km/h. Temperature had almost halved too. So much for packing away the winter kit! 15 Couldabeens had lined up to take the punishment, Vince & Steve doing an early magical mystery tour around the streets. Good smooth turns by the guys and gals, only the last km made easier with the wind behind us. The Rocket took a great win with Ryan 2nd and the Pooch 3rd. A fine 34.5 average.
A mild 20 degrees Tuesday night and 13 had assembled at the hospital, but the SSW wind was now at 30 to 41 km/h. (there'd be some agony tonite). 7 had joined on by Boundary Rd, Leigh, Robbo and Nath kept the bunch fairly silent and the wheels noisy. Got my 2nd turn on the front at the Pine Lodge Pub, damn that wind was tough! Nice guy Chris kept level but there wasn't much to deliver over 34. Rotation quickened down Mitchell in the high 30's and into the low 40's, by Archer Rd I was right out of horsepower so opted just sit on. (thought i'd gone soft .....but the rear tyre had!) 8 guns had stretched away into the distance nearing Arcadia Downs, but found i had 6 hanging on my wheel.! Big thanks to Matty & Bomber, the only ones doing turns to get us home. (Chris had strung out the front group at 53 for the last 2kms i'm told!) The rear tyre had properly deflated by McDonalds (changed out front with the aroma of Big Macs) but happy with the 36.5.
As always, Wednesdays recovery ride was so enjoyable. A light south wester made Boundary Rd great, glad not to be pushing into the breeze heading south. Saw the P&W's steaming along at a good clip, Rabbit & the TT's apparently caught 'em in Mitchell Rd. A lucky escape for Sootie when he tangled with a 4X4 at the Doyles roundabout, a sore elbow, a graze and a slight wheel buckle the only setback. One lucky guysy!
Thursday morning turned ordinary with a puncture on the way to the Couldabeens start. Did the quick change and inflate with a cartidge...only to blow the side out of the second tube! Mmm....cheap tubes about as useful as a Barina at Bathurst. Walked back home and replaced the tube/s, then rolled down to Arcadia Downs to watch the Rocket take out another fine win. Legs greatful i missed the clash of Bo & Vince in the early stages of Channel Rd. but good to catch up on the mornings happenings.
Thursday nights thrash started at the library with 11. Numbers swelled of course the further east we went, by the kennels there was 24. No sign of the promised Vince attendance. A stiffening northeast breeze (@17km/h) made it tough on the front, particularly if someone scored Nathan for a stretching. Leigh made Trev sweat (battle of the bike shops?) in Boundary Rd, Deano making sure Bretty had a workout too. Everyone had free protein supplements courtesy of the insects that filled the warm evening air. Half a dozen had chosen to stay on the rear, but everyone earned their keep in Mitchell Rd at 40+. Vince missed the start (again!) and had massively shortcut the circuit, finally coming into view near Euroa Rd. The harder work started after Melbourne Rd, faster roll-overs directly proportional with speed. Rod dished me up a big fright cutting across (when he expired while rolling up to do a turn) the rest of the deck shuffling a lot in the last km. Finally got a clear path with 150 to go, copped an insect in the eye (most untimely) and stood on the gas for the finish, but Leigh, Mitch and Nath had the length and speed to deal with my paltry 56km/h. Pleased with 4th in light of the ablity and youth ahead. 36.6 average. Someone's bbq in Raftery Rd sent the appetite through the roof, a few pollinating shrubs sent my hayfever likewise.
Heaved at the block & tackle to raise myself out of bed Friday morning. Legs of lead, creaking joints and tired, but the P&W freaky Friday beckoned. 7 tough guns had tackled 35 prior to the start and were waiting at the starting grid. 21 rolled out (into a similar northeaster to last night), nice to see Choppy, Jeramy and 5 Couldabeens in the mix. Scored the hard yakka on the front with the Wizz, hard work at 37 into that breeze. Much nicer turning south with the wind at our backs, Ayto and the Fox demonstrating suburbly smooth engine driving skills (some others should take lessons!). Rabbit (complete with aero hat) bolted after Euroa Rd not to be seen again. Teamwork went a bit shabby with half wheeling and varied pace, but others brought it back into line (momentarily) after Melb Rd. The fishmonger must have shifted into neutral on the front at Arcadia Downs, a generous grab of brake lever to avoid a big shunt. Thankfully all finished upright (couldn't see the placings, 3 quick chicks powering to the finish was far more inspirational) for a 37.7average. Rolling home Minto hit the deck at the RSL corner, something slippery in the bike lane. Bit of bark off the thigh, a hand looked really sore. Big cheers for a good recovery Pete.
Week 43 ; 467km 17,232 calories (15 Big Macs, large fries and large Cokes) 35 average
Quote of the week "Success consists of going from failure to failure - without loss of enthusiasm"
Winston Churchill
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