A big dose of summer Sunday morning, 21 degrees had the short gear out. Rolled down to the lake and found Daniel, Chris, Graeme, Temple, Scott and Danny ready to tackle a strengthening northerly. All agreed on a slightly different course than the (worn out?) toaster loop. Out to the Cosgrove quarry and back via New Dookie, Old Dookie and Channel Rd to top off 50k's. Had multiple servings of half wheeling from Scott, quite a sweat worked up too from a warm wind (NNE 17-24). Good to travel a different course, the lads holding a steady 33. Came across the cats northbound in Quarry Rd as we headed south. Back down New Dookie Rd a few were showing signs of wear. Great smooth turns by Chris, Daniel & Temple saved the day for those wanting a breather on the back. The Cats had looped around and were on a chase, but we opted to let them go onward, amused by their random formation. Not far down Channel, we picked up their fallout, Anthony and Simon being uncermoniously spat out the back with Cobble's tempo. Almost home, i copped a beesting on the bridge of the nose (later to inflame the eyelids as a strange botox treatment!). Coffee and yarn spinning distracted.
Mondays P&W lap had low attendance, many tapering for the half ironman. Good to have Kel & Bo join Chaddy, Fee, Marion & Griffo for the circuit. Big Pete & the Rabbit were waiting half a km up, but Mick chose to ride 100m back. 13 degrees felt mild, heading south had some resistance. Shed several tears (no, not Bo's relentless pace) from eyes puffed up by bee yesterday. THM has improved heaps, much training for H.I.M. i'd guess. Fee downplays her performance, but a genuine quick chick she is. The struggle eased a little turning westward but Mitchell is relentlessly long some days. At least there's an earlier sunrise to enjoy the scenery rather than darkness. Bo & Kel exited stage right at Melbourne Rd, hard to sight cars coming in the half light when headlights aren't on. Pace picked up on Roubaix corner (half wheeling was amplified to whole biking unfortunately) the Rabbit ditching his quiet lap to stretch out the bunch for a fast finish. 34.7av too quick for the train, crossing the line with 5 minutes to spare.
Very humid start to Tuesday, 20 degrees at 5.30 with a 14k northeast breeze. The threat of thunderstorms didn't deter 20 Couldabeens fronting for a record attendance. Goose (yesterdays birthday boy) & Greendog (on a flash new Specialised steed) welcomed too. A steady start for leg 1, struggled to level with Steve champing at the bit on leg two. Not many turns out front with such a big roll up. Boundary Rd was Easy Street back in the pack with the wind behind. Nice too in Mitchell. The TT crew made their way past to the howling tune of Wookies carbon disc.(primed for the weekends half ironman) Hats off to Shirms, Guysy, Bart and Rabbit for a respectful & safe pass. Tempo held in the low 40's for most of Mitchell, almost a pity to have Leon, Daniel, Bo & Kel turn off at their respective roads. Good bunch values held after Melbourne Rd, the crew keeping the family together all the way to the finish. A great kick by Rob at the end to take victory, i just held off Ryan for 2nd, Greendog and Goose close behind. 37.2 our best average to date, i was almost to Balaclava Rd before the train very faintly honked!
The days thunderstorms abated by mid afternoon, conditions good for a hospital bunch 42k lap. 10 lined up for the start, another 11 joining in by the 9km mark. Good to see Walshy back in action. The horsepower of Mitch, Killer and Chris picked up the pace at the Emu, i drew the short straw pairing with Mitch for a decent hammering. When breathing restored to normal i had a good yarn with the lads. Interesting to learn of Mike's stent a few years back (new found respect for his efforts). The overcast conditions saved the usual squint into the setting sun, Mitchell Rd getting shorter holding 40. A great 36 average took us to Conrod straight against a light headwind. Couldn't quite match the young legs of Mitch 1st, Sean 2nd and Chris 3rd but 4th was quite palatable. A 36 average was cool too, for a warm night. (clocked 19k for the year on the way home, target within sight now.)
Glad the no-pressure recovery ride had come around again. Another mild morning to roll quietly round. All the familiar sights heading to the start ; the flags atop Autobarn, the bakers car, a regular jogger, the rubbish truck, the broken stubbies! Norm, Marion & Chris were keen to join in the gentle lap, a bit of a northeaster was keen to make Channel Rd some resistance though. An awesome sunrise to view, taking the mind off the breeze. Watched a dozen P&W's heading south on Boundary Rd (condolences to Ryan, no bugger stopped for his puncture) , a big bunch of Cats 5 minutes later. Nice to get the helping hand of tailwind assistance homeward. (legs said thankyou for not being punished)
Have had dramas recently with tyres suffering the shower scene from "Pyscho" on broken glass lining the streets (left picture). Trouble is, grit and more glass find their way into these cuts for more punctures to add to the woes. I've tried all sorts over the past weeks, the best being Selleys shoe glue, worked into a (cleaned) cut with a toothpick and left to cure overnight. (centre pic) The right photo shows the same repaired cut 546km later (no troubles at this site since). Just need something to stop punks hurling stubbies!
Thursday morning was quite damp, and although the sky was clearing at 5.30, i took the soft (and safest) option of a rare sleep-in. Well, till 6.15 anyway. But like a strung-out druggie, the craving to murder a few km's grew stronger through the day. Checked into the library for a 6pm departure, 12 regulars waiting. Walshy & Johnny were dedicated enough to return again, even Vince made the start, just. At nearly every kilometre another one or two joined on, Robbo, the Eggman, Birchy, Steve, Dave, Sprinter, Kev etc., etc., to finally make a train of 27. Just my luck, i inherited the headwind for my turn at the front at Emu corner. A steady tempo remained for the lap, a good car call at the Mitchell turn avoided catastrophy. Most got down to business with 3km to go, touching 50km/h at the last corner. A young kid on a mountain bike (deliberately being a chicane) caused a scatter with 500 to go (thankfully without incident) the youth of Chris & Nathan taking the top two spots, Birchy & Brendan 3rd & 4th. My 58km/h only deserved 5th. (1.19.44 for the 50km made dinner justifyable)
P&W's were popular Friday, an influx of Steve, Vince, Kel, Bo, Leon and Ryan from the Couldabeens to swell the ranks, totalling 26 for the 12 degree lap. Fee was all colour co-ordinated on a TT Merida and got the vote for sharpest looker, good to see Hayley back after a long recovery, resplendant on the Argon. Minto won tough trooper trophy (fractured his hand two weeks back and still belts out the k's without plaster). A supersmooth lead out by the Couldabeens, Rabbit waiting up the road with his posse of earlybirds to hook on the back. Dead animal day today, a small fox flattened near the pigfarm, even a skiddled skippy at the bottom of Boundary Rd! Long time no see lean lad Ayto was hammering the pace with style, a decent & smooth rate held by all for the length of Mitchell. The boost was triggered in the last 2km, i was happy to view progress from the rear, legs refusing to go over 48. No dissapointment though, 36.7 average more than satisfactory to finish another week.
Week 45. 409km 15092 calories (11 family blocks of chocolate or 2.83kgs) 34.9 av.
Quote of the week " Pain is temporary. It may last a minute or an hour or a day or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take it's place. If i quit however, it lasts forever". Lance Armstrong.
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