Week 32

Felt a little like Mr Iscariot Saturday morning, early duties meant abandoning the usual group and favouring Team Trev for a short 6am circuit. A lone bike was keenly spotted by Cougs turning into Channel Rd, so set off in pursuit, believing we may have missed the starting gun. Head down and tail up for the first few k's at a rapid pace, slowly reeling in the rider ahead, but half way up Channel we ceased to make further progress, our mystery rider turning up the wick. Into energy debt, the chase was called off (needed some horsepower to get home) opting to roll at a reasonable rate (and hoping Team Trev was behind). One bike headed west as we completed the east leg,  then sure enough, a little way up Boundary Rd, lights were slowly catching, Trev, Shorty and Nath (our mystery man ahead in Channel Rd) came alongside. Any wonder our pursuit failed! A trip down memory lane heading over the rumble strips in Boundary, over the rail line and up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, then homeward via Ford, Wanganui & Rudd. A steady speed, good conversation and the odd chuckle, (sprinting off the agenda) and a cruise through town for coffee and conversation at the Lemontree (home by 8, commitments catered to)

And on the seventh day the heavens thus opened to dampen the byways, and the Fossil took respite for as much as to soothe limbs wearied by distance. And the winds blew from afar, but great was the tranquility upon thy couch. Lo, a great dread fell upon his concience that he should be struck down with softness, but the comfort and warmth was too great. (Thoughts of those tackling the Vets TT and the DECA Duathlon, a northeaster steadily building and an odd shower would test any tenacity.) 

The best laid plans of Stace & Fee came to nil on Monday morning, just Cougs and Hayles (fresh from a Sunday Duo win) for Mondays ride. A 15km/h westerly promised an easy journey out, but a bit tough heading home. 5k out, two bikes approached from the toaster, went past then u-turned to tack on our little train, Tommygun and Weapon (on 70.3 training) had arrived, a most welcome load sharing addition for the westerly home. Great turns by all ensued, but Mitchell Rd seemed twice as long. Approaching Archer Rd,  Pussycats perambulated past politely (pardon profuse prose) but couldn't match the smoothness of the harem. 

An urge to clock some distance inspired a Monday night lap, nearly 3 months since the last effort.  Just remnants of the mornings' west breeze remained, the much travelled toaster circuit (anti-clockwise) chosen. Tried to balance the need for speed with the sense of survival, it's a long track back home.  Quite the winter sunset to view in Boundary Rd (made movie-like listening to Radioheads "Like spinning plates") but the wind, now from the NNW, was as annoying as Mr Beiber flogging ProActive. A hint in the nostrils of someone's roast lamb cooking urged the legs on, a close call with a rampant possum bumped up the heart-rate heading to the toaster. Turned at the emu and turned concentration to the tunes (ironically Bag Raiders "Way back home") for the long drag back. Nice to get home and fill an empty tank, 33 averaged over the 55 earned dessert.

Tuesday was another 1 degree day! (that's 20 this year at that or below) 14 tenacious Couldabeens were game though, the Kenworth arrived out of breath (an HR boost in preparation?) even Trav ready to have a go after two tough weeks of holiday in Queensland. Good to have Vince back for a visit, Chris too decked out in the new kit. One of those rare days where Daniel dons longs, should have photgraphed it as proof.  A good roll down Channel and enjoyed the tail-wind fringe benefits in Boundary Rd.  Nick and Temple had a good dip, a newly detoxed Ryan matching well.  Quite the suprise between Central Kialla Rd and Archer, a few hundred kilos of live steak (a bull) at the side of the road, spotted at the last moment lurking in the dark, had the adrenalin flowing. Thankfully we passed without incident, hooroo's to Leon and Daniel exiting in Archer. Energy levels are down a little today (last nights lap?) so valued a brief tow from the Kenworth in Raftery. All finished well (behind the Rocket of course) and won against the train.        

The usual villans waiting at the hospital on Tuesday, Axel back off arvo shift, even Mike had ventured out from weeks in hibernation. Nath and Trev missing in action but the horsepower of Bomber, Robbo, Steigy and young Andy promised action.  Numbers had built to 14 by the time we reached the Emu (collecting Sprinter, Mitch and Steve M along the way) and a group of 4 added at the toaster. Robbo served me up a tough workout at 40 on the front for Old Dookie Rd (i'll admit the weak northeaster was a little bonus) but all got a main course of rapid knots in River Rd with Bomber & Reece making the scenery pass at 46. Mike had long vanished, Sprinter absent too by Mitchell Rd.  Had just crossed Melbourne Rd when Bomber launched an attack, Mitch and Reece in pursuit, and my tank almost empty. Thanks to Robbo driving the chase train several hung on for the minor places, dragged my tired bones across the line in 7th (looking back, a long scattered trail of lights behind) with 36.5km/h-140bpm average recorded. 

A third set of Vredesteins fitted for the year (another good run of 5000+k's from the last set)

Another welcomed Wednesday ride, easier on the speed and easier on the sore bits (dimethicone, Phenol,  meythlparaben, glyceryl stearate and Thymol helped too)  Chris came along after a lengthy hiatus, Cougs a faithful regular,  the almost bearable 5 degrees was overshadowed by a 20km/h northeaster (as enjoyable as a 3am mosquito). We were treated to a rousing greeting from the half dozen P&W's, difficult to make out who was who thereafter, a dozen strung out between the pub and the fig trees, 51 tight knit following up the rear about to swallow up all. The turn into Old Dookie heralded much relief, the wind propelling us home.

A dozen Couldabeens rolled out Thursday morning assisted by a decent south wester. Daniel back in the obligatory shorts, Kel back after a long absence (but not 100% well) and the regular mob of Nick, the Kenworth, Rocket, Cougs and Temple all having a good sledge at BigMat on his 354th comeback. Didn't deflate him, but did deflate his tyre just 4k's into the lap. A team stop for repairs dragged on a bit, but work commitments forced a short cut home. Missed the jovial atmostphere, missed the rapid progress into a head wind on the way home too. 

Just two entrants at the library on Thursday night, Axel & Andy the only ones tough enough. Nath was cruising in the distance heading out the boulevard and was finally caught, the fearless foursome taking a vote on a steady ride out to the Emu and back home via Channel Rd to log 40k's. Should have let 50 psi out of Andy's tyres, the young fella firing on all cylinders. A couple of spots from the heavens spelled a drenching turning into Boundary Rd but someone turned the tap off, the road as dry as a chip. Had to keep the head down heading west but a solid lap completed (three times more turns at the front than normal) without being cooked.

All kitted up Friday morning, out the front door and suprised to see a damp road and the odd spit of rain.  Headed off to a P&W start anyway, a few more spits had concerns heightened. A quick check of the radar had no sign of rain so plugged away to the SPC roundabout, sure there'd be a few starters.  No doubting the hardcore harem; Stace, Cougs and Fee spell determination in any language. A trio of Supercats rolled passed, our quadrella single filed out Old Dookie a minute or two later. The wind made tough work of Boundary Rd (did Cats take a Channel Rd ride home?) but the girls rose to the challenge, even a light shower near River Rd didn't dampen the resolution. Mitchell Rd seemed longer than a politicians maiden speech so a vote on Archer Rd home was unanimous. Super smooth turns by the quick chicks had us home on time with the task of bike cleaning ahead for us all. Unfavourable conditions but more than favourable fellowship to end the week.

Week 32  409km  15,092 calories (754 prunes) 32km/h average YTD:12,229km


"A day without laughter is a day wasted"  Charles Chaplin  1889-1977