Felt so easy rolling out from home Saturday morning, no effort to get the bike up to speed, almost effortless to get the wheels humming, (lulled into great confidence of a fast lap) but at the end of the street the harsh reality of a chilly south wester slaps hard in your face. A fair effort needed to push 5+k's down to the Peppermill, so head down and h.t.f.u., a mild, wind-free ride is but a pipedream. BigMat (in the appropriate FdJ kit) , Steve, Nev, Cougs, Leon and Hoffy made up a compact but class team, the vote to the old course of Mitchell-Boundary-Ford-Wanganui Rd, no appeal left for the Karramomis route. Glad to have Steve & BigMat bear the brunt of the Raftery Rd head wind, good to welcome back the mayor of Toolamba cruising along near the Col d'Kialla. Hoffy's windtraining is paying dividends, now an elder statesman to be reckoned with, Nev his usual supersonic self but playing ball with us mere mortals. The side wind was bearable in Mitchell and Boundary was a breeze, BigMat and Steve now back on the front at a fair rate of knots. (Steve's speedo reading zero, BigMat's at 127! me thinks headlight batteries are playing havoc with wireless speedos) Strangely, just a handful of Cats were southbound near River Rd. The old course up Boundary and along Ford Rd brought back some memories, a lot less traffic today than what I remembered 6 months ago when this was the regular route. A few had a crack at the sprint in Rudd Rd (Nev chatting away whilst others, gasping, battled for second) but the group grouped for a cruise down the Boulevard into town, caffine mentally in our nostrils guiding the way. Sunshine had brought out many from hibernation, a fair sized tribe of goats outbound. Quite a yarn at the Butterfactory, a posse of pensioners joining in the think tank of prophecies and tall stories. Great to see Kylie back on the bike (resplendant in Couldabeens kit) , a gentle transition with the old-timers till former speed returns. Word reached us of a Cat crash that morning in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, a large canine bringing down several, the little Sprinter suffering bumps, grazes and bruises (x-rays thankfully absolved him of breaks) Get well soon Brendan, it's not a real sprint on Tuesday night without you nipping at the heels!
An early night Saturday (overwhelmed with boredom) meant early to rise Sunday (as Gran's have taught us) so the eyes sprung open at 5.30. Resisting the urge to ride is futile, stalled it till 7 though. Set off on a solo reverse P&W lap, a southerly still blowing a bit, cruised along Mitchell Rd to Orbital, Jessie Ware and Disclosure on the i-pod playlist to keep the mind off the relentless wind. Not out to break records but was pleased with the progress, Boundary no problem, Old Dookie particularly good despite a now stiff side wind. The flags at the tractor dealer have been shredded to mere threads in recent months, satisfiying then to knock over 40 at 33. Rolled straight to Nick's to take up his 8.30 invite for a lap, Beery making it a trio. The decision was the 7 bridges course, over to Tat, down to Toolamba, across Union Rd and back home via Central-Kialla, Mitchell & Raftery Rds. Those niggling winds didn't stop, Beery travelling well for one whos ridden twice in a month but Nick suffered in the headwind so short turns suited him. A 3k grind at the front in Dhurringile Rd burned my legs but it was a bit easier heading east with wind to the side. Out of Toolamba's traffic congestion (well, 2 cars) and approaching the highway we caught 2 Treks trekking a little slower (meeting Stella and Nigel) so eased up to include them for the trip home. A short sprint at the end (Beery made me do it) , but the reason was to fill the tank after 60k (added to the earlier 40 = hungry) Noble Monks got the majority vote, but coffee doesn't come in mugs, the tucker serves are small and the price isn't.
A few P&W's were lined up in the cold of Monday morning, Meags, Cougs, Tommygun, Weapon, Grant and long time no see 6'5" of Wookie, a great little team to tackle zero degrees (too cool for the Fox though, tightly wrapped in a toasted doona casing). Tempo favoured a chat here and there, caught up with Tommy's tragic transition at Cairns, Weapons' strategy to ride through winter, Wookie's finals hopes and Meags' sleep deprivation. Good load sharing of front duty by all, down to Melbourne Rd before Cats then Area 51 rounded us up. Greetings from Graeme, Kelvin, Vince, Mo and Eggy as they stretched away for a thrash to the finish line, solidarity ruled for us, close knit to finish a fresh 30k.
The cold had made way for wind on Tuesday, 7 degrees was bearable but the breeze was about to make us earn breakfast (or a second one). Another great roll up of Couldabeens, the Kenworth (out of breath again) GG with race wheels back on, Shorty, BigMat, Nick, Trav, Leon,Tim, Temple, Cougs, Chris (the pom), Rocket, Vince and at the very last moment, Daniel (to take a back seat for a tow up Channel Rd?) The 8k push out was worth the effort, a bonus breeze from behind for Boundary (and ok in Mitchell too, Vince's gps clocking 39 )concentration on wheels ahead and nearby, paramount. A lengthy but sensible wait at Melbourne Rd for traffic, and a dose of headwind reality in Raftery. Rocket bolted for the finish with top guns in pursuit, I'd grouped with team sensible for a team finish, 34.7 conquered Cats and the 7.03 train with ease, even after an eternity at the highway.
The bike turned 8 years old today, and right on cue, 140,000 clicked over on the ride. (Mmmm....averaging 17,500 p.a. confirms the disorder / psychosis / madness / dull social life?)
Showers swept across town at 4pm which spelled a night indoors, but the sun soon returned with a northwest blow dry of the roads restoring hopes of a ride Tuesday night. It was only Rob and Robbo though at the hospital, all others short of intestinal fortitude, no doubt sitting in warm loungerooms, watching "Being Lara Bingle" and eating Cheesels off their fingers (Sprinter excluded, valid reason for non-attendance) An unsual fog hung low out toward the Emu, earlier rain turning to rising steam off the warmer road. A steady tap around the circuit with the small concession of Channel Rd home, just as good a workout as the usual Tuesday night, about 10 turns on the front tonite with Robbo!
The regular ride of recouperation for Wednesday, navigation awkward with a mid strength fog (handy to get the bike dirty again, a bit of road grime and the odd squashed worm as decoration) Cougs' had nitrous for breakfast, a fair pace pushing through a foggy soup. The regular parade of peletons seen along Boundary Rd, just P&W's vocal (with quality sledging) . A neat #51 express topped off the display as we turned into Old Dookie Rd it felt a fraction easier, so Coug's lit the afterburner.
Thursdays Couldabeens were a mere shadow of the numbers on Tuesday, yet there was 8 degrees and barely a hint of wind to enjoy. Rocket, Leon, Kenworth, Nick & Shorty (all in the new kit) were at the start line, the absent BigMat the subject of much sledging. Bo & Kel were cruising along near the kinder to join on (need a note from home Kel, out of uniform!) the Kenworth on a performance enhancing breakfast propelled us at near warp speed out Channel Rd., Shorty, Leon & Nick rose to the occassion, Rocket needed no encouragement. Hadn't had Bo & Kel along for a while, just a few short sentences amongst the group today, oxygen intake was a higher priority. Leon exited in Archer Rd (must admit the thought crossed my mind to join him, legs were telling the head to give up and take a cruise home. We are but addicted to pain it seems?) Kel & Bo turned off at the highway, only 5 remained for the Raftery stage, turns at the front became a bit shorter a bit more frequently. Finding myself at the for the final time with 400 metres to go wasn't ideal (particularly with a Kenworth and a Rocket breathing down my neck) so upped the velocity to 46 to make them earn their medals. Expired early, Rocket 1, Kenworth 2. Just shy of a 36 km/h average was a fair effort for a small bunch, crossed the tracks with the train still taking on passengers.
The sky looked suspiciously suspect on Thursday night (forecast was ordinary too) so spannered on a new 56/44 ring combo (courtesy of the taxation Commissioners' favourable decision) and took a brief test ride. So therefore; For sale; one 53 tooth ring (64,000k's totally hammered) and one 38 tooth ring (pristine condition, used 4 times, comes with free cobwebs)
There's something salubriously sinful about sleeping in, listening to the rain pour down (Friday morning) pennance was the rubbish truck pulling up a few metres from the bedroom window emptying the bin at 6.05.
Week 33 388km 14,317 calories (41 coffee scrolls) 32.3 km/h average YTD 12,617km
"Those who make the worst of their time are the first to complain of it's brevity" Jean de la Bruyere :French essayist 1645-1696
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