Another busy Saturday meant an early ride with Trev's posse (but no Trev, temperature the reason? GG missing too). Rocket, Ryan, Cougs, Shorty and Jason were keen participants, particularly with a breezy southwest assistance. Pedalled out Channel and up Boundary with an effort allowing a chin wag. A different scenario for the westward route home though, the breeze upsized to a stiff 28km/h. Ryan was the fit one boring into the head wind in the 30's, thankfully a great team spirit bonded the group for the almost relentless slog to Rudd Rd. (funny how the gusts, up to 35km/h, always hit when you're out in the open) Great relief getting back to town, bikes smeared with that lovely post rain road grime, but not a concern drinking hot coffee in the Lemontree's hospitality, much talk and philosophy on all matters of bike & riders.
A steady P&W lap on Monday morning with Princess, Fee, Cougs & Meags (too hard for THM to crawl out from under the doona it seems) and a chance to chat over the weekends action. No evidence of wind but felt like someone had the handbrake on heading out Old Dookie Rd. A respectful ride, all given the chance to do their bit, Meags granted some respite after a decent circuit Sunday. Cats passed a little before Central Kialla Rd, Matho delivering usual cheek and Vince with usual cheer. Tony & BP silently hanging 20 metres behind. The toil of Mitchell & Rafterys' Rd done as a team, all across the bridge at the end with the creek risen to almost meet it.
Maybe the guilt of taking Sunday off (the first since early June) was too much, or the weather looking crook late in the week did it? Concience decided a longer lap on Monday night, a toaster loop but out to the Cosgrove quarry adding 14k to the total. A light north east wind spelled a tail wind home, so out past the golf course and head down for the l-o-n-g drag out to Boral's big pot-hole at Cosgrove. Nearing Verney Rd, perused pedestrian Princess perambulating puppy (there goes that verbal affliction again!) but the real concentration was on attempting to hold a decent rate of speed. It's a long way to the Emu, another 6k further seems forever. Hopes of an early spring seeing canola flowering, much more spring in the legs turning down Quarry Rd then west onto New Dookie Rd. It seemed further than 6k to the church (down to the 14 tooth sprocket and trying to stay on top of the gear maybe to blame) but it finally appeared with a smudge of pink sunset amongst the blue grey cloud as a backdrop. One or two solo riders were about, unidentified in the dark, thankfully the speedo was too. Maybe the legs act as metronomes, maybe the sense of speed seems slow but there's something about riding at night. Found myself pushing to a point between sore and survival, knowing it's a long way home with an empty tank. The long haul of Boundary and Mitchell done, onto Raftery (now an effort with the breeze swinging a bit north) and a final push to the finish line to discover the Raftery bridge half a metre under water and the road closed! Bugger! A compulsory u-turn, ride all the way back to Melbourne Rd then north into the breeze again back to town, 12 extra k's unplanned. Something strangely satisfying though turning over 77k's at 33.8 on a winters' night. A dozen donuts worth anyway.
Got to the Archer St shops early Tuesday morning to witness a mass roll up of Couldabeens, including a maiden voyage from Liam and a newbie, Matt. Not 3 metres travelled by the bunch when 2 seperate punctures stopped the stampede, Jason and newcommer Matt succumed to glass. Extra chat whilst super spannerman Nath assisted a rapid change, then rolled out for the usual route. The call of "all on" drove us up to Doyles Rd, but we weren't "all on", half the pack 100 metres back chasing. Slowly up to the school where the bunch reformed, then a solid push up to Boundary, many keen to make up for lost time. A southward bound group of 10 just beat us to the Boundary Rd intersection, but by the Broken bridges we were in the draft of a gaggle of Goats. A good move to rotate through rather than overtake, by the time Vince & Rocket hit the front we were in warp drive. Recognised Brendan & Keith amongst their clan (a pair of lasses bumping up the good looks department) but smoothness and speed reigned supreme for the Couldabeens. In the 40's most of Mitchell Rd kept many peaceful, all opting for the Archer St finish with the Seven Creek blocking the Raftery Rd. bridge. Quite a bit of surging nearing the Alternative Route and coupled with unfamiliar riders, I kept out of the pointy end (ably overpowered by Nath) to tap home for a keen 35.8 average.
A decent showing at the hospital Tuesday night too, Scotty, Sav, Rob, Nath, Axle, Hamish and Mike (the comeback kid) rolled away on cue, add-ons of Kev and Simmo in Verney Rd, Robbo and Mitch in Ford Rd and the member for Toolamba in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. Nice to be in the draft for the run out to the emu, Robbo and Mitch playing tow truck for all. A split group after the church (Reece now attached) but all reformed beyond the toaster....minus Mike (a bit more training needed?) but replaced with legal Steve on a opulent new Oppy C7. Dave and Hamish paired up at the front to tear one anothers legs off to the pub (seniority ruled) , Reece vamping up the velocity to the right turn into River Rd. All went sensible till the last k, Robbo and Mitch pouring fuel on the fast fire. I'd managed to draw breath in Mitchell Rd but sharing the front with Mitch into the wind in Archer didn't last long. Only a few volunteered their services at the front for the slog to the finish when Reece just rode away into the distance with 2.5k to go, Mitch hung on for 2nd, Hamish 3rd, Nath the saviour for my 4th. Fuelled up a very emty tank with 35.1 logged.
Wednesday. 5.00am. Alarm. Arise. Baselayer. Thermal. Armwarmers. Knicks. Jersey. Socks. Porridge. Coffee. Toilet. Wash. Toothbrush. Shoes. Booties. Gloves. Helmet. Glasses. Battery. Bike. Phone. Text. ("Rain") Investigate. Confirmed. Bugger! A morning off didn't hurt a bit. The bike received some much needed attention by the ace spanner skills of Nath today with new cables and a deraillier adjust, slick gearchanges now and ready now to take on the next 140K.
Thursday morning's mild 11 degrees was most agreeable, 16 Couldabeens thought so too, with a double rendition of happy birthday to both Vince and Foss, sharing the same d.o.b. A great line-up of the regulars, Chris the Pom on a comeback, Liam taking on round 2, Kel back for a visit, Bo no show though, a blow. (there goes that pathetic prose again) 20km/h of WNW (and gusts up to 30) propelled us out Channel Rd, in Boundary Rd Nath, Rocket and Gav made sure breakfast was either earned or burned. The bunch remained intact for the length of Mitchell Rd but the wind was as comfortable as hessian underwear. By the turn into Archer many had spent their energy quota so a survival team formed to plug away to the finish whilst the more enthused thrashed out a sprint. Could I hazard a guess at a Rocket victory? Big blue-grey clouds rolled in from the southwest on Thursday night cancelling thoughts for a circuit with the library bunch.
The weather was uncertain Friday too, but took the risk on the <yr.no> prediction of a 7am shower to squeeze a lap in. Some early assistance with a Coug's puncture prevented a P&W start, so rolled out Channel Rd in the hope of joining on. Quite a small straggly pack of Supercats were headed south, just one bike in the P&W position turned out to be Chris the Pom (seems he was the only starter) so took a steady pace of the flood abbreviated circuit. Cat Kelvin (towing two) joined on for a brief chat at the end of Boundary otherwise the tenacious trio soldiered on against the NNWer to be back in town for a scenic sunrise framed by threatening rainclouds. Just in the front door to hear the first spits of rain (7.04, how accurate is yr.no) was a most satisfying end to the week.
Week 34 342km 12,619 calories ( 15.6 Serious Lamb burgers) 33.1km/h average YTD 12,959km
"The cure for boredom is curiosity. (there is no cure for curiosity)" Dorothy Parker US poet 1893-1967
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