The Antarctic weather blew in overnight to remind us winter isn't finished just yet. Barely 2 degrees and a southwester blowing off a glacier to cool the enthusiasm for Saturdays trip. Rolled down to the Peppermill to find Meags and Hayles from team hardcore ready to attack the circuit. Andrew was the only other to attend, others it seems seeking asylum with other groups. Dave at least enrolled for duty near Mt Nicolaci, pleased to have another Argon (Hayles') in the pack. All agreed to the old circuit but navigation was difficult with the clouds low enough to mimick fog. Hayles as smooth as silk in TT pose (Port Mac experience no doubt) Andrew & Dave not sparing speed either. A dozen Pussycats braved the elements too, southbound near River Rd (spied a certain Greendawg lurking at the back, ready to pounce i'd guess) as we all repeatedly wiped the damp from the glasses to keep track of the course in Boundary Rd. Nice to have Meags rolling through tapping out long turns, all up to Ford Rd to face the music of a head wind. A few recognisable faces within the Goats and Muppets heading east, we finally arrived at Rudd Rd to be spared the toil of the breeze for a cruise through town, coffee and banana toast as first prize for finishing (Meags murdered French toast instead). B grade arrived with a few 6.30 regulars aboard (turncoats I say) for a lengthy verbal interlude. Much discussion on the future of Saturdays 6.30 ride, course and start time up for debate. Hopefully consensus rules.
Bit of a birthday bash Saturday night with Fee, THM, Stace, HWK, Sootie, Meags and Fox, Hayles and even Choppy to carbo load on Fat Yak's in celebration. Lots of bike banter with great mates made a great night for an old fart.
Adopted teachers' hours (subtle sledge, no offence meant Meags, Fox, Nick et al) Sunday morning with a fair sleep in till 7.15, layed back breakfast and finally on the road by 9.15 for a solo clockwise Toaster loop. The Shepp Marathon was well underway with runners slogging out and back the Boulevard (Matt T seen stretching out the legs well). A confrontation with a over zealous marshall (the Hard Man) waving a slow bat was dismissed with a threatened fist :-) and a cheerful good morning, out past the Golf Course feeling a south westerly building. Turning east in Wanganui did the ego good, holding 40 (with a reasonable push) kept the odometer ticking over quickly. Princess & Minto neared DECA, just arriving back from a lap, but few others on the road. I'd probably regret a self imposed target of holding 40 till the Emu (which wasn't quite successful) but was pleased to make a 38.5 average to turn into Cosgrove North Rd. Spotted Nick, Norm & GT so slowed for a yarn, GT prevoiusly going base over apex when inattention caused him to brush Norm's rock steady and still upright wheel. A few bumps and bruises to mend I think. Social intercourse ended at the Boundary/Old Dookie intersection, the trio shortcutting home, me continuing the big lap solo. So tempting to take the easy way in Channel Rd (sheilded a bit from wind) but the head told the legs to harden up for a slog down Mitchell to face reality. The prior average was relinquished for something a bit more achieveable for this sad old engine, content to maintain 32 into the 22km/h headwind. The chicken in me argued Archer Rd home but the stubborn / martyr side won out for the full distance via Raftery. At least the last few k's were only hindered by a side wind making a 2029 calorie ride at 33.8 worth a 490 calorie coffee and chocolate brownie at the Butterfactory fair reward.
Just Fee & THM showed for P&W's on Monday (apologies from Cougs...crook), maybe minus half a degree had some part in attendance shortfall? An extra two minutes wait proved unfruitful, so eastward bound the trio traversed indian file. Sunrise is noticably earlier, the icy atmostphere far more noticable though (pain diverted glancing at naked cows in paddocks chewing on frozen cud) It was no hinderance to Fee slogging along at a handy speed on the TT, Griffo's attempt at a nose blow blew him OTA though. Slowing after the pub till he caught on, Rabbit (Tony?) passed slowly, dissapearing into the light fog laying on Boundary Rd. A bit before the Mitchell dog-leg the felines slowly passed too, a shivered greeting from a few. Just a minute elapsed before a slow 51 train overtook and set about hauling in the Cats. Fee awarded the QOM polka dots for Mt Nicolaci, our trio stuck together to complete the course, triple the effort than that of the larger bunches. Suprised to see a tripped over Toyota in Raftery Rd, thankfully we all got home upright.
Chose a quiet lap with Cougs (recovering from a dose of the lurgi) Tuesday morning, rolling out a a k behind two very neat rows of Couldabeens. Chris A rolled up behind us chasing a ride with the 51 train after missing their start. I must be getting a bit too familiar with winter, it felt mild today (and it only reached 3) Enjoyed seeing the scenery outside the headlights beam, the sun rising two minutes earlier each day. The 6.17 Cats train headed south, the 6.20 Goats train passed the piggery and the 6.22 #51 express was full steam ahead on schedule at the Old Dookie Rd crossing. A quiet lap finished in good time, a few extra minutes to prepare for the days toil.
The regular handful of Hospital bunch ("Team Psycho"?) were waiting Tuesday night outside the local mental health facility (ironic?), nice to see the member for Toolamba at the start. Mike was having another attempt, as usual i was paired with the youthful exuberance of Nathan after some shifty riders shifted. The Dalton dynamo needs some samples taken, performing at his best in recent weeks. A steady stream of riders joined in en route swelling the pack to 20 plus, we even had 5 anti-clockwise crew u-turn to head clockwise wih us (till Channel Rd at least) The turn at the Emu brought some relief from the 10k ENE breeze, but Bomber blistered the bitumen to shut everyone up, calm restored at Boundary Rd when he and the diesel Steigy's turn ended.Squeezed a few sentences in with Gools, some time off the the bike hasn't slowed him a bit. Nath and I shared front-of-house duty for the first 2k's of River Rd, but soon after Bomber teased more pace from those unfortunate ones at the pointy end. Many sighs of hope when he exited at Kialla Hall. Rob plucked up some horsepower for a go at the front near Archer, Dave shot away at Mt Nicolaci only to be hauled back in with traffic at Melbourne Rd. The right hand row of riders became extinct nearing Arcadia Downs, volunteers for the headwind at the front came down to Dalton, Nath and me thereafter. My candle had burned both ends at 45 with half a k left, Nath spent all his pennies at 46 with 200 to go, tactician Robbo shot out of the barrel for the sprint then resigned, allowing Gools the victory. 5th satisfying (a long string of lights strung out behind) at 35.4, the 43k covered in 1.12.25. Hats off to Mike who finished.
Only Stace & Fee at the P&W start Wednesday morning, no Meags, THM or Princess (but at least apologies from Cougs) even waited and extra two minutes to no avail. The single file trio pushed into a 20k NNE wind, nearly had to call 000 'cause the girls were on fire. The big struggle was with wildlife, ducks, magpies and rabbits aplenty static on the tarmac. Despite the threatening clouds only a handful of drops fell from the heavens, mild at 10 degrees too. 51 finally caught us at Melbourne Rd, train driver Nev nearly had the carriages un-hooked, 2 of their young guns were motorpaced a minute or two behind (passed us at Arcadia Downs) Our trio crossed the line, 8 Cats couldn't catch or match. We graciously relinquished our lead on the roll through town so the poor pooped puddytats pride wasn't humbled by a hot harem.
Early duty at the coalface prevented a lap with the Couldabeens on Thursday, but rolled out earlier (or was blown out to be accurate) only to face a fair workout to get back home, but that's part of the challenge isn't it? The big challenge though was spotting the charcoal grey 4x4 minus headlights (and without sanity) at the Doyles Rd intersection, thankfully collision avoided. (the "what's the matter" look on the drivers face takes the cake) Thursday night's horizon had rain written all over it, a night off enjoyed instead.
A much improved P&W attendance on Friday, Irongirls Stace & Hayles, Hard Man, Cougs, Meags and Sootie (great to have him back on two wheels after a knee rebuild). Cougs' pace was on from the start, Meags belting out long turns too. Picked up Fitzy near Channel Rd, then new rider Matt joined in at the top of Mitchell (a recent Couldabeens baptism was a bit much tempo for him). Into a head wind for the long Mitchell Rd stretch, Hayles tapping out a very smooth and strong turn, Stace duplicating the effort (as Irongirls do). THM was looking for a tow up Mt. Nicolaci and Fitzy almost was run down by an Area 51 attack as they passed us just over the highway. A neat lap by the team to complete another week, adeiu to winter at last.
Week 35 370km 13,320 calories (242 Weet-Bix) 32 average YTD 13,329km
"In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends"
Martin Luther King 1929-1968
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