Week 44

The old farmhouse, Rushworth-Murchison Rd  (via i-phone)

The sun is gradually rising earlier, not long now when the lighting kit can get a holiday. The base layer, arm warmers and winter gloves are still in demand though, struggled to reach 3.5 degrees to start a ride Saturday. (Captain Cook's 283rd birthday for your information) A dozen rolled up then rolled out Archer, a now obligatory chase to catch Trev on his rapid start. Big Dale made a rare appearance (a ranked outsider carrying top weight) Jase nursing a sore back (from a motored bike) Mike puffing like a steam train, Daniel too with some discomfort (backside parked off the rear of the saddle?) A light breeze, originally from the west, swung from around from the south west, but didn't give grief.  All were in social cruise control, de rigeur for membership to this pack.  Just into Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd Dalton directed de dozen detour a  downed, deceased, defunct duck, Daniel decided doubtful delicious dinner, deferring disease, damaging diet. (yes, still stricken, superfluous superlatives)  A small bunch of 5 heading out had nearly two dozen cats bearing down half a k back, no pressure on us, other than chosing how the coffee was to be served. Avoided the tarmac mounds of Wanganui Rd, (Mason St an obstacle course too) no abusive traffic to deal with, straight into the warmth of the Lemontree to defrost on coffee.

Rocket flagged two laps of the toaster on Sunday as prep for those taking on the Tat 200. Time only allowed one for me so rolled (pushed really) down to Harvey Norman's against a 15k southerly.  Nick, Dalton, Steve, BigMat, Rocket, Shorty and Jase all let out a cheer when GG turned up, guilt had triumphed on many invite texts (unanswered).  Got a quick warm-up being paired with Rocket for the first (3k) leg into the wind, the assistance in Mitchell then Boundary only got the other lads excited. GG seemed keen to make up for lost rides by half biking on the front (hats off to Nick for holding position) Interesting observing the many different cogs in use at the one speed, all different engines i guess. The breeze swung a little to help us west in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, the tempo unchanged. Quite the sledging match mid field in Ford Rd, Rocket and GG casting aspersions with gusto.  GG's half biking resumed near DECA but Dalton was having none of it, dishing out a speed lesson up the Wanganui hill, then another in Rudd Rd to seal the punishment.  Polished off the 48k at 34, peeled off at Tarcoola wondering who would be ripe for lap 2. (and when GG would next return)

As has become customary (and comfortable) a quiet roll around the 25k circuit Monday morning, witnessing those southbound (a decent sized P&W pack, Cats being hunted by 51 etc) but happy to take things easy. Call it soft if you like, i'll call it survival.   Copping a bit of grief in the tensor fascia lata lately (might just be rigormortis?) so loosened up on a Monday arvo random reconnisance. The forecast north easter suggested a trek east, crossing fingers for a tail wind home.  Dookie was the decision (with some options open should legs or sunlight give up) so out Ford then Lemnos Cosgrove Rd, noticing the dead duck dissapeared, dutifuly dragged......oh, stop it Foss!  Mt Major grew closer heading up to the quarry, enjoyable in 26 degrees. Through Cosgrove and up the hill to Dookie (with a solid tap on the helmet from a magpie, suggesting a lower gear?) and into town with a brief stop to fill the H20 tank.  Still plenty of daylight left so out the cemetary then south on the Nalinga Rd (a slightly hazy vista of the dividing range today, but still a visual feast through hayfevered eyes), down past the ag college and up to the Midland. There's a decent apron to the left of the road so homeward on that (Bells-Armstrong never an exciting option, the long stretch past the Pine Lodge cemetary was nearly as riveting though) fighting a north easter and the wind shear from oncoming trucks.  At last the pub came into view (beer in the bidon considered for a moment), taking Channel Rd home (no lights cancelled ideas of a Mitchell Rd course, sun slowly setting) to finish 72 @ 32.6 (damn hills pegged back the average) HR at 152 for 2hrs 10.

An early text Tuesday morning, Cougs needing a pit crew for a puncture. (funny how there's two or three punctures in a row, then weeks or months without one) Timed the repair impeccably, rolled to the Couldabeens start just as they rolled out (thanks to Dalton for a tow up to the enthused team) FeltMat recovering a sore "round the bay knee", noticed Chris the Pom has legs (14 degrees had them uncovered for the first time in ages)  BigMat enjoying a new pair of carbon wheels(need he go faster?) , Trev and Shorty taking the ouch out of the speed. A few patches of cold air had bare armed Temple and Leon cool. Pussycats caught us approaching Central Kialla, then spent the next 2k in the oncoming lane for some reason. A 51 breakaway (Nev, Mo, Chris, Bart & co) rounded us up at Arcadia Downs, BigMat was keen to use a tow, so took us into the mid 40's to latch on (yet another bunch out of hibernation were headed south), a few from the 51 chase made a last minute bid but were just shy of the target. A pleasing 35.1 average to finish, a mass of bikes to roll back into town (having caught the Cats) to flog the train (soon to miss that challenge, it's departing at 6.31 from Nov 18) 

A magic 27 degrees Tuesday arvo, enjoyed another Dookie schoolies circuit (big chainring of course) and the challenge of the sharp rise on Duggans Rd reducing the velocity to 16. No focus on speed, just to climatise the legs and head into hills. Perfect conditions with sun shining, cool air and barely a puff of wind, but the mozzies are back and biting when the sun gets low. 

Arrived at SPC Wednesday morning and could have turned back the clock 2 years. A big roll up of new and long missing P&W's, the 5am crew arriving in from their 30k lap adding to the numbers. Big Mick and Al the newcomers, a rare sighting of THM and HWK, Tommygun and a full set of quick chicks (plus a new one). Irongirls Stace, Jo & Hayles, Meags (with ammonium perchlorate composite in the drink bottle), Fast Fee, Super-nana Cougs, Tonka Tuff Kylie, Weapon (aka Miss Modesty) and apprentice Liz. Almost back to the P&W golden years,  just need Choppy and Ayto to complete that picture. Out to Boundary Rd just ahead of the TT lads approaching; Minto, Wizz, Princess, Fox, Sootie and Grasshopper on 85% intervals rounded us up near the piggery, then maintaining a 100 metre lead. Their exit into River Rd left us to drive on to Mitchell (Trev and Couldabeens were northbound led by GG, the second ride in a week!) The quick chicks (outnumbering the boys) ramped up the pace westward, dragged out news of Weapons epic 165k solo ride Sunday, talk about understated & unassuming! A bit of rubber banding at the back when we reattached to the TT's in Central Kialla, but up went their pace at Archer Rd, so we resumed normal service (except Stace went off to play with the big boys) Arriving at Arcadia Downs, Chris A (on a breakaway from 51) shot past , soon after the chase pack went by, nearly getting my front wheel sliced off by the excitement of their pursuit. Held station at 38 for the last k, only to be swamped by quick chicks in an all out battle for line honours. Another mass roll through town to humble the train. Liz stoked at finishing the lap (she doubted lasting the length of Old Dookie!), we should all remember that feeling of achievement.

Thursday morning had time constraints so an early lap, at last mild enough to cope in short knicks and sleeves. The payback was wind! A tough 30k westerly and howling with gusts to 40 made the trek home hard work. Quite a few were out to play in it, i'd imagine tears would be shed in River and or Mitchell, there was pain aplenty at 30 in Old Dookie Rd for me.

Fronted the 6 degree P&W ride of Friday to find the long lost Choppy was back! Apprentices Al, BigMick and Coota joined Chris the Pom and quick chicks Meags, Stace and Hayles to all be blown out Old Dookie by the 17km/h wind.  A k out ,THM and Matho (suffering a clock calamity?) caught on. Beyond the pub a Couldabeen collective entered Boundary from Channel Rd but remained half a k ahead.  The WSW wind took a bit of slack out of the legs, a good run down Mitchell whilst assimilating to the new faces and their riding styles.  Beyond Melbourne Rd Matho dumped us to build a bridge to the bunch ahead (thinking it was Cats?), by Roubaix Stace and Choppy couldn't contain themselves and  set off to mow down Matho (lots of killer on the Kornflakes) which snowballed to Hayles and THM following suit.  Had a moment of "yeah, nah but" to join in, but finally bolted to grab the express train as it left the station.  Stace fired hard (too much to soon?) THM went quietly kaboom, Choppy's candle flickered at Arcadia Downs, I just attempted to keep a steady high 30's pace if only to survive till the end . Found myself the tow truck till 70 metres from glory when Stace, Chops and Hayles catapaulted past to claim the 1,2,3 respectively.  Suprised to have a (u-turned) Carole join us, riding a delicious new red/black Avanti TT with Di2, 90mm carbon wheels, singles etc. A weapon on a weapon.

This weeks pedometer at 268,856 steps. That's why the legs are tired!

 Week 44   410km   14760 calories (197 large onions) 32km/h average  YTD 17,199km

"One must wait till the evening to see how splendid the day has been" 
Sophocles : Greek playwright 496 - 406 BC