Week 48

A few not-so-regulars were inspired to attend Trev's Saturday Tour, maybe warmer forecasts drew them from the woodwork. BigMat (Movember equipment attached) and Tim (a text to wait, running late, stalled the start) Luke back to increase the dose of dopamine, Cougs from a marathon babysit, Daniel presented his new summer Couldabeens kit (a green g string, having ridden winter mostly in short knicks and sleeves), Christine on the new Oppy Pink Pro, Nick, Temple, DieselDalton, Shorty, Rocket & BigDale made up the 12 to follow Trev out Channel Rd.  Only got to Hanlon Rd when Dale's deflation delayed destiny, ethics and ride rules meant a group halt for repairs, a perfect morning, not a breath of wind. Back on the road thanks to Trev's rapid repair, up to Boundary and over the highway, a young fox flattened (kit catastrophe?) at the channel. The long course favoured today, so up to the toaster and on to the Emu, plenty of pussycats heading south. We turned westward into Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd with Cougs being shown the yellow card for speed incursion.  No irritated red ute today (maybe the police visit calmed his disposition?) just a friendly ride on the rev limiter down to Rudd Rd where Daniel & Temple bid their farewells (u turning) to go back and terrorise the OC's.  BigMat was first across the line (ably assisted by Rockets' push) a keen pace held down the Boulevard too, maybe craving a caffine fix? The Lemontree slack on the service today, quite the wait, but plenty of conversation to chew on. An ideal alfresco morning, watching Goats leave, 51 arrive and OC's pass. 

Squeezed in an early lap Sunday with the forecast of a hot one (not yet climatized to this foreign weather) on the way south nearly becoming a Holden bonnet emblem (senior citizens senility, suffering serious sight shortcomings, sceptical scrutiny suiting serious speculation)  Headed out Raftery into a light south easter which swung slowly into an east south east to give a handbrake effect for Mitchell. A real retro day today, a few vintage velocipedes piloted by old school blokes were out in the summer atmostphere, a not so senior JB on a not so crusty Cannondale spotted on Boundary (by this time the wind had turned into a westerly!) Headed for home down Channel Rd to meet weekend obligations but made time for a Degani pit-stop to fuel up on the de-lish banana/walnut toast & coffee. Just to add variety, a warm northerly sprung up to force a downchange for the ride home.

Tommygun and DrugRob were waiting at SPC for the P&W clan to arrive, just Cougs and me to fill the void today. A little mechanical adjustment to an errant brake pad (Tommygun the boy scout with suitably sized Allen key) and the four set forth, some aid from the south west breeze. Just got to the shredded flags of the tractor dealer when Goose & Greendawg made their presence heard with singles on song. Tommyguns epic 165k in yesterdays heat excused him from a big effort, clearly the domain of the Dawg and the Goose today. A formation of felines were in pursuit approaching the Pine Lodge pub, luck would have it that two others needed a Channel Rd exit to keep a busy schedule on agenda, DrugRob, Cougs and I avoiding a Cat-confrontation to tackle the shorter course home.

GG was the comeback kid for Tuesdays Couldabeens thrash. Steve back and Tommygun as a special guest teamed up with 13 of the regulars to take on a stiff north easter heading out Channel Rd. FeltMat tacked on in the first leg, Nath added his horsepower further out.  A solid workout pushing into the wind but relief at Boundary Rd. The tempo kept building in Mitchell Rd, a few now bailing out of turns up front.  Lots of traffic allowed us to catch some breath at Central Kialla, but allowed Cats to gain a lot of ground. Daniel, Gav and co took the Archer Rd option, Nathan put the pedal down into the 40's (not wanting a Cat collaboration?) which split the bunch, a momentary regroup at the highway when the frontrunners paused for traffic. There was little support for a united finish unfortunately, so I grouped with those on the back to keep morale, the downside was trying to get a share of the tarmac when Cats overtook on an intimate line (an empty right lane un-used) Our group finished intact however (the main priority) over the train tracks at 6.58 and pleased with a 35.8 average in light of some long pauses. 

The combination of a hot Tuesday afternoon, stiff winds and the likely ubiquitous attack squad added up to aprehension and low enthusiasm, but one should make lemonade from lemons. Trusting the cloud had a silver lining, I arrived at the hospital to find Axel, Dalton, Dave, Woodsy, young Kate, Brendan, Sav (boiling in longs, short knicks unfound) and Mike. Sure as eggs, Bomber, Mitch and associates were lying in wait out Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd , quickly joining in the rotation. Once on the front, heads went down and bums up at 40 into the stiff wind, the legacy was 6 riders OTA. Predicting a tough leg south (22km/h SSE wind to tackle) Axle & I eased to collect those dumped and set about an achievable, survivable pace from the Emu onward, Sprinter & Dalton quickly returning to the fold.  Turned at the toaster collecting Craig, rotations varied a little but no matter with a united team.  Trees or buildings that gave some shelter were welcomed, the heart rate settled a bit in River Rd. Hamish came into view in Mitchell Rd (as Mike, Sav, Axel & Kate dissapeared from view into Archer Rd)  Just Dalton, Sprinter, Craig, Hamish and I left to finish the course. Arcadia Downs gets the adrenalin up and up went the speed as always.  The turns up front became more frequent and I let loose with 300 to go (but 484 watts couldn't shake the very young Hamish at the end).

A calmer pace on Wednesday was welcomed, chose an anti-clockwise lap with Rocket, Tim, Cougs, GG, Temple and Nick. Down Archer (a postcard sunrise to view) up Mitchell and Boundary and home via Channel Rd.  Almost perfect 15 degrees and a hint of south east breeze, there was even enough oxygen to allow a yarn here and there, maybe not the case for Supercats westbound at a fair clip.  A sizeable pack of P&W's near the main channel (with some foreign faces), the TT lads had taken the River Rd  option, a group of Goats (?) and last, but certainly not least, the 51 express with Vince as fighter pilot. We turned into Channel Rd to collect and enlist Pete H to even up numbers, passed a Mr & Mrs on a get fit ride nearing the kinder, and back into town with a  cobweb clearing blast from Temple. 

Summer certainly here on Thursday. 23 degrees before the sun rose (only seconds to kit up for a ride now, such contrast to the multiple layers in sequence needed for winter) fighting the easterly out Channel Rd like battling bungled bureaucracy. Pleasing to reach Boundary Rd, Fitzy flying solo just south of the Pine Lodge Pub.  Crossed the highway and nearing the piggery, bike peak hour had struck. Nice guy Graeme at the wheel of the sizeable good ship pussycat, then a fractured and frazzled herd of Goats led by Phil (one even minus appropriate headgear). Soon after it was 25 & 1/2 and 25 & 1/2 (you do the maths), the backmarkers splintering under the attack. Content to plug away at a sensible speed, pleased to have a windy helping hand home.

Sleep was scarce Thursday night (minimum 28 degrees) so woke early. Forecast for Saturday looked bleak, maybe extra k's today would make up the defecit? Hit the tarmac at 4.50 out past the Golf Course (a proper 400 lumen light such a contrast to the summertime torch light) and along Wanganui & Ford with a WSW to help.  Came across Princess, Tinkerbell and Sootie at the roundabout so made up a foursome to knock over 30k before the P&W lap. The wind had swung to a SSW when we rounded the Emu, shared the front with Sootie all the way back to SPC to join the Stace, Choppy, Chris the Pom, Jase, DrugRob, Weapon and Tommygun team for the regular lap.  Newbie Simon uncannily the carbon copy of my brother (had to check the bike to confirm he hadn't made a suprise visit from the US).  Tommygun did a Channel Rd retreat, the TT's boys approaching behind caused Princess to bolt and Sootie to join, a River Rd rampage on their agenda. The remainder continued along Mitchell, Simon's mixmaster gearing got me giddy, and nearly expired him. The wind had died and a few welcome cool spots were enjoyed, a carbon concerto in C major from Weapons' wheels a great soundtrack to the ride.  Into the 40's for Raftery Rd and on Choppy's wheel (waiting for his charge), hard to latch on when he hit, and harder to get around with 200 left. The reactor was in melt down just to keep ahead, barely enough determination to hold him off at 50 to finish 65k for the weeks finale. 

Week 48   391 km   14,076 calories (50 jam sandwiches) 32.3 average YTD 18,858km  

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking."  Arthur Conan Doyle  Scottish author (Sherlock Holmes) 1859-1930