A lazy sleep-in till 6 Sunday morning, a 23 degree forecast ripe for a ride though. A long lap planned, just 13 degrees to begin and 13k's of south west wind. Off to Mooroopna then northwest toward Undera, running in a new chain (No4 for 2012) . A fair amount of mental preparation underway for the slog to Kyabram, that long 22k drag with the wind against me. Shifted focus to the fallout in the bike lane, nuts and bolts, a pizza box, one flat turtle, a tow chain shackle, a glove, Mc Donalds cups, an AA battery....then zoned in on the tactile edgeline, almost strobing an epileptic fit. Best to grit teeth and bear the breeze. Through Kyabram town and turned south onto McEwan Rd facing a strengthening wind now swinging from the south. Buried thoughts into tasting Rushworth bakery's muesli slice with only 2k's of channel bank to offer shelter from the wind. Willowdene has nothing but an intersection to offer for tourism and few small rises heading toward the Midland highway were not amusing. Westward ho toward Stanhope but a fine bit of wire cast off a dead dunlop injected the rear Vredestein, 30psi and falling soon halted proceedings. Wire removed and tube replaced, back on the road with hope refreshed, to be dashed with a blown valve 100 metres later. Out with patches to repair tube #1 but glue had passed it's use by......up the proverbial without a paddle now. Thumbed a lift back home, a sympathetic Ballarat to Canberra bloke (& mtb rider) to the rescue with a small van. Dissapointed with plans dashed, but the course will be there for another day I guess.
A relaxed reconnoitre Monday morning with Cougs (top job captaining the Shepp Access Great Vic team) , it's now Summer but there's been a retreat to Spring weather with only 9 degrees. Half a dozen P&W's near the pub, a Dawg amongst the Cats, 51 in pusuit as usual, happy to abstain and ride just for the pleasure, not the pain (no doubt that'll be dished out during the week sometime)
Quite the internal procrastination on Monday arvo, one side wanted a lazy evening on the couch, the other keen to knock over a few k's. The "can't be bothered" vs "I really should" whilst the west wind blew to strengthen the first excuse. Nought on tv and only a cat for conversation swung the vote to the latter, so off into the westerly (with a hint of south) to Tatura, aiming to get the hard part done first. Pretty pleased for the old engine to keep above 30 (with 24-35km/h of wind trying to blow me back home) Tat was all but closed at 5.30, straight through the middle and out west turning north onto Mulcahy Rd. A little easier with the wind at the side, up to the Midland then a short blast East to go North on Undera Rd. Not a car in sight until nearing my turn at Merrigum-Ardmona Rd, 5 cars suddenly appeared one way and a B double the other with a small tarmac mountain to get around on the roads edge! Squeezed through then hoist the mainsail me hearties, 8k's of tail wind to enjoy in the 40's. A little dog-leg at Ardmona then a couple more k's at 150HR to Mooroopna, signing off on the Garmin at the first red light. 50k's dusted off to earn dinner.
Took in a lap with Cougs on Tuesday, the Couldabeens had a quick one (spying on Jase's Strava data later) with a westerly to deal with. The regular feline formation in Boundary Rd, a gaggle of Goats today too (has a bit of daylight brought them out of hibernation?) 51 were in a long and narrow formation, no doubt homing in on prey. A fair push down Old Dookie with just 10 degrees not helping the muscles (how quickly do we climatise to fair weather?!)
Strong winds whipped up during the afternoon, changing a few minds no doubt to stay at home. Rolled up to the start with a resolve to let the big guns go, only Nath, Andy & Mike at the boom gate. (bit of a change from the usual, fair weather = fair numbers?) Sprinter and Gools awaited at the roundabout, noticed Bomber, Trent and Steigy completing repairs to Sticks rear tyre as we passed Matilda Drive. It wasn't long before they'd remounted and caught us, then showed us that 40 wasn't fast enough. None were prepared (or silly enough) to chase, a consolidated approach to survival. Arrived at the Emu to find that Mike & Sprinter had been unhitched but half a dozen more joined in after the church (preparing for an attack though). A close call between Andy's pedal and Nath's wheel, then the trigger was pulled at the piggery, unhooking Gools, Nath and myself (caught sleeping?). We made a pretty good trifecta together however, holding mid 30's into the mid 30's south west wind, Sticks joining in at piggery #2 after being cast off the front bunch. Grateful for Nath's and Gool's help for the rest of the course, wind gusts of 50km/h chucked the bike about and tested tenacity in the open sections of River Rd., Nath the messiah on the front. (b.t.w: apologies for the incorrect judgement on the Nov 27th attack Nath) Sticks peeled off at Kialla, just 3 now to do shiftwork to home. Got my second wind after Melbourne Rd so returned the favour taking the front to the finish. A 34.4 average satisfying in the conditions.
A few spits of rain in the wee hours of Wednesday (still a strong south westerly blowing too) was a good enough reason to have a morning off. Felt pretty flat Thursday, a quiet lap away from the young guns but made the mistake of changing down a gear too many, the rear deraileur munched into the Mavic (not used to riding the big sprockets?) locking up the rear wheel, twisting and busting the jockey hanger and shredding a tyre just 3 weeks old. A long walk home in socks (Sly kindly checking in that all was ok). The ever reliable Trev & Nath to the rescue during the day, squeezed in a repair on a busy day at a moments notice (with a loaner derailleur whilst Shimano sends a new one), the BM as good as new the same day. Worth pondering if you're thinking a bike is a few dollars cheaper out of town.
Still ordinary Friday, quiet lap #2 taken with a brilliant sunrise lighting up an orange sky. The bunches were a bit shuffled today, Supercats scurrying southward in Boundary, Area #51 in attack formation homing in behind (Dave reporting a "comfortable" 39.7 average). Shirms and mate near the pub, a big attendance of P&W's soon after (several taking the River Rd thrash) and a small bunch of unknowns just before the exit to Old Dookie Rd. Bike ticking over like a new one, maybe the legs (and head) will too next week.
Week 49 390km 13,650 calories (4.7kg Christmas plum pudding) YTD 19,248km
"Any idiot can face a crisis, it's day to day living that wears you out"
Anton Chekhov, Russian physician & author 1860-1904
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