Week 52

Into the final lap of the year now....

All the commercial hype, the demanding deadlines, parking battles, financial juggles, inconsiderate types and relentless rushing, Saturday's ride was a relief. A big rollcall at the shops, Fee, Choppy, Trev, Shorty, Cougs, Trav, Nick, JB, Jase, Pom, BigDale, Tim, FeltMat, Mike, Rocket, Axel.....even BigMat had crawled out of what seemed to be retirement to turn the wheels over. 12 degrees didn't deter the Christmas spirit to push against a light south easter (the rusty BigMat quickly diving to the left row for cover to avoid duty on the front) , up to Boundary Rd where Nath lay in wait.  Mike took the role of tail-light (respiratory restriction of a cold) Bearing north and west was easy (with scrutiny on speed). A festive feline foregather faired east toward the Emu as we nudged the speed limiter toward town. Plenty of festive chat to enjoy en-route to the Lemontree. Felt the breeze turning into Rudd Rd, Nath enticing Nick to have a thrash to the 60k sign, a few others unable to resist temptation. Chops and Fee u-turned to repeat the lap in reverse  (distance the triathlete's aim of late) as Weapon joined in with us for the pit stop. The usual convivial conversation over coffee, toast, eggs, bacon etc. 51 came and Muppets went in Fryers St, Adams family delayed with a spill in Mitchell Rd (dazed but not damaged it seems)

Got an early 35k in on Sunday before a stinker 38 degree forecast got to strength. Travelled the Couldabeens circuit with Cougs, lots of others chosing an early attack too. Bunches left and right along the way, a few solo as well.  Just descending Mt.Nicolaci to find Meags out on her Pat Malone, Chilly too not far behind. By Conrod straight half the population were on bikes (the suns heat building too). Dropped in for a dose of Degani's, soon after joined by Dalton, Christine and Cranky to chew over the weeks' news.

A special Christmas Couldabeens cruise slated for Monday at the usual time. The intention to go anti-clockwise to the Emu then home, was quickly modified with NNE winds blowing at 30 and gusting to 52 km/h. Rocket had Christmas lights ablaze, Tim was tinselled and Cougs kitted in Santa suit, set forth with Trev, Nick, Jase, FeltMat, Shorty, Pom and a spectacular second appearance (in a week) by BigMat. I'd hoped for a cruisy social ride but there was a heap of enthusiasm to fight the head wind in Channel and relish the tailwind thereafter. Lots of sticks to dodge, a still (but possibly live) snake was duely noted to avoid too.  Plenty of turns taken in Mitchell (with some fluctuation) and the vote for Raftery was won (lots of wide open spaces in Archer) but facing that wind in Conrod straight was a test. A few thrashed it out for line honours, I was better suited for a conservative finish and enjoy a brief social sojourn over coffee.

The temptation to ride a toaster circuit on the 25th was rapidly extinguished with the sound of wind chimes clanging hard at 5am. Sucummed to slumber, cobwebs on the cranks today.

Mum tried to fatten the son for market (met with little protest) at Christmas dinner, so Boxing Day became a quest to quash kilos with kilometers. The intention to roll out a quiet solo lap was overturned with Greendawg and Goose appearing, but not another P&W in sight.  A pause taken to leap on with passing pussycats, then out Old Dookie to catch news from gentleman Graeme, Lloyd, Sly (congrats, another sprinter, Aiden, born into the world on Friday) Russ,  Straddles (helmet quickly retrieved from home) and company.  SteveF was wearing off some weight near Channel Rd and leapt aboard a most tame bunch, today in the low to mid 30's. I had the Goose kilowatts to deal with at the front, grateful there were others to back off a bit. Vince, Rabbit and a few 51's were venturing east near Melbourne Rd, our dozen continued through to the finish without the spectacle of a sprint, but some social time spent at Fryers, interupting Muppets coffee.  

It's very easy to get into holiday mode with no time limits to adhere to. A lazy 7am start to the day and a relaxed 35k lap with Cougs to enjoy, but not the northeasterly building in strength.  The easy option of Channel, Boundary and Mitchell kept it cruisy, a drop of Degani's a fitting conclusion.  

To sign off on a holiday week, another quiet ride Friday. I could get used to late starts (next week back at the salt mines will be a bitter pill to swallow) and a steady pace.  Headed south on Archer, east on Mitchell and north on Boundary, making use of a strong south wester to make a low stress finish, but the wind enticed a fair effort in Old Dookie (a fine brew enjoyed at the High St shop was the just reward)

Week 52   285km (bit soft?) 9690 calories (9.4kg ham off the bone....bet there's still some in the fridge!)
                  YTD 20,391 km.

"In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away"  Shing Xiong

Next issue, 2012 in review..........