Felt an attack of Groundhog day coming on in the early hours of Saturday, time to rustle the routine. Chose a clockwise Cat lap and set off to Ford Rd, Princess, Dalton, Gentleman Graeme, Dave, Straddles, Sully, Gools, Russ, DimSim and half a dozen more were lined up in Matilda Drive for the 6.30 off. Glad to get going 'cause 11 degrees wasn't that warming. A tame little tap out to the Emu (team Trev viewed from a different perspective today) but there was some toil into the 26km/h headwind to the toaster. Didn't argue with Russ's call for a short turn, the diesel Dalton hauling us all to Boundary Rd with ease. Turns up front became more frequent for the leg to Boundary, LeighMac finally out of bed to be the 'johnnie-come-lately' near the Broken Bridges. Rotated with the immaculately attired and super smooth Princess down to Central Kialla, a short stint into the wind to Mitchell, then to Raftery for the tempo test (gritty girl Kylie spotted heading out on a late lap) A gradual build of speed to Arcadia Downs Drive kept the bunch together. Sitting third wheel into Conrod straight was a bonus, but my turn came early (as always). All the eggs went in one basket at the 650 metre mark (tried that before and failed) giving the 56/12 a big grind to fluster the felines. Fast running out of steam at 15 metres/second and convinced a few had glued to my wheel drove the determination to the finish, suprised to get the chocolates and not the box over the distance. (takes forever for the h.r. to drop from 195, lungs fit to burst for a while, but chuffed that Strava reckons 540 watts did it) A change in comradery & caffine consumption today too, a nice drop at the Gools' Welsford Cafe and a good chin wag. Fix number two at Friars allowed a yarn with Hoffy (long time no see) now driving a Dogma.
Original plans for a big ride were quickly shelved Sunday morning, nobody turned the wind off overnight. Took executive hours heading out at 8.30 with a toaster lap + extension in mind. A perfect 17 degrees and propulsion from the 20km/h tail wind pushed me out the Boulevard, spied a dozen bugs heading in with just 2 road bikes amongst them. Plotted a course to the quarry (just a side wind to battle), avoided thoughts on life's foibles, pondering the aerobic heart rate equation (210 minus age) then the theory of training at 85% (equals 131 for me). Mmm.....I was 23% over at 160-170 out to Boral's hole in the ground. Maybe the head and legs are younger than the heart? Alarm bells chimed with 217 showing at the railway line, or was the 22,000 volt Dookie-Shepp powerline a magnetic interference? Ignorance is bliss they say but heading back to the Pine Lodge church 208 appeared, far from powerlines and humanity for that matter. Smooth beats from Flume and Frank Ocean were on the playlist (not the Cradle of Filth or Bury the Truth tracks that push the pulse) so doubt was raised on Garmin's accuracy. (heaven forbid an svtc affliction) Problem shelved for Google to solve later.... Pointing south into the wind of Boundary Rd shifted the focus, JB upon the sparkling red Cannondale grinning like a Cheshire cat with the wind behind him. Rounded up the only clockwise rider nearing Channel Rd (damned Garmin briefly showed 225) several more on opposite oddeseys in two's and threes. Relief entering Mitchell Rd with the wind from the left now, motivation being driven by the mirage of a slab of Degani's banana and walnut toast at the finish. Through the Mitchell chicane (whoopee an ever-so-slight downhill too, if measured by micrometer) I'd made little gain on the one very distant rider spotted in Raftery, but gassed up a bit of speed to finish the 60k in 1:48:10. Yup, coffee and toast passionately consumed, a sentence or two swapped with Phil the Cat, then Rocket, Rocket-ette and the little missiles arriving for brunch. Home and data downloaded, missed the 248 bpm peak climbing Cemetery hill ! (then Sprinter Fb posts his resting rate at 38!)
Enjoy Monday's usual lap, a great tempo, no pressure, a very smooth pair of wheels to ride with, chew over the weeks news with Cougs, watch the boys (and the odd girl) steaming their way southward in large and small numbers and back home without the rushed agenda to prep for work.
As the year slips into second gear, days are becoming noticably shorter and temperatures cooler, already!
A few early birds had arrived for the Couldabeens thrash, FeltMat residing closest had made the effort, Steve bringing co-worker Luke along again. Nice to see Leon back, BigMat almost becoming a regular (but GG has vanished) Daniels' arrival signalled the bunch's departure. Journeyed east into the darkness (concerned about trying to spot our wandering canine) but it was Nath found loitering with intent near the Cypress trees. Through to Boundary without pooches, southbound with the 15 strong pack, quite comfortably towed sitting at the back. It felt like a light south wester by the time we were at Mitchell (noticable at the pointy end), legs were a bit secondhand after a k beside Steve (Goldfrapp's "Utopia" inside my head for some reason) Luke bordering on expiry wisely dodged his turn and tucked in. Daniel and the Kenworth went toe to toe after Central Kialla (will Daniel do the whole distance one day?) to throw solidarity out the window and scatter the team. A brief pause at the highway and on the gas again was wearing many thin, I stayed back to lend a wheel and watch the Conrod thrash from the upper circle. Nath and Rocket stretched ahead, Nath appeared to burn the biscuits and Rocket picked up the crumbs. 30k all over in 46 min.
Just Robbo & DimSim were at the hospital at 6pm. 32 degrees may have frightened a few, but it felt quite tolerable. Some of the top guns had taken to the hills, so off we set to (hopefully) gather a helper or two for the 43k ride. Sprinter joined in (glued to DimSim at the back) leaving Robbo & I to toil, h.r. running amok again with a 210 and later a 226. Felt the light south westerly approaching the toaster, glad to welcome workhorses Tony and Jim along for the push to Boundary, Harpo added to the fold too. Nico u-turned to make another on board for Boundary Rd, Tony & Jim doing the towtruck role for a good part of the trek from the pub to Central Kialla. Mid to high 30's most of the way changed to 40's in the dying stages, Sprinters earlier objections to pace was a distant memory when he jumped to follow Robbo for the glory in the last 100. 1.09.00 for the circuit was satisfying, Colonel Harlem's aroma's were even better on the roll through town to home.
Plenty of P&W's putting in the k's lately, and plenty turned up Wednesday to clock up more. Quick chicks Stace, Fee, Cougs, Kylie and Meags made the rough boys HWK, THM, Pom, Al and Simon look a whole lot better. The gong sounded and away we went, breifly split by a car keen to overtake then turn left. Regrouped, it was a long haul to Boundary, a north easterly making it a bit of a chore. Better in Boundary, though Al has had significant HWK training, and HWK maybe knocked off his perch soon! Simon not quite the Mr Myagi yet, wonder how he'll like the chilled sections of Mitchell Rd? The Garmin HR behaving itself today, not a location issue covering similar ground to last night. Many of today's contenders regularly pushing out 140 - 160 k loops at weekends, building some kilowatts for fast appraoching Tri's. HWK took lead out duties in Conrod straight but too many kw's denied Stace the honours. Several took on lap 2 as most headed for home and work.
A balmy Thursday and a stiff north easter was a recipe for a fast clockwise lap (many would be pencilling into the record books) but took the opposite anti-clockwise lap a little earlier with Cougs instead, to get back for an earlier start. Darkness nearly all the way around today (so much for summer?) but the sunrise was worth the effort. An annoying thump thump thump from the front wheel (felt lke a lump of tar) but a sticky beak revealed a balooning section. See what a new tube does... The old faithful ticked over 150,000 on the lap today, nearly run in now. There's still a few original bits surviving (not sure about the old engine though), a testament to Claus at Sachs for der grossartig fertigerzeugnisse. Nearly ready to start lap 4 of the globe......
A circuit with the P&W's to finish off the week, (new front tube has cured yesterdays thumping) plenty of players to share the effort and a southwesterly to keep us accustomed! Choppy, Stace, Cougs, Shorty and Jase (from clan Couldabeens), Al, Coota, Pom, Meags, even Dan the man is back on two wheels, Weapon, Tommygun, Sosso, Minto, Princess, Fox & Fee took to the tarmac. A factional division approaching River Rd where Princess, Minto, Fox, Fee and Tommygun departed for a thrash. Our shorter faster turns gave way to the regular long slogs by all, a little traffic to contend with at the main roads. The river Rd express had gained some distance, the main field picked up the pace with the scent of Raftery Rd near. Vince (resplendant in new 51 kit) escorting a somewhat toasted Cranky was passed rapidly at Roubaix, i scored the big turn at the pointy end with Dan that lasted till the finish line (how does he do that on the 3rd ride of the year?). A big cheer to the many hammering out the Geelong tri this weekend, all those recent hard yards will pay off.
Week 6 ; 407km 14,245 calories (33 large vanilla slices) YTD 2079km
"There's nothing like a gleam of humour to reassure you that a fellow human being is ticking inside a strange face" Eva Hoffman 1945- (Polish born British writer)
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