A sizeable start to Saturdays lap, Rocket, FujiTrev, Nick, Shorty, Cougs, Daniel, Temple, Tim, FeltMat, Mike, and a big welcome to the Pom, back on two wheels after the surgical lay off. No show by AvantiTrev, so set sail after a brief wait, StrobeSteve turning up beyond Kensington , Nath a fair way out on Channel Rd. The h.r. monitor is a little more consistent this morning with ultrasonic gel conducting the signal, not dropping to 50 for long periods as it has been. A split bunch accross the Midland, some went and others stopped for traffic, big on the rubber band effect regrouping, a couple of close calls till the rhythm re-established. Smuggler came aboard nearing the fig farm, course set for the Toaster with little discussion or argument. There was a hint of south easterly as Rocket & I took the front in Old Dookie, the parfum de piggery confirmed the direction very soon after. Pom's tool kit went west over the railway line, a momentary lapse in tempo to collect the fallout then reset the cruise speed for a wind assisted tour toward town. TardyTrev was waiting near Boundary Rd, not relying on alarms had taken it's toll. Put in a plead to Steve to turn the disco light off, it was about to induce an epileptic fit. (big distraction from watching the wheel ahead) Darkness hid the now elevated speed (but scrutinised by some) sharing the front with halfcenturian Temple, quite capably half wheeling me (a chip off the Daniel block?) A united finish at the Cemetery, no slacking of speed on the run through town for the post ride social discourse. Candle in a muffin happy birthdays to Temple, a Vince visit and voluminous verbals on circuses, road rage, age and neck warmers.
Lots of visual maps in the head in the early hours of Sunday, maybe something to break the repetition, there's been lots of 30 - 50k laps of late. The clock change meant daylight was to be enjoyed so rolled out at 7.30 for a ride round the block. Steered west out of town with a head full of thoughts, what better way than to resolve with a ride. A thesis on bike lane sufaces was underway out the Midland highway, from the course 20mm stone and the rough reseal edge to the super smooth tar & 7mm stone than makes wheels sing (lifts speed a whisker and enthusiasm a lot) A whisper of an easterly and tunes from James Blake propelled me well toward Stanhope, the feint blue-grey curtains of rain over the town weren't welcome though. After 34k west, a turn south (thankfully skirting around the light shower) pointing 18k to Rushworth. I thought progress was good until the rise at the Waranga west channel, a legacy of being a flatland rider. Just a few spots of rain through the hills, but driven by the lure of a bakery break, rolled into town keen for caffine and cake. Half way through the cup TriBrian turned up, soon after Pete McK joined in for a great yarn (Robbo's ears burning?)
Calves were cooling so bid adieu to get stage 2 underway, 19k east to Murchison with a view of the basin and the pong of a dozen dead skippys at the roadside. (not the road to travel at dusk) Fought the temptation of Murch's bakery, there was a wind building to make the final assult a tough one. Pressed on to Moorilim, hopeful of northbound traffic to draft on the highway. No such luck of course, more headed southbouth than north, exposed to the northeast wind wearied weakening legs. Concentration on the roadside shrapnel (bolts, shackles, a pocket knife, 20 cents, scissors and a brake pad....worrying) didn't help, just determination to finish, promising myself an early lunch at the Lemontree, so imagined the menu. All the watts were used to stay above 30 for the long haul home, cursing the gusts given from Melbourne bound trucks. Back in town and diverting around the lake Criterium (great results from Rhys, Robbo, Sprinter and many more), was pleased to knock over 107k at 32. Relished the chicken & avacado foccacia to replace the 1860 calories.
Leg condition wasn't bad Monday morning but the posterior was glowing a bit. A temperate tour out Channel Rd and up Boundary with Cougs, witnessing the Cat collective heading southward (with an odd P&W or three aboard?) nice to have a little light about to guide the way, felt like I was running late for work with the sun up in Old Dookie, Cougs' spirited push home got the legs jellied.
Didn't fancy the glossy road from Tuesday mornings' brief shower, felt there'd be another downpour if I got out (of course it didn't!) so a morning off enjoyed. A perfect Tuesday evening of 20 degrees and a hint of a northeasterly, a positive start with Jamie, Mike, AvantiTrev, Dalton (on a shiny new Green Edge Scott, a stiffer rig to handle his horsepower) Graeme, Axel and Robbo. Trev led out an early start (making up for late last Saturday?), the bunch collecting Sprinter, Bomber and Steigy on the westward leg, OlympicSteve, Trent & Trudy near the church, then legalSteve on the westward along Old Dookie Rd. An insect assult as dusk came, pays to keep glasses on and mouth shut to avoid the little protein projectiles. Mike & Trev had resigned to the rear to keep Axel company (recovering from the lurgy) speed had steadily built to get the heart rate up. Sprinter departed in Channel Rd, and over the Broken Bridges we caught the smells of Steve's sausages sizzling.....sensational :-) (i think he does it deliberately!) A few chilly patches in River Rd but Bomber kept us warm with tempo, found a few breaths for congrats to Trudy for a fine Maryborough effort. Young Graeme has quickly returned to form (just before he quickly returns to the Qld CSG exploration) many others towing the pack well to Melbourne Rd for a brief traffic pause. Bomber & Robbo strung the field into single file out of Roubaix, I felt duty bound to contribute, but 500 metres in the 40's was all I could give it Capt'n. Most had found form to resume front of house duties by Conrod straight (very convenient?) I had hopes on Steigy's wheel but was momentarily baulked by his rapid puncture, gapped by several lengths to the 5 ahead. Pulled out the shovel to dig deep but only held station for 6th. Satisfied to finish the 42k upright in 1.11.21 and eager to replace the 1045 calories with dinner.
Reasonably loose in the legs on Wednesday for a tour with the Kialla Couldabeens. Tim, Cougs, Pete, Nick, Rocket (seized up from holiday paving) and legalDave hit the Archer track at 6 and carved our way through the fog, glasses lasted for a k till being asigned to the pocket. A great sunrise to view heading up Mitchell Rd, had another go at the front with Pete (a little green at bunch riding but fit as a Mallee bull) and was soundly half biked for the duration (but he's only half of HWK) We snuck through the supercat and cat pack gap at their turn into River Rd, and was quietly relieved to have Rocket roll over to tow beyond the bridges. Some Strava stats swapped with legalDave to a steady tour along Channel Rd, only the deliberate swerve at us from the knucklehead in an oncoming Falcon soured the occassion. All home safe, me looking forward to an evening bonding session with the couch.
Thursday morning had lower numbers for the Couldabeens lap, had to rub the eyes to convince myself it was BigMat waiting at the carpark! Rocket, Tim, Cougs, Kenworth,Jase and Nick all suprised too. Pete was along for another go, FeltMat oncoming near the roundabout did an about face to join in too. BigMat put in a good first session, but the lycra has shrunk a little, turning the knicks way too transparent. Nick's peaking of late, a fine match with Rocket at the front (but hang on if you can) cruising at 40 in Mitchell Rd. Happy to share the front with Tim at a slightly eased rate, BigMat taking a recovery for a few turns. All had a long wait for traffic at Melbourne Rd, Pete taking his leave from there. The build up to the finale was a steady one (keeps the team united) and was suprised half way down Conrod that nobody had bolted (Rocket taking it easy on Jase?) Temptation overpowered me sitting at 4th wheel, stood on the gas to force a move but the Cosmic's racket gave the stealth game away by the time i'd hit the front. Rockets rapid reaction soon caught me and he had a length when the finish line flashed by. Stirred the pot a bit but Daewoo's don't dust Diablo's. Silly h.r monitor showed 79bpm at 52km/h......mmm, don't think so. Add a hundred I reckon.
Perfect weather continued into Thursday arvo (just how long will this last?) and a revitalised group assembled at the library. Jamie, Paul, Nath, Dalton, Clive, Mike, Robbo, Graeme, and newbies Dion & Stew hit the Boulevard trail, Clive puncturing at the back within minutes, team spirit shown by Dalton & Paul to assist in a pit stop, repair and diversion to rejoin beyond the soup tin. Simmo had just latched on, the tour east tough at times, stuck between Robbo and Nath as usual. All felt the southerly on the turn at the Emu, speed appropriately adjusted to prevent explosions. Robbo unusually took shorter turns, even sat back for a while (a later spy on Strava finds he's already done 45k solo) which turned the sequence to sharing the front with Simmo & Nath. Graeme now has a mean pair of MadFiber carbons to roll on, lots of volume in these puppies and knife like spokes to cut the air. (yet another young fella going faster) Dion & Stew had a few shifts at the front (in training for the upcoming Otway Classic) but became shorter by River Rd's end. Consistency kept the bunch together, Robbo got his second wind in a blast up Mt.Nicolaci, cooking Jamie in the process. A brief pause at the highway then back on the loud pedal. The highly capable young guns Nath, Robbo and Graeme drove hard turning the pack to single file approaching Arcadia Downs, I finally got around Dion who was about to go OTA, and struggled to pick up the gap for a bit. Half a minute to regain breathing rejuvenated the old engine, so off the Fizik and kicked the 12 tooth hard, shot to the front quite pleased that lights behind were getting weaker, not stronger. 191bpm confirmed the Garmin read well (pairing the h.r. monitor seems to be the fix) 445 watts got me across the line first, but the chocolates belonged to Nath, Robbo & Graeme for the big tow.
It's been a while since the last P&W tour, so Friday joined the team for a 30k epilogue to the week. HWK and quick chicks Stace, Cougs, Fee, Hayles, Weapon and Meags, with recruit Couldabeens Jase & Shorty aboard, set off in Old Dookie with Weapons' 90mm Zipps singing a happy tune. A few foggy sections to get through and legs not as fresh as i'd like them for what felt like an uphill in Boundary Rd. Fee's gone aero losing 5kg on the Melb Tri day alone, Hayles on surgical recovery and Stace more on the run than on the bike. A solid navigation of Mitchell Rd, over the highway and the vibrato of Roubaix corner done, Rocket was spied near Arcadia Downs heading anti-clockwise (no contenders for F#%k that Friday?) The locker lads Fox, Sootie, Bart and Wizz wizzed passed us in the last 200 of Conrod, I needed to dig deep into the reserves to match Weapons strong finish.
Week 15 454km 13,620 calories (48 crossaints) YTD 5432km
"Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" Marion Mitchell Morrison (aka John Wayne) 1907-1979
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