In the snoring hours of Saturday the heavens opened to put the brakes on a ride, to be honest, this sleeping in listening to rain isn't a bad thing. The first wet Saturday for the year didn't deter the die hard fans assembling for breakfast anyway (a different looking lot in civilian attire) even Vince joining in the gathering of AvantiTrev, Rocket, Cougar, Jase, Trav and GG. The convivial conglomerate covered surgery, Temple's no-show, the Giro and forthcoming Fiji holidays (thanks for the taunt GG)
Virtually impossible to start the engine of enthusiasm on Sunday, despite the roads now dried by a stiff southerly. Procrastinated the start by watching the early news but before long the infomercials raised me from the couch. Took to the Boulevard clockwise, two days off the Fizik felt frighteningly foreign, hard to get up to any decent speed until the turn into Wanganui when the southwesterly was evident. Spirits lifted after a few k's of loosening limbs, the dark side predicting a fair battle from the Emu onward. Half a dozen (including Trent & Trudy) were on the home leg near the main channeI but I had nobody to draft when reality dealt the punishment bearing south and west. Gusts to 28km/h suggested it was a crook decision to try clockwise, but then we'd all go gooey riding tail-winds wouldn't we? The few kilometers of Old Dookie Rd were at 160bpm, Boundary was brutal at 178 with quite a sweat brewing. The decision was easy nearing Channel Rd, almost the soft option to take the short cut home. The wind played havoc amongst the orchards all the way back to town, just a brief break on the few hundred metres north to the Kinder, then grit the teeth again. That spongy sensation started on the Kinder turn, a slow puncture made the push harder, dropping a k, then another at the dog leg, felt like the handbrake was on on the last leg, forcing retirement ironically at Kensington Gardens. An ugly great bindi-i stood proudly and defiantly on the Michelin sidewall, not hard to track this puncture at least. Repaired, then retreated to the reward of a Lemontree machiato, satisfied to have done a bit toward keeping in tune.
We are mostly creatures of habit in their zones of comfort, and the now regular Monday ride to start the week suits well with a steady spin on the Channel-Boundary-Old Dookie circuit. 13km/h of WSW wind made light of heading east and north, Pussycats in good numbers tackled the breeze heading south, Cougs and I rounded up the Boral Mack then prepared for the push home in Old Dookie Rd against the elements. Not the struggle of Sundays gusts, but a decent workout just the same.
A clear crisp sky at 5.35 heading to the Couldabeens, but within a k of Channel Rd a fog descended and thickened as the hour passed. Rocket, Shorty, Kenworth, PistolPete (fires like a bullet when rolling over) Nick, Cougar, Daniel, FujiTrev and Jase set off, considerately driven the first leg by Kenworth. Time off the bike seems only to strengthen Daniel, powering into the 40's nearing Channels' end. A moment to regather troops after turning into Boundary Rd, settling into a groove proved difficult with FujiTrev's duck & weave. Pocketed the specks (constantly fogging) but a sudden lack of lumens plunged Cougar into darkness. Hats off to the lads taking a considerate approach, teamwork at it's best. No slouch but plenty of drive down the length of Mitchell, an easy cross of the highway and building speed to Arcadia Downs, Rocket had the legs (when doesn't he?) for the bolt to the line.
Tuesday night was a fresh 10 degrees, maybe the reason for a few less at the hospital. Dalton, Nath, RidleyTrev (the Avanti has changed owners) Clive, Hamish, Kev and Paul set forth into the darkness, Bomber, Mitch and Steigy additions in Verney Rd, DiscoSteve in the stage to Grahamale Rd. Darkness hid the speedo but I had the advantage of dieselDalton's wheel, the hr just ticking over at 118. We'd caught Sprinter and LegalSteve just metres from the Emu, Bomber & Mitch off their seats for the drive to the railway line (silencing the troops) Quite a contrast between the slow cadence of Steigy and Hamish spinning like a top, horses for courses I suppose. Axel was the last addition at the Old Dookie Rd piggery. Pace abated near the Boundary channel bridge (Sprinters' conservation again?) but the diesel had the turbo on song soon after (matching was one thing, getting past was another). With the heart rate bouncing in the 180's (40+) the suprise was Mitch next beside me, how to match with my 28 year disadvantage? (a short turn was the answer) Sunk the fingernails in to hang on as second wheel for a big slab of River Rd, piercing through light foggy patches, Bomber and Hamish putting a bit more burn into the legs. Nath added more spice after Laws Dr, DiscoSteve peeled off then tempo calmed as Sprinter gave Central Kialla Rd a go. A short lived reprieve, Dalton spooled up the big turbo, Clive ducked for cover and again the struggle was to match Dalton. Low 40's to Mitchell Rd, a fast turn west and back on the gas with Mitch cruising alongside. Got a few hundred metres in before the engine faultered, Bomber and Hamish then made oxygen a valuable comodity. Some low flying up Mt Nicolaci put the peleton into single file, I had the good inheritance of Steigy's wheel. The next 5k were supurbly driven by Mitch, Bomber, Nath and Hamish, all other in survival procession behind . Bomber & Nath burnt all their biscuits in Conrod straight, Mitch & Hamish thrashed the last 200 (finishing in that order) Hamish possibly at that cadence, with a sneaky Sprinter lunging for 3rd, 4th was fine with me. 42k all done and dusted in 1.08.48
Glad to have the fog lifted Wednesday morning, Rocket, Temple, Cougar and Shorty took to Archer Rd, (nicely driven by Cougar) finding pistolPete in leg 2 to make up a six pack. Just a hint of breeze from the northwest and a pace convivial to conversation (nice change from last night!) Temple still the spin doctor, Shorty finding work getting in the way of a good ride lately. A chance to get to know pistolPete a bit more today, by circumstance I not often pair with him. The usual banter to and fro (Coug's the sledgemeister today), possibly the P&W's southbound in Boundary Rd (hard to identify) and a trail of Cats preparing for the rush in River Rd. All seemed grateful to reach Channel Rd to be gently helped home by 8km/h of NE wind. Good to be back in town a little earlier to minimise the rush to work.
Jase, Kenworth, Cougar, FujiTrev, Tim, Temple, pistolPete, Nick and FeltMat were Thursday's starting grid at the carpark, 10 degrees a mild start and just a bit of effort needed for Channel Rd (NE breeze) and of course the finish straight. (can't get it too easy can we?) A sizeable cardboard box chicane beyond the kinder was the only obstruction to an otherwise copybook smooth run ; even turns, no surging, straight lines held and considerate corners made it smooth sailing for the whole lap, taking several percent off the heart rate. Almost by design, little traffic to deal with (and a bonus to be without fog again). I'd zoned in a bit too deep in Mitchell Rd (big chunks of distance gone by un-noticed) focussed on Jase's wheel, snapped out of it to take in what was happening further ahead and to the sides. (a better recipe to keep upright) More smooth work in the build up for Arcadia Downs and Conrod kept the team together. With Rocket away it was Kenworth and Jase out to play, Tim ran out of tenacity in the dying stages, and FujiTrev bolted (after sitting as rear gunner for most of the lap) to finish mid-field. Without sight of a speedo it felt a bit slower than Tuesday's effort yet the later download showed just a 0.1 km/h difference to the average, testament to great smooth teamwork.
A mild Thursday night failed to attract many punters to the Library. Dalton, RidleyTrev, Nathan and Luke the only starters, Dion attached himself nearing the golf course. A drive along Wanganui beside young Luke warmed up my legs (and wore out the lungs), up to Verney Rd we found new recruit AvantiCraig (once AvantiTrev's Avanti which now explains RidleyTrev) static beyond the roundabout, so all slowed to allow him to attach to the rear (reckon he has the hint to be rolling next time) Kev & legalSteve were caught beyond the soup tin, good to have a few more to take turns and none to incinerate the bunch. It was pleasing to cease the battle with the northerly breeze when we turned at the Emu, I'd paired with Luke again (who raised the bar) beyond the church a glance back saw a big gap, so we eased the tempo to draw the bunch back together. Nicely driven down to River Rd by Kev, Nath, legalSteve, Dion & Dalton, a distant red flashing light gently wound up a pursuit, finding the solo Sprinter half way down. Another work out beside Luke for the last k of River and a call for the car right at the intersection ground us to a halt. (the car propping then turning at the last moment to frustrate all.) Nearing the Kialla Hall, another car (half way overtaking the bunch) put the frighteners on by suddenly slowing and indicating left. Speculation on the driver texting / consuming a hamburger / dropping a donut / quaffing coffee or just plain no brain amused us all. It was on for young and old by Arcadia Downs, suddenly single file into the dip of Conrod (and the head wind) Sprinter drawing the shortest straw with 400 left (drawing the whip on himself with little result). Luke lit the afterburner, Dalton hard on his heels for the silver, my retribution taking 3rd from Sprinter as payback for Tuesday. Colonel Harlem's 11 herbs and spices filled the nostrils heading north in Melbourne Rd, many swapped thoughts on tonights post ride feast.
Sucumed to slumber on Friday, the yr.no forecast was right on cue with a shower at 6.20. Sympathies to those who did ride, particularly those who shed skin and broke bones (& bikes) in the Boundary Rd buster.
To end on a positive, congrats to Weapon for a great 6:47:49 on the Long Course championship in Belfort France. Great effort (driven by vanilla slices?) in tough conditions.
Week 23 327km (Wallabadah to Coffs Harbour) YTD 8,114
"When I was I kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle, then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked Him for forgiveness" Emo Phillips (1956- ) US Comedian
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