A southwest breeze chilled the bones in the dark hours of Saturday morning, a tiny spark of enthusiasm lit the kindling of anticipation to fire the coals of comradery (enough of the profuse poetic popycock). Being absent from the saddle for three days thanks to last weeks wet hadn't done a lot of harm. A few had assembled at the shop earlish, but with just a couple of minutes to go a flood arrived to bring the numbers to 19 (almost summer attendance) DiscoSteve attached to the departing train, FeltMat found further out Channel Rd after chasing the wrong bunch. Great to have Tommygun and c'est internationale aerodynamique arme' (Weapon) along, Dion & Stew now counted as regulars and a vaguely familiar rider who looked a bit like BigMat (if I can recall that far back in history). Nath was found lurking in Old Dookie Rd, I attempted to dodge anothers' nasal discharge and failed :-/ , Jase did the gentlemanly reminder for the leaders to get up the road. Temple and Weapon took the lead after the toaster with a little blame (pointed both ways) for a brief speed infringement. A couple of missed calls for passing cars put the wind up a few, but I guess there'll be an error or two with a sizeable bunch. There were two on advanced reconnisance to the pussycats, I reckon we may have outnumbered them today. Rocket & Nath offered up the challenge to name all in our pack (testing the fossil memory) so for the record it was ; Nick, Trav, HBK, Temple, Shorty, Cougar, Dion, Stew, Rocket, Nath, Fitzy, DiscoSteve,Tommygun, Weapon, Jase, FeltMat, BigMat and RidleyTrev. Not many goes at the front with a lot to share the load, so the long stretch west was covered with ease. Turned into the breezy Rudd Rd, no call for the branch at the roads edge, DiscoSteve assuming the anti-green stance by ploughing through the undergrowth. No let up of speed with a shortfall of Lemontree warm seats to go around, dubious tactics from Temple & Nath taking to the footpaths to shortcut traffic lights. Warm hospitality however amongst the peleton when seated, convival chat on chocolate croissants (Weapons' new fuel of choice) and news of her great ITU Worlds effort, "argy bargy" rumours, clearing customs and heart rates.
More bike addiction Saturday arvo (too much is never enough) with an invite to the Avanti/Scott test ride. Several familiar faces there, some kitted up to ride, others happy to try in civvies.I had a few k's on Avanti's Corsa DR team bike, super light, very stiff and responsive (hair trigger brakes with all carbon Zipp's) but couldn't climatise to SRAM. The standard Corsa DR with 11 speed, very sweet. Scott's Foil 20 another firm frame, beautiful steering and great value. All make the poor old BM very overweight in comparison, but the tough old girl has a few k's left in her (and my piggybank isn't full enough) A good chin way with Rocket, HBK, Gools, Bomber, Steigy, Cougar, Sprinter, Jase, Shorty and Temple, even BigMat was back (just for the resfreshments though)
An early Saturday night led to the inevitable early Sunday morning, tempted to challenge LegalDave's "training circuit one/toaster" lap posted on Strava. (the full anti-clockwise toaster circuit, starting and finishing at the Parklake). A 14km/h southwest battle to fight at 6am would hopefully get the tough stuff done early. It was tough going in Raftery Rd and not a lot easier for the Mitchell Rd stretch either, a hint of negative thoughts needed taming with Tame Impala on the i-pod. The hope of smooth sailing in Boundary Rd was a let down too, no great advantage on offer. Plugged away in the usual cogs at 74 rpm predicting split times at the familiar turns. Legs felt like jelly on the Old Dookie Rd channel bridge, what hope would there be facing the west leg home? A clear dawn arrived approaching the Emu, Lemnos-Cosgove Rd was clouded in mystery though. Suprisingly, the wind wasn't much of a handbrake (lucky to find my second wind) , pleased with progress near the kennels as a seriously cool TT bike howled east. Chipped away at Ford Rd but time was the enemy if I was to match Dave's KOM 1:42:17. The aim of Rudd Rd by 7.30 was achieved but 7k's of head wind, traffic, intersections and red lights lay ahead to drive for. Luck was with me with just a handfull of cars to battle with, making smooth flowing turns with fingers crossed for the Welsford/Fryers lights. Almost to a stop when green brought relief, nothing but red for the High St lights though. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Got the go finally and ripped down to the tennis court turn, a prayer prayed for the KFC lights. Just snuck through legally, stood to belt the last 200 metres with legs lodging profuse complaints but chuffed to hit the stop button at Hayes St with a 1:41:25 (33.3 av) nearly a minute off, but a taxing 166 average hr. Spent 2k's rolling quietly to recover the heart rate then up to Channel Rd to meet Cougs for a Couldabeens circuit. Toured the course at a good steady rate loosening legs of lactic and spying the odd one or two in Mitchell. The wind had gone up tempo (grateful Coug's wasn't on a mission) but we'd reached Roubaix to reap rewards for a helping hand to Degani for a fix of caffine. Nice to enjoy a yarn with coffee warming the inside and the sun finally warming the outside. 95k done and dusted.
A short sharp burst on Monday morning, the usual chill of 5 degrees and the south wester that won't go away. Syncronised Garmins with Cougar for the chase out Channel Rd, still wary of the wandering pooch at the top end. A bit of relief for the north leg, a g'day from a reborn P&W tribe, beat the Boral Mack about to exit his driveway then peered through the headlight dazzle from a long string of Cats. Pushed around by the south westerly on the westward run in Old Dookie Rd, not a lot of difference being first or second wheel today. A good short workout to start the week with a bit of conflicting elevation data between Edge 500 and 510. A couple of blind drivers encountered on the ride home (evasive action as they stormed from a give way sign) and not one or two, but three bikes seen without lights in the 7am darkness, one had just enough sense to wear a helmet.
It was just Cougar and FeltMat at the Couldabeens starters gate on Tuesday morning. With just 4 minutes to launch time masses suddenly arrived to make up a dozen. Kenworth, FujiTrev, Rocket, RidleyTrev, Trav, Nick, Shorty, Tim and Temple made up the working party to head out Channel Rd against the chill of the southwest. Copped a sudden jolt striking an unseen stone with my front wheel nearing the pine trees, soon the familiar deflating sound of a deflation followed by the soft and gooey steering response forced a halt. Kind boys and girl stopped while I tackled repairs, of course to endure the obligatory sledging whilst under the pit stop scrutiny. Soon underway again and facing a slight swing of breeze more southerly made Boundary Rd a challenge. A distant oncoming rider in Mitchell Rd turned and was soon recognised as GG (missed the green flag?) who made it a bakers dozen. Time was critical for me to start at the salt mine at 7.30, so took an Archer escape to meet commitments. (My spies inform me Kenworth was hot on the heels of Rocket's win)
Just a half lap with the hospital bunch on Tuesday night, 7.30 commitments forcing an exit home in Old Dookie Rd. Long time no see Robbo turned up (a night off his hippy bike) with regular starters Axel, Dion, Stew, Dalton and Tony ready, and Simmo arriving from extended awol. More versions of the 51 stack were tabled but that chat ceased for the 6pm off. Had a brief natter with Robbo speculating some Strava segment top speeds, then turned into Ford Rd to find Paul (already clocked the golf course leg) and soon after the Bomber-Mitch-Steigy-Sticks squad infiltrated, keen to whip the mixture into fluffy peaks. Just for changes' sake, I'd formatted the Garmin to show speed on screen, into the fourties against a hint of south east to the Emu. (maybe i'll restore previous settings without speed?) On cue, Tony took to the rear gunner position after the Emu turn, five more attached to the group after the Pine Lodge church. Thought it best to sit on with a planned exit at Boundary Rd, still at 40 I pondered the punishment that lay ahead. Bid adieu when the lads pointed south, kept my head down for the 7k home trying to stay on top of the 14 cog with the h.r. steadily building till the SPC finish.
To break with normal habits, took to a 3k walk in the crisp Wednesday morning atmostphere. Didn't miss the complex kitting up process or sucking in vast quantities of iced air whilst burning the legs. A pleasant reprieve for the posterior too.
The doona was particularly heavy on Thursday morning, the winter solstice today or (depending on what science school you went to) tomorrow, means days will only get longer (but slowly) from now on. It was temperature only for soprano brass monkeys heading to the start, the chill culling the usual northbound procession of bikes down to just one. Only Cougar and FeltMat ready at the carpark with just 3 minutes till launch time, relief to have Rocket, Jase and Kenworth front in the last moments to share the load. Steadily building speed out Channel Rd in minus 1.5 asks why we persue this past-time at the limits of sanity; to keep in tune? support others' addiction? 'cause it feels good when we stop? or just to sledge the softies staying in bed? Whatever the reason, a smaller bunch meant more duty and the frozen front. Kenworth and Rocket seem to have 10% more urge than I have, FeltMat then Jase soon retired to the rear for a tow (not much tow to have in a 6 pack) in Mitchell Rd, Cougar stating an Archer alternative would suit. Chivalry being a Couldabeens creed, I joined too, leaving the eager engines of Kenworth & Rocket to assist others for the usual course.
Chilled on Thursday evening too, only 6.7 degrees at 5.50 rolling to the library. Robbo, Nath, Clive, BigBen, Tony were waiting, Rob & Sly on a rare outing, suprised to have Bomber, Sticks and Luke at the start instead of 10 k out of town. All single filed behind Robbo (he doesn't bite lads!) so went to the front for early duty (only to have a big 7k turn in the mid thirties as a warm up). Sprinter & Gools were on their usual early roll in Ford Rd, Nath took a Boundary Rd exit to pit stop at home for seat adjustments. A yarn with the big calibre boys exposed they'd already tapped out 70k before the library start, a speed reprieve for all of us tonight hopefully. Rob and a couple of newbies sat back in the rear wings rather than fry at the pointy end. Long and short turns were served at the front by others, nice to score a (deja vu) turn in Boundary Rd with gentlemanGools. Sprinter put in a solid shift from the pub to the bridges but quick turns resumed again till the right turn. It was rare to have a steady pace for the entire length of River Rd, a good call for traffic at the end deferred disaster. A steady plug along Mitchell and into Raftery, enthusiasm took over when Conrod came into view. Robbo, Nath and Luke put a match to the speed out of the dip, I'd missed the jump and was caught behind others in the same boat. No intentions (or ability) to catch onto the front runners I kept the pace on to find others ahead expiring quickly. Fluked a 5th place but just a finish was reward enough with 50k done in 1:22:50, down to 4 degrees to roll through town.
Threw the leg over the bike again on Friday morning, down the main drag with crusty white icing atop all the parked cars as a reminder of the season. Not many tough ones left in these temperatures (a carbon copy minus 1.5 again) but Cougar was keen to tap out a 20k lap. An extra (merino) base layer was a bonus against the bite, a steady lap suited the conditions too. Approached the Pub with superCats oncoming, Mr Impatient red Hi-Lux stupidly gave a blast of high beam and horn between us, when a slow approach for the intersection was a higher priority. (reckon we've come up against this excuse for a driver before, yellow and black NSW or equine plates ring a bell?) Resumed the normal agenda over the highway, smooth and steady the way to finish a big week with the sitting site being a bit worn (thank heaven for Silic 15). 4 in a row spotted southbound may have been the Hurt Locker as we endured the aroma of the piggery, beating Mr Boral to the asphalt again was a small bonus. Felt almost like a tail breeze taking the Old Dookie leg home, but there was no flag movement to prove it back in town.
Week 25 407km (Gold Coast to Childers) YTD 8,757km
"Marriage is a wonderful invention. Then again, so is a bicycle repair kit"
Billy Connelly (1942- ) Scottish comedian
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