Ambled along the main drag to the Saturday ritual, the cute jogging ponytail was back, soon after the bedraggled one puffing on the fag. As entertainment, some bloke on a bender having trouble finding which foot to put forward next. The bakery aroma, the newsagent opening, the couple picking up rubbish at the Lake, regular sights to confirm it was Saturday. Eleven to put in a few k's today, Patrick a long missing inclusion to the team of Jase, Shorty, Temple, Nick, PistolPete, HBK, AvantiTrev, BigMat and FeltMat. AvantiTrev was hurling speed violation accusations after just 500 metres, my objection to me lud was that Patrick was sans speedo. (35 by mine) Social up-dates on the rotations out Channel Rd, the weeks' rides (or lack of them) the weeks' work and state of performance (or lack of it) was a good start. A hint of tail wind on Old Dookie Rd held AvantiTrev on a long turn at the front, Temple taking a back seat for a spell, the engine not firing on all cylinders. HBK and BigMat on their usual mission of staying well in front, or do they have the longest bikes in town? Crossed New Dookie Rd and up to the Emu, a magpie divebombing Jase for the love of red helmets. As we reached the main channel a copious collection of Cats flew east, a kilometre later LeighMac (as always on a time malfunction) was probably heading for an intercept at Boundary & Old Dookie. A minute behind and head down, Bomber was in pursuit no doubt to fluff up some fur. Our lot continued west into a slowly increasing breeze, minor infringements going un-noticed. Finally to Rudd Rd then through the Fuji roundabout (without comment or sarcasm today) pace continued unabated in the pursuit of coffee (the days of easing off the throttle through town are but a distant memory, or have I gone soft?) Cold in temperature (and welcome) at the Lemontree, football, flash 4X4's and bike stats warmed up the conversation, Cougar joining in in civvies. A small band of 51's about faced at Friars, a mass of Muppets, Goats and Gazelles exited on cue.
A short and sweet lap Monday morning, Sundays' day off had put rust into the joints. Out Archer Rd with Cougs, a northeaster a welcomed assistance (noticing breeze belles assembling for their maiden voyage ; sorry, bad pun). Beyond River Rd a lone magpie zeroed in for an attack (maybe related to LeighMac, swooping this late in the season). Legs were slow to loosen, Cougars engine was quickly up to running temperature, it took till Mitchell to get some fluidity in the fossil though. After the months of winter darkness (and cold) it's a fitting reward to enjoy daylight on a morning ride, sun up even on an early finish, the old familiar honk of the train (now departing earlier) beaten too.
Monday arvo's radar looked negative but yr.no looked positive. Put trust into the preferred forecaster (nearly always accurate) and committed to a long lap before the negatives took hold. He who hesitates is lost they say. Had a lot of faith in a summer kit, wind fairly brisk at 13-20 from the north west made the Boulevard and Rudd Rd a fair warm-up. Better in Wanganui and Ford Rd, out of the suburbs to avoid the respiratory hysteria from wisteria, then deviated left into Lemnos North Rd for a haul up to Jubilee (forgotten what a drag it is) with the breeze buffeting. Planned to restrain the heart rate to 150 -160 in the interest of survival, the 8k to Five ways wasn't so tough with the wind swinging to a WSW but the 10k south on Marungi-Labuan Rd was like being a cork in a storm, a coarse surface making the co-efficient of drag a drag too. Emu corner and the leg to the Toaster was an oasis of smooth track, barely enough to revive for the slog into the wind of Old Dookie though (focussed on Nirvana and Queens of the Stone Age as the motivating metronome on i-pod). Scored a little tree shelter from the now SSW wind for Boundary Rd (seems longer with the odds against you), Mitchell Rd finally reached, 3km/h added with the wind off the face and onto the side. Built up hopes of a final few k's with the wind behind but the gods were against me, an east southeaster swung in to challenge in Raftery and Conrod. There was enough left in the biscuit barrel to continue to a Lake finish line, bang on 70k in 2:16:03 burnt 4 cheeseburgers and half a dozen chips worth.
The start of October and the start of the Great Bike Challenge (a fundraiser for the Childrens Medical Research Institute) with a self imposed 1600k goal for the month to aim at. Mmm...has one bit off a bit too much to chew? Morning showers got the aim off to a poor start, lunacy to swing a leg over in this weather. Tuesday arvo's wind scared all but the tough away, just Paul and I had the intestinal fortitude to front at the hospital (and Paul has just had 2 weeks off!). Where have all the legends gone? 13 degrees was a let down from last nights' mild one, a keen westerly was going to make the trip home a tough one. Rolled away at six and up to Verney Rd we found Sprinter tenacious enough to join, Mitch attaching in Ford Rd for the easy roll to the Emu. The breeze wasn't as tough as first imagined, 15 - 20 km/h was tolerable pointing south to the Toaster, great to have OlympicSteve, Hamish, Trent, Jim and co inflate the bunch to 9 and a shared load for Old Dookie's head wind. Hamish, Steve and Mitch led the lions share for Boundary and River Rd's, steadily reeling in a pair of distant tail-lights in River Rd's darkness. Caught Bo & Kel at the start of Central Kialla Rd, Mitch finally relinquishing the lead for a brief bout of Bo. Paul's Bali break hasn't pegged his speed, a hard match climbing Mt Nicolaci. OlympicSteve and Trent kept the tempo on the boil for Raftery Rd, many staying at the back without argument. Muscles were well warmed in Conrod straight for the blast to the line, Sprinter burnt up on re-entry, Kel was minus headlight volts, Paul ran out of urge in the last 100, i was just satisfied holding on for 5th (and suprised at Garmin's 558 watt estimate) to chalk up 42 in 1:13:16.
Spring has failed in it's key selection criteria, a miserable 5 degrees Wednesday, a gusty wind from the north brewing to harden the resolve. Nick, Cougar, Temple, GG, BigMat and FujiTrev congregated at Kialla for the slightly abbreviated Wednesday ritual, off to a cracking start with Cougars stint. It was a swoop free leg in Archer Rd, PistolPete blending into the pack just before the swing into Mitchell. The northerly steadily built up to make us earn breakfast, PistolPete and GG gapped the pack crossing Central Kialla Rd, leaving FujiTrev exposed to the breeze. His head bobbing and speed dropping, I swung over to lend a tow, most were content to leave our enthusiastic pair 10m ahead. In less than a minute FujiTrev was decisively OTA. About to drop back and tow him again, I had a quick glance rearward to see he'd already u-turned post haste (flu 1 : FujiTrev 0). BigMat advanced to peg the exhuberant two, the seven regrouped to tackle the elements of Mitchell and grit teeth for the push up Boundary. A long string of Cats with the wind behind them swooped into River Rd, soon after a gaggle of Goats followed suit. Nothing slows GG on his "attack or slack" mission, BigMat and PistolPete the only worthy matches today. An easier ask headed west in Channel Rd with some shelter as a bonus. Mid 30's were maintained for most of the length but GG poured fuel on the pace fire on the Kinder turn, Cougar temporarily unhooked with cramp. Stayed back to offer a draft (can sympathise with the brutal "handbrake" of cramp) but soon rejoined the pack for a joint finish, a fair slog with the wind now gusting to 26 clicks.
A lot couldabeen at the car park for the Thursday Couldabeens, but only the hard core bothered, others must be worshipping the Greek God Epimetheus........(Google it !) Chris A (A for adjusting seat), Kenworth, NIck, Cougar, Temple and PistolPete lined up to ride with the westerly (17km/h) then against it for the 20k home. Smooth sailing toward Boundary Rd, stones ricochetting off a dozen wheels at Sellmans driveway. I had a Kenworth sized challenge matching the Kenworth with the breeze cutting across us in Boundary Rd, PistolPete and Chris A seem to be a rung above us too but at least they're considerate of solidarity. The breeze picked up to 25km/h for Mitchell, hats off to Nick & Cougar giving ten tenths for the whole ride. We'd reeled in HBK and his CEO Sharon (on an apprenticeship) at the dog leg, but they stuck wisely to their pace. Another shift with Kenworth from Archer to the highway fried the Fossil, 178bpm was the rev limiter up Mt Nicolaci. A slalom course through the equine fertiliser deposited at the bridge (before Roubaix corner) gave us some navigation skills, then a steady wind-up of the speed spring toward Arcadia, thankful to now have the breeze at our side. Out of the dipper and onto the long flat stretch of Conrod, Temple took the tough turns testing tenacity, thrashing thighs, taxing tendons at terminal tempo, torque triumphed, Temple tickled to take the trophy.
Good to have a decent roll up to the Library on Thursday arvo, a bit fresh and a little breeze to deal with but far better than last weeks bunch of one. Robbo, Clive, Dalton, long-time-missing Graham, Paul, Bomber and Sticks started, Nath found rolling along the Boulevard soon after. Southbound Simmo had to hook a quick (illegal) u-turn to gain a spot, Robbo upping the ante to make him earn his berth. Graeme's suave Look wearing single shod MadFiber wheels was on it's first outing in 4 months, a few cobwebs being blown off the rider too. OlympicSteve and Hamish were aboard at DECA, clocking up a 100 already. Well rugged up against the forecast chill of 8 degrees (the southerly blowing quite an icy 15km/h) we made our way to Ford Rd collecting Sprinter en route. High 30's were held to the Emu, a turn at the front again with the machine that is Robbo to the Toaster ramped up the exhaustion into the wind. Robbo rolled over for Old Dookie, my h.r. relieved by 40 bpm into the bargain. Quite cruisy in Boundary at 4th wheel tucked away from the elements, a chance to recover for the next effort. Nath (on flu recovery) turned off to Shepp East, Simmo, Clive and Graham took a Channel Rd exit, the remainder picked up Sam as a contributor near the bridges. The breeze had shifted to a SSW for River Rd, plenty of calories burned in my next turn to the dip. Bomber and Sticks peeled off for home at Central Kialla, only 8 left for Mitchell Rd with engine drivers Robbo and OlympicSteve limiting conversation. Managed with Brendan at the business end (but as useful as a matchstick to draft off), a repeat performance push up Mt.Nicolaci relived the hurt from this morning. Shorter and faster turns after the highway (Sam headed for home) with some showing signs of wear in the mid 40's. Sprinter had the right tow and the jump timed to go with Robbo and Steve in Conrod straight, I stuck it out 30 metres back with Hamish, Dalton and Paul well worn from the tempo, a large hot meal in the imagination driving the pedals to the finish line.
Quite serene to see fog atop the lake on Friday morning, 0.9 degrees is being short changed for Spring though. Plenty of pussycats headed north on their way to get a freaky Friday fix, I was satisfied to make mine a recouperation ride with Cougar, a postcard orange sunrise to view (thanks Jen @ Avanti, new transitional specs are ace :-) out Channel Rd, a possie of supercats driven by supergent Graeme in Boundary (Sosso appearing to lose grip at the rear). A double dose of 51 in usual hot pursuit were demoting a few off the back, the bright and cheery P&W greeting was in stark contrast to the huffs and puffs of the bunches ahead. With legs nearly warm a steady pace was held home in Old Dookie (Goats heading out), a rising sun on the back was the icing on the weeks' cake.
Week 40: 389km (Moongardie to Jarrananga Plain, 50k south of Derby) YTD 13,551 km
"There is only one way to avoid criticism. Do nothing, say nothing, be nothing" Aristotle, Greek philosopher
384-322 BC
Best of luck to the tourdefightbacc team departing Adelaide today, 900k's in a week back to Shepp. Great effort by Ozzy, Tony, Doc, Sam, Bickers and ten others to raise $60+K for breast and childrens cancer research . Scheduled back in town next Friday 2pm at the Aussie, come along and shout 'em a well earned ale and/or a spare $.
Week 40
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