Reset the daylight savings clock Saturday night but the eyes still spring open at 5. A smallish breakfast and kitted up before the negatives, excuses and sloth seeps into the skull, out the door with lights ablaze for the dark, unwinding yesterdays repetition with a clockwise Toaster loop. A little light on the horizon at 6 springs some hope that days will soon lengthen. The only road users at this hour were a pair of runners, wisely lit up with a bike tail-light and torch. Just one car encountered on the trek to the Emu, the sky turning crimson over Mt.Major made an early start most worthy. Hopes of a spectacular sunrise vanished with grey clouds soon invading the scenery but enthusiasm lifted with less load on the journey south and west. Brushed the cobwebs off the gearchange and selected the favourite fifteen cog to Boundary, a steady pace down to the pub, still without a car in sight. Funny how great chunks of distance go by un-noticed, perhaps zoning out with the rythym. Nice to have clear time for thoughts to wander and any worries to evaporate, legs just on auto pilot. Kept the heart rate between 150 -160 for the entirity, easier headed west in Mitchell, Rufus today's background music motivation. Kilometres vanished faster than expected, soon on the brake for a little Melbourne Rd traffic. Felt a hint of northeast resistance on the Raftery Rd leg, keeping the Garmin active till the first red light halted progress (stumps at High St). Met up with Tommygun, Weapon, Cougar and AvantiTrev at the Parklake for a well earned second breakfast, a box seat to view the Criterium and those we knew competing. Well done to Hamish for the B win, the Feelgood team of OlympicSteve, Trent and A winner Schultzy for a fine 1-2-3. Great effort by all for a fast and entertaining morning.
Monday's start was again in dark surrounds, hopeful in just a few weeks we'll see a brighter sky at ride time. Like me, Cougar was in need of a less than frantic lap, the tried and true short lap proved to be favoured by the breeze for east and north directions. Was expecting a small showing of troops in Boundary Rd following yesterday's Crit, suprised to see a voluminous Cat pack but no sign of others. Good to roll around without concentrating on speed or averages, easy on the legs and keeps the ride passion alive. The pair of rough bumps in the dark near Dobsons estate were brutal on the wheels, but came out the other side unscathed. Lap done with time up the sleeve, a good start to another week.
More k's were craved Monday arvo, a change of scenery needed to prevent wear & tear on the Toaster loop. A study of wind and weather and the wish of a tail wind home dictated heading out south and west to be helped home by the elements. Set forth south on the highway (a mostly two metre wide lane at my disposal) but a stiff west southwester cut across the starboard bow to raise some perspiration. Not delighted with the pace but mindful to preserve some fuel for the western attack, I chose to manifest the lanes' remnants as a mental diversion. 5 octopus straps, a thong, 4 fan belts, a nappy (thankfully un-used), a handful of tek screws (avoided) and a VE Commodore. A bit of wind shear to brace against when trucks were on coming otherwise a good leg for 20k (although the surface is as rough as hessian undies). Took the Murch/VioletTown exit and swung toward Murch, a billiard table smooth 9k's west made up for the wind in the face. Positives at last from Murch East onward, shielded by trees away from the wind finally gave some relief. More billiard table quality in Murchison town, the road to Mooroopna slowly swung to have the now dying breeze almost behind me. Number three magpie swoop for the year didn't bother me, had the head down and a gear up (favoured fifteen) for the 28k homeward. A better sense of achievement with the hard yards done and a light help home, seems wheels were humming a happy tune too. Farmers as usual courteous and patient giving room to spare, one P plater the polar opposite (a close shave pass yet not another car in sight......go figure) Soon on familiar turf seeing Moroopna's metropolis, a brief Garmin pause for traffic lights then home via bike track to clock 67 in 2:07, a handful of Strava trophies to grin about too (but what's with the great pretender Phil R; averaging 105.4km/h on the Toolamba-Murch off ramp section? Get real, do it on a pushbike next time !)
Tuesdays cool 5 degrees was at least calm, a ride without wind as rare as BigMat turning up. The prodigal son Rocket was back from holiday, 2nd place was on everyones wish list now. Kenworth, FeltMat, Nick, Tim, Cougar, Temple, PistolPete, AvantiTrev and Jase took flight out Channel, a nice change to share the front with FeltMat, easier on my creaking limbs. As has become customary, the top guns seem to congregate, bumping up the knots when their turn comes. Kenworth reckons he's not fit (look out when he is!) FeltMat thinks he's underprepared for the Round the Bay in two weeks, AvantiTrev was conserving wattage for another lap tonight, Cougar still the quickest nana in town, Tim pulling out all stops amongst the top ranks, PistolPete still blasts off the front regardless of pace. The aforementioned congregation had us mortals speechless down Mitchell Rd, thankfully keeping the bunch together after intersections. Momentum climbed a little more in Raftery Rd with the cream rising to the top, hang on for survival for many others. Tim scored the long handled shovel award, digging the deepest in Conrod straight, Rocket having no trouble taking the chocolates on the line (holidays haven't hampered him) Jase getting past Kenworth for second, all others pleased to have finished (like banging your head against a brick wall, lovely when you stop) Quote of the morning from AvantiTrev "That was hell...........ishly good fun!"
A proper spring afternoon on Tuesday (21 degrees) brought many out of the woodwork for the Hospital bunch. The usual collection of rascals were garnished with a few shaking cobwebs off bikes and backsides, ToolambaDave, Craig, Killer, Kev and 2 vegan Mexicans amongst the (eventually) 25 strong bunch. Nath was back minus flu, recovered enough to drive the train with Robbo into the fourties making use of a light southwesterly. Gools and Sprinter jumped aboard, 2 more Mexicans added soon after for spice. My turn again on the pointy end with Paul then Sprinter, got me to speechless by the Boundary bridges (feeling a little second hand from last nights solo and the morning after thrash) The breeze swung slowly to make River Rd a chore, glad to be entrenched near the back for the tow. Fast and smooth were good ingredients but the ability to accelerate out of corners was weakening. A rough calculation of the duty roster would have me up front after Roubaix, so short shifted to avoid being burnt alive. The usual movers dragged the bunch along Mitchell and ramped up the urge out of Roubaix. About 8 in two rows kept rolling over, a long tail single filed behind in hope of reaching the finish alive. Gaps started to open as Arcadia Downs came into view, a team up of Kev, Harpo, Craig & I fought to stay in within 10 metres of the pack, eventually picking off a few that were subtracted by the speed/heartrate/cadence/distance equation. 42k in 1:06:50 was one of the quickest yet, pleased to have survived.
A touch warmer Wednesday, arrived at the Kialla roundabout with Rocket finding Nath, FeltMat and GG there, Nick, Shorty and LegalDave rolled in to head off at 6. A promised attendance by BigMat evaporated prompting a sledging frenzy, maybe he's yet to change to daylight savings? Down Archer to Mitchell we did the usual
pick-up of PistolPete, my legs feeling like Gumby (that dates me!) by Mitchell's dogleg. GG's half wheel exuberance in Boundary Rd was quickly evaporated by Nath's velocity, nearly 40 into a northeasterly didn't fit my idea of fun at the front, I wiped off 5 to stay alive from River to Channel. (wonder what's happened to DiscoSteve, passing his place) Pressure was off in Channel Rd (helps with the wind at your back) the eau de blood & bone nearly grew hairs on the handlebars though. All settled into a steady rotation back to town (minus a mexican bonanza) to chalk up a steady lap.
A supermild Thursday (minus the damaging winds predicted) of 15 degrees inticed a lap at aerobic pace, minus 131bpm seems very low but feels beneficial. Cougar and I passed BigMat waiting at the carpark for a Couldabeens circuit, another sunrise worth getting out of bed for, just a short loop for us to keep legs and lungs acustomed, a welcome change from a few thrash laps this week. Damp arrived on cue at 5.30 Thursday arvo, wallowed in the excess of putting feet up on the couch instead of riding.
Just to test the senses, it was back to 6 degrees Friday morning. Made a return to the P&W's with Cougar after a lengthy lay-off, winter almost bringing the group into recess. Good to join in with Choppy, Meags and Minto, the Hurt Locker lads departing a tad before. (apologies received from the tissueBox but a no show from Princess). Chops had a sixth sense hesitating entering the Doyles Rd roundabout, just as well with a small blue car charging straight on (despite us being half way through) Perhaps we should have yelled to wake the driver? Normality resumed when heart rates had settled, social updates possible on the way to Boundary. Minto propelled at a brisk pace despite his winter hibernation, not giving much chance for the quick chicks to draw alongside though. The preferred P&W route now takes on River Rd, feels a little foreign for their lap but happy to go with the flow. Back onto Mitchell then soon into Raftery, Chops and I had the lead for Conrod, Cougar was on a mission at second wheel. Pace was ramped up by Choppy (expenditure for reward?) out of the dip, but Cougs hammered home to take a fine win. Scoring a rare RDO, I set forth mid morning to Rushworth, the aim of intercepting the tour de fightbacc lads on the last leg of their Adelaide-Shepparton fundraiser. 12 degrees with a promised 20 was hopeful, the WSW wind was nothing but hurtful (20-37km/h), white knuckle wind shear from oncoming trucks too. An adjustment was needed to the goalposts for this ride. Out the Midland highway then south to Tatura, then the long drag to Rushworth with the wind relentless. Even the rolling hills had head winds on the climbs (surely against the Geneva convention?) to massacre motivation, slash speed and erode enthusiasm. A fair bit of exploration to the depths of the skull was needed to drive onward. Nearing Rushy the pungent pong of skiddled skippys and the number 4 magpie swoop for the year was further reason to continue, a big sense of relief to finally enter town. The 17 fightbacc lads were seated finishing lunch, all in fine order despite covering 850k in 7 days. The leg back to Shepp was far more enjoyable with wind behind and many to chat with (an expired tail car and one puncture the only pause en route) Stories aplenty of their journey, epic fundraising of $90k+ to aid breast and childrens cancer research makes them all legends. Picked up Gazza as an added extra in Tatura and accompanied the group back to Shepp, the team receiving a great reception in town.
Week 41 : 573km (Jarrananga Plain to Eighty mile beach W.A.) YTD 14,124km
Life is like a landscape. You can live in the midst of it, but can describe it only from the vantage point of distance" Charles Lindburgh (1902-1974) US aviator
Octobers' great cycle challenge is on target with 700k clocked 11 days in. Donations most welcome at https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/BryanSlade
In a random bit of bike news, top effort by Andrew Hellinger (Qld) riding 337km in 24 hours ..........................backwards!
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