Sunday's insomnia with internal alarms going off at 3.45, 4.10, 4.42 and 5.05 was too much. Without a neural snooze button, it was a slow breakfast till the sun got up, then astride old faithful and out Ford Rd at 6 to start the day. Suprised by a respectable speed (no tail wind to thank) so pushed on the 14 cog to warm up the legs. A bit of a drag on that new coarse surface of Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, but added 1.5km/h on the smoother stuff. Is there a subtle message when, on a random i-pod shuffle of 800+ songs, Flume's "Sleepless" and "Insane" play one after the other? Arrived at the Emu pleased with progress but the accellerator needed more push to get to the toaster (no reward of extra speed, just extra exertion to maintain pace.) Better heading west in Old Dookie, evidence of a southerly brewing in the tree tops and legs feeling hardest done by (usually it's a toasted ticker or limp lungs) A snake on the channel bridge spiked the adrenelin, noticing it flat was the relief. Motivating to get the town into view, finally halting the Garmin at SPC to finish 27 in 47. Put in a further 32k at a slightly quieter pace with Cougar, many now aboard two wheels and heading out Mitchell Rd. The southerly gained more strength on cue in Raftery to smooth the passage to Degani's, a long and relaxed coffee a fitting end to 60k.
Back on board Tuesday morning (Mondays weather better suited to ducks) with the wind blasting from the south (37-56 km/h) convinced me to steer an anti-clockwise lap of Channel-Boundary-Old Dookie, doubting the old engine would survive Couldabeens tempo in the conditions (and to leave something in reserve for Tuesday night). Cougar was on the same thought page so we pointed westward on Channel toward Boundary, arms working as hard as legs attempting to hold a reasonably straight line against the side wind. A bike behind was making up the gap rapidly, none other than Rocket (the sole Couldabeen) rounded us up, a brief greeting then off into the distance like the Roadrunner (taking advantage of the big tailwind too).
Much admiration for the small band of Cats and 51 in pursuit on their usual pilgrimage south into today's howler, with furrowed brow and totured limb the disciples would strive mightily with pedal, handlebar and crank. And tempted not were they by the sheltered byways of a short cut home. Lo, even though the tempest did torment them, thy faith and thy cadence would carry them through the darkness at great speed to the hallowed lands of Raftery for as much as to be soothed by the annointment of tail winds to its' end. And in the village they would partake of the holy sacrement of coffee and cry out the commandment to all that were laid in their mangers ,struck down with sloth, that thou shalt HTFU. A bit of westerly to the southerly made hard work of our Old Dookie leg home, bracing for the gusts on the unsheltered sections. Effort escalated till back into town, flags stretched NNE in protest, a short squirt home the only relief for a tough morning.
A few doubts of survival Tuesday night at the hands of younger and faster lads assembled at the Hospital. Axel was back after a few months crook, ToolambaDave on a new bit of Basso bling, Trav, Liam, Robbo and Paul (also on a new Avanti steed) the brave soldiers to battle a 37-50 km/h southerly. Trent, Trudy, OlympicSteve, Bomber and Sticks made up a dozen to bear east, saving the kw for what was to come. The reality of a head wind struck hard after the turn at the Emu, i'd inherited the front with Robbo by the Boundary Rd figfarm, the real effort of matching his 33km/h while the wind blew faster in the face drained the reserves rapidly. 3k's of that emptied the tank, glad to have a slow 200 metres while the bunch gathered after the highway then a short turn with Paul till the rotation at the bridges brought some relief. It's like banging your head against a brick wall, only do it 'cause it's lovely when you stop. Axel took the Channel Rd option, Steve & Trent had no problem taking a long turn to River, then adding a few clicks to the tempo in River Rd. A small brown ball on legs (pug dog) came a charging with teeth bared and savage intent but a collective yelling had it promptly OTA. Bomber & Sticks bid adieu as we appraoched Mitchell, Steve kindly tolerating my modest pace at the front till Archer. Collective sighs exiting Roubaix as the wind finally was somewhat behind us, into the flying fourties for the last two k home. In Conrod, ToolambaDave bolted on the Basso (albeit 400m prematurely) Robbo pulled the whip with 300 left, all of my 686 watts & 183 bpm could only muster 53 km/h when the cavalry of Steve, Trent, Paul and co flew by in the low 60's, humbling me to 5th, but not complaining, pleased to have finished, pleased to know tomorrows' breeze would be halved.
Acted as pit crew for Cougar's front tube change early Wednesday morning, repaired and back on the road post haste to reach the Couldabeens Kialla start, arriving to find a small band of five 300 metres ahead already into the pace, forcing a chase. Slowly yet surely reeled them in to join AvantiTrev, LegalDave, Nick, Tim and FeltMat for the circuit. Pistol Pete was all the way to River Rd before turning to climb aboard. LegalDave is yet another on a new bike, a stealth like Trek (a departure from favoured Italian machines) in menacing matte black with cogs for hills and a TT style rear brake under the lower chainstays. I took a long haul at the business end with PistolPete up Mitchell Rd, his trademark shoot off the front had Nick in pursuit for half a k to draw level. Our timing was perfect to let a long Cat train into River before we crossed (Eddy off the back none too pleased), three Goats a k behind at their own pace. We had a good run in Channel (Darth Vader soundly asleep at Sellmans) at a steady velocity, reeling in the (somewhat scattered) breeze girls at Orrvale School, Tim dropping back to check on his breeze boss, FeltMat homeward bound. Odd to head north minus the Rocket (occupied with family), but enjoyed the subdued pace!
The trusty old tail light passed away (aged 7) early Thursday morning, a change of battery twas too much for the old switch (spooked by Halloween?). Scrounged a tiny red knog from the bits and pieces box as a substitute, but it throws as much light as a candle. Dubiously and uncomfortably made my way to the Couldabeens, relief with safety in numbers. Kenworth, AvantiTrev, Cougar, PistolPete, Temple, Chris A, Tim, Trav, FeltMat and Nick made up the (Rocketless) bunch to proceed at pace out Channel Rd, a SSW wind ready to test us for Boundary Rd. Smooth and steady turns with just a k or two variation helped all to keep in touch, great to have considerate Chris and Trav (back to being a regular) assisting. A pair of Breeze breakaways were northbound on the Broken bridges, the Breeze bunch just turning from River Rd (in pusuit?) Easier on the effort for us in Mitchell Rd with the wind at our side so speed was dialed up of course, Tim getting the nods alongside Pistol. A bit of caution at Central Kialla and the highway, spying for cars minus headlights through the long grass. All travelled well with a long and gradual simmering of speed, out of Roubaix and up to the horse stud it was giddy up for the thrash in Conrod. Kenworth, Pistol and Chris took the honours (in that order), all others soon after in varied stages of exhaustion/exhillaration. (and they'll all be back next week to do it again for some strange reason)
The flash new tail light fitted Thursday arvo was reassuring, so off to do battle with the library bunch in a perfect 21 degrees. Good to have Clive and Harpo escape Mooroopna detention to make the pilgrimage east, Paul, Craig, Dalton, Jamie (on remand from Melbourne), Sticks, Axel and Robbo launched from town, OlympicSteve climbing aboard in the Boulevard. No speed spared up to Wanganui with Paul, then to Numurkah Rd with Dalton warmed up the legs and peaked the heart rate early. Sprinter and Dion were late additions nearing Verney Rd, LegalSteve appeared from somewhere on the brisk blast to the Emu in the 40's. OlympicSteve held permanent station (in the top three cogs) on the front left while one by one, nearly the whole bunch went up for their punishment alongside, attempting to match his 37km/h into a mid 20's head wind. What joy! (a 2k turn was enough for me) Finally, turning into River Rd, Steve took a break and normal rotation resumed. (Machine) The wind gusts increased and so did the gasps, but we finally reached Central Kialla to find a truck with trailer slowly reversing into a driveway. Arriving as the lane cleared, the truck suddenly moved forward, OMG's, FFS's and WTF's flew in abundance, bikes scattered, brakes were grabbed and the inevitable wheel touched wheel. Jamie performed a spectacular half twist, tuck, full pike and double layout on the Giant, judges scoring a 8.75 due to scraping a knee and an elbow on the dismount (into the grass) , the front carbon Flashpoint doing a Schwalbe dismount with a 20mm sidewall fracture. A halt to proceedings ensuring injuries were just skin deep, many on restricted time soon remounted and set off. Jamie pulled out his spare tube, just an MTB one brought about copious laughter. So with borrowed long valve 700x23, Harpo, Craig, Axel & I stayed and attempted to make a hacked tyre rideable with a scrap of canvas (epic fail). A wait then for Jamie's car ride home to appear, sledging filling in the time. Remounted and resumed with mid 30's on the remainder of the course and a squirt in the last 400 of Conrod (Harpo is being dobbed into ASADA for a fine finish), all thoughts through town were on stomachs and how they needed filling.
As has become customary, a quiet lap was planned Friday morning, for the first time in ages barely a puff of wind made for ideal conditons. A very long 5.55 Boundary Rd express (Supercats et al) steamed south, first class and economy carriages aplenty and more than one guards van i'd say. A small train (poop poop little Thomas?) was unidentifiable (maybe Aristocats?) behind them, but Sosso, Doc, P&W's and a gaggle of Goats were recognised filling the course. Borals' Mack was rounded up on our northern passage, Cougs inspired to pump the pedals profusely for a swift stretch in Old Dookie Rd, the quiet lap turned into no rest for the righteous but good fun anyway.
Week 44 374 km (Barradale to Edaggee W.A.) YTD 15,311
October Great Cycle Challenge 1953 km. (finished 17th in distance)
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on" Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) 32nd US President
A sombre post script to this months photo (at the top), recent stiff winds have finally ended the huts' days. Built in the 1890's, it's but a photographic memory now.
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