A rare weekend off the bike made Monday a re-aquaintance ride. Was the seat always in this position? Were the handlebars always that far away and that low? Is this my bike? Does it take that much effort to register 35km/h? Funny how a few days off the habit forces a whole new learning. A quiet (& creaky) lap was in order to re-learn the ropes, joined buddy Cougs for the familiar Channel-Boundary & Old Dookie circuit, familiar faces in the odd bunch or two making progress southward. It took most of this short lap to get my forgetful limbs back into the groove, funny how just a couple of days breaks the condition.
Tuesday morning lived up to the forecasters forecast. Fine patchy rain at 5 had the bike firmly parked. How many peered at phones in the early hours scanning B.O.M, WeatherWatch or other favoured forecasters? Then who, in disbelief, poked a nose outside to confirm the truth? My nose went back under the doona (hardcores may have taken a windtrainer option), a 6.20 rain shower confirmed a good decision. Rain reigned on Tuesday night too, denying an addict a fix. Wednesday went wet as well, the craving for forward motion getting stronger. The lure of the open road, birds chirping, scenery blurring by, wind in the hair (blowing in the ears for me), sweat on the brow, cars crowding the lane, insects up the nose, thumping the potholes, pins and needled palms, a pummelled posterior, cramps and stitches, a head wind home.......ah, the joy!
Thursday finally granted some relief with a cool but at least dry morning to re-aquaint with the bike again. Cougars' emergence from a gastric upheaval suited a suitably paced and distanced ride, suited me nicely too. A few straight days of decent weather would allow some consistency. Thursday night had a good turn up, Tony (recovered from the Adelaide-Shepp epic) Axel, Craig, Justin (shaking off copious cobwebs) Nath, Robbo, Paul, BassoDave, and a late arrival from Dalton, saved with Nath's protracted adjustment of Craigs hub. We found Simmo out the Boulevard and Steve (the machine) near the golf course to make up a dozen, LegalSteve a long way out Lemnos-Cosgrove made the bakers dozen. Pace was brisk but not busting, maybe a few had hopes of conservation for Saturdays' crit? Discovered Googs near half distance, a super smooth addition to turns at the business end of the bunch. Consistency reigned supreme for Boundary and River Rd's, most manageable for Mitchell too. Nath added pepper to the pace exiting Roubaix, the bunch morphing to indian file post haste. MachineSteve and Robbo poured on the chilli's approaching Conrod, many now assigned to rearward retirement. The half dozen drivers opened a widening gap with 400 metres left, no curry in my cadence to get near, so happily rolled in as a finisher.
Funny how an inconsistent week wrecks the rythym. A steady 20k chalked up on Friday suited Cougars' (improving) recovery as well. Freaky Friday not so furious today with the upcoming Crit, plenty out and about though.
Week 46 170km (Geraldton to Badgingarra W.A.) YTD 16,020km
"Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door" Kyle Chandler US actor (1965- )
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