Being kitted defiantly in summer attire had no effect on Saturdays weather, a fresh southerly held the mercury at 8 degrees. No doubt the grizzles of too hot will be upon us soon. Caught Zan (quite cloaked) on the way to a breakaway, then joined the minimalist bunch at the carpark, several missing on festive diversions. Just Supermario, Shorty, Cougar, RidleyTrev, AvantiCraig (on RidleyTrev's Avanti.....confused?), PistolPete and HBK prepared for a Sat.lap. The 5 Breakaways departed early, our 9 took to Channel Rd at 6 and I scored first shift again (at least RidleyTrev commenced on the conservative). Craig quite keen at the front in Boundary Rd, fairly focussed on his speedo rather than the bunch, way out in front earning a temporary tag of WBK (whole bike king) The fresh southerly sat us up the road for Old Dookie, all watching the limit being assisted north to the Emu. The customary long line of Gati di Micci plied west with a greeting here and there (Matho's green machine as subtle as a sledgehammer), a rare occasion to see LeighMac actually aboard and not a k behind.
Took a turn at the front in Ford but AvantiCraig's front was still a bike ahead of me. After a k of consideration i'd had enough, took his pocket and pulled him back to level up. Comfort finding Ford Rd swept of loose stone, a smooth run to Numurkah Rd, then a paced leg to Rudd Rd driven by HBK. Cruised back to town to socialise but several had pending work or family agendas to keep. Just 7 at the table joining 5 Breakaways for enlightened education on messy seperations, Garmin technicalities and big hitters, Weapon arriving as a suprise addition.
A somewhat sumptuous sleep-in till 6.30 on Sunday but the road beckoned by 7 to take on a solo circuit via the Emu, Toaster and back via Channel. A strong northeasterly made hard going of Ford & Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, concentration on anything but the rising heart rate did nothing to reduce the bpm or effort, 170 and climbing till the relief of turning southward to the toaster. Wiped off 40 bpm by the rail line, back into the land of the living for the run to Boundary Rd. A change in mood with the breeze behind, from crawling home complaining to planning an enthused crack at the Mexican Bonanza, so reserved some kick for the end of Channel. The wind had swung to NNE by the time the Kinder came into view, no chance of a breeze assistance for the target. Came across WhisperingJack and Ron beyond Doyles Rd, called a g'day then zoned in for the final burst (to bust my 36 av last Wednesday). On the gas at Kensington roundabout, 700 metres seems an eternity at full bore, wind giving me the sideways shove, trying to find a smooth line through the corrugated corner with h.r. @ 181. The jar was empty by the bus stop, finished breathless but pleased with a 45.4 average, (just under a minute for the segment), suitably chuffed at making 7th overall. A 10 minute cool down through the streets, then found Cougar to set sail on a Couldabeens lap. The wind was now angry at 32 to 48km/h, a big push back out Channel Rd if only to find some comfort for the southbound stretch of Boundary Rd. Almost at Channels' end when we came upon an oncoming & grinning Rocket (Christmas came early for the blast behind him homeward). We'd almost recovered turning from Boundary into Mitchell, but the wind was intent on driving wheels into the left tabledrain. Quite a few bikes out now pointing east, Scott, Stevo, Birchy, Vince & Jodie, all to face the hard yakka headed north. Down to the highway, teeth were gritted for the slog into Conrod, the last 800 metres exposed to a 2 o'clock headwind from hell. Thoughts of Degani's banana and walnut toast drove the legs to finish, coffee and a relaxed verbal on things bike put a great lid on 70k. Sneeked a brief peek at the 'Respect' event on the trip home, a few Goats amongst some MTB's and young guns on windtrainers.
Real summer weather Monday, already 19 degrees at 5 with just the left-overs of yesterdays ENE. Feeling a little secondhand from Sunday's longish and windy lap suited a tender toed Cougar, pairing to take on Channel, Boundary and Old Dookie as has become a regular regime. The heart rate monitor was showing high numbers for a somewhat cruisy lap, 235bpm not quite accurate me thinks. (strap or battery in doubt?) Fragments of Cats were headed south, just a face or two recognised as paths crossed. Straddles, Bomber and Vince picked out from the first three packs, Sosso amongst the P&W's. Two flat tigers decorated Boundary Road (just 500 metres apart), it's that season again. A small reward of a light tail wind for the trip home in Old Dookie inspired Cougar to hit the loud pedal for a rapid finish (certainly satisfying the timeclock at work)
It was Wozza's maiden (road bike) voyage Monday evening, grinning like a Cheshire cat turning a wheel for the first time on a spanking new Scott. Matte black and red looked pretty hot, a similarly hot 35 degrees to bed it in on the Saturday circuit (in practice for the Saturday circuit.....next Saturday). A toasty 17-26km/h NNE wind made it hard yakka till the Emu, but at least we had the reward of a tail wind home. Woz had settled into the road bike position well for his first bash, lots of k's on a flat bar has tuned the legs well to average low 30's (into that wind) Not many mad dogs or Englishmen seen, just one bike and a thirsty looking mutt. Interesting to compare h.r.'s on Strava, mine a 159 average vs Wozza's 174 (16 years my junior)
More real summer on Tuesday morning, 21 degrees with a NNE blowing up to 24k's would assist a pronto passage in Boundary and Mitchell. Some subtle deck shuffling at the car park exit (not naming Temple though) put me on Rocket's wheel to roster me for leg 2, but HBK's puncture with less than a half a k travelled mixed the order again. No RidleyTrev Roadside Assist today, Daniel left to the mercy of skill to cope, with plentiful sledging to speed the process. On the road again 5 min behind schedule (this time on Kenworth's wheel) had some urgency to Boundary Rd, thankfully a considered accelleration south kept the team glued together. Shorty, PistolPete, Nick, Cougar, FeltMat, WhisperingJack and Jase poured on the pace passing a cruising Cobbles at the Broken Bridges. Into the roaring 40's for Mitchell Rd, Nick & Jack raising the bar when they sniffed the front. Crossed Central Kialla (spying felines heading south at the Hall) but I had resolved to take the Archer option to please the work timeclock. HBK, Cougar & I sat back, that flat chat Cat pack back (on attack). We stayed off their line and exited into Archer, now facing a head wind (Couldabeens on the usual trajectory to Raftery). Pleased to clock mid 30's at Kialla with the slog back to town, but wondering if fur flew in Conrod. (long fast and ugly was the report received later)
Thought numbers would be down for Tuesdays thrash with 33 on the temperature guage, but a sizeable mob were at the hospital. Clive, BassoDave, Paul, Dion, Robbo, Rocket, RidleyTrev, Coggo, Tony, even Nick emerged from obscurity (possibly to crawl straight back?). All depated at six bells out Graham St and to negotiate the torture of Verney Rd's goat track (some call it a bike lane). Faded & non-exisistant linemarking, a 4x2 plank, the meandering direction, holes, rubbish, manhole covers, gravel and tarmac humps to murder wheels and posteriors, puts the real meaning into COGS' bike strategy. (time to put some curt counsel into our councillors?) Eastward over the rail-line Bomber, Sticks and Stan caught on (missed the start), the Rocket & Robbo combo were a zinger burger of tempo, a side order of hot and spicy NNW at 15km/h kept the momentum rapid. Nath and MachineSteve joined in further out, Bomber and Sticks cranked it up to the toaster and the speed didn't seem to alter westward despite the shift to a WNW wind. Several took a back seat to being sent to the rushin' front, my cranky heart rate monitor rushin' again into the 240's (or was I having a heart attack?) Luke climbed aboard in Old Dookie Rd, I counted 17 in the bunch as we crossed the highway, driven well to River Rd by the capable (and young) Dion, Paul & co. My next turn at the pointy end was cursed with the wind now head on, grateful Tony took mercy with a short turn before rolling over. Out of the dip it felt like the handbrake was left on, a few hundred metres later the old BM was steering like a marshmallow with a front puncture. Waved the lads around and, as expected, was left to tend to the fix solo (after encouraging RidleyTrev to carry on). About 124 friends (flies) did come to assist on the balmy roadside, so was hurriedly back riding thanks to another tube*** and CO2. Stuck the head down into the wind to tap out the remaining 11ks of the circuit, not dissapointed in the progress though legs were none too happy. Relief at reaching Conrod straight and chuffed to have salvaged a 36 average from the 38.4. the others posted
***a nice new one, thanks Jamie! (only a gentleman would replace a patched used with a new :-)
Wednesday's forecast was grim but the morning's reality didn't look too bad. Another warm start to the day (18) and a big gap in the green stuff on the radar was worth a gamble. Betrothed the chain to the 17 tooth cog for the 'spin' to Kialla (well, 78 rpm is 'spin' for me) to loosen the leg rust from last night. Only FeltMat had braved the start, a final radar check revealed trouble brewing so we set sail turning two blind eyes to the threatening dark mass in the north west sky. PistolPete was found u-turning half way along Archer so it was a tenacious trio (paired at front with a recovering reargunner behind) to rotate. PistolPete was about 4km/h faster than I'd hoped for, but copious cranial concrete was consumed to get over it and harden up. By Mitchell's end (and FeltMat's shortening turns) my legs were jellied, the head said persist but a chorus of desist was sung by rectus femoris, vastus latoralis and peroneus longus. This laborious latin aria had eventually faded in volume after a 3k turn with the pistol in Boundary, an internal second wind had arrived despite the physical head wind. We'd reeled in a guy and gal ahead, but they'd taken a monopoly on the entire lane (despite traffic oncoming) to make us thread a thin line past. Yeah, thanks. A few spits of rain arrived after the bridges then turned quickly to a light shower to dampen the road (and the mental state). Were we to become drowned rats? Toughed it out to have the rain retreat by Darth Vaders' house, optomism gladly welcomed back. Onward in Channel Rd with tempo building, tail lights ahead were slowly reeled in, the Breakaways (Amy, Zan and Patty) having a go too (just keen or crazy?) in less than ideal conditions. It was adeiu to FeltMat after the school, PistolPete and I signed off on the lap at Archer (damp cancelling any ideas of a belt at the Bonanza).
A quantum shift in climate Thursday, temperature halved to 9 and a cool south west blast nearing 30km/h had thoughts tuned to a testing time clockwise into the wind on a Couldabeens circuit. Focus shifted to an anticlockwise alternative, some may say a soft option, but better to like than loathe your hobby. Cougar was of similar mindset so we rolled out to watch a short Cat feature starring Matho (always entertaining), gentleman Graeme and a host of other stars at the Boundary entertainment centre. A quick 51 flick immediately following had a great soundtrack of carbon under duress, there was even a Goat featurette showing in Old Dookie. A large percentage of cars don't seem to have the headlight option in the (overcast) early hours, many bikes follow suit (hope they all eat their carrots) A brief baptism from the heavens settled the dust (barely enough to gloss the road) but made it home (&dried) just as the wind faded to nothing. Supersonic winds and plenty of afternoon showers canned Library bunch plans.
Too much thinkin' and not enough sleepin' Friday morning, up and away in the small hours but needed the winter kit for the measly 6 degrees. I didn't need to know the bureau's "feels like 2.7", the southwester at 15km/h was cool enough. Charted a 5.10 anti-clockwise toaster circuit, the push out Conrod (against the usual grain) spied feline Phil rolling in. (didn't feel so silly seeing another at this silly hour) Gilt edged clouds as the sun rose in River Rd was a good view, even scored a Strava bonus reaching the end. Aiming north in Boundary a slow brown fox became quick hearing the Mavic's moving, or was it the creaking fossil joints? The long precision line of Hurt Locker hurtled south, a fat pack o' Cats a few minutes behind, then 51 on the hunt soon after (one dragging the tongue at the back) I was swapping between the 17 and 15 searching for the right cadence up to the Emu, but might have to ask Santa for a 16. A push home into a now direct westerly asked for some effort, but got on top of the 15 cog in Ford Rd for a decent finish, a 1005 calorie hole to fill.
Week 49 : 434km (Jerramungup to Lake Dundas W.A.) YTD 17,208 km
"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward" Victor Kiam (1926-2001) US entrepeneur
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