Found Woz on a most comfortable 17 degree southerly trek to the Saturday start line, collected Jase near the lake on the way too. Plenty were assembling in the car park, Breakaways Shaz, Patty and Aimee starting with the bunch instead of their usual early exit. HBK, Nick, SuperMario, newbie Shane, AvantiTrev, Rocket, PistolPete, Cougar (multiple puncture repairs done & dusted) FeltMat, BigMat and Temple rolled away on 6 o'clock cue, a cool, calm and considerate pace to favour the Breakaways and Shane's maiden voyage. A social mindset today, quite removed from the sometimes frantic feel, discussions on aromas with Aimee and slabs of sarcasm with HBK, keeping a sharp eye on Shane's steering as a peleton foreigner (scored well with MTB and skiing experience). HBK was the king of Saturday spin, theory on improving his top end heard but not understood. My skidlid felt a bit tight from Patty's compliments as 16 toured to the Toaster, up to usual cruising speed now with the inductees being hapily drafted along. Nath joined in as we approached the church, Cougar & Aimee made a fine pair to lead for Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. Kylie then Shirms were spotted solo eastward, a quartet of Cats reconnoitring a km ahead of the usual 30 odd Cat clan, passed near Boundary Rd. Turns at the front were rare with 17 to share the shifts, speed limits kept in check (for a change), a return to Saturday ethics seemed to be welcomed by many. Back to the Lemontree it was full house, warm-ups, smoke free zones, pedicures and an AGM were on the chat list, with copious coffee and bucketloads of bacon to consume.
Inspiring to read of Robert Marchand's new 1 hr track record set at 26.9km. Might seem a bit slow but a great effort for a 102 year old! Czech Ondrej Soseka has the all age record at 49.7km.
Wrestled with sloth to start early on Monday morning, the alarm clock's reality paying for weekend indulgences (I ride to support my eating habit). A 700 metre warm up was a bit short to start a Tuesday night lap on a Monday morning, an easterly wind to push into out to the Emu threw me in the deep end . Had to embrace the half cup full attitude half way out (kept the speedo invisible without a backlight to provide some mystery motivation) hovering around the 170 bpm hoping for a passing car for a brief draft (never came). Felt a bit worn around the edges arriving at the Emu, relief headed to the Toaster and a tail wind utopia west in Old Dookie Rd was somewhat spoilt by the aroma of a pig truck as an appetiser to the pig farm pong. Entered Boundary Rd 100 metres ahead of an unidentified southbound soloist, a mystery quartet heading north at the pub justified the madness of an early start. Chose a River Rd course (east wind annoying heading south) finding the Breeze bunch breezing east, albeit in silence. The soloist following me was now a distant spec, happy to see 37 on the speedo now the sun had begun to light the sky. Was feeling rather ragged by the time I'd reached Mitchell and swallowing an insect didn't help the respiratories. The h.r. was still between 170 and 179, wished I was 20 again to be at aerobic pace. Karnivool via i-pod kept the motivation going but there wasn't much left in the legs to give in Conrod straight, wrung out like a wet sock crossing the line but satisfied to have clocked a 1:16 for the lap and 50k before 7.
Pondered the conditions over breakfast Tuesday morning, strong winds were as welcome as a root canal but regret would be a bitter pill to taste. Couldn't reach 30 on the 6k ride south to the Couldabeens start, a howling head wind at 37 -54 km/h did it's best to blow me to Numurkah. Not a soul at the carpark to share the load, (sensibly in bed i'd say) so bit the bullet to head solo out Channel, passing an unknown rider lit some optomism (I'm faster than one at least). Wrestled with the side wind up to Boundary, a decision to tough it out solo on the usual course or make use of the tailwind was easy, mentally mapped a Boundary-Ford-Wanganui-Rudd course home. Cruising at 40, much respect and kudos was given to the 5 Cats and handful of 51's slogging south into a headwind. Had a slalom course past Hill Rd with a carpet of twigs and sticks to avoid (5 years now since the stick incident; still spooks), onto Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd bearing west with a handful of bikes pursuing behind, motivating a goal to keep ahead. Did a great WobblyTrev impersonation steering a 'straight' line homeward, wind gusts pushing wheels sideways, but satisfied to stretch away from the small bunch in the mid 30's to Wanganui hill. A tougher battle to top 30 in Rudd Rd, almost dying at the cemetery, better shielded in the Boulevard to complete 32 clicks at yesterdays average.
Despite a warm 32 and a SSE wind blowing, there was a decent roll up at the Hospital boom gates on Tuesday night. Scott, BassoDave, MachineSteve, Luke, Hamish, Tony, Dion, Wozza, Paul, Rocket & Coggo set off at 6, Luke and MachineSteve capitalising the front till Lemnos North Rd. A crook call for a car split the pack, but it quickly reformed with Bomber & Sticks added. Speed fluctuated somewhat up to the Emu, turns were long then short, fast then not-so-fast, finally settling with Dion & Paul as smooth and fast drivers. 22k's worth of head wind to the toaster didn't phase Bomber measuring Rocket into the high 30's, the bunch into overtime and silent keeping up. Trent, Trudy and Tony had swelled the ranks to 20 at the church, Bomber was still trying to wear down Rocket to the main channel bridge, Hamish retreating to the rear stalls. Calm was restored with MachineSteve and Coggo setting a less frantic pace in Boundary to the pub, chat resuming. Speed was slowly brought back to the boil in River Rd, Axel the last to climb aboard in its opening kilometres. Scott's turns were measured in metres, Wozza however driving long & well in the high 30's kept me focussed and on the limit. Timed my turn well to have Dion take the brunt of the breeze for Central Kialla Rd, it was the Bomber vs Rocket fireworks again for Mitchell's stretch to Archer Rd. A brief look back showed Houdini had made half the bunch vanish (an Archer escape?), just 9 left to tackle Raftery. A gap opened going into Roubaix, Wozza had enough to pursue (&catch) Rocket, MachineSteve, Paul and Luke, but it was Dion, Tony, Basso Dave and I Ieft to pick up the crumbs, just Dion & I at the pointy end for the last 2k. Nice to stop the hurt crossing the line in 1:10, made Mondays solo dip on the same course fair, just 6 min slower.
Thoughts of a relaxed Wednesday roll around are but a distant memory, will have to hang hopes on Saturdays restrictions for now. The roundabout was well populated, FeltMat, LegalDave, PistolPete, Nick, Shane (ride #2), newbie Andrew, Cougar, Wozza, Rocket, Shorty, Jase, Whispering Jack, AvantiTrev and Wobbly Trev speared southward to Mitchell, Rocket and WhisperingJack applying the go into Mitchell against the easterly (Jack on short shift). The now accepted River Rd route has the passing parade of bunches to view (much momentum with the wind up their Khyber), Shane took a turn up front into the breeze but burnt out a bit soon, FeltMat & I easing off a whisker for his survival. The north leg up Boundary was a little more optomistic, reward of a tail wind awaiting in Channel Rd had Rocket & Jack salivating for speed. Into the roaring 40's for the twists and turns of Channel Rd, catching a larger bunch of Breakaways (on a recruiting drive?) at Doyles Road. Rocket & Jase were keen to attack the Bonanza in ideal conditions, Wozz got out of the seat to join in but missed the train. Great work by Jase (54.7av) and Wozz (47av) to score Strava cred.
A dozen fronted the Couldabeens on Thursday, mild temperature and favourable (NE) breeze meant business. Aimee had missed the Breakaway bunch but braved the team up with HBK, Wozz, Rocket, Chris A, Kenworth, Cougar (out of Oppy uniform on a loaner Ridley) AvantiTrev, BigMat (chuffed from a credible Vets TT at the weekend) WhisperingJack and Nick, both warmed up from a prior 30k effort. Smoothly up to speed and out of intersections and corners helped for most of Channel, into the 40's for the last legs was going to test the relationship though, Nath adding to the wattage. Just a couple of k's faster when southbound in Boundary snapped the rubber band, Aimee OTA at the bridges (a top effort having a dip several rungs up the ladder), HBK dropping back to lend assistance. Jack hit the nitrous crossing River Rd doubling the length of the bunch, cracks appearing in the formation entering Mitchell. Wozz, Kenworth & I eased off the gas a little to act as tow trucks, keen eyes at the front had shaved a little off tempo too to get the team back as one for the stretch of Mitchell. Crossing Central Kialla, a Goat quadrella wasn't far off our tail, the pause for traffic at the highway had them into the mix. Our speed demons and Goats declared war at the horse stud, Cougar (struggling with tummy tensions) was losing grip, so I rolled the last k off the loud pedal with her to keep teamwork and chivalry alive, still logging a cracker time.
Took on a 5.55 Friday lap from the Kialla roundabout, would it be Faark Friday with HBK, Rocket, PistolPete, Jase, BigMat, SuperMario, Cougar, AvantiTrev, Shane and Nick? Darkness hid the speedo truth as we sped southward to Mitchell, HBK pushing the pace with Rocket (now on the loaner Ridley) while most hung on in silence. I really struggled eastward in the short leg of Mitchell, almost spat off the back. A deflating tyre maybe? (later Garmin observations of 37km/h into 20km/h headwinds were to blame, nought but soft is the reason) Up to River Rd a lone bike was parked in the weeds (a natural break?), the Breakaways were visible ahead with Suzie off the back minus headlight volts and Shaz dropping back to light the way. Patty startled as we passed, Shane (on ride #3) now wary of repeating Wednesdays blown gasket. The easterly made a fair grind up to Boundary (lots of Freaky Friday contenders taking the sensible direction, some seem to lack the sensibility of using headlights though?) as I attempted the impossible, a draft off the low AvantiTrev. Some relief in Boundary and a mission of speed in Channel, roaring 40's again, me trying to act as joining link to those holding on (apologies for subsonic pace to those wishing supersonic). No further attempt on the Mexican Bonanza, pleasing to have a united finish for the week.
Week 6 : 319k's (Coonalpyn S.A. to Mumbannar Vic) YTD 1,443km
"The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury" Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) US Actor/Comedian
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