All was quiet on the roll down to sedate Saturday's 17 degree start, just the rattle of valve stems in carbon wheels to be heard (or is it loose screws inside a skull?) Goat Andy was a suprise Saturday inclusion, a reqiured early return home had him shift bunches. SuperMario, Rocket, Shorty, Cougar, Nick, BigMat, AvantiTrev, Dion, PistolPete and FeltMat took to the course, a rare delight to be minus wind (and flatulence for that matter). Breakaways were conspicuously absent, nothing to chase but the social stimulus during and post ride. The sun is noticably slower to rise in the past weeks, we're well into Old Dookie Rd before the sky lights up (it was squint into the sunrise on the first leg of Channel Rd not long ago). An inspiring turn by Cougar, the pig farm passed without an odourous assult, turned at the Toaster, past the church and a left at the Emu, big Shirms spotted aboard the TT eastbound on Lemnos-Cosgrove. Attempted a Cat count as our paths crossed near Boundary Rd, 25+ my guess, with some headed to Nagambie for a sticky beak at the SunTour stage i'm told. Suprised to find the Goats crossing Numurkah Rd as we approached it, an earlier start (rattling a few without the pre-ride coffee?) We'd arrived back to town in good time, temperature building inspiring an iced coffee at the Lemontree (refreshingly smoke free) though the ice cream may have needed another lap to burn up. Chat on TDU, the Sun Tour and Schapelle soaked up a social 40 minutes, Muppets departed with WobblyTrev attached.
A sabbath Sunday, Monday morning's 5am routine was sluggish, needed RedBull (not Ritolin) on the Rice Bubbles, C4 (not Cerapax) in the coffee and motivation (not Mogodon) on the Muesli. All too easy to abandon plans and sneak an extra hours snooze instead of turning the wheels over. Guilty from the morning's lethargy, ran an the idea of an arvo lap past Wozza who agreed an attempt on a clockwise Toaster, the fine print being 34 degrees with a south westerly to fight. Smooth sailing out the Boulevard and tolerable eastward, another bike or two on the way back to town meant we weren't the only balmy ones. Pondered the hurt heading south on the eastward way to the Emu, the reality lived up to expectation, well and truely toasted by the Toaster, a 174 heart rate at 30k's. Only a slight reprive on the west leg to Boundary, my turn to bear the side wind after Wozza acted as windbreak prior. Another battle for Boundary Rd, little shelter from the trees. Abbreviation of our intended course had no argument, Channel chosen to shorten the torment, fighting a stitch for most of it's length still in the high 170's (bpm) to maintain low 30's (km/h). Almost a relief at home to read the BOM wind speed of 30-37 to warrant the efffort and understand why the legs were jelly.
Armwarmers made a hasty comeback Tuesday morning, 13 degrees heralded a Couldabeens start of 15. Shane led leg one, Shorty, Nick, Cougar, Kenworth, WobblyTrev, Trav, HBK, Wozza, Rocket, Jase, PistolPete, FeltMat and BigMat followed, each new contributor adding to the pace. Me and a few at the back were baulked at the Kinder by a car indicating at the last gasp, nice of the lads to wait for the reformation. To the end of Channel and pointing south, HBK stuck half the bike ahead of BigMat (who fell for the tactic), bumping all into the 40's and stretching the friendship. BigMat then Trav calmed the excitement a touch, pairing with FeltMat was still a push for the last k to Mitchell Rd. Short sentences only for the trek west, over the highway chat stopped completely. By Arcadia Downs there was many shaking heads to a turn up front, most keen just for survival as Rocket ramped up proceedings out of the dipper. Shane had burst a boiler 100 metres off the back, so I slowed beyond the finish line to tow him back to the clan for the roll through town. Just 1.30 off the fastest lap explained the limp legs. Tuesday arvo's blast furnace weather imposed a self appointed heat policy, a night off.
Just a hint of breeze from the SSE on Wednesday, a succession of semi's soothed the southerly spin to the Kialla Lakes meeting point. Shane as keen as mustard, WobblyTrev, Rocket, Cougar, Shorty, Temple (back from an attempt at NZ fishing) SuperMario, Nick and PistolPete (arriving in the first k) tapped south to Boundary with a brief pause at the by-pass for Shane to re-attach the battery to the headlight. Just a thin slice off the regular rate of knots today (no HBK, BigMat or WhisperingJack to silence and stretch the pack) with the accepted River Rd track to view passing peletons (not the 60+ bunch as witnessed Friday). Rocket put the hurry-up into the last leg of River Rd (faith in my pace or race on his face?), the sun a furry orange ball slowly climbing out of the smoke hazed bed. The wind was shifting in Boundary Rd to an ESE, helping the way home via Channel Rd. (Breakaways absent, a different course perhaps?) My holler for an unlit black car in the Doyles Rd darkness caught WobblyTrev napping, missed his brake and casually contacted my Cosmic, he hastily horizontal on the highway and hurridly up again to clear the path for an oncoming truck. No damage it seems, just a rattled rapport.
A bakers dozen assembled Thursday pre-dawn for Couldabeens cardio class, AvantiTrev was back (with make-up for the shiner?) and WobblyTrev undented. Nick, Rocket, ChrisA, Temple, Vince, Kenworth, Cougar, Jase, PistolPete and HBK (arriving last of course) set forth without wind to hamper progress, Vince sat back (on a recovery?) but there were plenty of contributors to the speed. Nath appeared at the top end of Channel Rd, slotting into the rotation as the bunch bore south in Boundary Rd. Jase was the day's whipping post for HBK's thrash, ChrisA and Woz had a steadier push to Mitchell Rd. I called a short shift with Rocket on the front (me miss-firing), PistolPete a worthier cranking comrade. Nath had paired with HBK to dish out some thrash back for Mitchell beyond the dog-leg, the extra 4km/h silencing the troops aside from the ever vigilant traffic reports from the rear. HBK did his usual retreat via Archer, I called another short turn to Mt Nicolaci, a bit of pre-ignition in my old engine today. A clear run over the highway, Nath taking a clear run out of Roubaix, things were getting serious with 2k left. Woz added 3km/h to the target tempo at Arcadia Downs, I had big trouble meeting the key performance criteria and peeled off the front in neutral, in danger of barking up breakfast (there are fines for an unsecured load). I was rapidly relegated OTA, red led's flashing into the distance with 100 metres of air my only draft. Swallowed a few litres of mental concrete as the bunch dissapeared into the distance of Wyndham St (traffic cursing a comeback), nice to have Jase, Woz and Rocket as waiting welcoming committee at the Lake. A bit peeved I missed a PB by two seconds, but I guess there are good days and not-so-good days.
Not a lot of shut eye Thursday night and awake before the alarm. Saddled up for a mild 19 degree early solo Toaster loop (clockwise) Friday morning, a light south westerly the only handbrake. Backlight off, the speedo was invisible so listened to the body (whirr, clunck, squeak, rattle) to set the tempo. Kept an eye peeled behind to avoid being a 51 obstacle in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd but the guns weren't sighted. Made no ground on a lone and very distant tail light ahead, but was content just to tick over below the expiry level. A brief wiff of the piggery approaching the toaster indicated a WSW shift in the breeze, just kept tapping away in Old Dookie Rd almost pleased the speed was a mystery. Turned south into Boundary (spying a bunch eastward in Old Dookie), a little easier to the Pub but still mindful to keep a clear path for packs back. A glance back at the two bridges showed the following bunch were falling behind, a Rocket cackle ahead identified the northbound Couldabeens (Breakaways behind?). Caught sight of the mystery tail light again in River Rd but way to distant to chase (failed to pack enough motivation anyway), enough light in the sky now to show 35 clicks as acceptable. Keeno passed, pensively probing a puncture predicament, into the short straight of Central Kialla a brief halt to retrive my dropped bidon, then set about finding the cruising speed in Mitchell only to be halted by the highways peak hour. The bunch behind was now closing in, by Conrod, hot on my tail, half a dozen AristoCats and 4 P&W's mowing me down on the finish. Happy to chalk up 48k's in 1:26 to put the icing on the weeks cake. Amusing to pass the unhelmeted rider in Raftery Rd with five inches of plumbers grin exposed, would make an ugly bike rack.
Week 7 : 281 km (Mumbannar to Winchelsea Vic) YTD 1,724 km
"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet"
James Oppenheim (1882-1932) US poet and author
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