Saturday was one of those mornings when the doona was heavier, the bed warmer and the snooze button was hit again, and again. Thoughts of weakness and regret eventually raised me from horizontal, a dose of two wheels would be better than a dose of mirtazapine, tranylcypromine sulfate or isocarboxazid. The headlight battery met it's maker on last nights' charge, so reverted to the small back-up light (equal to three candlepower I reckon) which made for an uncomfortable 6k trip to the start line. Intercepted FeltMat cruising the streets on a warm-up (12 degrees was a heatwave after a 1.7 the day before), Nick, Rocket, Jase, AvantiTrev and PistolPete the only other punters (put it down to long weekend absentees) waiting at the start grid. Take one on Channel Rd with Nick then a faster take two with Pistol loosened legs, seeking solice for a tow after 3k at the front against the light northeaster. FeltMat glued himself in as rear guard leaving just 6 to share the driving, the low grey veil of cloud put a damper on mood and a damp spot or three on us after the Emu turn. Speculation on precipitation dialed up the pace homeward, PistolPete and Rocket adding rush to the ride (to beat the drops or build body heat to dry the dampness?) Just a dozen Cats were eastbound, our westward run finding the tarmac damper as we closed in on the city limits. A Falcon snuck through the Verney roundabout at the last moment earning a mirror burning from Rocket's light. Nick put in a long fast turn to Mt Wanganui, I was running low on go by the Boulevard, the higher workload from fewer staff noticable. Skipped the post ride banter (family tasks pending) but will double dose next time.
Concious early Sunday morning, yes/no decisions on bike/bed, test/rest, or crazy/lazy. Predictions of regret and lost opportunities swung the internal arguement to the affirmative. All the usual routes seemed dull, plotting a different course provided some motivation. I'll call it Garmin caligraphy. A fairly stiff wind dictated that pain come before gain, so a southbound grind into a 17-22km/h headwind would get the tough stuff done early, straight down the main drag past the airport (couldn't cope with Conrod), a sigh of relief to reach Mitchell after 10k's of toil. Tolerated the side wind for the next 10k on Mitchell Rd with a more managed 150bpm, easier again northbound in Boundary for the short squirt to River Rd. Felt good till Rivers' dipper, lambs bleating, galahs screeching and crows Kennedy calling with the sun rising, but the old engine ran flat for a k or two after (attributed to 7 degrees). Coggo & Tina were seen cruising east at Rivers end, I took a turn north onto Doyles Rd, enjoying the billard table ride of the alternative route. Turned east into Channel Rd with the bonus of orchard trees sheilding from the southerly, left and right and round the bends of it's 7k stretch, Coggo & Tina appearing again, this time westward at Channels' end. A choice tailwind till Old Dookie Rd, turning west toward town but finding another flat spot in the engine for the last section to Doyles roundabout. Steered north to New Dookie, gluteus relief on more smooth asphalt, then east again on the well travelled direction de Dookie. Slight gains were made on a bike ahead but Boundary Rd arrived before the mystery man could be identified. North again till Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, then west back to town, legs well wearied from unaccustomed distance. A few bikes were appearing now with double digit temperatures, my aim for Numurkah Rd punctuated with a bit of time out of the seat to keep the tempo up. Mavic's rolled easily on the last stretch of Ford Rd's well worn surface, legs preparing for the last 3k push back into the head wind on Nurmurkah Rd to draw a large E (for Effort, Euphoria or Eccentricity?) on the Garmin map. Be it a challenge for others to scribe something in search for new circuits? (Google 'Strava marriage proposal' for the ultimate).
Took an R.D.O from the bike on Monday 'cause I could, lazing in a warm bed till 6.30 feels somewhat sinful & slothful. Tuesday's mild 15 degree start drew me out of a 24 hour retirement, a quiet lap chosen considering training within the aerobic zone. The ever increasing need for recovery highlights some fossilisation occuring, or is it softening of the will? There's mental goals but there's only reality's points. Pointed at dawn's skyline showed crimson clouds as the sun peeked over the horizon, the sign of rain to come. The usual procession of peletons in Boundary Rd passed by on the usual short lap, content to cruise away 20k low on perspiration.
Only a handful of punters at Kialla Lakes on Wednesday, Cougar, Nick, AvantiTrev, PistolPete and Rocket were all that dared. A few puddles to slalom on the trek south, more dirt on the Rome roundabout (certainly not built in a day) but just a yellow light now to keep us in motion on Archer Rd. AvantiTrev retired to the rear with just 8k done, leaving me to the mercy of PistolPete and Rocket. Funny how the (self imposed) burden of keeping pace soon fades from "too hard" to "possible", drinking the metaphoric cup of concrete eventually rewards the effort with some ease. The cruising speed had slowly lifted in River Rd and moreso to Channel Rd, no let up however for the headwind home westward. Pistol & Rocket show no signs of labour in the mid 30's despite 20k's of headwind, is there pain inside but the poker face is stronger? I'd finally warmed up after 20km and felt good by the kinder, just my luck with only a few k remaining. The compact crew halved north and south for home at Archer Rd, a steady lap done and dusted.
On with the booties and the neck sock Thursday, temperature down to 3, at least we were without the wind. Rolled up late to get a better grid position (for a tow) but only Shane was there with 4 minutes till blast off. PistolPete, SuperMario, Jase, Trav, AvantiTrev, WobblyTrev, Nick, FeltMat, Temple and Chris A meandered into the carpark, Rocket lucky last with seconds to spare. Shane & I set the first pace, must have been adequate with the bunch speechless. Trav was already paying the debt levy matching PistolPete and ChrisA, he soon applied a small speed deficit to reduce the tax on us all. AvantiTrev, WobblyTrev and FeltMat had taken up permanenet rear stalls with the bunch pacing toward Boundary Rd. Turns at the front appeared to shorten southbound to Mitchell Rd, I'm impressed with Shane's progress and the 'never say die' effort of SuperMario and Trav. PistolPete was a bigger calibre than I in Mitchell Rd, hang on when he and Chris paired to hit the front. I could drop 35bpm and recover with ten rotating, but by Raftery Rd more were joining the tail-light club, no doubt the chill whittled down a few. Traffic split the bunch at the highway (grabbed a breather with both hands and lungs while we slowed for the others to reassemble), Pete & I did the drive out of Roubaix corner while I pondered prime peleton positions pursuing probable podium placement for the thrash on Conrod. Shane short shifted to the dipper, I hit the gas on the front and PistolPete rolled over soon after (suprised he had no ammunition 20 metres beyond). Rocket was the Cheshire cat glued to Chris's wheel (the Lord of lead-outs) SuperMario, Jase and Shane went for another dip but I got lucky with a chase on Jase to pick up a bronze, Chris silver and Rocket gold (of course!)
Half a dozen had assembled at the library for a chilled evening Thursday, Dion, WillierTony, Clive, Dazza, Trav and Liam (on matching Jamis's) and newbie Andrew (Merida) to start, hoping to pick up a few out the road. Clive spun his legs warm as we climatised to the evening air, a wisp of north westerly to aid our trip to the Emu. Fingers pointed to a bit of road debris and Dion got it fair and square, the gumboot award. Paul was found at Ford Rd's end with 30k already clocked, Bomber, Sticks, Trent and Legal Steve joined in on the first k of Lemnos Cosgrove Rd. We had an oncoming car high on headlight beam and low on intelligence while Liam and I shared the front, takes a bit for eyes to readjust. Bombers Broadford weekend had taxed his legs (could nearly keep up with him now), LegalSteve was considering invoking a cold law, Clive's bike has "budgie brakes" (carbon pads chirping) and newbie Andrew was facing the reality of pace (retiring to the back to be towed). Sticks and Bomber took the lead in River Rd but Bomber soon tucked in behind the bro for a tow, WillierTony attempted to match Sticks pace but soon followed Bombers' escape, leaving me to stick with Sticks. I managed to survive a k before 175bpm forced a roll over, to have Travis draw alongside for yet another k of hard yakka. Appreciated the few k's recovery while others faced the music, but it was back to the business end with Trent from Roubaix to the horse stud in readiness for Conrod. Travis set up a lead out for Liam out of the dipper and, mighty quick for 14 years, Liam showed all how it's done, (49km/h was not enough to catch him), I was satified with the crumbs of 4th.
Lower limbs were lethargic (see word of the week below) at 5am Friday, a simmered spin with Cougar to cap off the week hit the spot. Cloud cloaked the circuit , blokes, bikes and bunches incognito with the sun well and truely absent till almost home. The eastern standard time honeymoon of daylit mornings has all but gone, the long, dark, damp, cold winter lies ahead for us all to endure.
Week 18 ; 330km YTD 5,106km
Word of the week
"legarthic" (adjective) affected by legarthy.
The sluggish, apathetic sensation of the lower limbs reluctance to provide adequate pedal performance.
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