Jase appeared in the main street fog on Saturday morning, specs pocketed and none too pleased at the atmostpherics dampening kit and bike. We pondered the attendance effect that 99% humidity would have, numbers ween't too bad considering. Whispering Jack was breaking all records with three showings in a week, SuperMario expressing most displeasure with the conditions, Temple locking in the back seat berth. Six bells chimed the start, a traffic interruption had three off the back till a vocal handbrake merged all. Sharing the front with Jase then PistolPete tested my early limits, warm up time taking longer as the years tick by (or is it just neurosis?) Felt the breezistance** in Old Dookie Rd (the early piggery aroma a confirmation) and I always thought that fog meant no wind? SuperMario 'headled' to the church, Trav stretched him to the rail line then all relished the easier run home from the Emu. A couple of early Cats were at the kennels, the puddytat peleton at the main channel (late comer GT Craig 2k's back). Jase and Rocket stretched the rulebook to 40 in AvantiTrev's absence, a 5% discount off that for me in Ford Rd (even though Pete may have wanted more).
It was all or nothing for WhisperingJack on Mt.Wanganui, a polka dot performance with later regrets. The caution flag went out for Wobbly's woundabout, all tip toed through (vertically) without incident. There was a Rocket & Jase breakaway on an unseen sprint section in Mason St, maybe a race for the hot seats at the Lemontree? Strava, wisdom teeth and the unemployed discussed perusing the new menu, Wozz and Nath post ride additions to the banter.
Six millimetres of four am Sunday rain washed away plans for an early Toaster lap, warm as toast under the doona instead. Spectated the DECA dash at 10, a little breeze drying the tarmac. MachineSteve, Rocket, Eggy, Travis & Liam (minus an acre of skin) Robbo, Lil'Tony, Mexicans etc etc filled an A&B grade race, Eggy, Rob D and Rocket taking the top three places, well done Rocket taking a 1st and 2nd for the two sprint laps. A great little closed track but a breeding ground for bindii, 4 punctures in the group of 25.
With rain on Tuesday's horizon it was Monday evening to satisfy the craving for k's. A very comfortable 18 degrees but an uncomfortable easterly dictated a clockwise Toaster lap to get the hard stuff done early. The heart rate monitor was almost asleep (54bpm) pushing into the 17km/h gusts, finally awaking to 158 after 30 minutes in the seat. Had almost run out of enthusiasm when the Emu came into sight, thoughts of a tail wind worth aiming for. Three other bikes were on (opposite) course making use of the dry. Getting back onto familiar cogs heading to the Toaster was enjoyable, elation pointing west for Old Dookie's 4k stretch with the wind at my back. The sun had almost tucked into bed turning into Boundary Rd, cars purchased without the headlight option are common in these parts. Shoved about by the side wind (but not enough to be blown into the Pine Lodge Pub), some tree shelter was found till the turn west in River Rd, back to my favoured sub 60's cadence relishing mother natures assistance, erratic heart rate monitor now flat-lined at 137. To Rivers' end, past the Kialla Hall and into Mitchell, more than the normal 6 o'clock rush hour to deal with nearing Archer Rd. A blast down Mt.Nicolaci (but a slug up), strobing blue & reds signalled a Melbourne Rd closure (a prang diverting the masses) Raftery's normally quiet tarmac filled with cars (many, annoyingly, without the low beam option) to make it a push home. pleased enough to tap out the lap under 1:29.
Getting severe cravings for a ride by Wednesday morning (Tuesday was a wash out), the light northwester put a false sense of achievement into the roll down to Kialla's roundabout. Shiny roads and super sprays of H2O poured off passing B doubles as I wrestled with my commitment/stupidity/decision to ride, harden up was the closing statement to self. PistolPete and Rocket were at the start, no other of the faithful appeared so it was off down Archer to a Frog fugue in F flat, amplified from saturated fields. All was quite manageable till Central Kialla, the reality of the northwesterly tightened up the muscles. Pistol & Rocket did their duty at the front for the length of River Rd (no objections from me) two small bunches went west to confirm our commitment/certification. Solitary Goat Legal Dave was at River's end (enduring two punctures to boot), we endured the elements of a headwind up to Channel Rd, dosed by light misty rain into the bargain. No fun either on the west leg home, socks now squelching, another misting of precipitation and the aroma of something deceased at the cypress trees. Ah, the joys of cycling! One wonders what warrants wheeling west, wilted, wet & weary on a windy Wednesday, when warm waffles would wain winter woes. All due credit to Pistol & Rocket's care and consideration for this old croc, back to town conscious and in one piece (albeit a little soggy), finding heaven in mere instant coffee and a bit of toast at home.
Fog parked specs in pockets Thursday morning, no guilt tucking in for a tow behind Chris A and Nick at the Archer St grid, Rocket, PistolPete, SuperMario, Kenworth, Jase, Trav, Shane and (tail-light) FeltMat forming the bunch. Chris & Rocket took on a double shift to Orrvale Rd, Kenworth advanced toward the pointy end nearing Channel's end then, out of character, took an RDO (respiratory distress option?) to skip lead duties. Jase bumped up the heartrate (43bpm according to my malfunctioning monitor) for our pairing in Boundary Rd, Nick with a knack for paddywhack was strong but a shorter turn thankfully. It wasn't quite accurate to call clear at the intersections in the pea souper, luck was on our side to get into Mitchell Rd without drama. A good turn of speed to central Kialla, Kenworth repeating his RDO. We'd closed in on tail-lights ahead nearing Archer Rd, four Hurt Locker lads (Sosso detached, but rejoined over the highway) were passed, Chris, Rocket, Pete and Jase pushed the pace up to Arcadia Downs. Kenworth finally committed to a go when we swung into Conrod, but he'd engaged warp drive on arrival at the front. Unable muster the motion to get alongside, I filled the gap opened ahead of Jase, settling into Kenworth's draft and waiting for the kaboom. Rocket and Chris bolted with 300 left, Pistol & Jase in their wake, I'd just enough left to round up Kenworth in the last metres.
A chilled evening Thursday but I rolled down to the Library to find Robbo, Hamish, BigBen, Axel, Clive, Dalton, SpecialisedTony, AvantiTrev and Paul prepared to tap out a lap. Hamish and Robbo led off with all single filed behind Hamish, a Robbo reputation rearing reservations? Paul filled the gap, then I, finally Tony to form a respectable bunch in two rows. Mitch blended in on the Boulevard, LegalSteve found near DECA, several were already entrenched at the rear to be towed around. Nath joined us as we approached Boundary Rd, Robbo & Paul upped tempo for a blast to the Emu, a bit calmer southbound to the Toaster for me sharing the front with Nath. All was quite manageable with the heavy artillery missing, evident in the hr monitor (now working properly after a little adjustment) . Some in depth discussion with LegalSteve till oxygen was preserved for my next turn at the front, AvantiTrev, Dalton, BigBen, even Mitch now in the permanent rear ranks for River Rd and beyond. My tank was emptying after a 4k sentence at the front but used Mitchell Rd to recover. Hamish launched an optomistic breakaway over the highway, Paul setting off in pursuit soon after (but didn't quite bridge the gap). The six remaining (towing five) shortened turns and ramped up the pace out of Roubaix, catching Paul at Arcadia Downs. Nath and Robbo had the extra reserves to catch and pass Hamish (now at full thrash) in the dying metres, most others satisfied just to finish in touch with the bunch.
A crisp Friday morning, a sign of the months to come. I marvelled at the skill of urban planning routing a bike lane over 28 man-hole covers (Balaclava Rd), pounding the posterior or running the gauntlet of the traffic lane.....that is the question. The lack of temperature made muscles complain, lungs none too happy either. Haven't we been spoilt in recent weeks wih double digit temperatures. Out New Dookie Rd and beyond Lemnos, a 51 string of tail-lights blinked south on Boundary. I turned onto the same course, Fitzy following a distance behind. Twas a bit of a drag down to the Pub, a small bunch entering form Old Dookie Rd now pursuing Fitzy. I took a natural break (brief to prevent localised frostbite) and joined the feline foursome (MexicanAngelo, Simon and two unrecognised others), the sole 5.50 Cats, to tap out a lap. Northbound Couldabeens at the bridges as we speared south, frost settling in the lowlands as the temperature settled at two. Long and short turns for River Rd, tempo slowly building in Mitchell, then all contracted the infectious speed virus (Conrodus Sprintus) in the closing k, my infection limited to the 40's, the finish line a welcome sight to close the week.
Week 22 295km YTD 6,267km
Word of the Week
"Breezistance" (noun) The force that opposes velocity against wind pressure
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