Judging the shine on the road in the early hours of Monday for a ride decision, pessimism peaked, post plentiful precipitation previously (Sunday). The street had dried to a patchy semi-gloss, traction possible, way better than yesterdays saturated skating rink I guess. Pointed the bike out Old Dookie Rd for a change, Cats departing a distance ahead. Found the Fox, Meags and Hilly about to set sail (better company than my own) so joined in for a clockwise lap. A steady pace was kind on my weekend rigormortis (off the bike for two days), the mild two digit temperatures assisting too. Several tail-lights were ahead southbound to the Pub, no pursuit plans but we steadily reduced the gap beyond the bridges. A hint of light in the sky revealed nothing but dismal cloud, at least we were upright, laughing and taking in the oxygen, Hilly & Fox taking the major shareholding for River Rd. A squirt down Central Kialla Rd then into Mitchell, we'd latched onto a half dozen just as I needed to exit in Archer (to appease the boss with an on time appearance). Bid my farewells and drove on the 15 sprocket homeward, a satisfying soundtrack of humming wheels, no backlight on speed or clock kept the pace up for an on cue arrival.
Tuesday mornings westerly spelt 9k of tailwind then 22k's of toil on the Couldabeens track. Lined up behind Shane, Kenworth, Nick, Trav, PistolPete, FeltMat, Temple, AvantiTrev and HBK, Rocket the last arrival. A pronto first leg with the wind behind, Mark and Trish joining at the first intersection. Nick had the rice bubble wheels on, snap crackle and pop from crunchy (waterlogged?) bearings. I'd drawn the short straw behind Rocket, peaking 173bpm to match in the last leg of Channel Rd, dissapointed by my ordinary performance. Turning into Boundary explained the poor pace, a marshmallow front tyre forced a halt to fix. (nice to have the crew wait, but sledging is de rigeur) Mobilised after 5min and a leaky CO2, it was back on the throttle down to Mitchell, feeling the usual inadequacy attempting to keep up with PistolPete, had half a chance with Trav when rotation changed the order. The west northwesterly whittled away the reserves, AvantiTrev, Temple, FeltMat and Nick now in the growing league of back seat passengers. A pause for traffic at the highway had a few Area lads closing in on us, Rocket, Pistol and HBK, champing at the bit, stretched away from the party faithful as Arcadia Downs came into view. Kenworth and I had been elected as tow trucks (without our knowledge) by the remaining survivors, thought Shane was sharing the load as he came by, but he poured on the power in the hope of bridging the gap ('twas a bridge too far). Nev and his 51 pair passed (making it look oh so easy), Kenworth & I dug in for the long haul and reeled in Shane from his optomistic pursuit, Rocket, HBK and Pistol just a bit to far for Nev to reach.
The mental magnifying glass was out Tuesday arvo to find the motivation to head to the hospital bunch, low cloud, a chilly northwester and a max of 13 degrees hardly enthralled. Robbo, SpecialisedTony, Dion, BigBen, JamisShane and Axel took on the elements, most in the hope of a steady tap around. Mitch, Bomber, Deano and Longy blended in on Ford Rd, soon to have Bomber & Mitch sitting off the front by 20 metres dangling the bait. Most weren't biting though. Andy, Steevo and others attached to the pack in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, still the lure was untouched. Beyond the Emu, I felt the breeze on the front from the rail-line to the Toaster, Robbo finally swallowing the fly and dragging all up to Bombers tempo in Old Dookie Rd, Hamish climbing aboard halfway. South into Boundary the float and sinker were gobbled up, full bore down to the Pub, me hanging on second wheel, foolishly hoping speed would settle. Mitch, Deano, Ron, Dion, Robbo and other high calibre weapons swapped turns with Bomber down to River Rd, then building the intensity westward. With no capacity to drive over 40 into a 15km/h headwind, I stayed in the rear seats, an increasingly popular place to be as River Rd swept by. Over the channel bridge Tony's rubber band snapped, Axel, BigBen and I in proximity, happy to work together for survival. A hard drive through Central Kialla and into Mitchell, picking up a few more outcasts to build to seven, Axel & Andy on an Archer exit. We'd reeled in Hamish by Arcadia Downs, no sprint left in my legs but Dion strong as ever was off the seat for the last 200. A good sense of achievement to finish in 1:08, albeit spent, the turn around from the pre ride lethargy worth filing for the future.
At last the breeze was turned off, only the effort of hauling off the doona Wednesday morning. Squeaked in second last at the Kialla roundabout, just ahead of HBK. The usual grid positions of a full left line (Shane, PistolPete, Temple, AvantiTrev and SuperMario) a sole Rocket on the right. AvantiTrev read the riot act of "easy Wednesday", ok for him (& Temple) already cementing their positions at the rear. As the flag dropped HBK moved up, thought I should do likewise. My legs were serving me a reminder of yesterdays thrashings, complaining at HBK's tempo but the grey cells coped. Pleased to have SuperMario pair with me for the Central Kialla leg, Pistol & Shane ramping up for River Rd, Rocket & HBK for Boundary. Motion was maintained for Channel Rd home, Shane stepping up to the 40+ Cha Cha, a great effort. A brief recovery to Doyles Rd, then HBK predictably, prodigiously, protrusibly and prejudiciously pressed the pronto pedal (profoundly prematurely) to be quickly sauteed by Rocket, Pistol pairing rapidly for a Mexican Bonanza thrash, almost catching the Breakaways at Archer. (great to see a growing group of gals, well done Sim back on two wheels).
Wrung out like a washed sock Thursday morning, the body's message to put it in neutral and apply the handbrake (under the doona). Pleased to bounce back to life during the day but fingers were crossed on the way to the library as the sun sank (hopeful there wasn't a repeat of Tuesday night) Axel, BigBen, Dion, SpecialisedTony, JamisShane, Kev and Clive lit up a dark Boulevard on a cool evening, a moderate manageable pace out to Wanganui with a south southwester building behind us. Finally felt comfortable atop the Fizik, first time in ages. Luke, Steevo and MachineSteve u-turned at the soup tin from their anti-clockwise lap to fill our ranks. A conservative pace out to the Emu was turned down to a simmer for the headwind to the Toaster, setting the mood for the circuit, no heroics, gasps or gritting of teeth, just a steady tap around. Much discussion of long weekend plans, MachineSteve and Kev took an early exit via Channel Rd. JamisShane and Dion went a.w.o.l. along River, a suspected puncture turned out to be a different kind of leak. Steevo's just three weeks back on the bike after years off, the lad's a (vintage) natural. No hint of a sprint as we swung into Conrod, the breeze behind may have been a lost opportunity but many legs were no doubt grateful of being spared a flogging, 1,200 calories burned anyway.
Friday, alarm, five, groan, snooze, alarm, arise, coffee, porridge, dates, honey, baselayer, baselayer, armwarmers, jersey, knicks, socks, shoes, battery, light, Garmin, helmet, specs, gloves, pump, Bugger,....puncture! At least there's light, warmth and a proper floor pump to make a comfortable fix at home. (how many tubes are changed/cursed in the dark, damp and cold?) No hope of meeting the 5.50 Couldabeens agenda now (glad I missed the record breaking run by the three stooges) so shifted the goalposts to a solo lap bearing east on Old Dookie Rd. Luck would have an intercept (and invite) from Coggo, Craig, Tum and the Bell (a gritty gathering o' Goats) on a single filed clockwise mission. Five degrees is gently dipping us into winter, twelve k's of SSW making us earn breakfast. A smooth draft behind Coggo till my turn at the turn into Boundary came. Dug deep driving down to the Pub, constantly forcing the eyeballs to avoid the h.r. display, ignoring the reality. Woops! A chance glance (177 bpm) toasted the tenacity. There's something deeply primal in the male psyche to perform in front of others, particularly in unfamiliar surroundings. Handed the reigns to Tum over the Midland and settled in to recover to River, Craig pausing briefly suffering a perceived puncture. Quickly back on the gas again and settled into the rythym, mentally preparing for the next shift at the pointy end, Laws Drive to Rivers' end. More solid turns from the foursome blurred the scenery to the highway, I was starting to run low on the go meter till the Conrod conclusion inspired a final dip. Craig had cooked with 400 left, Coggo drove the "trainette" across the line to finish a wapid week
Week 23 : 254km YTD 6,521km
Word of the week
"Lycrack" (noun) Aged synthetic material that has become partially, unsettlingly translucent .
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