Bit of a bonus to get a dry Saturday, a turn around from the forecast. Only the tough faced up for duty though (AvantiTrev, Shane, Cougar, Nick and PistolPete), winter has forced many to retreat under doonas. A minor delay to the getaway while Cougar restored voltage to the light, all receiving a helping hand of a tail wind on Channel Rd. With just a half dozen, the bureau's "feels like 5.5" and a headwind home shortened the course to skip the Toaster and Emu, straight up Boundary and into the thick of the WNW breeze in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. Cat numbers were down too (8 or so?) as paths crossed nearing the soup tin, Shane and Pistol taking the lions share of toil at the front. Ye olde chain was creaking in the damp air, the bike looking a little WRC from soggy roads. Pleasing to reach Rudd Rd to have the wind at our side then behind for the Boulevard cruise to coffee. Nice to catch up with Weapon calling in for the post ride vernacular on nicotine, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol (a QOTSA coincidence?), timetrial bikes and warm muesli.
A cool (2 degrees) calm and collected 34k ride Monday morning, no aim on averages or drive for data, just to enjoy turning the cranks, perhaps a touch smug clocking k's whilst others softened under the warmth of blankets? But then one ponders whom's sanity triumphs? To rest or ride?, that is the question!
Over the hump of the year, yet winter does it's best to breed apathy, sloth and resistance to doing anything outdoors. The hardest excercise is to throw off the doona, everything thereafter seems to get easy. Climbed aboard the bike Tuesday morning, four times yesterdays temperature but a strengthening north to north north east wind was blowing to make life difficult. Elected to head out Channel Rd with Cougar just ahead of the Couldabeens, only 2 minutes in advance inspired a decent dip to stay ahead, Mavics being shoved around with the side wind. Reached Channel's end with no lights of a persuing peleton, bearing north in Boundary wasn't much fun either, but there's nothing better than a helping hand home to keep the drive to Old Dookie Rd going. Cats and Goats were well numbered, the Area back in chase action on their trip from the Toaster.
Nice to hear the wind noise drop and the wheel noise pick up bearing west with the breeze behind, an inspirational icing to the ride home.
Scaled the motivational mountain to kit up for a Hospital bunch ride on Tuesday night, an icy wind from the north east made staying inside almost irresistable. The usual collection of lads slowly assembled, suprised a dozen fronted in the conditions. Took the first shift with Dion (a long post-ride headwind home for him) then Dalts for leg two. All had a go (bit like a yo-yo though bro) out east, I scored the last of the headwind heroics with Deano up to the Emu. Many were enthused by a strong tail wind from the Toaster onward, Nath the excitable one upping the wattage in Boundary Rd, 40+ toward the Pub. Predicting a River Rd riot, Axel, Dalts, me and S-WorksTony discussed the Harpo option at the highway and took the west exit in Channel Rd home, following MachineSteve for two clicks (his commute home). Fine form felt , four filed singly (with haste) on the Devils Lane Dash (scoring a Strava 2nd fastest), with a momentary pause to gather up the expiring. Felt fit for the Cha Cha (a Jens inspiration?) and even got a 2nd fastest bonus for the Bonanza to wind up a decent lap, not missing the usual Tuesday night thrashing.
Legs breathed a sigh of relief at 5.15am Wednesday, an hours extended rest being granted from a decent downpour. Took on the Wednesday circuit Thursday, taking advantage of the tailwind with Cougar for the long length of Mitchell, 1040 crank rotations for the 8000 metres on my aerobic brink at 135bpm (to satisfy the number nerds). At Mitchell's end Temple and FeltMat were the advance (by 500m) troops for a Couldabeens foursome, single filed in pursuit of their carrot, ably driven by the "little Kittel"......Rocket. We plugged away north to Channel Rd, wind chill not helping legs or lungs, a tough westerly putting the comfort meter into the red for the return home.
Suited up rapidly for the Library bunch Thursday evening, not allowing thoughts to focus on the wintery westerly blowing, less the warmth, couch, food, wine and something humourous (Highway Patrol) would tempt me for the evening. Long-time-no-see Robbo (MTB addiction) was found on the commute in the Boulevard, a posse of punters parked at the car park with eyes on the sky (Paul, Clive, Axel, Juzza, Nath etc). Bomb and bro (Deano) arrived to put fuel on the fire as the 6 o'clock flag fell, a careful navigation past parked cars mixed with traffic keen to get home. Robbo took a natural break at Rudd's end, the bunch continued unabaited, knowing his horsepower to rejoin. Dion was found in Ford Rd, Steevo, Trent, Trudy and the machine Steve loitering on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. It was deja vu beside Deano (Specialised sparkling as always) mucho pronto on the last stretch to the Emu. Nath (mounted on Masi) on his mission of motion minimised the chat to the Toaster, Clive's 'budgie brakes' (cork on carbon) identified his position as we swung into Old Dookie Rd. A turn with the senior Steevo (hope I can be half as strong at his vintage) to Boundary Rd, then hanging onto Nath's wheel for the drive toward the Pub was enough. I was pleased to be peeling off in Channel Rd (again) and finding a growing group doing likewise, Trent, Trudy, Steevo, Axel, Clive and Steve sharing the frown factor (head wind) home.
A 5.50 start Friday at Kialla found PistolPete, AvantiTrev, Jase, Wozza and Shane ready, Temple teasing a "catch me", rolling out 5 minutes early. Pete and Wozza led us to the alt route, I was keen to reap the benefit of the breeze behind us bearing east. Temple's tail-light tantilisingly tempted tempo to River Rd, we could nearly hear his puffs at the bridge if it weren't for my gasps matching the Pistol. AvantiTrev had cemented his berth at the back, Jase ventured forth to the front despite it being his first ride for the week. The 51/SuperCat pack was bigger than Ben Hur bolting down Boundary, we eased early eastward to allow their sweep into River Rd. (G'day Dipper, wherever you were!) Temple had become detached on our turn north, Jase backing up to tow him back into the fold. There was an easy squeeze on the accelerator into Channel Rd, the wind swinging northwest taking up any slack in the legs. Pete's poker face at pace ponders where his limit is, driving well on the Cha Cha with Wozz. Rotations had gone full circle just a k later, twas my turn to drive the last leg with Pete to Kensington, h.r. @ 178 in the effort to keep up. A rare RDO allowed a post ride fix of caffine and chat at the Scottish restaurant, seated in time to view the voluminous Freaky Friday bunch arrive back in town.
Week 28 : 284km YTD 7,551 km
Word of the week
"NocTournal" (adjective) Alert and active late at night, attracted to (and feeding on) live televised stages of the Tour de France.
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