Must be climatising to the cold / seasoned to the freezin......zero felt mild (or is it no sense, no feel?) on a silent spin to Saturdays 'social' ride, roads blissfully barren of traffic. Six were waiting at the starting grid, Shorty, Cougar, Temple, Wozza, AvantiTrev and Shane, ready for the 6 am flag, and with no show by BigMat (suprise, suprise) at 6:01, the handbrake was released, easing east on Channel Rd toward a hint of horizon sunrise. A cruisy 8k to Boundary Rd done, a distant tail-light was eventually caught at the fig farm, Nath morphing the mood from tepid to rapid. The heart rate stepped up and heads went down to the Toaster, Nath taking a double shift to the Emu. Shorty was rattling (valve stems?) and Temple was battling (ride deprived) on the west leg home, while I mused metaphors with Wozz on big sharks in little goldfish bowls. Again, my form and comfort finally came good after 28 rusty k's, think i'll need a new thermostat (or an early spring?) to get the old engine warmer faster. A bit of half wheeling, some half biking (and at one stage, looked like half kilometering) was going on in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, I stuck to my old theory that holding station will eventually make the defiant compliant. Nath and Shane kept the effort up and the chat down for Wanganui Rd, order eventually restored for the Boulevard and the b line to the cafe. Saturdays ride is always relished for that rare chance of post ride banter and breakfast, no dash to do duty at the coal face after either. Jase and PistolPete arrived in civvies on the injured list (an anchored ankle and crook calf) to compliment conversation on Grand Fondo preps and the iced week that was.
A sublime Sunday sleep-in, exorcising the ache from the achilles. The forecast for a millimetre of rain Monday had resigned the spirits to sleep in again (couldn't help a sneak peek outdoors at five, finding the odd spit from above enough to retreat back under the covers). Frustration later when real rain failed to front.
A climactic change on Tuesday, the ice took a holiday, strong winds took up residence instead, just to make sure us cyclists don't get it too easy. I was well worn with 6 k's of 26km/h head wind just getting to the start line. Good to find Nick back from semi-retirement (a lot sooner than BigMat or Whispering Jack though) and the usual battle ready troops at the car park. AvantiTrev, Rocket, Shane & I drew the short straw for the battle in Boundary Rd, suprised I managed fairly well (170bpm) for the 3k on the front, relief when Wozz rolled across in Mitchell Rd. Shane took a double shift to Archer Rd (running low on fizz in the last half k), collective sighs reaching Arcadia Downs for the tail wind home. Rocket took the eager ones into the high 40's in Conrod (Wozz with victory in the nostrils till Rocket and Kenworth quashed hopes) , I lent a wheel to the hardest workers Nick & Cougar to round up SuperMario and Avanti Trev for the finish, a collective tailwind cruise through town the icing on the cake.
It was full steam ahead Wednesday morning, delayed in the multiple layered preparation of insulation against 3 degrees had me behind schedule. Foot on the gas to Kialla seemed to incur every red light en-route, an interval training intro. Arrived with a minute to spare, Rocket, PistolPete, Shorty, Cougar, Temple, Nick and LegalDave ready to roll out. Into a light southerly toward Mitchell, PistolPete had conquered convalesence, crook calf cured, casually cranking a cracking cadence. LegalDave seems to be enjoying being RetiredDave, it's a little unsettling behind his wheel with no visible brake caliper (hidden below chainstays). Shorty and Temple tapping out a steady beat in light of heavy workloads, Nick back for more too. Cats barrelled west in River Rd (stunned to see several minus headlights), a thin blanket of fog in the fields under an orange skyline starts a day well. LegalDave and Pistol took us up Boundary Rd but Dave had only three word sentences to speak in Channel Rd. Rocket and Pete happened to syncronise their turn at the front for the Cha Cha, into the 40's snapped the rubber band for a few in the last 100 metres but a regroup after Orrvale saw a united finish.
A procession of Pussycats (and some 51ers) in the main street Thursday morning but I was heading to galivant with Goats. A good gathering at Friars got the wheels in motion at 6, rotations getting organised out of suburbia in Old Dookie Rd , Cats not far ahead on a slow roll out. Quite enjoying the track turns, a break in my regular routine ; certainly sharpens the focus and hones smoothness. Turns ticked over in Boundary like a swiss watch, obscure observations included Snowman's 17 degree toe out of the right knee, Brendans 98db casette freewheel, Tina's super-smooth roll overs, Dipper's red colour co-ordination, Hommy's Freightliner-like draft (and Tum's like a matchstick) BigPaul's 2 metre exclusion zone and Sandy's roll-call. Cats drew away beyond the Pub, a few Goats began reartirement in River Rd. Solid steady rotations covered a lot of ground to Kialla Central, an earnest ascent of Mt Nicolaci lengthened the bunch but tightened up over the highway with a considerate easing of the throttle. Engine drivers became scarce by the horse stud, 10 volunteers in Mitchell Rd were whittled down to 4 by Conrod straight. My turn the front again with 300metres to go was only good for a lead-out, Tum & Dipper (and several not seen for the last 2k's) thrashed out the line honours while I attempted to retrieve some oxygen. A knucklehead riding up the main drag minus lights and helmet amongst the traffic prompted a little homeward spleen venting.
A properly populated peleton parked at the library Thursday night, suprised to find BigMat amongst the 10 regulars. Away at 6 and northbound on the Boulevard we found another rarity riding, Simmo back on two wheels after 4 months hibernation. A little ESE to push into on our travels to the Emu, sandwiched between Luke and Travis pushed up my heart rate when it came to do my 5km duty. Lots of additions on the lap included Dion, Bomber, Robbo, Mark, Steevo, LegalSteve, Andy and Carl to a bunch now numbering 24. As the cream rose to the top the speedos rose too, all action and no talk down to the Pub with Bomber and Luke driving like demons. Finding myself being drawn back to the front line, I negotiated a switch to the left row, a courteous gap given by Specialised Tony. Many others had preminitions of pain at the pointy end and formed a sizeable single-filed tail to the dozen drivers, most of River Rd spent well into the 40's. Bomber had a final blast to the Kialla Hall before his exit, Robbo, Paul, Dion and co continuing the tradition of tempo in Mitchell Rd. Simmo retreated from a boiling baptism in Archer Rd, a poor call for traffic at the highway caused a little panic and dropped a couple, BigMat latching back on as Roubaix was rounded. I was happy to sit on the back (an increasingly popular place) as the big guns fired into Conrod , many ran out of ammo in the last few hundred metres, one dropped a chain causing some mayhem, finding myself promoted (through attrition) to 6th on the line.
A fresh Friday with just 1 degree (squashing hopes of winters end) and a quiet lap on my agenda if i'm to survive a 105k Grand Fondo Saturday. Found Meags and Fee at the roundabout (Princess having an intimate relationship with a doona?) so an ideal steady tap around well behind the efforts of SuperCats/51 on their mission. Long turns at a smooth and steady rate, heart rate unstressed in Zone 2. Couldabeens about to turn into Channel Rd and Breakaways on the bridges, an inspiring sunrise about to happen made getting out of bed worthwhile. A recouperative ride cut slightly short via Archer to satisfy the 7.30 work agenda.
Week 34 281km YTD 9,167
Word of the week
"Wheeliable" (adjective) A steady and smooth rider to draft, worthy of being depended on.
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