Twisted the structure of the average Saturday (but in doing so missed the 58th comeback of Whispering Jack on the usual Saturday lap) entering the Sam Miranda Grand Fondo, a 102k lap around the King Valley scenery. Couldabeens Rocket, Shane, PistolPete, Cougar, Ro, Wozza, Temple, BigMat & AvantiTrev made up a team entry, arranged some decent weather (10-17 degrees) and convoyed to Oxley, collecting caffine rations at the Scottish restaurant on the highway. A long queue to register at the Sam Miranda winery start forced a rapid prep to kit-up and ready bikes, the team taking to the starting grid (resplendant in new kits) to be flagged away with just a minute to spare. Clear skies and an open road ahead, it was a big 7k turn for me with Rocket to get the train rolling on the Snow Road. Turned west toward Greta to face a few rolling hills, Cougars Ridley dropping a chain on the first ascent, but we rapidly rallied ranks to keep the team dream alive. It was moderate ups and downs for 30k's (Ro busting BigMat on a pinchy one to show who's boss) till the longer climbs broke the bunch into polka dotters and plodders, the agreement to reform at Whitfield for the slog home. Through Greta South and Myrrhee on the Benalla Whitfield Rd, with great views to distract the stress up hills, we crossed the Boggy Creek and up the Strade Nero, a 6.3km ascent on gravel with a 4 to 12% grade. Battling corrugations and an h.r. peaking at 185 to climb the 600 metre hill was a challenge for this flat lander, but I stuck defiantly to the 56 chainring to preserve my reputation and wind-up the scoffers. As with most challenges there comes a reward, the 8km sealed descent was enjoyed, 62km/h at times till rough patches jarred the bravery. A reunion at Whitfield to put a bit into the tank and collect the team together for the slog home (Rocket vanished into the distance on a mission), a head wind home of course, to trial tenacity. Careful not to snap the rubber band, the last 40k was plugged away keeping the turns smooth and consistent as us flat dwellers can, through King Valley, Edi, Docker and Moyhu (pleasing vistas to take thoughts off sore sit sites and legarthic limbs), inheriting several free loaders in our wake for assisted passage to Oxley (the finish line bait to tempting for Shane, breaking away in the last three k's). A good ride, a rather good feed and viewed the finish of some of the Subaru road series racing as dessert.
A trepidatory tap planned Monday morning, pondering the leg legacy of Saturdays climb. No knocking knees or limp limbs, but careful to warm up slowly and crank without calamity. Roads were suprisingly damp from an unheard overnight light shower, but 8 degrees and a 10k westerly was drying the hotmix, bike was weekend filthy anyway. Cats pulled out of the Notre Dame parking bay, I was pleased to be 500 metres behind the 8 ball with no intention to chase. Rounded the SPC roundabout and settled in for a solo, to find Fox and Meags craving a cruise. A therapuetic lap of the Old Dookie-Boundary-River-Mitchell & Raftery course with lengthy turns below warp speed was good medicine. A tail-light carrot inspired Meags to crank the full length of River Rd, catching Justin, yet another recently emerging from a winter hiatus. Form felt good enough to push the tempo in Raftery Rd. but a sprint finish was off the agenda.
Felt in good shape Tuesday for the trip south to the Couldabeens start, despite the head-on breeze, confidence rose with Mavics humming at a decent speed. Kenworth drew the grid position for a double shot Rocket/PistolPete espresso, AvantiCraig joined the ranks and I'd paired with SuperMario to witness the fitness hockey finals has brought on. Many were sharply kitted in the new Couldabeens attire, the southerly made a Boundary Rd toil for Shane, AvantiCraig, Rocket & Kenworth, I relished the tow with Nick, AvantiTrev, Trav and FeltMat. Mitchell Rd was a little easier with a cross-breeze but Pistol adding 10% to the velocity when he hits the front is an ask, particularly to get ahead to roll a turn. Nitrous needed. By Raftery Rd the enthusiasm had built to the fourties, 600 metres at the front was fraying my edges. A few quick changes of the leading role at the front out of the dipper and I had Pete to get ahead of again, the planned burst past was but a mere crawl. Quickly swamped by superior firepower in the closing 300 metres, inability and inadequateness over ruled the internal intention, throwing all efforts into neutral, gasping at 180 bpm across the line mid-field was as good as it gets.
Head down and tail up on Wednesday morning, there's nothing like running late to put some hurry-up into the legs, chasing the bunch for the lap not on my must-do list. 7k's to the start in 11 minutes was a tough warm up on this old cold engine, but I made the start just ahead of Pete, the last to grid. Nick, Shane, Rocket, Cougar, SuperMario, Shorty, WhisperingJack, FeltMat, AvantiTrev and Trav had been on schedule so we set sail south into Archer, almost light on the horizon at 6, temperature still lagging at 3 though. Shane's need for speed was hampered by a dodgy knee, he veered homeward as we turned into River Rd. (lower limbs the fashionable injury of late - Wozza, Cougar and Jase did ankles, Pete's calf, now knackered knees if you please!) Rocket & Pistol put a cork on conversation and curry into the cadence for a big share of River Rd, several bunches spearing west while we enjoyed the sunrise view. AvantiTrev soon calmed the storm to restore the tempo to tame. Whispering Jack, on comeback #58, still has June's mud on the Oppy, FeltMat in full training mode to take on a 250 Round the Bay. On the front again in Channel, PistolPete's wheel ahead was blamed on me slowing, but many of Pete's pairings suffer the same, strangely. An up-sized pot hole at the Cha Cha's end unseated Pistol's bidon, he turned to retrieve it, the bunch keen to see his sweat in the chase to rejoin. In just 2 k's he'd climbed back on board, a united bunch to roll back into town. A rare sighting of the (once thought extinct) Greendawg on the way home, back aboard two wheels after a long lay up.
Another gathering with a gaggle o' Goats on Thursday, a good field of 15 to roll out of town, Tina joining the fold in Old Dookie Rd. Rotations got underway quickly but pace built slowly, all got involved in sharing the load till the turn into Boundary Rd. Deb did the roll call, only time for four word sentences with Tum, Bickers Snr, BigPaul, Bazza, Kate, Snowman, Heady and Keith, rolling turns not suited to socialising. The cruising speed wound up steadily toward River Rd, right of way given to Blacky on his northbound mission at the intersection. It almost seems like broad daylight at 6.25 now, the lengthening day most welcome, just need to dial up the temperature. My heart rate hovered just on the aerobic limit all the way to Archer Rd. thanks to the regular roll overs, quite a contrast to other rides. It was a different story beyond the highway, lots licking lips for the thrash to taste the finish line first. Exiting Roubaix corner we'd caught Roscoe, his tail-light teasing ahead, yet another reappearing from oblivion as more daylight inspires emerging hibernators. Participants at the pointy end were rare by Arcadia Downs, there were only 4 for duty as we swung into Conrod straight. As I reached the front, all had conveniently and momentarily retired from active service, I was hung out to dry with 400 metres to go on an almost empty tank. Valve bouncing, out of urge and going blurry around the edges, I'd emptied the biscuit barrel with a 100 metres remaining, Tum got around me easily to take the honours, but the placings aren't really important in my book.
Took Friday off to repose the rhomboideus major, a pause for the peroneus longus, a holiday for the hippocampus, eased the erector spinae and to recumb the rectus femoris, embracing doonitis a rare treat but not planned to be a lifestyle.
Week 35 278km YTD 9,445 km
Word of the Week
"Hillness" (noun)
An impairment of normal physiological function, characterised by polka dotted vision.
Often aggravated by riding ascents, cols and monts
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