A most unwelcomed cold visited at the weekend, grinding bike plans to a halt, nothing but a good measure of doonitis to cure it. By Monday, the inspiration to clock k's had overwhelmed the recovery, Tuesdays forecast looked useless with 6mm of damp to come. Dragging the chain saddling up cut the circuit short, a Graham St-Verney Rd on-ramp to the Toaster circuit was on the agenda if I was to clock-on on time. A stiff NNW wind played hell on the motivation and legs, a decent push needed to get to the Emu for the benefits to pay off beyond. The DuraAce Collingwood cassette (missing 16 teeth) didn't help, so a spin on the 17 quietened the legs but dulled the speed, sunrise scenery about the only joy till the breeze at the back aided in Old Dookie Rd. The porkies were silent and their aromas directed southwest was a bonus, pleased to be back on the faithful 15 and 14 to tap away to Boundary Rd, two bunches oncoming, about to swing into Boundary Rd. Luck timed my arrival to chase down the 4 ahead of the Cats, Fox, Meags, Fee and Mo caught at the fig farm, single filed at an achievable pace for me. Fox must have had N0s on his Weetbix, unhooking Meags at the bridges, so we eased off the gas to preserve the quintet (and possibly restore some marital harmony?). My turn for the 6k River Rd haul today, motivated a little with two bikes acting as carrots ahead. Startled Eggy on a cruise as we passed, Cats looming large behind driving us on. By Central Kialla we could see the whites of their eyes (some bloodshot?), a courteous pass as we wound up in Mitchell Rd. Hitched a ride for a few k's until Raftery Rd excited many for the sprint stakes, I took the steady finish option with Fee and Meags.
A big thumbs up to Weapon and Tommygun competing and completing the world Ironman 70.3 championships (6:03:38 and 5:22:16 respectively) at Mont Tremblant in Qubec.
An 18 degree Monday arvo begged activity (knicks and short sleeves pulled out of mothballs) Not sure why, but a repeat of the morning circuit was chosen (to challenge myself? lack of imagination? bike on auto-pilot?), the wind unchanged from 12 hours earlier. Something prompted a 160bpm push out to the Emu, legs filing for divorce in the open stretches of Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, but all was forgiven on the turn to the church, a touch smug to be ahead of the clock on the morning's effort. A crimson sunset pierced a rip in the sky's grey blanket of cloud, shadows drawn long across the canola, worth getting on two wheels to witness. Hopes were focussed on shaving a bit off the mornings' 1:37:20 lap as darkness engulfed the sky reaching River Rd. A mild evening rekindled thoughts of summers gone and hopes for the one ahead, content with the rate of knots to Kialla Central took the mind off the muscles mutiny. The trotting track lights put perspective on the distance but the long headwind leg in Raftery Rd and the main drag readjusted the target. The turn at Roubaix wasn't the chore i'd expected, holding a reasonable speed despite the NNE, Conrod's exposed frontier pegged back the hopes though. Hoping to steal a draft from main street traffic was in vein, rubbery legs for the 6 k's homeward. Lucky with the traffic lights (one stop), reaching the finish puffed but chuffed to chop 7 minutes off the morning lap.
Nice to hear rain on the roof in the early hours of Tuesday, a sleep-in was the lottery for the legs, thunderstorms kept the bike parked in the evening. All had cleared by morning, I swung by the golf course for (fore?) a 15k warm up to the usual lap, an eye on the clock kept the velocity up, a westerly windswept Wanganui was warranting warp speed. Found Wozza at Balaclava Rd, a 7k yarn to the Couldabeens starting blocks. All had single filed behind AvantiTrev, so went up to pair with him on the front, I didn't think Rocket would be hampered from the boisterous blokey Bali Bintang bonanza. Yet another dog to greet the bunch, this time at Archer Rd's end, only to sniff at the wheels. FeltMat and Temple cranked along River Rd well, but it was the formidable duo of Pistol & Rocket who kept most speechless (and breathless). I took a moderate go at Boundary Rd if only to leave some fuel for the Channel Rd headwind, FeltMat, Temple, AvantiTrev and Nick shying away from the front (understandably) with Rocket and PistolPete nudging 40 despite the wind nudging 28 to the contrary. Hats off to Cougar and AvantiChris hanging on without complaint.
Double figures on the temp guage Thursday morning, about time after what seems an eternal winter. Found my way to Friars through a fleet of garbage trucks, a menagerie of 15 Goats assembled, birthday greetings for Bickers Snr, Coggo and Tum charting plans for hill expeditions. Turns rotated well with a generous dose of tailwind, I drew the Sandy short straw, short on the draft but not short on speed (must be on the nitrous Nutri Grain) with just brief g'days to Dipper, RetiredDave, AvantiLeigh, Kate and co. Noticed Hommy has the Snowman trademark right knee toe out, but he's the draft of choice. Light rain spat at the specs as we passed Channel Rd, thankfully it stopped less than a minute later. Strung across the width of River Rd attacking the breeze, a few had elected to take in the scenery at the rear, I was glad to reach Laws Dr to get some tree shelter at the pointy end. The bunch turned long and thin to Central Kialla, not till Mitchell Rd did the reformation and rotations recommence. Over the highway and down to Roubaix, Tum ignited the afterburners, I took half a k to get up to level him. By Arcadia Downs i'd settled thoughts on a mid field finish, watching the ever diminishing train drivers at the front cook in Conrod. Lots of kiddies came out to play at the finish line, plenty of post ride analysis on the roll through town, Comet, Sooty and Stace found blowing the cobwebs off.
A few lads had lined up at the library at 6, I was filtering out the potent in the peleton to predict parameters of pain. Young Andy and Liam, Dion, Robbo and Luke were likely lads, guess I'd reassess the thoughts at Channel Rd for a possible Harpo exit. Nath joined the bunch as we toured north to the cemetery, all civilised in speed and conversation. An oncoming WobblyTrev was spotted climbing the hill in Wanganui, one wonders when we witness wobbilitis weturning? The young guns whipped up the pace on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, MachineSteve, Bomber, Trent and Steevo blending into the bunch. My contribution to the front was badly timed for the head wind in Pine Lodge North Rd, sandwiched between Steevo and Nath and respiratorily restricted by the week long cough and sniffle. Called a short turn then struggled to hang on when the speed lifted, quickly shifting to the back in recovery mode. Axel climbed aboard, sharing the back seat with me and others, decisions to be made as Channel Rd drew near. Into the headwind of Boundary Rd in the high 30's had settled reaching the pub, maybe the full circuit would be achieveable. No sooner had Trent, Steevo and MachineSteve turned for home the hammer went down, Juzza, Stiffy, Liam and Luke boring into the wind at full tilt. River Rd was up and down like a yoyo as private battles raged at the front, even the cooked Bomber (victim to the cough and sniffle too) had nothing to give. Several times my rubber band nearly snapped, I almost gave up the wheel ahead if it weren't for the sympathy to the three or four hanging onto mine. It finally broke at the narrow bridge before Roubaix, a surge of speed unhinged me, SpecialisedTony, James and Andy, our only hope to work together homeward. It was left to Tony & I to shoulder the load, a hard drive to the finish but rejoining the bunch for the roll through town.
A quiet freak free Friday finished the week, Old Dookie Rd desserted except for the Breakaways on the horizon. Took in a steady 40k at a 150bpm limit, just 3 degrees made the warm up a lengthy process, not till River Rd did the legs stop creaking. Sun out of bed at 6.30 gave some inspiration, spring finally sprung.
Week 37: 300km YTD 10,179km
Word of the Week
"Ashfault" (noun) A pot-hole
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