Hope springs eternal,although the winters temperature is still with us. Only 2 degrees but a good turn up of Nick, Cougar, HBK (in shorts, of course), Rocket, PistolPete, Trav, AvantiTrev, Wozza and Jase (going gentle on the repairing ankle) to kick start the weekend. We scattered the crows on Channel Rd, sun up already hinting at a fine day. AvantiTrev had relaxed his temperature embargo for the sake of a Saturday social, HBK typically satirical. Wozza and Pistol did the long haul of Old Dookie (Wozz toasted by the toaster?), HBK applying a tax to the cruising speed to the church. Bit of a Groundhog lap today, the usual oncoming feline entourage, the serious statements and silly sledging amongst the crew, speed up for those on form and down for those suffering, but a good social start to the weekend with a few k's clocked to justify the eating habits. The usual post ride injection of indulgent breakfasts and comical chat.
Perfect weather Sunday for the 13th Fruitloop (my 10th) with a team (Rocket, PistolPete, Wozza, Shane, Cougar, BigMat, Ro, HBK and AvantiTrev) Couldabeen assault on the 115k. Lots of familiar faces at the start (some to catch up with, others to avoid), 230 entrants in all. Flagged away at 8.30 and enjoying a police escort out of town, Rocket set up the Couldabeens train in Old Dookie Rd to share the load and keep the wobblies at bay. Others groups formed and foreigners settled into appropriate places, nice to have Gazza flag us through the intersections up to the Emu. The course stone of Pine Lodge North Rd felt like two clicks on the handbrake, a few intriders caused a little rattle in the rhythm but the pecking order was soon sorted into the worthy and the worthless. Soon reached 5 ways and enjoyed the billiard table tarmac as a backside bonus, despite the NNE wind brewing. The long drag to Yabba North was endured with many wheels making light work, the turn south toward Dookie enjoyable with the breeze behind and a patchwork of green and canola to soak up. The lead car rounded up two bikes at the sweeper, none other than haemorrhoidTim and StinkySon to steer clear of. The hill to the church took up the slack and it was each to their own through the hills with a planned regroup at the refuel. Capable climbers Rocket, Shane, Wozza, HBK and Oscar rose to the occasion, I just plodded the inclines and recovered on the descents. Goats Paul, Hommy, Principal Skinner, Sandy and Snowman cruised past, but I kept meeting Nick (Melbourne) as he passed on the uphill and I passed on the flats. The climb up to Tallis redlined my heart rate but plugged away on the big ring, stealing a few stares at my favourite vista behind. Caught Nick at GentleAnnie and we worked together back to Dookie, driven by the awaiting choc topped cherry ripe slice, the fuel of choice. The Couldabeens express steamed out of town soon after (preventing rigor mortis) for the 40k leg home, Kev, Oscar and Nick made honorary members of the royal rotation for their contribution. A great team to share the load home, up the road to fight the now NNW breeze (of course, a headwind back from Dookie). Familiar scenery reaching the Emu enticed the input, half a dozen hitchhikers aboard enjoying a free ride home. A bit of duck and weave through a few 50k entrants when we reached Ford Rd, many oblivious (through exhaustion?) to others, wandering about the left lane. Finally into Rudd Rd and Boulevard bound, BigMat copped the customary cramp (bereft of beer?) but limped through to the line. Food, beer and yarns aplenty were a ripper reward for the 2,704 calorie expenditure (a Strava suffer of 226), hats off to the Fruitloop committee for a typically great day.
A quiet roll around was needed Monday, just to quieten the creaks developed from yesterday. How quickly the body protests to a change in routine? A mere 115k's throws the legs into ruin! The rust loosened after a few k's, just a little squeak from the knees (hill hernias) but the posterior paying penalties. Rounded the roundabout at SPC to find Fox, Meags and Minto parked in Old Dookie Rd awaiting Fee (no front), so joined their indian filed tap to Boundary, River & Mitchell roads. Smooth and steady was the flavour of the day, suited nicely. An Archer Rd exit for me to keep to work schedules, a squirt on the Kialla Lakes Drive TT (8th overall) for amusement, then home via the main drag, to be dive bombed by the Kialla magpie for 500 metres.
Tethered the activities Tuesday but braved windy (westerly) Wednesday to turn the legs over. Whispering Jack made yet another return (puncture fixed in a record 14 days), SuperMario finally released from Bali customs, and Chops joining in from a long retirement. Down to Mitchell Rd and with the wind at our backs, HBK manoeuvred to get Jacks wheel, payback planned for sledges endured. AvantiChris still on observational apprenticeship, SuperMario suffering but tenacious, Jase easing the ankle, Temple, FeltMat and Nick performing well. HBK lightly sauteed WhisperingJack in River Rd as we crossed paths with the Breakaways (gradually building a good sized team) battling the breeze, . Round 2 of HBK vs Jack was waged up to the Broken Bridges (Jack broken) but we all had the Channel Rd challenge of the 18km/h WNW wind. Charging into it beside Rocket had me spent at 173bpm, he and PistolPete took it to another level, glad SuperMario settled the Cha Cha into a waltz. HBK dished up the distress to Temple as we approached Kensington, but it was Wazza's wevenge whipping it up to 40 to hammer HBK into little pieces on the Bonanza that was pure payback.
2 degrees brought out winter vests (who's spotted the fault?) on Thursday but brought out Pistol, Kenworth, Rocket, Wozza, Trav, Nick, WhisperingJack (again?!) BigMat, FeltMat, Cougar, AvantiTrev and Shane. Another westerly was a bonus for Channel Rd but the honeymoon ended for Boundary and beyond. Wozza and I shared the headwind privilege in Mitchell Rd, the Rocket and Pistol show (freaks of nature) shamed us with a stretch at 40km/h to get gastroch's glowing. Even Kenworth 'stepped' down from active service. Glad the rest of us conformed to usual pace, there was hope of survival and time to grit teeth with just two at supersonic speed. The preservation of all was at least a common thread, easy on the gas after intersections allowed the bunch to remain glued. Huff and puff time reaching Arcadia Downs, Rocket took to the front in Conrod where all were content to let him cook. BigMat finally took sympathy and took a turn, I summoned the urge to get to the front, Wozz shot to the lead, then Rob shed the light of reality on us all powering away to leave us but crumbs.
An early start at a toaster lap on Friday, nothing too frantic with yet another 2 degree morning. Felt unusually comfortable on the seat, holding a 70+ cadence on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd with signs of a rising sun even at 5.45. I could feel the handbrake of the southwesterly on the turn at the Emu, held the speed to the Toaster then eased a whisker on the westerly leg of Old Dookie Rd, another piggy breakfast chorus to listen to. I timed my entry into Boundary Rd to drop in behind Eggy and a handful of 51's, a looming SuperCat armada bearing down 500 metres behind me. All had merged together by the channel, multiple greetings from Tum, GentlemanGraeme, Mo, Phil, Kev, Sully, Keeno, AvantiLeigh, Vince et al. The prospect of a tow home (albeit at rapid rate of knots) was attractive enough to jump on the train, but I stopped short of rolling through the turns. Swinging into River Rd we shot past the ever growing group of Breakaway, collecting Shirms as a passenger a k later. 40+ made the scenery pass quickly, but slowly a few were resigning from driving duties. We caught FeltMat on a solitary lap at Archer Rd who jumped aboard to up the heartrate. The bunch of almost 30 halted briefly at the highway (not willing to argue with B doubles), it was on the gas again for the thrash home, happy to finish the week as a mid-fielder on the finish line.
Week 38 353km YTD 10,532 km
Word of the Week
"velocipied" (adjective) Swooped by territorial magpies whilst cycling
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