Planned a double dip Saturday to break the lap habit, a 5.40 start with Wozz to commute to a Couldabeens first course, deeply textured orange clouds glued to a dawning blue sky worth getting up for. AvantiTrev, Jay, Cougar and AvantiChris were already in grid position discussing the almost extinct Saturday speed limit, Dion, Pistol, Temple, Shorty, WhisperingJack, Jase, Rocket and FeltMat arriving in waves to launch the ship eastward at six. An eternity has passed since the last ride was without wind, (and I don't mean flatulence!) but there's no complaints on the calm. Cougar ground out a great turn thanks to revised ratios on a new cassette, the ggratio a thing of the past. Shorty has battled with work getting in the way of a decent lap, AvantiChris is now an old hand graduating from the cycling college with honours (a diploma in determination earned on the Tat 100). Speed was strangely restrained (but welcome) on the journey east and north, maybe the lack of wind inspiration had a part in it? Nath was found loitering at the approach to the pub, much glass to avoid at the intersection (from Friday festivities?) Rockets spinal spasms are slowly abaiting, Nath's bike now sporting a power meter (as if there wasn't enough wattage and intimidation). A small P&W entourage approached the Emu as we winged westward, a long Cat train oncoming as we crested the catagory two climb over the main eastern channel. Being at the rear of the bunch as we crossed the highway guaranteed a tow home, but speed wasn't on the agenda for Wanganui hill either. A post ride forum on insurance, energy supplements and calorie calculations concluded over caffine, but I bid my adieu's from the Lemontree to get aboard the 7:40 Goat train departing to Old Dookie Rd. Re-aquainted with MeridaAndy on the suburban exit, seventeen in all were on an abridged circuit sympathetic to Heady's hangover. Ky refugees Manny and Tom made it a mixed bag with Comet, Stace and Sootie into the Goat group, Carl and Johnno too, low on frequent flyer points. It took almost ten k's to get cosistency into the cruise, oncoming bikes in ones and twos spread all over the circuit. The wheels got working west in River Rd (favourable northeaster), Kathy, Stace and Comet ahead made mine the scenic spot into the fourties. Directions were given to Tom & Manny on unfamiliar tarmac but Liam lost the track over the highway with an un-nerving BMX display through the tabledrain (thankfully upright). Kathy's enthusiasm at the pointy end opened a few spaces in the bunch, patiently filled by Stace though, peddling putty smoothly into the gaps. I found myself at the front in Conrod's dipper (with all suddenly single filed behind) so got off the perch to persuade the punters to push. Running out of urge with 150 to go my flicks of the elbow were going unanswered by Manny (glued to my wheel), his bang preset to a 70 metre fuse. 193 bpm emptied my tank, Manny finally putting me out of my misery and shifting me to the silver spot on the line. A post circuit chat on the (unwritten) peleton protocols was chewed over with Sootie, Stace, Comet & Kathy.
Like the fields of Culloden, it was a big battle against the apathy army to defeat the doona on Monday morning and crawl out of bed, at least there was a challenge to chew over on a holiday. Met Wozza in the main street and pointed out Old Dookie Rd (after the flat chat Cat pack had departed) for a single-file-swing-off-the-front-when-you're-spent lap, short turns planned to set the bar at survival level. Wozz picked up the standards on his first turn, my internal struggle with the pace quickly changed to a goal to get, turning turmoil to target. Guessing at the duration of dip at the front (somewhere between too timid and too toasty) Wozza's cough threw a bit of pity into the process. An orange and overcast dawn signalled rain to come but 19 degrees was nothing to grizzle about, just needed to turn off the nigggling northeaster (15km/h) that was starting the stabs in the ribs. Out of the Toaster turn I backed off the throttle a little, my limit reached and Wozza's body language read. Bearing west at the Emu I slipped the chain onto the 14 cog, the northeaster behind picked the pace up, the trusty Cosmics now humming a 40's tune. Lungs were lucid but legs were limp at 182 bpm on the front and hardly resting at 174 in Wozza's thin draft. It seemed an eternity to reach the soup tin but got my second wind in Ford Rd to put in a decent contribution, sights of the suburbs spelling the end was nigh. Wozz nailed a great last turn for our inaugural 36.8 average, no doubt a future target to trim.
Learned the balancing-on-two-wheels all over again Thursday morning, a little leave has put focus on life off the bike (quietest week all year). It's been an education on the evolution; ease-enthusiasm-energy-exertion-exhaustion-endorphines, ergo ecstasy. Difficult to climatise to the cool southerly en-route to a Goat grid, positioning myself to get a tow till I climatised. Fourteen had fronted to share the turns, a bit erratic with the BigPaul gap and the Liam/Leon launch off the front . The breeze on Boundary put heads down and efforts up, didn't stop Heady hollering a marching chant though. My days off have highlighted the concentration on rolling turns, lungs and legs needing re-education too. Deb did the roll call from the back seat keeping the rearmost rotation smooth, desperation and determination made the front a bit messy though. The scenery on River and Mitchell Rd soon blurred by, arriving at the highway sooner than expected for a pantechnicon pause. Coggo toyed with Snowman at Arcadia Downs (to whittle down his win-ability?), the sprint kettle up to boil when Conrod came into view. I'd withdrawn from duty (a want for wattage), Coggo, AvantiLeigh and Dipper stretched their legs but I'd managed to tow up Tina and Bazza for a top 6 placing at the finish line. A rare chance for a mid week caffine infusion with the crew, chat on Cat thrashes and Adams family faction fractures to socially amuse.
Week 48 : 149km YTD 13,172km
Word of the Week
"Lycrap" (noun) Cheap Chinese non-genuine cycling apparel
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
Week 47 The spice of life and a renegade ride
A change of scenery and of time, a later start to join the Goats for some Saturday socialography. A large congregation racked their bikes and filtered through Friars doors, many requiring a caffine starter prior to saddling up. 17 finally rolled away for an anti-clockwise Toaster circuit, a greet to Couldabeens already landed at the Lemontree brewed a little Judas sensation. Once sorted through the traffic light sieve, the Goat herd eventually formed then rotated, a southerly to grind into till Mitchell Rd's direction made life a little easier. Long turns at the front allowed more than the usual fleeting word, learned a little of Liam (now more suitably positioned) and his six week bike apprenticeship. RetiredDave's Trek rattled, Rosco's bearings whined but Kathy's cobwebs were cleared to have a dip at the drivers seat. Socially updated from AvantiAndy and SpecialisedTony, we'd worn down a late shift Adams family faction in River Rd, Axel, Iggy, Chily and another who quickly partook a tow. Sootie, Stace, Tina, Coggo and Snowman kept the tempo upbeat, all grins with a southerly at our backs but the hard yards were yet to come. The chat tapered and teeth clenched as the Emu came into view, a long 16k stretch back to town (into the now southwester) instantly switched us to rolling turns to minimise the stress. Reartirements came quickly with the pace nudging 40, whittling down to the determined drivers. Performances were peaking in Ford Rd as nine were left to face the wind, a baulk at the Verney roundabout for a bike minus helmet (and intelligence) and a Territory stopping for no one. By DECA there were just four tow trucks, suprised I got the KOM on Wanganui hill (about as steep as I can manage) but it was Coggo's vigour victorious at Rudd Rd. The bunch reformed for a tap down the Boulevard, a post ride caffine at Friars for a yarn on that thin line between toil and titilation, fun and futility, success and sucks.
A short solo lap Monday, pointing out Old Dookie after the Cat train had left. On the gas through the traffic lights bumped up the heartbeats to 165, toured to the Toaster treated to a tempting tailwind, easy to hold a good rate of knots but pushing too hard up to the church plunged a knife under the right ribs. Eased the effort a whisker to the Emu, hoping to hold low thirties into the headwind home. It was pleasing to hold 35 on the speedo but the heartrate rising to 175 was going to limit the legs lasting. Feeling the stitch return dropped a k off the tempo, no hiding behind trees or passing cars for any respite. My heartrate hovered at 172 for the slog back to Numurkah Rd, speed dropped another k as the engine ran out of urge. Pleased to put in a short but solid ride, home early for breakfast part two.
A late arrival at the Tuesday Couldabeens grid meant a rare and restful start at the rear , recovering from the southerly torment of my commute. Pleased to have Choppy's charismatic, chatty and considerate wheel, but we didn't get the call of duty till the Channel Rd S bend, 14 others to share the workload prior. Chops chartered good ground and speed, wearing me down to a short one k turn in Boundary with BigMat to the Broken bridges, ten minutes now to recover till the next shift. Bo, Ron and Kelly were the N guage loco's in our HO guage trainset along River Rd, thoughts of this weeks shopping list, work production targets and the state of the nasdaq were filed away in the cerebelllum, the frontal cortex overloaded with thoughts of survival. The liqourice allsorts colours of Mexican Daniel came into view at Laws Drive, another driver added to the pack. Bo and Ron suprised with a short shift, Chops charged the last k, out with my shovel out to dig deep at zone 5 levelling with him. Traffic came from all directions for our swing into MItchell Rd, a bonus for those rearmost to slowly build back to speed, but a few unhooked on the blast up Mt Nicolaci. (a wait for traffic at the highway reformed) Down to half turns as the pace became urgent to Arcadia Downs, Rocket toasted Mexican Daniel in a frenzy of cadence down Conrod, I got lucky picking up the crumbs of those with wained wattage to collect 3rd.
Joined a renegade ride Tuesday night, a rebel alliance formed to tap out a toaster lap below the warp drive of the current Hospital hit squad. Specialised Tony, Oz, Clive, Wozza, newbie Hendo, Kathy and Ricky (re-emerging after a 2 year hiatus) were the inaugural inductees intent on preserving the head gasket, perfect conditions (23 degrees with a light S-SSW breeze) to set the wheels in motion. All had a go at the pointy end (with small adjustments to the cruise control), Kathy applying the accellerator till talk tendencies took precedence, back to the previous pace post haste. Sprinter joined in on Ford Rd, Axel was added further out, a steady tap to the Emu then some muscle applied for the southern leg to the Toaster. Hendo has taken to the bike like a government to a new tax, Ricky coming to terms with the respitory requirements after a two year absence. Glad to get the headwind done and dusted turning into River Rd, workload on the familiar track shared amongst most. Seems there's a few votes for a regular lap like this, time will tell if it's infiltrated by those on a missile mission. By Raftery Rd a few were keen to crank up some Conrod competition, Sprinter unable to supress his primal urge, bolted to victory.
Got Goating to Friars Thursday, many forming a footpath grid to hear Hommy's humour (Coggo stole the show with the cheesecake choked chain ripper retort). Tum was awol on a three peaks prep but the usual characters and characterettes assembled to make a long line legging it out Old Dookie Rd, the Cat pack tail light show still visible ahead. JB had done his usual suprise appearance in the ranks, I scored the BigPaul paused wheel (three lengths in arrears) in the rotation. Snowman and Snow-woman (?) climbed aboard the two dozen train at Channel Rd, a northeaster assisting our passage clockwise. Up a cog into the mid 40's for the up line, then ease off just below for the recovery down line, round and round the team turned with the odd one opting out for the comfort seats at the rear. The length of River and Mitchell roads soon slipped below the wheels, arriving at the highway for the usual brief pause for consumption of oxygen, thanks to traffic. A steady build up to speed then airbourne moments over Roubaix corner, the steam of speed brewed in the bunch to Arcadia Downs. Conrod's sprint spinning wheel turned in my favour with an AvantiLeigh & Dipper lead-out to the 100 metre line, a glance back on the line spied the Hommy pursuit train 10 metres behind schedule. Speechless till the bridge but verbally recovered thereafter for sprint tactics on Hommy and Liams Trek set-up.
Just love the two minute kit up time in the midst of a mild Spring (17 degrees at 5.30) , long forgotten is the multiple layered rigmarole of winters proceedure to shield from the frost and cold. Found Fee, Meags and Princess at SPC on Friday morning, the triathlon truely tried, tested & tortured the titanic triathlete trio, Toolamba's torrents & tempests trialing tenacity tenfold, tormented thighs, thought tanks toasted & turned to turmoil, today's tap to trepidly trial tenuous thirties tempo, the tri troupers troubled, taxed torso's tiptoeing timidly to traverse tremors & tribulations. An easy introductory roll out Old Dookie with the breeze behind but time shortened the lap to warrant a Harpo shortcut home along Channel Rd, facing a wearying westerly (20+km/h) back to town. It was a pleasant change of pace to put in a lap at aerobic levels, variety the spice of life for this superceded old engine. Almost in the last metres of the Bonanza when a dozen Couldabeens caught and passed, caffine awaited.
Week 47 262km YTD 13,023 km
Word of the Week
"DisTNTce" (noun) The perceived (and often variable) length of a turn at the front of a bunch at the point of physical or mental explosion
A short solo lap Monday, pointing out Old Dookie after the Cat train had left. On the gas through the traffic lights bumped up the heartbeats to 165, toured to the Toaster treated to a tempting tailwind, easy to hold a good rate of knots but pushing too hard up to the church plunged a knife under the right ribs. Eased the effort a whisker to the Emu, hoping to hold low thirties into the headwind home. It was pleasing to hold 35 on the speedo but the heartrate rising to 175 was going to limit the legs lasting. Feeling the stitch return dropped a k off the tempo, no hiding behind trees or passing cars for any respite. My heartrate hovered at 172 for the slog back to Numurkah Rd, speed dropped another k as the engine ran out of urge. Pleased to put in a short but solid ride, home early for breakfast part two.
A late arrival at the Tuesday Couldabeens grid meant a rare and restful start at the rear , recovering from the southerly torment of my commute. Pleased to have Choppy's charismatic, chatty and considerate wheel, but we didn't get the call of duty till the Channel Rd S bend, 14 others to share the workload prior. Chops chartered good ground and speed, wearing me down to a short one k turn in Boundary with BigMat to the Broken bridges, ten minutes now to recover till the next shift. Bo, Ron and Kelly were the N guage loco's in our HO guage trainset along River Rd, thoughts of this weeks shopping list, work production targets and the state of the nasdaq were filed away in the cerebelllum, the frontal cortex overloaded with thoughts of survival. The liqourice allsorts colours of Mexican Daniel came into view at Laws Drive, another driver added to the pack. Bo and Ron suprised with a short shift, Chops charged the last k, out with my shovel out to dig deep at zone 5 levelling with him. Traffic came from all directions for our swing into MItchell Rd, a bonus for those rearmost to slowly build back to speed, but a few unhooked on the blast up Mt Nicolaci. (a wait for traffic at the highway reformed) Down to half turns as the pace became urgent to Arcadia Downs, Rocket toasted Mexican Daniel in a frenzy of cadence down Conrod, I got lucky picking up the crumbs of those with wained wattage to collect 3rd.
Joined a renegade ride Tuesday night, a rebel alliance formed to tap out a toaster lap below the warp drive of the current Hospital hit squad. Specialised Tony, Oz, Clive, Wozza, newbie Hendo, Kathy and Ricky (re-emerging after a 2 year hiatus) were the inaugural inductees intent on preserving the head gasket, perfect conditions (23 degrees with a light S-SSW breeze) to set the wheels in motion. All had a go at the pointy end (with small adjustments to the cruise control), Kathy applying the accellerator till talk tendencies took precedence, back to the previous pace post haste. Sprinter joined in on Ford Rd, Axel was added further out, a steady tap to the Emu then some muscle applied for the southern leg to the Toaster. Hendo has taken to the bike like a government to a new tax, Ricky coming to terms with the respitory requirements after a two year absence. Glad to get the headwind done and dusted turning into River Rd, workload on the familiar track shared amongst most. Seems there's a few votes for a regular lap like this, time will tell if it's infiltrated by those on a missile mission. By Raftery Rd a few were keen to crank up some Conrod competition, Sprinter unable to supress his primal urge, bolted to victory.
Got Goating to Friars Thursday, many forming a footpath grid to hear Hommy's humour (Coggo stole the show with the cheesecake choked chain ripper retort). Tum was awol on a three peaks prep but the usual characters and characterettes assembled to make a long line legging it out Old Dookie Rd, the Cat pack tail light show still visible ahead. JB had done his usual suprise appearance in the ranks, I scored the BigPaul paused wheel (three lengths in arrears) in the rotation. Snowman and Snow-woman (?) climbed aboard the two dozen train at Channel Rd, a northeaster assisting our passage clockwise. Up a cog into the mid 40's for the up line, then ease off just below for the recovery down line, round and round the team turned with the odd one opting out for the comfort seats at the rear. The length of River and Mitchell roads soon slipped below the wheels, arriving at the highway for the usual brief pause for consumption of oxygen, thanks to traffic. A steady build up to speed then airbourne moments over Roubaix corner, the steam of speed brewed in the bunch to Arcadia Downs. Conrod's sprint spinning wheel turned in my favour with an AvantiLeigh & Dipper lead-out to the 100 metre line, a glance back on the line spied the Hommy pursuit train 10 metres behind schedule. Speechless till the bridge but verbally recovered thereafter for sprint tactics on Hommy and Liams Trek set-up.
Just love the two minute kit up time in the midst of a mild Spring (17 degrees at 5.30) , long forgotten is the multiple layered rigmarole of winters proceedure to shield from the frost and cold. Found Fee, Meags and Princess at SPC on Friday morning, the triathlon truely tried, tested & tortured the titanic triathlete trio, Toolamba's torrents & tempests trialing tenacity tenfold, tormented thighs, thought tanks toasted & turned to turmoil, today's tap to trepidly trial tenuous thirties tempo, the tri troupers troubled, taxed torso's tiptoeing timidly to traverse tremors & tribulations. An easy introductory roll out Old Dookie with the breeze behind but time shortened the lap to warrant a Harpo shortcut home along Channel Rd, facing a wearying westerly (20+km/h) back to town. It was a pleasant change of pace to put in a lap at aerobic levels, variety the spice of life for this superceded old engine. Almost in the last metres of the Bonanza when a dozen Couldabeens caught and passed, caffine awaited.
Week 47 262km YTD 13,023 km
Word of the Week
"DisTNTce" (noun) The perceived (and often variable) length of a turn at the front of a bunch at the point of physical or mental explosion
Friday, November 14, 2014
Week 46 A hot hundred and a bonus bike lane
As a warm-up for Saturday's Tat 100, Wozz and I did a quiet little tap out Ford Rd toward the Emu in search of the Saturday Couldabeens, guaging an intercept at the kennels for a tow back to town. Just to loosen legs. We felt the northeaster building at 6.30, the sky a precursor to a hot day ahead. Passed Cranky cruising ahead of the imminent Cat collective and found four single filed Couldabeens with heads down westbound, half a k ahead of the predicted point. We u-turned and wound up the cadence to attach to the rear of a serious 40+ km/h slog to town, Rocket driving like the Energiser bunny with fresh batteries, Shorty, GT Craig and BigMat the only other Saturday starters, admirably adding to the advance. Loosening legs was turning to cooking calves! A good run through the intersections and squeezing the throttle in Wanganui unhooked GT Craig (second wheel to the dismal draft from Rocket) but a regroup in Rudd Rd preserved the harmony to roll back through town. Skipped the post ride caffine to ready the rig for the 100.
By 10am the guage was touching 29, PistolPete, Shane, Cougar, AvantiChris, Wozz and Ro teaming up to take on Tat's 100. At the drop of the flag, we paused for the Pistol pit crew to rectify Ro's reluctant speedo sensor, better to roll away last and let the masses sift into respective groups. The Couldabeens cache settled into a rhythm eastward, soon reeling in the adagio addicts ; newbies, backpacks, MTB's (one a belt drive!), WobblyTrev and the usual peleton peculiarities, sorting the wheat from the chaff. We'd inherited newbieJay and CerveloJosh to our clan, both having one-off performances at the pointy end, quite unsure on bunch protocols. Shane, Pistol, Wozz and I took to the drivers seats with Cougar, Ro and AvantiChris maintaining the minders role admirably (filtering foreigners from fickled frenzy). Eggy had punctured near Toolamba Rd but passed again soon after, motorpaced back to the lead car via a Ulysses volunteer. We weaved past Old Toolamba and back onto the Murchison Rd, growing a tail of half a dozen in tow on the trek south, sailing along in the high 30's while the pace of 51 ahead, tolled on the mere mortals attached. Love the billiard table ride into Murchison, poetry for the posterior, but the aroma of deceased skippy's niggled at the nostrils for our westward rush to Rushworth. The northeaster blowing at 25km/h was made more annoying mixed with the unacustomed ascents of the hills, collecting more cast-offs (including a garish green DeHugg tri-bike with a tired engine). The pace began to take its toll on those at the limit, we'd lost Cougar in the bunch break-up, Ro dropping back to retrieve. The heat (now 33) had emptied bidons briskly but it was a blessing to find a well stocked Lions esky at Rushworth to recover, rehydrate and refill. Ro and Cougar arrived within minutes, and all suitably refuelled, were reformed for the hard yards to follow, 50k of nasty northerly headwind home with a side serving of 35 degrees. Pistol & Shane drove hard toward Stanhope, Wozz, Ro & I keen to keep a collective for survival. Cougar opted for the tough slog solo, Wozz, Ro, Chris and I sharing the load while Shane & Pete dissapeared on the horizon. We'd found the arrow for the turn onto Hill Rd, our long drag along 12ks of Harston Rd tolled on AvantiChris (ushering us on) but collected Jodie for a tow till Springvale Rd. Pointing south was real respite for weary legs (but sent us 4k away from Tatura), nice work from the Ulysses lads on duty for a point and wave at the intersections. The unrelenting hot headwind for the length of Rushworth-Tatura Rd ground down the determination but we slowly caught and collected CerveloJosh with a case of the noddy wobbles (on his limit). Rocket and BigMat suddenly appeared (soft optioned in an airconditioned 4x4) taunting us, toasting our effort with a cold ale. (it triggered an appropriate retort but drove us on to earn the promised chilled post ride refreshment) Emptying a bidon on my heated head recovered some speed and spirit, but Wozz and I kept an eye on Ro & Josh's survival in tow. Tatura's outskirts have never been much to admire till today, a welcome sight after a 2300 calorie effort well spent in 3:05:09. Cougar then AvantiChris arrived soon after, a super solo soldier-on effort by each but no sign of Pistol & Shane. Seems an unsighted arrow took them on a toasty tour through Stanhope-Girgarre-Byrneside and beyond to clock extra k's for the fun (?) of it .
A slothful Sunday spent rehydrating (Wozz merely muscled Mt Hotham as a follow up!) brewed the urge to climb back aboard Monday. Doubtful that the legs would co-operate at Cat cadence, I set sail eight minutes ahead of Mondays masochists with the stiff southerly likely to whittle me down to snails pace. The long dark length of Old Dookie was spent bracing thoughts and thighs on the effect the southerly (26-35km/h) was going to have, turned into Boundary with head on the headstem but pleased the legs propelled me at a reasonable rate. There were some thoughts of a half-strength-decaf-latte-with-a-pink-marshmallow Channel Rd deviation but, on seeing two bikes ahead made it a double-shot-short-black-with-wasabi-chaser push on to River Rd. PistolPete plied north near the Broken bridges (looking for directional arrows?) as I gradually gained on the two ahead, into River Rd the task was a little easier with wind to the portside. My lure turned out to be Fox and Minto on a casual cruise, a brief greet then pushed on to hold off the Cat cache catching. I was nearly nudging zone 5 nearing Mitchell, but got a recovery bearing west with a few pockets of treed shelter en route to the highway. A peek back in Raftery Rd shattered hopes seeing the bunch bearing down behind, the serious wattage of Robbo, Rabbit, Vince, Ron, Trav and three others blurring by at the horse stud. Legs wouldn't respond to to jumping on the back, so plugged away to the finish and kept on the gas homeward, a 7th on the Afterglow and a 2nd best on the Crit sprint some consolation.
Many of the regular Goats were missing Tuesday morning, maybe the wind (20+k's of southerly) turned it slim pickings at Friars? Only Principal Skinner, GiantPhil, BigPaul, Coggo, Tum, Kate, Hommy, Liam and Brendan to begin, Tina rolling in wait on Old Dookie Rd as always. It was a disoriented start to proceedings of rotation, taking till Central Ave to get some coherence. The pace was well down on usual form, almost half the crew and double the wind tolling on tempo, Kate was feeling the bruising of a bash up Baw Baw, Coggo a bit secondhand from a long hot Tat 200. The sun crested the horizon at the one tree dam, shedding light on Liams odd bike set-up, more like a preying mantis pose. There was a bit of echelon education in River Rd to get the best of a side wind, a symposium on squashed snake near Laws Drive too. Rolling turns on the front were frequent given a less populated peleton but the eagerness grew in Mitchell Rd. Contenders for the final thrash whittled down over Raftery's course, pointing into Conrod Giant Phil bore into the dipper with Tum all over his back wheel. I'd had the box seat at third wheel when Tum opened the bid, but his ten second fuse (and compact chainring) burned quickly, leaving me 350 metres to hold off many gallivanting Goats. Hearing Hommy's wheels behind drove my cranks a bit harder (bit chuffed to top 500 watts) to take the chocolates and give Tum the box.
The breeze had finally been turned off for Wednesday, Kialla Lakes roundabout drawing 16 Couldabeens starters in at 6. It was my turn today to score the draft of Pistol's wheel, just as well he's still a bit flat from the magical mystery tour (his version) of theTat 100. AvantiTrev, Cougar, Shane and AvantiChris were all in somewhat the same boat, Trav aboard demo #2 of a new rig. HurtLocker's six grinned southward at Kialla Central's hall, poor old Sosso nearly 2k OTA in River Rd. Jay was along on an invitational, coming to terms with the unwritten testament to bunch ethics and how to pace ones lungs at the sharp end of the pack. It was Couldabeens comeback day with BigMat, Whispering Jack and SuperMario putting in an appearance and a decent dip on the front, although Whispering Jack aerated the front of the bunch with a blast up Boundary beside Nick. It turned pretty pacy in Channel Rd, beside Choppy tapping solidly to the kinder, then trying to match mountain monster Wozz for the Cha Cha. I called him over at half distance (my tank nearly empty) which only unleashed a BigMat, Rocket and Shane battle to Orrvale Rd. A slow tractor and wishes for unity reassembled the bunch at the school for a strong finish, suprisingly a second fastest time on what was once a recovery ride.
Would it be a sacrificial slaughter at the hands of only a few? Negative thoughts brewed on thrash Thursday, finding plenty of punters at the car park turned the mood around quickly, there was at least a chance to recover sharing turns with 14 Couldabeens. Wozz and I took the first shift, the long strip of tarmac to the first kink was a world away, moving my stare to the Garmin didn't help, the heart rate rising to attack level was a mental anchor, better to fix focus on the bitumen blur a few metres ahead. Shane & Pistol applied a 10%GST (gross speed test) to the pace to the kinder, conversations cut to bare essentials toward the business end of the bunch. Whispering Jack was driving a hard bargain beside me in River Rd, pleased when he called for a draft well short of my target, but then I fell short on matching Wozza's distance. I had quite a bit of bogan decision making as the turns came round, "yeah, nah, but" on the positives of the push vs the toll of the toil. Whispering Jack powered up Mt Nicolaci but I got the slingshot to half bike him as an honorary payback for many. There were mutterings of "not going up there again" from the back seats as we crossed the highway, the speed grew and the turns shortened on a determined drive to Arcadia Downs. Rocket vowed he'd be taking things quietly (preservation for Saturday nights Criterium) but seemed to engage warp drive out of the Conrod dipper, opening a widening gap. Wazza earned the golden clothes-peg, being hung out to dry with the entire bunch soaking up the draft till his tank emptied, Shane pounced but ran out of go gas too. I'd had the dream sit watching this unfold in front so took the rare chance to apply more wattage for a silver, rather distant to Rocket but a third fastest lap to gloat over.
Friday finally delivered a mild morning, 20 degrees with just a hint of breeze was the long awaited reward for enduring those cold winter months. A steady circuit with the P&W's put the icing on the week, Fee, Meags, Princess and the once-thought-extinct Ayto had congregated at SPC. Longish turns rotated for Old Dookie and Boundary Rd's, Ayto working off the wombat, Princess dapper as always, Meags and Fee providing pace, it was a far cry from the 20+ P&W's of old but the quality still remains. A swing to single filing started in River Rd with the tempo adjusted up, I took the first shift to Central Kialla Rd, Princess pounded it out till the highway. Ayto stepped up for a squirt to the horse stud, all were swift and smooth to the finish line to enjoy the smoothness and tranquility of the recent Raftery reseal, even a bonus (but narrow) bike lane to use, step one (and only?) in COGS 2012-2016 bike strategy?
Week 46 341km YTD 12,761 km
Word of the Week
"windependant" (noun) 1. A neutral or autonomous solo rider prepared to tough out breezy conditions.
2. A cyclist who relies on tailwind.
3. A rider who must come first.
4. A political person not controlled by a party or lobby group but prone to hyperbole
and rhetoric
By 10am the guage was touching 29, PistolPete, Shane, Cougar, AvantiChris, Wozz and Ro teaming up to take on Tat's 100. At the drop of the flag, we paused for the Pistol pit crew to rectify Ro's reluctant speedo sensor, better to roll away last and let the masses sift into respective groups. The Couldabeens cache settled into a rhythm eastward, soon reeling in the adagio addicts ; newbies, backpacks, MTB's (one a belt drive!), WobblyTrev and the usual peleton peculiarities, sorting the wheat from the chaff. We'd inherited newbieJay and CerveloJosh to our clan, both having one-off performances at the pointy end, quite unsure on bunch protocols. Shane, Pistol, Wozz and I took to the drivers seats with Cougar, Ro and AvantiChris maintaining the minders role admirably (filtering foreigners from fickled frenzy). Eggy had punctured near Toolamba Rd but passed again soon after, motorpaced back to the lead car via a Ulysses volunteer. We weaved past Old Toolamba and back onto the Murchison Rd, growing a tail of half a dozen in tow on the trek south, sailing along in the high 30's while the pace of 51 ahead, tolled on the mere mortals attached. Love the billiard table ride into Murchison, poetry for the posterior, but the aroma of deceased skippy's niggled at the nostrils for our westward rush to Rushworth. The northeaster blowing at 25km/h was made more annoying mixed with the unacustomed ascents of the hills, collecting more cast-offs (including a garish green DeHugg tri-bike with a tired engine). The pace began to take its toll on those at the limit, we'd lost Cougar in the bunch break-up, Ro dropping back to retrieve. The heat (now 33) had emptied bidons briskly but it was a blessing to find a well stocked Lions esky at Rushworth to recover, rehydrate and refill. Ro and Cougar arrived within minutes, and all suitably refuelled, were reformed for the hard yards to follow, 50k of nasty northerly headwind home with a side serving of 35 degrees. Pistol & Shane drove hard toward Stanhope, Wozz, Ro & I keen to keep a collective for survival. Cougar opted for the tough slog solo, Wozz, Ro, Chris and I sharing the load while Shane & Pete dissapeared on the horizon. We'd found the arrow for the turn onto Hill Rd, our long drag along 12ks of Harston Rd tolled on AvantiChris (ushering us on) but collected Jodie for a tow till Springvale Rd. Pointing south was real respite for weary legs (but sent us 4k away from Tatura), nice work from the Ulysses lads on duty for a point and wave at the intersections. The unrelenting hot headwind for the length of Rushworth-Tatura Rd ground down the determination but we slowly caught and collected CerveloJosh with a case of the noddy wobbles (on his limit). Rocket and BigMat suddenly appeared (soft optioned in an airconditioned 4x4) taunting us, toasting our effort with a cold ale. (it triggered an appropriate retort but drove us on to earn the promised chilled post ride refreshment) Emptying a bidon on my heated head recovered some speed and spirit, but Wozz and I kept an eye on Ro & Josh's survival in tow. Tatura's outskirts have never been much to admire till today, a welcome sight after a 2300 calorie effort well spent in 3:05:09. Cougar then AvantiChris arrived soon after, a super solo soldier-on effort by each but no sign of Pistol & Shane. Seems an unsighted arrow took them on a toasty tour through Stanhope-Girgarre-Byrneside and beyond to clock extra k's for the fun (?) of it .
A slothful Sunday spent rehydrating (Wozz merely muscled Mt Hotham as a follow up!) brewed the urge to climb back aboard Monday. Doubtful that the legs would co-operate at Cat cadence, I set sail eight minutes ahead of Mondays masochists with the stiff southerly likely to whittle me down to snails pace. The long dark length of Old Dookie was spent bracing thoughts and thighs on the effect the southerly (26-35km/h) was going to have, turned into Boundary with head on the headstem but pleased the legs propelled me at a reasonable rate. There were some thoughts of a half-strength-decaf-latte-with-a-pink-marshmallow Channel Rd deviation but, on seeing two bikes ahead made it a double-shot-short-black-with-wasabi-chaser push on to River Rd. PistolPete plied north near the Broken bridges (looking for directional arrows?) as I gradually gained on the two ahead, into River Rd the task was a little easier with wind to the portside. My lure turned out to be Fox and Minto on a casual cruise, a brief greet then pushed on to hold off the Cat cache catching. I was nearly nudging zone 5 nearing Mitchell, but got a recovery bearing west with a few pockets of treed shelter en route to the highway. A peek back in Raftery Rd shattered hopes seeing the bunch bearing down behind, the serious wattage of Robbo, Rabbit, Vince, Ron, Trav and three others blurring by at the horse stud. Legs wouldn't respond to to jumping on the back, so plugged away to the finish and kept on the gas homeward, a 7th on the Afterglow and a 2nd best on the Crit sprint some consolation.
Many of the regular Goats were missing Tuesday morning, maybe the wind (20+k's of southerly) turned it slim pickings at Friars? Only Principal Skinner, GiantPhil, BigPaul, Coggo, Tum, Kate, Hommy, Liam and Brendan to begin, Tina rolling in wait on Old Dookie Rd as always. It was a disoriented start to proceedings of rotation, taking till Central Ave to get some coherence. The pace was well down on usual form, almost half the crew and double the wind tolling on tempo, Kate was feeling the bruising of a bash up Baw Baw, Coggo a bit secondhand from a long hot Tat 200. The sun crested the horizon at the one tree dam, shedding light on Liams odd bike set-up, more like a preying mantis pose. There was a bit of echelon education in River Rd to get the best of a side wind, a symposium on squashed snake near Laws Drive too. Rolling turns on the front were frequent given a less populated peleton but the eagerness grew in Mitchell Rd. Contenders for the final thrash whittled down over Raftery's course, pointing into Conrod Giant Phil bore into the dipper with Tum all over his back wheel. I'd had the box seat at third wheel when Tum opened the bid, but his ten second fuse (and compact chainring) burned quickly, leaving me 350 metres to hold off many gallivanting Goats. Hearing Hommy's wheels behind drove my cranks a bit harder (bit chuffed to top 500 watts) to take the chocolates and give Tum the box.
The breeze had finally been turned off for Wednesday, Kialla Lakes roundabout drawing 16 Couldabeens starters in at 6. It was my turn today to score the draft of Pistol's wheel, just as well he's still a bit flat from the magical mystery tour (his version) of theTat 100. AvantiTrev, Cougar, Shane and AvantiChris were all in somewhat the same boat, Trav aboard demo #2 of a new rig. HurtLocker's six grinned southward at Kialla Central's hall, poor old Sosso nearly 2k OTA in River Rd. Jay was along on an invitational, coming to terms with the unwritten testament to bunch ethics and how to pace ones lungs at the sharp end of the pack. It was Couldabeens comeback day with BigMat, Whispering Jack and SuperMario putting in an appearance and a decent dip on the front, although Whispering Jack aerated the front of the bunch with a blast up Boundary beside Nick. It turned pretty pacy in Channel Rd, beside Choppy tapping solidly to the kinder, then trying to match mountain monster Wozz for the Cha Cha. I called him over at half distance (my tank nearly empty) which only unleashed a BigMat, Rocket and Shane battle to Orrvale Rd. A slow tractor and wishes for unity reassembled the bunch at the school for a strong finish, suprisingly a second fastest time on what was once a recovery ride.
Would it be a sacrificial slaughter at the hands of only a few? Negative thoughts brewed on thrash Thursday, finding plenty of punters at the car park turned the mood around quickly, there was at least a chance to recover sharing turns with 14 Couldabeens. Wozz and I took the first shift, the long strip of tarmac to the first kink was a world away, moving my stare to the Garmin didn't help, the heart rate rising to attack level was a mental anchor, better to fix focus on the bitumen blur a few metres ahead. Shane & Pistol applied a 10%GST (gross speed test) to the pace to the kinder, conversations cut to bare essentials toward the business end of the bunch. Whispering Jack was driving a hard bargain beside me in River Rd, pleased when he called for a draft well short of my target, but then I fell short on matching Wozza's distance. I had quite a bit of bogan decision making as the turns came round, "yeah, nah, but" on the positives of the push vs the toll of the toil. Whispering Jack powered up Mt Nicolaci but I got the slingshot to half bike him as an honorary payback for many. There were mutterings of "not going up there again" from the back seats as we crossed the highway, the speed grew and the turns shortened on a determined drive to Arcadia Downs. Rocket vowed he'd be taking things quietly (preservation for Saturday nights Criterium) but seemed to engage warp drive out of the Conrod dipper, opening a widening gap. Wazza earned the golden clothes-peg, being hung out to dry with the entire bunch soaking up the draft till his tank emptied, Shane pounced but ran out of go gas too. I'd had the dream sit watching this unfold in front so took the rare chance to apply more wattage for a silver, rather distant to Rocket but a third fastest lap to gloat over.
Friday finally delivered a mild morning, 20 degrees with just a hint of breeze was the long awaited reward for enduring those cold winter months. A steady circuit with the P&W's put the icing on the week, Fee, Meags, Princess and the once-thought-extinct Ayto had congregated at SPC. Longish turns rotated for Old Dookie and Boundary Rd's, Ayto working off the wombat, Princess dapper as always, Meags and Fee providing pace, it was a far cry from the 20+ P&W's of old but the quality still remains. A swing to single filing started in River Rd with the tempo adjusted up, I took the first shift to Central Kialla Rd, Princess pounded it out till the highway. Ayto stepped up for a squirt to the horse stud, all were swift and smooth to the finish line to enjoy the smoothness and tranquility of the recent Raftery reseal, even a bonus (but narrow) bike lane to use, step one (and only?) in COGS 2012-2016 bike strategy?
Week 46 341km YTD 12,761 km
Word of the Week
"windependant" (noun) 1. A neutral or autonomous solo rider prepared to tough out breezy conditions.
2. A cyclist who relies on tailwind.
3. A rider who must come first.
4. A political person not controlled by a party or lobby group but prone to hyperbole
and rhetoric
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Week 45 : Profanities and self flagellation
The bike felt foreign Monday morning, climatising needed after a weekend off the pedals. Just enough in the tank (or was it missing motivation?) for a short lap, retraining the legs to rotate on old Dookie Rd, a few minutes ahead of the Cat/51 brigade. Settled into the seat and cadence after a few k's but was sans speed, Cats would catch sooner rather than later. Pointing into the southerly on Boundary Rd I was reeled in by the bunch at the piggery, out of the seat on protesting legs to hang off the back for a short tow, till Channel Rd's view had the steering pulling to the right. Happier to be solo today, preparing the head for the joys of toil at the Monday to Friday salt mine, a rising sun behind drawing a long shadow of a tall fossil on the tarmac. Around the s bend and past the kink a large cypress was parked prostrate, the road closed sign forcing a Hanlon Rd diversion to change the regular route. With little option (or time for scenic tours) it was the Midland highway home, comfortable on being visible, having an emergency lane to use and little traffic to compete with. I was just getting into a decent rhythm when I reached civilisation, intersections and traffic taking the gloss off.
Working on Melbourne Cup day was as joyous as a fuel levy, but all was not lost squeezing in an early lap. There were later morning laps by Couldabeens and Goats, so rolled past the Cat grid at 5.50am hopeful, quickly abandoned ship though seeing Bomber and only one other departing. Lights of three southbound bikes in Railway parade shed some light and hope, so swung toward Friars to see who dared. Sootie, Comet and Stace were the only punters, Cervelo John the solitary Goat arriving as the 6am flag fell. Intuition commenced the rotation in the low 30's against the nuisance ENE wind, better to be Boundary bound as the breeze swung NE , Stace taking a brief rearmost respite as the velocity grew. All agreed it was ideal single file conditions beyond the pub, Sootie taking a longer turn at the front to set a standard but Cervelo John abbreviated in River Rd. Comet's the definition of swift and smooth but a draft as handy as a matchstick, a flick of her elbow handed me the front to grind out a 2k turn, Stace back in the drivers seat at Laws Drive to muscle the motion. A draft from Sootie, Cervelo John and Comet to Mitchell Rd had revived my rectus femorus, I got well into the groove to drive a 4k turn to the highway. Sootie took us to the horse stud, CerveloJohn to Arcadia Downs and Comet hammered us home on Conrod, a solid lap for a small field, shame that duty called at the salt mines on a public holiday.
Wednesday's southwester tortured the commute south to Kialla but Christmas had arrived early with Shane, PistolPete, Rocket, Choppy, Trav and Nick already gridded up to take on the headwind first. Trav's back on old faithful (better on the fit but not on the fast) and Choppy was in for some Pistol punishment at his side. I'd timed my turn at the front precisely to reap Mitchell Rd's almost tailwind assistance, Wozza bumping up the pace to make sure I earned breakfast. A Hurtlocker trifecta was a little behind agenda, the Cat pack likewise battling the breeze. Shane and Pete kept our lungs working in River Rd to catch a solitary BigBen at the speed bumps. Facing the headwind music in Channel Rd shortened the turns, at last the recumbent cypress tree has been cleared from the circuit. Rocket and Big Ben challenged the Cha Cha and Pistol toasted Shane on the Bonanza to clock us a fastest time.
Couldabeens entrants were rare Thursday morning, Wozz and I the only starters with 5 minutes to go. Shane, Trav, Rocket and Pete fronted in the dying moments, guaranteeing a rapid ride. A late Kenworth chased and latched onto our small pack at the Kensington roundabout, Rocket and Pistol paired (yet again) to ensure there'd be no rest for the righteous (even at the back). Shane had the enthusiasm dialled up to 40 for the last leg of Channel Rd, my calves were well cooked to then take on Wozza for the belt into Boundary. Kenworth and Trav withdrew from service in River Rd, I had only a few jellybeans left in the jar when Shane tucked in behind Rocket at Laws Drive. Unaware all had single filed behind, I sank all into a short shift past Rocket, who soon resumed the helm to take us to Rivers' end. (Fossilosophy : something possesses the spirit to drive to the limit, maybe as a measure of self worth, a comparison or a team target, a muscular and mental masochism that feels great only when you stop) Turns recommenced from Central Kialla onward but I'd drawn the short straw to have Rockets' low and fast draft from Archer Rd to the highway, the belt up Mt Nicolaci almost inducing profanities about pace. A short and slow turn by me to Roubaix corner drew Trav back into the mix at the front, Shane, Wozz and Pete drove onto to Conrod, only benefitting Rocket to unleash the horses for the final 300metres. A second fastest time (44:25) was ample reward for effort.
Sleep was as rare as a Palmer Party candidate Friday morning, insomnia solved with a few early k's on the Boulevard, past the golf course and onto Wanganui. An eye on the Garmin clock kept the wattage up, a push to the Verney roundabout just in time to join Princess, Fee, Meags and Kylie for a 30k preface to a Cat lap. It was a cruisy smooth roll out to the Emu with just a wisp of easterly to master, chatting with Princess on the fragility of carbon wheels. Almost every bunch in the town were headed east on Old Dookie Rd for a freaky Friday fest, we cruised back to SPC, u-turned and collected Trent and Ian, and set forth on the 32ks of Old Dookie-Boundary-River-Mitchell and Raftery. A yarn on wildlife with Ian and Trent's rare "Blue" bike soaked up the k's, a distraction from Trents' unfortunate case of Lycrack. A second wind came to most in Mitchell Rd to bump up the speed, continuing to Conrod's end where Fee, Princess and Meags u-turned to tap out another 30 k's to reach a ton before 8. Work and lack of time drove me straight home pronto to finish the week with a couple of Strava silvers.
Week 45 232km YTD 12,420 km
Word of the Week
"Caloride" (noun) A cycling journey to wear off the excesses of beer, bacon or bakeries.
Working on Melbourne Cup day was as joyous as a fuel levy, but all was not lost squeezing in an early lap. There were later morning laps by Couldabeens and Goats, so rolled past the Cat grid at 5.50am hopeful, quickly abandoned ship though seeing Bomber and only one other departing. Lights of three southbound bikes in Railway parade shed some light and hope, so swung toward Friars to see who dared. Sootie, Comet and Stace were the only punters, Cervelo John the solitary Goat arriving as the 6am flag fell. Intuition commenced the rotation in the low 30's against the nuisance ENE wind, better to be Boundary bound as the breeze swung NE , Stace taking a brief rearmost respite as the velocity grew. All agreed it was ideal single file conditions beyond the pub, Sootie taking a longer turn at the front to set a standard but Cervelo John abbreviated in River Rd. Comet's the definition of swift and smooth but a draft as handy as a matchstick, a flick of her elbow handed me the front to grind out a 2k turn, Stace back in the drivers seat at Laws Drive to muscle the motion. A draft from Sootie, Cervelo John and Comet to Mitchell Rd had revived my rectus femorus, I got well into the groove to drive a 4k turn to the highway. Sootie took us to the horse stud, CerveloJohn to Arcadia Downs and Comet hammered us home on Conrod, a solid lap for a small field, shame that duty called at the salt mines on a public holiday.
Wednesday's southwester tortured the commute south to Kialla but Christmas had arrived early with Shane, PistolPete, Rocket, Choppy, Trav and Nick already gridded up to take on the headwind first. Trav's back on old faithful (better on the fit but not on the fast) and Choppy was in for some Pistol punishment at his side. I'd timed my turn at the front precisely to reap Mitchell Rd's almost tailwind assistance, Wozza bumping up the pace to make sure I earned breakfast. A Hurtlocker trifecta was a little behind agenda, the Cat pack likewise battling the breeze. Shane and Pete kept our lungs working in River Rd to catch a solitary BigBen at the speed bumps. Facing the headwind music in Channel Rd shortened the turns, at last the recumbent cypress tree has been cleared from the circuit. Rocket and Big Ben challenged the Cha Cha and Pistol toasted Shane on the Bonanza to clock us a fastest time.
Couldabeens entrants were rare Thursday morning, Wozz and I the only starters with 5 minutes to go. Shane, Trav, Rocket and Pete fronted in the dying moments, guaranteeing a rapid ride. A late Kenworth chased and latched onto our small pack at the Kensington roundabout, Rocket and Pistol paired (yet again) to ensure there'd be no rest for the righteous (even at the back). Shane had the enthusiasm dialled up to 40 for the last leg of Channel Rd, my calves were well cooked to then take on Wozza for the belt into Boundary. Kenworth and Trav withdrew from service in River Rd, I had only a few jellybeans left in the jar when Shane tucked in behind Rocket at Laws Drive. Unaware all had single filed behind, I sank all into a short shift past Rocket, who soon resumed the helm to take us to Rivers' end. (Fossilosophy : something possesses the spirit to drive to the limit, maybe as a measure of self worth, a comparison or a team target, a muscular and mental masochism that feels great only when you stop) Turns recommenced from Central Kialla onward but I'd drawn the short straw to have Rockets' low and fast draft from Archer Rd to the highway, the belt up Mt Nicolaci almost inducing profanities about pace. A short and slow turn by me to Roubaix corner drew Trav back into the mix at the front, Shane, Wozz and Pete drove onto to Conrod, only benefitting Rocket to unleash the horses for the final 300metres. A second fastest time (44:25) was ample reward for effort.
Sleep was as rare as a Palmer Party candidate Friday morning, insomnia solved with a few early k's on the Boulevard, past the golf course and onto Wanganui. An eye on the Garmin clock kept the wattage up, a push to the Verney roundabout just in time to join Princess, Fee, Meags and Kylie for a 30k preface to a Cat lap. It was a cruisy smooth roll out to the Emu with just a wisp of easterly to master, chatting with Princess on the fragility of carbon wheels. Almost every bunch in the town were headed east on Old Dookie Rd for a freaky Friday fest, we cruised back to SPC, u-turned and collected Trent and Ian, and set forth on the 32ks of Old Dookie-Boundary-River-Mitchell and Raftery. A yarn on wildlife with Ian and Trent's rare "Blue" bike soaked up the k's, a distraction from Trents' unfortunate case of Lycrack. A second wind came to most in Mitchell Rd to bump up the speed, continuing to Conrod's end where Fee, Princess and Meags u-turned to tap out another 30 k's to reach a ton before 8. Work and lack of time drove me straight home pronto to finish the week with a couple of Strava silvers.
Week 45 232km YTD 12,420 km
Word of the Week
"Caloride" (noun) A cycling journey to wear off the excesses of beer, bacon or bakeries.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Week 44 Being bunch bait
A late night and early morning took the edge off Saturday morning, a slow roll to the start in attempt to lose lethargy. 13 punters at the start line was a positive, a slow roll out for a tardy BigMat to jump on the back of the bunch. Nath joined in at the fig farm, FeltMat in great form matching Pistols' calibre at the front, everyone had get-out-of-jail-free with Avanti Trev's pace policing absent. A big orange sunrise in Old Dookie Rd was 15 degrees starboard to the head-on dawn we had six weeks ago in the pre daylight savings era. Speed limits were well and truely thrown out the window in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, matching Rocket's pace on the front threw some hesitation around my skull till persistance found a rhythm that maintained momentum (despite the nuisance of a south westerly in the face) Eagerness split the bunch entering Wangnui Rd, many keen to flex some muscle while tailenders were still getting up to speed from the halt for traffic. The now de riguer squirt up Wanganui hill silenced the socialising, but a settled spin to the Lemontree via the Boulevard (avoiding roadworks) scored a few Strava titles.
Monday's rainfall kept the bike at bay, winter layers were needed for Tuesdays temperature down to 6. A heavily populated Goat squad assembled at Friars for their 30k lap, the smooth roll out on Old Dookie Rd for 3k's was most kind on creaking limbs. Rotations began beyond Doyles to view the contenders, heard Brendan coming with his unmistakeable 98db cassette but JB was a suprise addition (looks foreign on a Pinarello now that the trusty Cannondale has gone to God) It's a long drag up to the front with 22 riders, a few turns had before Boundary came up. Cobbles and Newto oncoming from the Toaster climbed aboard as we swung into Boundary, the bunch numbering two dozen now inheriting a little rubber band syndrome at the rear. The heart rate calmed (120) with many to share the load, concentration elevated but the scenery blurred by, Newto was handing out advice to all but his new La Pierre had me distracted from the verbals. Soon enough, Conrod came into view, being jammed in the left line after a turn at Arcadia Downs had me resigned from sprintention but happily spectated the usual thrash for line honours.
Rolling out ahead of the Hospital hit squad and holding them off till the finish line has become a challenge for Wozz and I, Tuesday night posed an extra challenge of fighting a strong westerly home so we gave ourselves an extra 10 minutes as compensation. 30km/h of challenge rolling out to the Boulevard, gusts of 43km/h to really test us. The slight incline to the cemetery almost assasinated, a tailwind shove to the Emu was all that inspired continuation. We found Robbo aboard the trusty Opera nearing the golf course, the motorist attempting a four point u-turn with no regard for others was as annoying as a tyre full of bindii. Wanganui Rd was warmly welcomed with the wind whipping us east, a wait at Numurkah Rd for peak hour to clear, then east to the Toaster full steam ahead. The 40+km/h honeymoon soon ended at the Emu, pointing south invoking internal profanities to the wind, throwing wheels about that would rival WobblyTrev. A big test headed west in Old Dookie Rd, maintaining mid thirties was going to whittle down my determination, even though we were swapping turns to share the load. We saw Axel northbound in Boundary Rd (on his way for Hospital bunch punishment), we were lucky to get a little reprieve with the shelter of trees at the roadside. Wozz had an extra 2km/h I could just hold on to as we strove to River Rd, he powered into the turn, unhooking me from the draft. Wozz had found a rythym he'd be silly to break and, unaware I was slowly slipping from his wheel, zoned in on driving into the now westsouthwester, stretching an opening gap till he glanced back a k later. Grateful he dropped back to regroup, I took a couple of k's to rebuild the energy to take the front again, a dip from Laws Drive to Central Kialla Rd about all the legs would give. Wozz took the drivers seat to Mitchell Rd, enough for me to find form again. Got into the groove to push up to the highway, Raftery's steady change of direction had the wind to our side by the horse stud, back into the fourties to flog to the finish. Like last week, we crossed the finish line spent but satisfied, a decent average with no sign of the pursuing peleton.
An 80 rpm rev south to the Kialla start on Wednesday (more spin than a Labor Party bi-election) to shake the aches from Tuesday nights' dip. The long 4.5k haul on the front for Archer Rd wasn't too taxing with a hint of breeze behind, enough for me to maintain Wozza's and Pistol's velocity anyway. Trav's now the Cheshire Cat on a demo Avanti Corsa, about to divorce the old faithful of 9 years good service. (yet another young fella to match on a quick bike) A HurtLocker sextet speared south in Central Kialla, a profusely populated pussycat peleton purring positively plied presto west in River Rd, Breakaways blissfully bunched behind. Snuck a few words in with WhisperingJack (amazingly still riding in his 3rd week back) and Choppy (chosing wheels well, missed the Pistol pairing for a change), our visitor Hamish doing micro-turns on the front (last minute training for the Tat 200). AvantiChris & Cougar put in a good shift at the front, AvantiTrev at the back shaking the fickle flu off the lungs. An easy roll along River Rd and a favourable run up Boundary Rd, suprisingly Channel Rd wasn't the battle I expected. Rocket, Shane, Shorty and Nick drove well west, with the obligatory squirt to Orrvale Rd to clear the cobwebs.
Toured south with Wozza to Thursday's thrash with the Couldabeens, Shane, Rocket, Pistol, Trav, Kenworth, Jase, Temple, AvantiTrev and Nick ready, BigMat and HBK dragging the punctuality chain. I overcame the urge to shirk the first turn with Shane, was well and truely warmed up on the 2.2k leg, another 1.3k matching Wozza to Orrvale Rd toasted the edges. PrinceMark had made a comeback at Kensington , Trish left to jump aboard at Doyles. Rocket then Pistol added to the tempo to the kinder, Big Mat had payback on HBK (a little off song). My thoughts begged retreat after a long slog at the front but a few minutes recovery turned the tide to try a repeat. PrinceMark cut across to the up line for an additional shift in River Rd (unacustomed as he is to bunch etiquette), quite the surger on the front. The needle went low on my energy tank finally getting round him, an elephant stamp to Wozza for an early roll over to bask in his draft. AvantiTrev and Temple were unsighted, hanging onto the rear as the pace continued unabaited, Rocket and Pistol seemed to be just warming up at Central Kialla. Turns rolled sooner beyond the highway, the bunch morphed single file after the horsestud in Raftery Rd, even BigMat bowed out of venturing forward. Rocket took to the front at Arcadia Downs, nobody game to roll up. Compassion for Rocket being hung out to dry drove me to the front to loan him a brief tow, which only made the natives Trav and Wozz restless for a sprint. 50 metres of draft only flung the gate open for the thoroughbred to bolt, Rocket lighting up the Avanti to trounce all. Three Strava trophies made my huff and puff worthwhile, second the best I could hope for.
A roll out past SPC at 6 on Friday found Fee, Princess and Meags u-turning from an early 30k, so joined in a single file lap of Old Dookie-Boundary-River-Mitchell and Raftery. As they'd done the early hard yards, I was happy to take the pointy end, wheels rolling nicely without wind. No objections to my lead from behind as we steered into Boundary, we tapped away south finding Ian at Channel Rd who tacked on to make a quintet. I'd really found a groove in River Rd, slowly adding a k or two to the tempo (without busting the rubber band). Feeling a little greedy turning at Central Kialla, I retired to the back to share the driving, the smooth steady lap finishing off the week well, coffee with Meags and the Locker Lads at Friars socially substantially substituting for a weekend off the bike.
Week 44 280km YTD 12,188km
Word of the Week
"Blunch" (noun) a peleton halted for a midday meal.
Monday's rainfall kept the bike at bay, winter layers were needed for Tuesdays temperature down to 6. A heavily populated Goat squad assembled at Friars for their 30k lap, the smooth roll out on Old Dookie Rd for 3k's was most kind on creaking limbs. Rotations began beyond Doyles to view the contenders, heard Brendan coming with his unmistakeable 98db cassette but JB was a suprise addition (looks foreign on a Pinarello now that the trusty Cannondale has gone to God) It's a long drag up to the front with 22 riders, a few turns had before Boundary came up. Cobbles and Newto oncoming from the Toaster climbed aboard as we swung into Boundary, the bunch numbering two dozen now inheriting a little rubber band syndrome at the rear. The heart rate calmed (120) with many to share the load, concentration elevated but the scenery blurred by, Newto was handing out advice to all but his new La Pierre had me distracted from the verbals. Soon enough, Conrod came into view, being jammed in the left line after a turn at Arcadia Downs had me resigned from sprintention but happily spectated the usual thrash for line honours.
Rolling out ahead of the Hospital hit squad and holding them off till the finish line has become a challenge for Wozz and I, Tuesday night posed an extra challenge of fighting a strong westerly home so we gave ourselves an extra 10 minutes as compensation. 30km/h of challenge rolling out to the Boulevard, gusts of 43km/h to really test us. The slight incline to the cemetery almost assasinated, a tailwind shove to the Emu was all that inspired continuation. We found Robbo aboard the trusty Opera nearing the golf course, the motorist attempting a four point u-turn with no regard for others was as annoying as a tyre full of bindii. Wanganui Rd was warmly welcomed with the wind whipping us east, a wait at Numurkah Rd for peak hour to clear, then east to the Toaster full steam ahead. The 40+km/h honeymoon soon ended at the Emu, pointing south invoking internal profanities to the wind, throwing wheels about that would rival WobblyTrev. A big test headed west in Old Dookie Rd, maintaining mid thirties was going to whittle down my determination, even though we were swapping turns to share the load. We saw Axel northbound in Boundary Rd (on his way for Hospital bunch punishment), we were lucky to get a little reprieve with the shelter of trees at the roadside. Wozz had an extra 2km/h I could just hold on to as we strove to River Rd, he powered into the turn, unhooking me from the draft. Wozz had found a rythym he'd be silly to break and, unaware I was slowly slipping from his wheel, zoned in on driving into the now westsouthwester, stretching an opening gap till he glanced back a k later. Grateful he dropped back to regroup, I took a couple of k's to rebuild the energy to take the front again, a dip from Laws Drive to Central Kialla Rd about all the legs would give. Wozz took the drivers seat to Mitchell Rd, enough for me to find form again. Got into the groove to push up to the highway, Raftery's steady change of direction had the wind to our side by the horse stud, back into the fourties to flog to the finish. Like last week, we crossed the finish line spent but satisfied, a decent average with no sign of the pursuing peleton.
An 80 rpm rev south to the Kialla start on Wednesday (more spin than a Labor Party bi-election) to shake the aches from Tuesday nights' dip. The long 4.5k haul on the front for Archer Rd wasn't too taxing with a hint of breeze behind, enough for me to maintain Wozza's and Pistol's velocity anyway. Trav's now the Cheshire Cat on a demo Avanti Corsa, about to divorce the old faithful of 9 years good service. (yet another young fella to match on a quick bike) A HurtLocker sextet speared south in Central Kialla, a profusely populated pussycat peleton purring positively plied presto west in River Rd, Breakaways blissfully bunched behind. Snuck a few words in with WhisperingJack (amazingly still riding in his 3rd week back) and Choppy (chosing wheels well, missed the Pistol pairing for a change), our visitor Hamish doing micro-turns on the front (last minute training for the Tat 200). AvantiChris & Cougar put in a good shift at the front, AvantiTrev at the back shaking the fickle flu off the lungs. An easy roll along River Rd and a favourable run up Boundary Rd, suprisingly Channel Rd wasn't the battle I expected. Rocket, Shane, Shorty and Nick drove well west, with the obligatory squirt to Orrvale Rd to clear the cobwebs.
Toured south with Wozza to Thursday's thrash with the Couldabeens, Shane, Rocket, Pistol, Trav, Kenworth, Jase, Temple, AvantiTrev and Nick ready, BigMat and HBK dragging the punctuality chain. I overcame the urge to shirk the first turn with Shane, was well and truely warmed up on the 2.2k leg, another 1.3k matching Wozza to Orrvale Rd toasted the edges. PrinceMark had made a comeback at Kensington , Trish left to jump aboard at Doyles. Rocket then Pistol added to the tempo to the kinder, Big Mat had payback on HBK (a little off song). My thoughts begged retreat after a long slog at the front but a few minutes recovery turned the tide to try a repeat. PrinceMark cut across to the up line for an additional shift in River Rd (unacustomed as he is to bunch etiquette), quite the surger on the front. The needle went low on my energy tank finally getting round him, an elephant stamp to Wozza for an early roll over to bask in his draft. AvantiTrev and Temple were unsighted, hanging onto the rear as the pace continued unabaited, Rocket and Pistol seemed to be just warming up at Central Kialla. Turns rolled sooner beyond the highway, the bunch morphed single file after the horsestud in Raftery Rd, even BigMat bowed out of venturing forward. Rocket took to the front at Arcadia Downs, nobody game to roll up. Compassion for Rocket being hung out to dry drove me to the front to loan him a brief tow, which only made the natives Trav and Wozz restless for a sprint. 50 metres of draft only flung the gate open for the thoroughbred to bolt, Rocket lighting up the Avanti to trounce all. Three Strava trophies made my huff and puff worthwhile, second the best I could hope for.
A roll out past SPC at 6 on Friday found Fee, Princess and Meags u-turning from an early 30k, so joined in a single file lap of Old Dookie-Boundary-River-Mitchell and Raftery. As they'd done the early hard yards, I was happy to take the pointy end, wheels rolling nicely without wind. No objections to my lead from behind as we steered into Boundary, we tapped away south finding Ian at Channel Rd who tacked on to make a quintet. I'd really found a groove in River Rd, slowly adding a k or two to the tempo (without busting the rubber band). Feeling a little greedy turning at Central Kialla, I retired to the back to share the driving, the smooth steady lap finishing off the week well, coffee with Meags and the Locker Lads at Friars socially substantially substituting for a weekend off the bike.
Week 44 280km YTD 12,188km
Word of the Week
"Blunch" (noun) a peleton halted for a midday meal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)