Familiarity breeds contentment

Making up for the lost opportunity from Saturday's rain, I convened with Brad, Wozz, Rocket and Pistol at A Mart on Sunday for a more dignified 7am start. My old engine struggled with the Raftery Rd southerly, I'm sure the Christmas Day tank of ice cream cake, fruit salad AND plum pudding had nothing to do with it!   (Wozz stated suffering too, his Christmas Day climb of Mt Hotham was a more excusable reason)  Pistol and Rocket were the usual energiser bunnies on Mitchell and River Rd's, Brad at full steam (in full winter kit) bowing out of contributions as we sliced the 11 degree breeze. Boundary Rd was blessed with a tail wind to take the cruising speed to 40, out to the Toaster and up to the Emu the honeymoon ended, work to the west to be done. My Christmas lunch extravagances taxed a couple of stints at the front, wonderful timing of Rocket to call Indian file and head the rapid drive home (me mentally murdered at second wheel though). Brad lost his grip with the group in Ford Rd, but we eased off the throttle to keep him attached, Wozz and Pistol facing the southerly at the portside.  Off the throttle again at DECA to stop Brad's rubber band from busting, he hung on as we paced the Boulevard to pit at the Lemontree for a morsel of banana bread, Wozza's Hotham assault, the track carnival and Christmas's copious catering was tabled for discussion. 

Still wearing away my Christmas calories, Monday drew Wozz, Rocket, Pistol, Temple, Shorty, Trav, Jase, AvantiTrev and BigRon to the Couldabeens start, but "just a roll around" had my h.r. to 170 in the first k. At the front, the short push south at the kinder was cruel enough, glad i'd scored a draft and avoided the torment in Boundary Rd. I coped fairly well beside the performance of BigRon for River Rd's last k, but wattage waned half way along Central Kialla , recovery only possible thanks to Wozz for the tow.  Across the highway and 'round Roubaix, wind behind spiced up the speed, lack of pace cowered me from the front into Conrod but the sprint was struck off the agenda.  A brief infusion of Lemontree caffeine discussing the hiccups of hospitality before I remounted to join a late 7:30 Goat peace train (Coggo, Brendan, Baz, Belly, Hommy, Deb, Tina, PinarelloMat and Dipper, with guests Paul and Ross thrown in)  A very casual roll out OldDookie Rd at 112 bpm, but Paul had directional dilemmas at Boundary Rd (left instead of right) spiking Belly's heart rate.  MrMagnet's arrival out of Channel Rd sent nerves scraping down the bunch blackboard, many on high alert updating risk assessments and insurance policies. How soon the comfort meter dips with gorillas in our midst, riding with the regulars certainly makes familiarity breed contentment.  The southerly took up the slack to River Rd but it was a tolerable drive west, comparing Christmas excesses, then down to less talk and more action in Mitchell Rd as the speed picked up.  The movers and sitters shuffled into position at Galbraith's gate, but it got messy with Mr Magnet mayhem creating Conrod chaos in the rear ranks, and newcomers getting too far ahead of experience and ability, gate keeper Deb dishing out directions.  I took to the pointy end for a squirt to the finish, Coggo and Brendan with the inertia when it matters taking the one two. 

A golf course warm up to reach an annual target (the curse of craved k's) was tenuously timed to a gathering of Goats at Friars on Tuesday, Tim, Deb, Joe, AvantiAndy, JB, Heady, AllegroJohn and Belly, forming a trimmed team to launch at 6. There were long and short donations to the bunch front on the leg east, Coggo's car surreptitiously sneaking by with bike aboard.  JB torqued up the turn at the front to the Pub, another Coggo drive-by showed us Tina's steed had appeared on the rooftop (away on a not-so-secret Mt Buller mission), Belly's imitation HG hang back, a hang-over from yesterday's directional dysfunctional?  Snapping out of the fixation on the bitumens blur below the Baum, it was a mixed bag of turns stumpy and stretched in River Rd., a fair flog up Mt.Nicolaci matching JB at the front, a preparation for pace to come in Raftery Rd. I put the foot into the old engine for the last 300 metres of Conrod straight (apologies to Heady for being hung to dry), Tim and JB bolting from the draft for glory, Deb a creditable fifth. Degani's hosted the post mortem on Mondays malady and MrMagnet mess.

The rearward grid formation had returned on Wednesday, lined up into the dump master with a cavalcade of Couldabeens, cursorily coming to crank. Wozza, Hollywood (citing sausage specs) Jase, SuperMario, Car+Mel, Bruce (from the pages of P&W history) Jen, AvantiAndy, AvantiTrev, Cate, Trav, Shorty, Pistol, Lenny, Cougar and Temple, formed the long thin line to set south on Archer at 6, I took the plunge of first to form a right line, getting my turn done early (only one other to do as it turned out!)  The lame were paying for Christmas gluttony, the lean (on mountain and MTB missions) feeling forlorn. Comfortably cool for River and Boundary Rd, anticipation (and perspiration) brewed as we pointed west on Channel Rd with the Cha Cha looming.  AvantiTrev (on the up line) hit the 'want for wattage' wall and was hurriedly hunting for a rescue draft, the bunch's rear swelling wide in over population. Cate, Car+Mel inspiringly ploughed forward, pace possessed, it was weaving class for Jase and I threading through the expirees buckling under Rockets rate. (Wozz and Trav the only survivors)  The calm after the sprint storm restored demeanour, many in the holiday 'crank-cafe-chat' habit. 

An early A Mart start with Temple on Thursday, topping off the year with a distance target to reach, revising our prologue to Wednesday's course, to intercept Thursday's 5:45 starters. The lure of a l.e.d. ahead in River Rd inspired our slog into the (perceived) easterly, balancing the mental limiter where effort is reserved proportionally to the distance remaining, finally catching Dalts as we neared the ripple strips.  Channel Rd west seemed a cruise (the bureau logged 5:35 as calm ; go figure!) reaching a Couldabeens train of 10 (Pistol, Car+Mel, Rocket, SuperMario, Cougar, Kenworth, AvantiTrev, Wozz and Marz) to climb aboard. SuperMario was served the satire of start times, Car+Mel on a quadrella of consecutive rides, Marz prostituting himself across nearly all local bunches (prompts publishing an en-cycle-opedia?), Rocket on a pre-race respite. My turn came up beside Temple sooner than expected, the S bend to Channels' end travelled well being primed by a prologue, but could I survive a few more turns of duty? Car+Mel, driven by determination, put in solid turns on Boundary Rd, River Rd's 6 kilometres dispensed with the peletons pace in 9 minutes. Car cranked a cracker turn in Central Kialla, Wozz, Pistol and Rocket driving a sizeable length of Mitchell. Pushing the 13 hard into the mid fourties kept me just in touch with the horsepower of Rocket, Kenworth, Wozz, Pistol and Marz on Conrods flat (60 prior k's had drained desire), Wozz nipping at Rockets heels to score a win.  A calm of cadence convened the stretched pack, a Lemontree chinwag on MtBuller, New Years rides and the mysteries of banana bread thickness complimented caffiene.

The intention of a cruisy lap to start a new year was chucked out the window on Friday, a  l.e.d. lure ahead on Old Dookie Rd triggering that automatic chase response (is it just a bloke thing?).  Hardly an Oppy's epic 1928 Bol d'Or effort (read <jeffdowsing.wordpress.com> tag: Bol d'Or classic,  for real inspiration) but I dropped the chain onto the 15 beyond Central Ave to add a few clicks to the velocity (careful not to empty the tank and catch the bait with nothing left).  The red l.e.d. slowly loomed larger by the Pub, but was it a pursuit of Pintara or Pagani?  Reaching the Broken bridges, the long locks of CatKev were recognisable, the laps remainder spent comfortably (#) in convivial conversation about wheels, Baum, the ever present male mantle of maintaining an average, time trials and holidays (# legs were complaining at 34 but the head was defiant, afflicted with the "not measuring up" syndrome). 24 tropical degrees lathered the limbs, avoiding a Raftery Rd chicane of spent fireworks surprised us both. There was a caution for just one car in town (the drunk / tired / drugged / texting / changing c.d. risk was fairly high at 7am New Year's Day) but it was the no eye contact / far away look of inattention that alerted our approach, the drivers last second realisation avoided a horizontal start to 2016.  Back home with a witty Strava post title (must muse Marz) to upload, it was off to the coal face to make a generous donation to the deputy commissioner of taxation.  

This week : 333 km.        YTD:  41k

Best of luck to manic Mexican Daniel "Everesting" Mt.Major this Sunday, my calculator reckons 46 times!

2015: the year on two wheels

Another year over, a new one just begun (so Mr Lennon wrote in 1971).  

2015 was a year of comings and goings by BigMat, Tucks and WhisperingJack, the extinction of HBK and Disco Steve, a slow fade away of Spin Doctor, a rare sighting of Mr Magnet, Wobbly Trev and Chicken legs to terrify, but blessed by newcomers Marz, Cate, Jen, Car+Mel (only one has a mohair singlet!), the rise and rise of Wozza, Boof, and Rocket.  It was a year for prologues, abandoning the Library and Hospital bunches, the Couldabeens start time debate, magpies, punctures, a Goat ball, Tour de Beer, the Pain Train (finally cracked a 40 km/h average), Torture Tuesday, a 180 FruitLoop, the coffee shop sprint, a grossly gravelly GrandFondo, Fisky's pedal through puke, grids forming from the rear, and new bikes for FeltMat (now AvantiMat), Boof, Jen and Wozza (and several going over to the dark MTB side).  It was a year to wear out 6 Michelins and three chains, 18 days when rain prevented play, being swooped by a great egret, caught in a thunderstorm, triple punctures in April and August, temperatures of minus two's (June), fog (July) and a 49 km/h southerly (March). What a year for MachineSteve scoring the UCI world masters road championship (50-54), Weapon's assault on the Salzburgerland 70.3 Ironman, the charity of Tour De FightBACC and SOS's epic 1200k Paris-Brest-Paris in 89:35.

But it was a calmer year for me with 50 days spent off the bike, the laying to rest of old faithful BMW (I'll count 193,000 k's as "run-in") and the long awaited birth of a new Baum. I tapped 146 Couldabeens laps, 76 with Goats (+25 on the pain train), 93 prologues, 48 solo laps, 9 Saturday doubles and four triples. As always, many mates made and strengthened, a grump or two delivered when justified, and thankfully remained upright for 16,017 kilometres (56k/day) requiring a tank of 418,000 calories  (112 kg of plum pudding with 55 litres of custard).  I ride to support my eating habit...

It's heartening (and surprising) to receive over 28,000 page views of this blog from so many quarters (regulars from USA, Ukraine, France, Poland and so many close to home), I often wonder if this ramble strikes a chord till comments out on the road inspire the next weeks muse.

Very best wishes to all for 2016, stay upright, push that big ring and spare a wave to a fellow addict, see you out there somewhere.

Week 52 Record breaking and breaking bunches.

Post 323

Surprised with plenty of What's App takers for an early lap prior to the Saturday habitual, Wozz and I encountered plenty of Friday nightclubbers still street active (both tipsy and tearful) at 4:45, a dead shopping trolley the Saturday slalom (no skippy's or horses today).  At the A Mart assembly, Rocket, Temple, Jase, Trav, BigMat, Nick, WhisperingJack and newcomer Brad were the early birds, away at 5 on a Raftery-Mitchell-River-Boundary and Channel preliminary, the cruise control bumped up to 34 with plenty donating the driving.  SuperMario appeared at Central Kialla, 24 celciuses and an awakening northeaster took the slack out of the legs in River Rd.  There was an easier tap back on Channel Rd with a scowl to Sellmans' DarthVader, about to emerge to snap at our heels, no sprint at the Cha Cha was as rare as a Rocket loss.  Back to the startline (with 5 minutes to spare) part two of the Couldabeens contingent included Fisky, Car+Mel, Shorty, Boof, Hollywood, Lenny, Lucy, AvantiTrev, cougar, Pistol, Lynda and "Cattendee"Dalts, unfortunately the mobile chicanes of Hit, Miss and Maybe threw predictability out the window, an additional 'Johnny'(comelately) unquantifiable.  The ride started smooth and slick, but leg two saw Maybe face the reality of the lead, an awkward rearward retreat rattling our routine. (why play a dud note if you can't face the music?)   The bolt out of Kinder corner stretched the tail-enders, a lamentable legacy of a long bunch.  The double roll of Miss then Hit set a small tsunami rippling through the ranks and rhythm, Jase and I left to pick up the pieces and smooth the way to Boundary Rd.  Someone turned up the tempo to Old Dookie Rd, the east trek to the Toaster had the Ham Hilton piggies squealing for the breakfast menu (or were they preparing to be on the Christmas table list?). Nath arrived from the north, the aforementioned 'Johnny' becoming very intimate with Shorty's elbow prompted increasing my life insurance.  Wheeling west at the Emu the whiplash cracked the pack, I carried the news to the front in the interest of bunch unity.  Weapon joined the ranks as a Cat pack of Ben-Hur proportions speared East at the main eastern channel, our mob cranking west against the northerly and into the fourties (so much for the Saturday social!)   Hit and Johnny were on the tarmac's left edge despite calls to get up the road (erased of echelon education).  Frustrated with most being denied a draft, Foss's fuse had finished, fury taking bunch riding 101 to the front.   Johnny was in meltdown, Hit minus comprehension and questioning direction (again), I delivered my WTF to these overnight legends, clearly out of their depth, then removed myself to the rear to relax rage and temper thoughts.  How granted is the teamwork till you lose it?  

I picked up and dusted off the dummy, rolling quietly solo to Verney Rd, oncoming Goats (Spartacus, JF, Brendan, Carl, Belly, Coggo, Heady, Dipper, Bickers, Deb, Tina, AvantiAndy and Ky import Manny) a welcome sight, so u-turned to tag along.  Great was the smoothness and familiarity, social exchanges were just getting underway when Spartacus punctured, a chance to sledge the pitstop and be driven insane by friendly flies.  Fixed and back in motion, we slogged our way to the Emu then revelled in the southerly and westward trails, but Manny succumbed to deflation at the east Goulburn channel, more eff'n flies to fend from fundamental orifices!  Tina and Deb rode a forward reconnaissance while Coggo captained the the repairs, forward ho on Boundary then River with a hairdryer northerly toasting the edges.  AvantiAndy rear-tired from duty, a ménage of Muppets plied East as our dozen drove at 40.  My head started an argument with the legs about distance, just one more turn as the ton ticked closer.  Tina and Deb with NevY aboard were caught in Mitchell Rd to collectively crank home, legs winning the case for the negative over the highway, sitting in the rear stalls to recover. Rounding up Sean at Roubaix, numbers at the business end reduced and laboured to Conrod. Feeling guilty for not donating to a good cause, I wound up the clicks to the front for a final fling, Manny and Brendan emerging from the tow to take the one two, my 3rd spot after 105k, more than satisfying. Mandy's  cafe was packed with alfresco Pussycats (the Christmas socks presentation) and internally infested with Adams family, Heady's lady-breakfast and the Goat Christmas agenda discussed in the din.

A toaster tap Monday (with the golf course corner cut off), rolling east on Ford Rd as Eggy and 51's assembled for action. Pleasant to push along with help from the southwesterly but tough to the Toaster against the headwind, and lots of sticks to slalom from Sunday nights' squalls. Distant Goat lights shone oncoming in Old Dookie Rd, but the clock was against social intercourse, so slogged south to River Rd to keep to schedule (Buenos Dias Mexican Angelo at one tree dam), the headwind strangely more manageable than the force at the flanks bearing west.  Into a good grinding groove along Central Kialla, but the clock ticked an Archer Rd exit, icing on the cake to finish 50k with a tailwind home.

A premature preamble Tuesday, along the Boulevard-Rudd-Wanganui-Ford-Boundary and Old Dookie Rd if only to clock up a k of k's for the December MTS, almost at arm-warmer temperature with just 12 degrees, wind (southerly at 15-24) the constant companion. Early birds BigBen and Kev were on an Old Dookie rollout, I cornered the SPC roundabout to find a long string of Goats cruising a Christmas ride, with a Muppet menagerie in reconnaissance, Phil, AvantiLeigh, AvantiAndy, Dipper, Bickers, Snow, HG Phillo (must be an important ride) Coggo, Belly, Deb, JB, Tina, Geoffrey, Joe, PrincipalSkinner, a guinea pig shaped Hommy, Heady, Min, Jock, RoosterRoscoe, Jan and PinarelloMat.  Goat gendarme Phillo found his way to the front and capped the speed to sedentary (a super sedate 98 bpm speed), Tina, Deb, Coggo and others unable to contain the crawl, breaking away. The circuit spent socialising, inbound on Channel Rd, musing with Muppet Min on bureaucracy. Back to Mandy's cafe for a Yuletide breakfast, civilians Baz, Brendan, Loretta and others joined, poet Pete pronouncing a perfected Patterson prose per the Goats year. 

A northeaster (favourable to a pain train record breaker) drew Coggo, Tum, Heady, Phil, Manny, AvantiLeigh, Carl and Dipper to Friars on Wednesday, shorter turns on the new menu.  I'd berthed in third last behind Heady, engines of AvantiLeigh, Coggo, Manny and Tum wound up the wick with a solid push into  the wind on OldDookie.  I got the drivers seat for the last bit east and took a small taste of the southbound Boundary bliss, Phil locked into caboose management. I had a big expense to get back in the draft after spending most of my pennies at the front, a little uneasy with a few surges to the Pine Lodge pub.  Manny slipped smoothly and comfortably into the track turns with good donations to the drive, my heart rate was on the escalator to 184 hammering the 13 cog into the mid fourties to Trevaskis Rd., with another trawl for tenacity to grab the last draft, the role of keeping the caboose attached weighing heavy. What inspires this pursuit of personal limits, a measure of collaboration and self? How fine the line between determination and defeat, banging your head on a brick wall 'cause it feels good when you stop! (And we'll be back at it again next week) Carl drove a hard bargain on Mitchell, the carrot of riders ahead, motivating motion.  Tum tore up Mt.Nicolaci as we passed THM, our clear pass over the highway kept hopes up for a fastest time, but Heady spent of steam, slipped into retirement. Coggo, AvantiLeigh, Manny and Tum piloted the push from Galbraith's gate, Tum handing me the last 200 metres of Conrod, specifying not to let the average slip. All my Jellybeans went into the last lunge, spent and speechless, a 40.2 average pleasing for a small train.

Yuletide lurks closer, but who needs an excuse to assemble the troops to put in a lap and break the fast? Wozz, Pistol, Cougar, Kenworth, Cate, Kel, SuperMario, Rocket, Ange, Car+Mel, Nev, Lynda, Nick, Trav, Hollywood, BigMat, Jase, AvantiTrev, Jen, Lucy, Bo, Ron, AvantiMat and Temple formed a congenial collection of Couldabeens convivially conversing Christmas cheer on Thursday, with seasons decorations aplenty.  In a direct path to Channel Rd's sunrise, wind put work into leg one and two for me at the front, though tempo was tamed to prevent pace protests.  Pistols' elaborately engineered tree, BigMat's bluetoothed carols, Nev's handlebar mounted Santa, Rockets' helmet lights, amongst others, put all in the festive feeling. Ange and Ron stalled the rotations in Boundary Rd, Nath appeared at the tail end at the Toaster (it would be a while for the speed to spike to strike!)  I had a yarn with a few on Saturdays' shambles, seems many share the need to heed the speed creed.  Many are talking, not many saying; so, secure Saturday's as social? (Wanganui sprint stays with a religious Rudd Rd regroup) Your vote to captain AvantiTrev.   A 7:30 start at the salt mines shortened my lap socially to a Verney Rd exit, most others willing and able to consume a Christmas Eve Lemontree breakfast. 

Saturday's forecast gloom inspired Christmas Day k's, a push East into the northeaster (20-37 km/h) to the Emu was a chore (the Boundary Rd escape, so tempting) but sheer stubbornness drove me to Pine Lodge Rd.  With rubber legs till the Cosgrove silo, taking 30 bpm off the effort was a relief. Exhaustion written too on the face of  a solo anti-clockwise rider, my Christmas present was a tailwind back, navigating to a lunch of over-indulgence via Channel Rd.  Taking advantage of a breeze and an empty street, a dip of determination on Wilmot Rd scored a second overall (46.4 av), making room for plum pudding.

Week 52.  336 km.         YTD 15,724 km

Merry Christmas one and all, I hope Santa brought lots of carbon and titanium cheer!

Retraction: An unreserved apology to Goat Brendan, incorrectly accused of dropping off the Pain Train (18/12) at the Pub. He held on at least 300 metres longer than that!

Week 51 Putting dread to bed

Post 322

Predictably a prologue to Saturday's lap, Temple found at the south of town at 5 (8 degrees guaranteed arm warmers were yet to be squirrelled away), a cool calm and collected 35k to get the limbs limbered. Southbound on Raftery, there were no kangas today, but a loose horse threw caution at Conrod's dip.  A bait of Brett and Rabbit entered Mitchell from Archer, the carrot caught, we enjoyed a draft for a few minutes till patience passed, tackling the long length of River Rd as a duet.  North on Boundary then west along Channel, a compact (caramelised?) Couldabeens crew appeared (half the size of last Saturday's squad) AvantiTrev, PistolPete, Rocket, Nick, Cougar, Lenny, Lucy, SuperMario, MasiMario and Wozza with Scott-not-BassoDave on a pre-feline appearance. We u-turned and slipped into the order of rotations, Trav appearing from the east on leg 3, seems he'd pursued our prior prologue per se.  I'd finally arrived at the front in Boundary Rd but Lenny was hungry for the lead, the legend of HBK lives on!  The bunch sliced against the southwester to the toaster! westward beyond the emu, Pussycats passed eastbound with a trail of latecomers in pursuit, thoughts of a Lemontree breakfast menu masked my 70 k rubber legs syndrome.  Many were playing the waiting game as velocity wound up at DECA, Rocket and Pistol in a different league, bolted the Wanganui hill ascent, 

Breakfast rhetoric on Strava titles, mohair singlets and green ginger wine a finishing touch to 75k. 

Out the driveway at 5:12 Monday, glued to a steady speed at 77 rpm, the slightest hint of an easterly sent the heart rate climbing (125 to 160)....pass the tissues and the Fluvoxamine!  Turning South at the Emu (5:37) eased the effort, then better beyond the toaster turn (5:41), several advance parties to the pussycats worked east, Ange, Lynda and co, a gaggle o' girls and the odd soloist.  Back to SPC (6:00) finding a group o' goats (Coggo, Heady, Brendan, Phil, Belly, Deb, Baz and Spartacus) forming Monday's peace train. Steaming smoothly out of town, Coggo had legs of dough (a headwind ride to Melbourne likely to cause it), Spartacus smarting from his Dinner Plain effort, Heady unsteady from a Head office reunion. The heart rate idled quietly while Christmas comparisons were conversed but by River Rd's end my time turned tenuous to retreat a shortcut home to keep a boss happy.

I suppressed the average urge Tuesday, a quiet roll to the ten-to-turtles with the eyes off the Garmin, a calmer karma to the cranial crisis of maintaining a speed. Kenworth, Nick, AvantiTrev, Cougar, WhisperingJack, Temple, BigMat and Choppy had enlisted for effort, two unknowns lurking in the shadows hereafter labelled Hit & Miss (for reasons that will become apparent).  ChrisA, early for the 6 o'clock supersonic squad, led us on leg one then returned to the startline, Hit moved to the front and filled Foss full o'fear by asking which way we turned, clearly challenged on bunch by-laws too!  There was a ragged roll, then Miss misfired and kaboomed straight to the rear, Hit then suddenly freewheeling, shunting the train. The familiarity of BigMat, Nick, Kenworth, WhisperingJack, AvantiTrev, Chops and Temple subsequently smoothed the formation to Boundary Rd restoring the comfort. I tried pairing with Hit again in River Rd, somewhere between half a wheel and a whole bike in arrears, most of my effort confined to concentration on what may happen next. Down to Mitchell Rd it was a relief to pair up with the quality quantity of Temple, but it was sweaty hands, gritted teeth and a gluteus gripped  by fear for Raftery. Temple and WhisperingJack got the hurry happening in Conrod straight, I hit the gas too early (but comfortable with a greater distance away from Hit), Chops and Kenworth taking one and two, me three. 

A preliminary tap along Graham, Verney and Ford found a fresh crunchy coating on Wanganui (standard COGS specs; bitumen straight over the pot-holes), a massacre on Michelins. Joined Wozza in the main drag to commute to the Couldabeens crowd, Boof, Rocket, Hollywood, Jase, Shorty, Cougar, Chops, Trav, BigMat, Car+Mel, Pistol, WhisperingJack, Temple, AvantiTrev, Rene and Nicholas. A fast flog to Mitchell with Wozz and Boof setting a solid standard, I was towed along with just one or two turns likely to be needed in a large bunch. A comforting calm with Rene relegated to the rear, Car+Mel turned on the talented train driving, WhisperingJack and I taking the last k of River to turn into Boundary.  Plenty of curry in the cadence for the Channel Rd Cha Cha, I was 6th last at the kinder, likely to be at the business end when it counted. An oncoming car stalled the final thrash, toasting Temple and WhisperingJack at Prentice Rd. I dialled up full tilt with 200 left, the sun rising behind casting long shadows of those in pursuit. The hallelujah chorus of Rockets Zipps howled by, Hollywood and Wozz in close proximity, but fourth (9th in fastest time) was was enough for this old dinosaur,  my normal operations taking a few minutes to resume while oxygen slowly sharpened the senses.

Scrolled through the adjectives to describe the northeaster Thursday, all unprintable for the 10k's to the Pine Lodge church, sheer stubbornness driving me beyond the Boundary Rd shortcut (if only to relish an extended tailwind tour back to town).  South to the Toaster and west to the suburbs taking the dust off the 14 tooth cog, greetings to the five separate soloists ranked just one acknowledgement (g'day Dalts, and  "yeah, good thanks" to the aloof peleton pariahs). A condensed collection of Goats were found  in Fryers St, Phil, Coggo, Bickers, Kate, JB, Tum, JF and Carl were courteously cortèged by Belly, Tina tacking on at the truck route.  The ten turned to a dozen with Geoffrey and an unknown joining at Central Ave, newcomer JF (right foot toe-in) questioned the ride direction but his smooth and steady demeanour put my dread to bed (see Tuesday's terror on bunch apprentices).  Belly lectured on signal standards for "car up", Carl's flamboyant finger flourish the bunch benchmark.  River Rd's rate of knots ramped up with the tailwind euphoria, the Cosmic's Christmas carol chorused allegro fortissimo.  Geoffrey's rubber band snapped at River Rd's end, the velocity duely dialled down for Central Kialla. There was just me, JB, Carl, Coggo and Tum working the windy end from Galbraith's gate, steadily steering into the northeaster, straining the sprint. Tum toiled the tempo of Conrod's final 150 metres, Carl with the youthful wattage to win.  We threaded the thin (and faded) line of the bike lane home, a slalom of glass, stones, pot-holes and sticks. (seems the COGS bike strategy funds only the consultants glossy brochures and power point presentations)

The pain train habit (#11) continued Friday, Deb and Brendan leading us out of town, but quickly converting to caboose position.  AvantiLeigh opened the account to Dobson's bridge, I'd hoped for a later role but the second leg begged me, 170bpm to Central Ave. Spartacus conquered leg 3 then Heady, Dipper, Coggo and Belly followed procedure, halting at the pub for traffic (noting the Deb & Brendan caboose had already detached).  AvantiLeigh full steamed to Channel Rd, I was approaching one tree dam wondering which would expire first, legs lungs heart or head. (don't look at the Garmin, don't look at the Garmin.......damn! I looked at the Garmin! (numbers made the head give up).  River Roads 6 km was divided amongst the hunched heroes, hurtling and huffing (hysterical and hyperventilating?) headlong homeward, high hoped, harried and hurting. My turn from Archer to the highway went blurry cresting Mt.Nicolaci, there was a "yeah, nah, but" moment for traffic on our cross of Melbourne Rd (is that a 'bogan baulk' Weapon?) which split the bunch, a much needed ease to reform the group for the final fling in Raftery Rd.  AvantiLeigh spent all his pennies into the northeaster on Conrod, Belly's push for a podium ended with a Nagasaki moment, while I was left to drive the last 200 home, Spartacus sneaking up the inside to snatch the honours.  All but me had the time for post thrash caffeine, my souvenir was Gumby legs till morning smoko.

Week 51    340km.     YTD  15,388 km.

Week 50. An exercise in excess exertion

Post 321

Feeding the addiction again, I was aboard the trusty steed (already 2,000 k's old) at 4:40 Saturday, setting south to meet Temple (AvantiMat also coerced) for a 35k prologue, extending the usual weekday effort to mix-up the muscle memory and seize the weather (16 degrees) while it's on offer.

Three loose skippy's caused an ease of the accelerator at Arcadia Downs, but then resumed the Mitchell-River-Boundary-Channel course on a calm cadence to deliver us timely back to town, just as a long Couldabeens train left the grid. (Boof, Nick, WhisperingJack, AvantiTrev, Jase, Cougar, Jen, Ange, Lynda, BigMat, Car+Mel, Lenny, Lucy, Wozz, Fisky, SuperMario, MasiMario, PistolPete, Pat, Rocket and Scott-not-BassoDave).  Greetings and weekend agendas were swapped as I progressed to the pointy end, Boof's pointed toes, Rocket's new Zipps, MasiMario's cheesy grin, BigMat's remarkable revival, SuperMario's open gait, Fisky's squeaky clean Giant, Ange's crash of cogs, all part of soaking up the Saturday social nourishment. CatPhil was caught at the fig farm, my Boundary Rd turn with SuperMario was soon swapped for the 3k length of Old Dookie Rd beside Ange.  The treat of a tailwind home was high on many hopes as our train steamed north to the Emu, Scott-not-BassoDave retiring rearward  (fixing to frolic with felines), Car+Mel, Jen, and Lucy forging forward in a flocked femme fatale fellowship.  The rubber band effect at the back was almost interval training as minor variations at the front turned monster at the rear, a big bunch disadvantage.  Midfield approaching DECA, I'd decided to sit out the Wanganui waltz, Rocket, Wozz and Boof already whipping up the business end, the peleton a popcorn of small kabooms as mortals tried to match. The femme fatale train timed the Wanganui hill perfectly, murdering many mere males in their path.  Composure on the Rudd Rd re-collection and banter along the Boulevard, I'd somehow ranked a 6th on the "coffee shop champion" stage (ranks high in the stupid Strava segment stakes).  The din of discussion on the long Lemontree table centred on extreme distances #, BigMat's goals and the sprint post mortem, AvantiAndy abandoning the Muppet ride to join us for caffeine, a large dessert of motivation needed to arise and head home from 80k clocked.  (# check out Steve Abraham and Kurt Searvogel's attempt to break Tommy Godwin's 1939 distance record of 120,805 km in a year.  That's 339 k's a day!)   Have a look at;   <oneyeartimetrial.org.uk>    <tarzanrides.com>

A solitary squirt Monday, minus the luxury of a bunch draft, just the draft between the ears as company on a Genesis lap.  A quick kit-up time, 25 degrees at 5:20am needing the minimum. (remember the complex closet co-ordination just a few months ago, needing more layers than an onion to insulate). Against a northeaster on New Dookie Rd, progress was pleasing, keeping atop the 15 cog at 74 rpm tended to boil the heart rate to 174 to the Pine Lodge church. Conservation on an almost empty bidon by the Toaster, the turn west was an easier slog, to Boundary Rd with distant LEDs oncoming, then south, crossing paths with Vince en-route to a bit of Catabolism.   PistolPete plied north at one tree dam, River Rd was empty for me to enjoy the ease of the east northeast.  The heart rate hovered between 156 and 170 all the way back to town, topping-up H2O via the nearest tap.

Just a spit or two in the early Tuesday hours, but there was hesitation in the heavens if the forecast was to be believed. Torn between the luxury of a sleep-in and the frustration of a lost opportunity, it was the head's loss and the legs gain to can plans of riding. A short shower at 6:20 confirmed my inaction (though the hardcore put in a few k's). 

Many made up for a Tuesday abandonment, Wednesday's carpark turn-up including Pistol, Wozz, Boof, Jase, SuperMario, Cate, Chops, Nick, Temple, Cougar, Trav, BigMat, Car+Mel, Shorty, AvantiTrev, Nev and visitors Rene and Nicholas. Headlight shy traffic split the getaway, Wozz lending the wattage to the six dislodged to catch onto the squad spearing south on Archer.  AvantiMat ahead was engulfed at the truck route to fill the ranks to 20, our crank east made easy by the westerly.  Wozz was wary of the wobbles Rene had in abundance (as scary as Trump in the oval office!),  Boof's puncture halving my turn at the front with an intermission in River Rd, AvantiTrev the ever present pitstop mechanic to the rescue. Oncoming Cats and 51 craved the tarmac's width, P&W's chipped Chops but we were underway and Boundary bound with just a few minutes lost. On the front for the northern assault, I'd lucked avoiding the headwind of Channel Rd.   Sitting in the second last seat into Kinder corner, I was drawn along the 300 metre dash to Hopeful corner then 500 beyond, zoning in on Temple's wheel ahead and catching a sideways glimpse of Rene's kaboom at Prentice Rd.  I hit the front with 400 metres left to burn, punished by the 20km/h headwind, with Boof, Trav and Chops closing in for the kill behind.  With my soft-edged focus on the finish line and drawing on all reserves, the archangel Gabriel appeared blurry in the windswept clouds, Cherabims and seraphims harmonising hymns reached out........snap out of it! Trav and Boof were nipping at my heels! Opening up the angry tank gave me the gap to take a rare win, spending the 3k cruise back to Archer in recovery. 

Tried an early effort with team FDC (don't ask!) on Thursday, it's not quite FdJ but Oz, Jed and Troy can crank. With flag fall at 5:15, we departed Kialla lakes for a Channel, Boundary and River trajectory, single filed 1k track turns the ride recipe. A handy heart starter in the high 30's, Jed toasting the tempo into the 40's, chat was capped as the Indian filed procession divided the workload in a disciplined drive.  I bowed out at River Road's end (to get in a go with the Goat gathering), the truck route and Archer not short enough to reach Friars by six though.   It was déjà vu taking Channel Rd to intercept the herd, almost to Boundary Rd's pig pen before u-turning, a lengthy line of lads and lasses (AvantiAndy, MeridaAndy, Tim, Tum, Phillo, Phil, Brendan, Bickers, JB, Belly, Coggo, Dipper, Kate, Jen,  Deb, Heady, Baz and Snow) swept south. Promotion from the tail to the top took just 2 k's, up at the helm with JB from one tree dam to River Rd after Deb's determined drive. A brief bout of boisterous Belly banter babbled before being drawn into the draft from others on duty, till my turn came again in Mitchell Rd.  Legs were lively by Galbraith's gate, plenty contributing to the cause, but workers were whittled down to eight as we cornered into Conrod.  I sat out a turn to draw breath, Tum towed me to the rushin' front, I applied maximum throttle, but the youth of MeridaAndy edged up alongside to dead heat the finish.

A quiet little tap around the golf course loop as a warm up to the pain train turned toasty glancing at the clock, time tested to tap a tempo to get me to the church on time.  Coggo, Belly, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Heady, Phil and Tum had enlisted, Heady then Dip taking us in tow to Central Ave. The southwester helped my haste to School Rd before a handover to AvantiLeigh, Geoffrey was passed at considerable knots, unable to climb aboard.  Tum, Coggo then Belly poured on the power to the pub, a brief gasp of oxygen waiting for a car to cross, then the order resumed till my shift came again from the bridges to River Rd.  We swung wide for Couldabeens almost on the corner, heads down and effort up fighting the southwest breeze, a peculiarly pensive and placid Poppa, parked prostrate and possibly peeved, punted (per puncture) prior from a pussycat peleton.  I scored the south slog to Mitchell Rd, oncoming cars throwing gusts at the pace. There were a few cracks appearing in the train cadence as time and tempo took its toll, a surge here and there, a shorter turn, a wandering wheel.  Belly took us half way to the Raftery right hander, Heady to Roubaix, Dip to Galbraith's gate for my drive to Conrod, an exercise in excess exertion. I'd almost lost the draft as AvantiLeigh and Coggo sizzled their swansongs, all finishing suitably smug with a 37.8 average.

Week 50   293km    YTD 15,048

Week 49. Craving kilometres.....is more best and less, lazy?

Post 320

A 4:20 breakfast, saddled and southbound at 4:45, a young skippy bounding through the town centre was a Saturday surprise.  The highway patrol had already found business for the weekend's SpringNats, I was only breaking the regular routine of 30 & 40 k rides, Temple joining in a 30 k precursor (a reverse Tuesday-Thursday lap) to the Saturday social loop. A southerly had barely begun to blow, a dark sky slow to turn orange then pink, satisfyingly scenic to start at a steady speed too. Convivial conversation to crank the circuit, we'd almost reached the start line as a long peleton swung into Channel Rd, signalling our u-turn.   A progressive greeting to Jase, Boof, Rocket, Whispering Jack, Cougar, SuperMario, Wozza, Shorty, Nick, Kel, Car+Mel, Bo, Shazza, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Jen, Fisky and special guests Dalts & Scott-not-BassoDave (on a pre-feline prologue) as I advanced my way through the ranks.  After 37k without a draft, the go on the front beside Rocket highlighted what little effort is needed in a bunch.  Bo hogged the length of the Boundary Rd tailwind,  I had a brief catch-up with Scott-not-BassoDave and Dalts (flash and fashionably flouro new steed) as we advanced to the Emu. You bewdy N-i-c-o-l-a-c-i was spied yet again bearing East as we worked west, the vibrancy of the voluptuous and vigorous vociferator violated our eardrums as Cats crossed our path at the main eastern channel (subtle is our Ange).  ChrisA joined the bunch, AvantiTrev was suffering the noddies in Ford Rd, Jen's rock solid stature alongside in stark contrast. Onward to the edge of town we found Matho (with Big Ben and another) had been cursed by Cat compassion (nil) with a halt for puncture repairs, our way west looked as if I may escape the jinx of the Wanganui lead-out, but I had the short and swift stature of Rocket to hang onto.  At last Bo put in some effort beside Rocket, the Portside breeze battering SuperMario and finishing Fisky, Boof put the Cosmics into overdrive, I'd run out of Jellybeans but inspired to see Car well up in the sprint ranks, Mel Kel and Jen also humbling the lads.  Into the tranquility and shelter of the Boulevard, insightful deliberations with Car+Mel on zoning and sit set-up as we cruised to caffeine, analysis of Christmas marketing and Couldabeens on-the-up occupied a long Lemontree table. 

A Monday mono to tune up took me on a golf course loop, easy up to cruising speed to rid the rust of a sloth Sunday. Sailed smoothly south on Verney Rd but was squeezed into the roundabout by a passing car (which instantly and insanely indicated left) caused all my Christmases to flash by in an instant. A squeeze of brakes and a selection of adjectives avoided a horizontal hiccup.....to be repeated again at the very next roundabout! (Is it international day of the idiot?)  I arrived at the Friars station to catch the 6am tranquility train, passengers Baz, Belly, Coggo, Deb, Sandy, Phil, Bickers and Heady aboard.  Tina made ten on the outskirts of town, a relaxed roll on the regular route with the heart rate just ticking over at 110.  Restorative and rehabilitating to join a stress free ride, too many on the limit pines the passion. Albeit against my wishes, I peeled off at the end of River Rd to reach the salt mines in time, via the truck route and Archer Rd home.

Insomnia invited Old Dookie Rd déjà vu at 5 on Tuesday, another westerly helped the outbound but hurt the inbound (like sweets before sprouts)  'Twas bliss to Boundary, the spin south survivable but Channel's challenge was niggling at the neurosis, a 17-24 km/h headwind forced a gear change, 74 rpm back to town in time to join the Couldabeens team turtle.  Chops, Kenworth, Trav, Shorty, Cougar, Nick, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, WhisperingJack and Temple formed the 5:50 grid, Jase early for the 6:00 express. WhisperingJack and Trav legged leg one, a wee wait for a Western Star then it was my dip for leg two with Trav and three with Chops.  The westerly tickled up the tempo, a quintessential quetch blowing in the wind too.  Reality pegged back the pace on our southbound slog to River Rd, Trav and Chops keeping me on tempo toes as speed built again west, Eammon tagging on the tail at the bridge. My Mavic sung an octave lower at Central Kialla, by Archer Rd a mushy Michelin meant motion stopped for repairs. Our 3.5 minute stop meant the 6:00 bullet train caught and passed, flurried felines furtively flogging west behind them.   Repaired and remounted, our group ripped into Raftery, WhisperingJack  put all his eggs into the Conrod basket but cracked the lot with 400 metres left, Chops and Trav galloping away in the distance as I dragged five line astern on my wheel, a contented finish to 60k. 

Pedalled a prologue Wednesday, out the Boulevard for a golf course loop warm up (ha ha.....second day of summer and just 8 degrees!), back in town in time to commute to the Couldabeens with Wozz, well early to the carpark. Jen, Car+Mel, Boof, Rocket, Nick, Pistol, WhisperingJack, Shorty, AvantiTrev, Rene, Nicholas, Chops, Hollywood and Trav had gathered if only to rejoice in (or sledge) the wonder of the second coming.....BigMat magically manifesting to astonish the pilgrims!  Wozz captained the single filed crew south on Archer, I unearthed the fortitude to pair up to the roundabout, almost having my elbow trimmed by a passing Hi-Lux.  Boof kept the cadence cooking to the truck route, recovery possible with Rocket then Pistol driving to Mitchell and Central Kialla. BigMat bravely ventured forward for a brief bash at the breezy end, Rene too rose through the ranks but his effort erred to erratic (Hollywood hyperventilating behind) reaching the rushin' front.  Poppa's piercing pronunciations perforated the eardrums as the Cats worked west, a long narrow 51 squadron homing in on their pussycat prey just metres behind.  Jen, Car+Mel drove the train well to Boundary Rd, beside Wozz then Boof to Channel Rd finished my second shift.  Almost on the rear as the bunch flew into Kinder corner, my spot looked sweet, but the turns shortened sharply as Prentice Rd drew near, I was back up to second wheel in an instant. Wozz was the sacrificial lamb lead-out, shadows of Rocket, Boof and Pistol spooling up their turbos behind, my momentary effort at the front humbled in a nanosecond with the three launching to easy glory (happy to be first of the rest). 

The curse of craved kilometres pried the eyes open at 4:30 Thursday, is more best and less lazy?  Maybe I'm just Strava-struck?  Still short changed on summer degrees (9 and a stiff southerly more in tune with June), I hit New Dookie west, Boundary south and Old Dookie east to purge the urge, fronting to Friars as CerveloJohn, Speissy, Sandy, Tim, Bickers, Belly, Coggo, Snow, Heady and Phil arrived for active service.  Slipping out of the suburbs, Speissy nearly nagged needing notoriety, Tum and Tina climbing on the caboose as we got down to business.  Longer turns seem to be de rigeur of late, the odd rolled turn flagging the flogged and flabbergasted.  Geoffrey joined at Central Ave, Tim and I drew the headwind short straw in Boundary Rd, turning up the wick to see who squeaked. An h.r. comparison biased Belly (148) to my 162.  Bickers swansong to River Rd culled the drivers to 9, turns shortening for others as Central Kialla's wind eroded determination.  Fortunately fit, I continued turns with Heady, Tum, Coggo, Tim and CerveloJohn beyond Arcadia Downs, it was a test to crest the first dip of Conrod on the front, nobody keen to pair me at the pointy end. I buried finish line hopes squeezing 48 km/h out of the old engine for 350 metres, feeling Coggo and Tim needed to sing for their one/two supper (before breakfast), my nutrition was in tasting the bronze. 

The luxury of a 5:10 sleep-in mellowed the mindset Friday morning, casually kitted up and cruised to the pain train station pondering the likely locomotives that would turn up.  AvantiLeigh and Dipper (courteously curtailed the Cat kit), Tum (frisky on the fast Felt), Carl (freshly flogged from the Thursday night hit squad), Coggo (co-ordinated flouro) and Heady (wearing white....most aggressive young rider?) formed the seven.   Coggo hauled the carriages out of town, I'd slotted into 5th spot with plenty of preparation for perspiration, the last k of Old Dookie Rd at 172 bpm.  A hint of a southeasterly gave Dipper and Heady a workout in Boundary Rd, Coggo, AvantiLeigh, Carl then Tum dragging us to River Rd for my second attempt (a cast of Couldabeens dodging the ripple strips).  Exertion led to exhaustion after 1600 metres, salvation sought in the draft of Dippers turn, just a whisker off the pace let me cram the craved oxygen.  Coggo and AvantiLeigh ramped up the rate to finish River Rd, Carl and Tum cranked Central Kialla.  Tum handed me the reigns near Pistols place, 41 km/h to Mt Nicolaci was finished with guttural gasps to grab the the back berth as Dip wound up the volume on the ascent.  The pause for traffic was Dippers chance to adjust the wheel sensor (giving the AvantiAndy method a miss!) but too much adjustment caused another pause.  Back on the Raftery boil, my stars were aligning for a plum position in Conrod, Coggo drove to Galbraith's gate, AvantiLeigh to Arcadia Downs, Carl got us to Conrod's dip for Tum to dig deep.  Suffering the noddies and hunting for cogs overtook his velocity with 200 to go, my turn to liberate the lead and leg it.  A breathless end to the week, a 38.6 average rewarding the teamwork.

Week 49   341km.   YTD 14,755 km

Week 48 : Tasting truffles before tripe

Post 319

Christmas arrived early on Sunday, gathering at Friars for a festive tour to Longleat winery via Tatura and Rushworth, the lure of fermented grapes with Goats irresistible. 16 formed at 8 (Coggo, Heady, Dipper, Tina, Tim, Joe, Graham, Phillo, Tum, Deb, Kate, Baz, Belly, Brendan and Speissy) to tap to Tat in a casual cruise, a chance to prize open the personalities with long turns and time aplenty. A diversion du toilette at Tat incurred an interval, but underway again to tack and jibe against a south southeasterly (11-26 km/h) along the relentlessly long tarmac to the Basin.  A few hills released the rampant climbers, Phillo pouncing an early KOM but faded fast against Dipper and the princes of the polka dots. An intermission was called at the Rushy bakery for calories,  Spartacus, Cindy and NevY intercepted, then East to Murchison with a chase to catch Tina, Deb and Kate who'd flown the cafe coop.  Inclines were being tackled with tempo at Harrimans Point, I backed up to lend a wheel to Tum, Deb and Kate (a gesture of goodwill to all Goats) who'd been backed out, to grind the remaining k's to Murch, Deb and Kate taking a bike-swap road test to Longleat.  PinarelloMat, RoosterRoscoe, Jan, Kerry, Snow and the remainder of the short shift joined in the hydration of beer and wine, gourmet lunch and cheese platters to round off an enjoyable tour and get a head start to Yuletide pickling.

Monday's exercise was to exorcise the cognitive content that had brewed since three, a solo Saturday lap against a 15km/h southerly was the prescription to clear the cranial clouds.  Eastward on a deserted Channel Rd, life was found in Boundary Rd with eight lasses southbound at the bridge and a Cat clan clawing at catching.  At Old Dookie Rd the temptation to continue North was shunned, an eastward crank chosen to toughen up with a piggy parfumerie following me to the toaster. It was a push home from the emu, surprised that progress was preferential to the fifteen (73 rpm) rather than spinning the seventeen at 80. The skull swiftly swept of skeletons, there was inspiration enough to continue to Wanganui hill (but barely enough to put any speed on), head down on Rudd Rd and breezing along the Boulevard back to base to chalk up 45k.  

With Tuesday's tempo factionalising the Couldabeens into the fast and the furtile, I tried the turtle team at 5:50, being outranked to travel on the 6am bullet train.  I was the first to berth at the carpark, Nick, WhisperingJack, Cougar, Temple, Shorty, Chops, AvantiTrev and AvantiMat arrived, all forming single file behind (must change my deodorant!).   Temple tenuously came to the front as the 5:50 flag fell, a cool 12 degrees and a light southwester (11-17 km/h) tamed the turn to the truck route, gently applying the throttle. Shifts had gone full circle by Channel Rd's S bend, Temple and AvantiMat well tempo'd to Boundary Rd.  A ping from my rear wheel and a frozen Garmin speed spelt a magnetic malignment (later finding the wheel magnet turned about face) but it was onward and windward to River Rd.  Kenworth fronted from the west, perturbed by a previous puncture but prepared for pace as he u-turned to get aboard.  Mitchell Rd's Archer to Mt.Nicolaci stage had been swept of gravel, a clean cross of the highway readied all for the heads down hurry in Raftery.  By Arcadia Downs the bunch had lengthened and thinned, Chops cooking his cutlet in Conrod till crisp, handing the hurry to WhisperingJack to have a crack (he had the pressure down just 50 metres later).  Kenworth turned up the torque nearing the dip undertalking Temple, I scored the inertia round the outside to claim the chocolates. 

Twenty two little Indians filed singly south on Archer Wednesday morning, a copious collection of Couldabeens  (Wozza, Chops, Rocket, Boof, Hollywood, SuperMario, Shorty, Trav, Nick, Cougar, Jen, Car + Mel, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Jase, WhisperingJack, Nicholas, Rene, BHPaul and whatshisname) at a rapid roll. Into an ENE breeze beside Jase then Rocket crescendo'd my heart rate to 180, spent and speechless into Central Kialla, a minute taken till talking to Trav was tenable. Nicholas and Rene heeded advice to stay as tail lights, long time no see BHPaul and his mate (name numb), great to have Car(mel) back to raise the standards.  Bloated bunches whistled west at the River Rd dip, Ange's shrieking salutation stabbing the air and scaring the wildlife. Pace was percolating with the breeze behind the behinds in Channel Rd, shooting past the cypress trees I was 2nd wheel between a rock (Rocket) and a hard (Wozz) place.  Rockets velocity assured my shift was short to the kinder corner, 45 clicks beside Wozz then all went single file to Hopeful corner leaving Wozz to drive (and dry).  Rocket soon shifted to supersonic whilst Wozz, Trav and I attempted to keep the pot boiling for minor positions (Boof & Hollywood came from the rear to pinch the places). The calm after the storm found Jen, Car+Mel well up the ranks, the bunch back together to idle back to town. 

Excuses pinged on WhatsApp from 5:30 Thursday, a wicked westerly (27-50 km/h) had something to do with it!  Garmin glitches were rattling my OCD cage to crave a crank, a test to assess a wheel magnet change restoring data.  Friars was bereft of bikes at 6am, so a solo Goatless effort ensued, taking tailwind treasure before the hernia headwind home (the glory before the grind, tasting truffles before the tripe).  It might be money for jam but there was lots to spend to get home.  On top of the 13 sprocket at 81 rpm, Old Dookie was done in a PB 8:32, the Boundary buffeting to bear as I tried to dial down the heart rate. I considered River Rd homeward for a nanosecond but sanity prevailed over heroics to choose a Channel Rd course.  The turn west into a not so tempting tempest (37-50 km/h) balancing a skyrocketing heart rate, tibialis anteriors screaming in protest and insatiable lungs against a pedantic determination was like bringing silence to Syria.  Finally, the sight of the suburbs brought an inner peace, the torture terminated turning north into the main drag, contentment curing the Garmin gremlins too. (clocking a 29 average for the Devils lane dash, a little icing on the cake)

Only the dedicated disciples fronted Friars Friday, Coggo, Joe, Phil, AvantiLeigh, Dipper and Tum to receive the sacrament of speed on the pain train, Judas Belly defecting to the dark (feline) side.  It was a fresh five degrees for seven to slog out Old Dookie Rd, Phil the self appointed observer at the back. I assumed the drivers seat for the burst to the (Dobson's) bridge, AvantiLeigh, Tum, Dipper, Coggo and Joe lined up behind to follow suit. Coggo cranked to the Boundary Rd pig pen, Joe's one go abbreviated, giving me the leg to the pub. I had a helpful drag in River Rd to my third contribution, the billiard table section from k2 to 3, thanks Coggo! The breeze had abated by Central Kialla, Dipper and Coggo driving us to Mitchell Rd. Closing in on a distant Mexican inspired a push to Archer Rd, it was (ironically) Nicolaci at Mt.Nicolaci jumping on for a tow (struggling with just 2 rides in 18 months).  Over the highway and ripping into Raftery, Coggo elbowed me my final fling as we approached Conrod, Heady (just out of beddy) was now ready to join us for the last k. Trying to maintain 43 clicks failed with 150 metres to go, all blasting past but I greedily devoured the oxygen trophy.

Week 48   273 km       YTD 14,414

Week 47 A hillistic hiatus

Post 318

It was war on a wicked wind on Saturday, a southerly (15 to 41 km/h) to test Wozz and I reaching the carpark (and beginning to question my intention to tap out a daily double).  Attendance was trimmed with many on holiday, Lynda, Jase, Ange, Lenny, Lucy, SuperMario, Eammon, Temple, Jen, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat and AvantiAndy, all happy to get started to warm up limbs in 10 degrees. Alongside Wozz leading leg one and AvantiMat on leg two, I completed my contributions early.  AvantiAndy undeterred by digit dramas and Eammon emerging out of mothballs, all were tempo'd by the tailwind in Boundary Rd, SpinDoctor appearing at the Ham Hilton in Old Dookie as we angled across the tarmac dealing with the southerly.  Rounded the Toaster and then the Emu, an ease at the kennels to keep the (stretched) bunch as one, with Rocket joining us from the rear rows of the Cats. I had little interest in the sprint on Wanganui (preserving something for a sequel circuit with the Goats) but sitting third wheel with 200 metres left to the hill favoured Foss's fortune. Reaching the pointy end I let launch, Wozz whipping by easily with SpinDoctor glued to his wheel (pouncing to victory in the dying metres).  Lemontree coffee consumed and conversation curtailed, camp was swiftly shifted to Friars to join exiting Goats & Muppets. Belly's belated breakfast was bolted (a KOM for the coffee-banana toast-w.c. stage) as all saddled up for a windswept way to Mitchell, Muppets filtering rearward.  Geoffrey was the square peg in the bunch of Jen, Belly, Baz, Heady, Tina, AvantiAndy, SpecialisedTony and I, stacked across the road as we sliced the southerly on Mitchell Rd.   Echeloned too in River Rd, knots were gradually added, then silence (but for the hum of wheels) in Boundary Rd's tailwind utopia, h.r. almost dropping to double figures. The Toaster-Emu leg was outvoted by the Boundary-straight-to-Lemnos-Cosgrove manoeuvre, Belly and I left to front the 3k flog to Ford Rd. Galahs suddenly launched from the roadside scattering the formation, headbutts and chaos commotion for a moment.  Belly, serenely smug at the (half-biked) front, seemed unconcerned when Geoffrey contracted the noddies in Wanganui Rd, by the golf course he'd vanished o.t.a.  Pit stopped back in town, climbs and descents were the Welsford St cafe conversation, happening upon Cate, Deb and Weapon was the breakfast bonus to 90 k's.

Holidays took me far from the flatlands and into the bumpy stuff on Monday, forcing Fossil to flog far uphill!  A circuit was plotted on the old Calder highway out of Harcourt, heart rate put into hurry on a few early short climbs south to Faraday, the old highway snaking below the new M79 to Elphinstone.  The sun peeked over the rolling hills, a pair of skippy's mocking my speed on the ascent to Taradale, cobwebs cleared from all cassette cogs up hills and down dales (little chainring preserved pristine, untainted by chain wear).  Memories of Malmsbury nestled in a dip came back on the 60 km/h descent, but barely 16 on the ascent put pain post pleasure.  A Kyneton carrot lay just 15k beyond, tarmac levelled to settle the gear changes, bluestone bridges and old mills to view as a rhythm was restored in the historic hinterland. Soon into Kyneton and over the bridge, I took the Burton Ave exit, but it now funnels back onto the freeway, 18 k of hotmix and the draft of Bendigo bound traffic made 40+ possible and pleasurable. All that glittered soon turned dull, recent resurfacing had left a 30mm ridge mid-shoulder to whittle the wits, dodging wheelnuts, metal pack strap, u-bolts and broken glass kept the occipital occupied. With the Elphinstone exit taken, a short climb pointed me toward Chewton, over the hump was a dreamy downhill 10k to Castlemaine, caffeine cravings to be cured. Just one cafe open curtailed the compulsion, then an 8 k climb back to base station Harcourt against a nuisance northeaster (10-17km/h) capped off 80k's.  (758 metres of climbing in a couple of hours is about 4 weeks worth at home!)

My mission was northbound Tuesday morning, a slow climb to Harcourt North with sunrise orange painting highlights on Mt.Alexander's surrounding hills, a scenic contrast to undulating rows of green vines (did someone mention wine?)  I missed the Maldon exit (the intended course) and was drawn to the M79 again, so onward and upward in search of an alternate exit. Steering around murdered Michelins, destroyed Dunlops and buggered Bridgestones, the highway hardware (bolts, nuts, ockie straps and tin) lay as a slalom course, passing pan techs a positive providing perfect pull for the up hill toil.  My target was reset at Ravenswood, just 17k's to Bendigo tempted a test.  BigHill loomed large ahead, a steady tap till the last half k got me off the Fizik and the heart rate soaring (182bpm....BigHill meant the Big Ring of course!) A smelly squashed skippy to swerve and a skinny 400mm gutter as a bike lane punctuated the peak, but a smooth and wide hotmix descent brought comfort as the heart rate climbed out of the clouds.  Tap tap to Kangaroo Flat (ironically having just passed a flat kangaroo) in search of Foss fuel, again not a cafe open till Golden Square (avoiding the golden arches).  A filled tank (flat white and apple/blueberry strudel) caloried the return trip, the southbound climb of BigHill an easier gradient than the sharp northbound one (but still the skinny gutter).  Plenty of pace off the top but wind shear from passing trucks put caution on the agenda, back to Ravenswood an uphill at 30 seemed to be a crawl.  A steady slog south enjoying the Baum's lively feel climbing (shame the engine is sluggish) soon returned me to Harcourt, 60k and 513 metres ticked.

Back to home soil Wednesday, craving a courting with Couldabeens after two days solo. I found Wozz and Jase (licking Tuesday's wounds) southbound, a mild and windless 13 degrees a perfect accompaniment to a smooth elevation.  Boof, Shazz, Rocket, Cougar, Tucks, Jen, WhisperingJack (yes, he's back......for the 12,473rd time) Trav, Cate, Mel, AvantiTrev and AvantiMat assembled, bearing South singly on Archer as Rene and Nicholas u-turned to hitch a ride. The usual hesitations at forming a second row were over by the roundabout, my appearance at the front not till River Rd with Trav then with young Nicholas alongside. His first introduction to the drivers end had enthusiasm overpower ability, the kaboom and sudden search for a draft causing chaos (replaced by Rene riding rusty and ramshackled in a short lived shift).   Paul & Ash were caught at River Rd's ripple strips, a nip north on Boundary Rd (lone Goat Phil southward) for Channels' Cha Cha to challenge. Good to be socially soaked back in a bunch instead of listening to internal voices, the draft easing the effort and enthusing the ego.  Beside Jase to the kindergarten then in tow to Hopeful corner, I noticed the right row had vanished, Jase left drying on the front. I took sympathy passing to lend a draft, Trav soon doing me the same favour, but we were soon swamped by Boof, Wozz and birthday boy Rocket in the real fight for the finish.  Sentences were gradually being spoken by the reformation at the school, a tractable tap to town with a caffeine chaser at Kialla Lakes. (Damn!, I'll miss this post ride relaxation and social intercourse when holidays are exhausted)

Needed a pith helmet Thursday, a tropical 24 degrees at 5:30am I was expecting toucans on the telephone lines. Friars was minus the usual Coggo limber-up, an enlarged entourage of Belly, Heady, Phillo, Phil, Tim, Tum, Kate, Speissy, Hommy, Carl, Sandy, Snow, Deb, PinarelloMat and Baz cranked casually out of town, JB, Tina and AvantiAndy joining on the outskirts. A relaxed roll till School Rd with the h.r. idling at 110, Belly opened up the throttle stretching the bunch. My first go at the front wasn't till the Broken bridges for a short shift with PinarelloMat then a long leg with Tim (pristine Saeco Cannondale) to River Rd. It took 6k's for the turns to go full circle, the fire in Belly's belly igniting again at Laws Drive. A push at 38 clicks to Mitchell Rd beside Tim, Phillo whistling "wait-up Dixie" on the westward. Loose gravel from Archer to the top of Mt.Nicolaci slowed the speed, a strange resurface of a previously decent length of tarmac, best spent on the proliferation of pot holes elsewhere that torture the toosh and mangle Mavic's.  Only 6 drivers left by the time we cornered Conrod, Carl got the jump just as I hesitated for Tim's gear change jumping a tooth, not enough wattage in my 53 km/h pursuit to catch the young fella but second satisfactorily substituted.  Deb's dash for caffeine kept the h.r. going, saturation by perspiration with conversation at Welsford St cafe finished my bike week early, a couple of holidays off the Baum due. 

Week 47  : 329 km.    YTD 14,141 km

Week 46 Cafe critiques and double deflation

Post 317

With the weight of a four course lunch and two slack days off the bike, a Sunday social tap begged to get back (quietly) into the groove.  A WhatsApp invite drew only stallions (Rocket and Jase) to the barrier, so it was "consume the concrete Foss", no rest for the righteous! I'd chosen a Archer-Mitchell-River-Boundary-OldDookie lap, the first six k's to get the head wind (SW@ 15)  over with early, Rockets rate of knots chucking me in the deep end to the truck route, Jase pace matching to Mitchell.  A short 2100 metre recovery in tow till duty called again in Central Kialla with Rocket and to River Rd's bridge with Jase, MachineSteve was the solitary bike headed west.  Dragging back the heart rate from 172 bpm took most of the River Rd tow to contain, only 18 bpm was shaved off when Boundary Rd summoned another contribution.  The suffer scale had peaked again by the highway, matching Jase to the fig farm suggested my swansong. No let up on the journey west in Old Dookie, just one more turn alongside Rocket was purely inspired by thoughts of banana toast nirvana at the Lemontree, a fitting finish to 35k, but mourning of Rocket's dear departed Cosmic.

The peace train was the ideal start to two weeks leave, Coggo, Deb, Belly, CerveloJohn, Speissy, Sandy, Principal Skinner and Hommy arrived at Friars to commence proceedings. The sun peeked above the horizon on Old Dookie Rd as Graham and Tina were added to the fold, a pleasant and breezless 12 degrees made a breeze of the regular 32 k Goat lap (Tina, Sandy, Coggo, Belly and Hommy tenderised by the Tat 200/100 Saturday)  The h.r. comparison was back on the Belly agenda, a 130/150 variation closing a gap of the past. A few were unable to resist Conrod's temptation of tempo, I was captivated by warm conversation and Degani caffeine (unfortunately lukewarm) with holidays allowing post ride socialism. As an addendum,  I joined Tina and NevY to tamely tap ahead of the Adams family via Archer, Mitchell and Boundary, a northeaster brewing.   Not till the Boundary Rd Hog Hilton did the Adams collective catch, familiar faces of Hoffy, ChrisW, GT, Jimbo, Axle, Pete, Beery, JT and Ron, but keeping my wits sharpened with MrMagnet amongst them. It was a cruisy but erring to erratic spin to the toaster, Emu and back to Boundary, Jimbo puncturing (half a dozen stopping) but the remainder continuing. The westward leg on Old Dookie Rd turned up the tempo, I took the lead over Central Ave and applied the speed spice (unsure of the finish line) finding Mr Magnet and GT glued to my wheel. They both edged past, MrMagnet instantly imploded, GT (with mixmaster set on high) spun to the bridge, (the line now learned)

Fed, caffined and attired Tuesday morning but found the Baum bogged on two flat tyres! A record set changing two tubes, (might just make the start), bolted out the door to discover the front flat again!  Finding the Michelin's minuscule glass shard, it was repeat step one, all urgency cancelled with no hope of catching the departing bunch. Setting forth on an anti-clockwise Archer-Truck route-River Rd course to intercept, I just missed the 6am Couldabeens hares (turtles many minutes ahead) at "wait for David", so tapped the vacant stretch of River Rd almost to its end as a gargantuan Goat gathering finally arrived (Deb, Belly, Phillo, Heady, Bickers, Sandy, AvantiAndy, Spartacus, Kate, JB, Tina, Coggo, CerveloJohn, Snow, Liam, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Speissy, Joe and Graham), AvantiAndy leaving the gate open so I could slip in behind Spartacus. (instantly alarmed at the missing rear caliper......phew!, tucked under the Trek chainstay)  There was some spice to the speed (previously clamped I'm told) on River and on to Mitchell, with whistles from the rear (a HG hint at hand braking?)  Halting at the highway then on the gas for the finale, it was fourties and flying at the horse stud (now a bespoke Belly Strava segment "grind from Galbraith's gate").   Into Conrod's first dip JB hit the front, and promptly hit the wall, so I took AvantiLeigh and Dipper on a full steam break to the line, flicking AvantiLeigh the elbow at the last dip, but fit Dipper zipped to nip the win.  Yet another post ride gregarious gathering (Welsford St cafe) consuming consummate caffeine and munching moorish walnut & banana toast....... I could get used to this lifestyle.

Like ants drawn to a picnic, led lights drew in from all directions to the Couldabeens carpark Wednesday morning, a southerly cooling my thoughts of an early turn at the front. SpinDoctor, Jase, Boof, Mel, Hollywood, Cate, SuperMario, Rocket, Tucks, Choppy, Temple and AvantiTrev exited South, Pistol arriving as Jase and SpinDoctor led the drive to the truck route. Most had tucked in for a tow in the left line with very few advancing for a pole position, Boof then I offering ourselves as a sacrifice to the God of headwinds (name censored to protect young and sensitive ears) to Mitchell Rd, my pairing with Hollywood on Mitchell continuing the anxiety. I enjoyed the respite in River Rd as others did their bit, just G and Tina I.D'd in the flouro palette of Cats blurring west as we dipped the dip.  A pair of plodders hitched a ride as we veered by River's rumble strips, the tailwind in Boundary adding clicks as we set course to Channel Rd.  The S bend to the cypress trees spent most of my pennies beside Boof then Hollywood, survival for the Cha Cha all that mattered now.  SuperMario was the hand grenade at hopeful corner (ready to explode trying to reach the front), a draft quickly sought as Rocket, Hollywood, Jase, SpinDoctor and Boof humbled all in their hurry.   Several had been well expelled by speed as we cruised to the school, Temple and I turning back to re-team and tow Cate and Mel back to town. 

New rim tape and tubes was some comfort at possibly preventing puncture prologues, finding Wozza en route to the Couldabeens Thursday thrash.  A small but swift gathering of Rocket, Vince, ChrisA, Trav, Pistol, Temple, Cougar and BigBrad set off with Pistol and Wozz opening the account.  Emerging from hibernation, BigBrad took short turns, Temple toasting me from the S bend to Boundary. A wind swing (ESE) favoured flying in River Rd, my h.r. reading 51 bpm (I wish!) strap submerged in sweat (?)  Beside Temple at Laws Drive and with Pistol beyond the bridge, my target was set too far (2200 metres) to River's end flogging 41 kays, thoroughly thrashed and thanatophobic turning to Central Kialla.   BigBrad and Cougar took an Archer exit, Temple had resigned from active duty thus sandwiching me between Rocket and Pistol. With my energy evaporated at Roubaix, I too took the early retirement plan as the driving ranks thinned to ChrisA, Vince, Wozz and Pistol (Rocket relaxed at the rear reserving criterium legs).  ChrisA threw himself on the sacrificial alter for the last 500 metres of Conrod straight, Wozza with the win wattage over the line to finish 28.3 k's in 44:16.

Plenty of WhatsApp interest in the Friday flyer from Friars on Fryers, but only Coggo, Heady and AvantiLeigh fronted (Dipper declined, double deflation dramas denied duty).  Heady braved the first leg in Old Dookie to Dobson's bridge, I was behind earning a doctorate in dehydrated invertebrate zoology (studying dried worms on Heady's rear caliper) to divert attention from my forthcoming turn to Central Ave.  AvantiLeigh drove to School Rd, Coggo to Boundary for us to all face the mental masochism of the headwind to harry and hinder hurry.  MasiMario meandered North, our seven k's strenuous to River Rd, shared to keep us on schedule.  Couldabeens cornered, we wheeled west, Heady towing us two k's before flashing his elbow. I'd preset my target to reach the bridge before passing the reigns to AvantiLeigh, maybe a bridge to far as the squint west seemed an eternity. Calling on all reserves (and the Almighty) by Laws Rd, there was relief cresting the channel, but legs turning to jelly out of the Fizik to catch the draft at the rear. Just enough recovery time to repeat the process at the front from Archer to Melbourne Rd, hopes were pinned on the tailwind in Raftery being my salvation. Arriving at the front again in Conrod, there was enough in my tank to make mid fourties, but Coggo (enthused by a week overseas) took flight to take the Friday chocolates.  A pit stop postmortem at Degani (coffee specs set to hot) included Rooster and Tina, many words on AvantiAndy's digit dilemmas.  

In search of a few finishing k's, I aimed at Archer and found an Adams Rd mob massing (20+),  long-time-no-see Iggy, Norm and Barnsey. A scrambled single-filed start southbound, the southerly at 22-32km/h scattering many. Some sense of rhythm started in Mitchell, but MrMagnet had magnetised to my Mavic to throw comfort out the window. Some strayed from the rear, slowing the front, a bedding in ritual for brake pads. Boundary Rd northbound with a tailwind got the bunch finally functioning, but some moved up the ranks only to retreat rearward from the energy end. (makes you appreciate the grass in your own paddocks). Time (thankfully) tolled an Old Dookie exit, half a dozen joining the tap home, made smooth with Principal Skinner's inclusion.

Week 46  : 313 km.     YTD 13,812 km

 

Week 45 : Nice icing on a quick cake.

Post 316

Procrastinating over radar ramifications (the "will I, won't I" syndrome) stalled my Saturday start to 5:51, yet again another PB to be set reaching the Couldabeens carpark (5.5k in 9 minutes).  I arrived spent, Rocket, Ange, Shorty, Jase, Pistol, Cougar, Kel, Temple, Boof and Bo were just 20 seconds away from 6am launch time, counting my blessings joining the rear ranks to recover and ready myself for the 26 km/h northeaster attacking those braving the front.  6:11 at the cypress trees was my turn to contribute beside Ange then with Kel from the S bend, destination Boundary Rd, 6:17 duely drained. The feline gaze of Kel's Cat kit distracted thoughts away from the wind, more than the usual turns taken as the battle in Old Dookie raged against the wind. 6:30 at the Toaster, 6:37 at the Emu (named orgasm corner today, senses soaring soaking up a tailwind home) and bumped up the knots, 6:43 the furrowed brows and gritted teeth of  the 20+ Cat pack grinding into their trek East. 6:55 Bo and Ange took the reigns in Wanganui Rd all the way to the test track (where Ange's will wained), Rocket, Boof and Pistol taking the podium positions, I was happy to scrape up the crumbs of fourth.  7:10 Chicken legs, Couldabeens absentees and milk lattes were laughed over, the coffee guzzled and breakfast gobbled as radars were watched to beat the impending damp home and dry.

The head ruled the heart initially, weather, wind and attendance were negative in the skull but the prospect of combining sledging, alcohol and bikes overpowered in the end to join the 3rd annual Couldabeens Tour de Beer Saturday afternoon. A Peppermill pub prologue primed Temple, Pistol, Rocket, Jen, Bo, Ange, Kenworth, SuperMario, Trav, Wozz, Jase, BigMat, Cougar (providing the prerequisite pub puncture protocols) Hollywood, Ro, Boof and special guests AvantiAndy and MasiMario.  Stage1 to Pistol Pete's was punctuated by Jase's spill (and loss of shin skin.....but he soldiered on, buoyed by beer). All fed and watered, stage 2 took Central Kialla and Union Rd to Toolamba for round three of hydration, Wozz continuing the tradition of pub punctures with a Continental injected by glass. BigMat and Ro withdrew on a camping campaign, 17 remaining tore into stage 3 on Toolamba-Rushworth and Dhurringile roads (shortened by strong and determined turns) with the 15-35 km/h NNE wind building a thirst, to Tatura. The publican provided hot chips (like 17 starved seagulls flocking over seven large bowls) our exit puncture punctuated (Boof deflating to the occasion). A hard drive on stage 4 to Mooroopna (Ferguson & Turnbull Rd, Midland Hwy) against the wind, MasiMario quantifying a quadrella with puncture #4 just shy of the Cricketers Arms. Refreshed and rehydrated, stage 5 returned to Shepp, terminating at the Terminus where the hardcore continued. (Next years event seeking JackDaniels AND Michelin sponsorship?)

A case of brain fade forgot the heart rate monitor Monday, removing a target I could avoid shooting at. I went easy on the old engine out to the golf course, slowly building the kilometres in the hour, was it a rain shower or smoke in the Ford Rd distance? (No, 93% humidity fogging the specs). Turning toward the toaster tested the thighs to tap the thirties, 15km/h of southerly trialled this flatlander (maybe 'cause I'm alp-less?). Westward on Old Dookie to the symphony of piggies partaking breakfast, there wasn't an oncoming Cat or Goat to be seen.  A Channel Rd exit was considered for a moment but I toughened up on the River & Archer Rd option, Rocket (amassing Crit k's) greeted as we crossed paths.  The six k's of River Rd was shortened with a stretch on the 15 tooth cog, time starvation dictating a truck route shortcut.  A slow skirt around the B double Volvo that had tripped over, then savoured the tail wind following me on Archer to home.

Fresher than expected Tuesday morning (9 degrees) but it didn't deter 17 fronting for a cup day cruise on the Saturday circuit.  Wozz, Shorty, Trav, Temple, Lynda, Kel, Rocket, Ange, Bo, Kenworth, SuperMario, FeltMat, Nev, Jase, Boof, Tucks and AvantiTrev set a smooth sail on Channel Rd but Jase's flat on the start to leg 2 paused all. Wit and sarcasm aided the repair, underway again the social rounds resumed as I progressed forward. Tucks tuckered out already from months in hibernation, FeltMat (temporarily RidleyMat and recently MasiMat) is now AvantiMat, looking to be locking in the new bike by the grin on his face.  Ange and Bo turned up the tempo beyond the cypress trees, we were all pleasantly pushed along Boundary by the 20km/h SSW'er.  Beside the bandaged Jase in Old Dookie Rd escalated the effort, arriving quickly to the Toaster for Rocket and Boof to drive us North. Nev and Kel took us to the Emu, off the throttle at the kennels for Kel to compose. I was gradually promoted through the ranks on our westward wheel to Wanganui, expecting to be at the pointy end (as usual?) as the sprint came up on the agenda, but Bo and Ange held the handbrake on the hurry, seemed the furious finish was flushed. Getting itchy feet within 150 metres of the hill I bolted, not a shadow behind me half way up but the cry of crucified Cosmics came quickly from behind, Rocket, Boof and Wozz taking the second peak honours. Saturday revisited rolling to the Lemontree, chat on chutney, camping and criteriums till time tolled to toil for me at the salt mines.

The Wednesday ritual to the Archer St car park found Hollywood, Pistol, Boof, Rocket, Trav, Jen, Cougar, AvantiTrev, Shorty, Cate, Mel (-Car) and Choppy keen to tour. Cate's light dismounted at the roundabout, Rocket and I both ironically punctured on the slow down, Rocket with a bindii, me with a tack. I felt well outclassed on the post puncture positioning between Hollywood and Pistol (and to face the headwind on Mitchell) but surprisingly rose to the occasion (avoiding glancing at the heart rate for fear reality would lead to mental abandonment).  At central Kialla, Nev, Mexican Angelo and Liam were in a five man break from the Cats, the feline fraternity half a k in arrears, CerveloJohn o.t.a. from them.  Our entourage ebbed eagerly East, Rocket and Boof providing the lions share of the tow,  AvantiLeigh the solitary Goat on a westward mission.  I plugged the pairing with Pistol and Hollywood in Boundary Rd, then we all ripped into the Devils lane dash courtesy of the East northeaster.  AvantiTrev, Mel, Cougar, Pistol and I were gapped from the rear on the turn at the kinder, the long slog through the ranks rewarded me a bronze (towing Pistol) to take a 9th overall for the ChaCha, nice icing on the quick cake.

Thursday's rain tempted the taste for haste on Friday, a trip aboard the Goat pain train with similarly ranked riders was in order to calm the cranium cravings (gathering with group one stallions outclass this old hack) Heady, Dipper, Coggo, Belly, AvantiLeigh and Snow enrolled for duty (Snow self nominating as caboose captain).  Coggo set the speed wheels in motion leaving town, Heady and AvantiLeigh following form.  My crank from School Rd to Boundary got the old engine warmed up, glad Dippers turn South started calm so I could catch onto second last spot.  All put in their money's worth till my turn came up again at one tree dam, arriving at River Rd wrung out and ragged, in time to greet the Couldabeens in opposite flight. I had all of River Rd to recover while Dip, Heady, Belly, Coggo and AvantiLeigh did their bit, my drive for Central Kialla, a thanks in return. Snowball rolled forward for a single slog at the front in Mitchell, turns shortening in proportion to propulsion in Raftery Rd as Conrod straight drew near.  Heady inherited the front in the final 200 metres and was left to relish the win, a timely 47:17 for 7 to tap 30.

Week 45 :  291 km.  YTD 13,499 km

Week 44 : New bikes the new black.

Post 315

Getting organised early allowed a calm cruise to the Saturday start line, likeminded pilgrims populated the peleton (AvantiChris, SpinDoctor, Hollywood, Rocket, Cougar, PistolPete, AvantiTrev, Tour de FightBaCC legends Troy and Ralphy, Jen, Trav, Jase, MasiMario and FeltMat (temporarily RidleyMat).  Six bells tolled, the first leg in first gear while AvantiTrev adjusted himself to vertical, settling into the traditional tempo a k later (enough to earn a second breakfast).  A SSE breeze in Boundary Rd motivated motion, Jen was the grinning kid with a new toy, the flouroAvanti now in permanent residence. Old Dookie's piggery perfume pickled Hollywoods nostrils, bacon funnily finding favour for my Lemontree luxury later. Just beyond the Emu, Hollywoods puncture propagated the pedantic personality, AvantiTrev taking charge of the pit stop so we could all get home before lunch. Nath got aboard the relaunch, sixteen spearing west in search of Wanganui hill honours or breakfast (or both).  Not surprisingly, Rocket took the win with sheer speed, at least AvantiChris and MasiMario were well positioned to keep him working.  Hay fever hassled my respiratories on the roll back into town, the murderous Mason St manhole minefield was blissfully belied by the Baum.  New bikes, Tour de Fight BaCC and bacon the table talk topics, the footpath filling with Genesis/51 and Tri Club bunches.

A westerly up the Khyber begged a PB Monday morning, a dip on the New Dookie disco paying up a 40.4 average to start the week on a positive.  Exertion earned exhaustion arriving at Boundary Rd, a calm crank south to tame the ticker was in order, and to get thoughts around the 25 km/h headwind home. Pleased I managed to maintain thirties westward, head down at the favoured 76 rpm and blessing the odd bit of tree lined shelter. Familiar white wheels from the west identified Pistol Pete approaching the dip, just 3 k's more till respite came on the southbound leg of Central Kialla. Nick and the quick chicks were eastbound as I wrestled west in Mitchell, the climb up Mt Nicolaci toughened by the gust from an oncoming truck. Goodness and mercy followed me in Raftery Rd, (no pussycat pursuit to persecute) gradually pointing north to have the wind at my side. Early home, narrowly avoiding a numbskull who doesn't comprehend give way.

The southerly had stemmed, birds were singing (not blown to Sydney) and the sun almost shining on Tuesday morning, conditions cool to convene for a Goat gathering (sorry Couldabeens, Tuesday's thrash is a few rungs too high) Coggo, Heady, Spiessy, Phillo, Belly, Brendan, Bickers, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Sandy, Kate, Hommy and Snow filtered in, talk tumultuous till time tolled, taxiing out of town the traffic lights split the bunch.  Coggo and I tapered the tempo till the bunch reformed, AvantiAndy, JB and Tina jumped aboard.  Long turns got underway with some success, flowing smoothly with little hint of the dreaded rubber band effect at the back. I stole a spy on the scenic sunrise but eyes rightly reverted to Bickers wayward wheel ahead, a sentence or two amongst the Goats possible with the regular rotation reduced. AvantiAndy's puncture punctuated peace in River Rd, the enemy of time forced me to a solo soldier-on as the bunch berthed for repairs. Nowhere to hide for the slog home, dial up the heart rate and focus the fortitude, 17k's back to base motivated by a raisin toast reward if I was ahead on agenda (two slice treat)

Saddled up at 5 on Wednesday to break the habitual 35k routine, teaching legs and lungs a little longevity lesson. Rocket's familiar posture was just visible sneaking in extra k's in the half light of Wanganui Rd,  a golf course loop and a rip round Raftery my precursor to the usual Couldabeens circuit. Just a minute short of reaching the carpark after 28k's, I u-turned to join the bunch front, taking a little of the northeasterly advantage propelling me, but pairing with Rocket was the consequence. Hollywood, Trav, AvantiChris (....strike that, a new matte black and orange steed would make him ScottChris so I'll go with his long held monicker of Boof), Car+Mel, Shorty, Nick, AvantiTrev, Cougar, Cate, WhisperingJack, Choppy and FeltMat (recently RidleyMat and today MasiMat as he deliberates a replacement).  Boof's new beast is smoother and lighter than the retiring Avanti, just what we need, another fast guy updating to a faster bike!  Cate, Car+Mel performing admirably, AvantiTrev calling a brief pairing in River, Rocket raising the bar when I rolled over. There was an ease in Boundary avoiding a pair of skippy's, back on the boil at the bridges with Boof and Pistol providing the pace. Happily positioned at the back as we swung past Channel Rd's kinder, I advanced too quickly as the turns shortened and the speed spiked. Shorty kicked off the sprint proceedings (the Baum accelerated well past him but the engine needs more power), I served purely as a lead-out for Rocket, Hollywood, Pistol and Boof to blast by. A minute or two to compose the heart rate, then the social intercourse through the streets homeward (sorry I couldn't pause for the maiden journey puncture Boof, boss beckons)

Wozz had returned from respiratory respite on Thursday, a roll to the Couldabeens start found Rocket en-route, AvantiTrev, Trav, Shorty, Nick, Lynda, Pistol, SuperMario, Temple, Whispering Jack and FeltMat (aka MasiMat) assembled, the contentious launch time chewed over and finally rubber stamped.  AvantiTrev and I led leg 1, but an impatient imbecile interjected, storming past and cutting in as we reached the roundabout (the bravado of 2,860 kg's of Navara obviously outweighing commonsense).  Puffed at Pistols pace on leg 2, it was a delight to draft and let Trav and Shorty drive leg 3.  An unsignalled (hambone sized) stick got Pistols front wheel airborne and punctured near Sellmans, the pit stop pause a holiday from hyperventilation.  Repaired, regrouped and reloaded to ride rapidly, Rocket and Wozz took the reigns west in River Rd, MasiMario (heavily handicapped), Craig Lotsalumens (crawling cadence), Mexican Angelo (liquorice lycra) and Bomber (craving Cats?) were all singly slogging East, Jase joining us (missed the carpark launch) for our homeward mission.  My mental aim at reaching the dip beside Pistol was 200 metres further than the lungs let me (shooting for the stars only makes me see them), relishing respite in the draft till the next turn of duty.  Wozz and Rocket mounted Mt Nicolaci at 40, maybe the reason why just 6 were left working the front in Raftery?  Indian filed from Arcadia Downs, Rocket donating the draft (if you could hang onto it in the mid 40's) for Conrod straight, Jase pinching the chocolates in the last 50 metres. 

The bait of the Goat pain train dangled Friday, Carl, Tum, Belly, Coggo, AvantiLeigh, Dipper, Baz and Principal Skinner arrived at Frairs, all similarly smitten by a goal / test / vengance / company / conditioning / torture / or turning up by mistake.  Coggo set the swift standards in Old Dookie Rd to Dobsons, AvantiLeigh a solid turn, his body language translated "enough" reaching Central Ave. The ESE breeze on my drive to School Rd did it's best to dish up an inferiority complex, relief to show Tum my elbow and hitch a tow, gasping.  Baz and Belly burned bright (but breifly) battling Boundary Rd, but it's all for one and one for all on the pain train.....until the morals and rules are thrown out in Conrod straight!  The caboose uncoupled for Baz at Channel Rd, taking the cruise to cafe option as we speared south on an indian filed mission of masochism.  A copious cast of Couldabeens converged on River Rd's ripple strips, our morale motivated with encouraging words amongst the troops as each finished their desperation at the drivers end (replies short and sweet as lungs demanded precedence gobbling up the oxygen).  River Rd finished fast, my push to Mitchell at 40 scraped the bottom of the tank, but there was redemption in the momentary pause for traffic.  The crew was cooking in Conrod as Tum wound up the wattage,  Belly lit the afterburners with 100 metres left, Tum stood to reply (but legs refused), AvantiLeigh pounced, Coggo bolted, the two metre wide open gap at the left begged my sneak up the inside for a win.   Wrung out like a wet sock till mid morning, I was (sadistically?) satisfied to crank the solid lap with the genial gathering of Goats.

Week 44    275k's    YTD 13,208 km