Week 6 Pondering history and alarms alas

The possible return of BigMat occupied grid discussion Saturday morning, but of course an attack of acedia, disinclination, slothfulness and apathy had yet again struck to make him absent. PistolPete, Cougar, Rocket, Shorty, Wozza, Tucks, Rudy, Temple, Jen, Nick, AvantiTrev, Jase and AvantiChris were at least motivated and enthused to set forth in Channel Rd, Cougar driving the first leg admirably.  AvantiTrev with recovered wrist now needs legs and lungs back to form, but there's no such problem for the usual engines Rocket and Pete. A puncture halted proceedings in Boundary Rd, many congregating to sledge Rudy's tyre & tube skills and C02 struggle (to his credit the new tube held). A respectable speed out to the toaster witnessed another  postcard sunrise, the southerly helping our tour to the Emu. FeltMat was found oncoming in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (something about an eyelid malfunction when the snooze button was activated) soon after the Cat carnival coursed east. The SSW breeze kept a few away from serving time at the front, plenty of capable drivers kept us on schedule though. Eagerness into Wanganui Rd split the bunch at DECA but all were reaquainted on the Rudd Rd recovery after the dash for honours on the hill.  Rocket's hashtag win to spend time with MrEvans and co, BigMat sledging and jockey wheel joviality occupied the Lemontree chat. A welcome visit from Irongirls Kylie and Weapon, Genesis berthing at the next table to view Nev's MTB battlescars. 

Put in a solo spin on Monday, nothing quite like a stiff southerly to start the day (and squash the self assurance), out Knight St and onto Old Dookie Rd, Cats yet to assemble at 5.45. Many memories of this circuit surfaced on the trek east, big P&W bunches ('08-09), flyblown puncture repairs ('14), the first lap on the BM ('04),  the big '51 stack (7/6/13), Jamies aerial aerobatics ('13).....ages me thinking about it.   Nearing the end of Old Dookie Rd, Vince and the big guns were westbound in search of feline prey, my effort south on Boundary Rd was hampered by 28km/h gusts, chain on the 17 to maintain some forward motion. Pistol Pete was seen lapping up the tailwind northbound at the bridges, my head lowering in a vein attempt to keep 32 clicks on the Garmin southward.  Relief in River Rd, but kept the heart rate ticking over at 160, the puncture-delayed Breakaway quadrella crested the channel bridge east as I developed a minor case of feline flinch, the steadily increasing glance back predicting a pussycat peleton tsunami. Glad the breeze had backed off to 18km/h for Central Kialla and somewhat optomistic in Mitchell Rd with no l.e.d. armada in sight behind, cadence continued to the highway, blessed by a traffic free crossing. Restitution out of Roubaix with the breeze behind, the legs found a little more to add to the cruising speed, crossing the Conrod finish as the Cats dipped into the dipper. 

Like a fly up the nostril, wind really annoyed the 6k commute to the Couldabeens start line Tuesday morning. The long awaited (twenty) second coming of BigMat brought nearly all Couldabeens out to witness (ironic that WhisperingJack was absent).  I drew the short straw on speed paired with Chris A but a sudden peak in traffic halted our Channel Rd entry. The account opened on pace, a string of big guns line astern guaranteed some huff and puff. Another wait for traffic at Doyles Rd, the long train (15) stretched on corners and intersections. PistolPete arrived from the south as we turned into Boundary Rd, plenty of happy chaps at the rear of the bunch sheltered from the wind (SSE @ 15 km/h), Mark marked by Rocket at the front for the procession south. River Road's velocity soon caught a cruising Bo & Kel (using PistolPete's alarm clock?), squeezing past with oncoming cars and bikes. My second turn at the front with Chris A (Captain Considerate) was manageable following a short shift with Shorty.  BigMat attacked in Central Kialla but the message of four dislodged from the back failed to reach the drivers (yet more traffic at the highway allowed the rear gunners to eventually reform). Nudging the mid 40's at the horse stud put a mental load on surviving two more kays at that rate, Chris A, Rocket, Bo,Shane and Pistol slowly marching away from the majority, now single filed into survival on Conrod straight. Nick's elbow was working overtime for a successor to tow the remaining as a big gap opened ahead, racked with remorse I took the towing task for the last 600, suprised to reel in Pistol (no ammunition left) at the last dip. A ten second slow at the bridge allowed the tail end troopers to gather, forming a team tour through town to rekindle unity. 

Chose a tough position on Wednesdays Kialla grid, beside Pistol with 22-39km/h of SSE to battle in leg 2 of Archer Rd (Pistol perhaps worn at the edges by Rocket on leg one my only salvation). Shane made sure I kept speechless in Mitchell Rd as us ten toured east, then it was hoist the mainsails for a blast north to River Rd with the wind providing plenty of push. I'd hoped to miss a call of duty in River Rd but the roll overs quickened to put me at the front with Pete for the last k. Shane pumped up the pace in Boundary in his standard position (a bike ahead), small bumps jarring my wrists and rear end in the mid fourties (how was it on carbon comfort?). A nice steady screw of the wick in Channel Rd kept us well ahead of the agenda, scoring a magic spot at the back of the pack as we cranked into the Cha Cha, Rocket and Pistol as the perfect tow. Crossing Prentice Road I couldn't match the 50+ Rocket Rumba or Shanes late launch (but rounding up PistolPete was a rare enlargement for the ego).  Back into town, a new strip of hot mix in Railway parade inspired an attack on the Shepp High sprint, a luscious lead out from Wozza gave me an equal time to Nev (51.3 average) for another pump to the pride.  Might need a bigger helmet?

It was super smooth street tucked in behind Comet, bit like drafting a matchstick but her 80mm carbonaria soundtrack hummed happily east on Old Dookie with the Goats Thursday morning. Twenty two heads counted once JB and Tina jumped aboard at Dobsons estate, 39 clicks on the upside and 37 on the downside propelled the peleton toward Boundary Rd. Hommy boot scooted across Central Ave with a cleat malfunction, Tum clearly chuffed with the velocity of the new Felt, all with a donation to rotation kept the kettle on the boil. I had Heady ahead, no dread, enough said, thankfully Mr Magnet was a safe distance away.  There was no protest about the breeze in the face southbound on Boundary, my steady idle in River Rd (138 bpm 41 km/h @ 65 rpm) was testament to smooth turns. The habitual ease on "wait for Dave" corner gave most a breather, but muscular motivation magnified on Mitchell as Kate was unceremoniously hung out to dry by Mr Magnet cresting Mt Nicolaci. A truck without headlights caused a moment at the highway, but all were back to winding up the watts for Roubaix, finding Snowman hitching a ride. It was cooking calves nicely by the horse stud, we passed Deb (Bazza's tardiness forcing a shortcut) as I pondered peleton position pertaining to possible podium placement. Boxed in and 8 wheels back with 600 metres of Conrod left hampered hopes, but a sliver of salvation came with Coggo leaving a little real estate in the up lane. Position, position, position they say, so signalled out and jumped on board as Tum wound up the Felt touching 50, pouncing a perfect slingshot to shoot by and claim the chocolates. 

A baptism for Beejoy Thursday night, a quiet 30k roll with the apprentice learning the ropes aboard Trav's old faithful. Takes me back to the early days when there was much to learn (grasshopper), keen to show a brief turn of speed (but a rapid retirement of lungs), at least he can hold a straighter line than some with years of experience. The sense of achievement, the excitement of self propulsion, sights and sounds (missed in a car) now discovered, a new found freedom and a playground for the mind to wander, all things we soon forget or lose focus on down the path of time. Nice to enjoy that again albeit from a different perspective,  a quiet lap within zones one and two literally a rare breath of fresh air. 

Whats App drew Coggo, Snow, Skinner, Sandy, Hommy and Belly together at Friars on Friday morning.  Getting rotationally organised out Old Dookie Rd and syncronising a perfect passage through Doyles roundabout was halted by a Hommy whistle, punctured.  It was stand-up comedy when his unco-operative C02 pump was flung in frustration into the weeds, but calm was restored to repair, underway a few minutes later and keen to get the agenda back on track. Sandy then Skinner retreated to the rear, Coggo hit the N0s nearing School Rd, with Belly minus the horsepower to match (I donated the big fella a tow to Boundary in the interest of team survival). A call for single file put me first in line to face the southeaster, Snow taking a Channel Rd exit for a promised breakfast date left just six to slog out the circuit. Skinner re-appeared to put in a good turn to the bridges, my number up again to redline to River Rd.  All six contributed to a good speed to Central Kialla but the edges were getting a bit worn at Mitchell's end.  Timing again put me at the helm for Conrod straight, burning all my biscuits with 500 to go handed Coggo the finish line, Hommy brashly challenging on the undertaking side.  


Week 6 299km  YTD 1,516 km