Three days off the bike granted much comfort in the sit site but felt that rust was taking hold in the joints when I finally did swing a leg over. I faced the gentler Goat music on Tuesday, Couldabeens cadenza couldabeen chronic (and was, by Strava spying). The usual villans, legends and Capra Aegagrus Hircus had assembled at Friars, young guest Jarrod definitely youngest. Stace, Comet and Sootie intercepted from an earlier 30k's to join the string of l.e.d.'s leading out Old Dookie Rd, but it was down to a crawl approaching Doyles roundabout to prevent a title fight with a B double (a Hommy pump hunt debunked). Organised and rotationalised, twenty two cranked into easterly order with a moment here and there for four word sentences. Tina jumped aboard at Dobsons, Hommy had glued himself to my wheel (tactical positioning for Conrod?) and BigPaul left the obligatory gap. Felt in reasonable nick by the Broken bridges, cadence down on the 14 sprocket in River road as the tempo touched the fourties, good to see Deb roll through but the rear roll syncronicity suffered. We travelled Stress Free street in Central Kialla as the pace calmed but the urgency returned in Mitchell. Sootie peeled off to assist a stranded Jason inflate (short valve in a deep wheel), the bunch sorting into crank or cruise factions as we approached Arcadia Downs. Timing put me at the front with 500 metres of Conrod left, unable to shake Hommy off my wheel I hacked at his horsepower with a little weave, softening him for AvantiLeigh, Dipper and Coggo to pounce in the last 100.
Almost pulled the pin at 35 degrees Tuesday evening but regret would weigh heavily if i'd sucummed to the couch of sloth. A slow roll to the library found Coggo, Oz, Robbo, Dion, SpecialisedTony, Hamish and others prepared to tap a toasty toaster lap. It was pleasing to share the front with Coggo and start a sensible tap, MeridaAndy fronted for the Boulevard entree, an easterly swinging east northeast to make the lungs work toward the Emu. Well outmatched beside Hamish's special Specialised (NZ team colours) and Roval wheels, the young engine did Wanganui Rd with ease while I wheezed. We collected Carl and Pottsy then the MachineSteve, Trent, Trudy, Steevo and Hilly in Ford Rd, Birchy almost unrecognisable behind the Chuck Norris whiskers. Robbo aboard a demo Corsa, Coggo craving k's for a three peaks assault, Dion's creaky seat cured (with Robbo's allenkey assistance) and Pottsy had a quiver of questions. Easier going to the Toaster (Axel aboard) and on to Boundary Rd, Coggo & I drew the short straw of the swing to a southeaster for the bridges to River Road leg, catching a cruising Bo & Kel. Six kilometers of River Rd cruised in 9:48, speed kept to sensible in Mitchell Rd too, but fast was forecast seeing the drivers line up to take on Raftery. I'd retreated to the left line as we crossed the highway, almost on cue as the hurry up hit. Hamish, Trent, Steve, Robbo and Dion wound up the heart rates as the survivors single filed, Oz struggled with mechanical devils, MeridaAndy struck with a stitch ushered me past, my legs refusing to give more than 50 to stay in touch with the dozen ahead. A relaxed roll through town as the temperature tapered suitably settled the nerves.
A knee knock needed nursing in the opening kilometres of Wednesday morning, best to go gently on ageing limbs until up to operating temperatures (as if a tropical 20 degrees wasn't enough!) A single line of chary chaps had assembled at Kialla Lakes, maybe shying from the early shift of legs one and two? I took the role under a little sufference as seven more arrived with better timing than I, at least my pairing would be a considerate one beside Choppy. Johnnie and two mates were caught (and subsequently stayed aboard) at leg one's end, matching Rudy at the front to Mitchell skyrocketting my heart rate. Rocket, Jase, Shane and BigMat were absent, defecting to the Genesis side for a try out. It was punishment on the posterior hitting the Mitchell Rd rut dead centre after months of avoidance, up to River Rd with Whispering Jack and Pistol cracking the whip. Jase was found rising from the dip, seems Rocket was the sole survivor of the Giro de Genesis. There was a full changing of the guard in River Rd's length, Rudy assuming the role of pace setter (a wheel ahead) for Boundary Rd, Whispering Jack meeting his match (Pistol) for the grind to Channel Rd. The tarmac blurred under the wheels of progress to the ChaCha, an oncoming car interrupting the sprint but still managed 54 clicks. Northerners and southerners parted company at Channel Roads end, my prediction on Strava starvation coming true with trophies thinning (Cougar still scoring Q.O.M's though)
A cooler 17 degrees Thursday, plenty of southerly to grizzle about with Wozza on the 6k Couldabeens commute (a warm up turning into a worn out). Temple called a conference on start time alterations, all happy with an earlier Thursday launch. I berthed in a perfect pozzy (first turn at the front coming at Channel Rd's end) while Wozz winced being the thin meat in the Pistol/Rocket sandwich of speed. Rudy and Pistol opened proceedings but Rudy relinquished the role requiring respiratory restitution half way into leg one, Wozza stepping up to the plate of pace for the remainder and leg two. My last leg of Channel was timed neatly to be shielded from the Boundary southerly. Temple and Trav put in great shifts, my delight to share the driving with Nick in River Rd, respectfully levelling wheels to millimetre precision. Nearing Laws Drive a few fallen twigs were bounced off wheels distracting Rudy, failing to see the two metre branch recumbant in his path. Successfully skiddled (but nerves rattled) an ease of tempo re collected the fragmented bunch. Rocket way overqualified to lead, took us indian filed to Mitchell Rd. Doing justice to Wozza's and Pistols calibre emptied my tank from Archer to the highway, the pause for traffic heavensent for my cardiac recovery. Underway in Raftery (but minus Temple and WhisperingJack on an Archer exit) I got just enough composure time before the ubiquitous turn at the pointy end out of Conrods dipper. I was flogging a dead horse with 200 metres remaining, mercy finally arrived with Rocket's Cosmics howling past, Pistol and Rudy thrashing out second pickings in that order.
Anticipation was eager to tap out a quiet lap Thursday, breaking in Beejoy to the joys (and besets) of life aboard two wheels. A breeze behind in Old Dookie Rd made progress easy but the price to pay on the return was to dull the excitement. Suprised to have Tommygun draw alongside for a brief chat, a chance for congrats on his 3rd in age group for the recent half Triathlon. Over Boundary Rd and toward the toaster we crossed paths with the library lads cresting the bridge, north to the Emu feeling the breeze swing to a WSW urged some preparation for the effort to come. Overenthusiasm drove Beejoys brief blast into the 30's in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd but it busted the boiler quickly, metering out a steady pace a difficult thing to master for someone with just 8 rides done. Time and determination will teach. Back to civilisation he was well spent, but the enthusiasm and sense of achievement shone through, a memory revisited from earlier days again.
A Tour de Tassie culled the Goat population at Fridays Friars grid, Coggo, Dipper, Belly, Phil, Deb, Sandy and Bickers the only starters. Away at six bells and eastward, Tina's timing to tack-on (taking the teams tally to 9)twas truely tactical as the easterly wind whittled away the contenders to six drivers. There was less attrition southbound in Boundary but the effort was taxing enough to call a single filed assault in River Rd. Coggo put in ten tenths at the front, my turn was up again to drive to the channel bridge, thankful that Rudy's timber yard had been cleared from yesterday. Cramp claimed Deb in the Mitchell Rd accelleration, Bickers and Sandy joining her to take the abridged route via Archer. Handed the reigns at that intersection, I'd mentally primed to put in a long haul (grateful to have a brief intermission for traffic at the highway) down to the little bridge and round Roubaix corner I was trawling the depths of mental motivation by the horse stud, handing over to Belly, then sinking all into catching Coggo's wheel at the back. The leadership changed five times in a minute (and you thought the Labour Party had problems!), Coggo back in the hot seat for Conrod straight, but the noddies took hold with 300 metres remaining, reluctantly I took the candy from the baby, finishing a pacy lap.
Week 7 272km YTD 1,788 km
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