An earlier start joining Temple and Wozz in the small hours of Saturday, the rain reprieve allowing a supplementary circuit . The southerly squirt to Mitchell Rd intercepted Ron, Vince and Frido, smooth and steady to Central Kialla then east along the regularly ridden River Rd. Anne suddenly appeared on our tails, minus light voltage to soak up our lumens and draft. Nice to take a therapeutic warm up without blowing a headgasket, some social stimuli thrown in for good measure. We bid our adieu's at Channel Rd and headed west to intercept the Couldabeens, ably assisted by the strengthening easterly. Almost to Doyles Rd when two lines of l.e.d.'s approached, our cue to queue behind the 13 and enjoy another tow back to Boundary. Tap tap up Boundary and east in the dark to the toaster, first glimmers of dawn reached at the Toaster.
It was hoist the mainsail and keelhaul the cadence turning west at the Emu, the wind behind lifting the spirits with the velocity. Thirty wheels hummed happily along Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, not much pleasure showing in the faces of the dozen + Cats grimacing eastward. A rare opportunity knocked in Wanganui Rd cruising at the rear, no Rocket, Pistol boxed in AND a tail wind too good to pass up. I worded up Wozz to lead him out for an attack on Wanganui Hill, jumped at DECA's end to ramp up proceedings, peaking (and peeking 54 clicks) at Kittles Rd, I flicked an elbow for Wozz to wizz by, Shorty, Jase and Ange in futile pursuit behind. Calm brought the bunch back together to do a cruise to the cafe, Tuck's wardrobe malfunction, Sth African politics and quieter laps captivated conversation to polish off 70k's
It was a steamy spin to a conveniently convened Couldabeens cruise Monday, every red light delaying my arrival to squeak it in with just a minute to go. With only eight attendees, Jase and Pistol took the first shift moderately, I paired with Rocket from Orrvale Rd, an achievable ask at the calmer velocity. Trav was providing my tow at Hanlon Rd but I suddenly whacked an unseen pine cone, an airbourne Cosmic and handlebarred hand dislodged, speared me a metre into the grass. Still upright but tyres dragging in soft ground, taking a smooth line back onto terra firma was number one priority. Back onto tarmac after the off road excursion the h.r. needed a minute to calm from 170, normal transmission resumed (expecting a dozen bindii passengers but luckily got none). FeltMat and Temple drove to River Rd, a whisp of a ENE propelling the pace, early edition Cat tail-lights winking in the distance. Wozza drove well considering his Mt Buffalo attack yesterday, Temple on song and Jase with plenty of lead in his pencil, were Rocket and Pistol struggling to stay awake? I was suprised to get Rockets rollcall at Arcadia Downs, only Pistol, Jase, Wozz and I working the front in Conrod. Hardly a sprint finish but a good steady ride had all happy and not breathless (Kate running at the lake had a few drawing breath though)
Took an invite to board the tri train at the Verney/Ford station on Tuesday, Sootie, Stace and Comet on schedule at 5.10. Out to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd for the first of two interval sessions, a 3k hit on the heart rate then reassembling at the Emu. There was a south west nuisance to face to the Toaster then interval two on Old Dookie Rd with a reprieve at Boundary. A steady grind back to town, our arrival at Friars timed well to slot in mid field. It was an erratic start to the lap, traffic and a couple of yawning pack gaps turned the Goats into Brown's cows. Almost syncronised at Central Ave, the rubber banding returned, some reaching the front with little steam left. Strangely, some order returned facing the southwester in Boundary Rd, down to the pub to halt at the highway for a train (well, a Landcruiser with a loco horn). I had a mixed bag of who was ahead and behind as the k's and rotations claimed reartirements, adjusting to a Heinz variety of sits, styles and sizes. JamisShane had a battle du bidon as pace was primed in River road, into the steady groove of reasonable rotation by the dip. Bickers punctured at the back but scored the tasty pit crew of Stace and Comet for his trouble. Mt Nicolaci always seems to trigger an urge for polka dots, bums off seats in a flurry of cadence for supremacy. A cruise, post highway, calmed the heart rates and re-united the field (and shuffled the deck) but it was down to eight driving the train as we crossed Arcadia Downs Drive. Tum gapped the pack as he rolled across with 600 to go, so I filled the space to draw a breath for the final fling. Tum was running on empty fifteen seconds later so pulled out to pass (don't you love the OMG moment when cutting the fresh air is like head butting a brick wall?), pouring on the wattage as wheels howled in pursuit behind. A sneak peek behind saw the swarm of Dipper, Shane, Tum and Tina bearing down, hedaling for all I was worth to just grab the chocolates.
Alzheimers forgot charge the headlight overnight so flicked to low candlepower in the early hours to go the Wednesday distance. Ventured to Ford Rd then east to Boundary, resolved to keep to the 17 cog for some spin. A frog fugue in F flat and a cricket chorus was the auditory entertainment, possums into an early breakfast the visual on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. Swung into Boundary Rd to be greeted by a southerly, the train tracks at Hill Rd are now sealed over but the ripple strips remain. Kept the head down to Channel Rd, bearing west a little easier but an eye was glued on the clock to meet a 6am Couldabeens start. A thin crescent of moon and limited lumens doesn't shed much light but familiar ground helps, soon to the school and finding FeltMat on his Couldabeens commute. A steady roll back to town and to Kialla's roundabout, a dozen indians congregating in a single row (guaging the headwind to Mitchell Rd and how to evade it?) Tucks and Shane took it on the chin, Rudy to Mitchell Rd. I paired level with his shiny new Avanti (AvantiTrev having an even newer example), Pistol's a half bike longer than my old rig. Johnnie and his two disciples flashing red l.e.d.'s in the distance was a lure to nibble upon, Nick and Whispering Jack swallowed the chase bait. River road was full of bikes westbound, all alien without daylight to identify. Boundary Rd had bunches and pairs still oncoming as Tucks then Shane then Rudy progressively added to the velocity, Johnnie and co keenly in tow at the back. I did a slow wind up in Channel to keep our bunch bonded, soon all were cranking to the fourties to the pine trees. The rich aroma of Chateau diesel with the fruity overtones of roasted Rimula X filled our nostrils, round the corner we scattered, suddenly up the arse of a fuming Fergie in total darkness with (peopled) fruit bins in tow. (Luck had us just past when an oncoming car fronted the next bend) Nerves had settled by the kinder, the guns now line astern, waiting for the first to move on the Cha Cha. Rudy's itch was greatest launching first, soon having a succession of hopefuls in pursuit. I took the cruise option with several likeminded, the bunch realigning for the tap home, my dessert a little squirt on the Bonanza to finish 62 k's (with the Cygolight still shining after two days hard labour)
98% humidity and one degree off the dew point at 16 degrees made a steamy start to Thursday, a slightly earlier start time to catch for the Couldabeens. Introductions to Eammon were made at the car park as the grid formed, I had the first shift with Wozz, so a slow warm up to speed in the first 1.3k. Rocket raised the bar incrementally on leg 2, but nothing would save Eammon going unceremoniously OTA (though he urged us to continue). Pistol hit the long puddle fair and square centre on leg 3 to rooster tail Trav, amusing the dry folk on the left line, I'd tucked in behind Temple's tow of tempo (peaking of late), matching him from the Broken bridges to River Rd certainly got the pot simmering. We'd made no gain on a solitary red tail-light a kilometre ahead, most of River Rd spent slowly turning up the heat in pursuit, proving one tough little engine to catch. Only thanks to Melbourne Rd traffic did we make real ground to finally identify Wizz as the dynamic driver exiting Roubaix. Sweat was overpowered by the aroma from the eucalypts as we wound into the mid fourties by the horse stud, turns shortening rapidly. Trav's seat post let out a loud squark on a small bump approaching Conrod (Kreek's creak crisis critically crippling Conrod crankability, crushing cadence cravings) as Rocket dragged us into the last k, Darwin's theory of evolution and survival of the fittest, single filing the bunch. Pistol, Wozz, Rocket and I swapped turns quickly, Rocket stepping up three rungs in the last 200 to relegate us to also ran's. (happy I could just hold off Pete for second)
Pedalled a prologue to Friday's Goat gyration, out the Boulevard and north to Rudd, then east on Wanganui, relishing the comfort finally found on the Fizik, just wish I knew what brought about the new found posterior paradise. Was it pelvic positioning? Imported chamois cream? Consumption of 2009 Shiraz? Or Pine-lime Splice ice-cream? Shall continue all. A smooth little tap around to limber limbs and a "blockie" to soak up five minutes till the Friars flag fell at 6 for a gallivant with the Goats. Coggo, Deb, Hommy, Sandy, Bickers, Speisy, Belly, Brendan, Heady, Leon and Baz formed up, I played co-pilot to Capt Deb taxi-ing out of the suburbs and winding up to rotate beyond the Doyles Rd runway. The dozen drove a smooth stretch to Boundary Rd, less numbers = less variation? A few sat in the rear stalls on River Rd, I flowed freely (Freerly?) through on Bazz's wheel, Belly a touch over enthused gapping the bunch on his roll-overs. Spiesy blew a head gasket on the Mt Nicolaci ascent but recovered on the easy roll once over the highway. Only four left working the front swinging into Conrod straight, Leon re-appeared for a brief blast. Coggo put in a strong turn from 600 to 300, I lent a tow from 300 to 100 then elbowed Coggo past, but he'd picked up a Hommy hitch hiker to challenge the victory. Soaked in sweat (purging alcohol?) Hommy wheezed a wheel ahead over the line, speechless till beyond the bridge.
Week 8 : 347 km YTD 2,135 km
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