A solid spin south to stay on schedule Saturday, timing a rendevous with Temple down to the second at Kialla Lakes Drive. An early ease into a steady preamble with Vince, Frido, ChrisA, Dalts and Clive got the legs gently up to operating temperature. Quite chatty along Mitchell, River and Boundary, even finding Mexican Anthony cruising at the two bridges. Au revoirs at Channel Rd, Temple and I bore west in search of the Saturday crew, slowly building to the expected speed. A long line of 15 approached Orrvale Rd, we u-turned to join an eased pace, Bo, Kel and Ron suprised inclusions to the regular bunch. A tame tempo seems be gaining popularity with many, plenty of rides at the limit seem to be wearing down the edges of enjoyment. Great to see everyone having a go at the front, whether it be at the limit or just cruising, Jen along again, enjoying being amongst a bigger bunch. A good steady tap around and the now the habitual squirt for the Wanganui hill KOM, topped off with the usual social pit stop finished 72k nicely.
Had a sneaking suspicion I was being followed on the main drag Monday morning, a bit more light than usual on the tarmac. It was Jase, a bit breathless from a chase to eventually chat on the commute to the Couldabeens start line. The What's App invite had only drawn us and Rocket to the grid, seems there wasn't enough numbers for Whispering Jack to perform. I suggested single file on our Kensington roundabout exit, taking the first leg gently up to pace considering Jase's MTB Buller exertion. A hint of northeasterly didn't slow Rocket from the high 30's, felt I should maintain the equalibrium but questioned if my old engine was up to it. We found Pistol westbound at the end of Channel Rd, delighted he u-turned to contribute to our effort. I did the Boundary Rd leg to one tree dam, only just finding the bit extra to jump onto the rear of the three as they passed. Pistol put in a big 3k turn on River, Rocket the remainder, possibly bouyed by the slowly increasing northeaster at our backs. Funny how your focus shortens and the view ahead narrows proportionally to the speed and effort, mind you I needed my chin on the handlebars to draft from the low Rocket into the fourties. Attempting to measure up to the quality field, I drove the Kialla Central leg fairly hard but paid the price of rubber legs by Mitchell, Jase's considerate slow wind up the only way I could climb aboard the back. My heart rate had only reduced to 168 when the next shift summoned me into Roubaix corner, passing a discarded Cat motivated well though. Jase then Pistol powered onto Conrod where Rocket took the helm, hanging onto his wheel the big ask. Rockets afterburners cut in out of the dip as I trawled the depths of an empty tank to stay aboard, feeling it my duty to keep Jase and Pistol in touch after such great turns. Running on empty with 100 metres left, I glanced back to find Pistol and Jase 30 metres off the back, triggering me to throw it mentally into neutral, coasting for second as Rocket still powered on. There was two word sentences till Melbourne Rd, heartrate took four minutes to dip to aerobic, but was well pleased to have clocked a 39.1 average and chalked up a 3rd overall for the 30 k lap.
A far more sedate ride Monday evening, a quiet 33 k with Beejoy learning the ropes. Into the headwind of Old Dookie Rd was a trial for anyone with just 5 weeks experience, but determination was there to push on to the Toaster, hopeful of being breezed home? A small seat height adjustment is still needed (heel still down at 6 o'clock) and steady speed is to be mastered though it was smooth sailing northbound to the Emu. Kerbing the enthusiasm to wind up the wattage with a tail wind was a bit difficult, learning to pace yourself over a distance an aquired skill. 10k's of steady pace soon began to wear Beejoy down, but his quest to knock 5 minutes off his last lap was still keen. Back into town the wind had shifted SSW making Rudd Rd and the Boulevard a chore, but the the grin at slicing 9 minutes off the lap was well worth the effort. (eventually he'll be settling for just knocking seconds off, like most of us)
Wind chimes tolled toil in the early hours of Tuesday, loud enough for Sootie to cancel the 5.10 Tri train. Being well ahead of the agenda, I threw a leg over the bike to warm up on the 10k golf course prologue, a strong southerly propelling me up Rudd Rd with little hinderance to the end of Wanganui Rd. A three and a half k slog into the 22-35 km/h head wind to the Goat start got the heartrate, lungs and legs prepared, suprised to find a dozen ready to brave the breeze. Roscoe and Tina were merged as we reached Dobsons estate, plenty of pace made eastward, though a few had leapt into the rear seats before Central Ave. It was a bit of a ramshackle rotation with wind blowing wheels about, the caution control cranked to high in such conditions. Nev and 3 Genesis drivers had caught us and filtered through our ranks approaching River Rd, best left to their own rapid devices, they drew slowly away to the western horizon. We'd eventually got organised after waiting for David (who wasn't there), just seven contributing to the cause in River Rd with equal amounts in tow. Hommy's slow roll vs Belly's blast put a surge in the front half, forcing a change of cogs for me (Darn it! Caught by Tum to ruin my reputation). Snow suprised by re-entering the rotation, Roscoe joined too, on the rev limiter for a couple of goes till his tank emptied in Mitchell Rd. Belly and a couple of others retired via Archer, leaving me with AvantiLeigh, Dipper, Coggo, Hommy, Tum and Phil to share the workload. A relief to be out of the breeze exiting Roubaix, the tempo raised to the mid fourties by Arcadia Downs, infecting a few with a dose of the noddies. Turns timed well to burn Hommy's hopes in Conrod, Tum took the challenge with 300 to go, handing the perfect lead-out to me.
Missed several Renegade rides of late, so took the chance Tuesday arvo to revisit the library, Coggo, Paul, MeridaAndy, Tina, Lenny and SpecialisedTony starting the lap with a helping hand to Wanganui Rd (the stiff southerly still blowing since the morning). On the front with Lenny to Ford Rd, breaths were drawn for a passing Golf, almost sliced by a car exiting a side street. Legal Steve and Harpo jumped aboard, Team Feelgood (MachineSteve, Trent, Trudy, Steevo and Mitch) joined in for Lemnos Cosgrove, the pace pronto to the Emu. Machine Steve and Mitch driving the front into the wind had most hanging on till the Toaster, some mercy shown on the western leg to Boundary Rd, Bomber and Deano found cruising at the channel bridge. Clearly bored with the pace in Boundary, Bomber took to the front and slowly stretched away,most others content to stay collected and share the workload. A gusty turn in River Rd tightened the handlebar grip with wheels being shoved about, sticks and bark bouncing from bike to bike and concentration sharpened made tough work to Central Kialla. The Feelgood team must have felt good in Mitchell Rd, pace lifting (in an attempt the reach Bomber?) to stretch out the bunch to the highway. I took turns with SpecialisedTony and Carl out of Roubaix, the real movers hitting the front nearing Arcadia Downs. My resolve was purely for survival as the speedo nudged 50, trying to stay intouch with the heavy artillery as many drafted behind me. Out of the dipper Harpo came past and rolled over to assist, but quickly imploded, a swift swerve to miss his wheel, I was more than satisfied with a mid field finish.
A feint headwind felt furious after 5k to the Kialla Couldabeens congregation, legs and lungs were almost ready for retirement. The grid had formed from the forth row back, nobody braving the first shift again. I ventured forth with Wozz with the plan of an easy first leg but found the heart rate on the redline with just a k covered. FeltMat appeared from the darkness of Mitchell Rd lacking lumens, a chase was on to catch Johnnie and his followers a half k ahead. Added to the rear in Central Kialla, they made us a bakers dozen for River Rd, AvantiTrev setting a steady speed to the bridge, FeltMat raising the stakes a little higher to the dip. The long drag to Boundary Rd with Wozza seemed an eternity despite the tempo climbing, heartbeats peaking and still the rumble strips weren't reached. Great to finally turn north and tuck in for a tow, spin doctor Rudy wanted a wheel ahead of Wozz for Boundary Rd, but Wozz was defiant (though suffering) to hold station to the bridges. Some calm in Channel Rd to collect composition then a steady steam up to speed for the Devil's Lane dash, fruit pickers peak hour saw Channel Rd busier than usual (at least 5 cars oncoming). Pistol Pete had the box seat tow into the Cha Cha championship, others could only try to match his calibre as the bunch stretched out. A conversational cruise back to town put icing on the quick cake.
A niggling easterly wind burnt breakfast fast on Wanganui Rd in the early start to Thursday, meeting the Tri train (Stace, Comet and Sootie) en-route to the Emu. Individual efforts in Lemnos-Cosgrove hurt mentally with the wind in the face, hard yakka to catch those Irongirls on a mission. There was a change of tactics for the return to town at the Toaster, 200m track turns indian file set some P.R's with the zephyr at our backs. Something quite satisfying to steam along with similar engines working on the same page, a sense of team achievement far outweighing personal effort. We were back in town to just in time to board the Goat express, but it was hard to get 20 on the same song sheet with traffic lights, gaps, cars and trucks, roundabouts and a few cases of over enthusiasm to battle, the bunch almost as disjointed as the Liberal Party. We needed Heady's little 37 / 39 aria as a metronome but someone was playing Animals as Leaders (Goats as politicians?) in 9/16 time. Out of the headwind of Old Dookie Rd and south toward River Rd, Hommy and Belly had fed from the trough of exhuberance, the peleton looking like swiss cheese but less stressed by breeze. Wits were sharpened as some jumped across to fill the gaps, finally some smoothness, albeit fast paced, was established half way into River Rd. (though at the expense of a few O.T.A.). On the gas in Mitchell Rd, I got a slingshot from MeridaAndy up Mt Nicolaci, the only time i'll ever get the polka dots, (unless going solo). With 70 k's clocked reaching Conrod, I was content to hold position mid field (legs would argue aiming higher) , interesting to see the movers and shakers battle out the honours, and those who re-emerge from obscurity to challenge.
Finished the week with a solo lap, a Toaster circuit (minus the golf course leg). Nice and easy out to the Emu kept the effort aerobic, but was bumped into the anaerobic against the SSW breeze for the rest of the lap. Passed the pig farm squeal in Old Dookie Rd, seeing a long line of oncoming Cat l.e.d.'s swinging into Boundary Rd, a few Goats following behind. No hope of catching, the kilometre gap too much of an ask for me. Great time to clear the head, no pressure to match a fast wheel, just to tap away a few k's before work beckoned. Took a short cut home via Archer to meet the 7.30 start at the salt mine, another sneaky suspicion of being followed at the lake found some unknown pedaller freeloading a tow (a kilometer at 40 soon shook him).
Week 9 433km YTD 2,568 km
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