A spin South at 80rpm with Wozza primed the pulminories preparing for the Couldabeens Saturday lap, WhisperingJack, BigMat, AvantiChris, Trav, Shorty, Cougar, Cate, Temple, Jen and Rocket making up a rather reduced team. I struggled with turns 1 & 2 (paired with AvantiChris and Wozz), the atmosphere like pushing through porridge. A BigMat big turn (at least 100 metres) in Channel Rd set a comeback record, WhisperingJack happy to fry him with his two ride advantage. Odd to have Rocket as a rear seat passenger, under doc's orders to take it easy (what, less than 40 km/h?). It was a surprise to find an early Cat pack southbound in Boundary Rd, our journey East on Old Dookie directionally difficult, the sun just above the horizon giving auras to all. Cate was aboard the AvantiTrev flouro machine (does she really need a faster bike?), I was soaking up the (now commonplace) postcard Mt Major vista to the Emu (many months in darkness now a distant memory). Ange and Lynda were driving the 6.30 Cat train East as we reached Boundary Rd, steady progress for us westward. Stage one of Wanganui Rd was up to Wozz and I, slowly building a percolating pace to DECA where the rapid rolls commenced. Shorty was left hung out to dry on the front, I was in the draft of AvantiChris (like a cat on a hot '51 roof) four wheels back. I missed Chris's launch by a nanosecond, hard work to catch get back in his wake as he bolted toward the hill. Hopes of getting around him were dashed by lack of horsepower, but Wozz had the Wanganui wattage to win. All consumed composure on the amble back to the Lemontree, great to have Weapon, Nath and son join the table conversation on bike bling and MTB's, coffee and breakfast tasty but Kenny G was the sour note Cam!
No startline appointments, no averages to aim at, no bunch protocols to observe, a course that can be subject to change without notice, just a steady solo tap to start Monday and the working week. A monster yellow moon set on Raftery Rd as I set sail south on Conrod straight, a little wary of big skippy bounding beside me in the table drain. A photogenic turn into Roubaix corner with the sun rising over the low fog, Mitchell Rd was inviting and empty. I'd dressed a little light for 3 degrees (a base layer optimistic insulation) staying on the 17 @ 80rpm provided enough warmth in the legs but fingers felt frosty. By River Rd a grind on the 15 begged, Wizz, Sosso and a few stray Cats single filed west, my drive east seemed shorter with River Rd's rumble strips arriving sooner than expected. Steering North, a line of Couldabeen lads and lasses had convened a special meeting, guys outnumbered by gals 2:1. A tame East-southeast breeze tried to steer me left in Channel but I continued on, Goats grinding south as I reached the fig farm. Lack of time turned me homeward in New Dookie Rd, tapping toward town timed a terrific tow, tanks to a timely truck (Tina's), tallying a PB for me.
Questioned a 4:40am kit-up to hit the Tarmac at 5 on an ADO Tuesday, oblivious to the obsession or just plain bike barmy? A ripper roll out east on Ford and Lemnos-Cosgrove threw thoughts into the negative about the return on Old Dookie Rd, but surprised myself finding 78rpm tackled the WSW breeze back, making slow but steady gains on Tina touring to town (didn't think slow was in her dictionary). Cobwebs and rust were falling from JB and Geoff as we u-turned to get aboard the giant Goat gathering, numbering nineteen to tap a lap. Kate challenged the Foss recall to name all in bunch order, but I could only manage an alphabetical AvantiAndy, AvantiLeigh, Baz, Belly, CerveloJohn, Coggo, Deb, Dipper, Geoff, Heady, Hommy, JB, Joe, Kate, Phillo, RetiredDave, Sandy and Snow. The sting had been sliced from the speed, maybe to preserve those just out of hibernation, possibly to avoid the wrath of HeadGoat on his bike baptism? A few still sat in the rear stalls (good to have Deb's reliable roll call) while others circulated, daylight allowing recognition of rider and mount rather than winters obscurity almost relying on auditory i.d. We found LegalAndy at RiverRd's end, a proper "wait for David" at "wait for David" into Central Kialla Rd. Numbers progressing through the ranks had thinned as Conrod came into view, on the front with 300 left (Coggo and Hommy lurking in tow) my previous 70k had taken a toll on effort and enthusiasm, Coggo hitting the gas but Hommy heroic out of the draft to take the chocolates.
Fingers crossed for a mid grid position (170bpm just two minutes into a bunch ride is wearing thin) I spun South wit Wozz en route to the Wednesday Couldabeens, dodging demented drongo's driving delirious in da dark, dangerously devoid of headlights. The rear half of the car park filled with AvantiChris, Jase, Cate, Cougar, Car + Mel, Nick, Shorty, Pistol, Rocket, Trav, SuperMario, AvantiTrev, Hollywood, Jen and Lynda. Our train, as long as the 7.15 from Mt Tom Price, sliced south into the SSW'er (7-13 km/h), I sat back to let others open the account, joining the up line at fifth wheel, at last avoiding the early toil. Cate cooled calves in shorter shorts, Hollywood harried by a hurting hip (hypothesising a hernia?), Pistol still looking young despite ticking over a milestone year and AvantiChris was in a colour co-ordinated combo of Lotto Jumbo and Avanti yellow. I hit the breezy end in River Rd with AvantiChris to the bridge, then to the dip with Trav, almost blinded into the rising sun with a vague idea where the Tarmac was, 51/Genesis and Cat packs were stretched long and thin in their westward assult. Tucked into a Shorty & Jase tow North, I was nursing a niggling knee up to Channel Rd, a short four carriage Goat train passing southbound. The knee stopped knocking at Channel Rd's S bend, then found myself in the hopeless position leading into Hopeful corner. Trav rolled across but was left to sear on the sprint skillet up to Prentice Rd, Hollywood leading out Wozz, Pistol, Rocket and co (Rocket ruled).
All hopes climbed a rung when Thursday's lap was in Rockets absence, Wozz, Shorty, Nick, AvantiChris, Hollywood, Trav, Pistol, AvantiTrev, Temple and SpinDoctor aimed their sprint positions higher in anticipation. Sucked in to the fast first shift to Doyles Rd, I was blessed to have traffic to halt us, a chance to draw breath. Pistol and SpinDoctor kept the speed oven hot, a thousand thanks to Trav for dialling it back to simmer just 2 km/h cooler. I scored the front again in Boundary Rd with AvantiChris to the bridges, Wozz kind enough not to toast me on the drive to one tree dam, just enough in reserve to catch the Pistol/Wozz draft to River Rd. Seen and heard on the starting grid but now silent and invisible at the rear, AvantiTrev, Temple and Nick were in survival mode. My number came up again out of River Rd's dip, alongside AvantiChris all my focus was on reaching the bridge, dared not look at the speed or heart rate for fear of mentally abandoning ship, (39 km/h at 172 bpm noted later on the Garmin upload) then repeat the process beside Wozz till strain succumbed to sensibility and surrender. We single filed into Central Kialla for Dahlsens truss truck to pass, then resuming normal transmission, but there were less volunteers up front at the energy end. With a clear pass at the highway, Wozz called a momentary calm to prevent a bunch fracture, that lasted till Roubaix, the finish line aroma had the hitters on heat. SpinDoctor spun Conrod into fluffy white peaks, Pistol and Wozz added spiced speed in the closing 400 metres, but Wozz had hipster Hollywood hanging on hungry and hopeful for a free tow, tasting the win from Wozz, I licked the rare flavour of third.
Succumbed to the sin of sloth Friday (peloton penance paid tomorrow), enough cried the old legs.
Week 40. 248km YTD 12,100 km
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