An early shower but a clearing radar rushed the ride decision Saturday morning, breaking records to grid 5.9 k's away in 10 min. There was no rest for the righteous with pace on from the start, Nick, Rocket, AvantiChris, Shorty, Fisky, MasiMario and Jase made up the few fronting. Puddles from the earlier 4am shower baptised the Baum, (no point being precious about a new bike, bought to ride, not to hide), a brief sentence here and there taxing the lungs that craved more oxygen (short replies to the chatterboxes so I didn't give the struggling game away). MasiMario was up and down the cassette, Fisky still paying the price of a winter retirement, Nick and Shorty reaping rapid rewards of consistent circuits. I was on the tail end at DECA but opted to stay there for the charge on Wanganui hill, Rocket hit the blast-off button and eased at the base, but his peek back quickly prompted a second kick, AvantiChris within reach, bearing down behind. A recovering FeltMat (aboard Temple's old Ridley) joined in on the roll along the Boulevard, weather wary Cate, Jen, Cougar, Mel (-Car) and AvantiTrev (all in civvies) joining the caffeine conversation on VW's, long waits, bike posture and the etiquette of duck vs cabana.
A fresh Monday (8 degrees) for a solo prologue, comfortable on the drops for the first time ever but finding Fizik (Aliante R5) familiarity far from forgiving following forever on an Antares VS-X (running in the rump is a rudimentary requirement). Approaching the Emu, navigation was by the roads edge, an oncoming 4X4 needing 4 driving lights and high beam to see, thankfully I was guided by the light of the round bailer working westward at the Toaster. Two, four then five bikes were exiting town east as I entered, the lights of the Goat peace train (Baz, Deb, Sandy, Hommy, Coggo, Principal Skinner, Brendan, Graham, Belly, Phil, Bickers, and CerveloJohn) turning out of the SPC roundabout. A quiet little tap around the track with the cruise control capped on comfortable allowed all to roll through, a 6.30 sun-up lit Rocket bearing East on River Rd (courting competitive k's), but the peace train was a little behind my schedule at Central Kialla, so took the alt. route - Archer shortcut home.
The Goat gathering grew Tuesday, Coggo, Spartacus, Joe, Belly, Dipper, Hommy, Kate, Phil, Deb, Brendan, Speissy, Travis, Liam, Phillo, Snow, Sandy, AvantiAndy and Carl making up a peleton proportionally populous. A cruisy, casual crank out of town with rotations freezing in favour of long paired turns, calmed my beat to just 100 bpm. We gained JB and Graham idling near School Rd, turns rolling again with riders divided on the protocols. By Boundary's pig palace the regular roll overs had halted again, Joe took the pub to the bridges leg, plying the pace, I rolled across pairing with young Liam to River Rd, 43 years ahead but 43mm behind. Most put in a shift at the front in River Rd, inspiring to see Deb venturing forward for a dip in the deep end, Bare backed Joe (higher Knicks or lower Jersey?) having a close call or three to the wheel ahead. I had another coupling with Liam as we crossed Archer Rd, made for a push up Mt.Nicolaci at 40 clicks, picking up the heart rate (and the polka dots), but a pause at the highway and a bunch split for traffic dragged out the schedule to Roubaix. Plenty were still employed as drivers as we swung into Conrod, Carl set off on a presumptuous sprint with 450 metres to go, I played the waiting game about 9 wheels back to launch with 100 left. The new rig was responsive to the wattage scoring me silver, second to young Liam a pleasing position. (good to see 'hipster Rooster Roscoe's return, rolling a recovery through town)
Wednesday starters at the car park included Jase, Nick, Temple, Pistol, Wozza, Rocket, Hollywood, Cougar, Jen, Cate, Mel (-Car), AvantiTrev and AvantiChris, plenty of pace on the journey south to Mitchell Rd, courtesy of Rocket, Hollywood and Pistols performance. The warmth of 16 degrees bared most arms and legs, kindly carried by the light southwester helped a rapid roll along River. A glance at the Garmin (39 km/h in Boundary) recalled Wednesday's once were the relaxed recovery rides (32 average in March 2013), but spring has sprung speed into the specifications as many find new form. A long turn in Channel Rd wit Wozz (from the S bend to the cypress trees) exorcised my energy, then a brief blast beside Nick ruined a recovery in the half K to the kindergarten. Hurtling toward Hopeful corner, Jen was postured perfectly prostrate, poised for power aboard the AvantiTrev flouro express, Cate had positioned at the pointy end prematurely and percolating, but luck and location (with wattage to burn) lay with Pistol, Hollywood and Wozz to thrash out the placings, Wozz winning (Rocket resting), the social cruise home as enjoyable as the challenge of the Cha Cha.
Thursday's southerly (20-35 km/h) howled for the affirmative in the doting da doona debate, but the "nothing ventured, nothing gained" argument won in the end. "What was I thinking" bounced around inside the skull as legs complained at the cadence to catch the (impendingly indefensible) 5.45 Couldabeens start. Only Rocket, Pistol, Hollywood, AvantiTrev and WhisperingJack braved the breeze, the driving left to few (four) while AvantiTrev (on seniority specifications) and WhisperingJack (recovering from an intensive 10 day Fiji training programme) sat in the rear stalls. It was a fair flog along the 8k of Channel Rd, carving east through the orchards and veggie patches, thoughts on facing the head-on blast in Boundary simmering the psychosis. Hooray for Hollywood calling Indian file south, dragging us to the Broken bridges and handing me the helm for the leg to one tree dam (abbreviated by Rocket's call for calm as the two in tow were jettisoned off the rear). I relished the recovery to River Rd, the six pack reformed, Rocket and Pistol towing us along just a tad off the previous boil, and finding FeltMat (temporarily RidleyMat) tapping a tentative tour. Paired with Pistol for central Kialla tested my tenacity, alongside Hollywood till Archer Rd took me to the end of my rigour rope. Sitting second wheel didn't allow much recovery (42km/h @ 165 bpm) but I faced up for a final turn from the horse stud to Arcadia Downs. Speed signalled single file in Conrod as I switched on survival systems ( dig deep, draft, dream of a dais and don't die!), Pistol putting in a powerful performance. With 300 metres left and in another league, Rocket (nourished on Nutrigrain and nitrous?) powered ahead with Hollywood hanging hopefully to second. A glance back witnessed WhisperingJack (slipping back into early retirement?) a K in arrears.
Almost addicted to adrenalin, I boarded the pain train Friday, Goats Coggo, Heady, AvantiLeigh, Dipper and Tum similarly hooked. Heady headed us headlong into Old Dookie Rd, me, Tum, AvantiLeigh, Dipper and Coggo following. I felt fresh for the first turn to Central Ave, a decent recovery time with 5 others contributing till the next shift came up. The head on southerly (17-24 km/h) hurt for my drive from the pub to the bridges (36 km/h), a bigger dig needed to catch onto the back of the train as Tum tore into the leg to River Rd. A clan of Couldabeens cranked into Boundary as we wheeled west, AvantiLeigh, Dipper, Coggo and Heady took us to the dip (Trevaskis Rd), I took the personal trial of driving to River's end testing the ticker to 172 bpm. It was bums off seats for Mt.Nicolaci and a smooth sail across Melbourne Rd, luck had me at the front again from Roubaix to the horse stud, rewarded with a k recovery in the draft, ready for the Conrod pounce. AvantiLeigh and Coggo motivated us into the mid 40's, Tum setting a luxury lead-out in slo mo to end my week with a win.
Week 43. 269 km YTD 12,933 km
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