Getting organised early allowed a calm cruise to the Saturday start line, likeminded pilgrims populated the peleton (AvantiChris, SpinDoctor, Hollywood, Rocket, Cougar, PistolPete, AvantiTrev, Tour de FightBaCC legends Troy and Ralphy, Jen, Trav, Jase, MasiMario and FeltMat (temporarily RidleyMat). Six bells tolled, the first leg in first gear while AvantiTrev adjusted himself to vertical, settling into the traditional tempo a k later (enough to earn a second breakfast). A SSE breeze in Boundary Rd motivated motion, Jen was the grinning kid with a new toy, the flouroAvanti now in permanent residence. Old Dookie's piggery perfume pickled Hollywoods nostrils, bacon funnily finding favour for my Lemontree luxury later. Just beyond the Emu, Hollywoods puncture propagated the pedantic personality, AvantiTrev taking charge of the pit stop so we could all get home before lunch. Nath got aboard the relaunch, sixteen spearing west in search of Wanganui hill honours or breakfast (or both). Not surprisingly, Rocket took the win with sheer speed, at least AvantiChris and MasiMario were well positioned to keep him working. Hay fever hassled my respiratories on the roll back into town, the murderous Mason St manhole minefield was blissfully belied by the Baum. New bikes, Tour de Fight BaCC and bacon the table talk topics, the footpath filling with Genesis/51 and Tri Club bunches.
A westerly up the Khyber begged a PB Monday morning, a dip on the New Dookie disco paying up a 40.4 average to start the week on a positive. Exertion earned exhaustion arriving at Boundary Rd, a calm crank south to tame the ticker was in order, and to get thoughts around the 25 km/h headwind home. Pleased I managed to maintain thirties westward, head down at the favoured 76 rpm and blessing the odd bit of tree lined shelter. Familiar white wheels from the west identified Pistol Pete approaching the dip, just 3 k's more till respite came on the southbound leg of Central Kialla. Nick and the quick chicks were eastbound as I wrestled west in Mitchell, the climb up Mt Nicolaci toughened by the gust from an oncoming truck. Goodness and mercy followed me in Raftery Rd, (no pussycat pursuit to persecute) gradually pointing north to have the wind at my side. Early home, narrowly avoiding a numbskull who doesn't comprehend give way.
The southerly had stemmed, birds were singing (not blown to Sydney) and the sun almost shining on Tuesday morning, conditions cool to convene for a Goat gathering (sorry Couldabeens, Tuesday's thrash is a few rungs too high) Coggo, Heady, Spiessy, Phillo, Belly, Brendan, Bickers, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Sandy, Kate, Hommy and Snow filtered in, talk tumultuous till time tolled, taxiing out of town the traffic lights split the bunch. Coggo and I tapered the tempo till the bunch reformed, AvantiAndy, JB and Tina jumped aboard. Long turns got underway with some success, flowing smoothly with little hint of the dreaded rubber band effect at the back. I stole a spy on the scenic sunrise but eyes rightly reverted to Bickers wayward wheel ahead, a sentence or two amongst the Goats possible with the regular rotation reduced. AvantiAndy's puncture punctuated peace in River Rd, the enemy of time forced me to a solo soldier-on as the bunch berthed for repairs. Nowhere to hide for the slog home, dial up the heart rate and focus the fortitude, 17k's back to base motivated by a raisin toast reward if I was ahead on agenda (two slice treat)
Saddled up at 5 on Wednesday to break the habitual 35k routine, teaching legs and lungs a little longevity lesson. Rocket's familiar posture was just visible sneaking in extra k's in the half light of Wanganui Rd, a golf course loop and a rip round Raftery my precursor to the usual Couldabeens circuit. Just a minute short of reaching the carpark after 28k's, I u-turned to join the bunch front, taking a little of the northeasterly advantage propelling me, but pairing with Rocket was the consequence. Hollywood, Trav, AvantiChris (....strike that, a new matte black and orange steed would make him ScottChris so I'll go with his long held monicker of Boof), Car+Mel, Shorty, Nick, AvantiTrev, Cougar, Cate, WhisperingJack, Choppy and FeltMat (recently RidleyMat and today MasiMat as he deliberates a replacement). Boof's new beast is smoother and lighter than the retiring Avanti, just what we need, another fast guy updating to a faster bike! Cate, Car+Mel performing admirably, AvantiTrev calling a brief pairing in River, Rocket raising the bar when I rolled over. There was an ease in Boundary avoiding a pair of skippy's, back on the boil at the bridges with Boof and Pistol providing the pace. Happily positioned at the back as we swung past Channel Rd's kinder, I advanced too quickly as the turns shortened and the speed spiked. Shorty kicked off the sprint proceedings (the Baum accelerated well past him but the engine needs more power), I served purely as a lead-out for Rocket, Hollywood, Pistol and Boof to blast by. A minute or two to compose the heart rate, then the social intercourse through the streets homeward (sorry I couldn't pause for the maiden journey puncture Boof, boss beckons)
Wozz had returned from respiratory respite on Thursday, a roll to the Couldabeens start found Rocket en-route, AvantiTrev, Trav, Shorty, Nick, Lynda, Pistol, SuperMario, Temple, Whispering Jack and FeltMat (aka MasiMat) assembled, the contentious launch time chewed over and finally rubber stamped. AvantiTrev and I led leg 1, but an impatient imbecile interjected, storming past and cutting in as we reached the roundabout (the bravado of 2,860 kg's of Navara obviously outweighing commonsense). Puffed at Pistols pace on leg 2, it was a delight to draft and let Trav and Shorty drive leg 3. An unsignalled (hambone sized) stick got Pistols front wheel airborne and punctured near Sellmans, the pit stop pause a holiday from hyperventilation. Repaired, regrouped and reloaded to ride rapidly, Rocket and Wozz took the reigns west in River Rd, MasiMario (heavily handicapped), Craig Lotsalumens (crawling cadence), Mexican Angelo (liquorice lycra) and Bomber (craving Cats?) were all singly slogging East, Jase joining us (missed the carpark launch) for our homeward mission. My mental aim at reaching the dip beside Pistol was 200 metres further than the lungs let me (shooting for the stars only makes me see them), relishing respite in the draft till the next turn of duty. Wozz and Rocket mounted Mt Nicolaci at 40, maybe the reason why just 6 were left working the front in Raftery? Indian filed from Arcadia Downs, Rocket donating the draft (if you could hang onto it in the mid 40's) for Conrod straight, Jase pinching the chocolates in the last 50 metres.
The bait of the Goat pain train dangled Friday, Carl, Tum, Belly, Coggo, AvantiLeigh, Dipper, Baz and Principal Skinner arrived at Frairs, all similarly smitten by a goal / test / vengance / company / conditioning / torture / or turning up by mistake. Coggo set the swift standards in Old Dookie Rd to Dobsons, AvantiLeigh a solid turn, his body language translated "enough" reaching Central Ave. The ESE breeze on my drive to School Rd did it's best to dish up an inferiority complex, relief to show Tum my elbow and hitch a tow, gasping. Baz and Belly burned bright (but breifly) battling Boundary Rd, but it's all for one and one for all on the pain train.....until the morals and rules are thrown out in Conrod straight! The caboose uncoupled for Baz at Channel Rd, taking the cruise to cafe option as we speared south on an indian filed mission of masochism. A copious cast of Couldabeens converged on River Rd's ripple strips, our morale motivated with encouraging words amongst the troops as each finished their desperation at the drivers end (replies short and sweet as lungs demanded precedence gobbling up the oxygen). River Rd finished fast, my push to Mitchell at 40 scraped the bottom of the tank, but there was redemption in the momentary pause for traffic. The crew was cooking in Conrod as Tum wound up the wattage, Belly lit the afterburners with 100 metres left, Tum stood to reply (but legs refused), AvantiLeigh pounced, Coggo bolted, the two metre wide open gap at the left begged my sneak up the inside for a win. Wrung out like a wet sock till mid morning, I was (sadistically?) satisfied to crank the solid lap with the genial gathering of Goats.
Week 44 275k's YTD 13,208 km
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