With the weight of a four course lunch and two slack days off the bike, a Sunday social tap begged to get back (quietly) into the groove. A WhatsApp invite drew only stallions (Rocket and Jase) to the barrier, so it was "consume the concrete Foss", no rest for the righteous! I'd chosen a Archer-Mitchell-River-Boundary-OldDookie lap, the first six k's to get the head wind (SW@ 15) over with early, Rockets rate of knots chucking me in the deep end to the truck route, Jase pace matching to Mitchell. A short 2100 metre recovery in tow till duty called again in Central Kialla with Rocket and to River Rd's bridge with Jase, MachineSteve was the solitary bike headed west. Dragging back the heart rate from 172 bpm took most of the River Rd tow to contain, only 18 bpm was shaved off when Boundary Rd summoned another contribution. The suffer scale had peaked again by the highway, matching Jase to the fig farm suggested my swansong. No let up on the journey west in Old Dookie, just one more turn alongside Rocket was purely inspired by thoughts of banana toast nirvana at the Lemontree, a fitting finish to 35k, but mourning of Rocket's dear departed Cosmic.
The peace train was the ideal start to two weeks leave, Coggo, Deb, Belly, CerveloJohn, Speissy, Sandy, Principal Skinner and Hommy arrived at Friars to commence proceedings. The sun peeked above the horizon on Old Dookie Rd as Graham and Tina were added to the fold, a pleasant and breezless 12 degrees made a breeze of the regular 32 k Goat lap (Tina, Sandy, Coggo, Belly and Hommy tenderised by the Tat 200/100 Saturday) The h.r. comparison was back on the Belly agenda, a 130/150 variation closing a gap of the past. A few were unable to resist Conrod's temptation of tempo, I was captivated by warm conversation and Degani caffeine (unfortunately lukewarm) with holidays allowing post ride socialism. As an addendum, I joined Tina and NevY to tamely tap ahead of the Adams family via Archer, Mitchell and Boundary, a northeaster brewing. Not till the Boundary Rd Hog Hilton did the Adams collective catch, familiar faces of Hoffy, ChrisW, GT, Jimbo, Axle, Pete, Beery, JT and Ron, but keeping my wits sharpened with MrMagnet amongst them. It was a cruisy but erring to erratic spin to the toaster, Emu and back to Boundary, Jimbo puncturing (half a dozen stopping) but the remainder continuing. The westward leg on Old Dookie Rd turned up the tempo, I took the lead over Central Ave and applied the speed spice (unsure of the finish line) finding Mr Magnet and GT glued to my wheel. They both edged past, MrMagnet instantly imploded, GT (with mixmaster set on high) spun to the bridge, (the line now learned)
Fed, caffined and attired Tuesday morning but found the Baum bogged on two flat tyres! A record set changing two tubes, (might just make the start), bolted out the door to discover the front flat again! Finding the Michelin's minuscule glass shard, it was repeat step one, all urgency cancelled with no hope of catching the departing bunch. Setting forth on an anti-clockwise Archer-Truck route-River Rd course to intercept, I just missed the 6am Couldabeens hares (turtles many minutes ahead) at "wait for David", so tapped the vacant stretch of River Rd almost to its end as a gargantuan Goat gathering finally arrived (Deb, Belly, Phillo, Heady, Bickers, Sandy, AvantiAndy, Spartacus, Kate, JB, Tina, Coggo, CerveloJohn, Snow, Liam, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Speissy, Joe and Graham), AvantiAndy leaving the gate open so I could slip in behind Spartacus. (instantly alarmed at the missing rear caliper......phew!, tucked under the Trek chainstay) There was some spice to the speed (previously clamped I'm told) on River and on to Mitchell, with whistles from the rear (a HG hint at hand braking?) Halting at the highway then on the gas for the finale, it was fourties and flying at the horse stud (now a bespoke Belly Strava segment "grind from Galbraith's gate"). Into Conrod's first dip JB hit the front, and promptly hit the wall, so I took AvantiLeigh and Dipper on a full steam break to the line, flicking AvantiLeigh the elbow at the last dip, but fit Dipper zipped to nip the win. Yet another post ride gregarious gathering (Welsford St cafe) consuming consummate caffeine and munching moorish walnut & banana toast....... I could get used to this lifestyle.
Like ants drawn to a picnic, led lights drew in from all directions to the Couldabeens carpark Wednesday morning, a southerly cooling my thoughts of an early turn at the front. SpinDoctor, Jase, Boof, Mel, Hollywood, Cate, SuperMario, Rocket, Tucks, Choppy, Temple and AvantiTrev exited South, Pistol arriving as Jase and SpinDoctor led the drive to the truck route. Most had tucked in for a tow in the left line with very few advancing for a pole position, Boof then I offering ourselves as a sacrifice to the God of headwinds (name censored to protect young and sensitive ears) to Mitchell Rd, my pairing with Hollywood on Mitchell continuing the anxiety. I enjoyed the respite in River Rd as others did their bit, just G and Tina I.D'd in the flouro palette of Cats blurring west as we dipped the dip. A pair of plodders hitched a ride as we veered by River's rumble strips, the tailwind in Boundary adding clicks as we set course to Channel Rd. The S bend to the cypress trees spent most of my pennies beside Boof then Hollywood, survival for the Cha Cha all that mattered now. SuperMario was the hand grenade at hopeful corner (ready to explode trying to reach the front), a draft quickly sought as Rocket, Hollywood, Jase, SpinDoctor and Boof humbled all in their hurry. Several had been well expelled by speed as we cruised to the school, Temple and I turning back to re-team and tow Cate and Mel back to town.
New rim tape and tubes was some comfort at possibly preventing puncture prologues, finding Wozza en route to the Couldabeens Thursday thrash. A small but swift gathering of Rocket, Vince, ChrisA, Trav, Pistol, Temple, Cougar and BigBrad set off with Pistol and Wozz opening the account. Emerging from hibernation, BigBrad took short turns, Temple toasting me from the S bend to Boundary. A wind swing (ESE) favoured flying in River Rd, my h.r. reading 51 bpm (I wish!) strap submerged in sweat (?) Beside Temple at Laws Drive and with Pistol beyond the bridge, my target was set too far (2200 metres) to River's end flogging 41 kays, thoroughly thrashed and thanatophobic turning to Central Kialla. BigBrad and Cougar took an Archer exit, Temple had resigned from active duty thus sandwiching me between Rocket and Pistol. With my energy evaporated at Roubaix, I too took the early retirement plan as the driving ranks thinned to ChrisA, Vince, Wozz and Pistol (Rocket relaxed at the rear reserving criterium legs). ChrisA threw himself on the sacrificial alter for the last 500 metres of Conrod straight, Wozza with the win wattage over the line to finish 28.3 k's in 44:16.
Plenty of WhatsApp interest in the Friday flyer from Friars on Fryers, but only Coggo, Heady and AvantiLeigh fronted (Dipper declined, double deflation dramas denied duty). Heady braved the first leg in Old Dookie to Dobson's bridge, I was behind earning a doctorate in dehydrated invertebrate zoology (studying dried worms on Heady's rear caliper) to divert attention from my forthcoming turn to Central Ave. AvantiLeigh drove to School Rd, Coggo to Boundary for us to all face the mental masochism of the headwind to harry and hinder hurry. MasiMario meandered North, our seven k's strenuous to River Rd, shared to keep us on schedule. Couldabeens cornered, we wheeled west, Heady towing us two k's before flashing his elbow. I'd preset my target to reach the bridge before passing the reigns to AvantiLeigh, maybe a bridge to far as the squint west seemed an eternity. Calling on all reserves (and the Almighty) by Laws Rd, there was relief cresting the channel, but legs turning to jelly out of the Fizik to catch the draft at the rear. Just enough recovery time to repeat the process at the front from Archer to Melbourne Rd, hopes were pinned on the tailwind in Raftery being my salvation. Arriving at the front again in Conrod, there was enough in my tank to make mid fourties, but Coggo (enthused by a week overseas) took flight to take the Friday chocolates. A pit stop postmortem at Degani (coffee specs set to hot) included Rooster and Tina, many words on AvantiAndy's digit dilemmas.
In search of a few finishing k's, I aimed at Archer and found an Adams Rd mob massing (20+), long-time-no-see Iggy, Norm and Barnsey. A scrambled single-filed start southbound, the southerly at 22-32km/h scattering many. Some sense of rhythm started in Mitchell, but MrMagnet had magnetised to my Mavic to throw comfort out the window. Some strayed from the rear, slowing the front, a bedding in ritual for brake pads. Boundary Rd northbound with a tailwind got the bunch finally functioning, but some moved up the ranks only to retreat rearward from the energy end. (makes you appreciate the grass in your own paddocks). Time (thankfully) tolled an Old Dookie exit, half a dozen joining the tap home, made smooth with Principal Skinner's inclusion.
Week 46 : 313 km. YTD 13,812 km
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