Much motivation missing for Saturday's early lap on Friday night till Trav's text inspired a few aboard, Jase, Temple, AvantiMat and I navigating the deserted 4:45am streets to A Mart in the shock of single digit temperatures. The habitual circuit was tapped, news of AvantiMat's serving of road rage from "1CAMEL" (look for the plate....anger management issues) but mainly recalling the joys of numb fingers and toes, multiple layers of insulation and the inspiration needed to 'un-doona' in the coming cold months (ah, how the folk will soften as the mercury drops!) A startled bunny zig zagged (trained by WobblyTrev?) ahead of us in Channel Rd, my urge to hold a straight line in close quarters overpowering as it ran straight under my front wheel (that crosses Foss off the Easter list!). Upright and without a murder charge, we cranked on to the Archer St carpark with 2 minutes socially spare, who's who in the crew was difficult in the darkness till the social train steamed out Channel Rd. Gradually circulating through the crouched figures as the rotations rolled identified Troy, KillkennyPaul, Rocket, SuperMario, Lucy, Wozza, Pistol, Cougar, Nick, Nev, AvantiTrev and Scott-not-BassoDave, the foreigners (by ride style and kit) stood out like a Turnbull policy, Shazza and MattC discovered mid-field in the left line. Progress was pumped up past the cypress trees, arm-warmers de rigeur and some in full winter kit (what will they wear when the real winter starts?). I'd been sandwiched between the heavy horsepower of Pistol and Nev, a push to Old Dookie Rd beside Pistol, then tried to chat with Nev (but words get in the way of maximum oxygen intake), the mind extending the legs and lungs limits 3k to the Toaster. Positioned in the tow to the Emu and beyond, I pondered when fate would put me at the pointy end again, but for now, the shared social side savoured. Taking advantage of the SW'er homeward, but hardly selling the Saturday soul to speed, Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd promoted me closer to the front. MattC was running on five cylinders and retreated from the right line (then awol with Shazza in Verney Rd), anticipation and perspiration brewing as Wanganui Rd drew near. Back at the business end as we reached DECA's track, I started the rolls (not enough in the tank to donate more), Jase and Pistol upping the ante till Wozz and Troy humbled all on the hill. Starved for time regrettably, I exited stage left in the Boulevard, missing the breakfast banter.
A Monday mission of a solo golf course-emu-toaster lap, (wearing a summer kit was an insulation deficit in 10 degrees) prompted the 17 cog to act as a heater (81rpm). There was comfort on the Fizik following a slothful Sunday, the dark grey 14.5k stretch to the Emu was at least windless. Dodging a flat fox to the Toaster then worked westward to town, the Goat peace train of Manny, Belly, Coggo, Heady, Deb and Carl formed at Friars. As usual, Tina was collected on the roll out of town, some felt a lack of peace by pace as rotations were shared. Roscoe (fronting in Geoffrey's spot) joined in but caboosed his berth, Heady's playwriting praised amongst the weekend pastimes shared. It was a therapeutic tap down Boundary and River, but flashing reds and blues as we approached Mt Nicolaci cast a cautionary curtain on us all, scattered cars, bikes and emergency vehicles spelt all was not well. U-turning from the road block we retreated via Archer, the mood swing to solemn as reality and our own vulnerability set in for all, Coggo driving a single file back to town. Pit stopped at Mandy's, the news of the 51/Cat spill (dodging a dead roo) and subsequent skiddle of Scott-not-BassoDave sank in.
A tentative tap to Tuesday's Couldabeens, the gravity of yesterday's prang still heavy on the conscience. Chops, SuperMario, Bo, Kenworth, Rocket, Wozz, Lucy, Kel, Shorty, Temple, Trav, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, KillkennyPaul, Vince and Jase fronted, Lucy's new Evo Cannondale averting the attention on the starting grid. Underway, it was a reserved first leg, Temple calling a tamed tap as a confidence booster from yesterday's concerns. Nerves were rattled as headlights suddenly lit a large mound of hay in the roads middle on leg three, then a cars rapid appearance on kinder corner had heart rates peaking, Wozza's wheel bouncing off a large stone trebled the tension. Excitement settled till the Broken bridges, an unseen small branch attempting to launch Lucy's luscious Cosmics. Calm did descend for River Rd and beyond, I'll admit a lot of trepidation dipping into Mitchell's Mt Nicolaci, but we'd all be still in bed if we did a ride risk assessment. Surprised the speed sizzled as Conrod loomed near, Rocket stretching out the field to the first dip. Shorty and Temple were hung out to dry in the right line, I sat patient as the field filed single, watching the metres evaporate. Rocket had eased and several expired, a squirt at the last dip with Wozz at my heels not quite a sprint but it cleared the cobwebs.
A special assembly on Wednesday for Temple's sermon on the mount, in light of Monday's events a reminder of the care needed (and complacency collected?) in our chosen addiction. A mass of Pistol, Wozza, Rocket, Troy, Ric, Hashbrown, Chops, Temple, Jase, Cougar, Trav and mate MattP, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Car+Mel, Cate, Lucy, Nick and Shorty strung out a long Indian file to Kialla Lakes, Chops armwarmers in hiding for the 10 degree start. Volunteers to the right line were plentiful, reaching the front of the long train seemingly endless as River Rd was consumed, the rear rubber-banding evident with attendance high. AvantiMat was fading in Boundary as I eased, closing in on a solo cruiser presented me the case of pause or pass. In favour of maintaining momentum it was a pass, then the steady steam up to the usual fourties in Channel Rd (lit by a large lunar lamp) set a swift scene for the Cha Cha, several already on the brink of implosion at Kinder corner. A gap opened and I carefully swung to the right line as some rear carriages uncoupled, Mel's feisty crank forward to the furious end quite inspiring. Opportunity knocked at Prentice Rd for a place, but I wanted wattage to reach the sultans of speed, Wozza and Troy. An eyeball rearward (saw a sea of led dazzle) for the regular post Orrvale Rd reunion missed AvantiMat, the subsequent spleen vent at the Doyles Rd halt brewed from recently frayed nerves? Seems the divide between the fighting and fit is widening (and opening wounds?) Growth hurts I guess. Feeling somewhat ogre-rated, the jovial jaunt homeward with Wozz, Cate, Car+Mel (sudden stop at the lights made Mel's fully sik skid yuleh!) distilled my dilemmas.
Variety chose an Archer-Channel-Boundary-NewDookie-Central-OldDookie warm up in a temperate 18 degrees on Thursday, pace particularly pleasing in light of the shifting (to a headwind of course!) breeze, the cardiac ticking steadily at 160 bpm was a better workout than Wednesday's lap of just one turn at the front. It was slim Goat pickings at Friars, only Phil, Belly, Tina, Snow and MeridaJohn to commence, Principal Skinner and Geoffrey enlisted on our exit from town. MeridaJohn had the bit between his teeth to Dobson's, single filing behind him hinted his hurry. Belly paired with me beyond Central to get two lines back into order, Snow sat in the rear retirement section as seven swapped shifts, Geoffrey with a mild case of the noddies, Tina and PrincipalSkinner benchmarking smooth. Belly and I took a long River Rd drivers shift, a long time since comparing heart rates, 163 vs my 151. Sharing the love of the lead around at the dip was a short lived rest, back at the pointy end for us at Central Kialla. Drivers dwindled rounding Roubaix, seven became five became four by Arcadia Downs, my plan to invest all the energy stocks when next hitting the hurting end. As always, the first dip of Conrod had my name on it, so sunk all the stubbornness into 48 clicks, avoided the rapid rabbit crossing and ran my tank dry at the 400 marker. Going OTA instantly was strangely sweet, legs finally had their wish after 70k's. I enjoyed a brief social idle then tested the tempo home to beat the time clock.
A Good Friday Couldabeens invite attracted PistolPete, Wozza, Rocket, SuperMario, AvantiMat, FDC's Troy and Jed, and outsiders Paul vanP, MattP and Nicholas. It was a slow leg one while some sorted cogs, settling into a steady throttle east to Boundary Rd., just a hint of a breeze swinging from southwest through to west-northwest to tax those in the drivers seat. Nicholas took a River Rd back seat, I was attempting an economy drive to leave something for a subsequent Toaster lap. Of course, speed became serious in Raftery, rolling turns at Arcadia Downs lasted just a k till Conrod became an Indian file for survival, Wozz and Jed inflicting the punishment of pace to stretch the bunch long and breathless to the finish. Chat and chuckles at the Scottish restaurant topped off the Friday entree.
A large cast had assembled at the Butterfactory for the 11th RCH Good Friday Toaster lap, Steevo, Jonesy and the cafe staff turning on the welcome. Goats, a few Cats, a Muppet or two, some of Adams clan and a mass of browns cows rolled away at 8. Temple, AndyAlphabet, Eammon, newbie RidleyCraig and I tentatively cruised in the caboose as the chaff was sorted south on Raftery, pace up and down like a Labor opinion poll. We chose the open plains of Mitchell Rd to crank past at our own more comforting tempo, diverting to the serenity of River Rd whilst the others meandered on Mitchell. NevY came aboard, RidleyCraig kaboomed at the drivers end but took his PhD in the caboose, time and kilometres will educate him on pace. We joined Boundary to be behind another mixed menagerie, the smoothness of Coggo, Tina, JB, Dipper and Heady gave some hope. A few new faces (and some familiar scary ones) varied the velocity in Old Dookie Rd, to the point of fuelling frustration at the back by burning up brake blocks. Wording up Temple and decent drivers, we launched again after the church, unfortunately many square pegs filled the round holes of pursuit. West on Lemnos-Cosgrove and nudging the fourties tested tenacities, MrMagnet, lil'Ron and others popping like corks in the pace (too many wombats hidden under their jerseys?). A good dozen drove the train home as those on the edge expired, not many Jellybeans left in Wanganui Rd to muster a sprint as AndyAlphabet towed a single file line up the hill.
Week 12 392 km YTD 3,894
Thoughts go out to those involved in Monday's mayhem, Sly (arm/shoulder), Straddles (neck fractures), Cobbles (clavicle, ribs and concussion) and Scott-not-BassoDave (two broken legs, fractured pelvis, wrist and ribs, collapsed lungs, two spinal fractures, facial and leg lacerations and a halo to wear!) It reinforces the message; ride smooth, straight & safe, and take care of your fellow addicts.
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