A Melbourne weekend begged bringing the bike, enthused by a spirit of adventure to ride on different soil. The Beach Rd Mecca made Mordialloc the start at 6, only a few bikes out and about northbound, (hassled by headwind?). The slight rise and fall at Beamaris and Black Rock tested this old flatlander to put some bumps on the Garmin graph. It was backside bliss on a billiard table tarmac, gradually populated with ones two's and three's, personally pleased I'd passed plenty, pace possibly preventing being passed. Mentone's charming old Edgy to the right, surfers to the left and the whiff of sea air made for a salubrious Saturday, just one (motor paced) hero hurtled by. There were glimpses of the city skyline approaching Brighton, thousands of lights reflecting on Port Phillips water as the sun's rise splashed orange against the glass and steel towers certainly beats the darkness of Old Dookie Rd and its parfum du piggery! By 6:40 it was an invasion of two wheeled warriors grouping in the side streets now north and southbound, I cranked past the Espy and Luna Park and onto Port Melbourne as the flouro femme fashionistas jogged beachside (a dilatingly delectable diversion). U turning at Station Pier, attention altered to automotive, a parked Aston Martin Vantage, Carrera 4 and R8 soaking up stares. Soul cafe was packed with parked peletons, but I'd made plans for a caffeine fix at the finish, southbound I caught a few groups but passed on by with their speed set on snooze (carpe diem tailwind!). Jumped on the tail of four TT bikes well into the high fourties for a bit, Velominati's rule #19 applying to righteously drop off the back, settling on working with Team Lexus Brighton, a smooth and steady bunch of eight to slice through the suburbs. There was bikes of all shapes, sizes and colours, and their jockeys (from shiny aero showponies to rotund hapless hopefuls), the rise of disc brakes quite evident amongst the usual brands and a few odd ones (a Passoni and a Moots, two titaniums to blend with the Baum). All good things eventually come to an end, too soon reaching Mordialloc pier for the obligatory coffee fix, bunches galore forming and finishing. Surprised I Strava scored 141 trophies for the 53 k's, "Cerberus lung buster", "Ooooh Boy!", "Polkadot hill" and "Go Go Juice" just some of the creative segment titles.
An urge to ruffle the repetition drew me further along Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd Monday, out to the Quarry for a change of course, the light WSW a help, the return a hinderance? Early shift laser levelling was underway, a sole light at the telephone exchange and many at Boral's in the distance. The return on New Dookie not as bad as predicted (with the 17 cog in use), 6k's west then left at the church, a brief battle against the SW'er then right at the Toaster. I joined Boundary Rd in the void between quick chicks and felines, crimson and grey over the left shoulder to start the day scenically. I made little impression on the gap to the girls (5 against one ain't fair!) and seemed to be holding station to the felines a couple of k's behind. The breeze had swung SSW by River Rd, so bumped up the velocity, Craig Lotsalumens crawling east with the Couldabeens peace train cruising behind. Thoughts of the Raftery tailwind inspired some tempo in Central Kialla and Mitchell Rd, glancing back now becoming regular as the Cat lights drew slowly closer. Five red led's ahead grew a little larger in Raftery (pleased I crossed the line as Cats crested Conrod's first dip), a continued pace in town my only way of catching Jen, Mel (-Car), Cate, Jodie and Sue when a traffic light halted their progress.
Another preliminary started Tuesday off on New Dookie, Boundary and Old Dookie, feeling winter's vice on legs and lungs and particularly the scourge of the south-southwester back to town. A 6am gathering of Goats drew Principal Skinner, Coggo, Spiessy, HG Phillo, Sandy, Heady, Phil, Snow, AvantiAndy, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Kate, Belly, MeridaJohn and Carl. Heady's puncture delayed the flagfall five minutes, a tortured tyre heading Heady home harangued. There was an erratic effort East out of town collecting Tina as we approached the almost deserted Doyles Rd (roundabout roadworks). Eventually working to the front of the bunch with Phil, we applied some rhythm (and silenced the chat). Coggo and Carl kept the pot boiling in Boundary Rd, populating the caboose early. Phil's toasty first turn had turned tepid on the second shift (but still swinging the tail-light in the breeze), Snow's right knee at 10 degrees toe out carbon copied from Hommy's peculiar posture. The River Rd repertoire rotated rhythmically, no show at the front by HG Phillo, Principal Skinner, Sandy or Kate though. But time was ticking away, forcing my diversion to a short cut on the truck route and Archer Rd to satisfy the employers whim of my 7:30 start.
Relegated the engine driver at Wednesday's Couldabeens carpark congregation, I took the carriages (Boof, PistolPete, Mel (-Car), Wozz, Rocket, Cate, SuperMario, Ric, Cougar, Nick, AvantiTrev, Shorty and Chops) gently up to speed (to avoid a wheel squealing) to the bridge, the long drag to Sanctuary Park roundabout beside Wozz had calves cringing. The regular guns of Boof, Rocket, Pistol and co came forward for the early drives while others shuffled in the draft, Troy then Kel & Bo climbing aboard from the advanced cruising positions. The population grew in Mitchell Rd as BigBrad and TrekMat were caught, the change of direction to Kialla Central confirming the rare absence of breeze. Hurt Lockers' early train swept south as we headed toward River Rd, the sky hinting a delayed postcard sunrise as days daylight swiftly shorten. Speed was turning serious at Channel Rd's cypress trees, talk rare particularly for the front half dozen, fractures already forming at Kinder corner. Luckily midfield at Prentice Rd when Wozz hit the boost button, I got around several already cooked from the velocity, crawling into second spot superbly satisfactory with Wozz unreachable, sign language was the only communication possible till I'd got my fix of oxygen nearing the school. A convivial cruise to the towns north end with Boof, Mel, Wozz and Cate, the monster orange sun finally climbing out of the horizons bed was worth riding for.
My 5:43 Thursday grid arrival had forgot the change to a 5:50 flagfall, a casual chat with Wozz as Ric, Hollywood, Ralphy, Troy, KillkennyPaul, Shorty, Trav, PistolPete, Rocket, AvantiTrev, ChrisA and Boof arrived, proving ten degrees hasn't infected attendance. Another first shift with Wozz tests tenacity, at least 13 others provide a long intermission between efforts. BigRon made it 14 as we crept around Kinder corner, a regular rhythm east helping my first shift recovery. I'd been made the pickled person in the sandwich between Wozz and Rocket again, at least I scored the billiard table ride of Rivers' second k to attempt the pace. AvantiTrev had cringed in the caboose, Hollywood venturing forward for short shifts, paying the price of four months in semi bike retirement. An argument inside my skull about another turn at the front was raging at Roubaix, maybe a short one was possible with a large serve of concrete? I'd only just finished a 200 metre donation when two lines became one at Arcadia Downs, ChrisA and Rocket the tyrannic tow trucks of Conrod straight giving Wozz the breath to launch a win at Steptoes.
Timing a 5:58 arrival at Friars Friday positioned me perfectly at fourth wheel for the Pain Train, a chance to climatise before facing the front suits me. A swift selection of Goats made their way out of town, Tum then AvantiLeigh then MeridaJohn got the pace party started, though MeridaJohn's short shift threw the usual roll over points out of kilter. Like the squealing pig charging the electric fence to break into the veggie patch, I faced my first shift, Carl, Manny, Phil, Belly and Coggo the fine follow up, Coggo's extra time in Boundary realigning the roll over locations. Fighting breakfast reflux at the Broken Bridges in my attempt to catch the trains tail, there was just enough time to drag the heartrate down from 183 to 160 in time for River Rd's swift shift. MeridaJohn's rocking shoulders and Tum's head drop signalled their end of duty, almost primal groans and gasps as shifts finished off the front earned kudos from all about to do the same. I got MeridaJohn's elbow at Archer Rd to take the helm for the Mt.Nicolaci section, up the ascent almost blowing a gasket. The last attempt as train driver was from the 650 to 200 markers in Conrod (funny how that extra bit of speed can be found with the end in sight), Carl came forward to ice the cake but Coggo in his draft was the cherry on top at the finish line. Pleased with the 39.2 km/h average, a resuscitation rehab for the remainder of Raftery, then chat through the suburbs finished the bike week.
Week 15 290km. YTD 4,787km
A big thumbs up to BassoDave, recovering slowly and surely. Hopefully out of the hospital bed soon.
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