Only a couple of nibbles at the What'sApp invite for an early Saturday prologue but the reality of grey morning after a damp night left only Wozz and I at A Mart. Southbound on Conrod straight dialled up the heartrate to 174 by Arcadia Downs, speed was nothing to brag about, I put it down to the push-through-porridge atmosphere. I accepted Wozza's charitable tow in Mitchell Rd to calm the cardiac convulsions, the 3 k's respite a timely tonic preventing explosion (back to 150 bpm) Paired again in Central Kialla eyes were this time averted from the Garmin gaze, setting a target at River Rd's dip to take tow two. Reaching it, little cranial voices cried "HTFU", so pushed on to see where my limit lay. Almost ready to chuck in the towel when the hallowed centre white line appeared, heralding the rumble strips and Boundary Rd's intersection. Into Wozza's tow for Boundary Rd harnessed the heartrate again, a Channel Rd pairing was buoyed by keeping to the agenda of a Couldabeens intercept at the carpark. A frozen week had made way for 8 mild degrees, but the gloomy sky had made the kit-up an each way bet (Cate gloveless, BigRon jettisoned the jacket, Car+Mel legs exposed :) and a ménage of 3/4 knicks, booties and multiple layers were on show, whilst I mopped the brow from the prologues pace. Pistol, Cougar, Kel, Ange, Rocket, Bo, Boof, Car+Mel, Shorty, Cate, Temple, HBK, Nev, Jase, NewbieRob, BigRon and AvantiMat crammed into the rear half of the grid, the 'doonitis' epidemic not as widespread as previously thought. NewbieRob imploded reaching second wheel on leg 3, the following masses swamping his position to put him into the reality of rear-tirement. There was potent porky pungency in Old Dookie Rd, 99% humidity hurrying ham off the breakfast menu, HBK was hammered by Cate, Car+Mel, a long way off his form of umpteen months ago. Mine was a steady grind beside Bo to the Lemnos-Cosgrove kennels, pussycat population was poor crossing paths at the main channel, Ange then Wozz and Nev taking us in their tow to Grahamvale Rd where spice was added to the speed. NewbieRob and Cougar bailed out via Verney for the pick of Lemontree seats, I'd again scored the backmarkers spot as we worked into Wanganui. Cate braved the business end as the pace percolated at DECA, capable crankers BigRon, Nev, Boof, Wozz et al., relegated most others to 'also rode' in the Wanganui hill honours. The weekends treat of post ride breakfast and banter absorbed with the warmth of the Lemontree heaters and friendships, but it ends all too soon with tasks beckoning at home.
Clutching at k's Tuesday (after Monday's rain ruined riding) feeling Strava's June challenge slipping from the grip, so I suffered the Boulevards headwind till reaching the well worn track of Wanganui, Ford and Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd's, glued to the 17 for some spin therapy (preparation for the westward slog back to town) on the 30k solo. Winter had whittled numbers down to only dedicated Goats exiting the suburbs, Coggo, Sandy, Belly, Tina and Hommy, with foreigner Wayne into the rotation. Hommy had the turbo turned up for his first tap at the front (boosted by the tailwind), I wonder how often that effort would be repeated? Tina, Coggo and Belly's consistent crank was in stark contrast to Wayne's cataclysmic cadence, permanent residency in the little chainring a legacy of living in Bright? The small bunch fractured in River Rd, Sandy, Hommy and Wayne OTA caused a calm to regroup, the accelerator squeezed gently to a revised tempo with Belly then a long grind to River's end beside Tina stopped the jaws flapping. Wayne took to the front again in Central Kialla, the spin causing a snake like trajectory (tempting to throw in some egg whites and watch fluffy white peaks form!) Another grind west in Mitchell Rd, the hard yards capably captained by Coggo, Belly and Tina, but the wind wore down resolves to Raftery Rd. Left to lead into Conrod straight, I turned up the huff and puff till the 400 marker, handing the washing up to Coggo and Belly.
In the depths of winter Wednesday, a damp road, gloomy sky, fine misty moments of rain, a howler 20-37 km/h west-northwester, puddles to dodge (the delight of cold water up the inside leg when you don't!) was all just so inspiring! Now is the winter of our discontent. My prologue propelled east on New Dookie Rd but battled Ford Rd back, heartfelt thoughts were with those who's mojo had gone missing, seeking solace under their doona's warmth till it returns from oblivion. Collecting Jase and Cate in the main drag, we teamed with Rocket, Boof, Bruce, Pistol, Shorty, Temple, Gazzagrasshopper, BamBam and HBK in the Couldabeens carpark, all engrossed in Boof's protracted puncture repair. The flag finally dropped a little after 6, I took the reigns for leg one, controlling the acceleration more for my benefit than anyone else (the pairing with Pistol was payback for perambulating). Heading east set a few records for most, the driving duty had come full circle for me to take on the last k of River and the first of Boundary, bearing the brunt of the breeze to the Broken bridges. Plenty o' puddles and more misty rain put bike cleaning on everyone's "to do" list, winters damp dampening sprint interest for me and many, the decision to sit-out the ChaCha an easy one. Ducking and diving to avoid the rooster tails of water, I had a spotty view of Boof, Rocket and Bruce disappearing toward the horizon, summoning up 40+ against a 26 km/h winter wind drew on reserves thought lost.
Optimism returned Thursday, a dry track and moderate northerly prompted a prologue anticlockwise on the Thursday circuit to apprehend the clockwise Couldabeens and see if I could hold on. 9 k's of holiday before the headwind hurt in Central Kialla, using the rarely soiled 18 cog to make some sort of progress. Pushed and shoved by the northerly on River Rd, I just got relaxed on the bars when I struck the new pot-hole (just west of the dip), a super sphincter pucker as one hand was jettisoned. Trepidation arrived reaching River's end, a headwind again up to Channel Rd but there was wattage to preserve for the Couldabeens arrival. Just beyond Channels' cypress trees a string of LEDs approached, my u-turn to climb aboard with Wozz, Nev, Hoges, Pistol, Kel, Trav, Bo and Temple. The pace wasn't too tortuous tucked in behind Hoges, and with Pistol on my tail, I rolled up the right line to put in a contribution. Bearable in Boundary with the breeze behind, slicing virgin atmosphere with Hoges from the bridges to River, the art of levelling with your co-cranker seems lost with Hoges (ah but the apprenticeship is still in its early days). Kel, containing cardiac crucifixion, sat on the back, others rolled through with the speed rising as Nev, Bo and Wozz rose to the top, the pace never really calmed thereafter. My withdrawal from duty in Mitchell Rd coincided with Trav and Temple, Hoges just kept going back for more torture (though needed to call a roll with a little left in his tank rather than empty) My Garmin stopped conversation with the satellites at Roubaix corner, all turned Indian file at Galbraiths gate in preparation for Conrod's cruelty. I kept a close wheel on gatekeeper Trav as the machines of Nev, Wozz and Pistol kept up the hurt, so pleased to see the 60 sign at Steptoe's and take aboard much craved oxygen.
Friday's 5am misty rain shut down my weeks effort, a clean Baum with a freshly lubed chain sat ready for Saturday (though Rocket, Ron and Pistol braved Antarctic conditions.....determined or delirious?)
Week 25: 261km. YTD 7,668 km
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