Saturday 23rd July
Wind chimes tolled a tune of toil in the wee small hours of Saturday, why should we get it easy mid winter? Rain, cold and wind is standard fare! There was a curious quiet eastbound on New Dookie Rd (apart from the drone of musical Michelin's on asphalt), a 30 km/h westerly contributing to a third fastest time for the "disco" segment but the real work lay ahead. There was a struggle against the sidewind southbound, needing a 30 degree list to starboard, all the while mentally preparing for a head-on challenge in Channel Rd. Consoling myself to high 20's west back to town, the 48km/h gusts turned legs to jelly as the wind whipped between the orchards, plenty of fallen sticks to dodge, the misting rain turning on the neural negatives. I figured doona's would be pulled up over the ears of many, only the 'windefatigable' would be attending today. Made it to Kensington roundabout when a tough team of Pistol, Rocket, Wozz, Cate, HBK, Trav, Bruce, AvantiMat and (Cat) Pickles arrived. Into the rotation, my turn came up at the cypress trees, Pickles calling my calm as I drew alongside (my ruinous reputation?) Murmurs from the back of an early escape west on Old Dookie were discouraged, assuring an eye on AvantiMat and Cate to see the rubber band didn't bust. Blown to the Toaster, the honeymoon made way for the marriage as we ploughed into the damp homeward leg at the Emu. My study of fatigues' body language in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd was interesting (no sign in Wozz, Pistol or Rocket) as pairs muscled their turns west, hopes of a decent drive were dashed beside Pistol's performance in Ford Rd as Pickles pulled the pin and vanished down Verney. (AvantiMat with lax legs chose a Numurkah Rd shortcut to the Lemontree). Bruce, Rocket, Wozz and Pistol shared the driving in Wanganui as Trav, HBK, Cate and I single filed in survival to the hill, the extra slice of toast we'd earned the only thing keeping our motion motivated. Well practiced bike cleaning methods, the Cat lap shift and old timers recollections was the breakfast discussion, 8 parked bikes sporting at least 80 dead worms.
Monday 25th July
A dull and dreary sky and a damp driveway didn't distract me from my kilometre issues Monday, a 10k golf course loop (ridden anti clockwise.....how radical!) revved up the enthusiasm for a 40k Couldabeens loop. None of the regulars were waiting en route so solo to the carpark found only Cate braving the elements, so two windswept warriors worked east on Channel, puddle dodging a steady Monday mission. Two bikes southbound on Boundary became a lure, but quickly gaining on their River Rd course we opted for a Mitchell Rd deviation to avoid antagonism. Damp adorned the wheels and halved the brakes worth, I've become none too precious about a pristine bike at this time of year! We'd stretched away from the following Craig Lotsalumens, reaching Kialla Central to find the previous two just ahead again. Intentions were set on a Conrod finish, so set forth Indian file ramping up speed and heart rate in pursuit, to hell if we rattled a cage! Out traffic pause at Melbourne Rd opened up the gap but we'd almost closed it again by Conrod's finish to catch our prey, the two sole Cats to venture outdoors.
Tuesday 26th July
It's almost a treat to tap out a lap on a dry circuit, but winters chill (4.2) made sure there was some suffering. New Dookie, Boundary and Old Dookie roads served up a 20k warm-up to berth at Friars with 5 minutes chat time as Heady, Coggo, Sandy, Spiessy, Tina, Carl, Manny, Hommy, Belly and Brendan arrived, the two endangered species of Baz and HeadGoat Phillo making a rare appearance. It's been many moons since a dozen Goats left on a lap, Coggo back from an Italian indulgence (20% of his annual climbing done in just 3 weeks), Manny's presence amplified by HED Jet 6's and Heady in youthful birthday exuberance. Hommy's still hammering the fractured Oppy, the red-legged Spiessy considering migration to double digit temperatures (aren't we all?), Tina doggedly does 400k distances a week while HG Phillo struggles to do that a year, Brendan's infectious cackle over Carl's cautious quiet, and Belly in his usual witty philosophical form makes for a mixed menagerie. I'm hoping winters damp and heavy atmosphere is the handbrake to my current pace, difficulty maintaining mid thirties at the front is murdering the mindset. Coggo's reports of Asagio coffee & crossaints for $2:50 quickly fired my envy and appetite, it's great to have the big fella's steady swiftness back after 3 weeks absence. Time again called my short cut at Rivers end, the push home into a northwester catching the Cats tail back in town to chat with CatBrendan and defector MeridaJohn, winters grimy spray again coating bike and attire.
Thursday 28th July
Almost the months end and again the Strava 1250k challenge dangles within reach. Feel I'm starting to wear out New Dookie Rd with prologues, the pot holes and coarse sections are now quite familiar, but it's still hard to find the Pine Lodge church with the moon absent. Happy with the progress into the northwester on Old Dookie and Channel Rd's, I'd almost made it to the Kinder when a line of l.e.d's appeared oncoming. I u-turned to join the 6am Couldabeens but found the turtle faction leaving a little earlier, AvantiTrev, KillkennyPaul, Softa, AvantiMat, Cougar and Temple on a steady clockwise slog. AvantiMat is back to FeltMat on Ye olde faithful Felt (avoids getting the Avanti grubby), Softa sporting an organic chin warmer (propagated under the doona?) and KillkennyPaul back aboard a new Felt (but breathless). AvantiTrev kept a lid on the tempo, the tame tap to tempt many hibernators from under the winter doona's. We caught a cruising Eddy at One Tree Dam and steamed steadily west on River, Eddy in for a long turn but the hibernators handbrake had hindered (and hyperventilated) KillkennyPaul and Softa to take a long spell in the (overpopulating) caboose. Temple was tempted by tempo turning into Conrod straight, turning up the wick to the finish line, but careful not to snap the caboose (or have the caboose snap at us!)
Friday 29th July
A new chain promised tranquility but Friday's northwester blew some noise between the ears to the top of Rudd Rd, Wanganui's tailwind offering the auditory peace, savoured before the days' jihad on the eardrums. Wozz, Cate and Jase were found in the main drag, a 5k roll to the carpark finding Shorty, Chops, PistolPete, Kenworth, Kel, Boof, Bo, Rocket and Bruce. Courage was plucked to pair with Wozz for the 2k drive to Sanctuary Park, then to match Jase to the truck route. Bruce and Bo belted into Kialla Central, catching Temple and AvantiMat on an advance party warm-up. TrekPaul was another addition in River Rd as the westerly gave us wings, a Cats and 51 chase westbound signalled Spring approaches. I'd hoped there'd be an allowance for the headwind back, but the Cha Cha and two LEDs ahead got the troops restless to Channel Rd's cypress trees. Long time no see Princess and Fee (caught and passed) as I settled into a midfield tow, sweeping into Kinder corner content to sit out the sprint. Pistols new carbon wheels lit up the sprint but Rockets ruthless rate ruined his (and others) hopes, I'd been elevated to the first half dozen as contenders expired.
Week 30: 268km. YTD 9,188 km.
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