Week 39 : Strava made me do it!

Post 364

24/9

Seems like it's only the obsessed that rise for a 5am lap, Wozz and I the sole starters at A Mart Saturday.   With none to share the load and swap turns, we'd revised the route to a shorter Wed/Fri course, an agreed low 30's pace and a light northeaster should have helped to Mitchell Rd, but it seemed a slog.   Driving east, north and east to River Rd put my heart rate on an escalator to 170, and refused to descend.  Mental diversion to Lemontree's menu didn't work, a cog swap from 80 to 72 rpm did nothing but cook the calves, and the impatience waiting for a second wind (that never came) was nurturing negatives.   A sensor seizure stalled the Garmin at River Rd's dip, freezing the speed was a neural niggle.  I kept telling myself this effort will pay dividends, contrary to internal messages being received,  I certainly wouldn't push myself to this degree solo, so thanks Wozz, in a sort of masochistic way!   I was still searching for distractions when the rumble strips finally appeared, signalling the tarmac's end and a turn into Boundary.  Still ticking over in the 170's northbound, the push had eased a whisker, the slightest downhill off the Boundary bridges a cranial utopia.   Channel Rd was measurably easier (160 and slowly falling), five minutes ahead of schedule gave us a breather at the carpark (tweaking the speed sensor and rebooting the Garmin awakened the data).   Nick, Kel, Hoges, Pickles, HBK, Temple, The Godfather, Jen, Car+Mel, Pistol, Boof, Shorty, AvantiTrev, Tina, BigMat, Popgun, Cougar, newcomer BassoDan, Bo, Bruce, Nev and Tum's arrival amassed the numbers back to normal.   There was a Browns cows exit of the carpark at 6, midfielders suddenly assuming the lead and front sitters diving for cover, the big bunch rubber band effect needing a 42 km/h sprint to catch the helmsmen.  Settling quickly into the joys of a bunch tow (127 bpm) I fired a sledge at HBK, noticed Hoges had a black taped knee (in memory of a lost shoe?), spied Tum's new Felt, swapped dialog with the delicious Car+Mel, challenged Temple's alarm alteration (avoiding the early lap), while keeping an eye on the newcomers road manners.   The tempo felt like two clicks on a social handbrake had been applied, I guess there's plenty of rapid laps midweek as thrash therapy, and it satisfies those of a more temperate tempo temperament.   The Godfathers new outfit reflected the personality, Pickles mismatched De Grandi / Movistar ensemble violated rule 17, at least the dapper PistolPete was in chic kit.   The pace turned keen at the Emu turn, HBK spinning devilishly dervishly on some strange regime, I shared turns between Jen and Temple as our paths crossed with the Cats, Temple delivering a wattage to make me work .  As the sprint urgency boiled at DECA's test track, Popguns unannounced lane swap to the up line threw chaos amongst the tailenders, my berated advice while passing him seemed to be effective.   Several were ducking for cover at the pointy end, 53 clicks at the bottom of Wanganui hill reached my leg limit, still in sight of Boof's victory at the crest was enough satisfaction.  Wacky dreams, pedometers and solo training bounced across a long and noisy Lemontree table, Popgun admirably repenting his sprint sins.

26/9

A frog fugue in F flat from the Goulburn river started Monday's lap, the streets sprinkled from an unexpected overnight shower (oh well, bike cleaning beats the current television programming!)  Navigating on the fly (a benefit of circuiting solo) on New Dookie Rd out of town found the track dry, the mood lifted by a light northwester blowing at the back.  Strangely, 80 rpm suited, my easterly course pinging with What's App messages. (thought to be Goats arranging the peace train but, discovering later, it was weather wariness)  Head-on into Old Dookie Rd's westerly was penance for the prior tailwind sin, passing the pork palace hopes sank,  a spit from the sky, then another, and even more, nek minit; baptised by the heavens!  A hopeful search of the skies found a little high cloud (some chance this shower would soon end), so ploughed on to Boundary Rd. The precipitation paused while southbound, rule #9 motivating the pace to the pub, a Channel Rd deviation was now my course hopeful of a Couldabeens intercept.   The pitter-patter restarted at the S bend, Couldabeens contenders would be as thin as Hollywood's hairdo now. I pressed on to the carpark (understandably empty) and with the sky now clear, swung south into Archer to bring the kilometre target closer. A sole bike turned from Kialla Lakes to follow, being chased unlocking some extra wattage from the competitive cabinet. To Mitchell then Raftery travelling the track least puddled, socks were still dry but arms and back cooled from a damp kit.  There was still some mid thirties urge for Conrod straight, poor bike was soiled and soggy but self was satisfied.

28/9

With the months' use by date fast approaching there's a k craving with a fickle forecast for the months final days.  The habitual golf course loop muddied a clean bike, cursing Cleave's clods cluttering Wanganui Rd.   Rolled south to the carpark, finding  Hoges, Kenworth, Cougar, Shorty, Temple and AvantiTrev trickling in.  Seemed it was just Temple, AvantiTrev and Cougar taking the Turtle option at 5:40, delighted to find Kenworth and Shorty had followed to share the load, AvantiMat making it 7 at the Kensington roundabout.   Despite a breeze up the bum the accelerator was squeezed gently, Channel Rd the luxury, the rest of the lap labour.  Playing co-pilot to Kenworth means work, but has the benefit of a dream draft when he rolls across, Temple and Shorty provided pace but AvantiTrev is shy a k or two, Cougar content curtailed in the caboose. The River Rd run repeats, a road most travelled by bike (few cars at this hour) since the Mitchell Rd way was abandoned many moons ago.  I had one wary eye kept on an enlarging pot hole, growing daily from excess rain and minimalist maintenance.  Shorty provided a puncture pitstop at Dave's dip, a relief as I'd almost emptied the tank keeping up with Kenworth.  The tube changed and about to inflate when the Hares howled by line astern, our circuits remainder tapped a little tamer till Kenworth bolted at the sight of the finish line. 

29/9

An upturned lunar crescent above New Dookie Rd's fog was nice scenery to light a lap at 5.  A guessed distance and time kept the pace and heart rate up, a slim window of hope to make up a 135k shortfall for September's distance challenge.  Up Boundary and back via Lemnos-Cosgrove and Ford Rd's, I added a push to loop around the golf course to get back for the Wozz, Cate, Car+Mel commute to the Couldabeens.  The carpark filled with Rocket, HBK, Bruce, Shorty, Weapon, Nick, Temple, Cougar, Nev, Bo, AvantiTrev, PistolPete, Trav, Boof and AvantiMat.   Grumpy and Troy blended in on our way out of town, Pelly, BamBam and Ralphy joining from their earlier 5am effort.  Squeezed in a brief g'day with my associate in adverbs and partner in participles (Weapon), rotations ruining any chance of chat.  The rising sun was square on to Mitchell Rd, an ocular obstruction to navigate, NBK ahead had the sun shining out of his arsenal of wit. I had a few goes at the headcount in River Rd, 26 totalled, which raised a mathematical muse: two rows of thirteen, each occupying two metres with about a metre between each = longer than a B double.  It was super smooth behind Ralphy (akin to Kenworth's tow) in the up line, but there was a toil for some in the down line with much mercurial motion, a butterfly effect from a single source ruining rhythm.   Car +Mel braved the front, PistolPete kept his birthday under wraps, HBK supposing there'd be a single turn on the front for the whole ride, Rocket's knots unaffected by his holiday beaches, beer and burgers.  I'd been promoted forward in Channel Rd as the velocity built, cranking 40 at the veggie patch and admirably paired by Cate aboard the new Avanti express. The bunch's B double dimensions grew longer as Bo and Nev poured on the wattage for the ChaCha, the whoosh whoosh of Rocket's Zipps announcing a victory. 

31/9

Spent all day waiting for the showers to clear, just hours of the month remained when hope opened up a window at 5.  A nasty north northwester had mostly dried the tarmac, a cruisy 115 bpm headed east to the Cosgrove quarry, forcing work on the return.  There was an orange dusk to witness headed back to town via New and Old Dookie Rd, 75 rpm not labouring lungs or murdering muscles. Back into town I steered south onto Archer, a sole Cat completing a lap gave credence to my mission.  I added a Tuesday/Thursday circuit to satisfy the Strava specifications, a tap out Channel Rd with the wind behind was boosted by Darth Vader's bark in the dark. The CatEye set on 1200 lumens lit Boundary Rd beautifully, the long cold push into River Rd aided by the k's countdown. I was almost over the effort when Central Kialla's southbound reprieve saved the evening, "not long now" he said turning into Mitchell Rd. I was surprised the old engine's fettle felt fine, maybe benefitting from a recent big sugar downgrade?  Dogged determination drove Raftery Rd's urge, through town and back to base to clock 80k's and satisfy Strava's 1250k/month standards.  (So what's he do? Click the October challenge!)

Week 39.      314 km.            YTD 11,923 km

Week 38 The sound of silence

Post 363

17/9

Legs were at their limit fighting New Dookie Rd's northeaster, heart and lungs could manage a bit more  but Wozza's tempo over the 11k's had almost massacred my muscles.  (And this was my idea of a quiet early lap?)  Sight of the Pine Lodge church in the Cateye's beam instantly disconnected my drive, a 50 metre coast was almost reduced to walking pace by the corner.  Relief had arrived at last to soothe the satorius' sting, the breeze behind for Old Dookie Rd, Boundary and Channel needed as compensation for the prior perspiration.  The rebuilt Cosmic had started silently, but that relentless rattle had come back again (me thinks a cassette spacer short?).   Arriving back at the 6am grid at 5:55, Saturday's social sustainance was struck with Jase, Bruce, Boof, Temple, Pistol, Shorty, Nick, Chops, HBK, Amy, Popgun, Kel, AvantiTrev, Bo and Nev arriving in the carpark, school holidays (and some suffering severe softness) had slimmed the attendance from the regular high 20's to just 16.  A hint of a crimson sunrise brewed but faded fast with low cloud smothering the scene, I'd only served a couple of turns up front by the Toaster, made easy by plenty of r & r in the tow prior.  Turning for home at the Emu, Kel and I (then HBK) were in the caboose's bad books for driving at 40, easing off the throttle seemed a waste of a good tailwind, but it restored the friendships.  The pussycat population is on the up and up with a sizeable pack to hurl advice to as we crested the main eastern channel bridge (a category three climb?), Tommygun joined in as our speed ever so slowly built again (maybe motivated by thoughts of the breakfast menu?)   PistolPete, in another world (and another league) had cranked five lengths ahead in Ford Rd, finally twigged he was alone and slowed to draw himself back even with Temple.  The sprint built slowly but surely to DECA's test track (preventing fractures), within reach of the hill the cream had risen to the top for Boof to blast away to line honours.  A rather lengthened bunch eventually reunited in the Boulevard to berth for breakfast at the Lemontree, motivation, wedding dresses and half wheeling the subjects keeping the table noisy.

19/9

A 1mm spacer delivered the sound of silence Monday, the cassette cadenza muted at last to enjoy the tranquility of a solo circuit.  Rising rivers and Dave's dip deluged required a revised route, out to the quarry and back made a change but not as good as a holiday.  The WSW'er was a bonus bearing east , daybreak arriving even earlier to outline Cosgrove's gravel mountains.  A definite breeze on the brow as I turned onto New Dookie Rd at 6, head down and cadence up (76) to work west, oncoming gravel trucks delivering gusts of torture. Pine Lodge church grew gradually larger (paying penance again!),  I turned to the Toaster, distracted by the sun cresting Mt.Major, painting the canola at its feet. (and some still are possessed by pillow and drugged by doona!)   West toward Boundary Rd and hunting between the 17 and 15 (all I want for Christmas is my 16 back teeth), 2k's ahead a long line of Goats herded south on the peace train.  Calculations ruled Channel Rd was my course of convenience for the clock, riding in daylight a pleasure forgotten for many months.  Back to base bang on 7, 54 clicks satisfied the target.

20/9

Boulevard bound, the Garmin lost its grip on one of the satellites 20,200 k's away, a pause at the cemetery to reboot brought data back to life. Head down in Wanganui Rd to slice a northeaster, suddenly a 5 foot roo bounded from the long roadside grass to pucker the posterior. I'd recovered on the remaining 11k solo to converge on the Couldabeens carpark, crammed with comeback kids (WhisperingJack, Car, KillkennyPaul, Hollywood, AvantiMat and Nick), regulars Temple and AvantiTrev outnumbered.  AvantiTrev held the reigns on leg one, Temple and I topping up the tempo for leg 2. KillkennyPaul put in a good turn on leg 3 but the body language spoke of ride deprivation reaching the Kinder.  WhisperingJack's enthusiasm was measured in microns, Car covering the shortfall by the bucketful.  Plenty were pleased to end the headwind toil at Boundary Rd, and there were no complaints at dialling up the tempo in River Rd (WhisperingJack silent in the rear seat), Hoges found loitering with intent at the dip, hunting Hares.  Dave's dip was now dry but Raftery's punch-up bridge was under, so Archer Rd was our home straight (into the wind to make us earn breakfast).  Most had served their duty at the front and, with 500 metres remaining, I timed my arrival at the pointy end fresh to stretch out the finish. 

22/9

Almost felt guilty being blown east on New Dookie Rd at 35+, but there'd be a tax to pay heading back to town against the SW'er.  Still dark at 5:30 turning into Boundary, the 20-37 km/h wind pegged back the progress to put pace on priority, it's so easy to burn up the reserves too early fighting this stuff. I almost frightened myself seeing 84rpm in the chase of a red led ahead in Old Dookie Rd, no hope of catching Tina a k in advance though. I managed a respiratory reprieve arriving at Friars with 5 minutes spare, Principal Skinner, Heady, Sandy, AvantiLeigh, Phil, Spiessy, Hommy, Brendan, Coggo, Dipper, Belly and Tina the Goats gathering for a 6am launch. All were happy to head east with the wind at their back, Belly's on a new Propel (pigeon paired to Phil's), Sandy still captaining the caboose, Skinner surmounting spinal suffering and Hommy habitually half wheeling.  Turning into the wind reassessed several roles, Spiessy joining the retirees at the Broken bridges and Brendan keeping them company in River Rd. Dipper's tempo is well tuned but Belly was calling calm, trying to oblige both stuck in between wasn't  easy.  With doubts of passing Raftery's swollen creek, an Archer amendment meant I had time to complete the shortened Goat lap, a tailwind home straight a rare treat.  Hommy had resigned to the rear, all that half wheeling burning his finishing hopes (pacing himself seems impossible). A quick finish to Kialla Lakes, many continuing an Indian filed pace through town to be home early. 

Uploading my Garmin data showed great Strava news, USA's Amanda Coker broke the women's highest annual mileage record, covering 30,000 miles (48,280km) in just 130 days.  Yep, 371km a day spells determination! And she's continuing, aiming at the men's record (120,805 km) Check out <goamandacoker.com> 

23/9

Almost counting down the year to finish my meagre 300k/week self imposed target, sometimes it's the sole motivator to get me out the door in the cold. Anticlockwise on the golf course loop and a little tour de suburbia filled the time before the rendezvous with Wozz, Cate (Cheshire grin with a new bike), Car+Mel.  Only Shorty was at the carpark at 5:56, but a late flood of Nick, Nev, Chops, PistolPete, Kenworth, HBK, Temple and AvantiTrev filled the grid.  Sympathy for Wozza's solo drive south at the front urged me first to form the up line, 38 clicks into the southwester evaporated the energy and a PistolPete pairing to the roundabout pickled my performance.  Grumpy, BamBam, Pelly, Troy and Ralphy joined on leg three, nineteen settling into something steady.  Daylight has drawn plenty out on two wheels, the pussycat pack in River Rd longer than HBK's bike. The Goats 'steady roll' looked seriously like a pain train in Boundary Rd, our bunch turning from social to serious as the Channel Rd pace lifted.  It was my turn at the rushin' front with Wozz at the S bend, coping rather well into the fourties at the cypress trees till PistolPete murdered me in McFadyen Rd.  Sitting second wheel at Kinder corner I'd started to recover, but Nev's pace turned two rows to a single filed string of survival, Chops, HBK and others diving for cover in the down line.  Swamped by sprinters in the final half k and suddenly stopped by (rare) traffic at Orrvale Rd, a cleat that wouldn't release laid me horizontal on the intersection. No damage other than a little dent to the pride.

Week 38.   278k.       YTD 11,609km

Week 37. Fruitlooped (and fitness fudged)

Post 362

Saturday 10th September

A standard Saturday lap for a change, banking wattage for Sunday. I found Wozz then Rocket and Cate on the spin south, a moderate southwester drying Friday's damp, but a last second sighting of a lump of timber (avec nails) caused Cate a double puncture.  The pitstop circus started with Cate's tube scoring a sticking valve, Rockets new tube rupturing and my tube leaking, so Wozz set off to stall the 6am bunch.  The sticking valve was eventually unstuck and repairs finished, Wozz returning with reinforcements (Temple and Trav) to get to the grid, but the bunch had bolted.  A single filed TT up Channel and Boundary got started to intercept the impatient in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, Rocket and Wozza had the boiler stoked nudging 40 to serve Strava segment trophies to many (but would this effort erode my Fruitloop fitness?)  Cate called a softening front tyre crossing the Hill Rd rail line, a quick pause to pump only rupturing a pin hole.  Yet another tube change was completed just as the bolted bunch arrived (Bruce, Pistol, Jase, AvantiTrev, Cougar, Popgun, KillkennyPaul, TatPaul, Boof and Tina).  Mid thirties on the cruise control was a doddle after our 16k thrash, the Ford Rd rhythm whittling down KillkennyPaul (signs of too much work and not enough riding).   Popgun is still in contravention of rule 17 (30, 35, 46 & 59 being breached too!)  An ominous grey wall of misty rain bore toward us as we reached the edge of town, just a few spots quickly turning to a soaking.  With rooster tails of water up the nose, socks soaked and grime graffitied bikes, Cougar and Popgun abandoned ship to shortcut to base camp leaving 14 to drive at 36 into the southwester (rule #9 ticked) on Wanganui.  The sprint was sensibly scrapped, thoughts of hot coffee and warm breakfast motivating us to the freshly renovated Lemontree, avacado's, heart-rates and pushing the limits kept conversations continuing for a second cup. 

Sunday 11th September

There was a foggy start to my 11th Fruitloop, entries down to just 14 for the 180k circuit (shame such a great event isn't patronised more. Can't Cats cut it?!)   Familiar faces (Bruce, Wozza, Coggo, Heady, Liam, Indi and Tony) made comfortable surroundings,  two blokes on a tandem and other foreigners made up the grid, flagged away at 7 with a generous gendarme escort out of town.  Winter layers insulated against the 5 degrees, a good bunch composition with a teamwork mindset cemented a positive outlook. A few of the foreigners were soon identified as tailenders as a low 30's pace was set, S-Works Ashley (Melbourne) ranked as the only stayer.  Mt Major's canola put spring into the scenery and I felt some spring up Dookie's first little gradient, but there'd be plenty more climbs to beat that optimism out of me.   A little rise past Gentle Annie and Tallis wineries, around the bend to a panorama of patchwork canola stretching to Mt Buffalo on the horizon magnetised the eyeballs.  A short downhill to Nalinga then steered south, Wozza, Liam, Bruce and Indi's wattage keeping the pace over the gentle uphill and down dale to VioletTown, S-Works Ashley opting to sit in the caboose.  Neural niggles on the hills ahead meant conservative turns for me, Heady's recent battle with man flu relegating him OTA. A brief nibble and nature break at Violet Town restored many , all agreeing to do our own thing through the Strathbogies and reconvene in Euroa.  Harry's Creek Rd was better in my own headspace than trying to match the real climbers, the 400 metre ascent over 13k's to Bonnie Doon Rd was habitually hammered on the big ring to satisfy rule #90 (happily averaging 17.8).  Swinging left at the fork to Boho, the short uphill stung the pectineus and sartorius and peaked the ticker at 180, but a few brief downhills gave respite and recovery to reach Boho school.   2ks climb up Boundary Hill Rd for the utopia of 8ks leg rest downhill to Strathbogie, the winter base layer comforting the descent in 12 degrees.    6ks of climbing out of town to Kelvin View seemed relentless, being dive bombed by a masochistic magpie was the price paid solo but glimpses of S-Works Ashley in the near distance kept up my momentum. The long 10k descent from the fire station felt secure in the 60's, the Baum's road manners impeccable, just the cross winds (NW @ 15 km/h) causing caution.   Off the descent and onto the flatlands, I'd reeled in a wearied S-Works Ashley, so offered a tow to Euroa to catch the Liam-Indi-Tony-Bruce-Wozz-Coggo train parked at the lunch station (surprised they'd only berthed 8 minutes prior).  50k to home along the never ending boredom of the Shepp-Euroa Rd into a headwind is a job best shared, teamwork by all tapped the k's away with stretches off the saddle multiplying as posteriors protested the distance.  Liam's and Indi's youth kept the tempo in tune, the long drag north eventually finding our well travelled Mitchell Rd.  Just the 7k's of Archer back to town now, mentally tasting lunch to get there, sweet to have Weapon at the finish chute as team photographer and nutritionalist (donuts and chips!), a great feed and a beer topping 180k's nicely.    All warm and fuzzy playing a part to raise $10,000 + for Hospice Care, a big cheer to the organisers and kudos to the ride team.  (maybe future changes will rekindle entries)

Monday 12th September

Feeling somewhat secondhand Monday, with knocking knee, gumby legs and a pulverised posterior,  I convinced the cortex to roll a recovery lap (what better than a Goat peace train for the enervation salvation).  Only Tina and MeridaJohn appeared, AvantiAndy attaching on the town exit, so four rolled a relaxed rate to Boundary comparing weekends and Fruitloop fortunes.  Tina slowly faded at the Boundary bridges (a diabetic dip?) so all slowed as recuperation to River Rd.   Keen for a calmer cadence, Tina teamed with AvantiAndy to plug on quietly, MeridaJohn and I (deprived of time) set forth single filed in the mid thirties to satisfy work schedules, relieved that my legs and lungs were freed of a Fruitloop legacy.  A scurry along the truck route and Archer thinking it odd that half the oncoming cars weren't optioned with headlights in the dull half light of an overcast daybreak, the steady swap of turns had us back to base before unemployment threatened. 

Tuesday 13th September

Procrastination peering into the dark outdoors guessing a forecast at 5, deciding on abandonment. Then the sleepless forever between regret, rethink and relief....75 long minutes till the downpour that made sense of the decision.  Others were soaked. 

Thursday 15th September

A damp and dismal road was hardly inviting, the craving to crank after 2 whole days deprivation overpowered the chore of cleaning the bike..... yet again!   Hoges was rolling round in circles when Wozz and I arrived for Couldabeens duty, but few fronted the grid for 5:50 (BamBam, Boof, Nev and Pistol) meaning hard work was to follow. A westerly blew us out Channel Rd, plenty 'o puddles to splatter the specs, kit and bike, but these are real sensations not found on the virtual UNreality of Zwift.  I'd managed to avoid the toil at the front till the cypress trees, I could have chosen an easier pairing than Pistol, so was spent by the S bend, and the head wind was yet to be braved.   BamBam baulked at pairing with Wozz (could have been Nev!), my heart rate climbing to 170 at the Broken bridges with the throttle wide open just to hang onto second last place. Wind in the face on River Rd only made Nev, Wozza and Pistol go faster, the urge for me to hold onto Hoges wheel stretching thin.  Boof then BamBam joined the caboose in survival mode as River Rd ended, Pistol driving the single filed train through Central Kialla.  Us rear gunners suddenly became front runners in Mitchell Rd, BamBam's burst brief while I struggled to glue 37 on the Garmin with the wind now NNW.  Crossing Melbourne Rd the big guns had reloaded to fire along Raftery, BamBam busted off the back and, with my h.r still in zone 5 after 17k's, I dropped back to offer him a tow. We swapped a turn or two to reach the finish a minute behind, the five ahead waiting for a collective cruise to coffee.

Friday 16th September

A loan wheel (whilst AvantiTrev rebuilt mine) played rattle and hum on an early golf course lap Friday, slowly amplifying from a knocking valve stem to a cassette rattle from hell. Noisily arriving at the grid with Wozz, others (Chops, Boof, Shorty, Nick, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Kel, Kenworth, Bo, Pistol, Nev and Jase) converged, a dry morning with barely a hint of wind a rare pleasure.  Comparing magpie strikes with Chops and Wozz was interrupted by 6 bells, valour to the fore by being first wheel to the sanctuary roundabout.  The ease to drive 3k's at 37 pumped up the ego, I was even able to muster a few words with Wozz beside me (but I'll ignore the light north wester from behind that fudged my fitness).  Pelly, Ralphy and Bruce were waiting in leg 3, the vociferous valve stem and cacophonous cassette were grating on nerves as much as WobblyTrev's presence in a peleton.  Bike outings in a week were compared (nil for Bo, five for Wozz) in River Rd, both sets of Kel's alluring eyes bewitched, good to note Nick still sticking to the comeback trail when others have been and gone again.  Northbound in Boundary between Choppy and Wozz was the rigorous reality missed in leg one, at least my berth in the bunch wouldn't put me in the deep end for the ChaCha. (that was Shorty's luck once again!)  Third last on the up line nearing Kinder corner had me a possible in the placings, but stomping on the pedals out of Hopeful corner to keep in touch with the favourites had the chain hopping wildly from cog to cog, so surrendered form the sprint in the interest of staying upright. (technical tip, 10 speed cassettes don't live on 11speed hubs!) 

Week 37.     335km.          YTD 11,331km

Week 36 : Paying the tempo tax

Post 361

Saturday 3rd September

Plenty of wind saddling up Saturday, not from pickled onions but from the south southwest.  Something triggered the prologue response to set sail at 4:50, up Numurkah Rd then east on Ford Rd to tackle a reverse Saturday lap.  The wind was massaging the ego (WSW at 24-48 km/h) to the Emu but summoning a psychiatrist for the 20 k's back to town.  Down to the 17 cog and up to 165 bpm headed to the Toaster, giving up on holding a straight line for dodging sticks and small branches spread across Pine Lodge North Rd.  The winds shift to southwest raised the taxes to reach Boundary Rd (this areas lack of hills is certainly countered by breeze in bulk) but felt pleased to keep the pace above 30 and stay on schedule to catch the 6am bunch.  A large black shoe lying in the middle of Channel Rd suddenly had eyes, a black cat crouched at the S bend sent a sudden shiver through the rhythm.  Back to the carpark with 3 minutes to spare and busting to loosen the over tightened laces on the new Easton Giro shoes (how handy was Shimano's adjust-while-you-ride ratchet strap), it was good morning to Chops, Mel, Cate, Bruce, Kel, Bo, Boof, Wozz, PistolPete, Rocket, TatPaul, ChrisA, Shorty, Nick, BigMat, Hollywood, AvantiTrev, Popgun (still contravening Rule #17), Jen, BamBam and Grumpy (now an ex-pat Cat?).  Traffic split the carpark exit, a sprint to catch the pack by Kensington roundabout warmed the joints at 40 km/h, soon settling to easy east with the wind bending the trees.  The westbound Godfather (Ange) arrived to populate the bunch to 22, BigMat's ride survey given a light layer of sledging in the Family Feud vein.  (Let's hope the Vox populi allays the minority). Pistol and the Godfather's pace tested the tailenders in Old Dookie Rd, Bo bringing the news to the front to restore some calm. I had far happier thoughts facing the southwester back to town with 22 to share the load.....make that 18 as the Caboose populated prolifically as the wind blew harder. There were a few grizzles midfield as the drivers slogged the mid thirties into Ford Rd , between Bruce and Rocket at the front for Grahamvale to Numurkah Rd spent my pennies, heaven to halt for traffic and find breath again.  Rotations became rapid as the sprinters itched when DECA drew near, I felt drawn to assist the rubber banding tailend when the bunch split from speed. Helping the harem of Jen, Cate, Mel and Kel motivated my muscles to reel in the bunch in Rudd Rd, buoyed by the Boulevard bliss of the breeze behind. A hot coffee in warm company with table topics of gels, timing food intake and doing turns, the weeks nirvana.

Monday 5th September

Maybe the excess of last nights Kadhai Gosht was to blame for the 5:20 struggle to sustain speed? Might just be a mental Mondayitis causing this hollandaise handbrake?  A short solo northern loop (15k) convinced the cranium to front Friars for a piece of peace train, AvantAndy, Sandy, Phil, Hommy, Dipper, Coggo and Belly made the small congregation for a mild morning (there's a doonitis epidemic amongst Goats it seems). Quietly up to a modest velocity and bound for Boundary, weekend pastimes were compared, 11 degrees exposing a few legs that haven't seen the light of day for a few months. A northbound gathering of Kel, Bo, HBK, Amy, AvantiMat and the Godfather cruised by as we steamed south to River Rd, Coggo secretly adding a few k's to the tempo on our way west.  Tucked in at second wheel and idling at 117bpm was cruisy, my next turn at the front spent immersed in regulating breathing to distract from Hommy's half wheeling.  I took my leave at Rivers' end, the sluggish start now a distant memory with pace restored to reasonable home.

Tuesday 6th September. 

Dialling back the k's and effort this week as a nest egg for the weekend's 180k Fruitloop has been a habit hard to break, the chance to join a quiet lap with HBK and Temple (attempting to purge the last symptoms of a cold) an ideal diversion.   Avoiding any 5:40 antagonism with a 5:30 start, we single filed slowly up to low 30's while listening for possible protest to guess Temple's comfort levels.  Silence tempted HBK to raise the stakes a k or two, my next turn keeping the status quo. By River Rd, high 30's had drawn no objection (or blood), a quiet recovery roll was now a solid tap for a trio. Temple's headlight abandoned ship as we swung into Conrod straight, I u-turned to retrieve it before a Prius pancaked it!  A thrash to the line seemed to be Temple's tonic, a rostered day off was mine to enjoy, post lap coffee and the Godfathers report of going OTA from the Hares better than work anyday!

Wednesday 7th September

Wanganui's fog was as thick as HBK's sarcasm, specs pocketed in the interest of staying on the tarmac of a 10k preface to the Couldabeens circuit. Wozz, Mel and Cate appeared in the main drag mist, Bruce, Chops, Pistol, Kel, BigRon, Bo, BigMat, Boof, Jase, Shorty, AvantiMat, Temple, HBK, Rocket, Nev and Hollywood filled the carpark to record Wednesday numbers.  Two others, not on the guest list, inserted some unease into the ride. South to the truck route, FDC's BamBam, Troy and Grumpy joined in from their 30k crank, and Nev back from a top 16 at the World Masters had some interesting news. Fog patched River Rd as dawn got out of first gear by painting pastels in the sky, I had six k's of eastbound demotion down the line to reach the caboose by Boundary Rd.  (estimated I'd get one brief spurt at the front around about the ChaCha!). The unknown quantity of CerveloChris (from Geelong, a navigational newbie) and ThinNick, a young gun in race-like posture, put caution on my priority, both unaware of bunch protocols and standards and the ChaCha ahead. ThinNick reached the front at Hopeful corner but eased his pace, I rolled straight over and held mid 40's to drop a less than subtle hint a thrash was due.  The big guns lined up and shot by in search of sprint stardom (my short burst enough indulgence if I'm to survive Sunday), the pack reconvening at the school for the collective cruise back to town, comfort levels with bunch oddfellows discussed with HBK, Boof, Mel & Cate on the homeward epilogue. 

Thursday 8th September

Kel, Bruce, Boof, Temple, Trav, Nev, Rocket, Wozz, Bo, PistolPete, Grumpy, Chops and HBK were the Thursday hares ready for a 5:50 launch, the mental mountain of first turn to Doyle's Rd was made steeper with a nasty northeaster (17-26 km/h).  Thankfully, there was a conservative crank beside Wozz to Kensington roundabout waiting for the latecomers (Huddo & Robbo), but then full steam ahead for a k blew out the cobwebs. Another brief respite on leg 2 while ChrisA caught the tail, then on the gas again made for interesting interval training.  #51Nath was found loitering at the cypress trees, thoughts of the tailwind for Boundary Rd and beyond boosted my determination but there'd be a tempo tax to pay when the sultans of speed got a breeze up the bum! Felt fairly fit cranking 43 clicks beside ChrisA in River Rd, but I soon developed an inferiority complex when Nev, Robbo, Rocket and Huddo stepped it up to new levels for their turns.  34 tortured wheels well into the 40's created a cacophony of carbon, there'd be Strava trophies aplenty for bunnies like me today.  Resignations from the pointy end had increased by Kialla Central, Temple, HBK, Kel, Chops and #51Nath all fighting for that rare and valued draft in a cross breeze.  Out of Dave's dip at warp speed turned the pack skinny and in the gutter searching for cover, almost halting at the highway was a lung luxury.  Only the big engines were swapping turns at the front nearing Galbraiths Gate, Pink Floyd's lyrics "hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way" related to my plight in the survival seat.  Multiple fractures appeared in Conrod straight as the freaks kept turning the wick up, then multiple gasps at Steptoe's as cardiac crescendo's were calmed to the punch-up bridge, the 39.3 average a salve for the suffering. 

Friday 9th September

Had a "yeah, nah, but" session when the forecast damp failed to front by 4:45, was a lap possible before the radar's green swamped the town? The answer came just before the 5am alarm, showers vindicated an hours slumber.

Week 36.      250km.      YTD 10,996 km