1/10
Addicts only on a saturated road and with a 30 km/h westerly, Saturday's weather made doona diving a choice of many. Just the hard core starters Weapon, Wozz, Boof, Rocket, Cate, Shorty, PistolPete and Temple congregated at the grid, BamBam and Ralphy last minute additions as we exited the carpark at 6. Mud up the nose, a filthy bike and a spattered kit seems de rigeur as winter refuses to let go its grip on Spring, all were making full use of the west northwester whilst navigating the path less puddled in Channel Rd. An echelon eased the effort in Boundary Rd, but the taste of toil came at Emu corner. There's solace in the struggle when the bunch are united in technique and tenacity, just that Rocket, Boof, Wozz and Pistol have tenacity by the truck load! Hats off to the entire team who had go at the front, especially Weapon and Cate who kept turning up for more. BamBam's body language translated to torture as we crested the summit of the main eastern channel bridge, we crossed paths with just one stray cat, grinning like a Cheshire one with the wind behind him. (the solo struggle home would have him cursing his pseudo team). Matching PistolPete didn't last long after my draft behind Ralphy, I ignored Pistol (a bike ahead) and zoned in on my own battle with the elements, holding a line and keeping a rhythm took all priorities. A few bunch fractures started to appear in Wanganui Rd as the performance of Wozz, Rocket, Pistol and Boof outclassed 60% of the field, conditions cancelling the sprint for the sake of survival. Back to base camp almost gloating at the achievement, idioms, sugar and the merits of a cheer squad cornered the conversation, multiple coffees aiding the recovery of a few.
2/10
A dose of carpe diem Sunday, relentless rain was set to spoil a few chances during the week, joining Goats Coggo, Tina and Belly for a Toaster lap at 8 (how civilised!) Wind again hogs the seasons stage, a 20-37 km/h northeaster turned us single file toward the Emu, four sharing the workload had just enough recovery time between turns to avoid blowing a gasket. (Tina's tough doing this after a fine fifth at Griffith the day before). The easement at the Emu was ecstasy, and pairing up now made it sociable, turning up the tempo to the high 30's for the tailwind back. Coggo's Avanti was carrying a ballast of mud, Tina risking the ride on yesterday's singles, Belly's Giant gleaming. Pushed beyond a pace otherwise taken solo is bitter sweet medicine, tastes tart at the time but feels better later. Proper daylight shows pot holes as craters, one at River Rd's bark breeder could swallow half a wheel (surely a bucket of "bitchy" isn't too much to ask?). Rising waters have closed Raftery Rd again, our Archer exit inevitable to face the wind back to brunch. Sharing it Indian file, Coggo slogged a long leg to the truck route (RussCat caught struggling solo jumped aboard), Belly, Tina and I shared the load back to town to find Rooster idling a k from the Friars finish. Brunch (see above) enjoyed over chat on age and the oft forgotten treasure that is good health.
3/10
Cycleops (the God of cycling) took pity Monday morning, the heavens had been parted of rain to squeeze in a lap, but he'd turned up a WNW'er to make it a workout. Blessed with Cate company, the easterly exit form town put pleasure before pain, rather refreshing to break the routine and share a different circuit with a like minded addict. What got us hooked occupied the chat on New Dookie Rd before the headwind agenda ahead of the Toaster, Cate's spirited attack was no casual crank for me (the force is strong in this one) as my heartrate climbed into zone 5. A breather in Boundary prepared us for the wind funnelling through Channel Rd's orchards, the four limits (legs, lungs, heart and head) balanced to enjoy the endorphins of achievement back in town.
5/10
Lungs laboured in the grip of a 5 degree Wednesday morning, but I shouldn't grizzle, at least it was dry. Foreign guns Huddo, Mitch and Robbo had joined natives AvantiTrev, Jase, Mel, Boof, Cate, Wozz, BamBam, Rocket, PistolPete, Cougar and Chops. Plunged back into darkness at 6 (daylight spendings) the pack propelled south on Archer relishing the north wester, assisted east on Mitchell too (though 64 freewheels from 1 during 2k was a bit excessive) Mitch and Pistol paired to pump the k's in River Rd, Wozz delivering a message at the bridge of a rear fracture. Half a k cruising regrouped the dropped, back up to pace beside Jase in the cool air put my breathing in a vice, one more white post, maybe one more, before calling a roll. The breeze not so obvious on the Channel Rd return to town, but I'd been spooked out of the sprint with Huddo, Mitch, Robbo, Rocket, Wozz and Pistol all line astern ahead. Mel magnetised to my Mavic motivated me forward as BamBam approached kaboom at Prentice Rd, sniffing 4th place just before the last chance braking point for Orrvale Rd. A few who'd straggled off the back were gathered back in town, those on executive hours swung south for coffee, the working class north to earlier employment.
6/10
Blanketed by blackness beyond the Cateye's reach on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, it had taken 3 k's to get the old engine up to satisfactory speed on Thursday, or was it a westerly wind to thank? Right at the Emu and right at the Toaster gave an answer of no wind to hinder which lifted the spirits (and the speed) back to town. Bunches and bunchettes navigated east, I parked at SPC to catch the 6am Goat express. An advanced party pairing of Manny and Carl left town, a few minutes behind Coggo, Belly, Tina, Principal Skinner, Sandy, Dipper, Phil, Hommy, Heady and Tum, a Dogma dude (a tongue tied visitor from Horsham) making up a dozen. Funny how you find an extra 20% pace in a bunch, a draft off a dozen inspires expending the extra watts. Two led's well ahead (Manny and Carl) maintained a good gap, in River Rd rotations continued but Sandy and Principal Skinner sat in the rear stalls. Vic Roads had generously donated some tarmac to fill the River Rd chasms, Hommy's habitual half wheeling hadn't stopped, Coggo's turns altering in compensation. There was a wait for tail enders at "wait for David" then back into the pace till the Mitchell Rd flooding forced another Archer exit. Hommy emptied his tank as Kialla Lakes drew near, more a strong finish than a sprint (for want of a finish line to aim at)
7/10
The first hint of Spring warmth (13 degrees) had short knicks and fingerless gloves out of mothballs, climatising a pair of Jurassic knees to the atmosphere on an 18k solo spin prior to the Couldabeens circuit. PistolPete, Kenworth, Shorty, SuperMario, Hollywood, Rocket, Chops, Cate, Jase, Nick, AvantiMat, AvantiTrev, Boof, BigRon, Temple, Kel and Bo gathered at the grid, no shortage of volunteers to the front as the wind blew us toward Mitchell Rd. Earlier birds BamBam, Grumpy, Troy and Ralphy (worked over by Wozza wattage) were waiting at the truck route, joining two long lines to steam south, then battle the northeast elements all the way to Channel Rd. I didn't quite reach the usual first turn distance on River Rd with Jase, the breeze at the brow turned the negatives on before the bridge. A long recovery while 22 others shared the workload, but another turn came due, just as we rounded Hopeful corner. Ahead, SuperMario hit the limiter so I rolled straight over to loan a tow, the glance at the Garmins 49 km/h at Prentice Rd was mental murder, Boof and Wozz sprung from a waiting game behind to start the real sprint. Gradually OTA, I watched a Rocket launch through the blur, slowly hauling myself (and SuperMario) back to the calmed pack at the school. Somebody reinstated the Mexican bonanza sprint to Channel Rd's bus stop, just to clear any cobwebs that may have remained.
Week 40. 282km. YTD 12,205km.
Hats off to Steve Abraham (UK) who set the world month/distance record at 11,433 km. (381k a day for a month is a big ask!)
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