15/10
Hard core (and soft centre) devotees swarmed at Saturday's start line, KillkennyPaul and Softa emerging from late hibernation to join junkies Kel, Bo, Wozz, Car+Mel, AvantiTrev, Jase, TatPaul, BamBam, Boof, Troy, PistolPete, Rocket, HBK, Trav, Temple, SuperMario, Cougar, Bruce, Popgun and BassoDan (not listed in any order of dependence or attendance), though someone decides the bunch belongs in the bin by parking pole position half way down the grid. Launched at 6, two long lines energised east, the Godfather joining the tail pontificating his heritage (and kit to suit). I could hear KillkennyPaul and Softa (broccoli barrister?) chatting between gasps in the caboose, but their long hibernation had handbraked any attempt at rotation. Nath appeared at the pub (a rare sight on a road bike), Kel's eyes (both sets) transfixed any behind or beside, tantamount to being out of uniform in a Cat kit, but a cheeky grin overrides her infringement. All week we've battled a southerly or westerly in the southern circuits, the moment we try a northbound lap, a northeaster niggles! My Baum turned one today, still feels new despite the 15,624 k's clocked. Into Pine Lodge Rd at the Toaster was shared with Temple, from the church with Mel meant more muscle to match. Twas easy peezy at the Emu with the northeaster to blow us back to breakfast, Dookie bound Cats dropping tailenders in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, even CatPhil left to ponder a puncture at Ford's end. Promoted to the pointy end nearing DECA wasn't on my wish list, getting around Bruce was a big ask for the legs, particularly when Pistol hit the boost button at the test track. I began the slide backward toward the back of the bunch as the sprint starved got hungry for the hill, but gained a sense of purpose towing Car back to the pack in Rudd Rd. Kitchens, great gigs and hayfever occupied conversation, avacado, mushrooms and tomato on toast occupied the taste buds, my 3 week sugar culled diet lifting the bike performance and throwing 3kg off my handicap.
Steps 27,300
16/10
Silverchairs' "Diorama" set the mental mood on a drive to Benalla, the 'Better Bike Hike' not tackled since 2009 (and it satisfies Strava's October Grand Fondo) There were only 26 starters for the 125k ride, but that's preferable to a mass of maniacs. An 8 man Team FIS (Flemington Institute of Sport) dominated the bunch, good to catch up with ex pat Cat Brownie in their pack. The forecast northerly (24-48 km/h) hurried us out Kilfeera Rd (but would hamper us home), the whole field stayed glued together for the 37k loop to Moorngag. Seems each event bunch has a loudmouth, a bad suit (all over the bike like a......), a steady slogger (I'll stick with that one) , a newbie (runners & toeclips, saddlebags and rainjacket) and a firecracker (boom then bust). Amongst the bunch were the worthy, Andrew, MeridaJohn, Pete and Pete, Mick, Col, ChrisR, Brownie and Matt......amongst the Cervelo, Giant, LaPierre, Scott, Cube, Look, Colnago, Bianchi, Ridley and Willier, were 3 Baum's! (what are the odds?). The first few pinches in Tatong-Moorngag Rd busted the bunch in half (newbie, loudmouth and firecracker), my recall of the upcoming steady climb to Tolmie switched me to conservative mode, a steady 6k stoked the boiler to get me up the rise. The 14k's up sorted out the chaff, bad suit flinging the bike about on mixmaster cadence, a steady crank for me made the distance and elevation seem far shorter than past memories. A brief downhill dash to Tatong for a 10 minute pit stop to top up fluids and fuel, then back aboard for the 60k return before engines cooled. With a dozen to share the headwind home, rolling turns worked for 16k, a few pinches nearing Mollyulah snapped 9 off the back, just MeridaJohn, WillierCol and I left slogging the track toward Upper Lurg. Two sharpish hills spaced us out, the few k's spent happily solo to settle and recover. I clawed back to WillierCol on the downhill, MeridaJohn a k ahead chasing the lead car. WillierCol and I swapped turns for 14k's of Kilfeera Rd with 48 km/h gusts whipping at the wheels, energy evaporating but some inspiration passing the leaders of the 60k ride. The city in sight slackened the stress, fulfilled to finish third (it's not a race......until the end!), sausages, sandwiches and soft drink satisfying a starved stomach. A great little event with spot-on marshalling and support, 100% of the entry assisting the Capability Building Inc and Edspace.
Steps 69,988
17/10
A ride to rid rigormortis on Monday, the demons of distance had lashed the legs overnight to warrant a spin to loosen the rust. Two bikes in the first k (both minus lights) makes you muse the mentality of some, life obviously not worth a $3:95 tail light and a 35 cent battery? East on New Dookie Rd found Cate keen to crank, déjà vu last weeks' westerly drying off the 4am shower. Six passing cars seemed like peak hour, but beyond Lemnos the asphalt was ours to philosophise the important things in life : aforementioned 'bad suits', hills and grand fondo's. Grit and determination drove the west leg back to Boundary (legs loosening to 78 rpm), sniffing seems socially acceptable as 8 degrees turns on the nasal tap. Cate's crusade of effort knows no bounds as the wind funnelled between Channel Rd's orchards homeward. Monday's must be made for morons, ye olde ute charging a roundabout needing a big skid to give way to us.
Steps 25,084
18/10
Car+Mel's company to the Couldabeens carpark contrasted to HBK's chilled sarcasm at the grid, thankfully Temple, Jase and AvantiTrev rolled in to restore the balance. Turtles away at 5:40, and I wasn't taking the HBK bait deliberately dangled half a bike ahead on leg one, ignoring the rearward glances and wry grin. Temple played fair on leg two and kept the bunch together, AvantiTrev easing off the throttle a little, but Car+Mel piled the pace on again. A north northwesterly made light work of Boundary Rd, the turns repeating again for River Rd. AvantiMat was found in Mitchell Rd, the invitation to climb aboard accepted. An early decision to abstain from the sprint was made by the legs still labouring from Benalla's breeze but the chance to leave HBK out to dry in Conrod was high on the entertainment list. It was a tidy finish with Temple and Jase making HBK work for a result, Car+Mel deserving a tenacity trophy, AvantiTrev just glad it was over. A weeks leave allowed coffee and chat time, Hares Wozza, Nev, Hoges, Pistol and Troy joining moments later, BamBam arriving solo from an alarm malfunction.
Steps 29,064
19/10
The grip of winter returned Wednesday, a paltry 3 degrees drawing the warmer layers out of mothballs. Reasonable numbers fronting the grid (Mel, Pistol, Hollywood, Cate, Weapon, Huddo, Boof, AvantiTrev, Robbo, Rocket, Cougar and Jase) considering the conditions, a dose of social reality finding someone sleeping rough under the shop verandah. A single filed line got up to speed exiting the town, convincing myself to resist the tow temptation and venture forth to form the up line, but found Rocket driving the tempo and Boof breathing down my Fizik. FDC's Troy, BamBam and Pelly with a k craved Wozza circled the Sanctuary roundabout and climbed aboard, old Foss blurring at the edges focussing on reaching the truck route beside Boof (but trying not to let the body language tell the true story of toil). And so began the recovery in the tow to Mitchell, turning social as the oxygen craving subsided, cold weather the hot topic en route to Central Kialla, a rare run of traffic splitting the bunch on the turn into River Rd. My respite lasted till Boundary's Broken bridges, matching Rocket to Channel put the heart rate on the roller coaster. Turning into Channel Rd and off the seat to get up to pace, I had that scary sensation of another's wheel rubbing against mine sending a shiver. Thankfully Boof stayed vertical, a momentary visual diversion while clearing the olfactories. BamBam had drawn the short straw of the ChaCha lead-out with Pistol and Wozz the swift standards ahead, lucky me at third wheel in the down line had better promise of placement. The bunch drew long and skinny from Kinder corner to Prentice Rd, then fattened up as BamBam and the early pace setters ran out of steam and were swallowed up by the hopefuls. Another day of post ride caffiene (I could get used to this latte lifestyle!) with chins wagging on the cycling club cash crisis and prangs of the pros.
Steps 28,895
20/10
A layback preparation for a 6am Goat gathering on Thursday, almost a week of standard starts has returned me to almost sane. Only Coggo, Tina, Spiessy, AvantiLeigh and Dipper were at Friars with 3 minutes till launch, the numbers doubling in the dying moments (Hommy, Sandy, Snow, Phil, HG, Belly, Spartacus and MeridaJohn). The quiet roll through the streets to exit town is a gentle warm up for old engines struggling to fire in 4 degrees, forming an up line beside AvantiLeigh, and with Dipper following, made me the stale Strasbourg between two slices of fresh bread. Could have sworn we pushed into a ENE'er (bureau said calm) but all had a go at the driving duty to Boundary Rd. Man flu hampered Hommy's half wheeling, MeridaJohn (ex-CerveloJohn) was today AvantiJohn thanks to the house of AvantiTrev and a Fruitloop raffle. (28mm tyres and disc brakes ain't as light as the Merida but you don't look a gift bike in the specifications). Spartacus back from a Tour d'Italia, HG considered for a rename to HBB (half bike back) staggering the bunch symmetry. A 'steady roll' was screwed up and chucked in the bin, AvantiLeigh setting swift standards south in Boundary Rd. There was a gradual decline of nominees for the pointy end as Boundary made way for River which made way for Central Kialla Rd, nudging the 40's reducing the drivers to 7 as 7 sat on. Rooster Roscoe was gathered up in the caboose as the bunch barrelled into Dave's dip, but there was a long wait for commuters clogging the highway north and south. 7 drivers became 6 as I swapped turns with Coggo, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Belly and AvantiJohn to Arcadia Downs, 6 became 5 and 5 became 4 into Conrod straight as speed spiralled. I hit the front with 600 to go, and finding one thin line behind me left no alternative but to burn up on re-entry. Legs and lungs refused the mental messages for more, with 300 left my elbow showed the way past for all 13, as I attempted to dial down 185 bpm. Yet another cafe conclusion completed the circuit, waxing philosophicycle with Tina and a work-bound Weapon on fi-fo's and fine food.
Steps 26,552
21/10
Almost mild, one less layer and short knicks braved for Friday morning to put variety in the weeks wardrobe. The 24+km/h NNE'er kept a few away but Pistol, Bruce, Chops, Boof, Troy, Pelly, Wozza, Hollywood, Cate, AvantiTrev, Temple, Rocket and Nev braved the breeze. It was someone else's turn to drive at the front in Archer as the tailwind excited the troops of tempo, Hollywood ahead and Pelly behind made fair partners for me. The drive into River Rd against the wind wore down the reserves ( I hoped 208 bpm on my Garmin was a monitor malfunction), Boof and Wozz blown sideways by the breeze may need a Hoges diet of pies to add ballast. All were hoping that Nev and PistolPete would drive the Boundary distance to Channel Rd, but the rotations rolled all to soon to put me at the front with Troy from the Broken bridges, the drive to Channel a vision too far, the Garmin glance too scary, so focussed on the blurred tarmac instead. Running on empty I just managed to grab onto the tow in Channel Rd, Bruce, Nev, Boof, Pistol, Rocket and Wozz the fast freaks finding even more wattage to crank into the ChaCha as most clawed at the draft to stay in touch. Yet another post ride caffiene rehab enjoyed, a fast commute homeward with Rocket and Wozz finalised the week.
Week 42. 361km. YTD 12,878
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