Week 28 : Setting sphincters a quiver

Post 404
8/7  Winters' watershed?

A dry road, celcius in the positive, rain off the radar till 9 and a social Saturday were all the hallmarks to breed a big bunch, and sure enough, plenty of punters piled into the Archer Rd carpark for the 6am launch. (Wozz, Mel, Cate, The Godfather, TatPaul, TatMat, Kel, PistolPete, Bo, Tina, Jen, AvantiAndy, Shorty, AvantiTrev, ScottMatt, Popgun, Cougar, Rocket, Boof, KillkennyPaul, Temple, HBK and Avanti-not-MeridaJohn).   ScottMatt carefully and calmly headed the long line down Archer Rd, but Kel called for calm just a k south of town 'cause Cougar had uncoupled from the caboose.  There was chat instead of flat-chat to the Sanctuary roundabout on a casual cruise of congregation, then a gentle application of the accelerator to Mitchell Rd.  Gradually relegated to the rear, I found the rubber band effect strong (sitting on the see-saw of the Saturday specialist), or am I spoiled by the smoothness of small bunches of consistent crankers?

A wee whisp of a northeaster blew at the brow in River Rd as I attempted a headcount, there'd be work to do at the front if I ever got there! The weather was almost the sole subject to bounce from left to right lines as I was promoted forward on our mission north, finally slicing virgin atmosphere at the fig farm, I got the call over from Cate at Old Dookie Rd.   Popgun dawdled to pair up, but the huff and puff told the real story, he called for slow but bunch momentum was paramount to avoid 23 bikes up the bum.   Popguns' attempts to roll across overshot to rallycross the grassed edge (setting several sphincters a quiver), the bunch overtaking to delegate him to the caboose. (if you can't stand the heat............)

Rhythm restored, we reached New Dookie Rd, headlights flickering through it's trees forcing a halt.  Threading the smooth thin line aside the railway ripple strips and up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, the bunch steered west back to town, pedalling pronto with the northeaster now boosting our egos.  For those with breath to spare, a chat barely got going before rotations disconnected them, a long wait to pair up again....... now what were we talking about?  Several had chosen the back of the bunch as prime real estate for Wanganui Rd, voting me forward on the up line on TatMat's wheel of smoothness.  Well into the forties past the transfer station the turns rolled quickly till Rocket was given the long lead-out role, all lined up behind unable or unwilling to to take on the train driver job with the hill still distant.  Boof finally bolted at base camp (Kittles Rd, named after Marcel?), Wozza and Pistol auspicious in pursuit, I'd accepted 4th place as more than generous in the current company, the next k spent composing myself from a gasping wreck.   Big climbs, spooked kids and minority dictatorship captured conversation on the long Lemontree table, breakfast and banter an entertaining and enjoyable epilogue.

10/7  Mon ami Monday

Right down the throat of the roundabout and about to turn right, when a halfwit in a hurrying Hyundai bolts by then suddenly swerves left.....a great start to the week dealing with the truely gifted!  So, around the golf course I go to add a few k's (and calm the cardiac convulsions) before partaking in the peace train with Goats, rabbits darting about in the dark as aimless as Wobbly Trev.   Tina, Coggo, Principal Skinner, Sandy, Coggo, Heady, Hommy, Cate and Carl turned up, even '51 fellows Cobbles and Sherls braving the bike outdoors for a change.   Along the tarmac of Ford and Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, Heady is back from an intensive HG training camp (gastronomy and guzzling), Principal Skinner back from gapping Halls on holiday, Coggo back from Phuket philanthropy and Carl back from a podium on Harry's handicap.

 Principal Skinner managed a solitary turn at the front before keeping Sandy company in the caboose, but there was no speed stress (and so said my silly h.r. monitor at 105 bpm) which starts the week well, east to Boundary and south to River rolling turns on a whim.  We were given a lunar lure on River Rd as the pace perked up from peace, a clear sky, the big bright moon and a little low fog made winter a little more bearable.  The tyranny of time (as always) cut the association short at River Rd's end to head for home, a little earlier light on the horizon suggesting spring might not be so far away.

11/7  Tempo Tuesday
3 degrees, no wind, clear skies and just patchy fog on the circuit made a good Tuesday recipe, HBK, KillkennyPaul, Cate and AvantiTrev arriving at the car park for duty.  You'd think I'd have learned by now not to turn up early and inherit the first shift.....no sympathy for self inflicted wounds!  2300 meters to open the account put me in instant deficit, but there was a chance to regain respiration while Cate, HBK, AvantiTrev and KillkennyPaul did their thing.  There was a bit of velocity variation during and between the turns, it's quite the skill to smooth the speed for your own (and others) benefit.  The last bit of Channel Rd in the drivers seat (with a keen eye out for Darth Vader) went well, happy with my speed (though maybe AvantiTrev wasn't).  Cate and HBK put in a polished performance to River Rd, though AvantiTrev's pace positively perambulated in River Rd from the prior push.  KillkennyPaul settled swiftly into a smooth rhythm, the student mastering his speed like a scholar.  I was handed the helm at the dip (the bridge looked a lifetime ahead) so the focus shifted to the 5 meters ahead (instead to avoid the defeat of a goal to far).  Reaching the bridge felt a bit easier, so tally-ho old chap to Rivers' end, pleased to keep the speed fairly constant and the (incorrect) heart rate manageable (what I don't know won't hurt)   My legs had turned a bit jelly reaching Central Kialla Rd, happy to handover to Cate for her commendable crank to Mitchell Rd.  AvantiTrev's headlight had conveniently gone to lunch so he was relegated to the rear, HBK driving to Archer then KillkennyPaul to the highway as the Hares homed in.    I set my goal to Galbraiths gate though the velocity was in vein, Rocket, Troy, Wozza, Bo and Pistol passing as we steered to Arcadia Downs. Nobody had the wattage left to jump on the Hares tail, so the team consolidated for Conrod, I took to the front again at the 500 mark, HBK's urge irresistable challenging the finish for a dead heat.

Meanwhile in Florida, Amanda Coker breaks the world record (set by Tommy Goodwin in 1940) by covering 100,000 miles (160,934 km) in 423 days.  (That's 380 km/day for 14 months!)



12/7 Winterceding Wednesday

Opening the door to minus 1 certainly takes your breath away, the first k or so spent balancing faster blood flow vs the wind chill factor.  I was somewhat surprised to find 15 amassed at the carpark in these conditions (Kelly, CatCol, Kenworth, Ralphy, Boof, PistolPete, Shorty, Wozza, Merida-not-AvantiJohn, Weapon, AvantiTrev, Troy, Cate, Bo and KillkennyPaul), berthing at the back of the bunch was my rare treat.  Single file soon turned to two lines out of town, taking to the advance line I'd again scored the wheel of PistolPete (pleasant in the tow, painful to pair).  It was welcome back to Kenworth (just returned from New Caledonia) and Weapon (just returned from the Territory) adjusting to the clash of the climates.

I made my way forward to partner with Pistol for part 2 of Central Kialla (not so bad after all), the rapid rolls in River Rd by half a dozen put those stronger (and driving longer) back in the engine room.  Boundary Rd arrived quickly, cranking north with (nearly) daybreak noticeably earlier, I'd again reached the front beside PistolPete for the charge into Channel (was he edging forward to bait or break me?), now nudging the forties tested me to the S bend.  AvantiTrev calmed the rush as he took to the pointy end nearing Hanlon Rd, but the rapid rolls repeated to put the guns up front again.  Last weeks' history repeated as I worked all wattage to roll across Pistol as the bunch propelled to Prentice Rd, Troy, Boof, Wozza, Merida-not-AvantiJohn et al making it look oh so easy to power past for the podium positions.




13/7  Thrash Thursday
Avoiding the number 1 grid position seemed to be on everyones "must do" Thursday, an extra k rolled to avert my early arrival was a lost cause, Bruce, CatCol, Pistol, Rocket, Wozza, Kel, Bo, Troy, Cate and AvantiTrev appearing from all directions (some foreign) in the dying minutes before 5:45.   Bruce set a sympathetic speed alongside me to Kensington's roundabout, Bo too, tame on the tempo to the Kinder.  CatCol's curt contribution at the cypress trees flagged me to the front with Wozz to the S bend (I may have cooked myself bumping up the pace?) Reckoned I'd recover in the time Wozz, Rocket, Pistol, Troy and Bo had done their duty, but Boundary Rd had Bruce and CatCol pull the pin to join Kel, Cate and AvantiTrev in the trailer of the toiled.  I wanted to contribute another turn but the remaining company and their tempo was toasting me (get over it Foss, out of your depth, sit back and witness the fitness!)   Bruce and I were now the gatekeepers, apologies to those in the caboose for the surge to close the gap as the odd number of drivers rolled.   Bo ventured forth (to prove a point?) only to suffer Troy torture at the front, mid forties now dishing out distress to many.  Carriages uncoupled in Central Kialla and, torn between hanging on and helping out, my legs argued to hang back and help Bruce with the tow of Cate and AvantiTrev (and maybe earn a discount on the next bike service?)   Moving the mindset from drafting to driving, I got the chin on the headstem in Mitchell Rd, silence said the speed was sweet, but there's never a grizzle from these two.  Bruce and I swapped sessions along Raftery Rd watching the Hares slip into the distance, legs like Gumby at Conrod's finish but satisfied there's be some gain from the pain.

14/7 Flippant Friday

Only those with serious psyclosis (Boof, Cate, Mel, Shorty, PistolPete and AvantiTrev) saw the window of opportunity on the radar Friday morning, a gap between showers to crank some k's.  Single file made sense, a NNE'er assisting our passage south, but then to face the wind all the way to Channel Rd to earn our breakfast. Cate and AvantiTrev bore the brunt of the breeze in Mitchell Rd, Shorty putting in the hard meters of Central Kialla enjoying a "warm" 9 degrees.  Pistol took over the drivers seat in River Rd and doggedly drove to the dip and beyond, Boof suspected he had fused elbows till Pistol finally handed over the reigns after 4 fortuitous k's. AvantiTrev called for a 10% discount on speed for all to stay connected, arriving at Boundary Rd it was my turn for toil.  Whether it was for punishment or praise, I'd set a target on reaching Channel Rd, not such a clever idea till a hint of respite came from the cover of the trees lining the Broken River.  Legs were protesting a k from the target till 2 passing cars donated a draft, stubborness carrying me the last 400 meters to Channel Rd for the handover and the assisting breeze west. Cate, Mel and AvantiTrev soldiered on to the cypress trees, Boof carrying us to the Kinder where PistolPete turned up the torment for the ChaCha as we (rather poorly) threaded our way between the puddles.  There was no rest as we crossed Orrvale Rd with Pistol still pilot, a dirty bike, a groaning chain, grubby kit and a head wind home, but strangely satisfied.

Week 28:        254 km                    YTD  7,045