Week 30 : Learnin' the legs

Post 405

22/7  Couldabeens kit on a cool catwalk
It was new Couldabeens kit day Saturday, the first official outing of version #3 for the bunch birthday of 10 years.  Minus 2 would test the resolve of riding so it was surprising to find 18 willing (or should that just be able?) to crank in the cold.  The Godfather, Wozza, Boof, Mel, AvantiAndy, Jase, Jen, Tina, TatMat, TatPaul, BassoDan, Bo, PistolPete, Cate, Rocket, Kel, KillkennyPaul, and Bruce corralled in the carpark, most in the new livery but some optioned warmer layers.  A few suggested a shorter circuit out Channel Rd but Rule #5 and majority rules voted for the (9k) longer lap 'round Archer, Mitchell and River Rd.  The usual chirpiness was choked by the chill for some, but a solid start got blood circulating, muscles warmed and endorphines flowing just a few minutes south of town.  It's been some time since seeing TatMat, BassoDan and Jase ( winter whiskers a complimetary cover), catching chattering chat with a few as  I descended the down line to join the up line in River Rd.  There was a slight ease of effort as Mel made the drivers seat but at least she had a go at the arctic end (found the front fairly faarctic myself with Wozz up to Boundary Rd.)

A solo Nath was rounded up at the Broken bridges, the various versions of the new kit (blue on black, vertical stripe, black on blue, horizontal stripe) making each uniform unique yet unified.  Pace percolated on the drive to the highway, the culprits too far ahead to identify though the rate had relaced to mid 30's by the fig farm.  Mel braved the rushin' front again in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, 1200 meters with Wozz on the front fried me, kudos from Bruce helping my mental recovery but did nothing for my labored lungs.  I'd made it half way up the up line again when the whack came in Wanganui Rd, Boof, Rocket, Wozz, The Godfather, TatMat etc well into the mid forties at DECA's gate, opening up a grand canyon to the rest, and here's me without the wattage to band-aid the hole.  (At least I felt useful playing tow truck for the rear ranks in ruin)

A trophy of thanks from Tina and the gallant gals as we regrouped in Rudd Rd and a spirited slog along the Boulevard buoyed by thoughts of thawing under the Lemontree's heaters, internally heating on long blacks, cappacino's, porridge, banana bread, eggs & bacon, toast & vegemite, chilli's etc (anyone would think we hadn't eaten all week!)  Plenty of discussion on diets (for some struggling to squeeze into the new kit) rounded off a cool but cordial ride.

23/7  Century Sunday
Regular rides of 30 and 40 k's over recent weeks prompted learnin' the legs to longer laps, so Sunday I set forth in the wee hours craving a contrary course.  Westward across the Causeway then northwest on Echuca Rd with the distant (33k's) target the Murray Valley highway. 450 lumens carved through the darkness, the ever changing road surface either glorious or gruelling on the gluteus maximus.  With not a car to contend with (just a pot-hole or bitumen boil to navigate) I got into a relaxed rhythm at 78 rpm, dwelling on Rule #6.  The k's clicked away through the sprawling suburbs of Undera and St. Germains, arriving at the Murray Valley highway on the stroke of 7.  There was no traffic report needed for Wyuna, a 3 k crank west to swing south on John Allen Rd, refreshing to cover new ground with sights, sounds an smells other than the Toaster loop, through the metropolis of Taripta (an intersection) and on to Kyabram.

Headed east toward Lancaster turned up the toil with a northeaster at the nose, I was just about sick of it when the turn south offered relief.  Past the grand olde 1893 "Karlsruhe", a burst off the saddle to outgun a hungry dog, through the Merrigum township and on to Byrneside, mentally bracing for the breeze that would attack on the Midland highway.  The temptation to slog straight for home was strong, but Rule #5 (and the craving for a century) diverted me to Tat.  There was a tough haul along Ferguson Rd eastbound, lowering my expectations of speed seemed soft, but it was a means of survival.  The few outcrops of trees offered some shelter, speed climbing back up to the original expectations soothed the soul.   Luck had me win a second wind for the Murchison-Mooroopna Rd, the wind now NNE couldn't stop the crank back to town, a promised long black & avacado on toast was my trophy for the ton back at base camp.  A chance to wag chins with Steevo, Weapon, KillkennyPaul and Temple  (all turning up at the Lemontree by chance) was the social sweetener after a solitary slog.

24/7 A double deflation

Tina, Carl, Coggo, Sandy, Hommy, Jen and Sly defied the fog for Monday's Goat train of peace, the tame tap would be tonic for my grumbling legs.  Mr.Magnet, Mrs,.Eggy and Cougar avoided association with an early hasta la vista, Goats set sail at 6 but just 200 meters were rolled before Coggo copped a double deflation, puncturing both front and rear (attention seeker!).  A pitstop natter with Tina (off the back of a Rapha 100) before we set sail on take #2, the long drive beside Carl grinding my gastrochnemius to remind me of yesterday.  All were fog soggy (seems we were carrying an extra kilo of H2O) with the quiet chorus of wheels as background music, Coggo, Sly, Jen, Hommy and Tina rolling the turns to Boundary Rd then south to the fig farm, my second slog with Carl now not so murderous on the muscles.  The time in pit-stop previously turned me even earlier for home, pushing west through Channel Rd's fog (with a burst of speed expecting Darth Vader lurking in the mist) sent a souvenir sting of Sunday through the thighs, but I contemplated the 3 remedies for pain in Rule #20.  Pushing on, threading the line through the ChaCha puddles, time ticked away to be back home with a minute to spare.  

25/7  By a Hare's breadth
Overnight damp caused a conundrum, but the drawcard of the Tuesday thrash over-rode the want to preserve a clean bike (it had stayed spick & span just two days).  It's a bit disappointing to have just a handful keen on Tuesday's, HBK, Cate and KillkennyPaul the only starters for the 5:45 launch.  My usual task of first turn wound up gradually to Kensington Gardens, shadows thrown forward said all were aboard as I guessed the pace to Doyles Rd.  HBK's go in the drivers seat was a little more sedate (woops, I'd overestimated the tempo), at least I could begin to get the heart rate down in readiness for my next shift.  Cate and KillkennyPaul continue to improve in speed and smoothness, won't we all reap the rewards when the soft eventually emerge from their warm hibernation!  I scored the shift from the cypress trees to the S bend with a little ENE to push into, HBK seemingly slower to get us to Boundary Rd.  A bike ahead was a target for Cate's drive to the bridges in Boundary Rd, Nath the surprise soloist joining our ranks where KillkennyPaul drove determined to River Rd.  The habit of HBK and I to go halves of River Rd continued, a light tail wind helping my push to the dip (collecting Pelly as a caboose) where HBK took over to River's end.  Nath turned up the torture with a strong slog to Mitchell Rd, Cate then KillkennyPaul our tow to Archer, handing me the job to reach Melbourne Rd (you bewdy! a clear cross raised hopes of holding off the Hares).   HBK gave his last performance to Roubaix corner  ("cooked" he said, retreating to the caboose), I was handed the helm at Arcadia Downs , pumped and positive to reach the 700 mark of Conrod with Nath as my backstop.   Hares were homing in hurriedly as Nath drove to the 250 mark, Cate poured on the pace, KillkennyPaul pounced as I emptied the tank to pass him for the chocolates.  My second gasp for recovery air suddenly had Wozza draw alongside equally speechless, we'd won by a Hare's breadth.

26/7  A cretin's close call

A dry road and a mild 7 degrees drew a dozen out for Wednesday, Boof, Wozza, PistolPete, The Godfather, Kel, Bo, Cate, Shorty, Car+Mel, Rocket, Troy and guest MeridaDanny assembling for a social spin.  I had no hesitation pairing with Wozz for the leg to Sanctuary roundabout (maybe Sunday's distance has been a tempo tune-up?) but was wearing a bit thin keeping up with PistolPete to the truck route.  An elephant stamp for Car advancing to the front (despite a lengthy layoff) with Kel, Mel & Cate to make a quality quadrella.  New to the bunch MeridaDanny's (interesting knicks) body language spoke 'spent', but he put in a long shift on River Rd.  I had head down and tempo up in Boundary as Wozz wound up the speed  into the WNW'er, but we were soon handbraked to prevent the pack splintering. Sheltered in Channel Rd, the speed grew again, I'd almost reached the rear as we approached the Kinder, in time to assist Car+Mel stay in touch for the ChaCha while Rocket went to the aid of MeridaDanny, losing grip with the rear.

The regroup rolled the last leg of Channel Rd homeward, and approaching the blind corner into town, we were suddenly overtaken by a cretin in a car (either impatient or insane or a blend of both), forcing an oncoming car off the road.  Thanks to the unflinching panache of Pistol & Boof, an accident averted, Troy, Rocket and Wozz dispensing due advice to the driver waiting at the next intersection.

27/7 Only the zany in zero
Winter wreaked revenge with zero for Thursday, only the zany converging on the carpark (Wozza, Cate, Bruce, PistolPete, Rocket, Merida-not-AvantiJohn and KillkennyPaul) with a Pinarello person arriving unannounced (read & respect Rule #9)  Fearless Foss was on the front first (I can cope with the Hare's shorter shifts), ever so greatful though to Wozza and Bruce driving to Doyles while I resuscitated in their draft.  KillkennyPaul and Cate (gutsy gal in short knicks) tended the tailend while the engines drove to Hanlon Rd, my turn sandwiched between Wozza and Pistol (this is becoming a habit) made it to Darth Vader's (thankfully at rest) to again dive for a draft.  I argued with myself to push the energy envelope and do another turn (no gain without pain), a short shift with the ever obliging Wozza in River Rd as we welcomed Kel and Bo to the fold.  Rocket, Pistol and Wozza make it look effortless while most of us were breathless, maybe I'd have one last dip to satisfy the sadist in me?   The short blast in Central Kialla all but finished Foss, slipping quickly into the gatekeeper role to smooth the speed for the tailenders as the rapid ones rolled.  Rocket lit the afterburners in Conrod straight to lend a lead-out (but split the bunch), I found myself on the front of the spent as the sprinters drew into the distance.  Fading fast with 150 left, Wozza saved the day donating a draft, mutual praise on the remainder of Raftery that we'd survived 30k at 37.6 in zero.

28/7  What's that hissing noise?...oh, it's my front tube!
Yet another murky morning, dismally dark, soaked streets and a wintery wind....all the ingredients to h.t.f.u. and ride!  PistolPete, Boof, Cate and Pelly thought likewise meeting at the carpark Friday morning, a feint hissing sound perplexing (a possible puncture?), but thumbs guaged the tyre pressures and gave the thumbs up to launch at 6.  I drew the short straw of the first shift (2800 meters) starting strong but sunk to struggling by the Sanctuary roundabout. 'Twas a mushy Michelin (explained the strain) that caused me to pit-stop,  a quick fix, then up and away southward into the mire.

Pistol, rare and resplendent in Couldabeens
ensemble.  Note custom co-ordinated socks

PistolPete piloted the Indian file in Mitchell and along Central Kialla ('cause he can) for Cate to start the River Rd leg with the rare treat of a breeze at the backside.  Boof had the case of the frozen elbow today, a long leg from River's dip to Boundary's One Tree Dam.  Pistol (a rare sight clothed in Couldabeens kit) carried us to Channel Rd and, of course, continued west to the S bend, Pelly braved a turn at the front to Beckham Rd where it was my turn to be harassed by the headwind.  Wrung out like a wet sock by Jamieson Rd, I handed the lead to Boof to drag us to the Kinder where Pistol upped the ante for the ChaCha.  Don't you just love that winter welcome of puddle spray up the nose as you hang onto the draft of survival, bike, shoes, specs and kit spotted with worms and mud.  And some chose to doze under doonas instead!

Week 30      340 km.                 YTD 7,591 km