18/11 Super sized Saturday
KillkennyPaul (directional dislexia?) and Softa joined at Central Kialla from an earlyish start, the bunch pointing into an ESE'er on River Rd to burn the legs and calories (means more breakfast?) Troy's aboard a new Avanti, Weapon's on a mission for motivation, Bruce bantered on breathlessness and Travis told of Liam's signing. Velocity varied as the turns rolled at the front between the primed and the pooped, I suffered the wind on the starboard side in Boundary Rd, then stoked up the suffering in Old Dookie pairing with MeridaAndy (a lump of a lad) from the bridge to porky palace.
Spin Doctor appeared from historical obscurity (sporting an historical jersey and a porn-star mo) to join the clan, around the Toaster and up to the church delivering a little echelon eductaion for the front runners. A speck of glass punctured me at the main eastern channel bridge, the sauna like repair, fighting flies and suffering sledges but I was back on (but breathless) in good time. My Michelin like marshmallow (thanks to the CO2 inadequacy) squirmed under the speed in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd as the easterly excited the troops to town, puddles in Ford Rd spoiling a spotless bike and new kit. Promoted forward way too fast as the bunch barrelled into Wanganui, I hit the front at DECA and was instantly hung out to dry as the pack thinned behind me. 400 meters of murder at 48 clicks later, a cacophony of carbon from Rocket, Boof and Wozza's wheels whizzed by to humiliate my pace, all but a handful passing in chase as a fractured pack crested Mt.Wanganui. Digging deep to find a hint of horsepower, I'd managed to rejoin the bunch just as the Boulevard bolt to breakfast commenced, once a cafe cruise now cast aside in a race for a seat at the Lemontree table. Riding events, comapact rings and a sprint post-mortem wagged the tongues, great to have the walking wounded Temple and Coggo turn up, philosophising on bunch discipline, arresting habits the mahem of mixing abilities.
19/11 Sunday significance.
20/11 A gaggle 'o Goat girls.
21/11 O come all ye faithful.
22/11 Position, position, position.
The early edition arrived at the truck route, Bo, Wozza, Kel, Rocket, Trav and Troy (though time took Troy homeward early) making two dozen die-hards to spin the usual circuit. Grumpy had plenty of go as I attempted to keep up at the front to Mitchell Rd, SuperMario travelling better than usual (all thanks to a bike service?), Chops was challenging consistency and visitor Murray (Bendigo) I'd met 6 months ago (small world). Into the sunrise on River Rd as the processional pelotons passed westward, the effort easing as I was demoted to the rear ranks.
A light breeze behind enthused many in Channel Rd (a few of the heavy artillery sitting on), sharing sprint supposition with Trav as we blurred under the cypress trees (my placing behind Boof, The Godfather, AvantiAndy and Grumpy almost prime real estate for the ChaCha). Well, smother Boof in mint jelly!, he was the sacrificial lamb for the sprint as we barrelled into Hopeful corner, well roasted by Prentice Rd as I emerged from The Godfathers' draft. With 250 meters to go, I opened up the old engine's throttle, the slingshot from the draft helped me to 54 clicks. A quick peek at the tarmac spied shadows enlarging behind, Wozza was gaining fast but I'd reached the line in time to take a rare bite at the chocolates.
23/11 Thursday's thrash therapy & a boogie in the 'Bogies (with respect to rule #90)
Attendance Thursday thinned to Tina, Ralphy, Cate, Softa and KillkennyPaul, being caught by the Hares seemed inevitable but we'd at least give it a crack. It was an effort into the easterly so turns were shortened to cope, though it was double the workload with half the field we'd had Tuesday. We'd inherited an unknown passenger in the caboose (who vanished at Channel Rd's end), relief found pointing south on Boundary Rd to look forward to the breeze behind in River Rd (though the speed would naturally rise) Great to welcome Grumpy aboard as we neared the dip, his long turns adding valued respiratory recovery time. The cranking was fairly consistent but Ralphy was adding 2 km/h to the cruising speed, surprisingly the Hare headlights were still a distance away on a peek back in Central Kialla. Tina and Cate continue to give their all at the front, KillkennyPaul putting in big turns and paying the pain price. Yet another clean cross of the highway fuelled hope to giddy-up in Raftery Rd, Ralphy with the reserves to stretch a three length gap in the last meters of Conrod straight. Across the line and on the second gasp of oxygen, Rocket the hurtling Hare shot past, we'd had the thinnest of wins from a big fat effort.
I motored to Euroa on a rare ADO to attempt to climatise to climbing, a toe in the water to hopefully contract a hillness [hil'nes' ; noun; an impairment of normal physiological function, characterized by polka dotted vision. Often aggrevated by riding ascents, cols and monts] for a future goal.
Climbing solo allows the freedom to grunt and groan like a branded bull without embarrasment, an eye on the heart rate (and ignoring the speed) to avert a meltdown.Avoiding the focus on the distant crest and aimed at something easier (the next white post!), the tarmac kept rising, the Leo in me defiantly glued to the big ring in respect of rule #90. Off the seat for a few long efforts to stay on top of the cog, the worst of the climb finally done reaching the kennels. The fire station was soon a welcome sight, a k later peeling off on Creek Junction Rd to Kithbrook, the sun streaming through the tall timbers but I was relishing the shade. A right at Spring Creek Rd and 5k's gradual decline to Strathbogie, the downside an uphill climb again toward Mt. Wombat. Fairly pleased the old engine kept up a reasonable rate, up to the crest then caution for the long descent with a strengthening northeaster slicing across the wheels. All too soon I was down on the flatlands for the 7k back to town (shoulders stiff from a gorilla grip on the bars), a post ride "mojo-muesli" and a long black at Cass 'n Dee's contemplated the murder in March.
24/11 Frisky Friday.
Week 47 313km YTD 12,424km
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