Week 13 : Doin' duty when dozers didn't

Post 441
24/3  Socialising.
Gifted with a mild morning (19 degrees) and an assisting breeze (NNE) to the grid, my solo amble to the carpark was cautiously cranked to berth midfield.

Jen, MyRideTrev, BigLen, The Godfather, Tina, Trav, SuperMario, Travis, TatMat, Tum, Grumpy, Determined Dan, Boof, AvantiAndy, TatPaul, PistolPete, Wozza, Kel, NewAvantiJohn and TrekTrev turned up for the Saturday spin, 6am signalling the squirt south.  Speed scintillated with the wind behind, I should have put in an early turn (to avoid the toil of a headwind later) but the pace was perky enough sitting near the rear (is Saturday for socialising, Tuesday for toil?)  The speed settled in Mitchell Rd as the wind (17-26 km/h) whipped wheels and fanned two rows across the tarmac, but the squad fell silent pointing north into the wind as Pistol paced us into the high 30's  (most are slowed by a headwind Pete!)

I'd set my headspace on smooth as my time at the front drew near at River Rd's dip, holding a straight line and a steady speed not just good for your own endurance, it avoids the messing up the masses behind. TatMat's the master against the blast, though some sledging and half wheeling were being served to TatPaul as he paired.  Determined Dan drove dilligently to River's end, then the pack stacked across the road for Boundary (clockwise rolls would have been best but it fazes the unfamiliar, so the right hand line advanced, suffering for safety's sake). Puddles from an overnight shower rattled those who'd cleaned their steeds,  turns shortened into the breeze and a few already took up permanent rear residence.  My time came again at the pointy end to the Pine Lodge church, this time with Determined Dan. 

Driving dilligently, despite distress, he managed the 1000 meter effort into the wind with a little encouragement thrown in for his good measure (some would do better to take a leaf from his book). A plump pack of Pussycats passed in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (though the unwanted shower from a bidon or two wasn't in order), an almost tailwind turning up our tempo. It's best not to know the speed sometimes (hide the truth from the head so it doesn't tell the legs it's too hard) but the heartrate cruised at 126.  The Godfathers' hootin' and hollerin' threw cautions through the crew in Ford Rd, a moment of manic braking totally unwarranted.  Of course, the work in Wanganui Rd went wicked, PistolPete setting the standards up to DECA that thinned the bunch to Indian file. Wozza sacrificed himself to lead-out, Boof returning to the Mt.Wanganui podium (even encephalitis can't handicap the horsepower) .
Accident compensation, suffering the spits and snots, half-wheeling and the co-incidental collecting of the fast kept conversations cooking over breakfast, civilian Couldabeens Lynda, Jase and Killkenny Paul contributing to the cause.

26/3  Windustrial.
A bit brisk aboard the Baum at 5:30, feels like 5 dragged a few leg warmers out of their summer slumber.  Rocket, NewAvantiJohn, Wozza, PistolPete, Trav, Grumpy and The Godfather emerged from the licorice-like darkness for the Monday meet, the change of circuit proving popular...... we'll see if winter whittles it down!

A westerly whipped us out Channel Rd, so named for the two long channels of puddles (from the overnight drizzle) along the ChaCha.   The thought of the toil returning to town hurt already, but I soaked up the tailwind paired with the Godfather (S bend to Boundary) then Trav (to the pub). Rocket and Wozza drove undeterred on Boundary Rd, Pistol and Grumpy keeping the pot boiling too. We'd soon dispensed with Boundary and it was time for the hard work home, facing the front and a windustrial wind wasn't that bad, The Godfather kindly levelling with me to the change-over at Lemnos North Rd.  I didn't blow a head gasket beside Trav in Ford Rd, though relief was breathed with a sigh in the draft.  Grumpy's wattage was waining in Ford Rd, the tell -tale head drop, shifting cogs and slipping from the draft of the wheel ahead painted a picture of pooped, the comfort and calm of the caboose would suit him well.  I was pleased with my push at the pointy end (although abbreviated) in Wanganui Rd, easing the effort a little so I didn't torment Trav.  Grumpy had recovered by Rudd Rd, the bunch bound for coffee on the Boulevard, but I needed to peel off before that pleasure to ready for employment.

27/3  The dedicated few.
Mustering the Machines is as difficult as getting commitment from the FDC's, and a cool 6 degree Tuesday wouldn't help the cause.  The "gunna's", the "comeback kids" and the "definitely's" had all dived under their doonas, only KillkennyPaul and Softa with a concrete constitution to turn up to the carpark.  Hares were filtering in as 5:45 struck, so three thrashed east into the chill of Channel Rd, albeit easy bait for the 5:50 Hares.  Softa and KillkennyPaul are a little underdone of late so I took the first shift to the truck route (been a long time since driving that length) as a generous contribution to their cause, but KillkennyPaul's turn was as short as a politicians memory. 
Softa took over to Orrvale Rd and handed me the helm for leg 3, another effort for me, a little bit earlier than I'd hoped.  KillkennyPaul had risen to the occasion by the time we'd got to leg 4 (though just a couple of clicks off the pace) but now Softa was softening, throwing me an elbow on the bend at Beckham.  Onward to Channel's end, I'd earned a reprieve till one tree dam, Softa in struggle street as we steered west into River Rd.  An asthmatic atmosphere had thrown him into neutral, so we slowed for his respiratory respite (well, he'd at least turned up for duty when dozers didn't).   A minute's meander and we were away again, towing the two to River's end.  KillkennyPaul was a rider renewed in Central Kialla with a long drive to Mitchell, Hares now closing the gap as I peeked back.  Softa summoned up some speed toward Archer Rd and gave me the driving duty at Pistol Pete's, so I settled into a hurry to the highway but the overtaking Hares quickly put a poor perspective on my pace.  The intention to jump aboard was there, but Paul and Softa's legs would have nothing to do with it, so I stayed with the soldiers (they might just come back again next week?) to finish the circuit, turning up the heater for the Conrod culmination.

28/3  Chop chop choo choo.
It's been two full moons since getting on the Goat train 'o pain, high time to rekindle old friendships (evading earning enemies) and measure myself.   AvantiAndy and Jen were found at Friars, the new launch site (Coggo's shed) finding Tum, Belly, Phil, Coggo and Heady at the ready.  The exit from town was a calm and cruisy one, over Doyles Rd and it was down to business, Heady opening the account on Old Dookie Rd.  The pace perked up as each one was promoted to the rushin' front, Coggo in great form considering his long lay off.   Phil towed me to School Rd and let me loose, I felt ok despite a NE'er hampering the hurry.   Belly scored the breeze behind in Boundary but his turn was abridged by the fig farm.  Through the darkness we drove at varied velocities, greatful to Heady's taming of tempo where I could catch a breath or three.  AvantiAndy, Tum and Coggo drove us to the Broken bridges, Phil handed over at one tree dam for me to reach River Rd, Jen content in the caboose.  Heady heave-ho'd to Rivers' dip (he'd have been OTA back in Old Dookie Rd not that long ago) ending exhausted,  Phil in fine fettle forged on to the bridge for Foss to finish off River Rd.  Belly wasn't keen to captain as we swung south to Central Kialla, so I drove on to the hall till the handover.  Giving the heart rate a holiday (140) in the draft in Mitchell Rd helped, almost a halt at the highway a bonus, but we were back on the throttle to Roubaix corner for my next shift to Galbraiths gate.  I was perfectly positioned as AvantiAndy then Coggo then Tum took us to Conrod's dip, Phil  left with the labor of the last 500 for me to pounce.

29/3  Deux en essayer.
A little spin around the golf course climatised to crank a lap with BamBam, Softa and KillkennyPaul from Verney's roundabout on Thursday, but BamBam pulled the pin, and Softa slumbered, it was KillkennyPaul that would reap the rewards of rigor. 

I did a tentative tap to Grahamvale Rd but Paul had speedier standards to Lemnos North Rd, so I turned up the cruise control toward Cosgrove.  Finding that sweet saddle spot, a satisfying speed and a rhythmic mindset covered the k's, the bridge became Boundary before I knew it.  Paul powered to the kennels and handed the hurry to me again ; the power bill, fixing the rear gate, the FTSE100 and the Commodore's front camber angle were problems cast aside as the prefrontal cortex was preoccupied with pedalling.  A preconceived idea of fighting a southerly wasn't such a task to the Toaster, KillkennyPaul delivering me a draft on Old Dookie Rd recharged my batteries. Down Boundary and in Channel, we crossed paths with the on-again-off-again 6am crew, our effort energising closer to town baited by bikes ahead and the craving for coffee.

30/3  Friday's good (grief ; got Garmin gremlins!)
There was a cool culmination to the working week soaking up a solitary spin to the business-as-usual Friday frivolities, Boof, Car+Mel, Sean, Cate, TrekTrev, Tina, Hollywood, Shorty (and some stranger on the sidelines) grouped at the carpark, Boof heading the escape from town at 6.
I paired at the city limits to drive with him to Sanctuary's roundabout, then Kel (good grief the gal's got go!) to the truck route for our rendezvous with the early edition (Rocket, Wozza, NewAvantiJohn, PistolPete, CatCol and The Godfather).  A light southwester treated our tempo on Mitchell Rd and beyond, Sean has returned from time-off in Thailand, Hollywood's becoming the Wednesday/Friday specialist and  welcome back CatCol, cured of cold. 
The small strobing light of the stranger in the caboose was Adelaidian Marshy (driving a De Rosa), invited along by someone (but minus a chaperone) was in the dark on direction and distance, so I assumed the role of 'director' if only for my own safety as he joined the rotations in River Rd.  Cool patches shivered my timbers in Boundary Rd (reserving the winter layers for the real winter to come) so cranking up the cadence worked as a heater.  I'd noticed my Garmin had gone to sleep in Channel Rd (not the time to reboot with the ChaCha looming), Marshy now in a bit of bother beside Boof as the pace percolated.  I rolled straight over (to his relief) and paired with Kel to the Kinder, but Marshy had slipped way back to the safety of the long thin line behind.  Shorty copped the ChaCha lead headed to Hopeful corner but it all got a bit messy as the movers advanced, many reversed and cars and trucks approached (once upon a time it was an empty, safe stretch of tarmac for a squirt). The satisfying social spin into the suburbs to breakfast was somewhat spoilt, my early exit to employment on a public holiday was heresy.

Week 13       254km           YTD 3,866km

Fans in Italy, the USA, Russia, Portugal and South Korea (and page views topping 51,000) has Foss fairly flabbergasted, thanks for your interest folks!  Should I continue?