Week 18 : Survival in the slipstream.

Post #446
28/4 Numbed numbers.

The clock ticks away layering all that autumn insulation, having heaps of time soon becomes a hurry to catch the 6am Saturday train. Numbers had numbed with the temperature, only Nev, Boof, Cate, Shorty, Goose, Gazza, Wozza, Rocket, PistolPete, TatMat, Bruce, MyRideTrev and TatPaul gridding for the anti-clockwise grind, Popgun and Cougar shying to the shorter Channel Rd option.  The first k at bunch velocity woke a few out of the weekends' meandering mindset, 6 degrees was an eye-opener after an unusually tropical start to the season.  An Otways odyssey had taken TrekTrev, Tina and Sean away (daresay warm beds had claimed others), thankfully a dedicated few had made the effort to share the workload.  The puny puff of a southerly pushed us through Central Kialla, other earlybirds were westbound on River Rd as I fronted for duty at the drivers end with Shorty, Gazza the next pairing to the dip before Pistol's power piloted us east. 

The turns rolled at the usual predetermined positions, the expectations consistent even if the effort wasn't (no shame in a short shift folks, it's braver than staying in bed!)  Tempo to the Toaster was keen, MyRideTrev not so keen to advance.  Gazza was on his once a month appearance, the benefit of youth gifting him the pace to perform (us relics need a consistent thrashing to keep in tune!)  Cats were at the corner as we reached the Big Ring, an enthused squirt west on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd as breakfast under the Lemontree heaters was craved.
 

Shorty and MyRideTrev were sitting out the sprint which put me onto Gazza's wheel in Wanganui

Rd, the 26 vs 60 thing was niggling at my nerves till he called me over at the treatment plant after a fairly short shift.  The bunch immediately thinned as we broke into the 40's, I felt like washing on the line at DECA till TatMat saved me from a fast fate by taking the lead role. The big engines lined up to lunge at the test track, Wozza, Nev, Rocket and PistolPete taking the reigns.  Nev and Boof bolted up the hill when most had their sights on survival in somebody's (anybody's!) draft.  The Boulevard was less boisterous to breakfast than normal, arriving at base camp finding the folk with a foot fettish (Leah, Bo, Mrs.Pistol and Kel) to talk on peloton posers, froth, handicapping and workplace benefits.

30/4  The Monday mood mender.

Waking with the winter woebegones wasn't the weeks' intended start, time atop two wheels would be Monday's mood mender. 5 degrees at 5am looked cold on the bureau's site, facing that reality out the front door was a bit more than invigorating! (though I guess that'll be tropical compared to July)  Off toward the golf course the old engine fired up ok, 10% better than expected had to be a bonus in the chill.  Lunar light lit the way in Wanganui Rd, watching the heart rate creep upward (as did the endorphins) on the eastward effort to Lemnos North Rd.  The 6am rush hour (two cars) passed as I passed the smell of soup at Campbell's, through the roundabout (G'day Tina!) and south into the mist of Central Ave.  I chose a road less travelled (Poplar Ave) home, a circuit small on distance but big on boosting bravado, contemplation and coffee completing the course.

1/5  Three........try two tackling temperature.
Is it the challenge of being chased? The thrill of the chill? Pushing the fitness frontiers? Or maybe it's a warped disposition to watch others suffer?  Only BamBam, Softa and I had reasons Tuesday, Cate's gone to the dark side of hanging onto the Hares, KillkennyPaul is under doctors orders and all others are made of marshmallow, so a trivial trio set off east at 5:45, BamBam doing the honours of first shift.  (an elephant stamp for the effort in light of little appearance of late)  My turn to tow to Orrvale Rd where Softa took leg 3, his force fading at Prentice Rd, the little rise to Kinder corner almost killing him.  The cool climate was playing hell on his respiratory restrictions, so a compassionate and calm crank to the cypress trees was in order.  Steadily back up to speed by Beckham Rd, I drove on to Channel's end, but Softa was spent and chose a short cut homeward.  BamBam and I soldiered on, if only to be lures for the Hares behind.  I was impressed with BamBam's drive to One Tree Dam but  felt guilty handing back the lead as we turned into River Rd, his next strong drive inspired me to do better (my goal to reach the dip stretching several more white posts further).  Back to the front again in Central Kialla, a few passing cars delivered a delightful draft but Hare headlights were homing in as we worked west onto Mitchell.  Just a little shy of Dave's dip the team tore by (Rocket, Pistol, Wozza, Bruce, Nev, Boof and Tina), not enough push in my pedals to catch their tail but their draft helped to stay somewhere near to the highway where the Hares halted, approaching traffic allowing us to tag on.  Smoothly back on the gas allowed us to steal a tow home, the draft from 7 a little less murder on the muscles.  Hoping for a relaxed roll after the finish line didn't happen, Hares were hellbent on a hurry to McCaffeine.  I tore along to the highway (if only to score a segment PB) then eased to thank BamBam (blown off the back at the bridge) for his tenacity. Maybe the 5:45 foray has finished?

2/5  A warm welcome.
Sighs of despair from Belly and Sootie as I arrived was a weird welcome to the Goat's train of pain on Wednesday (do I really drive that hard?)  Feeling the love, I led out of town with Tum, Coggo, Phil and Carl forming the locomotive of labor. 

All stops out crossing Doyles Rd and aiming for the bridge, my old engine was spluttering a bit by Dobsons Rd so Tum got my elbow to take charge.  Compliments of "gorilla", "machine" and "animal" soothed the soul (but didn't deliver the oxygen I craved), trying to supress the growling bear so I didn't spook Belly as I grabbed his wheel.  Recovery took it's time as Tum, Coggo, Carl, Phil and Sootie did their bit, I had the dream draft as Belly steered us south.  Back in that position of pain at the fig farm I set sights at the bridge (again) on Boundary (and made it this time), a pause at the pub for a passing Pajero then back to business battling breathlessness.

Belly drove the first k of River Rd, I got into a groove on the front into the 40's (helped by the 2nd k of billiard table tarmac), but was running low on oomph near the dip.  Signs of wear and tear were creeping in on a few others too, some shortening turns, some swapping cogs to maintain the drive, a few with velocity variables and others with a case of the noddies.  Turn 4 came for me in Central Kialla, the breeze behind maintaining some motion to reach Mitchell.  Hey, the sprint scenario was looking sweet, I'd score a shift before Galbraiths and get a few moments of recovery before the Conrod crescendo, but Phil and Carl had ducked from duty, putting me at the expending effort end out of Conrod's dip. 600 meters to go with the breeze blowing at the brow soon broke me, throwing the elbow at 300 but only Tum, Coggo and Belly were left to thrash out the finish, the remnants scattered behind eventually congregating for the cruise into town.

3/5 The Hares and their split ends.

The endangered Ralphus

Spasmodicus spotted at

Thursday's grid.

Anticipating doing a few turns with the Hares on their "cruisy" Thursday was blown to bits after just one, matching Wozza into a nasty northeaster (17-26 km/h) had me well out of my driving depths and cringing in the caboose rather early.  What a great thud back to earth after yesterday!  Watching Pistol Pete, Rocket, Nev, Liam, Bruce, Boof, Travis and Wozza take turns toasting the tempo, not-so-NewAvantiJohn joined the list of laborers as Tina, Cate, Ralphy and I settled in as spectators.  Soaking up a free draft without contributing smells of inadequacy to me, but survival in the slipstream quickly conquers a culpable conscience. Channel Rd blurred by and the 9 drivers kept going back for more (masochism!), Boundary Rd offered some comfort with the northeaster behind us and I'd almost decided to join the workforce till Rocket lit the afterburners to River Rd.  Tina and I found ourselves in the unenviable role of gatekeepers, trying to smooth out the shift swapping for those behind while close to the limits ourselves. We'd made big inroads on a bike ahead in River Rd, Hoges in a hurry west joining the caboose as not-so-NewAvantiJohn retired from rotation.  Full steam into Central Kialla Rd I'd nearly drained the tank to catch the tail, no chat but flat chat toward Mitchell hoping the legs and lungs would comply.  Down Dave's dip Rocket let loose, splitting the bunch and taking Wozza, Liam and Nev toward the highway. Pistol, Bruce, Boof, Travis and not-so-NewAvantiJohn in the wake behind made it across Melbourne Rd, but traffic closing in threw out a caution to Ralphy, Cate and I, figuring going OTA was better than going 6 feet under.  So the scenario switched from drafting to driving, 3 keen to keep a cracker average pursuing Pistol's pack (but without a hope of catching them). Ralphy's steaming along well (don't tell him or he'll need an XXXL helmet!) for a bloke that doesn't get out much and Cate personifies a cyclust (noun; a person having a deep craving or appetite for riding bicycles) on a mission.  Us three thrashed the final k's to the Conrod culmination, the 40+ average a warming workout.

4/5 Forecast rain made Friday a rest day (though a few of the hard-core slogged out a swift circuit), almost understanding the logic of BeerMat, Hollywood, HBK etc over the late (6am) long lazy breakfast.

Week 18:   204km                  Y.T.D. 5,180km