Post # 481
29/12 The Saturday splits.
Sleep was a stranger in the early hours of Saturday so I tapped a 24k to Congupna and back in a half baked attempt to limber for the lap at 6. I can't quite climatize to a warm southerly, the 10k's worth of huff and puff into it earning me a midfield berth at the carpark. Jase, Oscar, Nev, The Godfather, Tina, TrekTrev, TatPaul, Cate, Lenny, Col, MyRideTrev, Temple, Liam, Manny, Travis, Grumpy, BamBam and Axel set south at 6, the 40 km/h gusts of little consequence to Nev and TrekTrev as a long line hung on behind them through leg 3. The early edition of Rocket, Bo, Tommygun, Kreeky, Wozza, PistolPete, Kel and Bruce (obsessed by the Festive 500?) tacked on to the tail (though Tommygun lost grip on the caboose) A split was being sorted at the back as the bunch turned east, the early edition making their move along Mitchell as the remainder turned north into Central Kialla. Sticks and bark littered River Rd, our bunch echeloned across the tarmac but still was worked over by the wind. TatPaul deftly extracted a stick from my rear deraillier as we slowed for the turn into Boundary Rd,
the rubber band effect of a big bunch acceleration needing 47 km/h to catch the tail. The red leds of the early edition were a k ahead as I got into Temple's tow, tearing along in the forties to the Broken Bridges. I got my shift done by Channel Rd and slipped back into the sociology of scant sentences swapped at this speed.
That southerly made it's presence felt to the up-line as the team tore along to the Toaster, a little taste of the torment to come on our way west back to town. Full steam at the Church earned a few segment success but the turn into Lemnos-Cosgrove stoked up the stress. Speed see-sawed as some struggled with the work into the wind, but Travis organised the rolling turns to perk up the progress into the high 30's.
The caboose filled quickly as a dozen got down to business, must admit it's not my strong point when I'm rusty on the rolling routine. By Ford Rd's end I was close to cooked, so took on the role of gatekeeper. A grabbed glance found only Tina at the back, most had veered off at Verney for the shortcut to breakfast. Wanganui Rd was sweaty but sprintless and the bolt on the Boulevard continued full stream through the streets (a bit testy with traffic), the spent snapping off the back in Mason St (including me) A vague call for cars caused a close one in the main street, time to study the suburb speed if we're to survive. A well earned breakfast was lapped up at the Lemontree, the fast and the fizzled fuelling on coffee and chat on puckering, alternative routes and the curse of the kilos.
30/12 Sunday's squalls.
Road testing repairs (that bottom bracket grumble) took me on a Cat lap Sunday morning, a forecast SSE'er the furthest from the truth. A WSW'er helped me to Boundary Rd, the Baum smooth and silent from it's mechanical attention but cleaning it was a mistake. The first spits from the heavens fell at the fig farm followed by the squalls (up to 48 km/h) which whipped up the wobbles. For a moment I thought of turning for home but Rule #5 echoed within this stubborn skull to continue, the road now full gloss from a short shower to undo yesterday's cleaning. There was partial relief in River Rd as the gusts subsided and the wind turned northwest, but 6 k's were spent west with head down to Central Kialla. The puddles thinned and the wind turned to a southwest breeze, down Dave's Dip and onto Raftery, the sight of the home stretch helping lax legs get to town. Now to get cleaning again!
31/12 Adieu 2018
I prepared for pace lining up beside Wozza for Monday's circuit, but I shouldn't fear to front first (and Wozza doesn't bite!), it just means work starts early (and recovery is enjoyed sooner). I was almost inside out arriving at the truck route but Cate kept the speed simmering to Orrvale Rd,
Kreeky, The Godfather, Kel, Rocket, PistolPete, Lenny, Manny, Bo, Col and Tina lining up behind for their contribution. This peloton's proved popular to start the week, a swifter more social alternative to a solo I guess. 8k's east to Boundary Rd and the light breeze blew us north, a racket like riding on gaffer tape (sticky side up) fazed a few folk near the fig farm, I suspect a juicy spill from a transported fruit bin may have lacquered the tarmac as a weird treat of traction (thank heavens a shower hadn't sent it slick) We threaded the thin line between rumble strips and the roads edge that warn of an unused rail line near Hill Rd, up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd then worked west toward Ford. Time again to earn my keep and cut the wind for the others, Wozza kindly not toasting me to the channel but I had to shorten my shift keeping up with Col. It's good to get thoughts on holiday from the day to day grind, the gas bill, the jobs to finish, how to afford those delicious carbon wheels, and immerse some energy and enjoyment with a rabble of ratbags sharing a similar affliction. Most had prepared their posteriors (by raising them) for that rough join on Ford Rd's new surface, closing in now on the suburbs for a is fast-ish finish. Happy the hurry to the hill is sprint-less, it was still a speechless squirt to Rudd Rd as I supressed gasps to the Boulevard to finish in a 4th fastest flurry.
1/1 New year's daze.
A lap to lose the lethargy begged on new year's day, and not expecting any takers at 6am, I got into a cruisy headspace on the commute to the carpark. That thought was quickly quashed as Rocket and Bruce rolled in to grid, the standard Tuesday lap agreed upon with the proviso of coffee to finish. Three to share the load equalled labour, and sharing the front with Rocket to the truck route got me in the deep end early. I gorged on the respite in leg two as Bruce and Rocket led to Orrvale Rd but the work in leg three arrived to fast. Trying to keep a lid on the growling bear by Prentice Rd was a struggle, Bruce quizzing my state got a one word reply ("just") There's guilt sitting out a turn while others take the load (although these two have ability by the bucketful) but I needed to get the h.r. below 175 if I was to avoid explosion. A sublime sunrise distracted the hurt and the now single filed recovery in Boundary Rd put me back into a lucid state. Legs were none to happy with the hurt but the ticker was coping in River Rd to return to the workforce, tucked into Bruce's tow for his 4k shift to the bridge inspired me to finish off the 1800 meters to Central Kialla Rd.
Rocket blurred the tarmac to Mitchell Rd with ease 'cause he drove onward to Archer before handing the reigns to Bruce. Get the impression they're looking after me? I avoided the temptation to push a bigger gear finding 86 rpm oddly easier. With arms draped over the bars, Bruce's drive was determined, down Dave's Dip and up to the highway, into Raftery and 'round Roubaix, he mimicked the Energiser bunny to Galbraith's gate before showing me an elbow. Nudging 40 for most of the lap had drained my tempo to a trickle, legs and head in a rapid wrestle just to reach Arcadia Downs. Using the last drops of labour I just caught the tail as Rocket ripped into Conrod straight and, knowing the speed still sizzled on the 'Afterglow' and 'Rafter's Rip,' I prepared for the punishment to persist. Pointed north on the main drag, Bruce's quick cadence sped us to the Scottish restaurant, my dazed dismount onto rubber legs requiring the medicinal benefits of coffee as rehab.
2/1 Boom and bust.
Plenty of ducking and diving at Wednesday's grid as the riding rarities cringed for cover from the first shift (making a late start on a new years' resolution to ride?), Shorty with the intestinal fortitude to lead the line out of town and into the south southwester. Kenworth, Tina, Whispering Jack, Kel, Nick, MyRideTrev, Rene, The Godfather, Laura and Temple filed behind as not-so-newAvantiJohn took up Shorty's shortfall nearing Hooper's Rd and paired with Nicholas (as jumpy as a 4 year old overdosed on red cordial) to the roundabout. I was next in line to face the business end and rather keen to keep some space on Nicholas's cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof style, we reached the truck route but became a bit baulked by traffic.
The rhythm was restored once we'd rounded up a scattered early edition (Wozza, PistolPete, BamBam, Pelly and Bruce), no time wasted cranking through Central Kialla with Kel setting the standard and into the eastbound drive on River Rd.
An echelon looked after the front few of a big bunch, but I was snookered at the roads edge till rolling into the up-line when reaching Rene in retirement at the rear. Hot footing north on Boundary Rd blurred the tarmac and silenced sentences with speed, that southerly pestering pace as we pointed into Channel Rd. Passing Leah and the ladies at the S bend, 42 wheels got working to the ChaCha, and it was looking like I'd be in the deep end sitting at fourth wheel under the cypress trees. The southerly niggled at the down-line till we rounded the bend into Central Ave, now into business mode at second wheel with not-so-newAvantiJohn and Nicholas in the drivers seats swinging into Kinder corner. Nick-in-the-box spun further and further toward Prentice Rd, like watching a fuse spluttering closer and closer toward the kaboom, so I hit the gas (way to early) past them, avoiding Armageddon. I'd opened a good gap for the first 100 meters but Col had the boost wound up and was closing in with 50 to go, certain defeat disconnecting my drive as 6 swamped me in the sprint. Speechless till the school, the social roll back to town pondered to drive harder and later next time.
3/1 The Hares and the hopefuls.
Throwing the leg over the Fizik just two minutes earlier treated the old engine to a gentle warm-up, readying for the combined Hares and hopefuls ride that would whip up a want for wattage. Quite a flock fronted the carpark (Lenny, Nick, Shorty, SuperMario, Cate, Bo, The Godfather, Rocket, Grumpy, TatMat, Bruce, not-so-newAvantiJohn, PistolPete, MyRideTrev, Kel, Wozza, WhisperingJack, Trek Trev Col and Kreeky), not fearing fastness, sprang hope that many had made a resolution to ride for 2019. Kudos to Nick facing the front first and hooray to the Hares restraining their rapidity, the Couldabeens consideration commendable. 15 degrees made the ride refreshing, a light SSW'er sweeping the sweat raised, The Godfather's aerial amused the troops but Pistol Pete's puncture paused the peloton near Channel Rd's end.
Repairs were relatively rapid but our short delay caused our course to be crossed by Cats as we reached Boundary Rd. Pussycat protocols and the Couldabeens culture collide, so it was best not to bait or bewilder by blending, our course altering to head along Mitchell while Cats rode River Rd. Mitchell Rd became memory lane for the long standing members, not since 2012 that this track was our regular one. My turn with Grumpy then TatMat kept the pace percolating, hopes pinned on passing pussycats by route rather than reality to avoid antagonism. Across Central Kialla Rd and ahead of the feline flock created some comfort, passing Temple tapping toward Dave's dip. We hurried to the highway (and had a classy clean cross) for the pace to rise in Raftery, that lure for Conrod kudos most magnetic. Midfield in the up-line, and unlikely to reach the front before the finish was an observation post for peoples performance and poise, Col letting loose with 200 remaining that towed Bo to the podium.
4/1 Pickled Poppa.
Surreptitiously sneaking 'round the block to dodge pole position failed miserably, others are far more skilled in the last moment arrival! TrekTrev, Tina, Shorty, Cate, The Godfather, Col, Nick, Rene, Kenworth, Vince and SuperMario set forth for Friday's foray at six, Nev's arrival on our exit making up a dozen behind me. There's a hint of a downhill to the Broken bridge to stoke up the speed (and the ego) and the pace was still perky at the city limits to pump up my prospects as TrekTrev paired alongside. Whispering Jack joined from his advance reconnaissance, and with the speedo hovering at 40, I even managed a sentence with TrekTrev till a lightbulb moment realised a tailwind was amplifying my ability. On cue, the early edition (Rocket, Wozza, PistolPete, Kreeky, not-so-newAvantiJohn, Kel and Bruce) blended into the bunch on leg 3, somewhat silent and sombre (from speed?) in contrast to The Godfather's guffaws.
The northeaster brewed as we wound our way via Mitchell, Central Kialla, I kept left when fingers pointed right to miss the stick in the middle of River Rd, but got the rest of the branch lying to the left, setting off a sphincter spasm but happily not hurtling horizontal. We crossed paths and sledges with Pussycats at the dip, Nath joined in and Lenny and Wozza simmered the speed to Boundary Rd. Just Coggo, Manny and MeridaAndy were on the pain train as our aim trained toward Channel Rd, Rene joining the up-line worked up a few worries with the rpm of a GP bike. (may need some intensive couture classes with Pistol Pete too!) Channel Rd turned giddy-up with the breeze behind, Tina turning up the tempo to the cypress trees with Rene inches from implosion alongside. Cate restored the rhythm to Central Ave where TrekTrev and I shared the front to Kinder corner, Nev and Kev turning up the torment to Prentice Rd slowly grilling The Godfather at second wheel. The sprinters were let off the lead as The Godfather sought refuge in the down-line, and in a blur of wheels a dozen dashed past in pursuit of the chocolates.
Week 1 292km.
I'll trial a little epilogue called
The Week's Wisdom (caution; may contain fragments of frivolous Fossilosophy) Add a matchbox sized bit of canvas, vinyl or even a piece of plastic milk bottle to your kit. Makes a great 'get-me-home ' repair under that deep cut in a tyre, freeing up the $5 or $10 note for the essential extra espresso or banana bread!
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