Week 2 : Half a tank of tenacity.

Post #482
5/1  Wind whipped.

Muscles and mood had to be dragged aboard the Baum, 13 rides in a row was taking it's toll and Saturday's SSW'er (22-39 km/h) needed something special to get to the starting grid.  Determined Dan and TatMat had tapped in from Tat (that silenced my sooking!) joining Lance, Boof, Shorty, Tina, Col, The Godfather, Lenny, Nev, Superman, Wozza, Vince, Manny, Tommygun and TrekTrev ready to roll.  With plenty to share the load, 17 speared into Archer Rd's aggravation but I was timing my turn at the front for something less labouring later.  Rocket, Kreeky and Bruce had completed the early edition to even our numbers on leg 3 to Mitchell Rd, the route now less stressed north and east with the wind southwesterly.  Superman, Lance and Boof have returned to home soil from holiday, Manny's making this ride a regular roll, Vince's unearthed enthusiasm but Col's still fighting the festive excesses.  Nath climbed aboard beyond River Rd's dip as I'd been promoted to the rushin' front, riding the right lane to keep the bunch behind out of the breeze, paired with The Godfather then Vince to reach Boundary Rd.  TrekTrev's trialling carbon Cosmics while Wozza's on Zipp's, that's all we need, the fast on faster wheels!

  Several were already bracing for the work west back to town (still 12k's away) as we were swept north to Old Dookie and east to The Toaster, Nev distributing the call for rolling turns in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd to speed our path to breakfast.  For a bunch raised on long drives at the front, the rolls kept a reasonable rhythm, 40 on the drive up and 38 on the downline covered k's far faster but focus had to be sharper than PistolPete's kit.  Superman and Lance kept confined to the caboose (though we could have done with a roll call), it hurt arriving at the front but suffering was short-lived as the turns changed quickly.  
A string of the swiftest just happened to be line astern in the sequence of things, Wozza, Rocket, Boof, not-so-newAvantiJohn, Nev, Col and Lenny a formidable force to factor for the work in Wanganui Rd.  I could forecast my next appearance at the business end and there wasn't the horsepower for the hurry as we steamed toward DECA.  My prediction paid off staying at the rear when the swift let loose at the test track, Rocket testing many as he hurtled toward the hill with some of the strong popping off the back.  The thought of a steady tap back along The Boulevard was shelved as the bolt to breakfast overpowered serenity (and sensibility?) with a supersonic spin through the streets (an increasing unease as the town arises and some vaguely steer cars toward the shops) but that sense of belonging skews the safety side somewhat, so I hung on till the main drag.  I was one of several stragglers to berth at the Lemontree, the chat and the coffee curing the sting in the legs.

7/1  Monday masochism.

Don't you hate that?  Speechless, and dragging every cubic millimetre of oxygen through the lungs to drive into a head wind, and the blokes behind you chat and chuckle away in social bliss!  Putting a clamp on a coronary at the carpark, I found not-so-newAvantiJohn, The Godfather, Kel, PistolPete, MyRideTrev, Cate, SuperMario, Whispering Jack, Grumpy, Wozza, Bo, Kreeky, Nicholas and Rene ready, Rocket and Col still sweatless and swapping sentences.  Off into the wild dark yonder of Channel Rd at 5:45 we were down to business post haste, Bo breaking in a new bike (S-Works, discs, Di2) and Pistol Pete nursing a battered elbow from a Saturday spill (disappointed there wasn't a colour co-ordinated Rapha bandage to compliment the kit!)  My first shift wasn't due till Channel Rd had all but ended, the last 600 with Bo then the first 500 of Boundary with The Godfather was blessed with the SSW'er assistance to the backside.  
Whispering Jack played the scalded cat when he got to the drivers seat north of Old Dookie Rd as I'd regained composure (but with a sharp eye out that Rene hadn't joined in the rotation).  It's barely been four weeks since the solstice, yet days are noticeably shorter, the sun barely risen as we negotiated the rumble strips  near Hill Rd (where there's no hill).   West back to town and the pace was unabated, the orchards shelter easing the effort as I was gradually promoted to the front.
Happy that the hurt was short-lived in the opening half k of Wanganui Rd, I'd settled into the draft as the speed slowly built at the test track, but not-so-newAvantiJohn hadn't read the gospel according to a sprintless Monday and bolted to the hill.  The domino effect was triggered as Nicholas set off in pursuit, Rocket rounding them up (to read the riot act?) to settle the speed for Rudd Rd and the Boulevard, the bait of coffee setting a steady speed back to base camp.

8/2 Tuesday's torture.

There was a return to the separation of the squads on Tuesday, the Hares and the Hopefuls dividing for the challenge of the chase.  SuperMario, Grumpy, TrekTrev, Pelly, Cate, Temple, Whispering Jack, Shorty and Rene was an almost applaudable attendance for the 5:45 faction, my turn for the first toil to the truck route, careful to take the tempo up cautiously to Kensington's roundabout so all might stay aboard.  Kudo's almost cured the hurt as I retired to the rear in leg 2, Pelly's pace keeping me off the seat till Reynolds Crt, but quick!, fill out a risk assessment, Rene was rolling through!  TrekTrev turned up the torque for leg 3 that rapidly retired Rene back to the rear, Cate, Grumpy, Shorty, Whispering Jack and Temple gave their best to Boundary Rd which left SuperMario the short straw of the head breeze to the bridges.  Rene was on the missing persons list as SuperMario dug deep, the head dropped, gasps escaped, the speed sagged and a lower gear was grabbed ; something told me I'd soon see an elbow.  Sure enough, bridge two and it was my turn for torture, though speed was rather satisfying to One Tree Dam.  Pelly took over to reach River Rd, others lining up to divide the drive west  in equal efforts but not neccessarily equal distance.    Whispering Jack opened up the throttle but was spluttering by the bridge, Temple topped off River Rd leaving SuperMario another headwind shift toward Central Kialla.  The cross of the highway was swift and secure, Hare lights behind yet to reach Dave's Dip had us at odds on favourites to finish first.  Hopes helped the hurry to Arcadia Downs, SuperMario stormed to the kink that commences Conrod and ushered me to suffer the same at the business end but I had no hopes of podium position today with 1.2 km left, so turned on the afterburners early to donate a decent  Hopeful's average.  Down the dip helped the hurry as the Cosmic's got into their pace at 45, the 'ol motor going ok till the 400 meter marker where I developed a miss-fire.  I elbowed Pelly to the captain's role and half a dozen hurried by, pleased we'd all made the finish line (almost together) ahead of the Hares in a hurry.

9/1 Wednesday's whimsy.  

That sinister southerly blew again to stifle speed to the carpark (at least there'd be a tail-wind home), Kenworth, Shorty, The Godfather, TeamTat (TatMat, DeterminedDan and TatPaul), Cate, TrekTrev, Nev, Vince, Rene, Col, MyRideTrev, Nicholas, Tina and Nick making up a procession to pedal south.  The rubber band effect to Sanctuary's roundabout shook me out of the comfort of the down-line to brave the up-line behind Boof,  sighting Kreeky, Bruce, Rocket, Kel, Wozza, Bo, not-so-newAvantiJohn and Pistol Pete in the early edition u-turning right on cue for leg 3.  Stress was less steering onto Mitchell, sentences ping-ponging between the rows.  Abilities rose a few rungs on the ladder as the wind carried us through Central Kialla, Weapon found on a solo reconnaissance in River Rd as I reached the front to pair with Boof at the bridge.

Making my roll at the dip put Vince in the co-pilot seat, the target to reach the quarter horse stud revised as lungs lacked the urge that the head wanted.  Subtle sledges swapped between Rocket and The Godfather as I regained a little respiratory function, but was back on the gas to keep my place as the bunch bored into Boundary Rd.

Cadence was keen in Channel Rd for many, Shorty and I predicting who'd get the ChaCha short straw as early as the S bend.  With Rocket, Wozza and TatPaul still to reach the front, it was likely to turn long, thin and rapid by the Kinder, and sure enough Rocket pulled the pack through the eye of a needle turning on the turbo at the Kinder and was still spooled up at Prentice Rd.  Turns rolled quickly and many of the fast soon fizzled, finding myself promoted to fourth and nudging 55 as the line blurred beneath the wheels.

10/1  Thursday's thrash.

You know it's going to hurt but something weird drags you to the start line for the suffering!  Nick, Temple, Whispering Jack, Col, Cate, Pelly, Grumpy, SuperMario, MyRideTrev and TrekTrev (just as silly as I)  had assembled for the 5:45 train to leave, Pelly dragging the line in his tow to the truck route, MyRideTrev at second wheel part pickled by the time his duty called for leg 2.  Several soaked up the serenity to Orrvale Rd but Whispering Jack wound up the work on the ChaCha (aided by two passing cars).  Cate delivered me the drivers seat as we turned from Central Ave, so continued to the S bend as my fair share (guaranteed me a draft in Boundary Rd's headwind too).  Nick came out punching to the Broken bridges, SuperMario (must have walked under a ladder, broke a mirror and kicked a black cat) was yet again elected as headwind specialist to reach River Rd.  Grumpy had bums off seats with speed on the westward leg, subtly echeloned against the southerly (though the tail end is always exaggerated into the gutter.  Why is it so?)  

Col and Temple did their duty for the turns to start over again, into Central Kialla where MyRideTrev and Whispering Jack drew the short straw of the headwind.  Whispering Jack ran out of urge by the hall for me to get in an early effort, a bit more driving in Mitchell Rd before letting TrekTrev take the reigns. The highway halted our hurry as cars crossed, the Hares still a good distance back (but we weren't easing our efforts this close to town).  With seven ahead of me at Galbraith's Gate, odds were building in my favour but several behind me had youth and wattage on their side.  Temple, Col and Pelly turned up the tempo into Conrod straight, I drew a few treasured breaths till the 350 meter mark just as TrekTrev hit the boost button.  Lucky to grab his draft, I tucked into his tow to play the waiting game for a falter, that failed to front so with a 100 to go it was now or never, unleashing what little fury was left, I crept alongside and passed for a rare win.


11/1  Friday's frenetics.

Torn between the tempo of the early edition and the craving for k's, I chastised my hesitation and hardened up to quicken the commute to Friday's 5:25 grid.  Bruce, Rocket, Kreeky, Kel, Wozza, Bo, Pelly, not-so-newAvantiJohn, Col and Grumpy had rigorous resolves to ride so we saddled up to chase Channel Rd's sunrise, the first leg at 40 wound up my worries but soon settled once Rocket and Wozza had let off their steam.  I'd counted on Kreeky's kindness pairing at the cypress trees for my turn at the front, half a tank of tenacity used to the S bend for Grumpy to empty it matching him to Boundary Rd.  Into the draft and into a comfort zone headed south knowing that ten ahead would deliver me decent respite, I was out of that niggling breeze to sit back and admire the big shift of Kel and not-so-newAvantiJohn along River Rd.  By Archer Rd I'd been elevated ever closer to the energy expenditure end, but thankfully we'd reached the truck route to ready for the U-turn before I was due to drive.

 A thin 6am train approached (Boof in his standard tow truck position), the line of leds soon identified as Shorty, Kenworth, Liam, Whispering Jack, Travis, Nick, Manny, Tum, MyRideTrev, TrekTrev, Rene, TatMat, PistolPete, Nicholas, Temple and (as if you couldn't notice) The Godfather.  We anti-clockwised our previous circuit, that subtle south southwester now making it's presence felt on the return though Central Kialla.  The usual punters pedalled west in River Rd, '51 forging ahead of the felines, Doc's dawdlers content to cruise and my number coming up again for River Rd's last k with Bruce.   Part two of the drive was with Kel (having a red hot go in a red hot kit) in Boundary Rd, but I could only keep up till One Tree Dam, again back into the draft for recuperation while others put their two bob's worth in.  The turn into  Channel Rd caught me napping, dropping the wheel by just a few meters had rigorous repercussions to get back into the draft (how valuable the tow becomes when you lose it!)  A string of strugglers advanced to the drivers seat as the ChaCha drew near, but half the field were content to sit out the sprint (for safety rather than saving strain), Boof taking candy from the babies with TatMat the only quality quarry.

Week 2       277km        YTD  439km.

The week's wisdom ;   When the road home is long and laboured and the k's don't clock quick enough, count telephone poles to pump up your progress.  Headwind?  Count fence posts!