Post #488
23/2 A lake lap.
A change of velo venue for Saturday to tackle the Lake Hume Granya Challenge at Wodonga, just to tick it off my list. Surprised there were 200+ entries (everything from thoroughbreds to the stuff for glue factories, camelbacks, suitcase sized saddlebags and Hawaiian shirts, and WTF!, the Strava spy in attendance). Flagged off at 7 in perfect conditions (14 degrees with a hint of a southerly) for the 128k loop of Lake Hume, the rubber band effect was at maximum as 200 odd found tempo, a ripple at the front tsunami'd through the long ranks behind (but you expect that on such events)
Setting 'em off in waves may have minimised the mayhem? The pecking order soon got sorted on the few rises and falls headed to Huon, my Garmin finally getting a grip on the satellites 14k in. A long bunch steadily thinned as buggered bits busted off the back, just sneak peeks of the super scenery taken 'cause most focus was on the umpteen wheels ahead for the next sudden slow. Through Bullioh and over the Tallangatta bridge, a few more rises and falls kept me at the back, saving my jellybeans for the 400 meter ascent of Mt Granya.
The turn onto Granya Rd was time to let go of hopes and goals and settle into the groove of what's reality, onto the little ring but with four cogs still left for the 5-8% climb. Right into a 154 bpm and 70 rpm rhythm satisfyingly kept in touch with several and dropped a few others, tap tap for 6k's without blowing a head gasket and soon enough I'd crested the hill to delight in the downhill to Granya township for a very brief and well catered rider-reviver halt.
Leaving a mob of forty still refuelling, I got back into a steady spin for the slight ups and downs to Talgarno, all focus on pacing myself to finish the next 60k, so dropping off a quick bunch of 8 wasn't a heart breaker. Lapping up the landscape, gentle on the ups and quick on the downs put comfort in the cranium, far more relaxed without that rubber band business and pleased I was only passed by two as I arrived at Wirlinga. I'd dodged a prickly puncture giving an ambling echidna plenty of space, then crossed the big blue of Lake Hume, only at 29% of it's 3 million megalitre capacity. One bloke was playing leapfrog on the k's toward Bonegilla so there was a certain satisfaction to turn up the wick at Killara and drop him. Pacing myself an hour before paid off with a few watts left for the finish, a good head of steam through Bandiana passed a few more before arriving back into Wodonga to finish pleased in 3:46
24/2 Sunday's six o with eight o.
A ride to rid the rust of Saturday's stretch was in order for Sunday, less I lock up in the leg department. Ayto was keen to clock a Toaster lap, so we cruised a clockwise crank of a long familiar circuit (how many times I don't want to remember!) Spoilt by superb weather but a bit of an easterly put some effort into the long k's out to the Big Ring, another of the season's super sunrises made me wonder why you'd sleep in. The turn to the church wasn't the relief I'd hoped for, but the turn from the Toaster was a treat. Soloists started to appear in Boundary Rd and beyond, the long length of River Rd spent tapping the torment out of yesterday's legs. Mitchell Rd found a few Cats had risen to ride anti-clockwise, by Raftery Rd there was just a morsel of motivation left to turn the wheels over the finish line, the Lemontree's long black and berry muesli my post ride prescription.
25/2 Bunny baulk'n.
I had a tap of trepidation to Monday's start line, among fast friends would be a flogging following a few days at a sedate speed. Cobbles, Rocket, Wozza, Sherls, Cate Kreeky and Bruce turned up, an extra few turns on the agenda with numbers lower than usual. Doing the first shift with Wozza was jumping in the deep end, so rather than ruin the rhythm, I called an early roll at Kensington Gardens, only to then have Rocket as co-pilot to the truck route. ( though he paired fairly it's like like having a Ferrari at idle beside you!)
I'd hoped Cobbles wasn't keen for conversation alongside as the turn rolled for leg 2, I was saving all the oxygen I could get a hold of in the next k rather than chat. Bruce and Cate held the helm as we neared rabbit row, sure enough three little bunnies scurried out of the undergrowth to rattle our nerves (already sandpapered from Friday's prang) Hats off to Bruce and Cate keeping cool when bunny #3 bolted into our path. (they're masters of Rule #59) It was time for my toil again in Boundary Rd, effort eased a little with the breeze at the right shoulder. I survived the drive to the pub with Wozza and the head wanted to reach the bridge beside Rocket but the legs called it quits at Hosie Rd. The tow to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd had me almost human again, Rocket was relishing a relaxed roll but then he's about five rungs up the rapid ladder! Ford Rd looked to be my last turn of duty, half of it done before memories of Saturday's 128 k's begged me back into a draft. A well behaved spin along Wanganui Rd and a diversion via Canterbury Drive (to avoid the stones of a freshly sealed stretch beside the cemetery) got us back to town as the sun struggled to rise from the horizon.
26/2 The lure of red leds ahead.
It was sweet to start forth wheel for Tuesday's thrash, TrekTrev with the torque to tow Jase, Nick, BamBam, me and Cate to the truck route. Jase had made a rare visit and turned on a strong turn two, Nick however was taxed in tempo from rarity in rides (though doing better than sidekick Whispering Jack!) BamBam poured on the power to the cypress trees and I got the leg to the S bend, steering through rabbit row got eyes wide open! I handed the helm to Cate to finish off Channel Rd, Hurtlocker's Minno, The Fox and BigRed heads down southward in Boundary Rd as we approached.
Their red leds ahead were a lure for TrekTrev to chase as we forged onward to River Rd, though he wasn't too talkative when we got there. With 3 of the Hurtlocker in tow, long turns by Jase, Nick and BamBam dragged me to Laws Drive, so I paid the favour to take the train to Rivers' end, cadence in the mid 80's keeping a lid on my muscle masochism. Nine Hares had homed in from behind to pass us at Kialla Central, there was a moment when we thought of jumping aboard but their mid 40's pace was in a different universe to ours. TrekTrev put in ten tenths to the highway, Jase headed the hurry to Roubaix corner, Nick and Cate got us to Galbraith's gate and BamBam still had the urge to reach the horse stud. I clicked the CatEye to 1200 lumens as I was handed the drivers seat, seeing Skippy was paramount in this neck of the woods. Thankfully, we were clear of kangaroos, so cranked Conrod to the finish, TrekTrev's tempo taking the line honours.
27/2 'cause it feels good when you stop!
Rubber stamp the Wednesday train out of town, there's Boof on the front into the wind, with a long line hiding from the hard labour in his draft behind! Kenworth, SuperMario, Goose, Whispering Jack, MyRideTrev, Nick, Shorty, Tina, Bo, Superman and Laura sat silent in the wake, so I started an advance line, at least Vince, Cate, Liam and The Godfather backed me up to contribute for the hard yards south. BamBam blended in en-route to the truck route, the early edition (Rocket, Wozza, not-so-newAvantiJohn and Kreeky) not so early having been delayed by puncture. Out of the headwind in Mitchell Rd and with help from the southerly, all the kids came out to play as two long lines made their way to River Rd. There were pelotons aplenty today working west, though many had bits breaking off the back.
Some in our pack did short shifts, others diverting to the down-line, some already in permanent residence at the rear promoted the ride more draft less ethos. The Wednesday / Friday turn-up-for-two-turns routine seems to be set in stone for many! The Godfather's steadily improving (judging by sledge volume), PistolPete and Kel's absence leaves a void and I suppose the attendance of Goose and WhisperingJack is twice as much as Beer Matt's. Into Boundary Rd I was already guesstimating my next visit to the front, but predictability wasn't possible with this mixed bag of bods. The southerly blew between the orchards on Channel Rd as pace perked up for the ChaCha, I'd lucked a turn with Boof to the cypress trees then with Vince to Central Ave to get my duty done before all hell broke loose at Hopeful corner. Liam set heart rates to Hiroshima levels hurrying into Kinder corner, SuperMario with the titanic task to get around him, thereafter a flurry of punters bolting past with a podium in their sights. With a packed caboose on the back, I was back into the up-line before I knew it, and with many in meltdown at the front from the fifties, found myself taking third spot on the line.
28/2 Four-titude.
And so the ranks of the determined dwindle, the days of a dozen to drive the 5:45 train are for the history books when only three turn up for the Thursday thrash. TrekTrev, Cate and MyRideTrev had the hurt of a northeaster to bear out Channel Rd (ChrisA joining us for a leg one warm-up), but the trophy of a tailwind for a good deal of the circuits remainder. My duty was due from the truck route to Orrvale Rd, pumped and pacy to start with but I'd set the bar a bit high and laboured the last 100 metres. Cate wasn't casual cranking to the Kinder but MyRideTrev tamed the tempo a touch to reward us a respite. TrekTrev turned up the speed from the cypress trees, elbowing me to the front at the S bend, perfectly timed to take the maximum gusts of the northeaster (well, it felt like it!) I soaked up a bit of rehab at the rear while Cate and MyRideTrev dealt with the drive to River Rd, the Baum purring from it's 50,000k service (so any clicks and clunks now will be engine wear!) Boosted by the breeze up the back passage, TrekTrev thrashed out three k's of River Rd, smoothness the secret to the survival of all (liking the theory so much I thrashed three too) Hares were still yet to catch us, inspiring Cate's speed to Mitchell Rd, MyRideTrev starting to show the signs of wear pointed to PistolPete's. TrekTrev was in charge of the charge again at Archer Rd where the Hares bolted by, Liam the taskmaster keeping their squad swift and silent. I'd found a second wind when given the lead role over the highway, to Roubaix corner and half way to Galbraith's before the gastrochnemius groaned for rest. We'd gained a soloists now sitting in the caboose, respectfully leaving a gap so I'd slip back into the sequence of things. Cate and MyRideTrev kept up the pace to Arcadia Downs then promoted TrekTrev to the task of Conrod captain (and into that northeaster again) I took pity on his torment with 500 meters left, taking the task to the finish line for a credible 37.5 average, not so shabby for a foursome.
1/3 I'm givin' her all she's got Capt'n!
It was a predictably populated peloton (SuperMario, MyRideTrev, TrekTrev, Boof, Liam, Superman, Laura, Kenworth, Cate, Travis, Bo, Tina, Shorty and Temple) forming for Friday's friendly, and surprise surprise, Boof led the long line out of town, the usual hardcore forming the advance while the rank and file followed. (The exception was SuperMario, head down and tail up heading to Mitchell Rd as my partner in pace)
Rocket, Wozza, Bruce and Pelly made up a dwindling early edition joining in for the last southern k, where I had Travis to pair with headed to Kialla Central (respectfully levelling with me as I dug the depths of determination to get the end without imploding) The ensuing calm in the draft helped to turn human again, Tommygun joining us to take the total to twenty while five in the Hurtlocker hurtled south. Smoothness stayed with us east on River Rd as those wanting in wattage cut their contribution short to respect the rhythm, The Godfather's sledge today coming from the Cats as we crossed paths at the dip.
It doesn't get much better than wind-less with 19 degrees, though the dark closes in a little more each day as we arrive into Autumn. Winter woes are but weeks away. Bruce and Rocket towed us all up to Channel Rd, I'd reached the rear at Beckham's bend which was perfect positioning as speed simmered for the sprint. Two lines leaned left and right through Channel Rd's twists and turns toward the Kinder, a few headed for the hurt at the front deciding hiding in the downline was a better idea. Gaps opened as the toil of mid forties took it's toll, Boof opened the throttle at Prentice Rd and drew into the distance. I was on the limit making no headway (other than providing SuperMario a tow), Cate had cogs clattering and several seemed to be closing in behind but second spot (what seemed days behind Boof) satisfied for a big week working the wheels.
Week 9 378km YTD 2,494km
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