Post #578
There was a sluggish start to the year as nine ribs repaired, not till early February did wheels get rolling on a rather rusty return to the world on two wheels. Finding fitness again would take time. Barely five weeks into the groove and Covid called it's distancing thing, suddenly we were solo for the want of restrictions. Many couldn't cope with that solitary confinement, hurrying their hibernation for winter. I'd actually embraced the solo stuff, as a better road to recovery and a chance to explore new courses. The social deprivation was difficult though. Restrictions lifted in May though groups were capped to ten and this set an almost permanent pattern of divisions within the group. Segregation by speed if you like. Barely a week later we witnessed a watershed moment, PistolPete's collapse (at speed) with an aneurysm (16/5) highlighted the tenuous grip we all have on life. Bunch bonding came quickly under the spotlight. Team spirit found new depths. Riding solo suddenly felt risky.
The swift, the slow and the supersonic all formed factions (and a new impetus), big bunches cast into the history books to favor more evenly matched and compact crews. All the better for fitness and motivation I reckon. It solved that great divide of the swift and the struggling in one bunch. Like years gone by, the hardcore few soldiered on through winter; there were 34 days of 3 degrees or below (27 last year) to test the resolve, while others chose hibernation instead (only to face that long labored comeback when Spring arrived....or when Spring was nearly over....or Summer got going...or Christmas came close! They may find form by Autumn's end!)
Fluro was the fashion with an all new Couldabeens kit (kudos to Kel and the Knights of Suburbia to inject class into the crew). Another lock-down early August sent us solo again but mid September came and bunches of 10 were kosher again, but none of the Spring events that kick-start the warmer weather could happen.
If it wasn't one of the 63 solo spins, I divided my time between Couldabeens and Goats (prevents wearing out a welcome and put a little variety into the week) and tapped a bit of foreign soil (Beach Road, Ballarat, Castlemaine and western Gippsland) to stir up the scenery. The Baum turned 5 and started clocking into the 70,000's, the usual 6 tyres, 3 chains and a bit of bar-tape (the only casualty from the crash) was modest maintenance I reckon. Fuel for the tank to cover the 11,632 km was costly though ; it took 232,753 calories to do it! That's 423 Big Mac's worth ($2,707!) The car is cheaper to run!
I'll remember 2020 for Tina's massive k's, the rise and rise of Rocket, the amazing comebacks of PistolPete and Liam, and the emergence of GreatScottSteve, Didak and in recent weeks, Emil. Apart from the challenges of face-masks, lock-downs, suffering solo's, a Covid swab up the nostrils and trying to keep up with the young ones, it was a great year of finding fitness, fostering friendships and fast laps. Next year is bound to be better! Thanks for your kudos and continued views (100,000+) of all this blurb on the blog. Should I continue?
Stay safe, stay upright, reflect on Rule #5. See you out the road somewhere!
No comments:
Post a Comment