Post #581
9/1 A diligent dozen.
16 degrees and an east northeast breeze made a proper summer morning, so taking just a couple of minutes to kit-up made an early arrival to the Saturday grid. Consistent characters Kreeky, Tina, The Godfather, Bo, Didak, Emil, PistolPete and Molly had surprise additions TatMat, Joe (not Tony) and Determined Dan join in. Is it me or is the shop squad's ever increasing standards sorting the divisions more-so every week? At least there's now a bunch for almost all speeds. I'll keep my comfort levels with division two thanks. Molly made the first move to lead south facing the front for the second time tells me the addiction has taken hold. She's probably still a little daunted driving the train but I'll hazard a guess she'll be doing regular shifts within a month or two. PistolPete gradually turned up the tempo to Central Kialla, but my wait would be a long one for driving duty starting rearmost. But hadn't I got the good spot, that east northeaster was brewing to make River Rd hard labor on the front. That'd put the dampener on long drives today!
There wasn't a lot of bravado from Bo doing his duty to the bridge, Emil spinning the standard shift to the quarter horse stud and retiring rather silently to the rear. Kreeky dug deep to drag us to rooster corner. I felt a bit guilty sitting in the comfort of the draft. There was no holding Determined Dan back when he stepped up to the lead role for Coach Rd, the highway his target while I was still soaking up the wake at 5th wheel. I might not have to face that wind at all at this rate! Duty finally called when The Godfather finished his shift at the Pine Lodge church, so it was a short drive up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd for me.
Buoyed by the breeze at the backside, Emil boosted the speed beyond Grahamvale Rd, the shop squad humbling our hurry by cruising by. I'd hoped there wasn't a charge to get aboard. The sun rose behind casting our shadows ahead, but there seemed to be too few figures cast on the road for a dozen. Eyes back confirmed we'd lost a couple of carriages.
A sprint forward with the o.t.a. news was in order (saves that knife in the back sensation from those dislodged), though PistolPete, the consummate gentleman had stayed back to keep them company. Well, that lasted a 1000 metres till the tailwind temptation had tempo sneak back up again, dropping a couple (again). Emil might need to shout breakfast at this rate! My second sprint to the front delivering the data of the dropped fried the legs quickly, and Wanganui Rd's workout was still to come. Kreeky kept the team in order till Mt.Wanganui tempted a fast finish, but the regroup in Rudd Rd made a formation finish along the Boulevard toward breakfast.
11/1 Team players. Oh,....and Mick.
It's about time I hardened up and did the first shift, I've been too long making excuses to avoid the early toil. PistolPete deserved a break from it anyway. What's that? A hint of a northeaster behind me? That had nothing to do with the decision! (nose grows longer) My pace was a fraction presumptuous in the first 300 metres, eagerness to get the shift over and done with had over-ridden the need for ease till all were aboard. The Godfather, Tina, Kreeky, Pistol, Bo, Col, Kel, Emil and Didak were line astern, "All on!" getting me down to business to the truck route. That was the easy bit, driving the next 2 k's at Pistol's usual pace was the big ask.
Legs would only deliver high 30's but I made it to Mitchell. The kudos delivered as I rolled rearward told me my shift had approval, but answers were over-ruled by the need for oxygen intake, Emil taking on the propulsion to Central Kialla. Eyes were fixed for a few minutes at Didak's wheel till things came back into focus. Kel had work into the breeze north to River Rd, catching hitch-hikers Vince and the Rabbit. Tina had similar toil to the bridge. The Rabbit must have been in another world riding to the front on the American side (didn't he appreciate a free tow?) Col stoked the speed beyond the dip and towed us all to Coach Rd (must have been the special hydration on a weekend away?) while I couldn't help thinking my early turn would guarantee another before the lap was done. Where's GreatScottSteve or TatMat now when a long driver is wanted? Didak's eagerness to hold the wheel ahead yo-yo'd his speed, time for me to drop half a wheel further back as a buffer zone, less I incite further rippling to the rear.
Wind doesn't hamper PistolPete's hurry, into the 40's and into a stiff wind with it had many pleased it wasn't their shift to drive. Strangely, the Rabbit was champing at the bit. Maybe he should step up a few rungs to the shop squad if we're boring him that much? Kreeky positioned perfectly in Old Dookie Rd to shelter the next in line, though 3rd wheel was pushing me higher in zone 4 ;good preparation for the old engine (and readies the head) for the duty to come. Kreeky called a halt for traffic in Central Ave but it must have translated to Uzbekistanian for the Rabbit, bolting through the intersection to sprint the last leg home. (He obviously doesn't know the FIFO principal?) Didak took the lead to Dobson's and contained that youthful exuberance well, still going beyond the bridge but the signs of speed stress soon showed. I should save him from that "exertion till explosion" temptation, he's suffered enough of the o.t.a. in recent weeks. The hurry into the 40's gets a helping hand with 50mm carbon wheels as aerodynamics play their part, and that's what got me to the truck route (though Vince launched a chase to catch a rabbit and Col got carried away copying) I felt team play was in order so held station with 7 behind.
12/1 Solitary refinement.
I could feel softness sneaking in. Not quite to BeerMat levels though. Nearly every ride is in a bunch with just a turn or two of effort, and a whole lot of drafting before and after. Time for Rule #5 to rule and suffer a little solo, maybe polish the rhythm a little. A different route wouldn't hurt either. The River Rd repetitiveness is becoming a little like water torture! Mapping another path had a creative element, only hindered by the mathematics of distance and time to get me home by 7. Wind would be a handbrake one way or the other.
And it was outbound to Zeerust creating the toil first (a tailwind home is always the preferred option) Almost immediately I found the groove, right into the middle of zone 4 and at a comfortable cadence, even the sit in the saddle was sweet to tap out 10 k's to the old church. Thoughts of the tailwind were already being savored. Another 5 k's north to Bowey Rd passed with the numbers staying fairly stable, the east effort to Tallygaroopna started the escalation though. The wind had swung against me and those open paddocks had me exposed to the elements. Not my lucky day. I did say it was time for Rule #5 contemplation didn't I? There's not a lot happening in Tally at 6, another 5 k's east on Victoria Rd wearing away the wattage to find the Katamatite Rd to head homeward. Steering southwest should have delivered a little relief but that wind had swung to a southerly. One or three passing cars offered a few seconds draft. Taking Lemnos North Rd pointed me straight into working the wind, though holding that steady spin made reasonable progress. A diversion west on Northey Rd was a welcome intermission, 2 k's slogging south on Grahamvale Rd then the comfort of a sheltered Ford Rd had me home with 10 minutes spare. Pace was pleasing for 48 k's under the solitary circumstances.
13/1 Paceline partners.
Summon the base layer and arm warmers! The temperature halved for Wednesday but it didn't stop the paceline protagonists assembling at Sanctuary Drive. Tina, Kreeky, The Godfather, Joe (not Tony), Kel and Emil with PistolPete (naturally!) leading us to Mitchell Rd. A stiff southeaster kept the line neat and tidy behind (the wind wasn't a worry to Pete). Kel did the 2 k's to Central Kialla, Tina's turn with a tailwind to River Rd (her 150 k's in the heat yesterday deserved some reward) Kreeky took the lead east into River Rd, the feeling of a long drive coming to me when he continued the drive beyond the bridge. Where it would end would be a guess. I suppose I'd get a hint of a handover somewhere.
He had a shuffle on the saddle a bit beyond the dip, and by the quarter horse stud, a shift to a lower gear. Wouldn't be long now. A check of the speed (so I'd maintain the momentum), a focus on the drive ahead and Kreeky's elbow (on cue) said his shift was terminating. I didn't want to dwell on the distance to reach Coach Rd, the aim to catch Vince and the Rabbit ahead was closer. Pleased with the pace (considering the southeaster), the old engine was doing what the head wanted for a change. To Coach Rd without miss-firing, a split second decision was to roll 'round the corner when "Car right!" was called. Plenty of space for me, Emil and The Godfather to get through (and it prevented being shunted by those behind) but the rest chose caution for a halt.
A slow roll for the re-group was medicine for muscles. Getting them back up to Emil's pace when the line reformed was murder. The Godfather tackled the turn from the highway to Old Dookie, speed a little see-saw for 3200 metres. Joe (not Tony) faced the front in Old Dookie Rd but Vince and the Rabbit made an anti-social sprint ahead toward town. Solidarity kept the 8 starting together finishing together. PistolPete was on driving duty at School Rd and went above and beyond at Central Ave to add another k to Dobson's bridge in his repertoire. Kel got the shift to the truck route done post-haste, Kreeky substituting for Tina to drag us to SPC.
13/1 Forlorn four.
Enthusiasm was hardly at fever pitch at Friars, Sandy and Hommie made up the sum total of Goat fervor at 6am.....and here we are in the middle of summer! A bit of a southwester and most Goats duck for cover. (All aboard a sinking ship or what?!) Solo's might be the better option with this sort of participation. Sandy pulled the chocks away at 6 to work the streets east, JB joining in at the towns exit trickled a little enthusiasm into the morning. The southwesterly had enough chill in it to put some spin into the cadence, Sandy flicking me an elbow a bit short of Dobson's estate, so I set Central Ave as a fair contribution. Hommie got keen aimed at School Rd (that wind at the backside boosting bravado) taking the lion's share to Boundary Rd as a dozen Couldabeens worked west toward their caffeine fix. (Plenty of participation there). The Eggman and 4 disciples southbound on Boundary had right of way, JB's turn towing us up to their draft so the load could be shared.
Turns into the wind were short and sweet, JB putting in a longer than short shift to the highway as his fair fare. All too soon Channel Rd's exit called, so I returned to the rear so as not to tangle turns with my turn-off. There's enough orchards left to deliver shelter on the 9 k's of Channel Rd back to base, the few open spaces reminding of what the southwester does to speed. This morning was a bit short on regular kilometres (and very short on participants) but a little distance is better than none.
15/1 Kit conformity.
Left to my own devices I would have rolled quietly to Friday's grid with 5 minutes up my sleeve, then probably have grumbled about the speed (to self) in the opening kilometres, so when Emil pushed into the southwester in the mid 30's he'd actually done me favor preparing me for PistolPete's pace. Or was I pushing Emil? (it's always the other guy that sets the speed isn't it?) Today had been declared co-ordinated Couldabeens kit day, so all conformed (that had the corporate colours) to put some polish into the pack. Kreeky, PistolPete, Joe (not Tony), Emil, Tina, Col, The Godfather and Didak were ready to ride. There was that subtle duck, weave, dive, stall and sprint to find the wheel of choice (or if you're not quick ; the wheel of death!) as Pete put pace on the menu toward Mitchell Rd. Vince arrived from the south. Maybe fortuity put me on Col's wheel but I'd hoped he was feeling sluggish!
The front beckoned my presence when we turned from Mitchell for the north assault to River Rd, that southwester amplifying my ability to drive the 2 k's like the young ones. Bo and Kel turned up from the north (no note from home to explain their tardiness!) to join the line while I found the watts to catch the draft as Emil headed us into River Rd. Did someone declare it long drive Friday? 'cause Emil extended his effort beyond the dip, and that set a standard when Kreeky had the helm at the quarter horse stud. This was going to be more than your average 3 k effort, he was still at it northbound in Coach Rd. (Not really one-upmanship on Emil, it was more to do with 'when you're on a good thing......") Didak made his appearance at the business end nearing Channel Rd, paced nicely within his limits and handing over to The Godfather at the highway.
Vince was waiting in the wings for his moment to move. Smooth tarmac does a lot for the mindset, effort easing a fraction while the momentum stayed the same. A little smoothness of speed would have made it Christmas on a stick. Vince caught me napping on the turn into Old Dookie Rd, pointing into what was now a west southwester had little effect on his velocity. Off the Fizik and sprint if I were to stay aboard! And PistolPete's turn was about to be let off the leash at School Rd. Looks like Bo and Kel would pay for their late arrival with a turn into the wind. Pistol added an extra k over Central Ave and handed the lead to Bo at Dobsons estate, his turn short and swift (to earn The Godfather's sledge) when he gave Kel the lead at the truck route to make haste to SPC.
This week 283km YTD 599km
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