The Department of Enthusiasm.

 Post #588 

27/2  The swift (& the soft)

You can nearly guarantee the usual Saturday starters ; PistolPete, Tina, The Godfather and Emil were at the grid, so the surprise was finding Temple, Grumpy, GreatScottSteve, DeterminedDan and TatPaul lining up too.  Less labor this week, there'd only be a couple of turns each for the 53 km lap.  Do I need to say PistolPete did the first turn to Mitchell?  Probably not, we can usually rubber stamp that one for these Sanctuary spins, likewise Emil's fairly keen to be at the business end early.  4th wheel behind Temple would give me a bit of breathing space before duty called.  Legs were feeling the effects of 110 km yesterday and that messes with your thoughts about any form of exertion.   PistolPete added extra on arrival at Mitchell Rd, a couple of extra k's to Central Kialla probably 'cause the wind was more like a breeze! 

Bo turned up late; no note from home (a ploy to get himself on the back of the bunch?)  The trouble with Pete's long drive was that it baited Emil to demonstrate likewise (with liberal use of the throttle).   Like me, Temple was feeling the heat of his hurry.  Emil's elbow gesture at River Rd's bridge brought relief, Temple trimming the pace back under 40 that would find favor among many.  My legs were most grateful.  Temple called it quits at the quarter-horse gates and I'd locked in that tempo too, far better to keep consistency in the lap than the highs and lows that murder muscles and wreak havoc in the caboose.  There's often the expectation to reach a certain landmark often to the detriment of the rhythm if the engine fades early, but I'd prefer to stick to a speed and let that dictate distance ; ironically, rooster corner arrived as legs said "Enough".  

DeterminedDan did duty up to the highway, he too at a diplomatic velocity.  Fingers crossed that this habit would stick!  GreatScottSteve took on Boundary Rd ; almost an ex-pat Couldabeen now that he's been lured by love to the hills, but his horsepower is always welcome.  By contrast, TatPaul had raised the white flag, retiring from the line to retreat to town west on Old Dookie.  Something to do with speed?  Or had softness steered his path?  Pass the Kellogg's Koncrete!  (I wonder has TatPaul lost the will or the wattage?)  Grumpy set the course through the darkness to the Toaster, not so many weeks ago we'd be almost blinded by sun-up.  Hurry up daylight savings (5 weeks away), daylight does things for the soul.   Bo's long wait till reaching the front had him salivating for speed, breaking the pace protocols to Pine Lodge's church, and that quickly put 40's back on the menu. Pistol and Emil kept heart rates up, while I wondered if I was due for demotion to a slower squad? Was it just me who sought a slightly slower speed?  Temple must have thought likewise, a fraction less fast when he'd taken the lead had my head back in a better frame to make a fair contribution.  Wanganui Rd from the highway to DECA was about all I could muster, DeterminedDan left to drive the rest to Rudd Rd.   Etiquette, staying smooth and the 23 vs 25 vs 28 tyre choice were the subjects served with breakfast, indoors this week as the temperature struggled to rise above 10.

1/3 The mood mender.

Feeling wrung out like a wet sock didn't help the opening 10 kilometres to Monday's ride, it was a battle between optimist and pessimist for the Sanctuary Drive commute.  A weekend's work on the end of a shovel didn't help.  I'm sure the 5:40 mob would squash the pessimist with speed!  The Godfather, Kreeky, Emil, Col, Tina, Kel, Bo and Temple congregated at the grid, Emil taking charge (literally) of the first shift as an intense introduction into a southwester.  Kreeky braved second wheel.  That wrung-out sock syndrome was being overpowered by the need to hold the wheel.  Bo was given the north shift to River Rd, just a k off the previous pace eased the effort considerably.  There was no trepidation for PistolPete's turn, Mr. Considerate would go easy on the accelerator and there was that south southwester to help.  Pete peeled off at the dip and Temple took over, his loss of kilos has made big gains in the kilometres per hour. Reminds me of (Lotus cars founder) Colin Chapman's quote "adding power makes you faster on the straights ; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere"  (note to self ; lose 20 kg to keep up with Pete!)   Vince and the Rabbit cruised east with the intention of being caught , Vince joined the advance forward but the Rabbit remained anti-social at the rear.  (Yeah, I wonder why too.  Don't understand his criticisms either)  The Godfather finished off River Rd and Col led us into Coach, my want for more wattage quite noticeable moving into 2nd wheel.  (Climatising for the cruelty some may say). 

 Col kept the speed simmering toward the bridges while I wondered where his shift might end.  Maybe the highway?  Let's hope he hadn't set Old Dookie Rd as the target!  Oh, hang on! It wouldn't be too long ; there was that grab for a higher gear.  (First sign of surrender?)  It was kind of Col to hand me the lead on the downhill off the bridge, but that slightest of inclines to Channel Rd was taxing.  Pace soon returned but only 'cause the road leveled to the highway.  The old tank was nearly empty reaching the pub but Kel would be considerate starting her shift on Boundary.  That wind had deceptively swung a little more west (the reason for all that labor), but recovery had arrived reaching the old bacon barn.  Tina took her turn nearing the fig farm to tow us to Old Dookie Rd, obviously reserving the watts to catch the line's tail as Emil took on the wind westward.  The sound of your own whining when relegated o.t.a. doesn't start the day well, so maybe that's the motivation to hang onto the hurry for the 8 k's to town?  Col charged ahead to sprint to SPC but PistolPete had punctured, so the wait and respite during repairs made for an unusually relaxed finish, endorphins erasing that wrung-out sock thing.

2/3 Eroding enthusiasm.

 Finding the roundabout empty at 5:58 I'd nearly resigned to a solo spin, it's only just turned Autumn and already the "too cold" brigade have abandoned ship!  I'd ignored the "feels like 6" and told myself 10 was double digits.  Some of that solo circuit was already mapped in my head when Jase, Joe (not Tony) and NearlyRetiredTrev arrived to restore my faith in Rule #5.    6 bells set me off on 1st shift with a stiff southwester (22-33 km/h) at my back up to Channel Rd, so there was disappointment seeing just 32 on the Garmin's screen.  Feeble Foss!  Frustrated, I added the Channel Rd leg to the truck route in the hope it might teach the legs to perform.  Funnily enough, it worked!  Joe (no Tony) did the follow-up to Orrvale Rd slightly slower, so I took note to tame my pace next time.  (That's the f.i.f.o. principal at work)  NearlyRetiredTrev was feeling the freshness of "feels like 6" (so soon kitted in 3/4 knicks) but kept the speed fresh on the ChaCha leg to the Kinder.  

 Jase bore the brief brunt of the breeze on Central Ave (600 metres) then pressed on east to the cypress trees with an additional k to Beckhams bend. I had the shelter from the SSW'er for the final 2 k's of Channel but I maybe struck off Joe (not Tony's) Christmas card list giving him the head-wind shift into Coach Rd.  Intentions usually start a shift strong but reality has a cruel way of whittling down the speed soon after, Joe (not Tony's) pace pegged back at the Broken bridges by that unwavering wind.  To his credit, he soldiered on to One Tree Dam where AlmostRetiredTrev took over (but he'd almost expired by River Rd)    Jase came to the rescue with a determined push toward Mitchell Rd (it still seems foreign this way) which spared me the headwind, so my goal was a long drive as compensation.   Wishing there was more roadside trees for shelter didn't help the battle of being belted at the port-side bow but there are times when this is part of the job description.  

Grit your teeth and make the most of it. No point grizzling, it shouldn't cause too many nightmares!  Again, intentions were good but I'd over-estimated this engine's capacity to reach the dog-leg, Joe handed the hurt 200 metres shy of it.  The wind's real direction was discovered finding the draft at the back, the four of us were using all but a metre of the tarmac to gain some shelter.  Joe (not Tony) and AlmostRetiredTrev divided up the distance to Euroa Rd, Jase in charge of the drive to Archer Rd.  I'd regained enough composure (and oxygen) to do the shift to Melbourne Rd and added the short bit to Roubaix corner so Joe (not Tony) could relish the tail-wind in Raftery (I might get back on that Christmas card list?)  AlmostRetiredTrev almost made it to the kink into Conrod, Jase turning up the wick for the 1100 metres to the finish line (as all finishing straights and town lines emplore) though  I was happy to stay 2nd wheel and allow him the taste of chocolates, I'd had my fair share last week.  

3/3  A tap for Tina.

We'd resorted to swapping turns into the wind en-route to Sanctuary Drive, both Emil and I totally over this relentless wind (33 km/h gusts) that threatened to blow the paint off the bike!  It was easy for Bo, PistolPete, The Godfather and Kel to be blown to the start from the south, but a hard slog for Tina, Kreeky, Col, Grumpy and Jen to battle from the north.  Grumpy must have loved it, he'd lined up for the first shift  (martyrdom isn't dead).   Trouble was, Grumpy had yet to graduate from the PistolPete School of Driving Deportment, his opening salvo stretched the line long and broke a few off the back.  He'd called it quits crossing the truck route and gave Emil the pleasure of reaching Mitchell Rd.  Emil started strong (as expected) but the effort eased a little seeing the reality of reaching that target 2 k's ahead.  Mid 30's had plenty in struggle street anyway, the calls of some gone o.t.a. drowned out by the wind. Only when PistolPete took charge of the east drive to Central Kialla was the reality realized, the slow to let the line congregate was almost a holiday from the hurt.  All had reformed by Euroa Rd, PistolPete careful on the throttle to build up pace to River Rd.  

The southwest gusts played havoc with holding a steady line headed east, the pleas for an ease off answered as a few grappled to catch the caboose.  Kreeky was put in charge of a low 30's drive to Coach Rd while some were still catching their breath since the start-line.  Tina's solo 100 k spin into the wind yesterday was a fair reason to relax the rush.  Might it be timely to suggest a steady spin for one ride in the week? Seems all are near full throttle (or is that just me being a sook?)  I'd been blessed to be given the pace setter's job in Coach Rd with a tail-wind as a bonus, but stuck to the mid 30's anyway.  I could get used to this moderation!   Col kept the speed sweet on Boundary Rd but Bo lit up the tempo in Old Dookie Rd (how considerate with the wind whipping at our left flank!)  Grumpy redeemed his earlier thrash by heading the second echelon toward town, my eye and ear open on Jen and Tina staying connected at the tail. 

4/3  Gotta love a threesome!

Expectations were fairly low cruising Kialla Lakes on Thursday, it wasn't calm or anywhere near a balmy 20 degrees so the Wouldabeens attendance would be scant.  It seems slumber is the new training program (in readiness for their mid November comeback?)  Jase and Joe (not Tony) arrived to prove their are some with intestinal fortitude.   All being northerners, we mapped an Archer - Mitchell - Coach - Boundary - Old Dookie course, trouble was I nominated myself for first shift.....yep, into the never ceasing southerly.   It must be international week of the wind!  I'd had enough reaching Sanctuary Drive, Jase offering his services to the truck route.  (I thought he may have driven longer but with just three serving their services it pays to limit your losses)  Joe (not Tony) copped the heartbreaking k's to Mitchell Rd exposed to the elements, speed sinking in the last half k but he no doubt was heartened that was the last of it.  Consideration contained my speed for 500 metres east into Mitchell so Joe could get aboard under oxygen deprivation. Gotta take care of all the players when there's only a few!  Echeloned across the tarmac to gain some shelter had a questionable reason, it felt easier on the front than when I retreated rearward over Euroa Rd.  Jase did a long shift to the dog-leg, Joe (not Tony) and I halving the remainder to the Main Eastern Channel.   Me thinks that southwester was more southerly than that.  

Almost on cue, Coach Rd had the breeze behind, Jase providing the pace to River Rd though Joe (not Tony) revised the hurry when handed the task of captain (preserving pace for later?) Mentally preparing to face the front had to be put into fast forward when Joe's elbow beckoned me forward at One Tree Dam, that southerly the saving grace to get me to the highway.  This threesome thing isn't too bad, although it's a little off the usual pace there's a lot more work than just one or two shifts.  I felt certain Jase would drive the Boundary Rd leg to Old Dookie Rd but he bowed out at the fig farm for Joe (not Tony) to finish off the northern assault.  He braved a little of the western work too.  I was given the lead half way to School Rd.  Central Ave seemed as far into the future as my flux capacitor could be set, so I fixed focus on just a few metres ahead rather than that conscience crushing 3 kilometres on the horizon.  Over School Rd and legs and lungs were already before the performance review committee.   It was high time the Department of Enthusiasm and the Energy Council were called before the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission!  The thought of being towed into town kept me going to Central Ave.  Jase took over for the final fling but that early elbow affliction struck at Dobson's estate, Joe (not Tony) being left to toil to the truck route.  I could cruise that last k and a half to SPC, this was the Wouldabeens, not the Sanctuary squad's swift sign off.

5/3 Suffer'n southwesters!

The sound of wind whistling through the range-hood (without looking at the internet, it's about the only indicator of what the outside world is doing at stupid o"clock) was bringing on a case of  the "BeerMat's" (aka succumbing to a sleep-in syndrome), so saddle up quickly Foss, less you soften!   Mounted and moving,  I tried to fix focus on rhythm, ignoring the (sluggish) speed worked for a minute but it's a very strong magnet that pulls your eye to those kilometres per hour.  Yeah, it was a headwind yet again to the start line.  32 into 33 km/h gusts wasn't too bad (chin against the head-stem mind you!) but doing another 8 k's of it alongside Emil's enthusiasm would call on something special.  You can set your clock on PistolPete spinning a warm-up lap at 5:35, the relief to be out of the wind at Sanctuary Drive was quickly turned to the panic of thinking there'd be just Pistol and Emil fronting the start!  Wasn't it just Christmas-on-a-stick to find Col, Tina, Kel and The Godfather arriving!   

Pete set us south (and weren't we all banking on that!) so third wheel behind Emil would score me the tail-wind through Central Kialla.  I could stand 5 k's of the fast stuff if that help was coming.    Pistol's perfected the pace of the opening shift though I don't know where all that power comes from (I might need to speak with his Spanish doctor!), Emil's ever-present energy extracting an "Easy!" from the back of the bunch half way to Central Kialla .  That's good, I was beginning to re-taste breakfast.  Trouble was, Emil stayed on to head that dream shift north to River Rd.  I'd been robbed!    Given the drivers seat headed east wasn't so bad but feeling like an American riding the right (though I'll stay off the right wing of politics!) to stay friends with those in the draft echeloned behind.  Reaching the bridge without cardiac arrest prompted a little bit more, the extension to the dip judged far enough before I'd be labelled a tail-wind thief.   Col carried the crew to Coach Rd.  Kel and Tina divided duties for the three and a half k's to the pub, that wind now swinging more south southwest.  Boundary Rd's 2700 metres was covered by The Godfather and it paid to look a little further ahead than the next wheel as the variable velocities had returned.  Oh what faith we put in others as we cling just centimetres away for the tow!  But we could throw caution to the wind when working west, PistolPete had the helm and that smoothness made the struggle with the SSW'er so much easier.  Here's hoping Emil would keep the tempo tolerable beyond Central Ave, I was second wheel to his hurry!  Finding that sweet spot of the draft needed millimetre precision, just a poofteenth left or right and I'd be chewing bar tape!  It was my version of velocity when given the lead beyond the truck route, 4 kays off Emil's pace was all the toasted legs would offer!

This week  296 km      YTD  2,497 km