Trial by tempo.

 Post #595

17/4  The standard Saturday stuff.....suffering!

Expecting something social on a Saturday is the stuff of history so I knew what the Sanctuary grid would serve at 6.  Emil and I arrived at the start-line to find PistolPete the only other there.  Today's serve would be suffering!  Where was Kreeky, Bo, Col, Tina, GreatScottSteve, Kel, The Godfather, Grumpy et al when you need them?  I'd had my heart set on a long line to draft from before facing the front, now I had the horsepower of just PistolPete and Emil to deal with for eighty five minutes.  (The internal pessimist within reckoned I had the Wouldabeens as a safety net a few minutes behind if I went o.t.a.)   The Godfather's late arrival was the savior as we steered south from the roundabout.  25% less labor now.  

Feels like 1.4 was soon forgotten, focus was on surviving the speed as Pistol (naturally) led our path toward Mitchell Rd, gentle with the wattage at first, then open throttle beyond the truck route.  Emil's gesticulation broke my focus from his (grubby) seat post, a shooting star was lighting up the Central Kialla sky for what seemed like twenty seconds.  (Does that mean we were the four wise men?  I think not!)  PistolPete stayed on as pilot east to Central Kialla and if that wasn't enough, bolted himself in the drivers seat to take us to River Rd.  Emil was finally allowed the front seat to tow us east, Pete's prior big shift no doubt setting him a challenge.  My concern was contracting second wheel syndrome, being cooked before being made captain.  A southwester at 12 km/h made high 30's tolerable as Emil went beyond the dip, so eyes moved from that soiled seat stem to his elbow.  Nothing at the Angora farm and not a twitch at the quarter horse stud, Emil's effort was sure to continue to rooster corner at this rate.  At least my cardiac numbers were below the red line.  

He'd finally moved aside into Coach Rd for my opening act, that wind not so favorable now coming in at the left flank.  My shift was a juggling act of speed vs what's in the tank, so I was pleased with the pace (and not suffering a coronary) at the bridges to shift my target to the highway.  I just hoped The Godfather wasn't going to hit the boost button when he was handed the helm, I'd be using the trickle left in the reserve tank just being caboose.   There was relief in the draft of three (though a dozen would be better!) and I senses there'd be a few long drives to come before I had the struggle seat again.   The Godfather stretched his session on Old Dookie Rd to the Toaster, placed perfectly so I'd get a decent draft (I reckon his usual echelon error is just for Bo's benefit!).   Pistol was back in charge for the charge to the church and beyond, temperature trimming numbers of Cats on their cruisy cool clockwise circuit.  Pete's energy seems endless, he was still stoking the speed west on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (I won't begin to think where his battery is stored!)  No complaints from me, he delayed my distress into the drivers seat.   

Emil was given the task to tow at Boundary Rd but I was feeling the tax of being second wheel with that wind almost head-on. No sign of the shop squad in pursuit when I dared a sneak peek behind so that pressure was postponed arriving at  Lemnos North Rd.  Emil decided to stay on for an extension to his shift (my Herculean drive of 3.7 k's in Coach Rd, an eternity ago, now ranked as miniscule!), presumption telling me I'd be on duty at Grahamvale Rd, but Emil's elbow said otherwise barely a k later.  Timed to perfection for me to bear the wind beyond the shelter of the few houses and trees in Ford Rd.  The Foss fuse fizzled short now! 

Speed was sinking steadily, a head gasket likely to blow if it wasn't for the slow at the rail-line that saved me.  The Godfather towed us into town.  Work in Wanganui Rd continued as PistolPete set a speed just below Boom! beyond DECA, our shadows cast ahead by the sluggish Saturday sun just as GiantAndy led the shop squad to summit Mt. Wanganui (Rocket, Boof, Wozza, Bruce and the tenacious Lance in tow)   The Godfather's sermon of sledges began.  Heaven help anyone wanting a sleep-in in the north of town!  Laughing with legs at their limit is an unusual training regime but I could hang on to the bolt along the Boulevard to breakfast, The Godfather eventually running low on adjectives (and oxygen) when the shop squad steered toward the Lemnotree.  Us suffering Sanctuary souls sped on to the Butter Factory.  Party plans, repurposing stuff and the sad scenario of dying alone was the breakfast distraction from the legs lament of a swift Saturday spin.

19/4  Well that shattered serenity!

I'd left the Antarctic rated base layer on the hangar, saving it for the depths of July.  Monday's promised 10 had barely made it to 5 and the hunt was on for an extra  layer and the neck sock.  Winter's arriving too early!   All the rigmarole to insulate forgotten over summer had me running a little late, but that motivated muscles to make a few more watts.  Good preparation for the pace to come as it happened, the shop squad few (Bruce, Wozza and Rocket) had berthed at Sanctuary's grid beside PistolPete, Col, Tina and Emil.  5:40 struck and PistolPete struck the blow south.  The calming symphony of sixteen carbon wheels working up to speed was soon shattered at the truck route ; comedy had arrived in the form of The Godfather, and the sledges were being served thick and fast.  (Classic Rule #43.  Go on, look it up!  velominati.com)   Pete peeled off the front in Mitchell Rd for Wozza to lead us to Central Kialla, his pace quick (thankfully not to Tuesday's shop squad specifications) yet considerate to us of lesser wattage.   Bruce did similar speed north for Rocket's opening act into River Rd.  Midfield on Col's wheel wasn't a bad spot, no early efforts to endure, a chance to climatise before duty and maybe just one turn at the front if all went to plan.  But there was a right old clatter from the Campag eh Col?   

Emil took on the 1200 metres from the bridge to the dip, Col's turn open to speculation after a week on the "too crook" list. Reaching the quarter horse stud wasn't going to happen, Col's elbow was his escape clause well short of it, so my mental preparation went into fast forward for the lead role.  I managed the pace for a k but the man with a hammer had come to visit early and the head was waving the white flag too.  Tina made up for my shortcomings by towing the team to rooster corner.  Sledges were being slung at The Godfather on his drive north to the highway, but his occupation with oxygen kept the replies strangely silent.  All had driven a shift reaching the pub so PistolPete was on repeat to do the leg to Old Dookie Rd.  His super smoothness was loved by labored legs. Wozza was just as skilled with smooth to make the 3.6k leg to Central Ave less taxing,  unruffled by The Godfather's (illegible) taunts behind. Bruce took a short shift to Dobson's (seized upon by The Godfather of course) where Rocket resisted the urge to spice up the speed to silence him.  I'd reckon he'd sledge at any speed!  Emil's speciality (the sprint to SPC) stretched the legs a little more, if only to earn the hot coffee at the conclusion. 

20/4 A crowded three.

I should learn to turn down the expectations on Tuesday's and Thursday's ; what's said on WhatsApp isn't always reality on the day!   Half a dozen "yes" turned to two in the real world at Kialla Lakes roundabout.  BamBam and Joe (not Tony) were the only soldiers to front up for duty.  We'd even delayed the start in the (misguided) belief a few were running late!  BamBam faced the wind north to Channel Rd and (predictably) stayed on as captain to the truck route.  It's the done drive.  Double shifts seemed to be in season so I set my sights to reach the Kinder.  I was in Joe (not Tony's) good books handing him a tailwind start into Central Ave.  BamBam seemed occupied searching where the Giant's click click click came from, and by Jameson Rd his answer was the dreaded bindii that had injected his front Pirelli. 

The fix was fairly fast, Joe (not Tony) picking up where he left off to drive us to Channel Rd's conclusion.   BamBam scored the tail wind on Coach Rd, a subtle message from his elbow at River Rd giving me the lead.  This tail wind stuff is good, leaving enough jelly beans in the jar to drive a bit of the way west in Mitchell. I called a caution seeing distant movement at the roadside ahead, a little closer and a pair of 'roo's bounded north across the tarmac.  Joe (not Tony) aimed at reaching the dog leg but the want for watts called it quits a bit shy of the mark, BamBam taking up the task to drag us to Euroa Rd.  There's some determination needed to propel that drag co-efficient but he'd driven the 3 k's well.  I'd better show a similar effort in keeping with the spirit of teamwork.  The long haul to the highway seemed like a good idea at the time but by Dave's dip I wanted words with that optimist in my head!  My leg's reply had a few profanities!  Complaints were soon silenced seated in the caboose as Joe (not Tony) took on Raftery Rd and Roubaix corner.  Watts were well worn by Galbraith's gate so BamBam cut the atmosphere toward Arcadia Downs.  Conrod straight must be inked into my job description 'cause BamBam handed me the 1200 metre task at the kink. A bonus 15 km/h wind in my face made sure I'd earn my breakfast.  I'd reached the finish line with the tank on empty (and a pungent odour of burnt martyr to bear) so Joe (not Tony) kindly towed me to the caffeine cure.

21/4  Cool Coulda's.

The squad was sizeable at Sanctuary mid-week.  Seems the social speed has found favor....for Wednesday's at least.  Kel, Jen, Tina, Kim, Kreeky, Grumpy, PistolPete, The Godfather, Emil, GreatScottSteve, Col and Greg had gathered, Emil throwing me in the deep end by electing me to drive the first shift. At least I didn't have to make Monday's pace!  There was just enough west southwester to make the shift a chore, and with the scrutiny of a dozen behind, a mental challenge with it.  I was banking on most finding the social speed satisfactory.  (but would that standard stick?)   The line was long rolling rearward, though once back there Jen's draft was as useful as a matchstick (hasn't she turned aerodynamic in recent months) but Greg's high profile ahead carved through the "feels like 0.2" quite nicely. 

GreatScottSteve added a couple of clicks to the speedo taking us to Central Kialla, PistolPete likewise to River Rd but Kel calmed the pace to the standard. ( it's almost invigorating to have one ride at a speed less than suffering ; I might make it to the weekend now without feeling like a wrung out sock!)  

Kreeky relished his time at the pointy end, still capable of a sentence as he rolled to the rear so Col could drive us to Coach Rd.  Grumpy had made a comeback from holidays to drive the tarmac north to the pub, Greg taking an un-announced exit onto Channel Rd.  The yo-yo pace on Boundary Rd was down to The Godfather's variables (like riding a roller coaster at the rear) but PistolPete restored the rhythm west on Old Dookie.  Tina led us to Central Ave with Kim in tow but her debut in the drivers seat will come another day.  Emil was captain to the truck route at a most considerate (one might say partner pleasing) pace, Jen left to complete the circuit with a spirited drive to SPC.  

22/4  Nought but northerners.

Trying to tame the distance in preparation for a long one Saturday, I struck Friday from my schedule and chose a short and somewhat sedate spin for Thursday as therapy.  Seven k's spinning south with Joe (not Tony) and Wendy wondered if any southerners would even bother ; six degrees may well be below their limits?  Or are southerners just born soft?  Like Tuesday, a delayed start failed to find any late comers, so a course with a northern finish (the Sanctuary squad circuit) suited.  It's trial by tempo to set the opening shift ; not wanting to make enemies in the opening k's or be deafened by snores from the rear, I set low thirties as a guess for the drive to Sanctuary Drive.  With no complaints (or knives in the back) arriving at the truck route, I handed Joe (not Tony) the reigns and settled into the comfort of the caboose.  Wendy did the Mitchell Rd leg though unfamiliarity with the course and the early darkness kept the tempo tame.  Duty calls again quickly when there's just three working, there'd be none of this one-turn-then-be-towed-the-rest stuff today!  

Joe (not Tony) had the pleasure of introducing us to River Rd, towing us to the dip through the darkness.  Wendy was headed to the Angora farm, comfort aboard the Liv seemed to be somewhat unsettled but many have a peculiar perch and still provide pace.  The last two k's of River was mine to manage and a slight suggestion of a westerly was there to help but I needed to keep a lid on labor, Saturday's Ottway classic would be taxing and staying on speaking terms with these two would be beneficial ; they may be the only winter warriors left riding!  Joe (not Tony) did a shift to Channel Rd and Wendy's to Boundary's bridge so the effort was even if I led to Old Dookie Rd.  Working well into the wind, Joe (not Tony) got us to Central Ave, Wendy accepting the option to drive to Dobson's bridge but left me to lead to the essential caffeine conclusion.  

This week 259km    YTD 4,538km