Post #611
7/8 A Saturday selfie.
Without the social satisfaction of the bunch or it's 6 am agenda, inspiration to ride was sitting near empty on Saturday. Setting the alarm later than stupid o'clock and dawdling over breakfast, I could indulge in the rare pleasure of riding in daylight for a change. Chocks away half an hour late felt foreign and a light mist of rain for the first kilometre almost u-turned me homeward, so the sheer stubbornness to continue saved me....the rain gave up en-route to Kialla Lakes. I needed the spice of variety, there'd be intensive therapy needed if I faced Wanganui Rd yet again! I'd lapped these lakes with Joe (not Tony) a couple of weeks back, so today's twist would be circling clockwise. Just like Spa Francorchamps, the circuit was damp one side and dry the other (so to hell with a clean bike again!) but this direction had the easier path through those off-camber roundabouts. The state's lock-down had tamed traffic to a trickle. A bit of west northwester was only a nuisance on a few short sections of the loop and houses lining the lakes offered some shelter so speed something like respectable was possible. No pressure though, there wasn't a bunch to keep up with (but something inside drives an effort doesn't it? The shame of a sluggish Strava post possibly?)
Lake lapping was in vogue, Emil, PistolPete and Bo were seen circling anti-clockwise so that put me against the grain. With the southern loop done the northern (Gordon Drive) one lapped up the wind at the backside, the sun struggling to strike through a grey blanket of cloud. Plenty of pedestrians plied the paths ; maybe that exercise is one of the five reasons in lock-down to leave home we're breeding a new wave of fitter folk? Lap two and Superman appeared in Waranga Drive (again, an anti-clockwiser), the Bosi's titanium tainted by decals for some reason (some frenzied fit turning fifty?) I had no idea what the lake lap measured but an eye on the clock guessed about 6 k's, figuring another lap or two would make all that preparation to ride worthwhile and draw me close to caffeine o'clock. Besides, riding solo was beginning to take it's toll! I found the familiar faces of Bruce and Leah (finding favor on foot) on lap 3 then TrekTrev and Superman cruising Kialla Lakes Drive on lap four, so to avoid going giddy, lap five was the last. Those voices inside my head were getting louder anyway..."Quit for coffee" they cried!
9/8 A spin for sanity's sake.
Joe (not Tony) saved the day again, otherwise I'd be going gaga on a solitary lap or even succumbing to the stuff-it-I'll-sleep-in syndrome. The big challenge was to devise a different course to provide some variety. The southern loop of Archer-Mitchell-Raftery seemed to be all the rage in lock-down, and although it may have been a bit beyond our 5 km threshold, I reckoned I could blame it on a navigational nuance. (And a tape measure that wasn't long enough?) Dare I suggest the ravages of winter are behind us? 6 degrees felt mild! There's something about a clean bike and a tyre pressure top-up that starts the week on a positive, so I was happy to do the first shift down to Kialla Lakes Drive then hand-over. No complaints to Joe (not Tony) for the draft to the truck route. My turn to Mitchell and Joe's to the highway, the breeze was barely noticeable (a 6 km/h easterly so the bureau said) so I extended my shift to Arcadia Downs.
Two groups of three were spied spinning anti-clockwise in a subtle stretch of lock-down law, can't say it's a serious contravention so let's say they were appropriately distanced. (like Joe and I were 5k from home) Lights were aimed up for Conrod straight and Raftery Rd's 'roos but it must have been their rostered day off. Ah, those memories of sprint finishes in Conrod seem a millennium ago! A second lap of Archer-Mitchell-Raftery would bite into my time limit so a loop or two of the lakes (both clockwise and anti to avoid dizziness) would round out 40 k's. Bruce and Lenny were found loitering the lakes (I'm sure with good intent) so we took the liberty of their horsepower for a draft on Gordon Drive (appropriately distanced) I'd run out of spare minutes so turned toward home, Joe (not Tony) in tow to the Butter Factory so he could quaff coffee with Bruce and Lenny while I had the joy of clocking on at the salt mine.
10/8 A family re-union.
It had only been a matter of six days under Covid constraints but most had missed the 'family' as if it had been six months! With the rural restrictions un-locked, Sanctuary Drive appeared packed for the 5:40 ritual, Kreeky, Kel, The Godfather, Rocket, Joe (not Tony), Bruce, Lenny, The Machine, JJ, Boof, Bo and Emil arriving for the ride re-union. A north northeaster had the speed swift to Mitchell Rd but labor was on the agenda for many till Old Dookie Rd.....unless your name was Rocket, Boof, Lenny, Bruce.....(you get the picture) The squad's speed was a baptism of fire after a week of the slower solo stuff! The start nearly caught The Godfather and I off-guard when traffic stalled us at the roundabout. Two lines formed and several waited in the wings for their wheel of choice to advance with. I'd almost forgotten that whiplash effect of a bunch out of corners. Welcome back to bunch life Foss!
Luck put me on Kel's wheel for the advance line with the amplified entertainment of The Godfather behind (hadn't I'd soaked up the serenity for the last six days!), our tasks to produce tempo at the front some time away at Central Kialla. (fingers crossed we'd be done and dusted before the headwind hurt in Coach Rd) Bruce and Lenny set a swift standard along River Rd (it's a Tuesday thing with them) and most felt obliged to follow suit - I'll play their game, but my donation to the drive will be somewhat Scottish! Kel called a slightly shorter shift when I faced the front at the quarter horse gates and I was only too happy to comply 'cause that was my plan too with a heart-rate hitting the roof!
No surprises seeing The Godfather doing a short shift (silently) too. Joe (not Tony) and JJ drew the short straw of Coach Rd's headwind with a reassessment of speed, a little verbal guidance given on proper positioning so most could get into their slipstream. Horsepower hit the front (need I name them?) at the bridges to add 12% to the tempo, Joe (not Tony) coping well with the spike in speed at second wheel after just finishing a shift. How good is seeing a little light on the horizon at 6:13, the coming weeks drawing winter to a close and welcoming a little warmth to our bones. Or do I speak too soon? The slightest suggestion of east in that north northeaster got the hurries up homeward on Old Dookie, Bruce and Rocket needing no encouragement to keep the speed simmering. I had that split-second stop or go decision when traffic looked likely to split the bunch at the truck route - in the spirit of keeping the pack united I probably should have stopped but I wasn't willing to wear The Godfather as a backpack!
11/8 Echelon entertainment.
I must have slept in. A mild ten degrees and a brisk north northeaster (20-33 km/h) felt like mid March but here we were in wintery August! (take it while it's on offer Foss!) Needless to say the commute to Sanctuary was swift but the honeymoon would be brief, a want for wattage would begin at Mitchell Rd. Two rows formed (again) and doesn't that get the tail-enders selective! Finding that wheel of choice sometimes leaves few options. I'll take it as Charles Darwin's theory that naturally selected me to score Kel's wheel after a little shuffling in the echelon at the back to keep Laura and Tina in the draft and out of the wind. But that wind had little effect on some sections of the bunch, Darwin's theory had them grouped together too.
Grumpy had made a bare-kneed appearance in feels like 5, JJ no longer the foreigner now attired in the team kit and The Godfather vociferous as usual (when not on the front). I'd have a long wait in line for duty at the business end with 16 participants (Boof, Rocket, Bruce, Lenny, PistolPete, Kreeky, Bo, Emil and Greg, along with the previously mentioned) The Godfather turned church mouse when faced with the flurry at the front with JJ (don't you just love the serenity?), a symphony of sledges delivered from the ranks behind. Turns rolled at the Broken bridges where Kel sided with Greg to aim for the highway.
The hurt of the head-wind (and maybe a touch of Kel's cooking?) got Greg into the red zone, the lowering of the head and the tell-tale grab for a lower gear spoke volumes of the velocity. (I could have sworn I saw Kel licking her lips!) An approaching car from the blind side forced a quick choice at the highway, the first half dozen almost committed to crossing hollered the "Look left!" (possibly not wanting to be shunted by those behind?) , the remainder sensibly stopping. Those through slowed to get the bunch re-united, those who stopped left with a chase to get back aboard.
Hardly the stuff of squad solidarity. Maybe a more cautious approach was the prescription? (at the risk of being labelled a snail?) The devil you do, the devil you don't.....
A social speed was guaranteed with the headwind to Old Dookie but there the rule book was thrown out the window, ain't nothin' like the suggestion of a breeze (barely) behind to spur on speed! Ears were open for the sound of protests on pace or that Boom!, flap, flap, flap of an o.t.a. occasion, but silence was judged to be good news as the horsepower hurried us into town.
12/8 Smooooth squirrels.
Thursday's therapy of squirrel speed was just the ticket for the week's re-introduction to bunch pace, but feels like two degrees was the note to say winter wasn't done yet! The standard six squirrels (Kel, Emil, Bo, Tina, Kim and I) steered to the Archer St shop start-line for an obligatory inspection of Tina's new wheels (50mm Enve's wrapped in Specialized tubeless) They'll prove themselves withstanding Tina's distances! In a carbon copy of the last Squirrel spin, a tail-wind helped us east on Channel Rd, Emil doing a carbon-copy turn to the truck route. It took a conscious effort to avoid the calculations of who would do what turn and when my shift was due and if the wind was with or against ; this was a lap to enjoy a moderate pace and not fret over the incidentals (that was for the other five days of the week!)
The only concern came after my shift to the cypress trees - when those rabbits will return to the short straight between Beckham's and the S bend. Kel piloted us past that point. Kim was given the drivers seat and went well beyond a rolling turn ; so it augurs well she'll be smashing us Squirrels by summer (hey, no pressure Kim!) Emil was back to the front for the northern leg on Boundary and almost did a Loius XIV staying in the seat of power (not quite 72 years and 110 days) but all the way to New Dookie Rd.
Bo did the shift to Lemnos-Cosgrove and retreated rearward to give Tina the head-wind toward home (chivalry is obviously dead). Determination, something swifter than a new set of wheels, drove Tina to the main eastern bridge, a turbine-like hum coming from tubeless tyres running a bit higher than peak pressure. She set me a standard to tow the team to Lemnos North Rd. Kel coped easily with Ford Rd's first westward leg to Grahamvale Rd (Bo's apparently exempt from headwind duty) where Emil sat again in the throne of tempo to take us to town via Verney.
13/8 Swerv'n Skippy and a Friday Fondo.
A sudden slow at Central Kialla put reactions and brakes to the test. Something on the road? Another enlarged pot-hole? No.....a live and loose kangaroo! Fourteen scattered in all directions, Tina and Emil unfortunately with nowhere to go but horizontal. Thankfully a lot of speed had been washed off but Emil had used his elbow as a brake. The real concern was Tina's new wheels, thankfully unscathed. With mechanicals checked and nerves slightly settled, PistolPete, BamBam, Greg, GiantAndy, Wozza, Rocket, Bruce, Lenny, Kel, Bo, The Godfather and Bruce started the train rolling carefully to River Rd.
Friday's bring a sense of relief the working week is almost at an end, but mine was already done with a r.d.o. blessing me the time for the social stuff over coffee and maybe clock a k or two more. Speed was well stoked by the time Bo and I reached the business end , there wasn't a wind to blame but lungs were almost at bursting point with barely a k covered at the front. With apologies delivered, I rolled across and prepared for the pace with The Godfather (it doesn't help when the head's saying "cooked" before you start) Another k and the alarm bells were deafening ; a draft was needed before an ambulance was! Suppressing the gasps and groans was almost as testing as the turn itself. All that drama was history a few minutes later, the tow from three or four ahead made Coach Rd Easy Street. Wozza had the happy's being back on the bike after nearly a week off, GiantAndy had a day off and made a rare weekday appearance, BamBam continues his promotion of pace from the Wouldabeens and, starting prior to the flatulation of sparrows, Greg turned to town via Channel Rd.
Tina's disc squeak seemed to be the only calamity from the clash with the kangaroo but Emil seemed unusually subdued (a chipped olecranon diagnosed later). Away from the toil at the front, the speed was sufferable and with plenty of the crew ahead, another visit to the seat of suffering was unlikely. So, sit back and enjoy the draft toward coffee Foss! Twas a fine finish to the lap where the much needed social stuff could be soaked up after a week of Covid caused deprivation. That rare occurrence (daylight) showed up as I chaperoned the injured Emil back home, so with that rostered day off begging, I added some k's to the day. (How easily we fall into the routine of a daily 45*) A spin south to Channel Rd embarked on the Couldabeen's circuit of old (Channel, Coach, Mitchell & Raftery) and didn't that rekindle some memories. I'd realized why the mood was so etheral and relaxed at the bottom of Coach Rd, a breeze had blown me there and a wind had picked up to make the home run hurt. Why should I get it easy? That'd be no fun!
So it was head down and cuss the decision of this direction, trying to keep focus on the few metres ahead rather than the never ending stretch to the horizon. Thought I was going ok till emerging from the tree lined part of Mitchell Rd and copped the full force of the wind. Reality can be so cruel. It was good to have the sun trying to warm my back and seeing the early signs of Spring's scenery. Raftery Rd's gradual curve northward eased the effort to get back into town and I felt some sense of accomplishment at clocking a hundred till the Peppermill's pie tapped a premature Spring introduction on the helmet.
(* does not apply to many who shall remain nameless)
This week : 331 km YTD 8,411 km
No comments:
Post a Comment