At war with wind.

 Post #620

20/11 Carpe Diem!

It was touch and go.  The front verandah was as dry as a chip though the weather radar showed a big blue band parked right over town.  What's App pinged from a doubting few, some westerners reporting rain and one by one, all the Wouldabeens pulled the pin.   The old faithful yr.no forecast said 0.3 mm of rain at 5, so with it still dry at 5:15, I took the gamble to kit up and spin the Saturday circuit, hoping like hell it wasn't a repeat of last Monday's drenching.  Seize the day I reckon!  If it stayed dry, the regret of not riding would be heartbreaking.   GiantAndy, Grumpy, Bo, PistolPete, Emil, Boof, Rocket, Kreeky, Wozza, Molly, The Godfather and Lenny arriving at Sanctuary proved optimism had over-ruled pessimism. PistolPete set a suitable speed standard south, mindful of Molly's attendance, two lines forming telling me there was some attempt at keeping this Saturday social.  The Godfather's return from two days away kick started the sledges. (Free entertainment!)  

A southwester would make a good deal of the circuit enjoyable ; those blessed with bucket loads of watts would hopefully be at the front for the drive back to town.  By River Rd, the rotation had me at the rear, Molly had her seat in the caboose booked so I followed Grumpy into the advance line with Bo bringing up the rear.  If I played my position right I might get a windward shift.  With plenty of chat underway (a peloton of two parallel lines, Saturdays and the wind behind just baits banter doesn't it?) a grey day dawned ; not the most inspiring start to the day but a long way better than those who'd given up and gone back to bed!  (Ah......but let's not get too carried away in the moment Foss, a spot or two from the sky from time to time had the eyes quickly on the hunt for those heartbreaking grey curtains hanging on the horizon somewhere.  None thankfully).   

Wasn't I the lucky lad to be second wheel at the fig farm, I would be blessed with the wind favorable east to the Toaster and north to the church as my turn came due in Old Dookie Rd (I'd earn my breakfast fighting the southerly bit of the southwester though).   A little sledging between Grumpy and Bo distracted me from the 4 k workload.  All the horsepower lining up for duty behind was a little daunting on one hand but a relief on the other hand of being towed toward town.  Emil and The Godfather faced the wind on the turn into Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd and it was payback time! The Godfather was to serve his sentence for third degree sledging with speed.  High 30's into that wind was hard enough for me at 4th wheel but The Godfather took his punishment well to the Pine Lodge Creek then served beside Rocket to Boundary Rd.  Kudos to the guy, particularly with that aerodynamic disadvantage.  

What had started social was now set in speed ; Wozza advanced to the front and the pace increased a little more.  Lenny, GiantAndy and Boof were lined up behind so fast was the forecast to the finish.  A lot of tall grass at the roadside camouflages traffic at intersections, so a last moment holler for an approaching car on Grahamvale Rd sent Kreeky on an excursion over the traffic island (refining skills for MTB?)    With the increasing speed came slightly shorter shifts so being promoted closer to the business end had an increased element of risk.....the risk I'd blow a head gasket before I'd even get to the drivers seat!  Kreeky had ducked for the shelter of the left line as we entered Wanganui Rd so I felt no guilt in doing likewise, despite Bo's displeasure.  There's little point advancing if there's not the muscle to maintain momentum!  Into the mid 40's toward Mt. Wanganui was like Saturday's of old but by Rudd Rd Molly was losing the caboose connection.  I needed no encouragement to drop back and offer a draft, my legs longed for a pace less pickling!   A few others had found comfort in mid 30's along the Boulevard so six combined to make a second division squad bound for the Butter Factory.   Shingles and post Covid sporting events interrupted tongues from breakfast. 

22/11  Making the most of a mild Monday.

The usual crew made the Monday start-line, Bo, Greg, Bruce, PistolPete, Wozza, The Godfather, Kreeky, Kel, Rocket and Lenny enjoying a rare mild (10 degrees) morning minus the wind.  Well, a 7 km/h breeze doesn't count as wind.  A social pairing was quick to form when PistolPete summoned the squad south toward Mitchell Rd, me quickly relegated rearmost with The Godfather alongside.  This was a good start to week 925 on the bike, 15 minutes worth of draft before I featured in the lead role is better than being thrown in the deep end.  There's rarely traffic to contend with at stupid o'clock but today one arrived as we readied to make the turn into River Rd.  Lots of arms signaled the intention at the double white lines but this driver went by a different rule book, overtaking anyway (adds weight to my theory that many are still asleep at the wheel at this hour)  

Time was up for being towed at River Rd's end ; now to contribute to the cause.  The pairing with The Godfather on Coach Rd went well to the bridges but keeping the pace for another two k's would be my limit, so I called the roll and prepared for the part two pain with Bo.  Reality hurt.  Tina climbed aboard but my focus was surviving to the highway at least, Bo had offered to ease up on the accelerator but I reckoned I'd survive at the set speed (so long as I ignored the heart-rate).   That smooth 700 metres of tarmac to the pub (and a big slice of stubbornness) saved me.  A k later with a decent dose of a draft, all the drama of the drive was forgotten.  I could now string a proper sentence together for Bruce rather than rudely gasp a word or two.  The slipstream had a cumulative effect in Old Dookie Rd, speed hadn't altered that much during the circuit but the comfort levels were rising rapidly.  Coffee cured any other concerns back in town.

Sunshine and something resembling warmth struck me leaving the Butter Factory fifteen minutes later and the spectre of same old distances (46's and 48's week-in week-out) niggled.  After a chat with Tina on the exit of town, I anti-clockwised the golf course loop and made tracks south for a little more distance.  (I'd hardly be stung by the speed of the Adams family but doing double distance would be a test).   Just Chilly, young Brian, Hoffy and DeepFry had arrived for the 8am shift (the unpredictable faction of the family thankfully absent) so DeepFry kick-started the single filed line south.  Low 30's seemed to be the benchmark (if you ignored DeepFry's pace at odds with the average) so I was happy to set that on my cruise control and avoid being branded a big shot.  

Kilometre turns were kosher and made duty at the front comfortable (not forgetting it could be the safe working load for some) though as distance accumulated, some shifts called on more urge than others (something to eat at the 75 k mark would have fueled the psychological engine?)  A hint of a northeaster provided some pace on Lemnos-Cosgrove after the work against it up Boundary Rd, the sight of bikes ahead at the main channel putting a bit of pep in DeepFry's pace. 

Jim and some other guy seemed to be setting a decent pace.....till a closer look revealed they were driven by volts.  (e-bikes are ranked as motorbikes in my book - I reckon cycling is about human effort, not battery capacity!)   The magnetism of a finish line at Mt.Wanganui  stoked up some speed toward town but that proved too much for our lithium lads who turned toward a cafe conclusion (and a charging station?) though Chilly had withdrawn from duty at the front.  DeepFry nudged the 40's as he led half way along Wanganui Rd but he was now a sitting duck for me at third wheel to taste the chocolates atop the mountain. 

23/11  Savoring squirrel speed.

Less than 24 hours after an impulsive 108km, I hoped like hell it was squirrel day.  Legs were a little soft to face Sanctuary speed!  (there's repercussions when you rattle the routine Foss)   So wasn't I pleased to see Kim and Emil appear at Tarcoola's roundabout on Tuesday, a slightly slower squirrel spin suited better than the likely thrash with the regular weekday warriors.  If the forecast turns fact, I might even get a mid-week rest day with rain of Wednesday's menu.  Tina was scheduled to intercept somewhere in Channel Rd so our trio of a tame tempo turned east at the shop in search of the curly one.  Emil did the routine introduction to the truck route, across what now could be classed as a three star cobbled section of Channel Rd (another low budget re-seal, rough as hessian underwear).  A northeaster was on the day's menu to draw an effort out of us so after many months of cold and miserable south and southwesters , this seemed like a different planet. 

I scored second shift to Orrvale Rd which seemed way too short, so pressed on to the Kinder (and wasn't that hot-mix heaven!) to hand Kim the tail-wind of Central Ave (I'll mail the invoice for the service Kim!)   Tina was found in Jameson Rd and joined the queue while Emil did driving duty to Coach Rd.  All these shifts have become very predictable, but that's what you want when you're riding a couple of hundred millimetres from the wheel ahead before the sun's up.  Emil dropped to the rear crossing the highway where that northeaster felt a little more easterly at the front, so rode Boundary Rd's centre to win a few votes from those behind.  Tina's knee might not let her get out of the saddle just yet but her transition to the front at Old Dookie Rd was seamless.  The wind seemed worse when I got to the back for some strange reason.  Kim took us from New Dookie up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, most of us keen to turn west and have our abilities amplified by the wind back to town.

25/11  The pursuit of pain.

I felt naked in short sleeves and arrived early at Tarcoola roundabout.  Without the umpteen winter layers how short is the ride preparation time! 16 degrees was certainly a warm welcome.  Emil and Kim arrived on cue but I'd opted to suffer the Sanctuary speed today ; there's a danger of softening if I choose too much of the sedate stuff!  (the pursuit of pain has a strange sort of attraction)  Beginning to fear low attendance rolling into an empty Sanctuary Drive, relief came as Kreeky, Bo, PistolPete, Greg, The Godfather and Kel arrived to chose a spot on the grid.  BamBam stretched the limits of the 5:40 sharpness arriving as the party got started.  

Forth wheel behind Pistol, Kel and Bo was a suitable spot for me, taking advantage of the southerly (I hoped!)   Last night's forecast of 4mm of rain due about now had evaporated.  Pistol rubber stamped his role to get us to Mitchell Rd and Kel took second shift when Bo grizzled about who should do what and when (I get it now..........Bo would then score the tail-wind to River Rd rather than live up to Pete's standard with the wind at his side!)  Just for once, I started duty in River Rd under my own terms, content with high 30's to the bridge regardless of what others thought ; what Kreeky (behind me) would do anyway!  With enough biscuits still in the barrel to catch the caboose, I gave Kreeky the drivers seat on the downhill (0.0000017 %) toward Laws Drive and rolled to the rear, most things strangely still in focus.  I thought I'd done rather well.....until Kreeky cranked out a 4k turn to Rooster corner at a better pace! The roll-up was poor at the shop, Rocket, Bruce and Boof arriving from Coach Rd to about face and join the clan.  

Boof was the one with a Cheshire cat grin ; he was the one celebrating new bike day (a suave looking grey/black Focus.  Why do the fast guys get lighter bikes? Like horse racing, the quick need ballast!)  Greg provided the grunt to tow us north to the highway, but then that's easy for these young fella's.   The Godfather did his stuff along Boundary Rd, undeterred by the sledges administered from the shop society, though I was wondering if BamBam was medium or well done at second wheel.  Despite his long lay-off after the challenge of 4 x 100 km doing #ridewithme, he did well to to tackle Old Dookie Rd and almost reach School Rd.  PistolPete turned up the tempo to Central Ave to the point of my legs feeling fairly frail.  Kel didn't allow any respite to Dobson's bridge and Bo took the bait of the sledges to propel the pack into the 40's to the truck route.  My focus on Boof's new focus exempted a dash to SPC but Kreeky stood in for me (far faster than I could muster!)

26/11  This doesn't look like River Rd Toto!

The forecast said fine but the morning at Mordialloc looked decidedly damp.  A couple of days in the big smoke and Beach Rd beckoned me anyway.  That super smooth tarmac was damp but not yet glossy, the real bait was a strong southerly to speed me to the city (I had quashed thoughts about the suffering into the wind back to 'Mordy' though!)  Inbound bike traffic was light ('cause most favor a southerly start from the city) but a few northbound inflated my ego by being slower, even those subtle inclines at Beaumaris and Black Rock netted a few PB's boosted by the breeze.  Big bunches southbound became more common though they seemed to be silent while at war with the wind as I found myself well into zone four making the most of the wind at the Khyber (there'd be no records broken on the return!)   Spotted specs told the story of light drizzle near Sandringham though it ended soon after to calm concerns of being turned into a drowned rat.  Mingling with a few Aston Martin's (and a McLaren if you don't mind!) through Brighton while being propelled a little above expectations got St.Kilda in view sooner than expected, grey clouds rolling very low across Port Phillip's bay hardly a welcoming sight.  One southbound bike took particular interest in my northbound travels, his arm raised in greeting before I recognized it was JJ.  (My Couldabeens kit may have drawn his eye?  It was team kit Friday after all. So where was yours JJ?!)  Good speed continued to Port Melbourne, the sorry fact of a snail-like return now looming near. It was u-turn time.  (the price you pay for a tailwind excitement eh?)  

About faced and up a few sprockets, speed was hardly blistering, but way better than expected.  It was just a case of finding a maintainable rhythm, gritting your teeth and getting on with it Foss!  There weren't many bikes southbound now, so there wasn't a draft to steal, only the odd one or two to chase (then realise they were a few rungs up the ladder and the heart-rate was heading off the scale to close the gap.  Ain't reality cruel?)  That misty rain started again and got the tarmac glossy (just the thing you want coupled with a head-wind!) but I did catch a pack of six to reward the effort.   Those ascents at Black Rock pegged back the ego a bit though!  Arms and back were now damp though there was enough internal heat being generated to keep the rest of me dry. Soaked socks would have ruined me.  (Hate that)  At least the drizzle stopped at Mentone to give me a dry finish but the usual coffee shop was shut.  Found a good brew out of a van in a car park though. The Mean Bean Coffee Machine saved the day.

This week 307km         YTD 12,476km