Luck or the lack of it.

 Post #617

30/10  D for distance, A+ for company.

This would be suffering for a good cause.  A hundred k's is a bit beyond a regular ride for me, but great company and a worthy charity would drag me beyond the usual comfort zone.  Kel, BamBam and TrackStan had committed to the #ridewithme challenge of a hundred k's for each of the next four days in support of the #lovemeloveyou foundation to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, something close to the Couldabeen's heart with the recent loss of our great team-mate Col.  Kreeky, PistolPete, Bruce, Emil, Liam, Boof, Kel, The Godfather, Bo, Wozza, Lenny, Rocket, BamBam, Grumpy  and Greg steered to the Sanctuary start line with a not-so-welcoming 2 degrees introduction.  This would be a standard Saturday circuit, the usual social sentences over breakfast then a reverse of the circuit back to the start.  

The standard Saturday speed was quickly set as two lines took anti-clockwise turns at sharing the load, my head hoping I could cope with part two afterward.  The bunch babble and The Godfather's entertainment a wheel ahead provided a decent distraction from what was to come.  Twenty minutes passed before I got the promotion to the front at the Broken bridges, a breeze from the southwest elevating my effort to something near respectable beside The Godfather to the highway.  Entertainment was muted for the duration.  My second shift beside Emil could only reach the old bacon barn where the tank ran dry.  Some days you got it, others....get over it! The day's dawn was a gee up for despondent thoughts on such a tame turn and 3 k's of sun in the face toward the Toaster got the oxygen reserves back to continue.  

By a stroke of luck, plenty of wattage was ahead to drive the way west on Lemnos-Cosgrove, those blessed with horsepower happy to haul the long drives at the front and save some (like me) from an earlier second shift.  TrackStan appeared ahead (missing the start but short-cutting to intercept the bunch) but the real bait of four Wouldabeens ahead stirred up some speed in pursuit.  They made no attempt to hitch a ride back to town.  

Still several wheels from the front in Wanganui Rd, I'd been spared another shift at the business end so enjoyed the draft down the Boulevard to breakfast.  Coffee and banana bread put mental fuel in the tank while the hardening up process for part two got underway.   Most saddled up for the reverse loop. just PistolPete, Liam and Bruce had other commitments, so I guess it would be pointless to stifle all that horsepower ; if you've got a Ferrari, why let it idle?  I'd give a turn a go but would probably make a better passenger.  A south southwester had helped us back to Wanganui Rd but Ford then Lemnos-Cosgrove became a chore, the reminder to TrackStan to ride the road's centre got the tail-enders out of the gutter.   It's been many moons since taking on a hundred, so the signs of wear began to show with 75 clocked up.  I'd hoped my turn may come in Old Dookie with that wind at the port-side bow, but just my luck, had the headwind in Boundary Rd instead.  

Kreeky was kind but getting to the fig farm was more than half a tanks' worth.  Thinking another k was possible beside The Godfather was the stuff of dreams, I'd called him across barely a minute later.  Lucky to have others up to the task, I could hang on and get breathing back in order, the way west on River Rd and out of the wind would be the respite.  Constant 45 k's do nothing for preparing for a ton, legs were lame and the posterior pickled from three hours on the Fizik.  I'd hoped there'd be the easy way out heading north on Archer, but the call for a Raftery finish had secured the vote.  There was nothing to complain about a tail-wind home and only self to blame for poor preparation, I'd scored low on the distance but really well on obliging company, 120 done when the dust had settled.

1/11  K's for a cause.

Another hundred k's wasn't so appealing, the sting from Saturday's swift one conjured up more pain, but I'm being a bit presumptuous on pace aren't I?   Supporting the #lovemeloveyou foundation, Monday's hundred would hopefully be a two part ride too; I could assess the horsepower of the second shift and decide on doing the extra distance then!  Part one was the standard weekday circuit and a field of Bruce, PistolPete, The Godfather, Lenny, Emil, Didak, Bo, BamBam, Wozza, Kel, Joe (not Tony), JJ, Rocket and Greg lined up for the lap.  The slightest suggestion of a southwest breeze made part one less than the usual chore, dropping onto Kel's wheel in the procession a tactical decision to save on the suffering (she's not one to toast you on a turn!).    Emil lined up on my wheel so I'd hoped he would follow Kel's kindness.  JJ had made a return to the clan, Didak fronted again and Joe (not Tony) is earning frequent flyer points with the pack ; the peloton population slowly increasing with Summer nearing.  

Bo had been promoted to the drivers seat for the last 2 k's of River Rd and Didak did his best to keep up, the signs of being cooked (that grab for a lower gear and his head now doing the pedaling gave the game away) ever increasing as we neared the rumble strips. With no compassion from Bo, Didak ducked to the respite of a draft behind as Bo  now paired with The Godfather to drive Coach Rd.  They're like two mischievous schoolboys these two..... must be separated in class!  Both were out to achieve something, staying on the front in Boundary Rd too.  Didak was saved from certain implosion when Bruce took over second wheel.  Greg was doing his early exit via School Rd so shortened his shift in Old Dookie,  Kel and I now finally in charge.  With plenty of distance to go, Kel's shift was understandably shorter, so the remainder to Central Ave for me was almost bearable, despite Emil being a half wheel ahead (far too early to toast myself drawing level)  

Joe (not Tony) was next on duty and received the same handout from Emil.  Sharing is caring I guess.  PistolPete was promoted when Joe (not Tony) pulled the plug at Dobson's, so 40's soon became the fashion for the sprint to SPC.  Tina joined at the Butter Factory for the compulsory chat over caffeine and it was just Rocket, Lenny, Kel, BamBam and Didak to take on the extra k's with a clockwise tap of the Toaster circuit.  Not so heavy on the horsepower, I'd guesses I could manage the addition.  With due consideration for BamBam and Kel's couple of hundreds to go, a more than suitable low thirties speed was set.  A little east southeaster had begun to make the outbound a bit of a test but thoughts stayed on the treat we'd get homeward.  To Pine Lodge and those dramas of distance began to show ; legs were a feeling a little rubbery and palms feeling a bit battered,  a little knot niggled in the shoulder-blade but the protests from the posterior became the priority.  Time off the Fizik felt better.  Didak almost took to the southern gravel section of Pine Lodge Rd but was quickly reminded of the western way on Old Dookie.  I'd scored the drive to Boundary Rd with Lenny and the breeze almost behind.  BamBam did well to tap out the turns given he's almost as rusty on distance as me, Kel kept up those silky smooth shifts regardless.  Rocket and Didak introduced us to River Rd but Didak's enthusiasm (and a speedo pointed at the front wheel) crept his wheel relentlessly ahead.  That's just asking for a toasting from Rocket!   As a consequence, speed crept to the high 30's.   Rule #3 says guide the uninitiated so a few suggestions set him straight.  (So young, so much to learn!)   Eventually into Mitchell Rd, the lap's end drew near but with Kel and BamBam still a little shy on the hundred, a lap of Kialla Lakes was the epilogue to the ton.

2/11  Nuthin' but Knights.

This was the last day of the #ridewithme challenge (legs breathe a sigh of relief!) and bunch pace would be the sum total of it's participants - to my relief there were enough division two's to settle the speed to something sustainable.  Emil, Grumpy, Rocket, KnightAndy, Laura, Shorty, The Godfather, SuperMario, Bruce, Lenny, Bo, BamBam, Kim and Kel were all appropriately clad in Knights of Suburbia kit for the occasion, assembling at Sanctuary for a 6am start to tackle a Toaster loop (with extra k's after coffee)   It felt foreign to do an about face and head to Raftery Rd.  The opening act by Rocket and Bruce down to Mitchell Rd was keen but a broad range of fitness had the effect of settling the speed thereafter.  It was good to have the support of small sample of Wouldabeens, way out of their temperature zone.  It wasn't long before the psychological sustenance of the sun warmed the spirits (riding at stupid o'clock on a public holiday is only for the special few!) and copious chat passed the k's away, The Godfather's garble audible over everything (except those squealing brakes!)  

Most had swung east into Old Dookie Rd when a car suddenly shot through a stop sign at the intersection, threatening to mow down the rearmost four.  Hard on the brakes , disaster was diverted. (one doubts if some drivers are even awake at this hour!  Perhaps the stop sign should have been written in a different language?)   Heart rates were soon out of the heavens to resume the tap to the Toaster.  

The reality of a photograph, SuperMario's sarcasm, the fine art of tea making and the physical payback of doing distance were subjects bounced across left and right lines as The Godfather and Bo (should not play together) led an east southeaster assisted path on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.   I had a feeling the sit site was glowing from the tyranny of distance over the past few days, so my shift at the front beside SuperMario almost had a beacon to warn oncoming traffic of our presence?  Rocket and Bruce finished the lap with a hurry along the Boulevard for coffee consumption at the Milk Bar, but duties at home had me cut the extra k's off the agenda. A ride of 70 km felt short!

3/11  Big shot Bo (and an Adams addition)

A "social" Wednesday should be easy-peasy after the recent distances driven, a mild 17 degrees and a keen northeaster (24 km/h) to deliver us northerners to Sanctuary Drive made it even easier.  The following 25 k's driving into the wind might be the hard part.  PistolPete and Bruce were notable absentees but Lenny, Boof, The Godfather, Kel, Didak, Rocket, Wozza, Emil, Greg, Joe (not Tony), Bo and Trav got a grid together for 5:40.  Rocket was a suitable stand-in for PistolPete's trademark shift to Mitchell, prevailing wind meant there was plenty of time off the saddle for the tail-enders to keep tempo.  

Wozza drove the second leg to Central Kialla at the social threshold and Boof likewise to River, though it felt faster fighting the wind east and north.  Kel was excused a shorter shift after four lots of a hundred k's in as many days, half way to River Rd's bridge was plenty.  Something had rattled Bo's cage to ramp up the pace beyond, the social line soon stretched longer as he approached 40 toward the dip.  He must have missed the "no dickheads" memo for Wednesdays  (Did I detect a slight enlargement of the chest too?)   Just an inch from implosion at Laws Drive, I took to heading rearward in the hope of surviving in a draft of more than three, but seeing Joe (not Tony) and Didak in bigger drama (read o.t.a.) said I wasn't the weakest link.   

Of course Bo had a hundred excuses when he finally backed off the gas (it's always someone else's fault!) but then I guess some folk are easily distracted by shiny things! The baker's dozen were back together as a team for Coach Rd, Bo left at the front to serve penance while Trav showed him what teamwork was really like.  The halt for Trav's puncture just over the highway served as quality time to sledge Bo.   The social standards had stuck for Boundary Rd too and the ease with the wind behind in Old Dookie prompted the easing of social speed restrictions.  There's no problem with 40 when the wind whips at the posterior parts and being nearer to coffee helps the hurry too.  Like David Bowie almost wrote, We can be heroes, just for one way.

I'd toyed with the idea of doing a bit more distance (see what repeated punishment does to you?!) and with time no enemy, the temptation to tap a few more k's was strong (if I ignored the ever increasing wind!)  Like banging your head against a brick wall, it feels great when you stop! A lap with the Adams family might be fishing in a rather small pond but with 360 km covered already this week,  the legs were rather lax.   Frizzy, Hoffy, Simon, Geoff, Chilly and DeepFry fronted for the 8am off, a few of their division two's already launched ten minutes prior.  The 4 k's south to Mitchell Rd was made without much ado though there'd be 23 k's of work to do before relief came turning west into Lemnos-Cosgrove.  

Indian file was the fairest format under the conditions though Simon was keen to captain the caboose.  DeepFry doesn't seem to read the pace that suits all, setting his own standard instead. (I'd rather do the diplomatic thing and get an invite back .  As the years strip off the speed, this mob might be the only ones I can keep up with soon!)  These guys turns are about half what I'm used to though did my usual distance in the drivers seat (but kept a keener eye that bits didn't break off the back).  Simon was in struggle street (though the sign said River Rd), an ease up bringing the Brown's cows back to something looking like a team.  Coach Rd had a halt for roadworks where Simon's defeatist thoughts committed him to doing a short-cut to Lemnos-Cogrove with Geoff, while the remainder did the extra 8k via the Toaster.  An almost guaranteed tail-wind home was the bait.  Headed west at last, pace picked up well beyond Adams family values with the wind at the backside, high 30's had heads down and ego's up to drive toward Lemnos.  Division two in the distance dangled a big carrot.  With a century in the legs, determination was draining, so reaching Grahamvale Rd and catching division two, I was happy to back off and offer a tow.   Chilly and Hoffy had dropped off the back of division one by Mt.Wanganui so it was a bunch of broken bits that made its way to Friars (their choice of pit stop ;  and it certainly highlighted how good we've got it at the Butter Factory!) 

4/11  Doc's 6.

23 degrees was spot on!  The perfect spring afternoon to ride had a catch though.....a 40+ km/h southerly!  For a moment I wondered if the Doc's crew would front in this sort of stuff, but Frizzy, lil' Brendon, Chilly, the Doc and DeepFry proved me wrong arriving in Matilda Drive.  It's always a clockwise Toaster loop as Thursday therapy for this lot, so today would be a test for 45 k's, only the last 5 k's of Raftery would be the joy.  Strangely, two rows of three formed, so there'd be plenty of shifts to do at the front.  Chilly was talking technical on rolling resistance, saving bike weight and tyre t.p.i. in a search for speed but I reckon the wind would smother anything like pace.   The turn toward the church  at Pine Lodge Rd was the work we'd all anticipated, high 20's suited the Doc and diplomacy dictated I level with him to New Dookie Rd.  Brendan took his place from there.   (Doc was done doing duty and was headed homeward when we got to Boundary Rd.)  

Lil'Brendan put up a poor shield from the southwester on Old Dookie Rd while we co-captained to Boundary Rd, the Doc exiting north as Frizzy and I then set the southern spin to the highway.  Chilly delivered a turn to the Broken bridges, from there the driving was left to DeepFry, Frizzy, lil' Brendan and I.  Wind howled across the open fields of Coach Rd and sitting on lil' Brendan's wheel gave me all the draft of a matchstick. A very short matchstick!  A quarter hour of effort later and luck (or the lack of it!) had me at the front just beyond Galbraith's gate, so I knew then I'd be doing duty again in Conrod straight.  A no win situation, tail wind or otherwise!  DeepFry set the speed at 40 with 800 metres to go so I paired with him for a short distance, assessing the move to make.  There'd be little hope of my labor lasting to the finish line from this far out, so I threw down an early surge to at least make the others work for a win. DeepFry panicked to get in my draft and lil' Brendan glued himself to his wheel, plenty left in Brendan's tank to pounce with 50 to go for the glory.

5/11 The Friday fellowship

I don't look forward to that long 5 k stretch of Archer Rd, particularly with a breeze to fight to Sanctuary Drive.  Emil courteously idled alongside as I forced the old engine to do better than 32.  Left to my own devices, I'd be dawdling to the grid then suffering the bunch speed thereafter.  Pushing beyond the comfort zone at least prepares for what's (watts) to come.  Trav, Greg, Kreeky, Rocket, Emil, Bo, Wozza, Lenny, Didak, Kel and Boof converged suitably uniformed for Friday's kit conformity and with PistolPete still absent, Emil and Boof opened the throttle to Mitchell Rd.  

The serenity was strange, The Godfather and his ear-splitting brakes were absent.  I was feeling the effects of a 500+ week so was chuffed to be in the left line behind Kreeky, my shift at the front not due till somewhere bearing north (and that meant scoring the breeze behind) in fifteen minutes or so.  Bo advanced to pair with Boof for the leg to Kialla Central, a little payback being administered to Bo for Wednesday's sin on the social speed.  Lenny added his tax too with plenty of pace to River Rd but the velocity eased from there. With a bit of oxygen to spare, the social stuff got underway.  Those dark days of winter are ancient history now, how pleasing to see beyond the headlight's reach and sense the start of a Spring day.  

Speed was specially set for Didak's drive at the front ; how civilised the bunch is not to shatter the new guy's hopes (take note Bo!)  Gravel from recent roadworks in Coach Rd did the snap crackle and pop under 24 tyres, Rocket and Wozz (there's that pairing again!) towing us to the highway in sublime smoothness.  My debut for the day beside Wozza would be a short one, his standards are far swifter than mine.   Alongside Kreeky at the bridge, he respectfully leveled with me to the fig farm where all my urge ran out.  It's a rare ride when the breeze that promised to annoy the drive home disappears, the west way on Old Dookie delightful while an almost mild ten degrees let legs roll free of insulation.  Lap up these conditions folks, we'll be grizzling about the heat in a week or two!  Coffee to conclude is always the icing on the cake, but sweeter still was ending the week that became driven on distance.  I think it's called an obsessive cycling disorder.  

This week  523 km      YTD 11,757 km