Post #624
18/12 Saturday....served with spicy speed sauce!
What wattage would turn up to Saturday's grid was anyone's guess ; it could be social, it could be supersonic. It's the proverbial box of chocolates....and maybe that's the attraction? Something hinted at today being swift, seeing Wozza, Rocket, Boof, PistolPete, GiantAndy, Emil, The Godfather, Grumpy and Greg lined up in Sanctuary Drive, Molly, Gazza, lil' Jodie and I wouldn't have the numbers to swing the vote on velocity (suck it up Softies! There's some satisfaction in a bit of suffering to earn breakfast) An east northeaster was slowly strengthening so there was little hope of getting tailwind assistance till Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (45 minutes away) though there was plenty of horsepower ahead so the suffering wasn't straight away. Lil' Jodie had resigned herself to the rear and I'd guessed Molly would do the same as Wozza and Pistol set the standard high.
Grumpy was feeling a little second-hand from 'fireball' consumption last night so following his wheel into the advance line at Kialla Central wasn't so onerous. Judging by the decibels levels, The Godfather was behind me. A solitary Liam southbound turned to join the crew just as Tommygun was found in River Rd, so the line grew longer. I started a sentence or two on my promotion forward but there's a preference toward oxygen preservation the closer you get to doing duty at the front. (Unsociable eh?) Tina's light appeared ahead as Boof and Grumpy closed in on rooster corner. Grumpy graciously set a tolerable tempo for me to match in Coach Rd and The Godfather was kind enough to roll across at the Broken bridge, Liam adding a couple of k's to the cruise control to the highway so getting my focus back would have to wait.
Inadequacy eased a little seeing Tommygun struggle a short shift to Boundary's bridge. Gazza had returned from seven months of Supercar shifts and even though he's the baby of the bunch he seemed to be on the hunt for horsepower. Undeterred by the strengthening wind, Wozza and Pistol kept high 30's on speedo's to the Toaster and that certainly convinced Tina, lil' Jodie and Molly to stay seated in the caboose. Thoughts of the tailwind home was about all that enticed me to join the advance again. Friendly flak was fired from the rear as Greg and Rocket primed a bit more pace for the west way home, speed sneaking into the 40's with that east northeast assistance, my next shift looking likely to be due near town. Waiter, an extra helping of horsepower please!
Tommygun had taken up residence at the rear as Gazza, Greg and Boof did their bit to drag us to Ford Rd. (No backing out now Foss, be a good boy and take your punishment!) Grumpy was kind again staying level to Verney Rd, The Godfather even easing the effort slightly so I'd be still alive at Numurkah Rd. (That's good, turn done before the work in Wanganui Rd. There was just the job of hanging on now). On one hand the lack of a sprint up Mt.Wanganui was a bonus but on the other, work on the Boulevard seemed unrelenting. The strengthening of the senses if one is missing, timing traffic lights and energetic employees made the talk on the table as breakfast mended labored legs.
20/12 Speed cures hang-overs?
A little excess hydration at Sunday's Couldabeens Christmas left some a bit fragile at Sanctuary's grid on Monday. I learned though that liberal doses of alcohol doesn't slow Emil any! Bruce, Greg, Wozza, PistolPete, Bo, Kel, The Godfather and Kreeky parked at the roundabout, the noticeable absentees (you can figure them out) clearly too fragile to front. Wozza had no trouble with tempo alongside PistolPete to Mitchell Rd, the reality of their speed a bit of a Monday wake-up call for me. (Take a Sunday off the bike and it's like starting over again!) Sandwiched between The Godfather and Kel when two rows got organised was some sort of comfort ; there's some respect for senior citizens among them. Under the guise of warming up for feels like 6 degrees, speed was being served to Bo (displaying the most fragility from yesterday's indulgence) but then there's little sympathy for self inflicted wounds.
Tina turned up early, attaching to the back of the bunch as we entered River Rd. Bruce and Greg made the most of the southwest breeze toward the dip, The Godfather and Kreeky setting a standard that was steadily cooking me to the quarter horse gates. I could cope with that speed at the front, but doing the distance defies me lately (I think it's called old age) The Godfather only quarter wheeled me for a k but this old engine was running close to the red-line with a k to go. I'd called enough and rolled across, taking a guess I'd reach rooster corner with Kel's kindness (she'd ignored the amplified asthmatics then delivered me a draft in Coach Rd).
Bo's complaints were ignored as Kel paced a bit of punishment to the Broken bridges then Wozza worked him over to the highway. Bruce's called for calm crossing the Midland for Tina to reattach, Wozza and Emil winding up the wattage to Old Dookie Rd. With just 10 in the bunch another turn looked likely, the bonus of being handed the reigns beyond the truck route was having the single filed shift to SPC where my only competition was me (oh, and my escalating heart-rate)
21/12 Fostering fastness.
Given the reigns at the channel bridge in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd when Tina called it quits, my drive to Lemnos North Rd seemed like I was short changing the four behind, so set about adding Ford Rd's opening 2.7 k leg as compensation.......regretting the decision less than a k later. It wasn't long before lungs labored and the heart rate heightened - would the martyr make it to Grahamvale Rd? It was likely there'd be a coronary before getting there! (I could flick an elbow without being judged soft 'cause squirrels don't set those standards - besides, who would know where my target was set?) I'd nearly succumbed to the biting-off-more-than-I-could-chew syndrome when Tina's call from the caboose of "car back" threw me a life-line ; there'd be a draft to drag me some of the way to what I'd aimed at. The car turned out to be a substantial slipstream from an 8 tonne truck, but the bigger bonus was the 40 tonne truck and trailer following 20 seconds behind. Mr Stubborn would be satisfied to get to that goal of Grahamvale Rd.
This ride had almost been a carbon copy of last week's squirrel spin ; Emil did the turn to the truck route, I'd gone to the Kinder where Tina jumped aboard, Kim took us to the cypress trees and lil' Jodie did the long shift to Channel Rd's end. Emil rattled the routine by driving to New Dookie Rd then added an extra 2k to Lemnos-Cosgrove in the mid 30's. Maybe that burned Tina's biscuits to shorten her turn to the channel bridge? The speed was well up on last week, mind you, calm conditions played a part in pace. When barely breaking into the 30's was the limit a few weeks ago, there's inspiration found with that amount of improvement. (Maybe we're creating a monster we'll have trouble to feed?) But back to the moment.... Kim did the velocity to Verney Rd and lil' Jodie took us south to Graham St where Emil finally got his drive-me-to-coffee shift. The Tuesday thrash of shop squad vs Sanctuary squad provided the Butter Factory entertainment.
22/12 The bunch balloons.
The bureau had better tell me that wind was a tough one, I'd be shattered to read it was an 8 km/h breeze when I was turning myself inside out just to get to Sanctuary Drive! Satisfied but spent arriving at the 5:40 grid, someone must have messaged free beer...the peloton's population seemed to suggest so. Bruce, ChrisA, Lance, Emil, Kreeky, Bo, The Godfather, Boof, Wozza, Kel, PistolPete,Grumpy, Kim, lil' Jodie, Rocket and Greg crammed the street for "social" Wednesday (note the inverted commas), Wozza and Pistol setting the speed to the social standard - albeit into that howling headwind. Most were keen to be towed to Mitchell Rd where prevailing winds would assist a turn at the front. Lance had trekked across from the wild west again, Grumpy had resisted his gravel addiction, Greg had been on two wheels since 3:52am (so the Sanctuary squad must have felt like the arvo shift) and ChrisA had fronted after weeks off the bike then rides like he's straight out of training camp. (I'll have what he's having!) They're certainly a mixed bag this lot.
With the bunch ballooned this much, there's a chance of doing the circuit without an appearance on the front, so it was a surprise to see Bo in the advance this early. Tina again made an earlier appearance, jumping aboard as Rocket and Boof steered us into River Rd. Labor was light with the wind at the posterior in Coach Rd where I'd finally joined the advance line with the workhorses queued ahead. An eye on those about to face the business end suggested there'd be some short shifts to come in Old Dookie Rd, so I would need to contribute something to the cause after all. (Freeloading ain't fair). A k with Emil to Central Ave and the next k alongside The Godfather to Dobson's bridge was about all the drive I could donate, the draft to SPC restoring enough energy to quaff coffee in company at the end. The bureau did confirm the earlier effort to the start-line, gusts of 30 km/h had got me grizzling.
23/12 Suffer'n southerly's.
Putting tradition o.t.a. by taking over first shift hopefully wouldn't put any squirrel noses out of joint ; a change of turns might just be as good as a holiday? Tuesday's and Thursday's were beginning to feel like groundhog days rather than squirrel days. Suffering another southerly to Archer St's shop was a tough introduction but the wind at the side to the truck route wasn't a lot easier. At least the view was different at the front. Emil did second shift but ended the effort at Orrvale....saving something for later maybe? Kim had the ChaCha's smoothness to catch Tina so lil' Jodie copped the wind in Central Ave. It was probably breezy way down there too, I just had trouble getting my head below the bars to score a decent draft! Tina had raised a 'roo alarm at the S bend so eyes were well open for my second shift from the cypress trees, tradition compelling me to continue to Coach Rd (and tradition tested me). Preparing for pain as Emil took the drivers seat with a tailwind was overkill, he'd called it quits at Old Dookie Rd.
The shifts were certainly different today! Tina did the Old to New Dookie drive and lil' Jodie hit the boost button toward Lemnos-Cosgrove - it took half a k to catch her! At least I could bank a few breaths before being elected to the front for the west way home. I'd need it for the side-wind. Easy with the effort for the first 100 metres so I wasn't the enemy to the tail-enders, some surprise came to find mid thirties settling on the speedo. (You've set the standard now Foss, now to keep it till Lemnos North Rd!) Emil had jumped ranks to take on the lead in Ford Rd and many were happy to let him have his way west, maybe this was what he was building up to? There'd be a head wind to face on Verney Rd and I'll guess Tina and Kim had their fingers crossed to avoid it, so Emil was the savior doing that "drive-me-to-coffee" shift thing again. '
24/12 A festive family reunion.
I've lost count of the southerly's fought to get to Sanctuary Drive ; you'd think I'd get better with repeated efforts but it doesn't get any easier. I must keep doing it 'cause it's feels good when I stop! Christmas Eve was a combining of the Couldabeens clans, a welcome extended to the Wouldabeens and a substantial discount on speed would be their gift. We'd have a chance to socially update with many strangers too. So, after being worked over by the wind for 10 k's, the next battle was for a berth in the bunch! The Christmas spirit had inspired a mob to meet at 5:40 (draw a big breath folks......) Liam, Lance, Kel, GiantAndy, Bruce, Rocket, Emil, The Godfather, Wozza, Grumpy, Gazza, lil' Jodie, Bo, Kreeky, Boof, KnightAndy, PistolPete, Molly, Greg, AlmostRetiredTrev, Laura, Jack, SuperMario, Wendy, Shorty, Joe (not Tony) and Jase managed to squeeze into Sanctuary Drive and of course, PistolPete played pilot to set the train in motion. Need I say many had already cemented their place in the peloton at the rear.
But wait! There's more! Team Tat was riding reconnaisance nearing Mitchell Rd, TatMat, DeterminedDan and TatPaul long time absentees from the team. The tsunami effect of a big bunch was back (uncomfortably) with a vengeance; maybe I've just developed a taste for these tight knit rhythmic rides of ten or so over the Covid times? Tina and BamBam were found loitering with intent on inclusion in River Rd (as if the bunch wasn't big enough!) though the cruisy low 30's didn't need a sprint to get aboard. KnightAndy (our King of kit couture) made a special guest appearance from the big smoke to join the Woulda's and Coulda's, and for once, the copious chat bouncing left to right between the rows almost drowned out The Godfather's garble.
With the leaders applying the accelerator into Coach Rd as the tail-end of the pack were under brakes in River Rd, the rubber band stretched long till One Tree Dam till two ramshackled rows got loosely back into line. My Christmas present was a free tow today, the headcount from the back of the bunch needed telephoto vision! (Foss's memory would be put to the test for the roll-call today) Was it really two years ago when bunch numbers averaged two dozen? (I am getting old!) Pelly was a late (and last) arrival via Channel Rd as the mob rolled toward the highway, Tina was having tyre trouble and Laura had a deranged derailleur but the vacuum the juggernaut generates had heart rates barely at zone two. No stunning Strava struggle scores today!
To minimize the tangle with the town's traffic, plans were underway to split the bunch at the city limits ( a more sociable strategy than driving half of them o.t.a.) so a revised route to the Butter Factory for some and traffic lights for others took care of the congestion. Coffee King Chris had a production line running to caffinate the crowd, a convival conclusion to the second last week of '21.
This week 290km YTD 13,539km
Have a great Christmas folks! (See you next week in an attempt to ride off those calories!)
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