Post #623
11/12 A lust for less labor.
Taking a Saturday spin with the Wouldabeens could be called the soft option; it was the chance to socially update with the few former Couldabeens that shifted my usual weekend routine. (Gotta admit that a little less labor was a draw-card though) TrekTrev, Crossy, Laura, AlmostRetiredTrev, Wendy, Superman and not-so-GiantGlen was a fair showing for a Saturday ; an 18 degree wind-free day may have attracted 10 Woulda's to the grid, so with 10 degrees and a south southwester to fight, 7 was surprising. AlmostRetiredTrev steered the snaking route via Kialla Lakes Drive, Waranga and Wendouree to Sanctuary Drive, giving the short shift to the truck route to TrekTrev as his opening act (it wasn't the big turn I once expected of TrekTrev, time and a winter hibernation has softened him).
Superman soldiered through the south southwester to give me a Mitchell Rd shift, the delicate operation to shelter the crew from the wind at a pace that didn't pickle 'em was a challenge (the Sanctuary squad is easy - just go flat out and hope you're up to expectation!). 34's seemed to be the happy medium, something between snoring and suffering gets you a welcome back next time, though I was pleased to hand over the reigns 2 k's later at Kialla Central (I wasn't sure if this lot went Mitchell or River Rd anyway!) Wendy took charge at a similar speed so I'd got my opening act right. The eastern path of Mitchell about as interesting as Aunty Ethel's knitting needle collection, not a landmark to place your position or use as a roll-over target, just a dog leg in the road somewhere in the middle (maybe I'm just used to having the bridge, the dip and the quarter horse fence to guide my path?)
Crossy did the driving at some point where Wendy had enough, though he was a little off song from a blood donation I'm told. By this point I'd formed a second echelon to keep the tail-end out of the roadside weeds. Laura's persistence through winter has paid her back with pace, but I wonder if more urge could be found a couple of sprockets larger? Her cadence seems a little low but who am I to advise? (I know of one who would!) I'm not getting her engine's data so what would I know! Not-so-GiantGlen inherited the lead (and a tail wind assistance) in Coach Rd to continue the velocity north, though his position had the tail end on the American side of the tarmac (assume the second echelon command again Foss!) Indian file works well with only eight out to play, hardly socially suitable but the workload of two rows of four might be asking a bit much (there's that "damn-I've-got-that-fast-guy-as-partner-in-pace" syndrome to consider too!) Superman had the lead role across the highway and for a moment (at second wheel) I thought he'd make it to Old Dookie Rd till the "my goose is cooked" body language spoke at the fig farm. Again, direction was in doubt as I headed the seven nearer to Old Dookie Rd ; should I head north to New Dookie or east to the Toaster? AlmostRetiredTrev called the Toaster route so tentatively turning right (to avoid the sting of gravel rash) I played martyr to lead the line to Pine Lodge North Rd, if only to make some sort of worthwhile contribution - but keeping a lid on enthusiasm and out of the high 30's habit. A little respite at the rear for the northbound leg to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd was timely, the south southwester at the shoulder for the journey home was to come.
I had a 6k wait till my number came up again, the days of two dozen driving this Saturday circuit seems almost decades ago. Its probably for the better that divisions have since formed and speeds are now segregated, it's a more manageable mob of a dozen or so (and you're assured of more than one turn!) Enough of the Fossilosophy, almost time for a turn at the business end now we'd reached Ford Rd. Despite the shelter from the southerly, Superman's shift was a short one, the 1500 left to reach Grahamvale Rd was a bit short of a usual shift for me but the side wind made up for it. Only Crossy took the Verney Rd exit when we'd reached town, AlmostRetiredTrev electing to target the team to Mt.Wanganui (and I thought that leg wasn't so kosher for this crew?) Wanganui Rd felt weird at a speed well below supersonic, thoughts of a sprint to the finish line in this division, scrapped (that's just being a big shot!) There were enough calories burned along the Boulevard to justify breakfast, the Lemon Tree this pack's preferred pit-stop (till Bell Cibo opens?) How winter hibernation hurts in summer, taking the cream from the job list and the drought of suitable staff made the chat at a shorter breakfast table than my memory recalls.
13/12 Without wind.....whoop whoop!
We might as well have been on Mars. A mild Monday morning and not a puff of wind was a bit too good to believe (see what months of relentless southerly's does to you?) Wind wasn't an excuse I could use in the Sanctuary squad today, maybe I could borrow one of Bo's encyclopedia of excuses? Greg, Kel, Rocket, Bo, The Godfather, Kreeky, Kim, PistolPete, Emil and Wozza gathered for the 5:40 flag-fall and the moment two rows formed, eyes searched for the ideal wheel to follow. (It could turn into a game of rushin' roulette if you weren't careful!) Kreeky was a good guy to have behind, he'd be my partner for part two of the shift (unaccustomed as he is to half wheeling)
Greg was my windbreak till the reality of being elected to the front came due, and I'm sure he has some sympathy for the senior citizens of the community. Wozza and Pistol did the propulsion to Mitchell Rd but nobody had separated the two rascals (Bo and The Godfather) from pairing to make mischief to River Rd. Two k's further on, Kel and Greg joined forces at the bridge to aim at the dip, my turn due to drive in about a minute. Without the wear and tear of the wind, I'd made a half decent job alongside Greg to get to the quarter horse fence, Kreeky now as co-pilot to aim at rooster corner. Head, legs and lungs were keen to get there but the heart rate about to do the Hiroshima thing forced me to seek a draft a bit shy of the target. Chapeau Kim, stepping into the drivers seat to get us to Coach Rd ; won't be long now till she's a fully fledged train driver.
Bo turned critic headed north to the highway (seems many weren't measuring up to his standard of a shift) though I'd guessed The Godfather would serve him some judgement of his own before long. How good was sitting mid-field on Boundary Rd's svelte surface (#) being dragged along in the draft without another turn to do? The turn west back to town had a bit of spice added to the speed (coffee cravings?) and of course, Bo and The Godfather faced the front again at Dobson's, though Wozza and Kel were wise enough not to be drawn into their game of one up-manship. A wise call of single file was delivered crossing the truck route, the recent angst of one impatient concrete truck driver was enough to close down any cause for criticism that we'd dare to hold up anyone's hurry (for 2.6 seconds). Rants from rattled motorists hardly rank as the world's biggest drama (unless you believe Facebook) but agro from someone within a tonne or six of steel ain't fair play. Don't poke the bear they say.......
(#now that I've said that, some Vic Roads engineer will probably decide it needs a rough layer of 20mm stone cheaply slapped on it. Then be left for a month with a thick coat of loose gravel!)
14/12 Swifter squirrels.
A ride within your threshold keeps things comfortable (particularly in your head) and as much as pushing your boundaries might build some performance, banging your head against a brick wall hurts after a while! So a regular ride with the squirrels probably keeps me from falling out of love with the bike (Familiarity breeds content, if I can skew the saying) Regulars Emil, Kim and Jodie were drawn to the Archer St shop at stupid o'clock for another single filed spin of an almost exclusive circuit ; nothing to pursue and and not being pursued may just add to that comfort thing? (Being on the same page means the most). The standard shifts were underway with barely a poofteenth of wind to worry us (a southeaster at 6 km/h), Tina finding us nearing the Kinder to u-turn and jump aboard.
Kim's fitness did the shift to the cypress trees with haste, probably the incentive for lil' Jodie to push her target to Channel Rd's end. Emil didn't need any encouragement and without the southeaster in the face, pace picked up on Boundary Rd. Tina got her turn at the business end between Old and New Dookie Rd's, my job just like last week's, the 2 k's up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (There's that familiarity again). The value of Garmin's Varia radar tail-light showed as Kim led us west, Tina calling "car back" well before one was seen or heard (and I was rearmost almost blocking that radar's sight) Kim was in for the long haul today, a big shift to Lemnos North Rd (as if she needed to prove performance) I doubt we'd go as far and fast if it weren't for the team spirit, there again getting a draft after the drive probably helps. Lil' Jodie got the bit betwixt the teeth to do the first Ford Rd shift so it was an odds-on bet Emil would take on the "drive-me-to-the-coffee-shop-despite-the-distance" shift. Didn't I get a good deal; drive 4.8 km worth of turns and get towed for 25.
15/12 The professor of the tail-wind turn.
Like a Labor party branch stacking manoeuvre , Bo wriggled his way into the left line and onto PistolPete's wheel just as two rows of the Sanctuary squad set sail south, safely secluded from anything resembling work for at least half an hour. He'd be in the slipstream till we'd reach Old Dookie Rd then enjoy a southeaster's assistance toward town. Rocket, Bruce, lil' Jodie, PistolPete, Kim, Greg, Lance, Emil, Kel, Wozza, Boof and The Godfather had formed (mostly without preference of position) as PistolPete and Bruce guided the group to Mitchell Rd and barely a breeze to battle for the midweek spin.
So placement wasn't a problem.....unless you'd partnered with performance. With a strong sense of social speed, stress was low sitting on Emil's wheel, he'd be considerate on partner Kim (a wheel ahead) as she served a turn (if he knew what's good for him!) Lance had worked his way over from the wild west to join in and as my co-pilot for part two (when duty called), us seniors could set a speed suitable for relics. The standard chat and distant garble (you know who) set the tone tame along River Rd with Kel and Kreeky making a long drive to rooster corner.
Kim came up as captain in Coach Rd and did well to One Tree Dam, Emil gentle on the throttle when he rolled across as Kim called it quits. It made an early Christmas for me, I could keep up alongside Emil and make it to the highway without the blurred vision for a change. Lance and I had made a pact on pace though I was pleased he'd set the target to reach the Boundary bridge, the labor wasn't going to last longer for me. Greg's suggestion of "just breathe in, breathe out and pedal" was well intended, I just needed an extra lung to recover. Bo cruised alongside like a Cheshire cat, content with his placement ; he'd even coaxed Tina to follow in the advance (minimizing his hurry on part two?) Greg drove the Old Dookie Rd distance to School Rd for his departure on dad duties, leaving The Godfather and Bo to captain to Central Ave. Both were on better behavior with Tina about to test her knee in the drivers seat. Traffic at the truck route divided the team again, Kreeky the savior to tow the final five back to the bunch.
16/12
17/12 At labor's limit.....for a minute.
Kel broke PistolPete's tradition of first turn, 5:39 was good enough for her to get the pack in progress, The Godfather arriving on cue to co-pilot to Mitchell Rd. Friday (kit day) had persuaded Grumpy, Greg, Kim, PistolPete, Kel, lil' Jodie, The Godfather, Bo, Rocket, Bruce, Wozza, Boof and Emil to get aboard and 10 degrees had persuaded all but Greg to find their arm-warmers. Delivered to Mitchell Rd and pointed east at Kialla Central, Greg and The Godfather set the echelon for a slight south southeaster, sentences beginning to flow as oxygen intake and heart rates adjusted to the mid thirties. Looks like I'd get the last shift today so I settled into the chat before the real labor began. Rocket and Bruce settled us into the speed on River Rd, Boof the skyscraper beside lil' Jodie finishing the eastern effort at rooster corner. As expected, Tina intercepted from the east to join in.
My head went to the history books as the fifteen forged north on Coach Rd, was it really three years ago when two dozen drove this way to turn west onto Channel Rd and sprint the ChaCha? (the roll call from 2018 has some names now just memories ; KillkennyPaul, Softa, Cate, SpinDoctor, Kenworth, not-so-NewAvantiJohn, Nick, MyRideTrev, Shorty and our much missed mate Col.) But I digress, back to the present.....
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| The Professor of the tail-wind turn responds! |
With signs of evaporating energy nearing Dobson's bridge, Tina ducked behind for the draft, so I had Kel as a part three partner with a truck route target set. (It looked 1.4 years away, not 1.4 k's) With legs and lungs into overtime, gritted teeth and a furrowed brow, the glance at the heart rate was regrettable. At least Kel was kind enough to stay level alongside (it gave me brief impression I could keep up!) The Godfather took the helm for the navigation through town toward coffee, possibly because he has a certain effect on traffic lights.
This week 245km YTD 13,249
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