Post #641
11/4 9 little Indians, all in a row.
Three days off two wheels was an eternity. I might have forgotten how to ride in that length of time. Friday and Saturday had dampened hopes (literally) and Sunday had other stuff on the agenda. The craving for k's was strong. The bike could be covered in cobwebs laid up for this long though strangely, tyre pressures were ready for a ride Monday morning. I felt rusty rolling the wheels again though a north west breeze even helped the spin southbound. Circling the streets with Emil near the start line found the Ninja plagued by a puncture, but she had Lenny, Tina and Greg with her as pit crew so Emil took the news to the starting grid while repairs continued. (Fiddly things these disc brake skewers.....) Soon rolling to the roundabout, I was surprised it was just Bruce, Wozza, Lenny and Rocket waiting with Emil - numbers were thin considering a mild 15 degree Monday. With 5 ahead and 3 behind southbound to the truck route, any wonder the line stayed Indian file behind Bruce doing the first drive to Mitchell Rd.
Mental preparations alter a bit waiting in line for duty when there's a single line, there's not the problem of keeping pace with somebody else, just living up to the expectations of all behind ; no pressure then! (at least there'd be the draft of 8 when duty's done) Wozza did the 2nd shift to Central Kialla, that northwest breeze feeling distinctly westerly for the 2k length or was that Wozza's wattage dragging us there? Emil was given the reigns on the turn north and we should have laid back on the couch with a box of popcorn, this could be a feature length show. He was still fixed at the front in River Rd at the bridge, Tina's head now lower in search of a better draft (sitting forth wheel wasn't doing her any favors while Emil continued his drive out of the dip).
Lenny was finally allowed into the drivers seat beyond Trevaskis Rd and slow isn't in Lenny's language, he'd set his sights at reaching rooster corner and Tina (now 3rd wheel) was looking toasted. With a k to get to Coach Rd, Tina retreated to the rear for recovery so I went a rung up the ladder behind Rocket as he became captain at River Rd's end. Now to survive the second wheel syndrome. (wasn't I lucky that Rocket just idled at 38 to the highway!) I'd switched the Garmin to the second display, the one that hides the heart rate ; what I don't know won't hurt me right? Rocket made it look easy.
It was my turn crossing the Midland and that northwester wasn't helping but I'd made it to the bridge (my usual stumbling block) and with something still left in the tank, set the fig farm as a target. Greg must have been bored behind me (or wanted to put me out of my misery?) and passed, towing the team behind. No protest from me, oxygen intake was well overdue. Tina let me in at 8th wheel for the k north to Old Dookie Rd, Greg fairly keen to keep the velocity west but Tina was losing her grip on the caboose. A holler of "Easy!" sent Bruce to the front to apply a little handbrake to the hurry. Ideally a team that starts together finishes together and that's how it stayed to the truck route, though it turned into something more like t-o-g-e-t--h--e---r in the squirt to SPC.
12/4 Winter's hint.
You know the season is on the turn when the "feels like" becomes the priority first thing in the morning. Ahh, those weeks of Winter's woes are almost on us again. The joys of frozen fingers and numb toes, and the umpteen layers of insulation needed to survive a few k's outdoors. There's some satisfaction in riding the real k's though ; (Zwift taking the easy way out!) A base layer did the job for Tuesday's feels like 6.5, the other Antarctic rated ones can stay in storage for the colder weeks to come (Finger-less gloves might have been a bit optimistic in the reality of the ride though) I'd be hoping for a bit of squirrel speed for warmth. Kim, the 5ft Ninja, Tina and Emil made up a smaller squad than normal, the routine set in stone with Emil taking the first shift to the truck route. Mid 30's was a kind introduction so my usual opening act to Orrvale Rd was a little less taxing as a result. Tina scored the super smooth length of the Cha Cha for her first appearance at the front (remember those days of the westbound thrash into the high 40's where most just hung on in survival mode watching Rocket, Boof or those of similar disposition sprint off into the distance? I suddenly feel more prehistoric ; that was years ago!)
Now, where was I? Oh yeah, Tina took us to the Kinder to hand Kim the lead into Central Ave, a tougher leg to take on with the south southwester to fight. Kim reckoned she was struggling today though the speed didn't show it. The Ninja was fifth in line for labor at the cypress trees and set her sights at Channel Rd's end, so it was probably the the long struggle of a headwind from home to the start line that trimmed her tempo to reach Boundary Rd. Emil started the northbound leg gently and built the cruising speed higher over the highway. I smelled a long turn brewing so settled in at second wheel expecting a lengthy wait, so wasn't I was woken from a trance when his elbow flapped early at the bridge (I took that as a hint to share the tail-wind around).
A drive to Old Dookie Rd was something different and from there Tina could enjoy the breeze behind to New Dookie. Kim won the leg to Lemnos-Cosgrove so the Ninja missed out on the tail wind and had the west way to Lemnos instead (she was excused for throwing in the towel at the bridge) Getting to Lemnos North Rd was easy for Emil so his addition of driving to Grahamvale Rd was understandable, and for a moment I thought he may martyr the drive to go further, but I was handed the reigns at Grahamvale Rd. I reached Verney and stayed at the front to save Tina the torture of a headwind into town but Emil launched a take-over bid for the lead (and I didn't flinch an elbow) to tow us to the caffeine conclusion.
14/4 Emil on EPO?
That'll teach me to bang on about winter! Thursday had a feels like 5.8, so out came another layer, the knee warmers, long fingered gloves and the neck warmer, and with it the extra minutes needed to get all this stuff on! I gotta admit the extra warmth made it bearable though all the others had braved bare legs. I must be softening. Tina, Jen, the 5ft Ninja, Kim and Emil had assembled at the shop, the standard starting sequence getting underway at 5:30, Emil carefully turning up the velocity to the mid 30's bound for the truck route without stretching the line long. I had no idea where the breeze was blowing from but my drive to Orrvale Rd wasn't such a battle. It turned out to be Tina taking on third shift to the Kinder and Kim the forth to the cypress trees. The standard Tuesday / Thursday scenario. Jen had a bit more spice to her speed than last week but called it quits at the S bend, the Ninja predicted to take us to Boundary Rd's bridge but she shortened her shift to at Channel Rd's end.
I was ready for Emil's turn to end at the bridge so the 1400 metres to Old Dookie Rd was driving deja vu. It wasn't hard to keep high 30's on the agenda so that suggested a southerly was helping me (and my ego). Tina, like Tuesday took the Old to New Dookie drive. I'd better get a rubber stamp made 'cause Kim got the 1200 metres to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. Jen must be on the go juice 'cause the long drive west to Lemnos North Rd blurred by under her wheels. The Ninja wasn't so enthused, the first k of Ford Rd was enough and Emil was given the reigns. I wonder what he had in store for us today? Pace was preserved to Grahamvale Rd so I sensed trouble was brewing. Yep, he lit the afterburners to get velocity into the 40's toward Verney Rd but I wanted the nice guy vote and stayed at 37's, the girls happy to stay in the draft. Emil had eased to a speed more sensible for the southbound drive to Balaclava (probably preventing a knife in the back) to conclude the lap on a calmer note.
15/4 Is Friday. Is good!
A public holiday and perfect weather (no wind!) drew a crowd at Sanctuary Drive for Good Friday and the customary trooping of the colour (kit day of course!) Was it a later 6am start or the Raftery Rd introduction to a longer lap that was the attraction? An almost mild 12 degrees might have done it too? Bruce, Rocket, Lenny, Wozza, Boof Gazza, Emil, Tina, TatPaul, Kreeky, Kel, the 5ft Ninja, Greg, The Godfather, PistolPete and Bo rolled away from the grid and immediately u-turned to travel Sanctuary Drive west to the highway as a big shift from routine.
The left and right via Cormorant and Seven Creeks Drive led us to Raftery Rd for an anti-clockwise attack on the Toaster circuit, a rare ride these days. As expected, the big horsepower had conveniently grouped at the front to set the cruise control high and that may have turned up the intimidation factor for some. A dash of orange in the sky before sun-up spread enough light to view what wildlife might lurk beyond the headlight's beam. It's a Raftery reputation, thankfully proved wrong today.
Greg ahead and Kel behind meant I had plenty of muscle to match but my number wasn't going to be drawn for a while with Wozza, Rocket, Gazza, Bruce and Emil still to do duty. A northerly breeze had sprung up so guess where I'd be when drive time came? Right into it on Coach Rd! Lucky Greg had given me a pensioner concession on velocity and matched my slower wheel to the Broken. The next 1800 metres to the highway keeping 36's on the screen had my own silly determination to blame ; you'd reckon aiming a bit lower would be a wiser move? Kel was kind to stay level and not fuel an inferiority complex.
Tommygun's tardy start had used Channel Rd to intercept the crew but he'd already resolved to confine himself to the caboose. The Godfather had manouvred his way onto Bo's wheel with the sole purpose to heckle, and so the circus act started as they paired at the front Toaster bound on Old Dookie Rd (unfortunately timed to to test Tina at third wheel) Riding in daylight is a rarity with this mob's stupid o'clock starts so sun-up was a treasured moment to be tapping out the k's. (Shorter days to come will deny us the delight). A holler approaching the Pine Lodge rail line made a sudden slow for a 'roo on the road, but he'd bounded out of harm's way for a clear path to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.
TatPaul, Tina and the Ninja provided a little less hurry as a welcome intermission before the tempo was turned up toward town. So it's not just me thinking tactics as the bunch bears west toward breakfast ; who was ahead?, would they drive long?, and where would I be if I hit the front again?, already racking the brains of Kreeky and Bo as far out of town as Boundary Rd! So I'm not the only one to predict the pain to come! Those blessed with brute force fronted again for the rapid transit to town and maybe, just maybe, there were enough long drivers to get us to breakfast and spare me the suffering of another shift. It seemed to be touch and go when I was third wheel on the crest of Mt. Wanganui, Bruce, Gazza and Emil delivering the long shifts to get us into the Boulevard.
But there wasn't to be a free tow 'cause my number had come up at Tarcoola's roundabout ; just the last 1400 metres to the Town Hall but on labored legs it would be a measure of masochism. (Greg's kudos helped the head but the legs and lungs loathed the labor) Still, a couple of contributions at the front for 60 k's worth of slipstream is pretty good value when you think about it! The hat was passed around for the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal, the babble at the Butter Factory over breakfast was on the cat & dog theory, social inadequacy and the entertainment on bike events, but that was cut short with the angst of a drug using alcoholic on the footpath (angry at bikes parked near her walk way for heaven's sake!) Society's shortcomings on dealing with addiction was the thought to take home.
This week 226km YTD 4,412
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