Post # 643
23/4 The 5:40am drunk (sitting in the road's centre), 3 charging canines, boys being boys and a stubborn skewer.
'Ol mate, sitting in the middle of Archer St, drunk as a skunk at 5:40am kicked off an 'interesting' Saturday spin. Navigating Waranga and Wendouree Drives with Emil en-route to Sanctuary came across Lenny and Bo playing pit crew for the punctured 5ft Ninja, the argument for tubeless tyres almost erupting from Emil during the repairs. The skewer proved to be the stubborn thing though, needing a forceful hand from Bo. To the grid with two minutes spare found Gazza, Rocket, Grumpy, Tina, GiantAndy, Wozza, The Godfather, Boof, Bruce, Molly PistolPete and Greg, ready and raring to ride. Seventeen set south into the darkness and of course, all the horsepower had risen to the top (those with the want for wattage were at the rear, clinging in hope that the rush wouldn't last)
A sudden slow on leg two to Mitchell had the squad scattered avoiding the three charging canines out of that Archer Rd driveway (how complacent we'd become since not seeing them for a month) All had luckily stayed upright, the frayed nerves almost settled for the turn east toward Central Kialla. The worry about speed and the mismatching of muscle power eventually faded as those wanting wattage warmed up and the quick quietened down, so the balance between too swift and too sedate reached a compromise and the k's ticked away. In silence for some, socially for others, depending on the want for oxygen!
I didn't need the half wheeling high jinks that The Godfather and Bo played at the front for the north leg to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, hanging on the 40's at second wheel wasn't the best preparation to my time at the front (and turns out Tina was toasted by it at the rear too). The Godfather had hand-braked his horseplay thankfully as I paired with him on the turn west, so I could manage a shift to the Cosgrove Creek. Emil went easy on me for part two so getting to Boundary Rd had some satisfaction at doing a reasonable turn. There was just enough left in the tank to hang on to Emil and PistolPete's hurry to Lemnos (they'd added another 3 km/h to the tempo but the mental scars of inadequacy would heal in a week or two! Look on the bright side Foss ; another turn at the front was unlikely. I'd only need to survive the speed back to breakfast)
By doubtful co-incidence, GiantAndy, Boof, Rocket, Lenny, Wozza, Gazza and others bestowed with horsepower were line astern to help the hurry back to the suburbs. And that formation probably played on the nerves of those already nearing their limits. Close to being awarded the Order of O.T.A., Tina avoided the embarrassment with an escape exit via Verney. (Coffee would erase any feeling of deficiency) I'd mentally prepared for the (highly likely) thrash along the Boulevard (not so difficult when you're already soaking up a slipstream at the back) and squeezing the throttle wide open to ascend the dizzying heights of Mt.Wanganui, a call of one becoming detached forced a look behind. The 5ft Ninja had punctured again. Not wishing to leave one of the team behind, PistolPete, Molly, Emil and I had halted to help, the pack pressing on to Rudd Rd, Boulevard bound. That stubborn skewer now refused to budge, so puncture repair was impossible (Emil saved the day by commuting 5 minutes home and returning with rescue transport). Pistol, Molly and I made our path to the Butter Factory to tackle talk on the convenience of junk food, going golf and health down the plug-hole.
25/4 Lest we forget.
Great expectations of a few early k's came to naught hitting the snooze button a few times ; what I wanted last night was erased by the reality of the morning after! When wheels did get rolling there was a casual cruise to the town's centre for a solemn start. The bunch gathered at Memorial Park for the ANZAC day dawn service. Engines had cooled considerably by 6:35 so when Wozza and Bruce led Lenny, Tina, Bo, Lance, Laura, Rocket, PistolPete, the 5ft Ninja, Jen, The Godfather, Kel, SuperMario, TrackStan, Greg, Molly and Boof north on the Boulevard, legs and lungs complained considerably. The decent dose of pace got the engine up to temperature enough to try an early shift for Ford Rd's first foray (not my usual delay at doing duty!) GiantAndy got on board as Boof and I headed two lines to Verney's roundabout, en-route to a clockwise crack on the Toaster loop (a foreign direction for many but it recalled for me the hurt of the hospital bunch that went this way many moons ago)
Lance paired for the leg to Grahamvale Rd though a recent bout of flu shortened the contribution. The bunch had Wouldabeens guests SuperMario and Laura along to try the tempo though Laura could be excused from fronting after a 160 km effort yesterday. With a southeaster brewing I was pleased to get a turn done early (albeit a bit shy on distance) and sit back while the differing divisions made their donation, the tempo doing a bit of a yo-yo toward Cosgrove accordingly (31 to 38 provided variety) The real effort into the wind ("breeze" if you're blessed with horsepower) came when turning south to the Toaster but I didn't care a continental......it presented no problem to me sitting smugly in the draft!
The 5ft Ninja had a puncture paranoia after a spate of Saturday flats and today on a new set of rubber, something felt peculiar (not a lack of pressure peculiar as it turned out, just a new tyre peculiar) The wind at our backs for the way west from the Toaster was a bonus 'cause hurry was back on the menu thanks to the pairing of Grumpy and Greg at the pointy end. Jen had a tentative tap at the front ; an understandable caution given the troubles with her turn on Thursday and her Cheshire-like grin at the Broken bridges signaled all was well in the engine room. Travelling west on River Rd was weird - the days of Couldabeens clockwise on the Channel-Coach-River-Mitchell-Raftery route seem like ancient history and riding in daylight seemed alien too! (Rocket and Wozz at the business end for a big part of River Rd distracted the memory of when)
To keep to the agenda of a breakfast at the Milk Bar the call was for an Archer Rd entry to town. The trouble with doing a first turn early was the likelihood of another before the lap was done, so when Boof and Wozza headed us south through Central Kialla I readied the head for another effort. There was enthusiasm aplenty at the start of the Mitchell Rd shift but the reality of the reserves came to light not long after. (All the usual Garmin numbers were a bit below the red line but the legs wanted nothing to do with pace shy of reaching Archer Rd. Lance advanced to save my bacon) With the relief of the breeze at our back in Archer Rd came the temptation of a bit more tempo into suburbia, a few more calories burned would lessen the guilt of a cafe breakfast!
26/4 Some hurry'n. Some hurt'n.
Straight out of bed and straight onto the bike on Tuesday, thanks to turning off the alarm rather than using the snooze button. The fear of "running on empty" skipping breakfast is of course unfounded when the tank still has most of the fuel it was filled with last night. I'd got wheels rolling a couple of minutes early as it happened so I didn't need to rev a cold engine to the usual rendevous. Emil and Kim were found at Tarcoola and Jen was collected en-route to the starting grid, Tina there ready to roll but the 5ft Ninja was missing. 5 @ 5:30 = go! As sure as eggs, Emil led the first shift toward the truck route with pace steadily rising (here's hoping the aim wasn't to high 'cause I'd be obliged to follow suit on speed)
36 - 37 wasn't supersonic stuff but once out of Emil's draft headed to Orrvale drew on a few reserves. In all the rush to ride earlier, I'd missed the bureau's data on wind ; something was holding up the hurry but the wind direction was vague (what you don't know won'y hurt you Foss.....get on with it!) I had lived up to Emil's effort and was lucky to have a shorter shift to do it, so gave the elbow to Jen at Orrvale Rd and slipped rearward to lament the effort at the rear. Jen ran smooth on all cylinders to the Kinder (I'll call her the comeback kid!) but Kim had Central Ave as Struggle Street for her opening act (several days hiking had turned the legs to licorice) In the spirit of teamwork, Tina took over the drive to the cypress trees and made a generous donation to drive to the S bend. With Emil back on the front early , doubts doubled on where his shift might end ; get the focus on the elbow Foss and expect anywhere, keeping the transition of turns smooth is key when some are close to the limit.
The end wasn't the turn into Coach Rd or even the highway, still spinning at Boundary Rd's bridge said the the usual Old Dookie changeover was likely but I was watching that elbow anyway. Old Dookie it was and again it felt the wind was against me, though some satisfaction came seeing pace up to spec. I was pleased to have scored the shorter drive to New Dookie and more pleased to hand over to Jen, the respite at the back from what felt like a headwind more pleasing again. Kim fronted for another attempt in Lemnos-Cosgrove but those hiking legs hurt enough to make the appearance brief, Tina rising to the occasion for a long shift to Lemnos North Rd. So Emil took the helm in Ford Rd and predictably, hijacked the lead role back to the Butter Factory, his almost obligatory squirt into the 40's toward Verney Rd probably burning his earlobes with the cusses from behind (the quiet roll in the low 30's to Balaclava Rd may have prevented a knife in the back).
27/4 Sayonara social speed!
A protected position in the bunch became vital for The Godfather as the squad set south from Sanctuary's roundabout, his deceptive dive to the left line didn't go unnoticed. Surely the wind wasn't the worry, the northeaster barely ranked as a breeze! For a change, I wasn't so choosy, circumstances had me near the back when PistolPete and Bruce started the the squad of Lenny, Boof, Greg, the 5ft Ninja, Emil, Kel, Rocket, Bo, Wozza, Grumpy, Gazza and Tina onto the circuit at 5:40. Joining the advance line at Central Kialla with Bo ahead and Gazza behind wasn't so ominous ; there were at least a dozen ahead to mask the effort needed to slice through the atmosphere (that work would reveal itself the closer I got to the front. I could worry about it then!)
Those on the demotion from the front were painting a picture of the effort though, maybe I'd get my shift with something less windswept? Effort was increasing as the quarter horse fence blurred by, Lenny and Wozza nudging the 40's (forgive them Father for they know not what wattage they have!) despite the breeze coming in at the 10 o'clock position. It didn't quite sync with the social speed standards, but hey, bits weren't breaking off the back and cries of mercy weren't apparent (probably 'cause they couldn't spare the oxygen!) Bo was pleading for a discount on speed when he paired with Kel crossing the Midland (22% last week, 32% today eh Bo?), 33 seemed sluggish and the shift was short, ending when he rolled across a bit beyond the bridge. Then for some strange reason, he dialed up the pace to 38 when I tried to get alongside (Something I said? A problem pairing with a pensioner? Body odour? Best given the attention it deserved....none!)
Gazza was the gentleman though for part two when we steered onto Old Dookie, giving me the choice of pace. 37 seemed appropriate so I could get to School Rd and give a vague impression of a reasonable turn. The Godfather had finally come forward to serve a shift with Gazza, the wind now almost behind. (What a coincidence!) There wasn't a lot of recovery as they crept toward 40 and an optimistic call crossing Central Ave split the pack in two. (note to self ; consider carefully the race car drivers' call ! The Godfather got the blame though) Speed stabilized toward the truck route and of course Emil couldn't resist heading the hurry to SPC but the line lengthened on the charge toward coffee. Keeping up with the crew while competing with traffic lights and commuting cars became a high risk workplace so when a driver (Texting? Unfocussed? Applying make-up? Half asleep? Stirring a coffee in their lap? All of the above?) did a late stab of the brakes to give way at the roundabout (prompting plenty of palpitations), I chanced a call at the Butter Factory's pow wow for calm beyond SPC. The coming months in even darker and damper conditions warrant it. Respectable road manners won't do us any harm either.
28/4 Ahh, the joys of a damp road and fighting the wind!
The forecast 4mm of rain hadn't arrived at 4:45 and the radar looked clear.....seize the day Foss, at this time of year you've gotta grab any opportunity! Yeah, the road was damp and a northeaster was blowing but the addiction is stronger than the sum of two parts (the bike was due for a decent clean anyway) The usual rendevous at Tarcoola found Kim and Emil, Jen was collected on the commute and Tina was waiting at the shop. Talk about deja vu Tuesday! The roll around the block to near us to 5:30 went single file for traffic in Archer Rd so by coincidence I had the lead role steering into Channel Rd as if to ruin the routine (the repetition was getting to me anyway!) Instead of my usual 1.2k shift to Orrvale, the downside was doing a 2k drive east with the wind wearing away the wattage. A guess at setting 34 to the truck route was a little keen, Emil settled the speed lower to Orrvale Rd (hint taken for next shift)
Jen was back to her young self with a keen drive to the Kinder and Kim was finally blessed with a favorable wind to get to the cypress trees. Tina had no trouble with speed to the S bend so wasn't I lucky to have that northeaster again! It's just over a k to Coach Rd so reaching there, I added a bit more to the highway to make it a decent distance. The great Tuesday / Thursday mystery is Emil's time in the drivers seat ; he'd crested the dizzying height of Boundary Rd's bridge (the highest peak in these parts) so Old Dookie Rd looked likely, but still fronting the four toward New Dookie had us all guessing. When his elbow refused to budge en-route to the rail line, I took a punt that our gift was a tow to Lemnos-Cosgrove where we'd have the pleasure of the wind (almost) behind back to the Butter Factory. (Surely this was compensation for Tuesday's cruelty Emil?) It was happy days for Jen to head us to Lemnos North Rd and for Kim to do Ford Rd's first bit. Tina made the most of a blast to Verney and again, I rattled the routine to spin south to Balaclava Rd. Spotted specs, a dirty kit, a disheviled bike (complete with the compulsory crushed worms attached) was a small price to pay for what ended as a satisfying spin.
29/4 Contemplating Col.....
A foggy Friday was a window to the winter to come......ah, the memories come flooding back; wet as a shag on a rock 10 minutes into a lap, visibility vexed, the want for specs with wipers and that sensation of riding through soup! But the bunch is great bait to overcome all that. Bruce, Kreeky, Boof, Wozza, Bo, Trav, the 5ft Ninja, PistolPete, The Godfather, Emil, Kel, Rocket, Tina and Grumpy rolled in for the Sanctuary start with pocketing eyewear to assist their navigation. The spin south sorted out those in a hurry and those hanging on while I battled a loose Garmin handlebar mount (better to pocket the Garmin than lose it! I could get by without the data....it's that "what you don't know won't hurt you" theory)
There was a sea of blue and flouro in the mist for Couldabeens kit day but today was the anniversary of the loss of our great mate Col. An encyclopedia of music, the master of bacon with maple syrup (he could demolish pancakes and ice-cream like a boss too!), a champion campaigner for Campagnolo, storyteller extraordinaire and all-round entertainer. We all miss his company though he left so many great memories behind for us. Col's passing only reinforces the #ruok and #neveralone message. Do that conversation folks, 3 million Australians are living with anxiety and depression.
The Godfather's varied line and speed rippled through the procession at River Rd's bridge ; the audible stuff we ignore but when actions scatter the squad...... Grumpy had stayed Captain of the caboose with concerns about the Giant's brakes so I joined the advance with Kreeky ahead and Trav behind, a turn at the front likely half way round the circuit so it was time to sit back and enjoy the show. Coach Rd finally appeared through the fog though the north drive seemed to have a clear view. Kreeky appeared to be struggling at the Broken bridges when he rolled to the left line, and being blissfully ignorant of the pace I took care to keep my wheel level with his. Conversation was canned too, I took a guess oxygen was vital.
Credit to Kreeky for reaching the highway where it was my time to pair with gentleman Trav (we conspired to set our own speed, the big hitters would have their moment for velocity nearer town). I set the fig farm as my use-by date but hadn't blown a head gasket getting there so why not aim at Old Dookie to make a decent drive of it? Having speed and heart rate hidden probably helped! Trav and Kel were kind to keep the pace below boiling point on the west way to Central Ave and slowly my effort eased in their slipstream. The trust in their call of "Clear!" at the crossroad was stark contrast to Wednesday. Going gently on the gas pedal toward Dobson's brough comfort to a few, a bit of calm before the storm to SPC at the truck route kept 15 Indian filed as one before the sensible spin to our appointment for caffeine injections.
This week 321 km YTD 4,685 km
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