Post #646
14/5 Play misty for me.
I'd hardly call it full of beans, three quarters full maybe, but there was some energy in the old engine for Saturday's spin ; rain forcing Thursday and Friday off might have done me good? Heaven knows, the sit site was begging for a break (too much information Foss!) as the 300 km a week habit hurt where it shouldn't. It was like Christmas to have a north northwester to help toward the Sanctuary's start and a light misting of rain wasn't going to u-turn me home ; a third day off the bike would need some intensive therapy and besides, the bureau and the radar promised no precipitation (when are they ever wrong?) I wasn't the only one with a craving for k's, Gazza, Molly, Grumpy, TrekTrev, PistolPete, Rocket, Superman, Boof, Tina, Wozza, LiamM, Bo, the 5ft Ninja, The Godfather, Lance, GiantAndy, Lili, Lenny, Greg and Bruce were too. This was shaping up as a one-turn-at-the-front Saturday.
Superman braved the pairing with PistolPete to lead the long lines south and Lili braved second wheel for an early effort too. They may have timed their turn perfectly (get in quick while the wind's in your favor?) As always, a line of horsepower had accumulated astern. The reality of a headwind north to River Rd had Lili call an early roll for LiamM to take the punishment. TrekTrev had taken on a second Saturday with this squad and had suppoenaed Superman too (so with the Wouldabeens hibernation season already underway maybe we've gained a couple of winter warriors?) I followed Lance into the advance line on the turn into Coach Rd and should have been ready for the whiplash factor of ten pairs on the gas pedal ahead ; the burst into the forties to catch the bunch blew a few cobwebs out!
The Godfather and Wozza did a long drive to the Toaster as a little light showed us a grey and misty morning ; a moments sympathy shed for those who'd cleaned their bike yesterday (you'd be doing it again today!) Nev and Lance faced the front when the northbound became westbound on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd ; Lance set 34's on the Garmin and that suited me to a tee as I co-piloted at Woolshed Rd (I wanted something left in the tank for the highly likely 'bolt to breakfast') Lance called it quits at Pine Lodge Creek and Tina was due to join me on the change-over but had ducked to the left line ; Pistol partnered instead.
With some supply of energy and a considerate co-pilot, I felt confident to take aim at the Main Eastern bridge, a longer than usual shift for me but I had an itch to deliver a decent drive (I'm not quite ready to accept the label of excess baggage) Besides, there was time for recovery before the want for wattage in Wanganui Rd. The bigger engines were perfectly choreographed to lead into town, turning up the tempo into the forties for the aim at Mt. Wanganui. (That sorted the swift from the strugglers in a similar scenario to last Saturday) I felt lucky to be near the back than the front when the turbo's were engaged at Cemetery hill. Caution at the damp roundabouts wasn't the worry I'd expected, the Boulevard wasn't so wet, so Pistol, Lance and I kept an eye rearward as a line of survivors strung along in the slipstream. Legs and lungs were rather second hand by now so strangely, it was pleasing to see the traffic lights change red in town. Three peaks preparation, bikes that are works of art and 28mm tyres occupied the chat while breakfast occupied the appetites.
16/5 Running late for the train.
That spare minute vanished as Emil, Jen and I did the side streets warm-up prior to Monday's start, seeing the bunch steering out of Sanctuary Drive as we'd got within 300 metres of the grid. How lucky to have Emil's horsepower dragging us to the back of the train! Greg, Lenny, the 5ft Ninja, Rocket, Wozza, Kel, The Godfather, Tina, Bo and PistolPete had eased off the throttle for us tardy ones (but you don't go easy on acceleration expecting it!) So week 945 of the habit began with a bit of a heart starter ; probably a good thing 'cause most of the ride should seem easier after a half k at full throttle.
Jen surprised me calling a short shift a bit before River Rd's white fence and that made my aim at rooster corner even further away. How kind was Kel to wear out a set of disc pads to stay level with me! Some kind soul had flouro painted the pot-holes we strain to see in Coach Rd and that probably saved 26 wheels (and 13 posteriors) from punishment as Kel and the 5ft Ninja took flight to the Broken bridges. Speed had slowed nearing the highway but Rocket and Wozza dialed it right back up again in their quest to get to Old Dookie Rd. Half way there, Tina withdrew from third wheel, retreating rearward for recovery (but feeling less than ordinary, took a slow short-cut home. She must have been well below par to skip coffee!) Rocket and Wozza's fingers of blame pointed at each other. The way west back to town resumed the rush, irrespective of the northwest breeze at the brow to get there. After a swift shift to SPC, a more civilized commute of the streets got us to the Butter Factory.
17/5 Like the mother-in-law's kiss.
A few mornings of double digit temperatures soon lulls you into a false sense of security, but Tuesday rocked up and the reality of feels like 1.9 brought me back to earth with a thud! Time for a bit of heavy duty contemplation on Rule #5. Why I'd woken at 4 and couldn't drift back to lah lah land I don't know, and why I rolled out an early 8 k's before squirrel o'clock I'll ask my therapist. I'd made the usual rendevous with Emil, Kim, Jen, Lili and LiamM and arriving at the shop found the 5ft one waiting. Word was that Tina (a little off-song) was our bait rolling ahead in Channel Rd to catch (as if Emil needs any encouragement!) So, I was down to the business of fixing focus on the La Pierre's rear drop out while Emil dialed up the kilometres in the hour to the truck route ; trouble was looking at the kilometres in the hour made the effort seem more so. My shift to Orrvale Rd was shorter but by no means easier as the hope I started with had faded reaching the school. (Finishing as fast as what you started with has just one person to blame!) How good was it to get back into a draft of six while Kim delivered us to the Kinder, Jen doing her bit to the cypress trees but the Ninja's aim at reaching Channel Rd's end ended a bit beyond the S bend (breathing in 1.9 does get a vice-like grip on the lungs). Lili didn't spare the horsepower to Coach Rd but the horses stopped galloping half way to the highway.
LiamM made up the shortfall with a swift spin to Boundary Rd's bridge. I got the 1300 metre bit to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd when Emil finished his shift at New Dookie Rd and savored the reward at the rear when duty was done. There wasn't much strength in the northwester but then there wasn't much strength in my legs either. Kim had shifted her place in the pack a few rungs down the order, so Jen got the job of heading west, enjoying all 3200 metres of it to Lemnos North Rd and handing the reigns to the 5ft Ninja. Lili had her half draft to Grahamvale Rd but still found the speed to keep everyone silent to Verney. Obviously paid handsomely as a super domestique to protect Kim, Emil went easy on the effort south to Balaclava Rd and even had a lid on the pace through the streets to berth at the Butter Factory. Warmed up on coffee indoors, our biggest test was remounting for the chilled commute home.
18/5 Squad swap.
Emil pulled the pin in Wednesday's early hours and just as I opened the front door a light shower stalled my plans for a spin. What to do? Go back to bed? HTFU and take what the weather may bring? Procrastination put me way behind schedule so when the wet finally stopped and the coast looked clear, I had to take the option of a 6am start with the Wouldabeens (I'd never make the 5:40 flag-fall at Sanctuary Drive). I was overdue for a social update and besides, the ease of effort would be as good as a holiday. The tarmac dried quickly as a west northwester (15-24 km/h) dried the track to Kialla Lakes, the big surprise was finding Shorty, Nick, Crossy, Wendy, AlmostRetiredTrev, the Weapon, Jase, Laura and Superman at the roundabout. 9 degrees might have enticed a few to ride, or was this the Woulda's last hoorah before Winter hides most of them?
10 Indian filed east on Channel Rd, though crossing the truck route, two rows formed to make the most of the wind at the rear wheels. There'd be some huff and puff homeward. The company of Shorty, Nick, Jase and AlmostRetiredTrev was commonplace many moons ago, but they've elected an easier effort these days with the Woulda's - or have I found a faster faction? Either way, the fellowship remains the same. Reaching Coach Rd the honeymoon was over and battle commenced with the wind at the starboard side ; AlmostRetiredTrev quickly nominating a rearward berth in preparation for the headwind we'd face in River Rd.(their preference for Mitchell Rd was on pause while gravel trucks litter it's path with stone)
Wendy and Laura provided plenty of pace west and the Weapon proved to be a powerful co-pilot toward the bridge (a lousy draft though when she rolled across for Crossy's contribution at the front) 2k's south to Central Kialla out of the headwind was a short holiday from the hurt before another round of turns on Mitchell Rd made it to Raftery. Daylight seemed such a strange time to be riding! Pace was back on the menu bound for Conrod straight and that long 1300 metres to the finish line seems to infect most with an urgency to hurry. It was Wendy to blame for winding up the wattage and put 40's on the menu for the finish. Sentences replaced the silence for the slower k to Melbourne Rd, coffee and chat at Degani's topping off the tap nicely.
19/5 Degrees decrease, participants plummet.
Look at the positive side Foss, 0.5 wasn't a negative on Thursday's thermometer! That "feels like" temperature dragged a bit more heavy duty insulation from the depths of the cupboard. I was saving the industrial strength stuff for winter but it looks like it's already here in late Autumn. Only Emil fronted Tarcoola (too cool for Kim?) and he seemed to be clogged with a cold. Jen was a no-show at the usual spot so thank heaven Lili and LiamM turned up to make some sort of team. The Ninja waiting at the shop made five - I suppose this wasn't such a bad a turn-up given the conditions (though there'd be a bigger workload). Emil called for a quiet tap given his current condition so maybe that icy atmosphere made mid 30's feel faster than it really was? It must have been, it took plenty of push to keep that pace when my shift came due to Orrvale Rd (I was hoping to save a poofteenth of horsepower 'cause another shift would be due soon). The Ninja had the leg to the Kinder and Lili did well to drag us to the cypress trees (though almost overshot the turn east) while LiamM kept our trajectory and tempo to the S bend. Emil was noticeably tame to Coach Rd and handed me the reigns at the highway.
The change of who did what and when was a shake-up of the usual order, the rubber stamp routine we'd got into was becoming way too predictable. Most of Boundary Rd is usually spent staring at Emil's elbow so today the eyes were searching for wandering wildlife, pot-holes and the random stuff that make horizontal happen while avoiding the oh so distant Old Dookie Rd target. Why I aimed that far, I don't know. High on hopes, low on horsepower, I handed the lead to The 5ft one at Old Dookie then restocked on oxygen at the rear. The cold caught Lili short of speed beyond the rail-line so LiamM finished off the north stretch to Lemnos-Cosgrove then worked west to the bridge. Emil labored to Lemnos North Rd. A bit of The Godfather had rubbed off on me at the intersection, sneaking through when others stopped for an approaching car (didn't want to risk being shunted on a sudden stop) On the front for 3200 metres to Grahamvale Rd was spent repenting my sins. The 5ft Ninja got us to Verney Rd, Lili and LiamM sharing the shift to Balaclava Rd. Emil took it easy on the street shifts to the Butter Factory but there was a rush for the warmth of coffee.
20/5 Friday in the fridge.
Covid cautions kept a few away from the Friday ride so with just nine on the Sanctuary start line it was no wonder all stayed single file behind PistolPete when 5:40 set us south. Indian file inspired Pete to continue as captain to Kialla Central. Latecomer Grumpy arrived at River Rd from the truck route as Bo finished his 2k shift from Mitchell Rd, Kel now in charge of the charge east to the bridge. The years first "feels like zero" bit hard, and whether it halves the lungs capacity or handbrakes the muscles I'm not sure, but it certainly feels like the engine is minus a spark plug or two. Kel did well to reach the bridge and Kreeky kept the momentum to the dip.
Again I found myself in that half draft on the Ninja's wheel (I wonder if it's any warmer down at that elevation?) and the southerly breeze had stopped (though the chill factor remained) but I made the mistake of expecting she'd show an elbow at the white fence...but it beckoned me to the front early. Satisfied that speed stayed steady in the 35's, the disappointment was the distance to Coach Rd! (I felt an expectation of the 10 behind to be dragged there) The reflection of the rumble strip signs were but specs on the horizon, so focus went straight to the front wheel instead. That was far closer! Grumpy broke the single file format and drew alongside with a k of the shift to go, keen for a chat of course but I had an urgent need for all the oxygen I could take on board! The satisfaction of reaching rooster corner was offset by a sacrifice of two minutes spent stifling the gasps till I could answer Grumpy's questions.
The Godfather made it look easy to drive north to the highway, and by then I almost felt human again. Several words could now be strung together to form a sentence and be social with Boof, Jen and Bo, so with the relief of knowing my work was done, I could soak up a slipstream back to town (but real want was thawing out).
This week 328km YTD 5,523km
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