Post #657
6/8 Warriors of the wet.
Calling the forecast rain 'gone' had a catch. It meant committing to a ride when the headlight lit up a Scotch mist settling on the street in Saturday's wee small hours (trust in the bureau's radar is my weakness). Wendy was fronting up on my call and Emil hadn't raised a white flag, so obligation over-ruled the urge to u-turn homeward. What a great decision when I felt like a shag on a rock at the end of my street! (Commitment Foss, commitment) The option of heading straight to the Butter Factory for caffeine therapy couldn't match Wendy's optimism, so when Emil failed to front at the due time, we set Sanctuary Drive in our sights to see who else was brave enough, or barmy enough!
Wet socks and rain rooster tailed off the wheel straight up the nostrils wasn't the best motivation for a satisfying Saturday spin, though I had to agree with Wendy the weather was easing reaching the south end of town. Circling Sanctuary's side streets in the wait for six bells hadn't found a soul, but Wendy was upbeat we'd get company (I must get a pack of this Kellogg's Konfidence she's on!) And sure enough, two leds appeared through the mist ; Emil had second thoughts after u-turning for home and Bruce figured there'd be others who'd ride regardless of rain (he was out and about anyway). Six o'clock was the cue for wheels to turn and Emil led an Indian filed line of martyrs south. PistolPete (Mr Reliable if it's raining) had second thoughts at home too and arrived half way to Mitchell Rd, so another in the team would ease the workload a lot.
Reading the wind is an inherited skill that comes with this two wheeled addiction (with some expectations), so not bursting a boiler at second wheel to Emil said the breeze was at my backside. 35's were achievable doing my duty on Mitchell Rd but a somewhat soggy chamois and damp creeping into thick winter gloves quashed the comfort a bit. Suggesting Wendy set her own speed north to River Rd, I shifted to last in line and wait for the next call to duty, dodging the spray from puddles spread across Euroa Rd now almost impossible (and that got everything else damp for consistency's sake) Bruce led the easterly effort along River Rd and made his martyr's mark with a long drive to rooster corner ; no complaints from me , it delayed my next visit to the drivers seat. PistolPete took his turn into the northerly and of course made it look easy to get to the highway, wisely calling a shorter circuit straight up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.....just as the mist turned to rain. Emil was our guide north on Boundary Rd though just seeing the road's edge was a challenge. That northerly became the burden when Emil handed me the reigns at New Dookie Rd, great aspirations to make a worthy contribution suddenly shrunk to try just to survive to Lemnos-Cosgrove. (It's easy to under estimate the worth of that wheel ahead till it's gone! It's said a draft eases 10-15% effort, but it felt 50% harder when Emil peeled off the front!
Wendy worked up the watts and proved her worth (ignore her own value on her velocity) to Lemnos and Bruce provided the smoothness on Ford Rd for me to find a second wind at Grahamvale Rd. GiantAndy, bless his white cotton socks, was absent today so there wouldn't be a toasting along the Boulevard, but PistolPete went long range on Wanganui and extended his effort to lead Rudd Rd and half of the Boulevard before Emil's lust to lead us to the Butter Factory saved the rest of us from duty again. A visit into the 40's for the last k to Knight St earned us breakfast. Toast and hot coffee distracted the senses of a somewhat soggy sit at the cafe's table, talk on the Great Ocean Road, great gig venues and the hibernators hurt to come distracting thoughts on the damp drive home. There's a weird satisfaction to have braved winter's worst (despite being soaked to the skin) with a bike covered in worms. Others may call us silly, we'll call them soft!
8/8 Who wants winter?
Pressed cancel instead of snooze didn't I! But something saved me and sprang the eyelids open with 10 minutes to spare. Just enough time to throw all that insulation on in readiness for 2 degrees, but missing the routine of a casual light breakfast. Half a cup of coffee would have to sustain me. A clean bike (after Saturdays saturation) always feels faster and that was my reasoning of reaching Sanctuary Drive without bursting a boiler. Lenny, Greg, PistolPete, the 5ft Ninja, Rocket, Wozza, Emil, The Godfather, Kreeky, Bruce and Kel had made the Monday pilgrimage to the starting grid and PistolPete had Wozza as partner for the opening salvo south. Things were looking up ; my tank wasn't screaming empty when Wozz and Emil sped us to Central Kialla (though I was in the draft of five ahead as I joined the tail of the advance line).
The Godfather supplied the white noise to the bunch....till he reached the drivers seat nearing the quarter horse stud. Ah, the serenity......for a couple of minutes anyway. Kreeky had second thoughts at second wheel from the business end and ducked for cover into the left line, promoting me to the front when Kel called half time and changed sides for the drive to rooster corner. Signs of struggle showed in her final 300 ; labored lungs, the grab for a lower gear and a fixed focus on the shift's end that promised relief are signs I know well, so I kept my place in the good books by holding nearly half a wheel back, then went light on the throttle into Coach Rd. I only had half a cup in the caffeine tank anyway!
I was spared the struggle of part two when the Ninja called her shift short one, then she requested Rocket to roll straight over, so didn't that save me some stress! Greg and Lenny chose a cold week to return from their sick beds but winter's wearing rather thin for all of us. This was the 25th day of 3 degrees or below (my line in the sand that defines cool from cold) and if history is to be believed, we've got about a weeks worth left. (I reckon it's going to be a long week!) Rocket and PistolPete put some warmth into our legs keeping up with their drive to Old Dookie, Emil and Lenny repeating the process to Central Ave. Rocket's call for a halt for traffic was a wise one, but some had sneaked safely through. The pack reformed half way to Dobson's bridge, the final k's noticeably tame in comparison to the usual weekday rush.
9/8 Soakin' up slipstreams.
The hunt was on for a dislodged Di2 battery but the scraping noise from Wendy's rear wheel hinted at it's hiding place. Freed from the grip of the chainstays and back in its rightful place, Wendy's Giant stayed silent as Emil made up the lost minute or so to the squirrel start line, collecting Jen en-route. Kim was on the sick list, Tina's been spoiled by Queensland's sun and Liam and Lili have yet to climatise to the cold, but the Ninja showed some solidarity to the squad, loitering with intent to ride near the shop. Our quick commute to the grid got the engine warmed up in Tuesdays zero degrees, and that helped to hang on when Emil set the speed a rung higher. (Not sure I'd be following suit) I'd almost got to 37's toward Orrvale Rd but from my engine room Scotty was hollering "I'm givin' her all she's got Capt'n!" Zero gripped the lungs from breathing any faster. The inadequacy subsided when Jen set the speed slightly slower toward the Kinder and Wendy cut another k off the cruise control to the cypress trees. Shifts start with great intention.......then reality takes over! The Ninja wasn't too happy with her pace to the S bend (but had the spare oxygen to say so!) so maybe that's why Emil dialed up the velocity again as he started round two of the turns.
I was given the captaincy crossing the highway (after we got a few extra breaths giving way to the westbound truck) and calm conditions helped to get 35's back on the Garmin, but that Antarctic atmosphere was going to cut my shift shy of Old Dookie Rd. Jen could have the lead at the fig farm. The slipstream from a couple of passing trucks helped her hurry and a k later, just as the speed started to sink, truck number three blew by to boost morale. What timing! Emil was back in charge for the westbound leg on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, 37's and 8's the staple speed set to silence any critics about the cold. Ford Rd's 3300 metres to Grahamvale would be my last shift for the morning, so emptied most of the tank to get there, leaving just a bit left to catch the tail when Jen took the lead to Verney. Emil showed remarkable restraint to stay in 3rd wheel while Wendy worked the leg to Balaclava Rd, though he did guide us to the Butter Factory (as if we needed encouragement!) in a chivalrous gesture.
10/8 Bo's back!
Perhaps I'll need to mail order motivation while the relentless frozen mornings continue, but the usual dozen or so that keep turning up to ride provide just about enough incentive to get my back side on a bike. It's become the Royal Society of Martyrs of Mutual Suffering this winter! And speaking of martyrs, Bo had hauled his gastrically contorted carcass from it's death bed to join the starting grid with Boof, Greg, Wozza, Wendy, Bruce, the 5ft Ninja, PistolPete, Kel, Emil, The Godfather and Jen for a Wednesday waltz around the 30k circuit. Feels like minus 2.5 was unfortunately familiar. PistolPete had Bruce as partner to open the account to Mitchell Rd while we all fell into order in the familiar format of two rotating rows, hopefully on the wheel of our choice! Wendy braved third wheel in the advance between Emil and Wozz, a place I'd want a guaranteed tail-wind to keep up. Bo stayed confined to the caboose, adjusting to life back aboard two wheels and the lack of temperature that comes with it.
With Jen ahead and the Ninja behind, I got into the advance line on River Rd, finding a south east breeze at the right shoulder - hardly a gale force thing but enough to stop the chat at the front. Social speed standards had seemed to have been set, 35's was about the limit......or that breeze was more like a battle 'cause shifts were shortening. Kel had called half time to The Godfather at the quarter horse stud where Jen took on the co-pilot's role, me behind thinking their kindness would tow me to the safety of Coach Rd. I had another thing coming!
Whether Kel or Jen called it quits doesn't matter, I was quickly promoted to the drivers seat early to earn my keep. Jen ran short of urge shy of rooster corner but the Ninja stepped in to drive to Coach Rd and continued northbound toward One Tree Dam (though shied from part two). Wozza and Boof were promoted to pilots to take us to the highway. The usual few commuting cars give us a wide berth and maybe that tardy truck driver who likes a bigger share of the tarmac might do likewise after The Godfather makes him an offer he can't refuse?
Reaching the rear at Boundary Rd's fig farm, Jen and I took a guess we wouldn't reach the front again, but Bo wasn't taking any risks of getting to the business end, he was concreted into the caboose. As expected, the fitter faction relished the work at the front and put in long shifts as a measure of their worth for the 9 k's back to suburbia, the usual treat of a tow home making it a circuit without complaints.
11/8 The reunion.
A fairly keen northeaster sunk the appeal of a spin, but the promised return of Tina and Kim stirred up a sense of support for the squirrels. It might be slightly slower circuit though that wind promised a workout. The threatened showers had raised the white flag for the Ninja so it was dedication that drew Emil and Jen to the start line for the squad's reunion. (I didn't think there'd be anyone turning up to enjoy the 26 km/h worth of headwind!) With compassion for those on the comeback trail, Emil set low 30's on the morning's agenda which felt easily achievable at second wheel to the truck route.... but a big ask for the engine when it came time to deliver a decent drive at the front! Luckily I had the short shift. Jen coped with the Kinder shift well, giving Kim the bonus of a tailwind on Central Ave and just the short straight with a side wind to the cypress trees (a gentle baptism back to the bunch). Tina's kept herself in two wheeled tune on holidays (only the temperature to readjust to now), though I reckon today's wind (26 km/h) probably shortened her shift. Emil took over at Beckham's bend and finished off Channel Rd, the now north northeaster on Coach Rd released the martyr inside. One of those epic efforts was brewing. A bit of handbrake was needed at Boundary Rd's bridge for Tina and Kim to stay aboard, but speed was secretly turned back up again a k later.
I could grizzle a lot about the effort at second wheel, though I figured it was better than the battle at the front. I wasn't getting the reigns crossing New Dookie Rd, Emil was still in charge to Lemnos-Cosgrove, so he got bonus points handing me a wind assisted shift. The question now was what pace to set? Too quick and I'd hear protests, too slow and I'd hear snoring! I took a punt at mid 30's and kept my ears open. All was well reaching the bridge with my shadow cast ahead from the lights still behind and just the hum of wheels on tarmac to hear, so continued to Lemnos North Rd for Jen to take on Ford. The hurt of the headwind was history, happy days now with the wind at the back door. Jen got to Grahamvale and Kim got to Verney content in the mid 30's and Tina was honored with being allowed to drive Emil's trademark turn to Balaclava. (At the risk of repeating myself, red light yet again, Emil captaining the commute to coffee yet again)
12/8 Couldn't be bothered. End of story!
This week 244 km YTD 8,158 km
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