Hello zone five!

Post #686

18/2 As good as a holiday?

How civilized! A sumptuous sleep-in till 6:30, a casual coffee and a cruise south for a 7:30 start.  Makes a change from supersonic speeds and stupid o'clock. A change was craved from that standard and to be frank, Saturday's lap had gone a little stale lately.  Rhythm is rare and a hint of 'big shot' syndrome was beginning to get under my skin.  A spin with a different squad would rattle the repetition and might even measure my worth? (Probably highlight the advantages / misgivings of the usual mob too?) That spice called variety is worth a taste sometimes.  I found DeepFry, GiantIan and Simon steering into Channel Rd at 7:30 (Hoffy on holidays it seems) so I sought a berth in their regular Saturday spin.  Permission was granted.  Four made a single file format sensible, though Simon confirmed the caboose was his residence for the ride, so three swapping turns meant work to do (though 33's wouldn't mean torture)  

DeepFry led to Orrvale Rd (shifts a little longer than what I'm accustomed to) and GiantIan took on the drive to the cypress trees, keen to keep the pace percolating even through intersections (I favor the slow-in, smooth-out method ; prevents tsunami's at the back)   Noting this mobs methods, I kept 33's on the cruise control and set sights on reaching Coach Rd as an equal share (bunch riding 101 really; fit in or f off!)   Satisfied with my serve, DeepFry did the northbound Coach and Boundary bit, the light southwester stretching the speed to 35's (as it should).   Simon selected a short-cut straight to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd when all others pointed east onto Old Dookie Rd, GiantIan using plenty of throttle toward the bridge.  Two oncoming bikes u-turned at the pork palace, surprised to find it was JB and eJim getting aboard (why eJim on an eBike chose to stay on as caboose is anybody's guess; maybe a lack of volts?)  

I got the job of the northbound legs to Lemnos-Cosgrove, with the precautionary slow at New Dookie in the middle (roadside grass taller than GiantAndy camouflaging the view)    35's seemed to be set in stone for the way west too, JB driving a hard bargain to Boundary Rd into a now strengthening south southwester.  It felt like Christmas finding the resealed section to Lemnos had been swept of loose stones, GiantIan doing the drive to Lemnos, albeit with a slightly slower standard.   I was put in charge of Ford Rd's first 3k's and turned up the tempo to JB's standard (speed's always spicy nearing suburbia) 

A short shift by DeepFry to Verney was followed by JB's effort to the highway though he stayed on to DECA's driveway.  The sprint to Mt.Wanganui is ancient history to me but was game-on for this clan, GiantIan turning up the wick to Kittles Rd and throwing me the elbow to continue.  As a visitor in a foreign land, I applied the 'don't be a dickhead' rule and held station (being casually deliberate), DeepFry hungry for the hurry up the hill while eJim broke all morals and standards trying for line honors (All should be burned at the stake for contesting the podium without so much as a contribution to the lap.......but this attempt with motor assistance too?)  Braving another shift into the south southwester on Rudd Rd had GiantIan running on empty, so I offered him respite at the golf drive roundabout by taking the drivers seat.  None seemed keen to want this position at Canterbury's roundabout so I continued the Boulevard tradition of tempo to Tarcoola.  GiantIan had uploaded oxygen by then to pour on the power to Knight St. A social conclusion at Noble Monks satisfied the Saturday habit.

20/2 Horizontals, helmets, headlights (and the half-wit without one)

Kel's horizontal malfunction when Bo (to her right) went left, hadn't transferred any skin to the tarmac on the warm-up lap of Sanctuary Drive. The Ninja had a light globe moment as she arrived (realizing her helmet was home) as the congregation (Greg, Wozza, Kreeky, Emil, Tina, Troy, Grumpy PistolPete, The Godfather and Rocket) formed for Monday's ritual, so there was a slow introduction on the drive to Mitchell Rd as PistolPete hurried homeward to collect a helmet for the Ninja's conformity and well being.  (It's what gentlemen do).  Proper pace got underway toward Central Kialla (I was just getting to like the lazy start too!) but barely a k was covered when Pistol's headlight abandoned ship.  Another slow would qualify this ride as interval training!  Bunch order was shuffled again.  With the pack back in action at Central Kialla and speed up to the 38's, I'd been berthed on Kreeky's wheel with The Godfather behind, the hint of a southwester of little labor to head east.  

Grumpy had returned from a week away but there was still no sign of Lenny, the long dark 6 k's of River Rd led by Troy and Grumps to rooster corner (crowing again with a glow on the horizon now in the distance). Finding fog in February was freakish as lights lit Coach Rd north and only now joining the advance line, I guessed duty would call on the west way to town, not that the breeze was a worry (pairing with The Godfather might be!)   Kel's earlier incident hadn't hampered her pace with PistolPete on Boundary Rd and speed stayed stable when the Ninja berthed beside her at the fig farm.  Ten out of ten to Tina braving the drive to Old Dookie Rd, her bonus being Greg's slipstream as The Godfather held a length ahead of him to Central Ave. (I wondered if I'd get the same treatment?)  Luckily The Godfather levelled with me to Dobson's bridge so I stretched his charity to call half time there.  

The call of "Car back" was welcome (the slipstream to come would keep 38's on the speedo for a while) but the oncoming bike with rider head down (and without a headlight) was on a collision course with our overtaking car.   Luck had him look up with a millisecond to spare; a sudden swerve left and an accident was avoided (within centimetres)   Experience had Kreeky and I not miss a beat and continue the work west, an urge to slow would have had wheels into wheels in an instant.  I was chuffed to keep 38 as the standard to the truck route but was close to detonation getting there, so allowed half the field to pass (purely for their draft) when the line went Indian file to be dragged to SPC. 

21/2 Watts & wind.

Just one day without wind wouldn't be asking too much would it?  You guessed it, a southerly blew again (with a hint of west in it) and that got the determination dialed up to get south to the start line. The northern leg of the squirrel circuit would be sweet, the rest there to suffer.  The usual Tuesday team (Molly, Tina, Wendy and Emil) made the pilgrimage to the shop, Graeme making his late arrival with a minute to spare.  Naturally Emil led the six into Channel Rd with his usual enthusiasm at 38 to the truck route, my enthusiasm only getting 36 on the speedo to Orrvale Rd (if I could see it in the dark.  6 weeks till eastern standard time gives us a little light.  For a week or three)   Tina had no trouble getting to the Kinder at a better pace but Molly had resigned herself to the rear as an observer.  Shift 3 from the Kinder to the cypress trees is first half hurt, second half helped by the wind, Wendy coping well with both halves to deliver her drive (though I wondered if Graeme was ready to launch some labor for his turn due next.  Hopefully Wendy had some torque left in the tank to respond)   

In a very smooth swap of shifts, Graeme was light on the throttle to Beckhams Bend then turned up the speed slowly to finish off Channel Rd.  Textbook stuff. A rare halt for traffic allowed a little more oxygen into the lungs for Jen to set us north to the highway (a little more oxygen taken on board there too while a car and truck crossed our path) then on to Boundary Rd's bridge.    Speed was smoothly applied to 38's.  Second wheel to Emil's pace is usually nearing me to the dreaded red zone, though that south southwester saved me a few bpm's to do a decent turn when I was given the reigns at Old Dookie Rd.  Tina took over at New Dookie for the drive to Lemnos-Cosgrove.  Although the west way to Lemnos is now swept, the new surface would loosen fillings in your teeth,  but Wendy did the work to the bridge and Graeme towed us to Ford Rd.  The 3 k's to Grahamvale Rd is as smooth as Boof's head in comparison, so Jen's drive there seemed to need a lot less watts.   The short shift to Verney Rd was Emil's but clearly it wasn't enough, the southern leg to Balaclava had his name on it (and he was welcome to its' headwind too!) though Graeme spiced up the speed for the last 400 metres for a sprint to the traffic lights (they changed red for us, of course)

22/2 I'm givin' her all she's got Capt'n!

Just for a moment, the idea of going back to bed was very appealing......till the six spoonful's of  h.t.f.u. in my coffee kicked in (glad it did; the regret of not riding would ruin the day)  The commute to Sanctuary wasn't so cruel; a light east southeaster didn't bother me on the 10k drive south but keeping 32's on the speedo did.  

Kreeky, Wozza, TrackStan, Troy, Grumpy, Bruce, Rocket, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Emil, Tina, PistolPete, Boof, The Godfather and Greg lined up waiting for the big hand to move to eight.   PistolPete and TrackStan led the way south but TrackStan's drive was depleted a little beyond the truck route so Emil stood in for the speed.  Nearly becoming sandwiched between Wozza and Rocket in the advance line, Bo took a dive to the left line, incurring Rocket's wrath (Lucky he escaped The Godfather's view).   Well down the left line through Central Kialla, I just hoped my turn would come somewhere after rooster corner; that east southeast breeze felt more like a wind.  Wozz and Rocket  mastered  the gradual build up of speed entering River Rd, a turbocharged sprint to catch the tail not required today.  

Following Tina into the advance line should make part one of my duty at the driving end manageable; I had fingers crossed Bo would do the same for part two.  Bruce had dragged himself from the sick bed but chose to sit this lap at the rear, Grumpy making another appearance for a lap but Lenny is still on the missing list.  Kreeky and Tina took over the lead role at the quarter horse stud with a couple of k's discounted from Troy's prior pace.  Tina's got a serious dose of determination of late, driving the distance to Coach Rd and calling half time half way there.  When I was promted to the front, that east southeaster was more like a brick wall than a breeze, or had that h.t.f.u. worn off by now?  The last 1500 to hear the rooster crow wore down more watts than I wanted.  North toward the Broken bridges wasn't much easier, despite Bo behaving, and when an oncoming truck provided enough wind shear to take my wheel south to Seymour, it was hello zone 5!  

I wanted to call "Done" but the bridges weren't far away, so I delayed raising the white flag for another 200 metres (though that probably exceeded my safe working load).      Greg sided with Bo and preserved pace till the downhill off the bridges and there started the battle of Bo vs Greg and who's wheel came first.  Just what I needed at 175 bpm!  I (just) held on to their hurry, hoping the slow for the highway might keep me from heart failure.  Something approaching normal returned by Boundary Rd's fig farm (apologies for no replies to those who served me a sentence beforehand) but no sooner than breath had returned, it was time to spend it again for the way west on Old Dookie Rd, 42's emptying the tank quickly to Central Ave.  (Just as well I was a long way from the front as excitement built arriving near town).  Traffic slowed the exit from the truck route and that got muscles burning to build up to 45's but I'd survived the sprint to SPC (albeit third last) and squeezed a few words in with Bruce when the High St lights halted our hurry.

23/2 Three therapy.

No southerlies to haunt me Thursday........but there was a northeaster instead (just to make most of the squirrel circuit a struggle!)  Maybe Mother Nature hates bike riders too?  (If we pay rego, will the wind go away?)  Kim cancelled, Wendy went the sleep-in option, Jen and Molly were nowhere to be seen in Rae St, Graeme was a no-show, Lili and Liam's rumored comeback might be next week but Tina and Emil just couldn't stay away.  And I certainly wasn't going to miss my therapy session.  A wait at the shop till 5:30 struck was out of courtesy to any late-comers but it yielded none, so Emil got the wheels rolling east to the truck route at the prescribed pace.  The first 2300 metres wasn't enough apparently, an extended shift was on his wish list.  Still at the front arriving at Orrvale then the Kinder, there was no stopping him at the cypress trees or even the S bend.  

To Coach Rd and even beyond the highway told me Emil was on an epic (the boy behaved though, sticking to the speed limit).  I was allowed into the drivers seat at Old Dookie Rd though, the northeaster quite a surprise after so long in the draft at second wheel. I suddenly felt duty bound to stay in the seat after Emil's effort, (though not of the proportions he set), delivering Tina to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd for an (almost) tail-wind turn.  She'd earned it.  Ford Rd was Emil's to drive and for a moment I thought this might be epic effort number two and my free tow home, but an elbow was shown to me crossing Grahamvale Rd.  The short shift to Verney seemed a lack-lustre donation so I braved stealing Emil's signature shift to Balaclava Rd (I guess he could launch a take-over bid if he didn't like it).   But he didn't.  Lucky me got the 2300 metre drive to the Balaclava Rd lights, for a moment thinking they'd stay green.  But of course they changed red.  Just for us.

24/2 Precision timing by the tail-wind specialist.

BamBam's puncture just short of the Friday grid allowed time to contemplate if I'd be lucky enough to score a tailwind turn but whether I did or didn't, there'd be effort at the front regardless.  So why worry?  All I needed was a co-operative co-pilot when I got there.  I'm sure Emil was preaching the gospel according to St. Tubeless while repairs were underway but it didn't bother Grumpy, Greg, Troy, PistolPete, Jen, Wozza, The Godfather, Kel, Bruce, Bo, Rocket, Tina, Boof and the 5ft Ninja who waited out of earshot at the grid.  Puncture problem solved five minutes later, Pistol and Bruce started the circuit south, hopefully without the urge to make up lost time.  Just how many fingers can I cross?  Trav arrived to join in near Mitchell Rd, the way east and north feeling the wrath of the 17 km/h wind, even at the back of the bunch.   Just as well there was horsepower at the front to drag us mortals along.  Deja vu Wednesday arrived finding Tina ahead and Bo behind when I'd joined the advance for the journey toward rooster corner.  

Grumpy's attendance for the week earns him an elephant stamp and Bruce seems to be on Recovery Rd fronting for duty again but BamBam was doing his (usual) once-in-a-blue-moon thing.  Quite a lot of freewheeling ahead made a mess of the rhythm at the rear and coupled with an echelon across River Rd, it was a pleasure to move further forward.  In a similar scenario to Wednesday, oncoming traffic on Coach Rd carried a weeks' worth of wind behind them so those at the front bore the brunt.  Getting closer to the business end at the Broken bridges, Grumpy seemed to think I'd get the dream turn with the wind behind in Old Dookie, though I wasn't that optimistic. Boof and Jen led into Boundary and Jen chose a short shift, calling it quits a bit beyond the bridge, so Tina paired with her to the fig farm then elbowed me to join her for the k to Old Dookie Rd.  (Grumpy got it wrong). The work into the wind wasn't worth a grizzle, Tina's tenacity to do twice as much deserved the attention.  

In a masterclass of perfect positioning, Bo came alongside for our drive west, just enough north in the northeaster to set the line in the centre of Old Dookie Rd. I could manage 37's and 38's with a little shelter and had set a goal to reach Central Ave (call me Mr. Martyr) till Bo decided School Rd was his half time (So much for "full blocks"?)   Maybe he was bored with my tame tempo? He and Kel built up the pace to 40.  When the Ninja paired with Kel aiming at Dobson's, speed had settled a whisker, the stability of 38's more manageable so some watts had returned for the squirt to SPC.

This week 295km

YTD 2,321km 

The stuff to suffer.

Post #685

13/2 Oh, the woes of wind!

I should have been the cork out of the shaken bottle after three days off the bike, but the southerlies were blowing again to haunt me for the ten k commute to Monday's lap (and handbrake any attempt to keep thirty on the speedo).  Emil was kind enough to halve his horsepower and stay alongside, Wendy, Tina and Jen having no complaints glued to our draft.  Troy, Kel, The Godfather, Wozza, Kreeky, PistolPete, Bo, Greg and Rocket converged on Sanctuary Drive for the 5:40 habit and with my tank almost empty from the drive to the start-line, I'd softened to take the last place in the order (though with just thirteen others in the pack, this wouldn't be a free ride 'round.  I'd probably miss out on a tail-wind turn but really, it's a bargain if you drive a couple of k's and get towed for the other forty)   

PistolPete and Emil weren't exceeding 35 km/h to Mitchell Rd but it wasn't a return to social speed standards, 35 km/h gusts head-on hampered any more hurry.  A collective sigh of relief came turning east, Emil and Wozz adding a couple of k's to the tempo toward Central Kialla.  The 2k's north to River Rd were bliss and of course 40+ blurred the bitumen getting there.   An approaching car meant we couldn't skirt around the patches on the patches on the pot-holes (400 metres before the turn east), the experience earthquake-like and a pain for the posterior.  You soon appreciate the shelter of the left line when it's time to transition to the right, the southerly making steering a straight line a precision operation in the advance line.  (Banging elbows with the rider alongside isn't the ideal scenario).  A few were running out of gears toward the Broken River, Bo and (later) The Godfather timing their turns to get the advantage of the wind up the waste-gate. They're good at it!

Rocket complied with Jen's want for a short shift on Boundary Rd, invoking the "full block" demand from The Godfather.  Tina made the most of the southerly heading north to Old Dookie Rd where my turn west became due.  A fair amount of labor was needed toward School Rd till Tina raised the white flag half way, PistolPete the consummate co-pilot while I wore down the watts for the "full block" (as payment for the draft till now) to Central Ave.  Emil's pairing with Pistol beyond there raised the stakes higher ('cause they can!) and traffic split the pack at the truck route , so what's usually the squirt to SPC was but a trickle till the team re-united.  Holding the wheel became a challenge through the lefts and rights of the course to coffee, the thoughts of the tailwind home keeping me on the tail till a red traffic light detached me. 

14/2  Snap, crackle, pop.

I'll be diagnosed with RSI soon.  The Repetitive Southerly Injury is showing signs of physical and mental stress; wind is almost constantly against me the moment I swing a leg over the Fizik.  Maybe electroconvulsive therapy is the answer to convince the cranium a headwind is good for you?  Wendy, Emil, Jen, Tina and Graeme seemed to enjoy exposure to it, turning up in Balaclava and Rae St for another stupid o'clock Squirrel session. 

31 was my red-line to the shop; I could have managed a higher pace to be honest, but mentally, I needed something left in the tank at the start-line if I was to contribute something like a fair share to the workload.  After 8 k's worth of wind in the face, Emil's 2k introduction to a 37 km/h standard was a big ask, though a couple of k's with the wind at the starboard side is bearable when there's 8k's worth of sitting in the slipstream to follow.  A couple of k's to the Kinder with Tina in charge commenced my recovery at the back, but when Jen opened the throttle into Central Ave's headwind, the respite went on hold till the ease of effort east to the cypress trees.  Wendy's work to the S bend was steady and h.r. dropped to mid 140's though Graeme's eagerness to finish off Channel Rd ruined the recovery again.  

Emil went easy on the accelerator to the highway and careful again to get up to pace on Boundary, though sitting second wheel had little of the draft available in the caboose and 40's became the stuff to suffer. I'd expected to be handed the reigns at Old Dookie and found the front a little easier for a while.......till preserving the pace began to use up the watts.  A passing truck delivered a draft to save me.  A little hesitation for westbound traffic on New Dookie Rd stretched the line long; silly me waiting for the tail-enders made mine a challenge to catch Tina's hurry to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.  The fun began westbound toward Lemnos with Jen leading the way, the road recently resurfaced and coated with plenty of loose stone.  Just a few millimetres off line from a cars' wheel tracks and bike tyres squirmed for traction, the snap, crackle and pop of coarse Cosgrove stone under high pressure rubber got gloves gripping the bars tight.  

An echelon to seek cover from the southerly became a high risk activity.  Jen did well to follow a line less gravelled, though rumble strips now camoflaged by the re-seal awoke the posterior with a start.  Ford Rd felt like a billiard table in comparison and the relief of Wendy's shift to Grahamvale Rd at 33's allowed nerves to settle.   Too settled for Graeme it seemed; he bolted to Verney at 38's, the breaking point for Wendy attempting recovery at the rear.  A moment off the gas to regroup and Emil built the speed to something all could survive to Balaclava (but Graeme got itchy again to sprint to the traffic lights).  Yep, red again. 

15/2 Flogging this dead horse.

This shift would be short.  Feeling a little guilty as others did their duty at the front urged me to join the advance line when reaching rearmost in River Rd, though Tina (sensibly) took the rear-gunner's role as tempo climbed to 38's.  I wasn't sure I'd have the watts to power this sort of pace when promoted to the business end but going beyond the comfort zone is part of the job description when you take up this habit.  I might not meet the k.p.i.'s for long, particularly as an east southeast breeze brewed to become a northeast wind, but a small donation is better than none isn't it?  

Greg was being half-wheeled by The Godfather to the dip and my time with him was up next.  Kreeky (behind) for part two would hopefully grant me concessions on compassionate grounds.    PistolPete, Wozza, Emil and Rocket had set their standards so far while Boof and the 5ft Ninja were waiting in the wings for their turn to come.  I have seniority over The Godfather though I'm outranked in watts, but the young fella took pity on this pensioner.  Hopes of co-piloting with him to the quarter horse fence was pure fantasy as this old engine spluttered at his speed, reality rolling me across at the half way mark to seek Kreeky's kindness for part two.  Dropping a k off the velocity was my only hope.  Kreeky was compliant alongside to the fence, his drive with Boof to rooster corner showing fine form (though he wasn't talking much as the Ninja and Boof drove north on Coach Rd).  

The Godfather's greetings were gushed to the southbound bunches as we crossed the highway, Boof, PistolPete and Emil typically quick on the northern path to Old Dookie Rd (they must have immunity to headwinds?).     Speed is no longer a worry when wind whips at the backside, so 42's to Central Ave in Rocket and Wozza's draft was sustainable.  With a clear path through the Doyles roundabout, the afterburners were lit toward SPC, 45's became the norm till a sudden slow for an approaching van turning in front of us to head south.  Catastrophe avoided, 37's seemed snail-like on the commute to coffee till High St's traffic light let the lungs refill.  My hopes were that dead horses could be revived by coffee.

16/2  Like silk..... 

Kilometres seem to evaporate when you get in that zone.......a smooth speed (under the cardiac danger zone), trust in the wheel ahead and barely a breeze to battle had the tarmac blurring under the bike so smoothly for Thursday's lap of luxury (no gasps and groans, no legs like licorice, not on the brink of heart failure and the views were actually in focus!)  Thursday's 35 limit works well and has most in the comfort zone where facing the front isn't a fear.  I'd done my duty to Orrvale Rd as usual and settled into the draft at the back, well below the point of implosion and still with oxygen to spare!  I could get used to this. Emil had restrained his rush on the first drive to the truck route and Tina took us to the Kinder at the same steady rhythm.  

Nice when everybody is on the same page (Is it me or is that a rare thing?)   With broken spokes replaced, Molly had returned to Thursday's therapy and did her time to the cypress trees for Wendy to lead us to the S bend (without the concerns of Graeme's acceleration thereafter).  Kim's care at keeping the cap on speed kept the six stuck together to Coach Rd for Emil to lead us north.  The northeast breeze wasn't really a bother when Emil elbowed me to the lead at Old Dookie Rd, those few k's below bursting point making my time at the front almost enjoyable to New Dookie. 

After Tuesday's gravel fest on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd the joint decision to use Hill Rd as a diversion was less stress to Lemnos, Tina and Molly dividing the distance to the old shop.  Wendy piloted the brief roll on the super smooth stretch of Lemnos North Rd and was keen to take on Ford Rd too with the pace less tortuous than Tuesday.  So the squirrel ritual was preserved when Kim did the drive to Verney 'cause Emil got his trademark turn south to Balaclava Rd (and the red light that comes with it).  Looking forward already to the next therapy session!

   

17/2 A Friday to favor the fast.

Tailwind assistance to the starting grid is as rare as rocking horse manure, though something to help my hurry is always welcome.  Where I could hide from the headwind for most of the anti-clcokwise lap was the real issue though.   (Take a concrete pill and harden up Foss, escaping that effort is nigh on impossible - I just needed to choose a compliant co-pilot!)   The choice was out of PistolPete, Emil, BamBam, Greg, Tina, The Godfather, KnightPaul, Kel, Graeme, Kim, Kreeky, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Jen or Troy who'd made up the Friday squad, though the order of arrival doesn't always give you many options.  Lining up on the Ninja's wheel wouldn't have much aero advantage but Jen (behind) can be counted as a smooth operator.   PistolPete and (birthday boy) Emil got wheels in motion at 5:40, the tailwind down to Mitchell Rd setting a swift precedence on pace.  Why that tempo became gospel into the headwind I have no idea!  

It's alright for these young guns untroubled by wind, regardless of the direction - my trouble is that most of this mob are young!  This would be a Friday for the fast.  Rocket, Wozz and Boof were noted by their absence, Bruce has been on sick leave and Lenny's listed as a missing person but KnightPaul had made a special guest appearance again and BamBam made a comeback.  Greg and KnightPaul had the horsepower to haul us through the headwind at Central Kialla, Troy and The Godfather lengthening the line into River Rd (yet another thrash at the back to stay aboard).   I'd hoped for something a little slower than 38's toward rooster corner although being in the advance line at least had some shelter. (poor position really, I'd be exposed to the northeaster advancing to the front. Reversing the roll would have made sense but that gets complicated for some).

25 degrees at 6am said Summer wasn't quite finished. BamBam ran out of watts at 3rd wheel and withdrew from the advance to take residence in the caboose nearing Coach Rd, Kim taking the left line option as Kel and Bo took us toward the Broken bridges.  Tina had braved an appearance at the business end and drove well (with some verbal motivation from behind) to reach the highway. Part two of her shift was understandably short so Jen and I took our medicine in Boundary Rd.  (Were the gusts of 34 km/h just for us?)  I called half time a bit beyond the bridge and despite preserving pace, the Ninja had ideas of fronting faster and whole biked me to the fig farm.  When I didn't respond to her new standard she rolled across, though PistolPete turned the tables when her speed sank back to the previous pace in the last half k to Old Dookie Rd.  With wind almost at the back door for the way west to town, enthusiasm (and naturally the speed) built toward Central Ave and although legs had had enough, my head drove the incentive to hang on (the cure of coffee wasn't far away now). 

Almost o.t.a several times this week, I was determined to hang on for the squirt to SPC and although being slowly demoted toward the back I made it to the roundabout. but the numbers didn't add up ahead arriving there.  BamBam, Tina and Kim were 30 metres in arrears so duty and diplomacy had me drop back to keep them company for the commute to coffee. 

This week 244km

YTD 2,024km

Cooking cadence

 Post #684

4/2 Heinz speed; 57 different varieties.

Who turns up on a Saturday has become a mixed bag lately.  The shop squad has drawn a lot of consistency away from Sanctuary Drive and with the big horsepower otherwise occupied, a bit of bravado has been brewing in division two.  Just Molly and I on the southbound commute pondered who'd be on the starting grid.  Hopefully it'd be a co-operative crew.  Winter-like weather had dragged arm-warmers, gloves, a base layer and knee warmers from the mothballs and a west northwester (9-15 km/h) wold help on the way out but hurt on the way home.  Mr Reliable (PistolPete) was already in the number one position, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Lance and Nev rolling in for duty soon after.  Naturally, The Godfather was last to arrive. I guessed this would be an Indian-filed, somewhat anti-social Saturday.  With no qualms at second wheel to Pistol, we set sail at six (Pete's quick, but smooth and I had no jealousy of him dealing with the west northwester while I hardened up in his draft for what would be an almost tail-wind turn on Mitchell.  

37's seemed no problem for PistolPete (you can't tell if he's cruising or cooked anyway) but 36's was all this old engine could muster to Central Kialla (gasps and groans give my game away)    The Ninja seemed to be in Struggle St toward River Rd though 33's and 34's was ok for me attempting recovery at the rear.  Nev mustn't have read the signals of stress 'cause he wound up to the 40's eastbound on River Rd being the tail-wind thief staying in the driver's seat to the dip and still heading the hurry toward the quarter horse gates.  I could almost smell Lance cooking at second wheel (Nev reckoned there wasn't any wind; he'd miss-read the weather too)   Finally handing the reigns to an over-cooked Lance for Coach Rd, Nev retired to the rear at rooster corner.  The attempt to keep 36's toward the Broken bridges soon had Lance well over the red-line, his elbow raising the white flag to Bo to take control.  At least Bo stayed slow for Lance to fill his lungs but soon got 40's happening to the highway (boosted by bravado having The Godfather on his wheel?)   

Over the Midland and into Boundary Rd, The Godfather offered some hope of a tempo to suit the team but 36's didn't last long.  Anything from 34's to 39's murdered muscles of those behind for the next 3 k's to Old Dookie Rd.  (I'd expected the shop squad to have passed by now; Nev's heroics on River Rd may have had us ahead of agenda?)   I assumed the role of shock-absorber when PistolPete's power gapped the pack into Old Dookie, but Nev (assuming I was spent?) jumped the queue to second wheel.  Pete's pace was perfect at 36's when the gaps had closed by the bridge and that's where the shop squad (Rocket, Grumpy, Boof, Greg, Bruce, Wozza, Emil and Gazza) caught and passed, though Greg uncoupled from their train at the pork palace.  (another player in our pack would be handy).   PistolPete took us smoothly to the Toaster but Nev was in his own little world pouring on the watts toward the church, oblivious to our attempts at getting up to speed.  

Again in the shock-absorber role, I became the tow truck to New Dookie Rd where Nev had awoken to his solo status.  I don't think he got the hint 'cause he was the cork-out-of-the-bottle across New Dookie toward the railway line while I continued my new job description.  A little smoothing of speed would have us all able to hold an unbroken line, get a decent turn done and survive tempo as a team, but that might be asking a lot?  Bo judged (correctly) that I was cooked arriving at Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd and considerately set 35's on the menu for the way west (with a little guidance to sit at the road's centre as our shelter from the now northwester)   The smoothness set to Boundary Rd was the saviour to many ; I'd even recovered enough to donate a Boundary to the bridge shift.  The Ninja preserved pace to Lemnos North Rd where Nev became captain again.  (Some had withdrawn from the previous order, no doubt to upload on oxygen).  Smoothness was now the struggle, 34's to 38's and almost everything in between made a mountain of labor on the legs toward Grahamvale Rd; frustrating for me at the back when all I wanted was something steady for respite.  

Lance had the answer when he set a standard to Verney Rd but his distance had been compromised by the prior variations.  Greg's gift of a steady speed to the highway helped as a precursor to Pistol's quick (yet considerate) momentum along Wanaganui Rd.  The coast was clear at Canterbury's roundabout to take an American approach and keep the pace percolating, Bo driving the Boulevard's length saved me more pain at the pointy end.  The combination of 53/15 was the ideal gear as The Godfather took the lead at Tarcoola's roundabout, just the right ratio to hold his wheel for the bolt to Knight St though 44 was cooking me at the plasterworks (but the relief of the cruise to the cafe was just moments away).  Legs went to jelly when the traffic lights turned green at the town hall but that would be cured by caffeine.  Nev's chain jumped a gear in his eagerness to restart - the real cause was a fractured chain-stay, signing the Merida's death warrant.    Camper trailers, aircraft maintenance and Bo off the beers (?) interrupted the intake of breakfast while a few spots of rain told us we'd timed the lap well. 

6/2 Mild mannered Monday......till the end.

The pace was pleasant for a Monday; normally the pent-up horsepower from a Sunday off is released to make Monday's ride rigorous, so 36's and sometimes 35's seemed relaxed.  I wasn't expecting The Godfather to turn up after an over hydrated Sunday birthday, but he emerged from the sea of lights behind at Sanctuary's grid.  Kreeky, Tina, Bruce, Wozza, Jen, Gazza, Rocket, Greg, Bo, Emil, PistolPete, Kel, Grumpy and the 5ft Ninja in the mix made for a massed start, and of course PistolPete led the way south with Emil as his understudy.  Gazza and Grumpy had both made the start-line on time but a little light on the horizon gave the impression we were running a bit late anyway.  

The order got sorted with the usual collection of horsepower at the front and the gals grouped together mid field while something like summer (12 degrees was better than last week!) had legs and even a few arms exposed to the atmosphere.  Strangely, there were no side effects from the appearance of The Godfather and a full moon at the same place and time.  Weekend activities occupied the left / right banter from most who could spare the oxygen while Wozza and Rocket led the two lines toward Coach Rd.  The smoothness was worth bottling.  New front wheel-bearings have silenced a persistent creak in my bike, thankful it wasn't the noise of the engine about to throw a con-rod from this 18 year habit.  The deck had been shuffled today; Zig and Zag hadn't followed each other in the advance line for their usual circus act; instead Greg kept The Godfather honest to rooster corner and Kel had Bo behave for his appearance a little later.  

Cats don't do Mondays (against their religious beliefs?) but LegalSteve was braving a lap on Boundary Rd and Keeno (a distance behind) was on a solitary too, so some have a craving for k's. The Hurtlocker were the early birds in River Rd and '51 fielded a few but it won't be long till hibernation begins for many of these lads I suppose.  Grumpy and Bruce paced their pilgrimage to Old Dookie Rd, Kim finding comfort changing to the left line as we steered west for town.  Kel had Bo on his best behavior to Central Ave where Jen paired with Kel to Dobson's bridge.  Digging deep to drive 36's to the truck route, Tina put in a good turn so I would see duty after all, albeit the last shift left.  There's an effort expected toward SPC so I put plenty of throttle into the exit of the roundabout but PistolPete had an urge to pass........but I was going to get my turn done first if it killed me (Nearly did!)  44's to Drummond Rd to put Pistol in his place but had pickled me, my elbow relenting to give him the glory of heading the crew to SPC while I paid the price of pace dropping rearward to recover.  There was little the legs would do but hold on to the tail toward the cafe, though I did find Kim in Struggle Street at the showgrounds to tow her back to the bunch, possible when the red light went green at High St. 

7/2 Suffer'n southerlies.

It's only 8715 metres to the shop so, for the most part, the suffering should end there.  Maybe a little shove at the side for the east way out and the west way back in and it's rare that anyone but Emil gets the last leg to labor into it.  Yeah, those southerlies were at it again!  As if to crush your hopes the moment you get wheels turning toward the squirrels start-line, there's the expectation of providing some sort of pace for those behind, let alone equaling Emil's effort alongside.  A constant 20 and gusts of 32 burned up the calories to get to Channel Rd.   

Molly was missing and Kim had called a morning off but Jen, Tina, Emil, Wendy and Graeme had assembled for the Tuesday routine.  Wind in the face had Emil excited to set 37's as the opening tempo to the truck route, but the pace pickled Wendy. (280km and 3900 metres of elevation in the past three days might have something to do with it!)    She'd earned a permanent seat in the caboose today.  Not wishing to dislodge her from the line, I set a slightly slower 35 for my usual Doyles to Orrvale Rd thing and that seemed to agree with Tina's goal to get to the Kinder.  Jen copped the headwind on Central Ave but less effort on the east drive to the cypress trees.  Graeme's legs were a blur toward Coach Rd, a chance peek seeing his chain on the 21 sprocket confirms he's a spin doctor.  (Jen favoring the 13 highlights the highs and lows of cadence we all finally find best to drive. We've all got different engines I suppose ; what speed they can deliver and the distance they drive varies too)  

Emil started round two into Coach Rd and didn't get selfish with his shift, sharing the tailwind turns with me, Tina and Jen, but Graeme scored the portside pain of the wind on the west way to Lemnos.  For a moment I thought he'd tow us to Ford Rd but the wind wore that idea down to throw an elbow to Emil a bit beyond the bridge.  Emil delivered us to Ford Rd where I got to enjoy the strength of that south southwester. I made a mockery of holding a straight line!   By luck, the sweetest shift (the shortest one) to Verney was Tina's to tap though Jen wasn't so fortunate to have the wind work off her watts toward Balaclava.  The urge ran out at Graham St where Graeme put his spin on speed to get to that red traffic light.  Emil took on the tow truck role back to the Butter Factory where the good news (after coffee) was a tailwind home. 

8/2 Social speed (for superhumans!) 

The 'roo in residential Regent St probably slowed the Wednesday commute with Emil slightly, although that almost standard stiff southerly had me losing the will to live.  Three leds ahead at the Showgrounds inspired a sprint to catch them at the Benalla Rd lights ; well worth the watts spent to catch Boof, Wozza and Rocket en-route to Sanctuary Drive for the free tow there!   Darker mornings and the pre-dawn wildlife has cancelled the shop squad storming the mid week circuit (a late afternoon session is on the cards apparently) so the once calm mid-week social now has some horsepower to hurry it up.  

The bigger field (Gazza, Kel, Bruce, the 5ft Ninja, Kreeky, Bo, PistolPete, Emil, The Godfather and Troy) meant less work but I'll bet there'd be a swifter speed than social.  Rubber stamp PistolPete leading the suffering into the southerly (15-22), Rocket his partner in crime pushing 37's to Mitchell Rd (glad I resisted my usual sit on Pistol's wheel; five wheels back from the business end was hard enough!)   Gazza and Rocket made muscles complain to Central Kialla so the wind behind toward River Rd delivered some respite.  Being last in line as Bruce and The Godfather guided our path east needed 45's to catch the tail, thankfully Bruce guided The Godfather up the road so Emil and I could get out of the gutter. 

Towed to the dip by Troy, plenty of pace was on to reach rooster corner. The Godfather's demands for a 'full block' from Kel were ignored; she was being kind on Kreeky who seemed to be bursting a boiler to get there.  The Ninja wasn't guided by Garmin for her shift with Kel (a lack of volts may have kept her in the dark?), guesswork took her at 37's to the dam where she called half time. (Greg had missed the memo on the shop squad cancellation so had driven Channel Rd to intercept us).   I stayed level with the Ninja, waiting for the white flag to be hoisted aloft and not long over the Broken bridges her call came to roll left.   Being whole wheeled to the highway by Emil's enthusiasm for velocity didn't bother me, 38 was my limit if I were to reach it without blowing a gasket.  

Boof and Emil stepped up to the 40's for Boundary Rd and I could survive that with the advantage their draft.  Yet another orange horizon lit our way west on Old Dookie Rd, 38's and 9's seemed the standard no matter which way the wind blew! (Rest in peace social Wednesday!)  Wozza and Pistol kept the cadence cooking toward the truck route, two lines turning single file as the afterburners were engaged for the squirt to SPC.  The southerly at the side felt like a handbrake once out of the little shelter I had.....a gap had opened and a few shot by. That ota moment was close, so when a car crept forward from the side street ahead, my moment of caution put me 20 metres shy of the bunch.  I had no regrets; in fact I was happy to roll solo and recover back to the cafe 'cause traffic lights were against me anyway now.  Thirty seconds late for coffee wouldn't kill me. 

9/2 A squirrel smoothie & a tap to Tally.

Half way to Tarcoola and something didn't feel right.  Tyre pressures were ok, the wind wasn't a worry (for a change), I had remembered the helmet and shoes were on the correct feet.   D'oh! Pockets were empty! (and we all know what happens risking a ride without tools, tube, a CO2 pump, phone and keys to get back indoors!)  A hurried back-track home, a text to Emil to meet at the shop, tools and equipment aboard and ready for take two to Thursday.  I'd got to the shop at 5:28 with a few breaths left in the bank just as Emil, Kim, Wendy, Tina and Molly finished a block of the shop as a prologue.  The role of second wheel in the procession was still mine though.  It was therapy Thursday so 33's and 34's would be todays limit of labor.  Eastbound shifts to Coach Rd had a hint of a south southeaster to contend with but it was happy days headed north with all but Molly getting a taste of the tailwind to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. (maybe a payback for being awol on Tuesday?)   

She managed well headed for Lemnos; conditions weren't so cruel. Kim seems to relish the relaxed Thursday format, towing us to Ford Rd and a k further into it before letting Wendy do her work to Grahamvale Rd.  Emil had the short shift to Verney so naturally took on the south leg to Balaclava Rd and was a well behaved boy sticking to the speed limit. Of course the pedestrian button needed a prod. 

My daily grind of 45 or 50 k's needed a shake up, so with coffee in the tank at the Butter Factory,  I added an extra 40 to get a little more distance banked and teach the legs about longer labor. (Making up for lost k's really; the bike will be mothballed for the weekend for other pursuits)    Usually starved of different scenery, I had other views planned today, not that there's a lot of stunning vistas to look at in the flatlands near home. I just craved something other than Old Dookie, New Dookie, River, Mitchell, Ford, Verney, Boundary, Coach etc, that we all seem to be wearing out. 

North to Zeerust then west to Church Rd harked back to Covid times where bunch riding was taboo and variety in a lap was needed to keep sane, sunshine the pleasant company to the circuit even if all that dry farmland didn't look very interesting.  I continued the therapy theme rolling at an aerobic rate but making the most of the south southeaster  'cause the homeward leg would be work.  Bowey Rd east to Tally had a car or two to contend with, the new radar tail-light a real bonus on the back-blocks when solo, knowing the light pulses for approaching traffic (particularly comforting when you're aimed right at the rising sun and the car behind has that view too).  Southbound from Tallygaroopna wasn't the work I expected; sure there's the vehicle vacuum on the highway as commuters pass by but that breeze has swung to an easterly to lessen the labor.  35's were possible so that therapy thing was thrown out the window for some work into the 150's back home, some sort of effort to earn a second breakfast at normal o'clock (now that the stupid o'clock piece of toast was burned up).

This week 294km   

YTD 1,777km