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
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