Post #689
13/3 A laboured Labour Day.
When the thought engine is running at 5,700 rpm at 3:18am, there's only one remedy....ride! (I wish the engine that drives the pedals went that well!) A lap for Labour Day had been called for 5:40 at Sanctuary, but this was super-stupid o'clock, so a solo out New Dookie Rd to Central and back on Old Dookie soaked up some time, the random ride of the city's streets getting me on agenda into Rae St (but Tina was m.i.a). A struggle into a southerly (13-20 km/h) down to Sanctuary readied the legs for a more substantial speed with what crew a public holiday could muster. Many regulars had left for the longer weekend but Wozza, Boof, Kel and Trav turned up and Lenny returned from a long lay-off (things are crook when work gets in the way of a regular ride!). The Toaster lap was the holiday course so Wozza led a single-filed line about face at Sanctuary's roundabout and west to Melbourne Rd.
A zig then a zag through the side streets, then south on Raftery got the circuit started at an enthused velocity (No idea what. I'd unwittingly cancelled my Garmin's back-light so was well and truly in the dark on pace. Labouring lungs gave me a hint it was a hurry!) Third wheel with Boof ahead had me thrown in the deep end early. Wozza's introduction took us the length of Raftery south to the highway where Boof took the reigns. Fingers crossed he'd lead to Central Kialla; there was a tail-wind waiting there for me! (my speciality!) GiantAndy was found loitering near Mitchell's dip and attached to the rear as number seven. Boof was a good lad to hand over on the turn north through Central Kialla, the tail-wind amplifying my ability to keep 38 on the screen (lit under the sole street light at the Fire Station) to the off-camber turn east into River Rd. Kel was kind keeping her horsepower on hold till I'd caught Boof's wheel at the back. The Bureau said feels like 10; legs felt like 50 under Kel's labour to the bridge and Lenny's long drive to the quarter horse stud.
Trav turned up the torque for his turn to rooster corner. I wasn't looking forward to sun-up; seeing speed and heart-rate in the heavens was likely to scare me! Wozza worked his wattage north to the highway and GiantAndy's drive was diplomatic on Boundary to Old Dookie Rd, so Boof did his duty east to the Toaster to hand me another tail-wind turn. I was blessed (but burning from holding second wheel at speed). All the determination in the world wouldn't see me hold pace to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd so giving Kel the captaincy at New Dookie (with the excuse of sharing the tail-wind) might disguise my want for watts? Lenny's head was down to slice the southerly for the first shift west on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd but handed the hurt to Trav at the Pine Lodge Creek (6 weeks off the bike was beginning to show signs of suffering) The tow to Lemnos was supplied (with speed) by Wozz, GiantAndy (just above idle) taking on Ford Rd. The shift scenarios were predicting I'd be called to work again in Wanganui. Trouble was, enough light now lit the sky to show me 39 and 166. (They're only numbers Foss.......)
Boof got the lead role crossing Verney Rd and despite him being a great guy, it was wishful thinking on my part to expect him to tow me all the way to Mt.Wanganui so, ready the head for hurt Foss! (Or maybe I was wrong? Boof was still stirring 38's and 9's at the Transfer Station so this might be my early Christmas present!) Nope, there goes Boof's elbow to put me in charge! I should have given in to the warning signs at DECA's test track (blurred vision, legs like licorice, lungs ready to burst and that growling bear groaning) but stubbornness took over to deliver a decent shift when there wasn't the horsepower to back it. 200 metres later, survival instincts triggered an involuntary flinch of the elbow for Kel to put me out of my misery. Off the saddle to catch the tail and legs buckled, a two metre gap quickly becoming ten.
Prepared to take the tap of o.t.a. shame back to breakfast, my lifeline came from Wozza, GiantAndy and Boof's charity, easing their speed so I could rejoin. Bless 'em! The last drop in the tank was spent to get there, Kel's kindness in delaying full throttle till Golf Drive's roundabout just enough to gain a breath or two and ready for Trav's drive on the Boulevard. Touching the 40's to Knight St was only possible with thoughts of breakfast filling an empty tank. A PB for the anti-clockwise Toaster helped the head and the Milk Bars' granola helped the taste buds, chat on hills we hate, blood donation and GiantAndy's want for wheels shared in the sunshine, Julz and Greg (in from a not-so-laboured lap) joining the chat.
14/3 A swarm of squirrels.
The graduate from the University of F You was waiting for no-one. Fifty metres from Channel Rd's 45 degree blind bend, Mr. Impatient (Dip. FW) just had to overtake us (Damn bike riders taking up 2 metres worth of the tarmac!). Mr I was well alongside with 20 metres left to the apex, so when an oncoming car appeared it had everyone drawing breath and looking for an escape route ('Missed it by that much' as Max would say). Wasn't it wonderful that Mr. Impatient was spared a 4 second delay).
Kim, Wendy, Lili, Tina, Jen, Molly, Bruce and Troy settled their nerves while Graeme and Emil towed us to the truck route, the swarm of squirrels (unusually) in two rows. Nursing a broken rib (get a gravel bike they said, it'll be fun they said!), Bruce was playing caboose captain today but Troy was apparently nursing a hangover. The routine was well and truly rattled with two fronting and rolling anti-clockwise turns, so the usual change of shifts were well out the window too. Change as good as a holiday! By the time I'd found myself at the back with Bruce, I joined the advance behind Wendy with Graeme on my wheel. Julz was collected at Beckhams' bend. Wendy had met her match with Tina's strong turn from the S bend to finish off Channel Rd, so I had a bit of a breeze behind assisting pace.
Garmin numbers looked good but the head wasn't happy (a hangover from yesterday's hurry?) I called quits to Graeme at Boundary's bridge for him to pair with Emil (and that's a recipe for speed) . 38's were ok in the slipstream but a few were calling for leniency at Old Dookie Rd. Lili seemed pleased with the slightly slower standard when she faced the front. With a grin from ear to ear, Julz braved the advance; how she'd fare at the business end might turn the grin to grimace. Jen and Troy towed the nine to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, Julz facing the reality for the way west toward Lemnos with Troy diplomatic on the throttle alongside. To her credit, Julz stuck it out for part two with Molly too, nearly reaching the bridge. Slowly and smoothly back up to 35's in Ford Rd kept the lines intact. Wendy was the one to watch with watts to burn to Grahamvale Rd, the short shift to Verney with Graeme getting me well into zone 4. A well graveled bike lane and commuting cars made the southern spin to Balaclava Indian file, one close call for the day was one too many, a second one out of the question. Emil and Graeme turned the last 400 metres into a sprint, a race to get to that red traffic light, a queer conclusion.
15/3 Youthful exuberance.
The scales were weighted heavily toward the young at Sanctuary's grid (Hang on Foss, they're all young!) and when PistolPete and Wozz set the standard of speed to swift toward Mitchell Rd, it spelled vale Social Wednesday! All the horsepower assembled line astern in the advance line, lucky me finding PistolPete's wheel available (in The Godfather's absence) as Tina and the Ninja lined up behind. With busted bone, Bruce braved the back. Wozza and Emil's energy took us east to Central Kialla, the saving grace being not a hint of wind was against us (Well, that was the perspective from anywhere in the bunch.....except the front. There's always a headwind there!)
Liam paired with Gazza to drive into River Rd, the boys brimming with brute force and obviously in for the long haul when the advance line stayed static at the bridge.....and at the dip.....and at the quarter horse fence (need I go on?) Ain't youth a wonderful thing? Boof, Grumpy and Greg were lined up for duty but Gazza and Liam were well into overtime towing us all to rooster corner. 40's was the fashion for the 6k drive. I had no objection; plenty yet to serve their time in the drivers' seat meant I wouldn't reach the front for this lap (I'd need a gale force wind up the backside to do this pace anyway!) Up Coach Rd to the highway then 3k's of Boundary to reach Old Dookie Rd, I was no closer than fifth wheel on the turn west toward town. Kreeky's attempt to settle the speed to something like social was welcomed....but short -lived. Greg and Grumpy led the charge into town, witches hats and roadworks signs slowing the squirt to SPC (although this wasn't the roundabout closure expected. Next week we're told. A change of circuit is in the wind)
16/3 Julz on the juice?
This is the view from my office on Tuesday's and Thursday's, typically focussed on Emil's cassette as pace builds from the Archer St shops to the truck route. It's the usual scene as I ready for that Doyles to Orrvale thing. There was a little more spice in the speed than the usual Thursday therapy but we could blame the west northwester to excite Emil's enthusiasm. Tina, Molly, Jen, Lili and Bruce had taken their place in the single filed line, expecting to collect Julz lurking somewhere in the dark on Channel Rd. 20 degrees was bliss (but that's due to disappear and make way for the joys of winter before we can say arm-warmers) Bruce was continuing his rib rehab using our sedate speed as a medicine to mend. I expected the enthusiastic effort east would soon turn to work for the way west. Julz joined as usual near Beckhams bend while Jen kept the speed at a simmer to Channel Rd's end.
Breeze turned to wind and swung to a northwester just in time for Lili to face the front north to the highway (an understandable reason she threw an elbow to Bruce passing the pub) Bruce was granted a short shift considering the burden of breathing he bore, Emil taking the reigns at the bridge to presumably drag me to Old Dookie Rd. Presumption proved positive, so the standard shift to New Dookie had that wind to wear me down to therapy standards. Tina's found form in recent weeks and had no trouble with the task of towing us to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. Molly had her target set at the bridge but must have found it easy, adding an extra k before giving Julz the job. Just the second week into her apprenticeship and 35's were on her agenda to reach Lemnos North Rd (most take months to find that form so maybe she's on the juice?) The first 3 k's of Ford was no trouble for Jen, Lili lucky to get the short drive to Verney. The standard operational procedure of pace to Balaclava Rd was taken by Emil (though nothing too swift to threaten the therapy speed) and as a rare treat, the traffic light turned green on our arrival (something we rarely rely on).
17/3 The specimen returns.
Well out of my comfort zone (and definitely out of my depth), second wheel to Boof in the advance line wasn't the place for an old fossil in Friday's fast introduction to the lap. PistolPete was in his usual place, Grumpy, The Godfather, Kel, Kreeky, Rocket, Tina, Bruce, Bo, Lili, Greg, the 5ft Ninja, Jen and Troy had settled into an order behind, so I wasn't about to dive for cover in the left line now. Figured I had to face the front some time! Just as well a light westerly helped to get 38's on the screen headed to Central Kialla though I sensed a rapidly emptying tank and not enough energy to drive part two to River Rd so sought sympathy from Boof and rolled the turn early. I hoped a slipstream would save me in Euroa Rd. (Instant "Full block" complaints from the recently returned Godfather of course!)
Huffs and puffs to reach the corner probably drowned out the sighs of Boof's boredom at my sluggish speed but I was grateful for his compassion. Cheque's in the mail Boof ;) The Godfather was kind too, checking I wasn't in cardiac arrest before using the throttle north to River Rd with Greg, though a "Pop!" from the rear ranks of the pack spoke of a puncture to trigger an intermission.
Grateful for the few minutes to get my heart-rate out of the heavens, a few waited in the relative safety of River Rd as Kel fixed her flat in a busier Euroa Rd. Lungs complained as the ride resumed and 38's got back on the menu, but a few minutes in the draft and the hurt was history, the reshuffle getting me on the Ninja's wheel (an aerodynamic challenge) with Boof behind (a horsepower challenge). Bruce had Bo as co-pilot in the caboose. Grumpy and Troy kept the pace percolating from the quarter horse stud to rooster corner, the girls all lining up for their lead roles in Coach Rd. The Godfather's return tested the eardrums of the oncoming bunches (they would have loved the serenity of the past week!) and I guess we can't complain about the return of free entertainment. With shifts shorter south of the highway, my promotion forward was fast tracked toward the business end on Boundary, so a second turn was inevitable.
Rocket and the 5ft Ninja paired at Boundary's bridge and set their speed toward Old Dookie Rd, so when the Ninja rolled left at the fig farm I was on duty again. Part one wasn't so painful with the (now) southwesterly at the side, part two with it head-on on Old Dookie wasn't so appealing. Boof again pulled his handbrake on to keep his wheel level to mine as 36's became my red-line to reach School Rd. The slipstream behind Boof and Greg was delightful till they soon spiced the speed to 40 to reach Central Ave, so respite was rescheduled to commence over coffee. Witch's hats appearing again near SPC made the last leg less laborious and the now standard long stop at High St's red light had the aroma of baking bread to arouse the appetite.
This week 295km
YTD 3,213km
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