Post #696
29/4 Saturday singled.
By virtue of an early arrival at the grid, Jen opened the order of Saturday's single filed lap of the circuit. No so social, but only eight had fronted up at Sanctuary's roundabout. Lance, Molly, PistolPete, Bo, Julz and The Godfather chose the slower Saturday, the swifter (Wozza, Emil, Bruce, Rocket, Greg, Grumpy, Graeme and Anth starting (secretly?) a little earlier from the shop. A southwester kept a cap on Jen's drive to Mitchell Rd and at second wheel, I wasn't going to set any records east to Central Kialla (110 k's in the legs yesterday was my excuse). Molly made the effort to front for the shift to River Rd (injury had kept her at the back for a week) so was excused for letting Lance finish off the last 400 metres (his acceleration east toward the bridge caught a few of us tail-enders napping). Speed settled soon after but with Bo in the bunch I wondered how long that may last.
Julz addiction grows strong, taking the plunge of starting from Sanctuary's grid (but could she resist the short-cut on Boundary Rd to Lemnos-Cosgrove?) Believe it or not, Bo behaved on his turn to finish off River Rd, keeping within a few percent of the prior pace. Of course PistolPete played fair on his drive to the highway, feels like five prompting a shift to a lower gear to put a little heat in the legs. At last I'd avoided the Boundary Rd leg (five drives on it last week) but we had some variables thanks to The Godfather (he'd behaved keeping the tempo within the watts of others). The eastern shift to the Toaster was Jen's to work with the bonus of the southwester behind and with a hint of it's help northbound to the church my turn resembled reasonable (I reckoned Molly might like a slice of it so I handed her the reigns at New Dookie Rd.
The horsepower behind could take on the wind into Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd) Lance retreated from the front at Pine Lodge creek, Bo brave enough to take on the distance to Lemnos. Liam and Gazza, the sole 6am starters at the shop, shot by in a sweat nearing the rumble strips, fast enough (thankfully) to discourage any of our lot from jumping aboard. PistolPete got down to business into Ford Rd but I couldn't hear much huff and puff behind, a glance back finding just Lance on my wheel and two lights (Molly and Julz) a long way back. Most of us have had the experience of an o.t.a. moment and the sense of abandonment that follows, so it felt right to drop off the back and donate them a draft back to town. Within a minute, Jen came back to join me playing slipstream Samaritans, sharing the towing duties to Mt Wanganui and the Boulevard back to the Butter Factory. The shop squad speed ceiling, foot fumbles and culinary cruelty kept tongues wagging between bites of breakfast.
1/5 Dark, damp, an icy southwester and misty rain........let's ride!
Just 'cause I'd cleaned the bike yesterday, a light mist of rain dampened the tarmac only 300 metres into the warm-up to Tarcoola on Monday. This would whittle down the starters at Sanctuary Drive! With the warm-up done, Emil wore me down on the spin south to the start line, collecting Tina en-route, though I'll admit it's good preparation for the pack's pace at 5:40. Kel, Bruce, PistolPete, Bo, The Godfather and Kreeky were the few fronting the roundabout, Pistol and Emil guiding us to Mitchell Rd (as if we'd forgotten?) Only Bruce in the advance and the rest in the left line prompted me to brave an early turn for a little balance in the bunch, The Godfather berthing behind. East toward Central Kialla became a little easier away from the wind although a light misting rain dampened the enthusiasm a bit. Getting drenched wasn't on the forecast or on the wish list.
Second wheel to Bruce meant I'd have a compliant co-pilot toward River Rd. Barely a breeze but chilling the bones, I was relying on the southwester to make my turn reasonable, Bruce calling "Your speed" helped but the pressure to perform over-ruled common sense to pace myself. Close to the red line arriving at River Rd, The Godfather became partner for part two and although it wasn't mentioned, the expectation of 'full blocks' is always there, so I set the bridge as the target. The bridge barriers' reflection in the distance seemed a world away but I'd glued the eyeballs to it rather than the heart rate in the heavens or the snail like speed, so wasn't it a surprise to find it was the reflection of the Laws Drive sign 400 metres beyond the bridge. The draft to the dip regained some composure where I (belatedly) thanked Kel for the kudos given at the bridge.
Tina braved the front with The Godfather, Kel co-operative for a short part two, the long drive to rooster corner by Bo and Kel considerate to Tina's recovery. Daylight was the stuff of fantasy turning north, not even a glow on the horizon could break through the clouds now misting rain again. Kreeky and Bo towed us to the highway. It was a sure bet that PistolPete and Emil would do the long drive to Old Dookie Rd so my calculations added another drive of duty at the front before the lap was done. As expected, Bruce and Emil managed the shift to Central Ave with ease while I prepared for the pain of performing at the front again. The 2300 metres to the truck route wasn't so bad after all, a couple of passing cars provided some vacuum, and just as the squirt to SPC started concerns, Bruce saved the day by taking the lead into the roundabout. The Godfather wanted the captaincy into town so being demoted to third wheel gave me the benefit of a better draft.
2/5 Full house!
A swarm of squirrels arrived in Rae St as if somebody had promised free beer! Maybe the stars had aligned to group Emil, Anth, Kim, Wendy, Jen, Lili, LiamM, Tina and Molly together for the southern commute, or was it because this might be the last decent day of double digit temperatures with barely a breeze blowing? I was gifted a slipstream from Emil and Anth to the shop (one could soften quickly if this continued!) where the 5ft Ninja lay in wait for the 5:30 flagfall. Third wheel made a change for me as Emil turned up the wick into Channel Rd, brother Anth sparing me the repetition of the Doyles to Orrvale thing.
I thought it wise to guide Anth on the left/right into leg three but Tina's call for right/left certainly confused the poor guy! The two k distance to the Kinder seemed longer but I had no complaints on the super smooth tarmac to get there (made it feel faster than 36's). The spin to the cypress trees was Jen's job (and Julz joined in), Emil instituting a two row format at Beckham's bend. Some almost due for duty were shuffled down the roster as a result while I'd found a place in the advance line on the Ninja's wheel with Tina behind, Emil and Anth back in charge again to finish off Channel Rd. Pace eased a fraction when the five foot one faced the front, no skin off my nose to level a wheel with her to the highway. Tina had plenty of pace on Boundary Rd so wasn't I grateful when she called half time at the bridge. A fair old fog had hung over the channels to cloud the view north. Insulated like an Eskimo, LiamM drove a decent turn to Old Dookie Rd, Lili, Julz and Kim lining up for their slice of suffering to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.
Molly chose the caboose to view all the action. Brothers being brothers, Emil and Anth silenced the social stuff to the rumble strips and Lemnos North Rd. Another turn for me with the Ninja then Tina got the first leg of Ford Rd finished, the stop at Grahamvale Rd for a truck or two a bonus for the breathless. Two rows became one for the (graveled stage) Verney Rd shift to Balaclava, Jen given the drivers' seat to get us there....... till Emil's itch bolted him ahead to press that pedestrian button (turning the green to red when we got there)
4/5 A testing temperature.
Just a degree or two lower has begun to bite, though feels like four might be something we'll crave in mid July! (I've still got the winter gloves and heavy duty base layer in reserve for the real cold to come) Kim, Anth, Emil, Molly, Jen, LiamM and Lili congregated on the cruise to the shop, me being spoiled (softened?) again with a draft from Anth and Emil to get there. With the Ninja at the grid and Julz joining soon, the call for two lines made sense, though it still seems weird for the standard squirrel spin. The chance for a little social stuff on Therapy Thursday made sense too. Lungs weren't so pleased to be filled with iced air, even at therapy speed, but the company of like-minded lunatics is why most of us are outdoors doing this! (seeing a soloist in this stuff ranks them as hard-core, or a head-case......or both!) Therapy pace had risen to 35's (without complaint) so preserving the rhythm with Anth to Orrvale then Jen to the Kinder was the expectation (yet the single-filed speed is only a touch higher but half the distance on the front. Go figure?)
Julz animated arrival sparked up the social stuff for the rest of Channel Rd though there's not much chat at the business end in these temperatures (too much loss of hot air?) The Alaskan attired LiamM seems to be on a consistent comeback trail, Molly again in recovery mode at the rear. The brothers behaved for the northern assault of Boundary Rd (as they should) and that most likely eased the fear of fronting for some, the southwest breeze acting as an encouragement. Cold seems to have culled '51's numbers to three (I guess it's almost the season for Playstation on pedals (aka Zwift) to start again. Had to laugh seeing a post of a Zwift gravel ride. Electronic dirt? AI has gone nuts!) The western way on Lemnos-Cosgrove wasn't the work I thought it would be (says me from the luxury of the slipstream) 'cause speed seemed to stay stuck at 34's.
Julz called a short shift not long after I paired with her on Ford Rd (but kept the sentences flowing while Jen and I drove the distance to Grahamvale Rd) so she obviously had the oxygen for a longer shift (the 'if you can still talk, you're not trying hard enough' theory) Next time I'll pretend not to hear her pleas for a draft! Verney Rd had Jen in charge for the southbound stretch to Balaclava Rd but Emil's itch needed scratching just 200 metres in. His excitement stretched the rubber band to breaking point by Graham St, a gap opening ahead of Jen I felt duty bound to fill to keep the remainder together. Balaclava's infamous traffic light worked in group one's favour but not for group two, so squirrels became separated for the spin to the caffeine fix.
5/5 Friday in the fridge.
Well, that didn't last long! All that "toughing it out till June" talk caved-in to Friday's feels like three, softening swiftly to go in search of the real winter gloves, a bulkier base layer and something thermal for the skull. The cold is inevitable I suppose, I just wished Winter wasn't so presumptuous! Grizzles ceased finding Boof, Wozza and Rocket at the Benalla Rd lights, another tow to Sanctuary Drive might save a few watts for work at the front of the bunch later? The Godfather, Grumpy, Troy, the 5ft Ninja, PistolPete, Kel, Emil, Bo, Jen, Anth, Lili and BamBam had found their way to the start line to fly the team colours (well, those who'd remembered the Friday tradition!).
I've made a concerted effort to avoid that last-in-line dive for PistolPete's wheel when the flag drops at 5:40 (call it an h.t.f.u refresher course if you like) so today scored Troy's wheel in the advance line while PistolPete and Emil supplied the slipstream to Mitchell Rd. Comfort came seeing the speed settle at 36's and 7's. BamBam's surprise showing contrasts to Lili and Jen's amplified attendance and there's always the regulars that keep turning up (so you don't feel you're the sole stupid one riding in the cold). Talk tapered toward silence as the serious stuff of facing the front drew near in River Rd, Troy rolling left at the bridge exposing me to the reality of cutting through the icy atmosphere.
It's ok for the first 500 metres or so till the lack of horsepower hits home and your worthiness to wear the team colours kicks in. There was a push to get to the dip (why does cold air feel like soup to drive through?) then pain for the part two when the quarter horse fence appears to be a week away (cue the sound of a tired old engine bouncing on the rev limiter). Grumpy was kind enough to excuse my huffs and puffs to get there. My suffering turned insignificant seeing Grumpy's knees exposed to the elements (gofundme for knee warmers Grumps?) Bo partnered Grumpy to rooster corner (not too cold to crow) while the world came slowly back into focus for me. Discovered later on the Bureau's observation data at home, a southwester explained the ease of effort northbound led by Bo and Kel, encouraging Lili and Jen to advance for a sit in the drivers seat. The cold confined their shifts to short ones.
Those who's watts are plentiful (you know who!) had (by chance?) formed line astern to drive a faster path to town, Old Dookie Rd blurring under the wheels in the 40's at times (in a hurry for the internal heat of coffee?), the vacuum effect from those with velocity helping those of weaker watts to hang on. Fifteen stretched out behind Emil's spirited speed to SPC, the slightly slower spin through the streets to satisfy our other addiction (in a mug) and the want for the thawing process.
This week 255km
YTD 5,177km
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