Post #697
7/5 Something sedate for Sunday.
A sleep-in till 5:45 was sumptuous, the call for a 7am Sunday social spin was something special too after rain ruined riding for Saturday. A little pre-dawn light lit up Emil's brand spanking new La Pierre Xellius SL (explained the Cheshire grin), Molly the only other northsider collected for the commute south (seems two other potential starters had withdrawn with over-hydration issues....but I won't mention names) Greg, Julz, BamBam and Troy arrived at the grid, layered like onions in an attempt at insulating from feels like 0.2 degrees (a stiff south southwester was to blame). Two rows steered into Channel Rd sticking to the social agenda as advertised (a difficult task for Emil aboard his new 6.5kg rocket ship). It was just my luck to get that wind in the face on Central Ave as I paired with Greg for a long drive at the front, but the social 32's didn't blow any gaskets to reach Channel Rd's end. BamBam and Julz scored the wind up the waste gate on Boundary Rd though Molly stayed stuck in the caboose, speed sneaking up a notch or two although judging by the chat at the back, it still stayed social.
The wind shifting to a southwester would make work on the way back to town so thoughts shifted to the breakfast menu. Family commitments turned BamBam west into Old Dookie when we steered toward the Toaster, just a couple of k's east and couple north before the toil to earn our breakfast would begin. Longer drives were set from the start and with it, the expectations for others, so I'd done the couple of k's from the Toaster to Lemnos-Cosgrove but didn't have much hope (or horsepower) getting to Boundary Rd for part two. The southwester would see to that! Those few trees near Pine Lodge Creek weren't the shelter from the wind that I'd hoped for (and those dreaded Garmin numbers were on the rise too) but salvation came with the call of "ease up" from the back. Just as timely, Troy rolled to the left at the bridge.
Emil doesn't need a lighter bike (he's fast enough already!) but he obviously relished the long drive with Troy to Lemnos. With all the horsepower at the front, their shifts would tow us to town, so just my luck (again), I got the Wanganui Rd work with the mountain finish. Greg did well to stay awake alongside. Funny, I'd treasured the thought of a social Sunday spin at the start and now I was spent finishing a third shift! The tailwind reprieve along the Boulevard soothed a soft soul.
Breakfast was bliss at Eighty8, Sunday sentences stretched out on how the addiction started, weight loss and perfect posteriors.
8/5 Manic Monday.
PistolPete's wheel is a safe bet for maximum delay till duty calls, and a smooth one to warm up on the first 800 metres to the truck route, but the Ninja was in a pickle when Indian file was judged Monday's format (just 9 were on the mornings' roll call). Second wheel to Pete's power toward Mitchell Rd with a west southwester lashing the starboard bow saw the 5ft one rapidly retreat to the rear for survival - and shelter was at a premium with The Godfather (commandeering the caboose) already in the gutter. I'd summoned the watts to deliver the news to the front, Pistol diplomatically easing off the throttle for 8 to become 9 again. A breath or two was gained on the turn into Mitchell Rd but Emil had bolted east (that new La Pierre would feel fast; if only to ease the pain in the wallet) Rocket had held the tempo at 37's to keep the bunch intact though trying to gain a few more breaths when it feels like -0.2 didn't do much for recovery.
Sledges greeted Emil's return at Central Kialla where Wozza stuck to the rhythm toward River Rd. I'd hoped to get help from that wind as Kel set the course east to the bridge, hopefully Bo behind her wouldn't do the hero's haul all the way to rooster corner and leave me murdered by a side wind in Coach Rd. My fingers were crossed as he took the reigns toward the dip. I had my doubts when he held the prior pace, it smelled a lot like a long haul was in the making. Not a flinch from his elbow at the dip got me worried but he finally relented at Trevaskis Rd. My drive to the quarter horse gates was getting off lightly.
The two k's beyond to Coach Rd was driven by Surgio (sorry, The Godfather) while I attempted recovery at second last wheel, the pace as variable as home loan interest rates to the rumble strips to keep us all busy on the brakes (and accelerator). The silver Combo van behind just had to overtake with just 50 metres to rooster corner, cutting across us at the corner then slowed into Coach Rd to ruin our rhythm. PistolPete conducted the master class on smoothness north to the highway; funny how 38's become most managable (even with a side wind) when speed stays steady. Emil behaved in Boundary Rd but at the fig farm, an oncoming trucks' move across the roads' centre wasn't expected (I'd hoped it wasn't deliberate). The wind shear blew a few off the back. The lap felt quick when 37's stayed stuck on the speedos into the wind on Old Dookie Rd, most likely a cruise for Rocket on the front to Central Ave (or Wozz for that matter, pushing the same pace to the truck route). The wind wore away Kel's drive toward SPC, a considerate Bo driving the last 500 metres.
9/5 Fark it's dark!
A third of the town in darkness made it a strange spin to the shop; even the traffic lights were having the morning off, but the seasons' standard southwester was still working to chill the extremities (feels like 3.8) and keep a lid on anything resembling speed to the start. The Ninja had braved a 12k commute to the car park and took second last in line when Emil started the Indian filed pack into Channel Rd. It's in my job description to berth at second wheel, Wendy, Jen and Kim were behind while Molly made her home in the caboose (I hope this was crucial and not just convenient Molly?) The gradual introduction to 37's kept the team together so naturally an equal effort was expected to follow.
It did the ego good to see that speed as I settled in to do the distance to Orrvale Rd, though I did have a southwester at my back to help. Wendy worked a similar standard to the Kinder, Jen allowed a slight slowing of the standard on Central Ave but she delivered the goods toward the cypress trees. Aboard a "hand-me-down" La Pierre from Emil, Kim took on the shift to the S bend as Julz joined at Jamieson Rd, something a little swifter than the old Merida made hers a swift shift. The 5ft one finished off Channel Rd and topped it off with her trademark blast to the highway (while I played shock-absorber at 3rd wheel). With a bit much westerly in the wind to make Boundary Rd a breeze, the line echeloned across the tarmac till 'ol mate in the quarry truck's overtake straightened our act up. The vastus lateralis and rectus femorus burned when given the reigns to do the Old to New Dookie Rd leg, living up to the set speed now a bigger task with the wind a hassle instead of a help (the rest of the circuit wasn't going to be much fun come to think of it) Suffering is best shared isn't it?
Taking the sting of the southwester at the left brow, Jen's diesel engine was put to good use in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, retiring within sight of the rumble strips for Julz to tow us to Lemnos. The Ninja took on Ford Rd with great intention but the wind had other ideas half way to Grahamvale Rd. Kim found the southwester a chore too so Emil was elected to get there. With barely a k to reach Verney, of course Emil set sights on a heroic haul to Balaclava Rd, all I had to do was hang on at second wheel. Sure as eggs, Emil's urge to poke at pedestrian buttons launched him off the front a bit beyond Graham St. Need I say the traffic light was red anyway? With many cafes shy of electricity, Brother Pablo was the very acceptable option.
10/5 The want for watts.
It was one of those Star Trek moments. James T Kirk was calling for warp factor five, but Scotty in the engine room hollered "I'm givin' her all she's got Capt'n!" I'd had a fair pairing with BamBam for the last k of River Rd, so part two on Coach Rd with a southwester at the left gluteus maximus should have made it easy; but a ton of effort could only get 37's on the Garmin toward the Broken bridges. Legs just wouldn't deliver what the will wanted (and I'm sure The Godfather knew better than to call "full block"). Not so long ago I would have driven a half decent turn but the old engine now has a want for watts just to keep up with these young ones. (I'm lucky my tired tempo is tolerated by this team) Boof, Troy, Emil, Grumpy, Wozza, Greg, PistolPete, Rocket, The Godfather and BamBam had fronted for the 5:40 fling, several of the regulars absent without leave. (How the cold culls!)
Of course, PistolPete had set the crew south and I'd resisted that safe seat in his slipstream. (Sixth in line to serve duty wasn't so soft was it?) Getting BamBam's draft was a blessing so energy consumption was fairly economic in the advance line through Central Kialla. The Godfather seemed a little lost without Bo to bully, Grumpy's bare knees made me feel a whole lot warmer in feels like 4.3 and Troy seemed to be barely breaking out of an idle.
So, where was I? Oh yeah; I'd got to the bridge where Greg kindly put me out of my misery with his slipstream, but just as we'd reached the highway two minutes later, I could string a short sentence together (so recovery wasn't so bad).
Up Boundary Rd and west into Old Dookie Rd, the southwester blowing at the left brake lever wasn't an issue for Boof, Rocket or Wozz to keep 37's on the agenda to Central Ave and then the truck route (while I needed to rev the old engine at the red line to get that speed with a tailwind! A matter I'll take it up with my therapist) The draft was my saving grace since School Rd; just enough time to gain a breath or two in readiness for the single filed fling to SPC, and just enough draft supplied from a long line ahead to hang on to 43's getting there.
11/5 Who needs Emil?
Jen was a more than suitable substitute for Emil's absence on Thursday, towing me, Molly, Wendy, BamBam and the 5ft Ninja up to therapy speed toward the truck route. Her pace was perfect, considering the feels like -0.5 took a little time to get used to. Minus temperatures already? I wonder what Winter has in store for us? (Maybe I should order an ice pick?) A moments halt at Doyles for a truck to pass gave me an excuse to slowly build the speed to Orrvale Rd (under the heading of being kind to the tail-enders.........but it saved me a bit of stress too) Molly facing the front was long overdue, hopefully a positive road to recovery but reaching the Kinder today was a good start (better than an obsession with the caboose!)
Julz had worked her way west on Jamieson Rd to join while Wendy led us to the cypress trees. Probably ranked a part-time squirrel, BamBam's shift to the S bend was valued, particularly by the 5ft one behind, obviously banking a few watts for her blast north on Coach Rd to the pub. Jen calmed the rush beyond the highway, gentle on the throttle up to 33's again. I'd been caught napping at the fig farm when Jen's elbow urged me to lead (so often waiting for Emil's cue at Old Dookie Rd) so out of habit I did duty to New Dookie Rd. Full marks for Molly taking on a second term in the drivers seat to take us to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, the lack of any wind probably an incentive. Good work west toward the main channel bridge was mistakenly credited to Wendy, but it was Julz doing duty there to peel off and leave Wendy the work; her strangely shorter shift was debited to di2 dilemas, stuck in top gear.
(Old school cable shift for me. I don't have a need for split second gear changes) Ford Rd progress was shared between BamBam and the Ninja, Jen inheriting the Verney Rd task to get to Balaclava. Christmas came early with a smooth and steady spin to the traffic light, Jen timing the green light to perfection (is it Emil's magnetic personality that turns it red?)
This week 238km
YTD 5,415km
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