The encyclopedia of excuses

 Post #707

22/7 A Saturday smoothie.

Forecast fog and frost failed to front (thank f#@&!), turning a somewhat skeptical Saturday into something worthwhile.  If you believed the bureau, breakfast was about the only bait!  Two degrees and a dry road suddenly became bearable. The lap got started at 6 sharp, PistolPete and Rocket leading a dozen (The Godfather, Troy, Wendy, Julz, Boof, Emil, Bo, Wozza, Tina, GiantAndy and Grumpy) toward the truck route.  The opening k's at 34's was a sublime start (a few hoped that speed would stick).  A sudden slow in Mitchell Rd caught a few unaware; there was a touch of wheels, a shriek from shock and a few shattered nerves but all remained upright.  Seems a possum crossing caused the commotion (a heads-up holler would have helped!)  

Bo and The Godfather behaving ain't a common thing so maybe that rare occurrence inspired Tina into the advance? Julz played it safe calling the caboose home.  Grumpy had mixed allegiances kitted in Coulda's jersey and Cat's knicks but he's certain on copious conversation (reckon he needs to chat with the style police).   Cloud cover had been the savior from the forecast freeze though feels like two wasn't making this winter popular.  Emil did another early exit to collect the recuperating Greg while Wendy and Tina teamed for the tap to the Toaster. It wasn't long till Tina called an early roll so I felt compelled to go beyond the church and aim at Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd as a worthy contribution (it's the stigma of "full blocks" getting to me).    

I appreciated Boof's patience staying with my soft speed and I wasn't taking it personally when the pace picked up after (grateful I'm given some concession).  Somehow, the horsepower always congregates in the pelotons procession so Rocket, Boof, PistolPete, Wozza and GiantAndy fronting for duty had the pace percolating toward Lemnos.  Closing in on suburbia, the decision to stay at the back was easy; 38's to 40's wasn't a lot of work in the draft of a dozen ahead but the effort to slice through the atmosphere at the point end at that speed (unless it was downhill) would blow my gasket.   Determination was the glue that kept the team together (certain fellas staying in second gear helped), the smooth speed helping those of weaker watts to hang on along Wanganui Rd.  Hats off to the horsepower suppressing their speed 'cause fourteen stayed as one along the Boulevard......till an o.t.a. at Mason St. The treat of the week is the Eighty8 breakfast (and the social stuff that goes with it), certain cowboys, Lamborghini's and weird ones capturing the conversation.

24/7 Mild mannered Monday.

The Winter blues were Monday morning's battle, the only inspiration to leave a warm bed and face feels like one degree was mingling with the (mad?) mob.......well, I hoped there'd be some at Sanctuary.  Soloists at this time of year are as rare as a politician on point!  Tina, BamBam, PistolPete, Bo, Kel, the 5ft Ninja, Emil, The Godfather and Kreeky converged on the grid calmed concerns.  Ten turned south (after a brief insulin intermission) under PistolPete and Emil's guidance to Mitchell Rd, 33's a most civilized start to the week.    Dodging the pot-hole (marked <0) nearing Central Kialla, past the fire station (watching for the narrowing tarmac), around the proliferation of patches before the off camber right into River Rd, with an eye out for random rabbits and that big bump before the bridge, all part of the normal navigation.  (Anyone would think we've done this circuit before!)  

I'd got myself to third wheel in the advance with Tina ahead and the Ninja behind, the focus shifting from the social stuff to the predicted performance at the front.  Surprise, surprise; Bo and The Godfather behaved!  Luck handed me a tailwind turn in Coach Rd, up to kangaroo alley where Tina called it quits and the Ninja drew alongside.  Coughs and splutters told the story of her absence last week and explained the short shift ending at Channel Rd.  I'd developed a desire of 33's till PistolPete and Emil raised the bar in Boundary Rd, silencing any social stuff to Old Dookie Rd.  Kreeky's turn on the way west restored a little of the mild manners, a bonus to restore a few breaths till Emil's excitement to charge to the front at the truck route put the spike in the speed again.

25/7 Tropical temperature? 

The call of "no excuses" went out when the Bureau forecast five degrees for Tuesday; a positively tropical temperature in light of recent weeks, but a few must have delved into Bo's encyclopedia of excuses not to ride.  As predicted, LiamM was absent (rumor has it the tow truck didn't have the horsepower to pull him out of bed!)  Tina, Kim, Wendy, Crossy and Emil had no excuses, a light southwester the only hinderance to get to the starting grid.  Of course, Emil led the half dozen into Channel Rd and of course, I was expected to sit at second wheel.  Nothing near an icy blast, that southwester was a bonus.  Julz arrival gets earlier, today waiting at the truck route as I rostered on for duty to Orrvale Rd.   

Wendy, Kim, Tina and Crossy tapped their turns to complete Channel Rd, Julz cruising Coach Rd to the highway then adding a k to Pogue to make it a decent donation.  With my usual task on focusing a little lower than the Leyzene light on the LaPierre, it was hard to predict when I'd be given the lead role till Emil's elbow elected me to the front.  I'd guessed at New Dookie Rd (or maybe even later) but Old Dookie got the nod today.  There was enough south in the southwest breeze to make my shift seem reasonable.  Wendy needed no wind to get to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd to make her shift swift.   

Contrary to negative thoughts about the southwester for the way home, the trip to town wasn't so tough (the sustained speed saying so) The usual sharing of long drives (contrary to The Godfather's "full blocks") got the job done to reach civilization, Emil getting greedy with the lead role at Grahanvale Rd to lead us west to the Numurkah Rd then south on Wyndham, the chosen course to coffee.   

27/7 Pea soup for breakfast.

A damp road lay ahead and a billion microscopic water drops drifted into the headlight's beam......perfect conditions to indulge the addiction after softening to a sleep-in on Wednesday.  A smaller scurry of Squirrels (Kim, Wendy, Emil and the Jenerator) found their way through the 5:15am soup the Archer St shop.  Winter is certainly eroding attendance!  It was agreed speed be set at cautious given the saturated state of the morning so the opening shift to the truck route (led by none other than Emil) was quite comfortable at 33's (shame the feels like 0.2 wasn't so comfortable).    Julz turned up for work even earlier, just 2k into the lap (at this rate she'll be at the starting grid next week!)  

I'd read the Bureau's data before swinging a leg over the bike (doesn't everyone?) so had prepared to face an east northeast breeze when Emil elbowed me to the lead, but concerns were cancelled when I found that cautious speed didn't labour legs.   Wendy, the Jenerator, Kim and Julz didn't have any bother either to get to Channel Rd's end for Emil to steer us north.  That cautious speed only set Emil's time in the drivers seat longer so I wasn't expecting an elbow at Old or even New Dookie Rd; as I'd guessed, he couldn't be pried out of the captain's seat till Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (no complaints from me though. I got the east northeaster at the posterior for the way west).  

Fog had thickened to set the specs at two wipes per minute and I'd passed the main channel bridge without even seeing it (between wipes?) so set aim at Lemnos North Rd instead.  Verney Rd was back on the ride route when Wendy and the Jenerator had dragged us there, so Kim set our path south.......but Emil chose to guide us past the witches hats, a dozen new patches on what was blissfully smooth tarmac, the security fences, the gravel and the roadworks signs to get us to that always red traffic light.

28/7  For a moment, Friday's radar looked almost clear to clock a few k's but rain arrived just as the coffee cup emptied. Lucky lad.

This week 207km

YTD 7,685km