A blissful baptism.

Post #709

5/8 Two tribes (too big).

A south southwester fair in the face to Saturday's start didn't do much for my enthusiasm though after the thrash to Mitchell Rd, it was likely it'd be all plain sailing from there.  A few special guests had fronted to the Sanctuary start, Woulda's Crossy, Laura and Nev were searching for a squad more sizeable than three.  Coulda's were keen, fielding Rocket, Lance, Wozza, Grumpy, Boof, Bo, Lenny, Emil, Tina, Wendy, Troy, Bruce, Gazza, Julz and PistolPete to the ride's roster.  Almost summer numbers, but not quite the temperature (feels like 2.1)   I reckon I'll have a rubber stamp made saying PistolPete and Emil led the line south, the left line rather over-populated with many predicting a hot pace, while the advance line was well stocked with horsepower. 

I was pleased to see Lance in the line-up (makes me a young guy in the group!) though I didn't recognize Grumpy 'cause he was wearing knee warmers. (A birthday gift?)  His present turned out to be a puncture near River Rd's rumble strips but half the bunch didn't realize till the turn into Coach Rd (too much chat and not enough calls).  The expectation of a five minute fix was well out of date when Grumps got going again, but lost time usually isn't a worry on a Saturday.  Bo became my co-pilot when I reached the front crossing the highway, the now west southwest breeze beginning to be a pain on progress as the fig farm came into view. 

"Your speed" was Bruce's reassurance I'd survive part two when he drew alongside for the drive to Old Dookie Rd.  PistolPete put an extra two k's into the tempo to the Toaster, toasting my attempt at recovery.  GiantAndy had appeared from somewhere and took Gazza's wheel in the advance so there'd be a want for watts when those two were elected to the lead role (might have been a good thing to be at the opposite end of the bunch?)   Daylight has become a welcome change, particularly with the 6am start, all the better to see the wallaby at the roadside near the Pine Lodge rail line.  Off the gas for ten seconds gained a breath or two - timely preparation for the hurry along Lemnos-Cosgrve Rd (the now northwest breeze of little hinderance to the horsepower at the front.

The chance to join the advance again in Ford Rd was declined; we were a bit close to town and I was likely to be at the business end when the big guns loaded their ammunition for the bolt along the Boulevard.  (I'd be of some use at the back as watchman for o.t.a's).  Gazza and GiantAndy nudged the forties nearing suburbia, several now keen to keep the caboose as their safe haven too.   A brief halt at Numurkah Rd then back on the gas again was the breaking point for Julz, gapped at the water treatment plant.  Leaving her to spin solo to breakfast ain't teamwork in my book, so I dropped back to donate a draft to the base of Mt.Wanganui to take the Kittles Rd shortcut to the Boulevard (finding Lenny leading the tail-enders Wendy, Lance, Tina and Laura toward breakfast)   An even longer Eighty8 table had Greg, Lili, Molly, Kim, LiamM and the Jenerator join for a yarn on the French vs the Parisiennes, space invaders and the whiplash effect. 

7/8 The battle for breath.

Fog helped to hide the 2000 metres to the Broken bridges from rooster corner, so my target didn't look so onerous, and Rocket was kind enough to ride at half throttle, so it gave the illusion I could keep up with him.  Concentration for kangaroos had occupied the pre-frontal cortex from thoughts on the labour that legs and lungs were going through.  The road ahead cleared beyond the dam and that distance to the bridge looked brutal; The Godfather could take his "full blocks" and insert them sideways 'cause the bridges were half way for me (and possible heart failure driving to the highway at this rate). 

The engines' signals of stress soon overwhelmed that "all in the mind" mantra to make raising the white flag an irresistible proposition, but Kel's kindness (I hope!) for part two might make the masochism manageable.  Don't look at the heart-rate Foss! and ignore the reflections of the road signs at the highway another 1800 metres ahead while you're at it.  Just set sights at three metres in front and ride to the rhythm they say.  Great theory if I could focus!  There was little left beyond Channel Rd (saving the last drops of energy to catch Pistol's pace into Boundary Rd was in my pain management plan) and speed sank a k so I'd save face reaching the pub, the relief getting there short lived when Kel called clear (she could focus)......and we were back on the gas again. 

Ah, there's nothing like the therapy of a thrash! (ain't it great when you stop?) Bo, BamBam, Bruce, Emil, Wozza, Kreeky and others mentioned made their turns look easy, though I'm told Bruce felt taxed.  Julz was wise occupying the caboose and Bo had helped his velocity turning lightweight with a lack of locks.  Recovery was scheduled in my diary for later in the afternoon as pace picked up on Old Dookie Rd, Wozza and Bo keen with their cadence to the truck route. At risk of being dislodged, I got useful supplying Julz a slipstream. 

8/8 Fog & frustration.

That first k into Channel Rd was a test; a shock to the system from the casual (in comparison) commute to the start.  Yeah, it's only 5k faster, but the chill factor on Tuesday was a fresh feels like minus 1.3.  It's almost annoying seeing the speed steadily rise as the engine struggles to stick to Emil's wheel. When handed the reigns there's more energy to expend to carve through the atmosphere, frustration building when the legs won't deliver the speed previously set.  I should apply for a pensioner's discount.  Surely a k short of the speed is excusable?  Fog hadn't hampered Wendy's drive toward Central Ave, though the Col de Kinder took a k or two off the pace. 

A south southwest breeze couldn't break Tina's pace to Jameson Rd though fog had frustrated her view of the cypress trees at the bend to the point of ditching the old specs.  Crossy was elbowed to the lead 100 metres early and with plenty of gas pedal into Channel Rd, gapped Emil, Wendy, Tina and I in the process.  Blood boils a little to battle back into the slipstream, particularly if you've just burned all your biscuits at the front. Luckily, Emil saved the day with a delicate and diplomatic use of the accelerator to rejoin the others at the S bend.  It's that head-count theory I aspire to that was forgotten (or never learned) that did it; a six second delay on the throttle (for the six in line) before resuming speed that keeps the group glued together.  Doesn't bust the newest entry to the caboose either.  Julz felt the fog factor hampering her hurry from the S bend to Channel Rd's end. 

To the highway and beyond, Kim got the hurry happening again, wearing the captains' cap till Pogue Rd.  A seamless change of shift helped minimize the stress for six following.  Guessing where I'd get the elbow on Emil's drive north was the $64,000 question.  A couple of passing cars delivered a draft to benefit a breath or two.  New Dookie Rd was the handover for me to make some movement, that head count theory used to mask my lack of watts to get up to speed sooner.  A rare halt for traffic in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd got a head start on recovery for Wendy's drive to the bridge, Tina taking her last shift to Lemnos before holidays abroad.  Crossy's subtle start into Ford Rd did more for bunch unity, Julz providing the velocity to Verney Rd.  In a rare display of chivalry, Kim was allowed to drive Emil's shift to Balaclava Rd (at a considerable pace I might add) but that traffic light was red yet again to finish with frustration.

11/8 A whole bike's better than half a wheel isn't it?

Pure, unadulterated laziness got the podium on Wednesday morning (who else is sick to death of Winter?) so, almost like a painful payback, rain stopped play on Thursday.  So when Friday fronted, there was a little more incentive to face another day of cold stuff.   Cloud cover had f#&d off the forecast frost, so seven degrees was almost bearable.  Not a puff of wind either, so things were looking up.  Half the commute to Sanctuary had spent me, a draft from Emil, Rocket, Wozz and Boof my respite to muster the muscle for bunch speed.  Grumpy, PistolPete, Kreeky Troy, Bruce, Kel, The Godfather, Bo and the 5ft Ninja must have been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Thursday's damp too..  A berth at third wheel in the left line made plenty of h.t.f.u. time for me before duty at the driving end called. 

The smooth start was a blissful baptism, 38's to Michell Rd a dive into the deep end of distress.  Those blessed with ample ability were happily chatting within the pack (Grumpy and The Godfather guaranteeing the decibel readings were high), the stress of speed slowly subsiding for those of more humble horsepower (identities not disclosed to avoid legal litigation!) now climatizing to the cruelty.  The opening argument for the soft side (staying in the caboose) was strong, but the opposition (Captain Humiliation leading Team Regret) finally convinced me to join the advance.  Everyone else was contributing to the cause, why not me?   Rocket doesn't deliver much of a draft but he's a compliant co-pilot at the front. 

 As days slowly stretch a little longer, a little more light was all the better for viewing Kanagroo Alley nearing the Broken bridges (but did anyone notice The Godfather's half block?)   Emerging from a long hibernation, a larger collection of Cats were found at the highway to re-ignite The Godfather's greeting (so much for Shepp East's slumber!).  Pistol and Kel had the horsepower to blur Boundary Rd to the fig farm, so I began banking breaths behind Rocket for duty in Old Dookie Rd.  The engine's age is steadily shortening shifts so I called my turn done at School Rd (full blocks are for young blokes!) satisfied with the speed, though disappointed with the distance. 

Teaming with the Ninja for part two, my speed was sub-standard it seems, the bar now raised a couple of k's in an afront to Rule #86.  I suppose a whole bike makes a point more than half a wheel?  Lack of oxygen restricted my retort.   Half a k on she'd rolled for PistolPete to pair to Central Ave, speed then sinking to the previous pace.  Teamwork was back on the menu for the drive to Dobsons', pairs properly levelled to the truck route where two rows thinned to Indian file when Wozza worked his watts into the 40's for the masochism to Mitchell St.  Driving the distance to SPC's roundabout will take some training for me when it re-opens in a week or so.

This week 214km

YTD 8,155km