A Terrier overdosed on RedBull.

 Post #710

14/8 Cold conformity.

Wasn't I clever settled into the left line on PistolPete's wheel (and last to face the front) as the bunch bolted south, feeling rather smug till Indian file was called just 50 metres in;  third in line for labour now and needing the head hurried into h.t.f.u. mode!  There was some consolation that Pistol then Emil had set 36's as the standard and handy that a slight south southwester would assist my shift to River Rd.  Hardening up into the hard yards nearing Central Kialla's hall, Bruce drew alongside as co-pilot.  Seems pairs was preferred now!  Well, I guess it's best to get the torture over and done with early and soak up the slipstream afterward (fingers crossed there'd be some time till duty called again). 

Loving the labour, Emil and Pistol fronted again (addicted to speed?), the standards lifted a couple of k's to put my recovery in reverse.  Wozza's watts continued the hurry toward rooster corner, The Godfather not tested by the tempo.  Kel and BamBam had braved the advance; maybe if I slipped them a bribe they'd slow the speed a fraction?  That extra minute of morning light each day is noticeable, even a touch of colour in the horizon builds hope (and gives hope of seeing those ever-expanding pot-holes on the circuit).   Effort seemed to escalate on Boundary Rd to the bridge, the head-on gust of wind delivered by an oncoming truck sinking speed for a moment. 

BamBam's retreat rearward with cramp had Rocket come to his aid, so the ease off the gas I'd craved earlier came without the need of a bribe.  The order shuffled in the regroup (the Ninja's subtle shift to the left line for less labour?) and The Godfather got on the gas into Old Dookie Rd but was left to labour solo at the front while others opted for a clan combined (the solo specimen soon re-united at School Rd to pair with Bo to Central Ave)   Traffic at the truck route split the squad in two, though speed was still swift to Mitchell St for the want of warmth at the Butter Factory.  Feels like minus 0.5 was beginning to bite. 

15/8 Six addicts.

Ingesting an insect wasn't the best start to a shift, particularly when pace was set fairly fast by Emil to the truck route.  I've had better tasting protein and feels like minus 0.3 wasn't doing me any favours. Still, the show goes on as they say (to Orrvale Rd in my case).  The coughs and splutters sounded about right for this old engine being thrashed to match 36's anyway.  (Factor in this fossils' antiquity folks; translates to 40's for you young ones!)   Crossy took on leg three to the Kinder with a considerate use of the accelerator, a slight south southwester making work for Wendy on Central Ave but speed was back on spec to the cypress trees.  

Off the bike for a week would need a month to get me back in tune but the Jenerator produced her usual hurry to the S bend. Ain't youth a wonderful thing?  Julz was left to finish off Channel Rd, the tail wind due to inflate the egos headed north.  Emil's elbow was early to elect me to the front at Boundary Rd's bridge, working on the theory of a tail wind is better shared (unless you prefer being tagged a tail wind thief), so I gave Crossy the task of the Old to New Dookie Rd bit.  Wendy won the last of the bonus breeze to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, the Jenerator and Julz drawing the short straw of a side wind to Lemnos.  

Newfound comfort on the Fizik helped me hold Emil's wheel for Ford Rd, what I could attribute the ease to was anyone's guess (but I'll spare you the derriere details!)   That comfort was timely 'cause Emil was in for the long haul; not content with an extra effort to Verney, he added the southerly spin into town too. Luckily we were spared the bolt to Balaclava Rd's red light (the approach at 36's had it stay stuck on red anyway) and none could stop him captaining to coffee either.

16/8 Emulating Eskimos.

Some of the hardcore had succumbed to the softness when the mid-week forecast threw us a negative but it's only a number when you think about it; anything below five is fresh. Just BamBam, Emil, PistolPete, Boof, Kel, Bruce and Grumpy had shivered their way to Sanctuary Drive for 5:40, so single file it was, in an effort to put some recovery time between shifts.  Tardy with his timing,The Godfather arrived (advantageously) to join the back.  PistolPete did the three k drive to Mitchell (of course), Emil the two k's to Euroa Rd and Bruce took on the two k task to River Rd where Grumpy, feeling the two and a half k's to the bridge wasn't enough, did another half k to Laws Drive.  Sitting second wheel to Boof while he aimed at the quarter horse fence (two k's beyond) was certainly preparing for my pain to come. 

Thankful that the wind had taken a day off, pace was almost sustainable at the front till a k cutting through feels like minus three started to wear away at the will to live.  I'd set sights at reaching rooster corner (as a fair contribution to the cause) though focus was blurring half way into the two k's of cruelty. A cars' headlights at Coach Rd defined the aim a little better though it was still further than what legs and lungs wanted. The spectre of The Godfather's "full blocks" demand got me to Coach Rd.  Luckily BamBam was light on the throttle heading north toward the Broken so jellied legs managed to catch the second last carriage when Kel called caboose her residence (not often she shies from a shift!) 

Kudos from the passing players helped the head; a Spanish doctor might help the engine! The couple of k's to the bridges was enough for BamBam to call it quits, The Godfather hauling us the next two k's to the highway but made his mark on Boundary for another three k's to Old Dookie Rd (I reckon it's a mine's-bigger-than-yours thing).  The varying velocities tested this old engine.  PistolPete hurried the huffs and puffs (my interpretation, not the general consensus!) for the (just over) three k way west to Central Ave, Emil enlarging the city's view for (just under) three k's to the truck route when the draft of a passing car tempted his tempo (just like throwing a ball for a Terrier overdosed on RedBull!) Maybe this would be the last one k thrash to Mitchell St? The SPC roadworks said to be completed soon will add another four hundred meters to the labour list. 

17/8 Nursing new knee (great grit Greg!)

Barely seven weeks since having a new knee installed, Greg was back on the bike, albeit on light duties. Therapy Thursday was the ideal ride for his rehab (maybe he chose a feels like minus 2.4 to distract thoughts on running-in the titanium tibiofemoral, though his only glitch was engaging cleats).  Without question (and without challenge), Emil took the lead to the truck route, all of us getting the squeeze into the intersection by Mr Impatient Motorist (failed to gain any time, forced to give way to traffic anyway) That oh so familiar 1200 metres to Orrvale Rd hasn't changed a bit, the workload a little easier with Thursday's discount on speed applied.  Advancing in the queue for a turn, Greg's tenacity impressed (particularly if you'd seen the mid-operation photos from a few weeks back) while Wendy did the Kinder shift. 

Kim was on a mission into Central Ave (me thinks that speedo wasn't working again) to push the boundaries of therapy, though it wasn't bothering me at second last in line.  Julz led the way to the S bend, Greg given the remains of Channel Rd without so much as a hiccup in horsepower getting there (Perhaps I should order a pair of those titanium knees myself?!)  Emil went forward on reconnaissance at intersections to give a heads-up for Greg's cleat disconnection.  Breeze direction was guesswork on Emil's wheel along Boundary Rd but moving a little off-line soon gave me the answer of a north northwester, becoming quite obvious when his elbow elected me to the front at the bridge. 

Pleased there wasn't Tuesday's tempo to live up to, the drive to Old Dookie was enough (that breeze was like having the brakes on), besides, Wendy would love some more work!  An easier path west on Lemnos-Cosgrove raised the speed a bit beyond the usual, Julz and Greg splitting the distance to Lemnos.  Deja vu Tuesday when Emil fronted for Ford Rd so out came the rubber stamp for the repeat of his hold on the captaincy back to Balaclava Rd's red light.  Given the lead of a short shift to Knight St was a rare privilege but a coup d'état soon followed for the captaincy to coffee.

18/8  Stupid o'clock drizzle on Friday made the decision of taking a day off easy. 

This week 190km  

YTD 8,345km