A westerly up the waste-gate.

 Post #708

29/7 Bits of bunch.

Missing the Tarcoola train by less than a minute wasn't a worry, I had time to tap my way to Sanctuary's start without bursting a boiler, hopefully saving a watt or three for the bunch speed?  Gazza was a surprise addition to the grid of Rocket, GiantAndy, the 5ft Ninja, Lenny, Bo, Wozza, Emil, Tina, The Godfather, Bruce, Julz, Grumpy, Boof and PistolPete who'd found their way through the fog for the ritual ride.  Pistol and Emil wore away any watts I'd saved with a spirited start to the truck route, mind you something more substantial that the Ninja's draft may have helped me. It wasn't just me; Bruce felt the spice in the speed too and a few had already resolved to take up permanent residence at the rear.  It was a bit early for me to soften; I'd try a turn and see if my legs and lungs sought a divorce. 

How weird it was to feel a north easter (not just a breeze but 19 k's worth of wind) and face a fog too!  The damp was becoming a drag just a few minutes into the 80 minute lap, the glossy road adding caution to the corners.  Pace was still keen in River Rd; obviously the wind no match for GiantAndy's watts (fingers were crossed I'd get a turn with the wind behind).  Puddles put those rooster tails of water where they weren't welcome, so I was lucky I hadn't cleaned the bike yesterday!  I'd readied the head to face the effort at the front with Bo as co-pilot but Wozza saved the stress with his puncture at Pine Lodge pub (of course it was a rear wheel and in the damp for maximum inconvenience) 

Beyond the expected five minute pit stop, a few began a slow roll ahead, so when Wozz halted again across the highway to re-seat the bead, the bunch was in bits.  I'd returned to rejoin Rocket, Gazza, GiantAndy, Emil, Bruce and Lenny but many were missing.  Lenny and I chose the shortcut north on Boundary to intercept the escapees while the others turned toward the Toaster to chase.  We'd found the Woulda's in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd and a few k's behind the escapees (Pistol, Bo, Grumpy and The Godfather) cruising in the 32's (Almost like the Saturday circuits of old!) anticipating the arrival of the back-markers.  The Ninja caught us at Lemnos but where others were was the mystery.   

Suburbia stirred a little more speed and I'd finally reached the front at Verney Rd, helped by the wind behind I'd hoped for. 35's on Wanganui Rd was workable but I had developed a craving for PistolPete's draft at Golf Drive's roundabout.  The (now) headwind pulled two rows into Indian file at Canterbury's roundabout, though Pistol restrained the rush below the usual Boulevard bolt.  A rendevous with Emil, Julz and Tina at Eighty8 had the Jenerator, Kim, Greg, Lili and Liam join in the breakfast bunch to chew over old phones, SFX vs CGI.

31/7 Hiding from headwinds.

The specs would be rose coloured thinking Monday's nine degree morning was over Winter's hump; we've only had 14 days of 3 or below so there's more cold to come. (More than 20 sub 3's in years past if you want the reality!)  With no bites from the Woulda's, chalkieChris mutineered to try his luck with the Coulda's (Bruce, Emil, Lenny, Kel, Kreeky, Rocket, PistolPete. Tina, The Godfather, the 5ft Ninja, Wozza, Bo and Julz).  A west northwester got the tactical head into gear to get a turn done before Old Dookie Rd, so I jumped straight into the advance line when PistolPete and Emil launched the labour toward the truck route.  

Many were happy to see the speed stay sensible when the bunch bore east toward Central Kialla, a decent wind at the derriere usually gets a few excited (to the point of bits breaking off the back), but today consideration was given to the varied horsepower in the pack.   Kreeky and Tina ahead in the advance meant the standards wouldn't be too tough at the front and hearing Wozza's voice behind me, I reckoned he'd hold his engine in second gear to pair with me for part two.  The timing was impeccable to score a turn at River Rd's dip though I hadn't counted on Tina's turn testing me to the quarter horse fence but 14 k's worth of wind at the wastegate made my turn look decent with Wozza to rooster corner. 

I was looking forward to the draft arriving at Coach Rd but Wozza provides all the benefit of drafting a toothpick, and when he and Rocket added a k or two to the pace to the highway, legs and lungs weren't happy. ChalkieChris had dived into the deep end pairing with Rocket (who'd s adjusted his pace to diplomatic) in Boundary Rd and did well to get beyond the bridge, but naturally The Godfather half wheeled him on part two to Old Dookie Rd.   Bo and The Godfather paired for the headwind home (couldn't have happened to nicer guys!) though their trajectory had some shortcomings, thankfully PistolPete and Emil set the path smooth and straight to town.  ChalkieChris hadn't received the memo on the blast beyond the truck route but a few eased off the gas to guide his path to the Butter Factory.   

1/8 That's no mirage, that's Liam!

A third red led in Rae Street might have been an optical illusion.  Tina's always lurking on the commute route and that second light was bound to be the Jenerator.  Because Molly and Graeme seemed to have abandoned the squirrel ship and Lili's elbow needs a few months to repair, maybe I was seeing things?  Pickle my grandmother! LiamM was that third light to join the crew. (Seismic forces must have dragged that doona off him!) Surprise number two was finding Julz at the starting grid (as predicted, the force is strong in this one) so seven started with a westerly up the wastegate to excite Emil into the 37's.  35's was my response for shift number two to Orrvale Rd, proving to be a popular pace copied by the Jenerator to the Kinder.  

That southbound spin on Central Ave was a little slower but eastbound, Tina turned up the tempo again.  Wendy's shift kept the weeds at the roadside blurred to the S bend, Julz standards slightly slower to reach Coach Rd.  LiamM poured on the hurry to the highway but the fanfare soon faltered. I think cobwebs caused it. (too much time under the doona has shortened his time in the drivers seat).  My preparation for the long haul at second wheel while Emil attacked Boundary Rd was interrupted with an early elbow at the bridge (most unlike his usual efforts).  I hadn't driven this shift for a while and that short sit at second wheel left enough watts to make a turn to Old Dookie look decent, although that westerly wore the watts away. 

Others did their bit to preserve the average speed north to Lemnos-Cosgrove where I thought that speed would sink, but Wendy worked the headwind toward Lemnos like it wasn't there.  Emil was given the lead role a bit before Grahamvale Rd so naturally locked in the drive east to Verney then south to Balaclava (then of course the guide through the streets to coffee)

2/8 Smooth, straight, serene and sensible.........strange!

Spots on specs from Emil's wheel wasn't water 'cause the road was dry; I was being anointed by sealant from the Almighty; call it tubeless holy water if you like! (Hole-y water?)   My baptism took a break when we stopped for Boof and Rocket with Wozza who'd followed the fashion of flats, though Wozza's was fixable (a new tube and a re-seat of that troublesome Continental) Archer Rd was our bee line to Wednesday's Sanctuary start-line, arriving with three minutes spare.  

Troy, Bruce, Tina, PistolPete and Kreeky had gathered in not so welcoming weather (feels like -0.1), Pistol and Emil yet again doing the first shift south.  The serene start signaled someone's absence.  Rocket's lack of headlight volts forced his berth at the back while Emil and Bruce led the lines east.  That lack of temperature gripped the lungs like a vice, but I joined the advance line anyway; it'd probably hurt even more at the front but then everyone gets that pleasure.  Tina chose to keep Rocket company in the caboose while I followed Troy toward the business end.  Kreeky behind was my insurance to survive part two.  Calm conditions favored a reasonable turn when I paired with Troy at River Rd's dip so an aim to reach the quarter horse fence seemed achievable (but I reckon someone shifted that fence further.  Nothing but darkness lay ahead while the horsepower faded).  Troy complied to my call for an early roll (no "full blocks" pressure today), Kreeky hopefully the compliant one for the next bit.  

The white fence eventually appeared but the old engine's gauges were all at the red line half a k later.  My plea for Kreeky's tow was granted, the rest of River Rd spent in recovery.  Seems my speed was right 'cause the bunch speed stayed the same; I've just got a problem in going the distance!  Slowly but surely the view came back into focus on Coach Rd while Emil and Pistol did the driving north.  Aside from the lack of temperature, proper calls at intersections, two straight lines of formation, smooth speed and a sensible amount of serenity made for an enjoyable lap; the cold cured with coffee at the conclusion. 

3/8 Winter's last hurrah?

For a moment I thought that third tail-light in Rae St was LiamM's again.  Tina and the Jenerator are the reliable ones but it seems LiamM's comeback has been cancelled. The third red led today was Molly making her return!   With Wendy, Kim and Emil, we'd hitched a ride on the Boof, Rocket and Wozza train that travels the Archer St line express, so we alighted at the shop to find Julz early again at the grid.  Thursday's tap below the red-line was just what the doctor ordered.  Engaging a cleat should be second nature (after how many years of practice?) yet my foot fumble departing the shop at 5:30 was textbook newbie!  Just as well Emil's easy introduction to Channel Rd at 32's made it possible to catch up.  

Into the rhythm of the usual roll, there wasn't a lot of watts wanted to conform to therapy standards, though feels like 3.5 degrees was taxing the lungs a little.  A rabbits' random run along Channel Rd's roadside recalled thoughts of horizontal malfunctions years ago, so I was glad this long eared larakin charged for the paddocks rather than charge under the fourteen wheels headed east.  To the Kinder courtesy of Wendy then to the cypress trees thank to Tina's tow, Kim steered us to the S bend for the Jenerator to do duty to Channel Rd's end.  Julz has mastered the art of the light throttle out of a corner so the tail enders aren't dislodged.  Emil assumed control at Pogue Rd, the breeze conveniently swinging to a northeaster to make us work a little more.  

Temperature seemed less cold on Boundary Rd (you could hardly describe it as warmer!) so maybe we've reached that seasonal shift where degrees increase during the lap rather than sink? The familiar path of Old to New Dookie Rd was mine to drive, Molly's re-introduction to riding was resigned to the rear. The hint of light on the horizon at stupid o'clock fuels hope of longer days to come; far better than the Winter woes of leaving home and arriving back again in darkness.  The usual division of long drives on Lemnos-Cosgrove and Ford Rd gave a second shift to Tina, Kim, the Jenerator and Julz, Emil scoring the lead role again at Grahamvale Rd, so naturally he commandeered the captain's chair back to coffee.

This week  253km

YTD 7,938km