Fronting for the fun?

 Post #713

2/9 Saturday singled and syncronised.

Hitting the snooze button only starts the can't be f#&ked's flooding the head. Two degrees at stupid o'clock on a Saturday had something to do with it, but a lap with the lads might shake off some of the sloth.  (escape bed before sleep wins the argument Foss!) Sanctuary's grid was a little bare with just Wozza, Rocket, Gazza, the 5ft Ninja, Emil and Greg lining up at 5:59 but Nev and Lance's arrival as six struck would save some labour.   Wozza supplied the watts to Mitchell Rd and at fifth wheel, I had some time to ready the head for hurt.  Greg's slipstream was the bonus as Rocket did a double shift to River Rd then added the 2 k's to the bridge as a bonus.  Of course that only baited Gazza to enduro to rooster corner (not that he needs any encouragement!)

Consistent 37's and 8's eventually numbed the hurt though Nev went off in his own little world of speed when given the lead role into Coach Rd.  Predicting the delay of seven swinging 90 degrees north from River Rd, Emil went easy on the gas to minimize the whiplash effect.  Nine got back in line by the dam.  Greg got the job of taking us east into Old Dookie Rd but that new knee needed nursing at the bridge, so I was handed the 2 k haul to the Toaster......and quickly felt what Greg' knee was niggling about.  The old engine went ok till it started to miss-fire in the last 200 metres. Lance towed us to the church, the Ninja to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. 

Wozza was on a mission headed west, still stuck in the driver's seat beyond the Pine Lodge Creek and still spinning like a top beyond Boundary Rd. There's moments when the focus to hang on to that sort of hurry blurs to thoughts of abandoning ship; several moments in fact as he dragged us the 6.2 k's to Lemnos in the 39's.  Being counted as a part of the pack drives some determination though, doesn't it? Or is the shame of being blown off the back the glue to keep us stuck to the wheel ahead? Wozza's epic effort would rub off on those with the horsepower to match it........ and that would delay the few (with none) from facing the front for a while. 

The line of nine stayed as one along Wanganui Rd though tempo would obviously brew by the Cemetery.  Gazza was first to ignite the afterburners at Canterbury's roundabout, Rocket, Wozza, Nev and Emil unable to resist the rush (the Ninja, Lance, Greg and I knew our survival was with something slightly slower to breakfast). Helicopters, hospitality and how somedays the engine's got nothin' captured the conversation over breakfast. 

4/9 Swerv'n skippy. 

Monday's mindset was quickly thrown into thrash mode when only Wozza, Rocket, Emil and the 5ft Ninja fronted for duty; thoughts of a gentle baptism to week 1042 of this two wheeled addiction were quickly dashed.  Indian filed among this sort of horsepower would certainly make me earn coffee!  Avoiding the northeast wind (17-24 km/h) was out of the question on this anti-clockwise course; the last squirt along Old Dookie would possibly be the only respite.  I should have hijacked the first shift south to Mitchell Rd but Rocket had pole position on Sanctuary's grid, though his opening tempo was considerate to those of weaker wattage. 

Quick calculations had my turn through Central Kialla so its few houses and a couple of trees might give a little shelter.  Emil went easy at 36's to Euroa Rd.  The way north toward River Rd wasn't as tough as this pessimist predicted, pleased in fact to keep 35's on the speedo till the pot-holed section near the off camber turn east.  I had just enough oxygen left to join as last carriage for Wozza's work to the bridge.  It seemed Wozz had bit betwixt teeth when he continued to the dip, but hopes he'd hand the lead role to the Ninja went out the window. (legs were protesting about pace)  By the quarter horse fence I was well toasted even at 5th wheel (pity the Ninja's predicament at 2nd!) but there was a holler and sudden slow.  A kangaroo had bounded from the roadside, missing Wozza by millimeters, the subsequent scatter in all directions preventing the dreaded touch of wheels (we might not have been so lucky in a bigger bunch)   A minute off the throttle settled nerves (and I took the liberty of stocktaking oxygen).  The Ninja loved the northeaster on Coach Rd as much as I enjoyed it through Central Kialla, her elbow electing Rocket to the lead at the dam. 

Naturally he went long range beyond the highway to Boundary Rd's bridge, easy for him but a workload for me now at 3rd wheel.  I reckon these fast fellas were taking it easy for the Ninja and I so they might as well do overtime at the front, a habit picked up by Emil driving to Old Dookie Rd and staying in the role to Central Ave.  Naturally he wanted more, so added a k to Dobson's bridge.  Matching the same speed for 1500 metres to the truck route was possible with the northeaster at my tail but it took Wozza's watts to drag us to SPC (mine had gone missing by then!)  

 5/9 Making up the numbers.

With riders rare, squirrels and the few Couldabeens not on holiday teamed up for Tuesday's tap of the Sanctuary circuit, Rocket and Wozz assuring Greg, Emil, BamBam, Troy, the Jenerator and the 5ft Ninja they'd stay stuck in first gear.  Emil and Wozza have perfected the PistolPete introduction to the lap, not blowing any gaskets with a considered pace to Mitchell Rd.

A light westerly trimmed the temperature to feels like 0.8 (so much for Spring's sublime 10 degrees yesterday!) but enough energy was being expended to warm the engine up.  All were on high alert for 'roos so a switch to high beam when I reached the front seemed sensible (last night's high winds had provided plenty of small branches to look for too)   The half light nearing rooster corner wasn't a lot of help though the new-found peace in the bunch helped concentration.  The breeze behind hadn't given me any extra speed but then cold hardly encourages it.  Part two to the Broken was eased by Emil's co-operation, his pairing with Rocket from there going gentle on the throttle to the highway. (Cheque's in the mail lads!)   

Half a dozen Cats must have soaked up the serenity as our paths crossed.  BamBam does the distance by sensibly setting a slightly slower speed, something I should put into practice instead of pushing a punishing pace.(sticking to the squad's speed becomes an obsession at the front).   Into the breeze at the business end at Dobson's bridge, the Ninja copped the windshear from oncoming trucks as well, any wonder she sought a draft when the drive to SPC got swift.  

7/9 Headwinds and hello holidaymakers.

For a moment I felt guilty bailing out of Wednesday's ride (I'll admit I softened for a sleep-in when I saw zero on the gauge) till I noticed only three had fronted for a thrash in the 38's around the circuit. I'd want compensation for that cruelty!  Coulda's and Squirrels had combined again on Thursday to get the peloton populated, finding Tina had returned from Europe and Liam & Trav were back from the northwest outback.  I'd avoided the minus yesterday but was destined to suffer a northeaster today (13-24 km/h), anticlockwise 'aint the easiest direction at this time of year.  Thanks be to Grumpy, Kim, Wozza, the Jenerator Emil, BamBam, Troy, the 5ft Ninja and Rocket for fronting up to share the suffering around.

Luck had my place in the pack to be last to face the wind, although speed was set at kind for Tina's return to two wheels.  Kim kept her company in the caboose while Wozza and Emil opened the order of business to Mitchell Rd.  Temperature, or the lack of it, seemed to be the only test for Liam and Trav.  Keeping pace had turned into an effort along River Rd so wasn't it disappointing to see just 33's on a glance at the Garmin (legs had translated the tempo at 37's). That day off had done me no good at all!  Labour lessened a little on the transition to the advance line, finding some sanctuary in the sheltered side as the crew crested River Rd's dip. 

No 'roos on the circuit today; saying that they'll probably pop up in town!   BamBam, the Ninja and the Jenerator ahead meant speed wouldn't be supersonic when I got to the driver's seat and I was sure Wozza would stick to the social standard if that big engine of his didn't stall!  The 5ft one called it quits at Channel Rd so the Jenerator and I fronted for the fun of the (almost) head wind to the highway, adding the extra distance to Pogue Rd 'cause we loved the punishment?  I was going ok alongside Wozz for a while but the oncoming truck and the blast of wind with it blew any momentum back to Murchison!  And didn't that signal the head to raise the white flag at the bridge. 

Emil and Wozza's slipstream worked well for about 50 metres till tempo turned up toward Old Dookie Rd.   The turn west was like winning the lottery with that wind almost behind us, speed not getting too silly till the truck route. Troy turned up the hurry to SPC but diplomatically kept the team as one to the new traffic light (must wired in series with Balaclava Rd; it's always red!)

8/9 The radar was clear in the early hours of Friday but the Bureau of Instinct told me rain would ruin the ride. 30+km/h winds helped the decision to stay indoors.  I didn't sleep-in but soaked up the smugness as the 6:15 showers hit.  

This week 224km

YTD 9,143km