Mr. Negative nagging

 Post # 715

16/9 Testy.

The solitary to Sanctuary seemed strange. There was almost a sense of guilt setting my own pace (crikey, I might even save a few watts to spend on a decent turn in the bunch!) though effort seemed excessive just to keep 30 on the Garmin (an all-too-often complaint of late).  That old chestnut excuse of cold air or a heavy road sounded like a direct quote from Bo's encyclopedia of excuses (old age and a few too many k's for the week more likely Foss!) 

GiantAndy, Wozza, Troy, Boof, Grumpy, Rocket and PistolPete at the grid set the standard high so finding Bo, the Jenerator, Julz, Greg and BamBam in the mix got the balance tilted a little more in my favor.  Starting at the back was part of my risk assessment programme.  Horsepower at the front meant a strong start, and that was little help to the (perceived) poor performance of late.  Greg nursing that knee might make a pairing with him at the front a little easier than the likes of Wozza's wattage, so joining the advance line wasn't so onerous.  Nev arrived via the short cut (truck route) at Central Kialla to join the party.  Still at 37's and 38's beyond River Rd's dip wasn't doing much for the nerves so the bunch would have to tolerate something slower when my turn came due. 

36's alongside Greg beyond the quarter horse fence was bearable, his slight slowing of speed nearing the rumble strips quite timely as my engine started to misfire near rooster corner. My part two partner was Nev and I was relieved he wasn't in a hurry (though expectations of doing a decent drive weighed heavy in the head). Prior pace didn't help either.  Legs delivering less than what the head wanted is the usual disappointment, frustration growing when the Garmin showed the engine was well below the red-line.  All those excuses in Bo's encyclopedia rolled through the pre-frontal cortex for an answer as I buckled and called for Nev's mercy.  Grumpy paired with him to the highway, speed slowly rising a k or so as the pair chatted happily away at the front while I did the gasp and groan of recovery (well out of your depth old boy!)   The Jenerator's shortish shift on Boundary Rd might have explained my earlier struggle but not a leaf was stirred by wind (so I went back to the index of that encyclopedia again!)   

Boof and GiantAndy made it look easy driving to the Toaster, but they're blessed with that bonus called horsepower aren't they!  I could swap a sentence or two by the turn north to the church though Mr Pessimism was already pondering rejoining the advance line with the spectre of escalating enthusiasm nearing town.   Julz and the Jenerator had retired from active service at the front, the thought becoming quite attractive when seeing speed sneak into the 40's to Lemnos (and being promoted even closer to the front).  Conscience wrestles between h.t.f.u. and survival at this point of pain, but it's being counted as part of the crew at the end that ultimately matters (heroics mean nothing when you're dropped!) so I took a gap in the left line as a lifeline crossing Grahamvale Rd. 

Julz shadow was slowly slipping backward in Wanganui Rd so a split between sprinters and survivors seemed likely.  The Jenerator and I chose to chaperone the struggler rather than the stress of sticking with the swift.  Greg had peeled off from the fast fellas on the turn into Rudd Rd so four, somewhat spent, shared a more sustainable speed back into town  (and were spared the shame of being relegated o.t.a).    Spring finally allowed an alfresco breakfast at Eighty8; smoking, proper supercars and Syndey's sights were on tongues between bites of breakfast (French toast the treat for a 300k week). 

18/9 Legs liberated.  

There's a lot of hesitation exposing legs after a long Winter (25 days of 3 or below etches a lasting memory) though I reckon it was a safe bet when 14 degrees showed up at stupid o'clock.  A northeaster motivated movement south to Sanctuary; dealing with it in the face for most of the lap would need some tactical positioning in the pack.  The Godfather and the Ninja were on the comeback trail from illness though several regulars were absent, so 11 (adding Bruce, Troy, PistolPete, Bo, Tina, Wozza, Kel and BamBam) made up the squad to share the struggle......better than none I guess. 

It could have been a brutal baptism to the week with that wind up the Khyber but PistolPete and Wozz were kind enough to keep the velocity below 38 to open the weeks work.  There was no escaping from facing the wind so I took a chance that River Rd might be the lesser of the labour; following Tina into the advance line at the dip wouldn't burst a boiler.....till she took to the slipstream of the left line and promoted me to The Godfather's wheel.  What was a northeaster had swung more easterly so fronting for duty shortened hopes of a shift worth sprouting about.  I'd got to the quarter horse fence for part one but watts had worn weak to drive something decent with Kel for part two. 

Barely a k was covered when the call to Kel of "cooked" saved my likely implosion, though recovery was put on the backburner as Wozza and Pistol unleashed their horsepower for the path north.  How you can drive at 38 into 20 k's worth of wind is the puzzle I need to solve (And how to maintain it for another three k's is another!)  The Ninja kept confined to the caboose while Troy matched Wozza's watts for another 3 k's to Old Dookie Rd.  (The term to use is "freaks" I beleive). A little composure was found on the westward way to town, the position near the back of the pack probably exempting me from another shift at the front (that wind built a little more excitement toward the truck route of course)   Tina was getting toasted when the hurry hit toward SPC but PistolPete (always on the look-out for those under load) and I joined in serving tow truck duties back to the bunch, SPC's new red traffic light helping to halt those in a hurry to close the gap.

19/9 Timing traffic lights 101.

With Captain Emil (and Kim) away, the Tuesday routine might get a shake-up, though numbers were were a bit thin at the shop; Julz, Tina, the Jenerator and Greg the sole squirrels to start.  The first shift to the truck route would be a pleasant change from that ever repetitive Doyles to Orrvale thing but Greg stepped in as commander of the first drive into Channel Rd.  Silly me slipped in at second wheel, thus confirming my standard shift.   Greg had set a popular pace (nobody hollering hurt or any o.t.a. occurrences) so reaching Orrvale didn't blow any gaskets (though a northeaster didn't make it too cruisy). Funny how the leaves were barely moving but driving a k felt like heading into a gale! 

Tina quite capably towed us to the Kinder where Julz cruised the Central Ave leg but had to work the way to the cypress trees. Avoiding the corrugations near Hanlon Rd that could rattle your fillings free, the Jenerator dipped into the depths of determination to drive to Channel Rd's end.  Greg was back in charge and didn't he charge ahead crossing the highway, giving me the role of shock absorber to get the three behind me back to his draft.  Looks like the Tuesday/Thursday ride ritual was set in stone; at this rate I'd be getting the Old to New Dookie Rd stretch yet again.   The northeast breeze felt like flogging a dead horse at the front so a k worth of cruelty was enough. 

The breeze at the backside probably prompted Julz to drive long to Lemnos after Tina had towed us to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, and that rubbed off on the Jenerator to endure the drivers seat for 3200 metres to reach Grahamvale Rd.  Greg had scored the short shift to Verney so surely he'd copy Emil's effort to drive south to Balaclava Rd too?  What a surprise to be handed the reigns on the turn south! (a third shift on a squirrel circuit for me is as rare as a silent Godfather!)   That breeze seemed to have vanished when I wanted it 'cause lots of throttle was needed to keep 36's going for a couple of k's.  There'd be no Emil explosion of effort at the end on my watch (I hadn't the horsepower left!) but I was rewarded with a rare green light at Balaclava Rd (taking notes Emil?)   

20/9 Yeah, I'd weakened Wednesday and taken a day off. Something more than 3 hrs sleep would have helped.

21/9 Who's happy with head-winds? 

We'd had a small taste of Spring so of course, a Winter-like temperature returned on Thursday to haunt us.  Why should we get it easy?  A westerly blew to chill the bones as a bonus!  Only the die-hards (the Jenerator, Tina, Julz and Greg) fronted at the shop, the fair-weather faction still yet to firm up and show their allegiance (others, on holiday, chose to taunt us with scenic seaside views).   Colour in the sky and a tailwind to start the circuit made a motivational beginning, Greg stealing the first shift to the truck route again to keep me consistent on the Doyles to Orrvale.  With only five to swap turns, another shift shouldn't be far away, so recovery was put into fast forward while Tina, the Jenerator and Julz did duty. 

Shifts were standard to the cypress trees till Julz went long range to Channel Rd's end.  Second wheel to Greg gives a decent draft but he'd been hit with the long range virus too, Old Dookie Rd blurring by without a flinch of an elbow in sight. (Maybe it's an Emil infection?)  Permission to lead was finally granted at New Dookie Rd, the now west northwester giving a little grief at the left shoulder (but nothing like the work heading west).  That joy was for Tina as I handed her the reigns in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd; I had an appointment for respite at the rear. (Nice timing eh?)  

Reaching the bridge was enough for Tina, the Jenerator taking up the task to get to Lemnos. A small dose of the headwind in Ford Rd was plenty for Julz so Greg did the work to Grahamvale.  I'd hoped he'd go the extra k to Verney but he wasn't happy with the headwind either.  Sharing the suffering is part of the job description so I did my bit, albeit scoring the shortest shift.  The responsibility rested with Tina to take us to a green light at Balaclava Rd but by Graham St the Jenerator had the itch for swift and Greg needed no encouragement to join the thrash (but that hurry only triggered the lights to go red).     

22/9 A laboured lap (or is it just me?)

I struggled to see the sense in riding at stupid o'clock when the Bureau said feels like 1.9, particularly when the only thing that had appeal was crawling back to bed. Just as well there's always the memory of the regret of not riding, so concrete was consumed with coffee while layering the insulation.  Luck found Boof and Rocket at Benalla Rd lights so Tina and I were treated to a tow to Sanctuary Drive, shielded from the southerly.   

Extra horsepower (aka Kev) was ready at the start with The Godfather, Kreeky, Kel, PistolPete, Bruce, Grumpy, Julz, Greg and Bo, the wind of no consequence to Boof and Pistol's rapid pace to Mitchell Rd.  (Maybe I should have followed that earlier appeal.......or maybe I should get a box of tissues and have a good cry?)  Tina had braved joining the advance line early, so why shouldn't I?    Kev kept the tarmac at a blur to Central Kialla, and that hadn't silenced Grumpy or The Godfather (but what could?).  No chat for me (and some others), me and several had become preoccupied with oxygen intake.  Tina's determination to serve a turn wasn't helped by Bo's determination to keep a wheel ahead, a reasonable reason for Tina's short shift and Greg's slipstream to save her. 

35's needed a wide open throttle to the quarter horse fence, the effort to stay alongside Greg telling me there was little left in this tank.  Grumpy was a compliant co-pilot but as usual, my legs and lungs were nowhere near performing what the ego wanted.  Kel and Grumpy showed how a proper shift was done to rooster corner while I worked on my inferiority complex.  Almost broad daylight along Coach Rd seemed strange; just a week to go and daylight savings will rob us of the pleasure!  All should have been on high alert when The Godfather called the cross of the highway, "Have a look" sounding alarm bells, and finding a truck closing in rapidly from the west.  A chorus of disc brake squeals halted half the bunch as The Godfather and his cohorts cruised into Boundary Rd for others to catch up. 

(Hardly the stuff of teamwork).  Speed seemed super keen to Old Dookie Rd or was that just me being way out of my league? (Kreeky concurred pace seemed cruel; so it wasn't just Mr.Negative nagging in my head).   Kev stirred the performance pot for the west way to town, causing quite a few (including me) to find shelter in the left line when nearing the business end of the advance.  Kreeky, Tina, Julz and I became detached as the after-burners opened toward SPC but that new traffic light at Lockwood Rd turned red to allow us to rejoin.  

This week 259km

YTD 9,705km