Where do I buy a bucketful?

 Post #717

30/9 An amicable separation.

Spring had sprung the inevitable competitive itch.  The shop squad had reformed, mustering their muscles for a Saturday thrash yet a few of them were found among the faithful at Sanctuary's grid. (A factional insurrection brewing?) The blend of have's and have not's (horsepower that is) got rolling at six, the have's at the front and the have not's behind, with a fairly spirited speed under Pistol and Wozza's watch to Mitchell Rd.  Division two's had fronted in River Rd at a less perspiring pace, so it was no surprise when Pistol, Nev, Rocket, Wozz and Boof bid their adieu's and bolted toward the horizon.  The pressure on pace was off for Greg, the Jenerator, BamBam, Tina, Julz and I to slip into something more comfortable (this separation was a bonus for both bunches). 

Seems snakes are on the comeback with a few flat ones (the best type) decorating the tarmac and it's breeding season for pot-holes, seemingly multiplying by the week .  Us sedate six had settled into sustainable 34's on Coach Rd as the faster faction stretched ahead to the horizon. The prospect of the pursuing shop squad sunk in, and that developed an itch for Greg to jump aboard, but in Boundary Rd Jack, Trav, KnightMichael and Liam cruised in behind to join us (seems GiantAndy had punctured earlier, taking the sting out of their speed).  By Pine Lodge church they'd been promoted to the front and with the west northwester doing an about-face, a vague sort of east southeaster would boost the pace for the 13 k's homeward.  37's seemed agreeable (or was that silence just suffering?) 

Thoughts are often thrashed out on Ford Rd's first leg ; what watts are wanted for Wanganui Rd, where to be placed in the pack (to play a part in pace or hide from the hurt) or even just judge what's left in the tank.  Today the sum total of a big week (too much riding, not enough rest?) had added up to side with Tina and Julz on their choice of escape via Verney.  

Content consuming coffee at the cafe, Back in Nan and Pop's day and the Day of the Dead kept conversations cruising.   

2/10 Back in the black.

Monday's come standard with lethargy (even when you don't have to go to work!) and this one had cold and darkness thrown in (curse that feels like 2.2 and daylight savings; I was almost enjoying Spring till it went o.t.a!)  Just engaged, Emil and Kim had handed in their Queensland holiday (to enjoy the winter-like weather back home?) to join with Tina and Wendy and tour south where Troy, Rocket, Wozza, Bruce, The Godfather, Bo, PistolPete, Kreeky, Kel, the 5ft Ninja and Greg had gathered at the grid.  Emil and Wozz captained a considerate start but it soon felt cruel beyond the truck route; though the speedo only showed 36's (It' Monday Foss; any speed stings after foolishly taking a day off!)   

There was little to complain about really; as last in line for duty I had nearly half an hour to harden up before facing the front.  Today's Cheshire cat was Bruce aboard a new BMC (though Kim's new ring grin probably outranked it) and despite the inevitable minor adjustments needed, the only pain he felt was in the wallet.   Troy felt the smoothness of a new chain, cassette and chainring (horsepower probably hammered the last ones) but all I needed was a new engine.  38's to River Rd was ruining me (to the point of considering sitting on).  Just as well Wendy, Tina, Kim and the Ninja had joined the advance to get me thinking why shouldn't I? 

Darkness beyond the headlight's beam had some nerves on edge about wildlife, even a humble rabbit suddenly seen running at the roadside posed the threat of a major horizontal malfunction, disaster for a sizeable bunch. Long drives gave way for shorter (and sometimes slower) shifts as the slower ranks reached the business end, The Godfather gracious with his speed alongside Tina but keen on the throttle as Kel became the co-pilot.  The Ninja braved a brief appearance at the front in Old Dookie Rd but called Kim across soon after for me to pair the pace. Part one was over before School Rd.  I'd tried to reach Central Ave with Emil alongside but blamed Monday for feeling cooked before the rumble strips. (I gotta break that habit of flogging a dead horse!)  Wozza and Emil's hurry to the truck route hurt, so the bottom of the tank was searched for something to get to SPC (the fast were gifted a green light, and that made more work to bridge an opening gap)

5/10 Wonderful one way, work the other. 

Rain put a halt to the habit on Tuesday and Wednesday so several had cravings for k's, regardless of Thursday's weather.  A 30k westerly and feels like 1.8 couldn't deter Wendy, Kim, Emil and Tina from swinging a leg over a saddle, their eagerness to front-up getting Greg guilty for suggesting he may pull the pin. A new pair of 25mm tyres put comfort into my wheels turning at 5:05, the roadholding remarkable when changing from (new old stock) 23's.  (Wondered why they were cheap!)   Channel Rd would be bliss with all that wind (20-30 km/h) up the personal exhaust pipe, but I tried to ignore what lay ahead for the way back home.  (It'd hurt). 

Greg's heads-up on a few branches blown onto the tarmac helped steer a safe passage for the 8k's east to Coach Rd, all six sharing in the ego-inflating sensation of 35 k's per hour without a lot of labor to sustain it.  Of course that sensation doesn't come for free; there'd be a price to pay on Lemnos-Cosgrove and Ford.  Boundary Rd wasn't much fun as the westerly wrestled with the wheels attempt to stay straight, Emil kind enough to shorten his shift so most played a part in getting to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.  The short straw was drawn by Tina to face the headwind first, but she'd had a big serve of determination for breakfast to drive to the bridge. Greg's two metres of elevation helped tow us to Lemnos. 

Sitting second wheel, I sensed a certain sit in Emil's perch aboard the La Pierre on Ford Rd;  a stubborn stature that said I'm in for the long haul.  His speed standards weren't stinging but hanging on for 4 k's to Verney Rd gave me a big dose of second wheel syndrome.  I was honored given that most venerable Verney to Balaclava leg though.  Feeling a little southerly in the westerly suggested I should set a speed to keep the crew together (not that I had the horsepower to drop any off the back) so naturally Emil and Greg got itchy with 300 metres to go.   Tina, Wendy, Kim and I weren't about to chase but we paid the red light price as the sprinters got green.  

6/10 Friday's foray.

The battle to get out of bed was equaled by the battle against the southwester just to get to the grid (credit to Emil providing tow truck duties half way to Sanctuary's start line)  Now to survive a lap!   The fellowship of Friday's kit day helped the hardening up process - the real task was to hang on while PistolPete and Troy set Rocket, Bruce, Tina, Boof, Wozza, Kel, Emil, Bo, Kreeky and Greg southbound.  So, how do they drive at 37's into a 17 km/h headwind? (and where do I buy a bucketful?)   A start at the back of the pack might have been a tactical masterstroke, all being well I'd get a turn with a favorable wind though The Godfather's late arrival meant I'd drawn his wheel in the advance.

Bo planned his turn to a tee, that tailwind spurring him into the 40's to River Rd, a speed not so kosher with some (though I reckon I'd find a few friends with my version of velocity later).   Lance arrived in River Rd from a shortcut via the truck route, Greg matching Boof's drive beyond the quarter horse fence so he'd earned a short part two to rooster corner. My turn did have a favorable wind with The Godfather in Coach Rd though he was keen to stay a wheel ahead. I wasn't falling for that trick of keeping level (that only eggs him on!) so holding a wheel back got me to the bridges without bursting a boiler.  It's another 2 k's to the highway and I could sense "Full Block" being hollered by The Godfather as Emil drew alongside, but pushing my own limits was the incentive to stay in the front seat (I'd probably regret it reaching Boundary Rd)

"Shoot for the moon" they say. "Even if you miss, you land among the stars" they say.......Yeah, I was seeing stars crossing the Midland as Emil and Kel took over for the drive into Boundary.  (The kudos was nice.  A fresh set of lungs would be nicer!)  Kreeky and Lance's idea of pace won my vote in Old Dookie Rd (the world had come back into focus by then) though the division one's would most likely cause some stress aimed at the truck route.  Troy tested my struggle to hang onto the tail toward SPC, the rubber band breaking at Wheeler St and hopes broke too when that new traffic light turned red for my arrival.

This week 210km

YTD 10,241km