Hurt, heaven, and everything between.

 Post #721

28/10 Doin' Dookie duty.

It's been many moons since tapping a ton (six moons in fact when I felt guilty) so I was betting the backside would protest from the change of regular fifties.  Committing to the Tat 200 (just four weeks away!) meant extracting the digit to get some distance into the legs, something Emil had stirred among the Squirrels as a Saturday alternative.   The Jenerator, Greg, Tina, Kim and Julz had raised their hands for Dookie duty; the standard there and back with a lap of the Major Plains loop in the middle, so sharing the load should make it easier, right?  Weather plays a part in making the distance doable or a drama (a forecast northeaster suggested a favorable return) so hopefully the old engine would cope.  Last weeks wind and hills might have hardened it? 

A shop start at six got seven headed east on Channel Rd, the familiarity of standard shifts distracting thoughts of the task ahead.  Tina got down to business driving a long shift from the cypress trees, setting a standard for others to follow. Infectious, isn't it?  (Who's willing to put 10 cents in the collection plate when it's full of big notes?)  The wind couldn't make its mind up from being north or east, so the variety plagued us on Boundary, Old Dookie and Pine Lodge North Rd's, the feels like six forcing me to insulate legs where others braved exposed knees. 

A three k drive from Emil ended at Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd for me to steer the east path (less travelled) toward the old phone exchange.  33's was a peaceful pace I could handle, given the goal ahead.  Greg got the second half to the quarry, the Col de Cosgrove's formidable 5 metre ascent scaled with little suffering.  The quarry's entrance provided a special gravel stage, the railway's rumble strips rattling any loose fillings, but smoother tarmac returned to find New Dookie Rd where a right / left set our sights at the camel farm.  The winds' variety enticed a little echelon education for Julz to head us north back to New Dookie Rd; my fingers were crossed in hope there wasn't a change in direction for the return trip. Dookie's reputation for a head wind home haunts me)   

The throttle was eased on Sutherland's hill (1.9%) to keep seven as one; this wasn't a lap about KOM's or PB's but a task for the team to tackle.  Kim and Tina opted out of the Major Plains loop, a lap I don't enjoy, but limits need stretching if that 200 test draws near.  On the little ring in readiness for the back pinch got me up and over the Major Plains lump, but a lot of the west way to Tallis was at rest for that crest to the Dookie-Nalinga Rd.  The tailwind is of little use when there's little watts!  Five became seven again on the regroup back in Dookie for the tap back to town, time in the saddle now taking it's toll on the palms and the posterior. Legs were none too happy about the distance either, or had climbs cursed them? 

 We'd got our treat of a tailwind back; well almost at our back as it continued to swing east northeast to north northeast (and every degree between).  Greg and Emil held station at the front for the rest to delight in the draft behind (there might be an invoice for their services later?), quite the satisfaction to get back to breakfast with 120 clocked.  Apple pie porridge tasted better than ever at Eighty 8 (k's amplify the appetite), weed eaters, social media snobbery and three truths and a lie made the chat list. 

30/10 Rain roulette. 

"I'll take the risk" was my reply to Emil's "Thoughts?" at stupid o'clock. Carpe Diem the Latin's say; besides, 13 degrees was almost inviting a ride. Despite the big blob on the radar, the forecast shower struggled to be a spit from the sky (though isn't it likely the heavens would open when furthest from home?).  Setting the Garmin backlight to 30 seconds (instead of always on) did me good, unless passing under a street light (or the rear radar got it going) 'cause I was blind to those numbers that say "You're cooked!"  Progress was good to Monday's lap with the lads and lasses; it could have been the help from a north northeaster to Sanctuary Drive but I was sticking with the "What you don't know won't kill you" theory. 

Even the perch atop the Fizik was more comfortable - I was putting that down to doing Dookie distance on Saturday.  Numbers were a little light at the grid, Bo, PistolPete, Lenny, Tina, Rocket, Greg, Emil, BamBam, Wozza and Kreeky congregating for chocks away at 5:40.   Back in a bunch and being donated a draft was a treat, but for a moment, claustrophobia caused concerns.  A week suffering solo's had dropped my guard from the caution needed at close quarters.  I needn't have worried - decent discipline and plenty of smoothness made centimetres apart comfortable.  PistolPete and Rocket led the opening leg to Mitchell and following Kreeky into the advance line was less daunting than others. 

The slipstream was sweet (something to do with a week worn by headwinds with nowhere to hide) but serving a decent turn is the expectation in return.  Duty called with Kreeky at River Rd's bridge, the shortest of the shifts to suffer though part two to the quarter horse fence with Tina was tougher.  I called "Your speed" but she set it swifter......and it hurt!  Light at 5:55 lit lower than expected Garmin numbers, so I silenced the gasps and contemplated more concrete on the Corn Flakes.  Just as well horsepower came to the front for Coach Rd 'cause the (now) north northwester was intensifying.  Who better to face the wind than Bo with Wozza as his wingman!  Work beckoned BamBam's exit via Channel Rd. 

The squad was kept silent under Wozz and Rocket's watch on Boundary Rd, all gritting teeth and crushing bar-tape for the oncoming truck dragging more wind behind it.  Work was still to be done on Old Dookie with the wind at the side, a few spits from above reminding us of the threat the Bureau forecast. Clouds looked ominous but the rain stayed away.  A few short shifts had me at the front to Dobson's bridge paired with Kreeky, his resignation pairing me with Lenny to the truck route.  As lungs gasped to bursting point and legs went limp with labor, a passing truck (and two cars soon after) delivered the draft to make mine a decent drive.  The harder work was keeping in Bo's slipstream when he shot toward SPC. The sting was cured with caffeine.  (Hats off to those Latin's, I got home dry).  

31/10 Waging war on wind.

Wind whistling through the trees welcomed Tuesday. Not the sound you want to hear if you plan to ride but as long as the lap has some south, east, north and west to it, there'll be hurt, heaven and everything between to enjoy.  Like Wendy, I was motivated to get the wheels rolling particularly for Stellars coffee as the rides' reward.   (Yeah, squirrels have gone a bit secular with choice of cafe lately; non-conformists to Couldabeens culture I suppose but we annoy the clan most other days)    Apart from the shock of the (stolen?) X5 passing at 140+ in Archer St, the commute to the shop was calm, although the west southwester raised the engine temperature a bit with the effort pushing into it.  BamBam was the special guest at the grid.

Speed was stoked up carefully to Kensington's roundabout, Emil taking due care not to dislodge any players with the tailwind tempting something swift.  Charged with the Doyles to Orrvale thing as always, I was still vague on the velocity with the Garmin's backlight off. A street light at the school confirmed a conforming speed.  Tina dodged a bullet driving the Kinder shift 'cause Wendy was left to work the wind on Central Ave (but made up for lost time to the cypress trees).  WADA should be testing Julz' breakfast 'cause she set 40's to the S bend and added another k to Coach Rd for the fun of it.  Northbound duty was BamBam's job description, providing the draft to Boundary's bridge for Greg to aim at Old Dookie Rd. 

Enthusiasm got the better of Emil when given Greg's elbow, so I'd plucked up the courage to front at New Dookie but Emil's effort went on to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.  Looks like I'd get the first flog into the wind to Lemnos (though the upside was a long tow back to town after) but Emil's ego needed exercise to drive extra to Lemnos-Cosgrove's bridge.  The intention to preserve 34's to Lemnos North Rd had faded near the rumble strips (I was almost cooked commencing the turn), legs wanting no part of the heads' idea to get there.  Tina's ease to 30 in Ford Rd allowed oxygen stock-take.  Enthusiasm eased Tina off the back when Wendy was given part two to Grahamvale Rd though Emil and I had seen the opportunity to tow Tina back aboard. 

The k to Verney Rd became struggle street for Julz (that breakfast had been burned up on re-entry to the wind) but a slower approach was needed at the roundabout for changes to those metal plates atop the tarmac.  Some fencing and a few patches on Verney Rd have cleared some of the path south to the North Quarter, though there was plenty to avoid further south. Word came of Julz losing grip on the caboose so Tina, Wendy, Emil and I closed ranks to assist while BamBam and Greg kept up a hurry to Balaclava's red light.  Greg's touch got it green for our arrival.     

1/11 Those young boys hurt me Mum! 

Wind wore away what watts I wanted for the circuit just on the commute to the start line, so the back of the pack was the perfect position when Liam and Wozza started the squad south. Their hurry to Mitchell hurt already.  I'd hoped the sting would subside when turning away from the south southwester but the standard had been set at swift to Central Kialla too.  With Trav, Emil, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Tina, PistolPete and Rocket in tow, Bruce and Boof took advantage of the tailwind to get 40's on the agenda to River Rd.  Here's hoping Tina and ahead and Trav behind me had slower standards.  East into River Rd and spooked by speed, Tina took to the shelter of the left line. promoting me to Rocket's wheel and closer to facing the front than I'd banked on. 

(Yeah, it's inevitable, but it takes a while to harden this head to the hurry at the pointy end).  Trav must have read my regret, kindly offering to take Rocket's wheel and delay my drama a couple of minutes more.  They piloted the pack from River Rd's bridge, so my real effort was due beyond Trevaskis Rd.  Suffering a beating from the wind at the starboard side, Trav was sympathetic to my plight, allowing me an early drift to the left line where Bruce became my co-pilot.  Thinking another k was possible was fantasy; legs, lungs and heart-rate causing the involuntary call of "I'm cooked" soon after the quarter horse fence. 

Bo alongside Bruce kept me at the red-line to rooster corner, geese guiding our path north at the Ninja's more considered speed. Stocktaking oxygen became my priority as Liam and Wozz resumed the lead and 40's with it to the highway.  Having doubts about rejoining the advance, my look ahead found plenty of powerful ones  still to serve a turn (I guess I could duck to the safety of the left line if duty looked likely......thats if stubbornness didn't force me to front!)   Being pushed at the portside by the south southwester hadn't handbraked Emil and Boof to force 40's back onto speedos and getting back on the gas after a short slow at the truck route was grief for the gastrocnemius when Bruce found it fun to force 43's to Wheeler St.  It's red traffic light was welcome.  

2/11 The cure's caffeine.

That groundhog day sensation struck me, suffering a southerly yet again to Thursday's start.   Proper spring weather eludes us.  With just 53 days till Christmas, you'd reckon winter would already be a distant memory. No such luck!  Feels like 4.5 needed plenty of insulation, so Summer's going to hit us like a ton of bricks (if it ever arrives!)   The effort needed just to get 30 on the speedo was a test for motivation, particularly as I'd spent most of it just getting out of bed!  Wendy, Tina, Julz, Emil and Greg were at the shop to share the load, today's special guest being Jase joining in. 

Thursday's theory of therapy seemed to have been put out with the rubbish as Emil cranked up 36's to the truck route; I had hoped for something cruisy.  Though this was hardly supersonic stuff so I had no trouble fitting in with the status quo for that short shift from Doyles to Orrvale and get a tow for ten to fifteen minutes as reward.  Jase earned his berth with a smooth shift to the Kinder, the work into the wind on Central then east to the cypress trees left for Greg.  Distance to Coach Rd was divided between Wendy and Julz, the tailwind too tempting for Julz to resist, extending her shift to the highway.  Tina had earned a tailwind turn after battling the wind for most of the week and Emil courteously kept his shift short to New Dookie Rd (though guilt got to me taking the last of the favorable shifts to Lemnos-Cosgrove)   

Driving the 3.2 k's to Lemnos smoothly earned Jase an invitation to return, Greg's turn to Grahamvale keeping him in the good books too.  Wendy worked the way to Verney Rd where Julz and Tina were due for duty, but Emil was (as usual) itchy to head a hurry toward Balaclava, wingman Greg equally enthused.  Eagerness had blown Tina off the back but watchful eyes donated a draft for all to reassemble at Balaclava's ritually red traffic light.  The effort was cured with Stellar's class coffee (and a quantity of comedy) at the table.        

3/11 Who wants that wheel?

The gospel according to Rule #5 was on repeat in the cranial playlist.  Yet another day and yet another southerly to suffer!  You know conditions are crook when Tina pulls the pin (the only wind she wanted to face was on the wind-trainer!  And that's an oxymoron when you think about it), but Emil's sympathy towed me along Archer Rd.  I might just have a few watts left to keep up with the bunch ........hopefully!  TrackStan had made a comeback (and hasn't he been in a good paddock during hibernation) to join the clankitted for Friday's lap. (Bruce, Wozza, the 5ft Ninja, PistolPeteThe Godfather, Bo, Kel and Boof)   

The fearless with fortitude (Pistol and Emil) faced the southerly to Mitchell Rd,  I'd locked my position onto Kel's wheel (Google smooth and stable and you'll see a picture of it) but Wozza scored that wheel nobody wanted.  Closing the two metre gap was out of the question - this was an O.H.&S. issue!  An almost tame tempo to River Rd was surprising, given the southerly blowing at the backsides.  Nearing the front at River Rd's dip wasn't such a bad thing, a hint of westerly to the wind might make facing the front less onerous.  TrackStan had shied from duty and taken to the left line, testing Bruce's concentration. 

Lucky me had paired with Bo in a not-so-boisterous mood, though the 2 k's to rooster corner looked a world away, so I'd be seeking Kel's charity beside me for part two.  (Of course she was generous!)  Wind up the Khyber helped my turn to the bridges look almost reasonable, the pairing of Kel and the Ninja allowing reasonable recovery reaching the highway.  The combination of Emil and PistolPete at Pogue Rd stuck a little more spice in the speed though it wasn't riding at the red-line stuff (speed stayed the same on Old Dookie but battling the breeze at the portside amplified the effort a bit).  The Godfather's half block to School Rd went without comment and Emil contained his cussing when TrackStan sought shelter ahead of him in the left line. 

The drive to Dobson's bridge by Boof and Bruce spiced speed a little more, The Godfather's draft saving me when two rows thinned to Indian file for Bo's boisterous bolt toward SPC.

This week 357km

YTD 11,262km