Week 33: Blaming Fausto Coppi

Post 358

Saturday 13th August

Minutes flew preparing for Saturday's early circuit, suddenly late for the arranged meet with Wozz put pace on the priority, catching him just as he departed south at 4:46. An undetected overnight shower glossed the road promising bike cleaning habits won't be forgotten.  The 5am grid drew Rocket, Bruce and Trav to AMart, the light NE-ENE breeze should have made my turn at the front easy but legs and lungs laboured on the leg to Arcadia Downs, almost ready for retirement when Bruce saved the day rolling over at Galbraiths gate. Recovery was sweet in the Wozz & Rocket tow along Mitchell, an Ange addition at Archer aiding.  I stretched my mental barriers up to River Rd with Wozz and Bruce to the channel bridge, getting out of the ENE'er and back into the draft, a delight.  Trav was misfiring but Ange was running on all cylinders for our journey east, my head convincing legs to pair again with Wozz for the 3k stretch to Channel. Westward back to town and between two rows of Cha Cha puddles for an early seat on the Saturday train, a few foreigners inflating the numbers (thoughts down memory lane to the usual dozen who once assembled), popularity (and politics?) altering the routine (for the better?).    Kel, Boof, Shorty, Bo, TatPaul, Cate, Car+Mel, Pistol, Temple, AvantiTrev, HBK, Cougar, Tina, Jase and Rocket set sail at six, Shorty the puddle master baptising any who dared follow. I was caught coy in cute company of Cate, Car+Mel, attempting to get a fix on our foreigners (eventually identified as Mark, Gerrard and Tony).  Hopes of being towed to the Toaster were burnt when a turn came up quickly at the cypress trees, Pistol and Ange were full steam ahead in Boundary until Ange punctured at the fig farm (though our foreigners continued disregarding the team ideology). Repaired in record time (Quick Kel in the crew), it was onto the Toaster and the Emu (catching the ambling foreigners), a perceived tailwind building enthusiasm west from the Emu.  HBK was spinning dervishly on the 23 cog but Jase introduced puncture #2 to the pack, the halt spent discussing bunch ancestry with Car. The deck shuffled again on the restart (Temple keen to avoid Gerrard's nasal nuance), puddles anointing the pilgrims progress in Ford Rd.  Speed and hopes built as Wanganui drew near, our foreigners deporting south to town. Turns were rolling rapidly by DECA's driveway, Temple then me then Shorty took the helm, Wozz then Pistol turning up the real heat with a long drive to Kittles Rd. Bruce and Boof launched an all out wheel to wheel thrash at the top of the hill as I clawed my way to third, Bruce buckling in the dying metres to hand Boof the chocolates.  An enthused dash to the base camp scored many a Strava cup, the Lemontree chat centred on dental perfection, Fruitloop & Tat200 plans and the digestive system (ironically) over breakfast.

Sunday 14th August

I motivated myself into a Sunday solo, real rhythm found away from a bunch tow and short bursts at the front, a chance to educate heart, lungs and head on sustained pace albeit downsized from bunch averages.  Don't look at the temperature Foss!, better to gloat in the accomplishment afterward than retreat from reality. (2 degrees discovered later)  I got the head into the groove tapping out to the Emu, a great start to the day with a feint Lampre dawn (pale blue and pink on the horizon), a signal of spring with canola starting to bloom (and the evil eye from roadside magpies tells me bombing raids will start soon!) Glued to the 17 cog (78 rpm) suited the heartrate (145 bpm), content to flatline the Garmin graph in preparation for next Saturday's Grand Fondo.  Quite a change to tap a lap in daylight, a mood lifter after a long, dark and cold winter.  A whiff of toast then bacon from PistolPete's neighbours set the appetite going in Mitchell Rd, back into town enjoying one of life's simple pleasures, coffee and banana toast as a post ride treat.

Monday 15th August

The bureau promised an 8 degree start but Mother Nature only served up 2.5.....I want my money back!  Round the golf course loop at 5:20, at the Verney Rd roundabout finding KillkennyPaul, fighting the final foibles of flu. (He's at least a hundred times tougher than Softa who pulled the pin, cowering under his cuddly soft doona tucked in tight with his teddybear).  Fog curtained Ford and Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, seemed like pushing through porridge all the way to the Emu.  Another scenic sunrise soothed the eyeballs, fog and an orange sky sandwiching the horizon as we tapped Boundary Rd. Killkenny Paul seems at one with his new Felt, keen to make up for lost k's and indulge in two wheeled recreation. Back to town via Channel Rd never straying from zones 2 and 3 made a sublime start to the working week.

Wednesday 17th August

Justifying the early laps in pursuit of k's, I hung the blame on Fausto Coppi (5 times Giro, 2 times TdeF winner) who's reply to a cadet journalists question on the three secrets to his success was, "Ride your bike, ride your bike AND ride your bike".  An early southwester pushed me out Ford Rd with work to do on Grahamvale and Old Dookie roads back to town, but I felt surprisingly good (maybe after Tuesday off?).   Met Wozz in the usual spot, every traffic light halting us on the route to the Couldabeens.  The carpark filled from the half way mark again, (many half scared at doing a turn?)  KillkennyPaul, Softa, Cougar, Temple, Rocket, HBK, Shorty, Ralphy, Pistol, AvantiTrev, Boof, Kel, Bo, BamBam, Chops, BigRon and Nev filled the grid, the same old soldiers offering up an early turn (Wozz, Pistol, Rocket, Boof etc), the fearful clutching at the apron strings behind. A few foreigners had infiltrated the bunch (Grumpy, Huddo, Mitch and Robbo), AvantiMat joining on leg 2 to make two dozen.  Pistol turned up the tempo in Kialla Central (Grumpy's Cat kit waving a red flag to Pistol?), a little unease with a long bunch hurtling toward the River Rd pot-hole, but we safely passed as Poppa projected proliferous pronouns from the westward Cat pack. Sprint tactics were being formulated as early as Boundary Rd (a messy end predicted with foreign forces thrown into the recipe). I was jammed within a long caboose of "no-way-not-going-up-there-to-do-a-turn" passengers, but eventually wormed my way into the up line at the cypress trees on HBK's wheel.  Shorty found himself at the pointy end early again, Rocket lit the afterburners at Hopeful corner to stretch the bunch into 'fasters'and 'finishers', I'd moved up (190bpm) to give Pistol a break when Boof bolted, a handful of hopefuls charging from behind demoting most to "tried and failed". 

Thursday 18th August

9 long k's out to the Pine Lodge church into an 13 km/h ENE'er, doggedly trying to keep 30 on the speedo while the heartrate climbed (closer to surrender?), just one passing B double felt like Christmas!  Ah, the serenity steering south, the wind stopped howling between my ears, now assisting the passage to Boundary Rd from the Toaster.  Down Channel Rd in search of Couldabeens, I got through the S bends to find the Turtle squad (Temple, AvantiTrev, Softa and KillkennyPaul) single filed attacking the northeaster.  I'd been nominated to drive the southbound leg, an echelon education needed for River Rd against the breeze. Hoges was caught on the turn toward Kialla Central, road bike found punctured so was aboard the MTB!  I put some spice into driving south, KillkennyPaul needing a hand with wind direction for Mitchell Rd, recovering at 2nd wheel not working for him after a turn at the front. Temple and AvantiTrev put in a decent tow, Hoges howling the 1.9" dirt tyres at the back. Softa had five in the gutter as we rounded Galbraiths gate, so I took the helm as a 'how to', riding the white line for five to survive in the diagonal draft to Conrod's end, (too tempting for Hoges, spurred to sprint the last 50 metres)

Friday 19th August

Plodded and pondered pensively through porridge at 5, just the standard lap at 6 today felt strangely "normal" (taking it easy on the legs for tomorrow's Sam Miranda Grand Fondo).  Wozz, Cate, Bruce, AvantiMat, AvantiTrev, Chops, HBK and Pistol assembled in mild (14 degrees) but windy (NNE @ 26-39 km/h) conditions, enough to bring summers shorts out of a few closets but scare many riders away. Bruce took the reigns to the roundabout, I was happy to pair with Wozz then Pistol with the wind in favour, a perverse pleasure watching HBK being half wheeled by Pistol on the Mitchell leg.  Cate, AvantiMat and AvantiTrev shouldered the headwind through Central Kialla, nothing easy about my last two k of River on the front with Wozz and Pistol, a small orange window of daybreak in a threatening grey curtain of cloud keeping thoughts distracted.  Pistol punished HBK again in Boundary, I'm told only a few are allowed to half wheel the half bike king.  Collective sighs of relief turning into Channel Rd for the 9k's back to town, I'd hoped the sprint was off the agenda but Bruce and Pistol have an auto reflex action seeing a smooth 1.3k's of Cha Cha stretched out ahead. A burst into the high fourties earned a slice of toast, the slog of a headwind home made it two. 

Week 33 :     309km.         YTD 10,111km

If you need inspiration, watch Amanda Coker's attempt at the highest annual mileage record, the U.S. 24 year old is currently on day 91 and has clocked 33,353km (averaging 365k/day). 122,432k to beat. And I thought I had issues! Check out her incredible history and goal on <goamandacoker.com>

Week 32 : A mental hillness

Post 357

Saturday 6th August

Hooray for Saturday, social stimuli to enjoy and post ride time not possible weekdays. Curbing, or at least calming the prologue habit to a tame 16k prior to 6am, Old Dookie, Central and Poplar as a new course to get me to the grid on time. Again the bunch swelled with punters contrary to the cool conditions, a field of Jase, Tina, Jonesy, Trude, TatPaul, Jen, Nev, Pistol, Boof, Shorty, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Temple, Cougar, Cate, Car+Mel, Trav, KillkennyPaul, Softa, Kel, AvantiRob, Chops and HBK filling the carpark.  TatPaul and I drove leg one gradually up to pace, battling breaths beside Boof to Orrvale Rd before reclining in the social tow till my next appearance at the helm was due.  BigRon, Rocket and Bo were awol (hydration overload), sarcasm to and fro with HBK, Temple tenaciously back from last weeks taxi tangle, Car out of the gym and into the reality of real riding (not the fake folly that is Zwift), Jen's mojo apparently working by the power of suggestion.   Only four Cats cranked east at the main eastern channel, my rear brake break was favouring the front as a small rim fracture was pulsing the rear brake lever, a re-rim soon of the Cosmic (probably got my money's worth lasting 126,000 k's)   Sitting on the bunch's tail as two rows speared into Wanganui Rd swelled my optimism for hope up the hill, up to third wheel at DECA's test track when Pistol fired the lead-out shot couldn't be better. Speed shifted us single file, and waiting for Pistols fuse to fade, my launch at Kittles Rd seemed to have gapped the group by the hills crest. (alas unheard in my draft, Boof bolted by as if I'd stopped). Oh well, second certainly satisfactory as I gobbled the oxygen in Rudd Rd's recovery.  Highest annual mileage record attempts, the forthcoming Fruitloop and punctures occupied the jaw between bites of poached eggs and avocado at the Lemontree base station. 

Sunday 7th August

Had a few days to spend in central Victoria so seized the chance of exploring the Castlemaine byways by Baum.  Saddled up Sunday at 6:30 to crank the old Calder highway from Harcourt northbound, up hill and down dale quite foreign to this fossilised flatlander, the expectation of a steady pace chucked out as inclines messed up momentum.  Over the M.79 and Maldon bound, the headlight shone on the road angling gradually upward, but just beyond the lumens reach a sharp and nasty 500 metre pinch (Fogherty's Gap) caught me napping on the 56/25.  Momentum dropped suddenly, no time to swap to the little ring (against my religion anyway!) so off the Fizik to pound the creaking cranks (42rpm), chain groaning and heartrate soaring (185).  The road reached to the blackened sky, sheer stubbornness and anger defying defeat driving me to the top, suffering a mental hillness on the crest. A decent descent was rich reward for a k or two, ego soothed by a long spell in the fourties as the road snaked to Walmer, an audience of grey kangaroos at the fence line questioning my sanity.  A few minor inclines put a sting in the legs and lungs, at least some daylight showed the coast clear of chaotic climbs.  The rusting dredge and dragline at Porcupine Flat signalled Maldon was near, ye olde "first notable town" was sound asleep in its goldfields architecture. Onto Castlemaine-Maldon Rd and down through Gower, sunlight now mentally warming me to Muckleford, the rolling landscape, a rusting shearing shed and restored miners cottages far sweeter scenery than the usual dull orchards and channels.  Onto the Midland highway and into Castlemaine, caffeine was craved, Saffs (the only one open) serving a beautiful brew in a serene sunlit street.  All too soon, normal life beckoned a return to Harcourt base station, an 8k uphill tap back finalising fifty. 

Tuesday 9th August

Back on level ground Tuesday, but a northeaster blew to guarantee a grizzle. A little 12k prelude to a 5:40 Turtles tap, hopes left hanging in an empty carpark at 5:37 till ChrisA, Temple, HBK and Jase rolled in.  It felt a hard slog into the northeaster on Channel Rd for leg one, ChrisA thankfully playing fair to the truck route, seeming even fairer on HBK to Orrvale Rd.   Jase then Temple moved up the ranks, the wind funnelling between the orchards to harass us all.  ChrisA's winter hibernation soon took its toll, even skipping a turn as Channel Rd drew to a close. Southern and western legs were kinder, but Temple had cemented himself into the rear gunner role in River Rd as ChrisA re-entered the workforce. Half biked by HBK, I conserved a little wattage for payback in Central Kialla, revenge so sweet a wheel ahead with HBK speechless to Mitchell.  Speed got serious in Raftery Rd, two lines turned single at Galbraiths gate with Chris A in the drivers seat at Arcadia Downs.  A close call when ChrisA hit the wall of Conrod's head wind, causing five to suddenly shunt into the space of three.  Prying myself from overlapped wheels and onto the front,  I sank all into the drive out of the dip, Jase the saviour as my energy evaporated with 300 metres left.

Wednesday 10th August

Questioning what I'm doing out at 5:10 on a dark, damp road (adding a month or two to life on the planet?/ collecting dead worms by bike? / supporting an eating habit? ) but justified my "issues" on breaking in a rebuilt rear Cosmic, re-rimmed expertly by AvantiTrev.  Finding Wozz, Mel and Cate in the main drag vindicated my obsession, BamBam, Boof, Shorty, Nev, Pistol, Rocket and AvantiTrev were added to the list of devoted / possessed at the carpark. Six bells chimed to interrupt the chat, the southerly spin to Mitchell testing for the tailenders. TrekMat joined in, I'd been paired with Nev (a pop gun beside an AK47) although the first k of River Rd went well with the NNW a help to the bridge, matching Cate's drive to the dip calling on extra reserves.  (just missed the pot hole at the dip, now almost the size of Century open cut).  Nearly all had a go at the pointy end by River's end, Wozz and Pistol rose to the occassion of battling the headwind to Channel, I was mentally preparing for the next pairing with Nev at Channel Rd's S bend.  It all went well till I made the mistake of a Garmin glance, (39km/h @ 175bpm) the head quickly calling an end to what the legs were tolerating. Shorty shortened his turn at the cypress trees, me committed to giving the front a miss as we curved at Kinder corner.  Nev launched a lead-out that many can't match, Rocket victorious as I threaded a line between the ChaCha puddles (no hope of shaking Mel from my wheel) to get a sniff at the podium.  Near breathless staying with Pistol to Archer Rd, there was relief with Boof, Mel, Cate as we headed for the northern suburbs, a double digit worm count predicted on berthing grubby bikes.

Thursday 11th August

Just a whiff of BigMat syndrome caused a lazy lay in till 5 and a casual kit up for a Goat tap at 6.  A new CatEye Volt1200 lit up the damp tarmac like daylight, ye olde Cygolite Metro well beyond its 1000 charge life. Down to Friars found 9 Goats in the mist, Tina, Coggo, Heady, Sandy, Carl, Dipper, Hommy, Phil and HG Phillo there, variably enthused. A damp and dreary Old Dookie Rd was made partially pleasing by the 20km/h westerly, it certainly helped HG Phillo struggling from hibernation and heavy Hunter Valley hydration.   Hommy has a new Avanti frame (old Oppy suffering a fatal fracture), Phil's turbine like wheels played a tempo tune as we stacked across Boundary Rd, the old familiar track cranked so many times, pot holes, puddles and peculiarities safe in familiarity. River Rd handed out a headwind to earn a second breakfast, HG Phillo suddenly conspicuous by his absence at the front.  Turns turned short, medium and long relative to riding regularity, but all too soon it was my turn to exit stage right on a shortcut to the timeclock, bumping up the effort on the truck route to Archer. With lashings of lumens the road ridges and ripples stood out like a WhisperingJack appearance, switching to pulse mode in town to wake those drivers asleep at the wheel. Baum berthed, a quick change and 2k walk to work to earn the money to buy tyres, chains, lights, carbon rims, bar tape, tubes, arm warmers...................

Friday 12th August

Racing the rendezvous clock in 2 degrees on Friday morning warmed up the engine, 15k solo in 25 minutes still left 2 minutes spare for the Wozz and Cate connection at 5:45. Arriving at a frosty carpark, Cougar, Bruce, Chops, Shorty, Boof, Kel, Bo, AvantiMat, AvantiTrev, PistolPete, HBK, Temple, Jase and making his monthly appearance, SuperMario assembled.  Six struck swiftly so I took the plunge of the lead to Sanctuary roundabout, gently on the accelerator to avoid an ear chewing. Wozz, Bruce, Boof and Pistol offered early shifts in the drivers seat, not a sight or sound of AvantiTrev, SuperMario, Temple et al, cringing in the caboose.  The ritual sledge swap with HBK, motivating AvantiMat toward the front, the distraction of Kel's eyes (both sets) occupied a few k's, an eye kept out for the River Rd pot hole made easy by HBK's flouro marking. Speed varied as some pegged progress per performance, again Pistol and Wozz drove Boundary Rd to Channel with pace possessed. Winter has emptied my sprint enthusiasm of late, sitting out the ChaCha but savouring the social stimuli strolling home, and closing the week the way it opened. 

Week 32    288km.        YTD 9,802km.

Week 31: Huff & puff & hang on!

Post 356

Saturday 30th July

Trav, Wozz and Temple, keen for an early tap (well before sparrows flatulence) broke my drought of solo's, but leaving a warm bed at 4:30 was too much for Temple, just Trav and Wozz at the A Mart start at 5.   A reverse Tuesday / Thursday circuit started with calm intention, joined by Frido and another Cat at the punch-up bridge then Vince at Arcadia Downs, put pace into the recipe.  Heart rate hovering in the 165's whittled down my reserves and determination early, only Trav, Wozz, Vince and I rolling the turns while two freeloading felines wore out their welcome on the back. There was a painfully long crank at the front to River Rd's ripple strips, relief to turn into Boundary and have Trav take over the work into the wind.  Vince and the sponge bobs continued north when we steered west into Channel, timing to a tee a berth at the back of Saturday's pack at the carpark for a well earned tow.  Shorty, Tina, Bruce, Chops, HBK, Nev, Kel, Bo, Ange, Boof, Mel, Cate, Temple, Rocket, PistolPete, Jase, KillkennyPaul, Softa and Cougar provided a long draft of recovery (132bpm), just the yo-yo effect to counter on corners till the promotion forward levelled out the highs and lows.  Time to chat (Queensland temperatures with Mel, wheels with Pistol, cheek from Chops, weather with Bruce, opportunity with Shorty, sarcasm from HBK, utes with Rocket) till duty called at the front, the Toaster to the church with Temple then the church to the Emu with Trav was to be my only contribution to slicing into the atmosphere.  There was delight in the draft as others donated their drive into a freshening northeaster, Tommygun, appearing as we crossed Boundary Rd, testing his absence off the saddle.  My intention to tick July's distance challenge struck the sprint off my to-do list, letting the energy engines of Wozz, Jase, Shorty, Bo, Bruce, Nev, Boof, Pistol and Rocket off the leash for the Wanganui hill.  My role as gatekeeper weighed heavy with the long line of KillkennyPaul, Softa, Trav, Mel, Temple, Cate, Tina, AvantiTrev, Cougar and even Ange hanging on my wheel. Gradually moving up the ranks as the sprintenders expired (Ange finally launching a late lunge passed), my motion motivated by the three quick chicks (Mel, Cate and Tina) right in my draft up the hill (175bpm),  a long line of spent survivors stretched out behind.   Rudd Rd's relaxed roll regrouped ruined riders relegated rearward, thoughts of the Lemontree's menu no doubt inspiring the final 5k to a warm breakfast table.  AvantiTrev's call to the Fruitloop attendance challenge, whiskers and Pistols elegant ensembles occupied the chat, keeping one eye on the Goat grid across the road at Friars.

Caffeine finally arrived and was downed, so saddled up on cue to join Coggo, Spartacus, Joe, Hommy, AvantiAndy, Jen, Heady, Sandy and LegalAndy for a dip at a clockwise Toaster, a light misting of rain on the roll out attempting to break the spirit (takes more than that to snap my dogged monthly mission).  Yet another grubby bike and spotted kit as Hommy's wheel stucco'd muck upon me as a souvenir of stubbornness.  Just into a rotational rhythm reaching the golf course when the Spartacus puncture sideshow started.  All gathered to chortle at the replacement of a blown tube with another blown tube, a spontaneous C02 cartridge deployment and subsequent sledging punctuated with Brendan's cackle was worth an admittance fee!   The protracted pitstop done, we were underway in Wanganui to more mist, thankfully clearing at Ford to be treated to a tow by a commuting Manitou (diesel for breakfast wasn't tasty) for 3k.   AvantiAndy has emerged from hibernation, Jen's found her mojo again, Coggo climatising to the flatlands and Heady climatising from a night of heavy hydration.  The Lemnos-Cosgrove track was tapped to the Emu, the north northeaster enjoyed to the Toaster, my k's clicked over the ton in Old Dookie Rd to bring July's goal closer.  StravaStalker (suitably solo) plied north on Boundary, MachineSteve then Liam & Travis following soon after, but I was mapping a Channel Rd home run with the clock against me.  Adieu's bid to Goats then the slog home solo with rubber legs and a sensitive sit-site, but quite chuffed that the distance and Grand Fondo boxes had been ticked for the seventh month running. 

(Temple's taxi tangle homeward from the Lemontree resulted in some shoulder tissue damage, a broken door window and windscreen the taxi's price for failing to give way. Hope the recovery is painless and swift Temple)

Monday 1st August

A slice of life as a normal person with a sleep-in to 6:30 Monday, but I couldn't resist a 4:20 peek out the window at the forecast rain just to confirm a lap wasn't possible, a gleaming Baum beaming bedside, there'd be no worm decorations today.

Tuesday 2nd August

A south southwester blew the bike east on New Dookie Rd at 5, turbo boosted by last nights' beef palakwalla, the tarmac mostly now dried from Monday's monsoon (18mm).  The Boundary Rd Blues played headed south into the 20-35 km/h chill, tempo not too bad though considering. Not a bike to be seen exiting town east on my west leg in, only Brendan, Coggo, Sandy, Hommy and MeridaJohn were tough while all others had softened under their cosy doona's.   An attempt to work in pairs out of town descended into MeridaJohn stretching the rubber band till Sandy snapped off the back, Coggo taming team tempo to get the bunch bonded. Hommy hammered into the headwind on Boundary but Sandy suffered the speed (hey, but hats off to her tenacity, keeps turning up and trying without a grizzle).  Her and Hommy took a Channel Rd exit leaving Brendan, MeridaJohn, Coggo and I to the standard circuit, hooray for Coggo towing us to River Rd for Brendan to have a bash at the first k. My turn next to the dip, skirting several little rivers across River from Monday's downpour.  Continued employment dictated I depart at Rivers' end, relishing the tailwind home but cussing every traffic light against me.

Wednesday 3rd August

Nothing like an unknown distance vs a known time to get the motivation going, a Lemnos loop prior to the Wozz / Cate / Mel rendezvous was squeezed in with 4 minutes to spare.  The Couldabeens carpark convergence included Boof, Jase, Chops, Paul VanP, Bo, Pistol, Rocket, Kel, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Cougar, HBK, BigRon and surprise surprise, BigMat (did somebody mention free beer?)  The 6am launch had Wozza driving to Sanctuary roundabout, a long line of passengers behind before Boof, Pistol and Rocket got the up line going.  Plenty of pot-holes have propagated from recent rains, I'm sure the serious ones will be fixed first (in front of the town hall!). My first shift at the business end came up in River Rd (great timing with a gentle help from the WSW'er) beside Jase then Chops, both calling a roll-over before I'd reached respiratory ruin.  BigRon and Bo played boisterous boys on the front till AvantiTrev simmered the speed, a few more now joining a calmer up line for a dip in the drivers seat.  A hint of light on the horizon at 6:35 is a hint of Spring to come, just need the temperature now to inspire others out.  A Boundary Rd pot-hole ruptured HBK's tube and forced an intermission, the pitstop parking spread out over 100 metres (happy to chat with the quick chicks while the mechanics got grubby).  The restart was ramshackle, a peloton in pieces till some form of formation happened in Channel Rd.  There were vague reports of disarray at the cypress trees (HBK's imagination at a further flat), but with plenty in the pack, the front 10 continued in hope of keeping to time.  Rocket, Wozz, Jase, Boof and Paul VanP cranked up the cadence to the Kinder, I sat back as gatekeeper to keep Cate, Mel, AvantiMat, Kel and BigMat in tow. The big guns fired at Hopeful corner and opened up a gap, leaving me to drive the ChaCha and carry the survivors expectations. Managed to claw back a little draft and pick off two expirees before Orrvale Rd, the thanks from the line behind making my day. The roll back home found GoatPhil, off the back of the Goats with a misfiring engine. 

Thursday 4th August

A deliberate attempt to ignore the speed and roll out quietly on a solo lasted as long as Hollywood's comeback, by Wanganui Rd the speed demons had invaded the prefrontal cortex to maximise the momentum to Grahamvale Rd and back on New Dookie.  The 2.5 degree chill and a light southerly pegged back the enthusiasm reaching the Couldabeens carpark with Wozz, Hoges rolling around in circles just to keep warm.  Rocket, Pistol, Boof, Trav, Kenworth, Kel and Bo reporting in for duty.   I got the first shift with Wozz to the truck route (thanks for not toasting me Wozza!) but it took till leg 3 to find the oxygen to be sociable to Pistol.  As Bo, Kenworth and Trav moved up, doubts brewed about my capacity to crank at the pace (h.t.f.u. Foss! you're amongst friends!)  Boundary Rd's headwind took the wind out of my sails, a half turn beside Rocket then Wozz to one tree dam nearly jettisoned breakfast.  Like Hoges, Boof, Trav, Kenworth and Kel, I'd lost the will to sacrifice myself at the front, so it was huff & puff & hang on to the four workhorses ahead hurtling along River Rd.  Caught cruising ahead, Nev and Chops leapt aboard, Nev moving up to the pointy end to start single file rolling turns while Chops stayed camouflaged in the caboose.  Again I'd been appointed the gatekeeper when Kenworth slipped back for a better draft, twas hard work leaving a gap for the turns to roll and preserving the hopes of those behind to stay in touch. Rapid progress to Kialla Central and along Mitchell, but rising waters forced a detour via Archer Rd home, well into the fourties the bunch's tail broke up on re-entry. I'd survived in sixth to Kialla Lakes, then a brief cruise to let Kenworth catch for a post mortem homeward. 

Friday 5th August

The chill of the heart rate strap, dressing in umpteen layers, don't forget the booties, head warmer & fat finger gloves, into the iced atmosphere, a refrigerated road with frosted cars......don't you just love winter!  A little think therapy for 10k in 1.3 degrees on the golf course loop before meeting Wozz and Cate, then down south for a little carpark comedy with KillkennyPaul and Softa shivering & huddled under the shops' awning.  Shorty, Pistol, Boof, Rocket, BamBam, TrekMat, AvantiMat, AvantiTrev, Chops and HBK rolled in for the 6am start, Wozza taking the train south again, tempo tamed to the temperature restored some peace and sociability.  On our eastward excursion the ever enlarging pot hole near River Rd's dip claimed PistolPete's tube, the pause for repairs in the cold was warmed up sledging Softa, and soaking up a pre sunrise glow on the horizon.  A tidy restart paired me with AvantiMat to Boundary Rd, an eye peeled for the pot hole at One Tree dam to avoid another pit stop. TrekMat finally came forward for a contribution in Channel Rd but dissolved under duress nearing the cypress trees.  Second from the back on the up line was my prime real estate hooking into Kinder corner, KillkennyPaul and Softa did a dive for cover to the down line at Hopeful corner as I scored Pistol's draft (homing in on Boof and HBK's lead-out to Prentice Rd.) It took I could muster to hold Pistol's wheel, but twas Wozza's day to pounce from behind with a convincing win, the social spin home warmed up a chilled morning.

Week 31:  326 km.          YTD :  9,514km. 

Week 30 : Murdering the mindset

Post 355

Saturday 23rd July

Wind chimes tolled a tune of toil in the wee small hours of Saturday, why should we get it easy mid winter? Rain, cold and wind is standard fare! There was a curious quiet eastbound on New Dookie Rd (apart from the drone of musical Michelin's on asphalt), a 30 km/h westerly contributing to a third fastest time for the "disco" segment but the real work lay ahead. There was a struggle against the sidewind southbound, needing a 30 degree list to starboard, all the while mentally preparing for a head-on challenge in Channel Rd.  Consoling myself to high 20's west back to town, the 48km/h gusts turned legs to jelly as the wind whipped between the orchards, plenty of fallen sticks to dodge, the misting rain turning on the neural negatives.  I figured doona's would be pulled up over the ears of many, only the 'windefatigable' would be attending today.   Made it to Kensington roundabout when a tough team of Pistol, Rocket, Wozz, Cate, HBK, Trav, Bruce, AvantiMat and (Cat) Pickles arrived. Into the rotation, my turn came up at the cypress trees, Pickles calling my calm as I drew alongside (my ruinous reputation?)   Murmurs from the back of an early escape west on Old Dookie were discouraged, assuring an eye on AvantiMat and Cate to see the rubber band didn't bust.  Blown to the Toaster, the honeymoon made way for the marriage as we ploughed into the damp homeward leg at the Emu. My study of fatigues' body language in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd was interesting (no sign in Wozz, Pistol or Rocket) as pairs muscled their turns west, hopes of a decent drive were dashed beside Pistol's performance in Ford Rd as Pickles pulled the pin and vanished down Verney.  (AvantiMat with lax legs chose a Numurkah Rd shortcut to the Lemontree).   Bruce, Rocket, Wozz and Pistol shared the driving in Wanganui as Trav, HBK, Cate and I single filed in survival to the hill, the extra slice of toast we'd earned the only thing keeping our motion motivated.  Well practiced bike cleaning methods, the Cat lap shift and old timers recollections was the breakfast discussion, 8 parked bikes sporting at least 80 dead worms.

Monday 25th July

A dull and dreary sky and a damp driveway didn't distract me from my kilometre issues Monday, a 10k golf course loop (ridden anti clockwise.....how radical!) revved up the enthusiasm for a 40k Couldabeens loop.  None of the regulars were waiting en route so solo to the carpark found only Cate braving the elements, so two windswept warriors worked east on Channel, puddle dodging a steady Monday mission.  Two bikes southbound on Boundary became a lure, but quickly gaining on their River Rd course we opted for a Mitchell Rd deviation to avoid antagonism.  Damp adorned the wheels and halved the brakes worth, I've become none too precious about a pristine bike at this time of year! We'd stretched away from the following Craig Lotsalumens, reaching Kialla Central to find the previous two just ahead again. Intentions were set on a Conrod finish, so set forth Indian file ramping up speed and heart rate in pursuit, to hell if we rattled a cage! Out traffic pause at Melbourne Rd opened up the gap but we'd almost closed it again by Conrod's finish to catch our prey, the two sole Cats to venture outdoors. 

Tuesday 26th July

It's almost a treat to tap out a lap on a dry circuit, but winters chill (4.2) made sure there was some suffering.  New Dookie, Boundary and Old Dookie roads served up a 20k warm-up to berth at Friars with 5 minutes chat time as Heady, Coggo, Sandy, Spiessy, Tina, Carl, Manny, Hommy, Belly and Brendan arrived, the two endangered species of Baz and HeadGoat Phillo making a rare appearance.  It's been many moons since a dozen Goats left on a lap, Coggo back from an Italian indulgence (20% of his annual climbing done in just 3 weeks), Manny's presence amplified by HED Jet 6's and Heady in youthful birthday exuberance.   Hommy's still hammering the fractured Oppy, the red-legged Spiessy considering migration to double digit temperatures (aren't we all?), Tina doggedly does 400k distances a week while HG Phillo struggles to do that a year, Brendan's infectious cackle over Carl's cautious quiet, and Belly in his usual witty philosophical form makes for a mixed menagerie. I'm hoping winters damp and heavy atmosphere is the handbrake to my current pace, difficulty maintaining mid thirties at the front is murdering the mindset.  Coggo's reports of Asagio coffee & crossaints for $2:50 quickly fired my envy and appetite, it's great to have the big fella's steady swiftness back after 3 weeks absence. Time again called my short cut at Rivers end, the push home into a northwester catching the Cats tail back in town to chat with CatBrendan and defector MeridaJohn, winters grimy spray again coating bike and attire. 

Thursday 28th July

Almost the months end and again the Strava 1250k challenge dangles within reach.  Feel I'm starting to wear out New Dookie Rd with prologues, the pot holes and coarse sections are now quite familiar, but it's still hard to find the Pine Lodge church with the moon absent. Happy with the progress into the northwester on Old Dookie and Channel Rd's, I'd almost made it to the Kinder when a line of l.e.d's appeared oncoming.  I u-turned to join the 6am Couldabeens but found the turtle faction leaving a little earlier, AvantiTrev, KillkennyPaul, Softa, AvantiMat, Cougar and Temple on a steady clockwise slog.  AvantiMat is back to FeltMat on Ye olde faithful Felt (avoids getting the Avanti grubby), Softa sporting an organic chin warmer (propagated under the doona?) and KillkennyPaul back aboard a new Felt (but breathless).  AvantiTrev kept a lid on the tempo, the tame tap to tempt many hibernators from under the winter doona's.  We caught a cruising Eddy at One Tree Dam and steamed steadily west on River, Eddy in for a long turn but the hibernators handbrake had hindered (and hyperventilated) KillkennyPaul and Softa to take a long spell in the (overpopulating) caboose.  Temple was tempted by tempo turning into Conrod straight, turning up the wick to the finish line, but careful not to snap the caboose (or have the caboose snap at us!)

Friday 29th July

A new chain promised tranquility but Friday's northwester blew some noise between the ears to the top of Rudd Rd, Wanganui's tailwind offering the auditory peace, savoured before the days' jihad on the eardrums.  Wozz, Cate and Jase were found in the main drag, a 5k roll to the carpark finding Shorty, Chops, PistolPete, Kenworth, Kel, Boof, Bo, Rocket and Bruce. Courage was plucked to pair with Wozz for the 2k drive to Sanctuary Park, then to match Jase to the truck route.  Bruce and Bo belted into Kialla Central, catching Temple and AvantiMat on an advance party warm-up. TrekPaul was another addition in River Rd as the westerly gave us wings, a Cats and 51 chase westbound signalled Spring approaches.  I'd hoped there'd be an allowance for the headwind back, but the Cha Cha and two LEDs ahead got the troops restless to Channel Rd's cypress trees. Long time no see Princess and Fee (caught and passed) as I settled into a midfield tow, sweeping into Kinder corner content to sit out the sprint. Pistols new carbon wheels lit up the sprint but Rockets ruthless rate ruined his (and others) hopes, I'd been elevated to the first half dozen as contenders expired. 

Week 30:  268km.       YTD 9,188 km.

Week 29: The wrath of the cycling God

Post 354

Saturday 16th July

Waking a little later than planned forced a prologue rethink, 30k quickly hacked back to 20 prior to the Saturday Couldabeens ritual.  Just above zero and curtained in fog, Old Dookie Rd was a navigational niggle with specs fogging every 200 metres, pocketed post haste to stay on the pavement.  Almost at Sellmans gate when I remembered Darth Vaders likelihood of prompting a sprint stage, no sign eased concerns. The Couldabeens had almost completed leg one when I intercepted, another remarkable attendance in light of the temperature and the fog.  Pistol, Bruce, Rocket, Wozz, Tum, Nev, Kel, Ange, Bo, Shorty, BigRon, Temple, HBK, Cougar, Trav, Boof, BassoSam, AvantiTrev, TatPaul and two international interlopers of kiwi persuasion passed me by, so tagged on the tail to be towed till duty called. Shocked that HBK was in leg warmers, yet one of our NZ foreigners was in fingerless gloves.  Betwixt Temple and Kel I steadily advanced to the business end, Wozz was on tenderloins from a Friday 208k Qhubeka 5000 effort, Ange and Bo turning on the torment of tempo to the Toaster.  Beside Temple to the Emu and with Kel to the kennels was my sole contribution, the chill at the front most noticeable after the hot air of conversation in the bunch.  I'd resigned to rear retirement when we reached Verney Rd (preserving the reserves barely half way into a grand Fondo distance).  The Wanganui pace percolated, a midfield BassoSam blew a gasket breaking the bunch in two.  There was a scurry to catch the draft of the front runners bolting for the hill, pleased I reached the hill coherent and without cardiac arrest. A couple of minutes in the wallow of recovery along the Boulevard but parting was such sweet sorrow at Balaclava Rd, my Strava challenge begged.....74 more k's to click to tick the July box.  The fog was porridge to push through on New Dookie Rd as the sun got out of bed, a pause to pocket fogged specs and snap a scene that puts perspective back in life.

Speed seemed to vary with the fog's thickness, bearings hard to get on the 18k stretch to Quarry Rd, surrounded by solitude, sometimes savoured, sometimes scary.  Swinging into Kellows Rd at Cosgrove cleared the kanga's on an early bound, up to the camel farm then south on Cosgrove-Caniambo Rd. The Garmin lost its grip on the satellites under the shadow of Mt Major (rather minor at 720 ft), a reboot restored the readings.  More roos high jumped the fences on my crank to the highway, sensing a hint of easterly gave hope to the mind numbing length of Bells-Armstrong Rd approaching.  Barely 3 metres wide and riddled with ruts, the first 4k's of Bells Rd is tarmac in its lowest form, that mere hint of a breeze behind prompted use of the 15 cog. Time off the Fizik was becoming more frequent as the posterior protested at the distance, the kilometres dragged till Bells became Armstrong, the wider track helping as the fog closed in again.  The main eastern channel finally appeared but the drudgery of another 10k's of Mitchell was as exciting as question time in parliament.  I was almost beginning to wish it was all over when Raftery and Roubaix corner came into view, back on familiar ground there was only the bit left rolling into town, but a Garmin check showed the target shy.   8 more k's were stretched from lax limbs around the golf course loop, 130 done and dusted just metres from home. 

Monday 18th July

Plans of a quiet start to the week rolling gently to the golf course turned pacey in Wanganui Rd glancing at the "o.m.g is that the time?" clock, a dash to keep a rendezvous time with Wozz shook the rust off the legs.  Not a lot of recovery on the 7k's to the Couldabeens carpark, hopefully the What's-App invite "easing into the new week" was easy.  Kel, Bo, Mel, Cate, Rocket, Pistol, BigRon and AvantiTrev cruised in, finding myself between the frying pans of Pistol and Bo on legs two and three with a northeasterly neurosis niggling at me to the Kinder.  AvantiTrev, Mel and Cate braved the business end to Boundary Rd, far more favourable for all bearing south and west.  Pistol casually chatted with Rocket as I hungrily devoured oxygen behind, a k of River Rd at the front should do me good but did its best to mentally defeat. Through Central Kialla and on Mitchell to the highway, the familiar gait of Eddy ahead was recognised at Roubaix (climbed aboard for a tow home).  A Russian roulette rabbit raced across Pistol and Rockets trajectory to Galbriaths gate (almost becoming a rumble strip rabbit), Conrod straight ended with a solid finish minus the sprint, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.

Tuesday 19th July

When's this filthy winter going to end?! The damp and foggy picture repeats opening the front door at 5......here comes a grubby bike, a groaning chain, wet socks, worms and a damp kit all over again! What feeds the determination to keep this up? A tiny fraction of what Amanda Coker has on her U.S. attempt at the annual distance record (it's day 68 and she's averaging 367k's a day!)  With only a few circuit options open, New Dookie Rd broke my boredom of Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, another push through porridge to the church, down to the toaster and back to town. I knew pea soup conditions wouldn't attract a good Goat gathering, but staggered it was only Heady with the fortitude at Friars (does that make it Goats head soup?)  Our consensus settled on the usual course with a Channel Rd escape clause, just the two of us rooster tailing on the wet Old Dookie Rd. The recent Spanish altitude has put Heady in good stead, pushing through the porridge with aplomb.  A tiny suggestion of a southerly cleared a bit of Boundary Rd fog for us to continue on to River Rd, an oncoming bike confirming we weren't the only dedicated / delirious ones about.  The sartorius and gracilis were lodging official complaints at pushing through the atmosphere, at Rivers' end I bade Heady adieu to tap the usual short cut route home.

Wednesday 20th July

It was unusual to roll out on a regular 5:45 start, paired with Tum and Wozz Couldabeens bound, joining Boof, Nev, Cate, Mel, Shorty, BigRon, Kel, Bo, AvantiTrev, Rocket, Temple, Pistol and Chops for Wednesday's whip around. Pace was on in Mitchell Rd and Central Kialla (prevailing wind?), AvantiTrev quickly questioning his move to the front. Bo found the pot hole re-opened in River Rd as we crossed paths with westbound Cats (a little later than usual), the usual Poppa holler from the rear sparked a laugh.  I finally got a go at the pointy end following Mel and Cate's smooth standard, caution called to Tum for the loose stuff that's slowly invaded Wozza's once pristine corner.  The big engines had stacked sequentially at Channel Rd's cypress trees, Boof, Rocket, Pistol, Wozz, Bo, BigRon and Nev all line astern promised full steam ahead. By Kinder corner Rocket and Boof were boxed in, an oncoming car keeping the bunch skinny.  I'd managed to work myself to fourth with Shorty as we touched the fifties, then a sudden Zipp symphony (conducted by Rocket) shot by with Boof to humiliate us all, save for a triumphant BigRon a few metres beyond their reach.  My rostered day off allowed a rare weekday post ride coffee and banter (Bo's excuses, BigRon's bluster and the absurdity of Pokemon Go).

It's been many moons since running the risk of an Adams family roll, the day off and a kilometre craving seemed like an opportunity begging.  Twas long time no see JB, Hoffy, Jum, Simon, Pat, Chilly, GT, Barnsey and others, the single filed crank down Archer Rd coming across a car+trailer malfunction with the Sanctuary roundabout.  Tame thirties was more than agreeable, many turns short, a few long, and the wait to get bunch rhythm put the (often unvalued) quality in other groups.    NevY, Tina and Axel were found meandering Mitchell, so sixteen cruised east on my memory lane of Saturday's long ago. Disc brakes have finally made a local appearance (Dave's Focus), the all new aero Hoffy (-15kg) firing on all cylinders aboard his Pinarello stealth bomber,  Gawny on the third bike in three months (Oppy theft, Merida write-off and now a new Trek).  Up to Old Dookie Rd and out to the Toaster, my slow crank challenge to the piggery with JB silenced the chat.  The bunch thinned dramatically on the westward leg home,  some short cutting to coffee, others on a homeward mission.  Only half a dozen remained to drive Wanganui Rd, JB was left out to dry at DECA so I took to the front playing lead-out.  Soon deafened by an eerie silence behind, my glance back revealed a 5 metre void, so backed off the gas to gather the troops. My next ramp-up of pace fractured the pack again, an ease-up collected JB but the remainder were awol. (Me thinks I should be in a bigger pond?)  Up the hill and round Rudd, a deliberate slow regrouped the stretched survivors to steadily slog back to town, the short-cutters reappearing to seat 12 at Friars for coffee and chat on old racing rules and distance challenges.

Thursday 21st

An auto-pilot loop of the golf course lap, making the most of a clear radar and a fortuitous forecast settled the knee niggles to arrive at Friars in reasonable roadworthyness. Attendance was almost astonishing with Tina, Manny, Carl, Sandy, Spiessy, Belly, Hommy and Snow assembling.  Keeping pace with Tina to Central Ave was tough, but mentally prepared for a thorough half wheeling from Hommy to School Rd. Snow and Spiessy put in brief tenures at the front, Sandy still in caboose captaincy.  Manny's spin turned up the volume on his new pair of HED jet6 carbons, birthday boy Belly plied poised, predictable and pacy as always. A little northeaster helped us to River Rd, a reartirement or two on the trek to Central Kialla.  A spot on the specs at Dave's dip surely was surely sweat off Snow, the radar had promised a clear passage hadn't it?  Only Manny, Carl, Belly, Heady and I were left to work Raftery Rd, Carl and Manny with the youth to whip up the wattage for Conrod as I hung on in survival in third, a big gap opened to the remainder, gobbling oxygen.  Just over punch up bridge, ice cold drops started to pelt from the heavens......really? 10 minutes from home? Seems we'd invoked the wrath of that God of cycling ("Cycleops"?).   Resigned to a drenching, it was a push home as socks became sodden and water found its way into places not worth mentioning, physically approaching the end, the mental blow of a blowout came from a large wedge of glass through the Michelin. Thanks for stopping to shed light on the repair Belly (Spiessy and Heady in a similar pit stop a k later!) 

Friday 22nd July

A 30-48 km/h northerly and saturated streets quickly brought on a bout of BigMat disease Friday, ride abandoned, two coffees and a long relaxed breakfast seemed to make matters worse, but the niggling question of who went out (and could I have squeezed in a lap?) kept the passions pilot light burning. 

Week 29.       374km.         YTD 8,920

Week 28 : Drafting a matchstick

Post 353

Saturday 9th July

Layered for the cold but surprised by fog opening the front door at 5, I saddled up on a 30k solo as an aperitif to the usual Saturday social.  The chicane of half a dozen hooded young punks walking the fogged road was a worry, two very young staggering girls behind questioned proper parenting.  Weighed down by New Doookie Rd's damp atmosphere, an easterly effort to the church was enveloped in a thick black curtain, seeking guidance from the white line at the roads edge (revert to watching the centre dashed line when the council money runs out and the edge line disappears!) Finding the church was like finding WhisperingJack on a bike, Cosgrove North Rd minus any white lines to navigate by, but there was the piggery pong to hone in on.  To Channel Rd, I'd armed myself with a chilled bidon to baptise Darth Vader if he hankered my ankle, no need.....the pooch was porch parked. Almost back to town, 6am had come and gone and still the Saturday crew had yet to appear. (Boof apparently had handicapped the start with a puncture on the grid).  Arriving at the bus stop, the string of eastbound LEDs fronted, again a healthy population defied the ordinary weather, twenty devotees (Kel, Rocket, Boof, Pistol, Bruce, Temple, Bo, BigRon, BigMat, Mel, TatPaul, HBK, Cate, Shorty, Trav, Jase, Cougar, Nev, Wozza and Tina) to join and calm the heartrate from the solo starter.  I drew a short straw between Pistol (now a grandpa) and Rocket (suck it up Foss, it's a social Saturday!) up to the pub before respite arrived for me. A chat with advancing contenders as a carbonaria played in the background, HBK in shorts while most were rugged up for 5 degrees. Puddles peppered specs in Ford Rd, Pistol and Rocket seasoned the speed with spice (Grahamvale to Verney Rd), matching this was going to sting (longer laps leave legs lax). Rocket played fair in simmering the speed for me but my mental limit had kaboomed reaching Numurkah Rd (recovery impossible when the head says no).   I survived the thrash midfield up Wanganui hill, a few turning back to rescue tailenders. All were satisfied seated in the warmth of the Lemontree's heaters, plenty of hot air on Le Tour tactics and the Karramomus circuit blues as banana toast won flavour of the day.

Tuesday 12th July

Seeing stars was a welcome change Tuesday morning, a clear sky a strange sight after a wet week, however, headed to Ford Rd with a nasty northerly (24-32 km/h) put the f in effort, a red led to chase was my only forward motivation.  Ford, Lemnos and Old Dookie Rd's were chosen to precede the Goats, pushed about east and west (imitating WobblyTrev) but it was salubrious southbound.  Belly, MeridaJohn, Sandy, Hommy and Brendan were the only game Goats exiting town, what's happened to the other dozen die hards present just a month ago? (Softening under their snuggly doona's as fluffy penguins roll the wrinkles out?)  MeridaJohn set a speed to send six single file on Old Dookie Rd up to Central Ave, Belly was left on the front for leg two prompting my humanitarian mission to donate a drive to Boundary Rd (but was left to continue to the pub!). Hommy had a go to the Broken Bridges, Brendan stretching the rubber band to River Rd, snapping Sandy off the back. Getting the bunch back and organised was like getting an election result, MeridaJohn surging ahead unaware of other trying to stay in touch.  I was handed the helm on k 2 so took a long drive trying to smooth line and tempo to assist the needy.  Time limited my stay to peel off at Kialla Central for a short cut home, 10k's northbound into the breeze a punishing penance to pay. 

Wednesday 13th July

The urge to conquer the elements defies logic sometimes, a west northwester (28-52km/h) and a "feels like" -1.4 degrees couldn't overpower the sheer pigheadedness facing Wednesday's weather. Expectations of speed were quickly reassessed to new lows pointing into the Boulevard, the poor chain groaning under the wattage just to make motion forward. A quiet descended (save for the Mavic fugue in D minor) heading east on Wanganui Rd, an effortless roll at 40 with the wind up the Khyber.  Verney south and Pine west to the main drag warmed but wore the legs to rendezvous with Wozz for the Couldabeens commute.   There were only five fearless to front, BamBam, Pistol and Chops joining Wozz and I to question our sanity, ignore the bureau's data and sledge the doona divers. I drew the long straw of a draft to Mitchell Rd, my turn at the front a tailwind with Chops. There was work to be done on the northbound leg at Kialla Central but then back into the tow for most of River Rd.  Gusts of 45km/h hit the port side in Boundary Rd, great to have Wozz roll over at one tree dam but he's as useful as a matchstick to draft.  BamBam wilted in an attempt to reach the front, quickly into the tow when Pistol took his place up to Channel. Wozz and Pistol were the only ones with wattage to face the headwind west, working together to the cypress trees till Chops and I regained some composure to volunteer a turn. I hardly held 30 to the Central Ave turn, Chops took over to Prentice Rd, Wozz driving the wind restricted Cha Cha effort. Even the roll back to town was hard yakka, pleasure in survival, smug that many shied away.

Thursday 14th July

All intentions were on joining the Goats as I navigated an early clockwise Toaster circuit, no moon, no stars, and thank heavens no howling wind to battle, just a light WNW to assist me to the Emu then swinging conveniently NNW for the leg to the Toaster.  3 degrees was hardly motivational, flat-lining the Garmin data at 160 bpm and 76 rpm to internally warm the old engine.  The simple pleasure of a post ride coffee and a casual prep for work undid the original intention, an anti-social solo mission turning south into Boundary Rd bought me 10 minutes of indulgence.  Unsure if I'd be pre or post Couldabeens, I continued onto River Rd, it's sublime surface easing the effort (psychologically at least) to maintain the knots.  From the dizzy heights of the channel bridge, lights were seen following some distance back, enough to keep the wheels working.  A clean clearance over Melbourne Rd, thoughts on the finish line nearing raising the bar on speed for Raftery Rd, reaching Steptoe's as the collective of Couldabeens rounded Conrod straight. 

Friday 15th July

A standard start time brought sanity back into perspective (briefly), saving something for a bigger effort Saturday.  Cate, AvantiTrev, Temple, Rocket, Wozz, Kel, Bruce, Boof, Chops, Shorty, Bo, Jase and HBK lined up at the carpark, and good heavens! Hollywood appeared from oblivion! Nev's arrival at the third stroke flagged us away, high time I took the first turn and stopped sooking!  The three k's to Sanctuary roundabout seemed never ending, at least Choppy drove fairly alongside.  Hooray for Hollywood hanging on (herniating?) at the back, HBK in shorts of course, Rocket cresting a bout of man-flu.  A larger than normal population of Pussycats bore west at River Rd's dip as I found the pain of the pot-hole that had reappeared from recent rains.  Belting into Boundary Rd and just when the negatives were questioning my survival to Channel Rd, Choppy called a roll over at the bridges to save me from meltdown.  The stars had aligned in Channel Rd as sixteen swiftly swung into Kinder corner, tucked into a ripper draft behind Rocket, Boof and Shorty, a long recovery since my last effort, and seated in surreal comfort shortened the odds for a respectable finish. Rocket and Boof drew the bunch single file at Prentice Rd, I sat at fourth wheel in the draft till Shorty expired then tried (in vein) to hold a third spot when Bruce bolted. A finish to bolster flagging fortunes, an amicable finish to the week with a social roll home.

Week 28   262km.          YTD  8,546km

Week 27 : PlayStation with pedals

Post 352

And so I succumbed to the Strava challenge again, the Grand Fondo inflating to 130k's for the U.S. bathing in warmth and sunshine (no sympathy for the southern hemisphere) July's determination to dig new depths.

Saturday 2nd July

A mild morning got plenty out of the cot (not the second coming of WhisperingJack, Hollywood or BigMat) the carpark filled with peloton punters TatPaul, Cate, Wozz, Car+Mel, Shorty, Trav, Temple, Pistol, Ange, Rocket, Boof, Softa, Kel, Bo, Bruce, Tina, Nev, Cougar, HBK, Jase, BigRon and surprise surprise....SuperMario (that's three rides in three months!).  A 15km/h northeaster pushed us out Channel Rd where AvantiMat arrived, my berth between Cate and BigRon was between fast and faster. Many were predicting there'd be few turns with plenty of players, I counted the heads (24) as they passed in the rotation.  Thoughts of a headwind toil from the Emu turn were a bit precious, two turns 24k's apart was hardly herniating, but the rubber band principal applied to the bunch back with many multiplying the slightest variation. HBK's puncture halted us just a few metres into the westerly effort on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, not a breath of wind as we stood to sledge the pitstop, yet on the bike at speed it felt like a howler. Please explain the physics of that!  I find tube replacement an interesting window into riders personality, the technique, mood and order (or lack of it!) telling an untold story, sometimes enlightening, sometimes scary. The masses were keen to crank away as HBK packed away the tools, a short chase with Rocket, Wozz, Temple and I towed HBK back to the bunch.  Pace varied according to the drivers at the front, reaching Ford Rd I guessed I'd be at the business end at Wanganui Rd (again!)  A short turn or two put me on the front earlier thankfully to tuck in behind Wozz and Pistol leading the Wanganui crescendo. Rocket led out Bo at the test track but Bo bonked....Pistol, Ange, Wozz and Boof responded as I refilled on oxygen in Temple's draft. The stretched field soon compressed nearing Kittles Rd, as Temple's torque faded I moved ahead (inspired with Mel locked onto my wheel) for a drive up Wanganui hill into sixth.  The breeze behind via the Boulevard scored several a gong on Strava's "coffee shop champion" (who creates these weird segments?), a long Lemontree table filled with philosophies and tittle tattle on yoga, mind over muscles and media control, much chat on starting a regular calm tap for those battling the handbrake of hibernation.

Like addicts around the world, Saturday nights annual television injection of Le Tour was euphoric, made complete with the addition of Gabrielle's "knob of butter".  And there's a few weeks of late nights to come!

Monday 4th July

Did the juggling act of h.r., cadence and speed on a Toaster lap Monday, only a hint of N-NNE to conquer but it felt like a battle. The swing south at the Emu dropped 15bpm, lifting the spirits to feel able joining the Couldabeens "quiet tap" coming out Channel Rd.  Out of the darkness at Sellmans, the quick click of claws, the gnashing of teeth and guttural growl from Darth Vader (German shepherd) slobbering for a piece of my left ankle prompted a Marcel Kittel like special sprint stage.   Settled back to a cardiac calm by the cypress trees, a quiet roll for two minutes found Ange, Rocket, Kel, Pistol, Bo, Bruce, Wozza, BigRon, Temple and rub-your-eyes-it-must-be-a-mirage.......BigMat had made a second coming! (enticed by Wozza's wait on the doorstep)  Nice to be in the delight of a draft, a moderately speed carried us east back to Boundary, Darth Vader this time had shied away from a massed approach.  Bruce, Wozz and BigRon were being gentle on their jellied race legs, I happily soaked up the tail breeze with Kel and Pistol down to River Rd, but the quiet tap turned tempo with red LEDs ahead, the chase carrot officially dangled for Ange and Bo.   Not much said as thoughts went into a collaborative drive (or draft) west. The Pussycat bait was finally caught on the crest of Dave's Dip, BigBen, Dion and others on a quiet tap of a different flavour. All made use of a short window between the Melbourne Rd traffic, I called a short roll to Roubaix as the NNE'er made its presence felt on my performance. Rocket, Ange and Pistol dialled up the pace to Conrod straight, Cats held at bay on the back and BigMat surviving a quick comeback. 

Tuesday 5th July

Resigned to a sleep-in with Tuesday's forecast damp, there was a surprise at the 5:35 alarm to find a fairly dry track and a fairly dry radar. Abandoning the preferred pre-ride breakfast to reach the Friars grid in time, a quick kit-up and crank south had only Brendan, Sandy and Hommy turn up, a Goat drought in the depths of winter. Long turns were de rigeur for the quadrella, a single filed attempt on the circuit reduced the expectation on average speed but increased the workload. I felt primed enough to take on the eastern leg for an opener, hooray for Hommy taking the helm from Central Ave to Boundary.  Brendan seemed to struggle into the light southerly, Sandy still the caboose captain till fitness is found. I had a drive to the pub and was at the helm again as we turned into River, watching the heart rate climb on a long contribution to the dip, putting in my fair share as time was going to force my early departure via Archer Rd. An 8k solo back to suburbia,  a spike in the heart rate rolling back through town with a FWD f-wit u-turning in front of me, I questioned why neanderthal's are allowed to drive (maybe the "I'm bigger than you" logic applied to his give way rule?) 

Wednesday 6th July

A solo loop of the Lemnos - golf course circuit put pleasure before pain, a cruisy crank to the soup tin but there was a nasty southwester (24-30 km/h) back to Wanganui hill, meeting my speed expectation almost heartbreaking. The minutes ticked away reaching Rudd Rd, sensing I was running late kept the pace driven, but arrived on cue to rendezvous with the chicks of charm (Mel and Cate). Reaching the carpark at the south of town was work enough, only the brave would face an early shift to captain the Couldabeens to Mitchell Rd into the (now) SSW'er.   Bruce, Boof, Pistol, Bo, BigRon, Shorty, Temple, HBK, Kel, Rocket and Trav set forth at six for the six k's of hurt to Mitchell, the cream (Bruce, Pistol, Boof and Rocket) rising to the top as a single line of survivors strung out behind.  BamBam joined in, plenty finding enthusiasm for a turn at the front when we steered west and north toward River Rd.  HBK was pegged back to level with Temple's witty call ("bike ahead"), then grizzled at my pace on the change of shift.  Possibilities of a windbreak in Channel Rd were speculated as Pistol poured on the pace in Boundary, no such luck as our turn west faced the wind funnelling between the orchards. Several reassessed a turn at the front as the Cha Cha drew near (me included), I left the gate open for Bruce and Trav to join the up line as we belted into Kinder corner, hoping to sit in the cheap seats for a tow, but the up line was blown apart (literally) as many dived for cover behind the powerhouses.   Left out to dry, I opened the throttle in a do or die effort, picking off half a dozen who'd fancied their chances against Rocket and Pistol (but expired in the breezistance), to be rewarded with third (Bam Bam finding similar fortune from the fallout). I joined northerners Boof, Mel, Cate and HBK for a tailwind home as the Mexicans had a slog south.

Friday 8th July

A small hole appeared on the radars' green curtain over town, giving a slim hope of squeezing in a proper lap (not a Zwift substitute.....that's just PlayStation with pedals) after Thursday's damp disappointment. There was no sighting of Wozz, Cate or Mel in the main drag so took a punt on a Friars friendly.   Alas, it was a Goatless effort (apologies for the dad joke), just me solo setting my own pace :)   The road had a damp gloss to it, not enough to sprout rooster tails but soggy enough to tip toe through the turns (preferring to ignore the bike cleaning duties later).  There was energy to expend east on Old Dookie Rd, a light southeaster to furrow the brow to Boundary Rd., southbound felt better, an unidentified pair of bikes northbound at one tree dam loaned credence to my craziness.  River Rd felt downhill, a strange satisfaction tapping out a lap when most had sunk deeper under the doona.  Hovering between 159 and 171 bpm for an hour justified the Scottish raisin toast and coffee back in town......but now to bathe a Baum.

Week 27   243km.            YTD 8,284km