Week47: Servants for the sprinters

Post 372

19/11

There's nothing like the warm welcome of a weekend and the shared social stimulus of a Saturday lap. TatPaul, BassoDan and Cougar had berthed at the carpark, gridphobia evident again as Boof, Cate, AvantiMat, Rocket, Bruce, Kel, Hollywood, Troy, SuperMario, Tommygun, Shorty, Bo, AvantiAndy, Jen, AvantiTrev, Temple, The Godfather, Tum, Nev and even BigMat fronted.  TatPaul and I were left to lead leg one as six bells tolled, Cate braved leg two, and like mischievous schoolboys, the Godfather and Bo created havoc with the velocity as we worked east.  KillkennyPaul and Softa joined the long line at the Pine Lodge pub, the once enforced 35 limit is a distant memory but the carpark still fills each week.  (BigMats rare appearance might just be related to next weeks Tour de Pub?) Several had doubts of hanging on as the tempo touched the fourties, the rubber band effect strong at intersections with a long line of reactions. 'Round the Toaster and up to the church, the rear order shuffled as several sought shelter in preparation for the drive west.  The southwester spread the bunch across Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, over the main eastern channel to see Trudy driving a copious Cat pack cranking east.  Popgun appeared at the soup tin and took up residence in the caboose, Bo and the Godfather again turning up the tempo.  Cate dropped a chain at the halt for Numurkah Rd, and with the bunch driving into the distance and Jen close to expiry, I hung back to gather them, KillkennyPaul and BassoDan (the sprint cast-offs) to work Wanganui.  BigMat had pitted with a puncture in RuddRd, the bunch now broken into bunchettes, Lemontree bound. Roadside rubbish, race tactics and ride variety kept the jaws flapping between coffee and breakfast.
 

20/11
The sanctity of Sunday's usual day off was broken for the Goats early Christmas ride, a casual muster at Friars of Spartacus, Cindy, Brendy, Hommy, AvantiAndy, AvantiLeigh, Sandy, Jen, Dipper, Heady, Tina, Phil, Belly, Coggo and HG. It was a calm start on a route to Murchison via Tatura and Rushworth,  PinarelloMat, Snow, Jen, Lee and PrincipalSkinner forming a B team direct to Murch.  A pause at Mooroopna as Tina dealt with diabetic dilemmas, then a southwest idle (98bpm) as the turns slowly rolled in the rare warmth of Springs' late arrival. Finally at the bunch front as we exited Tatura, I'd scored the pairing with Hommy (a house ahead), but kept steady in the standards of low 30's rather than be drawn into his agenda.  Beside Jen was a different world, smooth, level and perfectly poised as the Basin drew into view. An incline or two rippled an itch through the Goat guns, a hillness lifting the tempo and relegating several to the caboose.  I'd reached the front again as Hommy hammered the rise from the Basin's western channel bridge, so all stops out to make him work for his lunch. The pack had Indian filed the rise, Coggo's steady draft relieving me of driving duty as we dodged the massive tarmac blisters of recent rains. Reprieve reaching Rushworth's edge, most lured to the bakery's carbs and calories to compensate the climbs, I'd abstained (with difficulty) in vigilance to the new diet, and to keep space for a gastronomic lunch.  Refuelled and remounted, it was east to Murchison, Heady and Cindy's breakaway soon shut down to resume a single filed battle against wind and traffic.

It's been many moons since feeling a heat nearing 30, H2O consumption and sweat on the brow well up from the woes of winter.  Turns were about as organised as an immigration policy, shared in sorts by AvantiLeigh, Dipper, Coggo, Hommy, Belly and I, almost Pain Train days revisited in the fourties on the billiard table surface of the last 8 k's.  The mass meandered into Murchison and set a course for Longleat wines, Heady couldn't help himself with a sprint to the gate. A luxurious lunch of tapas, garlic prawns, oysters, lobster bisque, mussels, pasta marinara and pavlova, washed down with Longleats' lushious liquids topped off a ripper ride, Goats prose and presentations adding the laughs. 

21/11

William Cowper called it the very spice of life, a circuit change Monday put variety into the routine.  Raftery Rd commenced a reverse Cat lap with Cate, a wind assisted passage south and a distracting dawn dragging thoughts away from the north and east work ahead.

All was well with the world till the turn into Mitchell Rd, the effort into the ENE'r (and Cate's Sunday attack on Harry's, Kelvins' and Polly's) wearing at the wattage.  Wiz and Minno worked south at Central Kialla,  Sosso solo at 'wait for David', then three long lines of stretched bunches in River Rd blasted merrily west with the wind up their seat posts while we muscled the mistrale, savouring the odd shelter of a few rows of trees.   A short Goat peace train of four then an unidentified couple were the last signs of clockwise life in Boundary Rd.  Finally relishing the tailwind homeward on Old Dookie Rd, a Dobsons estate sprint wrung the last watts out.

22/11

A verandah pitter-patter finishing the 5:15 breakfast rethought a Tuesday ride, deferring was regretted till a 6:15 downpour approved the decision. (Damp didn't defer Wozz and ChrisA scorching a lap)

24/11

Almost suffering withdrawal spasms by Thursday, wet weather finally went OTA but a "feels like" 4 degrees dragged the winter base layer out of retirement.  It was nearly nirvana aboard the Baum again, the well worn golf course loop spent reacquainting the ride routine.  A southwester massaged the ego out to emu corner but swung WSW to hammer the heartrate (175) from the Toaster to town (12k), personal progress pleasing but.  Belly, Coggo, Tum, Sandy, AvantiAndy, Snow, Jen, Tina, Hommy, PrincipalSkinner, HG, Brendy and JB were the Goats gathered, Temple and HBK a Couldabeens contingent in cross-bunch diplomacy (in light of the scarcity of Thursday turtles).   It was almost a holiday tucked into the bunch draft but I was soon blessed by a proper half biking from HBK (thinks.......the clash of the Titans if he and Hommy pair!)  Velocity varied depending on who was in the drivers seat, chat meant HG, silence meant Coggo.  Sunday's lunch got the nod though I suspect HG and Hommy were suffering the effects of excess.  River Rd's end spelt my exit, the usual short cut home avoiding pot holes and a cash filled purse speed bump (honourably handed-in but not a peep from the owner)

25/11

A golf course prologue (old habits die hard) was an attempt to warm up the old engine, a spin in the 80's loosening legs.  Down the main drag into a southerly, a cute collection of Car+Mel and Cate corralled to commute south.  Gripped by gridphobia, the early carpark arrivals sat short of the line **, the lead role left to the same old drivers^ yet again.  Trav, Pistol, Rocket, Bruce, Nev, Chops, Boof, Nick, WhisperingJack, Shorty, Troy, Grumpy, Pelly, BamBam, AvantiTrev, Cougar, Jen, Kenworth and Weapon (by the skin of her pearly whites) launched at 6, frustration (**) fuelling my 3k foray at the front, half the first leg kindly paired by Boof (^), driven to the delicious drone of Weapons' Zipp's behind.  Old Foss faired well reaching Sanctuary roundabout still firing on all cylinders, thinking the new dietary direction (and several kg's less ballast) is delivering dividends.  There was a mixed bag on my demotion down the left line, Trav's pornstar mo, Grumpy on pot-hole watch, Bruce rueing Nev's nasal annointment, Pistol's return from holidays (performance unhindered), the ladies line astern an inspiration, Kenworth keen-as for tomorrow's Tour de Trough and Cougars observations on ride technique beggars self analysis.  Six sizzled southbound on the Goat pain train as we plied north in Boundary Rd, Cate curiously curtailed in our caboose.  There was a smooth cruise along Channel Rd, the rotations rolling rapidly by the cypress trees.  Beside Shorty at the front headed toward the Kinder made he and I the ChaCha chumps, servants for the sprinters delighting in the draft to Prentice Rd.  Lucky to hold Boof's wheel kept me near the pointy end, a bit squeezy in the final metres with an oncoming car limiting the road space. An effervescent epilogue with Weapon and selfies with the quick chicks concluded week 47 on a perfect positive.

Week 47.     263km.         YTD 14,277km.  

Week 46 : Gridphobia and an antidote for Alzheimer's

Post 371

12/11

Like 125psi and a smooth stretch of tarmac, good health is only valued when it goes missing.  Robbed of riding by flu, the Saturday antidote was cafeine with the crew (Temple, Boof, AvantiTrev, The Godfather, Mel, Cate, TatPaul, Cougar, Popgun and BassoDan).  A bonus appearance by Weapon, Jase, AvantiAndy and Jen (also in civilian mode) opened the chat on peaks, going OTA and motivational company.

14/11

A brisk southwester pushed a long grey blanket of cloud toward Yabba on Monday, but it was great to be back aboard the Baum after such a long absence (48hrs). The wind uploaded a carbon chorus to tune Cate and I toward Pine Lodge church, but a tail wind out and a head wind back was akin to serving brûlée before Brussel sprouts.  With the head into the groove of the grind west the task wasn't so bad, the odd clump of trees allowing a few moments of recovery. The fading flu still had a grip on my lungs and hijacked the heartrate, the wind a little angrier in Channel Rd but the bait of the ChaCha pulled out the stops to put a peak in the graph.

15/11

A calm and contemplative cruise to the Turtle faction on Tuesday, scenic sunrise to the left and super moon to the right as WhisperingJack, Nick, Pelly, Cougar, Jase (and an unusual appearance of MrMagnet) fronted the carpark.  WhisperingJack found reverse gear quickly, ushering me to the next shift at the pointy end before we'd even entered Channel Rd.  MrMagnet's turn at the front had lasted just 50 metres from the Kensington roundabout, so I turned up the heater to set a single file trajectory.  Seven had stretched out by leg two, so settled into a mid 30's tempo, no challenge to my position till Pelly took the helm at the Kinder.  Jase, Nick and WhisperingJack had a crack to the S bends, Mr Magnet close to haemorrhage by this point. Jase drove a strong leg to River Rd, full steam cornering west snapped off the magnetic hitch-hiker.  Carry on was the call, but it was down to Pelly, Jase and I to cart the carriages as daylight lit our course to Kialla Central.  Long turns were the order of the day, Cougar uncoupled as we ascended Dave's dip but an early ease for the highway glued the line back together. Careful on the gas into Raftery Rd I got the boiler up to steam by Galbraiths gate, two bikes ahead inspiring Pelly and Jase to crank us into the fourties.  Rising from Conrod's dip we flung a sledge or three passing KillkennyPaul and Softa (reacquainting themselves with reality aboard two wheels).  Pelly pounced to pinch podium position, all savouring a social suburban spin swept by the southerly homeward.

16/11

Grid phobia retreats some from an early shift at the pointy end, concrete drove me to jump in at the deep end for first turn Wednesday.  Wozz drew alongside at the town's limit, my mental mistake was squinting to the roundabout a thousand gasps away.  Spent, sweating and speechless, the eternity ended at Sanctuary estate, lungs still wearing the wheeze of Friday's flu but recovery in the tow of Wozz, Bruce and Bo was Christmas.  Cate, Shorty, Hollywood, WhisperingJack, Car+Mel, Kel, AvantiTrev, Weapon, Jase, BamBam, Troy and Pelly rolled through, Boof joining at Kialla Central from a prior puncture predicament.

The sun burst through the bunch on Rivers' route east, like minded cyclusts from unlike tribes toiled west, waving, whistling and whooping.  There were faces pained on the train of Goats grinding south on Boundary Rd while I was worked by Weapon to the bridges and whipped by Wozz to Channel to exhaust all energy.  Sans speech till the S bends, I was on a rapid recovery before the ChaCha appeared, inspired by Cate braving the drivers seat as the pace percolated to the Kinder.   Rotations had almost ground to a halt as Shorty reached maximum velocity at Prentice Rd, I emptied the tank just to roll past as Wozz, Troy, Bruce and the princes of pace stepped up to sprint, Troy triumphant.  The almost post coital pant and pleasure proceeded on the roll back to town, Bo's excuses (Vol 27), chuckles and comparisons on the chat agenda.

17/11

Immersed in random thoughts on an early solo tap, I was suddenly shaken by New Dookie's resurface (harsh 20mm stone replacing the once sweet billiard table tarmac) pummelling the posterior.   Smooth surface service didn't resume till beyond Central Ave, but an inspiring sunrise soothed the senses. 

A rare easterly eased the exertion back to town, a sluggish six pack then a profusely populated Pussycat peloton plied east.   Principal Skinner, Sandy, AvantiAndy, Snow, Coggo, HG, Belly, Hommy and Tina had Goat gathered at Friars, an idle out of town gathering up JB at SPC.  There was a rotational reshuffle as Coggo courted competitive company, the tame tap to Boundary taken up with talk of the forthcoming lobster lunch as part of a Goat Christmas ride.  JB and Coggo dialled up the stress in Boundary Rd, so who was I to mess with momentum? (oh what fun it is to ride beside a huffing Hommy!)  The pace slowly went off the boil till JB and Coggo returned to the pointy end in River Rd, the hint of a northeaster helping us into the fourties.  Time again turned me north, west and north from Rivers end to home.

18/11

Assisting a sting on a Stravassailant, a crack at the McIntosh meltdown pushed a heart rate hump into Friday morning (637 metres in 55 sec), I'd almost recovered arriving at a crammed Couldabeens carpark with Cate, Car+Mel.  Rocket, Boof, Bruce, Shorty, Trav, Kenworth, AvantiTrev, Ralphy, Wozza, Pelly, BamBam, Troy, Grumpy, Weapon, Jen, Bo, Cougar, Jase, Tommygun, Temple, WhisperingJack, Nev and Hollywood assembled in a cast the size of Ben Hur.   An 80 metre long train steamed south on Archer collecting AvantiMat, the up line forming fortuitously. I finally faced the front in River Rd wit Wozz (King of the Kialla mini-loop), head and heart wanted to reach the bridge but the lungs cut it 300 metres short.  There was a self imposed challenge tallying up the troop list today, a brain strain and an antidote for Alzheimers with a bunch this size.  The Goat train was on a mission of pained pace, already at the River Rd ripple strips (well done on a 40.9 average lads) when we'd arrived.  The turn west toward home and Channel's ChaCha challenge charged the enthusiasm, Darth Vader baulking barking at a big bunch.  A "car up" at Hopeful corner hesitated the back end, the big guns blazed and opened a gap, a hungry Hollywood and a bolting BamBam filling the space quickly. The calm after the storm found DocPaul rolling into town, the social dessert shared through the suburbs.

Week 46      207km.         YTD 14,014km

Hope the pictures put perspective into the prose, feel free to add a comment 'cause I'm flying blind folks!  (flattered by the Foss followers in Poland, France, USA, Ukraine and Portugal)

Week 45. The isolation sensation

Post 370

5/11

What motivates six and a half hours and 200 k's of self imposed torture? The challenge? The satisfaction to finish? 'Cause it's there? A twisted craving for pain?  The Tatura 200 was on my tick list, a Saturday substitute for the sociability of the Couldabeens.  A large amount of starters (including familiar faces) for both 100 & 200k rides assembled, a bit of amusement watching the preparation of some, even oiling chains and adjusting derailliers in the last minutes before flagfall.

Caught within the crawlers in a crowded and chilly 7am start, It was caution till Tat's exit before breaking free to pursue a bunch that wanted more than 24km/h. (one bloke who'd obviously swallowed a wombat, carried a ballast of two sets of lights, a big battery pack, a Go-Pro, 3 bidons, a back pack and saddlebag to suit an overnight stay)   The lead bunch was a k ahead but I wasn't going to burst a gasket chasing them down, settling into a comfortable rhythm with many k's ahead, rounding up and passing a few cast offs to Toolamba and beyond the highway gave some sense of wellbeing.  Union road is as rough as hessian undies, so pleasing to reach the smooth Shepp-Euroa Rd and tap to Mitchell.  I'd set a target reeling in a bunch of ten ahead in Boundary Rd (hopes of sharing the headwind back to Shepparton), k by k slowly chipping away the gap till I caught the tail at the Pine Lodge pub. Damn! It was Mr Magnet and the erratics! Sociable for a k or two then head down and tail up in Old Dookie Rd to snap them off the back, passing a large bunch stopped at the Pine Lodge church filling bidons. Turning at the Emu, the reality of the SSW'er (22-32km/h) hit hard, it was a push to catch S-WorksSteve (Wangaratta) to work with him for the long 15k leg back to town. We'd soon reeled in and recruited the solo WillierCol (my ally and working partner from the windswept Benalla 125) to make a threesome, a load shared well to reach civilisation at a reasonable rate, my native navigation leading them through town and head across the Midland highway.  The large bunch (previously filling up at the church) caught us in Mooroopna, comfort finding the gorgeous grins of Car+Mel, the big engines of Coggo, Belly, Carl and co with a gaggle of Goats, Cats and foreigners to borrow a tow.  Sadly, it was quite a surge-a-thon headed to Ardmona, I guess there's nothing like working with people you know to smooth out the pace.  There was a questionable call to cross the highway with cars rapidly approaching, only AvantiDave (Tatura) and I were without a death wish and stopped.  Off the back of the bunch, we teamed together back to Tat, a Lions lunch, bananas, coffee and cake refilled the tank, Car+Mel's motivation inspiring leg two.

Northbound from Tatura, I was baulked by traffic again at the highway, detached from the big guns Eggman, BigBen, Dion, 'lilTony etc driving the lead pack.  Repeating the mornings steady grind in the hope of collecting a small group, I'd passed a few offcasts en route to Ardmona and Mooroopna, even a few still toiling the 50k event.  Nearly within reach of a dozen in Mooroopna, highway traffic lights forced my two minute stop, all hope of sharing the load with a bunch was lost, 32k of headwind was all mine!  Frustration at the relentless WSW'er (32-44km/h), fighting the gusts coming in at two o'clock, annoyed being unable to bridge the gap (27 was all the legs would give) and fumbling to peel an energy bar wrapper invoked growling out loud. On and on trying to reel 'em in, the eternity finally ended at Murchison, finding the bunch (Tina, Clive, Jodie, CitizenCain, AvantiDave, 2 Brunswick LaPierre's, a 15 y.o. and a handful of other foreigners) berthed filling tanks at the drink station.   It was sheer joy to join in and share the fight west, the pong of dead roo's, an incline or two and our ever present enemy the wind, 18 k's of teamwork reaching Rushworth to welcome the long awaited tail wind home.  Twas heaven with the wind up our cassette, the sweet sound of wheels humming in the fourties with just a touch of over exuberance on a few rises toward the Basin.  A steady slog on the little cogs to Harston, my right knee creak forced a back seat for relief. On the outskirts of Tat I hit a small hole, rupturing the rear tube, a niggle so close to the finish but it's just a part of the bike riders tax to pay.  Repaired and resaddled, the Garmin showed 194.4 km, my OCD urging a couple of town laps to ensure 200.02 ticked over at the inflatable finish arch. 4227 calories to compensate, a big feed was enjoyed, even a complimentary ale!, hats off to the motorcycle guides (even stopping to point out the larger road craters), the organisers and caterers for a great event, just turn the wind off next year!  Steps 78,447

The pedometer challenge finally finished, a 28 day total of 1025826 steps tells me I need new shoes.

7/11

Rice bubble legs had stopped their Saturday night snap, crackle and pop and by Sunday arvo the posterior had stopped glowing like Chernobyl's reactor.  Now all remained was the cognitive aversion therapy to treat my wind terrors.  Mountain machine (and Vets vixen) Cate was keen to keep the Monday habit, an easterly effort on New Dookie Rd comparing hills, distance and racing, another delicious dawn distracting us from pushing into the northeaster.  There was restitution turning at the church for a few moments till the speed instinct took over, felt more like summer with a tailwind helping the trip back to town.  A long peace train of Goats were approaching as we swung south into Boundary and made good ground to Channel Rd, company drives you a little harder than solo (meant to be beneficial), the twang in muscles murdered on Saturday sent conflicting messages. The lure of the ChaCha summoned yet more pace, a lap well spent to shake off the distance dramas.

8/11

Turtles were an endangered species on Tuesday, only AvantiTrev, Temple, Nick, HBK and Cougar fronting the carpark for the early off.  Feeling fairly primed, I had no hesitation pairing with HBK (well, alongside in rather loose terms) for leg one, silence from the bunch indicated a maximum had already been reached.  Temple fronted leg two and AvantiTrev tackled leg three, but that was the sum total of contributors to the pointy end.  By Channel Rd's end just Temple, HBK and I were taking the helm, so it turned Indian file rules.  Temple to the bridges and HBK to the turn west left me the front-of-house for River Rd, gently on the gas for a hundred metres to gather the tail then squeeze the accelerator to guess what was acceptable.  By the 2nd k I had the isolation sensation, a glance back finding a 100 metre hole between engine and carriages. I backed off for a bit to recouple the train, then slowly back onto pace (but a considerate k off the previous per hour).  An eastbound Wozz was in search of the Hares as I handed the helm over to Temple to take us to Rivers end, HBK dragging us to Mitchell, my turn again west to the highway.  Temple's tempo was tamed for Raftery's first k so we didn't snap off the tail, but the drive to Conrod straight soaking up an assisting breeze busted bits off. I wound up the wick out of the dip, but HBK lay in wait for a short victorious burst in the dying metres, a decent lap done for a small pack.

9/11

Short knicks (to defy the winter that won't let go) didn't raise the temperature to double digits, but a warm and welcoming Couldabeens commute with Wozz, Cate, Car+Mel helped.  Chops, Shorty, SuperMario, Nick, Cougar, Rocket, Nev, Kel, Bo, AvantiTrev, Bruce, Boof, Grumpy, BamBam, Pelly, Troy, Weapon and Jase almost set an attendance record, but  the likes of KillkennyPaul, Softa, BigMat, Fisky, WhisperingJack, Lucy, Gazzagrasshopper, HashBrown etc are extinct.  Wozza steered the ship south at six, AvantiMat (fresh from Nevada) joining on the town's exit.  My sandpapered tonsils sent a no no to the head about a turn at the front, good on 'ya Cate for mixing it with the horsepower driving to Mitchell Rd. A reunited HurtLocker straggled south at Kialla Central, our flu full Rocket sitting quietly in the rear stalls as two long lines of cyclusts rolled east in varying velocities.  Hallelujah! The Boundary Rd chasm has been patched, a bitumen Band-Aid to ease the concerns of murdering wheels or those propelling them.  I'd almost reached the front in Channel Rd when begged to fill an enlarged hole in the bunch's left lane, not troubled to sit this one out.  Eventually called across to the up line at Prentice Rd by Mel (an ulterior motive me thinks), I wound up the tempo behind the long lean legs of Weapon.  The FDC's had the box seat with Grumpy, Troy, BamBam and Pelly line astern in the final 100, but it was Boof who snatched the honours from Bo, the recovering Rocket in a rare repose.

10/11

Ctrl-Alt-Delete the regular ride routine with a long lap Thursday, reckon it's good to break the ritual 30-40k circuits and teach the head and legs to cope with something different.  A New & Old Dookie loop was an aperitif to a gallivant with Goats, the intention to tap to the church thrown out with a SSW'er as an ally for pace.  A calm at Boundary Rd to cruise to the church, at the Toaster it was pleasing to be faster than predicted into the headwind but the piggery perfume was particularly pungent.  Joey was limb limbering at Friars for my early arrival, Brendan, Tina, Phil, Coggo, Belly and Snow rolling in, HG and JB the latecomers joining on the exit.  Coggo and I set the cruise control on Old Dookie, JB dialling up the effort aboard the squeaky MrSheen clean Pinarello to Dobsons. Joey's and Snow's go was abbreviated, Tina, Phil and Belly in good form, Coggo taking me out of my comfort zone and into the high 30's for River Rd.  Speed see-sawed on the 6k way west, minutes mattering for me to early exit via the deserted truck route and soak up Archer D's tail wind home.

11/11

Cate, Car+Mel were the social salve Friday, pushing (165 bpm) to reach the carpark with a lashed larynx.  Me thinks the flu is nigh, but legs craved a thrash.  Kenworth, Boof, Chops, SuperMario, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Nick, Kel, Weapon, Bo, Temple and Jase formed a grid, even WhisperingJack appeared from the obscurity of hibernation!   Early FDC's Troy, BamBam, Pelly and Ralphy with Wozz and Bruce rolled in from a Kialla mini-loop,  Car+Mel's manoeuvre to mid grid was scuttled by lining up behind, but Boof braved the front for leg one, Bruce taking the trek from fourteenth to form the up line as we gathered Shorty on the town limit. I was the bunch trailer today, now regretting not embracing the doona for a sleep-in, hanging on with WhisperingJack as company and squeezing a slice of sociability as Couldabeens changed over to the up-line. Bunches galore hummed and hollered on their way west, an expired skippy to dodge at the Boundary Band-Aid.  My throttled throat made it hard to call the punters across to the up line, hand signals sufficed in Channel Rd. By the cypress trees it seemed half the bunch were sitting on, Bo skipping duty but hatching a sprint plan for the ChaCha. Surprised to nudge 50 and finish mid field in my state, but the tank was empty on the commute to reach home.

Week 45.        407km.           YTD  13,807km

Week 44 : A pot-hole pucker and a kanga cadaver

Post 369

29/10

Sudden brake lights, a loud thump, and a clobbered kangaroo was flung from the passing Navara's bullbar straight into the bike lane, twitching with an express ticket to heaven....just another thing to dodge on Saturdays early lap. D shackles, big bitumen blisters, steel strapping and stones littered the highways edge on a 17k solo, better on the well worn track of Mitchell and Archer to rendezvous with the Couldabeens at the shop.  Kel, TatPaul, Cougar, Shorty, Trav, Cate, SuperMario, Mel, Rocket, Pistol, Ralphy, Wozza, Troy, Nev, HBK, Bruce, Temple and a thousand uninvited murderous mosquitos filtered in for the 6am off.   TatPaul and I had the honours of dragging the bunch up to speed on leg one (the resplendent Godfather gracing us with his presence) the pack settling into the social schmooze till Orrvale Rd when a vehement verbal was hurled from a ute driver, inconveniently forced to stop at a stop sign, just for 19 lives on bikes.  Unperturbed, the journey east continued, a holler to caution Darth Vader's appearance sharpened eyesight and wits.  The sidekick decoy Rottweiller lay at the roads left edge, Darth barking and bolting from the right (without consequence).  Deviations and distractions over, bike business resumed for Boundary, steering east into Old Dookie flagged the day's scenic solar start.

Words with Wozz, banter with Bruce, guffaws with the Godfather, rhetoric with Ralphy and cackles with Cate make for a satisfying social start to the weekend, oxygen usually used for gasping on weekday rides and the race to reach work usually stealing any post ride interaction.  Headed homeward in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, my turn two arrived at the kennels with TatPaul then with Bruce from Boundary, heart and lungs coping admirably, mental detours distracting leg objections to reach Ford Rd.   Pussycat pack #1 was well populated, BassoDave back in the bunch a welcomed watershed moment.   Sprinters and stayers shuffled the sequence in Wanganui Rd, Rocket unusually taking a back seat as Wozz, Bruce, Boof and the sprint starved wound up the boost to the hill.  Picking off those jettisoned from pace, I'd led a string of tailenders (motivated by magneticMel on my Mavic) up the hill to reconvene rolling in Rudd.  The Lemontree's table tattle on nana's recipe's, sports doping and peloton positioning kept the head occupied, taste buds tied up with breakfast.

Steps 35,211

31/10

The Cate collaboration Monday works well, reacquainting the legs to turn after a slack Sunday (24 hours seems an eternity off two wheels). New Dookie Rd is rarely spoilt by traffic and a WNW'er for propulsion made an easy tap to the church. More a niggling breeze than a tough wind west in Old Dookie Rd, enough though to brew an angry crank to crest the main eastern channel bridge and get it over with to Boundary Rd. Being slowly drawn closer to the summer and its solstice (by two minutes a day) the sun peeked atop the clouds at the fig farm.  Back to town via Channel Rd and the mandatory charge at the ChaCha tuned up the engine and the head for the working week. 

Steps 38,975

1/11

My mules and stallions concept for a Melbourne Cup day ride found favour (an anti-clockwise Toaster lap left A Mart at 7 for the mules, the stallions at 7:15  to chase) Kenworth, TatPaul, Shorty, Temple, HBK, Cougar, Ralphy, Car, AvantiTrev, SuperMario, Jase, Kel, Weapon and Bo fronted, long-time-no-see Lucy, Aimee, Jen and AvantiAndy too,  ring-ins MeridaAndy, GiantLen and ApprenticePete put the starting gate at 21.......the biggest collection of self appointed Donkeys ever!   Shorty and I set the pace at 'no chat but not flat chat' for leg one south on Conrod straight, silencing the troop talk and setting a precedent of pace to make the stallions sweat. My recall was rusty on MeridaAndy and GiantLen (from the distant days of the hospital and library bunches) while two long lines of hopefuls worked east. Helped in Mitchell and River by a light WNW, ApprenticePete and Weapon, AvantiAndy and Jen commanded the caboose, as the pack hovered in the high 30's. Lucy's a tough nut to match as we worked north in Boundary Rd, last weeks pot hole dramas now disasters from a vehicular pounding.  

GiantLen has taken a half wheeling leaf from the HBK book, MeridaAndy reacquainting himself with the Merida, good to have Jen (with her mojo) back, the usual verbal nonsense swapped with HBK, but no hot tips for the afternoons race.  No sign of the 7:15 stallions (Hoges, Trav, Bruce, Nev-bro-Kev, ChrisA, Boof, Wozz, Pistol, Rocket and Cate) as we turned into Old Dookie Rd but ApprenticePete was missing in action (taking a shortcut of recovery with Weapon riding shotgun).   Heart and lungs ran well for my 3k turn at the front in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, the diet direction and 4kg less of ballast has the old engine coping better.   Word of stallions approaching in the rear distance enthused the drive to Wanganui Rd but I'd been caught within the survivors as rotations froze at DECA, no escape till the fragmentation nearing the hill.  Tailenders were collected in Rudd Rd as the pack drove toward the base station, euphoric stallions catching us at Tarcoola,  hoot'n and holler'n a fine 39 average. Seemed like Saturday all over again with breakfast and banter at the Lemontree's long table.

Steps 35,321

2/11

Still we wait for winters weather to wane, the warm layers out yet again (15 degrees this time last year). Numbers were down from yesterday's peak, Wozz, Cate, Rocket, Boof, Shorty, AvantiTrev, Pistol, Weapon, Bruce, Ralphy, Troy and Jase the die hards on Wednesdays grid.  Spearing south out of town, FDC's were absent from leg 3, my turn to huff and puff with Jase from the bridge to the dip in River Rd, but next up AvantiTrev trimmed 10% off the pace.  It was almost a holiday in the draft of a dozen, time spent pondering position of the next turn with a wary eye out for Boundary Rd's archeological dig.  Into a light headwind on Channel Rd, the ChaCha arrived all too soon, the ever so slight downhill to Hopeful corner was no help to me, on the front again in the mid fourties cooked me by Prentice Rd. Still pleased to finish within sight of the sprinters, the social roll home a tasty dessert.

Steps 36,390

3/11

Rear wheel rebuild #2 (replacing a well worn hub, correcting the crooked cassette) and a slick new pair of Michelin Pro4's were easier to roll, there's a measure of comfort on fresh rubber replacing the treaded (but thin) Michelin Grip's at 6,000+ k's.   A solo Toaster was tapped as a prep for the weekends Tat 200, I was away in 77rpm la la land on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd with a delightful dawn arriving.

An earlier westerly had fizzled out to nought to make the turn back on Old Dookie Rd a pleasure, south in Boundary Rd the distant strobe of turtle tail-lights pierced a low fog.  By River Rd's third k I had Hare headlights in hot pursuit, but was sticking to my resolve of a tentative tap to tackle Tat's 200.  Hares had caught me by Kialla Central, the invite to climb aboard their track turns train to great to resist.  Pistol, Rocket, Wozz, Hoges, Bruce and Trav swapped 30 second turns in the 40's, but by Dave's dip thoughts of Saturday's distance threw me into a conservation cog, dropping off the back at the highway to cruise back to town. 

Steps 51,832

4/11

Kenworth, Bruce, Rocket, Weapon, Pistol, Cate, Shorty, Hollywood, AvantiTrev, Kel, Bo Chops and Boof made up Friday's happy clan, FDC's Grumpy, Pelly and Ralphy joining in at the grid instead of an out-of-town rendezvous. A pacy spin south in the 6 degree chill warmed up the muscles and the heartrate, Kel, perfectly perched, prompted a sit study, so many with a unique seat stance.   Kenworth positioned behind Ralphy in the bunch must rate as a B double draft.  Into River Rd, the oncoming Cat pack was longer than a BigMat absence, our velocity east pegged for a bit by AvantiTrev but reinvigorated by Ralphy.  So keen to avoid the chasm of Boundary Rd's pot-hole, I missed and struck a fist sized rock, kicking the front wheel sideways to prompt a proper posterior pucker. Plenty of daylight to navigate Channel Rd, the speed built steadily to the Kinder, Hollywood reckoning he had just 3 seconds worth of sprint. Yet again I scored the front out of Hopeful corner, way too soon to figure in placings I sunk all investments into stretching the bunch long and hungry.  Grumpy wound up the boost at Prentice Rd but Boof appeared to have the Avanti advantage for the ChaCha honours. 

Steps 38,162

Week 44       273km.        YTD 13,400km

Week 43 : Considering doping?

Post 368

23/10

Craving k's after just one day off the bike, but sloth almost overpowered me in the early hours of Sunday morning, 5 degrees and a swift southwester dialled up the doona desire, needing cranial concrete to cast off the covers at 5:15.   Porridge poured in the tank, I boarded the Baum to tap out a Saturday circuit (sans speed and social stimuli), quite a twang in the rectus femorus trying to maintain low 30's, so sat the chain on the 15 to grind out some progress (71 rpm).  Nice to be tucked into my own little solitary headspace, surfing random thoughts in the tranquility, but a pooch parked in the centre of Channel Rd (near the Kinder) seemed to be savouring my ankle, so served it an H2O aperitif to hinder his hunger.  The muscular niggle slowly subsided on the assisted passage along Boundary and Old Dookie Rd, recovering just in time to labour the leg west back to town.  It wasn't so snail-like on the 17 cog pushing into a (now) WSW'er, the mood lifted but I needed something to lift the temperature.  A bunch crossed Grahamvale Rd (a g'day from Mel) as I ramped up the resolve to face the Wanganui Rd breeze, another eastbound bunch (averse to a greeting) at DECA. Fingers and toes weren't too pleased with the temperature but the head happy to have overpowered the earlier lethargy. 

Steps 29,889

24/10

Monday found Cate keen for k's again, a little interval training on New Dookie Rd going single for the passing traffic till Lemnos North Rd, then the serenity of watching the orange of the suns' slow arrival to the horizon as we cranked to the Church.  The parfum du piggery pronounced a southwester all the way back at the Toaster, into the breeze of Old Dookie Rd wasn't as tough as I'd imagined, though Cate's pace dialled up the heartrate. We'd beaten the Cats to Boundary Rd, a push down to Channel Rd and back to town with a few chuckles, the now customary squirt at the Cha Cha clearing out the cobwebs.

Steps 35,910

25/10

Peloton position played a part, performance, perspiration, politics and pleasantries personified to particular pairing and placement with the Tuesday Turtles. I'd lined up with AvantiTrev who applied the handbrake of unity to leg one, Chops pressing the throttle of achievement on leg two, HBK pulling out all stops (of course) when he got the drivers seat for leg three. Hollywood, Temple, Kenworth, Car+Mel and AvantiMat played ball, Cougar rotating to all but the front-of-house as eleven carved through the easterly to Boundary Rd.  Kenworth had a bidon malfunction on the turn, slowing to a crawl revived some and shuffled the deck till the velocity resumed soon after southbound.  My new berth had Mel to match and Hollywood as follow-up, his almost consistent comeback now paying dividends. (which turns me to the long list of lost and lax: BigMat, KillkennyPaul, Gazzagrasshopper, Softa, HashBrown, WhisperingJack, SuperMario, Fisky, Nath, et al.  All taken up basket weaving?). A now ideal northeaster helped our journey west in River Rd, shame the crimson daybreak was screening behind us.  Turns varied in velocity through to Central Kialla, there was a cautious approach to Melbourne Rd as we weren't tall enough to see over the roadside weeds.   Chops lit the Conrod fire out of the first dip, HBK driving forward moments later, a hungry Hollywood timing his burst to the last 250, but I kept a close wheel on him to make him earn the chocolates, Mel clocking a fine third.

Steps 42,681

Word up BassoDave, back on two wheels after a horror crash just 7 months ago. Can't keep a good man down! 

26/10

The season's swung! 15 degrees at 5:45, the atmosphere thick with airborne protein to chew on the crank to the Couldabeens carpark, my commute heavensent with a harem of Mel, Weapon and Cate as company.  "Get your turn done early with the tailwind Foss, then repose in the tow" head said to self. (well, that was the theory!)  Equaling Boof then staying level with Chops emptied my biscuit barrel, insert Wozz, Grumpy, Pelly, Troy, Ralphy and BamBam from the 5am FDC frolic and fast forward to Mitchell Rd.  Pistol and Nev bore the workload of the NE'er to River Rd, Shorty's back from holidays, Nick on comeback #2, a chat with the legluscious Weapon and glowing gratuity from Grumpy as Bruce, Rocket, Jase, Hollywood, AvantiMat (and all aforementioned) rolled through for a go at the pointy end.  22 km/h gusts shortened shifts, my best laid plans of respite till Channel Rd went OTA, Rocket and Boof weren't going to shoulder the load for the length of Boundary. The pot-hole plague continues as recent rains ruin roads, a small crevasse near one tree dam was indicated early but doesn't reach everyone in time; Mel's manoeuvre, missing mayhem, masterful. A blast with Boof to the Broken bridges then a long 700 metre drive to Channel coached by Chops (where does he get the oxygen to talk?) had me seeing stars well shy of the turn.  Reserves previously unknown were summoned to catch the draft in Channel, speechless till the S bend.  Ralphy sought asylum (too much toil with Nev, Pistol and Bruce ahead) so I let him into the luxury of the left line. Full steam into Kinder corner (a Garmin glance told story of stress), legs were being asked for more at 50 clicks when Boof and Rocket rose from their seats to start a real sprint, a wheel to wheel battle to the end from my blurred perspective half a dozen back. 

Steps 38,457

27/10

Back to the habitual early solo lap Thursday, not leaving the month's distance target to the dying days this month!  A rare chance to absorb tranquility and focus the inner thoughts (scary!) on Ford and Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, progress average despite the assisting SSW'er.  A second wind was ironically 

found into the headwind back to town, into the rhythm at 77rpm, three then one then the Cat pack exiting suburbia as I aimed for Friars.  Coggo, Belly, Spiessy, PrincipalSkinner, Bickers, Sandy, Phil, Tina, Hommy, Heady and HG had just launched, a smooth crank to Boundary Rd with the mandatory hole in the bunch left by HG.  I'd drawn the short straw of Boundary Rd's headwind beside Hommy, staying level with me was way out of character (like Trump having diplomacy and empathy).  It was good to swap sentences with Goats on my part-time shift, but one must appease the pedantic time-clock police at the salt mines.  The caboose found favour with Sandy, Bickers and HG while 8 shared the workload of River Rd, all too soon the clock summoned me via the truck route to Archer Rd and back to base, catching the Cats tail (long time no see Matho, Keeno and co) in town.

Steps 55,724

28/10

Wozz, Cate, Mel, Kenworth, Chops, Trav, Cougar, AvantiTrev, Boof, Rocket, Pistol and Hollywood filled Friday's fraternity, positioned at second wheel in the Indian filed first leg to Kialla Lakes (mesmerised by the metronomic drive of Wozz), I'd resolved to recline in the tow instead of repeating Wednesday's desperate dive in at the deep end.  Bruce had joined the perspicacious Pelly, bodacious BamBam, gratulatory Grumpy, transcendental Troy and rapscallious Ralphy (palms greased and prides pampered FDC's, payola to the Foss retirement foundation asap), the six pack added to our dozen for the leg to Mitchell. Into the 5 degree chill of River Rd and the mandatory scenic sunrise, chat of weekend plans was shared with those who could spare the oxygen.  My sole donation to the days drive came beside Cate to finish off River Rd, then with Wozz to the Broken bridges, a cautious point to the pot holes near one tree dam after Wednesday's pandemonium.  From the privileged position of 4th last into the Channel Rd ChaCha, I got to witness the Rocket launch at Prentice Rd, frame flexing and Zipp's howling for mercy, he hunted down a pseudo sprint ahead to humble all within 200 metres.  The roll of recovery homeward probably had many reassessing performance (and consider doping?), I ranked finishing within eyesight of the front runners a success.

Steps 38,200

Week 43.       249 km.            YTD 13,127

Week 42 A latte lifestyle

Post 367

15/10

Hard core (and soft centre) devotees swarmed at Saturday's start line, KillkennyPaul and Softa emerging from late hibernation to join junkies Kel, Bo, Wozz, Car+Mel, AvantiTrev, Jase, TatPaul, BamBam, Boof, Troy, PistolPete, Rocket, HBK, Trav, Temple, SuperMario, Cougar, Bruce, Popgun and BassoDan (not listed in any order of dependence or attendance), though someone decides the bunch belongs in the bin by parking pole position half way down the grid.   Launched at 6, two long lines energised east, the Godfather joining the tail pontificating his heritage (and kit to suit).  I could hear KillkennyPaul and Softa (broccoli barrister?) chatting between gasps in the caboose, but their long hibernation had handbraked any attempt at rotation.  Nath appeared at the pub (a rare sight on a road bike),  Kel's eyes (both sets) transfixed any behind or beside, tantamount to being out of uniform in a Cat kit, but a cheeky grin overrides her infringement.   All week we've battled a southerly or westerly in the southern circuits, the moment we try a northbound lap, a northeaster niggles!   My Baum turned one today, still feels new despite the 15,624 k's clocked.  Into Pine Lodge Rd at the Toaster was shared with Temple, from the church with Mel meant more muscle to match.  Twas easy peezy at the Emu with the northeaster to blow us back to breakfast, Dookie bound Cats dropping tailenders in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, even CatPhil left to ponder a puncture at Ford's end.  Promoted to the pointy end nearing DECA wasn't on my wish list, getting around Bruce was a big ask for the legs, particularly when Pistol hit the boost button at the test track.  I began the slide backward toward the back of the bunch as the sprint starved got hungry for the hill, but gained a sense of purpose towing Car back to the pack in Rudd Rd.    Kitchens, great gigs and hayfever occupied conversation, avacado, mushrooms and tomato on toast occupied the taste buds, my 3 week sugar culled diet lifting the bike performance and throwing 3kg off my handicap. 

Steps 27,300

16/10

Silverchairs' "Diorama" set the mental mood on a drive to Benalla, the 'Better Bike Hike' not tackled since 2009 (and it satisfies Strava's October Grand Fondo)  There were only 26 starters for the 125k ride, but that's preferable to a mass of maniacs.  An 8 man Team FIS (Flemington Institute of Sport) dominated the bunch, good to catch up with ex pat Cat Brownie in their pack.  The forecast northerly (24-48 km/h) hurried us out Kilfeera Rd (but would hamper us home), the whole field stayed glued together for the 37k loop to Moorngag.  Seems each event bunch has a loudmouth, a bad suit (all over the bike like a......), a steady slogger (I'll stick with that one) , a newbie (runners & toeclips, saddlebags and rainjacket) and a firecracker (boom then bust).  Amongst the bunch were the worthy, Andrew, MeridaJohn, Pete and Pete, Mick, Col, ChrisR, Brownie and Matt......amongst the Cervelo, Giant, LaPierre, Scott, Cube, Look, Colnago, Bianchi, Ridley and Willier, were 3 Baum's! (what are the odds?).  The first few pinches in Tatong-Moorngag Rd busted the bunch in half (newbie, loudmouth and firecracker), my recall of the upcoming steady climb to Tolmie switched me to conservative mode, a steady 6k stoked the boiler to get me up the rise. The 14k's up sorted out the chaff, bad suit flinging the bike about on mixmaster cadence, a steady crank for me made the distance and elevation seem far shorter than past memories.  A brief downhill dash to Tatong for a 10 minute pit stop to top up fluids and fuel, then back aboard for the 60k return before engines cooled.  With a dozen to share the headwind home, rolling turns worked for 16k, a few pinches nearing Mollyulah snapped 9 off the back, just MeridaJohn, WillierCol and I left slogging the track toward Upper Lurg.   Two sharpish hills spaced us out, the few k's spent happily solo to settle and recover.  I clawed back to WillierCol on the downhill, MeridaJohn a k ahead chasing the lead car.   WillierCol and I swapped turns for 14k's of Kilfeera Rd with 48 km/h gusts whipping at the wheels, energy evaporating but some inspiration passing the leaders of the 60k ride. The city in sight slackened the stress, fulfilled to finish third (it's not a race......until the end!), sausages, sandwiches and soft drink satisfying a starved stomach.  A great little event with spot-on marshalling and support, 100% of the entry assisting the Capability Building Inc and Edspace.

Steps 69,988

17/10

A ride to rid rigormortis on Monday, the demons of distance had lashed the legs overnight to warrant a spin to loosen the rust.  Two bikes in the first k (both minus lights) makes you muse the mentality of some, life obviously not worth a $3:95 tail light and a 35 cent battery?   East on New Dookie Rd found Cate keen to crank, déjà vu last weeks' westerly drying off the 4am shower.  Six passing cars seemed like peak hour, but beyond Lemnos the asphalt was ours to philosophise the important things in life : aforementioned 'bad suits', hills and grand fondo's.  Grit and determination drove the west leg back to Boundary (legs loosening to 78 rpm), sniffing seems socially acceptable as 8 degrees turns on the nasal tap.  Cate's crusade of effort knows no bounds as the wind funnelled between Channel Rd's orchards homeward.  Monday's must be made for morons, ye olde ute charging a roundabout needing a big skid to give way to us. 

Steps 25,084

18/10

Car+Mel's company to the Couldabeens carpark contrasted to HBK's chilled sarcasm at the grid, thankfully Temple, Jase and AvantiTrev rolled in to restore the balance.  Turtles away at 5:40, and I wasn't taking the HBK bait deliberately dangled half a bike ahead on leg one, ignoring the rearward glances and wry grin.  Temple played fair on leg two and kept the bunch together, AvantiTrev easing off the throttle a little, but Car+Mel piled the pace on again.  A north northwesterly made light work of Boundary Rd, the turns repeating again for River Rd.  AvantiMat was found in Mitchell Rd, the invitation to climb aboard accepted.  An early decision to abstain from the sprint was made by the legs still labouring from Benalla's breeze but the chance to leave HBK out to dry in Conrod was high on the entertainment list.  It was a tidy finish with Temple and Jase making HBK work for a result, Car+Mel deserving a tenacity trophy, AvantiTrev just glad it was over.  A weeks leave allowed coffee and chat time, Hares Wozza, Nev, Hoges, Pistol and Troy joining moments later, BamBam arriving solo from an alarm malfunction.

Steps 29,064

19/10

The grip of winter returned Wednesday, a paltry 3 degrees drawing the warmer layers out of mothballs. Reasonable numbers fronting the grid (Mel, Pistol, Hollywood, Cate, Weapon, Huddo, Boof, AvantiTrev, Robbo, Rocket, Cougar and Jase) considering the conditions, a dose of social reality finding someone sleeping rough under the shop verandah.  A single filed line got up to speed exiting the town, convincing myself to resist the tow temptation and venture forth to form the up line, but found Rocket driving the tempo and Boof breathing down my Fizik.  FDC's Troy, BamBam and Pelly with a k craved Wozza circled the Sanctuary roundabout and climbed aboard, old Foss blurring at the edges focussing on reaching the truck route beside Boof (but trying not to let the body language tell the true story of toil).  And so began the recovery in the tow to Mitchell, turning social as the oxygen craving subsided, cold weather the hot topic en route to Central Kialla, a rare run of traffic splitting the bunch on the turn into River Rd. My respite lasted till Boundary's Broken bridges, matching Rocket to Channel put the heart rate on the roller coaster.  Turning into Channel Rd and off the seat to get up to pace, I had that scary sensation of another's wheel rubbing against mine sending a shiver.  Thankfully Boof stayed vertical, a momentary visual diversion while clearing the olfactories.  BamBam had drawn the short straw of the ChaCha lead-out with Pistol and Wozz the swift standards ahead, lucky me at third wheel in the down line had better promise of placement.  The bunch drew long and skinny from Kinder corner to Prentice Rd, then fattened up as BamBam and the early pace setters ran out of steam and were swallowed up by the hopefuls.  Another day of post ride caffiene (I could get used to this latte lifestyle!) with chins wagging on the cycling club cash crisis and prangs of the pros. 

Steps 28,895

20/10

A layback preparation for a 6am Goat gathering on Thursday, almost a week of standard starts has returned me to almost sane.   Only Coggo, Tina, Spiessy, AvantiLeigh and Dipper were at Friars with 3 minutes till launch, the numbers doubling in the dying moments (Hommy, Sandy, Snow, Phil, HG, Belly, Spartacus and MeridaJohn).   The quiet roll through the streets to exit town is a gentle warm up for old engines struggling to fire in 4 degrees, forming an up line beside AvantiLeigh, and with Dipper following, made me the stale Strasbourg between two slices of fresh bread.  Could have sworn we pushed into a ENE'er (bureau said calm) but all had a go at the driving duty to Boundary Rd.  Man flu hampered Hommy's half wheeling, MeridaJohn (ex-CerveloJohn) was today AvantiJohn thanks to the house of AvantiTrev and a Fruitloop raffle. (28mm tyres and disc brakes ain't as light as the Merida but you don't look a gift bike in the specifications).  Spartacus back from a Tour d'Italia, HG considered for a rename to HBB (half bike back) staggering the bunch symmetry.  A 'steady roll' was screwed up and chucked in the bin, AvantiLeigh setting swift standards south in Boundary Rd.  There was a gradual decline of nominees for the pointy end as Boundary made way for River which made way for Central Kialla Rd, nudging the 40's reducing the drivers to 7 as 7 sat on.  Rooster Roscoe was gathered up in the caboose as the bunch barrelled into Dave's dip, but there was a long wait for commuters clogging the highway north and south.  7 drivers became 6 as I swapped turns with Coggo, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, Belly and AvantiJohn to Arcadia Downs, 6 became 5 and 5 became 4 into Conrod straight as speed spiralled. I hit the front with 600 to go, and finding one thin line behind me left no alternative but to burn up on re-entry.  Legs and lungs refused the mental messages for more, with 300 left my elbow showed the way past for all 13, as I attempted to dial down 185 bpm.   Yet another cafe conclusion completed the circuit, waxing philosophicycle with Tina and a work-bound Weapon on fi-fo's and fine food. 

Steps 26,552

21/10

Almost mild, one less layer and short knicks braved for Friday morning to put variety in the weeks wardrobe.  The 24+km/h NNE'er kept a few away but Pistol, Bruce, Chops, Boof, Troy, Pelly, Wozza, Hollywood, Cate, AvantiTrev, Temple, Rocket and Nev braved the breeze. It was someone else's turn to drive at the front in Archer as the tailwind excited the troops of tempo, Hollywood ahead and Pelly behind made fair partners for me. The drive into River Rd against the wind wore down the reserves ( I hoped 208 bpm on my Garmin was a monitor malfunction), Boof and Wozz blown sideways by the breeze may need a Hoges diet of pies to add ballast. All were hoping that Nev and PistolPete would drive the Boundary distance to Channel Rd, but the rotations rolled all to soon to put me at the front with Troy from the Broken bridges, the drive to Channel a vision too far, the Garmin glance too scary, so focussed on the blurred tarmac instead.   Running on empty I just managed to grab onto the tow in Channel Rd,  Bruce, Nev, Boof, Pistol, Rocket and Wozz the fast freaks finding even more wattage to crank into the ChaCha as most clawed at the draft to stay in touch.  Yet another post ride caffiene rehab enjoyed, a fast commute homeward with Rocket and Wozz finalised the week.

Week 42.         361km.            YTD 12,878

Week 41 Fit, fitter and far from it.

Post 366

8/10

Discovering a flat at saddle-up time put Wozza way behind agenda, head-on into a stiff southerly to meet like minded insomnicyclusts made a swift start for our 5k commute to the carpark.  Rocket, Bo and Kel had waited patiently, a Wednesday / Friday tap lap turned to attack, red led's ahead dangled like a carrot.  Rocket and Wozz drove a hard bargain into River Rd's darkness, the Wozz and Bo combo similarly swift, so good on Kel for facing this pace at the pointy end.  My legs said 'no way Jose' but the head said HTFU, and inspired by Kel's effort I ventured forth, just as the call "single" went out.  The last 600 of River at 40 cooked me, reserves from unknown sources had to drive me to catch the now Rocket powered train in Boundary Rd, but the led's ahead weren't for catching as our course turned into Channel.  Still filed Indian style, the tempo turned down to mid 30's, at last a chance to compose head and heart (down to 160) to arrive back at our start point as the Couldabeens congregation converged (HBK, AvantiMat, Temple, AvantiTrev, TatPaul, SuperMario, Shorty, Cougar, Nick, Boof, The Godfather, PistolPete, Trav, Hoges, Tum and Jase.)  Yet another foreigner had fronted (OrbeaMat) from fields unknown, at least his logistics and line looked compatible as we rolled out Channel Rd, would his speed and sociability suit? HBK incurred penalties for the pace at the S bend, Hoges has a knee still taped, SuperMario aboard again (from one-a-month to two in two days), Tum awaiting a first-born, and TatPaul giving birth to a puncture.  The pitstop pause screened a scenic sunrise, soon back to the business toward the Toaster, partaking the piggery pungency.   The turn for home with the wind at our portside bow made for tough turns, TatPaul made a brief appearance at the pointy end, my luck drew the test of a PistolPete partnership to Boundary Rd, (Trav's turn seemed cruisy in contrast).  The bunch had fanned across Ford Rd in search of shelter, only half were now volunteering a turn in the drivers seat.  Crossing Grahamvale Rd the tail end snapped off, Bo & co doing the tow to get 'em back aboard.   Seems the strugglers lost their grip at Verney Rd too, but without a word, the main pack was oblivious with heads down and tails up.  Only 8 drivers braved the Wanganui workout, a long thin tail of survivors summoning the dregs of wattage left to stay in touch.   There was a chance of composure and to break the sprint silence as Rudd Rd allowed a regroup, Boulevard bound for breakfast turned the mood from suffering to sociable swiftly.  Displeasure at being dropped was aired, the banter on effort, escape plans and roadside treasure ping-ponged across the Lemontree table, Bo's artery attack breakfast outgunning the hollandaise. 

10/10

And so begins 29 days of a corporate pedometer challenge, the conversion from bike distance to steps is 200/min at 32+km/h, so I'll add that to work walking for a daily total. 

Rule 9 applied Monday, a wry smile unstoppable hearing WhatsApp ping the abandonments, the passing shower at 4am was an out for some and opportunity for others.  East on New Dookie Rd found Cate keen for k's, just the large puddles to dodge, a 24km/h WNW'er drying the smaller ones.  One grumpy truck amongst the usual 4 passing vehicles, objecting to a bike taking up a metre of the left lane. (and I thought Reids stockfeed ran a professional outfit!)   A good spin to the church made way for a solid grind into Old Dookie Rd's headwind, insects served as an atmospheric breakfast (I prefer my protein dished up as steak)   There was a steady slog into Channel Rd to get us home, the ChaCha tempting Cate to put a spike in the Strava data, I just had to try to keep up.                  

(37,305 steps)

11/10

Running late certainly sharpens the focus, 3 minutes to make up in the 5k commute to the Couldabeens warmed up the muscles quickly.  The turtle faction drew BamBam, Troy, Temple, Cougar, HBK and Hollywood to berth, AvantiTrev's arrival right on flagfall.  Velocity varied in Channel Rd as fit followed fitter as far-from-it followed, feeling the breeze on the starboard side in Boundary Rd forecast a push for River Rd.   BamBam was half biked for the first leg, Temple matched HBK for a brief burst, I took the helm to turn it an Indian file drive to Trevaskis Rd (receiving notices of an ease motion on the way).   AvantiTrev and Cougar had taken a back seat while Hollywood, Temple and BamBam shared the rest of River Rd.   HBK, driving the Central Kialla leg, received a handbrake suggestion, the rubber band snapped in Mitchell though, a long cruise to Archer allowing a regroup.  Calm was contained for the northern leg home till the town limits begged a blast, I led out a sprint starved Hollywood to take the chocolates, but Troy had the lungs to score the honours.           

(41,601 steps)

12/10

Thought I was running to schedule Wednesday, but by the time the Garmin sprang to life there was four minutes to make up.  Wozza had waited patiently, a hard drive to the carpark with 40 seconds to spare was my penance for procrastination.   Kel, Bo, BigRon, Rocket, Cate, Robbo, Huddo, Mel, Mitch, Pistol Boof, Jase, Chops, AvantiTrev and Hollywood filled the carpark, a few breaths then saddle up to spear south single filed.  A long left line was reluctant to join an up line of three, eventually two even lines got organised by the Sanctuary roundabout.  BamBam, Grumpy, Pelly and Troy joined from the earlier FDC lap, social updates with Chops, Jase, Pistol and Robbo before duty at the front with Cate and Hollywood silenced sentences.   Bikes in pairs, singled and swarmed cranked west, our journey east spent lamenting the cold, dark and damp, how soon will the grizzles of heat start?   A belt up Boundary and a chase in Channel drew me closer to the rushin' front,  Boof, Wozz and Rocket the formidable front men ahead as the ChaCha drew nearer.  A few dived for cover in the left line at Kinder corner as the pace percolated, my role was to round up Rocket and Wozz, but I'd burnt the biscuits by Prentice Rd.  Swamped by all in 200 metres, the dregs of my tank were used to catch the bunch at the school.  Weapon joined from her suburban yeah-nah-but ride, my rare chance to join the coffee faction for a mid-week yarn on PistolPete's performance and MTB trails.  

A day off begged daylight k's, congregating with the Adams family posed some risk (Wobbly Trev and Mr.Magnet) but some sociability (Tina, BianchiPat, Barnsey, Norm, Col etc).  Adjusting to rather different peloton protocols (fit in or f.... off!) makes you appreciate the regular clans, see-saw speeds and tenuous turns with 16 on Mitchell and Boundary kept the wits filed sharp. Old Dookie Rd beckoned several to short-cut homeward but a dozen continued to the Toaster, a tailwind treat till the toil 12ks back to town on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.  It was difficult to set a tempo at the front with speeds floating 15%, long and short, solid and slow back to Wanganui Rd.  There were just 3 left offering themselves to the lead role as 10 drew single, winding up my attack at the hill drew no challenge, it was a 300 metre sprint between 60 signs in Rudd they'd waited for!   Back home with 90k's clocked satisfied the Strava target, I'm not leaving the 1250k goal to the last day this month!        

(56,625 steps)

13/10

You'd think I'd have learned the late lesson lately, the rigmarole of multiple winter layers in Spring put my schedule out again, covering 5.4 k's in 9 minutes with a 20km/h headwind (and three halts for traffic lights) got the h.r. cooking.  I just caught the Turtles tail as they'd exited the carpark (HBK, Temple, Pelly, BamBam, Shorty, Troy, Cougar, AvantiTrev and Popgun), a recovery in the rear seat prepared me for the headwind beside Troy at the Kinder. The next shift with Shorty at the cypress trees earned an "ease-up", some in the draft in distress.  AvantiTrev and Temple took on Boundary Rd's headwind, Popgun (pooped) pointed north toward the Pub.  Beside BamBam out of River Rd's dip then with Shorty at the bridge, the southerly whipped at the wheels to make a WobblyTrev trajectory easy.   Temple and HBK had a handbrake applied to their leg in Central Kialla, sneakily the speed crept up for Mitchell.  Over the highway the clamp was called again, a minute to reacquaint myself with the rare Raftery Rd (partly submerged for the last few weeks) before HBK pressed the accelerator again at Arcadia Downs.  A dream sit at 3rd wheel behind BamBam into Conrod put the odds in my favour, Troy turned the bunch single file out of the dip, BamBam rattled the valve stems taking the lead with 500 to go, I sat playing the waiting game for the first sign of fading.  Pouncing at the 300 mark was optimistic, only just finding the extra to fend off HBK, Shorty and Pelly for a rare win.    

(44661 steps)

14/10

Finally on schedule, no wind, and hooray it's Friday!   Bruce, Boof, Cate, Wozza, Kenworth, Rocket, Pistol, Temple, Shorty, Nev, Weapon, Chops, Cougar, AvantiTrev, Jase and Hollywood arrived to tap a lap for the weeks end, BamBam and Troy appeared at the truck route from their early course.  Fog had layered on the paddocks and an orange daybreak distracted us from the 4 degrees, the cool air gripping the lungs like a vice when visiting at the front.  I'd taken an early shift with Wozz in an effort to get some concrete in my diet, but a rotation calculation predicted my next go would be in at the deep end of the ChaCha challenge.  So where else do you get a civil engineer, a district nurse, an office manager, a storeman, an excavator operator, a bike shop owner, a psychologist, a maintenance foreman, a salesman, and a turner & fitter hurl themselves into the pre-breakfast elements before work?  Tis a strange social mix that bonds in this ride ritual.  Wozza was keen for a calm crank, so why was I pushing 40 beside him in McFadyen Rd?  It had taken 18k's for the bunch to go full circle, it took just 900 metres for it to turn totally again for the ChaCha.  I'd run out of road to get closer than sixth, but it's reassuring to finish within sight of the victors. 

(40,375 steps)

Week 41   312km.           YTD 12,517km