Week 8 : Surreptitiously squeezing Semtex

Post 385

18/2

After last week's Beach Rd's bliss it was back to home soil, the delight of local pot-holes, coarse tarmac and man-hole covers in the bike lane for Saturday's circuit, thankfully Wozza's, Mel's and the Couldabeens company made up for it.  There was another population explosion at the carpark ; TrekTrev, Kel, Nev, Lucy, Rocket, BeerMat, Boof, Pistol, Temple, Popgun, HBK, Lenny, TatPaul, Cougar, TrekSam, TrackStan, TrekJack, MeridaAndy, BigLen, Jase, Shorty, AvantiTrev, The Godfather, Troy, Bruce, TatMat, Carl, Manny and Trav turning up......bigger than BenHur again!  Senesibly split into two peloton portions, I'd again berthed in the first group away (TrekTrev, Troy, Mel, Wozz, Lucy, Boof, Popgun, TatMat, TatPaul, TrekJack, TrackStan, TrekSam, Shorty and Cougar).  Led lights lanced the Channel Rd darkness, Wozza's attempt to silence the tattle with tempo somewhat unsuccessful.

The few part-timers and casuals in the bunch take away that family feel, there's something rather unsettling about a foreign erratic wheel amongst the familiar.  A substandard call at the pub for an approaching car split the pack, TrekJack (unfamiliar in peloton protocols) leapfrogging the queue on the regroup.  I'd been given a thorough half-wheeling by Jack up to Old Dookie Rd, TrackStan pairing more politely with me eastward but felt I was being tested on a long 3k slog to the Toaster.   Nath joined in riding a relic 7 speed (with rear pack rack), I was preoccupied with the breakfast menu while working west on Lemnos Cosgrove Rd and Ford.

TrekJack paired at the pointy end with me crossing Grahamvale Rd and hit the half-wheel habit again, this time rattling my cage enough to retaliate by driving harder when he attempted to roll early.  Peak hour traffic arrived early at Numurkah Rd causing a minute intermission, group two pulling up behind made for a massed attack on Wanganui hill.  Pace was poured on early when traffic cleared, stretching the bunch long (to shorten the odds?), Wozz whipped up the workload at the test track as I gradually moved toward the front with the hill looming large.  Motivated by Mel at my Mavic, I picked a line past the faded to get 5th spot, the roll along Rudd slowly regrouping the stretched pack.  

Supermarket stereotypes, carbon's fragility and a Couldabeens tour elsewhere was the breakfast babble at the Lemontree's long (15metres) table.

20/2

I questioned my squirt (predicting a perambulating peace train) around the golf course loop till a solitary bike in Wanganui Rd validated my 5:15 start, 7 degrees (feels like 4) was an early intro to winter though the Zwift softies wouldn't notice.  It was a treat to tap the new Verney Rd smooth tarmac (it would want to be at $1.6m per km) back to town, Hommy, Cate, Principal Skinner, Phil, Sandy, Ridley Craig and JB the scarce starters for Monday's ritual.  The easterly exit of town had Brown's Cows as a led lure ahead in Old Dookie to pump our pace to chase, Hommy habitually half-wheeling, PrincipalSkinner shooting a short shift, even Ridley Craig trying a turn (although a one and only).   We'd rounded up the meanderers at Old Dookie's end and set a course south on Boundary Rd, JB perched well over the back of the MrSheen'd Pinarello, Sandy calling it quits to the caboose while Phil, Cate, PrincipalSkinner, Hommy and I kept the boiler stoked in pursuit of more led's ahead (so much for the perambulating pace).  The westerly wore away some enthusiasm head-on in River Rd, four turns done at the front and it was my turn to depart to satisfy my employer.  It was a push along the alternative route, two passing trucks donating a delicious draft (albeit abbreviated) then northward home via Archer Rd, the past fortnight's post ride socialism now a distant memory. 

21/2

I had a breakfast of Kellogs Konfidence, it was Tuesday thrash day and how many / little would turn up?  Cate was keen to try the Turtles again, Nick, HBK, TrekTrev, Cougar, SuperMario, Jase, AvantiTrev, Bo and Kel turned up with the same intent (or most seemed to).  AvantiTrev preached a sermon on the (a)mount of noise generated calling at intersections (seems we were waking some) so a silent signal system was used to appease the critics.  I poured some urgency into a tame tempo on Channel Rd, FeltMat joining in to make us a dozen while I tuned out to HBK's half biking.  The muted crossing of Doyle's Rd went well but the caboose dragged till the gaps closed, Jase and HBK driving to the Kinder, but Bo seemed sluggish (burdened by a boisterous bucks night?). AvantiTrev seemed to back off the gas and SuperMario had legs under labour, many using this time for respiratory respite.   Darth Vader was in the dog house but there were a few gasps for the gravel surprise at Sellmans, into Boundary Rd the forecast headwind was thankfully absent.  Cate tore into a tenacious turn in River Rd, HBK needed tissues for his grizzles on the grind alongside me.  Jase, Nick, TrekTrev and FeltMat kept toughing out their turns (it never get easier, you just go faster Greg said) as River, Central Kialla and Mitchell soon passed.  Bo belted into Conrod straight possessed, stretching two lines into one long one, small gaps opening to Jase then Cate as others tucked in behind.  I played leapfrog to Jase's wheel, two deep breaths then a leap to Bo's, his fuse spluttering at the 400 metre mark (you can get blue pills to cure that early arrival problem Bo!) His look of disappointment as I bolted by was priceless, full steam out of the tow spiking all my Garmin graphs, but the chocolates dissolved the distress.

22/2

A thrash on McIntosh (egged on by Cate) stirred up the legs and lungs en-route to Wednesday's Couldabeens clan, it was populous maximus at the carpark with Car+Mel, Wozza, Chops, Kenworth, Pelly, Ralphy, Temple, BamBam, Nick, Lucy, TrekTrev, Bruce, Leah, Rocket, Nev, Boof, Bo and Kel ready to ride.

Scurrying south at 6, Weapon, FeltMat, Troy, Grumpy and Jed joined in, Leah's bucket o' nails (mechanical rattle) causing a slow and some confusion (Wozza, Chops, Troy, Grumpy and Jed cranking into the distance blissfully unaware).  Idling slowly to Sanctuary roundabout, the call of "all on" got the party started again but many were missing on the stocktake at the truck route. (maybe the recent vows of urban silence have suppressed the message?)  In the bunch of Kenworth, Pelly, Ralphy, BamBam, Cate, Temple, Car+Mel, Nick, Lucy, TrekTrev and FeltMat was an ideal size where we'd get several appearances at the front with enough drivers to recover between turns and make life easier on the reaction time.   BamBam had my wheel which would test my pairing but the following draft would be a bonus.  Bunch one were drawing into the distance but our bakers dozen seemed content with our velocity.  Into Channel Rd the odds of inheriting the lead role for the ChaCha shortened, Car+Mel unable to escape the driving duties to the Kinder.  BamBam hit the nitrous at Prentice Rd and I tucked into his tow, Lucy jumped early which served Temple the ideal lead out, Ralphy without enough road played second fiddle.. 

23/2

The ritual preparations, hydrations and ablutions dragged on Thursday morning, there'd be an 11 minute dash to reach the Turtle grid by 5:40.  With a minute to spare, I joined Temple, HBK, Cougar and AvantiTrev at the carpark, Kel and Bo (rattled by a rattle) arriving at the third stroke.   Temple and HBK did the first shift (Kensington roundabout scoring a speed censure), plenty of pace for me to Orrvale Rd beside HBK, then kinder to the Kinder beside AvantiTrev.  I had a brief spell in the draft while Bo, Kel and Temple towed the troupe to Boundary Rd, the endangered KillkennyPaul sighted southbound was enlisted in a caboose capacity as Temple and HBK incited insurgent inferences powering to One Tree Dam. I had another huff & puff beside HBK then the turns rolled turning into River Rd, AvantiTrev talking of a tempo truce (courting caboose kudos?)   Like squeezing Semtex, the accelerator was slowly and surreptitiously squeezed soon after (returning motion for the majority), the last kilometre of River Rd with HBK and 1200 metres of Central Kialla Rd bumping up my breathing.  Kel's concrete composure aboard the Giant is the benchmark,  rule #59 resonating in Mitchell Rd feeling the WNW'er as I spent quality time harassing HBK cresting Dave's dip.   Expectations brewed in Raftery Rd, only Temple, HBK, Bo and I swapping turns from Galbraiths gate suggested an early attack was off the agenda.  Luck would have Temple and Bo advance as HBK waved the white flag in Conrod straight, Temple hit the boost button as Bo lay in wait behind.   I drew a breath or two in the hope of picking up the pieces, Bo belted into the last dip, it took me 101 rpm to sneak past him for a win.

24/2
A southerly made windy work to reach the south of town,  Bruce, Nick, Cate, BamBam, Chops, Pelly, Ralphy, Trav, Nev, Pistol, Wozz, Weapon, Rocket, Lucy, FeltMat, Lenny, Boof, Grumpy and SuperMario assembling for the Friday 6am getaway.

Boof braved the headwind as FDC's filtered in from a puncture delayed early loop, Trav establishing the up line while Rocket rolled up from the rear ranks as his backstop.  I took the soft option of a tow, Ralphy ropeable losing Garmin satelite connection (interference from his magnetic personality?)   Lucy's looked luscious in Liquigas kit (and riding a Liquigas Cannondale, nailing Rule #18) but I was dissapointed there wasn't matching socks!  The serious business of stocktaking cyclists got underway, it haunts my hippocampus should I miss a name off the honour roll. A u-turning bike in River Rd joined in; Lost, one stray cat, needs vaccination and de-sexing, gone missing from the 51/Cat train, answers to the call of Godfather!

Pondering position on my promotion toward the peloton pointy end, I reckon I'd cracked the ChaCha code;  to berth in the first 10% of the left line at the grid almost guarantees a turn with recovery time before the Kinder (figures based on attendance and performance and are dependant on wind and market trends, seek advice from your consultant, terms and conditions apply, see in store for details) but back to the ride reality......  I'd finally arrived at the front with Choppy approaching the cypress trees and was on top of the 14 cog when "puncture" was called.  The halt found Nick pitstopped and on the receiving end of sledges as Nev set to change the tube, the later inflation by CO2 exploding the GP4000 sidewall (good to see many carrying a small square of canvas as a temporary fix). "Just a roll back to town" of course turned into a sprint at the ChaCha, the tempo temptation is just too strong.

Week 8      248 km                     YTD 1,944 km

Week 7: A marshmallow arse?

Post 384

11/2

Well, baste my quadriceps and sauté my gluteus maximus!, 24 degrees (75F) at 5:30 am was a steamy Saturday start, the roll south further humidified with a light shower from the heavens evaporating almost instantly from the hot tarmac.  Nightclubbers still staggered the streets as I found Jase and Cate then TatPaul, BassoDan and BigBill en route to the carpark where a cast bigger than Ben Hur had assembled (the recall to labour my limbic system). Deep breath......Boof, AvantiAndy, Hoges, BigMat, Jen, AvantiTrev, Trav, Wozz, Temple, Troy, BamBam, HBK, Cougar, Rocket, Bruce, new recruit Leah, Popgun, Pistol, Shorty, Nick, SuperMario, Lucy, The Godfather and Lenny, MeridaJohn and Clive  creating a Cat caboose (for a foreward to a feline fixture) and Beery who'd tacked on uninvited (Rule  #19 old chap!)  Temple had judiciously held back the rearmost 20 to form two controllable bunches rather than moving a manic mess, but inadvertently had created "chasers" and "the chased".   By grid position I had been berthed with "the chased" (Hoges, BigMat, TatMat, TatPaul, BassoDan, Trav, Cate, Troy, BamBam, Cougar, Beery, Popgun, BigBill and the tiny trailer of TomCats), a pronto push to Kensington gardens but settling into some form of rhythm and gaining FeltMat to our eastward effort.  Comfortably through the Wozza S bends (kindly swept of the loose gravel that VicRoads can't seem to move) that has haunted our smooth line through, then caution through the tyre thick stones littering Sellmans straight.  Stewing over the subtlety of wind direction seemed silly with the W-WSW'er at just 7-13 km/h , reaching the front to pair with FeltMat was to be a long solid slog I hadn't counted on (dedication to the kilometres has paid him dividends).  Beside BigMat in Old Dookie Rd was a shorter affair, daylight struggled to pierce the blanket of cloud but the piggery's pong stabbed the olfactories with a vengeance.  The drivers seemed hungry for speed over the intersections and round the corners, quite the rubber band effect for a bunch of 17 (what would it have been like with 38?)   Reaching the main eastern channel I got another turn in the drivers seat with FeltMat, then in Ford Rd with BigMat.  A complimentary comment (what did I have for breakfast?) from TatPaul eased my stifled gasps of recovery, the slow for Grahamvale Rd and its' roadworks traffic control the chance to capture composure. In Wanganui Rd BamBam bolted to the front at the transfer station, slimming the squad to single file, Jase struck the second blow to DECA where Hoges let loose a marathon turn.  I'd jumped to his wheel just as the fractures opened, and hung on to wait for his expiry.

Onward he pumped possessed, snatching gears as his legs faded, at 300 to go I gave it everything to get past, only for Troy, Trav and TatMat to hammer humiliation past me 50 metres later.  Pistol, Lenny, Boof and Lucy suddenly shot past on Mt.Wanganui's peak, the "chasers" had caught "the chased" (thanks I'm told to Rockets lengthy lead-out).   Insurance fraud, those on the up & up and doing what feels good kept tongues tattling, beer for Bo's birthday (we were well beyond the 16 degree rule) was my light globe moment for BigMat's attendance, I now dub him BeerMat in honour of his true allegiance.

13/2

Speissy, Sandy, Principal Skinner, RidleyCraig, Hommy, AvantiLeigh, Cate and Kate fronted Friars for the Monday Peace Train,  Kate reserving the rear seat (with 7 months off the bike) but wasn't sure why RidleyCraig took a tow too.

The weekends indulgences were compared with those circulating, Belly joined in at SPC, suffering sluggishness from excess weekend hydration.  13 degrees was a cool contrast to last week's heat, arm warmers suddenly standard uniform.  A cruisy tap around mostly idling in zone 2 and 3, Hommy's puncture at Central Kialla the ride's entertainment.   True to the Goat mantra, the ride wasn't a race.........till the end, I bumped up the tempo into Conrod straight which brought RidleyCraig to the front, but AvantiLeigh (with advantage youth) powered to the podium. This post ride chin wag and coffee habit is becoming addictive, Welsford St cafe the Goat trough of choice.

14/2

Rather inspiring to have a doubling of numbers turn up for Tuesday's turtles (Nick, AvantiTrev, TrekTrev, Temple, Shorty, FeltMat, Kel, Cate, Jase, Cougar and HBK), hoping it's a continuing trend though I'll bet winters chill sends most diving under doonas.  There were enough volunteers to form two lines and rotate the task of slicing the SSW'er, Cate and Kel putting class amongst the commoners.  Nick Temple and Kel were tough enough to grind into the Boundary Rd headwind (17-24 km/h), I'd been blessed with a berth at the back for a free tow to River Rd.  I was coping rather well beside FeltMat with the wind coming in at 10 o'clock, finding the need to ease off a bit to keep FeltMat's wheel level. Temple, TrekTrev and Shorty seemed to be emptying the tank on their turns while I had a bit in reserve, let's pull hard on the handbrake of assertiveness before my helmet gets too tight!  Peering through the roadside jungle of weeds we managed a clear passage across the highway, pressing on via Raftery Rd for the sweat and sprint sequel.  The planets had aligned at Arcadia Downs, here's me sitting sedately at 5th wheel, HBK boxed in and Nick, Temple and TrekTrev doing the work, just Jase behind me to watch for. Out of the first dip and onto the 600 metre plateau, the speed wound into the high 40's while I waited for the moment to pounce.  Confident with 300 metres to go, I arose from 3rd wheel on the 14 cog and, using the Rocket technique (chin over the front axle) stood on the gas to shake Jase off my wheel (no hope!).  Gritting teeth and dialling up the stubborn screw as Jase pulled out from my draft I had just enough to ease ahead for the chocolates.  I'm trying not to enjoy the post ride coffee and social sustenance 'cause I'll crave it going back to work next week, Grumpy's OTA, boat capers and Nev's birthday soaked up a lazy half hour before meandering home.

15/2

The dim image of a 5:30am bike commuter (wearing black and no lights) indicates she was dim in intelligence too, but the bright lights of Cate, Car+Mel were easily found on the way to Wednesday's Couldabeens lap.  AvantiTrev, Kel, Bruce, Trav, Lucy, Shorty, BamBam, FeltMat, Pelly, Kenworth, Nick, Rocket, Wozz, Pistol, Jen and Nev exited the carpark at 6, I took sympathy on Shorty piloting the pack partnerless south, sharing the toil to the roundabout, Trav setting a swift standard on leg 2 to match.  Peloton position seems to still haunt some, who would pull the short straw for the ChaCha sprint lead-out nobody knows. River Rd had a later sunrise but it was worth waiting for, 42 wheels working and many tongues tattling drowned out the sound of the truck and dog approaching behind, caboose lookouts might need a refresh on their job description?

Plenty of shift workers guaranteed only one turn for most, the ChaCha task turned up for Car+Mel and Cate to crank into Kinder corner, Lucy, Shorty and I to drag the pack to Prentice Rd. Shorty had the hard work to get round the turbocharged Lucy, I managed a brief burst beyond Prentice but was soon (again) swamped by the sultans of speed.

16/2

A few days in the big smoke was a magnet to ride the Beach Rd Mecca, fine misty rain the welcome mat at the Mordialloc start but a little damp didn't dampen my enthusiasm.  Gradually up to a  perky pace (helped by a 16 km/h SSE'er), I'd passed ones and twos northbound at Mentone, a few gradual ups and downs of elevation getting the ticker ticking.  Little rooster tails off the Michelin's wasn't ideal but the billiard table hot mix could turn an arse to marshmallow!  Confidence grew as the showers eased, passing plenty with only twos, threes and fours time trialling past (the aero helmets and full carbon disc wheels were a bit serious for suburbia)

There were plenty of serious commuters (backpacks with a change of kit for work) and several massive bunches (50+) southbound, the smell of sea air and sights of a million city lights makes a change from channels and orchards ad nauseum.  Brighton, Elwood and Middle Park passed by inheriting a couple of soloists on my wheel, traffic was building for the 7am starters but were most co operative with the metre matters.  Up to Port Melbourne then a u-turn with the breeze to battle back,  I took a moment to souvenir a snap or two then set about a determined drive south, collecting BrightonBarryBianchi to tow for a suburb or three (regrets selling his titanium steed).  The big bunches had thinned (they were mostly now northbound) but caught and passed a few threes and fours, the neverending traffic lights were mostly green but the red ones made it interval training. Eventually back to the Mordialloc pier for a caffeine chaser, the 171 Strava trophies was a surprise bonus!


17/2
When you're on a good thing........  I had a repeat of Thursday's ride (can't get enough!) in better weather Friday but minus the wind assistance toward Melbourne's centre.  The rise and fall to Sandringham knocked the wind from my sails (and lungs), it was off the seat for this flatlander to feel worthy (me thinks there'll be no avalanche of trophies today). A few waves of commuting cars vacuumed me a bit of pace while trying to divert attention from the luscious lycra jogging demographic beachside.  Big bunches bolted south with northbound bikes rare, a solo workout more inspiring than slothful soaking up a tow.  Nearing Elwood, bunches were forming in the side streets, I'd joined the Docklands Tridents for a short spell till fewer traffic lights allowed a safe pass.  The squirt to St.Kilda had more distractions (Porsche GT3, Lotus Exige and a Diablo) but I pressed on to Station Pier before a turnabout for the trip back. Through the titilatingly titled Strava segments ('Cerberus lung buster',  'Go Go juice', 'EOS pimple' and 'Late for my wedding at Brighton Savoy') progress was pleasing even though I'd been passed by several others, Rule #38 needs to resonate often to keep the helmet size consistent.  Pushing harder jellied the legs which embarrased any effort uphill but I reached the Mordialloc finish  (driven by the coffee craving) pleased with a small handful of trophies for the effort (a paltry 123)

Week 7    267km                      YTD 1,696km

Week 6: Full Foss force

Post 383

3/2

Predictions of a slim Saturday grid (an extra curricular Couldabeens crank scheduled at Bright) were unfounded as a copious crew converged on the carpark (Trav, BigBill, TrekTrev, BassoDan, Temple,Wozza, Jen, AvantiAndy, AvantiTrev, Popgun, Boof, Rocket, Bruce, Pistol, Mel, TatPaul, TatMat, Avanti Mat, Cougar, Nick, Shorty, SuperMario, Mitch and Tum with Clive, Cranky and a couple of cryptic Cats creating a caboose (for a pussycat prologue).

A long line of cyclusts speared east into the pre dawn light of Channel Rd (yes SuperMario, the pace is always on!)  Identifying all the players only gets underway as rotations change the paired partners ('round the corner and a do si do!), Basso Dan finally off night shift, TatMat back at the school salt mine, AvantiMat defying Rule #62 (no earphones), Mitch cranking up the k's after an extended hibernation, BigBill steadily refining Rule #59 (hold your line) and AvantiAndy exorcising the Friday PainTrain demons. 

 Sunrise served up the super scenery yet again (insert provocative pic to antagonise northern hemispherians) on Old Dookie Rd, without wind the velocity was voluminous, or were we energised escaping the piggery pungency? The turn toward breakfast at the Emu impelled the pace west, past the kennels, orchards and channels Nick and I scored our only drive at the front. Surprise, surprise, Cougar cranked a turn with AvantiTrev as the wheels rolled to Lemnos and Ford Rd beyond, many thoughts seemed to be honed on peloton position approaching suburbia as 

Rule #79 (fight for your town lines) came into play for Wanganui Rd.   I'd transitioned from the down line to the upline at DECA just as the afterburners were ignited, shifts shortened rapidly promoting me forward but I was hoping to play the waiting game till my Kittles Rd cue.  Pulling all stops out from 6th wheel I got by a few, Wozz whooshed by beckoning me to follow (I wish! nothing left cranking 55 km/h uphill!) but managed 5th behind the  explosion of energy that was Boof, Wozz and Bruce. A boulevard babble back to base then chat on climbing hills, celebrity chefs and bombing diets kept the sentences swapping at the Lemontree table, the serious stuff on keeping Couldabeens class cohesion was chewed over in a post caffiene think tank.  

7/2

There was a winter's reminder headed to the Turtles Tuesday but the cool southerly couldn't deter the junkie's fix of being back on the bike again, craved after two whole days without (ride denied by rain Monday).  I'd convinced Cate  to try the Turtles; Temple, TrekTrev and HBK the only others keen at 5:40. A foreign female attached to our single filed effort as we entered Channel Rd, Temple tapping leg one but a slow for two baulked at Doyle's Rd made my work in leg two tame (HBK sarcasm duely delivered).  The mystery girl had gone OTA by the cypress trees, but five forged forward (rule #19 & #88 applied), loose gravel at the S bend producing a sphincter pucker, TrekTrev scoring a second sensory scare with Darth Vader gnashing near his ankle.  Cate and Temple braved Boundary's 22 km/h worth of headwind like Ghurka's, easy on the throttle turning into River Rd I wound up the wick for a 2600 metre drive west.  TrekTrev took a short shift at the dip, HBK rounding off River for Cate and Temple to tackle the breeze head on again through Central Kialla. My crack at Mitchell ended at Archer with a deep dig to catch Temple's wheel, TrekTrev having kaboomed off the back. The foursome flogged on toward the highway baited by red led's ahead (AvantiTrev and Hoges shortcutting from missing the 5:40 flagfall), Cate to Roubaix and Temple to Galbraiths gate, my job to round up Hoges and AvantiTrev at Arcadia Downs.  HBK hammered into Conrod, Temple with the tempo to nudge 50 to the end.  Tenacious teamwork beat the hares home, holidays allowing me the indulgence of post ride coffee and the weekend's yarns.

8/2

Popularity (or the possibility of a big bunch tow?) drew devotees to the carpark Wednesday, warmer weather (18 degrees) may have been the inspiration but an easterly urged me to get a turn done early to avoid River Rd's rigour.  I headed 23 (Boof, Kel, Nick, Shorty, Ralphy, Jen, Kenworth, AvantiMat, Jase, Nev, Wozza, Grumpy, Chops, BamBam, Pistol, Pelly, Rocket, Weapon, Bruce, Cate, Temple, Mel and Bo) out of town, Jase paired with me to the roundabout with a squad of sprinters (Bruce, Wozz, Boof, Nev and Pistol) in a convenient coincidence line astern behind to propel the peloton into Mitchell Rd.  

Nev policed the pace as the Hares howled into the headwind, my driving duty done, I'd happily hunkered into the team tow to start the social sentences swapping.  AvantiMat is back to his former i.d. (FeltMat) after the sad demise of his Avanti Corsa in tough times (thoughts are with you, by many, my friend).  The FDC's seem to be enjoying being Troyless but there's a Nev nightmare to counter in his absence,  the prescription for Weapon's bike obsession (rule #4 personified) is simply to ride more!  Temple and I kept an eye on the caboose as the long line stretched into River Rd, trying to keep a headcount as two dozen shared the energy ebbing easterly. 

Nick and Kenworth put the vim in the velocity at Kinder corner, Mel and Cate took cover in the left line as Shorty and I, the compulsory fixtures at the front, flogged into the ChaCha.  Arriving early at the business end and with no hope of a place,

I stretched the bunch long at Prentice Rd, an interminable wait for the sprinters to pounce as I turned myself inside out at 53 clicks (the slowly reversing car from a driveway ahead was a manic moment) but was pleased to hold on for sixth in the wake of the 60km/h Boof express.  A roll of recovery back to town, catching Kel's kind kudos could cause cranial convulsions!  I could make a habit of this post ride coffee and cackle habit that holidays have allowed, but would it spoil Saturday's sanctity?  It's been eight years since my stick saga rearranged the skull, touch wood (pardon the pun) I'll keep upright for another 8.

 

9/2

TipTom stood out like a sore (Tom) thumb at Friars Thursday, a nervous newbie "finding fitness" but needing a Bachelor of Bike Ed and a big serve of aerodynamics.  Speissy, Joe, Coggo, Belly, AvantiAndy, Sandy, Snow, Jen, Hommy, Phil, HG, Spartacus, Temple, LegalAndy, Tina, HBK and JB filtered in for the 6am off, Coggo and I on escort duty to exit town, but the bunch broke in two at Doyles Rd for traffic to clear.  Regrouped and rotating, TipTom was in meltdown reaching the drivers seat against the northeaster, darting for left lane cover as fitter and faster forged forward.  LegalAndy put in a brief submission, Hommy happy half-wheeling, but the velocity yo-yo'd to Boundary Rd where the breeze behind finally smoothed the speed and turned up the tempo.  TipTom did another lane swap for survival at the Pub as Tina, Jen, JB and Phil kept the pot boiling. 

Coggo and I cranked the 1st shift of River Rd into the 40's as the troops turned serious and silent, the caboose proving popular as the drivers were whittled down to 11 to echelon westward.  Many were missing as we swung south to Central Kialla, back on the gas beside Jen (look up smooth in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of her) to Mitchell Rd and with Coggo to Archer, dawdling water hens made a chichane to navigate at Dave's dip.  The ranks thinned further in Raftery Rd, ten then eight then just five fearless into Conrod straight. I rolled across from HBK's turn, a quick peek back finding all had Indian filed behind me!  Full Foss force lasted just a few hundred metres into the headwind and with no back up and the cardiac count crested, the mental plug was pulled with 200 to go, Coggo, Belly, HBK and Temple homed in for the kill at the finish line.


10/2

There was a touch of tempo trepidation turning up to the train of toil Friday (rule #5 Foss!) but the old engine has been running ok of late, fears forgotten when a big field fronted Friars. (AvantiAndy, Phil, AvantiLeigh, Coggo, Carl, Belly, Spartacus, Heady, Dipper, Tum and chum Chad).  Many hands make light work they say, so short sharp turns were on the menu as Heady took on Act 1, a solitary performance with an OTA encore!   I'd berthed behind AvantiLeigh who flicked his elbow at Dobson's bridge, it wasn't too bad cranking at 40+ with a shorter 500 metre target, but it was hell catching the tail end when caboose captain AvantiAndy called me in.  Chad charged the leg to Central Ave, a bunch ahead baiting our pace, Coggo and Belly threading the thin line between the portly perambulating pack and the oncoming cars.   A hint of the southwester put heads down in Boundary Rd, lucky I scored a little shelter from the trees for my dip to the orchard.  All clear at the highway, then off the Fizik to catch Phil's flog to Channel Rd as we scored Eggy aboard.  Spartacus had retired from duty in River Rd, I was spending my recovery time talking down the heartrate (with little effect) till the next appearance at the business end.   Laws Drive to the second white post beyond the bridge was plenty (strangely, it was easier at the front than trying to catch the last wheel for a tow), my peel off paving the way for the Eggman to show us how it's done.  Belly joined a now Andyless caboose to recover, sustained speed taking it's toll on many, or so the body language spoke.  It was a little intimidating at the front with Eggy breathing down my cassette, I tried desperately to freeze the speed to smooth the way for all.  Traffic ruined a record, halting us at the highway (why can't black cars use headlights in the pre-dawn light?) but life is worth more than a Strava tick.  Two then three then four cars followed (almost caught my breath!) till the Raftery Rd boiler was stoked for a fast finish.  Dipper went wide and went bush at bridge corner, but recovered back to the tarmac for Roubaix corner (buy the guy an MTB!),  consistent drives at 43 helping my turn at Arcadia Downs but giving Eggy the lead into Conrod was a pace payout.  Finding even more to catch AvantiLeigh's wheel was crushing my resolve, Rule #5 bounced around the pre frontal cortex as Phil popped off the back.  Eggy graciously resigned from a long drive at the front, Coggo taking the chocolates as my scenery blurred in the recovery from 26 k's at Zone 5.

 

Week 6   200km           YTD 1,429

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 5 : Sorting sprinters and snoozers

Post 382

28/1

Weapon, Nev and Cate had divorced the Saturday lap for an affair with the hills, just TatPaul, Wozz, Rocket, Popgun, Cougar and Boof had formed an excuse for a bunch when finally the masses (Bruce, Bo, Trav, Pistol, Jen, Kel, Shorty, AvantiAndy, The Godfather, Temple, HBK, Chops and SuperMario) arrived in the dying minutes. 7 had inflated to 21 in 14 degrees to exit at 6, out of 40 wheels I'd drawn the short straw sandwiched between Rocket and Pistol to kickstart a cardiac cadenza in legs 2 and 3. Fear not Foss, 20 others, make that 18 (rule #67 violation) were yet to donate a drive to the cause.  An eerie mist arose from the channels in the pre dawn (water warmer than the air?),  38 clicks was set on the cruise control chilling the skin, although I was warmed by Kel's comeback after a 12 week absence.  Bo's joined team Godfather sporting an Italia kit, Popgun suffering kit confusion (spruiking Cannondale on an Avanti?), at least PistolPete's panache presented perfectly.

I'd calmed concerns being between the twins of tempo (Rocket and Pistol), they are most co-operative and compliant with my limits of distance and pace.  The sun finally got out of bed just as Bo punctured at the main eastern channel, Kel was appointed pit crew, the opportunity for oxygen taken by all before the Wanganui workout.  The sprint scenario at DECA was Chops, Wozz and I arriving early at the business end (it's Chops' speciality) each of us toasting ourselves to Kittles Rd only to benefit the sprint Stasi (Bruce, Boof, Rocket et al) perfectly placed yet again. The entire bunch had passed by as I crested the hill, one last lunge caught the bunch tail for the chatty cruise to the Lemontree.  Riot tactics, roadside wildlife and the strange SAM priority kept conversation cooking over breakfast.

30/1

Wozz hammering the hills, Weapon's tenacious triathlon time and even BigMat tapping a lap was almost intimidation (performance anxiety?) yet inspiration to climb aboard the Baum and crank out the k's Monday.   Out to the Emu with a hint of horizon light, convinced I was hammering into a headwind but it was only weekend woebegones.

A glance back spied a distant bike light, there's nothing like being stalked to spur on the speed! Down to the Toaster and turning to town, the search for Pussycats was on in Old Dookie Rd.  Found finally at Central Ave, I turned to jump aboard the Cat pack of MeridaJohn, Tina, Eddy, Car+Mel, Shane, Dalts and half a dozen unidentifiable dudes in the dark, all quite cruisy in the mid 30's till several departed into Channel Rd.  The stakes raised into the fourties at the Broken bridges, a momentary slow for a roadside kangaroo to bound the fence at One Tree Dam, then back on the gas to River Rd.  Taking turns with the 8 pacemakers, I attempted to smooth out my rusty rotations, full focus on rolling turns eliminates the chat and sightseeing!  By River Rd's end I resigned (with others) from active duty in an attempt to bring the heart rate down from overload, there were sprints out of the corners to catch the draft but  appreciation for the four sharing the tempo at the front towing us home. Wheels howled to Arcadia Downs and swung into Conrod, nobody attempted a sprint finish (tanks empty?), a solid 38 average was the reward to town.

31/1

A nasty SSW'er (17-30 km/h) was at the front door to greet me Tuesday morning, fuelling an angry crank on the 17 cog to get me to the Turtle grid (at least it got the old engine up to operating temperature).  Nick, Cougar, AvantiMat, HBK and Lucy arrived, the flagfall at 5:40 had a few crawling from the carpark (picking position?).  Keen to keep the Hares at a distance, I kept the pace percolating, the stragglers catching half way into leg 1.  Lucy was lightless, understandably shying from the front, so I drove a triple turn to the cypress trees as an agenda aide memoire. AvantiMat put in a good turn to Channel Rd's end (holidays haven't hampered), my turn again to be belted by the breeze in Boundary Rd and scoring a few squeaks on speed. HBK and Nick stepped up to serve a turn in River Rd, the southwester whittling away the intentions till a little tree cover resparked some enthusiasm.  The verbal handbrake was applied again in Central Kialla, I gave a few metres of reprieve until shelter from the trees accidentally (on purpose) bumped up the pace again. (if there's chat in the bunch you ain't going fast enough!)  The day turned light enough in Mitchell Rd for Lucy to see in the drivers seat, Nick, AvantiMat and HBK having another crack till the caboose cracked at Dave's dip. (a huff & puff at the highway helped recovery).  Position had me lucky to be towed to Conrod straight, Nick handed me the reigns so turned up the wick out of the dip but Lucy let loose at the 600 mark (she's like drafting a match with the wood scraped off!) HBK and AvantiMat stoked the boiler to the last dip, I just couldn't resist full steam ahead to pinch the podium place.

1/2
I was thinking of a quieter Couldabeens commute (avoiding yet another early turn at the front) just as Wozz suggested it......karma rules Wednesday!  Cate, Car+Mel concurred with tactics and our 5:57 arrival found 6 others ahead to hopefully shoulder the early loads. A massed crowd of Lucy, Trav, BigMat, Shorty, Kenworth, Rocket, Pistol, Boof, Weapon, Bruce, Ralphy, Pelly, Troy, Chops, Temple, Manny & Carl (on a cross clan cultural exchange), SuperMario, Jen, AvantiMat, Nick, Bo, Paul VanP and Nev assembled (see Lucy, the Foss recall was tested but not defeated!).  Boof and Bruce formed the front of house for the long train to slip out of suburbia, the same old shortage of volunteers for the up line plucked at the heartstrings of Wozz & I to donate our early services on leg 3, 20 km/h worth of headwind a right old slap in the face to Mitchell Rd.  Kenworth and Lucy showed the fortitude of an early appearance, it would be a rare thing to get a second turn at the pointy end with a cast of Ben Hur proportions today.  Yet another stunner sunrise cherished, recalling the months of gloomy grey from last winter. 

A seemingly younger and more aerodynamic BigMat (no longer hampered by hirsuitness) had made a rare appearance, FDC's Troy, Pelly, Ralphy and inductee Bruce were minus BamBam but have they eaten Grumpy? Good to have Temple emerge from the flu bed and Paul is trying to lose the MTB lust by riding the (rusty?) road bike, but Cate, Car+Mel and Jen had dissapeared (snapped off the back of an oversized, accelerating pack, but teamed to tap out the lap in comfort).  It didn't take long to be promoted from the bunch back at the cypress trees, rotations rapid as we neared the Kinder, a succession of oncoming cars kept the tempo tied till Prentice Rd.  It's another world to be 6th wheel as the sprinters wind up the wattage, climbing up the cogs in their draft (56 km/h) was prime real estate but no hope of coming close as Boof, Rocket and Nev hit the boost button to the line.

2/2

It's refreshing to break the routine of an early Thursday circuit and savour a standard six am start.  Goats gathered (Sandy, AvantiAndy, Principal Skinner, Jen, Joe, HG, Hommy, Temple, Brendy, Heady, Phil, Tina, Belly, Coggo, JB and DeepFry) to egress east from Friars, helped by a hint of a WSW'er but cooled by 12 degrees. Hommy behaved when I reached the front in Old Dookie Rd, keeping wheels level a rarity almost worth a photograph!  Orange and pink streaked the sky putting purpose into this early addiction, Belly, Coggo and Temple tapping a temperate tempo south on Boundary Rd but Principal Skinner had already coveted the caboose.

Heads lowered a little into River Rd's southwester, HG knuckled down to duty at the front, but Coggo was keen to dish up the distress.  I plugged the abyss at HG's plea, his habit of leaving a yawning gap hindering a chance of catching my draft.  The bunch eventually condensed, a steady crank through Central Kialla and onto Mitchell Rd westward before my turn beckoned beside Phil (and his philharmonic wheels) out of Dave's dip.  The wait at the highway was welcomed by many followed by a chorus of groans getting wheels rolling again with chains still wrapped in the big gears (my cog of choice).  Beside Coggo to Roubaix I studied the sequence in a forecast of who may be lumbered the lead-out for Conrod straight, predictions not possible as the drivers dwindled and shifts shortened to Arcadia Downs.  As sure as eggs, it was going to be me at the business end at Conrod's first dip.....roll the turn and risk being boxed in or stretch the pack to sort the sprinters and snoozers?  A momentary "yeah, nah, but" then option two was chosen, full boost for 400 metres till breakfast almost reappeared, Coggo, Belly, Temple, Jo and Phil in tow given my elbow to thrash the last 300 (nice work Coggo)

3/2

Nick, Bo, AvantiTrev, BigMat, Bruce, Troy, Kenworth, Pelly, Ralphy, Jen, Pistol, Wozz, Grumpy, Car+Mel, SuperMario, Rocket, Boof, Chops and Paul VanP lined up for Friday's frolic, Paul piloting the peloton peacefully to the bridge but front phobia had struck again, Rocket arriving from a 15th wheel pilgrimage to the front to aid Boof, the upline instigator.  Is it the tyranny of distance? (leg #1 = 3km), avoiding feeling like a donkey in the Melbourne Cup? (the fast fellas don't bite folks!) or just the blatant disregard for rule #5? (I'll bet the same drivers will be there next week)  Wozz, Pistol and Troy filled the other vacancies to propel the bunch to Mitchell Rd, pack chat centring on the comfort level of a bunch of 20 vs Wednesday's masses (reaction time multiplied by overpopulation equals hanging onto a bungee rope if you're at the rear).  AvantiTrev was a permanent part of the caboose furniture (recovering from the almost compulsory MTB crash), Troy had tickled the FDC's with tempo on the early loop (welcome back Grumpy!), BigMat was setting attendance records (WTF! 3 rides in a week!) as yet another picturesque daybreak threatened to ho-hum the experience. My once new Baum has now clocked a 20,000 kilometrestone without a hiccup, comfort in bucketloads a bonus.  After 20k's in the tow I finally got to slice the atmosphere at the front at Channel Rd's cypress trees in Car's cute company, Kenworth rolled a turn a k before the Kinder (love that tow big fella!) as a sprint conspiracy unfolded.  Boof, Rocket and Wozz were due for a very early arrival at the business end so swiftly single filed, Boof toasting himself to Prentice Rd towing Rocket to hit the boost till burnt, where Wozz launched to snare the chocolates, a co-ordinated crush of any hopefuls. Soaking up the social cruise home fuelled the endorphins to face another day at the salt mines.

Week 5.       261km.          YTD 1,229

Dziekuje ci Polska, pageview patrons aplenty! 

PS: Multumesc Romania & obrigado Portugal too.

Week 4 : Humbled by horsepower

Post 381

21/1

 

The simple stimuli aboard two wheels with the weight of the working week lifted is worth bottling.  Mixing this with the convivial company of Car+Mel to the carpark seemed sinfully salubrious.

The grid filled with Lenny, Lucy, Kenworth, The Godfather, Jase, AvantiTrev, Popgun, Cougar, AvantiAndy, Jen, TatPaul, TatMat, Bo, TrekTrev, Tina, Tum and Dipper, another good turn up in light of the absentees in Adelaide.  Jase and TatPaul set the Channel Rd turns rolling, my turn to head the pack in legs two and three before Lenny and AvantiAndy took control at the Kinder.  BamBam and Troy slipped into the order from an early lap, great to have Kenworth finally amongst us on a Saturday.   Dipper and Tum were putting in early Goat k's and Tina was on a daily double (Couldabeens lap followed by a Goat circuit) to satisfy her 400k/week habit.

Kudos to Car+Mel tackling the train driving early, the bunch enjoying the tailwind of Boundary but pushing past the piggery pong in Old Dookie Rd. 

  SpinDoctor, TrackStan, Sam and another (not introduced) young dude I'll dub The Ram (oversized posterior saddlebag) did their usual 'join-in-halfway-do-one-turn-and-want-honours-in-the-sprint' thing at the Emu.  It was quite a push into the southwester on the long leg home, the last k of Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd with Jase, then 2k's of Ford Rd beside Lenny ran my tank low (but noticed Lenny was under load for the last 500 metres, telling me my old engine was going ok). The rotational order had me at the back at Wanganui Rd's transfer station, shifts shortening directionally proportional to the velocity, SpinDoctor and TrackStan had put in their turn, Sam went OTA and it seemed Bo and The Godfather were destined to drive for victory up Wanganui hill.  Kellows Rd arrived, a do or die mark for me, so I stood on the gas to round up Jase (3rd wheel).  I'd reached the front cresting the hill, the menacing shadows of Lenny, BamBam, Troy and TrekTrev behind motivated me to maximise motion to the invisible finish line (when others give up and the urge to brake for Rudd Rd becomes too strong).  Chuffed with a win but puffed from the 187 bpm doing it, it wasn't till arriving at the cemetery (still alive) that I had enough oxygen to spare for chat. (I reckon the real sprinters in Adelaide and Troy tackling a Saturday ton allowed me the rare taste of chocolates for breakfast).  The dying art of face-to-face conversation, obesity and wake boarding the conversational compliment at the Lemontree breakfast, nice to have the recovering Kel (as a civilian) dropping in to wag the chin.

23/1

Old habits die hard, an early spin on the golf course loop for the want of k's craved (and Tuesday's forecast predicted a ride denial), though the time vs distance equation spurred my speed to reach the Goat grid by 6.  With Couldabeens Cate (on a cross cultural exchange), Brendy, Principal Skinner, Coggo, Sandy, Speissy, Hommy, Spartacus, Phil, Belly, AprrenticePete, Heady, Jen, AvantiAndy and DeepFry trickled in to tap out, JB at SPC joining in.   A calm and cruisy collective captivated in cordial conversation commenced a co-ordinated crank east on Old Dookie Rd, the simple pleasure of a quiet roll without having your legs pulverised was a delight (heart rate at a 110 bpm idle), watching a crimson sunrise slowly evaporate into an anemic orange.  A foreigner had attached to the rear unannounced (rule #19 violation) in Boundary Rd, ApprenticePete in contravention of rule #17 and #36 (hoping the jet black specs are night vision specials Pete)  but he's excused as its early days of ethics education, he's mastering the straight and smooth which is of far higher value. The river Rd journey was absorbed in chirpy chat with JB (pristine Pinarello) and Belly (giant Giant), but too soon the enemy of time turned me to shortcut home (bonus: a tail wind)

24/1

The 2am showers were soon evaporated by 22 degrees, the track had dried for a Tuesday turtle tap. I handbraked my arrival to 5:38, someone else could handle the first shift today.  Only HBK and Temple had braved an attendance, AvantiTrev making up a foursome by arriving at T minus 5 seconds to launch time. Weapon then Bruce and Leah had rolled out an early reconnaissance on Channel Rd, HBK taking turn one when Temple called Indian file.  I scored leg 3 to pass Bruce & Leah, we'd all need something extra to catch Weapon on the Avanti TT.  Temple put in a tenacious turn to finish off Channel Rd, I'd been blessed with the breeze behind in Boundary, so drove into the fourties to celebrate.  We'd made some inroads into Weapons lead in River Rd, HBK and Temple keeping the kettle boiling to Laws Drive, but I'd cooked myself with the chase a k later, handing HBK the task.  It was a bonus to have Weapon join the workforce (just as AvantiTrev fell in love with the caboose), I'd tried convincing the cranium not to quit in Mitchell Rd but the northwester was doing its best to change my mind.  Wringing the last out of the old engine by Archer Rd, I suddenly had to find more to slot in as 3rd wheel when AvantiTrev left a gap. (cue guttural gasps to catch Temples draft).  HBK and Temple did the towing in Raftery Rd leaving me the chore of Conrod and keeping the average respectable.  I'd almost reached the last dip when the the heart wouldn't comply with 191bpm, so was happy to go OTA for the sake of getting oxygen to lungs and limbs. A 37.1 average for four Turtles worth the effort though.

25/1

  Ah, the Victorian summer! A sweaty 22 degrees one day, a chilled 12 the next!  Overtaking the numbskull riding lightless in the dark (obviously his life and intelligence is worth less than a $5:99 tail-light) I found Wozz, Mel and Cate to slog south into a 20 km/h headwind to the Couldabeens ritual. Nick, Boof, Shorty, Rocket, Nev, Weapon, Lucy, Jen, Chops, Kenworth, Bo and TatMat had formed two rows in the carpark, FDC's Ralphy, BamBam, Pelly, Troy and Bruce steamed in from slick spin of the Raftery loop.  Shouldering the first shift is always left to a small selection of suckers, Wozz was set to suffer the southerly this time, and scoring my sympathy, I paired with him in the hard labour to the Sanctuary roundabout.  I tried to delay my muscular meltdown, but it was difficult to keep some form of dignified composure beside Lucy at a pickling pace for leg two.  Traffic split the bunch at the truck route, thanks heavens!, I needed a gasp or six in the slow down to regroup.  A six strong string of HurtLocker lads hurtled south at Central Kialla, three other packs in River Rd almost incognito with the sun still in bed.  I confessed the joys of goalessness in a BamBam therapy session and analysed analogies with Weapon as 20 others did their bit toward the team average (35.6).  Cate, Mel and Jen courageously cranked to the front with the ChaCha close, Chops launching a do or die effort at the helm to Hopeful corner with Wozz and I in his wake, turning the bunch Indian file. Wozz put in an Oscar winning performance powering to Prentice, I was on the limit getting by feeling fairly useful towing twenty into the 50's, but so soon was humbled by horsepower as Bruce, Troy, Rocket and Boof howled past (thumbs up to Boof for the win).  The calm crank homeward turned squishy with a slowly deflating front tube (I'll blame that for a poor ChaCha performance!), the bike steering like a soufflé but made it home to repair in comfort.

26/1

Australia Day gave many a chance to tap a toaster lap and raise money for the Children's Hospital Appeal. "Show Me"Mat applied the green and gold warpaint at the start line as coffee toast and fruit fuelled 60 odd attending, the massed start none too comfortable for me (closer than a 2k radius to MrMagnet is a hazard) but Goats steered a steady course south to Raftery Rd.  By Mitchell Rd many were itching for a pace more pronto, time for the wheat to be sorted from the chaff as the southerly strengthened. Rocket and MeridaJohn vamped up the velocity east of Central Kialla, Mitchell Rd's length favoured over the left and right navigating River Rd.   The bunch drew long and thin by Mitchell's end, Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection was to be tested by tempo in Boundary Rd. There was a snap crackle and pop as a bunch of 50  thinned to 17, Shorty, Temple, TatMat, Alouise, young Lord Byron, Rocket, TrackStan, MeridaJohn, MeridaAndy, Kenworth, Coggo, Belly, DeepFry, Eddy, Boof and TatPaul driving into the fourties had unhooked many. I'd berthed a good sit between Belly and Coggo, long turns turning short as we turned west at the Emu for the slog home. A dozen drivers battled the south southwester (24-32 km/h) into the high 30's homeward, the caboose unhitched from the rear as we crossed Lemnos Rd, the remaining dozen split in two from the pace of Rocket, Byron, Boof and TrackStan.  Temple, Shorty, Coggo, Belly and I teamed to tame the torture of Wanganui Rd, thoughts of the traditional cuisine of beer and a snag waiting at the finish kept the pace back to town. The post ride post mortem, tall tales and true were enjoyed as a recovery at the Aussie hotel, 10th overall for the Toaster segment my trophy. 

27/1

It's been many months since catching the train of pain on a Friday, a rare a.d.o. allowing a chance to climb aboard.  Coggo, Phil, Dipper, AvantiAndy and Tum arrived at Friars, a couple of social minutes spent on the roll out of town before Doyle's Rd set the train at full steam.  I took the first turn and was pleased with progress to Dobson's bridge, but peeling off the front to catch the tail was an early task to ask.  Tum then Coggo, Dipper and Phil dragged us to Boundary Rd, AvantiAndy's headwind christening in Boundary Rd blowing his gasket just 300 metres south. I set a goal to reach the bridge, legs and lungs complaining reaching the target, then another dig to the depths to catch Phil's wheel as AvantiAndy had opted to play caboose.  Great work by Tum, Coggo and Dipper pushing the pace to One Tree Dam, Phil on fire at 38 clicks to River Rd (a split second wave to anti-clockwise Couldabeens, I was oxygen preservation for my River Rd drive).  I shifted the goal post for roll-over closer this time, there were several more floggings at the front to go, catching Phil's wheel a little  easier this time. (AvantiAndy now awol).  Dipper's nods sent his limit message, Coggo poker faced to the main channel.  Phil pedalled possessed and I thought he'd reach River's end but his elbow said no more with 300 left.  Facing the breeze in Central Kialla hurt, reaching my target school sign I was blown backward by an oncoming truck's wake (sorry Tum! A nasty handover of the helm).   Mitchell Rd blurred by, Phil's valiant velocity powering up Dave's dip but there was a brief wait at the highway for traffic. I took the train to Roubaix corner and gave the reigns to Tum, Coggo's turn at Galbraiths gate to Arcadia Downs (striking a stone struck a sphincter pucker).   Dipper drove to Conrod and opened the gate for Phil's swansong, I drew a breath at the 400 mark to call "All yours Phil" just as his elbow said otherwise, so pulled all stops out to Steptoe's to finish a solid 32k at 38 clicks.  Bonus time with a day off work, coffee at Degani's a delightful weeks' end.

Week 4.      256km.            YTD 968km. 

Interesting to be Strava following (and followed by) riders in Brazil, Italy, South Africa, India and the U.S. Sympathy's extended to those suffering in the depths of winter, our turn is coming!

Week 3 : "Good turn ya old freak!"

Post 380

14/1

 

The five year association with this Saturday society continues, a bit chilled with a twelve degree start but warmed by the commute with the happy harem of Car+Mel & Cate.  Like flies to a barbecue, bikes converged on the carpark for the weekend ritual, Trav, AvantiTrev, SuperMario, Cougar, Shorty, Wozza, BamBam, TrekTrev, BassoDan, TatPaul, Lucy, Boof, PistolPete, Temple, Rocket, The Godfather, BigMat and an unknown filed in as Nev, Weapon, Troy and NevsbroKev departed via four wheels for the hills.  Pleased I'd added an extra layer to insulate, the bunch reached cruising speed on Channel Rd, a social sentence or two before duty called at the rushin' front (with Wozz at the cypress trees and Cate from the S bend)  A fraction of a southwester aided us in Boundary Rd, the sun up in Old Dookie for a serve of piggery pong (to put us off bacon for breakfast?).

I rolled up beside the mystery man, he knew me but I hadn't the foggiest, AvantiTrev filling me in later (BigBill).  Over Grahamvale Rd it was time to tow others again, whilst I considered the cycling conundrum in the drivers seat ; was I trying to match Wozz or was Wozz trying to match me?  Visible personal stress meters would be the answer but (my) audible gasps will do for now! (pending technology).  Passing DECA and boxed in at the back behind a buggered BigBill, I could only witness the sprinters stretching the bunch up the hill, but rejoined in Rudd Rd for the Boulevard blab to the Lemontree, old motorbikes, new comfort levels and society's moral decay was on the chat list over a bacon free breakfast.

16/1

Legs begged a steady tap Monday (old age and corrosion catching up with me?), skipping a Couldabeens suggestion for a circuit with Cate to break in a new week. Wozz, Troy and SuperMario were found clockwise and early in central Kialla as we tackled a Wednesday lap, PistolPete westward in River Rd with BamBam punching out intervals a k behind.  The days are noticeably shortening with sun-up at 6:18, soon we'll be grumping about the cold and the dark!  Hunting between the 17 and 15 in search of the comfort cadence we cranked up to Old Dookie Rd before a westward way home and a ritual sprint to finish.

17/1

I felt fairly fertile for Tuesday's turtle tap, a mild morning (16) and a light northeaster (7km/h) up the quoit motivated the mood toward the carpark, but I paced the progress on Archer to avoid the deafening sound of crickets at the grid.   Nick, Shorty, Temple, HBK, AvantiTrev and Jase joined Cougar at the carpark, and hallelujah! there was Hollywood appearing from a yuletide retirement.  Sledges aside, he at least had a dip at the pointy end to Doyle's Rd, but it was to be his one and only.  HBK was next beside me to escalate the velocity to Orrvale Rd then I could send my heart rate on holiday while Jase, AvantiTrev, Nick, Shorty and Temple did their bit.  I was looking forward to the breeze behind in Boundary but someone turned the wind off, I levelled with Nick to the bridges but turned up the heat on HBK to River Rd (silencing the caboose chat room), just one payback for the years of being half biked.  Another picturesque daybreak broke as we swung west into River, 4k's of recovery before pairing with Nick at the bridges.  An ease of effort let HBK draw level in Central Kialla, retirements to the rear becoming popular as we neared the highway.  Only Shorty, Jase and HBK were rolling through rotations with me to Arcadia Downs, suddenly I'd inherited the drivers seat as 8 slimmed to single file behind me. Handing the helm to HBK at Conrod's first dip, Hollywood's "good turn ya old freak!" was my inspiration to catch the tow of Jase, Hollywood, Shorty and HBK for the final fling, a bolt at the 200 mark scoring me chocolates. 

18/1

An exodus of Couldabeens clan members to the TDU (Bruce, Wozza, PistolPete, Rocket, Shorty, SuperMario, Boof) altered the grid for Wednesday's circuit. BamBam, Troy, Kenworth, Car+Mel, AvantiTrev, Bo, Nev, Cate, Lucy, Temple, WhisperingJack, Nick, Chops and Jase fronted, massed mosquitos on the launch pad had me itching for a start. I took the role of tow truck out of town, Weapon joining in at the city limits.  I was almost within sight of the Sanctuary roundabout before BamBam came from the rear ranks to form the up line, Adelaide having stolen the usual volunteers.  The pace seemed calmer, maybe 'cause the holiday hindered have returned (WhisperingJack, Nick, Choppy and Kenworth) or is it that the furiously fast are currently touring down under?

 Troy's new Avanti looks the goods, feels a lot different from the 'Ol faithful he tells me (heaven help us if it's faster!)  We sliced and diced through the twigs and bark littering River Rd from last nights wind, the 6k's of flat farm land only varied by a single 2 metre dip, the sun piercing the horizons low cloud, Weapon's lusciously long legs and the conversation on a Cannondale colour co-ordinated kit for Lucy occupied the distance.

Mel mashed a branch at the Channel Rd cypress trees, jamming in the rear wheel forced a halt, a chance for breath before the ChaCha was a rare treat.  With stick unstuck, BamBam and I wound up the tempo toward the Kinder, Troy taking the charge toward Hopeful corner.  Lungs were filled and legs were ready as we hurtled past Prentice Rd, but I was boxed in and denied a thrash, the massed finish (minus most sprinters) allowing many to taste the pointy end for a change.  Red alert! Raise the shields and up my life insurance, WobblyTrev was exiting town, but we carved a course clear of chaos to cruise and chat homeward. 

19/1

It felt as cold as a visit from the tax office on Thursday, the thermometer struggling to stay in double figures (funny how skin chill drives a higher speed to warm up).  Contemplating the plight of the northern quoll, Equador's gross national debt and the lifespan of a chainring passed the k's quickly to the Emu, the southerly (13-20 km/h) taxing tempo to the Toaster, at least the preface to daybreak was inspiring.  

13k's back to town I found Goats (Belly, Phil, Heady, Sandy, HG, Dipper, Brendy, Snow, Temple, Coggo, Hommy, Tina, Spartacus, HBK and DeepFry) gathering at Friars.  JB joined as 16 departed the city limits, Spartacus had picked up the pace by the time I'd arrived at the front at Central Ave, a turn of short sentences till the School Rd roll-over.   HG was next in line, charging forward to half wheel me, but the reality of slicing the virgin atmosphere soon cooked him.  In the interest of rule #86 and respect for the Goat head (with a portion of pity thrown in), I stayed level from his initial euphoric 38 km/h down to the harsh hurt of 32 km/h to Boundary Rd.  Sandy's slim slipstream didn't help HG but Temple, Coggo and Belly soon mustered a wake worth hanging onto.

2016's k's were compared with Tina and Spartacus, socially updating with Snow, Brendy and Belly along the way.  HBK, Hommy and Belly topped up the tempo in River Rd's last k before time turned me to the truck route and Archer Rd home, 60k before 7 shaking up the ride routine.

  20/1. 

A nervous twitch and a futile fidget Friday, the addiction was starved as rain ruined riding ; no point agonising over opportunities lost between showers, the circuits soaked meant the Baum sat dormant and a rare sleep in was enjoyed, riding rescheduled for Saturday.

Week 3.   222km.        YTD 712 km.

Week 2 : What demons drive us?

Post 379

7/1

A balmy morning, a tailwind home, a cafe breakfast and the anticipation of a weekend ahead coerced Couldabeens from their cots to collect at the grid for Saturday's social spin.  Wozza, Jen, Mel, Cate, AvantiAndy, Nick, SuperMario, WhisperingJack, Cougar, TatPaul, TatMat, BigMat, TrekTrev, Bruce, Pistol, BassoDave, Rocket, TheGodfather, Shorty, Trav, AvantiTrev, Lucy and Lenny crammed the carpark, a dazzling dawn enticing us east on Channel Rd.  I was out of the frypan and into the firepower between Wozza and TatMat, cooked by the Kinder but lapped up a long recovery while 23 others made a contribution to the velocity.  A rare appearance of BigMat, a record five days in a row for WhisperingJack, Fisky sporting a GoPro, Rocket recovering from spinal sufferance, BassoDave with velocity vapours and another subtle-as-a-sledgehammer kit on the Godfather made the ride as interesting and varied as always.  So where's Kel, KillkennyPaul, Bo, Softa, Hollywood, BassoDan etc? Drawn into the dark world of sloth and softness?

SpinDoctor, TrackStan and youngSam joined in Pine Lodge North Rd, a poor call at the church had some roll through and others hurriedly halting for a car appearing through the forrest of roadside weeds; 'tis a reminder of the responsibility at the pelotons pointy end. All for one and one for all.   Pointing west in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd got chains jumping down the cassettes and heart rates jumping up the scale, progress pacy with the ENE's help.  2300 metres of Ford Rd sharing the front into the 40's with Wozza then TatMat kept me occupied, the bunch elasticised from effort behind (there's something perversely satisfying in silencing the peloton.....but glad I'm still on speaking terms with most!), happy there'd be recouperation before the Wanganui workout.  Half way to the hill at DECA, the pace was pickling many, opening gaps in a long string of sufferers drawn out by high 40's pace.  My midfield position scored the job of bridging to the front 7 with TatPaul, Shorty, Cate and Lucy in tow, way too late to the top of Mt.Wanganui to witness the Wozza win.

10 had Strava scored a second fastest time for the morning's lap (justifying more breakfast?), the mind's memory, holiday injuries and fishing courting the conversation at The Lemontree's long table. My eventual departure was frustrated finding a puncture but Weapon's expert eye and deft digits detected the offending microscopic glass slivers.

9/1

I had a quiet reverse roll of the Tuesday/Thursday route with the mountain machine on Monday, the south wester needing effort to get this old engine operating into a new week.  Another suave sunrise soothed the eyeballs, the energy expenditure easing as Cate & I gradually steered east.  It must have been peak hour with 7 cars passing, the length of Mitchell spent deciding that rule #5 is the answer to everything!  Two more passing cars in Mitchell bordered on local gridlock, but back to suburbia via Channel Rd with the mandatory charge on the ChaCha cleared the cobwebs.  Back in town the trees were motionless, the out-of-town wind just battled almost ranks as the weeks WTF.

10/1

The handbrake of 100% humidity hampered the first few k's of Tuesday's lap, a push south through the soup to reach the Turtle grid found Temple, Cougar, HBK, AvantiMat and AvantiTrev ready to roll.  Off the back of two weeks coastal holiday, Temple drove a great first turn, my next co-driver (AvantiMat) pushing the pace to Orrvale Rd.  Recovery time for me till the S bend while HBK showed a fraction of restraint (Third of a Bike King?) with AvantiTrev but Temple fronted again, the default setting restored.  AvantiMat surprised me with a long 2.6k turn in Boundary to River Rd, he must be on the Kellogs Performance Pops (made me dig deep to stay level).  It was 18 degrees and sweaty as a sumo's jockstrap after last nights rain, Jase appearing from the west in Mitchell Rd (a puncture preventing his 5:40 launch) to supplement the speed, AvantiTrev now in rear retirement.  Scenarios scrolled through the subconscious about Raftery Rd and its Conrod conclusion, my supposed scene of a brutal death on the Conrod battlefield was re-written by Jase, handing me a long lead-out to the 300 mark. Jase's elbow flicked, a quick peek behind (discovering a 50 metre black hole) then power past for an easy coast to the chocolates (thanks Jase!) 

11/1

Many are becoming position perplexed and paranoid at the grid, will I be lumbered with the ChaCha lead-out? Do I score the headwind with PistolPete? Are allies around me?  So many scenarios make planning peloton position problematic;  just ride f.f.s!    Weapon, Bruce, Rocket, Shorty, Pelly, BamBam, Pistol, Troy, Boof, AvantiMat, Cate, BigMat, Mel, Bo, Jen, Gazzagrasshopper, AvantiTrev, Wozza and Jase turned up for Wednesday's workout, the ride freshened by a southwester.  Wozza braved the first shift, Troy on a foreign Oppy following the untimely passing of his old and trusted steed.   PistolPete was the essence of haute couture in another new kit, but Mel was far tastier in her new attire. Many were surprised BigMat has appeared twice in a week, Bo even matching that effort (but where's cutie Kel?)  The wind assisted our passage in Central Kialla and River Rd, pace pumped into the 40's bearing east (ah, the days when Wednesday was barely managing a 32 average!).

 Just three Goats ground south in Boundary Rd,  I finally reached the front to contribute at the bridges, the long line behind making this my one and only appearance.  Calls for cars are becoming as rare as a Hollywood appearance, must be muzzled or have forgotten the lookout role in the caboose?  Poor Shorty had drawn the drivers seat again at Kinder corner but the rolls were rapid till Gazzagrasshopper was made clothespeg of the day up to Prentice Rd.   Holidays hadn't hampered Boof when the finish drew near, a convincing score of the chocolates with Wozza keeping him busy to earn it.

12/1
28k's of solo therapy cleared the cranial cobwebs on Thursday, no pace to maintain or wheel to watch, no traffic to call or rotations to serve, just one l-o-n-g turn and the mixed mentation to muse as another day dawned and the moon bid adieu.  Squeezing in a circuit before work meant collaberating with Cats (sorry Goats, I'll be back!) so cranked up the cardiac toward town in pussycat preparation.  Dalts, G, LegalSteve, Googs, Liam, Travis, Col, Sosso, Wellsy, Keeno, 'lilBrendan and co appeared at Dobsons bridge in clockwise configuration, must admit I'm a bit rusty at the roll ritual, that art to roll up and over smoothly withour ruining rhythm needs careful cranking. A prevoiusly unknown Giant jockey joined in out of thin air in Boundary Rd, slotting in unanounced ahead of me.  All over the bike like a bad suit, surging, slowing and spinning the 38/11 whilst we clocked in the 40's (contravening Rule #40) therefore, I dub thee SirSunbeam (the manic mixmaster and clear winner of this weeks WTF).  I'd engaged caution control as he rolled like a Toblerone across and over Col, the upshot being that his actions finessed Foss's focus! Cat k's were covered quickly with no time for sightseeing and chat shortened to three word sentences, concentration was king as 40 wheels played merry-go-round.  River Rd, Central Kialla and Mitchell passed us by in a blink or three, a poofteenth of a pause at the highway for traffic (and a gasp) befor Raftery's rapidity sorted out the pecking order.  Young Liam had sealed the sprint half way into Conrod, I was just happy to see Steptoes and seventh, and SirSunbeam in arrears.

13/1
A crimson sunrise was brewing at 5:30 to dazzle us, but faded as the Couldabeens (Lucy, Temple, SuperMario, Shorty, Pelly, Bruce, Weapon, Pelly, Nick, Cate, Jen, Mel, PistolPete, Nev, Trav, Jase, Boof, Paul and BigMat) congregated Friday for the 6am workout.  Jase towed us out of town, the tailwind telling me to get in a turn before the toil of a headwind.

Trav's tempo tested me, thank heavens the slow for Wozz (paused for a photo opportunity ;see right) Nev and BamBam to jump aboard kept Pistol (my next co-driver) below 40 in Mitchell Rd. (but he still wrung me out like a wet sock!) En-route to River, conversation centred on illegal immigrants and Thursday handbrakes, the bunch bearing west had a strangely silent Godfather on board. Weapon's wearied by workouts and Cate's murdering mountains, which begs the question; what demons drive us?  BigMat has smashed an attendance record of three rides in a week and Paul has rekindled his road bike relationship, but is his dirty (MTB) little affair over?  We reached Channel Rd utopia with the wind behind, nek minit I'm at the pointy end tested by Trav, Pistol to follow, the Kinder close, h.r. peaked, lungs bursting and legs like Gumby!  Half way to Hopeful I called Pistol over, leaving a hole for Shorty gasping to reach the front in Pistol's wake.  Pete was left under the griller till Prentice Rd, Bruce bolted by then almost an eternity elapsed before Nev led the sprint squad to the line.  Huff & puff eventually made way for chat & giggle rolling back to town, northerners and southerners parting their ways at Archer Rd for caffiene or careers.

 

Week 2 ;  264 km           YTD 490 km

 

Hey! Chuffed with all the blog followers this past week from so many quarters, really appreciate all your comments and support! Hope the pics paint a picture more than the profuse prose!