Let off the hurt hook.

 Post #664

24/9  Flogging this dead horse.

The sound of the southerly whistling through the kitchen rangehood hinted at the hurt to get the Saturday start line, but with a little tactical positioning in the bunch I might just escape some of the toil.  Hard yards first Foss (well, 9755 metres to be precise), then a bit of bunch co-operation to tap the lap and take in the banter over breakfast afterward.  (Let's hope the scales weren't tipped too far with wattage!)  Lili and LiamM were a no show en-route and somewhat worn down by the wind (19-28 km/h), Emil and I got to the grid with a minute left to launch time.  Lenny, Liam, Rocket, Grumpy, PistolPete, Gazza and GiantAndy had lined up at the roundabout. (What did I say about the scales of wattage?!)   Tactical trauma number one was to be on Liam's wheel (nice guy that he is, but he's just way too fast and has the aerodynamic advantages of a matchstick to draft!) as nine got rolling south, The Godfather arriving late as number ten.    

Trauma number two was the squad staying Indian file beyond the truck route ; this was going to be a quick one!  PistolPete provided mid 30's to Mitchell Rd where Gazza became captain and got Garmin's into the 40's toward Central Kialla.  Young guys eh? Way too much enthusiasm!  Trouble was, Gazza's got a taste for tempo and continued driving the northern shift to River Rd (with a couple more k's in the hour for good measure).  Liam's impeccable manners towed us carefully back up to speed into River Rd but his youth (4 decades my junior) can drive the 40's all day!  Hanging on at second wheel for 6 k's to rooster corner fried this fossil!  I should have been grateful the south southwester made my performance on Coach Rd almost acceptable, though starting a shift already cooked shortened the distance shy of the Broken bridges.  

Kudos from the passing pack (when I showed my elbow to Emil) didn't help the recovery but it did help the head a bit.  Big thumbs up to Emil resisting ramping up the pace - cheque's in the mail mate!  Still in zone 5 on Boundary Rd had cemented my place in the caboose ; any advance and I'd be in a cardiac catastrophe.  Lenny's bolt toward Old Dookie Rd had a brief slow for an old dog wandering the roadside which was a gift of a few seconds to overload on oxygen!  Grumpy had us back on the gas toward the Toaster but speed seemed almost manageable now (though was still feeling like a 120Y in the F1 formation)   

Rocket's effort up to Lemnos Cosgrove Rd looked effortless and The Godfather drew the short straw of fronting the way west.  That bit of westerly in the south southwester wasn't so kind on his aim at Pine Lodge Creek.  PistolPete was put back in charge bound for Boundary Rd and I'd relinquished the caboose to The Godfather out of sympathy for his suffering.  Half a k beyond the creek, silence was following me.  A peek back confirmed The Godfather was o.t.a. so I hollered the news ahead and Rocket took the message to the front   A half minute off the accelerator for him to get back aboard scored me a many a valued breath.  40's had returned under Gazza's wattage just a minute later, the pace unabated when GiantAndy took over to Lemnos North Rd. 

Speed lifted and lungs felt at their limit in reply, legs had gone to jelly some time ago and I dared not look at the heart-rate. Then a little gap opened to the wheel ahead.......  (Isn't it funny how you can find a little bit more at the bottom of the seemingly empty tank.  Maybe it's the thought of being set adrift in that o.t.a. moment?)  Back into the slipstream was the salvation and the curses at whoever was in the drivers' seat were silent. There wasn't enough oxygen to mutter them! (Yep, this dead horse was copping a flogging)    All was not lost though ; GiantAndy peeled off the front into Ford Rd and giving him a gap ahead, I got that Bdouble-like draft.  (As much as I appreciated Rocket's slipstream before, he's just a bit too low to the ground!)   Knowing there'd be a tow to town took the pressure off the work in Wanganui Rd (if the boys behaved themselves) but the look behind for traffic found The Godfather was in another o.t.a. moment.  Rocket, PistolPete, Lenny and I showed some charity to group together and tow him to breakfast while Liam, GiantAndy, Grumpy and Emil were left to their fast frolic along the Boulevard ahead.  A less than frantic finish for us was refreshing.  Good tools, old school bikes and art deco architecture kept the breakfast table noisy and that distracted legs from the lap's average speed. 

26/9  Nine in line. 

Thought I was pretty clever tucking in behind PistolPete as he led the crew south ; it would be a while before I'd see action at the front as the others did their duty before me (and I might even avoid that easterly breeze if I was lucky)   Clever?  Not!  Indian file stayed the format, even beyond the truck route, so I'd be blessed with the lead duties for the second leg in Mitchell Rd (with an easterly fair in the face to boot!)    Ah, there's nothing like a decent dose of h.t.f.u. on a Monday eh?   9 degrees wasn't bad and by the look of the sky we might just squeeze the 30k lap in before the forecast damp arrived.  

Under the guise of kindness to those at the rear, I took a while to build up speed toward Centra Kialla, though at the half way mark the tank felt three quarters empty.  Good old fashioned stubbornness made up the shortfall.  Jen led the way north to River Rd without the huff and puff and stress that I had to endure (or maybe she's just good at concealing it)  Ten out of ten for Tina for taking on the breeze to the bridge and though she probably regretted it, I reckon she'd given Kim the inspiration to brave the business end too.  Emil was handed the task of captain at the dip and kept the pace tame for a while (he knows what's good for him!) before turning it back up again to 35's.  With elbows bent a little more and the head a bit lower, his drive was set to be a long one to rooster corner.  

Coach Rd north to the highway was capably led by Lenny (once he'd let the tail-enders catch the draft) while my calculations predicted another shift would be on my roster with just Bruce, The Godfather and Pistol ahead.  (Bruce to Old Dookie, The Godfather to Central Ave and Pistol to the truck route was my guess, so I'd get the squirt to SPC)    A tailwind would help.   And that's just what happened (I've been doing this thing too long eh?) except that breeze had shifted to a west southwester.  Great! A head wind again for my time at the front, just to make the SPC squirt more like a dribble!

28/9  Riding damp.

I must have slept well. I'd missed the 2am showers so finding the road soaked when wheels got rolling at 5 was dissapointing.  Yeah, bike cleaning duties again!  (but hey, it's Spring isn't it?)    2mm worth of rain looked like 20mm of saturation and the bureau's report of a north northeast breeze felt more like a southerly.    Emil, Kim, Jen and Tina grouped on the commute south and weren't we lucky to score a tow finding Wozza and Rocket on their way to Sanctuary Drive.   Despite the glossy glass-like surface, the puddles and the pot-holes, Bo, Lenny, Bruce, PistolPete, Kel, The Godfather and Greg formed on the grid  at 5:40 ( a happy birthday for Pistol and a Hawaii holiday welcome back for Bo and Kel)  With Kel ahead and Tina behind I could probably manage the velocity when time came to serve at the front, but for the meantime in the left row, brewing up the bravado could occupy my time while warming up in the slipstream of those with worthier wattage.  

Rocket's headlight had expired (a three year use by date?) but enough daylight lit Mitchell Rd for he and Wozza to drag us to Central Kialla. (Some at the back had doubts about their standards of "social" speed).  It's the same circuit spun four times a week so the familiarity helps recognise the pot-hole locations, though Kel and Bo have noticed the ever enlarging craters in just over a week.  With a hint of fog in the low-lands, the path along River Rd became the scenic start to the day, but the dead worms and spots of mud collected on the kit and bike wasn't so scenic.  Hawaii hadn't hampered Bo's hurry and if you could believe the Bureau, a northeast breeze was against him headed to Boundary Rd's bridge.  Kim had ducked from duty to the slipstream of the left line just before Jen had rolled across from partnership with The Godfather.  Tian was her co-pilot to Old Dookie Rd, digging deep to do the distance.  

Due care was needed as I drew alongside Tina for the west way to town ; it's not that she bites but her effort needed reward rather than the indignity of being half-wheeled. Her call of "done" signaled my roll to the left line, and now a bit of care was applied to gently raise the bar as Kel partnered with a bit more pace.  I'd mustered the urge to aim for Central Ave and legs weren't happy with her hurry, but my head (for a change) was on top of it.   So the surprise was to be let off the hurt hook when Kel called her part one done a bit beyond School Rd (Hawaii had hampered her?)    Wozza and PistolPete captained the dozen behind beyond Central Ave but their horsepower caused some chaos in the caboose, plenty of pointing the blame bounced left and right at the front as 35's went back on the agenda to keep the crew as one back to the cafe.   Coffee would cancel any complaints. 

29/9  Keep her on a leash?

The wind blew hard again, the resolve to ride tested, though a southerly presents less labor on the squirrel circuit.  Other than the commute to the shop, the Verney Rd shift would be the tough one, but that's always Emil's to endure (regardless of who starts the shift!).   Wendy, Kim, Jen, Tina, Lili and LiamM made the line longer en-route to the start-line while Emil and I played martyrs at the front against the 20-30 km/h south southwester (any extra to Sanctuary Drive might have killed me!)   

The Ninja and Kreeky's arrival made it ten for the Thursday tap and rumor had it that roadworks might see us on foot for a few metres near the truck route.   Emil set the speed east on Channel Rd, a pleasant change from the headwind battle to the grid though the huff and puff behind told a story of some suffering behind.  Sure enough, east of Doyles Rd, Channel Rd is getting a make-over, so the dismount to get around the barriers and get back on the sealed track lowered the stress from the first shift's pace.  For all to remount and get some velocity back up and running, a cautious start for my turn to Orrvale was needed.  No complaints from me (or to me) when I handed over to Kim to drive to the Kinder.     Emil reckoned two rows in rotation would suit once all had made a contribution, though I doubt there'd be many takers to pair with that south southwester to fight later in the lap.  I'd conform to consensus whatever the formation would be.  

Tina to the cypress trees, Kreeky to the S bend, Wendy to Coach Rd, Lili to the highway and LiamM making movement north on Boundary got a rhythm going, the pleasure of the prevailing wind taken by Jen to New Dookie Rd.  Let loose toward Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, the 5ft Ninja had 35's happening in a hurry ; trouble was that nine reactions behind (about a second or so apart) meant there was a 150 metre deficit to claw back.  I had five behind in tow and Emil the others while the Ninja sailed on ahead, blissfully unaware of the giant gap behind her.  Across the un-used rail line and down the dip, we'd all finally restored a connected crew again (a bungee strap to the seat post or maybe a retractable leash might fix the problem?)   I'd expected a long drive west from Emil toward Lemnos when he dialed up 35's, but the west in the south southwester must have wearied him 'cause his elbow gave me the lead role at the channel bridge. The view of Lemnos North Rd looked a whole lot longer than the 1100 metres on the map.  Sun up into Ford Rd lifted the spirits and shadows drew long ahead as Tina put her head down and determination up toward Grahamvale Rd.  Kreeky was elected to the front a little before reaching Grahamvale Rd and continued to Verney.   Wendy won the worry of the way south toward Balaclava Rd but it wasn't long till Emil's itch to press the pedestrian button urged him to the front yet again. The lust for a latte spiked up speed to the Butter Factory, just as well some had eyes on those losing grip on the caboose. 

30/9  YTD:10k

As fast as Rocket pounces on discounted craft beer, The Godfather pounced into second wheel in the left line when PistolPete set the squad south into Archer Rd, his timing impeccable to score maximum draft while Greg, Bruce, Kel, Emil, Tina, Lenny, Wozza, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Rocket and Boof sorted out their order behind.  It's the position usually snatched up by the Ninja or Tina (or me) to delay the suffering of an early drive, though any place other than the front was fine as the speed settled into anti-social (memories of those "freaky Fridays" years ago when '51 would hunt down the Cats on their clockwise lap.  How times have changed!)     Wozz and Tina were having their final fling before holidays take them to foreign circuits but Boof had returned from an eastern getaway. (A dozen or so to endure the worst of winter augers well really, considering the hibernation rate of others).   

Bo and Rocket made haste into the 40's beyond River Rd's dip, each pointing the finger of blame on the others' half wheeling (I sensed the real purpose was to inflict a little grief on The Godfather, but it was having a flow-on effect to others)   How long Tina would endure second wheel when Wozz and Boof continued the hurry to rooster corner was answered when she sought shelter in the left line nearing the rumble strips, and that promoted me faster to the front with Boof on the turn north into Coach Rd.  In the interest of preserving rhythm, I'd liked to have preserved the prior pace toward the Broken bridges, but laboring lungs held my hurry to 35's, then the head shortened the shift as a consequence to roll across shy of the mark. Greg said to call quits when I was done, but there wasn't a lot of oxygen to spare to say much beyond the second bridge.   Greg and Kel put me out of my misery (and into their draft) to the highway.  A bit of sunshine brought a bit of temperature to the bones on Boundary Rd and that felt like winning the lottery compared to the winter just suffered. 

The Godfather finally fronted en-route to Old Dookie Rd, enduring the sledges of a somewhat shorter and slower shift than his usual.  (He seemed to relish the ridicule).  PistolPete, Lenny and Bruce put a bit more effort into the work west though most seemed to have climatised to the speed by now ; besides a guaranteed draft back to town calmed concerns for those nearing the red line.  The squirt to SPC was somewhat subdued (saving a few from blowing a gasket to get there)

The obsessive compulsive inside just had to clock another 20km after the caffeine infusion ; 9,981 on the year's odometer just couldn't be ignored, so a short northern loop (some with Emil and the Ninja) contemplated the cold stuff completed and the warmer work to come. 

This week 283 km

YTD 10,001 km                         

Red Bull poured on Fruit Loops?

 Post #663

17/9   Carbon against tarmac ; a sickening symphony.

I could do without the damp! Saturday was another day of soggy roads, puddles, a damp kit and dead worms stuck to the bike.  I should have been grateful that rain wasn't coming till mid-morning.  At least I could feed the addiction (hang on Foss, it's a daily addiction with withdrawals on Sunday!)   Nath at MyRide was kind enough to loan me a pair of cranks (till the new ones arrive so the bike was at least mobile.  A northerly stopped me whinging on the commute to Sanctuary Drive, Emil's bro Anth along with Liam & Lili the surprise inclusions for the commute south. A surprise too to find Lance and Nev at the grid with the standard Saturday squad of Greg, Rocket, Boof, the 5ft Ninja, Wozza, Bruce and Grumpy.  (Mmmm, no Pistol and no Godfather?)  GiantAndy's arrival changed the forecast to fast! 

In PistolPete's absence, Emil and Anth got the show on the Archer Road while the dozen behind sorted themselves into a pecking order.  Pace was fairly keen on the turn north toward Kialla Central as the tail-enders bolted to keep in touch, a little subtle manoeuvring to avoid puddles going on as the bunch finally compressed back into formation.  I felt my rear wheel squirm a little left for an instant then that sickening sound of carbon and bodies against the tarmac.  Lance had overlapped his wheel for an instant and come down like the proverbial sack of spuds, the 5ft Ninja breaking her fall on him.  Memories of my horizontal moments came flooding back in a flash seeing Lance motionless on the deck of Kialla Central Rd, thankfully he'd sat up barely a minute later.  

Hip, shoulder, knee, elbow, cheek and helmet were showing a few signs of wear and tear.  (The Ninja had got off lightly with a graze to the elbow).   With a little claret forming at cheek and knee, Lance was up and hobbling about another minute on, both bikes showing just superficial wounds.  With a forecast wait of an hour for an ambulance The Godfather was summoned from his cot to ferry Lance and bike to home, the Ninja keen to ride on.  A cautious kilometre was rolled while the gravity of the fall sank in  ;  What trust we put in each other, speeding around the circuit just centimeters apart......it's moments like these you realise the repercussions of what happens when we run out of centimeters.    

But, it wasn't long till the previous speed was back on the menu though perhaps wheels might have been a meter apart now.  Do the math Foss; 38 km/h = 10.5 meters per second.  So we had about 90 milliseconds reaction time now.  Much safer!!  (Like I said, the trust we put in each other.  And it's better the devil you know......)    The reshuffle on the re-start put me with Bruce ahead and Wozza behind and time to earn my keep came at River Rd's dip. Courteous as always, Bruce patiently co-piloted to the quarter horse fence (most of the bunch on watch for the ever enlarging pot holes) then Wozz supressed his snoring alongside while I ran the tank dry of any effort that was left.  Recovery was written in the diary for later 'cause the pairing of Wozz and Rocket (rubber stamp that combination) needed more oxygen to hold on till rooster corner.  Some sort of focus had returned by the Broken bridges where I could deliver a three word sentence to the conversation with Greg.  Real replies would happen later.  

The grey start to the day didn't deliver much joy and "feels like" 3 put me in a June mood so the fairly hot tempo delivered both distraction and warmth.  I was lucky to avoid the now strengthening north northwester on the path to Lemnos Cosgrove Rd (the earlier halt for Lance's lay down had put us behind schedule, so the trip to the Toaster was cut off the circuit) while fitter fellas kept the momentum going, though I had a fair share of it at the starboard side bearing west to Lemnos.  Another shift at the front fell due crossing Grahamvale Rd ; at least this leg had the shorter expectation of 1200 metres to Verney then 1100 metres to the highway (here's hoping I'd avoid the work in Wanganui to hold on for the bolt along the Boulevard).  I made it to Verney, albeit nudging the red line, but part two with Wozza was missing the shelter from the north northwester I'd hoped for. 

Without a halt for traffic at the highway (I could have done with an extra breath or three), Wanganui Rd became my Struggle Street when Wozza and Rocket lit the afterburners to the 40's.  And wasn't I second-hand at second wheel!   Legs went licorice to climb Mt.Wanganui so there was nothing to accelerate on the turn into Rudd Rd. Most had shot past me, bolting toward the golf course, so preparations for the humility of going ota were well underway as a gap opened ahead.   A look back (if only to confirm the inevitable) brought hope however......LiamM and Lili were 20 metres in arrears so I could be seen to drop back to help out the new ones home. Mid thirties were murder on muscles back into town (to make it look like I was donating a draft!)    Watching the wheel ahead, craftmanship and Bo on a beach soaked up the sentences over breakfast. 

19/9  Puncture practice. 

Young Jack was a surprise addition to the grid (Wouldabeens don't do Mondays apparently) and with Couldabeens attendance down, another laborer was welcome.  The Godfather, Lenny, Emil, Bruce, Tina, Rocket, Wozza and PistolPete assembled in usual spring conditions (feels like 0.9, a west northwester blowing at 13-19 and a few puddles to negotiate on a partially damp track)      Pistol supplied the formality of leading us south and there was little worry about the wind ; it was in our favor for the way out, but arguing against us for the way back.  Lenny had upgraded the old Cannondale to 11 speed and (as always) was the cleanest bike in the bunch (I don't remember specifying road grime and dead worms on mine)    The turn north off Mitchell Rd through Central Kialla was a little vague, but I put that down to a soaked tarmac.  That cobble-like surface near River Rd raised the issue again, only now the bike squirmed for the steer east.  Earlier suspicions should have been noted, this was yet another puncture to practice a quick fix on. (The Godfather had the timer going!)   

In the beam of Wozza's headlight, the tyre looked like it came fresh from the shower scene from Psycho and what had punctured the tube was anyone's guess ; not a thing was found (gotta love that!)   With new tube in, tyre inflated and the wheel back in the bike under the 5 minute cut-off, rolling along River Rd was plagued with the nagging doubt of this tube surviving ; the fact that a CO2 barely breaks 80 psi was a handbrake on the head too. I'd got onto Emil's wheel in the reshuffle so the wind up the Khyber made the drive alongside him look almost reasonable.  Yong Jack was my co-pilot for part two and it didn't seem fair to have a half century disadvantage ; whether he grew tired of my pedestrian pace or struggled with staying awake I wasn't sure, but he rolled across a bit before the rumble strips for rooster corner.  Speed settled for the northbound shift to the Broken bridges where Jack called it quits, those constant collaborators Wozza and Rocket driving the effort up to the highway.  An impatient Nissan just had to overtake a southbound Keeno almost as we crossed paths but Bruce had delivered a heads-up for the caution prior.  

Tina had locked herself in the caboose when the bunch turned west into Old Dookie Rd in search of coffee, so with little chance of seeing the front again, I joined the advance (that headwind would hurt at the rushin' front)    A couple of turns had rolled by Central Ave where Emil and The Godfather were elected to lead, but by Dobson's estate a few words had been exchanged and Emil took to the left line.  I would have to face the front after all! (and wasn't that wind some work!)  To prevent a likely implosion, the plan was to pair with Emil to the truck route then tuck into a draft when the squad went single file, 'cause I'd have nothing for the squirt to SPC!    That tactic worked, though second wheel at that speed spelled suffering.  I felt somewhat smug to have survived....and with pressure still in that tyre! (60psi when checked at home)

20/9  Wean him off the red cordial Kim!

Wendy, Kim, Emil, Tina, Lili, LiamM and the 5ft Ninja fronted for Tuesday's cool (3 degrees) circuit and as early as leg three to the Kinder, a little light on the horizon guided our path east.  Pickle my grandmother!, there was no wind to wage war against!  Emil had driven the first leg to the truck route and my standard to Orrvale Rd was done for Kim to steer our partially pink path toward Central Ave.  Speed had settled a little from Emil's exuberant start, Tina taking on the leg to the cypress trees without that pressure on pace.  Wendy kept the status quo to the S bend and Lili had mastered the Liv's Sram Red to  drive to Coach Rd.  

There's a sense of freedom in the single filed spin with the squirrels, with nobody alongside (unwittingly) applying the thumbscrews of keeping tempo certainly makes a refreshing change, although the weight of expectation probably keeps us all delivering some sort of speed. (Kudos fuels the confidence and that keeps most turning up again.  Far better to make some sort of donation than clutching to the caboose for the whole lap!)  LiamM's standards lifted the labor a little for the seven behind him in Boundary Rd, the 5ft Ninja promoted to captain at the bridge.  Emil's energy had been brewing for 15 minutes so when given the lead at Old Dookie Rd, velocity turned up to touch 40 to New Dookie Rd. There was nothing but a suffering silence behind.

(Maybe he pours red cordial neat on a big bowl of Fruit Loops for breakfast?)  I hadn't expected the lead role beyond New Dookie Rd, but the diplomatic thing was to set mid 30's back on the agenda to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.  My legs weren't giving much more after that blast anyway! To the rear as Kim led us west, I could sit comfortably back into zone three for the 20 minute tow home.  Kim and Tina divided the distance to the rumble strips near Lemnos North Rd where Wendy took us into Ford Rd to aim at Grahamvale, but Lili launched a coup d'etat for the lead role 100 metres later. (I must talk over the politics of that 'elbow' thing).  LiamM was left with the lead role a kilometre on and he called it quits at Grahamvale Rd.  Of course the Ninja bolted toward Verney.  (Seven had finally formed a line behind 700 metres later).  So Emil's signature shift south to Balaclava Rd was his to command and he behaved for most of it......till that itch to press the pedestrian button struck half a k from the lights (maybe it's Red Bull poured on Fruit Loops?).  The rest of us rolled mid 35's to the intersection, just as the lights turned green.

21/9 Wednesday was a washout

22/9  Sunshine, double digit temperatures, barely a breeze to battle........what strange planet is this?

The consensus was for a later, slightly longer loop for Thursday's public holiday but the eyes habit to open at stupid o'clock is hard to break.  A solo lap prior to the 6:40 rendevous made up for lost k's yesterday.  Kim, Tina, Lili, Emil and LiamM came together on the commute to the shop, an even eight made up with the arrival of the Ninja and Kreeky at 7.  Things looked so different in daylight!  Routine was thrown out the window when a two rowed proposal was accepted, single file to the truck route though (a lack of traffic probably didn't warrant it)   I paired with Emil for the short shift to Orrvale Rd ; thankfully he'd turned down the hurry of the first leg to mid 30's and I was looking forward to something calmer still with Tina as co-pilot to the Kinder.  Wishful thinking Foss, she had a similar hurry to Central Ave.  Sunshine and a little warmth put a new perspective on the lap, almost unfamiliar scenery to take in now that we wern't under the veil of darkness.  

Double digit temperatures had many legs exposed (Quite dazzling when they're whitened by winter!)     Kim and Lili teamed to drive to the S bend as that bright thing in the sky guided us to Coach Rd, mid 30's taming to 33's as the gravity of a few extra k's sank in.  LiamM and Lili seemed to have grasped the protocols of keeping level with the wheel alongside and I suppose there's a responsibility to see that they're guided along the path of riding righteousness.  (It is Rule #3 after all!)  Breaking the habit of the northbound path on Boundary Rd was difficult but we turned east onto Old Dookie Rd, difficult to convince the head as well that west northwester was helping me match Emil's speed to the Toaster 'cause it didn't feel that easy!  (A little warmth on exposed skin was a great distraction though)   Tina kept me honest with her pace to the Pine Lodge church and then I could soak up the slipstream till duty called again.  

As rare as the Thylacinus cynocephalus, a gaggle of Goats were seen eastbound on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd ; a bunch of 7 hasn't been seen in years! (What a little sunshine can do eh?)   Mid 30's had been put back on the agenda, the slight south southwester of little consequence to the velocity.  Maybe the sunshine supplied the speed? (Or was the want for coffee getting us itchy?)  Duty called again crossing Grahamvale Rd and something inspired a long drive to the highway rather than the short shift into Verney Rd, the standard swing south resisted to continue west to Wanganui Rd.  Tina still had the speed to keep me speechless, driving beyond DECA (where I thought she'd raise the white flag) and up the dizzying heights of Mt.Wanganui, but found herself into the breeze on Rudd Rd.  Without his fast fix on Verney Rd, Emil was positively bursting for a blast-off on the Boulevard, but where? (The $64,000 question)   By Tarcoola's roundabout the bottle had popped it's cork and Emil sailed off into the distance with most happy to stay at a semi social speed bound for the MilkBar.  How civilized to sit in the sunshine quaffing coffee and babbling bike stuff.

23/9  The 5.10am showers made the sleep-in option easy.

 

This week 234km

YTD  9,717km  

   

  

           

Only self to satisfy

 Post #662

10/9  Swift 'n soggy.

Delighted to see the forecast 5am showers had been shifted to start at 8am, hope sprang up of getting the Saturday ritual ride done before the wet arrived.  Not so delightful was the damp road and misty atmosphere to ride in. (some clever guy spent half an hour cleaning his bike yesterday!) Maybe I'm masochistic to suffer speed to the start-line (this hobby is meant to be pleasurable) but on reflection, it's preparing for pace to come isn't it?     The usual dozen or so (Gazza, Emil, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Boof, Rocket, Wozza, GiantAndy, Bruce, Lenny and Trav) lined up for the 6am ritual, though PistolPete's absence was notable.  Mark it in the history books that Bo led the two lines south, Emil delivering the training for it alongside.  Mist in the low lands confirmed the 100% humidity and sight of a light ahead at first hinted of The Godfather's return, but it was PistolPete joining in ; delayed by a puncture.   

Don't you just love that moment when the wheel ahead (the Ninja's as it happened)  hits a big puddle to irrigate your nostrils! (I'd probably donated the same to Bo behind)  Gazza's gesticulation dislodged the Cervelo's headlight on Mitchell Rd so a half k idle while he retrieved it was a welcome time to reload on oxygen.  Forties for the first few k's was diving into the deep end a bit early for me.  Back into the swing of things through Central Kialla,  we were nudging the forties again (almost climatized to it by then) but I had a while to wait before duty called.   

The new chain jumped a worn sprocket on the acceleration into Coach Rd so that would accelerate a few dollars to a new cassette soon (the engine's worn out but the bike needs maintenance!) The Ninja requested I roll straight over when her part one was done, so I scored a short drive with Bo toward Pine Lodge Creek.  (40's could go to hell, 37's was all I had!)  No complaints came but Bo, Rocket and Wozz gradually built the tempo back to 39's to Boundary Rd and by that time I'd regained enough oxygen to cope with GiantAndy's low 40's toward Lemnos.  (A red led ahead seemed to be the bait).  TatPaul was passed at the rumble strips but he continued solo when the Ninja called a halt for a puncture entering Ford Rd. 

Yes, tubeless tyres do deflate, but a CO2 injection repaired it to resume quickly.  Nearer town and nearer to the front wasn't a suitable spot for me ; I was well aware of what hurt happens along the Boulevard, so sat back in the caboose which was slowly filling with likeminded sufferers.  GiantAndy had positioned perfectly (yet again) to front the pack as the Boulevard gained a centre island, but my eye was focused on keeping close to PistolPete ; he's the reliable one to collect those prone to going ota and tow them home.  The big guns had gapped a few fighting for breath by Tarcoola's roundabout but there was Pistol ready to pick up the pieces and drag them (and me) to breakfast. 

With a sense of belonging to a bunch, we'd rolled into town just as the heavens opened (an hour early) and an energetic easterly (17- 44 km/h) made our bee-line to the Butter Factory  a squiggle.  Vuelta casualties, unwanted guests and cassette ratios kept tongues tattling over breakfast while the showers passed (but the commute home was a soggy one)

13/9  Excessive enthusiasm.

Concrete was on Tuesday's breakfast menu - not just because I'd taken Sunday and Monday off but for the "feels like" minus two!   (I was hoping for a not-so-swift squirrel spin to ease me back into the addiction.  Two days not riding and I'd turned rusty) 

Wendy, Kim, Jen, Emil, Tina, LiamM and Lili jumped aboard the southern commute to the shop to find Kreeky and the Ninja ready for the 5:30 start.   Of course Emil took the lead role into Channel Rd (there'd be a catastrophic shift in the time-space continuum if he didn't!) and didn't he have his skates on!  38 looked like it might get him into the dispute resolution tribunal without an appointment!  So to avoid being called there myself, I set 35's to Orrvale Rd to keep in the good books.  The usual order was shuffled ; the Ninja to the Kinder, Wendy to the cypress trees, Jen to the S bend and Lili let loose for a short shift beyond.  (Tina was excused from duty considering her Amy Gillet 138 km effort on Sunday).  

Kim worked her wattage to the highway where Kreeky was given the lead role for Boundary Rd.  Handed the reigns at the bridge, LiamM preserved pace to Old Dookie Rd and that's where Emil's exuberance was unleashed.  (A little breeze at the backside and he goes ballistic!)  Pace was on the percolator to New Dookie Rd, the cautionary peek east and west for traffic allowing three seconds for oxygen intake before the excessive enthusiasm continued to Lemnos-Cosgrove.  

Half toasted at second wheel wasn't the best way to start my second shift, and setting Lemnos North Rd as a target wasn't the brightest idea (though I hadn't made that goal public so only had self to satisfy.  I could always throw an elbow at the channel and take the easy option.......but Mr. Stubborn, one of the many voices inside the skull, wouldn't let me)   With nine lined up behind, this would be my final fling.  The Ninja dug deep to finish Ford Rd's first leg and Wendy kept the velocity simmering to Verney Rd for Jen to take us south.  Barely a k had passed when Emil's energy couldn't be restrained - he had to bolt to Balaclava to push that pedestrian button. (should I tell him the lights only change on a timer linked to the magnetic loop in the road?)  All were happy to let him dash to the horizon while we proceeded at the previous pace, the traffic lights complying green just as we arrived.

14/9  The spokesman returns.

All the winter insulation came out of the wardrobe (to the rescue) again on Wednesday ; just 1 degree chilled the bones on the first k south but Emil's standards on commuting speed soon put some warmth in the legs.  (It's always the other guy that sets the speed isn't it?)  Lots of lights circled Sanctuary Drive in the minutes before chocks away, the line up at 5:39 bringing The Godfather, Boof, Bruce, Kreeky, Greg, Emil, Rocket, Grumpy, Tina, Wozza, the 5ft Ninja, Jen and PistolPete together for the mid-week social spin.   It took a moment for ears to adjust to The Godfather's return but the legs were at least ready for mid 30's after cooking them on the commute.  

Into Mitchell Rd felt like full steam ahead though a glance at the speedo between huffs and puffs was a little disappointing ; low 35's were on display. The effort felt like low 40's.  (oh well, somedays you've got it, others you 'aint!)  An easterly was apparent on the turn north toward River Rd and no doubt the residents of Central Kialla knew of The Godfather's return (a weeks worth of Corona isolation and he was making up for lost words!) Grumpy was almost a match for his decibels as we drove the east path of River Rd though my concentration was on that easterly as I was promoted further forward.  Tina withdrew her nomination for a turn when she'd got to second wheel and ducked to the left line for shelter, so I'd got a fast promotion to the front with Jen headed to Coach Rd.  That easterly felt like the handbrake was on the second click.  Part two had Kreeky alongside aimed at rooster corner (still crows in the cold) so wasn't I pleased he and Jen had lower targets on tempo.  

The early light seems to arrive even earlier these days so there's a feeling of running late with daylight near the Broken bridges (all the better to see the pot-holes with!) ; my theory on why Greg and Boof provided plenty of pace to the highway.  The Godfather had a calmer post-covid tempo set in Boundary Rd and that suited the Ninja's turn to the bridge, though Wozza and Rocket resumed the social standard to Old Dookie Rd.  Steering west turned a little vague, a short sharp bounce on the handlebars confirming a somewhat mushy Michelin.  I'd hoped there'd be enough pressure in it to get me to the cafe where repairs could be done in civilized conditions but of course it didn't survive the strike on a lump of dried mud near the Central Ave orchard.  Halting the crew in the cold while I repaired it prompted a fast fix (The Godfather's time limit driving it)

16/9  Farnarkling in the fog.

Some opted to sleep in and the fog softened some to choose the virtual-but-not-really-reality of Zwift, but after being denied a ride by Thursday's drenching, PistolPete, Gazza, Wozza, Jen, Kreeky, the 5ft Ninja, Rocket, Greg, The Godfather, Tina, Grumpy, Emil and Bruce chose to brave the damp road and abbreviated vision of Friday's 9 degrees and 100% humidity to blow a few cobwebs off.  To hell with a clean bike.......again!  (This was our tribute to Rule #9).  Coincidence put me between Tina and Grumpy as the bunch set south while the wind seemed to be swinging in all directions.  From demotion to promotion in the advance line through Central Kialla, fingers furiously pointed to puddles in some (misguided?)  hope of avoiding a spotted kit or that delightful nasal irrigation, but most were feeling like a damp dishcloth already.  

The two thumbnails worth of traction thing filled the head and forced a tip-toe 'round the off camber turn into River Rd, the added drama of last night's 2mm of rain was that pot-holes were now disguised as puddles.  Relying on the memory of where the big ones were was risky.  What felt like a southeaster (when the bureau reckoned it was a westerly) probably niggled at Tina (getting closer to the front) to raise a white flag and seek asylum in the left line, so I was promoted to The Godfathers wheel.  That spellbinding chameleon paint job on his new De Rosa wasn't so stunning covered in road grime!  

The shifting wind shortened shifts and reaching the Broken bridges, The Godfather and I were on duty (no matter what the Bureau said, that wind was a nasty northeaster)   There was a strange sensation driving toward the highway though ; I was easily matching The Godfather's wheel and at times I needed to slow to keep it that way (and that's a rare thing for me to say!)   Happy to comply, considering his comeback from Covid, I banked a breath or three ready for Grumpy being alongside in Boundary Rd.  Past the pub, over the highway, up to Hosie Rd and aimed further north, breaths were running short, so the draft from a passing truck saved my bacon to reach Boundary's bridge (getting showered in road spray was tolerated for the tow)   

PistolPete provided the pace to Old Dookie Rd without the extremes of effort I need.    Ah.......but he's young.  (In fact they're all young Foss!)  Fog had lifted a little and the draft was a delight along Old Dookie Rd, particularly without that threat of a softening tyre (though I was suspecting a crook cleat when the right foot had a lot more float than 5 degrees)    Gazza got on the gas for the thrash to SPC, with just a hint of caution for the damp, while my right knee was giving me grief as that cleat float increased. Or was it the pedal?   

Coffee tastes even better when you're partially soaked but the feeling through the foot became particularly peculiar for the commute toward home.  Washing the mud and worms away revealed the answer...... 

                           

94,550 km and the right crank gave up the ghost.

This week 206km   

YTD 9,482 km