Week 18

About time i did a proper blog instead of a mass of numbers. A weekly prose may inspire more words than statistics. It's all your fault Ayto....you super scribe you! 

A good start to the week with a new pair of Fortezza Tri-Comps (@140psi) and a shiny new Dura-Ace chain. The temperatures are almost winter spec now, started the week at 11's and finished at 3.  Thank the technical gurus who invented the amazing base layer....what a saviour to us warm blooded wimps!

Saturdays OC lap had 20 starters, using the newly sealed extension to Boundary Rd (north of Hill Rd). A keen eye out for stray dogs in Ford Rd (that brought Norm down last week, smashing a helmet and cracking ribs).A good circuit with the usual chats, sledges and laughs. The Laffy weapon had joined us (along with young'n Adam) so 3rd was quite acceptable. A good amount of tall tales and laughs over coffee after, makes this ride. 33km/h av. Bo & Kelly suggested a 30km Sunday ride, the young whipper snappers kept the pace up all the way to justify their youth!  33.5av. Coffee after was good recovery.

The Monday lap saw 10 die-hard P&W's for the usual 30km. The typical smooth lap (if you don't count Muntzy! but he IS improving) with copious sledging.  Nearing the finish i inherited the front position way too early (800metres to go) so gave it the gas anyway to make sure everyone was working! Got swamped of course, but hey, it's all in fun.  Tuesday morning's lap with 5 couldabeens faced a stiff southerly wind (18km/h), all seemed pleased Bo and i played tow trucks in Boundary Rd.  Newcomer Vince had a bit of a struggle, but to his credit, kept the hammer down and finished well. Jumped on the back of the Cats as they passed and "stirred up the pot" in the sprint, Grasshopper taking a fine win.

Tuesday night Trevor's watch must have been in another time zone, the hospital group leaving a bit early. Flew down Graham St at 40km/h to jump on the tail end. 400 metres further a puncture by one of the group stopped us, though some 'taggers-on' kept going.  Once fixed the group rolled out, picking up several waiting out the road, the pace warming up well.  Killer launched a breakaway just after Channel Rd and 5 (including this silly bloke) joined in. 38km/h into a head wind in Boundary Rd, 40's in Mitchell then 43's in Archer Rd emptied the jellybean jar! The "pocket rocket sprinter" Brendan reckoned he owed me a lead-out so who was i to argue. Managed to get the honours by a length, so quite chuffed. Great work by breakaway boys Nathan, Jamie, Killer & Brendan to bring up a 36km/h average.

Very pleased to put in a quiet circuit Wednesday morning. Legs were quite rubbery. Wednesday night carbo loaded on chips with my boys! Thursday morning the southerly was still there though a bit weaker. A great lap with 10 couldabeens (must remember earmuffs to endure Ken's grizzles!) good to have Hoffy back, Marion taking the sprint victory in fine style. Thursday nights tour with a mass of Bookworms was well behaved, though a bit of surging with varying abilities (33.2km/h av) but turned rapid with the light tail breeze in Archer Rd.  Found myself at 5th wheel with 400 metres to go (and egged on by Nathan) gave the young fellas a belt for the finish. Suprised to take the win, really suprised to see the max of 57km/h.

Friday was a very enjoyable circuit (but a fresh 4 degrees) with nearly 20 P&W's, even managed to pass Leigh's group in Boundary Rd! (i won't let on they were rolling gently waiting for the Cats) A steady smooth pace, smooth roll overs (there's no better group for it) and lots of laughs to boot. 35.3km/h av.

So week 18 finished with 443km, 16346 calories (that's 64 Krispy Kreme custard filled donuts Ayto!)
and a 33.4km/h average.

Foss