Week 30

It's wound up to be the Tuesday /Thursday bunch filling nearly all positions of the OC squad on a Saturday. Just 10 today and a typical cold one at that. Captain Slow did the warm-up leg then had a little squeal when the younguns hit the front, ramping up the pace.  Well, it makes us earn our breakfast doesn't it? When the rotation came around to Kens' second turn the sledging hit top gear! Funny stuff. (well done "Cougs")  Sprint demons Bo, Matt, Nev & Kel had us stretched out in the last 300 metres. Saturdays usual infusion of caffene followed.  The weather looked grim for Sunday, an early shower greasing the roads. A flurry of sms's staged a chat at the Butterfactory instead. Good to see Temple along serving his usual cheek and wit. The wrist & elbow still giving him grief though.

Mondays weather was just as crook, that fine mist and shiny roads making common sense prevail. Took up the Ayto training schedule of doona diving!  Tuesdays south-wester and 8 degrees made tough work in Boundary Rd. Think Bo & Matt have that special powder on their Weet-Bix....gunpowder!  Those two need to be seperated in the playground!  Made a decent average of 32.6 though, got to see the Melbourne train leave the station too.

Rolled up to the hospital bunch Tuesday evening, a likely lot of 14 waiting. No mistaking Kev's attendance, the bright orange knicks glowing like a Fukashima reactor core!  Plenty of chicken noises to welcome him along.  Some bright spark in a truck had dragged a few metres of mud over the bottom end of Raftery Rd, turning it into a real Roubaix section. Having a wheel skip sideways at a fair speed aint much fun.  A good train cranked up the speed in the last km, Nath hitting the gas with 200 to go. We could but pretend to keep up. Wound up the Cosmics to 55, but the young gun had vanished. 2nd quite acceptable for this old bloke.

Wednesday morning was super cold. Minus 3 for the quiet lap, Marion wound up with ice on the handlebars and overshoes! Heard later that others had ice on front forks, helmets etc. When the going gets tough......

A decision to take another calm lap Thursday morning was a great idea, zero degrees this time. (balmy in comparison to Wednesday!)  Muscles just don't want to work and breathing in ice cubes does nil for the Vo2 max. Thursday's library group had 16, out the road another 7 joined in to make a very big bunch for a mid winter 7 degree night. A full toaster loop has become the norm. All went single file after the muddy roubaix section of Raftery, Leighs guns leading the train. I had Robbo's wheel with 800 to go and inherited the front way too early. When in doubt, gun it i say. Spent all the jellybeans too early but stretched the rubber band i guess. Finished mid field with a 33.5 average over 46km.  Earned my dinner.

Good to join the P&W family Friday morning, and a great turnout of 6 quickchicks too.New starter Erin earned her stripes well on her maiden voyage.  Thankfully Chaddy wore decent knicks this time, the cheap chinese ones last week had him winking at us way too much! Puts one off their breakfast. A very enjoyable and safe ride as usual. (lucky to have such a good crew, free of crazy stunts and risk taking.  Another bunch apparently causing great concern later with a silly overtaking manoevre)

Week 30 --  335km  12361 calories  (ten and a half packets of Tim Tams)  32.6 average

Thought for the week "We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure" (John Dryden)

A special post script this week...to announce the sad passing of one BMW saddle. The poor thing had survived 2 Mt Buffalos, 5 Murray to Moynes, 6 rides to Melbourne, 4 Round the bays, 5 Fruit Loops, countless toaster loops, An Adelaide Tour DownUnder, lots of racing and bunch rides with my sorry bum on it for 6 years.  It just wasn't up to going beyond 117,000 km so has been put to rest.  A spanking new Fizik Airione feels SO different.  A case of a new saddle breaking in an old arse now i think!

Week 29

14 crawled out from under their doonas for Saturdays' OC lap. 3 degrees was toasty compared to Fridays minus 2 and just a light easterly to contend with. The king had the handbrake on for the opening leg, he must have been deafened by the yawns from the back of the bunch! (Too much gym, not enough reality i think) After a few rotations the pace picked up for a decent 32 average. Missile Nev latched onto the bunch in Mitchell Rd and the word was he was the lead-out. From the Rudd Rd turn he was more like the sacrificial lamb. Hard work to make up a 20 metre gap in the bunch but once on, i was grateful for a tow to the launch pad 100 metres out. Managed to hold off Matty and Bo for the chocolates.  A double shot of caffine and copious laughs at the Butterfactory followed.

Sundays effort was a sleep-in, light rain has become commonplace this winter. The drought years allowed a lot more riding.  Monday's forecast didn't look much better. The cloud cover at 5am was just visible to signal a great chance at being soaked, so went all "Ayto" and crawled under the doona again!  (sorry Ayto, couldn't help a sledge...you taught me how!) Retrospect is a wonderful thing, a lap was possible, but hey, the snooze was nice. 

Guilt took over Tuesday morning so off to the Couldabeens. The southerly breeze was payback for yesterdays sleep-in i think. 8 were motivated for a circuit and Bo was firing all guns. We all worked well to bring home a 33.6 average.  Gave Tuesday night a miss with younger brother visiting briefly from the U.S.  He got through Carolina's minus 7 winters with battery powered boot warmers!  How soft?!

A 25km/h southerly on Wednesday, nice to have it behind us a bit for a change on the shorter 20km ride. Only 5 on Thursday morning, but Vince punctured in Boundary Rd. Everyone left Pit crew duties to Trev.(the joys of running a bike shop?) Changed in great time to roll out just ahead of the Cats, almost 4km past before they made up the gap.  Only Sly & Matho prepared to knuckle into the work on the front after Melbourne Rd,  a quick last km into the high 40's had a single file end. Happy with 2nd behind slingshot Sly.

Continued to be suprised with a good turn-up to the library bunch. 16 Thursday night in just 8 degree weather.  Bomber was missing, but Nath & Robbo more than make up the defecit. Good to have Matt join us, a great partner on the front. (Had a bit of fun cranking up the pace a few times)  Inheriting the lead at Arcadia Downs signalled little hope for the sprint (Brendan, Nath and Dean lying in wait in the middle of the pack) so decided to squeeze the accelerator early. Forced 200 metres of single file pain and made a few guns earn the finish i guess. 50km @ 33.3.av. Nice win by Brendan.

7 P&W's at SPC on Friday, no wind and what seemed to be a mild 5 degrees.  Suprised to have Bart & Minto attending , softened a litlte by the recent Gold Coast marathon. A good steady 33.4 average with a slow crank up for the finish. Had a good taste of reality with a chasing Area 51 trio rounding us up 200 metres from the finish. They sat up soon after, but lots kept on the gass to pass again. A good finish to the week with the group finishing together. Hanging out for Mr Taxmans contribution now, the poor old saddle looking quite tattered.  Maybe a BikeHub tune up too for the old  BM?

Week 29   294km   10,848 calories (3.5 kilos of spicy potato wedges) at 32.3 average. 

Thought for the week....."When the President does it, that means it's not illegal"  (Richard Nixon)

Week 28

Just 8 turned up on Saturday, the depths of winter testing most peoples' determination. Seems years ago we had 25+ rolling up for a lap. Most have just gone soft!  Todays' crew mostly the Tuesday/Thursday mob.  A gentle westerly had strengthened by the time we got to Ford Rd, just making us work harder. The god of cycling is against us? Things got a bit ugly for the dash in Rudd Rd.  Despite my big yell of car back, one or two had become totally focussed on the sprint, all over the road like a dogs breakfast. (Two very frustrated car drivers) A good yarn over coffee was a much better finish.

Sunday has become a ritual toaster loop (53km) taking the easier way clockwise with  a west-north-westerly.  The wind whipped up from 28 to 41 km/h though, just to punish us for the full length of Mitchell Rd.  I wondered why holding 30km/h was tough! See a gap between the trees, grit teeth, be blown sideways, all 9 worked hard to get home. Only a couple wanted to down a coffee and i enjoyed an extra breakfast of eggs benedict as a reward. Yum.

The mid winter blues had got to all P&W's except Chris, Stace & Scotty, so we plugged around the circuit Monday in 3 degrees with a kinder 15km/h south-westerly.  Even the half-wheel king Chris kept even! Got back to town before the Cats, the train just pipped us though. 33.4 was good work for just 4.

Most suprised to get 10 Couldabeens for Tuesday morning, a cloud cover taking the chill off the morning. The usual laughs and chat enjoyed, a great way to start the day.  (Why do so many others mope and grump their sad way through a day?)  Tuesdays' very chilly night did it's best to make me give into a lazy night on the couch....but fight it i did!  Pleased there was 12 at the hospital as motivation to complete a 45k ride. In typical form, Robbo & Bomber turned up the heat to melt the legs, 38km/h for a couple of k's in Boundary road raised the grizzles. I felt good though, happy to do long turns up front while many hid at the back.  Into the last k's of Raftery Rd, the perfect lead out came from the Robbo & Bomber train. I inherited the front with 100 metres to go and hit the nitrous for a win. Chocolates for the train drivers, i'll eat the cardboard box.

20kms in Wednesday mornings 5 degrees with my little buddy was good. But that stinker wind was at us again! Seemed like it turned whenever we did!  Finding it quite hard to get comfortable on the seat lately, the poor old leather is starting to split at a few seams. Funny...it's only had 117,000 kms of my arse on it!  Maybe the deputy commissioner of taxation will be kind to let me in Trevors "toy shop" to get a new Fizik Airione?

Reduced numbers on Thursday morning (2 degrees may have had an impact?!) took us down to 6. Missing Temple's usual cheek (awol with a damaged wrist) but Kel, Bo, Leon, Marion and Vince doing a fine job in his place! Leon turns off in Archer, Kel & Bo turn off at Melbourne Rd, Vince dissapears down Arcadia Downs, so it's left to Marion & i to defend the Couldabeens honour and beat the Cats home. Done well.  The CBF's got to me Thursday night, a lazy night indoors was bliss. Early to bed to make up for late nights attempting to absorb the TdeF, a losing battle with the eyelids!

And it was more than cold Friday!  Down to minus 2.7 for the P&W lap, but 8 other brave champions were there to enjoy the pain. Even Griffo fronted up, his first ride since the Queens birthday weekend was a mighty effort (only shot OTA in the last k). I got a win over the increasingly rapid Scotty,  King, Princess and Rhino were nipping at the heels, quick chicks Stace, Marion and Fee performing really well too.  Hats off to all though for a great lap, the banter and laughs at the end about frozen body parts was pure gold plated comedy.  And that's what real riding is all about isn't it? Bugger the speeds, who wins and what you ride, the mates and the laughs make it all worth it.  A great end to the week, and clicked over 12k for the year to date.

Week 28    396km   14612 calories (30 jumbo sausage rolls) 32.5km/h average

Thought for the week...."One man that has his mind and knows it always beats ten men who don't and haven't" George Bernard Shaw.

Week 27

14 OC's turned up for Saturdays' 2 degree 38km lap and, just like Groundhog day, found myself up near the front again with half a k to go. Young Vince bolted with 350 metres to go. Now that's a worry knowing his form in younger days (has defeated a Mr Egan Esq., in BMX years ago) something told me not to let him get ahead too early. With Nev lurking in the background i knew a win was pure folly (but i should have a go anyway). In typical Laffy form, his timing was impeccable, flying past with 20 meters to go, Bo in his draft. Happy with 3rd @51.5km/h , but even happier with a double shot flat white consumed amongst the characters and exuberance at the Butterfactory.

Weather looked glum for Sunday and with last weeks big distance in mind, had a decadent sleep-in till 6.40am and a Sunday off.  What a lazy bum i am!  A rare opportunity of a couple of days off and school holidays with the boys saw some r&r enjoyed too.

Didn't swing the leg over till Wednesday for a moderate lap, the same again Thursday.  In the depths of winter it's hard to imagine a ride in warm sunshine when muscles are responsive and air is easily breathed. Lately, each ride in the cold is a big effort, performance seems lack lustre.  Hurry up October! A creaking, groaning chain from the damp conditions prompted a decent clean & lube. Have given up keeping the bike clean for the moment.

8 brave boys turned up at the library Thursday night. Nearly u-turned for home with half a dozen spits of rain but the cloud was high and patchy enough to be worth the risk.  Another 6 joined up in Wanganui Rd to ease the load. Suprised to see Brendan out of a two month hibernation.  An errant cat in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd slowed the bunch but Beery missed seeing all slow, yanked the brake and went horizontal into the grass. Nothing but pride dented thankfully. Bomber handed out the punishment to poor Brendan at 38km/h, the pace fairly rapid thereafter for the whole circuit. Tempo increased even more after Melbourne Rd, only 5 or 6 prepared to rotate at the front. Must admit it was difficult to dig deep (remenbered the good advice years back...never never never give up) but i came good after a few k's to finish 4th, happy to be flogged by younger lads Bomber, Deano and Nathan. 34.6km/h average over 50km in 8 degrees with a 14km/h WSW breeze.

The Friday circuit with 6 P&W's in a balmy 1 degree was enjoyable (that sounds foreign to some i know!).  Ayto is a rotten draft now, having lost 19kg, Stace's puncture gave us a bit of a break (but we managed to freeze up the joints waiting) Rhino and Scotty in good form, and half wheel king Chris enjoyed a 42nd birthday present of victory on the line. Great to see Marion & Jeramy on a good pace too.  A rare chance to enjoy a Friars breakfast with the crew on a weekday morning was relished.  The rest of the day off ahead of me, temptation of another lap was just too strong. Set off for a reverse P&W lap and came across the "pensioners".  Joined in their leisurely 28kms and indulged in yet another caffine fix.

For a wet week and a several days away i was suprised to clock 267kms.  9852 Calories burned (985 brussell sprouts...that's 23kg of 'em!) 31.1 average.  Quote of the week...."One sees great things from the valley, only small things from the peak"  G.K.Chesterton.

Week 26

15 OC's fronted Saturday morning, 6 degrees a little "milder" than the past few days. A calm 31.6 average and a gentle wind-up for the finish. The Butterfactory was crammed with riders from 3 groups. Got a seat though, good to follow everyones news and views.  The regular crew were keen for a Sunday lap, lots of sms's to organise a toaster loop for what is becoming a regular habit of 'brunch' after.  Nice to have 8 mates along with  a couple of Grahams from the lake group. Leon, Bo and Nath kept the pace up for a decent 33 average, and back home before the freshening northeaster got too much.



Sundays bunch heading to the toaster

 Only 5 P&W's Monday (the cold kept a lot under their doonas) but with great work from Grasshopper and Scotty we were back into the main drag well before the Cats.  Hard work fighting the reasons not to ride on Monday night, but stubborness won over and dragged me out on a solo 45k's. A night where the cold wind cut straight through to the old bones.  Hard to get warm. A little motivation via the mp3 (Queens of the Stoneage ; Songs for the Deaf) put out a 33km/h average (a slight tail breeze up Boundary Rd may have helped)

Tuesdays 5 Couldabeens braved zero degrees and an errant rabbit spearing through the middle of the bunch. A blood curdling scream from Kelly took years off it's life, running between Leons wheels to escape! Great work Kel!   Tuesday nights hospital group was very well attended, 19 in all. Some quick lads attending too. No short cuts down Archer Rd either, all the way in Raftery.  The young Allemand rocket launched a big breakaway with nearly 2km to go. Ouch! Not enough jellybeans in my jar to catch on, but stretched the bunch out with 1km to go. Got caught in the last 200 metres but got a brief tow to kick again for 3rd.
 
A calmer lap with Marion Wednesday morning, 6 degrees felt mild. Quite a few heading the other way. A rousing cheery greeting from the P&W's, barely a grump from the Cats.
Thursday was hump day (30/6) and the odometer read 11,280kms for the year so far. Way over the predicted 20k year target. Better order tyres and a chain again! 8 Couldabeens turned up and tapped out a good 33 average.  Back in town with the train still sitting at the station!  Thought about heading out with the library bunch on Thursday but just wanted a solo circuit. A two wheeled therapy session of sorts. Left a little earlier with Bjork, Josh Pike and Radiohead for company on a 50km toaster loop. Fought a niggling southeaster for a 32.6 average.

Fridays team P&W had a good roll up of 10 for Grasshoppers' send off. (We'll miss the little missile) The God of cycling must have smiled upon us with a light northeast breeze. Beat the Cats and the train for a good finish to the week, 34km/h average.

So, "over the hump" this week with 510km, 18,819 calories (8.3 black forrest fudge cakes....mmmm) 
32.5 average