Week 48

A narrow gap from Bendigo to Yarrawonga visible in the green haze that was the B.O.M. radar for Victoria on Saturday. After Fridays' downpour the urge was strong, so off down the damp road to see who's brave amongst the OC's. Mmmm....just Cougs, Bo, Kel, Graeme, Nev and Shawy to brave the elements. Legend Hoffy had set off earlier, so a carrot had been dangled for us to chase. A fair amount of caution applied for the conditions, particularly on the turns. Cat numbers down noticibly, oncoming in the usual Mitchell Rd spot.  Good training with lower numbers in the bunch (barely get three decent turns when attendance is up), a good speed even against a northeasterly. A lone rider near Channel Rd turned out to be JT (slept in?) who joined in for a brief turn.  Hoffy was still plugging away well when we finally reeled him in near Hill Rd, dodging puddles the theme of the ride. Nev the grenade, cranked up the effort in Wanganui Rd, the bunch sensibly diving for single file in the attempt to hang on.  Bo & Kel had their weet-bix to pursue a respective 2nd and 3rd, the remainder finishing well with a rewarding 34.2 average.  The Butterfactory was somewhat deserted with just a couple of other riders there enjoying the caffine fix.

Passed the sms's around for an early Sunday circuit, but i got no takers with sleep-ins and tasks elsewhere occupying most.  Unaware that Leon had fronted and set off solo, i rolled out on a reverse P&W lap and came across Ken & his cruisers turning from Archer to Boundary, Temple amongst them.  Ken played restrictor valve, pulling the speed back (despite a hefty tailwind) so i played ball for a very calm run up River then Boundary Rds.  Concensus dictated a return via Channel Rd (suited with my time limited) and sure enough, Temple & i were hastily elected tow trucks for the 9k head wind leg home!  A leisurely lap down for a 30.4.

Eleven had assembled for Mondays P&W lap, great to have Meags back from her UK break.  The rabbit, Blighty and Fishy rolled in from an early lap to join on just as we headed out. A moderate north east wind put hard work on the agenda for the pointy end, great to be relieved of front duty after a k's toil. A good head of steam down Boundary, a much more favourable  direction. Into the low 40's at the southern end, slowly catching the familiar gait of Choppy. A fair bit of enthusiastic driving on the front had most working overtime in 14 degrees.  Rabbit, clearly bored with the pace, rode slowly away half way down Mitchell, Sly setting off to chase soon after. The remaining bunch of 10 kept the roll-overs happening, keeping the pace fresh. By Euroa Rd we'd reeled them in. Tempo continued un-abated, the bunch spread by the Col d'Kialla (well, the little dip in Mitchell) with several gaps opening up. The odd car at Melbourne Rd broke a few of us from the pack (mmm...what happened to team spirit?) but i enjoyed sticking with mates Meags and Cougs for the remainder, a rapid 37.7 result.

20 degrees on Tuesday morning brought out 20 Couldabeens, good to have Nev join us (a rare treat). Lots of cars out and about without headlights, the odd rider (from other groups) too running the gauntlet. A respectful build up of speed up Channel Rd, but 4km in, Vince was on a mission to burn Matt (stretching the friendship of many) That horrible sound of bikes hitting the deck rang out on the turn at Jameson Rd. Unseen by most was a greasy spill from a truck, bringing Trev, Ryan and Trev down. Thankfully, nothing but a minor scrape and a lever adjustment was the total damage.  Dusted off and composed, the crew set off on the course but we were now in the Cats sights (500+ metres back) on the turn into Boundary. Good teamwork and smooth rolls kept the Cats at bay.  A late call of an oncoming car at the Mitchell turn caused a quick change of direction (and of heart rate!) right on the intersection, but it soon settled into a good rhythm to continue in Mitchell Rd.  The swarming bunch of Cats didn't catch till we'd slowed at Euroa Rd.  Their crazy decision to pass with a car oncoming caused chaos, the ute off in the grass blasting the horn while they made it 3 and 4 wide will never help our cause for a bit of respect on the road. Finished the lap with a bit in disbelief, thought many of them would have a bit more sense. The rocket played his trump card on Nev in the dying metres to gain the top spot, 36.6 av down near the back of the bunch was worth a cheer. Nice to arrive home safe, and not be plastered across a bull bar from anothers inconsiderate foolery.

It was better than nice to roll out a recovery lap with Chris & Cougs on Wednesday, a very balmy 21 degrees with a strengthening north west breeze. A sensible, well behaved ride, chance for a yarn and a laugh and without incident. More please! Saw a  sizeable P&W bunch heading southward, they had the afterburners on apparently, the frontgunners splitting the pack into fractions. Seems the teamwork philosophy is dying a miserable death. A real pity.

Thursday morning saw 10 degrees hacked off Wednesdays temperature, the winter base layer coming out of mothballs again!  Mmmm, and it's the first day of summer? 20 Couldabeens again attending, excercising a lot of caution after Tuesdays run of bad luck.  Young Nathan came out to play, Greendog and Rob making up a tempo trio. Conversation centred around crashes, cars and Cats, good to reflect on these things though....brings our actions into focus and puts complacency in the bin.  New lad Matt was on another mission to hang on, bless his socks for trying (lasted longer, aknowledged more training is needed). Speed was good, lots of chat too despite the chill. At last, an incident free lap to enjoy. Speed was the flavour of the day at Arcadia Downs, Temple providing a good squirt to take us into the 40's. Vince added some urge but cramp took over, Nathan lighting it up with most being clever and tacticle enough to let him burn to death in the closing 500 metres. I had the wheel of Greendog and a keen eye on Rob for his launch, playing the waiting game for Nathans meltdown. Rob fired about 70 out, so i stood hard on it, but 53 km/h couldn't catch Rob in time for the finish. Chuffed with 2nd, delighted the group scored a 36 average, beating the train and the Cats.

Only a few at SPC on Friday, great to have Dutchy giving it a crack again. Good quick chick class attending, Meags, Fee, Cougs and Hayles all worthy additions. Ayto, Scotty, Guysy, Ruley and others arrived from the earlier lap, to join the bunch for a respectful easy speed built up over the first few legs.  The gun faction had  assembled a kilometre out (must be our deodorant?) and tacked on to make 16.  Felt a bit breezy heading south, but the guns were on a mission of pace, up in the high 30's. Admired Fee having a great go on the front in Boundary (despite suffering the headwind), if only all could have that chance without being worked over. Spied Daniel and Temple on the anti-clockwise loop, Peter H solo not long after. A ute approaching behind was obviously inconvenienced by 2 rows of bikes on the left and one (momentarily) on the right, the driver winding down a window to spray a tirade of profanities. A lot gave the appropriate reply but it degenerated to the point of the ute screeching to a halt sideways across the road, bikes gathered near, verbals yelled and fingers stabbed the air in arguement. All so very ugly. Shouldn't have got to that stage, but some have shorter fuses than others, the driver only having grumpy sides to the bed he got out of.
Bit of a  ramshackle reform of the bunch a minute or two later, some keen to get home early had bolted, others, delayed in starting, had troubles catching on. Teamwork out the window again. Formed up with Cougs and Meags to head back via Archer, all a bit disillusioned and dissapointed in the circumstances. Grateful to finish a tumultuous week upright and intact.  It can only get better from now!

Week #48  313km  11,549 calories (3.8kg of honey) 34km/h average.

Quote of the week "A friend is the person that knows all about you.....and still likes you" Elbert Hubbard