Week 5

U.S. author Fran Lebowitz once said "Life is something to do when you can't sleep". Because i couldn't, i did.
Kit up and roll out an early lap Saturday before the regular circuit, that is. An almost muggy morning, sunrise tinting the sky from pink to orange and a warm north easter to push into.  Just a 25k rectangle before the 7am OC departure, maybe the stars had aligned correctly 'cause i found good speed unusually easy (suprise multiplied by success = motivation, the equation) funny how effort can double when everything clicks. A hint of assistance by breeze compounded the push, touching 40 for a bit whilst southbound, quick wave to Trev, Laura, Dalton & co near the pub, then hightail down Channel Rd. Very satisfied with a 36.1av, buying resonable time for muscles to recover before the next (longer) lap. A good selection of OC's rolled away at 7 with an 'on-time' Nev and long time missing Paul, Dave joining on a k out. The concerted effort for caution at Euroa Rd was duley noted and applauded, even the Cats were more cohesive today (not the regular feline fragmentation).  A fair drive into the wind up Boundary Rd, special driving commendation to Hoffy & Cougs in the most exposed section. We approached a pair of slower roadies near the railway rumble strips, but one deviated a litlle looking back, Paul squeezed a brake, Steve hit his wheel and things went quickly pear shaped.  Steve shouldered the deck (elbow taking the initial blow) bike burst a tyre and totalled a rear wheel, leaving me a metre to stop while travelling at 8.3 metres/sec. The negative mathematics dragged a bit of bark off my left knee, but Steve held a shoulder in a lot of discomfort and had a fair chunk out of an elbow. (thankfully later x-rays revealed no breaks)  Prangs are just part of riding these two wheeled contraptions, thankfully serious injury was avoided. We had a decent  pause for Steve's lift home, a somewhat cautious restart with much pondering and postulation.  A proper stop at Numurkah Rd then the regular build up of pace to Rudd Rd. Nev happy to drive the engine then sit back to watch the show, Dave took the chocolates (great effort after 30k prior to this 45 loop) , Daniel 2nd and Kel 3rd. A 33.8 average (possibly skewed by the crash)  Enthused discussion at the Butterfactory (a brownie consumed for tissue regenerative purposes only) rounding off an action packed morning.

Just a touch stiff in the knee Sunday morning so shelved an intended Lake group ride, a sensible 20k lap with Cougs and a caffine finale most fitting. Rain spelled a sleep-in on Monday morning, even showers in the afternoon prevented a ride. No harm in a day off, will just have to brush the cobwebs off the wheels.

Tuesday morning turned cold, was a bit low on spark too, so a gentle 25k to free up the rust in the joints was a good tonic. Felt good by afternoon but the blustering from the south was going to make some muscles work with the hospital group. Procrastinated prior, but a big cup of HTFU drove me to the start. Axel, Clive, Nath, Trev, Scott & Dave were brave enough to front up, Brendan and Birchy out the road too.  The southerly (blowing at 37 with gusts to 55) had us rotating clockwise to the Emu, then track turns into the tough stuff, holding high 20's to low 30's. Rob D joined on, then spotted Lloyd on his TT northbound (minus helmet the silly bugger) in Boundary. A group consensus took us down River Rd where Birchy then Rob just slowly rode away into the distance (too fit). Us mortals stuck together for the torture (eased in Euroa Rd to regroup for a suffering Scott) and soldiered on in Mitchell Rd.  A kilometre into Raftery Rd the wind was almost behind, but nobody came to the front for duty with me (mmm...a deodorant issue?). Picked up the pace as payback (resigned to the fact of a likely belting from Nathan though) holding it above 44 for the last 2km.  Saw Nath's shadow in the final straight for a bit, then it slipped away, so kept tapping away. With 50 metres left, the young monkey spooled up the cadence and pipped me on the line (should have known...never ease up near the end) Pleased with a 33 average in the conditions, good to roll into town with the group, listening to another remarkable story (that so many can to tell) that revolves around a bike.

After last nights effort, good to ride a circuit at a slightly calmer pace with Cougs, but winter had returned with a miserable 11 degrees (drag out the base layer and arm warmers again!)  The P&WTT had already shot beyond Channel Rd, poor Meags on her pat malone near the pub had us feeling guilty. A well sized Cattery followed a k later, Area 51 (in two packs) came from the toaster and down to Boundary soon after.  A good ride, considerate drivers too were quite refreshing...not as fresh as the southerly though!  

With new pair of Fortezza's (5800k's on the last pair - 2 punctures and one small tyre cut wasn't a bad run) and a new chain (just over 7000k use till the guage said trash it) I headed to the Couldabeens for a Thursday thrash.  A good congregation (just 8 on Tuesday i'm told) of 16 rolled slowly out  allowing a latecomer to catch on.  After just a couple of months with us, Nick & Jason fit comfortably in. Nathan jumped on near the kinder as many pondered ways to motivate Matt to the start line (missing in action again) but thoughts quickly turned to the speed of spin doctors Rob & Daniel on the front nearing Boundary Rd, quite the flurry of feet. Enjoyed a silky smooth DuraAce change with the new chain (yes, 'ol Foss does occasionally change cogs!) even though the wind was against us whilst southbound. Bo & Kel stayed for the full circuit and revelled in all action in the final 300 metres.  Vince did the jump, Greendog just jumped into neutral (or had he borrowed Bo's book?) , Nathan diplomatic, Bo protested a box in, Rob (of course) took the spoils of victory, but we all won with Cats pipped on the line.  Coug's slung a great sledge to the felines, and we all got a cheerful honk from train driver Glen (himself a rider) to finish off a great ride at 33.9. 

Quite a turnout at the library at 6pm. Dave's putting in lots of k's (with resulting performance) Robbo attending to keep us on our toes and out of the saddle, Trev, Nath, Axel, Dalton, Scott....all the usual characters, rogues and villans (and a couple of mobile chicanes we should all be wary of) Picked up several on the journey east to the Emu.....Mitch and Bomber in Ford Rd, Gools, Kev and little sprinter 2km later, Steve too touring solo. The 15k westerly made easy work of getting to the turn south, thereafter work was to be done. Dave had an itch for action soon after the Toaster (talk about premature!) but managed to contain himself.  All fair sailing for the southern leg, saw someone scooting down Channel, and spied Col northbound solo.  River Rd was the chosen course again (not my favourite, but status quo rules)  Big guns Mitch, Robbo, Bomber and company kept the pace on into the breeze. A car appeared from nowhere at the Euroa Rd turn causing a breif split, then a passing truck caused a little mayhem at the Mitchell Rd turn. (not liking the River Rd diversion much tonight). All settled though for the remainder of the westward leg, but Dave couldn't resist the need for speed just shy of Mt Nicolaci, a brave solo breakaway was launched, but as the saying goes...fleeing is futile, Melbourne Rd was as far as it got.  Lots were edgy in the last 3k, mid 40's in the job description, and I got very lucky in the last 800 metres with a perfect sit, 4th wheel on the right side. There's nothing like having Robbo's wheel in the closing stages (albeit with the guns of Mitch, Nath, Bomber and co bearing down behind), I scored the lead with 75 to go and dug deep into the hurt file to get to 57. Mitch's wheel was homing in close beside me but the finish line came in the nick of time to scrape in first. A 35.6 av reward for all and a comfortable 16 degree roll through town to cool down.

A great P&W family reunion Friday am, the established clan of Fox, Chops, Ayto, Fee, Meags, HWK, Stace, Cougs,  Sootie, Hayles, Princess and (occasional attendee) Jonesy rolled out for the 30k loop. Suprised to see fog laying on some paddocks (insn't it February?), great to catch up with those full into IMNZ training, belting out the massive k's on bike, foot and in water.  A crook call at the highway split the bunch, but the family bond ensured an instant regroup. An uneventful tour south then west, but another misjudged call at Melbourne Rd split us again.  All reformed for roubaix corner and the homward leg, the Area 51 train hammered past with


                                                             but a good weeks' end rolling over the tracks, beating the train by 5 minutes.  Week 5  = 389km 14,354 calories (717 capsicums) 33.1km/h  average. YTD 1964k

"Everyone hears what you say, friends listen to what you say, best friends listen to what you don't say"