Week 26

Merton gap April 2012    i-phone

Morning commitments to kids with soccer and hockey called for an early ride Saturday, missed the usual bunch for the first time in 46 weeks. After rain forced the last 2 days off the bike, I needed L plates for the first few k's. How soft one becomes! Just to test the resolve it was 0.3 degrees to start , lowering to minus 2 out of town. A quiet 30k's fitted the agenda nicely, Venus and Jupiter sat just below a crescent moon heading out Mitchell Rd., the frogs quite vocal to the sun's rising (a fraction earlier?) in Boundary Rd., a pleasant start to the day, in spite of the chill. Turned west into Channel Rd to see Vince & Steve creeping out to intercept the Cats (apparently they'd fronted to the Couldabeens to find no-one there)  I had no interest in speed (only makes it colder!), just quite content to enjoy the scenery, particularly the dog (at the centre of Tuesday's scare) frozen to the front yard by frost and chain. And speaking of chains, a new one fitted returning that slick, precise Dura-Ace change. (8K clocked on the old one had turned gearchanges pretty ordinary)

An internal alarm opened eyelids at 5.30 Sunday, cerebral cortex activity wouldn't allow them to close, a circuit on the bike the best prescription.  8.5 degrees was a more agreeable temperature, a light west to north west assistance toward the emu was a bonus, Cosmic's helped too. Three big hares were the only traffic, couldn't decide if the ultra fine spots lit up by the headlight was heavy mist or super fine rain. A dry road signalled a mist, but would it turn to rain? Low cloud was only just visible in the dark sky.  Put all my eggs in Alexander Pope's basket  "hope springs eternal in the human breast" and by the railway line it had ceased. Turned at the toaster expecting a struggle into the wind but progress was optomistic, no piggery pong either! (but the Boundary Rd one made up for it) Kept the effort up southward (thinking Mitchell would grind me down) but was quite chuffed again with the tempo. The road seemed a little more uphill after Central Kialla Rd (signs of an emptying tank) and by Mt Nicolaci the ouch factor had set in. All effort was to hold a decent pace in Raftery Rd, thankfully the sight of Conrod straight allowed relief to carry an empty tank over the line, 50k in 1:25:00 alright for this old bloke solo, a 34k / 161 hr average.  Cobbles & Tony were on the way out of town, a Cat pack of 10+ soon after. A serve of coffee and toasted banana bread was fair reward, home just in time to avoid the light showers that set in for the morning.

Took a short circuit Monday, the weather a lot like Sunday. Spots that could be either mist or rain, came and went in varying strength but barely dampened the road. A decent pack of P&W's gave a big greeting (to u-turn and share the load?) and a sizeable Cat pack followed. Happy to get home a little earlier to start the working week.

A light southwest breeze cooled Tuesday morning to 3.5 degrees but there were ten Couldabeens prepared to tackle the circuit.  I  took the first shift with Leon  (as has become custom)  who was on a new Giant for its' second outing.  Steve was firing on all eight cylinders (in a field of 6 cylinder engines) thankfully Chris and Rob had a recipe to suit us all.  Rocket reported a sinking feeling of a slow puncture but was going to soldier on till he had to stop.  Ryan recovering from holidays, Trav recovering from food poisoning with a side order of flu (all other grizzles are now null and void)   Rocket made it all the way to Central Kialla Rd before the pump came out, Kenworth and Glen stopping for moral support.   The 7 remaining soldiered on  (with a brief slow down for Ryan to re-plug the headlight in) Chris most considerate keeping the team together beating the Cats to the line, but the train got it's revenge just beating us to the boom gates.

A chilly night of 7 degrees could only gather 9 to the hospital. Rob back for more (his 3rd outing) and newbie Sav to see what the hype was about. Axle, Scotty, Graham, Andy and Liam made up the rest of the team to head east, Bomber and Steigy tacking on a few k's out. Turning at the emu Andy and Simmo had a half wheel battle into the high 30's to spit three out the back quite unceremoniusly.  I remember well the disheartening feeling of being dropped in my early days of bunch riding, so backed off to lend a tow.  Regrouped the 3 (including new lad Sav) at the church and set about a smooth and steady chase back to the peleton, finally tagging on at the Old Dookie Rd channel bridge.  Back into the rotation drawing the short straw (again) between the horsepower of Bomber and Steigy, high 30's into what felt like a light head wind certainly warmed up the legs and the heart rate.  From the pub all the way to Archer Rd just 5 were driving the engine.  Andy rolled over a bit short in Mitchell Rd nearly sending Liam into the shrubbery, putting many on standby.  Graham was in fine form up Mt Nicolaci, a settled tempo after the highway with only 4 now doing regular turns, the temperature now at 4 too.  Simmo finally appeared from the back with 2 k to go but the sprint belonged to the youthful Andy, Graham (making him work hard for it)  a close 2nd, I was content with 5th at 49 km/h, a big appetite fuelled by a 34.5k / 145 bpm average.

Not quite half way through the year, the bike clocked 10,000 tonight for 2012, from home to Dehli in distance or 654 hamburgers worth of calories.(maybe a target 20K for the year?)  

A mild 7 degrees started Wednesday.  Rolled down my street at 5.30am to pass a bloke riding to work, all kitted out in hi-vis jacket, baseball cap and no lights front or rear (and no sense in between). To complete international day of the idiot I got squeezed by an overtaking car within inches of a parked car, 100 metres later he rapidly parks and flings open the door, mirrors un-used. Gave him a sudden & loud "thankyou" just as he stepped out which woke him very successfully!  A fair old push out Channel Rd into a strengthening north east breeze, Cougs and I arrived in Boundary Rd to witness the now familiar procession of supercats, P&W's, a couple of soloists, standard Cats, one more solitary, then a sizeable 51 bunch powering along. An enjoyable leg down Old Dookie, a circuit we're nearly familiar with after 6 years. to finish a solid no pressure ride.
Thursday morning was forced to abandon the Couldabeens with an early work start, so a short lap a little earlier got the blood flowing and muscles warmed up (mind you, it was quite warm under the doona).  At least a lap flushed away the lethargy of a winters morning.

The mornings' light northeaster was still evident by evening. Hadn't done a Library group ride for some time so joined the dozen assembled, Bob & Helen from Kelly coaching (mentoring Hamish) along to join us.  Hamish and Trev just made the starting flag, Dalton back from injury, newbies Rob & Sav back once more, totally addicted. Picked up our olympian, Steigy and 4 others along the way, but we were halted at almost every intersection by traffic. (A liitle wait at the corner is better than a long wait in rehabilitation i reckon).  A few were content hanging off the back, rotations were happening long and short, fast and not so fast.  Some relief turning at the toaster, the breeze behind made life a little easier (welded the chain to the 12 tooth which stayed till Arcadia Downs prompted a gearchange). Slowed again for traffic at the pub, this time a police car diverting traffic from what appeared to be a significant accident a kilometre toward the east.  Back into the rhythm down Boundary then River roads, Steigy & Steve doing the lions share of fast driving, but more waiting for traffic was needed at the highway. (was it peak hour?) I played tow truck for the lads hanging on the back when the fire was lit in Raftery Rd, finding the going tough to be honest. A long single file train formed with Steve as chief driver, Andy and the young guns thrashing out a rapid finish. I slowly reeled in many victims of the final burst but something had pulled the handbrake on to barely finish 5th....a super soft front tyre noticed on the Raftery bridge.  Happy with a 34.2 average, stopped for a few pumps of air to get the wheels home, dig out the sliver of glass and change the tube in the light and the warmth. 

Predicted overnight showers never came so off to the roundabout to find several P&W's ready for action. The hardcore harem of Hayles, Stace, Cougs, Fee and Meags had Dan, Chris & i to make up 8 at 6 for 30 in 8 with 17 from the NE. The girls did a great job in the strengthening wind, a big relief to turn south into Boundary Rd. Dan had dusted 3 months dust off the bike, Meags had sought comfort in a new Selle to sit on, great to catch up with the crew for a decent and co-operative circuit.  Cats were co-operative in passing just before Central Kialla Rd.  The bunch kept tight knit for the duration, no sprint neccessary. A brief yarn over a flat white ended another week. Over the hump for 2012, all downhill from now (and hopefully with more daylight and more temperature!)

Week 26   406km   14,616 calories (a 116 egg omlette)  32km/h average  YTD  10,209km

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on"  Franklin Rooseveldt  32nd US President
1882-1945