Week 37

Without looking at the weather radar (or closely analysing the sky...in the dark), tank filled with porridge, tyres pumped, all kitted up, ready for a Saturday ride. Out the door, lights on, threw the leg over, two crank rotations then a spit from above. Then another. (mmmm?) One more. (you're imagining it) Two then three (get over it!) The next three k's were occupied by the arguments between Mr. Pessimist and Mr.Optomist fighting inside my skull.  A fine misty but light rain fell at 45 degrees ably assisted by a strong westerly to put a gloss on the road but dull the enthusiasm. Mr Optomist won, always look on the bright side of life (whistle whistle whistle)Within a minute or so it had stopped, victory for perseverance (but a watchful eye kept on the now visible horizon) Pleasing to see BigMat at the Peppermill, blessed with 3 quick chicks attending (Stace, Cougs & Hayles), then Andrew's arrival, and with seconds to spare the gun gentleman Nev to make up the stating grid. 
The catagory 2 climb out of Raftery Rd (near Edgewater Rd) was made tougher by both the head wind and the torque of BigMat, but legs were warmed up early by effort.  Nice to enjoy the wind assisted hum of 14 wheels out Mitchell Rd, catching a late starting Steve near the dog leg.  Oncoming Cats were stacked across Boundary Road resisting the force of the 24-37km/h westerly (makes up for the lack of hills), a bit of relief in the momentary shelter of trees helped our drive northward, but the hard yards were to come in Ford Rd. Nev worked double shifts of kindness at the front for a lot of the treck west, all others performing well in the 30's.  No cause for concern seeing a speed camera being set up near Matilda Drive, there wasn't enough watts into the wind to score a ticket. The muppets were grinning with the wind behind them passing DECA, lots of grins in our team came turning south into Rudd Rd. out of the head wind, with coffee & toast soon to be enjoyed at the Butterfactory (will miss Julie's hospitality though with a change of ownership soon) Usual exhuberant conversation amongst the crew,  joined by Sootie then Temple, Norm, Chris & others from the 6.45 group.

Cougs had organised a great team for a Fruitloop prologue on Sunday, a handy WSW tail breeze for the trip out too.  An ace roll-up of BigMat, Ro, Meags and Fox, Cougs, Fee, Norm, Chris the Pom, Temple & Daniel made up the pack for the eastward roll to Dookie, taking the Kellows Rd leg to avoid the pair of dive bombing magpies. A short bit of Roubaix section near Cosgrove (road ripped up for repairs) then the haul up the Alp d'Dookie (unaccustomed as i am to hiils). A brief confab at the shop (and a pause for drinks, eats, loo etc., an early return to Shepp for Daniel & Temple) then out east to face more inclines, some taking on the schoolies circuit, others the tarmac toward Devenish.   The brave scaled Duggans Rd, all then headed west back to Dookie, canola stretched acoss the hills for some worthwhile visual distraction (photo proof above). Just a short halt in town (avoiding muscles locking up) then all aboard for a slog into a south westerly home. Nice to have some good engines at the front, Fox aboard the TT Giant, Big Mat on Avanti, and great turns by all the girls got us all back to enjoy well earned refreshment at Friars. 

Turned up to the P&W's Monday to flush the legs of hill memories, Dan the Man (direct from a very green pasture) was commencing Canberra preparation, Princess was bedding in a hot pair of 90mm SRAM carbons and Meags bold enough to ride again straight after the Dookie assult.  Winter had revisited with 0.2 degrees, bands of low fog lay on Old Dookie Rd, riding through them looked like the opening sequence of Dr Who. All were keen just to roll the legs over and take a shorter course via Channel Rd to home. A most considerate start to the week. A big cheer for Tommygun, finishing in the 70.3 championships in Vegas in 34+ temperatures over the weekend, one tough vegetarian! Big cheer too for Nev's excellent 3rd at Ballarat.

Monday nights' sleep was as rare as Muntzy riding straight, an early work start too meant rolling out at 5.30 to knock 30k on the head and knock some demons out of mine. Climbed aboard the Prozac-mobile and headed out Channel Rd, a moderate improvement on yesterdays temperature, but 2.4 degrees is still a bit short. Quite the fat cat pack heading south in Boundary Rd, numbers are up with spring in the air and a little more daylight.  Vince was playing Casey Jones on the 51 train as I took a trip down the Hill Rd memory lane (as narrow as I remember when it was a regular course). Good to roll out a lap contemplating life's ups and downs (and clearing the downs) One or two fellow bike tragics were out along Ford Rd in the early hours, Captain Col and a compact crew outbound near the golf course as I rolled inbound . 

Lots of afternoon sun drew many out of hibernation on Tuesday night. Dave, Scotty, Craig, Rob, Liam, Sav, Dalton, Trev (back from from Broome but minus some broom broom) Nath, Hamish and Mike made up the starter pack, lots more joined on as we headed east. Kev, Mitch, Bomber, Steigy, olympian Steve (back from Belgium with a couple of ace wins), little Sprinter back in action after his canine calamity,  and half a dozen more swelled the ranks to make 24 at it's peak. Lighter longer now, can even spot the gravel on the corners.  The usual offenders kept the pace up, felt like the fridge door was left open several times over the course (glad i kitted up with a base layer). Bit of an embargo on rotation several times, some of the young-un's getting greedy on the front. Dave launched his sinature attack at Mt Nicolaci, lasting nearly to Roubaix corner was a good effort.  I'd resigned to sitting back tonight (couldn't have matched all that youthful enthusiasm anyway) with Sundays' Fruitloop on the horizon. 5th was a good score considering, 37.3 average pretty handy too. 

Wednesdays' P&W roll call mustered Chris the Pom, Cougs, Fee, Meags, Troy, Hayles and Sootie to tap out 30k's. Another fresh morning but the promise of sunshine with an early dawn and a clear sky was optomistic.  Nearing the Pub Dan had caught on (a chase brought on by dodgy alarm clock) making up an even eight.  The quick chicks performed well, shame Sooties restored knee still needs a bit more care. TT's were spotted at Central Kialla Rd and given right of way, Cougs made sure they didn't gain any ground, in fact reeling them in a few hundred metres. A smooth lap in all, too smooth for pussycats to catch. 

Put an appearance into Thursdays' Couldabeens, as did Trav, Shorty, Vince (on a damp 51 reprive) Chris A (getting hitched in 2 weeks)  Kenworth, Nick, Ryan, Rocket, Trev, Temple and Leon...even Dalton upped the standards joining in.   On the roll-out several noticed the distant light behind, who else but the (ever) late Daniel (almost started a fundraiser for a new alarm clock).  Courtesy called a wait for the straggler, eventually all grouped for the tour east to Boundary Rd. The south wester took its toll on the way to Mitchell, Temple losing steam on the turn so I played tow truck for a bit till he recovered. A crook call for a car at Central Kialla split the bunch but reformation was swift. Adios to Leon and the late Daniel at Archer, the rest continued for the Raftery finish. Vince took the front out of the Conrod dip and set the singles singing early (he may need to phone AMI for that premature problem?)  Plenty of horsepower from Kenworth, Dalton and co with a 100 to go, managed to just crawl past them, but had Rocket nipping at my heels at 54km/h (who graciously threw it in neutral a whisker before the line)

P&W numbers were down to just Stace, Sootie and Hayles on Friday. 1.9 degrees was too shy for Spring, but a lap beckoned to finish the week. Stace's chain needs oil, creaking under the stress of horsepower, Hayles (suffering the sniffles) belted out monster turns in silky smooth style, Sootie's knee must be coming good, no slouching there either.  Spied Leon on a solo out of Channel Rd, Steve too about to arrive home after an anti-clockwise tour.  Very pleasing to see well what lies ahead with the rising sun casting an orange wash over the canola on Mitchell Rd , far better than the dark and chilly/windy view only a month ago. 
Down to Arcadia Downs when 9 puddy tats finally caught and passed, the tail end becoming quite "up close and personal" in the drive forward (bit blinkered by ambition?) A good session to end the week, missed the usual coffee and yarn, a slave to works' roster. 

Week 37   395km  14,220 calories (6.2kg roast chicken) 32.1km/h average  YTD 14,171km

"Man, when you lose your laugh, you lose your footing"  Ken Kesey. US Author ("One Flew Over the Cookoos Nest") 1935-2001