Week 39

An early lap with Trev's mob for a change on Saturday, call it social prostitution if you like. Good to catch up with Shorty, Rocket, GG, Jase, Liam, Mike, Ryan, Fuji-Trev and Felt-Matt and Captain Trev. The boys chased the Cougar this morning (couldn't catch her till the kinder), Nath joined in at the top of Channel, the north bound leg in Boundary enjoyed with a southerly assistance (fanning a fishy-bunny aroma away). Good to catch up with the crew and download data on the happenings (dud legs Tuesday and crook weather Thursday didn't allow Couldabeens consultation). Rocket is about to head off on holidays, a few will be keen for a podium finish in the next two weeks I reckon.  Chief Trev runs a disciplined ship, no out-of-order attacks or breakaways, ace comradery at the conclusion too. A steady run up to the top of Boundary (till the tarmac runs out) then plug away the length of Lemnos-Cosgrove, Ford and Wanganui roads with just a short push into the wind in Rudd Rd.  Noticed the amount of tarmac trauma in recent weeks? Lots of blisters on the boulevards, acne on the avenues and ruptures on the roads, a legacy of a wet winter and skinny Vic Roads budget? Rolled into the LemonTree to enjoy coffee and conversation, toast generously layed on by the hosts.  A relaxed ride homeward after intercepted the 6.30's who'd coupled with the 6.45's, so u-turned for coffee take 2 and further fraternization, lots of talk on the direction and future of Saturdays ride.

A planned solo toaster lap on Sunday picked up Temple and Daniel into the fold. Just 3 made the decision to single file simple, a steadily building northerly was going to make hard work of the journey to the Emu. Unfortunately talk is off the agenda when line astern, concentration on the wheel ahead takes precedence so studied the detailed sculpture of Temple's Ridley ahead. Quite a push into the elements in the mid 30's, noticed Daniels new repositioning on the bike more akin to comfortable. Three quiet sighs turning south into Pine Lodge North Rd, a few seconds to take in fluid then into action again.  A cracking pace southward and not half bad westward (nice positioning up the road by the lads to benefit those drafting) had the kilometres ticking over quickly. Another brief reprieve after the pub (to guzzle water, not beer)  then on the gas again down to Mitchell, to find a somewhat spent Ryan heading north. (rapidly u-turning to join us) Great to have an extra pair of legs to share the assult down Mitchell as the wind had swung a little to the north west. A couple of groups were headed east, but things appeared a bit fuzzy by then, such was the tempo. The turn at Roubaix and the few kinks at Arcadia Downs seemed to point us more into pain, thankfully three others were shouldering the weight to avoid throwing a rod in Conrod. Like banging your head against a brick wall, it was lovely when it stopped, a caffine recovery at Degani's (polished service, trendy atmostphere, bike friendly outdoor setting but lukewarm coffee) for a post mortem, wallowing in the glow of 47k @,34.8 in 1.21.29, 1,123 calories, 67 cadence, 206 watts, 147 av HR (181 max) , 1,007 kj output and 42.5 max,  thanks to the endless data from Mr Garmin.  Cruised homeward but buckled at the Butterfactory, french toast scoffed to fill the tank.

A quite lap Monday, predicting a lack of P&W's (lots on a Dookie stage yesterday, 25km/h head-wind home) set course for a Channel-Boundary-Old Dookie lap.  No records to set, enjoying a ride for the sake of it with a pink sunrise to aim at. Nearing the end of Channel a loose Beagle gave chase (at the same site of a recent Rottweiller fracas) but halted very rapidly with a faceful of water from my bidon. (Ranger phoned later in the day to eliminate a possible injury) Tommygun & Weapon the only P&W's were on a cruise south, Vince spotted driving the Cat train in Boundary Rd too. A little effort needed against a freshening westerly on the way home, at least Pickles was half asleep near his kennel.    Gave the Monday evening lap a go at 6 (Liam and pooch on a run, Wookie running too at Tarcoola) BigMick and Wonny turned up, Hayles too. Glad I kitted up in the thermals, quite a chill in the air. Out past the golf club and along Wanganui & Ford, Big Mick had a big moment pulling a foot from the cleat, caused me a moment too, just a few cm off his wheel. Another moment on the turn into Boundary (from Old Dookie) when Wonny thought it was straight ahead (a touch of wheels and he kissed the tarmac gracefully) Funny how we become complacent and presume we're all on the same page.  No damage thankfully.  An un-eventful return home, but third time unlucky, BigMick lost a loose bidon at the railway crossing, Hayles skillfully kept upright despite flattening it. Enough excitement for one night.

Only 0.9 degrees on Tuesday, back to winter already?  A dozen Couldabeens turned up at the shop, almost needed an introduction to Kel & Bo (on a sparkly new raBObank TCR now, not a bad fathers day prezzy....Ridley retired?) Daniel must have felt the cold, a rare sight in arm-warmers, nice to have Vince back and Dalton joining in. Passed the caution around about errant dogs, thankfully pooches were scarce.  Must donate a spongue to Kenworth, there's a bike somewhere under the mud he's riding. We're motoring fast enough for Steve to stay on till Central Kialla now, Leon & Daniel did the Archer exit, Bo & Kel turned off at the highway. A gentle build up from Arcadia Downs to the finish, Vince was just playing with the sprinters (whilst Rockets' away, the monkeys will play)  teasing GG till he burst a valve, but Dalton played the trump card on the line, none to match that fellas torque.

A mild afternoon, sunshine and barely a puff of breeze brought out the regular Hospital group and a gaggle of winter hibernators on Tuesday night. The bunch doubled in size on the trek to the Emu picking up the usual performers and a few new. (the young aromatic mobile chicane had re-appeared too, so I took the opportunity to extend the bunch's opinion that he wasn't welcome...semed to have worked) Olympic Steve and a few other fit souls joined in at the Emu, pairing up with Bomber, Robbo, Nath and Mitch to concentrate and congregate the horsepower. Nath lit the fuse at the Church lengthening the pack of 23, the other guns following suit for a fair workout. Dug deep to pair up with Sly for a stretch at 40, young Craig next to roll up to the business end. There was a brief repose in River Rd, but the lads got excited again, into the 40's when I got near the front, just the top guns driving the train while most hung on, speechless, breathless and praying.  I felt like the tow ball for the next 6km, hanging on the back of the big engines (for all I was worth I should add), pulling the traliers along. The drivers at the front were steadily whittling down the numbers (turning tryers to more trailers) and I found myself about 9th approaching the finish with a long gap behind to a dozen scattered and struggling. An enjoyable chuckle on the way home with Jamie, Sean & co. The data download at home showed a 37.4 average at 254 watts on a 146 average heart rate so downloaded dinner to make up the 1148 calories lost.

Well, switch on the air-conditioner...temperature doubled to 1.8 degrees on Wednesday! At least there was 5 hot chics to warm up a lap at 6. Stace, Hayles, Cougs, Fee and Meags tapped out the usual course sharing the load and the chat (Fee and Meags still up early even on holiday ;  take note Ayto and other doona snugglers!) A most-of-Mitchell monster turn at the front by Stace & H, Area 51 shot past in Mitchell, the TT boys just pipped us to central Kialla with Weapon in tow. A full harem then formed for the last 6k, Cougs lit the fire in Raftery Rd to set wheels humming, the femme fatales formation finishing fast, foss flagging. (four made good of time off with Friars brekky)

A huge contrast in temperature for Thursday morning, a 14 degree start has been but a dream for months. The wind wasn't backward in coming forward, blowing at 17km/h. Got out early (to get to work early) for a short lap of Old Dookie-Boundary-Channel , finding 8 or 9 Couldabeens at work into the wind approaching Boundary. A moderate ride suited, kind on a thumped knee from work yesterday. 

A hasty rotation of tyres late Thursday afternoon (3000k of posterior pressure put a flat profile on the rear Vredestein) then off to the library to see who would emerge from hibernation. 14 were rolling rapidly out the Boulevard to Nath's tempo, so jumped aboard to yarn with councillor Dave, Dalton, Scotty and co. We should have wallowed i the glow of a 'world champion' hanging off the back, but the real champion (Steve) was welcomed out near the kennels. When he teamed up with Robbo and Bomber, all were waiting for the fireworks to go off, but mercy was shown (after Tuesdays' punishment?) with just a few steady build ups to the low 40's, enhanced and bearable with 11km/h of easterly wind assistance.   19 degrees had a unanimous vote of approval, the first time bare arms and legs had been out in a long while. Little sprinter is on the slow and sensible comeback trail, Axel turned up in Boundary Rd, a short chat with Paul but he's getting faster each ride.  All had an extended wait for traffic at Melbourne Rd (allowed the heart rate to recover) but it was Nath, Dalton, Steigy and I  towing the others for the next 3k. Kev bolted with 300 to go and held on for the honours, Nath 2nd and me happy with bronze.

Just a solitary Hard Man at the P&W start on Friday (seems most of the harem had retreated to RPM) but Cougs, Ryan & i turned up to keep him company. 23 degrees another shock to the system, all of us a tad overdressed for the occasion. A bit of a howler blew fron the NNE at 22k's so a slow build up out Old Dookie was in order (helped Dan the Man catch on from a late turn-up) It was difficult to coach the legs into life after a busy week but relief came on the turn into Boundary, hoist the mainsail me heartys. THM, Ryan and Dan were keen to enjoy the tail wind, Cougs and I took an exit via Channel Rd to start work early,  Cougs powered into the wind to make it even earlier.

Week 39  474km  17,064 calories (6.5kg lentils) 32.3 average YTD 15,085 km

"The secret to life is honesty and fair dealing; if you can fake that, you've got it made"
Groucho Marx 1890-1977