As a warm-up for the forthcoming Fruitloop (just 5 weeks to go till September 8 if BigMat is paying attention) I took to the toaster circuit with Cougar on Sunday, a clockwise approach into a brisk 24km/h northeasterly to do the pain before the gain. Not a car or bike in sight for the haul to the Emu, the heart rate steadily climbing, particularly in the wide open plains. No records to set, just time in the saddle (the repetition of many rides of 30k's climatises one somewhat) a much more pleasant effort heading south and west back to town. Hope springs eternal seeing canola's early yellow, a little of the wattle too puts Spring into the step. Those long stretches of Boundary and Mitchell completed, into Raftery and out of Roubaix to weave through a trucks deposit of mud and onto Conrod, the reality and reward of Degani's banana & walnut toast a great trophy.
Took to the footpath on Monday morning shaking the last of a cold off, the bike staying clean off the damp road. A magic afternoon of 16 degrees lifted the spirits to tackle a take 2 of the Byrneside-Merrigum-Lancaster loop. There was a light westerly to drive into but the thought of a tailwind home does motivate. The few waves of half a dozen cars passing on the Midland highway was enough to maintain the speed west but all had vanished down the Tatura turn-off to leave me at the mercy till Byrneside. Thoughts of the billiard table smooth tarmac for 5k into Merrigum kept the momentum in Brewer Rd, a delight to bear north toward Lancaster but the wind had packed it in and gone to bed. The long 13k stretch from Lancaster to Mooroopna North without a wind behind wasn't fair, but at least I'm finally comfortable on the seat after a few months of grief. Only 4 cars overtook so was able to hog the smooth left wheel track for most of the trip east. 13 more k's southeast on the Echuca-Mooroopna Rd was easier mentally, closing in on the lights of town far more positive than the prior long dark stretches. Back to the Mooroopna main drag clocked an even 60k in 1:50:10 a good workout with 54k's in the h.r. zone 4.
Suprised to see fog in the early hours of Tuesday with a reasonable 8 degree temperature, but a fair westerly blowing did'nt add up. Maybe clouds were being dragged along the ground? An earlier start, and a shorter lap with Cougs', the fog thickened out of town making a delightfully greasy road, mud & worms to coat the bike, a damp kit, fogged glasses and a black gritty chain......ahh, the delights of winter cycling! Plugged away regardless through the mist, Cats emerging from the Boundary Rd fog, even Goats bearing east in Old Dookie Rd. A decent slog home at a fair clip into the breeze, Cougs wound up the cranks to engage warp drive to the finish line.
Regulars Clive, Dalton, Sean, Paul, Dion & Nath were at the hospital Tuesday night, Coggo in for another dip too. Last Thursday's early get away was analysed and critiqued, the clock struck 6 so we set forth on a smooth sail out Lemnos-Cosgrove, a light south westerly helping. DiscoSteve joined us at the soup tin, Bomber, Sticks, Steigy, young Liam, Travis, OlympicSteve, Trent & Trudy swelled the ranks on the trip to the Emu. A good steady roll along benefitted all, young Liam spinning like a top in junior cogs. There was no vicious attacks but the speed stayed up and consistent, what we all need to survive. OlympicSteve and Trent drove the tempo for most of River Rd, others had their turn for the Mitchell Rd stretch. I decided to play observer on arrival at Arcadia Downs, those toiling at the front were far more deserving of a credit at the finish. Nath had a thrash to the line but was out gunned by OlympicSteve, Sean taking the bronze in a strong final surge.
Cold as the veritable mother-in-laws' kiss on Wednesday morning, zero to start a Kialla Couldabeens lap with Rocket, Cougar and Jase, the mercury to drop more with dawn approaching. It was a fair push down Archer to find PistolPete hovering at Mitchell Rd. The foggy patches had a psychological suppressor on speed, it was like pedalling through porridge. A sharp eye was out for the mini mud mountains near the dam reconstruction at the top of Mitchell, Jase calling the minus temperatures wasn't exactly inspirational but the feint light on the Dookie horizon means the days are slowly getting longer. Just 4 P&W's were toughing it out too in Boundary Rd (southbound), a string of Cats a k behind approaching River Rd in familiar attack formation. Turns came around quickly for us with just 5 to share the load, smooth sailing homeward along Channel Rd, Jase winding up the pace (out of habit?) passing Prentice Rd. A neat little lap to tap, getting home with a few extra minutes up the sleeve for my 7.30 start.
Fog aplenty at 5.30 Thursday morning, enough to hang up the kit and take a morning off. A spy out the window at 6 discovered the coast had quickly cleared, could have managed a ride as it happens but there's no loss with a few less k's. A massed congregation at the library on Thursday evening, no early bunch to the slaughter tonight. Jamie returned on a brief visit from the big smoke, half of Mooroopna represented with Sean, Clive, Skeeter etc too. Oz, Dion, Nath, Dalton, FujiTrev and others made up a dozen but Nath with itchy feet took off ahead, (only managing to catch him in the early section of Ford Rd). Bomber, Mitch and Paul joined in at the end of Rudd Rd, OlympicSteve, Trent & Trudi & Sticks a little further out. Smooth driving by Oz along Wanganui Rd made my turn manageable, a bit of hesitation at the Verney round-about caused a minor shunt but the tough k's were to come, the big guns had higher calibre speeds saved for Lemnos-Cosgrove. Many were already hanging on for dear life as two rows tapered to one at the main channel, just the tough & brave venturing up front for duty. Regular formation resumed after the Emu (some punching a little above their weight had quickly reserved a seat at the rear) with decorum restored, albeit at a decent pace, for the stages to the pub. My long turn with Trent was followed by several others on much shorter duty, but nobody's counting, it's contribute where you can. We'd picked up LegalSteve along the way, even Nico climbed aboard in Old Dookie Rd. Just a kilometer into River Rd Mitch, Nath and Bomber hit the boost button, again the pack thinned to single file with a lot of rubberbanding happening at the tail. By River Rd's end there were cracks appearing, gaping chasms had formed when arriving at Mitchell Rd. Only the high powered artillery at the pointy end now, many hanging on by the fingernails or being unceremoniously spat out the back. Up Mt Nicolaci at 39, over Melbourne Rd (almost airborn) at 37, out of Roubaix at 40, Dalton & I were handed the big job to close the gap to the fast front four when Jamie went kaboom. The task eventually acomplished, I now hung on for survival, OlympicSteve driving the train possessed for the last 2.5k at 44+. Mitch got the elbow for the last 150 but Nath thrashed past for a close win, 48k covered in 1:17:10, a string of lights stretching back nearly a k behind. Sean, Clive & I waited for Jamie to limp home, several other missing persons presumed to have taken a shortcut home.
Rolled down to Kialla on Friday morning to join in Rockets' invitational roll, only to miss the earlier start by minutes. No loss and no fret, enjoyed a short recovery lap with bike buddy Cougs to chew over the week that was and allowing a little muscular compensation for the past weeks 400+k toil. 10/10 b.t.w. for Robbo covering 1680km on the Powerbar "Take on theTour" challenge (half the TdeF distance in the same time frame)
It's been a strange week devoid of the Tour, Gabrielle, Skoda, QBE, GORD, Swisse et al. Better dry my eyes with a kangaroo till the Vuelta appears.
Week 31 413km (Qld; Hughenden to Cloncurry) YTD 10,582km
"Life always offers you a second chance.........it's called tomorrow" (unknown)
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