Ahh, the serenity of a traffic free tarmac Saturday morning. Peace, but for the satisfying hum of a pair of Mavic's rolling southward (a little tailwind helps too). No garbage trucks to compete with, green lights all the way too. Jase, Shorty, Cougar, Nick, Temple and HBK had convened at the carpark, 6 bells tolled, a warmly welcomed Weapon tacked on (after a long absence) as the group rolled into the chill of Channel, DiscoSteve joining in at the roundabout. Weapon's on a spanking new Avanti road bike (a stablemate to the trick TT) also in the signature "pinkle" livery, right down to matching bar plugs, socks & glasses. Class act Weapon, Princess has a serious competitor! Shorty was lining up puddles to anoint all in mud polka dots (much to HBK's annoyance immediately behind), a little gravel to negotiate at the Jameson Rd turn, and Nick's new tyres defied delays today. Easygoing up to Boundary but felt the northwest building when northward, Nath meeting us nearing the fig farm (fitting a Ferrari into the Festiva's). A few were voting for a shorter Boundary Rd option but the usual toaster/emu course had the numbers in the upper house. Vince and Smuggler were the last guests to arrive as we exited Emu corner (intercepting from the west), a well stocked Cat pack hurled a greeting or three (ironically near the dog kennels) while HBK and Nath ramped up the pace to "illegal" levels (no infringements issued today with our 'policeman' in Broome). In reality it was quite cruisy (110 bpm) at fourth wheel whilst the young ones drove the tempo to Ford Rd, but add 50 beats to that when in the front seat. Long time no yarn to Vince (his new aero shape no doubt adding to the max velocity), a little ride variety keeping his spirits high. I put another squiggle in the Garmin graph into the wind of Wanganui, still mindful to abide by the rules (even if some weren't!) An obvious alarm malfunction for one of the Adams family at the golf course, cranking clockwise to rendevous with retirees? Our dozen riders had at least a dozen warm chairs awaiting at the cafe, so no dash to claim the hot seats, mind you, the now 2 degrees kept legs turning to avoid frozen veins. A satisfying Saturday social schmooze with GG finally fronting (in civvies), glove comparisons, lethargy and music genres just some of the discourse.
Sensible hours on Sunday, no time constraints so a leisurely breakfast and hit the tar a whisker before 7 for what is now a customary lap of the very familiar toaster lap, the northwesterly dictating the clockwise decision. Yesterdays rain had left its mark with a slick track and a few puddles to steer clear of (glad i hadn't cleaned the bike). Easygoing toward the Emu with the wind behind, i-pod on a random shuffle appropriately selected Queens of the Stone Age "Smooth sailing". Cosgrove turned on it's regular picture perfect sunrise to make the world look good, a different story laid ahead beyond the toaster however. The wind (now WSW) cut a 15km/h chill to sap power in Old Dookie Rd, ironically to Tame Impala's "Feels like we only go backwards". Speed was a little better than expected but there's a long way to travel west yet. Back to the favoured 15 sprocket for the south leg in Boundary Rd, a greeting toot from a passing grey Territory with flash racks atop meant a fellow bike junkie (no idea who, but will be sledged later i'd say) Just for a little variety, I chose the River Rd course and the 17 cog (despite my dislike of the road, tis better in daylight) but it's a long drag to the dipper (half way) with the wind doing it's darndest. Welcome back 15 tooth for the few k's in Central Kialla Rd, but change down again to the 17 for the masochism of Mitchell. Haven't changed gear this often for ages! The last few open plains beyond Archer Rd took it's toll on the speed, the legs just refused to do what the brain asked, thankfully Raftery's turn more northward took the edge off for a reasonable finish in 1:28:30 making 990 calories of room for breakfast part 2. How apt was the i-pod playing REM's "Everybody hurts" on the roll through town. Maybe the i stands for ironic?
No action Monday and rain spoilt Tuesday morning, so was keen as a judicial inquiry Tuesday evening fronting to the Hospital. The usual lads had lined up, Harpo back after a long lay-off. Additions came thick and fast barely a kilometre into the ride, Bomber & Trent, Sprinter & Gools, Steve, Sticks, uncle Tom Cobbly and all. A pacy leg out to the Emu with 15km/h of WNW assistance, even more entered the fold at the Church, welcoming Tony and Eggy aboard to lift the standards. Bomber burnt down Boundary, expiring all who rode at the front, including both brothers and toasting the Sprinter to a crisp. I figured staying back a few lengths when it came my turn would be the safest option, Gools graciously letting me in when most had filed single. Beyond the pub Eggy, Tony and the lads had restored order for turns to recommence, some chat now possible amongst the bunch. Much decorum and civility stayed for River Rd too, a decent tempo with smoothness aplenty helped all to stay in touch. A brief wind up of the wick for Central Kialla then back to normal for Mitchell. Scored the front with Trent from Archer to the highway at a fair clip, the headwind ramped up the heart rate to the red line cresting Mt Nicolaci. A momentary slow to get the bunch reformed after a traffic split was a chance to draw breath, but back into action out of Roubaix corner with big guns firing. In half a k the pack doubled it's length with most seeking shelter behind the wheel ahead, superior firepower advancing to the front entering Conrod straight, with twos and threes being disposed of rearwards with 750 metres to go. Quite a sting from the inguinal ligament coming out of the dip caused me to ease off the throttle (not wishing to bend a valve or burn a piston), there were lots ahead bolting to the line, lots behind taking in the oxygen to make it to the finish. All done in 1:09:20. but concerns on the personal damage to the old engine.
Muscles still smarting Wednesday morning, so played it safe rolling quietly, a gentle 20k with little use of the accelerator. All a bit cautious not wanting to go down the hernia road again (and crossing fingers it's not the birth of one) No symptoms Thursday am (thank heaven) but there's still a niggling thought bouncing about in the skull. Took in a dose of Couldabeens (for Channel Rd anyway) with only Rocket, BigMat, Cougar and Pistol Pete brave enough to face the elements. (others forgiven in light of Wednesday nights tempest) BigMat has the big screen attached to the headstem, a smartphone with appropriate app to keep an eye on the lap. A slow build up of pace (dodging the odd puddle) out Channel Rd, but a rapid slow near the cypress trees with a ton of timber scattered across the road. Up to Boundary Rd Cougar and I took a north exit (while the remainder bore south), not keen to push against the 22km/h southwester at Rocket rate (just yet). Easier going northward, P&W's and Cats in good numbers pointed south, gentleman Graeme giving gracious greetings, even a gaggle of Goats ground along behind. We turned west into the wind for the leg home facing the music of the libeccio swinging a little more west than south. Still a few branches laying in wait to avoid, a steady slog home finished a good circuit.
Mooroopna masochists Sean, Jamie, Skeeter and Harpo were at the Library early Thursday evening, AvantiTrev (browned and back from Broome) Dalton, Nath and Robbo made up a good starting mixture to head out the Boulevard. As is customary, we picked up Paul & Dion, Bomber, OlympicSteve, Mitch, Sticks and Trent to roll out to the Emu, pushed along by a light south west. The first decent yarn with Sticks, comparisons with Mitch on temperatures, Robbo's take on the Tour results, Trent's neighbours' sprinkler sounding like rain in the early am, and the Austrian agenda for Steve (starting Monday) was a good friendly social update (not as intimate as the Murdoch/Abbott one though) that's rarely possible on a Tuesday or Thursday night. The diesel Dalton is a tough one to match out front, my turn a little shy on a proper effort for Boundary Rd. AvantiTrev, Harpo and Skeeter were happy to occupy the rear seats but a dozen drove well south and west, no records (or backsides) broken in River Rd. Jamie kept returning to the front for duty despite being a little underdone, slowly but surely the speedo's crept up (no, not wedgies) for Raftery's thrash, Steve and Mitch providing plenty-o-tow. Into the low 50's with just a few hundred metres left, OlympicSteve humbled all with an explosion into the 60's to take the honours. Look out Austria, a big calibre gun is soon to shoot. Pleased to have finished 5th without grief, 410 watts exerted without side effects.
A dry road but a suspect sky in the very early hours of Friday, one look at the BOM radar locked in a rare
sleep-in till 6.30. No sleep really, pondering that a lap could have been done, but then the light shower came a bit after 6 confirming a good decision to avoid the elements. No doubt some would have committed.............
Week 32 : 294km (Cloncurry to Camooweal Qld) YTD 10,876km
"Being positive won't guarantee you'll succeed. But being negative will guarantee you won't."
Paul Brandt (Belobersycky) 1972- Canadian country music artist
Well, that's blog #200, should I continue?
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