No great expectations Saturday, a slick road and 3 degrees hardly the most inviting atmostphere to ride. One wonders the effort in cleaning the bike (three times last week) to subject it to these conditions. Set off a little later than normal and intercepted Jase on the way, a rare chance for a yarn negotiating his guided tour of suburbia on the way to the car park. Bang on dew point and 99% humidity spelt a little fog but Shorty, HBK and Temple fronted, many missing with winters toll and some dealing with a family loss (sincere condolences to Rocket, BigMat and families) The fearsome five took to the shiny track of Channel Rd, saturated from what seems like 40 days and 40 nights of downpour. Shorty (or should that be "Puddles") was on threat of shouting coffee if he put a wheel through water, the concession of taking the shorter circuit straight up Boundary if he was a good boy. Lots of mud and snails soiled an already grubby bike, torture on the poor chain too. Shorty had U turned half way up Channel with an urgent natural break, felt quite foreign heading up Boundary on the short-cut, passing the familiar Old Dookie turn, an eye out for the full width ripple strips nearing Hill Rd an old habit reborn. Temple took an early retirement to the rear seats on the turn into Lemnos-Cosgrove, Jase and HBK took us to the soup tin. 2k into Ford Rd even HBK began to drag the chain, got a rare chance to turn tables and half bike him! Order restored after Grahamvale Rd to collect Temple from going OTA, single filed to preserve all, that coffee may be enjoyed as a team. Short cut Shorty joined at the Lemontree duely relieved, Cougar too (on a respiratory recovery) to chat on forecasting, Cat sledging, Fruitloop preparation, super sprinters and drug cheats.
Took the Temple invitational on Sunday, a camel farm lap with HBK, Cougar and RidleyTrev. Just 4 degrees and a northeaster tested tenacity for the long haul of Mitchell then the longer haul of Bells-Armstrong Rd. HBK (on the world's longest Ridley) hinted at pairing to lead all for the 12k leg east, but he bailed out with just 6k done. Shared the front with Temple (on the world's cleanest Ridley) for another 4 clicks, this road is longer than the politicians rhetoric, at least there was a visual distraction of the rising sun piercing the clouds to light up the canola blooming. Ground into the northeaster till the Cosgrove-Caniambo Rd turn, just to have the breeze swing NNE to give us something more to battle against. Finally to Kellows Rd and some tailwind therapy, mused on the construction of the camel then tracked the tarmac of New Dookie homeward. RidleyTrev and Cougar upped the ante heading to the Church, a group of four southbound on Cosgrove North Rd quickly became the carrot to chase. Rapid attack avoided, a steady build on tempo had the same effect, catching the four (unknown) nearing Boundary, but the targets turned. Never fear, inspiration lay further ahead with another 6 to chase on Old Dookie, a k deficit to pick up. Necks wrecked checking on our pursuit and putting their best bikes forward to challenge (pfft, fleeing is futile), we'd caught them with 2k left, passing at the bridge, a solid push at 40 for the last kilometer to gap 'em soundly. Reward at the Lemontree with toast and coffee, smug in a minor victory over the elements.
Monday's rain stopped any activity, but made up for lost time on Tuesday. Quite a breeze from the west blowing in the early hours, thoughts of the struggle into it along Mitchell Rd doesn't do much for motivation. But then the thought is a bit presumptious till we get there. Rocket, Kenworth, BigMat, Cougar, PistolPete, Tim, Temple , Jase and Vince (revisiting his roots) set off from the shop to be blown east out Channel Rd. A spike in speed when some got to the front and quite a moment approaching the S bend when the pest pooch ("DarthVader") bolted from the undergrowth. Certainly bumped up the heart rate (when it was well up anyway) avoiding the crazy canine, loose stones on the apex and hanging on to the surge in speed. A little more settled by the time we'd turned onto Boundary Rd and down to the bridges but by River Rd the tempo was stretching the rubber band to the max. Good to have that warm glow of team spirit with Kenworth and Rocket coming back to reglue the pack, several now managing the pace better. By the Mitchell Rd chichane our nasty westerly had eased a bit to a WNW, a few conversations now achieveable. Pistol Pete departed at the highway, the heat turned up gradually by Arcadia Downs with some having reserves to thrash to the finish. A few had unhooked in the closing stages but all reformed for some social bonding in the cool down through town.
Almost summer numbers again at the hospital on Tuesday night, the regulars Sean, Dion, Paul, Ozzy, AvantiTrev, Clive, Robbo, Sprinter and new dude Angelo starting the proceedings, bigger calibre guns blending in on the journey east. Bomber, Marko, Trav and young Liam, Steigy, Sticks, Nath and Eggy doubling the numbers by the kennels. Passed one guy (lit up like a Christmas tree) beyond the main channel but think he was detached almost instantly. It's getting hard to identify all the faces as the group grows, apologies to any I may have missed. Turning at the Emu promised a little ease with the breeze at our backs, but of course the thumbscrews were twisted with a dose of up-tempo after the church. Some had resigned to stay on as tail lights (no shame in that given the speed) with high 30's the fashion on the front. Sprinter and Angelo dialed down a few k's after the pub but Travis had plans to take me to 40 from the bridges to River Rd (in his draft after the turn prevented a melt down) The pecking order was being sorted in River Rd, Nath and Eggy, Marko, Bomber and Robbo dragging us in their wake to the mid 40's. My turn again in Central Kialla, this time with Bomber dishing out the ouch. Grateful it was just a few hundred metres till he swung off homeward, but little bro Marko defended the family reputation straight away. A big hit in the opening k of Mitchell started to open some gaps, me included, till Eggy's helping hand saved the day. Liams legs a blur, Oz with tons of grunt, Robbo and others well qualified drove the indian file train up to the highway, one more turn had my needle on the red line, so skipped the next to recover. Out of Roubaix the big boys got serious, the thin line drew longer and gaps bigger by Arcadia Downs. Found myself gapped and dragging a few with me, so threw the last shovel of coal into the boiler to catch back on, Ozzy the savior offering a draft out of the Conrod dip to latch on. Barely hanging on to any hope then steadily passing so many burnt to a crisp quickly turned the emotional tables, chuffed to manage 4th (salvaged behind Oz), watching the cadence blur (circa 140) of Liam being led by the Eggman across the line. Measuring the heart rate recovery lately, 185 at the finish then 125 at the bridge.
Gave the poor old bike a day off on Wednesday, ye olde faithful turning 9 years old and turning over 159,000k's last night. Yikes! nearly 4 times round the globe (or 2,945 toaster circuits) Old part number #80 91 0 139 773 from Bayerische Motoren Werke has seen a fair bit over the years and survived a few prangs, might just be tough enough to reach 200,000 (in 2015) Hats off to Claus at Sachs Ag for the bulletproof frame.
A change of routine on Thursday, up to SPC with Cougar to reaquaint with the P&W's (missing for many moons) Just the luck, picked the morning when none show, but Wizz and Sosso were ready to roll out with the Hurt Locker, but the princes of pain not on my shopping list. Cougs and I rolled away in Old Dookie (predicting being passed by locker lads or crafty cats) to slowly reel in a bike 300 metres ahead. Caught at Central Ave and identified as Gools, we formed a trifecta to tap away Old Dookie then Boundary, bathing in profound smoothness, gratification and admiration (with just a hint of awesomeness) A pleasure to share the load with a true gentleman, but time (the lack of it) tore us away down Channel, thankfully DarthVader liked sleep more than chasing riders today, might be the 1.6 degrees that kept him indoors. Light enough even at 6.30 to read an unlit watch face (roll on spring!) but daylight savings in just 7 weeks (Oct 6th) will rip the pleasure away for a while.
An evening Thursday thrash was in order, quite the attendance at the library. Sean, Dalton, Hamish, Tony, Robbo (already with 40k chalked up), Skeeta, Clive, Paul, AvantiTrev (relief, wobblyTrev offshore) Simmo and Dion, with Marko, Sticks, Bomber, Mitch and LegalSteve later additions. Missile mum Kylie turned a few heads on a run in the Boulevard, 10 degrees and a touch of northwest breeze ramped up the cadence on the long run toward the Emu. Sean set a cracking pace to toast my legs at the business end of the bunch, next up was Bomber to flambe them. Gentleman Gools and Sprinter added another carriage to the train in Old Dookie Rd, 18 heads counted is a good attendance for a winters evening. Cars passing were plentiful, calls unfortunately rare. Dalton & Sean were fine drivers to the two bridges in Boundary Rd, some doubt and a little dread doing duty with Bomber again (like entering the V8 supercars with a Hyundai Getz) but much consideration was given to this dinosaur, leveling with my wheel (but could I hear snoring?). Paul & Dion added the megawatts down River Rd, my conversation down to three word sentences to allow oxygen intake at 175 bpm. The procession continued through Central Kialla and into Mitchell, numbers working the front now thinning, retirees populating at the rear. A big split for traffic at the highway caused a pause to regroup, "all on" called on the exit of Roubaix. Turns turned tenacious, tight and timely touring to Arcadia Downs, I'd scored prime real estate behind Sean with 400 to go but didn't count on him unleashing the fury early. Not enough left to get serious when Sean expired, I was swamped by a handful in the dying moments. (funny how a couple go for glory without supplying one grunt at the front) Hats off to the newer recruits however, an apprenticeship in at the deep end certainly earns their dinner, the Toaster circuit in 1:19:40 a fair effort.
All these cold mornings are adding up, another one Friday was about as popular as preference votes to the Greens. Gave the bike another rest and walked a few k instead.
Week 33 : 307km ( Camooweal Qld to 140k shy of Tennant Creek) YTD 11,183
On announcement that Jens Voigt will ride another pro season next year (a 17th Tour de France?) one fan posted "Shut up retirement!"
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