A cruisy ride to Saturday's start, shouldn't think negative but it would seem there'd be work to do on the way back. Sat solitary at the start, wondering if i'd got the right day til GG rolled in, soon after Nick, Temple and RidleyTrev wandered in. Was this a sinking ship deserted? Several away on a Tassie bender, others with more legitimate reasons, (some on pm FruitLoop training?) but I can understand why the doona would be heavy today. 5 degrees and a damp road was hardly appealing but at 6 the few took to Channel Rd, possibly only driven by cooked breakfast and coffee at the finish? The Garmin 500 is back in the land of the living, (speed display froze, cadence vanished) a new battery for the GSC10 has restored data (11 months out of the last one) GG's comeback is at full tilt, no gentle transition for this lad! Nick taking a more measured approach after a week in the snow, RidleyTrev on a recovery from Thursday night. Votes for a short course were rushed through the senate with no consultation with the member for North Shepparton (but I wasn't about to object) Temple's spin had spun out by Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, joining the rear for a spell. A NNW wind gained some strength, blowing a nasal baptism from an un-named other my way (charming) Back to the front for Ford Rd with GG (still firing on all cylinders) and again for Wanganui, I took the executive decision to call single file (in light of those toiling), just GG and me to cut the breeze to Rudd Rd, a cruise thereafter to Fryers St to satisfy cravings for caffine, cuisine, conversation and convalescence. Subjects of cranky customers and boys weekends were chewed over, a recovering Pom joined in for the epilogue.
There was vigourous debate in the upper house of the cranial chamber in the early hours of Sunday, to ride or not to ride? - that is the question. Thumbed through the book of excuses but the affirmative team had won the debate, regret has such a bitter taste, an endorphine chaser hopefully served on conclusion. Nesohc pal yadrutas esrever a.......oops, a reverse saturday lap chosen for 6am, a nasty 22-30km/h northerly to tackle (and i'd rather do the worst first) for the Boulevard. Hard yakka for the opening stage to Wanganui, a little less taxing pointing east toward Boundary Rd and lapping up the absence of traffic. Again, the heart rate was the restrictor, way into the anaerobic would limit the old engine, at least the pleasantries of heading south down Boundary Rd had a sense of achievement in the high 30's. A 7am meeting to keep kept the drive going, not a lot of shelter in Channel Rd though (more orchard excavations), the short north leg to the kinder none too pleasant and pot-holes plentiful of late to avoid (and not just on this stretch of tarmac). Stayed just under the 165 threshold (should be 131 for this ancient being) till Kensington's roundabout, pleased to have clocked a 52:50. Kept the appointment to tap out another 32 clicks with Cougar (on a P&W circuit) for a tune-up for the Fruitloop. Time in the seat beyond 90 minutes is a bit rare lately (work and weather the offender?) so I'll call this a Tour de Tough Tooche. Super smooth as always with super nana, a good steady (and familiar) circuit with very little bike traffic (funny, no BigMat evidence anywhere) till half way down Mitchell, a dozen Cats off on, i'd guess, a 7 bridges lap. A customary Sunday coffee at Degani topped off 70k nicely, a small sense of achievement thinking back to the internal debate of 5am.
Struck down with a gastric tsunami Sunday night (from Saturday's nasal baptism?) I struck Monday off the register, but revived in fair order Tuesday to take in a Couldabeens panacea. Again, numbers were low, maybe half a degree and a push home into a westerly had some part in it? Just the tenacious Rocket, Trav, Cougar and PistolPete are made of the stuff to take this on. As is Couldabeen protocol, a collaborative effort, enjoying the benefits outward and toil homeward against the elements. Nearly every morning the sun appears to rise a little earlier (pleasing to see a bit more than just what the headlight shines on) springing some hope of warmer months soon to come, but winter had it's grip on todays temperature. A pause for the highway traffic (and to hooroo the pistol) a collection of Cats were steadily closing in from the rear, but four came to the fore for the finish, spurred on by thoughts of a hot shower, hot toast and hot coffee?
Barely 8 degrees on Tuesday night didn't daunt the usual punters at the hospital, nine to commence with, more recruits gathered along the way. The speed squad of Steigy, Sticks, Bomber and many more increased the population and the pace on a chilled tour to the Emu, Paul, Nath and others adding to the total. 15k of westerly helped the tempo to the high 30's out Lemnos-Cosgrove, by the kennels Nath had joined Bomber at the pointy end, a jihad on speed declared, nudging 50 for a spell till Nath waved the white flag, a return of calm ensued (well, in the 40's anyway.) At the toaster, icy spots of rain almost cut through the kit, the physical and mental comfort meter dropped but it was just a few spits and not a downpour. With a meeting to get to, I'd set course for a Channel Rd exit, ushering Oz up to the front and into the jaws of Robbo wasn't well received (sorry Oz!) for the lads to continue on the usual route. Bickers, Nath, Marko and AvantiTrev were on my trajectory so we teamed up to share Channel's head wind home. Bickers & Marko made it a workout, Nath disembarked at the Hanlon Rd station, AvantiTrev sitting silent in the caboose. Eventually back to town, a glance back at the Kensington roundabout saw that we'd unhooked Trev, so I u-turned in search of his fate. Found him repairing a pinched tube so did the honourable escort back to base (no other spare) guaranteeing the next bike service was as good as the last.
Wednesday offered four times Tuesdays temperature (wow, 2 degrees!) at least Rocket, Temple, Cougar, Shorty and RidleyTrev were at the Kialla start for a calmer counterclockwise Couldabeens course. Long time missing person FeltMat was back on board as we rolled away, a big orange moon sat above Mitchell Rd's dead trees rooted in fog, a picturesque scene to keep the mind off the temperature. Shorty's trying to keep the laps up, FeltMat's trying to run in a hibernated engine and Temple's still the king of spin. A good lap with good company, no agendas and no missions. We missed the passing parade of Hurt Locker, P&W's, Cats, 51 and Goats, maybe we were a little behind schedule? The familiar track of Channel Rd appeared again, deja vu alongside RidleyTrev, twas AvantiTrev just 10 hours prior. Satisfied to have put in a few k's when seeing the many just struggling to greet the day back in town.
Thursday dawned with the digestive distress returned, auditory anomolies and a general sense of being wrung out like an old tatty sock. How quickly we take wellbeing for granted till the handbrake of illness is applied. Parked the idea of riding and took to short and easy foot duty instead, no point flogging a dead horse. Was almost grateful so see spots of rain late Thursday to give reason avoiding the Library thrash. An early and quiet lap Friday put a toe in the water of recovery, the old engine somewhat spluttering back into life but not quite firing on all cylinders.
Week 34 279km (3 ways to Lake Woods N.T.) YTD 11,462km
"We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch tv too much. We have multiplied our posessions but reduced our values, we talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years" George Carlin (1937-2008) US Comedian/actor
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