Saturdays forecast rain hadn't arrived at 5.30 so ran on the gut feeling that a dry ride was feasable, despite the dark clouds waiting on the horizon. Found Wozza on the way south, Jase a half k advanced arrived first (yay! no first stint for me!) much discussion with Rocket, Shorty, Nick, Weapon and Tommygun on forecasts and radar as we committed to Channel Rd's darkness. Barely at Kensington Gardens when the first spits fell from the heavens, quickly filling the head with negatives. Optomism struggled till the drops diminished. Weapon (birthday girl) had a navigational nuance nearing the cypress trees, but order was restored within a minute. Rocket and Wozz were in ace tune on the front of the bunch, Tommygun nursing a crook calf did his bit within the confines of comfort. Short sections of tarmac were randomly damp, not enough to raise a spray though. Three cars on the north leg to the Emu constituted peak hour in this neck of the woods, 5 bikes appeared in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd as advanced party to a petite pussycat peleton, precipitation possibly prevented prosperous population. With 22 k's done, light finally invaded the sky, clouds sitting high enough to heighten hopes of a dry return to town. A few more soggy sections suggested patchy rain had passed earlier, we soon were on a dry Wanganui Rd and planning post ride "broko" (half way between breakfast and smoko). SuperMario was seen rolling quietly on a Tour de Boulevard with the recovering Andrea (nursing new knee) Temple had the Lemontree table warmed for the customary caffine and comment, town houses, tumbleweeds and telephone technology (and it's anti-social ramifications) talked over. Many missing this morning, tapering for the Tour de Pub in the arvo.
Sunday skipped again, becoming acustomed to a day off (or is it the first signs of softening?) A lot of mental wrestling to throw off the doona Monday morning, 12 degrees had cooled enthusiasm, a moonless dark sky wasn't enlightening either. The customary Monday circuit with Cougar out the twisting tarmac of Channel, bearing north in Boundary every bunch was strangely indian file, a couple of soloists at least vocal to call a good morning, Cats mute but. The aero Cougar had head down and pace up for an early return to town.
A mild Tuesday morning was inspiring, only a light easterly to contend with. A little more motivated with comfort found on the seat, so rolled down south to see the crew. Shorty had pole position in the carpark but many had lined up behind him (fearing the first shift?). As has become my duty, I paired up with him, hopeful he wasn't about to crucify me. Nick, Trav, Shane, Rocket, Temple, RidleyTrev, Kenworth, WhisperingJack (yes, he's back!) PistolPete, SuperMario, Wozza and WobblyTrev departed on cue, HBK arriving last of course. The first shift with Shorty, then 2nd with Wozza left just crumbs in my biscuit barrel by Orrvale Rd, Rocket next made my recovery difficult, but had regained some composure by the cypress trees. Mr & Mrs Mystery were found again steaming along at Channels Rd's end, passing them in Boundary Mr chopped in on our overtake (must loan him the gospel according to peleton protocols) leaving Mrs to latch onto the back bumperbar (WobblyTrev). Not sure how long they survived but had vanished by Mitchell. WhisperingJack ony had a short appearance on stage, retirement was just moments away with HBK taking the limelight (half a bike ahead). Mitchell Rd blurred past, lengths of turns started to vary but speed stayed consistent (glad darkness hid the reality of speedo and heart rate, light may have ignited cerebral negatives). Shorty, me, Wozza then Rocket were at the pointy end from Arcadia Downs to Conrods' dipper, a glance back showed all had suddenly single filed, content to let Rocket hang out to dry. My sympathies went out to the now nodding compact cannon with 500 to go (an oppressed Ukrainian persued by the KGB?) so I found an internal boost button to do an early lead out, satisfied in gapping the pack. "I'm giving her all she's got 'Capt'n!" at the 200 mark, so flicked an elbow, Rocket with Wozz in tow hit hyperdrive to take a 1, 2, I was more than pleased to take a bronze for the morning and a 3rd overall for the Strava segment with a 38 average.
Made a return to the hospital bunch Tuesday evening, a month since last turning wheels with them. Forecast and the radar looked bleak, but caution was thrown to the NNW wind (25+ km/h) and the dark blue clouds to the NW and SE. WillierTony, Juzza, Luke, Harpo, TrekScott and Axel were similarly optomistic (or silly), setting sail sedately out Verney Rd and collecting Trav and Liam in Ford Rd. Bomber & Sticks joined in on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, new dad Dalton, Steve the Machine, Trent, Trudy and not-so-GiantTony by the Emu. I didn't spare the sweat trying to match Sticks from the church to the toaster, pleased to relinquish the front to capable ones for the push along Old Dookie Rd. Dark grey curtains of rain hung from low clouds to the east of Boundary Rd, close enough to smell rain on the grass but far enough away to stay dry. Steve, Bomber and Sticks drove a high 30's train into the northwesterly on River Rd, no rotation spelt an easy roll for most of the bunch, Juzza dropping off the back with a slow puncture, Axel donating himself as pit crew. No time wasted to Central Kialla and along Mitchell Rd (minus Sticks and Bomber) but found myself on Steve's wheel exiting Roubaix, no place for the feint hearted. Faced the music (briefly) from the horse stud to Arcadia Downs, quick to hand over to faster lads for Conrod. Steve was egging on young Liam (furiously fast at 14, what will the future bring?) for a podium position in the last 300 metres, but I was blurry enough hanging on to the Dalton diesel for 6th. Recovered to feel not so tatty rolling back through town, improving health coping with today's quick 90 k.
Plied south on Wednesday to the Kialla lakes start, rapidly from the darkened side street a dogs' breakfast of runners (all over the road like) speared into McIntosh's dim lanes. Does one plot a course left, right or through the middle of the unlit Browns' cows? Vented the venacular verbs suggesting visibility but was invited to a few rounds of Queensbury rules as a reply. Short on internal and external vision I guess. Found Cougar properly lit and in a bike lane (how strangely sensible) but an oncoming road bike had a headlight the size (and lumens) of a match head and zero tail light. Life not worth living one wonders? We collected Temple at the roundabout and set about a reverse Tues/Thurs lap, Cougar scoring the polka dots up Mt Raftery near Steptoes corner (Conrod finish line). 16 degrees and 95% humidity turned it to the tropics with a low mist to ride through approaching Roubaix, no Toucans in the trees but early birds (on bikes) were cresting Mt Nicolaci at 6am. Temple was climatising to a new Garmin 510, the River Rd option chosen to put a squiggle in his map and to witness a bevvy of oncoming bunches, SuperCats as long as a train today. The 6 k to Boundary Rd was covered at a decent clip, Cougar in fine form, motivating the males. Two more small bunches bore south in Boundary, our northern assult battling against the windshear of oncoming trucks. Some ease to be sheilded in Channel Rd for the return, just to veer for the car halted in the middle of the left lane at the cypress trees (a taxi; perfectly permissable, posesses peculiar parking permit) Almost a traffic jam with 3 cars appraoching the Doyles Rd intersection from all directions but we were safely through, finishing at the bus stop in good time with no sign of pursuers.
Back to a cool start on Thursday, only 12 degrees at the start line. HBK and Aimee headed out early (is HBK a member of the RSPCAimee?) as candidates convened for a Couldabeens conference (Shane, Chris A, Temple, Nick, Cougar, WhisperingJack, Wozza, Jase, Kenworth, RidleyTrev, PistolPete and Rocket). Kenworth & I took on the leg one lead, sounds of a strained brushcutter from an unlit & engined bike oncoming, lights from the car overtaking us just picking up his hi-vis jacket (his only salvation from being a bonnet badge). Yet another drongo in the dark on a deathwish! Fast forward to the end of Channel Rd, an unusually conservative turn by WhisperingJack with Nick, but it was the harsh reality of the headwind in Boundary that had turns rolling over faster than a Qantas carbon tax quote. I'd given up on my Garmin, data frozen at 26km/h. Shane took a short shift in Mitchell but his money was already spent, a minor kaboom to retreat to the rear to recover. Sitting third wheel to Chris A and Jase, I was hopeful for a tow all the way home, but I didn't have the overdraft to pay for the draft. Talk stopped at Roubaix as the revs rose, my last turn done at the horse stud (if I was to finish at all). Chris A awoke from his solubrious slumber and hit the go pedal into Conrod, enticing Rocket to come and play. All others could only hang on in desperation, anticipation turned to hyperventilation losing touch with the leaders. Backmarkers were soon passing the once hopefulls, a collective finish though, albeit a few rungs below the win of ChrisA and Rockets' 2nd.
A most mild evening for a go with the Library bunch on Thursday, Juzza, Rocket, GT Craig, Axel, Harpo, Luke, James, WillierTony and one familiar but un-named tall dude on a Giant (with a seat post as long as your arm). Sexy shoes, long legs and a hint of g string were on show from femmes fatale at the start had attentions diverted as we rolled away, it was down to business on the front with Rocket though all the way to Wanganui Rd (Mitch picked up loitering beyond the golf club). A fairly stiff south southwesterly propelled the speed as we headed to the Emu, finding Dalton, Trent, Trudy and not-so-Giant Tony along the way. A good steady turn with GT Craig turned up tempo with Rocket, timely he took the lead at the Emu down to the church, but I had my chin on the headstem to get the desired draft. A drop to the low 30's in Old Dookie Rd (courtesy of WillierTony and Juzza) helped the heart rate settle, calm stayed for Boundary too (Bomber, Sticks and the Machine missing) ,not-so-Giant Tony departed to Channel Rd. Another good go at the front with GT Craig in River Rd turned to a thrash when Rocket and Trent did their duty, into the low 40's had most gasping (second wheel to Rocket a big ask for this old engine). Some recouperation was possible in Mitchell Rd, action stations again in Raftery as Rocket and Mitch got itchy feet into the mid 40's (second wheel again to the pocket projectile) Rounding the horse stud corner a stiletto stabbed sharply in my right ribs, my head said persevere but the body protested, went rapidly OTA with a bitch of a stitch. GT Craig was most compassionate in dropping back to tow me, just half a k worth helped to rekindle the speed, swapping turns to finish 100 metres in arrears.
Legs buckled a bit rising for the Friday 5am alarm, back into 350k/week has a lethargic leg legacy. I wasn't ready for the crucifixion of HBK's version of "a steady ride", a lap with Cougar a far more suitable tonic. The suns' tardiness cloaks all bunch identity at this hour (and will stay that way till October I guess) only the Cats characterised by size and P&W's by greeting. Plenty of bikes out for FreakyFriday as always. Single digit temperature today (a sign of things to come?), all those frosty k's ahead, dressing in multiple layers, skin turning blue, all to look forward to. Cougar pounded the pedals in Old Dookie Rd till the SLR's sang ("Wheels on Fire"?), back home early for T.G.I.F. and T.G.I.L.W.
Week 10 ; 366km (YTD 2,676)
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark ; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light" Plato (427-347 BC) Greek philosopher and mathamatician
No comments:
Post a Comment