With a few festive days away, I congregated with the Titaniums Sunday, Giff, Grant, Jarrod, Ray, John and seven others (names lost to my poor recall) for an interstate lap. There's not many protocols or organisation on bunch roles or positions, but I winged the pecking order on the border crossing and north out of Barooga, Berrigan bound. A strengthening northeaster ramped up the effort to maintain speed to Lalalty (a bustling metropolis of one farmhouse), finding myself on the front with Ray (aka Mr Mullet) for the drive on Coldwells road to Spud hill (only a few hundred metres long but a peaky little sandhill that saps speed swiftly). Over the top in 5th spot (on the big ring of course!), happy to record a PB but happier to compose the cardiac calamity and slow to regroup the stretched bunch. Southbound on the Barooga back Rd was heavensent, helped by a tailwind, a chin wag with newbie Jarrod (2 months pedalling two wheels) relived much of my early days. Local landmark ostriches stood out on the dry-as-a-chip farmland, John the Pom keen to power up the Mulwala-Barooga Rd hill (a double humper not unlike Dookie's), me pleased (as a fossilized flatlander) to be fourth at the top. The narrow Angle road sprint was shut down with oncoming traffic, or was it a velied excuse for Christmas pudding overload? Bike bunch comparisons conversed with Giff and Westy back at the cafe, a handy little 40k to wear off recently collected calories.
I took an honoured invite to join the ten Plastics (slightly softer than Sundays Titaniums) in Cobram on Monday, a short lap to keep the legs vocation of rotation on vacation. Twas a humid roll down Campbells Rd assisted by a strong NNE (15-28km/h), flying blind on a course at the mercy of local knowledge had caution to the fore. 9k's down to Parnell Road passed fast, I was put to work at the front to earn my keep and invitation. An urge to donate a draft for the 7k's north back to town kept me at the front, four progressively pairing with me as my heart rate brewed to 180. (felt good though, fuelled by copious Christmas calories?) Back into town, many peeled off to head to work, an espresso and raisin toast was my only workload.
Back on home soil Tuesday, the Goat population had thinned, holidays and imminent new year reducing the bunch to 14. Phil and I took the suburbs lead-out, many resisting the usual speed out Old Dookie Rd, despite the breeze behind. JB and Tina boarded at the Doyles roundabout , Santa blessing Tina with shiny new Bont's. BigPaul had corralled the cadence into Boundary Rd as we reeled in Sosso on a solitary spin, most warming up in 11 degrees by River Rd to pick up the pace, my concentration honed in on a smooth tempo while pondering the state of BigPauls Colnago (all the cleanliness of a cyclo-cross champ). A canine caused chicane of rubbish strewn across the tarmac at Rivers' end, a calm called at Central Kialla but back on the gas in Mitchell kept up the variety, sticks aplenty to dodge in Raftery road just for good measure. Driver numbers were down to five by Arcadia Downs, finding myself at the pointy end (again!) in Conrod's dip, so spent all my pennies in the mid 40's to tow JB and Dipper into a one-two in the closing metres. A fair bit of tarmac tinsel (broken glass) to avoid in the bike lane through town, but a mid week dose of coffee and conversation was a holiday treat.
Wednesday was a cool close to 2014, resisting the early peep at the bureau stats for fear of not making it past the front door. Better to gloat at what's achieved than grizzle at what's to endure (10 feels like 7, seen later). Five had single filed behind Cougar this time at the roundabout, thumbing through the encyclopaedia of excuses to avoid a turn at the front? Pistol and I took the lead duties for the 4 k's of Archer, just my luck there was a SSW'er to endure. How quickly we grump when the temperature drops to bring armwarmers out of hibernation, memories of the minus twos in mid July have faded fast! A lot of chat on the festive digestive elective, time to pick up the pace to whittle away the waistline of recent gluttony. Minto was solo in River Rd, a full flock of felines flew west with the blossoming bunch of Breakaways (9) behind. My second shift at the front was a long drive with Pete, bike bait ahead seeded the need for speed, the tailbreeze utopia with SuperMario in Boundary road was a more kindly part two. There was a calmer cha cha karma toward home on Channel Rd many still in holiday mode, the post ride tattle at Ronald's most relaxing with no work agenda to keep.
A resolve to ride new years day was quickly quashed by neighbourhood fireworks and frivolity till 4am, sleep was far more appealing. Fed the bike addiction Friday though, an early squirt with the Kialla contingent of Couldabeens the sensible option before the heat (42) rolled in. Just Pistol, Cougar, Shorty, Rocket, AvantiTrev, Jase and Kenworth lined up with lesser daylight now noticable post equinox, happy to be a few wheels back in the bunch in Archer Rd to ease early efforts. I pondered the posture of the peleton perplexed, possibly perceiving a population of peculiar proctologists, poised pedalling peering at posteriors? Nobody talked of new years resolutions, it was either late night festivities or early evening retirement that polarised the peleton. An east northeaster propelled the 51 squad way ahead of persuing pussycats in River Rd, I had a dream sit being towed along east, Rocket and Pistol providing the wattage. The scenery blurred by with thoughts only on a caffine fix, the wind behind in Channel road emphasised effort for the Cha Cha sprint. AvantiTrev ran out of urge as Pistol, Rocket and Kenworth bolted for glory, but a throttle off to the school regrouped the bunch. A final fling at the Mexican Bonanza was more contained, then a chatty cruise to hit coffee capped the week, a feast of new years Strava trophies inciting incentives.
Week 1 (plus three days of last year) :192 km
With Fossilisms all but exhausted, I'll try Rider of the Week, a quiz of rider identity, but more an insight into the persona sometimes veiled by lycra. Get to know your fellow bike addict, the answer next week, but a small prize to the first who identifies the rider beforehand.
Rider of the Week
176cm tall. Green eyes. Bell Helmet. Artist. DuraAce wheels. Former newspaper writer. Viola player.
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