Week 41 Fast trains and daily doubles

An almost forgotten pleasure to kit up in record time, just a few pieces of lycra for 9 degrees, rather than umpteen layers of armour against winters elements. With a daily double planned, I set forth to the Couldabeens car park, some doubts on the speed accuracy with the roll oh so easy in the mid 30's (maybe my bike free Friday renewed legs?)   The Saturday regulars (Rocket, Pistol, Wozz, Ange, Lynda, Kel, Shorty, Trav, Cougar, Jen, Temple, SuperMario, AvantiChris and SpinDoctor) rolled up, Lenny and Lucy, special guests.  A little shuffling of the deck as six bells struck, wheels (complicit or co-operative) were chosen, a pacy first leg climatised the heart rate then settled to sustainable half way along Channel Rd.  but Temple's puncture at Darth Vaders' allowed all a respite and sledge. Lenny's mint '99 Saeco Cannondale still looks new, Lucy riding a Pinarello like a pro with just 6 months addiction.  SuperMario was given and giving plenty of 'car back' cautions, PistolPete poised pedalling posture perfect. A drive on Old Dookie alongside Shorty then Pistol seemed more than manageable at a mean momentum, did a Spanish doctor deliver me a transfusion? The turn west at the emu delivered a light ENE to carry us home, Cougar taking the reigns in a rare but restorative retort. A crowded Cat convention cranked East with lip service paid in Ange-like attitude, our tempo in the high 30's minimising the social slang.  SuperMario had kindly handbraked the sprint till he rolled across at DECA, SpinDoctor positioned for lead-out duties. A queue formed in the waiting room behind as SpinDoctor over revved at the pointy end, I jumped the gun but the gun (Pistol) was too big a calibre to match. 53 km/h and wheel to wheel at the base of Wanganui hill, we were but a slingshot for Rocket, Wozz and AvantiChris to use, showing how a sprint should be scored. I was speechless till 100 metres into Rudd Rd, the pack reformed to convene for caffeine, I bid adieu's to fraternise at Friars with Goats (Heady, Tina, AvantiLeigh, Snow, a rather second-hand Hommy (pre AFL final hydration) and a brand new Sandy).   Muppets AvantiAndy, Col, Matt and Min & co. toured away early on the track south to Raftery for an anti clockwise Toaster. Tina took the Goat reigns aiming sights at the distant Muppets, but it was 'wait for Heady' at the highway (a halt to sus his new speedo)   Unplanned, unspoken and unquestioned, a single file formed au naturale, a NNE building to put work into pleasure. It was a shared push along Mitchell, Central Kialla and River roads, Hommy impatiently breaking ranks to pinch the last (sheltered) leg of River (working off a hydration excess) with the bait of Muppets growing closer. Sandy powered the pursuit to the bridges, handing me the passing privileges up to the Pub, Bickers jumping the Muppet ship to our deck.  Onward to the fig farm Snow and Bickers were detaching from AvantiLeigh's wake, a dig deep for me to drop back and tow them back on board. Tina's idea to abridge the Toaster and Emu for a direct run to Lemnos-Cosgrove met with affirmatives, I got the driving duty for the last k of Boundary, then the westward home, heaven sent for all.   Leigh and I were elected the drivers back to town, surprised I felt  fit enough to keep the pace up in the high 30's, an icing for the 92k cake.

Daylight savings stole the sunrise Monday morning, warmer temperatures bringing short Knicks out of the cupboard but I'm still a bit soft wearing arm warmers. I snipped the golf course leg off the Toaster lap, straight up Numurkah Rd and East on an empty Ford Rd, adjusting irises to led light instead of daylight. 72 rpm to the Emu with the heart rate welded on 155, the only signs of bike life in ones and twos in Boundary and River Rd, not till Central Kialla did Nick and the quick chicks appear northbound.  The determination gauge was still set on high but the energy tank was running on vapour by Roubaix, two passing cars donating a draft that kept me on top of the 15 cog for Conrod. 

Like blokes buzzin 'round bike bling, a gaggle of Goats gathered at Friars on Tuesday, a mild 16 degrees with a complimentary NNE wind (15-20 km/h), a ripper ride recipe. Coggo, Phil, Joe, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, LegalAndy, Sandy, Hommy, Deb, Baz, Speissy, Bickers, Belly, AvantiAndy, Phillo, Principal Skinner, Heady, even a rare appearance by Matt departed East, unfortunately two different formulas were running (rolling turns vs long turns) which rattled the rhythm, the rubber band effect alive and well as some sat long followed by some doing short. Ticking away at 137 bpm with just the occasional visit to the pointy end made light work, far from the chilled challenges of winter workouts with just half a dozen but a few weeks ago. Coggo's acceleration to score a MtNicolaci KOM stretched the pack long, past the horse stud thirteen were still employed as drivers but only six remained 700 metres later at Arcadia Downs. The reality of Conrod and its headwind halved that number again, just Coggo, AvantiLeigh and I left into the first dip.  AvantiLeigh poured on the power in the closing 300, Coggo had resigned so I faced the flogging to the finish, all effort expenses paid to prevent Hommy for his usual smash and grab at the line. 

A howler Wednesday morning (southerly at 24-46 km/h) frightened many away, only Pistol, Hollywood, Rocket, Nick and Jen braved the blast, a single filed assault on Archer had the cream rising to the top, Rocket, Pistol and Hollywood sharing the driving to Mitchell. The rubber band snapped in Central Kialla, Jen then Nick dislodged when the tailwind excited the lads at the front, but the troops rallied to the rescue by tailing off the tempo. River Rd had the southerly to the starboard side, a human shield formed around Jen and Nick while Hollywood rolled obliviously ahead, minus speedo. More tailwind in Boundary stretched the bunch, I played go between with Pistol while Rocket and Hollywood drew a gap ahead. The Channel Rd charge was choked to the high 30's, the Cha Cha challenge shut down to keep the small pack from snapping. Another ADO allowed the luxury of post ride caffeine chat, Garmins and Strava trophies high on Hollywood's haves. 

The slog into the southerly Thursday morning caused a mental sook (a hangover from yesterday's windswept workout), Wozz and I reached an empty grid (1st in = 1st turn) to find only Rocket, AvantiTrev, ChrisA, Pistol and Trav arriving (the bell tolls on the 5.45 start). I jumped in the deep end of leg 1 (1600 metres) with Wozz,  leg 2 (900 metres) with Pistol pickled me prematurely. I relished the recuperative tow, but it finished too soon at the S bend, Trav, Temple and AvantiTrev sitting on put the front five on extra time. I struggled to survive to the Broken bridges alongside Pistol, grabbing a gasp while Rocket then Wozz took us South.  I'd almost resigned myself to the rear in River Rd till Temple's kind words inspired another go at the business end, a short shift (800 metres) to the dip with the h.r. at 165 and rising was enough, a lack of recovery time for this old engine with only 5 driving. ChrisA also took time out, Pistol, Wozz and Rocket more than capable of dragging us to Rivers' end and on to Mitchell. A few minutes in their draft was enough to turn the tide and try another turn, not till the horse stud did my number come up (by then the expectations in the 40's)  Good for only 500 metres, I did my bit then threw everything into hanging on, Rocket handing Conrod straight to Pistol, ChrisA and Wozz to thrash out. ChrisA's long turn was the perfect sit for Wozz, we could only witness the fitness of his 50km/h finish. 

Arriving at Friars Friday first gave me the unenviable task of taking the Pain Train into an easterly on the first turn of Old Dookie Rd, a glance toward my distant target (Dobson's bridge) had me questioning sanity. AvantiLeigh, Dipper, CerveloJohn, Belly, Tum, Sparticus (aka RetiredDave) Carl and (camera car) Coggo took the Indian filed turns (cursing Carl with the rear ranks in the gutter). Sparticus put in a great turn, Belly's as short as a HeadGoat comeback. Tum (the tank engine) put in a long turn to the Boundary Rd pig palace, CerveloJohn to Channel Rd. I'd overdressed for 14 degrees, cooking at the helm to the bridges, just a hint of breeze helped the westward leg into the 40's on River Rd, a crowd of Couldabeens cranking East.   9 players gave nearly a 5k interval between turns, cooled the heat off the heart rate to front fresh as a daisy to take the train out of central Kialla up to Archer Rd.  Carl put in a big effort beyond the highway, the sequence suiting me with Tum and CerveloJohn ahead, facing Conrods one k straight. Tum the tank engine eventually ran out of steam, CerveloJohn with wattage waining struggled to pass, Carl hit the go button from behind but I caught his draft, the last dip giving me the slingshot to steal the glory from a young'n, finished in 44.47, a solid effort by all to record a 39 average.

Week 41  325km.   YTD 12,425 km

Awesome effort by S.O.S. (one time P&W) on the Paris-Brest-Paris, 1200k's in 89hr 35min (the last 233k's in single speed mode with Di2 dramas)

Good luck to Oz, Dion, Ang, Wizz, Sosso, Nath, Doc, SpecialisedTony and the crew starting the weeks 1120k Tour De Fight BaCC.  

a watershed awaits........