2016 The ride recap

Post 377

A self imposed goal of 300k a week and a Grand Fondo a month seemed reachable in Summer but became almost a distant carrot in the depths of a wet winter. Mexican Daniel's epic "Everest" of Mt Major (Jan.10) was the bait, plenty of pre dawn prologues would be needed to squeeze the kilometres in while employed full time and saving Sunday's as sabbath (for a sleep-in!)

It was a year of 13 Pain Trains, 14 Turtle laps, 43 solo's, 62 laps with the Goats, 149 with the Couldabeens, 120 pre-dawn prologues, 2 Beach Road blasts, a saturated Sam Miranda 125k, a 180k Fruitloop (the last one?), a 120k Benalla Bike Hike, the windswept Tat 200, 2 (cautionary) Adams Family rides, 10 duets with Cate, 3 Couldabeens/Goats Saturday doubles, 6 Michelin's, 3 chains and a rebuilt Mavic wheel.  

2016 saw BassoDave's horror crash (and his remarkable 2nd coming), the rise and rise of the Couldabeens Hares and the birth of the tenacious Turtles.  I scored a CatEye prize pack (love the new Eason shoes), 33 days were restricted by rain (and twice as many cleaning the bike!), had a hilarious Tour de Pub and a gastronomic Goat Tour de Longleat.  A fractured wrist tested my Autumn but a decent Spring diet trimmed 9kg of unnecessary baggage.  There were foxes, rabbits, a goanna, a kangaroo (shunted from a passing Nissan bull bar), a horse, ducks and Strava stalkers to dodge but the Baum clocked 16,809 kilometres over 288 rides and Foss burned 538,600 calories (269 litres worth of ice-cream) 

So many succumbed to sloth in 2016, a long winter hibernation now taxing their comeback. Not naming names are now dragged along in big bunches, the once deft drivers even shying from the toil of a small train.  But summers warmth and winters weight inspires a new beginning, and the bunches slowly inflate, till autumns' cool starts that retirement wheel turning again. 

But it's the fun and friendships more noteworthy than the years numbers, always great to share the bike obsession with likeminded addicts and keep an old engine in tune. 

So for next year, ponder Rule #5, ride with respect, keep safe and stay upright. 

See you in 2017?

Week 52 : Ticking boxes

Post 376

24/12

The rustle of tinsel and the clang of baubles masked the Couldabeens carbon chorale exiting the carpark Saturday morning, a jovial bunch of AvantiMat, Boof, Car+Mel, Shorty, BigMat, Rocket, Cougar, Popgun, PistolPete, Jase, Temple, Cate, TatPaul, TatMat, The Godfather, Bruce, BassoDave, Wozza, Fisky, Lenny, Nick, TrekTrev, WhisperingJack and Trav in festive spirit for Saturday's circuit.  The God of cycling favoured us with a mild 16 degrees, no wind and a curtain of cloud to shield us from the rising sun, providing enthusiasm for plenty of pace.  Korn's "Jingle Balls" clashed with Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" so my alternative carols made way for BigMat's traditional ones, instead absorbing Rockets Christmas lit helmet, Pistols engineered tree, The Godfathers elf hat and Jase's Yuletide tie as ducks aplenty at the S bend forced a brief slow.

Nev and Weapon were found at the Fig Farm as I struggled to headcount two long lines spearing north (numbers needed to get the roll call right). The piggery was particularly pungent in Old Dookie Rd, would we recall that crunching the crackling during the Christmas lunch?  Great to have BassoDave aboard (what a year he's had!), TatMat back for more and Fisky now braving a turn at the helm.  Trav's clanging baubles broke free in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (no octave change to his voice) and Pistols tree was suffering aero distress but the carols played and the fairy lights flashed to greet Tommygun at the Boundary Rd intersection.  Now 29 strong, the bunch bored into Ford Rd, the progression predicting I'd be at the business end following Rocket and Boof in Wanganui.  A short turn suited me well as the pace was poured on to DECA, several diving for left line cover as the front went Indian file.  Temple ushered me across to the up line as the Wanganui hill drew near, in no time I'd been promoted to fifth up the hill, only to see Boof bolt for line honours.  SpinDoctor and TrackStan had shortcut their chase to catch us in town, back to base camp bunch careers, sprinting and inner demons captivated conversation over bubbly (thanks AvantiMat) and breakfast in the bonds of buddyism. 

26/12

Wozza's call for a quiet tap on Boxing Day was the remedy to trim yesterdays Christmas pudding overload, down to the start line finding Temple, Boof, AvantiMat and Lenny with similar intentions to remove the Yuletide ballast.  A muggy 22 degrees and a warm northeaster would play the part of a sweat sauna on Channel Rd, ChrisA joining us from his westbound solo.  The greed for speed pumped up the cardiac festivities, berthed between Wozza and ChrisA would certainly reverse yesterday's gastronomic gluttony.  Warmth and the wind behind put the velocity into the forties for River Rd, driving at the business end for 3 k's was eroding my enthusiasm to tackle Decembers Grand Fondo with a 60 solo as dessert.  Committing myself to the caboose at Dave's dip (as did AvantiMat) to preserve what wattage was left, the northeaster gradually strengthening would take a toll later.  Rounding Roubaix, Wozza's tail-light went OTA, I was first to retrieve it if only to catch my breath for the compulsory thrash  in Conrod straight.  ChrisA and Boof went wheel to wheel to the line as the others held station in survival, tempting as coffee and chat was back in town, I bid adieu to continue a toaster lap (halting now would guarantee a surrender from tapping a ton) 

The warming northeaster tested my resolve in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd to carry on to the quarry, catching and passing a compact Cat collective (curtailed by Christmas custard?) giving some inspiration.  A banana in the tank helped psychologically as the wind wound up the heart rate, Boral's Alp's du gravel a welcome sight for the turn south then west back to the Pine Lodge church, a load off the lungs and the laterus longus to have the hot air at my back instead of the brow.  Small bunches and soloists were making appearances (for similar reasons of reduction?), MachineSteve, Tina, Trudy and co catching me at the Pine Lodge pub.  Seasons salutations swapped, they cranked into the distance, Rule #19 applied and I had an urge to finish the ton under my own (diminishing) steam (read Rule #10 referring to the Gorilla!)   The old Boundary-Mitchell route gave me variety, a small Adams family clan frowning eastbound gave me a chuckle but the clouds had raised, the sun started to toast and the wind shifted to NNE ; why should I get it easy for the last leg home!  Distance and effort was stressing the sit site, a shift, a stretch, a cog swap, a different hand hold offering short term relief.  Raftery Rd whittled down the wattage, hot gusts of 30 made 30 almost impossible (shut up legs!)   Conrod's end, clocking the ton at the lake, the last GrandFondo for 2016 and a self promised Lemontree breakfast broke finishing into bite-sized chunks, the legs and enthusiasm empty, reflected in Strava's suffer score of 278.

27/12

The third bite of breakfast opened the heavens on Tuesday morning, a clean bike wasn't going to be soiled so I opened the invite for a midday loop of Karramomus.   Temple, Rocket and Jase (also on annual leave) fronted, the Channel Rd exit of town into an easterly, instantly converting us Indian file to share the workload.  

Nudging a humid 30 degrees had a sauna-like effect , second wheel to Jase was a tough act to follow but catching Rockets knots as I peeled off the front got me off the seat and off the h.r. scale. 24 km/h of wind messed with the Mavics in Boundary Rd, taking the helm from one tree dam to the main eastern channel had me toasted both sides, getting into the tow on Shepp-Euroa Rd a big ask. Temple had a brief holiday from the helm as the breeze up the bum propelled us along Karramomus Rd, turning north into Central Kialla Rd turned up the hairdrier to the right shoulder.  Jase bore the brunt as traffic forward and aft held our stations, Temple back in business pedalled possessed.  On the front for the drive to Mitchell Rd burned my vastus medialis , four sighs of relief as we headed west toward Raftery. There was a whisker of cover in the shadows of trees at Arcadia Downs, Rocket the salvation of shelter in Conrod straight.  Iced coffee at Degani's soothed the soreness as bandanas, pools and Cobbles crashes captured the conversation.


28/12

A fickle forecast and a few planned days away limited opportunities to tick the December Strava box, so Wednesday was the wispy window of opportunity to clock the last of 1250 k's.  Prologues have been de rigueur during the year, just one more (golf course-Wanganui-Grahamvale and return)  to tip the Strava scales en-route to the Couldabeens collective.  Grumpy, Pelly, BamBam, SuperMario, AvantiTrev, Nick, Pistol, Cougar, Cate, Jase, Rene, Nicholas, Rocket, Bruce, Wozza, Nev and TatMat crammed the carpark.  26 degrees and a hot northeaster was a tropical test, the anti-clockwise route would tax us from Mitchell St onward. 

 

Getting in for an early shift at the front (behind Bruce and ahead of Cate) was the tactic least likely to tax, Nicholas spinning the 21 cog to make fluffy white peaks, Wozza the picture of poised pace in stark contrast.   My gradual demotion down the left line viewed the lambs off to slaughter in the right line, 5 k scrubbed off the cruising speed as AvantiTrev, SuperMario and Nick made it to the drivers seat.  BamBam and Grumpy drew Boundary Rd's headwind short straw, I'd fluked a tow to Channel Rd before duty called with a tail wind.  Bruce played fair at forty to the S bends, next up Cate matched the muscle power. Rocket, Pistol and Wozza turned up the wick as we swung into Kinder corner, Nicholas champing at the bit, ducking and diving for a sprint sit to the detriment of those in line behind.  I was fast running out of fast at Prentice Rd, Pistol's wheel my safety net to finish in the first handful.  Social speak was possible when breath was caught at the school, a few sentences swapped before an exit stage right to satisfy Strava (and the OCD in Foss)  30k's was craved to cross December off the scoreboard, a Cat lap (headwind out, tailwind home) figured to be a fitting finale.  Sick of the slog by School Rd, the sight of a bike swinging south into Boundary summoned some speed.  Caught at the fig farm, the intro to out-of-towner Jarrod drew several similarities (aside from age and bike.)   Company alongside for the roll from pub to punch-up bridge, legs lamented the last few k's as we turned into the northeaster, from Galbraiths to the lake the legs slowly turned to jelly.  With the months target hit, the Lemontree's espresso and eggs was enough esteem for the effort, goal setting for 2017 left till later. 

29/12

5:58 at a deserted Friars and I'd almost resigned to a ride for one, when Coggo, Dipper and Phil appeared to save me from solitary.  A social roll out of town comparing Christmases soon turned single file to wrestle the northeaster.  Coggo set a speed standard at Dobsons bridge, Phil then Dipper responding to School Rd.  I set my aim in the drivers seat to reach Boundary Rd, feeling fairly fit but ignoring the memory of the last three days of effort.  Nice to get a 20 bpm bonus in Boundary to save for the next turn, reading the body language told a story of a copious culinary Christmas for Dipper and Phil, Coggo incognito with his standard steady slog.  At the front from the bridges to River Rd kept me occupied, the echelon then reversed for our way west. A puddle or two grubbied the bike, seems we'd timed our lap to avoid an earlier shower.  Half a dozen tail-lights ahead spurred on our speed in Central Kialla, muscles more motivated seeing Mr Magnet and his entourage to bolt by.  A steady rhythm and the load shared with a skilled team clocked the k's quickly in Mitchell Rd, up out of Dave's dip and on Raftery's right hander before I recovered to ponder position for Conrod straight.  Effort elevated and turns shortened to Arcadia Downs, looks like I'd get the front for the home stretch.  Squinting through sweat and driving against the northeaster, I poured all the Jellybeans from the jar toward the (fuzzy) finish, the legs abandoning ship at 300 to go. Coggo and Phil thrashed onward, Dipper and I in the exhausted yet strangely elated category to finish a solid team tap.

Week 52.    331km.            YTD 16,809

Week 51: The speed souvenir

Post 375

 

17/2

As the alcohol afflicted stagger from the nightclubs homeward I joined a different genre congregating for entertainment in the early hours.  With Wozz, Car+Mel then Rocket to spin south to the Saturday start, BigMat phoned for Rocket roadside assist on a matter of being caught short (valve stem length), a puncture preventing progress.

The car park became a waiting room for Boof, TatPaul, Cougar, Jase, Pistol, Shorty, Weapon, Nev, TrekTrev, Bruce, Jen, Temple, The Godfather and AvantiTrev to patiently pause for the pit stopped pair.......but seven minutes didn't ruin the weekend agenda. With all twenty finally present and correct, the launch sent some scurrying from pole position to a protected place ; hallelujah! I'd inherited the front yet again! The early energy expenditure to Orrvale Rd (4 k's away) got the heart started, but the Garmin suggested it was on holiday at 127 bpm. (monitor malfunction?) Many seemed relieved to ride, maybe escaping the pre-Christmas pressure ; a peloton panacea possibly? The rare and endangered Fisky (Giantus hyperboli) appeared at the Fig Farm, quickly taking up permanent caboose residence, BigMat moved forward in the ranks on Old Dookie Rd suggesting he was the race favourite (carrying top weight).  Jase dished out the Cougar cajolery as we rounded Emu corner, an assisting (arse-isting?) northeaster encouraging her rare visit to the drivers seat.  (Funny how foremost phobia is often cured by cognition and co-operative co-drivers). Reaching the pointy end, Boof and I gently turned up the wick, massed oncoming Cats (50) on their Christmas ride (and socks ceremony) had a fully kitted Santa hurling out the ho ho ho's.

And so rolled our rotations toward town, Shorty shortchanged (again) on placement, predicting he'd be at the business end at DECA.  I was perched in perfect position at the back (cruisier than Frank Ocean's 'Pink+White') as a chorus of chains clicked down the cassettes, nudging the mid 40's in the tow and keeping a keen eye ahead on Wozz and Pistol poised to pounce.  Bums off seats was my signal for full noise, rounding up 3, I caught Wozza's wheel as Boof bolted by.  We hit the hill in the 50's, Pistol faded and Wozza's head shook "no", hope finding me a few more watts to crest the hill in 2nd.  But Bruce had caught my draft and powered past, my last desperate cranks making him earn the place (content he could only keep a wheel ahead), 3rd was an early Christmas bonus for me. The Lemontree's table tattle on Christmas catering, kids careers and nutrition was a fitting finale.

19/12
The spice that is variety put life into Monday's lap, base layer and armwarmers again dragged from retirement as the temperature dropped to 7.  A Cate collaboration set a course for a reverse Tuesday lap, a brewing northeaster promising a push for most of the circuit (the "no pain, no gain" philosophy rules).  Pelly, Bruce, BamBam, Pistol and Troy were working west, we travelled a memory lane of the full length of Mitchell Rd (recalling several chases of bikes ahead....which turned out to be white posts or rubbish bins).  It was burning the vastus lateralis pushing the 15 into the breeze (65 rpm), not a lot better in Boundary, but the thought of the tailwind home spurred the speed.  Goats on a pacy peace train hollered a hello, the headwind reprieve in Channel Rd put to purpose with a charge at the ChaCha.

20/12

A stormy sky but a clear radar inspired an early 30k Tuesday morning, out to the Pine Lodge church and back putting in a bit of effort (predicting a pedestrian pace with the Goats at 6)  A race with a rabbit at the main eastern channel was within my pace, the dramatic evolving sunrise warranting a stop and snap at the Toaster.  The benefit of a breeze back to the 'burbs motivated the muscles, and ignoring the odd drop from the heavens arrived back at Friars to a mixed menage of Muppets and Goats (Joe, Hommy, Belly, Coggo, HG, Dipper, Snow, AvantiLeigh, Phil, Tina, Sandy, AvantiAndy, Manny, Heady and a helmetless Speissy) assembling for a Christmas cruise. 

Calm and chatter was the order of the day, a relaxed roll on Old Dookie, Boundary and Channel before breakfast and bullshit at Mandy's.  Rooster Roscoe was found lurking in Channel (does he ever start with the bunch?), Hommy's half wheel habit uncontrollable when he reached the front (Coggo's special sprint stage served as a payback.) A good feed of fruit and breakfast wraps topped off coffee and conversation on Zwift, annual goals and bombing diets before the hard core Goats started on the sparkling red!    

21/12

A motivational giddy-up for Car on the Couldabeens commute Wednesday, a little polish needed for the button that's nearly always bright as.   Wozz, Mel and Cate keen-as as always, parking to prepare the peleton of Chops, Kenworth, Pelly, Grumpy, Troy, BamBam, Rocket, AvantiTrev, Pistol, AvantiMat, Nick, WhisperingJack, Shorty, Boof, Nev and Trav.   Wozza took the first shift on Archer Rd, as usual volunteers were as rare as entertainment on television, so somewhat out of sympathy, I paired with him at Kialla Lakes.  The first hundred metres was hopeful, hell thereafter as the headwind and heartrate percolated. Almost to bursting point at the Sanctuary roundabout, I needed to dig new depths of desperation to match Pistol Pete to the truck route, 800 metres seemed an eternity on the rivet.   Over occupied overdosing on oxygen to Mitchell Rd, the kudos from BamBam and Trav helped ease the pain, by Pistol's place normal vision had returned and the guttural gasps had made way for social sentences with those headed to the energy end of the bunch.  A HurtLocker foursome hammered south in Central Kialla while Nev's almost ceremonial disrobing of the gilet was performed with aplomb.  51 and Cat trains whistled by westward as we made the most of the southwester toward Boundary Rd.

At the back of the bunch at Channel Rd's S bend seemed a safe site amongst two orderly rows with shadows stretching starboard, but the rotations rolled rapidly ( proportional to the pace), finding myself back at the pointy end at Hopeful corner with the throttle wide open to get by Chops against the headwind.  Full steam to Prentice Rd with a long wait for BamBam to roll up and over, almost the whole bunch blasting by as the oxygen intake took precedence again.

 

22/12

The choice of solo, Goats, Turtles or Hares bounced around the skull at 4:15, what to do? Aiming for three out of four, I set off solo on the old Cat lap (Old Dookie, Boundary and Channel) expecting to toil south and west (SW'er at 15 km/h) but soothed the spirit with a fair pace spinning like an old record (78 rpm) and racing rabbits on the ChaCha.  Turtles SuperMario, Hoges, Nick, TrekTrev, AvantiTrev, BigMat and Jase appeared as I arrived at Kensington, loose hare ChrisA on a warm-up escort. BigMat seemed to be suffering when I drew alongside at the Kinder, so played fair until Jase was my co-driver at the cypress trees (40 to the S bend dialled up the duress)  Nick and AvantiTrev returned some respite to the bunch as we headed south to River Rd, BigMat skipping sequence to hang off Jase's wheel.  Beside Hoges for River Rd's smooth second k and with Jase to Trevaskis Rd was more equitable and even, Jase complying with the BigMat handicap for the next turn.  The lights of Hares in pursuit closed in near Central Kialla, the opening metres of Mitchell had Troy, TrackStan, Boof, Pistol, ChrisA, Nev-bro-Kev and Bruce round us up.  Tempo temptation got Hoges, Jase and I to jump ship, off the saddle and pound pedals to catch their draft at 45 clicks, braving their rapid reputation as a personal yardstick of endurance.  I'd almost climatised to the velocity when a sudden slow for an meandering family of ducks avoided a quackastrophy.  Back on the gas down Dave's dip was a test of   mind over muscles, ChrisA and Bruce taking a break from driving duty relieved me from the gatekeeper role.  Raftery hearlded the end was nigh, would it be the head, heart, legs or lungs that pulled the pin as the speed built for Conrod? Cresting the first dip, I lost Bruce's wheel, asking the legs for more got the reply "I'm givin' 'er all she's got Capt'n!" Back into town we found Weapon idling, most headed for Kialla caffiene but partnering Boof on a workplace Christmas breakfast mission kept my legs burning.  Most of the morning at work the 'been-kicked-in-the-thighs' feeling was the speed souvenir. 

23/12

A pitstop on the rendezvous with Jase, Cate, Car+Mel Friday morning, Mel's Continental as flat as an Aleppo streetscape.   Twas tough prizing the tyre off the SLR, two levers needed to refit it after swapping the staple skewered tube.  Almost 6 and 5k from the grid, the plan to intercept the Couldabeens via the truck route shortcut got underway Indian file on Archer, mindfully watching that I didn't stretch the four shadows behind.   Jase took the turn from the Sanctuary roundabout but Mel's Conti was cactus just 200 metres into the truck track. Car+Mel urged us on as they waited for hubby's roadside assist, Jase, Cate and I swapping turns in the hope of catching the pack.  The turn into River Rd sank the heart seeing the bunch a k ahead, but Churchill's  "never ever ever ever give up" issued the challenge to pursue.  One k turns seemed to be the physical and logistical limit, hard to say if we'd gained by River Rd's end but the arrival of the Goats pain train seemed to be on cue. The southeast breeze was fading with our hopes of catching the Couldabeens, but a decent workout seemed to have hit an accord.   I thought we'd all reached our limits till the ChaCha inspired a burst from Jase, a relief to get back to town and idle home on hammered hamstrings. 

Week 51     275km.        YTD 16,478

Week 50 : The oxygen gluttony

Post 374

10/12

 

Twenty k's of serene solitude at five was the perfect antidote to insanity, thoughts off the tether, worries o.t.a. and bliss aboard the Baum cleared the cranium to start Saturday.  The déjà vu New Dookie, Boundary and Old Dookie Rd course from seven days ago, a ten degree orange daybreak with just one base layer prompted plenty of motion to work up some warmth.  Back to town there was a cheery rendezvous with Car+Mel to head south, intercepting insomniac Rocket en route to the carpark. I berthed deliberately in the left line (to avoid an early effort) as Shorty, Nick, Trav, HBK, Cougar, AvantiTrev, AvantiAndy, AvantiMat, Jen, The Godfather, Weapon, Pistol, TatPaul, BassoDan, TrekTrev, Nev, Jase, Marz and Bruce arrived for the regular social gratification (is the ride the means to the breakfast's end?)   TatPaul and Rocket guided the train tactfully out of town, I'd be lucky to score more than one turn at the pointy end with this many in the bunch.  Super stylish Pistol was in yet another cool kit and Jase was keeping a lid on a birthday, the regular social fulfilment lapped up on the anticlockwise course.   SpinDoctor and TrackStan were on a second coming at the Cosgrove silo (unable to go the distance from the starting grid?), encouraging words from Trav assisted my (eventual) go in the drivers seat at the Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd kennels, respiratory relief reaching the main eastern channel to enjoy the draft.  Shorty's puncture halted the pack in Ford Rd, sprint plans and predictions* with Car+Mel during the pause shortening the wait.  Rolling recommenced and the pace percolated to Wanganui Rd, almost perfectly to plan (*) the wattage warriors spiced the speed at DECA, I joined the up-line with 'keen-as' Car and 'motivated' Mel welded to my wheel.

Advancing up the ranks, I took stock for a moment behind HBK, watching as Rocket, Pistol and TrackStan bolted at Kittles Rd, I took the punt of rounding up Trav and HBK to hammer the hill.  Over the hump in fourth spot, my trophy was the grins from the gals gallantly glued behind.  Electric bikes, Christmas gifts and dying captured conversations as breakfasts were relished.

 

11/12

A lap of insignificance (with the significant) on Sunday, a short social spin with Weapon if only to top-up on the personalities, motivation and direction life leads us.  Southbound on Raftery and passing 3 bugs slogging into the southerly rewound the memory bank on the early days of learning the ride ropes. Round the Kialla mini-loop to gain the tail wind assurity homeward, it was a pleasant change to ride without an eye on averages, heart rates and p.b.'s.  A fitting conclusion to wallow in a long Lemontree breakfast. 

12/12

Mondays lap was to rise above the drudgery of another weeks work, finding Cate keen for a lap on the New Dookie, Old Dookie, Boundary and Channel circuit. Not a lot of chat, just down to bike business, our effort east was unspecified yet uncannily unified.  Into the rhythm, calm from the waist up, focus fixed 10 metres ahead and psyched in on smooth, the church arrived sooner than later while a big orange ball poked above the horizon, just atop the thin layer of fog.   A suggestion of a northeasterly motivated motion back to town, a crack at the ChaCha understood and unquestioned.

13/12

Perfect conditions Tuesday (14 degrees and a light northeaster) to tap a Turtle lap, feeling friskily fit to be honest (minus 8kg of ballast), but lamenting the loss of ice cream and the bliss of bakeries.   Temple, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Shorty, Nick, WhisperingJack, Cougar, TrekTrev, Hollywood and HBK had converged on the Turtle carpark, 5:40 tolled and the little train puffed out of town.  (Welcome back jet-lagged Wozz bravely lining up for the Hares) Shorty and I took leg one to Doyle's Rd and AvantiTrev came alongside for stage two to Orrvale (best not half wheel him or the next bike service will be expensive!)  Hollywood, AvantiMat, TrekTrev, Temple and HBK followed in the rotations, Nick and WhisperingJack reluctantly proceeded forward for Boundary Rd, the hint of tailwind should have inspired. Shorty's request to ease back was granted, I'd dropped back into zone three but silence in the ranks said all were working.  Over Melbourne Rd I was beside Shorty again for a k then a carefully controlled push to Galbraiths gate with AvantiTrev.    I'd reckoned Temple was in the box seat for line honours but Nick and WhisperingJack took tiny turns to put TrekTrev and Shorty on the front early for Conrod straight (sighting a flattened turtle into the first dip was rather ironic).  Fortune favoured Foss when Shorty rolled across, being towed for a k let me throw all wattage to the wheel to bolt the last 500 metres.  An HBK shadow lurking behind me drove even more effort, wringing out the last watts was hell at the last dip to hold the young fella off. "Good effort ya old bastard" was taken as a compliment from Hollywood (3rd) as my gluttony for oxygen occupied the remainder of Raftery.

14/12

Chomping into banana and dates for breakfast when an unexpected shower played its tune on the verandah roof, soon the WhatsApp and Messenger pings followed, many turning ride shy.  I'd almost ride-retired too at 5:20 but the crank craving called a chance when the cloud lifted at 5:30.   Carpe Diem!   Still the phone pinged as I rolled out the drive, figuring a solo lap would be best.  East on Old Dookie Rd had the benefit of a northwester behind me, little rooster-tails of water off a glossy tarmac soon subsided, but the chain groaned from the damp.  The breeze came at the right shoulder in Boundary Rd, a stormy sky retreating east as the sun tried to pierce the curtain of cloud.  I chose Mitchell Rd instead of the River Rd repetition, but the breeze had swung to WNW to torment.  Legs and lungs laboured and wattage wained, 176 bpm signalling an ease off the throttle to avoid implosion. Time forced an Archer Rd course home, a soloist ahead becoming the carrot to crank back to town. 

15/12

Thursday was cooler that PistolPete's wardrobe, "feels like 7" felt like June to me!   My ritual early lap took me to the Emu, a spin on the 17 cog putting temperature into the gastrocnemius.  Light slowly filled the sky en-route to the Toaster, quite the push into 25 clicks of chilled southerly.  Easier westbound back to town, arriving for a precision landing at Friars at the second stroke of six.  Goats Speissy, Joe, Tum, Spartacus, DeepFry, Coggo, Jen, Temple, HBK, AvantiAndy and Belly had gathered for the weekday workout, finding myself in the dream draft of AvantiAndy (akin to Kenworth) to roll out of town.  A drive to Dobsons with Andy then to pair with Joe.....but wait, he's had Hommy help, half-wheeling!   I tolerated it for 200 metres, but it was payback to Central Ave as a re-education. Boundary Rd's headwind hurt some and hungered others, turns short and long but Belly and Temple set the speed standard to River Rd.  There was a bit more giddy up west on River Rd but Tum was time starved like me to turn for a shortcut homeward via the truck route and Archer, the bliss of the strengthening southerly propelling the pace back to town.

16/12

Just Mel and me to commute to the Friday carpark, Wozz on an early FDC mission and Cate murdering mountains, but Kenworth converged as we plied south in a blissful 15 degrees.   Shorty, Temple, Trav, Boof, Pistol,Chops, Nev, AvantiMat and AvantiTrev floated in, FDC's Grumpy, Troy, Rocket, Wozz and Pelly arriving in waves, caused by a Troy tsunami I'm told. (KOM)  Turning up early, I seem destined to drive the first leg to Sanctuary roundabout (déjà vu Boof as co-driver), it's getting a little easier each time, or was it the gentle help from a weak ENE breeze? I even managed a sentence or two en-route to Mitchell Rd in the draft (normally speechless), Pistol's stylish new kit, Choppy's cheeky charm, Weapon's carbonaria (in C sharp by Zipp) and Pelly's Kialla mini-loop post-mortem supplemented the social stimuli.  I'd been slowly demoted to the back of the bunch by River Rd, the brief blur of bunches boring west, our speed slumped as AvantiTrev took the reins but was bumped back up for Boundary.  Kenworth and I scored the strengthening northeaster to battle from the Broken bridges, a moments relief pointing west in Channel till Boof wound up the expectations into the 40's.  I'd landed the best real estate of the draft from Boof, Rocket, Pistol and Troy from the S bends onward, and another 10 contributors to follow made Cha Cha chances choice. Tearing into Kinder corner at 43 and down to Hopeful, I'd reached the back of those with wattage and was summoned forward by a few sitting on. I left the door open for Boof and Troy (Rocket in retirement) to charge, but poured all into the pursuit of Temple (uncatchable) to finish fifth, 10th overall for the Cha Cha (49.4 average) made for a chuffed chap. 

Week 50.       294km.          YTD 16,203km. 

Week 49: The cyclust's psychosis

Post 373

3/12

Insomnia resurrected the early Saturday lap, New Dookie Rd was barren at 5 to enjoy the south southwesterly but the recent reseal is as rough as Trump's diplomacy.  I'd optimistically dressed for summer but "feels like 7" chilled the limbs in Boundary Rd.

20k's of serenity and mental meandering was a cranial spring clean after a week of work, the weekend welcomed with the grin greeting from Mel, Cate and Jase back in town.   Daylight and summer combined to draw a crowd to the carpark (or was it our magnetic personalities?) SuperMario, Bruce, Lenny, Lucy, Shorty, Rocket, Temple, HBK, TheGodfather, Weapon, Nick, TatPaul, Nev, Pistol, Cougar, AvantiTrev, Marz and TrekTrev lined up for the 6am launch. I'd drawn 3rd wheel in the grid lucky dip, behind the unfamiliar TatMat (Orbea) though his smooth, steady and poised position was reassuring, the fast bit was hard to match.  Nice to get to the end of my shift at blood & bone corner, quickly tucking in for the tow from Cate as a stream of others went forth to do their duty.   HBK upped the ante in Old Dookie Rd (to escape the porky pong?) just enough to cut the caboose cackle, the rubber band effect quite strong out of Toaster corner, shadows long in the grass from 48 wheels working north.   As rare as the northern hairy nosed wombat, we spotted the eastern hairy chinned SpinDoctor at the Cosgrove silo, and in company with TrackStan, they joined the lengthening bunch to point west at Emu corner. One or two headed to the business end but then created a third outside line of retreat, looked like a bunch of Browns cows from the rear.  Popgun was idling west at the main eastern channel forcing us to thread the needle with oncoming Cats, I'd been promoted to the pointy end again with TatMat in Ford Rd, pretty pleased the 'ol engine could keep up with a newer model into the southwester.   Cougar, Popgun and Marz took the effort escape via Verney Rd, eagerness escalating as we continued driving past DECA, I was positioned perfectly at 2nd last with old mate Temple smooth and predictable ahead.  Plenty were expiring as the hill beckoned a blast, I jumped out of Temple's tow, around the wilted and up Mt Wanganui, 5th the best I could hope for with Rocket, TrackStan and the real movers ahead.  Back to base camp and breakfast, little cars, language and pinched nerves took me into overtime, tempted to stay and order brunch as Tina and Trude (TT&T)  and HuggyBear filtered in to wag chins.

4/12

With a forecast fickle for Monday, Rocket called a camel farm lap Sunday, an offer appealing to keep my k's clicking for the last month's challenge.  The good old days of just jersey and knicks are back, multiple thermal layers, limb warmers, beanies and booties forgotten, all aboard at 6:30 and no need for lights either!   To the usual grid I found Rocket, Temple, Shorty and AvantiMat ready to roll, the regular rotations out Channel Rd faced an ENE'er beginning, my pairing with Rocket and the Shorty chaser ramping up the respiratories.  A brief bout of Boundary with the breeze at the portside allowed us to prepare for Bells / Armstrong Rd, 13 long straight and monotonous k's into a headwind needs a big slice of mental machination.  

Just to test the tenacity, 7k's had been resealed in Cosgrove's coarsest 20mm stone, VicRoads cheapskate specs slapping it straight on the hammered and rippled skinny stretch of black stuff some describe as a road.  The heart rate climbed the scale visiting the front, low 30's was all the legs would give into the 20k headwind, but at least it was a task shared. (serious therapy needed for anyone tackling this solo).  Cosgrove-Caniambo Rd finally appeared, no smoother but the bonus of wind off the brow and onto the right shoulder was some relief.  A few clicks were added to the cruise control as we crossed the highway and rode into the shadow of Mt Major, all anticipating the turn west at the camel farm and the tailwind reward home.  The serenity delicious, at last no noise of wind blowing between the ears, just the comforting C sharp of carbon and rubber rolling along Kellows Rd to Cosgrove.  Up to the quarry and west toward Lemnos, pace lifted into the fourties with the breeze behind, legs and lungs burned but little voices said "this will pay dividends later".

Shorty and AvantiMat were happier with the tempo just off the boil, a co-operative approach back to town kept five alive. Thankfully, it was sprint-free Sunday for Wanganui Rd, back into the breeze on the Boulevard turned it Indian file in Rocket's tow, the lure of Lemontree's menu drawing out the very last watts.   Sugar, 'The Castle' and ballet's boredom kept conversation going, Shorty turning his morning's mental bait into reality.

5/12.

A day off predicting precipitation, but not a drop fell. A sleep in till six, serene.

6/12 

A drab and dismal dawn had clouds curtaining Tuesday's beginning, the handbrake of a headwind delivering a test to turn up to Turtle time.  HBK, WhisperingJack, Nick, Shorty, Cougar, Temple, Hoges, TrekTrev and AvantiMat had assembled, wind direction debated in the minutes before take-off.   The plea to HBK for warm-up time was granted (for 7.6 seconds), usual velocity (half a bike ahead) resumed by Kensington's roundabout.  1800 metres beside HBK then 1400 metres beside Shorty had toasted me, the handover to Hoges and Temple most welcomed so I could start my respiratory rehab.  My next shift started before Boundary's Broken bridges, diverting my gaze from the the River Rd target so far ahead (a mental mountain), don't look at the heartrate display either Foss, the reality will wreck you!  Kudos to Nick and WhisperingJack having a crack at the pointy end, TrekTrav seems struck with the cyclust psychosis turning up again.  HBK and I scored the Central Kialla headwind to Mitchell Rd, soaking up every second of the 4k recovery thereafter till the next turn beckoned.  Just Temple, HBK, Shorty, Hoges and I were swapping turns in the 40's  by Galbraiths gate, my head said more but the legs and lungs reply wasn't printable at Arcadia Downs.  Conrod straight squeezed two lines into one, I drove out of the dip, Hoges took to the front of house duty and all tucked in behind. Nobody challenged the finish, all desperately waiting for the relief of crossing the finish for recovery to rule. 

 7/12

A smiley start from Car+Mel to be Couldabeens bound Wednesday, another good roll-up (with the promise of just a turn or two?) of Bruce, Marz, Rocket, Chops, Troy, Weapon, Pistol, Kenworth, Jase, AvantiTrev, Nick, SuperMario, Shorty, Hollywood and AvantiMat forming the rows in the carpark, my early arrival putting me on captains duty for leg one (again).  Weapon instigated the 2nd line on the escape from the suburbs, the FDC ritual of a leg 3 arrival seems to have faded.  Plenty of tongues wagged in Mitchell and River roads, my time spent pondering the perfect grid position to deliver some hope at the ChaCha (reckon I'd be at the pointy end near the Kinder today).  We'd collected PeteH (hereinafter dubbed BossCogs) confined to the caboose as I struggled shaking a cough that won't let go, almost like asthma at full exertion.  Fast forward to Channel Rd and sure enough, it was full steam at the front beside Shorty to the Kinder, going for the smoothest line through the corner I needed quick wits to avoid the grass heaps littering the lane from a roadside slashing.  40+ with Bruce to Hopeful corner, a sudden "car up!" causing concern, then to find the wattage to stay with Bruce when he kicked.  Lungs burned and thighs buckled, I had nothing left at Prentice Rd just as Troy, Rocket and co got off their collective seats to humiliate us all.  I was rapidly overtaken by the masses, but a grin from Car still giving 100% at the back put it all in perspective. 

8/12

Pushing 11ks to the Emu against a NNE'er was only driven by thoughts of a tailwind back to town, the mental limit of 78 rpm and 165bpm was set, reckoning I'd survive a 33k prologue before a lap with the Goats.  Well into the rhythm beyond Ford Rd, my mental daydream was suddenly awoken by a metre long goanna sprinting from the roadside undergrowth, a million goosebumps and a bucketful of adrenalin back-slapping my mindset.  Better west from the Toaster, adding 15% to the velocity (bpm and rpm remained at the prior preset) shooting for a 6am Friars arrival kept the effort up.  So many cars and even the odd bike were spearing through the pre-dawn gloom minus lights, they're obviously dim on the intelligence to match?  There was a generous gathering of Goats on my berth at 5:59, Tina, Speissy, AvantiLeigh, Heady, Belly, Phil, Sandy, HG, Jen, Spartacus, HBK, Hommy, Dipper, Temple, PrincipalSkinner, DeepFry, Coggo, AvantiAndy and Snow, was almost record numbers.  The sedate departure from town added JB to the list, still cruisy at Dobsons estate until Belly spiced the speed (HG dragging the chain in facing the front.)  That was the trigger for tempo, all stepping up a few rungs particularly pointing south on Boundary Rd.  Chat took a back seat as concentration and exertion took precedence, into the fourties down to River Rd with no sign of let up.  Great to be amongst the wise positioning for the wind, the echelon educated certainly makes the team task less testy.  Dipper's a decent driver at the front, he wore me down to really appreciate AvantiAndy's draft on the next roll-over.  I'd run out of River Rd for another turn, departing stage right for a solo to town, head down and toasting legs into the headwind home but a sense of satisfaction to squeeze in 66 k's before 7.

9/12

The temperature had halved for Friday, some of those winter layers back in service again! AvantiTrev, Boof, Pistol, Kenworth, Rocket, Cate, Weapon, Nick, Chops, AvantiMat, Temple and Hollywood assembled at the carpark as the FDC crew (Pelly, BamBam, Troy, Ralphy, Trav and Bruce) arrived from their thrash at the Kialla mini loop.  First to grid meant I played the leading role again to Sanctuary roundabout (nope, Foss hasn't learned!), grateful that Boof ran at half throttle beside me (camouflaging my performance anxiety).  I gasped a greeting to Rocket and Chops as they advanced to drive leg 3, my recuperation almost complete by Mitchell Rd.   (Me thinks I need some of that special Troy "supplement"). Craig Lotsalumens plugged west (@36rpm), Couldabeens conversations commenced as the rotations rolled; coarse customers with AvantiTrev, the Goats gallop with Temple, wavering weather with Nick, Troy's tempo with Ralphy and insufficient insulation with Hollywood.  We'd caught BossCogs and ColColnago on a River Rd reconnoiter, jumping aboard our bunch bound for Boundary.   ColColnago was cobbled by cobwebs but BossCogs moved up the ranks (a turn-around from Wednesday's shy from speed), but hedaled when he got to the drivers seat in Channel Rd.  The sprint fuse was lit at the cypress trees, all my biscuits burned beside Boof 400 metres before the Kinder.  Requests to my engine room grew more demanding as Rocket and Chops muscled to the front ;   head down, hold that wheel, check ahead (grass free), more watts, breathe deeper, caution (a freewheel), dodge the gravel, check the shadows, keep straight, more watts, some expiring, peek back, more watts, pass a few, car up!....all that for 9th place as Rocket, Hollywood and Pistol shot to the finish line (yep, a painted mark has appeared to dispel the disputes)  All pointed south in town to quaff caffiene, just Kenworth and I northbound to stay employed. 

Week 49.    315km.         YTD 15,909 km

Week 48 : The problem of premature arrival.

Post 372

26/11

Sucked socially south Sunday seeking cycling sustainance, strong southerlies stifling speed.  Surprisingly, a Couldabeens crowd had converged, the afternoons Tour de Pub was expected to cull an early lap.  Nick, Jase, Pistol, Jen, BamBam, Cate, Shorty, BassoDan, Hollywood, Mel, TatPaul, Bruce, Weapon, Troy, Temple, The Godfather, Gazzagrasshopper (from the clutches of extinction) and TrekTrev (a Nev/Kev bro) set forth, Kel, AvantiTrev and Bo arriving to get 42 wheels turning at 6.  Winters hangover (8 degrees) mixed the wardrobe between short and long, funny the variety of people's temperature tolerance.  Jen braved turn one, proving gridphobia groundless, I scored a strong BassoDan then Bo to partner for legs two and three. 9k's of Channel Rd later we steered north onto Boundary, pace pumped with the wind blowing at the backside, silence in the ranks indicating many at VO2 max.  3k's of Old Dookie Rd took us to the Toaster, the anxious anticipation of a battle against the southwester (20 km/h) homeward focussed thoughts to Emu corner.  It was easy in the draft till reaching the front in Ford Rd, a short stretch with BassoDan was soon called over to battle with Bo.  I surprised myself nudging 37 into the breeze, fitness a hard thing to measure till you're told you've gapped others.   Wind wore at the warriors in Wanganui Rd, the pack turning skinny and Indian file behind Rocket at DECA.  The flick of an elbow put Bo in the drivers seat, uh oh! I was next as Kittles Rd came into view.  Bo's elbow handed me the front, all effort shoved into the cranks as the sprinters shadows swelled behind.  I reckon the finish line is on the hill's crest, so Yay! I won! but Bruce, Gazzagrasshopper The Godfather and co (waiting in the wake of my wheel) came out of hiding to thrash to a further goal (100 metres ahead)   Peloton personalities, travels and hills vs flats jabbered jaws at Lemontree's long table, I wondered who'd do the daily double on the afternoons Tour de Pub?

A 5k prologue into the midday (35km/h) southwester summoned the Peppermill hydration to commence the annual Couldabeens Tour de Pub (coarsely subtitled Tour de Trough)  SuperMario, Kenworth, Trav, Cougar, The Godfather, BigMat, Bruce, Ro, BigRon, Weapon, Rocket, KillkennyPaul, Boof and Pistol enrolled as the draughts were dispensed, a wait for Nev's arrival seemed familiar.

Stage 1 to Pistols fronted Raftery Rd's headwind, a short 9k wind workout before beer and nibbles prepared us for stage 2.  AvantiTrev and Bo broke free of employment to join, Shepp-Euroa Rd testing tenacity as gusts to 40 grew, gasps gave way to guffaws as the Godfather punctured, a now regular occurrence for the Tour.  Repaired and remounted, there was a push to Union Rd, heart rate escalating paired with Rocket at the front, I scored some comfort from a call of "easy" to recouple the caboose.Over the highway and across the Goulburn bridge, Toolamba on the hydration horizon spurred SuperMario to stretch the bunch, the Junction hotel our pitstop. The Godfather's JD and raspberry made an early appearance, but time had ticked by to prompt stage 3 to start. Across the Mooropna-Murchison Rd and with Weapons' directional dramas done, it was west toward Dhurringile, but an explosion from The Godfathers tube brought on a special stage of sledging. Retubed and resaddled, the tailwind to Tatura put fourties on the Garmins, a thirst to quench at the middle pub with chips as the sporting supplement.

Stage 4 to Mooroopna weaved a weird BigMat course via Ardmona's finest goat tracks and  pave sections (strewn with slashed grass), just to build a thirst for the Cricketers Arms to satisfy.  Yarns, passions, past-times and philosophies were let loose by ale, a Pandora's box of personalities previously unknown. As evening drew near and a dinner date beckoned, I departed for town with Weapon, navigating the sticks and bark on the windswept bike path, one length of bark being a rather angry 3ft tiger snake when Weapon rode over it.

 

28/11

I had a penchant for peace on Monday but the golf course loop begged a prior prologue, at last a double digit temperature and barely a puff of wind.  Speissy, Phil, Sandy, Heady, Hommy, Tina, Coggo, Belly, Weapon, ApprenticePete and PinarelloTom (part-time Pussy) formed at Friars for a pacified peloton, JB making up a bakers dozen to egress east. Passing a cruising Straddles and Keeno, we slowly squeezed the accelerator to preserve peace, Weapons wheels playing a carbonaria with the singles singing soprano invoked velocity but.   A study of ride styles presented a mixed bag, Tina's straight and svelte course contrasted with PinarelloTom's profuse pedal pauses (as easy to follow as Jackie Lambie's logic), Velominati's rule #3 of guiding the uninitiated is needed me thinks. Shadows stretched ahead on River Rd as the sunrise warmed the gluteus maximus, long shifts at the front by Hommy and Tina set a precedent for Weapon and I to long haul a 3k stint to Central Kialla Rd.  I bid adieu to the peace train to tend to the wants of an employer, a squirt at the Crit sprint (2nd PB) satisfying an itch of intensity.  

29/11

A sneaky suburban saunter with a keen cornea on the clock berthed me at the bunch back for Tuesday's turtles, at last a reprieve from the first shift at the front!   Bruce, Cougar, TrekTrev, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Jase Hollywood, Nick and Temple was a good show for a Tuesday, a gentle stoke of the boiler on the first few legs to get a little train up to speed.  All cruisy till the cypress trees, Hollywood and I turned up the tempo at the S bends, stopping the jaws flapping.  AvantiMat is working the wheels well, several solo's spicing his speed of late.  Variable velocity in River Rd as AvantiTrev and Nick turned the wick down (Temple turning it up again), Jase and Hollywood tackled the breeze through Central Kialla as TrekTrev sought comfort in the caboose with Cougar. Temple made me work to Archer Rd, the pack of ten still united to the highway and beyond. I'd recovered (145bpm) in the tow as Arcadia Downs loomed near, but had a problem with premature arrival at the bunch front out of Conrod's dip.  Way too early to figure in the placings, my only option was to make the punters earn their chocolates, flogging the high fourties for 250 metres, my elbow signalling Bruce and Temple to thrash out the honours to Steptoe's.  Contentment reaching the 1250k Strava monthly challenge, I pondered Amanda Coker's current effort at the world distance record, week 28 and she's covered 72,164 km.  366k/day is commitment!

  30/11

Analysing frontphobia (drivers seat distress) with Car appeared to calm concerns en route to Wednesday's lap, it's a state of mind to brave the pointy end with the strong when most are respectful and co-operative.  Weather was wonderful drawing a Couldabeens crowd; Kenworth, Pistol, Car+Mel, Boof, Cate, WhisperingJack, Chops, Nick, Weapon, Troy, Bruce, AvantiTrev, Temple, Marz, Jase, Rocket and Trav took to the tarmac on Archer at 6, Gazzagrasshopper last out of the cot converging.  A train horn (with Landcruiser attached) passed trumpeting the tasty touché's at the bunch back, Mexican Angelo assimilated into the pack in Mitchell Rd.  A welcome back to Marz (monstering the Masi big cogs), Kenworth was keeping a birthday under cover as the AvantiTrev / Nick handbrake clicked on a couple of notches in River Rd.  A slow breach of Boundary Rd as Trav retrieved Gazza's bidon, a light tail breeze assisting our passage to Channel Rd.  Gazzagrasshopper had skipped the sequence and drew alongside me at Sellmans ('focus Foss' on the straight and smooth to divert thoughts from the young whipper-snapper beside me), stubbornness driving a long turn to the cypress trees, the satisfying sequel that Gazza called the roll-over, not me.   Kudos from Bruce egged on the ego to match my heartrate, Bruce was headed to the slaughter at the rushin' front while I mentally prepared for a ChaCha chance.  Full bore into Kinder corner and down to Hopeful, the right lane was fracturing by Prentice Rd.  Gazzagrasshopper shot past in a fish tailing thrash after Boof and Rocket , it was like following WobblyTrev on steroids while I played patience behind. Nearly out of road with Orrvale looming large, I poured on the wattage arrow-like past, snatching third with Rocket and Boof just a few lengths ahead (was good for the grandpa).

1/12

Riding random Thursday morning, soaking up 10k's of mind meandering before the 6am Goat gathering.  Belly Sandy, Brendy, Coggo, HG, Snow, Phil, Hommy, Heady, Tina, Temple, HBK, DeepFry and Bickers formed at Friars, the surging subject and its ruination on a ride analysed with Tina (Rule #88 is gospel).  Coggo and I led the escape from town, JB joining the rotational ritual, allowing me to speak steps with Sandy, bonkers blazers with Brendy, the Couldabeens crawl with Coggo and tepid temperatures with Temple.  Barely a breeze in Boundary, I paired with DeepFry (smoother than the average Adams) as a pre-cursor to Coggo down to the Broken bridges, a smooth and steady mid 30's kept the bitumen blurring, Bickers content in the caboose.   Just as I'd got into the Goat groove, the enemy of time pulled me away, into town via Archer I'd happily chanced upon Fox, Meags, Fee and Princess for a short social chin wag. 

2/12

An early berth at the Couldabeens carpark put me at the business end of a big bunch Friday, Shorty, Nick, WhisperingJack, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Chops, Pistol, Kenworth,  SuperMario, Rocket, Cate, Trav, Mel, Boof, Marz, Nev, Temple, Hollywood and Weapon, FDC's  Ralphy, BamBam, Grumpy, Pelly and Troy rolling in with Bruce, making a long line for me to lead (the first k calm thankfully, the exit split by traffic). Doubled up with Choppy to the roundabout laboured the lungs as a southerly started, my recovery spent socialising with the lads and lasses cranking up the ranks.  The role at the rear seems sometimes forgotten, a glance back and a call on traffic the responsibility of rear gunner, looking out for your fellow addicts. (just as passing on the message through the ranks)  

It was beaut being berthed behind, blabbing beside BamBam, breathing blissfully Boundary bound, bike bunches blurring by buoyed by bravado, breast beating and boisterousness, but betwixt our band of besties, babes and beasts, brazen brainstorming and bombastic banter bounced between the the rows while two others puffed away in the drivers seat dragging us to Channel Rd.  Two lines stretched long and thin at the cypress trees, sprintention boiling to the surface with the Kinder in view.  The ripple effect as the lads at the front let loose is a hard wave to ride if you're not prepared or concentrating elsewhere, but I wasn't in the right real estate (midfield) to mix it with the movers. 

Week 48.     317km.           YTD 15,594km 

Week47: Servants for the sprinters

Post 372

19/11

There's nothing like the warm welcome of a weekend and the shared social stimulus of a Saturday lap. TatPaul, BassoDan and Cougar had berthed at the carpark, gridphobia evident again as Boof, Cate, AvantiMat, Rocket, Bruce, Kel, Hollywood, Troy, SuperMario, Tommygun, Shorty, Bo, AvantiAndy, Jen, AvantiTrev, Temple, The Godfather, Tum, Nev and even BigMat fronted.  TatPaul and I were left to lead leg one as six bells tolled, Cate braved leg two, and like mischievous schoolboys, the Godfather and Bo created havoc with the velocity as we worked east.  KillkennyPaul and Softa joined the long line at the Pine Lodge pub, the once enforced 35 limit is a distant memory but the carpark still fills each week.  (BigMats rare appearance might just be related to next weeks Tour de Pub?) Several had doubts of hanging on as the tempo touched the fourties, the rubber band effect strong at intersections with a long line of reactions. 'Round the Toaster and up to the church, the rear order shuffled as several sought shelter in preparation for the drive west.  The southwester spread the bunch across Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, over the main eastern channel to see Trudy driving a copious Cat pack cranking east.  Popgun appeared at the soup tin and took up residence in the caboose, Bo and the Godfather again turning up the tempo.  Cate dropped a chain at the halt for Numurkah Rd, and with the bunch driving into the distance and Jen close to expiry, I hung back to gather them, KillkennyPaul and BassoDan (the sprint cast-offs) to work Wanganui.  BigMat had pitted with a puncture in RuddRd, the bunch now broken into bunchettes, Lemontree bound. Roadside rubbish, race tactics and ride variety kept the jaws flapping between coffee and breakfast.
 

20/11
The sanctity of Sunday's usual day off was broken for the Goats early Christmas ride, a casual muster at Friars of Spartacus, Cindy, Brendy, Hommy, AvantiAndy, AvantiLeigh, Sandy, Jen, Dipper, Heady, Tina, Phil, Belly, Coggo and HG. It was a calm start on a route to Murchison via Tatura and Rushworth,  PinarelloMat, Snow, Jen, Lee and PrincipalSkinner forming a B team direct to Murch.  A pause at Mooroopna as Tina dealt with diabetic dilemmas, then a southwest idle (98bpm) as the turns slowly rolled in the rare warmth of Springs' late arrival. Finally at the bunch front as we exited Tatura, I'd scored the pairing with Hommy (a house ahead), but kept steady in the standards of low 30's rather than be drawn into his agenda.  Beside Jen was a different world, smooth, level and perfectly poised as the Basin drew into view. An incline or two rippled an itch through the Goat guns, a hillness lifting the tempo and relegating several to the caboose.  I'd reached the front again as Hommy hammered the rise from the Basin's western channel bridge, so all stops out to make him work for his lunch. The pack had Indian filed the rise, Coggo's steady draft relieving me of driving duty as we dodged the massive tarmac blisters of recent rains. Reprieve reaching Rushworth's edge, most lured to the bakery's carbs and calories to compensate the climbs, I'd abstained (with difficulty) in vigilance to the new diet, and to keep space for a gastronomic lunch.  Refuelled and remounted, it was east to Murchison, Heady and Cindy's breakaway soon shut down to resume a single filed battle against wind and traffic.

It's been many moons since feeling a heat nearing 30, H2O consumption and sweat on the brow well up from the woes of winter.  Turns were about as organised as an immigration policy, shared in sorts by AvantiLeigh, Dipper, Coggo, Hommy, Belly and I, almost Pain Train days revisited in the fourties on the billiard table surface of the last 8 k's.  The mass meandered into Murchison and set a course for Longleat wines, Heady couldn't help himself with a sprint to the gate. A luxurious lunch of tapas, garlic prawns, oysters, lobster bisque, mussels, pasta marinara and pavlova, washed down with Longleats' lushious liquids topped off a ripper ride, Goats prose and presentations adding the laughs. 

21/11

William Cowper called it the very spice of life, a circuit change Monday put variety into the routine.  Raftery Rd commenced a reverse Cat lap with Cate, a wind assisted passage south and a distracting dawn dragging thoughts away from the north and east work ahead.

All was well with the world till the turn into Mitchell Rd, the effort into the ENE'r (and Cate's Sunday attack on Harry's, Kelvins' and Polly's) wearing at the wattage.  Wiz and Minno worked south at Central Kialla,  Sosso solo at 'wait for David', then three long lines of stretched bunches in River Rd blasted merrily west with the wind up their seat posts while we muscled the mistrale, savouring the odd shelter of a few rows of trees.   A short Goat peace train of four then an unidentified couple were the last signs of clockwise life in Boundary Rd.  Finally relishing the tailwind homeward on Old Dookie Rd, a Dobsons estate sprint wrung the last watts out.

22/11

A verandah pitter-patter finishing the 5:15 breakfast rethought a Tuesday ride, deferring was regretted till a 6:15 downpour approved the decision. (Damp didn't defer Wozz and ChrisA scorching a lap)

24/11

Almost suffering withdrawal spasms by Thursday, wet weather finally went OTA but a "feels like" 4 degrees dragged the winter base layer out of retirement.  It was nearly nirvana aboard the Baum again, the well worn golf course loop spent reacquainting the ride routine.  A southwester massaged the ego out to emu corner but swung WSW to hammer the heartrate (175) from the Toaster to town (12k), personal progress pleasing but.  Belly, Coggo, Tum, Sandy, AvantiAndy, Snow, Jen, Tina, Hommy, PrincipalSkinner, HG, Brendy and JB were the Goats gathered, Temple and HBK a Couldabeens contingent in cross-bunch diplomacy (in light of the scarcity of Thursday turtles).   It was almost a holiday tucked into the bunch draft but I was soon blessed by a proper half biking from HBK (thinks.......the clash of the Titans if he and Hommy pair!)  Velocity varied depending on who was in the drivers seat, chat meant HG, silence meant Coggo.  Sunday's lunch got the nod though I suspect HG and Hommy were suffering the effects of excess.  River Rd's end spelt my exit, the usual short cut home avoiding pot holes and a cash filled purse speed bump (honourably handed-in but not a peep from the owner)

25/11

A golf course prologue (old habits die hard) was an attempt to warm up the old engine, a spin in the 80's loosening legs.  Down the main drag into a southerly, a cute collection of Car+Mel and Cate corralled to commute south.  Gripped by gridphobia, the early carpark arrivals sat short of the line **, the lead role left to the same old drivers^ yet again.  Trav, Pistol, Rocket, Bruce, Nev, Chops, Boof, Nick, WhisperingJack, Shorty, Troy, Grumpy, Pelly, BamBam, AvantiTrev, Cougar, Jen, Kenworth and Weapon (by the skin of her pearly whites) launched at 6, frustration (**) fuelling my 3k foray at the front, half the first leg kindly paired by Boof (^), driven to the delicious drone of Weapons' Zipp's behind.  Old Foss faired well reaching Sanctuary roundabout still firing on all cylinders, thinking the new dietary direction (and several kg's less ballast) is delivering dividends.  There was a mixed bag on my demotion down the left line, Trav's pornstar mo, Grumpy on pot-hole watch, Bruce rueing Nev's nasal annointment, Pistol's return from holidays (performance unhindered), the ladies line astern an inspiration, Kenworth keen-as for tomorrow's Tour de Trough and Cougars observations on ride technique beggars self analysis.  Six sizzled southbound on the Goat pain train as we plied north in Boundary Rd, Cate curiously curtailed in our caboose.  There was a smooth cruise along Channel Rd, the rotations rolling rapidly by the cypress trees.  Beside Shorty at the front headed toward the Kinder made he and I the ChaCha chumps, servants for the sprinters delighting in the draft to Prentice Rd.  Lucky to hold Boof's wheel kept me near the pointy end, a bit squeezy in the final metres with an oncoming car limiting the road space. An effervescent epilogue with Weapon and selfies with the quick chicks concluded week 47 on a perfect positive.

Week 47.     263km.         YTD 14,277km.  

Week 46 : Gridphobia and an antidote for Alzheimer's

Post 371

12/11

Like 125psi and a smooth stretch of tarmac, good health is only valued when it goes missing.  Robbed of riding by flu, the Saturday antidote was cafeine with the crew (Temple, Boof, AvantiTrev, The Godfather, Mel, Cate, TatPaul, Cougar, Popgun and BassoDan).  A bonus appearance by Weapon, Jase, AvantiAndy and Jen (also in civilian mode) opened the chat on peaks, going OTA and motivational company.

14/11

A brisk southwester pushed a long grey blanket of cloud toward Yabba on Monday, but it was great to be back aboard the Baum after such a long absence (48hrs). The wind uploaded a carbon chorus to tune Cate and I toward Pine Lodge church, but a tail wind out and a head wind back was akin to serving brûlée before Brussel sprouts.  With the head into the groove of the grind west the task wasn't so bad, the odd clump of trees allowing a few moments of recovery. The fading flu still had a grip on my lungs and hijacked the heartrate, the wind a little angrier in Channel Rd but the bait of the ChaCha pulled out the stops to put a peak in the graph.

15/11

A calm and contemplative cruise to the Turtle faction on Tuesday, scenic sunrise to the left and super moon to the right as WhisperingJack, Nick, Pelly, Cougar, Jase (and an unusual appearance of MrMagnet) fronted the carpark.  WhisperingJack found reverse gear quickly, ushering me to the next shift at the pointy end before we'd even entered Channel Rd.  MrMagnet's turn at the front had lasted just 50 metres from the Kensington roundabout, so I turned up the heater to set a single file trajectory.  Seven had stretched out by leg two, so settled into a mid 30's tempo, no challenge to my position till Pelly took the helm at the Kinder.  Jase, Nick and WhisperingJack had a crack to the S bends, Mr Magnet close to haemorrhage by this point. Jase drove a strong leg to River Rd, full steam cornering west snapped off the magnetic hitch-hiker.  Carry on was the call, but it was down to Pelly, Jase and I to cart the carriages as daylight lit our course to Kialla Central.  Long turns were the order of the day, Cougar uncoupled as we ascended Dave's dip but an early ease for the highway glued the line back together. Careful on the gas into Raftery Rd I got the boiler up to steam by Galbraiths gate, two bikes ahead inspiring Pelly and Jase to crank us into the fourties.  Rising from Conrod's dip we flung a sledge or three passing KillkennyPaul and Softa (reacquainting themselves with reality aboard two wheels).  Pelly pounced to pinch podium position, all savouring a social suburban spin swept by the southerly homeward.

16/11

Grid phobia retreats some from an early shift at the pointy end, concrete drove me to jump in at the deep end for first turn Wednesday.  Wozz drew alongside at the town's limit, my mental mistake was squinting to the roundabout a thousand gasps away.  Spent, sweating and speechless, the eternity ended at Sanctuary estate, lungs still wearing the wheeze of Friday's flu but recovery in the tow of Wozz, Bruce and Bo was Christmas.  Cate, Shorty, Hollywood, WhisperingJack, Car+Mel, Kel, AvantiTrev, Weapon, Jase, BamBam, Troy and Pelly rolled through, Boof joining at Kialla Central from a prior puncture predicament.

The sun burst through the bunch on Rivers' route east, like minded cyclusts from unlike tribes toiled west, waving, whistling and whooping.  There were faces pained on the train of Goats grinding south on Boundary Rd while I was worked by Weapon to the bridges and whipped by Wozz to Channel to exhaust all energy.  Sans speech till the S bends, I was on a rapid recovery before the ChaCha appeared, inspired by Cate braving the drivers seat as the pace percolated to the Kinder.   Rotations had almost ground to a halt as Shorty reached maximum velocity at Prentice Rd, I emptied the tank just to roll past as Wozz, Troy, Bruce and the princes of pace stepped up to sprint, Troy triumphant.  The almost post coital pant and pleasure proceeded on the roll back to town, Bo's excuses (Vol 27), chuckles and comparisons on the chat agenda.

17/11

Immersed in random thoughts on an early solo tap, I was suddenly shaken by New Dookie's resurface (harsh 20mm stone replacing the once sweet billiard table tarmac) pummelling the posterior.   Smooth surface service didn't resume till beyond Central Ave, but an inspiring sunrise soothed the senses. 

A rare easterly eased the exertion back to town, a sluggish six pack then a profusely populated Pussycat peloton plied east.   Principal Skinner, Sandy, AvantiAndy, Snow, Coggo, HG, Belly, Hommy and Tina had Goat gathered at Friars, an idle out of town gathering up JB at SPC.  There was a rotational reshuffle as Coggo courted competitive company, the tame tap to Boundary taken up with talk of the forthcoming lobster lunch as part of a Goat Christmas ride.  JB and Coggo dialled up the stress in Boundary Rd, so who was I to mess with momentum? (oh what fun it is to ride beside a huffing Hommy!)  The pace slowly went off the boil till JB and Coggo returned to the pointy end in River Rd, the hint of a northeaster helping us into the fourties.  Time again turned me north, west and north from Rivers end to home.

18/11

Assisting a sting on a Stravassailant, a crack at the McIntosh meltdown pushed a heart rate hump into Friday morning (637 metres in 55 sec), I'd almost recovered arriving at a crammed Couldabeens carpark with Cate, Car+Mel.  Rocket, Boof, Bruce, Shorty, Trav, Kenworth, AvantiTrev, Ralphy, Wozza, Pelly, BamBam, Troy, Grumpy, Weapon, Jen, Bo, Cougar, Jase, Tommygun, Temple, WhisperingJack, Nev and Hollywood assembled in a cast the size of Ben Hur.   An 80 metre long train steamed south on Archer collecting AvantiMat, the up line forming fortuitously. I finally faced the front in River Rd wit Wozz (King of the Kialla mini-loop), head and heart wanted to reach the bridge but the lungs cut it 300 metres short.  There was a self imposed challenge tallying up the troop list today, a brain strain and an antidote for Alzheimers with a bunch this size.  The Goat train was on a mission of pained pace, already at the River Rd ripple strips (well done on a 40.9 average lads) when we'd arrived.  The turn west toward home and Channel's ChaCha challenge charged the enthusiasm, Darth Vader baulking barking at a big bunch.  A "car up" at Hopeful corner hesitated the back end, the big guns blazed and opened a gap, a hungry Hollywood and a bolting BamBam filling the space quickly. The calm after the storm found DocPaul rolling into town, the social dessert shared through the suburbs.

Week 46      207km.         YTD 14,014km

Hope the pictures put perspective into the prose, feel free to add a comment 'cause I'm flying blind folks!  (flattered by the Foss followers in Poland, France, USA, Ukraine and Portugal)