Week 8 : Ninja turtles and taking the candy

Post 333

It was a solid solitary slog to A Mart just to join Temple and Jase, nightclubbers still staggering the streets wrecked.  Raftery Rd was vexed with the effort of a 28 km/h SSW to the point of pain, what drives this voluntary self harm? Feeling better when it stops? Goal kicking? Performance anxiety? A pair well ahead remained uncaught, some ease with the breeze behind as we plied our course through Central Kialla, collecting Nick (with a click).  The pacy tap around kept us on perfect agenda, Nick, ticked off with the click, out of the saddle several times in the hope of isolating the annoyance (to no avail).  Back to the carpark at 5:57 finding a formation from the grid's halfway point, compressing contenders (ChrisA, Boof, WhisperingJack, Wozz, Shorty, SuperMario, Pistol, Rocket, Lynda, Ange, Fisky, Ross, RossT, Gazza, KillkennyPaul, Pat, AvantiTrev, GTCraig and Ric) back to the dumpmaster. A slingshot start as 22 reactions responded, kindergarten corner chaos with a car suddenly appearing stage left to split us into sprinters or stoppers. Each corner became a special stage as the rearmost (still braking) struggled to stay in touch with the front runners off their seats accelerating. Nath joined us early at the S bend as I discussed the finer points of bunch rhythm (or lack of it!) with KillkennyPaul. There was a surge fest bearing west from the Emu, was it coincidence that two's and three's of similar abilities arrived at the front to stagger speeds as the grades changed?  (It feels like the bunch ethos has skewed slightly, some regulars missing and an altered mindset with the influx of of new students) Predictions of an ugly finish, tangled up with haves, almost haves and have no ideas' being blown about by the SSW and speed, kept me (and others) conservative, happy to sit back and watch the Wanganui campaign from a distance. Pat kaboomed soon after Verney Rd, the lesson not learned from repeated turns of mass destruction.  A battalion of heavy artillery (conveniently bunched) upped the ante passing DECA, the cross wind snapping the resolve of many newbies to be shunted OTA.  Comfortable midfield and out of harms way, I slowed to join Temple, Nick and Jase for the four second ascent of Mt.Wanganui, then a coast on Rudd to collect the previously expelled.  Bunch character, turn types, bureaucracy and carbon wheels on the conversation list as wanks in yank tanks hammered the streets.  

Timed a roll-out on Old Dookie Monday, ahead of the Cats with the intention of jumping aboard their train home, the fast femmes in the distance, blinking their red course clockwise. Random riders cruised the course in wait, a solitary BigBen drawing alongside me in Boundary Rd.   Chatting on frames, wheels and Melbourne oddeseys, we'd made some ground on the quick chicks to River Rd but abandoned plans to catch as their leds drew away on a track turn mission.  Mo, MeridaAndy, Scott-not-BassoDave, Sly, MeridaJohn and a handful of others caught us crossing the highway, 4k's of track turns took us home pronto, only in town did we catch Cate, Mel, Jen, Sue and Eggy. 

Untroubled on timing, it was a tranquil tap to the south of town, Tuesday's steamy 23 degrees a backflip to Monday's 12, a northeaster assisting transit to the turtles carpark. Punctual students KillkennyPaul, Ric and Lucy were gradually backed by Jase, Trav, Nick, Shorty, Temple, WhisperingJack, Vince, PistolPete, Lynda, Kenworth, AvantiMat, AvantiTrev and SuperMario, a turtle attendance testament.  Lucy took the first turn with me, Jase then alongside turning up the heat to Orrvale Rd.  There was (unsignalled) pinecone panic at the cypress trees, AvantiTrev had a minor airborne moment and was then cooked with the Vince vs SuperMario 40+ war on whose wheel belonged first. It's been a while since a northeaster has helped us along Boundary and River Rd, hence there was no sparing the wattage working westward (but wished the front runners would move up the road to lend a little shelter to the spent souls)  Ric rapidly retreated to the left line as the reality of the right lane reeked rigour, Killkenny Paul moved up to the pointy end for a dip at the last k of River, an admirable apprenticeship served.  Another of Vince's hit was delivered in Mitchell, the bunch stretching under the strain, SuperMario stoically surviving.  A brief traffic break at the highway eased the heartrate 15 bpm, then rapidly round Roubaix to build for the finale. Vince was at the business end as we swept into Conrod, two lines suddenly blending to one behind him. The torture of the northeaster soon wrecked Vince, Kenworth, Temple, then Trav, Jase thought briefly about facing the music till the wind changed his mind, me blessed with the perfect real estate to sink all the jellybeans into the lead.  On top of the 13 at 191 bpm at the 300 metre mark was enough to gap contestants, a win for old age ninja turtle power! 

It was steamier than Gisele Bundchen in a hot tub Wednesday, 25 degrees before 6 didn't stop Cate, Jen, Car+Mel, Cougar, Lynda, Chops, Rocket, Nick, Pistol, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Jase, Boof, WhisperingJack and Gazzagrasshopper turning up.  Only Pistol had formed the right line south of Kialla Lakes, so I made the pilgrimage to Pistol's punishment, AvantiMat much kinder to Mitchell,  FDC's Ralphy and Troy joining in to make 18. Sticks and pot holes went unsignalled in River Rd, Rocket handed a strike by stick, struck by wheels ahead.  Chops coached Cougar to a turn in Boundary Rd, two long lines then working west on Channel Rd home.  AvantiMat and Rocket led the group to Hopeful corner, AvantiTrev running low on steam got the bunch well packed at Prentice for a late charge at the Cha Cha.  Emerging from a 30k tow, Gazzagrasshopper suddenly arrived (unlit) at the front to summon a sprint, Rockets response rapidly dispatching all comers to goners.

A compulsive k craving eased the eyelids open at 4:30 Thursday, wheels working along the Boulevard at 5 on an Emu-Toaster-town trajectory with a Goat lap planned for part two. A whiff of west wind wafted me to the Emu, trying to distract thoughts of the torment turning toward town and into a headwind.  The negative neurosis was soon nullified holding a good speed west, just ignored the legs complaints at staying on top of the 15 at 72 rpm back to Friars. There was two minutes chat time to spare with AvantiAndy, Heady, Deb, Sandy, Phil, Snow, Hommy, Coggo, Speissy, Kate, Tum, HG Phillo and Belly, grouped for the 6am starters gun.  A beige Camry (with the optional impatient pack) narrowly squeezed by at the roundabout, honking the cautious car ahead (an accident looking for a place to happen), but 15 Goats (Tina added) wound up the smooth knots east (except for Belly, on broom duty he tells me). Phil drove a strong turn with me in Boundary Rd despite the strengthening WSW'er, Hommy a smooth and considerate follow up beside me to the pub.  Damp spots on the specs turned out to be precipitation, not perspiration in River Rd, by Central Kialla the tarmac's gloss and wheel rooster tails put caution to the forefront.  Phil drove another hard bargain ascending Mt.Nicolaci, calculating who would be at Conrod's business end impossible to gauge with 12 drivers reducing to 6 by Galbraith's gate.  Belly finally fronted for duty, but struggled to pace Coggo and Tum brewing a strong expresso.  Just catching Tums slipstream as he jumped past Coggo set up my scene to take the candy from the baby of the bunch (well, he's twenty something)

Craved crispy concrete cornflakes Friday morning, something to feed the fortitude in preparation for the pain train. A southerly en-route pickled the perseverance, only Coggo, Dipper, Belly and Tum turning up meant hard yakka.  Five set forth with senior Cats in the distance a target, Coggo and Tum setting a flying fourties standard. The Cats turned into Boundary with '51 almost on their tail from the east, Coggo winding up an epic pussy pursuit as '51 hurtled to the horizon. We passed Matho and the meiow menagerie at the bridge, Coggo finally elbowing Tum to the front.   I found it hard to summon the speed from Channel Rd to one tree dam, willing myself to the next white post before handing over to Belly.  The Couldabeens had an eastbound train of many carriages in River Rd, our rolling stock of five puffed west with the Tum and Coggo engines delivering me to the dip.  Facing the front for the fourth time felt futile, fourty fading from the Garmin despite all efforts to keep pace.  Self was spent cresting the bridge, Belly and Dipper took up the tow to Rivers end, on the turn south my rear tyre felt as soft as Hollywood (an explanation of prior poor performance), the puncture halting all.  Cats soon passed us despite the quick change with Coggo collaberation, chase #2 then got underway to Mitchell.  Rounding the bend, the Cats had capitalised the width of the tarmac, but we eventually squeezed through, back on the gas for a rapid roll to Raftery.  Dipper's turbocharged finish in Conrod was hard to hold onto (85 psi from the C02 in the Michelin, a distinct disadvantage), the roll through town with congenial chat on the signs of reaching the limit, was rudely interrupted by puncture two.

Week 8.      316 km             YTD 2,561 km

 

Week 7 Heroics and haemorrhoids.

Post 332

A de rigeur early rendezvous with Temple and Wozz Saturday, 10% better progress than expected cranking south to Mitchell Rd, a week of torture may have educated my legs to a new standard?  Jase joined us at Central Kialla, the 30k prologue broken into bite sized pieces to terminate back at the carpark for a Couldabeens conference at the startline.  I'd elected to vocalise recent concerns, a call to order for smooth and sensible after last Saturday's shenanigans.  It wasn't the sermon on the mount, but the 6am departure was deafened by a pin dropping (maybe I'd been a bit vicious with verbs or acrid with adjectives), but agreement finally flowed as the wheels of rotation began eastward.  A fleet of cars appeared at the highway to incur an intermission, the prolonged pungency pedalling past Porky palace harangued heavily on Hollywood's hooter. Svelte and slick, two rows made an orderly way to the Toaster and up to the Emu, westward homeward without a glitch.  Hallelujah!  A 2k turn at the business end in Ford Rd with Pistol wasn't the torture I'd expected, and luck got me back in the draft before the competition of Wanganui beckoned.  Pat seemed unsure of his turn commitment at DECA (till the lungs expire Pat!), 'twas a tidy sprint though, with Wozz delivering Hollywood to the base of Mt.Wanganui (but made him earn the chocolates), Rocket, Shorty and SuperMario sitting out the sprint in Crit conservation.  Lucy and Lynda sprinted the cafe stage to be first seated, going parking, criterium tactics and the Ford vs Holden debate tempted tongues at the breakfast table. 

Overtaken by an opportunistic upstart on a flatbar (while I foot fumbled to clip in at the traffic lights) fanned the flames of pursuit (and passing) on New Dookie Rd Monday morning, the bit of west in the south southwest inspiring a push to the Pine Lodge church.  The heavenly hotmix soon ended, a coarse 20mm tarmac handbraked the speed till beyond Boundary, then 12mm stone a comfortable concession to the church. Heading south to the Toaster was about as inviting as a holiday in Aleppo, but spinning (78rpm) on the 17 making some progress.  Worked west on Old Dookie through the methane of the hog hotel then atop the main eastern channel bridge, I could view the bunches bearing westward and a soloist southbound.  Distances get skewed by darkness but no gain was made on the l.e.d. ahead (later Flyby'd as Wozz....no hope catching!) and I seemed to be holding station to the lights behind, once in River Rd a glance back better guessed the pursuing pack to be a k in arrears. River's length seemed a little shorter somehow, an oncoming collective of calm Couldabeens (birth of another Monday peace train) cruised into view at the bridge.  I'd drawn myself into zone 5 (+160 bpm) by Raftery Rd (avoiding being Catcaught?), expecting an imminent swamping in Conrod straight, it was pleasing to see just a sunrise sky smudged orange as I looked behind.  

More of the windy workout bearing south to Tuesday's turtles, a south southwesterly (22-39 km/h) to test the gluttons for punishment, Kenworth, Lucy, Jase, Nick, Temple, KillkennyPaul and AvantiMat 

(Ric and RossT sitting in the caboose). Temple and I took turn one, the pairing with Nick to Orrvale Rd got me speechless. A repeat performance came around all too soon with just 8 working the wind, KillkennyPaul and Lucy bearing the brunt of Boundary's blast. Turns turned smoothly despite the crosswinds headed west, shared evenly amongst the drivers in a bid to keep the 6am hares behind. Lucy and KillkennyPaul steered us to Galbraith's gate but Temple's tempo turned tortuous, rounding up and gapping the apprentices in his storm ahead toward Arcadia Downs.  Kenworth, Jase and I responded, burning wattage we'd rather have saved till the finish, swapping turns to Conrod's first dip, Kenworth buried himself till 300 shy of the line, Jase given the elbow ahead at the last dip. Temple drew alongside my third spot with just metres left, RossT emerging from a 30k tow to contend for a place may earn him the nickname of haemorrhoid!  The stretched bunch reunited at the bridge for a post mortem tap to town, quietly chuffed at beating the hares home. (an messy finish mixed with felines I'm told)

Leading ten on a relentless 2900 metre leg to the Sanctuary Drive roundabout was a stupid idea Wednesday, a 25km/h southwester carving a deep psychosis into the brow, my 20k prior prologue poor preparation for the persecution.  Wozz saved the day donating a draft to the alternate route, the road to respiratory recovery took till central Kialla for a tailwind North.  Chatting with Pistol, Boof, Shorty, Car+Mel, Jen, AvantiTrev, Rocket and SuperMario as the rotations rolled, River Rd's progress wound up from AvantiTrev's 33 intro to be beside Boof at 40.  Speed was on a similar simmer in Boundary Rd, a tailwind honeymoon soon over, turning into Channel Rd.   A few had ducked for cover as the Cha Cha drew closer, I'd found myself in a spicy speed sandwich between Boof and Wozz as we swung into Kinder corner at 40, hanging on till hopeful corner for a Wozz draft (needs to be on a cake and pie diet to fatten up his matchstick profile though). Rocket lit the afterburners at Prentice Rd, taking Wozz and SuperMario with him, nothing left in my tank to stay in touch as the gap opened.  My elbow at 181bpm enticed Pistol to slice the breeze in 4th, the last of my jellybeans spent in hanging on till Orrvale Rd's slow. 

To purge the persistent practice of 30-40k rides,  I saddled up at 5 on Thursday for a longer lap, destination clockwise toaster circuit and to intercept Goats in Old Dookie Rd to make a social second half.  As regular as prune juice, the wind (S-SW) blew an advantage to the Emu and a hinderance to the Toaster and back to town, happy on the 14 outbound but grappling with a grratio inbound, swapping between the 15 and 17 in a search of something between grind and spin (a grin?).  Belly, AvantiLeigh, AvantiAndy, Dipper, Sandy, Head Goat Phillo, Speissy, Phil and Hommy appeared exiting town, collecting Tina on the outskirts, then Geoffrey nearing Central Ave.   It was up to Hommy and I to cut the breeze in Boundary Rd, his competitive cravings half biking me 5k faster, accelerating the moment I drew level.   I rolled the turn at the bridge, Belly at least smooth and sans surge.  Regular (and respectful) rotations resumed to River Rd, Hommy's heroics repeating as I attempted to draw alongside again. I hunkered down for a long haul, half a bike back and playing the waiting game for his expiring effort (sometimes stubbornness knows no bounds!)   He finally pulled the pin near the church, Belly then contributing (kindly) to Laws Drive.  The troops had rather rapidly all served another term by Central Kialla, Hommy now testing Tina into the SSW. My turn came up again, this time it was payback by driving a few lengths on Hommy up to 38 for a few hundred metres.  Point proven, velocity was restored in Mitchell Rd, my mind already set on sitting out the sprint.  Timing and a degree of fate / luck had AvantiLeigh at the exertion end of Conrod, Dipper at second wheel being gifted the win, a long line of laboured lungs behind. 

There was a gathering of the clans as I idled the streets on a warm up Friday, Cats, Goats, Hurtlocker and Couldabeens were assembling, settling on the latter as the variety of life's spice.  Pistol, Hollywood, Wozza, Cate, Kenworth, Shorty, Nick, Rocket, Lucy, Nev, AvantiTrev, Jen, Chops and Jase swelled the ranks for the 6am off, I settled into the midfield as Wozz drove the first leg, observing Pistol, Rocket, and Nev forming the second line while many ducked for cover in a soft shoe shuffle at the rear.  Bo and Kel joined on the second k and we'd inherited FDC's Troy and Ralphy to the bunch en-rout to Mitchell. Beside Rocket at the front in Central Kialla, the tailwind and Rocket's enthusiasm (despite his tough 100 last night) took us into the 40's, making me officially knackered to pair with Shorty for the first k of River Rd.  Thankfully there was a lengthy respite with 18 others doing shifts, the oncoming aforementioned clans worked west as we lapped up the tailwind anticlockwise. Channel Rd was mostly shielded from the breeze, sitting fifth wheel at Hopeful corner was a lucky berth. Wozz, Hollywood then Chops ramped up the speed at Prentice Rd, sympathy for Chops being left to suffer (post man-flu,10 cents short of a million dollars) urged me to the front to lend him a tow, but nudging the fifties couldn't hold off Bo (with Wozz at his heels), Hollywood nipping up on my left to steal third.

Week 7.     325 km.          YTD 2,245 km

Week 6 Friday flagellation, the freaky fashion?

Post 331

Missed the text of Saturday's early lap, so set off solo at 4:45 with a niggling northeaster (11-15 km/h) to battle en-route to the Emu, but peace and solitude to clear the cranium.  Distances evaporated quickly zoning in on a rhythm (sounds better than being totally away with the fairies!), the grind on the 15 laboured the legs but was kind on the cardiac.  Ahead of agenda at the Toaster, I eased the throttle back to town, cruising to the carpark finding the masses assembling.  Boof, Lynda, Rocket, Shorty, Trav, Temple, Wozz, Mel-Car, Ange, Hollywood (finally out of mothballs) Fisky, Cate, Ross, Pat, KillkennyPaul, Pistol, Cougar, AvantiTrev, G.T.Craig (a rather late New Years resolution of revolution), Nick and WhisperingJack.  AvantiTrev opened the account calmly, Pistol and Wozz cooking up the cadence on leg 2, my go at leg 3 beside Wozz in the high 30's sure to vocalise critics.  Pat's turn transition across from up line at the S bend, was by sudden sprint followed by freewheel, sending a tsunami through the bunch (perception of how the peleton performs politic is not his strong point!) Two long lines speared north in Boundary Rd chasing a pair of l.e.d.'s, the sweep into Old Dookie Rd rounding up BigBrad and buddy (giving no quarter of their slice of tarmac), then all went messy, accelerating to 40 then suddenly on the anchors back to 32 for an odd call for slow.  The pork palace was particularly pungent at 6:20 (barely a hint at 5:35), rapid rolls by Ross and KillkennyPaul ruptured the regular rotation, raising quite an aura of unease amongst the troops.  A hint of tail breeze in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd spiced the speed, a pair of errant geese cajoled from their asphalt roost, then a sudden unsignalled slow by some u-turning (to congregate with Cats) split the bunch wide open, so yet another calm to restore the order.  Colour co-ordination tips from Hollywood (bluewall tyres with a blue banded Baum needs blue shoes I'm told!) and the social stimuli occupied me till reaching the soup tin, a blackbird (slow to launch from its Ford Rd landing pad) was nearly shredded between our rows.  Many had now become nervous wrecks, missing the standard Saturday smoothness, the sprint to come had some wanting to increase their life insurance!  Eagerness brewed in Wanganui Rd passing the test track, and with hopes lost at the business end so early, Wozz buried himself in speed to make any podium position particularly prized.  Seeming to be caged in the left line, I let Rocket across to the right and into Boof's draft, Ross and KillkennyPaul gave split second turns, then the bunch went pear shaped. Boof bolted, Rocket, Trav and Ange pounced (four wide), Pat sliced across wheels in sprint desperation causing chaos as an uncalled car passed in the gravel.....a hideous finish, with all a bit shaken but thankfully upright.  One or two meandering like Browns cows Boulevard bound put a dull finish to a ragged ride, the subject of much chat over breakfast, with the statesmen pondering policies. Adelaide's +14 degree rule tempted several to partake an ale, birthday boy Ange relishing a rasberry JD kick starter. 

Monday's solo followed the familiar track east on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, not looking forward to the turn south into the headwind, (the God of cycling boosting it to 17km/h gusts), but 78 rpm kept a satisfying speed, slotting between the hexiCats and Cats by the time I reached Old Dookie Rd. A distant soloist ahead inspired a chase, slowly closing the gap by the Broken bridges, catching and passing Sosso (who had no interest in a draft).  A mass of lights some distance behind kept my wheels turning, chase or be chased seemed to be the order of the day (a more inspired pace than a lap without targets).  Another red l.e.d. ahead drew closer at Central Kialla, passing an unknown addict in the opening metres of Mitchell.  Estimations on glances behind (as the Cats prey) guessed I'd reach town first, legs were rather rubberised in Raftery but the tailwind kept pace positive back to town, the new main drag resurfacing as rough as hessian underwear. (yet another cheap as chips works tender?)

Missed the turtles flagfall by 2 minutes Tuesday, and without the wattage to cope with the 6am hares, I set sail for the Goats.  AvantiLeigh, Brendan, Heady, Phil, Coggo, Snow, Dipper, AvantiAndy, Kate, CerveloJohn (the Cervelo's swansong before being divorced for a Merida), Hommy, Carl, Manny and Sandy the Friars starters at 6.  All pretty pacy on the Old Dookie dash east, Geoffrey and JB blended into the bunch beyond Central, Brendan happy with a short shift, AvantiLeigh in for the hard (and fast) yards beside me in Boundary.  Rotations had gone full circle by the Broken bridges, AvantiLeigh drawing alongside with a similar goal to me (reaching River Rd) and a rigid resolve to match.  Boring into the southerly (15-22), the dogged drive whittled at my will to continue (curse the prefrontal cortex and its testing target!), a momentary draft from a passing car my only salvation from an early explosion.  Recovery was relatively rapid in River Rd, back to 137 bpm while Carl, Coggo and Manny headed the charge to Central Kialla. Another stampede with AvantiLeigh for the last k of River Rd waned my wattage, feeling I'd cooked calves earlier. Kate QOM'd Mt.Nicolaci (Heady, the King), our bunch flying by a despondent dude wheeling his bike toward the highway (mechanical mayhem).  Rolling turns in Raftery stirred the sequence swiftly as many abandoned ship at the bow for a sit at the stern.  CerveloJohn cranked past me in Conrod without the call I was next, suddenly there was three lengths to make up as CerveloJohn dived left for a tow home.  I was left in the limbo of the up line as Coggo powered the last 400, Carl emerging from the perfect draft to take the chocolates with Manny making him earn the position. 

An early golf course spin restored the spirit, legs could drive a better rate of knots than yesterday, even into the south southwester.  Plenty of punters were at the start for Wednesday's Couldabeens whip around, Wozza, Chops, Rocket, Boof, Shorty, Nick, Cate, WhisperingJack, Car+Mel, Ange, SuperMario, Lynda, Saturday specialist Fisky, AvantiTrev and Pistol. The tradition of single file to Kialla Lakes drive is followed by the quiz of who braves forming the up line, nearly always it's Boof, Wozz, Rocket or Pistol while others bide their time for an ideal berth.  The aforesaid towed us to Mitchell Rd post haste, a tamer tempo bearing east seemed to calm the km/h concerned. Shorty gave me a good workout in River Rd, next up Fisky had a turn shorter than Hollywood's revival. Boundary Rd was at a good gallop, the Channel Rd stage at a more peaceful pace, Pistol pairing with Cate calmed the kinder corner, the sprint slightly delayed for oncoming traffic. With the coast cleared, AvantiTrev ducked to the shelter of the left line, Shorty wound up the wattage to catch Wozz, I scored a dream draft into the fifties and was feeling hopeful till Rocket and Boof bolted by as if we'd stood still. Only just pinching third from a sacrificed Wozz left me speechless, a calm to reconvene the stretched bunch then tap to town swapping achievements, what if's and next times.

Like a diet dedicated to dimsims, the relentless wind blew again Thursday, the diehards (Rocket, Boof, birthday boy Bo, BigRon, Vince, Wozz, Trav, Shorty, Nick, Lucy, SuperMario, Kel, Pistol, AvantiTrev, Temple and newcomers KillkennyPaul and Ric) were undeterred in a Couldabeens carpark convergence.  Chocks away at 5:45, Rocket and Boof set the standard for leg one, a split for traffic calmed leg two, BigRon and Bo upping the ante for three, newcomer Ric diving left for a draft as the ride reality reared its rapid head.  From kindergarten to the cypress trees was my workout with Bo then Kel, Vince must have had nitrous on Nutri-Grain hammering SuperMario well into the fourties at the S bend.  Wozz, Temple, Nick and Trav bore the brunt of Boundary's southerly, the bunch then fanned across the River Rd asphalt in an attempt to minimise work for all but two, Kev and Susie on a ride of recovery, overtaken swiftly.  The mental vault of matching the younger, fitter and faster Bo nagged at my neurosis fronting the driving end (a Garmin glance at 177 bpm didn't help), so I called a short turn (would it be such a head hurdle with apples beside apples?).  Vince and SuperMario paired again for River Rd's last k, the plucky plumber defining tenacity beside Vince's vigour.  Newcomers and the odd regular were populating AvantiTrev's convivial caboose congregation ("hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way"), Shorty chuffed at avoiding Central Kialla's facefull of SSW'er.   Getting from Roubaix to Galbraith's gate was a bit beyond me beside Bo, gasping to Arcadia Downs signed off my swansong, it was down to Ron, Boof, Wozz, Pistol and Bo as the only drivers left to crank Conrod. I rounded up KillkennyPaul who'd emerged from the rear stalls to fang the final metres, finishing fourth as many sprintenders dropped like flies. 

There was a hint of hurt hesitation heading to the pain train Friday, but I'm guessing Tum, Coggo, Heady, Phil, Belly, Dipper and AvantiLeigh were feeling the same. Is Friday flagellation the freaky fashion?  Defying rationality, I took the helm for leg one (the toil before the tow) to Dobson's bridge, pleased with personal pace but pulling out all stops to grab the last wheel on the handover.  Phil, Heady, Tum and Dipper took us to Boundary Rd and swung south a half minute before the 51 express did likewise from the east. Coggo and Belly poured on the hurry to the ham house as the 51 express steamed by, our little Choo Choo happy to dig deep and hang on, Dion, BigBen, Oscar, Mitch, Eggman, MexicanAngelo and Eddy were amongst the engines rolling the turns. Belly flicked an elbow to nominate me as the joining link, staying in the draft and smoothing the waves with the task of keeping our mob in touch was a difficult balance, the big guns not without their close calls and surges of speed.  Heady and Belly lost grip in River Rd and went OTA, understandable with 5.5 k's covered in 7:26. Sitting in the 51 tow was hardly a Goat train achievement, but certainly an individual effort. By Raftery Rd a few had taken reartirement, a couple more bowing out at Conrods first dip. Goats respectfully remained in tow to the line, pleased with a 40.7 average albeit with much assistance. 

Week 6.     306km.          YTD 1,920km

Week 5 : Brain baggage and bursting the breakaway balloon

Post 330

Temple and Wozza were keen to crank early, departing A Mart at 5 we inherited Rocket on the rear (predicting the usual punters would be following the Saturday tradition). 13 degrees had drawn base layers and arm warmers out of obscurity, spearing into the darkness of Raftery Rd two k turns soon warmed the legs up as the subject of Strava junkies made light relief. An errant kanga bounding Mitchell Rd forced a slow, a cruisier crank in Central Kialla hinted some SSE assistance.  With the grind of River Rd done, Temple, in prime performance, had us well ahead of schedule on Channel Rd, five minutes of social stimuli to spend before launch.  Fisky, Boof, Car+Mel, Jen, SuperMario, Shorty, Pistol, Cougar, Jase, Ross, Ange, Lynda, Vince, Trav, AvantiTrev (and yet another newcomer) set forth, but barely 100 metres were covered when Rockets bus stop puncture halted the train. A little more chat, repair done and the wheels turned east, a meet and greet with KillkennyPaul (aboard a white Giant), an apprentice to bunches, taking up the addiction 4 months ago. Nath managed an appearance in Boundary Rd, Old Dookie Rd was particularly porky palace pungent, but there's that scenic sunrise to divert the senses.  I'd finally reached the rear stalls turning at the Toaster, two rows of praying protagonists counted (22) needed a keen eye.  The rubber band effect (front runners accelerating from a corner the backmarkers were still braking for) tested the sprint capabilities at the caboose end, half a k later all was well, everybody tucked in for a tow home. A turn at the front came up again as we entered Ford Rd, zoning in on relaxing everything but the legs to keep pace with Pistol till the Grahamvale Rd change-over. Panting, I was putty in the plumbers hands of SuperMario to Verney Rd, back into the tow to Numurkah Rd was a welcome change from the usual front-of-house work in Wanganui. Wozz and Rocket drew the short straw of driving to DECA, Rocket self sacrificing himself dragging the masses to the base of the ascent for Boof and Trav to thrash out the honours.  Kits left of centre and zoning on ascents too'ed and fro'ed at one end of Lemontree's long table, the noise of natter indiscernible at the other. 

Continuing questions on why I do this, I pointed the Corretto to the golf course at 5:15 Monday, reducing wear and tear on bed linen?, enhancing Michelins' production?, maybe just trying to keep an old engine in tune to keep up with the young'uns.  (Probably best not to self examine in case of frightening oneself!) It was another cool excuse for summer, 11 degrees prompted base layer and armwarmers, a spin on the 17 cog putting some warmth into a 25k prelude to the peace train.  I caught Tina entering town in time to u-turn aboard a Goat/Cat conglomeration, just Sly, Trav and Liam had fronted the feline grid, so joined the Goat gathering of Belly, Coggo, Brendan and Phil.  It was a peace train at a (feline influenced) faster idle, finding the convalesced Greendawg in the dark nearing Boundary Rd's sow savoy, congrats to Liam on the Australia Day sports award, a gong too for Coggo, Tina and Belly with a Saturday squirt up Buffalo.  The slightly faster roll allowed me time for a full circuit, no sprint launched keeping things civilised to the end.

Being first to arrive at the Tuesday turtles had a price to pay, doing the hard yards (all 1859 of them) with Ange to the truck route on leg one got the metabolism motivated. The turtle team comprised Chops, Lynda, Nick, Shorty, Kenworth, AvantiTrev, AvantiMat, Temple, Vince, SuperMario and, surprise surprise......WhisperingJack was back. SuperMario had the dream draft of Kenworth (but then had the task of matching the torque beside him), Vince with a cogitated call for a rare case of traffic at the kinder. WhisperingJack braved a turn at the business end (albeit a tame tap beside AvantiTrev) from one tree dam to half a k into River Rd, his sole performance being a legacy of a month off two wheels. AvantiMatt was harried by high heart rate (20 below most), Lynda belting out a beaut burst at the rushin' front. Thoughts of the 6am hares hunting behind kept pace in the pedals, freaky to find fog in the fields for February. A drag race up Mt.Nicolaci with Ange peaked my pulminories, only eight drivers were left by the time we rounded Roubaix. Kenworth hit the front in Conrod straight, the wise quick to sit in his draft, Ange and Vince lay in wait and pounced at the last dip, the lap clocked in 45:50, a headcount confirming none were missing in action.

A sense of being stalked on the golf course loop turned up my tempo on Wednesday, a light in the rearward distance kept up the heartrate till the southerly (20-41 km/h) punished progress to the Couldabeens start.  Shorty, Boof, Pistol, Wozza, Nick, Car-Mel, Cate, Rocket, WhisperingJack, AvantiMat, SuperMario, Chops and AvantiTrev had aligned at the car park, Chops falling on the sword of first turn into the wind. A few spits from the heavens suggested a possible drowning, but the damp held off, the usual 1.5 k turns at the front quickly ditched in favour of brief belts into the bluster, and I'd chosen to pair with Rocket!  It was relief reaching Mitchell and utopia northbound in Central Kialla, peak hour traffic fronted in River Rd with passing peletons and the odd car crowding the tarmac. Wind gusts were whipping wheels wildly, close concentration needed in a somewhat erratic echelon, the rearmost struggling at the roads edge. A smoother straighter line was possible headed to Channel Rd, mid fourties cranked as the tailwind advantage was taken. I'd lucked the rear berth of the bunch as we ploughed into the kinder corner (Rocket ahead meant I'd be lucky just to score a minor place), so spurred Cate to follow as we carved through the expirees imploding beyond Prentice Rd. Car-Mel had joined our charge to score the fifth spot, the final k's enjoyed recovering oxygen and basking in accomplishment. 

Being squeezed through a roundabout by an impatient Territory wanting extra territory bumped up the h.r. starting a 20k solo Thursday, another stiff southerly (22-34 km/h) guaranteed rest was off the agenda, but back to town as slow Cats then fast Cats exited east.  Coggo, Snow, Dipper, Heady, HG Phillo, Tum, Sandy and Tina Goats grouped for a slow saunter out Old Dookie Rd, numbers down as many had traded in duty for doonas. Up front, Tum was on for a chat while Heady was craving oxygen, HG Phillo struggled to reach the front at Coggo standards, and Sandy sat back while others rued a second day of southerly slog. I had a manageable berth between Snow and Heady, keeping a cautionary pace so as not to flog the horses (Heady's last Friday scars still a bit fresh?) Phillo however, thrashed his attempt at River Rd's bridge, an exalted punch of the air cresting the climb first was soon swapped for a face full of flabbergasted fatigue a moment later.  Time was ticking away turning into Mitchell Rd, Coggo keen to apply the wattage up Mt.Nicolaci, the aero (haircut) Tina capably matching his ascent. Anticipation of being blown home by Rafterys tailwind buoyed the boys driving to Galbraith's gate, I threw the curved ball of an early break at Arcadia Downs drive, if only to twist the routine of the ride.  Plus fourties only lasted 600 metres when Coggo, Tum, Dipper and Snow busted my breakaway balloon, Tum pouncing the pertinent podium precisely to perspicaciously pinch the prime prize, per perspiration.

A blend of trepidation and transcendence filled the cranial cavity on Friday, would the Pain Train score or scar me? I guess AvantiLeigh, Tum, Dipper, Belly, Phil, Coggo, Manny, Col, BigBen (too late for Cats, too good for Goats?) and Tina felt the same, but something drives that urge to attend.  6 bells and the train departed Friars, my deliberate position at third wheel was to prepare for the pointy end instead of diving in at the deep end, Coggo and Tum taking the first and second shift (nothing quite prepares you for slicing the atmosphere the first time, the task of towing the carriages and their expectations is quite the burden of brain baggage).  Pain Train trainee Col hit the front in Boundary Rd and went ballistic to 46, snapping Phil's chain and sending Tina scurrying for caboose cover, but Coggo and Tum soon settled the speed back to Vox populi to the Pub, my go to Channel Rd had barely enough in reserve to climb back aboard.  SuperMario was spied solo in River Rd (Couldabeens in puncture arrears), many Goats now preparing for what Col's next surprise would be (turned out a tamer 42).  Manny and BigBen put in solid performances, great work by Dipper, Belly, Coggo and Tum keeping the kettle boiling too.  Col cut loose again at the Kialla hall, Swiss cheesing the line (futile with the Mitchell Rd turn looming large).  Turns were becoming brief beyond the highway and gasping to Galbraith's, I'd hoped Tum would deliver me to the front half way along Conrod, but his elbow gave me the lead at the first dip.  Despite BigBen's encouragement, my legs and lungs had resigned (187 bpm) with 200 to go, i was swiftly swamped by all as Col then Manny made a sprint of the finish. That was a whole world of effort to shave just four seconds off a P.B., but the 40.4 average suitably satisfied.

Week 5:   340km.         YTD 1,614 km