Week 4 : Humbled by horsepower

Post 381

21/1

 

The simple stimuli aboard two wheels with the weight of the working week lifted is worth bottling.  Mixing this with the convivial company of Car+Mel to the carpark seemed sinfully salubrious.

The grid filled with Lenny, Lucy, Kenworth, The Godfather, Jase, AvantiTrev, Popgun, Cougar, AvantiAndy, Jen, TatPaul, TatMat, Bo, TrekTrev, Tina, Tum and Dipper, another good turn up in light of the absentees in Adelaide.  Jase and TatPaul set the Channel Rd turns rolling, my turn to head the pack in legs two and three before Lenny and AvantiAndy took control at the Kinder.  BamBam and Troy slipped into the order from an early lap, great to have Kenworth finally amongst us on a Saturday.   Dipper and Tum were putting in early Goat k's and Tina was on a daily double (Couldabeens lap followed by a Goat circuit) to satisfy her 400k/week habit.

Kudos to Car+Mel tackling the train driving early, the bunch enjoying the tailwind of Boundary but pushing past the piggery pong in Old Dookie Rd. 

  SpinDoctor, TrackStan, Sam and another (not introduced) young dude I'll dub The Ram (oversized posterior saddlebag) did their usual 'join-in-halfway-do-one-turn-and-want-honours-in-the-sprint' thing at the Emu.  It was quite a push into the southwester on the long leg home, the last k of Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd with Jase, then 2k's of Ford Rd beside Lenny ran my tank low (but noticed Lenny was under load for the last 500 metres, telling me my old engine was going ok). The rotational order had me at the back at Wanganui Rd's transfer station, shifts shortening directionally proportional to the velocity, SpinDoctor and TrackStan had put in their turn, Sam went OTA and it seemed Bo and The Godfather were destined to drive for victory up Wanganui hill.  Kellows Rd arrived, a do or die mark for me, so I stood on the gas to round up Jase (3rd wheel).  I'd reached the front cresting the hill, the menacing shadows of Lenny, BamBam, Troy and TrekTrev behind motivated me to maximise motion to the invisible finish line (when others give up and the urge to brake for Rudd Rd becomes too strong).  Chuffed with a win but puffed from the 187 bpm doing it, it wasn't till arriving at the cemetery (still alive) that I had enough oxygen to spare for chat. (I reckon the real sprinters in Adelaide and Troy tackling a Saturday ton allowed me the rare taste of chocolates for breakfast).  The dying art of face-to-face conversation, obesity and wake boarding the conversational compliment at the Lemontree breakfast, nice to have the recovering Kel (as a civilian) dropping in to wag the chin.

23/1

Old habits die hard, an early spin on the golf course loop for the want of k's craved (and Tuesday's forecast predicted a ride denial), though the time vs distance equation spurred my speed to reach the Goat grid by 6.  With Couldabeens Cate (on a cross cultural exchange), Brendy, Principal Skinner, Coggo, Sandy, Speissy, Hommy, Spartacus, Phil, Belly, AprrenticePete, Heady, Jen, AvantiAndy and DeepFry trickled in to tap out, JB at SPC joining in.   A calm and cruisy collective captivated in cordial conversation commenced a co-ordinated crank east on Old Dookie Rd, the simple pleasure of a quiet roll without having your legs pulverised was a delight (heart rate at a 110 bpm idle), watching a crimson sunrise slowly evaporate into an anemic orange.  A foreigner had attached to the rear unannounced (rule #19 violation) in Boundary Rd, ApprenticePete in contravention of rule #17 and #36 (hoping the jet black specs are night vision specials Pete)  but he's excused as its early days of ethics education, he's mastering the straight and smooth which is of far higher value. The river Rd journey was absorbed in chirpy chat with JB (pristine Pinarello) and Belly (giant Giant), but too soon the enemy of time turned me to shortcut home (bonus: a tail wind)

24/1

The 2am showers were soon evaporated by 22 degrees, the track had dried for a Tuesday turtle tap. I handbraked my arrival to 5:38, someone else could handle the first shift today.  Only HBK and Temple had braved an attendance, AvantiTrev making up a foursome by arriving at T minus 5 seconds to launch time. Weapon then Bruce and Leah had rolled out an early reconnaissance on Channel Rd, HBK taking turn one when Temple called Indian file.  I scored leg 3 to pass Bruce & Leah, we'd all need something extra to catch Weapon on the Avanti TT.  Temple put in a tenacious turn to finish off Channel Rd, I'd been blessed with the breeze behind in Boundary, so drove into the fourties to celebrate.  We'd made some inroads into Weapons lead in River Rd, HBK and Temple keeping the kettle boiling to Laws Drive, but I'd cooked myself with the chase a k later, handing HBK the task.  It was a bonus to have Weapon join the workforce (just as AvantiTrev fell in love with the caboose), I'd tried convincing the cranium not to quit in Mitchell Rd but the northwester was doing its best to change my mind.  Wringing the last out of the old engine by Archer Rd, I suddenly had to find more to slot in as 3rd wheel when AvantiTrev left a gap. (cue guttural gasps to catch Temples draft).  HBK and Temple did the towing in Raftery Rd leaving me the chore of Conrod and keeping the average respectable.  I'd almost reached the last dip when the the heart wouldn't comply with 191bpm, so was happy to go OTA for the sake of getting oxygen to lungs and limbs. A 37.1 average for four Turtles worth the effort though.

25/1

  Ah, the Victorian summer! A sweaty 22 degrees one day, a chilled 12 the next!  Overtaking the numbskull riding lightless in the dark (obviously his life and intelligence is worth less than a $5:99 tail-light) I found Wozz, Mel and Cate to slog south into a 20 km/h headwind to the Couldabeens ritual. Nick, Boof, Shorty, Rocket, Nev, Weapon, Lucy, Jen, Chops, Kenworth, Bo and TatMat had formed two rows in the carpark, FDC's Ralphy, BamBam, Pelly, Troy and Bruce steamed in from slick spin of the Raftery loop.  Shouldering the first shift is always left to a small selection of suckers, Wozz was set to suffer the southerly this time, and scoring my sympathy, I paired with him in the hard labour to the Sanctuary roundabout.  I tried to delay my muscular meltdown, but it was difficult to keep some form of dignified composure beside Lucy at a pickling pace for leg two.  Traffic split the bunch at the truck route, thanks heavens!, I needed a gasp or six in the slow down to regroup.  A six strong string of HurtLocker lads hurtled south at Central Kialla, three other packs in River Rd almost incognito with the sun still in bed.  I confessed the joys of goalessness in a BamBam therapy session and analysed analogies with Weapon as 20 others did their bit toward the team average (35.6).  Cate, Mel and Jen courageously cranked to the front with the ChaCha close, Chops launching a do or die effort at the helm to Hopeful corner with Wozz and I in his wake, turning the bunch Indian file. Wozz put in an Oscar winning performance powering to Prentice, I was on the limit getting by feeling fairly useful towing twenty into the 50's, but so soon was humbled by horsepower as Bruce, Troy, Rocket and Boof howled past (thumbs up to Boof for the win).  The calm crank homeward turned squishy with a slowly deflating front tube (I'll blame that for a poor ChaCha performance!), the bike steering like a soufflé but made it home to repair in comfort.

26/1

Australia Day gave many a chance to tap a toaster lap and raise money for the Children's Hospital Appeal. "Show Me"Mat applied the green and gold warpaint at the start line as coffee toast and fruit fuelled 60 odd attending, the massed start none too comfortable for me (closer than a 2k radius to MrMagnet is a hazard) but Goats steered a steady course south to Raftery Rd.  By Mitchell Rd many were itching for a pace more pronto, time for the wheat to be sorted from the chaff as the southerly strengthened. Rocket and MeridaJohn vamped up the velocity east of Central Kialla, Mitchell Rd's length favoured over the left and right navigating River Rd.   The bunch drew long and thin by Mitchell's end, Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection was to be tested by tempo in Boundary Rd. There was a snap crackle and pop as a bunch of 50  thinned to 17, Shorty, Temple, TatMat, Alouise, young Lord Byron, Rocket, TrackStan, MeridaJohn, MeridaAndy, Kenworth, Coggo, Belly, DeepFry, Eddy, Boof and TatPaul driving into the fourties had unhooked many. I'd berthed a good sit between Belly and Coggo, long turns turning short as we turned west at the Emu for the slog home. A dozen drivers battled the south southwester (24-32 km/h) into the high 30's homeward, the caboose unhitched from the rear as we crossed Lemnos Rd, the remaining dozen split in two from the pace of Rocket, Byron, Boof and TrackStan.  Temple, Shorty, Coggo, Belly and I teamed to tame the torture of Wanganui Rd, thoughts of the traditional cuisine of beer and a snag waiting at the finish kept the pace back to town. The post ride post mortem, tall tales and true were enjoyed as a recovery at the Aussie hotel, 10th overall for the Toaster segment my trophy. 

27/1

It's been many months since catching the train of pain on a Friday, a rare a.d.o. allowing a chance to climb aboard.  Coggo, Phil, Dipper, AvantiAndy and Tum arrived at Friars, a couple of social minutes spent on the roll out of town before Doyle's Rd set the train at full steam.  I took the first turn and was pleased with progress to Dobson's bridge, but peeling off the front to catch the tail was an early task to ask.  Tum then Coggo, Dipper and Phil dragged us to Boundary Rd, AvantiAndy's headwind christening in Boundary Rd blowing his gasket just 300 metres south. I set a goal to reach the bridge, legs and lungs complaining reaching the target, then another dig to the depths to catch Phil's wheel as AvantiAndy had opted to play caboose.  Great work by Tum, Coggo and Dipper pushing the pace to One Tree Dam, Phil on fire at 38 clicks to River Rd (a split second wave to anti-clockwise Couldabeens, I was oxygen preservation for my River Rd drive).  I shifted the goal post for roll-over closer this time, there were several more floggings at the front to go, catching Phil's wheel a little  easier this time. (AvantiAndy now awol).  Dipper's nods sent his limit message, Coggo poker faced to the main channel.  Phil pedalled possessed and I thought he'd reach River's end but his elbow said no more with 300 left.  Facing the breeze in Central Kialla hurt, reaching my target school sign I was blown backward by an oncoming truck's wake (sorry Tum! A nasty handover of the helm).   Mitchell Rd blurred by, Phil's valiant velocity powering up Dave's dip but there was a brief wait at the highway for traffic. I took the train to Roubaix corner and gave the reigns to Tum, Coggo's turn at Galbraiths gate to Arcadia Downs (striking a stone struck a sphincter pucker).   Dipper drove to Conrod and opened the gate for Phil's swansong, I drew a breath at the 400 mark to call "All yours Phil" just as his elbow said otherwise, so pulled all stops out to Steptoe's to finish a solid 32k at 38 clicks.  Bonus time with a day off work, coffee at Degani's a delightful weeks' end.

Week 4.      256km.            YTD 968km. 

Interesting to be Strava following (and followed by) riders in Brazil, Italy, South Africa, India and the U.S. Sympathy's extended to those suffering in the depths of winter, our turn is coming!

Week 3 : "Good turn ya old freak!"

Post 380

14/1

 

The five year association with this Saturday society continues, a bit chilled with a twelve degree start but warmed by the commute with the happy harem of Car+Mel & Cate.  Like flies to a barbecue, bikes converged on the carpark for the weekend ritual, Trav, AvantiTrev, SuperMario, Cougar, Shorty, Wozza, BamBam, TrekTrev, BassoDan, TatPaul, Lucy, Boof, PistolPete, Temple, Rocket, The Godfather, BigMat and an unknown filed in as Nev, Weapon, Troy and NevsbroKev departed via four wheels for the hills.  Pleased I'd added an extra layer to insulate, the bunch reached cruising speed on Channel Rd, a social sentence or two before duty called at the rushin' front (with Wozz at the cypress trees and Cate from the S bend)  A fraction of a southwester aided us in Boundary Rd, the sun up in Old Dookie for a serve of piggery pong (to put us off bacon for breakfast?).

I rolled up beside the mystery man, he knew me but I hadn't the foggiest, AvantiTrev filling me in later (BigBill).  Over Grahamvale Rd it was time to tow others again, whilst I considered the cycling conundrum in the drivers seat ; was I trying to match Wozz or was Wozz trying to match me?  Visible personal stress meters would be the answer but (my) audible gasps will do for now! (pending technology).  Passing DECA and boxed in at the back behind a buggered BigBill, I could only witness the sprinters stretching the bunch up the hill, but rejoined in Rudd Rd for the Boulevard blab to the Lemontree, old motorbikes, new comfort levels and society's moral decay was on the chat list over a bacon free breakfast.

16/1

Legs begged a steady tap Monday (old age and corrosion catching up with me?), skipping a Couldabeens suggestion for a circuit with Cate to break in a new week. Wozz, Troy and SuperMario were found clockwise and early in central Kialla as we tackled a Wednesday lap, PistolPete westward in River Rd with BamBam punching out intervals a k behind.  The days are noticeably shortening with sun-up at 6:18, soon we'll be grumping about the cold and the dark!  Hunting between the 17 and 15 in search of the comfort cadence we cranked up to Old Dookie Rd before a westward way home and a ritual sprint to finish.

17/1

I felt fairly fertile for Tuesday's turtle tap, a mild morning (16) and a light northeaster (7km/h) up the quoit motivated the mood toward the carpark, but I paced the progress on Archer to avoid the deafening sound of crickets at the grid.   Nick, Shorty, Temple, HBK, AvantiTrev and Jase joined Cougar at the carpark, and hallelujah! there was Hollywood appearing from a yuletide retirement.  Sledges aside, he at least had a dip at the pointy end to Doyle's Rd, but it was to be his one and only.  HBK was next beside me to escalate the velocity to Orrvale Rd then I could send my heart rate on holiday while Jase, AvantiTrev, Nick, Shorty and Temple did their bit.  I was looking forward to the breeze behind in Boundary but someone turned the wind off, I levelled with Nick to the bridges but turned up the heat on HBK to River Rd (silencing the caboose chat room), just one payback for the years of being half biked.  Another picturesque daybreak broke as we swung west into River, 4k's of recovery before pairing with Nick at the bridges.  An ease of effort let HBK draw level in Central Kialla, retirements to the rear becoming popular as we neared the highway.  Only Shorty, Jase and HBK were rolling through rotations with me to Arcadia Downs, suddenly I'd inherited the drivers seat as 8 slimmed to single file behind me. Handing the helm to HBK at Conrod's first dip, Hollywood's "good turn ya old freak!" was my inspiration to catch the tow of Jase, Hollywood, Shorty and HBK for the final fling, a bolt at the 200 mark scoring me chocolates. 

18/1

An exodus of Couldabeens clan members to the TDU (Bruce, Wozza, PistolPete, Rocket, Shorty, SuperMario, Boof) altered the grid for Wednesday's circuit. BamBam, Troy, Kenworth, Car+Mel, AvantiTrev, Bo, Nev, Cate, Lucy, Temple, WhisperingJack, Nick, Chops and Jase fronted, massed mosquitos on the launch pad had me itching for a start. I took the role of tow truck out of town, Weapon joining in at the city limits.  I was almost within sight of the Sanctuary roundabout before BamBam came from the rear ranks to form the up line, Adelaide having stolen the usual volunteers.  The pace seemed calmer, maybe 'cause the holiday hindered have returned (WhisperingJack, Nick, Choppy and Kenworth) or is it that the furiously fast are currently touring down under?

 Troy's new Avanti looks the goods, feels a lot different from the 'Ol faithful he tells me (heaven help us if it's faster!)  We sliced and diced through the twigs and bark littering River Rd from last nights wind, the 6k's of flat farm land only varied by a single 2 metre dip, the sun piercing the horizons low cloud, Weapon's lusciously long legs and the conversation on a Cannondale colour co-ordinated kit for Lucy occupied the distance.

Mel mashed a branch at the Channel Rd cypress trees, jamming in the rear wheel forced a halt, a chance for breath before the ChaCha was a rare treat.  With stick unstuck, BamBam and I wound up the tempo toward the Kinder, Troy taking the charge toward Hopeful corner.  Lungs were filled and legs were ready as we hurtled past Prentice Rd, but I was boxed in and denied a thrash, the massed finish (minus most sprinters) allowing many to taste the pointy end for a change.  Red alert! Raise the shields and up my life insurance, WobblyTrev was exiting town, but we carved a course clear of chaos to cruise and chat homeward. 

19/1

It felt as cold as a visit from the tax office on Thursday, the thermometer struggling to stay in double figures (funny how skin chill drives a higher speed to warm up).  Contemplating the plight of the northern quoll, Equador's gross national debt and the lifespan of a chainring passed the k's quickly to the Emu, the southerly (13-20 km/h) taxing tempo to the Toaster, at least the preface to daybreak was inspiring.  

13k's back to town I found Goats (Belly, Phil, Heady, Sandy, HG, Dipper, Brendy, Snow, Temple, Coggo, Hommy, Tina, Spartacus, HBK and DeepFry) gathering at Friars.  JB joined as 16 departed the city limits, Spartacus had picked up the pace by the time I'd arrived at the front at Central Ave, a turn of short sentences till the School Rd roll-over.   HG was next in line, charging forward to half wheel me, but the reality of slicing the virgin atmosphere soon cooked him.  In the interest of rule #86 and respect for the Goat head (with a portion of pity thrown in), I stayed level from his initial euphoric 38 km/h down to the harsh hurt of 32 km/h to Boundary Rd.  Sandy's slim slipstream didn't help HG but Temple, Coggo and Belly soon mustered a wake worth hanging onto.

2016's k's were compared with Tina and Spartacus, socially updating with Snow, Brendy and Belly along the way.  HBK, Hommy and Belly topped up the tempo in River Rd's last k before time turned me to the truck route and Archer Rd home, 60k before 7 shaking up the ride routine.

  20/1. 

A nervous twitch and a futile fidget Friday, the addiction was starved as rain ruined riding ; no point agonising over opportunities lost between showers, the circuits soaked meant the Baum sat dormant and a rare sleep in was enjoyed, riding rescheduled for Saturday.

Week 3.   222km.        YTD 712 km.

Week 2 : What demons drive us?

Post 379

7/1

A balmy morning, a tailwind home, a cafe breakfast and the anticipation of a weekend ahead coerced Couldabeens from their cots to collect at the grid for Saturday's social spin.  Wozza, Jen, Mel, Cate, AvantiAndy, Nick, SuperMario, WhisperingJack, Cougar, TatPaul, TatMat, BigMat, TrekTrev, Bruce, Pistol, BassoDave, Rocket, TheGodfather, Shorty, Trav, AvantiTrev, Lucy and Lenny crammed the carpark, a dazzling dawn enticing us east on Channel Rd.  I was out of the frypan and into the firepower between Wozza and TatMat, cooked by the Kinder but lapped up a long recovery while 23 others made a contribution to the velocity.  A rare appearance of BigMat, a record five days in a row for WhisperingJack, Fisky sporting a GoPro, Rocket recovering from spinal sufferance, BassoDave with velocity vapours and another subtle-as-a-sledgehammer kit on the Godfather made the ride as interesting and varied as always.  So where's Kel, KillkennyPaul, Bo, Softa, Hollywood, BassoDan etc? Drawn into the dark world of sloth and softness?

SpinDoctor, TrackStan and youngSam joined in Pine Lodge North Rd, a poor call at the church had some roll through and others hurriedly halting for a car appearing through the forrest of roadside weeds; 'tis a reminder of the responsibility at the pelotons pointy end. All for one and one for all.   Pointing west in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd got chains jumping down the cassettes and heart rates jumping up the scale, progress pacy with the ENE's help.  2300 metres of Ford Rd sharing the front into the 40's with Wozza then TatMat kept me occupied, the bunch elasticised from effort behind (there's something perversely satisfying in silencing the peloton.....but glad I'm still on speaking terms with most!), happy there'd be recouperation before the Wanganui workout.  Half way to the hill at DECA, the pace was pickling many, opening gaps in a long string of sufferers drawn out by high 40's pace.  My midfield position scored the job of bridging to the front 7 with TatPaul, Shorty, Cate and Lucy in tow, way too late to the top of Mt.Wanganui to witness the Wozza win.

10 had Strava scored a second fastest time for the morning's lap (justifying more breakfast?), the mind's memory, holiday injuries and fishing courting the conversation at The Lemontree's long table. My eventual departure was frustrated finding a puncture but Weapon's expert eye and deft digits detected the offending microscopic glass slivers.

9/1

I had a quiet reverse roll of the Tuesday/Thursday route with the mountain machine on Monday, the south wester needing effort to get this old engine operating into a new week.  Another suave sunrise soothed the eyeballs, the energy expenditure easing as Cate & I gradually steered east.  It must have been peak hour with 7 cars passing, the length of Mitchell spent deciding that rule #5 is the answer to everything!  Two more passing cars in Mitchell bordered on local gridlock, but back to suburbia via Channel Rd with the mandatory charge on the ChaCha cleared the cobwebs.  Back in town the trees were motionless, the out-of-town wind just battled almost ranks as the weeks WTF.

10/1

The handbrake of 100% humidity hampered the first few k's of Tuesday's lap, a push south through the soup to reach the Turtle grid found Temple, Cougar, HBK, AvantiMat and AvantiTrev ready to roll.  Off the back of two weeks coastal holiday, Temple drove a great first turn, my next co-driver (AvantiMat) pushing the pace to Orrvale Rd.  Recovery time for me till the S bend while HBK showed a fraction of restraint (Third of a Bike King?) with AvantiTrev but Temple fronted again, the default setting restored.  AvantiMat surprised me with a long 2.6k turn in Boundary to River Rd, he must be on the Kellogs Performance Pops (made me dig deep to stay level).  It was 18 degrees and sweaty as a sumo's jockstrap after last nights rain, Jase appearing from the west in Mitchell Rd (a puncture preventing his 5:40 launch) to supplement the speed, AvantiTrev now in rear retirement.  Scenarios scrolled through the subconscious about Raftery Rd and its Conrod conclusion, my supposed scene of a brutal death on the Conrod battlefield was re-written by Jase, handing me a long lead-out to the 300 mark. Jase's elbow flicked, a quick peek behind (discovering a 50 metre black hole) then power past for an easy coast to the chocolates (thanks Jase!) 

11/1

Many are becoming position perplexed and paranoid at the grid, will I be lumbered with the ChaCha lead-out? Do I score the headwind with PistolPete? Are allies around me?  So many scenarios make planning peloton position problematic;  just ride f.f.s!    Weapon, Bruce, Rocket, Shorty, Pelly, BamBam, Pistol, Troy, Boof, AvantiMat, Cate, BigMat, Mel, Bo, Jen, Gazzagrasshopper, AvantiTrev, Wozza and Jase turned up for Wednesday's workout, the ride freshened by a southwester.  Wozza braved the first shift, Troy on a foreign Oppy following the untimely passing of his old and trusted steed.   PistolPete was the essence of haute couture in another new kit, but Mel was far tastier in her new attire. Many were surprised BigMat has appeared twice in a week, Bo even matching that effort (but where's cutie Kel?)  The wind assisted our passage in Central Kialla and River Rd, pace pumped into the 40's bearing east (ah, the days when Wednesday was barely managing a 32 average!).

 Just three Goats ground south in Boundary Rd,  I finally reached the front to contribute at the bridges, the long line behind making this my one and only appearance.  Calls for cars are becoming as rare as a Hollywood appearance, must be muzzled or have forgotten the lookout role in the caboose?  Poor Shorty had drawn the drivers seat again at Kinder corner but the rolls were rapid till Gazzagrasshopper was made clothespeg of the day up to Prentice Rd.   Holidays hadn't hampered Boof when the finish drew near, a convincing score of the chocolates with Wozza keeping him busy to earn it.

12/1
28k's of solo therapy cleared the cranial cobwebs on Thursday, no pace to maintain or wheel to watch, no traffic to call or rotations to serve, just one l-o-n-g turn and the mixed mentation to muse as another day dawned and the moon bid adieu.  Squeezing in a circuit before work meant collaberating with Cats (sorry Goats, I'll be back!) so cranked up the cardiac toward town in pussycat preparation.  Dalts, G, LegalSteve, Googs, Liam, Travis, Col, Sosso, Wellsy, Keeno, 'lilBrendan and co appeared at Dobsons bridge in clockwise configuration, must admit I'm a bit rusty at the roll ritual, that art to roll up and over smoothly withour ruining rhythm needs careful cranking. A prevoiusly unknown Giant jockey joined in out of thin air in Boundary Rd, slotting in unanounced ahead of me.  All over the bike like a bad suit, surging, slowing and spinning the 38/11 whilst we clocked in the 40's (contravening Rule #40) therefore, I dub thee SirSunbeam (the manic mixmaster and clear winner of this weeks WTF).  I'd engaged caution control as he rolled like a Toblerone across and over Col, the upshot being that his actions finessed Foss's focus! Cat k's were covered quickly with no time for sightseeing and chat shortened to three word sentences, concentration was king as 40 wheels played merry-go-round.  River Rd, Central Kialla and Mitchell passed us by in a blink or three, a poofteenth of a pause at the highway for traffic (and a gasp) befor Raftery's rapidity sorted out the pecking order.  Young Liam had sealed the sprint half way into Conrod, I was just happy to see Steptoes and seventh, and SirSunbeam in arrears.

13/1
A crimson sunrise was brewing at 5:30 to dazzle us, but faded as the Couldabeens (Lucy, Temple, SuperMario, Shorty, Pelly, Bruce, Weapon, Pelly, Nick, Cate, Jen, Mel, PistolPete, Nev, Trav, Jase, Boof, Paul and BigMat) congregated Friday for the 6am workout.  Jase towed us out of town, the tailwind telling me to get in a turn before the toil of a headwind.

Trav's tempo tested me, thank heavens the slow for Wozz (paused for a photo opportunity ;see right) Nev and BamBam to jump aboard kept Pistol (my next co-driver) below 40 in Mitchell Rd. (but he still wrung me out like a wet sock!) En-route to River, conversation centred on illegal immigrants and Thursday handbrakes, the bunch bearing west had a strangely silent Godfather on board. Weapon's wearied by workouts and Cate's murdering mountains, which begs the question; what demons drive us?  BigMat has smashed an attendance record of three rides in a week and Paul has rekindled his road bike relationship, but is his dirty (MTB) little affair over?  We reached Channel Rd utopia with the wind behind, nek minit I'm at the pointy end tested by Trav, Pistol to follow, the Kinder close, h.r. peaked, lungs bursting and legs like Gumby!  Half way to Hopeful I called Pistol over, leaving a hole for Shorty gasping to reach the front in Pistol's wake.  Pete was left under the griller till Prentice Rd, Bruce bolted by then almost an eternity elapsed before Nev led the sprint squad to the line.  Huff & puff eventually made way for chat & giggle rolling back to town, northerners and southerners parting their ways at Archer Rd for caffiene or careers.

 

Week 2 ;  264 km           YTD 490 km

 

Hey! Chuffed with all the blog followers this past week from so many quarters, really appreciate all your comments and support! Hope the pics paint a picture more than the profuse prose!

 

 

 

 

Week 1 : Push or perish.

Post 378

In an attempt to overpower my OCD ogre, goal setting has gone OTA (well, so far!) this year in the interest of preserving some passion, 107,000 k's in the last 6 years is probably enough.

2/1

Three days seemed an eternity off the bike, the pectineus warmly welcoming the Fizik for a solo spin of New Dookie, Boundary and Old Dokkie roads to climatise before a Goat lap.   Coggo, Brendy, Heady and Belly were the sole engines for the peace train (although Brendy played caboose) but it turned partially pain train when Coggo and Belly set a swift standard heading out of town. And who was I to buck the trend!  A few long drives into zone 5 cleared out my Christmas cobwebs but Brendy became disconnected at the River Rd bridge so a slow for solidarity regrouped us.  Pace was on again in Raftery Rd, Coggo's elbow giving me the helm into Conrod straight.  My long shift only served to tow Belly and Coggo to the last dip so they could thrash out the line honours, a post ride yarn and breakfast a trophy for all.

3/1

A cool start Tuesday brought out the armwarmers, chilly at the carpark with only 3 turtles (AvantiTrev, Nick and Cougar) on the grid.  Reduced ranks thinned us to single file onto Channel Rd, so I spelt out my intentions (push or perish) with a long drive to the Kinder.   The message worked on AvantiTrev steering us to the S bends and Nick digging deep all the way to Boundary Rd's turn off, I ripped into River Rd resolute to reach the end (stirring a squeak or two). The long flat tarmac played a one note Mavic melody, leaning into the light southerly and controlling my velocity to prevent a cardiac eruption.  Cougar took an Archer exit, Nick and Trev's turn in Raftery giving me a breather to crank Conrod's last k.  (A 36 average for 3 Turtles not half bad)

4/1

Anyone who slept in Wednesday was a knob! (see photo at top) A super sunrise lit up Nick, WhisperingJack, Cate,Shorty, Gazzagrasshopper, Wozza, Bruce, TatMat, Weapon, Lucy, SuperMario, Trav, Nev, Pistol, BamBam, Troy, Pelly, Bo, AvantiTrev, Rene, Nicholas, Car+Mel, Rocket, Jase and even HashBrown packing the carpark.  

Wozza and TatMat opened the proceedings to the roundabout, I took the soft option of a tow, New Years resolutions (or the lack of them) on the chat agenda as I slipped down the ranks of the left line.   ChrisA joined nearing River Rd's end (started a Tuesday lap on a Wednesday), plenty of part-time casuals in the pack having a solitary turn at the front, proving my big bunch theory correct (where are they when there's work to be done on a Tuesday or Thursday?).   Lucy, Cate, Car+Mel drove undeterred into Kinder corner, looked like I'd be at the pointy end for the ChaCha with ChrisA ahead a hard act to follow.  At full steam with Prentice Rd still 100 metres away, I got 50+ out of the old engine, just an eternity to wait before Troy, Bruce, Wozz, Nicholas, BamBam and Pistol shattered my hopes sprinting by as I ran out of steam, Gazza still thrashing the Cervelo long after the finish line passed was the end entertainment.

5/1 

I rattled my ritual on Thursday, the same old solo to the Emu, the Toaster and back (an annoying headwind out but a bonus tailwind homeward)  but u-turning to climb aboard the eastbound Cat train found in Old Dookie Rd.  Familiar felines (Cam, Col, Clive, G, Russ, MeridaAndy, Googs, Walshy, Travis, Liam, Sosso, MeridaJohn, Wellsy, LegalSteve, Mark, Lil'Tony etc) formed the bunch, 20 degrees, 20 bikes and another scenic sunrise to savour, social speak squeezed to slim sentences with the rolling anticlockwise turns (forces focus on ironing out your line and rhythm).  Almost into the groove when clockwise rolls in River Rd ramped up the concentration. Time at the pointy end was brief and sitting in MeridaAndy's wind wake kept the cardiac calm, when it came to Conrod there was biscuits in Foss's barrel and a prime position on Col's wheel to take third behind Goog's winning lunge on the flouro LaPierre.

6/1

Panic stations at 5:36 with a mushy Michelin, a rapid retube and rip down to the Couldabeens carpark to be almost the first to berth! Shorty, Trav, Car+Mel, Jen, Cate, AvantiTrev, SuperMario, Nick, WhisperingJack, PistolPete, Lucy, Rocket and Jase gathered at the grid, Nev, Wozza, Troy, Bruce and Weapon arriving from an FDC frolic.  Taking the first turn to the roundabout put some suffer in my Strava score, particularly paired with Wozza, busted branches in Mitchell Rd broke up the bunch dodging sticks, the reigns on Rocket (in the drivers seat) to reform.   Regrouped in Central Kialla the speed spiked, but yo-yo'd again in River, fluctuations dependant on the driver. WhisperingJack's ballast, Nev's Ballarat hopes, laughs with Weapon, SuperMario's thirst, Jase's holidays and Bruce's velocity kept the tongue busy in the rotation of 20.  In Channel Rd Shorty had selected the short straw again, powering into Hopeful corner with me as follow up for the Cha Cha.  Maximum velocity at Prentice Rd I could barely hold Wozza's wheel, nek minit 90% of the bunch bolted by as my lungs need for oxygen took precedence on position.  A tailwind home in the company of 4 quick chicks a wonderful wind-up for the week.

Week 1 ;   226 km 

 

WTF of the week :  Central Kialla seems to be the new Bermuda Triangle;   many folks Strava map data seems to get sucked into the stratosphere by a satellite stutter. Is it a worm hole in the space-time continuum?


Thumbs up to Robert Marchand who set a world track record for an hour at 22.5 km/h.  By the way, he's 105 years old!