Week 20 : The taste of a chase

Post 397

13/5 Saturday sanctity.
Relieved to be rid of another working week, Saturday's social sanctity was to be relished riding with another copious crew that wintery weather won't wear away.  KillkennyPaul, TatPaul, TatMat, BeerMat, Boof, Bo, Bruce, Pistol, Popgun, AvantiAndy, AvantiTrev, Kel, Cate, Mel, Jen, Leah, Dalts, Shorty, Rocket, Wozz, Temple and The Godfather made the peloton pilgrimage for the 6am flagfall, two dozen lights snaking from the carpark to spear into Channel Rd.  It was a sedate start compared to previous weeks, but I guess it's set by those who happen to be in the drivers seat,

Softa has emerged from an unseasonal hibernation, BeerMat on his once-a-month appearance, Leah braving the bunch ride, a rather reflective AvantiTrev, TatMat soaking up the last days of long service and AvantiAndy still to cave in to the cold.

 Nath turned up at the Pub on comeback #3, my heart rate running at an idle being towed along in the bunch's draft, just into zone 4 at the pointy end matching The Godfathers' pace (spells a dying battery or freakish fitness ; I suspect the former).  Old Dookie's porky palace was particularly pungent (assisted by atmostpherics), tempo now turned up as the young guns set the cruise control higher.  There was a noticeable social spark to the lap (almost like a binding brake had been released), the wintery 5 degrees of little consequence as the weekend's possibilities perked up the peloton.
A chance to add to previous conversations as the troops took a second push at the pointy end, many (like me) pondering who'd get the taxing turn for the sprint finish.
Into Wanganui Rd, TatMat and I cranked a standard 1000 meter turn, Rocket turning up the torture with a long lead-out (the squad now skinny in Indian file) to DECA's gate.  Nath spearheaded the second battalion to take the lead and turn most to toast, 8 contenders now charging at the hill for honours with the rest hanging on or dropping off.  Boof took the chocolates atop Mt Wanganui, the long line now compacting as all settled into a cruise to breakfast.  Chinese food, motor pacing and Turtle times (a cruisier crew at 6?) were on the talk topics as the Lemontree heaters and hot coffee confined us to quarters.

14/5  A Sunday saunter
The need to break ride repetition (a week of 30-40k laps) begged a distance and scenery change Sunday, pace off the agenda in an attempt to season the sit site to longer laps.  Cate (on a Grand Fondo mission) joined in to tap eastward on New Dookie Rd, patches of damp from an earlier sprinkle darkening the tarmac (and uncleaning a bike).  A waft of the aroma from Old Dookie's pig pen (2k's south) inspired a short burst of pace, but Sunday's sedentary specifications set a subtle speed to Cosgrove and onto Kellows Rd.   Up to Mt Major's base and steered south at the Camel farm onto Cosgrove-Caniambo Rd, not a lot needing to be said, just to soak up the scenery and whittle away the k's in company of a like-minded addict.   The slightest rise and fall of the road was felt with a southerly on the brow, a mental build up underway for the relentless length of Bells-Armstrong Rd as we crossed the Midland highway.  We swung onto the rugged and narrow strip of tarmac called Bells, coarse 20mm stone roughly glued onto the corrugated base was the worst first, it turns best west.  The k's clicked by passing the thistle farms, the road gradually growing wider and smoother as it graduated to Armstrongs. (funny how the surface plays a part on a riders' mindset).  12k's on, we'd made it to Mitchell Rd, back on familiar ground for the tap home via Raftery, with an obligatory burst in Conrod straight to sign off a 65k total .

15/5  The Tat 'n back tap

The road less traveled begged again Monday, an early getaway working west across the causeway and onto the Midland highway to tap to Tat.    Recent roadworks had built hopes for smooth sailing against the southwester, but the course was coarse, with plenty of loose stuff to snap, crackle (but hopefully not pop) under the Michelins.  The clench of teeth, the furrow of brow and a grip like Tarzan's on the 3T bars did nought for a calm karma, the mindset murdered for the 10k trek to the Tat turn-off. It was almost a gift to turn into the now SSW'er toward the township, the headwind was heaven with a billiard table tarmac soothing the seat site.  Through Tat's main drag as the early papers sold, eastbound on a quiet Ferguson Rd with a hint of help from the breeze, it was a steady spin (78 rpm) with Cosmic's crooning making the return home almost worth the earlier battle. Blown even better NNE back to Mooroopna, traffic was light to crank the "Causeway crusher" (who creates these Strava segement titles?) back to town.  


16/5  Turtle turbidity
The Turtle turn-up slowly dwindles as an approaching winter whittles down the disciples, some on a comeback, some on a workout and others just for a tap.   KillkennyPaul, Hoges, Softa, HBK, Cate, AvantiTrev, Cougar and Temple lined up for duty, AvantiTrev and Softa taking the first shift, setting a sedate scenario. KilkennyPaul raised the tempo in leg 3, Cate, Temple, HBK and I then putting spice in the speed, but the cadence calmed as Hoges howled the MTB rubber and AvantiTrev and Softa resumed their pace toward the S bend.  And so the see-saw of speed continued on Channel and Boundary Rd, I was happy to play ball as each did their bit, but there was a holler to handbrake when Temple and I ripped into River Rd.  Lights behind drew closer as we drove to the dip, an FDC trio of Grumpy, BamBam and Ralphy soon slipping by.  The competitive craving gnawed inside me (3 were pacing better than our 8) but consideration for the cruisers and the comebackers kept me at bay.  Temple and I were handed the reigns in Central Kialla, quickly finding ourselves bunchless as several dropped by the wayside, so it was off the throttle till the Kialla hall, eventually congregated the congregation. The FDC's, half a tantalising k ahead, ignited several to now squeeze the throttle in Mitchell Rd, silence (save for the whine of wheels and lament of lungs) gripped the group into Dave's dip and up to the highway, the FDC's momentary pause for traffic bringing the lure into nibbling distance.  Hoges and AvantiTrev took us to Roubaix, but the taste of a chase got me in the drivers seat to draw our pack single file (glancing back once or twice to see the bunch didn't bust).    I put the head and the hammer down in pursuit, feeling a hint of their draft at Galbraiths gate inspired my drive on past Arcadia Downs and into Conrod.  Legs and lungs were burning into the dip and out again, the head desperately trying to over-rule internal protests, but reaching the 400 metre mark was the mental meltdown, so I gave Temple the elbow to take over.  I was both spent and stoked at the finish line, not quite catching the FDC's but reaching town ahead of Hares.

17/5  The two turn tango

9 degrees felt almost tropical saddling up Wednesday morning,  a big bunch almost assured as many turned up for one or two turns.  Jase, Kenworth, Wozz, Shorty, Troy, Boof, Cate, Trav, AvantiTrev, TrekTrev, Weapon, Nick, The Mixmaster, Rocket, Rene, Car+Mel, Dalts, PistolPete, Kel and Bo proving there's safety in numbers.  Wozz and Pistol opened the southbound account, the usual speed freaks (Rocket, Troy, Boof et al) filling the upline as the B graders chose their partners carefully to advance.  There was a fair wait at the truck route for B doubles to clear, then hot footing to Mitchell where a light easterly felt stronger than the bureau's 9 km/h.  Personal insulation varied, some braving knicks while others cooked in jackets, darkness now shrouding our usual landmarks for all the anticlockwise lap.

Turns had shortened in River Rd as the easterly sorted the tuned from the tested , Pistol about faced at Boundary on an early exit for employment. North to Channel and west to town,   Mixmaster toiled toward the Kinder but dropped the wheel as the turn rolled (sending a ripple through the ranks), positions promoted quickly to the pointy end as we shot forth to Hopeful corner.  Jase and Shorty cranked toward Prentice Rd and, with the wattage of Wozz, Troy and Boof behind me, I let loose early (no hope for a podium placement so I put in a burn and bust to make them earn the chocolates). Surprisingly 50 lasted a hundred metres but my kaboom came quickly when Wozz, Boof and Troy passed like i'd hit reverse.  Jase and I held station as many bolted by, a roadside rabbit playing kamikaze bounding between our wheels.  3rd last in an instant didn't bother me, the lungs want for more oxygen took precedence.

18/5  An Egoat trip
A slow warm-up Thursday with my legs legarthic for a few k's, navigating the beaten track of Verney Rd's roadworks to reach the roundabout.  AvantiAndy, AvantiLeigh, Belly, Cate, Coggo, Temple, U.S.Ben, HBK, Phil and Tina were the Goats gathered, an ESE'er ensuring an early effort on Ford Rd.  All 10 served duty to reach Boundary Rd, U.S.Ben finding comfort in the caboose after one turn (at least he had a go.

 Remember the effort needed at the front in your early ride days?)  Credible contributions were cranked by all as we wrestled the wind whipping at the wheels on Boundary Rd, AvantiLeigh made sure talk was off my to do list at the front.  Temple had taken up the caboose captaincy (U.S.Ben no longer with us) as a the comeback from a cold labored his lungs, nothing holding Tina and Cate back braving the pointy end with the bunch bound for the Broken bridges.  The wind, now easterly, was a bonus in River Rd,  just rolling the legs over in high thirties with the heart rate at 120 was soothing the psyche (bit egoatistic eh?)  All too soon time summoned my exit, Temple and HBK on a coalface curtailment too, so a team time trial homeward kept us on agenda (and kept HBK nearly speechless)

19/5  The radar, the rain and the rule #9
A narrow window of hope opened at 5am Friday, could a lap be squeezed in before the radars' green threat soaked the circuit?  Many weren't that hopeful (maybe they were just clever?) as only Bruce, Pistol, Cougar, Shorty, AvantiTrev, Cate, Nev and I converged on the Couldabeens carpark for the 6am
start.  It was a calmer single filed southbound escape from town (more than two turns today!) just as two lines got organised the spits of rain started, a few became many as I paired with Pistol to the truck route, the rooster tails of water turning the mood miserable. (though rule #9 was inspiration to continue).  Approaching Mitchell, the call went out to divert right, a shorter lap via Raftery to save us from a soaking won the vote.  The showers stopped (of course) when we'd committed to a reduced ride (if we'd tackled the usual lap a drowning would be assured).    For the sake of worthwhile k's, a loop of Arcadia Downs put variety into the dismal day, the 25 km/h wind shifting from NNE to NNW turning my turn a toil at the front with Bruce. An early end allowed time for coffee (and celebrations for Cougars' significant birthday),  a decent drenching on the ride home strangely a bit of fun.

Week 20     295 km                    YTD  4,995 km