Week 13 : Doin' duty when dozers didn't

Post 441
24/3  Socialising.
Gifted with a mild morning (19 degrees) and an assisting breeze (NNE) to the grid, my solo amble to the carpark was cautiously cranked to berth midfield.

Jen, MyRideTrev, BigLen, The Godfather, Tina, Trav, SuperMario, Travis, TatMat, Tum, Grumpy, Determined Dan, Boof, AvantiAndy, TatPaul, PistolPete, Wozza, Kel, NewAvantiJohn and TrekTrev turned up for the Saturday spin, 6am signalling the squirt south.  Speed scintillated with the wind behind, I should have put in an early turn (to avoid the toil of a headwind later) but the pace was perky enough sitting near the rear (is Saturday for socialising, Tuesday for toil?)  The speed settled in Mitchell Rd as the wind (17-26 km/h) whipped wheels and fanned two rows across the tarmac, but the squad fell silent pointing north into the wind as Pistol paced us into the high 30's  (most are slowed by a headwind Pete!)

I'd set my headspace on smooth as my time at the front drew near at River Rd's dip, holding a straight line and a steady speed not just good for your own endurance, it avoids the messing up the masses behind. TatMat's the master against the blast, though some sledging and half wheeling were being served to TatPaul as he paired.  Determined Dan drove dilligently to River's end, then the pack stacked across the road for Boundary (clockwise rolls would have been best but it fazes the unfamiliar, so the right hand line advanced, suffering for safety's sake). Puddles from an overnight shower rattled those who'd cleaned their steeds,  turns shortened into the breeze and a few already took up permanent rear residence.  My time came again at the pointy end to the Pine Lodge church, this time with Determined Dan. 

Driving dilligently, despite distress, he managed the 1000 meter effort into the wind with a little encouragement thrown in for his good measure (some would do better to take a leaf from his book). A plump pack of Pussycats passed in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (though the unwanted shower from a bidon or two wasn't in order), an almost tailwind turning up our tempo. It's best not to know the speed sometimes (hide the truth from the head so it doesn't tell the legs it's too hard) but the heartrate cruised at 126.  The Godfathers' hootin' and hollerin' threw cautions through the crew in Ford Rd, a moment of manic braking totally unwarranted.  Of course, the work in Wanganui Rd went wicked, PistolPete setting the standards up to DECA that thinned the bunch to Indian file. Wozza sacrificed himself to lead-out, Boof returning to the Mt.Wanganui podium (even encephalitis can't handicap the horsepower) .
Accident compensation, suffering the spits and snots, half-wheeling and the co-incidental collecting of the fast kept conversations cooking over breakfast, civilian Couldabeens Lynda, Jase and Killkenny Paul contributing to the cause.

26/3  Windustrial.
A bit brisk aboard the Baum at 5:30, feels like 5 dragged a few leg warmers out of their summer slumber.  Rocket, NewAvantiJohn, Wozza, PistolPete, Trav, Grumpy and The Godfather emerged from the licorice-like darkness for the Monday meet, the change of circuit proving popular...... we'll see if winter whittles it down!

A westerly whipped us out Channel Rd, so named for the two long channels of puddles (from the overnight drizzle) along the ChaCha.   The thought of the toil returning to town hurt already, but I soaked up the tailwind paired with the Godfather (S bend to Boundary) then Trav (to the pub). Rocket and Wozza drove undeterred on Boundary Rd, Pistol and Grumpy keeping the pot boiling too. We'd soon dispensed with Boundary and it was time for the hard work home, facing the front and a windustrial wind wasn't that bad, The Godfather kindly levelling with me to the change-over at Lemnos North Rd.  I didn't blow a head gasket beside Trav in Ford Rd, though relief was breathed with a sigh in the draft.  Grumpy's wattage was waining in Ford Rd, the tell -tale head drop, shifting cogs and slipping from the draft of the wheel ahead painted a picture of pooped, the comfort and calm of the caboose would suit him well.  I was pleased with my push at the pointy end (although abbreviated) in Wanganui Rd, easing the effort a little so I didn't torment Trav.  Grumpy had recovered by Rudd Rd, the bunch bound for coffee on the Boulevard, but I needed to peel off before that pleasure to ready for employment.

27/3  The dedicated few.
Mustering the Machines is as difficult as getting commitment from the FDC's, and a cool 6 degree Tuesday wouldn't help the cause.  The "gunna's", the "comeback kids" and the "definitely's" had all dived under their doonas, only KillkennyPaul and Softa with a concrete constitution to turn up to the carpark.  Hares were filtering in as 5:45 struck, so three thrashed east into the chill of Channel Rd, albeit easy bait for the 5:50 Hares.  Softa and KillkennyPaul are a little underdone of late so I took the first shift to the truck route (been a long time since driving that length) as a generous contribution to their cause, but KillkennyPaul's turn was as short as a politicians memory. 
Softa took over to Orrvale Rd and handed me the helm for leg 3, another effort for me, a little bit earlier than I'd hoped.  KillkennyPaul had risen to the occasion by the time we'd got to leg 4 (though just a couple of clicks off the pace) but now Softa was softening, throwing me an elbow on the bend at Beckham.  Onward to Channel's end, I'd earned a reprieve till one tree dam, Softa in struggle street as we steered west into River Rd.  An asthmatic atmosphere had thrown him into neutral, so we slowed for his respiratory respite (well, he'd at least turned up for duty when dozers didn't).   A minute's meander and we were away again, towing the two to River's end.  KillkennyPaul was a rider renewed in Central Kialla with a long drive to Mitchell, Hares now closing the gap as I peeked back.  Softa summoned up some speed toward Archer Rd and gave me the driving duty at Pistol Pete's, so I settled into a hurry to the highway but the overtaking Hares quickly put a poor perspective on my pace.  The intention to jump aboard was there, but Paul and Softa's legs would have nothing to do with it, so I stayed with the soldiers (they might just come back again next week?) to finish the circuit, turning up the heater for the Conrod culmination.

28/3  Chop chop choo choo.
It's been two full moons since getting on the Goat train 'o pain, high time to rekindle old friendships (evading earning enemies) and measure myself.   AvantiAndy and Jen were found at Friars, the new launch site (Coggo's shed) finding Tum, Belly, Phil, Coggo and Heady at the ready.  The exit from town was a calm and cruisy one, over Doyles Rd and it was down to business, Heady opening the account on Old Dookie Rd.  The pace perked up as each one was promoted to the rushin' front, Coggo in great form considering his long lay off.   Phil towed me to School Rd and let me loose, I felt ok despite a NE'er hampering the hurry.   Belly scored the breeze behind in Boundary but his turn was abridged by the fig farm.  Through the darkness we drove at varied velocities, greatful to Heady's taming of tempo where I could catch a breath or three.  AvantiAndy, Tum and Coggo drove us to the Broken bridges, Phil handed over at one tree dam for me to reach River Rd, Jen content in the caboose.  Heady heave-ho'd to Rivers' dip (he'd have been OTA back in Old Dookie Rd not that long ago) ending exhausted,  Phil in fine fettle forged on to the bridge for Foss to finish off River Rd.  Belly wasn't keen to captain as we swung south to Central Kialla, so I drove on to the hall till the handover.  Giving the heart rate a holiday (140) in the draft in Mitchell Rd helped, almost a halt at the highway a bonus, but we were back on the throttle to Roubaix corner for my next shift to Galbraiths gate.  I was perfectly positioned as AvantiAndy then Coggo then Tum took us to Conrod's dip, Phil  left with the labor of the last 500 for me to pounce.

29/3  Deux en essayer.
A little spin around the golf course climatised to crank a lap with BamBam, Softa and KillkennyPaul from Verney's roundabout on Thursday, but BamBam pulled the pin, and Softa slumbered, it was KillkennyPaul that would reap the rewards of rigor. 

I did a tentative tap to Grahamvale Rd but Paul had speedier standards to Lemnos North Rd, so I turned up the cruise control toward Cosgrove.  Finding that sweet saddle spot, a satisfying speed and a rhythmic mindset covered the k's, the bridge became Boundary before I knew it.  Paul powered to the kennels and handed the hurry to me again ; the power bill, fixing the rear gate, the FTSE100 and the Commodore's front camber angle were problems cast aside as the prefrontal cortex was preoccupied with pedalling.  A preconceived idea of fighting a southerly wasn't such a task to the Toaster, KillkennyPaul delivering me a draft on Old Dookie Rd recharged my batteries. Down Boundary and in Channel, we crossed paths with the on-again-off-again 6am crew, our effort energising closer to town baited by bikes ahead and the craving for coffee.

30/3  Friday's good (grief ; got Garmin gremlins!)
There was a cool culmination to the working week soaking up a solitary spin to the business-as-usual Friday frivolities, Boof, Car+Mel, Sean, Cate, TrekTrev, Tina, Hollywood, Shorty (and some stranger on the sidelines) grouped at the carpark, Boof heading the escape from town at 6.
I paired at the city limits to drive with him to Sanctuary's roundabout, then Kel (good grief the gal's got go!) to the truck route for our rendezvous with the early edition (Rocket, Wozza, NewAvantiJohn, PistolPete, CatCol and The Godfather).  A light southwester treated our tempo on Mitchell Rd and beyond, Sean has returned from time-off in Thailand, Hollywood's becoming the Wednesday/Friday specialist and  welcome back CatCol, cured of cold. 
The small strobing light of the stranger in the caboose was Adelaidian Marshy (driving a De Rosa), invited along by someone (but minus a chaperone) was in the dark on direction and distance, so I assumed the role of 'director' if only for my own safety as he joined the rotations in River Rd.  Cool patches shivered my timbers in Boundary Rd (reserving the winter layers for the real winter to come) so cranking up the cadence worked as a heater.  I'd noticed my Garmin had gone to sleep in Channel Rd (not the time to reboot with the ChaCha looming), Marshy now in a bit of bother beside Boof as the pace percolated.  I rolled straight over (to his relief) and paired with Kel to the Kinder, but Marshy had slipped way back to the safety of the long thin line behind.  Shorty copped the ChaCha lead headed to Hopeful corner but it all got a bit messy as the movers advanced, many reversed and cars and trucks approached (once upon a time it was an empty, safe stretch of tarmac for a squirt). The satisfying social spin into the suburbs to breakfast was somewhat spoilt, my early exit to employment on a public holiday was heresy.

Week 13       254km           YTD 3,866km

Fans in Italy, the USA, Russia, Portugal and South Korea (and page views topping 51,000) has Foss fairly flabbergasted, thanks for your interest folks!  Should I continue?                


           

Week 12 : The kangaroo calamity

Post # 440
17/3  Hallelujah, it's Hollywood!

An almost windless and warm weekend drew a Couldabeens crowd to the carpark Saturday, would this be the last of the magic mornings before winters' woes trimmed the attendance down to the die-hards?  Softa, KillkennyPaul, Jen, AvantiAndy, TatMat, BeerMat, TatPaul, DeterminedDan, The Godfather, Shorty, SuperMario, Nev, Hollywood, NewAvantiJohn, Trav, MyRideTrev, ChrisA, Tina, Bruce and WarnyDan rolled out at 6, Jen driving the train admirably out of town, the early edition arrived (Rocket, Kel, Bo, Wozza and Pistol) cruising to be consumed on leg 3 as I took the reigns with BeerMat to Mitchell Rd (sensing a light northerly assistance but facing a southeasterly effort).  

Another turn beside Softa and my work was done, it was the turn of the long line of leds behind to provide the pace for a while.  The once weekly words with TatMat, the musing motivations of The Godfather, Trav conquering a cold, KillkennyPaul pickled by pace (A Saint Patrick curse?), PistolPete in yet another cool kit and, as rare as a Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat (and looking like he ate one!) Hollywood had made a comeback, but let's see how long it lasts (as long as Whispering Jacks'?)   Nath joined the clan in Boundary Rd, TrackStan and SpinDoctor similarly at the Toaster.

The breeze had turned east northeast to blow us homeward on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, visitor WarnyDan's white knicks were a little passe but his sporadic spinning was wearing Wozza weary (a coaching by Kel on correct cadence could cure that curse!)   In Ford Rd,TeamTri had halted for a spill, Sandra shouldering an injury the ambulance crew tended to.  Softa snuck a half wheel ahead of me in Ford Rd's last k (in contravention of Rule #86 your honour) so I sententenced him to a similar serve, pain and perspiration penitentiary as payback.
The Wanganui workout was on a kilometer later, DeterminedDan done like a dinner at DECA, so I delivered him a tow back to the team, collecting a spent SpinDoctor en-route while the thinning Nev was victorious from a more aero Rocket lead-out.  Back at base camp it was pleasing to have the recovering Boof along for the banter, pace on peaks, costs in the good 'ol days and the passion of the Irish brought out the beer for KillkennyPaul and Softa, and AvantiAndy's aspiring appetite was appeased.





19/3  Musing.
There are days when the babble and bravado of the bunch is a bit boisterous, so I made Monday one of those solo contemplative cruises the cranium craves at times.  Out of town on New Dookie Rd, the 8 degrees was akin on the skin like a kiss from the mother-in-law, but speed fixed that.

My pace was better than expcted, maybe it was a breeze up the bum, or was the new speed sensor skewed?   Sudden spikes in speed are rare after a few years in the saddle (unless you've employed the services of  a Spanish doctor!) so i'll put pace down to a prevailing puff from behind.  The once smooth surface beyond Central Ave has been resealed as rough as Trump's diplomacy, feels like the handbrake's been pulled a click or two.   Blanketed by blackness beyond the CatEye's reach, Boundary Rd blurred by without a soul to be seen, the swing into Channel Rd expecting a charge at Darth Vader's place (cancell the concern, the mut was berthed in bed). A ChaCha clear of obstacles got me back to town as the 5:45'ers were cleared for take-off, coffee and a chin-wag with Weapon an inspiring induction to the working week.

20/3  Trying.
A soul-searching southerly set the struggle to the carpark on Tuesday, most Machines motivation-less as only MyRideTrev and WhisperingJack had the tenacity to turn up.  So, eastbound our trio tried, MyRideTrev for leg 1, WhisperingJack leg 2.  An oncoming bike at Orrvale Rd took a turn into Channel Rd but tipped into the tabledrain, so we paused to check the faux pas was injury free.  Back on the gas to the Kinder had me as captain, the handover at Central Ave scoring MyRideTrev the headwind.  The speed sank a little but I relished the recovery, but WhisperingJack taking the reigns at the cypress trees had us back into zone 4 pronto.  My second shift from the S bend may have been a bit eager and I'd handed the headwind to MyRideTrev again in Boundary Rd!  I made ammends with a long turn in River Rd, seeing signs of WhisperingJack and MyRideTrev mellowing suggested in trim the tempo a tad to foster fellowship.  No sign of the Hares when I snuck a look back in Central Kialla, the three of us sharing the labor in Mitchell Rd to enjoy Raftery Road's tailwind to the finish.  That pleasing peace as we swung north at Galbraiths Gate, the wind out of the ears and up the tail-light stepping us into the 40's.  MyRideTrev was toast into Conrod straight as WhisperingJack took the drivers seat cresting the first dip, easy for me to sit in the draft and charge for the chocolates in the last 200 meters. 

21/3  Welcoming.

Six bells chimed and I was quickly given the drivers seat Wednesday (despite lining up in 6th spot), must get that clause taken out of my job description!  TrekTrev, MyRideTrev, Cate, Kenworth, Kel, Shorty, Car+Mel, Bo, Chops, Goose, WhisperingJack, Boof, Nev, Tina and Hollywood had lined up behind my push into leg one's southerly breeze, not till beyond Adams Rd did anyone pair with me (thanks Boof)  The early edition (Trav, Wozza, Rocket, Pistol and The Godfather) arrived for leg three, setting off the sledges and sociology to tour to Central Kialla.  Great to have Boof back from a sick spell, WhisperingJack back on his 237th comeback, Car+Mel from feline fraternising and Chops wrestling a ride from work time. Shorty befell the bother of  the bindii in River Rd, MyRideTrev quick on the scene to start repairs.

  I had a sprint to the front with news that the restart was a bit keen, Nev and Shorty half a k in arrears.  With the bunch back as one the last k's of River Rd passed quickly, crossing paths with the pain train of old (Coggo back in action a good thing to see)  The southerly was soaked up in Boundary Rd, even Hollywood advancing through the ranks to take a turn.  Car+Mel copped the crank to the Kinder (normally the luck of Shorty to drive), I'd reached the pointy end nearing Prentice as Nev drew alongside, donating a little brotherly love with TrekTrev in tow. With tactical timing, TrekTrev turned up the turbo to take a maiden win.

22/3  Thrashing.

I used a sedate solitary spin to the Thursday thrashing as a motivator to the mindset, there'd be plenty of heavy artillery lining up  (Liam, Rocket, Pistol, Grumpy, Kel, Bruce, Wozza, BeerMat, Nev, Bo and TrekTrev) to shoot holes in this old bloke!  Kev tacked on as we rolled away at 5:50 (a nice new Lynksey brings the 3rd titanium to the town), an easterly egging on the energy for Channel Rd.  The train's tempo turned up to the 40's, sorting the drivers from the survivors, TrekTrev, BeerMat, Grumpy, Kel and I acting as observers as Nev, Kev, Pistol, Wozza, Rocket, Liam and Bruce tore into the task toward Boundary Rd.  TrekTrev's tempo was tested by the S bend, dropping to the back seat then quietly slipping OTA as Bruce battled for breath and confined himself to the caboose.   Sitting almost rearmost, I was ready for the whipcrack of acceleration into Boundary Rd, the speed soon settling but the surging was purging (Bruce had the staggered side of the gatekeepers job) so I sat sweet in the sublime smoothness of Kel's creamy cadence, content.  There was an easy earned PB in River Rd dragged along in the Hares' draft, Grumpy and BeerMat taking a timely turn at the front with the wind from behind.  I kept an eye rearward (an oft forgot role of caboose captain), the pinpoint of TrekTrev's led the only (and lonely) follower.  Green highlights of Wozza's Scott, Pistol's cool kit, Nev's superfluous salivations and Liam's thin limbs were briefly visible at the pointy end through my blur at the back, I was just hanging onto the train's tail in Mitchell Rd, readying for Raftery's rapidity. 
Into Conrod and well into the 40's, Bruce blurted "Roo!!"  The peloton went pear-shaped as a startled roadside kanga lept through the middle, Wozza ducked, Bo hit the deck and BeerMat made him a speed bump.  Pistol tangled wheels and halted horizontal, Kel took to the tabledrain for a soft landing, me missing the 'roo's tail by a tad. 
That sickening sound of busting bikes, helmets, bidons and wheels soon stopped us all.   Bo had snapped a clavical, BeerMat and Pistol broke helmets, Grumpy shredded tyres and Kel escaped unscathed.  (and some want to ditch the compulsory helmet law?!) An ambulance soon attended to tend the wounded, a calm cruise home contemplating critters and crashes.

23/3  Fraternising.
Serves me right turning up early, that lead role was mine again for Friday.  Fraternsing with Goose, Chops, Car+Mel, Hollywood, Boof, Cate, AvantiAndy, Shorty, Jen, Tina, Nev, TrekTrev, The Godfather, MyRideTrev, Bruce and Kel, we combined to spin south out of town, 14 degrees feeling almost warm driving to Sanctuary's roundabout with AvantiAndy.  The early edition (Rocket, Grumpy, Pelly, PistolPete, NewAvantiJohn, Wozza and Trav) had been wildlife spotting, possums and rabbits invading their circuit and niggling nerves after yesterday's kangaroo calamity.  The Godfather and PistolPete cracked the whip to Mitchell Rd, the tempo tamed by Nev to Central Kialla.  Senses were working overtime in a pack of two dozen, so I took an extra 600mm of insurance (to be sure to be sure!)   Maybe I'm somewhat sensitive from yesterdays close call?  The long slow demotion to the caboose took till River Rd's end, the part-time conversations picked up then put on hold as rotations interupted the sentence swapping.  Two pedestrians and a tractor lurked in Channel Rd's darkness to crank up our caution to the ChaCha, Car+Mel, Jen and Cate line astern led us to Kinder corner in a deja vu to Wednesday.  AvantiAndy and PistolPete rolled the turns toward Prentice Rd, Bruce and Boof advancing, but Pistol ran out of ammo at the rushin' front and a few contenders were boxed in, but there's no trophy at the finish to worry about.  Boof got the bonus but the prize was that we all finished upright, another chance at the chocolates will call again soon.

Week 12            238 km               YTD 3,612

         

Week 11 : Defying your biggest critic

Post 439
10/3  A peakless prologue.

A carpark bereft of bikes at 5:57 spelt few fans for a Saturday spin, but TatPaul, TatMat, ScottMatt, TrekTrev, MyRideTrev, AvantiAndy, MeridaAndy, SuperMario, Jen and BigLen filtered in moments before launch time.  I'd berthed first so had captaincy of the cruise control for the first leg, TatPaul playing ball partnering me to the roundabout.  The peloton of th premature (Rocket, Wozza, Kel, The Godfather, Bo, CatCol and NewAvantiJohn arrived as an addition ahead of agenda on leg 2.  With my one and only turn done, the delight of the draft was mine to enjoy, though skipping turns felt like cheating.   There were varied vocals with the crew as shifts were shared, cup-cake conversation with SuperMario, TeamTat tattle with TatMat, prophecies on peaks with MyRideTrev and words with Wozz on preparedness. The bureau said calm but the way east needed effort, little dips in temperature felt like someone left the fridge open (but just wait till July!)  Pungency from the pig farm pickled the nostrils way back at the fig farm, holding our breath to the Toaster would be VO2 max mastery. 

A big branch near the Big Ring was left uncalled by The Godfather, AvantiAndy and Jen making kindling chaos but egressed with ease.  It was notably easier westbound, so speed spiked of course, Bo and Rocket overdosing on velocity at the front in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (my bike's faster than your bike!), forties de rigeur without a squeak of protest from the pack.  Bruce & Leah were found in Ford Rd (though Leah vanished via Verney before the velocity went viral), not till DECA did the drivers let loose, I sat back in survival mode.   Birthplace, Guinness vs whiskey and the plight of the endangered crimple kept the chat flat chat at the Lemontree.

11/3  Bumpy bits.

Like 1441 other silly cyclusts suffering severe hillness, I lined up at Falls Creek (along with Tina, Helen and Gawney) for the Peaks Challenge.    Flagged off at 7, and overcoming the wobbles from the 8 degree chill, I kept clear of the descenders dedicated to Rule #85 for the quick 30k downhill to Mt.Beauty.  A cheer from Coggo & Tina roadside gave me the warm and fuzzy's but a focus on finding a rhythm for Tawonga Gap (476 meters) took over quickly.  One guy was already being chased by that growling bear barely half way up, but I'd found a timely tempo with Adrian on a cautionary climb to the summit (in 39:22).  All were warned about turns 5 and 7 on the descent, and sure enough, one was horizontal and hurting in the tabledrain on turn 5, paramedic attending.  The long downhill dream finished all too soon as the course turned onto the almost flat 20k to Harrietville, but being in a bunch of 30 minimised the drag (one inattentive entrant roadside with a wheel folded in half).

Now that's a climbing cassette! (11-42)

At 74k the Harrietville stop was welcomed, fluids and munchies on board, armwarmers and thermal stashed, I got stuck into the 30k torment of Mt. Hotham (1303 meters).  Stoked with my tempo and holding a handbrake on the heart-rate (-158), even The Meg (10%) was manageable.  Settling into the false flat after, I banked a few watts ready for CRB hill.  Off the Fizik for one and a half k's and dropping to a 9km/h average was my management, something extra would be needed for the following 4k's of Diamantina's 8+%.

It's an eerie world of bare trees above the snowline but a spectacular view of Buffalo and the big bumps below, plenty of growling bears up there for those burning up the reserves too early.  I was pretty pleased to peak the big one (2:20:33) and begin the gradual downhill to Dinner Plain (for lunch), Bicycle Victoria volunteers aplenty serving out sustainance.  A fresh serve of chamois cream was timely for the toosh, revitalising the rump to ride on to Omeo.  I came across Gawney nearing Combungra (working over a couple of young lads), the few pinchy climbs to Omeo sorting out the ripe from the wrecked.

 By chance 4 titanium bikes had  briefly bunched, another Baum, a Tektro and a Lynksey made up TeamTi for a time.  Among a kaleidoscope of carbon fibre there were flat bars, backpacks, mirrors and mudguards, curious kits (Ruffa not Rapha) and riders of all shapes and sizes, aero's and not-so's.  Fresh fluid at Omeo (surprised by the sight of StravaStalker), then a 30k push solo toward Anglers Rest to keep within the 13hr time limit dug into the reserves, a hot northeaster making motion muggy.  The gradual grind of a climb at Bingo Munjie wore down more wattage, but the long flat plateau thereafter got me on a "home soil" to crank some speed to Anglers Rest.  A grease of the lower ball joints, fuel in the tank and water for the radiator got the old engine in tune to carry on at the 188k mark, gentle ups and downs alongside the scenic King River for 12k put me in a happy place, but the dreaded WTF lay in wait to whip that out of me.

I'd managed this sharp climb just a week before (but on fresh legs), the first few k's went as well as could be expected (7km/h @165 bpm), but distance had drained the determination to a dribble just 5k later.  With speed slowing and heart hurrying, balance became borderline (the Man with the Hammer had arrived), so I gave in to the 'walk-of-the-weary' with many others (more feet on the ground than on the pedals) for a k or so.   Heartrate finally dipped and with a brief bit of level ground the opportunity to saddle up and soldier on came at Shannonvale.  Many meters of murder later and fighting cramp in the calves, the short downhill to Trapyard Gap finally arrived, a long craved cold Coke delivering drive to continue. The worst was now over, the ascent reducing to a more manageable 6% with a few flats to recover.  Each little rise reduced me to the 38/32 just to keep motion forward, but at last Rasberry Hill then Windy Corner appeared.

Onto the heaven that's Falls Creek slight downhill plateau, the beginnings of dusk over the reservoir was worth a pause to picture. Back into the bliss of the big ring, euphoria drove the last 16k back to the finish.  The rousing cheer from a big crowd was a fitting end  to 11 hours and 34 in the saddle, my 12:24:58 enough to score one of the 1180 finishers jerseys.  I dips me lid to mountain machines Tina (10:34),

Helen (10:46) and Gawney (11:51), super effort that!  Old flatlander Foss was happy to have clocked 235 km, hauled up half of Everest in the process, burned 2kg worth of vanilla slices and slogged 929 suffers on Strava, but no.......not again! Thanks to the many for your motivation.  (Unaccustomed as I am to pedalling up peaks, there's something strangely satisfying to get out of your comfort zone and defy your biggest critic.....yourself )           



13/3.  OMG! The road's flat!
Groan, creak, grind and crunch in the opening k's of Tuesday's tap, just a sedate solo to loosen the legs from Sunday's stupidity.  I pointed the CatEye into Old Dookie Rd's darkness, flabbergasted at the flatness! The sit site was somewhat suffering and the legs a little lame but otherwise the old engine was going ok under the circumstances (the speed/cadence sensor had died a miserable death though).     A pesky SSW'er got my head down on Boundary Rd, content it didn't peg my progress too much toward Channel Rd.

  Hares had hurtled ahead toward the Broken bridges, there was no will and no way was I tacking on to that tempo for a while, just content to crank onward as they speared into the distance.   I worked west on River Rd at a spin to keep the load off the legs, surprised the speed was satisfactory southbound in Central Kialla too.  The thought of taking an easy Archer exit home crossed my mind, but Rule #5 over-ruled that softness to press on for the full circuit.  A tail wind on Conrod straight was sweet, a pseudo sprint to the high 40's just to make sure legs didn't fall off, then rolled on to the Scottish restaurant to join Rocket, Wozz, Kel, Bo, PistolPete, Nev and CatCol for the post mortem on their boozy Bright Sunday.

14/3 Wednesday; Whip It!
Tina, Tum, Kenworth, Jen, TrekTrev, AvantiAndy, MyRideTrev, The Godfather, Shorty, Chops and CatCol turned up for Wednesday's waltz and I played shy four or five wheels back from the business end.  TrekTrev captained a considerate first turn for leg one, the early edition (Pistol,Wozza, Rocket, Kel, Bo, NewAvantiJohn and Bruce) bringing the bunch up to 18. A light southerly made Mitchell and beyond bearable, Vince flourescently joining the pack in Central Kialla.  The Godfather turned up the speed stress in River Rd (did he think it was Tuesday?) but MyRideTrev soon set it back to the social setting.  Fast forward to Channel Rd and opportunity came knocking for me as the bunch swept under the Channel Rd cypress trees.   MyRideTrev looked likely to be in the drivers seat for Kinder corner and I was 4 wheels back in AvantiAndy's draft (Oh, and it helps when Rocket, Wozza and co are convalescing in the caboose), warranting a workout to whip it for a win.    I let loose with Prentice Rd in sight, but Vince had glued to my wheel with no others as back up.  Vince's victory was a certainty (he's as aero as a pin) but I didn't dare ease, a glance rearward when he finally passed saw a long gap behind, driving me onward to hold out for second spot.

15/3  Smooth as.......
A little late on the launch from home had me hot-foot it to Thursdays thrash, carrying some trepadation on the tempo with the hurry the Hares hand out.  With a bit of Sundays sting still in the legs, I berthed at the carpark behind Grumpy, BeerMat, Wozza, Travis, Nev, Pistol, Liam, Bruce, ChrisA, Bo, Tum, Tina, Kel and MyRideTrev.   Away at 5:50, the bunch quickly divided into drivers and survivors, BeerMat, Tina, MyRideTrev, Tum and I sensible enough to confine ourselves to the caboose.   The first two k's tested tenacity but such was the smoothness of speed that soon after we'd settled into a quick but comfortable crank.   Kel and I played gatekeeper to Nev, Grumpy, Pistol, Liam, Bruce, Wozza, Travis, Bo and ChrisA providing propulsion, Grumpy's strobing tail-light almost triggering epilepsy!  MyRideTrev's despondency was dissapearing, he wasn't riding with the wrong bunch after all.  The southerly was of little significance to Bruce & Pistol driving into Boundary Rd, not that us rear-ranked had any wind work to worry about.  A rip along River and moving on Mitchell got us to Raftery rapidly, two rows thinning to one at Arcadia Downs as spiced speed took precedence for Conrod straight.   A couple of the drivers burned up on re-entry but ChrisA, Rocket, Wozza and Liam looked like they'd just got warmed up as we flashed past the finish with a 40 average.

16/3  Missed it by that much!
So stop sooking about the peaks pain and get back into it Foss!, about time to make an earlybird effort.  Rocket, Bruce, Grumpy, The Godfather, Kel, Pistol and Bo lined up for Friday's 5:25 flagfall, straight into the deep end for me on the first shift with Rocket and the second with Grumpy to Orrvale Rd.  (they served up sentences, I only managed one word replies!)   Bo and The Godfather paired to turn up the pace to the cypress trees (need to keep these two mischief makers apart!) but all settled into a steady spin for the circuit with only a slight southerly to shoulder, Bruce and Pistol driving to River Rd unabaited.  An oncoming truck suddenly crossed to our side of the tarmac (swinging wide to enter a driveway) causing chaos as all grabbed at the brakes.  I got so up-close and personal to Grumpy's wheel, but missed it by that much going to the roadside gravel.  With cardiac convulsions calmed a 100 meters later, we resumed around to Archer to intercept the 6am'ers.   Shorty, Tina, MyRideTrev, Kenworth, Jen, Trav, AvantiAndy, Chops and Pelly were a little tardy in arrival (deciding who'd take the first shift?),  the social intercourse for the course got going of course (but not coarse) to Central Kialla and River Rd.  A steady speed was held, with shifts varied relative to fitness, me pairing with Grumpy and The Godfather for River Rd's last k's, soaking up the smoothness of the tarmac. Speed wasn't spared in Boundary or Channel Rd, but I'd cemented a seat in the caboose for the ChaCha.  Hurtling to Hopeful corner, Grumpy and others had turned an unseen turtle as a speed bump, forcing a few to abandon ChaCha hopes, thankfully all finished upright. 

Week 11      467km           YTD 3,374km
        

Week 10 : Making mental mountains

Post 438
3/3 Peloton populaire.

The carpark was chocker's for a change, the constant Couldabeens campaigners and the weekend warriors assembling from all directions for the 6am Saturday spin.  (TatMat, BeerMat, TatPaul, Determined Dan, Popgun, PistolPete, Bruce, SuperMario, Shorty, Belly, Tina, AvantiAndy, NewAvantiJohn, Jen, Nev, Softa, KillkennyPaul and MyRideTrev).  Bruce led the charge south on Archer Rd, Softa and KillkennyPaul stepping up for an early shift to the truck route.  Bruce incurred an intermission with a puncture on leg 3, chat the chance taken while earlylappers Kel, Bo, The Godfather, Rocket, Wozza, Grumpy and CatCol arrived to serve sledges on the repair.  Back underway quickly, the order was shuffled, I was now rearbound between Jen and SuperMario, a super spot. The cool and calm conditions were hardly commonplace, the autumn effect bringing arm-warmers out of summer retirement for many.  With trust placed in the piloting pair at the distant front, the rear ranks followed in blind faith, a couple blind beyond the wheel ahead making irrational reactions instead of following the flow of the masses. 

Weekly topics with TeamTat, banter with Belly (trimmed for tempo and training tenaciously), Nev's niggle of recent illness has hardly slowed him, I reflected on Dark Side of the Moon's 45th anniversary with NewAvantiJohn and I spoke with Shorty on legs ready but head's not.  Up to Channel Rd the bunch found Liam and Cate in wait, TrackStan and Spin Doctor sneaking into the squad over the highway to populate the peloton populaire to 31.  Little by little I'd been gradually promoted to the pointy end, arriving beside SuperMario at the Big Ring then finding Liam my partner at the kennels.  I set my roll-over request at Boundary Rd, a little optimistic when legs began burning 500 meters shy of the mark. 

Sheer stubborness got me there, but relief was ridiculous, behind young Liam's like drafting a matchstick!   Twasn't long before the tall timber of AvantiAndy and Belly came forward to deliver a decent draft and the toil of my tiny turn was a distant memory.  Right on the rear as the bunch bored into Wanganui Rd was perfect positioning for me, Rocket got the serious sprinters salivating toward Mt.Wanganui, but behind I could see ol' mate KillkennyPaul dying a death from the pace, so I slowed up to offer a tow. The pack ahead went like popcorn from the pace, us tailenders picking off the popped and pooped for the reform in Rudd Rd.  Back at base camp, the Peaks program, smart kids and kit colours captured conversation along a very long Lemontree table.


4/3  Some call this fun!?
I'd made a mental mountain out of the back 'o Falls, it's ruinous reputation the stuff of hearsay I say (until you've sampled the sting yourself, how can you measure it?), so it was Kellogs Koncrete for Sunday breakfast and drove over for a dip. 

Down then up was the Fossilosophy (detective on the downhill and class clown on the climb).   It was fresh at Falls for the flagfall (10 degrees) and almost like home with the first 10k a fairly flat skirt of the reservoir. That was 20 minutes of warm up till a gentle rise to Mt.Cope then a few slightly steeper ups and downs round to Nelse.  The tarmac drops gradually from Rasberry Hill toward Trapyard Gap (reckon I'd manage that back the other way) but slope's steeper soon after (mental note of murder on the return).   Brakes were worked overtime on the tricky turns, descending through a light fog with the lefts and rights for several k's and a 10% decline to focus on.

And then it appeared ahead, the dreaded WTF corner, dipping like a roller coaster to the Omeo Highway.  Hands ached on the levers (I love the smell of brake pads in the mornin'!) to stem the speed, then swung onto the highway pointed toward Anglers Rest.  A short relaxed roll alongside Big River was used to psych up some spirit for the return, then with gritted teeth, I u-turned back for battle. A hard left back onto Bogong Highplains Rd and up a short 10% straight, I kept my focus just a meter ahead, avoiding the scary sight of the wall that is WTF.  It worked!, climbing out of the hairpin with wheels just turning, but keeping a cap on the cardiac crescendo's was as hard as keeping CatCol from the cocktails! Speed sunk to single figures just to harness the heart below 185, tolerating this for 6 more kilometers had a reward a bit beyond Shannonvale, the ease to 8% would be heaven! 

That growling bear was chasing me but (thankfully) no sign of the Man with the hammer, young Mitch (sporting a Sagan hairdo) appeared alongside, kindly offering words of encouragement (sorry mate, barely enough oxygen for one word replies!)  He easily edged his Ridley ahead (ah, the spoils of youth) as I'd reached a brief respite, a few meters of slight decline was luxury on labored legs, the speed was sweet air conditioning on a sweaty brow.

A few level sections scattered among the rises helped heal the heartrate, but a 13% pinch at Trapyard Gap stung me back to 7km/h.  Prior detective work told me the pain was nerly at an end, so push on 'ol Foss, Rasberry Hill would soon appear (and so did two others climbing ahead, somewhat slower).  I got around them at Mt Cope  (energising my eroded ego), then finally back on level ground (and back on the big ring) got me into a comfort zone to fight the cross winds of Falls plateau back to the reservoir.   Sight of the village restored hope, one short rise then berthed the Baum to savour a hard earned drink, a sit and chat with Mitch (and mum Kim) comparing the cruelty of the climb.   At least my head can now say it's doable.


5/3  R&R.
To rid the rigormortis of yesterday's stupidity, a bit of R&R (ride & recover) was scheduled for Monday, oh so gentle on the gastrochnemius as a southerly blew head-on at 20+ km/h.  Deciding out old and in new (Dookie Rd) would be the perfect panacea, solo was sweet with speed unscrutinised as the CatEye sliced east through the darkness. A road reseal near Central Ave is to usual Vic Roads specs, no budget for a proper job, just slap a coat of tar & stones over the ruts and bumps (and start patching it when it breaks up in a month or so).   Me thinks the west in the south southwester helped me to the Toaster, an easy roll to the Big Ring then put the head down for the 15 k's homeward, not so bad with the old engine at 84 rpm and a little tree shelter on the portside.  A sense of being stalked was felt in Ford Rd, a distant bunch (Pelly, Nev, Rocket, The Godfather, Kel, Bo, Weapon, Tina and PistolPete) reeling me in on Rudd Rd.  I soaked up short sociology along the Boulevard before exiting stage left to appease an employer.

6/3  Three threshing.
It was a bit chilly on the willy for Tuesday's therapy (10 degrees just a taste of the wintery woes to come), a southerly speeding me to Verney's roundabout for the rehab of an Irishman and the pure joy of getting a lawer out of bed early!   I couldn't beat Killkenny Paul saying "After you", so I inherited the first shift to Grahamvale Rd, but stayed on for leg 2.  A bike ahead is always good bait, rounding up some geezer and pushing on to Lemnos North Rd.  Softa took the reigns to the bridge and KillkennyPaul to Boundary Rd (both markedly improving), I set my target at the Big Ring.  Guilty avoiding the light headwind to the Toaster encouraged my longer turn in Old Dookie as compensation, nice to find that groove of manageable cadence and respectable speed without cooking the heartrate.  Another shift from the fig farm bumped up the effort, passing Mr Flapping Jacket at the bridge.  KillkennyPaul was in the drivers seat as Darth Vader's bark from the dark made a special sprint stage in Channel Rd, crossing paths with Pelly and BamBam the sole Machines eastbound.  A long line of Hares in a hurry were found at blood & bone corner, already disposing of one OTA.  We charged at the ChaCha (out of habit) but backed off for the tour to town, a sizeable six o'clock crew just starting leg 2.  The indulgence of post ride Lemontree latte luxury was lapped up, verbalising injury recovery, the unassuming type and Rule #11.

7/3  Tricky traffic.

The Couldabeens crew crammed the carpark on Wednesday, Goose, Weapon, Shorty, Kenworth, SuperMario, Cate, Sean, Tum, Car+Mel, AvantiAndy, Jen, KillkennyPaul, BeerMat, Softa and MyRideTrev all keen to do a quick lap (with just one turn at the effort end?)  The 5:25'ers (Bruce, PistolPete, Wozza, Trav, Kel, Bo and NewAvantiJohn) intercepted the 6am'ers on schedule at the truck route, The Godfather a little late attaching in Mitchell Rd.  A new face in the bunch stood out like a fart at a funeral, Sir Strobe-a-lot (for the lack of Rule #19) up from the Big Smoke on bus business. 

Two rows raffishly rode rotating on River Rd, poking with participles the passing pelotons as social sentences swapped our sides en-route to Boundary.  Darkness still swallows the scenery till the Broken bridges, quite a pace paired with Car for my one and only turn at the front.  We'd gobbled up Fee, Kylie and Meags on the chase on Channel to the ChaCha, full steam into Hopeful corner but there was helpful hollers to back off the throttle for a B double entering from Prentice Rd.  A moment later, another oncoming truck locked up the brakes finding an eastbound brainless bloke on a bike (without lights and helmet) in his path, panic stations for the car following.   Traffic suddenly appearing at Orrvale rattled nerves further, and a halt at the truck route vaulted NewAvantiJohn over the bars.  The ride turned calm and composed back to town, many contemplating the craft of communicating caution.


8/3 A lazy lap.
Slow and solo set the speed and standard for Thursday, the social salve of the bunch was over-ruled to bank whatever wattage for Sunday.  An amble along Archer in 17 degrees was salubrious, with barely a push on the pedals the heart-rate monitor pushed into the 200's (something skew with the strap?)   Over the truck route and the line of leds working west on Mitchell was clear as crystal, the pairing of Machines and Hares hurrying to the highway.   Pursuit wasn't possible with them pacy and me pokey,  CatCol, Liam, Grumpy, Nev, Tina, Wozza, Pistol, Rocket, Trav, SuperMario and BeerMat spearing past and into the distance, leaving me somewhat socially starved.  I took the highway homeward without hurry and caught the crew at Ronalds', chatter on a boozy Bright weekend and music through the genres and generations satisfying the sociology.

9/3  Friday fellowship.
Nev and Bo played tow trucks for the first few k's of Friday's fellowship, Sean, TrekTrev, Cate, Mel (-Car), Kel, Vince, Jen, AvantiAndy, SuperMario, MyRideTrev, Kenworth, Tum and Shorty delighting in the draft to Mitchell Rd as earlybirds The Godfather, NewAvantiJohn, Bruce, Wozza, Rocket, CatCol, Pelly, BamBam, Ralphy and PistolPete added to the masses on leg 3. 

Jen punctured at Pistols providing a pitstop, MyRideTrev (as always) mastering the art of a rapid and reliable repair (a dollar for each puncture he'd fixed and I could afford PistolPete's wardrobe!)  Surprisingly, the restart resumed in almost the same order, happy that my position would probably be spared the slog at the front (it's just the paranoia of preserving power for peaks)   Discourse, as I was demoted in the down line, with Bruce on the luxury of a level lap, Seans' ten days of Thailand travels, MyRideTrev on the principals of pace on peaks, BamBam on the machinations of the Machines and The Godfather on pooch's progress.

New tyres, chain and a service has the bike purring, new batteries in cadence and h.r. monitor taking the peaks preparation to OCD levels!  Counting heads got confused caught up in conversation but I got back on track in Boundary Rd to tally two dozen and one.  Westward in Channel Rd I kept out of the up-line promotion to take comfort in the caboose, deliberating the distance to the wheel ahead needing constant concentration, so often a meter becomes a millimeter (and adds mahem) to the fluctuations of a big bunch.  Sitting in the observers seat, the speed spiked at Kinder corner (of course!), Kel withdrawing from the sprint with a faux flat, the bunch stretching from speed stress all the way to Orrvale Rd. There was a partial regroup back to town with the luxury of extra fellowship (at no extra charge) at the Lemontree.

Week 10     291 km         YTD 2,907 km   


       

Week 9 : The scourge of the surger

Post 437
24/2  Backward and forward.

Why I was aboard the bike at 4:37 I'll save for my therapist, it was the niggling northeaster that occupied the occipital cortex en-route to the Pine Lodge church that took precedence.  Doing the distance has taken a sudden priority with 3 peaks rapidly appraoching, a measly 40k prologue to Saturday's 50k might be a start. 
New Dookie Road's 12k's sharpened the focus on holding a steady speed, a breeze behind laying a tasty bait for the return to town.  Insects set a collision course at the CatEye, best keep the cake hole shut and avoid an unwanted protein supplement.  Steering south at the church eased the effort, settling into that steady spin and avoiding any heart rate hiccups helped.  Along Old Dookie and down Boundary, I'd mentally mapped a course to intercept the 6am starters, timing a perfect peloton position in the carpark behind TrekTrev, MyRideTrev, AvantiAndy, MeridaAndy, TatPaul, TatMat, BeerMat, WhisperingJack, Sean, Jen, Big Len,The Godfather, Cougar, Popgun, Tum, Kate, GTCraig, and PistolPete as KillkennyPaul, SuperMario and Nev snuck in behind.  The serious, the swift, the spent and the Saturday specialists swapped sledges, serious sentences and silly statements till six, most cruised and some crumbled on the crank southbound to Mitchell, longer lappers Trav, Rocket, Wozza, Kel, Bo and Bruce boosting the bunch to 29 as we'd crossed the truck route.  Plenty of punters meant little work at the windswept end though the whiplash effect was wicked at the corners as all those reactions rippled down the long line.

  GTCraig is reaquainting with the road bike (he's developed a dirty MTB habit), MeridaAndy and BigLen squeezing schedules to get a lap in and MyRideTrev says he's struggling.  There was a bit of a battle into the northeaster on River Rd, pairing with SuperMario on the front wanted wattage but it was TrekTrev who shattered Sean with a harrowing half-wheeling as we reached Boundary Rd.  (Rule #86 repeated 100 times after school TrekTrev!) 
Rocket and Wozza wore down the weak, Sean slipping back to the caboose to avoid imminent implosion.   One rear hub pawl was being punished prolifically in a flurry of frequent freewheeling (f'n the followers!) within the bunch but TatMat and I ignored it,  comparing the class of caffiene at Das Kaffeehaus while the team toured to the Toaster, Nev and The Godfather playing pace police (for an undisclosed principal?)

Colour co-ordinated milk shakes!  Picture credit : Kel.

 Rounding the Big Ring it was heaven homeward with help from the breeze, some in suffering silence as the speed stepped up.  I got my second shift done as we ran out of Ford Rd and worked into Wanganui, Rocket taking the thinning train to labored levels to DECA.  Wozza ground out a fearsome follow-up as Pistol and other pace setters powered to Mt Wanganui.  Rocket recovered to pour on another punishing performance, I just hung on in the hope of being somewhere in a bunch for a tow to breakfast.   A few straggled into the Lemontree speed-scarred, the team tattle on hitting the limit, running out of gears and cider-run schemes filling forty minutes while milk shakes, beer and coffee was quaffed. 

26/2   A dozen in the dark
The traffic lights ganged up against me, just because I was two minutes behind schedule, forcing Foss to flog the five k's to the carpark for Mondays 5:45.  With a minute to spare, I berthed behind Pelly, Kel, Rocket, PistolPete, Trav, Bo, Wozza, The Godfather, Bruce and Tina, Nev of course arriving with seconds to spare. The squad sailed into Channel Rd, some lads (and lasses) pumped (or pickled?) from Sunday's cider ride.  Mondayitis had set-in for me, berthed between Bo and Nev not quite the quiet corner!  Bo's on a new Specialised (and setting the disc brake trend) but those socks will surely score a fine from the fashion police!    I faced the front from the S bend, of course half wheeled by Bo.  Making the mistake of matching his wheel instantly pumped up the pace, so I settled back to play second fiddle (at least Nev levelled).    And so the dozen drove into the dark with just a line of leds breaking the blackness of Boundary Rd, so swiftly summer slips by (parting is such sweet sorrow), the long cool months of Autumn and Winter to lap up now!  Tina had no trouble tapping the tempo despite a steamy 120k Hume Challenge at the weekend, I'd finally put away the tissues and hardened up to the pace, though the draft at the back was probably skewing the sensation.  Still black as Bo's bike westbound in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (reckon it was daylight at this time only a week or two ago), I had another turn at the pointy end as Ford Rd finished, a short shift beside Bo then called Nev across at DECA to slip in for the tow home.

27/2  Three peeps.
On a preservation of performance for March 11th, I teamed up with Softa and Killkenny Paul for Tuesday, side stepping the sting of the Machines (or the Hares) for an easier effort.  The Verney Rd roundabout rendevous was swapped for KillkennyPaul's puncture pitstop, dealing with a deflation before a wheel had turned!  I assumed the first shift on the front when his Gatorskin was retubed, round and ready,  playing a pace prediction slowly into the 30's (not wishing to crucify those on a comeback)   With lights still behind me at Lemnos North Rd and no howls of protest (or knives in the back), I'd got something right, Softa then taking the tiny train of three toward Boundary Rd.  Killkenny Paul put in a good turn to the kennels where I started turn two, finding that cadence between cruisy and cruel to get a decent turn done. We slipped south to the Toaster and lapped up a semi-tailwind homeward, raising the velocity toward town with the lure of caffeine to finish.

28/2  Windswept Wednesday
Another early crank to clock some k's went east on Old Dookie Rd, for want of a better course, resolute to tap away at the zone 3 ceiling.  A niggling northeaster kept the cardiac on a crescendo but Boundary Rd delivered some respite.  A couple of k's had gone missing as I arrived abruptly at the Midland highway, zoning out had made the meters magically melt.  Dropping 12 bpm made a world of difference heading west on River Rd, other early lappers grinding east with only the voice of Vince vocal.  And again, a length of the lap went walkabout, waking up over the bridge made me wonder where the tarmac went.  Back into the breeze on Archer Rd pushed down the speed and pushed up the effort and I almost reached the carpark as the 6am'ers launched. Shorty, MyRideTrev, SuperMario, TrekTrev, Tum, Kenworth, PvanP, BeerMat, AvantiAndy and Whispering Jack spun south under Tum's captaincy, I scurried to the upline formation (to get a turn done before the headwind hit) but a full field of 5:25'ers fixed that forecast.  Trav, Rocket, BamBam, The Godfather, Bruce, Bo Kel, CatCol, Wozza and NewAvantiJohn blended into the bunch but scrambled the sequence, so I reached the pointy end beside Shorty then SuperMario for Mitchell Rd's headwind.

   Weapon, fresh from Rottnest, arrived in River Rd, Bo and The Godfather on a mission of massacre attacking the northeaster at 38 clicks (obviously, Bo's disc brakes don't work!)  Silence signalled Boundary Rd was no holiday either, BamBam choosing the caboose for comfort.  Only short sentences swapped sides on my rise through the ranks, sitting on Wozza's wheel would make it pacy at the pointy end. I was happy to get the huff and puff done by Central Avenue, time now to soak up TrekTrev's tow and hang on for the chase into the ChaCha.  But TrekTrev's tempo was toast by Hopeful corner, so I was lucky to catch Kel's wheel as she passed, Wozza's placing was perfect to abandon his no-sprint-Wednesday habit, the win looked so easy with his attack from 100 meters bearing the fruits of first.

1/3  Au fait Autumn.
It was Tuesday deja vu on Thursday, 5am and slowly warming up an old engine out to the golf course.  Autumn had arirved and the weather was au fait, enroute & on schedule to team with KillkennyPaul and Softa again at Verney's roundabout.  Softa took the first shift, a southwester in our favour, I had turn two from Lemnos North Rd to Boundary, attempting to hold a smooth speed and a straight line while the wind whipped the wheels.  Killkenny Paul got excited with an effort to the Big Ring but the reality of  the starboard struggle sniggered at our southerly spin.  A rampant rabbit shot out from the shadows, unsettling Softa, the ripple effect back to Killkenny Paul set a sphincter a quiver.  There was work west back to Boundary Rd but I got lucky with shelter from the trees, so drove to the highway as compensation. I reckon it's smoothness that's the key to speed and distance, we've all been wrung out at some stage by the scourge of the surger.  (That accelerate and brake, accelerate and brake breaks the best at some stage.)   Heads down in Channel Rd with the wind funnelled against us, two rows of Hares ahead on their easterly effort as our paths crossed at Darth Vader's.  Softa did the handover at Jameson Rd and with Foss feeling fairy fit, forged on for a flurry at the ChaCha ('cause it's there!)   Our early return lured us to the Lemontree, a midweek yarn over coffee a rare treat.

2/3  Attendance deficit disorder.
An idle ride to arrive at the grid at 5:57 still put me on the first shift, MyRideTrev the only other in the carpark.  As launch time drew closer, TrekTrev, Kenworth, Shorty, SuperMario, Pelly, The Godfather and Softa slowly filtered in, six bells struck and I steered the tiny team south, all content to stay in my draft till Pelly paired beyond Adams Rd.  Rocket, PistolPete, Kel, Bo, Bruce and NewAvantiJohn about-faced and joined as we crossed the truck route, me delighted to be in the draft though the pace picked up pointing east and north.  NewAvantiJohn and Bo turned up the tempo in River Rd, the passing parade of pelotons (Pussycats, pain-trainers and perambulators) standard Friday fare.  Between the comfortable company of MyRideTrev and Pelly lessened the stress, I just finished a turn at the front as we reached Channel Rd as a westbound Weapon joined in.  Enthusiasm was effervescent as the ChaCha drew near, Tommygun attaching to the pack at the cypress trees.  PistolPete provided the power to Kinder corner as several (including me) shied from the sprint, but it was Bruce that committed the cardinal Couldabeens sin allowing Bo to cross the finish line first.

Week 9     300 km                YTD 2,616