Week 17 : The greed for speed

Post #445
21/4  Peace? Pfftt! (Poppa)

Arriving early would be a little uncomfortable, so a circle to stall  'round Kialla Lakes solved the quandary.  Popgun and Cougar had the front row of the grid, TatPaul, Bruce, The Godfather, Boof, CatCol, Grumpy, Trav, ScottMatt, MyRideTrev, Shorty, TatMat, BigLen, Wozza, Rocket, PistolPete, ChrisA, Sean and TrekTrev assembling for the Saturday circuit.  Popgun and Cougar took the relaxed route via Channel, the remainder strung south on Archer into a feint fog and 7 degrees.  Speed was slightly spicier than social (because the bunch was bereft of the female factor?),

The Godfather even more rambunctious (neat cordial for breakfast?) than usual.  Betwixt CatCol and Trav suited me, arriving at the front in River Rd but distracted by camera craved views as the sun painted pink clouds above a distant Mt. Major.  TatMat was fashionably kitted in noir et blanc (though not quite as dapper as PistolPete), booties and Belgians back on the haute couture list too as winter's arrival draws near.  Some were nudging the 40's in Boundary Rd, just a hint of a southeaster pushing the pace. 

Nath (rarely riding a road bike) joined in at the Broken bridges to even the numbers, a snap crackle and pop of tyres over the 8mm stone at Old Dookie and Boundary's re-surface.  A line of Cat leds marked Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, our paths crossing a little later than last Saturday.  Sun up set a scenic sight behind as we worked west toward town, The Godfather and Rocket swapping sledges and speed at the front, difficult to discern if the racket was comical or critical. 

Wozza hurled himself on the sacrificial sprint altar at the treatment plant in Wanganui Rd, Bruce following suit at DECA as two rows thinned to a skinny string of survivors behind (saving me the duty of desperation on the front). The Godfather's hyperbole was still heard over the chorus of carbon, ChrisA and Boof bolting away at Mt.Wanganui in a battle for bragging rights.  Chop chop on the Boulevard to breakfast scored a few Strava scores, a long Lemontree table (the Couldabeens walking / running division almost outnumbering departing Goats) buzzing with the babble of basketball, concrete and school fees.

22/4   Ranges ridden.

I took a short drive to Euroa on Sunday to take on the "ride the ranges", one of those good value small town events with a modest entry fee, donated food and services and all funds supporting charity.  180 had entered (30/85/130k events) with 50 odd lined up for the 130, TatPaul, Determined Dan and I flying the Couldabeens flag.   The first few k's were erratic and shambolic, nobody setting a standard or calling the rolls, riders undertaking and changing lines, so a Couldabeens chase committee got cracking to catch the front 8 (sitting not far behind the lead car about a kilometre ahead).  Somewhat surprised to find the Strava Stalker among us, Euroa's Tim and Chris joined in our pursuit in the high 30's for 4k's catching the crew to form a friendly 14 with Anthony, ChrisJ, DanP, Ian, Kim, Rainman, Leif and Tom.

The long and tedious tarmac to Meipol was helped with a touch of tailwind, the little ups and downs to Pine Lodge Rd taking the slack out of the rectus femorus (and sending the Stalker OTA).  The road steadily thinned and roughened as we sliced through the dry-as-a-chip grazing country to Karramomus, the old 'two-split-at-the-front-and-the-bunch-rolls-through' turns were precarious on just 4 meters of bitumen width, but when in Rome.........   Over Honeysuckle Creek and up to the telephone exchange (McKernan Rd) we pointed east, a few k's cranked till Violet Town Boundary Rd (Swinging south caught Kim off guard, into the gravel and OTA)

Though pleasant to pedal in perfect sunshine, thirteen (with pummelled posteriors from a poorly paved road) pushed into the breeze just to ensure we weren't going soft.   TatPaul copped a thorough whole biking from Rainman, but he soon complied to peloton protocols.  Determined Dan drove up the inclines through Tamleugh, the bunch sharing the workload past the chicken farm to reach the silky smooth Murchison-Violet Town Rd, rounding up some of the 85k entrants (mudguards, mirrors, pack-racks, camelbacks and backpacks!)

We had a halt for hydration (and irrigation) in town, deciding a separate assault on Harry's Creek Rd was best (who can bunch ride up hills?), each in their own headspace climbing under the shade and shelter of the Strathbogie ranges. Handbraking the heart-rate on the gradual ascent (252 meters over 9k's), I was surprised to catch TatPaul and DeterminedDan half way up (and there was Mr.Magnet, as big as a barn, parked & pooped), reaching Marraweeny sooner than expected . TatPaul and I eased a little to keep DeterminedDan in touch, eventually arriving at the drink station at Creek Junction Rd.  A cold Coke put the fizz into Foss, us three Couldabeens cranking on to Strathbogie (though the course was confusing, we'd mistakenly cut a few k off the route).

Out of Strathbogie and on the long grind to the fire station whittles down the will, but the decent descent of Kelvin View is what we all came for. It's fab to freewheel after several hours of pounding the pedals, 7 k's declining at 6 % engaged the grin factor. All too soon the fun finishes and the road levels, but I'd strangely found a second wind to push the flat 8k track back to Euroa, reaching town and the finish to smash a steak sandwich and savour the social side with Paul and Dan.

23/4  A lax lap to loosen lethargic legs.

The cure for cooked calves is a calm crank, so Monday's meander set south on Archer with no heed to speed and no attitude to averages, but it was the sting in the tail that tormented (yesterdays legacy from tortuous tarmac).  It was a little depressing to slice through the dark (Sunday's sunshine spoilt the senses), switching to 1200 lumens lit up a roadside fox and a terminated tiger (snake that is) en-route to Mitchell Rd.  The tendons twanged cresting Dave's dip (such suffering for all of 50 meters!) but Foss felt fine on the flat a moment later.  Over the highway, a wary watch for wildlife was wise, five weeks on from Bo's buster and we're all still spooked.  Back in suburbia, recovery via toasted banana bread and a long black helped the head.

24/4  One.
Hopes of 5:45 starters were at a big fat zero, Killkenny Paul confined to rehab quarters, Softa simply soft, not a text or a peep on What's App and the FDC's don't give a fundamental.  Tumbleweeds were rolling across the carpark at 5:45 so I set forth ahead of the Hares (in frustration) to tackle the Tuesday track solo. 

Speed was set at survival (no draft, no respite), a strengthening east northeaster furrowing the brow along Channel Rd.  Getting grumpy with the wind added a couple of km/h's but bumped up the heart rate to boot, so doin' the distance took over from the greed for speed. It felt like Christmas reaching Boundary Rd to shoot south to River, lights behind turned up my hurry, but it was a passing car I was trying to outrun!  The breeze at the back brought River Rd relief, a peek over the shoulder (expecting a pursuing pack) found only darkness.  Hopes (and speed) lifted to beat the Hares to the highway, balancing head and heart, legs and lungs on the limit was tricky without dipping into the reserve tank (preserved to catch the Hares tail).  I'd passed Central Kialla's hall as the Hares headlights swung south 2k behind, General McArthur's "age wrinkles the body, quitting wrinkles the soul" kept my cadence cooking.  Westward on Mitchell and the led's loomed larger, but reaching Dave's Dip then the highway ahead of schedule put me in a 'pleased as' place. Off the throttle over Melbourne Rd I prepared to pounce on the Hares tail: PistolPete, Rocket, Wozza, Nev and Liam had the hammer down (ask Boof, Bruce and CatCol, dishonourably discharged earlier) and I just found the wattage to tag on.  Once over the hurt of the hurry, I got to sit back in the slipstream soaking up the smoothness as the five swapped the suffering to Conrod straight. The last k's speed stung, but the satisfaction of survival got me to the finish, a scenic sun-up a distraction from sore legs.

25/4  A Cat collaboration.

There was a solemn start to Wednesday's lap, attending the dawn Anzac service.  The tradition of a spin after had Kenworth, NewAvantiJohn, Ralphy, Rocket, Grumpy, SuperMario, Car+Mel, Shorty, Trav, Wozza, Nev, Boof, Cate, Bruce, Tina, The Godfather, PistolPete, CatCol and TrekTrev roll up.  Wozza and Rocket go the tempo organised toward the golf course as Cats created a crammed caboose, clutching the Couldabeens coat-tails.  Yet another super sun-up lit Wanganui Rd, our course set to line up with a Lemontree 8am booking.
Cats were still content to sit in the rear seats as our turns rolled, progressing to the pointy end for my one and only turn.

 CatCol cranked out a thorough half wheeling to SuperMario but he'd observed Rule #86 when I paired past the piggery.  My turn to finish off Old Dookie Rd with Rocket hurried the heart rate, care taken on the swing into Boundary Rd with gravel still lying in wait. Some Cats began to roll through en-route to Channel Rd (long-time-no-ride-with Brendan, Matho, Jason, LegalSteve, CatKev, Cam, Kelvin, Keeno etc), much mess avoided when all turned for home into Channel Rd.  Many sighed relief when a sprint was struck from the agenda, the two clans separating at Archer Rd to the cafe's of choice, our date for breakfast and banter at a packed Lemontree.

26/4  Hare style.
The enthusiasm tank was almost empty on Thursday, but something dragged me out of bed  and aboard the Baum to tackle the 5:50 express.  Trav, Wozza, ChrisA, Rocket, NewAvantiJohn, Boof, PistolPete, Tina, Travis, Cate, Liam, Bruce, Softa and Boof combined in the carpark, tolerating the temperature to tackle the lap.  Softa and I did the taxi to Kensington gardens, building to cruising speed with ChrisA to the truck route, the 7 degree atmosphere like a sledgehammer to the sternum.  (Intentions of further turns were quickly erased!)  I felt a bit guilty taking a tax free tow, viewing the Hare style of smoothness and speed, the shift swaps seamless (but don't tell them that, they'll need bigger helmets!)   The bitumen blurred as I tried to keep breakfast where I put it, eventually getting my breath back.   Hats off to Softa for hanging on when bike time has been baulked by her indoors.  Cate and Tina shied from shifts too but Hare conditioning soon made the tempo tolerable, reaching the end of River Rd without bits breaking off the back.  Many were glad to reach the highway where the wick gets turned down a bit (a kangaroo caution), but clear of Skippy's stomping ground the speed stepped up for a fast finish (and kept quick into town for a crew craving coffee)

27/4  Tuesday's tempo?

So close to slacking off and sleeping in on Friday (the price of riding 12 days straight?) but the post ride pleasure is better than a rideless regret.  A cruisy crank to the carpark sparked up the spirits (though the speed was still sluggish) finding  Shorty, Nev, Tina, Boof, Sean, TrekTrev, MyRideTrev, Rocket, Travis, Liam, SuperMario and The Godfather launching from the grid.  Hanging onto the tail was a test, biding my time to pair with SuperMario (not so vicious on the velocity).  Pistol, Wozza, Grumpy and Bruce haven't let the early edition die (joining on cue at the truck route), the southwester having little effect on Nev, Boof and The Godfather driving to Mitchell Rd, glad I wasn't due at the front till sometime in River Rd.  Short knicks, longs and inbetween, booties, leg warmers and a few braving bare arms signals Autumn and its "what do I wear?" temperatures is upon us, there'll be no option soon when winter bites! My stress free turn at the front with SuperMario was soon swapped to match Pistol's pace, Rocket then Wozz continuing the tempo akin to a Tuesday (the tailwind treat).  The thin line of a Goat train of pain was almost into River Rd as we turned out of it, up to Channel Rd to see who'd draw the short straw of the ChaCha.  Sean, TrekTrev and SuperMario were sitting out the sprint and I'd been called over from the down line to follow up the wattage of Nev and Travis.  (as if!)   Thankfully, Nev poured on the power at Kinder corner to thin and lengthen the bunch, Travis and I with the sense to tuck in to the string of survivors.

Week 17      370km            YTD 4,976km.  
    

Week 16 : Puffed but chuffed

Post 444
14/4 Satiable Saturday.

Alarm, coffee, breakfast, weather? h.r.monitor, baselayer, knicks, armwarmers, jersey, socks, shoes, tube, spares, keys, cash, phone, helmet, specs, gloves, headlight, Garmin..........ride! With 16 minutes up the armwarmer there was little hurry to the carpark, TrekTrev, MyRideTrev, BigLen, TatMat, Cate, Wozza, Shorty, Trav, TatPaul, Tum, Kate, Amy, Rocket, Bruce, Boof, PistolPete, The Godfather and KillkennyPaul filtering in to set up a satiable Saturday squad.  The calm start (thanks to traffic splitting our carpark exit) settled a few nerves, a NNW'er inflating the speed (and some egos) to Mitchell Rd.  This Saturday clan has become a constant changer, the die hard regulars blending with (or at least trying to) the special guests......some a little more "special" than others!

Delicious dinners, a foot fault, growing girls and Roubaix's roughness was discussed with TrekTrev, TatMat, BigLen and Boof,  PistolPete's cool kit (yep, another one!) and Softa's self inflicted wine wounds coloured the Couldabeens character on the journey west to Boundary Rd.  Passing the peaches, pigs and figs, I had a short shift with Sean (short on the shove) before Boof cemented a standard up to Old Dookie Rd.  The (now) northerly nursed our nostrils pushing the piggery pong south, rounding the Toaster to charge to the church.

It's a rare sight to have Tum and Kate combined, their friend Amy cool in co-ordinated orange bike and kit, but a fashion police infringement was earned wearing purple socks! The Cat pack had thinned from last week , the flouro yellow crossing paths with the blue & black, swapping a swift sledge or two. Seems the sun is slow to rise already but the psychological warmth at our backs in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd was worth the wait.  Breakfast beckoned to pick up the pace in Ford Rd and I was being promoted further forward at the rapid end of the ride.   Working up the wattage in Wanganui, The Godfather and Boof started shorter shifts so I followed suit, but was hung out to dry at DECA doing the Clydesdale stuff while the sprint stallions stalled for their moment to gallop.  Rocket, Wozza, Bruce and Pistol took flight at the test track, a big ask for me to dig the depths to catch their draft. 
A long thin line drew out toward Mt Wanganui, Rocket then Pistol peeling off spent, Boof casually rising from the Selle to tear up the hill with all in his wake. School bikes, the Dookie Pub and grassroots travel entertained thoughts over breakfast, the foot faction (Kel, Temple, Mrs.Pistol, Bo & Leah) pumping their pedestrian progress.

16/4  Misty Monday.
All quiet on the What's App front on Monday, so a solo satisfied the obsession.  The moon barely lit dark low clouds rolling in from the west, prompting a pre-ride peek at the radar (course clear). Pointing into the darkness of Old Dookie Rd with a westerly whipping up the speed urged a strive at a Strava segment (but there'd be a headwind price to pay on the way back). A fine mist began to anoint me, barely glossing the tarmac but spotting the specs, urging the senses to turn back but Rule #9 overpowered sensibility.  Boundary Rd arrived sooner than expected (3rd fastest for the segment)  and I trimmed a little off the tempo to save something to get home again.  To the church and south to the Toaster building the bravado for the battle back, the 17 cog served the spin to keep speed respectable.  Slim shelter from a few trees on Old Dookie restored a little faith, 10 minutes for respiratory restoration  taken in Boundary Rd (crossing paths with 4 northbound Couldabeens) to prepare for River Rd's toil. A liberal dose of headwind hurts but is meant to help, no sign of pursing pussycats (or any other riders for that matter) gave a grin of contentment.  Six k's of slog and dampened by more misting revised my route home, back to town via Archer but bewildered by the brainless in cars (and two on bikes) who feel lights aren't needed before sunrise.

17/4  The tempo test.
6 degrees signalled porridge on the breakfast menu and dragging the merino base layer from summer hibernation, it's that time of year when a long cold winter ahead puts the devil into the determination.  Gone are the days of a dozen dedicated to a 5:45 thrash, just KillkennyPaul, Cate and Softa turned up for the Tuesday tempo test. 

The chill put a clamp on the lungs but it was down to business as four shared the shifts in varying velocities along Channel Rd, with a minimum workforce I went a little lighter on the throttle,  keeping the crew together the goal for the good of all.  We'd all served a couple of shifts by Channel Rd's end but Softa's third to the Broken bridges had his wattage withering. 
KillkennyPaul eased his effort to One Tree Dam but the damage was done, Softa was swiftly cast from the caboose. The agreement of the Tuesday/Thursday algebra ( OTA=HTFU ) meant three drove on, a signal inside me eased the effort a bit, less three became two and the workload doubled.
There's metronomic Mavic music to play on River Rd's smooth stretch of tar, into that comfortable rhythm where the heart rate levels and the legs tolerate what the head instructs.  Cate and KillkennyPaul drove well, though 8 Hares in pursuit would soon wear us down, the southwester wearing me down for the leg to Mitchell Rd.  I was blessed with a brief bludge in the tow till Archer Rd then put back to work to reach the highway, a deja vu moment in Dave's dip as Rocket and the hoard of hurrying Hares (Wozza, Nev, Trav, Boof, CatCol, Bruce and PistolPete) hurtled by.  We'd almost caught their tail crossing the highway but labored legs were lacking the urge by Roubaix corner.  The Hares drew away into the distance, we were content to carry on under our own steam to the finish.

18/4  Wednesday's wintery welcome.

5 degrees was a wintery welcome for Wednesday, so you spin a little faster but that increases speed which makes you colder, so you spin a little faster.........as a consequence I was first to berth at the shop, so suffering the first shift was the weather's fault!  Goose, TrekTrev, Ralphy, Shorty, Cate, Tina, Sean, MyRideTrev, SuperMario, Boof, PistolPete and The Godfather arrived (most in the last minute) to prove that temperature didn't cool the enthusiasm.

I took the first shift south, steadily stoking up the speed, PistolPete pairing with me to the roundabout, puffed but chuffed to tuck into the draft to the truck route.  The earlybirds (Wozza, Rocket, CatCol and Trav) u-turned ahead to join in.  Rare to have Ralphy as part of the repertoire, Tina back from holidays (fast and fit as ever) but the Hollywood comeback seems to have slipped into ancient history.  A little fog capped the fields of River Rd, plenty rugged up in winter kit though Shorty and I were saving the heavy duty gear for the depths of July's chill.  Five Goats cranked a lesser pained train (tamed for attendance) south on Boundary Rd as I was promoted toward the pointy end (might get a turn done before the challenge of the ChaCha today!) As theorised last week, those who ride less cop more, Shorty, Goose and SuperMario paid the price of pace leading into Kinder and Hopeful corners.  CatCol had prime position as the bunch bolted by Prentice Rd, dragged along in the draft got me to the finish forth.

19/4  Therapeutic Thursday.

Early and eastward on New Dookie Rd (again) on Thursday, sleep escaped me but a ride didn't.  I pondered the pro's and contemplated the cons on the solo spin :  You'll always win the sprint (there's no hiding in a draft), you get to set your own speed (might need to wrestle with your own demons), farting won't offend (unless it's a tailwind!), no sledging when you puncture (no help when you puncture), you can soak up the serenity (the silence can be scary), you're free to change direction or short-cut home (only yourself to blame if you get lost), no freewheelers, surgers, wobblers or half wheelers (spot your own risks), great to perfect your pace (tolerating wheelsuckers)........I guess the jury's out on this one.  Pleased with my speed under my own steam along Boundary Rd (10 degrees was tropical compared to Wednesday), then back to town via Channel Rd topped of a thrifty thirty. 

20/4  Cool, calm and condensed.

Seems winter's grip tightened Friday, just MyRideTrev, Boof, Liam, Travis, TrekTrev, SuperMario, Sean and Pistol Pete turned up for the combined cruise.  Boof captained the crew out of town as I felt a grain of guilt tucked in at second wheel (though I've done my fair share of first shifts over the years).  CatCol, Rocket, Wozza, Bruce and Trav made up the early expedition arriving at the truck route, thankfully bringing the bunch into double figures.  Watching as two lines rotated, it's funny how the factions form; a couple content to cruise line astern and a string of salivating sprinters soon after. There was the usual parade of pelotons in River Rd, I'd lucked a place behind MyRideTrev and Sean lessening the speed stress in Boundary Rd, the placid pace pleasant.  Only five Goats on a pain-less train (a bit behind schedule) worked south, Boof and I pairing (and turning up the tempo a touch) north to Channel Rd.  Eyes were peeled for a meandering mutt (spotted earlier by the early expedition) en-route to the ChaCha, the speed slowly stoked by MyRideTrev and Sean, back on the front again out of Kinder corner.  My arrival at the front at Prentice Rd was a moment too good to waste, full steam with 400 to go but I could only hope for 2nd with Boof welded to my wheel. 

Week 16:    244 km            YTD 4,606 km            

Week 15 : Legs like licorice.

Post #443
7/4  The Breakaway.

With the hippocampus welded in weekend mode and time to cruise to the carpark, one could contemplate the social symbiosis of the Saturday lap....if many could be bothered to crawl from the comfort of their doonas!  9 degrees had handicapped a field to Wozza, Rocket, Cate, BigLen, AvantiAndy, Shorty, TatMat, PistolPete, Jen, TatPaul, The Godfather, Tum, Liam, Grumpy, Trav, NewAvantiJohn and Bruce.  Weapon jumped aboard as Wozza set a speed to sweat by south on Archer, I'd contemplated doin' duty at the pointy end till Rocket and PistolPete fortified the pace on legs two and three.  Five k's later the tempo had eased a little and folks had climatised to the cadence, the typical tattle filling River Rd's six kilometres.  Speed sank toward Boundary Rd's Broken bridges, some adagio and some allegro made mixed music in the tempo (and temperament) of the team.

TatMat talked chasing challenges, Shorty shared the week's workload, Pistol pondered testing temperatures and AvantiAndy argued the hurt of hills.   I'd finally made it to the front for the Old Dookie Rd leg, 1000 meters alongside Big Len then 2000 with Wozza,

legs and lungs labored but sheer stubbornness and a cup full of cadence got me to the Toaster. The Cat pack was crowded this week as we crossed paths at the Big Ring, the risen sun lighting our way on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.  Big Len's draft is akin to two Kenworths, all that torque testing the chain groaning under the 53/11 load. The seesaw of speed was wearing at Wozza by Verney Rd (the light and shade of velocity quite a contrast to the standard Saturday spin), so he did his best Niki Terpstra impression with an early attack 4k's from the finish.

  Both Wozz and the bunch behind had a clear cross of the highway, the combined wattage of Rocket, Pistol, The Godfather, NewAvantiJohn and TatMat  wearing down Wozza's lead as we neared Mt. Wanganui.
Pistol was pickled as TatPaul took the helm up the hill, running on the red-line I had just enough to take the invisible finish line honours (to be expected with just two turns totalling 4k's for the morning!)  Coffee, cobblestones and podcasts kept tongues tattling over the usual long Lemontree breakfast, the walking faction of Leah, Kel, Kate, Bo and Bruce joining the joviality.

9/4  The Monday mindset.
Monday's map was cemented in the cerebellum, a bit of a SSW'er to endure but a mild 17 degrees made it bearable.  A sparrow's fart spin out Old Dookie Rd created contentment, the solitary speed was better than expected (well, for a Monday).  It's been a lengthy "legucation" to get the cadence up from the high 60's to the mid 80's over the past 6 months (a 'legacy' of hurting in the hills?) but it seems to be paying pace benefits.  South on Boundary into the breeze should have trimmed a few knots off but the pace stayed unabated, turning into River Rd lightening the load and nearly got the heart rate on holiday.  6k's west was covered faster than expected, I took a truck route diversion to Archer Rd then tapped back to town, a brew, banana bread and babble with Weapon made it post ride nirvana.

10/4  Hurry'n and hitch-hikin'.
A puncture is nearly always noticed the moment you're about to saddle up, so there was a hurry before a wheel had turned on Tuesday (of course, I caught every red light en-route to the grid!)  Arriving with 15 seconds to spare, I joined Killkenny Paul and Softa, the few fragments left of the 5:45 troupe (seems all have softened to the test of trying to head the Hares home with a 5 min head start).  Winter will no doubt see the group extinct, but I'll find another challenge to chew on for the cold months. (ah, the hilarity of hibernators hurting when Spring returns!)  So three launched into the dark grey of Channel Rd, and of course I had the helm to the truck route (gradually up to the boil by the roundabout so as not to pickle the punters) Softa slogged out a good leg 2 to Orrvale Rd and Killkenny Paul dug deep to reach the Kinder (when I thought he'd fling an elbow earlier)

They'd coped with high 30's (or had puffing prevented protest?) on leg #1, so #4 (to Jameson Rd) was served similarly, but that had softened Softa to shorten his shift to Beckham's bend. Killkenny Paul soldiered on to the S bend and I found myself back at the business end to polish off Channel Rd.  Softa made it to the bridges, KillkennyPaul to One Tree Dam, back to the front again for me to get us to River Rd.  A glance over the shoulder saw a long line of Hares on the hunt in Boundary Rd, inspiring my turn 5 to reach Laws Drive.  Dredging the depths of determination, Paul and Softa made it to Central Kialla Rd, my turn to tow to Mitchell Rd, but us 3 against 9 Hares (Nev, Liam, Trav, Wozza, PistolPete, Rocket, CatCol, Travis and Bruce) was a lost cause.  We'd started to crest Dave's dip when the line of lads lunged by, Bruce passing the news that todays finish line was the highway (recent 'roo sightings have put Raftery Rd and Conrod straight into the danger zone)  The draft from 9 less hastening Hares was heavensent, hallelujah to hitch-hiking homeward after our hurry, though Liam and Nev made sure there was no snoozing at Conrod's end.

11/4  The Wednesday waltz.

With time aplenty to warm up an old engine, I had a relaxed roll resting the rectus femoris to Wednesday's waltz. Boof, TrekTrev, Sean, Hollywood, SuperMario, Car+Mel, CatCol, The Godfather, Cate, MyRideTrev, Liam and Travis converged on the carpark, a warm easterly quickly made up my mind to pair with Boof for leg 2 and The Godfather for leg 3 to get my duty done before facing the effort on Mitchell or River Rd. 

Wozza, Rocket, PistolPete, Nev and NewAvantiJohn made up the early edition arriving at the truck route,  21 degrees un-seasonally tropical for April (though some still hide at home sweating it out on Zwift).  MyRideTrev is back from Broome, Boof back from the games, Hollywood back from last week and The Godfather back from motor-pacing.  Several suffered the slog into a now ENE'er along River Rd, funny how it hits those who've retreated from regular rides.  Boundary Rd's banter was on The Godfather's strive for suspect Strava scores, I'd chosen my early shift well, still tucked into the tow while others battled the breeze.

Pace percolated in Channel Rd with the ENE'er's assistance, those with lesser laps drawing the short straw of facing the front as the ChaCha drew near.  Sean, Car+Mel and SuperMario looked to be lead-outs as fate would have it, though a bit of duck and dive avoided the agony for some as we steered into Hopeful corner.  The early edition viewed from the caboose, I was called across onto Boof's wheel as the hammer dropped at Prentice Rd.  Sean went OTA and Nev went nuts, the pack narrowing for an oncoming car then went free-for-all to the line.  Dragged along in The Godfathers' then Boof's wake of wattage elevated me to 4th, almost a k of composure needed for the focus to sharpen from the suffering at 60.


12/4  Thermal Thursday.
Cate came out of Thursday retirement to join Softa, KillkennyPaul and I on a lap to the church and back (via Channel Rd), and someone left the heater on overnight (25 degrees and just 29% humidity would make for a toasty tap)   After a short wait for Softa to crawl out of the cot, four forged forward on Ford Rd, and I'd scored the first shift again. I did a cautionary crank to Grahamvale Rd to test the tempo, then a proper shift to Lemnos North Rd to get the party paced.  Cate cringed from captaincy so Softa stepped up for leg 3, KillkennyPaul taking the task to Boundary Rd.  Softa needed to ease when a wheeze brought unease, but the baulk was brief as we resumed at the kennels.  Swinging south to the church brought relief with the northerly (22-32 km/h) nudging us from behind, Cate taking the reigns to the railway.  PB's were plentiful as the tailwind treated us down to the Toaster, slipping south into Boundary between Cats (ahead) and '51 (behind) scoring a Strava success or three too. The course via Channel Rd was set but Cate was keen to soak up the tailwind to River, three now working west back to town with some orchard shelter from the northerly.  Remnants of the 6.00am cruisers were found eastbound at the S bend, our steady tap spiced up at the ChaCha to earn coffee as a termination trophy.

13/4  The 6am express.

Coggo, Carl, Sootie, Tum, Belly, Phil, AvantiAndy and AvantiLeigh converged on Coggo's for the collective cruelty of Friday's pain train.  In Heady's absence, I took the helm on a chatty cruise out of town as gastroch's warmed up for the war on wheels.  Over the Doyles Rd roundabout 'ol Foss flattened the throttle to Dobsons estate, silencing sentences with certainty.  With legs like licorice a little shy of the bridge, the cure was a flick of the elbow for Tum to take the torture further east.  A long line filed past, giving hope there'd be some recovery before the next turn of torment. ( Long-time-no-see Sootie on two wheels, though he hasn't lost it). 
Into Boundary Rd I'd been given another sentence at the pointy end, from the fig farm to the bridge had the heart-rate hammered this time. Tum, Carl, Coggo, AvantiLeigh, AvantiAndy, Belly, Phil and Sootie did their speedy stuff to River Rd (Couldabeens at the corner), daylight now lighting our way west.  My focus was fairly fuzzy reaching the white fence, overloading on oxygen as the lads cranked by kindly calling kudos. AvantiAndy and Carl's turns were shortening, others suffering in silence as we drove south through Kialla Central.  There was almost a halt at the highway for traffic, then resumed the rigor on Raftery to Roubaix corner.  I had a huff and puff at the front to Galbriath's gate and was handed a place on Belly's wheel as AvantiLeigh and Phil concreted themselves in the caboose (AvantiAndy a.w.o.l.)  Carl's turn was terse, Coggo upped a cog to the first dip and I'd got lucky (on Friday 13th) to have the tow from Belly as he captained with 400 meters of Conrod left.  (there was guilt taking candy from a Belly in the final 200, but Rule#70 must be honoured)

Week 15    244km    YTD 4,362 km

Week 14 : The oxygen orgasm

Post 442
31/3.  A sprintless Saturday (& dodging doggy disaster).

Bound for Boundary Rd on a black and barren Old Dookie Rd in the wee small hours of Saturday, a longer lap today to rid the repetition of rides of 38k all week.  There were no calls for an early edition but a solitary suited, a satisfying speed soothing on the soul as I sliced into a southerly on Boundary Rd, Michelin music humming to River Rd.  Without a car or a critter to cause concern, River and Mitchell passed without too much pain, the tailwind up Archer a treat to top off the toil.  My 5:59 entry to the carpark was timing to a tee, berthed behind Shorty, Tina, CatCol, TatMat, Rocket, PistolPete, Determined Dan, Boof, Wozza, TatPaul, Sean, TrekTrev and MyRideTrev. 

Unhindered by headwinds, Rocket, Wozza, and PistolPete poured on the power to Mitchell Rd, the talk turning up with the worry of the wind now behind us (don't you just love the serenity minus The Godfather!)   I levelled beside DeterminedDan at the front to River Rd's bridge, Shorty doing me the same honour to the dip.  Fourteen made the perfect peloton, doing more than one or two turns gave a sense of achievement, free of that awkward reaction multiplication a big bunch brings too.  A condensed collection of Cats were Dookie bound as we turned west toward town, a little southerly having no tax on our tempo.  A sudden slow in Ford Rd when dogs ran in from left and right sent us spearing in all directions, Rocket going to the grass to avoid a canine catastrophe, others threading the needle of accident avoidance, hoping not to hear the sound of crashing carbon. 

All emerged upright, heart rates settled and blessings were counted resuming toward Wanganui Rd, many sighing relief at the suggestion the sprint be struck from the agenda.  Having oxygen to chat closing in on Mt.Wanganui was as rare as BeerMat in a bunch, the casual crank on the Boulevard to breakfast as uncommon as Boof in the caboose.   A faction of walking wounded Couldabeens had seated at the Lemontree table, Bo and Temple accosting Kel, Bruce and Leah to the dark side of perambulation.  Breakfast babble on titanium, unappreciated basic functions and music on vinyl kept conviviality cooking.


2/3 Daylight spendings.

A little light on the horizon lifted spirits, rostered to work on a public holiday wasn't going to stop an early lap (a change of clocks put daylight back into the ride menu) and it was my choice of circuits with most others opting for a later start. 
I set a course for Cosgrove on the long 18k's of New Dookie Rd (if only to twist the structure of an average day), speed spirited for a Monday, or was the wind helping me outbound to hurt on the inbound?  Little effort to ride north on Quarry Rd and not-so-tough west on Lemnos-Cosgrove kept up the confidence back to the Big Ring.  Surprisingly, tempo to the Toaster remained unchanged, I'll need to get a bigger helmet if this keeps up!  The car-free course on Old Dookie Rd was only blotted by bunnies, the sun hurdling the horizon helping to spot any wandering wildlife.  Was that warmth on the back in Boundary Rd? Soak up that thin slice of nirvana Foss, it'll be short lived!  Orchards sheltered me from the southerly as I cast long shadows into Channel Rd, the progress pacey as I hurried homeward to face the coalface, finding a copious Couldabeens crew just exiting town.

4/4  The pain is sustained and stays mainly on the train.
The Goat train of pain lured me back on Wednesday, Coggo, Tum, AvantiLeigh, Phil, Heady and Belly similarly sucked in for the speed and suffering.  Heady led us out of town (is it written in his job description?), AvantiLeigh turning up the wick toward Dobson's estate.  Phil dug deep driving to Central Ave where it was my shift to School Rd.  (Foss felt fairly frisky....or was the orchard sheltering me from the southerly?) Tum, Belly and Coggo covered good ground in Boundary Rd, an overtaking truck turning on a tow to the fig farm.

With lots of enthusiasm (but evaporating energy) my second shift from the pub tried to make it to the Broken bridges, just able to catch the tail as Tum tore toward One Tree Dam (though his shifts had shortened since last Wednesday, Belly and Coggo the contenders for this weeks' white jersey)  Heady seemed to be misfiring in River Rd, but he still made an appearance at the rushin' front (possibly his undoing?),  AvantiLeigh and Phil are in good tune considering they're not-so-regular-riders.  My third shift came up at River Rd's third k, heart-rate on an escalator to reach the bridge (then cursing my long turn as I tried to catch the last wheel of the passing file of Indians)   Recovery took till Central Kialla and another turn seemed to arrive all too soon, the push from Archer Rd to the highway dropping Heady from the caboose.  Thoughts of the tailwind treat in Raftery Rd kept the cadence cooking, a less action faction (Principal Skinner, Spiessy and a tailgater or two) giving us the bait to Galbraiths gate.  Phil gave me the elbow just beyond Arcadia Downs but this old engine was purged of power the other side of Conrod's dip. Belly and Coggo fought out the line honours as all others fought for air in the lungs to the skinny bridge.

5/4  Nice Hare-do!
I was battling the defeatist headed to the Hares on Thursday morning, could I do a turn, could I keep up, would the wind blow me OTA? It was some consolation that BamBam, Grumpy, Softa, KillkennyPaul, BeerMat, Nick, WhisperingJack (need I go on?) are clearly wrestling with bigger demons!

Nev. Kel, Wozza, PistolPete, CatCol, Bruce and TrackStan turned up to the Thursday toil, the cooler months blending the 5:45 and 5:50 crews to combine (though the scales were tipped one way today!) Kel and I started the ball rolling to Kensington gardens, CatCol then partnering me to the truck route (reassuring to hear his gasps were louder than mine!)   Two rows rotated east but Kel had chosen the caboose option by the cypress trees.  I had a head full of determination but legs were near detonation at Channel Rd's end.
We'd closed in on Pickles who joined the trains' tail as we worked into a light south southwester on Boundary Rd.  Bruce seemed to be in struggle street but ventured ahead anyway, CatCol calling it quits in River Rd's first k.  ChrisA arrived from the west half way along, my third turn to the dip becoming my last to sit in the comfort of the caboose and watch the masters (Nev, PistolPete, Wozza and ChrisA) swap the suffering at the front. Bruce had resigned from duty and TrackStan took a break, we cranked through Central Kialla then west to the highway, Bruce summoning us onward as a puncture pickled his progress.  Single file was the call as we crossed the highway, my short straw the job of gatekeeper as TrackStan resumed, steaming past a newbie (rugged up for the Antarctic and taking up a ton of tarmac) nearing Galbraiths gate. The speed got spicier at Arcadia Downs, I was wishing it would end (but hanging on for the average) knowing that at the end of Conrod's k there was the oxygen orgasm as a reward.

6/4  Friday's fortuity.
The cool (8 degrees) has quickly culled the crew, just nine lined up for Friday duty (Kenworth, Jen, SuperMario, Cate, TrekTrev, Pelly, Sean and Trav).  Kenworth headed the charge south and it seemed he was the sole driver at the city limits, so I braved the front and it's light southwester to the roundabout with him.  The early edition (Wozza, Bruce, NewAvantiJohn and PistolPete) had numbed numbers too, joining in for leg three to Mitchell.

Cool patches took some breaths away though there was everything from full winter kits down to bare arms and legs.  Tommygun's distinctive gait appeared ahead in River Rd, the oncoming '51 bunch and us getting squeezed by an overtaking  impatient imbecile in a car (all for the sake of waiting a second or two)  Pelly skipped a position or three as I contended with Kenworth and Cate to the Broken bridges, then back into the tow for others to be taxed by turns.   All the stars had aligned for me in Channel Rd as we headed to the Kinder, a speed steadily climbing, sitting 6th wheel and in Kenworth's copious draft put me in a perfect position for a placing, but Kenworth dived for cover in the left line at Hopeful corner.  Sean and Jen powered to Prentice Rd as I was biding time behind, but the threat of an attack from the back got me into flat chat.  Straight past and a peek back saw TrekTrev on the hunt, but I had a few lengths advantage to hold on for a rare win (with thanks for the absence of Boof, Rocket, The Godfather etc and Wozza, Bruce, Pistol, Pelly and co sitting it out in the rear stalls)  

Week 14    252km            YTD  4,118km