Post #453
16/6. The thrill (?) of the chill.
5 cool k's commuting to the carpark were warmed on the 18 cog on Saturday, cadence to cook the legs for the "feels like" 1 degree.
Wozza, MyRideTrev, Sean, PistolPete, Trish, Boof, Bruce, Tina, TrekTrev, Cate, Kreeky, Liam, The Godfather, Travis, Rocket and Mark had overcome the can't be f...….. and freshness to tackle the 55km excuse for a breakfast with bacon. The first shift was left for Rocket and Wozza's lead, 6k's south to Mitchell Rd spent suffering the speed and the temperature by many (they'll get over it!). 2k's east to Central Kialla, 2k's north to River Rd and the pain had passed, though MyRideTrev was resolute to remain at the rear with Trish (playing the usual church mouse).
Travis called the conditions perfectly ("point four degrees better than the fridge") as we worked 6km east, Sean lumen-less again (but fitter than Friday), TrekTrev was stoked to be commitless on Saturday for a change. The force of a headwind in Boundary Rd had no effect on Pistol Pete's pace, but Bruce back from 5 weeks in Europe was paying the re-entry tempo tax, Tina back from overseas too (Tassie) seemingly tax exempt on speed. Winter has eroded the resolve down to the true believers, even TeamTat (predicting precipitation) had been pried from their pilgrimage. 7k's later we turned (almost gravel free) into Old Dookie Rd for the 3k crank to the Toaster, another 3k north to the Big Ring then pointed to town as the Cats crawled their clockwise course counter to ours.
The Godfathers' hijinks had Mark on a hot tin roof of hurry, even as we entered suburbia I sensed the bunch slimming for the speed in Wanganui Rd. Tempo turned up at the water treatment plant, several cementing themselves in the caboose as the frantic fellows at the front thinned two rows to one. Speed stress silenced most (even sticking a sock in The Godfather!) by DECA, the 400 meters looked like 800 to Mt.Wanganui as some of the early drivers expired. Rocket hit the boost button as a teaser for Liam, the long line behind drawing longer with bits breaking off the back. The relief of cresting the summit (at least 2.360 meters elevation) turned to concern as lights lagged behind, into Rudd Rd and some still struggled, so I dropped back to collecting Cate (the busted still belong to the bunch). Pedestrians had stolen the Lemontree hot seats again, so I was heated by porridge and coffee, going off the tourist track, wattage and demon descenders kept conversation flowing, the remount to ride home triggering a light shower (bike cleaning duty strikes again!)
18/6 Pursuit, prediction and puncture.
Leaving late from layering for the cold cranked up the cardiac count to reach the Couldabeens on Monday, there'd be little reserves left if I made the 5:45 launch. 9 minutes wasn't enough to cover the 5.5 k's and of course, the few traffic lights en-route went red. Still 600 meters shy when I spied a string of red leds departing the carpark, I had little hope of catching but it was worth digging deep on the off chance (and didn't the legs protest!) Lights had just vanished 'round the Channel Rd kink but I kept on the gas in the hope one may look back and take pity, up to Kensington roundabout and I reckoned I was gaining. Would traffic halt their progress at the truck route? Not likely! So the legs were asked for more. Still convinced I'd gained a bit I pressed on to Orrvale Rd, plotting a shortcut via Central Ave if my pursuit proved pointless. By the Kinder reality (and fitness) gave the thumbs down, so I steered north to head 'em off at Ford Rd.
The west northwester proved to be a pain (the way home west would be a pest) pushing on northbound to the highway, but a sixth sense through the seat of the pants said squishy, the bane of the bindii had injected the rear tube to chastise my chase. Ah, the joy of fixing a puncture in the dark and the damp! Repaired and remounted, predicting an intercept was difficult soldiering on through the dark of Central Ave, arriving at Ford Rd finding nothing east or west. Unsure if the bunch was ahead or behind, the decision became skewed in favour of caffeine, so I pointed to town with a revised focus to intercept the bunch at the café table. The wind had swung a little more southerly to ease the load (thanks said legs) and back into the city's streets, the lure of the Lemontree forced a bee line straight to Fryers St. Not long seated when the lads and lasses (Rocket, Pistol, Bruce, The Godfather, Jen, Kreeky, Cate, Nev, CatCol, Kel and Wozza) rolled in, seems they'd suffered the puncture problem too.
19/6 Bbrrrisk!
Totally ignoring zero degrees outside, I filled the tank with warm porridge and hot coffee, it was better to just climb aboard the bike and ride, lest I be drawn into the dark world of lethargy and hibernation.
A loop of Channel, Boundary and Old Dookie certainly startled the sensitive bits, the cool crucified but it was a pleasant change to drive on dry roads. Maybe a night off bike cleaning duties? Happily into the steady spin east without the challenge of a chase, all was at peace with the world as most sane people were still indoors asleep. The chain and cassette chorus purred sweetly, contrasting with the creak and groan of my jaded joints, trying to maintain a bit of fitness (with the delight of dishing out a little distress to the hibernators in spring) justifying my early circuit. En-route to join the dedicated 6am'ers and to minimise misconceptions of madness (on both sides!) there was no sign of Cats, cruisers or the crumbs of what was the P&W peloton on the way into town, but gritty Goats (Hommy, Tina, Coggo, Belly, Amy and Sandy) gathered at Friars for the 6am off. The standard single file strung out of town collecting Phil into the fold, Coggo and Tina doing the driving to Central Ave for my contribution to commence. Mid 30's works well for winter legs (Sandy satisfied to sit in the back seat), reaching School Rd for Hommy to have a go. Hommy's force faded a bit after a few hundred meters, Amy tapped a good turn and Phil forged on to Boundary for Belly's bit south. The giant on the Giant dished out plenty o' torque for Coggo to repeat the recipe from the fig farm all over again, my second shift to One Tree Dam getting super chilled from the southerly. Amy put in another effort on River Rd but went rapidly rearward on conclusion, a puncture the predicament that stopped the bunch for repairs. Time was against me to assist (or even sledge), so cranked on solo to keep to an employers agenda.
20/6 Fridge folk.
Layered like an onion for Wednesday, the first zero day of the year drew the neck sock and the Antarctic grade base layer out of the bottom drawer, at least another five minutes allowed in preparation just to ride.
A casual commute to the carpark was in contrast to recent panicked pacing, Wozza, Kreeky, The Godfather, Sean, Cate, MyRideTrev, Mark, Kel, Rocket, Boof, Trish and BamBam were the fridge folk to front for our anti-clockwise crank. Intentions to pair with Wozz at the front escaped me as the chill factor evaporated my enthusiasm, but an elephant stamp for Sean braving the pointy end early with Boof. (I needed all the warm up time I could get!) MyRideTrev and Trish cemented their usual spot at the back with BamBam (suddenly emerging from obscurity), happy birthday to Kel fabulously fit and fast at 40, peculiarly no PistolPete today and Trish stayed silent but The Godfather made up for it. The handbrake was slowly applied in River Rd, Sean shaved a sliver off the speed and MyRideTrev cut a lot as he fronted the fresh end. I paired with Wozza soon after and turned up the tempo again, the gulf between the pacers and plodders seems to widen worse in winter. BamBam wasn't venturing ahead and Kel took a curfew from captaincy as the celcius crashed to zero in Boundary Rd, Trev's tempo was tame at 31, Cate cranked it up to 34, my turn with Wozz to the Broken bridges got it to 36 where Rocket and Wozz turned it up to 38 to Channel Rd. Shifting to the up line near the cypress trees had me five wheels from the front, and it looked like I'd be in at the deep end for the sprint till Rocket drew the bunch into Indian file at Hopeful corner. Wozza, The Godfather, Boof and Mark joined in the flog to the finish, but the rest of the bunch had broken off the back, Kel's puncture unnoticed by the front runners till reaching the school. Time forced Boof and I onward, the remainder returning for repairs.
21/6 A cold slice of Toast(er)
There's days when a solo spin suits best (less one suffers softness from an incessant bunch tow) , Thursday's equinoxial event used for a little housekeeping of the headspace. Finding the tempo that's neither tedious or taxing takes time and sentiments soon swirled in the skull, submerging the soul into staying smooth while pondering the chains' use-by date and just how many Toaster laps I'd clocked (don't Foss, it'll frighten!)
Nek minit, I'm at the Big Ring and steering south to the Toaster, where did the last 10k go? Snapped out of the focus, the signals of strain started to hassle the head, time to consume some concrete and focus on the finish, albeit 30k's away. The piggery's pungency distracted me in Old Dookie Rd, but focus went back to the white leds ahead (figured to be felines) as I breeched Boundary Rd before them. That'll spur my speed. As soon as the fig farm I spied red leds ahead, I'd now become the chaser and the chased. With a million stars above and the city's glow over my right shoulder, River Rd soon emerged from the darkness, the two red leds looming larger as a bait for my work west. The pussycat pursuit behind wasn't making much impression and my aim was forward, soon overtaking the fixed formation of Trish and Cougar at the dip. The southerly slog through Central Kialla had the first signs of horizon light and the inevitable drop in celcius, 86rpm heated the legs but the fingers stayed frozen. Into the groove on Mitchell Rd, there was little threat from behind, thoughts now on how to keep pace with an almost empty reserve tank. Off the seat to crest Dave's dip turned the legs to jelly, time to ease the effort a whisker if I was to finish with some respectability. With no lights behind as I reached Galbraiths gate the odds were in my favour, a keen eye for kangaroos at Arcadia Downs and to crank Conrod finished 56 clicks in some comfort (that historic relative on Strava suffered again though)
22/6 The frozen few.
It would be only the determined (or the demented) to turn-up as the mercury sank to minus 1 on Friday, sure enough, Tina, The Godfather, Boof, Sean, Kreeky, Bruce, Cate and PistolPete were the few that fronted the frozen Friday grid. I'd berthed beside Cate in the number 2 spot, but chivalry chose that I take the shivery lead role into Archer's Antarctic atmosphere. Bruce called for an easy effort which suited me fine, legs and lungs wouldn't give much more than easy anyway! The 3km shift is more a mental mountain than a physical one, considerately paired by Bruce to the Sanctuary roundabout. Lower in numbers put us higher in workload, but thankfully the tempo was trimmed accordingly, Seans' shifts shortening sharply, shy of shame but surely better than the bed bandits buried under blankets. River Rd was empty aside from a rare appearance of the FDC's (Ralphy, BamBam, Pelly and Grumpy), and I thought it was an acronym for Four Devoid of Commitment! I reckon time will tell. Trish and Cougar were the only others clockwise, Pussycats probably playing the pedalling PlayStation instead? Shift 2 came due for me just beyond the dip, climatized to the cold now meant I stretched it a little further till Bruce called me over near the quarter horse stud. The Goat pain train wasn't running (due to lack of temperature?) but rumour has it a Goat who shall remain nameless called the ride then didn't front! A repeat of previous turns happened again in Boundary Rd, body languages from relaxed to relapsed were entertaining, though it would be a boring world if we were all alike. The procession of pace in Channel Rd showed some restraint, becoming snap frozen with speed in a sprint wasn't on the want list, so a lid was put on the ChaCha for a welcomed wind-up for the week.
Week 25 282km YTD 6,890km
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