Post #507
1/7 Over the hump.
The weekend's wet festered a frustration of ride denial, so there was relief being released from the clutches of winter's worst to get a lap in Monday. Nice to have a northerly blow me south to the car park, PistolPete, Wozza, Kel, Kreeky, Bo and The Godfather lining up for the 5:45 spin. I'd faced the phobia of first to grid and had PistolPete as partner for leg one to the truck route, perhaps that extra day off had banked some wattage to tolerate the tempo first thing? The Godfather came forward to pair with Pistol, toning down the tempo a tad (to the delight of my laboured lungs) but Kreeky crept it up again toward the Kinder. Bo and Wozza reported they were running on two cylinders (well hydrated from Darker Days festival) but managed their usual speed to the S bend, my next task at the front was to keep pace with Kel into the northerly up to the highway. I hadn't pondered part two with Pistol but was pleased I lasted another k to the bridge without imploding into an asthmatic mess. There's great relief when your partner in pace rolls across and you can lap up the draft, problem was Pistol poured on a bit more power to put my recovery on the 'later' list. By Old Dookie Rd I'd become coherent enough to chat sense while Bo and Wozz worked north toward Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd. I paired with (smooth as) Kel to the channel bridge, Pistol a somewhat daunting follow up, but I surprised myself with a satisfying shift to Lemnos North Rd (was that Pistol snoring beside me?) That bump in Ford Rd has become second nature as the six slogged their turns to town, I'd been spared the front for Wanganui Rd but had the task to cut the wind for Rudd Rd instead (now running on five cylinders for some reason)
2/7 Hare style.
Bo's puncture at the carpark was the early entertainment for Tuesday as PistolPete, Kel, Kreeky and Col arrived for the 5:40 fling. A tight Continental on a Scope rim gave the pit crew (Pistol & Kel) a bit of grief, Bo of course sprouting advice from the side lines. Hares (Wozza, Rocket, Bruce, ChrisA and George) assembled for their 5:50 flogging so by the time repairs were done, two tribes became one for a clockwise collaboration. Pistol and Kel opened the account into Channel Rd while Bo fussed about sorting a chain onto the big ring, two rows forming to forge east to the truck route. ChrisA, Rocket and Wozza turned up the hurry as Bruce (crook and confining himself to the caboose) ushered me to the upline. I was pleased to have Kreeky's wheel and not be totally outclassed by one of the faster faction, three degrees was biting at the lungs as I headed for duty at the S bend, half a k with Kreeky when he called a roll, then to finish off Channel Rd with Col summed up my brief battle at the rushin' front. Bo had finally made it to the pointy end and made up for the delayed start with a long drive to River Rd, keen to get stuck into River Rd too as Col fought to get back in his draft. Long turns by the fast kept me in the tow longer than expected so I didn't reach the pointy end till we steered west into Mitchell Rd. Kreeky seemed to shorten his shift but I was happy with my version of hurry toward Archer Rd (assisted by the breeze?) though the wattage waned a bit shy of the target, so I called Bo across to steal his draft. Col, Bruce and Kel had confined themselves to the caboose, a tempting thought as legs and lungs protested under the strain of Pistol's pace to the highway. Rocket, Wozza and ChrisA had yet to feature at the front and another contribution from me would be well below par so hung on for the huff and puff in the rear seats to Conrod straight. Legs were burning and I didn't dare peek at the heart rate, mid 40's was enough evidence of effort and there was still their typical tempo through town to cope with. A moments slow for traffic lights caught an overdue breath, but back on the gas again to the lake before the bliss of backing off as the crew cornered for coffee.
3/7 Them and us.
Just a single row speared south through Archer Rd's patchy fog with not a hint of anyone starting the up-line, frustration forcing Rocket to the fore and fast straight onto the agenda. Bruce, then Pistol then Wozza responded while most others hung on in silence behind. Kel took a westerly exit (excused having spun an earlier loop) and from the caboose MyRideTrev's voice called me into the up-line (it's been weeks since he last rode with the bunch and suffering was his welcome back) Tina had tucked into the draft too, three summery weeks of the French Pyrenees can't compare to cutting through three degrees at forty kilometres an hour! School holidays had allowed TatMat (and his trusty sidekick TatPaul) to mix with us mid-week, Kenworth and Shorty back into the groove albeit with a tad of trepidation on tempo. Eventually the pace eased, The Godfather and Bo turning down the torture which probably enticed Shorty and Kenworth to face the front. Bruce sat out the lap in the still sick seat, Kreeky advanced to the front and many had re-entered the comfort zone half way along River Rd. I was well rested from the earlier shift through Central Kialla but noticed the tempo trio were line astern and about to take the drivers seat again. Some may resent this rapidity but it does push the boundaries way beyond what you'd do solo, so I see it they're doing us a favour of fostering fitness (despite the cries of mercy from muscles!) Pistol and Rocket opened up the throttle into Boundary Rd (to silence The Godfather?), from third last wheel I peeked through the row of crouched Couldabeens to see Kenworth labouring on the limiter in a hapless hope of getting a draft from the oh-so-aero PistolPete.
Over the Broken bridges and the big fella was starting to tick, just a few metres more then BOOM! a retreat to the rear for recovery (respect shown with a momentary slow to keep Kenworth aboard) West into Channel Rd a squadron of ducks launched over our heads, Wozza advancing to the front to drive a somewhat slower shift (a fraction below forty) which lasted till The Godfather squawked something snide. Heads down and cadence up, Rocket and Wozz drove on to the cypress trees, Col brave enough to be promoted to the pointy end till Kinder corner. Wozza kept the hammer down and Col had sought refuge in the downline, I had a feeling things were going to get faster so sought a similar shelter. All hurry broke loose to the ChaCha so picked my line through the expirees as I tried to hold on to the wake of the wattage ahead. The calm cruise to the truck route re-united a stretched squad, the urge now set for coffee in town.
4/7 The spice of variety.
If only to rattle the ride repetition, an early loop of Raftery, Mitchell and Archer Rd's soaked up some serious contemplation on where do Conrod's kangaroos hibernate and what to order for this Saturday's breakfast. The hint of a southerly was confirmed turning north into Archer, speed was now a little easier as I crossed paths with the 5:40 family single filed south, keeping an eye on the clock if I was to catch the Goat train at 6. Tina, Tum, Snow and Coggo were found at Friars at 5:59 (how's that for timing?) with Sly (too late to catch Cats?) sitting in the ranks. The (unspoken) understanding that six single filed would make better progress got wheels working east on Old Dookie Rd, Sly keen to command the crew to Dobson's estate. Tina seemed to strain at Sly speed but ground out a great turn when reaching the front. I was given the last 500 metres to Central Ave so added another 500 as a fair share, Tum and Snow put in their swift shifts to polish off Old Dookie Rd. Coggo's metronome set the smoothest speed south on Boundary, watching the pace vary just half a k is a sign of many k's under the belt (at some point we've all been on a wheel from hell with tempo up and down like a yo-yo!)
Sly got back in the drivers seat at the bacon barn, seems he needed to prove his performance to the highway which had Tina's head down to keep the draft. Tina handed me my second shift at Channel Rd so sat at the prior pace till she caught the tail, then gingerly squeezed the accelerator against the slight southerly. Handing the helm to Snow at One Tree Dam made it my rest time at the rear, Snow careful this time so have a little in reserve when Tum took to River Rd. Coggo and Sly drove long and strong to the bridge, an oncoming half wit hell-bent on high beam not helping our navigation. Tina had tapped her turn and elbowed me the last half k of River (I'd begged a later start at work today so could complete the whole Goat lap), adding a drive to Central Kialla Hall. The two degree cold wasn't a concern with the legs well warmed, concentration was king for my next drive at the front in Raftery Rd with small roadside branches to dodge. Spinning the earlier loop had burned up any extra in the legs so I played observer when Coggo and Sly wound up their wattage in Conrod straight.
5/7 The Friday phew.
A chance intercept with TatMat courted company for the commute to the carpark on Friday, Bo, Col, PistolPete, Rocket, Shorty, Tina, MyRideTrev, Kel, not-so-newAvantiJohn, Wozza and Bruce rolling in for the 6am spin. MyRideTrev had pleaded for a pace below 40 so PistolPete obliged with a cautiously controlled drive south into Archer Rd (in the interest of economic bike servicing in the future?) Circumstances had collected the quick line astern again, idling their way to Mitchell Rd while others hung on in suffering silence (helped by The Godfather's absence) Col raised the retirement subject (was that a hint?) while Bruce chirped a gradual return to health and Shorty had dug up some determination to tap his second lap for the week. Across to Central Kialla and up to River Rd, some comfort was found in four degrees till PistolPete told me he's about to holiday in warmer weather for a few weeks. It was time for my contribution to the cause and hadn't I positioned myself for pace, TatMat ahead and Wozza behind as we shot into River Rd's dip. The legs were keen to crank but my head hankered a hiatus. So frustrating!
It's all good to be physically prepared but the cranium's co-operation is essential. Maybe it's been a long week and I should calm down the k's? More sleep would be sweet or perhaps I should just double the dose of Kellogg's Koncrete? The will to reach the quarter horse stud was strong but the pre-frontal cortex raised the white flag at the next white post. Now to hang onto Wozza's wheel and supress that growling bear while he and Rocket bolted to Boundary Rd.
Of course you hold on, the embarrassment of going ota always drags a few extra watts from the old engine. PistolPete and Rocket conformed to the command of MyRideTrev's earlier edict (just!), noses north to Channel Rd then west toward town. Dragged along in TatMat's draft was a delight but I was dangerously close to the distress of the drivers seat as we swept under the cypress trees and on to Central Ave. Bo and Col had done their duty driving to the Kinder, Tina, Kel, Shorty and MyRideTrev happily holding up in the caboose as Bruce put the hammer down toward Prentice Rd. My suffering was saved when Wozza, Rocket and not-so-newAvantiJohn charged at the ChaCha for the chocolates (a bonus when Boof's in Bali!) The roll of respite was brief, over the truck route we were back on the gas again through town, bidding adieu to TatMat, who quietly rolled off a further 120km. ('cause he can)
Week 27; 229km YTD 6,999km
No comments:
Post a Comment