Post #612
25/9 Joy division.
It wouldn't quite be the second coming but rumblings on What's App hinted the Wouldabeens might make their come-back from winter hibernation. Well, a select few. (who commits and who fronts up can be polar opposites in this faction!) I'd ditched the Sanctuary squad for this particular Saturday (a few had called in absent) to favor a a slower spin and a social update. Some I hadn't seen in six months. The absentees obviously couldn't find their bikes for the cobwebs! Shorty, Paul, Wendy, BamBam, Joe (not Tony), The Weapon and Jase were the most the morning could muster at Kialla Lakes.
With little respect to Rule #87, the start was stalled for a minute in the misguided belief that more may arrive.....and pigs may fly too! Before rigor mortis had taken hold, I set wheels turning to Waranga Drive and with seven in tow, weaved a path through Wendouree to Sanctuary with a toe-in-the-water on tempo. (don't wear out your welcome this early Foss!) A sneak peek behind saw all were aboard (and not throwing things at me) so I added a little of Archer to the truck route before handing Wendy the reigns. It's a great time of year for stirring sunrises and this Saturday didn't disappoint ; a little more than six degrees would have been sweet though. For just a few rides through winter, Wendy drove well to Mitchell Rd ; maybe stubbornness supplemented the speed? Indian file was the preferred procession (the workload for eight too great in two rows) and Joe (not Tony) led us to Central Kialla, the difference with this clan was that Mitchell is preferred for the way east to Coach Rd. Makes a change from the worn-out view of River Rd!
Low to mid thirties found favor now that the wind wasn't wearing furrows into the brow. Shorty and BamBam provided their pace to the dog-leg and beyond, the flat mundane landscape made a little more attractive as the sun stretched its light across it. The Weapon was elected to the captaincy for the last length of Mitchell, countless k's in her CV and a distinct aerodynamic advantage (it's a dismal draft on her wheel!) taking us to Coach Rd an a distance north for good measure. Paul's contribution was somewhat Scottish though nobody was using a tape measure to test each share. Jase has the enviable ability to get on a bike after a long time off it and punch out a turn like he's been in training for months, so I sat content in the slipstream awaiting the elbow of exhaustion.
There's a whole different mindset taking on a turn when you're barely into zone four, habit would have me on the rev-limiter under the usual circumstances but today I could pace my aim at Old Dookie Rd with everything still in focus. An eye on the speed attempted to keep variations with half a k for the benefit of those behind. For a moment I wondered about the Wouldabeens course, agreement behind confirming my signal to steer east. And so the turns turned to the Toaster, past the church then west toward town but the south southwester trimmed a tad off the tempo. I was given the drivers seat at Grahamvale Rd and used the accelerator gently to resume the speed. Wanganui Rd holds some horrors for this mob so Verney was the chosen path toward coffee. The masochist within must have decided to lead the line south into the wind but breakfast baited the effort. Great to have a recovering Tina (a.c.l. surgery) join the chat on the price of pet maintenance and the dark side of going mtb as the sun warmed our backs (briefly) at the Butter Factory.
27/9 Soakin' up sunrises (and suckin' up the speed!)
One day off and there's hell to pay! Just keeping thirty on the speedo was a big effort headed to Monday's start-line and to make matters worse, the bureau reckoned I had a breeze behind me! Maybe I should ride seven days a week to avoid this? The irony was, in a matter of minutes, I'd be coping with high thirties among the Sanctuary squad. (Go figure!) Bruce, PistolPete, Emil, Kel, Kreeky, Bo, Wozza and Greg converged on the roundabout for PistolPete's customary lead of the southern leg, and by stroke of luck, I was fifth wheel again in the order. Bruce ahead and Greg behind made it a different sandwich. Such is the regime of the ride, I knew I'd get the shift in River Rd bridge to the dip. Emil, Wozza then Bruce made their contributions while I readied the head for the task of living up to expectations (funny thing, there are none. Just having a go is good enough) Bruce set a smooth standard into River Rd and that makes for a comfortable introduction to the reality of driving the train.
The bureau's theory of a northeaster niggled at the pre-frontal cortex but the Garmin numbers looked positive. There was little in the tank at the dip for the heroics of a longer turn, common sense gave Greg the lead role. Only when he had done his two k's worth at a similar pace did I reckon I'd earned my keep beforehand. Kreeky finished off River Rd in good time (a long weekend had recharged his batteries, a day off depleted mine!) I'm really soaking up these sunrises 'cause next weeks change to daylight savings time will steal them for a while. The chill of three degrees was forgotten as Bo aimed long on Coach Rd to the highway , just a centimetre to the right of the slipstream and that northeaster became obvious.
Greg had stayed aboard a little longer than Channel Rd (we'll eventually tempt him to do the full distance), Kel taking us to the old bacon barn for PistolPete to start round two of the turns. Old Dookie Rd was his goal. I was really hoping Emil had the energy to reach Central Ave, 'cause I was getting a bit close to facing a second shift (of course he did ; excessive energy!) We can bank on Wozza's wattage for a big donation (to the truck route was like falling off a log for Wozz) so Bruce sped to SPC and saved me that second shift.
28/9 Sun struck squirrels.
Rain forecast for the rest of the week inspired the ride in "feels like 0.4" on Tuesday, this might be the last chance to clock k's in September if the weather had it's way. The Squirrels had conspired to gather at the shop at 5:30 for a slower than supersonic spin and Joe (not Tony) was granted an invitation to join. That constant annoyance of wind (the weather type, not the gastric sort!) presented an east southeaster as a change to the standard, so there'd be work to do outbound and a bit of heaven homeward. Don't we develop a finely tuned sense of wind direction when we take up this two wheeled self propelled habit (unless you're The Godfather or Bo!) Emil chose to be the first martyr on Channel Rd, setting a reasonable pace to the truck route.
The slightly slower than Sanctuary speed made facing the wind toward Orrvale less than daunting, so a longer drive to the Kinder became my target for feeling worthy. Joe (not Tony) took over and clearly was on the same page, a little too keen on the accelerator at the cypress trees though, gapping Kim from his slipstream. She quickly captained the caboose. Joe's determination drove to Channel Rd's end, the way north on Boundary blessed with the breeze at the side (Emil added a k or three to the cruise control in celebration). Just like last Saturday, a turn below bursting point was relished, so crossing New Dookie Rd I took a longer aim at Lemnos-Cosgrove. Somewhat surprised it was Joe (not Tony) taking the lead for the way west, my roll back to the rear found Kim as a permanent fixture to the rear.
(I hope that's not becoming a habit. It's the beginning of the end to rely on a draft and shy from facing the front. Going beyond those zones of comfort does foster fitness. Funnily enough, there's a lot more ability inside than what your head tells you! And there's no credibility lost in doing a shorter shift. Most of these bike people don't bite! Hear endeth the lesson....)
Joe did the determined drive thing to Lemnos North Rd and I felt sure Emil was going to do an epic shift into town but his elbow handed me the reigns at Grahamvale Rd. A check that all were aboard before squeezing the accelerator (I reckon the rearmost appreciate a visual clue that you care!) and I set focus on Verney. That felt too short, so continued with the aim on Balaclava. Half a house brick in the middle of the bike lane deserved some gesticulation ; how we zone in on a seat post, a cassette or a chain-stay when we're in a draft. (Which reminds me ; about time the La Pierre was cleaned Emil!)
It wasn't quite forty days and forty nights but two consecutive days of rain had the cravings running high to knock over a few k's. On the doorstep of cracking 10,000 km for the year turned up the urge too. BamBam, Bruce, Rocket, Boof, Wozza, PistolPete, Emil, Kel, Kreeky, The Godfather, Bo and Lenny gathered at the grid for the compulsory Couldabeens kit day (Lenny missed the memo obviously), 5:40 setting the squad south. Months of single filed forays has me expecting an early effort but a big attendance warranted a two row formation and hence, a ride with more talk than toil. At third wheel in the left line, my appearance at the front wouldn't be for a while. It became easy to throw thoughts of work at the front into neutral and enjoy the chat -
Bruce had a re-fit on the Bossi (please don't let that make him faster!) and The Godfather had returned (with his entertainment) to the pack. Many had braved bare legs now that temperature had climbed into double digits (a long awaited change). A bike in the distance on River Rd turned out to be Grumpy doing a short-cut, and with an appropriate dose of sledging, the late-comer was welcomed aboard. Rolling through the damp patches wasn't a bother, some (like me) can be a bit o.c.d. about a clean bike but getting that fix of a ride overpowered the disorder. Eventually promoted to the advance line out of the dip, I scored the sheltered side from the northeaster to Coach Rd but then the exposed side northward toward the highway. All good though, this was the Wednesday ride we didn't have, restrained to the mid thirties. With Grumpy ahead and Emil behind it shouldn't be on the rivet (if they both behaved!)
The few orchard trees that remain on Boundary Rd worked to my advantage, taking the edge of the northeaster so a decent drive beside Grumpy to the fig farm was possible. Emil graciously leveled with me to Old Dookie. It's a rare treat to have the wind (almost) behind for the return to town, so with PistolPete and Emil now in charge, forties was the fashion. The Godfather put the handbrake on the hurry for a minute or two but Bruce and Wozza made up the deficit and lessened the wait to consume coffee. It was finally my last day of work and couldn't restrain the post ride social stuff sooner, the brew, babble and banter at the Butter Factory could now be savored more than once a week. No more charging off to punch the time clock. Freedom tasted so good!
1/10 Can almost taste the freedom!
It wasn't quite forty days and forty nights but two consecutive days of rain had the cravings running high to knock over a few k's. On the doorstep of cracking 10,000 km for the year turned up the urge too. BamBam, Bruce, Rocket, Boof, Wozza, PistolPete, Emil, Kel, Kreeky, The Godfather, Bo and Lenny gathered at the grid for the compulsory Couldabeens kit day (Lenny missed the memo obviously), 5:40 setting the squad south. Months of single filed forays has me expecting an early effort but a big attendance warranted a two row formation and hence, a ride with more talk than toil. At third wheel in the left line, my appearance at the front wouldn't be for a while. It became easy to throw thoughts of work at the front into neutral and enjoy the chat -
Bruce had a re-fit on the Bossi (please don't let that make him faster!) and The Godfather had returned (with his entertainment) to the pack. Many had braved bare legs now that temperature had climbed into double digits (a long awaited change). A bike in the distance on River Rd turned out to be Grumpy doing a short-cut, and with an appropriate dose of sledging, the late-comer was welcomed aboard. Rolling through the damp patches wasn't a bother, some (like me) can be a bit o.c.d. about a clean bike but getting that fix of a ride overpowered the disorder. Eventually promoted to the advance line out of the dip, I scored the sheltered side from the northeaster to Coach Rd but then the exposed side northward toward the highway. All good though, this was the Wednesday ride we didn't have, restrained to the mid thirties. With Grumpy ahead and Emil behind it shouldn't be on the rivet (if they both behaved!)
The few orchard trees that remain on Boundary Rd worked to my advantage, taking the edge of the northeaster so a decent drive beside Grumpy to the fig farm was possible. Emil graciously leveled with me to Old Dookie. It's a rare treat to have the wind (almost) behind for the return to town, so with PistolPete and Emil now in charge, forties was the fashion. The Godfather put the handbrake on the hurry for a minute or two but Bruce and Wozza made up the deficit and lessened the wait to consume coffee. It was finally my last day of work and couldn't restrain the post ride social stuff sooner, the brew, babble and banter at the Butter Factory could now be savored more than once a week. No more charging off to punch the time clock. Freedom tasted so good!
This week 196km YTD 10,043km
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