Post #632
5/2 A big bunch for a big birthday.
This would test my memory ; a mass of lights converged on Sanctuary Drive, far from the handful last Saturday. Was it circumstance or celebration for The Godfather's birthday? Rocket, Bruce, Greg, Troy, Lance, the 5ft Ninja, GiantAndy, Grumpy, Bo, Wozza, Lenny, Boof, Tina, Emil, Liam, PistolPete, BeerMat, Molly, Nev, BamBam, Kreeky and The Godfather filled the starting grid so this would be a one turn Saturday for almost all (Troy and BamBam had timed their visit well) Off into the southern darkness at 6, avoiding the Archer Rd canines was the hot subject as PistolPete and Nev guided us to Mitchell Rd (thankfully, no dog dramas to deal with) There wasn't a wild wind, a steamy temperature or an arctic chill; 15 degrees and a suggestion of a south east breeze felt foreign! Good to welcome Troy back after a long lay-off and quite the relief to have Nev turn up on a proper bike this time, and not some fat tyred thing with a 10 ft pole as handlebars.
Factions according to fitness had formed again to give comfort to the partnering process at the pointy end, the long line ahead (from my viewpoint) had estimates in the 30's but the reality of a headcount confirmed 22. (When the usual turn-up is a dozen, twenty or so looks like a crowd) Effort to stay aboard was like falling off a log, tucked into the slipstream of 15 ahead while GiantAndy and Bruce played pilots was just like Christmas all over again. Greetings to The Godfather for his 'significant' birthday became a big part of the social racket headed to rooster corner, the rising Saturday sun lighting up the flat vistas around us. You could set the bike on auto-pilot for this oh-so-familiar course of Coach / Boundary, Old Dookie, Lemnos-Cosrove, Ford and Wanganui roads ; familiarity makes the lap comfortable I suppose but dare I suggest a different course (once a month?) in the interest of variety? (let's see what the Coulda's conciliation and arbitration commission has to say)
Thankfully PistolPete and Liam (caught at the back when GiantAndy galloped) had the horsepower to help the caboose from breaking into bits. The bolt along the Boulevard discarded BeerMat and Lance from the front bunch, the rear guard of survivors happy to pick up the pieces. Serendipity, the sugar/fat ratio and escalating caravan prices provided the decibels over the breakfast table.
7/2 Monday's menage.
Monday-itis must have gripped a few ; numbers were down to The Godfather, the 5ft Ninja, Bruce, Lenny, Wozza, PistolPete, Tina, Rocket, Greg and Emil to start the week at Sanctuary's start-line. (we're not going too bad though, Cats only managed 3 and Goats 4) I wished I'd stuck with the plan to use a base layer, feels like 10 at the grid was cooler than I'd dressed for. No doubt the horsepower in this mob would turn the heat up. PistolPete was back to his ritual first shift to Mitchell and tempo had been tamed to mid 30's, something sustainable to start the week (better than diving into the deep end!) It wasn't hard to miss Lenny's "new" bike ; a mint 90's alloy Cannondale (previously owned by Col Allpress) now in his shiny stable. (Imelda Marcos had shoes, Lenny's got bikes!)
Greg provided his usual velocity, despite clocking a 160 k tour through the hills on Sunday ; he'll have the entire Tour de Cure team on his wheel for the Geelong-Canberra epic on March 10. (Get behind his fund-raiser if you haven't already) The Godfather seemed subdued, maybe his Saturday hydration had overwhelmed him? Rocket and Wozza cruised at an idle while many like me were well into zone 4 holding onto their slipstream behind, Tina had braved an advance on Greg's wheel so why should I shy from promotion in the pack? (thanks for the motivation Tina ; snapped me out of my Monday-itis!) I'd paired with Tina 150 metres before Channel Rd, careful to keep a wheel level as an air of determination drove her to the highway (at least that last 300 metres has a fraction of downhill about it and the smooth tarmac eases that "have I left the handbrake on?" feeling.
Bruce kindly called "Your speed" as he and I fronted the pack across the highway, and that took a bit of pressure off. (There's still the internal pressure to perform something resembling decent though!) Resisting the urge to raise the white flag at the bridge, my tactic was to tread the fine line between effort and explosion - hurry up Old Dookie Rd, you're not that far away are you?!) Bruce was gentle on the gas pedal turning west (cheque's in the mail young man!) so I could gather up lost oxygen for the enthused effort to get back to town. Strangely, Greg didn't exit on School Rd today, the lure of the cafe, coffee and chat on a weekday was too hard to resist. Emil and Pistol were on towing duties as we crossed Central Ave, a hint of that northeaster helping our hurry back into town.
8/2 Not a steady tap anymore!
Same squirrels, same circuit, just a slightly different order for Tuesday's tour of Shepp East and Lemnos. Speed was still on the menu for this squad ; I've learned not to come along expecting a steady tap! (These gals are on a mission!) Emil's usual shift to the truck route wasn't sparing the horsepower so the standard was set for me to live up to. To Orrvale Rd and the muscle meter was showing empty so Jen took over to tow us to the Kinder, that hint of less rolling resistance on the ChaCha's silky smooth tarmac just the ticket for recovery. Kim was fourth cab off the rank today, the 400 metres down Central Ave and 600 across McFadyen to the cypress trees taken with plenty of pace for Tina's turn to start. A northeaster made it's presence felt, just to see what we're worth. Tina survived to the S bend, giving the 5ft Ninja the elbow to finish off Channel Rd. Shifts seem slightly shorter but stronger as a result. Emil was back at the rushin' front on Boundary Rd so readied myself for work at Old Dookie Rd. Emil's ease on the accelerator across the highway kept the six together, building velocity into the high 30's to the bridge but traffic ahead and behind at Old Dookie made a change of shift awkward. Emil had the energy to hold the reigns to New Dookie, so I got the drive beyond.
Thanks to the orchard north of the rail-line giving shelter from the breeze, I could keep up to the standards set. West on Lemnos-Cosgrove did feel easier (of course it did at the back while Jen did the driving to the bridge!) Kim had no trouble with tempo to Lemnos North Rd (powered by Saturday night's rocket fuel Kim?) and Tina probably didn't want that long 2600 metre opening shift on Ford Rd.....but did it anyway. The 5ft Ninja had the lead role crossing Grahamvale Rd as first light finally lit the roadside from behind, but she wasn't done reaching Verney, denying Emil the final fling to Balaclava Rd (but he did play pilot through the streets to cure the caffeine craving).
9/2 The klatch.
(yeah alright...... it's a noun ; An informal social gathering at which coffee is served. Yeah, this nerd reads a thesaurus!)
So what drives this obsession to get out of bed at stupid o'clock and charge through the darkened streets on two wheels? Whatever the reason, seventeen others had the disease at Sanctuary Drive on Wednesday (namely Wozza, Liam, Kim, PistolPete, Kreeky, Kel, Grumpy, Lenny, Emil, Tina, Greg, Bruce, Bo, Trav, Boof, Molly and The Godfather) What made me jump straight into 3rd wheel in the advance line as Pistol and Bruce got us southbound I don't know.....I'm usually the one searching for the sedate wheel to follow in the left line, then grizzle about the labor to come! 
Maybe I'd forgotten to pack my procrastination? Maybe the cement I had on the Weet-Bix had hardened already? Maybe it was the breeze at the behind that motivated an early turn? (Being behind Trav and ahead of Boof was most out of character) Trav moved into the drivers seat as the bunch bore east to Central Kialla, that breeze found to be a east northeaster if I moved a fraction off the slipstream (So being on the front for the northbound leg to River Rd might not be so bad? It's only 2 km long but with high 30's on the menu there'd be little in the tank to go further) So half way to River Rd I called a short shift to Trav and dialed up the determination to do the last k with Boof. Such a courteous lad to stay alongside ; must send him a few $ as compensation for all that the wear to his brake pads!
The Godfather had the grunt to face the breeze to River Rd's bridge, Grumpy donating his services with The Godfather to the dip. Recalcitrant rabbits were the day's chicanes ; funny how they dart out of the darkness only as the days get short. Bo served his penance (just for being Bo) with a fair turn to Coach Rd , the rooster crowing his greeting as Kel captained us north. 3 of the Hurtlocker (but 2 headlights) sped south. Tina and Kim lined up behind for their duty north but Kim had crossed the floor to vote for shelter in the left line over the highway. (A fair collection of Cats toured south) Emil worked his wattage to take us to Old Dookie Rd and the east northeaster promised some pace toward town (Liam receiving a memo from Bruce on Wednesday's social speed obligations when 43 appeared on speedo's) Greg was town bound again today, probably needing a No-Doze following a 3am start (not many can sign their name to a 120k ride before 8am! Tina's 4am start could be construed as sensible!) Like all Couldabeens laps, all that start together finish together (*does not apply to Tuesday's / Thursday's from the shop!), the camaraderie over coffee almost as good as the lap itself.
And Molly made seven. Squirrel numbers had grown Thursday....it's become a fashionable formula. Kim, the 5ft Ninja, Emil, Tina and Jen congregated at the Archer St start too, the wait for BamBam's arrival in vein (of course). We did wait till the appointed 5:30 flagfall. Naturally Emil started the ball rolling into Channel Rd but the order had changed from the usual. (The change of routine would put a new light on the lap). Molly took on the second wheel spot, so it felt foreign for me to be third with Kim, Tina, Jen and the 5ft Ninja behind. (Creatures of habit aren't we?) Molly did the shift to Orrvale Rd so I scored the smoothness of the ChaCha but had it's 1500 metre length. Ooops! I'd be giving Kim the headwind in Central Ave (Luck / bad luck of the draw I guess) I'd be struck off the Christmas card list this year! The eastern leg of McFadyen might make up for Central's southbound struggle? Tina took over at the cypress trees to take us to the S bend and Jen was tasked to reach Coach Rd, navigating the snap crackle and pop of a fresh topping of gravel on the tarmac patches.
Maybe I'd forgotten to pack my procrastination? Maybe the cement I had on the Weet-Bix had hardened already? Maybe it was the breeze at the behind that motivated an early turn? (Being behind Trav and ahead of Boof was most out of character) Trav moved into the drivers seat as the bunch bore east to Central Kialla, that breeze found to be a east northeaster if I moved a fraction off the slipstream (So being on the front for the northbound leg to River Rd might not be so bad? It's only 2 km long but with high 30's on the menu there'd be little in the tank to go further) So half way to River Rd I called a short shift to Trav and dialed up the determination to do the last k with Boof. Such a courteous lad to stay alongside ; must send him a few $ as compensation for all that the wear to his brake pads!
The Godfather had the grunt to face the breeze to River Rd's bridge, Grumpy donating his services with The Godfather to the dip. Recalcitrant rabbits were the day's chicanes ; funny how they dart out of the darkness only as the days get short. Bo served his penance (just for being Bo) with a fair turn to Coach Rd , the rooster crowing his greeting as Kel captained us north. 3 of the Hurtlocker (but 2 headlights) sped south. Tina and Kim lined up behind for their duty north but Kim had crossed the floor to vote for shelter in the left line over the highway. (A fair collection of Cats toured south) Emil worked his wattage to take us to Old Dookie Rd and the east northeaster promised some pace toward town (Liam receiving a memo from Bruce on Wednesday's social speed obligations when 43 appeared on speedo's) Greg was town bound again today, probably needing a No-Doze following a 3am start (not many can sign their name to a 120k ride before 8am! Tina's 4am start could be construed as sensible!) Like all Couldabeens laps, all that start together finish together (*does not apply to Tuesday's / Thursday's from the shop!), the camaraderie over coffee almost as good as the lap itself.
10/2 New order.
And Molly made seven. Squirrel numbers had grown Thursday....it's become a fashionable formula. Kim, the 5ft Ninja, Emil, Tina and Jen congregated at the Archer St start too, the wait for BamBam's arrival in vein (of course). We did wait till the appointed 5:30 flagfall. Naturally Emil started the ball rolling into Channel Rd but the order had changed from the usual. (The change of routine would put a new light on the lap). Molly took on the second wheel spot, so it felt foreign for me to be third with Kim, Tina, Jen and the 5ft Ninja behind. (Creatures of habit aren't we?) Molly did the shift to Orrvale Rd so I scored the smoothness of the ChaCha but had it's 1500 metre length. Ooops! I'd be giving Kim the headwind in Central Ave (Luck / bad luck of the draw I guess) I'd be struck off the Christmas card list this year! The eastern leg of McFadyen might make up for Central's southbound struggle? Tina took over at the cypress trees to take us to the S bend and Jen was tasked to reach Coach Rd, navigating the snap crackle and pop of a fresh topping of gravel on the tarmac patches.
The 5ft Ninja had the luck of the tail-wind north to the highway, continuing her contribution to the bridge. Emil served a slightly shorter shift to Old Dookie Rd where Molly had the reigns to guide us to New Dookie. Despite the change in order, the shifts and the shift workers stay a known quantity, a comfort when you're bolting along nudging the high 30's just a few centimetres apart. (There's a lot of trust put in your team when you think about it) Molly worked a bit of overtime in the drivers seat to the railway line so my short 800 metres to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd had an extra 2000 added west to the main channel to resemble something like worthy. Oooops! Probably toasted Kim in the process! No Christmas cards next year either?) Jen took us the first 3200 metres of Ford Rd to Grahamvale, the 5ft Ninja calling it quits at Verney so Emil (into the wind) dragged us into town for caffeine as compensation.
11/2 At war with wind.
We spend most of our lives avoiding pain, taking paracetamol (or something stronger) to relieve it, so why is it we endure it in the pursuit of pleasure? Friday had the pain of a 30 km/h southerly to face just to get to the start line, 10 k's of it in fact if only to keep company with a collection of like-minded 'cyclusts' (switch to the web page version for Foss's dictionary, right hand side). Spare a thought for the 5ft Ninja who had a 15 km commute into it....solo! Legs felt toasted just reaching Sanctuary Drive ; would they survive another 30 to get to the Butter Factory? JJ, The Godfather, Greg, Kreeky, Jen, Emil, birthday boy Bo, PistolPete, Tina, Boof, Lenny, Rocket, Bruce, Kel, Wozza and the 5ft Ninja amassed at the roundabout, PistolPete playing Peter Pan to lead a rather long line south (Many were hesitant to hurry into the headwind of the advance line for some strange reason!)
It was a tough gig at the back, hats off to Wozza and Pistol on the front! Thinking the way east to Central Kialla would be better was a folly, the side on gusts in Mitchell Rd had us steering like two year olds. There was some redemption headed north to River Rd but a further 6 km east to Coach Rd would be at war with the wind. Thankfully, there was a lot of power ahead to take the torture. Bo and Kel paired for the northern assault on Coach Rd, Bo's birthday present a reprieve at the Broken bridges. I had comfort co-piloting Kel to Channel Rd (probably 'cause it's slightly downhill Foss!) but thereafter I felt I was being sacrificed for speed. The gal's quick! (pleased to see 40 on the speedo though - my 'pain for the pursuit of pleasure' theory in action) Even with the wind at the backside, I gave Kreeky the heads-up my tank would run dry by the Boundary bridge, so it was a surprise to find 39 on the Garmin for the 1200 metres to get there (what the head says and the legs will deliver can be a total contrast eh?)
Kreeky supplied the slipstream for my recovery while the 5ft Ninja then Tina fronted us to Old Dookie Rd. Westbound had us steering like a drunk driver as the wind whipped at the wheels, and coupled with slight variations in velocity at the front had the bunch like Brown's cows at the rear. The real pleasure came when we stopped, coffee seems to cure all ills (but then most of us are silly enough to get up at stupid o'clock and do it all again tomorrow!)
This week 297 km YTD 1,688 km
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