The circumstances of speed.

Post #631

29/1 The Saturday sweat squad.

If you believed the forecast, Saturday would have been a sleep-in.  So maybe it was optimism that had me gazing skyward at 4:30 am (hard to shake that stupid o'clock habit!)  Cloud crowded the sky but nothing ominous threatened a drenching, the radar showing the worst of it had passed at 3. I'd get to ride after all (And you'd think the cravings would have passed after 17 years of addiction;  I must have contracted the Delta strain!)    20 degrees and a stiff southerly had dried the tarmac of the earlier 5mm, just a few puddles, a lot of twigs and a few small branches blown about were there to avoid while I gave the old engine a gentle introduction to propelling a bike.  Emil's enthusiasm to get to Sanctuary Drive got the engine well into operating temperature (and lightly toasted the legs), the 15 km/h worth of south southwester readied the heart rate for the labor to come. Boof, Bruce, Gazza, Wozza, Lance, Lenny, BeerMat, Emil, Greg, Didak and PistolPete rolled in for duty, a little shy on the usual Saturday attendance so some may have believed that forecast?  

Horsepower had risen to the top of the order, PistolPete and Wozza doing duty to drag us south to Mitchell Rd. Those recalcitrant little fur balls charged from the Archer Rd driveway again, causing a little panic at the rear (action needed before this gets ugly)   Greg ahead and Lance behind had me in a comfortable zone, duty at the front wasn't due for for me for an estimated 10 km (judging by the horsepower yet to serve their speed).   We were about to enjoy the tailwind toward River Rd when Boof called a halt for a puncture (the third in two weeks on a new bike so I reckon he'll be changing tyre brands)    It was a pleasant change to get some breath back before facing River Rd's 6 k's.  Stacked against the southerly bearing east, Didak got a little echelon education while BeerMat and Lance prepared to serve speed at the front (BeerMat had some verbal encouragement to reach Rooster corner).  Lance and I had charge of the tempo in Coach Rd so speed was steadily built to suit us seniors.  

I'd aimed at reaching the Broken bridges before calling half time but Lance called it quits a little short of the mark, Greg being my co-pilot to the highway (my speed was sponsored by the southerly so I could even manage a few words reaching the pub).  A blue-grey day was a contrast to the scenic sun-ups we've had for most of the week, everything feeling dampened by the 100% humidity.  ( Maybe if Bo or The Godfather had turned up they may have benefited from the sauna-like sweat to trim some of Adelaide's excesses?)   Emil and PistolPete had the speed spiced up on Old Dookie Rd to the Toaster,a waft of piggy parfum from the Pork Palace cancelled bacon from the breakfast menu.  

I guess I've traveled Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd at least 800 times yet there's always something new to see (a house not noticed during Winter's darkness but usually just another pot-hole or stick to avoid, thankfully not a wandering steer I side-swiped on a Tuesday night years ago)   There was no avoiding another turn at the front, Boof, Bruce, Gazza, Wozza and Emil had made their turns to tow us toward town, BeerMat and Lance had done their bit from Verney Rd, so I paired with Lance to open the Wanganui Rd innings.  Using the excuse of waiting for all to get across Numurkah Rd, we gradually stoked up the speed to the water treatment plant.  Lance raised the white flag at the transfer station and I was prepared to tough it out to Mt.Wanganui but Greg rolled the turn at DECA's test track.  (No argument from me, I'll take a free tow to breakfast any day!)  Emil couldn't contain himself seeing Mt.Wanganui ahead and forged forward leaving Greg in his wake for line honors  (it's nothing personal Greg!).     Lots of legs  weren't happy with the hurry to contain Emil in Rudd Rd, the line drawing long and Indian file on the Boulevard (finishing the circuit together becomes an overpowering must)   U.S. and Russian driving standards, tasty tennis players and E racing occupied the discussion over breakfast.

31/1  A cohesive crew...oh, and The Godfather. 

This slightly earlier start and slow build up speed seems to be working.  There wasn't so much suffering on the commute to Sanctuary (hey, I could even manage a few sentences to Emil on the way!)   Legs weren't ready to divorce me and I wasn't needing an ambulance just to get to Kialla Lakes.  All that worry that I was washed up could be erased ; I'd finally found the key to keeping up......oh, hang on, there was a northeast breeze blowing me to the start line!   Trav, PistolPete, Bruce, Emil, Kreeky, Tina, Wozza, Kim, Lenny, Kel, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Greg and The Godfather filtered in from the side streets to form a starting grid for 5:40.  

PistolPete must have tired from taking on the first shift, Emil and Bruce took his place to spin the Mitchell Rd leg.  With great intention to join the front, I fumbled for a footing on the start line and that dropped me down the order. There was a little unease till passing the doggy driveway in Archer Rd, but with a clear road ahead, there was no canine calamity to deal with, bike business could take priority.  Positioned in the left line, I'd have a while to wait before duty called at the front.  It was PistolPete's turn to call a halt today, a puncture making an intermission at River Rd's bridge.  

The argument for tubeless tyres had a lid shoved on it as the cool, calm Pistol tended to repairs.  Lenny led the restart in roughly the same order.   Somehow, the two troublemakers (need I mention names?) had paired in Boundary Rd and the matter of sneaky Saturday rides (caused from sleeping in and missing the Sanctuary start I'm told) stoked up the rivalry, The Godfather turning up the tempo at the fig farm and Bo holding station in defiance alongside Kreeky.  The crew seemed content to let The Godfather (with Trav in tow) stay ahead.  (No protests from a few who were just hanging on anyway)  The way west on Old Dookie was a little easier, confirming that northeaster wasn't just in the imagination and it looked (at last) I'd get a moment in the drivers seat.  Tina braved the front with Wozza to Dobson's, Kim rolled straight across and had Pistol do likewise, so Pete and I did the duty to the truck route.  The 1400 metres to SPC begged a single filed format (to settle the angst that some motorists seem to have with just a second's delay) so mine was the task to make respectable pace to the roundabout.  No pressure Foss, 40 will do! (and no stop light to get a breath or two back!)

1/2  Six swift squirrels.

Short shifts were on the Squirrels Tuesday agenda again, the tempo raised a little as a trade-off.  Last week had netted a slightly higher average so with almost a full compliment of the crew (Kim, Tina, Jen, the 5ft Ninja and Emil) we may just cover the course a little faster again (nothing quite like a challenge to raise the bar).   Emil was delegated first shift of course, but he may have missed the memo about shorter shifts ; all the way to the truck route in the 37's blew the cobwebs out of me at second wheel. (It's alright for these young fella's, I'd be following the memo!)  

A little northeaster added to the workload to get to Orrvale Rd so when Kim calmed the velocity a fraction on the ChaCha, I stopped seeing stars.  Thanks Kim!   (she'd missed the memo too, driving to the Kinder where Tina was given the reigns)  The feint glow of first light lit Tina's turn to the cypress trees, thankfully the Ninja had turned down the turbo so all were lined up behind for her spin to the S bend. Jen took on the last 1500 of Channel Rd.  With Emil back in charge I'd almost expected another long drive, so it was no surprise to finally see his elbow at Old Dookie Rd.  I kept to the brief of a brief shift to New Dookie.  The northeaster needed more muscle to keep to the prior pace or was it the humidity hampering the hurry?  There could have been a dozen reasons, I just needed something to blame for my struggle.  

Kim drove us to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd and Tina dragged us to the eastern channel bridge ; seeing mid thirties being the flavor of the day was a far cry from the 30 average the squirrels could clock just 5 months ago.  I'd kill for a 15% improvement in that time frame! (the last few years seemed to be just treading water)   The Ninja set the speed to Lemnos North Rd and there, I reckon the order of service was set in stone ; Jen would do the distance on Ford to Grahamvale and Emil's uncontrollable urge would drag us to Verney then south into town. Predictable.  Just to rattle the routine, I stole the drivers seat at Balaclava Rd to lead the line to the Butter Factory.  20 degrees and 86% humidity predictably had iced coffee the refreshment of choice.

2/2  As good as a holiday?  

As much as there's a great bond with the Couldabeens clan, some days a change is as good as a holiday.  So Wednesday was made the day to socialize with the Woulda's.  (the Coulda's might enjoy a break from me!.....and the handicap I have on their hurry?) There was a holiday from the humidity too, summer's weather was put aside for feels like 8.5 and a south southwester turned up the suffering to 35 km/h.  The 8 km to Kialla Lakes (and a few more round the ponds) climatised me to the conditions, finding Laura, AlmostRetiredTrev, Jase, Wendy, Weapon, Troy, BamBam and Pelly at the roundabout, prepared to face the music.    

I'd get a holiday from the same old same old circuit too, the Woulda's favoring a Channel, Coach, Mitchell, Raftery route (most of it fighting the wind.  No holiday in that!)      Jase got the introductory shift up to Channel Rd then handed responsibility of reaching the truck route to me.  Guessing a tempo to suit the side wind was tricky - too slow and I'd be deafened by snoring, too fast and i might not be welcomed back! (I may have set the speed a bit keen, eight had Indian filed behind)   Two rows formed when I handed the reigns to Wendy, AlmostRetiredTrev doing the co-pilot to Orrvale Rd (though I wasn't too far off the right pace, it had settled just a bit below my original guess)   Headed east was cruisy, the reality of riding south on Coach Rd would be a bit different!  Jase and I had the last k of Channel Rd (hasn't he bounced back from an Omicron episode) then with BamBam as partner in Coach Rd's delightful head wind.  

There was enough pain just getting to the Broken bridges, so I called BamBam across to donate me a draft (much to Laura's displeasure.  She was to experience the effort next)   Shifts swapped fairly swiftly over the couple of k's to Mitchell, Pelly, Troy, Weapon and Wendy putting in their fair share into getting to some respite in Mitchell Rd although the way west needed a little more work than expected (thanks to the W in the SSW)   Laura seemed to struggle with saddle height, Wendy had no struggle with her speed (enhanced aerodynamics?) while Weapon had a struggle with the speed of powerful partners  (I know that problem!)   BamBam wasn't easing up on Mitchell and kept me speechless to the dog-leg.      I'd expected Jase or Pelly (or both) to launch an attack at the finish line but a lot of energy was spent into the wind just to get to Raftery Rd, the conclusion in Conrod straight was restrained.  There's a lot of old memories reaching the 80 sign, long gone are the days of desperate sprints in a bunch of 20 or more, so a sedate spin to the skinny bridge made it an easy end.  The chat over coffee at Degani mused the cheapskates and cycling characters we meet.

3/2 Who turned winter on?

No chance for a balmy morning, someone had turned the winter switch to 3/4 strength for Thursday.  Yet again a south southwester blew to chill the bones (feels like 8).  A standard set of squirrels (the 5ft Ninja, Tina, Kim, Jen and Emil) assembled at the shop and yet again, Emil set his standard shift to the truck route.  Despite my deliberate slow roll from the start line, nobody took the place of second wheel, it was mine whether I wanted it or not!  I presumed standard shifts were on the menu, short ones seemed to have slipped by the wayside.  

Emil's high 30's set the bar high and that set my shift shorter than the usual Doyles to the Kinder, a quick squirt to Orrvale Rd was about the best I could manage under the circumstances of speed.  There wasn't a lot of respite at the rear when Jen charged through the ChaCha to the Kinder.  Wind at the starboard side was a nuisance, though all squirrels understand what echelon means, most were looking forward to steering north onto Boundary and getting the bonus of a tail-wind.  (Keeping up with Emil's enthusiasm would be the effort though)   Daylight has become a rare commodity lately, most of the lap now threading through the darkness at stupid o'clock  (and doesn't that mellow the mood?)   Just as well others are out and riding, it's hardly an attractive proposition alone!  Emil did his standard shift to Old Dookie Rd and all the intention in the world to go beyond New Dookie Rd had   objections received from lungs and legs.  1400 metres wasn't that shy was it?  (if it was, can I apply a senior citizens' discount?)

 Jen led our path north past the railway rumble strips (that rumble for no reason ; no trains!) across Hill Rd (that has no hill) and up to Lemnos-Cosgrove for the west way back to town.   It's hard to resist guessing who'd do what and when and where ; it hints to my next appearance at the front and when to prepare for pain.  Watching Tina take us to the bridge then Kim and the Ninja delivering us to Lemnos North Rd was nothing out of sorts, question was, what lengths would Emil go to?  3600 to Grahamvale and another 1700 to Verney (with a short slow for Kim to catch the caboose) and I reckon Emil had done more than he needed to.  I made myself the martyr to drive south to Balaclava and when Emil called for a little leniency (to keep Kim aboard) I had no objection ; the headwind hurt!  Jen steered the squad through the streets to the cafe conclusion, hot coffee today 'cause warmth was wanted. 

4/2  Fellowship Friday.

A third day of south southwesters provided the h.t.f.u. and the 10 km commute to Friday's ride was likely to register a higher Strava suffer score than the 30 km ride itself!  Kreeky, Bruce, Lenny, Boof, Rocket, Kel, PistolPete, Jen, Emil, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Greg, Tina, The Godfather and Wozza gathered uniformed for Friday's fellowship, though with these numbers, some may not even see duty in the drivers seat.  There's quite a shuffle when 5:40 strikes, Pistol and Bruce set the squad in motion while many chose / inherited / fought / for their wheel of choice to follow, and possibly prayed for a considerate co-pilot behind (the reason that factions of fitness form, I wonder?)  Apart from the 3 km of struggle to Mitchell Rd, the rest of the route shouldn't be too taxing. (Maybe the workload would be wound up once the wind was behind?)  Greg and Boof kept the velocity below boiling point to Central Kialla and the 2 km leg to River Rd was an easy cruise touching the forties given the south southwesters support.  

Punctures have become a not-so-popular past-time in recent weeks, today it was Wozza's turn to feel the pressure of a lack of pressure when striking a pot hole took the wind out of his wheel. ( Who dares dig up the debate on tubeless tyres I wonder?   Like disc vs rim brake, cable vs Di2, 25mm vs 28mm, some choose not to go with 'the next new thing' ; does the 'advantage' justify the $ ?   A new set of wheels just to go tubeless?  I'm happy to tolerate a few punctures while the wheels still work).    The restart was most respectable, the speed carefully stoked up by Lenny to River Rd's dip.  Being on the back of the bunch at Rooster corner wasn't the best berth as the long line swung north into Coach Rd, it needed full gas to get back into the slipstream.  Not the fault of Rocket and Wozz driving, it's the multiplied reaction times of all those ahead at a cautious corner that cause it.  

There were plenty yet to serve their time so I'd have a while to get the head into hurry mode.  With and exchange of expletives, we crossed paths with the Cats at the Broken bridges, the Goats not long after as we neared the highway.  It's for the better that most bunches avoid a common circuit ; it tames the temptation of a chase (and didn't that cause chaos a few years back!)  The Godfather defiantly drove ahead of the pack in Old Dookie Rd on some sort of mission, Wozza holding station (with the will of the bunch) till the reality of one vs fourteen had The Godfather drawn back into the fold.  With three still to serve their speed at the front, I'd be a freeloader on this ride, towed around for the duration without so much as a turn!  Nice work if you can get it! I took it as a bonus.......

This week 295 km     YTD  1,391 km