Post #673
26/11 A Saturday separation.
It's inevitable. Better weather (touch wood) brings a bigger bunch and variety being the spice of life, wattages will vary! So when the swift start snoring and the slower start suffering, it's timely to divide the Sanctuary squad so all score some satisfaction rather than fester frustration. The Board of Management and Chairman of the Selection Committee (whoever they may be) degreed the fitter fellas (and those who aspire to be quick) would start at the shop at 6 and those seeking something slightly more sedate would start at Sanctuary at the same time (effectively a 3km handicap for the fast faction (Rocket, Liam, Bruce, GiantAndy, Boof and Grumpy)
Sanctuary's roundabout had Bo, Kim, Kreeky, Lance, the 5ft Ninja, Emil, Molly, Anth, Troy, Tina and The Godfather who become the bait for those in a hurry to hunt. Where the faster faction would catch and pass was anyone's guess. Emil and the Ninja started the Sanctuary soiree south and with barely a breeze blowing, placement in the peloton wasn't the usual concern. I'd drawn a berth between Troy ahead and Kreeky behind as the pack settled into order, though a sense of something breezy from the southeast niggled at the neurosis of fighting it when I reached the business end. Kim confirmed the easterly effort when trying to co-pilot with The Godfather in River Rd, not quite drawing level with the vociferous one (he wasn't giving any discount on speed) before she retiried to his draft. Tina tried too with some sort of success for a few hundred metres but withdrew from duty to draft too.
Third time lucky, Troy stepped up to pair with The Godfather for the drive to rooster corner, the spectre of the shop squad closing in for the kill on many minds as eyes looked rearward for traffic while approaching River Rd's rumble strips. I'd got off lightly fronting in Coach Rd with the breeze at the starboard side so convinced the cranium to aim long to reach the highway. It's the measure of a man (and the grit of a gal?) that does the "full block" at the front (approx 3km in these parts) but it becomes oh so easy to take the option of a short shift half way and call an early roll (if you can stand the sledges doing it). There's no gain without pain as they say, so my focus was fixed on getting to the highway........till Troy handed me the soft option of raising his white flag at the Broken bridges.
With heads down and tails up, the shop squad shot by (minus Grumpy), all earning their breakfast in a hurry toward the horizon. I was lucky Troy had called his shift short, my pairing with Kreeky to the Pine Lodge pub almost earned a beer (if the old watering hole ever reopens?) Anth was back earning his frequent flyer points with the pack but I wondered if all our flat ground had the mountain goat hankering for a downhill by now? Emil and Bo led us to the Pine Lodge church, New Dookie Rd camouflaged by the long grass at its' edges (strangely, it's safer to approach it in the dark where headlights are at least visible)
With a lack of pressure on pace there was little hesitation to join the advance line, and the way westward to the suburbs had the breeze at the backside anyway. This wasn't a usual Saturday! The Godfather had softened his determination (but I detected an increase in frustration) a little, so Kim and Tina got the satisfaction of contributing at the front. Lance obliged Molly likewise. Naturally some speed brewed in Wanganui Rd (par for the course of course) possibly in anticipation of caffeine infusion, the Ninja (sensibly) aiming her long shift at Mt. Wanganui where she'd escape the effort of pushing into an easterly along the Boulevard. Probably starved of speed, Emil launched a dash toward Knight St with just Anth, the Ninja and Bo interested in a thrash, the rest satisfied with a steady Saturday to spin the distance to Welsford's roadworks and divide for breakfast (secret women's business to the Milk Bar and blokes with their bulls#%t to the Butter Factory) Town planning, political corruption and faster laps with lighter loads made the chat over breakfast (I reckon that grumble on a slightly slower speed could be cured by swapping squads boys)
28/11 Serenity (short lived)
Cruelty on the commute again! A southwester murdered muscles on Monday to get to Sanctuary Drive and telling myself most of the circuit would be easier with the wind (almost) at the back didn't help at all. Emil was almost asleep half a wheel ahead while Tina and Jen chatted away comfortably in the draft behind. (Ah....it's a hard life being a martyr!) A grid position to give me maximum delay before facing the front became a priority. PistolPete had returned from holiday so served his standard first shift to Mitchell with Emil eagerly enlisting as co-pilot.
An empty Archer Rd spelled serenity with The Godfather's absence. Other than the Swiss cheese tarmac near River Rd, the circuit is mostly patched now and that calmed concerns, chat in the pack centered on the weekend as Monday's main topic. I'd reached the rear in Riiver Rd as turned rolled, and for all the earlier effort to delay my turn at the front there was a price to pay for positioning - looks like I'd get the headwind turn in Old Dookie Rd. Double digit temperatures (just) delighted all though I reckon there'd be grizzles about the heat in a week or three. Rocket and Lenny guided our path to the dip, the Ninja and Bo doing the distance to rooster corner where Kel and Kreeky headed us north. Still 5th wheel from doing work, the Broken bridges blurred under the wheels as I shifted the head to htfu mode in preparation for Old Dookie Rd. The draft diminishes and the effort increases; you know it's going to need some watts in the drivers seat, yet the contribution to the bunch probably earns your keep (and the effort won't be a worry five minutes later). The sledges from sitting on the back might leave long lasting scars!
Jen tested the chain for stretch driving the 11 sprocket into the southwester and Tina did her best to stay alongside, so when I got called to face the music at the front speed had settled a fraction. No complaints from me, I'm sure PistolPete would spice it up again when Tina called it quits. 300 metres on, Tina's white flag went up so I was lucky lungs had something to pair with Pistol to Central Ave. A familiar figure approached from the west ; The Godfather sprouting suitable sledges, making a late arrival to u-turn and get aboard. Still shy of driving a standard shift, I aimed at Dobson's bridge as an addition to make my contribution something worthwhile. I gauged my limit well, using the last spare breath to call Pete across. Pace lifting to the 38's meant recovery would start at the last traffic light! Hopes of a halt at the truck route were dashed with a clear cross of Doyles Rd though Lenny was lenient with the limit at 41 to SPC. Doesn't coffee taste even better when you're cooked!
29/11 Easily excitable!
He's just an excitable boy! Put him at the front of a string of Squirrels, get a west southwester blowing at his backside and Emil becomes besotted with pace. To hell with what others wanted, a warm up in the 40's was the first item on Tuesday's agenda. Tina, Wendy, Jen, Lili, Kim and BamBam were Indian filed behind for duty, me in my usual 2nd wheel spot hoping there'd be a few breaths left to labor the Doyles to Orrvale Rd habit. (there was, when I applied my senior's discount to the tempo Emil set) No complaints about his speed really; left to our own devices, we may well have just cruised the circuit.
The Ninja had gone on a concrete diet to harden up and give the Sanctuary speed a try (though I wonder if several turns at the slightly slower squirrel speed used as much muscle as facing the front once or twice at the faster Sanctuary speed?) BamBam has made as many comebacks as Mr Farnham but being an eighth squirrel to serve speed made him welcome (if only for allowing a longer respite) LiamM had the spicy cough and Molly had running as a Tuesday preference. I was pleased to get 38's on the Garmin to Orrvale and Tina had 36's and 7's dialed up to the Kinder, that west southwester serving a false sense of security about ability till the west way home would crush it. Wendy's weekend double dip at Mt. Buffalo showed some grit and there was plenty left for her contribution to the cypress trees.
Plenty of daylight cast concerns aside about wildlife for Jen's shift past Hanlon, Beckham's and on to the S bend, straining the 11 tooth sprocket to Coach Rd. Probably toasted at 2nd wheel, Lili's shift was short to the highway. Boundary Rd's bridge became the target for Kim's aim north, the wind not so helpful pushing at the portside. BamBam's debut considered Kim to catch the tail before turning up the wick to 37, though determination seemed to splutter at the fig farm and his elbow called for change. We all know what to expect from Emil as the lead role excites his enthusiasm, so the speed climbing into the 40's wasn't front page news - getting the legs and lungs to conform to it was the hard part. 43 was the point of 'pop' when Kim dropped off the back but a holler soon got Emil off the gas to plugs the gaps in the procession. That gave me a great excuse to make 35's the standard from New Dookie to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.
I felt guilty handing the work into the wind to Tina to head us toward Lemnos though she tapped it quite well to the bridge where Wendy still had grit left to reach Lemnos North Rd. I got the gift of a free tow to town. Jen had the privileged position of an unchallenged lead on Verney Rd, driving the big gear south with the wind of little consequence, but 100 metres from Balaclava Rd, Emil's itch for a charge to punch the pedestrian button became too much to resist.
30/11 The speed vs social split.
The committee of management called a division for Wednesday ; separating social or swift figured to satisfy a wider (fair weather?) audience and cease the snoring of the supersonic and the suffering of the slower. The pressure of pace of the commute was off when Emil opted to spin with the shop squad so that left Tina, Molly and I to work our way to the social start at Sanctuary - I was well over that south southwester, so slightly slower was sweet.
Kel, Oscar, Lenny, Tina, Bo, Troy, PistolPete, Carlos, the 5ft Ninja, The Godfather, Kreeky and Molly had chosen the social option too and Pistol obliged us the draft for leg one. Troy stepped into the co-pilot's role but the wind wore away the watts beyond the truck route to shorten his shift, pairing with Oscar till another roll was called. Bo sledged surprise by the quick succession (from the comfort of 5th wheel of course!) Out of the headwind, effort eased on Mitchell Rd and became bliss through Central Kialla, Carlos slipping quickly into the ride rituals.
Tina seemed to strain to reach the front with Kel but determination and a few encouraging words won the day, though Molly was hesitant to front for duty. Lenny took a back seat for a while, preferring to pair with Pistol on the transition to the advance. Kreeky and I were put in charge for River Rd's last 2 k's, the wind behind a bonus for part two in Coach Rd beside Pete. Real Spring weather seems to have arrived just as Summer is about to start, the re-emergence of Hurtlocker from hibernation signaling the season's start. Cats numbered more than a handful as our paths crossed at the highway, The Godfather's sledges soundly delivered. I was expecting a line of leds in pursuit by now but it seems the shop squad (Rocket, Boof, Wozza, Bruce and Emil) chose the Channel - Boundary - Lemnos-Cosgrove course. Plenty had their time in the driver's seat at a pace mostly social though that feeling of a simmering frustration comes from some quarters. So maybe that simmer gets to boil near town and pent up horsepower hits the safety valve, 'cause the squirt to SPC is nearly always on the cards. When legs and lungs reach their limit and a gap opens ahead, it's funny how a little more muscle can be found in the deepest depths when faced with an ominent o.t.a. moment!
1/12 Happiness is a headwind......said nobody, ever!
I must have broken a mirror, hung a horseshoe ends down, opened an umbrella indoors while walking under a ladder and crossing paths with a black cat 'cause yet another southerly blew (18-28 km/h) to make merely 30 a thrash headed to Archer's shop. It didn't phase Emil alongside doing his shoulder stretching thing and Jen, Tina, Lili and Wendy tattled away happily behind. All this work jut to get to the start is becoming a frustratingly familiar. I need to find some older (and slower) mates! (Suck it up Foss, Boundary Rd would be bliss!)
The Ninja is on a trial separation from the squirrels (is it us or her that should seek counselling!), LiamM's still suffering the spicy cough , Kim was on work duties and Molly was awol. At least BamBam turned up to make the numbers odd. 2nd wheel to Emil's effort to the truck route (standard operational procedure) felt a lot better than the commute, Emil's tempo a little more tame while the wind whipped across the starboard side. The few houses and Orrvale's school shielded the wind for the 1200 metres I needed to poke some pace out of the old engine to reach Orrvale Rd. My regular shadow Tina did the smooth path to the Kinder but Wendy had walked under a ladder too, needing to slog into the southerly on Central Ave but at least had an easier easterly path to the cypress trees. I was off the Fizik for 20 metres to catch Jen's launch at Beckham's bend, but the line of seven soon settled into the speed to the S bend, all keen to be assisted north on Boundary Rd but crossing fingers Emil's excitement didn't turn explosive when he took the reigns.
BamBam reckoned he was saving something for later when Emil got the elbow to lead beyond the highway. Kim should have come along to witness the miracle of Emil holding his hurry to 38's and 9's despite the tailwind temptation to engage warp speed; a miracle for me too to have the oxygen to reach New Dookie when given the lead role at Old Dookie Rd. )(observant ones would have noted the new Strava segment, appropriately titled)
No guilts today 'cause I handed a tailwind turn to Tina to take us to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd; it's Wendy who'll strike me from the Christmas card list for getting the chore of the leg to Lemnos with the wind whipping at the left flank. The dictionary has a picture of Wendy under 'determination' 'cause nothing was going to stop her drive to Lemnos North Rd. The southern leg on Verney Rd looked likely to be Emil's as Jen took on Ford Rd's first 3 km to Grahamvale and BamBam had saved his watts to work the 1200 to Verney. (Emil would have launched a take-over bid for the lead anyway!) We were lucky that the wind had capped Emil's effort to 35's where survival in his slipstream was possible, the brief (and predictable) halt at the traffic lights just enough respite to get back on the gas again for the bolt to the Butter Factory.
2/12 Divisional doubts.
Just in case I'd begun to soften overnight, a southerly blew again Friday morning to make the commute a chore again (I can almost hear a certain reader chuckling). The wind has no sympathy for addicts. I wasn't the only one complaining either, even Emil failed to see the fun in the 10 k's of cruelty to Sanctuary's start. A sea of yellow, blue and purple filled the grid ; Trav, The Godfather, Wozza, Kel, Boof, Rocket, BamBam, Tina, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Lili, PistolPete and Kreeky uniformly assembling with Oscar so PistolPete (of course) could lead us south at 5:40. With Emil alongside, they put a capital e in effort toward Mitchell Rd, 37's and 8's of no issue into a headwind while others sat smugly in their slipstream, pleased to have escaped an early effort.
The Godfather had wriggled into his regular hiding place of last to face the front. The rest of the lap would be in the luxury of less labor with the wind behind. How odd to find all the pot-holes patched in Central Kialla, though the Roubaix-like rough of the spotted tarmac would stretch a spoke or two if you put a wheel through it so the ritual skirt around stayed on the "to do" list. Boof and Wozz sat on River Rd's crown supplying shelter to the 14 behind, the roll from left to right line as I reached the rear, a wake-up call for the wind's direction. Comfort was to come in Coach Rd.
Two headlights oncoming in Coach Rd were figured to be yet another emerging pair from hibernation but it was Grumpy and Bruce u-turning to get aboard. (Seems nobody but them had read the memo on fast Friday's leaving from the shop! What was wrong with the Tuesday / Thursday thrash we'd grown used to?) I followed my shadow (Tina) into the advance with Lili following me, so staying level with the wheel at the front was my focus (if I wanted to live to a ripe older age!) Time came at Boundary Rd's bridge and Tina tapped it well for a k till oxygen supply became an issue and I was requested to roll. Lili has found fitness to serve 36's at the front and nearly reached Old Dookie where The Godfather (on a fast) fronted for the work west. (Nicely timed for me; a tow back to town after one tailwind turn at the business end. Nice work when you can get it!)
37's were sustainable to the truck route, banking a few breaths along the way, Wozza lighting up the afterburners for the swift shift to SPC. The red light at Wheeler St brought the view back into focus to find my way to the cafe for a baptism from the barista.
This week 321km
YTD 12,079km
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