Post #675
10/12 The post-party few.
There'd be a few fuzzy heads and several delicate constitutions after Friday's Couldabeen's Christmas gig so I didn't expect many (or even any) to face Saturday's ritual. Emil hadn't appeared at our agreed place and time so I'd set off at a (strangely) sedate pace to commute the 10 k's to Sanctuary Drive. This just might be a solitary lap on my lonesome? I should have known PistolPete would be a starter when a light appeared in Archer Rd (he'd turn up if it was raining cats and dogs!) so thoughts of being toasted in a team of two quickly haunted the head.
Not another bike was seen on the little lap before grid formation (but surely Pistol would bow to pleas for pensioner pace?) With a minute remaining to launch, Lenny, Greg, Bruce and Emil emerged from the side streets, saving me from the punishment of a pair to lap where the load would be spread among several. Speed would be a little spicier though. Logically, Indian file formed and Pistol set a starting speed considerate to those who may be suffering hydration overload, though none looked too shabby or emotional from last night's festivities. Lenny ahead and Bruce behind put me in a sandwich of speed and cranial calculations had my appearance for River Rd's first leg so there'd be a few minutes to harden up for hurrying. An oncoming light in Archer Rd was first thought to be the miracle of The Godfather's arrival but his indulgence on Jagermeisters had effectively saved us; it turned out to be Dan the Man and TatPaul to saveus some labor on the lap.
Emil seemed keen to flush Bo's homebrew from his system with speed toward Central Kialla and damn it, Lenny took that as a standard to put 40's on the menu toward River Rd. I had wanted some horsepower left for my time at the business end. Keeping to Kreeky's standards of setting your own speed, I defied my usual urge to push the prior pace and set it so I could reach the expected target of River Rd's bridge. 37's didn't sink the spirits too much (considering the southeaster was a little like a handbrake) though the gasps and groans of recovery had Lenny a little worried as I struggled to stay at the speed Bruce set for the rest of River Rd (so much for the satisfaction of my shift!) Less stress Foss, there'd be ample time to refill lungs before duty called again.
I hadn't noticed the new S-Works under Greg till he headed our way to the highway (yet another new steed in the squad's stable) and although a new bike always feels faster (to justify its' purchase price?) it's Greg's engine that's the real difference. PistolPete had returned to the driver's seat for Boundary Rd and maybe he'd partially pickled TatPaul at second wheel 'cause Paul was fully fried driving the 800 meters to Old Dookie Rd's bridge. (My turn didn't seem so lack-lustre now) Dan the Man showed how a drive was driven going long to the Toaster then adding the leg to the Church (as if there was any doubt) An easterly breeze homeward was a stroke of luck and naturally speed spiked accordingly, Emil (infected by Dan's long drive disease?) working up the watts on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd to reach Boundary. Lenny was handed the job to take us to Lemnos, heeding the warning of two craters in the tarmac beyond the channel bridge.
Squirrels have watched two pot-holes grow in recent weeks to become quarries; now they've almost merged to become a black hole! The ease off the gas at least gained me a breath or two at second wheel for my forthcoming appointment with pain in Ford Rd. The thought that this could be my last shift for the morning stirred some motivation but legs labored to deliver a decent turn to Grahamvale Rd (and keeping those valued few watts to catch the tail was critical to preventing an o.t.a. moment) The want for oxygen on board went on hold as Bruce bolted to Numurkah Rd and the wish for a delay for traffic went unfulfilled. Greg was a good lad taking a little time to squeeze the throttle toward Mt.Wanganui, the urge to hold the wheel ahead into Rudd Rd extracting more effort than I thought was in the tank (that fear of being dropped finds watts previously thought spent) Pleased the old engine kept up at 4th then 3rd wheel to Tarcoola, not till Knight St did Emil's enthusiasm finally open a gap to Lenny's wheel ahead of me. A 36.3 average for Saturday's lap justified an extra banana bread for breakfast, chat on European art, reproduction car panels and the tangled web of compliance kept thoughts from the legs lament.
14/12 Pseudo social.
Feels like 3 feels foreign when it's less than two weeks to Christmas, so the winter insulation went into service (yet again) for Wednesday's return to riding. (A few days away and it was time to shake off the rust, hopefully a painless procedure joining the social spin at Sanctuary Drive) Troy, Greg, Kel, PistolPete, Kreeky, Tina, the 5ft Ninja, Lenny and Bo filled the grid, PistolPete of course captaining the crew south when 5:40 struck, The Godfather's late arrival as predictable as Pete on first shift.
Indian file was flavor of the day, maybe 'cause a westerly would give grief to a second row forming, but it struck "social" off the menu when Pistol put 38's on speedo's to Mitchell Rd. (The Godfather's berth at the back would have a payback) Haste went into my hardening up process; at 3rd wheel my shift would be due through Central Kialla. Kreeky had the treat of the tailwind on Mitchell, I had hopes pinned on houses sheltering me from the westerly so speed was something more than snail-like. It was pleasing to keep wheels rolling at 35's and 36's for the 2 k's to River Rd (my attempt at socializing the speed) and I'd be in Tina's good books handing her a tailwind turn to River Rd's bridge. Great intentions of pace tend to sink after three minutes in the driver's seat so speed had sunk a little at the bridge, but Troy turned it up again to the dip and handed the reigns to Kel. Bo was given the lead a k short of rooster corner then added the northern leg to the Broken bridges, but his enthusiasm northbound had the tail-end full throttle to keep in touch with his idea of a social speed (sight of the shop squad sprinting into River Rd must have aroused his energy?)
I thought Greg was driving north to the highway till the Ninja and Lenny appeared ahead in his shadow. Lenny had a leaf from Bo's book on acceleration to get all off their seats and sprinting into Boundary Rd, the wind at the starboard side not slowing Lenny's ambition to get to Old Dookie Rd at 40. The wind had some effect on Greg's drive west but 37's to School Rd could have been a bit more social! The Godfather set the standards back in order to Central Ave then PistolPete raised the bar again to the truck route ('cause he can) Kreeky drew the short straw for the squirt to SPC but was saved from early expiry by the draft of a few passing cars.
15/12 Somebody put Winter o.t.a!
Few fronted for Thursday's squirrels (just Wendy, Tina and Molly in the Rae St rendevous) and with Vic Roads repairing the Lemnos-Cosgrove craters, siding with the Sanctuary squad seemed to be the sensible option. The girls were keen even if I wasn't looking forward to the labor! Yet again, the standards of Summer had sunk to feels like 3.5 and a southerly blew to help my hardening up process for the 10k commute (Chivalry box ticked leading the lasses to the grid)
A Christmas tree worth of lights converged on the roundabout; Trav, Troy, Kreeky, the 5ft Ninja, Rocket, Boof, Lenny, Liam, Greg, Bruce, Wozza, Kel, The Godfather (arriving early to surprise many) and Bo lined up for PistolPete to lead a smooth and steady start toward the truck route. Bruce was the stand-in co-pilot in Emil's absence. I should have joined the advance line early and taken the chance of a tailwind turn but was quickly boxed in by the astute, giving me a late arrival at the business end.
I had about 40 minutes to prepare for the pain of a headwind shift in Old Dookie Rd. The stress of the early pace soon subsided with wind at the Khyber on Mitchell and being drawn along in the vacuum of eight pairs ahead. The Godfather and Kreeky were on duty through Central Kialla. Velocities varied a bit for the eastward path on River Rd, Bruce and Bo in charge to the dip. Fluctuations amplified at the rear where many had hoped to find relief; I'd have to wait till River Rd's end before I'd get a promotion forward. The sun made an appearance on the horizon arriving at rooster corner but it did little to help the temperature!
It wasn't such a good idea to brake for the 90 degree bend beyond the ripple strips 'cause Lenny and Boof were already well on the gas into Coach Rd; nine pairs of reactions later and the tailenders were distanced and well into the 40's to get back aboard. (I might just get this lap done without the labor at the business end if the eight ahead of me served the usual shifts) Trav and Rocket had no drama driving north but some were having second thoughts on their position in the advance line as Old Dookie and it's headwind drew near. The Ninja retreated to the left line near the fig farm and that set the scenario for Molly, Tina then Wendy to do likewise, promoting me four rungs up the ladder onto Liam's wheel. (Easy Foss; he's only 40+ years younger!)
The real issue was Troy's tempo at 39 into the wind from Central Ave (of course Liam would match it) then raising the white flag at Dobson's bridge for Liam to roll across, but Rocket had predicted my dilemma at second wheel (it's called lack of legs!) and offered refuge in the left line. PistolPete paired with Liam to the truck route while I did my best Chewbacca impression, though my pity was for Kreeky being handed the lead for the squirt to SPC though the draft from a couple of passing cars saved him from a Hiroshima moment.
16/12 Frivolity Friday.
Half way to the starting grid and the headwind won! Respite for a k in Emil's slipstream was the only way I'd get to Sanctuary Drive without blowing a gasket. I could really do with a reconditioned engine but there's no parts available for '57 models any more! Feels like 4.5 was positively tropical in light of the week's minimums and of course a southerly blew making the first shift avoidable at all costs (I had trouble getting 31's on the speedo so delivering bunch speed was out of the question) PistolPete loves the punishment and with Bruce alongside, Greg, Grumpy, The Godfather, Tina, Troy, Lenny, Wozza, Trav, Rocket, Bo, Boof, Kreeky, the 5ft Ninja and Kel sorted themselves into two rows. The Godfather's proficient use of elbows muscled him onto Pistol's wheel.
Headed east on Mitchell Rd felt like a holiday away from the south wind and in the shelter of the left line. Grumpy was on time (for a change) to start with the squad, Trav was treating himself to running in the new Scott, Bo's been struck by an S-Works saddle malfunction so is still on the olde steed, Kreeky had opted for the old Avanti, Greg's well and truly run-in his 2 week old S-Works and Lenny was aboard the newest Cannondale in his fleet.
The wheels on The Godfather's De Rosa made quite a racket in the low 40's along River Rd but they couldn't drown out the verbal vitriol served to anyone within earshot (half the Goulburn Valley!) Ahh, it'd be a dull lap without the fella's free entertainment! I had pity for those at the back in the gutter trying to find shelter while Troy and Bo led out of the dip but Greg and Wozza had the echelon education to get up the road to deliver a decent draft for the brethren behind.
Rocket and Wozz kept a handbrake on their hurry toward the Broken, quite a restraint considering the wind was blowing right up where the sun don't shine. The Ninja took to the tailwind turn to the highway like a politician to a fact finding mission in the Maldives (a tax-free offer to good to refuse!) Kel and Grumpy set the speed toward Old Dookie Rd and I'd drawn the short straw (by delaying appearance at the front) to be slapped with the southerly at the side on the city bound way west. Kreeky and I were put to the task at School Rd but he's a considerate co-pilot. With Trav partnering beyond Central Ave I'd hoped to reach Dobson's bridge, but I gathered he'd tired of my tame pace when he rolled across a little earlier to get Pistol as co-pilot to the truck route.
(When they lifted pace by 2 km/h it felt like 20!) I gladly let Emil and Lenny in ahead on the single filed dash to SPC, the more draft the better to prevent that tired old '57 engine exploding.
This week 215km
YTD 12,564km
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