Post #679
31/12 Well, that's 2022 o.t.a!
Somewhat second-hand legs (335km a week is starting to punish this pensioner!) had hopes pinned on a sedate Saturday crew, so murmurs from some at Sanctuary's grid about a short-cut (should speed get out of hand) said I wasn't the only one seeking something sedate. A big bunch of Greg, Bruce, Nev, Troy, Bo, PistolPete, Emil, Tina, Rocket, BamBam, TrackStan, Wozza, Molly, Lenny, The Godfather, Jen, Trav, Kim and Liam assembled, keen to round off a few k's for 2022's total, hopefully the mix of those with wattage and those who wanted it might balance the speed in my favour? (I guess I could side with the short-cutters if the hurry got too hot). River Rd's chat on New Years' resolutions reached a consensus on their futility (though I do try to stick to the 'stay upright' one).
Molly ahead and Trav behind wasn't a bad place in the pack though there'd be a wait before we'd see any driving duty. TrackStan seemed keen on chewing Wozza's ear and a big gap opened ahead, Molly jumping the queue to preserve a reasonable slipstream and prevent the bunch looking like Swiss cheese. So that put me on TrackStan's wheel for Old Dookie Rd's leg to the Toaster and wasn't he all over the bike like a bad suit! (Allowing an extra half metre gap might stagger the order a bit but I figured it was good insurance). Being towed for 20k's warranted some work at the front, partnering TrackStan for the northward leg to Pine Lodge Church at least wasn't head on into the easterly. I was prepared to drive the "full block" as payment for that 20 k tow though TrackStan gave me a discount calling quits before we'd got to the church.
Trav and I headed toward Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, sticking to our gentleman's agreement that we'd set the pace and the rest could go to hell! The bonus of a breeze up the backside following a turn at the front was a win; it sped up the recovery process a treat! BamBam's turn at the business end had that bonus too though a procession of horsepower behind him bumped up the velocity when their turn came to serve. The whiplash effect is the downside to a bigger bunch; a burst of speed beyond intersections puts the back-markers (still on the brakes) at full gas to keep in touch. Shame there's only a few that front and take their time applying the accelerator to avoid breaking bits off the back.
Bo and The Godfather were well apart in the peloton's procession so we were spared the half-wheeling hijinks they normally get up to, the pace still kept considerate given the proximity to town and the tailwind helping us get there. Being at the back for Wanganui Rd had the benefit of maximum vacuum but maximum throttle was needed to be counted as part of the crew into Rudd Rd. With a lack of traffic (and GiantAndy's absence), two lines braved the Boulevard where 40's was sustainable, though being off the gas for Tarcoola's roundabout while the leaders bolted south, disconnected Molly from the back. Rather than see her set adrift, I delivered the diplomatic draft to Mason St where our recue vehicle (PistolPete) was picking up the pieces, so all finished with some sense of unity. Water quality, bogans and demon descenders captured the conversation at the Butter Factory breakfast.
3/1 New Years' play.
A spin with the squirrels was the perfect start to the new year when another crossed off the calendar brings on that Jurassic feeling. Jen, Emil and Tina made up a small squad but Emil had convinced Graeme to clear 3 years worth of cobwebs off the bike and join in. A black Look (his bike, not his attitude!) rewound the memory many years to the Hospital bunch and being cooked by Bomber on a Tuesday and Thursday night (feeling even more Jurassic now!) Two days off and the rust had set in for me, the commute into the southerly toward the shop serving up some reality. A good introduction as it happened to the labor needed when Emil set 37's to the truck route.
The southerly wasn't so hard to deal with to Orrvale Rd, but I was delighted to get there and handball the lead to Jen to get my recovery happening. Another turn at the front wouldn't be far away. Tina drew the short straw of a headwind in Central Ave though the east path to the cypress trees was less taxing. There were no cobwebs on Graeme driving toward the S bend, the pace no problem for him to continue to Channel Rd's end. (What is it with these guys who can take a week, months and sometimes years off two wheels then make a comeback like they've never left? Oh yeah, it's called youth!) Emil was enthused by the southerly to drive north on Boundary Rd so wasn't it a surprise to see his elbow flap at me before the fig farm; sharing the breeze up the backside was his diplomatic deed for the day. Continuing that courtesy was my excuse to cut the shift short at Old Dookie Rd so Jen and Tina got their share (truth was I needed the oxygen!)
Graeme missed out on the tailwind and had the southerly pushing at the port side on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd so understandably, Emil was ushered to the front at the bridge. Orchards to the south side of Ford Rd sheltered my shift to Grahamvale Rd so speed was almost up to spec, the last 300 metres the hardest part as legs mumbled something about mercy. I'll bet Tina wasn't looking forward to the shift to Balaclava Rd as Jen did the leg to Verney, but Emil did his trademark take-over bid just a 100 metres after turning south, while Graeme and I jumped the queue to serve Tina a better slipstream. Most were happy to be held up at Balaclava Rd's red light to overload on oxygen while Emil prodded the pedestrian button.
4/1 Just a bit breezy.
The Bureau confirmed that whistle through the kitchen rangehood was a 44 km/h south southwester and it blew about a dozen excuses into my head to park on the couch and drink coffee for an hour or two. But the fellowship of the bunch beckoned (suffer south to Mitchell Rd and the rest would be easy Foss!) Emil had chosen Sanctuary over the shop squad today, claiming he was a little off song, but he had the horsepower to tow Tina and I to Kialla Lakes Drive. Suffering a sudden attack of the guilts, I hardened up and faced the front to Sanctuary Drive. Yeah, it hurt.
Noise of that wind may have kept a few from fronting the grid 'cause only Bo, The Godfather, PistolPete, Kel and Lenny arrived for 5:40, Weapon the days' wildcard entry having ditched the Woulda's for the Coulda's. Pistol and Emil commenced battle toward Mitchell Rd. The only way I could manage 35 km/h into a 40 km/h headwind was at second wheel (and that needed a chin flat on the headstem). I don't know where all that horsepower comes from but I'll have a ute load if it's available somewhere! On Tina's instructions, I had PistolPete's wheel so that meant last shift before round two started. The devilish duo (The Godfather and Bo of course) led the eastern assault on River Rd, needing guidance on echelon etiquette naturally, though their pace was toasting Tina who'd braved the advance line (She found some comfort in the caboose). I was quickly promoted to Kel's wheel.
Weapon braved the drivers' seat with The Godfather to the dip but part two had her want for watts to match Kel's cruising speed. I was put to the task just a 100 metres on, and keeping Kel's tempo with an aim at the quarter horse fence wasn't so bad. The old engine was close to the red-line getting there so matching PistolPete for part two might blow a gasket if the standards were lifted. But Pete's a gentleman, matching wheel for wheel till I raised a white flag a k later. Emil added an extra two k's in the hour toward Coach Rd and that turned my legs to jelly, though there was some hope in getting my lungs back with a tailwind due on the turn north at rooster corner. (hearing him at the turn into Coach Rd confirmed he wasn't Christmas lunch after all) Lenny and Emil put a hold on their haste to the highway at 40 and that enticed Tina from the caboose to brave the advance.
I got a second term at the business end when Weapon short shifted beyond Central Ave to pair me with Kel, my aim at Dobson's bridge made easier when Emil called a cap at 35 to keep Tina in touch (music to my ears; 35 was my maximum!) Part two would be a short one with that wind tearing in at the port side, staying with PistolPete till my head gauged I had just enough left to hang on at second wheel (hung on the hope Emil didn't perform any heroics from the truck route to SPC). He didn't......and that was a win for me!
5/1 A smooth straight six.
A wallaby bounding Rae St put a little excitement into the squirrel commute, otherwise the spin to the shop was like any other day......head down into a southerly! Thankfully Thursdays are therapy day, pace discounted a little so that legs can survive the rest of the week. Molly, Kim, Tina, Jen and Emil made it six for the circuit, Emil opening the account to the truck route as usual. Far be it for me to rattle the routine; I did the bit to Orrvale Rd. It's in my job description. (Consistency keeps the crew comfortable I reckon).
Tina and Jen performed their respective roles to the Kinder and the cypress trees for Molly to take on act five (in fine form beyond the S bend to Darth Vader's place before giving Kim the elbow). Without a speed display, Kim would be flying blind but managed quite well to Channel Rd's end and continued north to the highway. But wait, there's more! There was no stopping her to drive onward to Boundary Rd's bridge, speed quite smooth considering the lack of reference. Seeing speed can often be your worst enemy (just like those heart-rate data), how the head raises the white flag when you sight those big numbers! (Gives credence to the "what you don't know can't hurt you" theory). Emil kept a lid on velocity despite 20 k's worth of wind at our backs, preserving the pace that's on Thursdays wish list, almost. I got the Old to New Dookie shift and delivered it without drama; achieved right on my recommended maximum h.r. seemed soft.
Tina enjoyed that tailwind assistance to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd for the turn west, the road blocked eastward for last nights' quadruple fatality investigation. Jen had no problem towing us to Lemnos in The Godfather gear (big dog and the 11 sprocket to really test the chain). Molly made good progress for Ford Rd's first 2 k's, Kim guiding us to Grahamvale Rd then going the extra kilometre to Verney. For something completely different, it WAS Emil's turn to drive us south to Balaclava , the headwind helping to keep that cap on 32. And for something else a bit different, the red light turned green on arrival. Believe it or not!
6/1 Easy for some, effort for others.
Some would be snoozing and some would be struggling though on Fridays the whole family combines for kit day (and suffer the consequences anyway). It's been a proven recipe to keep the clan as one over the years - smaller divisions forming to cater for a wide range of horsepower allowing all to get a drive at front in their respective classes (and a sense of belonging with it). So Fridays the fast cope with a cruise and be social, those somewhat slower stepping up a rung or two to suffer under the flag of uniformed unity. Pistol and Rocket started the squad (Liam, Bruce, Wozza, Kim, Troy, Kel, Emil, Tina, The Godfather, Lenny, the 5ft Ninja, TrackStan and Bo) south, 9 degrees feeling quite cold till the speed warmed up the legs to Mitchell.
With and easterly wind bound to smother any sort of speed, I was attempting to avoid the front for a while, so second last suited me quite nicely. With plenty ahead yet to serve their time, I might even score a tailwind on one of the homeward shifts. (If I'm going to front up six days a week it can't all be at full gas early!) Social stuff got into full swing for the fit while those on lower rungs of the labor ladder sat mostly silent coping with 37's and 38's and preserving what little oxygen was spare for good use later. Emil and Lenny guided the path through the metropolis of Central Kialla, Bruce and Lenny into the breeze on River Rd. Weapon made a late appearance via the truck route.
Those with watts always seem to band together and the pair most likely to steal your lunch money (Bo and The Godfather of course) are usually inseparable. The lasses had lined up line astern too. On a quiet tap prior to race day, Liam paired with Troy (back on level ground after breaching Buffalo) to propel us east toward rooster corner, that easterly I'd hoped to hitch a ride on back home had now shifted to a southerly. (Just my luck!) Assistance northward wasn't to be sneezed at though. In a change of routine, I was Tina's shadow in the advance line while Kel and TrackStan did the driving to Old Dookie Rd.
Turns rolled quickly heading west, Weapon, Kim and Tina all making cameo appearances at the front (that southerly changed their minds about extended stays in the drivers seat) and when Tina called for mercy at School Rd, I rolled across to have Wozza as partner to Central Ave. Oxygen was the precious commodity arriving there though getting a tow to town was the bonus. Hanging on to Wozza and Pistol's 40's to the truck route was the price I'd pay for a late shift. Coffee would mend the hurt.
This week 189km
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