Post #683
28/1 Suffering and satisfaction; standard Saturday stuff.
PistolPete poured on the power to Mitchell Rd but only Greg had braved the advance line. There was a long left line of many contemplating the commitment of an early shift at the front, and speed might have been the issue. Guilt was getting to me, tucked into 4th wheel. Starting in this safe haven has become a habit (Harden up old boy and do your duty, Greg won't bite! Hopefully he'd been fed) Like days of old, TeamTat appeared at Archer's end, TatMat, Dan the Man and TatPaul joining the procession as we slowed for the turn into Mitchell Rd.
Change of shift and I was straight into the deep end at the front end with the expectation of 37's already set. (No pressure!) Off the Fizik to imitate some sort of speed, I'd prepared for disappointment glancing at the Garmin screen but was shocked to find 36's already there. Let's not think about maintaining it for nearly two minutes Foss, let alone another two k drive for the second half of the shift. The voices of Jen, Graeme, Lance, Molly, Bo and The Godfather were heard behind but Lenny's seemed closer; he'd be the one to match for part two (just a week after a tangle with a motorbike and he's back.....probably fitter than ever) Greg talked up my tempo arriving at Euroa Rd and that got the head in the right space to take on the next two k's to River Rd. Just hoped the legs would provide a positive pace. Lenny was considerate with his speed and silent (I couldn't spare the oxygen to reply anyway). Thoughts of the draft to come got me to River Rd.
Many were expecting a circus act as Bo and The Godfather paired at dip so it seemed a miracle when speed stayed stable. (Early pace may have played a part in Molly cementing her place in the caboose). It seems ages since socialising with TeamTat; is it really three years since their regular showing on a Saturday? A glance behind at the Broken bridges expecting the shop squad in hot pursuit saw lights a little further back than usual - not that they'd be going any slower! (Maybe we'd made better progress today? Maybe the Earth was flat too!)
Troy, Rocket, KnightMichael, Bruce, GiantAndy, Gazza, Wozza and Liam bolted by soon after we'd crossed the highway, the brief burst of speed from their passing draft short-lived till reality kicked us down a few rungs on the horsepower ladder.
Jen partnered PistolPete for the way east on Old Dookie Rd, driving the 53/13 like a diesel toward the Toaster (I'll have what she had for breakfast thanks!) All had made their contribution arriving at Pine Lodge North Rd so Pistol and Greg started round two toward the church, and not sparing the watt to get there. Those at the back were at full throttle out of the corner to be counted as part of the team. It's a common conundrum; eager at the front / brutal at the back. A tempo tsunami. Greg and Pete led to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, some comfort for me knowing my turn to come would have help from the north northeaster. Frustratingly, despite the breeze behind, the old engine was close to the red line at 37 and with Greg happy to stay alongside that's what the bunch would have to endure.
Lenny and The Godfather would no doubt spice up the speed but this was my contribution to progress (with a pensioner discount applied!) Happy I'd reached Boundary Rd, Lenny and The Godfather lived up to their expectations. TrackStan appeared at Numurkah Rd, many believing he'd been dropped from the shop squad but he'd missed the 6am flag at the start. If I was lucky with the shifts staying to standards, I might just get towed to breakfast without another appearance at the business end.
A headwind on the Boulevard wasn't my idea of fun. Single filed beyond Canterbury's roundabout, I was banking on PistolPete and Greg driving long. So far so good when Pete lasted till Jordan's Bend but Greg's drive to Tarcoola might just be his swansong. (Yeah, as if!) He'd lit the afterburners out of the roundabout and Lenny and The Godfather had the legs to respond, so I slid down the order as Bo and Jen passed me too and had just enough left to stay with Lance at the back for a bout of 40's to Knight St. Rule #90 (driving the big ring), casual staff with casual attitude and walking was the philosophy over breakfast.
30/1 Just another manic Monday.
I reckon I'm developing a southerly psychosis. Yet again a headwind did it's best to discourage a respectable speed toward Sanctuary Drive (I'd turned off the speedo's backlight in Monday morning's darkness so as not to be shamed by a sloth-like speed but how do you avoid that Garmin glance going under a street light?) Emil turned the two pairs commuting to single file for a passing car and his draft was instant bliss, so it took a lot of cranial concrete to pair again for the rest of the commute to the start. Tina and Rocket happily chatted behind. The want for oxygen kept me silent.
With a half empty tank at the grid, The Godfather, Bo, PistolPete, the 5ft Ninja, Troy, Kreeky, Bruce, Lenny, Kel and Greg assembled for duty. Bruce and PistolPete must love pain, powering south to Mitchell Rd into the southerly in the 37's with not one complaint from those in their draft behind. Nitrous oxide injection would have been handy to stay in touch when Bruce and Emil hit the boost button bound for Central Kialla, though one shouldn't grizzle when being gifted a slipstream. Gazza did a Grumpy impersonation with a late arrival via the truck route, I just hoped someone would tame the pace a little so an extra breath could be uploaded. No hope when Troy and Lenny fronted for River Rd; 49 to catch the tail as the pair got excited by the little bit of west in the south southwester. Transitioning to the advance line at the dip, the wind became a chore at the right side after enjoying the shelter of the left. Rocket had set a suitable echelon toward Coach Rd but being on the Ninja's wheel had all the shelter of hiding behind a short matchstick. The best of the tailwind was in Coach Rd so pairing with the 5ft one at the Broken bridges was feasible.
I'd hoped part two would be easier calling "As slow as you want Tina" when we crossed the highway, but the wind up the exhaust pipe inspired plenty of pace to the bridge. Zig and Zag, sorry......Bo and The Godfather were line astern again so many were prepared for their Old Dookie Rd antics. The wind worked in our favor to minimize their mayhem, one or the other calling School Rd quits for Kel to keep Bo company (and under control?) to Central Ave. (So much for the "full block" rule). Bruce and Pistol were back in charge and heading to the truck route with 40's no problem to maintain. (Yeah, I wish!) It doesn't take much to drop the wheel ahead when the throttle goes wide open toward SPC, a grab for a lower gear and off the saddle for the acceleration......and a gap had opened already. Legs were on the limit to get back aboard, luck changing the Wheeler St lights to red so I could re-inlist.
31/1 Optional extras.
Through a cloud of cobwebs on Channel Rd BamBam and Ralphy emerged, surprise extras to an already long line of squirrels, and that got Emil's excitement up. (A fairly stiff southerly already had him un hurry-up mode; any excuse to turn up the tempo!) Wendy, Kim, Jen, Graeme, Tina and Molly were lined up behind for my usual attempt at the Doyles to Orrvale bit and I'd almost equaled Emil's previous effort at the school where the real work began (to finish what I'd started!) At least there'd be a long spell between shifts with this many players in the pack. Wendy to the Kinder and Kim to the cypress trees and I'd returned to an aerobic state, Molly spinning a short shift to Hanlon Rd but Jen got that diesel engine on the torque curve to drive long and make up the shortfall.
Graeme took advantage of the tailwind (15-22 km/h) to set 40 to the highway but his Boundary Rd to the bridge bit didn't have the hurry he started with. Tina did the drive to the fig farm, BamBam making reasonable progress to mid way between Old and New Dookie Rd's but a total of 169km clocked for the year made Ralphy's shift a struggle (I applied a discount for riding with a broken toe) Emil saved him from suffering by passing as he'd reached the first rumble strip (just to remind us of the railway line that hasn't been used for years), towing us all to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, but of course that wasn't enough.
I'd hoped Emil would be slowed slightly by the fraction of westerly in the now south southwester, though that's wishful thinking. He set a speed I felt obliged to live up to in Ford Rd (only my second turn but being second wheel to Emil factors as the front for me) There's enough trees and orchards along Ford Rd's first 3 k to give a little shelter so getting back up to speed beyond the intersection wasn't a big ask - it's maintaining it for about four minutes that's the problem. A distant truck on Grahamvale Rd was worth the call of "Watch left" though the long behind did split in caution, the subsequent slow with Wendy, Kim and Molly gave us a moment to do an oxygen stocktake till the rest rejoined. Jen tackled the front for the southern leg to Balaclava Rd but wind wore away the watts by Graham St. Of course Emil's appointment to poke the pedestrian button led us to Balaclava and the red light it usually shows us.
1/2 Squad swap.
Siding with the Wouldabeens was strictly social ; a slightly slower speed, a six o'clock start and maybe a different loop could have been the motivating factor but it's been many moons since swapping a sentence or two with these (mostly) former Couldabeens. Optimistically short sleeved to the Kialla Lakes start-line, feels like 11 got me wishing I'd worn arm-warmers, though the temperature is positively tropical thinking of the winter just past.
(Hey, another winter is just 16 weeks away!) Crossy, Laura, AlmostRetiredTrev, Wendy, Joe (not Tony), Shorty and Jase lined the footpath at Gordon Drive's roundabout, Crossy nearly as pleased as Bo in a bottle shop aboard a new back Giant. AlmostRetiredTrev succumbed to the pleas of a northbound lap (a 11-17 km/h southwester squashing motivation to head south) so he steered us toward Channel Rd for what was to be a squirrel circuit. (so much for that different loop Foss). Plenty of procrastination heading east on whether this was to be a two row or single filed lap (and with the tail-enders in the gutter), I took my idea to the front to lead a centre of the road drive to the truck route, hopeful of a single filed solution. It seemed to work when Joe (not Tony) captained to Orrvale Rd but all had suddenly become shy to follow suit. Another turn for me to the Kinder fixed the format to single. Laura scored the headwind on Central but got the benefit of the southwester to the cypress trees. Seems shifts start and finish similar to the squirrels, or is it that two to three minutes in the driver's seat empties the tank? Whatever the reason, with six ahead to serve their time in (hard?) labor, I'd have ten or twelve minutes to compose myself before the next call of duty. Slight changes of temperature nearing Channel Rd's channels felt like the fridge door had been left open, Wendy signing her time at the front with a long drive to Coach Rd to hand Jase the reigns (and a tailwind with it). Crossy baptised the Giant to the lead role somewhere near the fig farm and I'd guessed settling into a new position on a new bike would take some time finding true comfort 'cause barely a k later AlmostRetiredTrev was elbowed to lead.
Captaincy changed to Joe (not Tony) at New Dookie Rd, his donation to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd denying me the treat of the tail wind but then that's the luck of the draw isn't it? Given the task to lead west, the wind was more like south southwest at the portside, so I set my target at Lemnos North Rd. A slight rise and fall at the channel bridge and the few gaps between trees and orchards made the job of setting a smooth speed tricky at times so I hoped variations of a k or so weren't making a roller coaster ride at the back. No knives in the back as I rolled to the rear in Ford Rd said the variables weren't too bad. I might have toasted Laura at second wheel on the long drive 'cause she'd pulled the pin with a k of Ford completed. Shorty filled the position of pace to Grahamvale Rd where Wendy towed us to Verney. Jase had the short straw of a headwind to Balaclava Rd but there was no charge to prod the pedestrian button (though the lights were red as always) and not such a charge to get to caffeine so the course had a calm conclusion. A long chat at the Milk Bar fulfilled the social stuff.
2/2 Thursday therapy.
Thursday's have become eagerly anticipated. A cruise with a cap at 35 (tailwinds invalidate that limit), a chance to get a few k's done well below the red-line and a smooth rhythm keeps the riding romance rather than regretting it (unless of course you prefer all your kilometers being cooked) An extra layer and long sleeves made feels like nine bearable, Kim, Molly, Emil, Wendy and Tina kitted likewise for the therapy session to start from Archer St's shop. This was a three day trot of squirrels, Woulda's and squirrels on the same circuit for me; you could call it a holiday from hurry but it's way faster than sitting on the couch eating Cheezels off your fingers (no names mentioned!)
And so the single filed format started again with Emil assuming the lead role and me as 2ic to Orrvale. The lasses did their thing thereafter while three worked westbound (Gazza and his development squad) driving toward town. Traffic was busier than usual, one car passing as we neared the Kinder and another rounded us up near the S bend (rated as peak hour in these parts) Molly got the leadership role northbound on Coach Rd with a suitable southerly breeze to boot, but seemed disappointed in the lack of drive from her engine (too much running, not enough riding?) But this was therapy day where great goals and supersonic segment times could be shelved and the simple pleasure of a spin could be relished. It's a nice change to have legs and lungs liking a turn at the front and not hating what the head had in mind. Emil's standard shift to Old Dookie Rd caught me snoozing at second wheel so the k between Old and New Dookie was spent attempting to keep 34.5 frozen on the Garmin.
Not as easy as it sounds, even on our flat ground. The way west seemed to slip the handbrake on a notch, or was the hint of a southwester stronger than I thought? It wasn't a problem for Kim and Wendy to tow us to Lemnos North Rd. Averaging 32 was once a solid lap for the squirrels, now it's a cruisy one if you want to reflect on the ground gained since 2021. Verney Rd's slick surface (ignoring the gravel section at the North Quarter development) made pace a lot easier despite headed into that southwester (go figure?) and remarkably Emil kept the cap of 35 firmly on and didn't do the charge to prod the pedestrian button. The traffic light was red as usual (maybe a can of green paint might help?)
3/2 Fridge-like February?
Overnight rain, a westerly to wear away the watts and feels like five had a lot of excuses to take a day off fill the head at stupid o'clock. The search for positives to over-ride these thoughts was on and coffee got the ball rolling. Kit day with the crew was worth the work and that wind would only be a pain one way. Finding Wozza, Boof and Rocket on the commute gave me a draft to Sanctuary Drive, saving a few watts to spend later on the circuit. Bruce, Gazza, TrackStan, Kel, The Godfather, Emil, Bo, Tina, Troy, Jen, Greg and PistolPete at the start was a better than expected attendance but my mistake was getting on Pistol's wheel on the 5:40 roll-out ; I'd get the work into the wind by the time my shift was due.
(Gave me plenty of time to harden up before that happened though). Wozza went to work with Pete with the west northwester at the side to Mitchell Rd, the right row forming quickly with many keen to get an early tailwind turn, effectively snookering me to last in line. Emil, The Godfather, Bruce and Troy were in for their early effort, taking us the length of River Rd while Gazza and TrackStan emerged from the mass of lights behind. Forties found favor to rooster-less corner (nothing to crow about in the dark). Changing from left row to right on the turn north at least scored me the sheltered side. Just three of the Hurtlocker speared from the darkness of Coach Rd suffering a clockwise circuit. Covered arms and gloves (with fingers) was the day's dress code, some with knees insulated against the July-like temperature. The common thought was that we've been short-changed on Summer.
Bo and Kel did the distance to the highway, a pause for traffic making extra effort to get up to speed again. Drama in Old Dookie Rd looked likely for me but pairing with Tina who'd braved the advance meant we'd share similar standards - slower! Greg and Jen were first to face the westerly with a solid shift to the petrol station (sorry..........new house under construction) beyond School Rd, Jen hammering the 13 sprocket when most were on the 17.
Tina turned on a good tempo with Jen to Central Ave and survived longer toward Dobson's than I expected. Our speed wasn't much slower after all, but my watts were evaporating faster! I could barely keep up with PistolPete to the bridge and called for the mercy of a draft, the view to the truck route rather blurred as he and Wozz kept the thrash of 38's on speedo's. The few ahead stepping up the speed to seize a slipstream from a gradually passing car quickly cooked me toward SPC, legs refusing to stick to the speed standards put me at the back before I knew it. A sudden surge of incentive came without that safety net of bikes behind as a backstop. I felt wrung-out arriving at the Butter Factory, but glad to have ignored those earlier excuses.
This week 304km
YTD 1,483km
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