Post #695
22/4 Sociable.
Strange thing a solo commute to Sanctuary Drive (most of the usual cohorts away on a long weekend), so without any pressure on pace I could cruise my way to the grid and ease the old engine into an effort (Christmas had come in April!) PistolPete, Lance, Rocket, Bo, the 5ft Ninja, The Godfather, Bruce, Nev Greg and Wozza had converged on a cool (6 degrees) but calm roundabout for the 6 am launch, PistolPete (who else would it be?) and Bruce leading the lads and lass south.
It seemed like social was on the menu, despite some of the shop squad in the mix, reassuring for me to see Lance in the line-up so that a few of the slightly slower might take some heat out of any hurry, so I braved an earlier (than usual) entry into the advance line. The Ninja's wheel was of no aerodynamic advantage, how lucky that Greg was ahead to make a substantial slipstream. Preparing the pre frontal cortex for effort at the front needed a fast forward button when the Ninja retired to the rear at Euroa Rd, being quickly promoted to the drivers' seat with Greg was being thrown in the deep end (at least he's sympathetic to senior citizens)
The Godfather's insistence on "full blocks" became my motivator to make River Rd's bridge the aim for part two and it didn't help glancing at the Garmin showing 176 bpm getting there. (Rule #5 would fix that) Being anti-social beside Lance to the dip wasn't intended, just vital for the oxygen intake required. Daylight turning north into Coach Rd was a treat (usually our arrival time in town on a weekday) but the drop in temperature made me want for the winter gloves (and being in the advance again meant dealing with a fresher front soon). Rocket and Wozz made 38's look easy en-route to the highway, no doubt Julz' red led ahead acting as a bait. Pistol and Bruce were re-elected leaders in Boundary Rd but Pistol chose a half block turn (with no objection from The Godfather?) to put Greg as co-pilot with Bruce aiming at Old Dookie. Julz sailed on north to Lemnos Cosgrove.
It's only 2k to the Toaster but my head warned of an empty tank to get there, so I defied the full block convention to roll across nearing the pork palace. A surprise shop squad overtake (Gazza, Trav and GiantAndy) distracted The Godfather from my infringement. For a moment I wondered if several may jump ship on a need for speed (leaving the rest of us to a sentence of hard labour)..........but solidarity stuck. There wasn't the usual tailwind home on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, the calm conditions not spiking speed as it usually does. There's positive thoughts in the comfort of the draft until thoughts in the advance line shift to the toil on the front (didn't feel so bad if I imagined trying to hang on to the shop boys) The Ninja held a permanent berth in the caboose.
Hopes were high on getting a third (and hopefully last) turn done before Wanganui Rd arrived but thanks to the long distance drives of Greg and Bruce from Grahamvale Rd, it wasn't to be. Just my luck to get the 2800 metres worth of Wanganui with the lofty ascent on the mountain at the end.
I get the feeling I'm being given a little discount on pace at the front so the least I could do was to drive the distance to Rudd Rd (I'd be guaranteed a tow to breakfast from there anyway!) Pace didn't get out of hand along the Boulevard so for a welcome change, the view was still in focus to Knight St. House painting, road trauma and fat heads was the business over breakfast, the solo home as sedate as the start.
24/4 Motivational.
Enthusiasm had escaped when the alarm went off at stupid o'clock (it's called Monday-itis for the working classes!) but I knew the regret of not riding would be torture by mid morning. Why it's a struggle to get 28's on the speedo to Tarcoola but no drama to keep 33's going to Sanctuary Drive I'll blame on performance anxiety! Taking a four day weekend was the excuse for some absentees but Emil, Tina, Rocket, Wozza, PistolPete, Greg, Bruce, Troy, Bo, Kel and The Godfather arrived to make up a dozen.
Of course PistolPete set us southbound, Emil electing himself as co-pilot for the 2800 metre warm-up to Mitchell Rd (though 8 degrees felt mild thinking of last weeks' cool introductions) I hadn't intended taking the soft option of last-in-line but found myself on PistolPete's wheel as the bunch got into order, plenty of time to prepare for pain at the pointy end though. Something like social speed had been set headed west (Greg and Bruce were probably keen for something sedate after yesterday's 140 through the ranges). Through the metropolis of Central Kialla, around the cobbled section of tarmac, a 90 degree right into River Rd and aiming at rooster corner 6k in the distance, wind wasn't a workload for a change, the feint red glow on the horizon something colourful to aim at.
The standard weekend chat occupied the ranks as The Godfather guided our path along River Rd's centre (for reasons better known to him) well before reaching the rumble strips. Bo and Kel captained north as I moved up a rung in the advance, duty looking likely in Boundary Rd (yet again!). Kel's roll to the left at the bridges escaped The Godfather's grizzle about full blocks. Tina's shift came to an end a bit beyond Boundary Rd's bridge so maybe I could get away with the slightly shorter drive to Old Dookie Rd? Pistol was kind enough to stay at my speed alongside till the turn left, just enough left in my tank to hold onto Pete and Emil's drive to Central Ave. Plenty of colour in the sky made shaking off Monday-itis worthwhile. Another rung down in the left line as Wozza and Emil set speed to the truck route eased my effort enough to bank a few watts for the SPC squirt, Rocket not holding back his horsepower to get there.
25/4 Respectful.
The Anzac Day dawn service and ride drew a big Couldabeens clan to show respect for those who've paid the ultimate price in conflict for the country. 10 degrees made standing for the half hour service tolerable though it was a cool few k's of the clockwise course climatizing to speed. Riding in the daylight was a rare treat and into a scenic sunrise was candy for the eyeballs when most of our k's are covered in the dark. Bruce, Liam, Wozza, TrackStan, Rocket, Emil, The Godfather, Troy, PistolPete, Greg, Bo, Kim, Tina, Lance, Molly, Nev, Lili, Jen, Wendy, Julz, LiamM and Grumpy created two long lines, Wouldabeens Crossy, SuperMario, Laura, Chris and AlmostRetiredTrev attached to the train in a rare act of clan combination.
(Funny how The Godfather's garble could be heard over the chat from the end of a 35 metre long line!) Punctured at the start, Trav had repaired and short cut to catch us in Ford Rd. LiamM had neared the pointy end when a puncture brought the train to a halt, AlmostRetiredTrev roped into the repairs though that didn't satisfy The Godfather's time limit. Fixed and rolling again seemed to be a timely chance for the big bunch to split, the swift and the sustainable separating.
Greg, Bo, Bruce, Liam, Troy, PistolPete, The Godfather,Trav, Wozza, TrackStan, Emil and Rocket bolted ahead, leaving the rest to settle on something a little less stressful. Happy days for all really. Of course I'd stuck with the sustainable, but what speed to set was the question. Something between suffering and snoozing I guess! Velocity varied between 31 and 36. depending on who was in the drivers seat, but the bunch stayed united (it just went rather quiet at 36's!) It's a weird sensation to take this lap contrary to the usual Saturday way but at least the views were different. LiamM seemed to shy from a shift at the front and contained himself to the caboose while Laura would advance to 3rd or even 2nd wheel before seeking to hide in the left line (Not sure what the fear of the front is when you're among friends - avoiding duty is the slippery slope to softness!)
Chris seemed to study the squads protocols as someone new to the addiction should, Julz the ace student in comparison. South on Coach Rd and over the bridges, the direction of River Rd was reinforced 'cause the Woulda's have a habit of southbound to Mitchell. Grumpy would usually side with the swift but admitted to carrying a little extra ballast from his sojourn to Singapore but Crossy was kind enough to level wheels with him west toward the dip. My turn with Tina to Euroa Rd had finally encouraged Laura to try a tap at the front though she sought an early roll just 200 metres toward Central Kialla. I nagged her to continue to Mitchell Rd, figuring if she could still talk she could drive the distance! (I excused her pleas for Lance to roll straight across to aid her recovery headed west)
The route via Raftery Rd is the stuff of history books for most and not the favored course for some, particularly when Conrod straight comes into view, though none seemed tempted to sprint the finish (there was a greater interest in breakfast). The Swift and sustainable (including the Woulda's) converged on the Milk Bar for the essential coffee and chat.
27/4 Therapeutical.
Guilt got me out of bed a bit before stupid o'clock; buckling to the softness of a sleep-in Wednesday got the motivation going today! (And a northeaster provided the motivation to Tarcoola! I was guessing Boundary Rd wouldn't be much fun) Emil, Jen, Lili, Tina and Molly had assembled in Rae St, LiamM the victim of a flat tyre before he'd left home. The spin to the shop was quite cruisy, can't say the rest of the lap would have that luxury. Just as 5:30 struck to get wheels rolling from the shop, BamBam arrived from the south, Emil easing off the gas a little so he'd get aboard. The Thursday therapy speed applied but I was needing a lot of throtle to stay at second wheel (maybe a day off had handbraked the old engine?)
A glance at the Garmin was disappointing - all that effort and only 33 to show for it? (Waiter! More concrete to the breakfast table!) My test would come at Doyles Rd when second wheel became the lead role. A few trees might have helped to shelter from the wind but the 1200 metre shift felt further when faced with reaching Orrvale Rd. Six to slipstream would help me get over it! (make that five. Molly had taken up residence in the caboose)
A change to the usual order had Jen drive us to the Kinder, Tina getting the luck of the tailwind on Central Ave but labour to the cypress trees. Julz joined in from Hanlon Rd while Lili was worn down by the northeaster toward Beckham's bend. Absent for a week, BamBam did well to tow us to Channel Rd's end. In Coach Rd's centre, Emil cut the wind for the line behind to the highway but 34's in Boundary Rd had a few at full throttle to stay in touch. The call for a little calm was music to a few ears.
30's seemed to be the salvation though Emil had slowly crept the pace back up to 32's a k later (all were still aboard though. What a few breaths of oxygen can do eh?) Prepared to front at Old Dookie, Emil's elbow didn't flinch, looks like I'd have another two minutes at second wheel till New Dookie arrived (Presumptuous old bloke aren't I? Emil stayed on in the hero's role to Lemnos Cosgrove Rd before I'd be given the lead). What speed to set west while that northeaster blew (20-30 km/h) was pure speculation though my guess at 36's hadn't raised any hollers. I showed Jen my elbow at the bridge to share the tailwind turn among friends. Molly's muscular misgivings kept her from contributing but Jen and Tina lined up for duty to tow us to Lemnos. BamBam was trusted with the southbound spin to Balaclava Rd and surprise, surprise, Emil contained his enthusiasm to sprint for the poke of the pedestrian button, the traffic light changing green in BamBam's honor!
28/4 The tubeless test, contemplating Col (2 years on) and doin' Dookie (beside Bro).
A soft tyre on the turn into Sanctuary's roundabout nearly took Tina into a horizontal malfunction, so the start of Friday's lap was quickly stalled. By the time the bunch had reconvened, attempts at keeping air in Tina's tubeless had failed. (Time for Tina to phone a friend!) The Godfather, Troy, Grumpy, Jen, Emil, Kreeky, Kim, Bo, Bruce, Kel, Rocket, PistolPete and the 5ft Ninja tried take two, southbound to the truck route and it seemed social speed was set in stone, to the relief of a few hanging onto the rear. (There may have been a little caution with the road damp from the 3am shower) As it happened, low clouds decided to baptise us in Mitchell Rd anyway! Whether we were in for a soaking was up to the weather.
Rooster tails of water off the wheels decorated the view on the drive north to River Rd, Jen concerned at a rough ride from her bike (hard to judge the state of her rear tyre in the dark and damp of Central Kialla) The turn east was squirmy, raising doubts on its' pressure, so I delivered the news to Greg in the drivers seat. Another tubeless had become airless, prompting a phone a friend again (hardly a convincing argument for tubeless technology - I'll stick with old school tubes that can be righted roadside) The restart of course shuffled the order and I'd (luckily) swapped from the Ninja's wheel to Greg's - quite the aerodynamic opposite!
Facing the front was a little further down the rides' agenda. Bo and The Godfather had paired at the pointy end (what could possibly go wrong?) bound for the quarter horse stud, soon locked into that 'mine's bigger than yours' show of supremacy, speed rising faster than rent as a result. And that spelled stress at the back; so when Kim lost grip of the rearmost position, news of the infringement was delivered to the offenders. Another brief baptism from the heavens put the alert out on traction for rooster corner. The usual hollers of 'full blocks' got started when Kel rolled across for Bo at the Broken bridges. A clear Midland highway didn't wipe off too much speed into Boundary so seeing 36's soon after taking the lead with Greg put a little bit more hope in the head. Keeping that pace would be the real test (if lungs and legs would co-operate)
This old engine might make it to Old Dookie Rd if I didn't thrash it, so I took Greg's offer to roll when it suited me (Boundary Rd's bridge). Emil was co-operative as co-pilot to reach my target without murdering the motor. The heart-rate slowly dropped from the heavens in the tow back to town, a few getting dangerously close to the cruelty of the front seeking the shelter of the left line before reaching the truck route (the sting of speed to SPC would start there) The fumble to engage a cleat after the brief stop for traffic put Julz under pressure to find pace, though the vacuum of a dozen ahead helped the hurry. Coffee at the Butter Factory reflected on the second anniversary of Col's passing - tempting as it was to order pancakes with bacon and maple syrup in his honor, I resisted.
Brother Gus arrived at the Butter Factory for his 'early' 7am start as the Couldabeens headed homeward, our intention to do Dookie and back before his return to the U S of A tomorrow. An east southeaster wasn't the best introduction to the 28 k drive but when it swung to a north northwester on Old Dookie Rd there was a little hope of less labour. It's been many moons since doing the Dookie and back thing and bro seemed set on 32's and 3's to get there (ok under usual circumstances but the prior 50 k's probably put me on the back foot). Touch wood, there was a slim hope of a tailwind home, if you could believe the Bureau. I was pleased the killer Cosgrove magpies were missing from the stretch beyond Quarry Rd to the golf course. Passing the Katandra Rd, the rise of Sutherland's hill lay ahead, the massive 2% incline digging into my small bank of watts to crest it. The cruelty of a climb is usually followed by the delight of a descent so the roll into Dookie felt far better. The tailwind back to town didn't eventuate of course (Hey Bureau, I want my money back!) the wind swinging from west north west to a westerly to make the usual battle homeward.
This week 333km
YTD 4,920km
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