The joys of June

 Post #702

17/6 Not so spicy.

A little fine tuning got the chain to shut up, now to stop the old engine whining about the feels like two! (Stopping the knee knocking with any sort of acceleration would be nice too). The treat was a serene start to Saturday and a tail wind to Sanctuary Drive with Tina, finding Wozza, Bruce, The Godfather, Bo, PistolPete, the 5ft Ninja, Rocket, Troy, Julz and Greg forming for a lap, capped at a conservative 35.  A winter handbrake on hurry seems timely and Julz' return from a fortnight off wouldn't want a rush anyway. Wozza and PistolPete kept the ride restrained to Mitchell Rd, the northeaster silencing chat on the turn toward Central Kialla.  The Godfather had manoeuvred to Bo's wheel in the advance - what could possibly go wrong?   

By chance, those with watts drove the hard metres into the wind to River Rd.  The call for restraint had little effect on the mischief makers leading at the dip - off in their own little world ahead of the bunch and oblivious to the wind direction.  The 5ft one and I held station while Julz was guided to shelter at the rear.  PistolPete repaired the gap in the pack to re-unite with the oblivious ones near River Rd's end, logic deciding to split the squad at rooster corner.   

(Troy, Greg, Julz, Tina and I choosing to cruise while others continued on).  The distance to Old Dookie Rd was needed for Julz to be able to utter a sentence......and there's the argument for the affirmative to soldier on through Winter's worst. (Just two days off two wheels starts a struggle for me!)   A rabbit's random run of the roadway toward the Toaster was as entertaining as Bo and The Godfather judging wind direction. Relief finally came turning west with the wind (almost) behind, Troy bidding his adieu's to catch the faster faction.  It's been many moons since sentences were possible at the front (speed seems to prevent this pleasure) so the 14k's to Mt.Wanganui was a stress-free social spin for a change. 

Strangely, Rudd Rd needed extra effort to sustain speed till the softening sensation of a deflating tyre gave me the reason for poor performance.  A sliver of glass halted progress for repairs (In Emil's absence, lucky me was spared the gospel according to tubeless).  Conversation on shipping containers, Nutcracker syndrome and navigating the Sunshine Coast punctuated an Eighty8 breakfast. 

20/6 Willy's chilly! 

Facing minus one needed all the insulation layers from the cupboard, a deep breath and a certain amount of stupidity to get out the door on Tuesday.  I'd pulled the pin on Monday's forecast (but could have squeezed in a lap as it happened), so the urge to clock a few k's was strong.   Wendy, Emil, Tina, Jen and BamBam had shown their fortitude (or foolishness?) fronting for a squirrel circuit; this would be Tina's last lap before a Queensland escape and Jen's return from a week away.  

Preserving protocols, Emil baptised us to 35's toward the truck route, certainly an invigorating introduction to the joys of June.  I had doubts of reaching his standards for the 1300 metres from Doyles to Orrvale Rd but the surprise was speed wasn't the struggle I thought it would be.  Memory placed me at the roads' centre, avoiding that ever enlarging pot-hole at the school (yet another obstacle to stick in the skull to keep rides upright)   The 1500 metres to the Kinder was under BamBam's charge, Tina driving the next 1300 metres to the cypress trees, Jen lasted 1600 metres to the S bend so Wendy finished the 1200 metres remaining of Channel.  A 4k spell in the drivers seat by Emil made less work for the rest of us and towed me to Old Dookie Rd for my 1500 metre sentence to New Dookie Rd.  

Lungs weren't so happy extracting oxygen from the chilled atmosphere.  A fortnight's dedication to regular rides had BamBam in form to drag us the 2 k's to Lemnos Cosgrove Rd. Tina's 1400 metre drive to the bridge needed a brief break for blood sugar adjustment, Jen getting the job to reach Lemnos North Rd 1400 metres beyond. An elbow from Wendy after her 3k shift to Grahamvale Rd put Emil in charge for the 1200 to Verney, so naturally he took on the 2300 extra to Balaclava Rd, feels like minus three and the red light welcoming us there. 

21/6 A foggy fellowship.

I'd expected more than PistolPete, BamBam, Emil, Troy, Kreeky and The Godfather to line up for a a lap on Wednesday but another minus one probably put a few off. Tina and Bruce escaping to warmer states and Wozz, Boof and Greg on the sick list trimmed the team to a single filed line as Pistol steered us south at 5:40.  Third wheel (behind Emil) had thrown me in the deep end early.  Contrary to the Bureau's observation of calm, it felt easier to the left of Emil's wheel, so I guessed a westerly might be a help on the way out (and a hassle on the way back).   I was pleased Emil kept his enthusiasm to 36's; lungs wouldn't like anything more and sitting second wheel was turning me second hand on his 2k tour to Central Kialla. 

A few glances at the Garmin delivered good news on the drive to River Rd; the old engine was holding 35's with some consistency and thankfully fog was blurring the heart rate numbers (what you don't know can't hurt you, right?)   Kreeky did his duty to the bridge, Troy extending his shift a k beyond the dip ('cause he can!)    Not to be out-done, The Godfather towed us all to rooster corner.  BamBam took a cautious approach to the Broken bridges with eyes peeled for wildlife, Troy and The Godfather with lights aimed left and right to widen the scope. I got greedy for oxygen at the slightly slower speed.  

Pistol was handed the reigns at the second bridge and of course stayed on in the lead beyond the highway (Emil not so keen on the pace through the fog but I had every faith in PistolPete's 20/20 vision).  A drive to Central Ave was an odds on bet for Emil at the front in Old Dookie Rd so I psyched up to take on the drive to Dobson's, downloading a heap of h.t.f.u. to further the aim at the truck route. Kreeky's burst of pace toward SPC didn't help the recovery but the diversion (roundabout roadworks finally underway) via Mitchell and Williams did.   

22/6 Four times hotter than yesterday!

Two minutes ahead of schedule has become the standard lately; not to allow for extra layering time (that has the alarm set five minutes early anyway!) but it's to allow the poor old engine some warm-up time.  Expecting any sort of speed at the end of the street is a joke - legs and lungs are barely ready for social speed at Sanctuary Drive!  Four degrees almost felt tropical, though a southeaster forced the "feels like" to 1.6 (Look on the bright side Foss, that's still four times hotter than yesterday!)    Officially beyond the equinox, it can only get better from now.   

Molly was the surprise return in Rae street, joining Wendy, Emil and Jen for Thursday's therapy.  Numbers were better than I'd expected.   Preparing to drive the usual second shift was cancelled; Emil had extended his turn to Orrvale Rd, so getting the cruise to the Kinder with the comfort of smooth tarmac was a treat, though an 18 sprocket would have been nice; (the choice was spin at 93 rpm on the 17 or grind at 78 rpm on the 19).  Molly chose the caboose for her comeback so second last was my berth while Wendy took the reigns to the cypress trees.  The drive to finish off Channel Rd seemed easy for Jen.  

That southeaster had swung to a northeaster for our path north, so wasn't Emil a good boy to stay in the lead to New Dookie Rd. (those 1800 metres to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd were testing enough for me, even at social speed.)  I could understand Wendy turning up the tempo to Lemnos given the breeze behind but there were no casualties recorded.  Jen had calmed the pace a little half way into Ford Rd and just like Tuesday, Emil took on the drive to Verney and the southbound spin to Balaclava too (but predictability is a good thing while we charge around a few centimetres apart in the depths of a dark winter). 

23/6 The Friday few.

With stomach satisfied on toast and coffee at stupid o'clock, it would be so easy just to crawl back into bed!  Yet another grey winter's morning did it's best to discourage anything outdoors ; a fresh northeaster blew a "feels like four" across the damp tarmac, sparking memories of Malcolm Fraser's July '71 quote.  I reckon it was addiction that dragged me to kit-up and face the grey, that wind at least easing the effort of 10 k's to the start line.  Friday's ride had all the appeal of a proctologist's appointment with only Rocket, PistolPete, Boof and Emil parked at the roundabout, the thought of "sitting on" rather appealing till the h.t.f.u. kicked in. 

Starting at fourth wheel meant my first shift would be into River Rd with the wind at the side rather than head on. (In this quick company they'd have to tolerate my tame tempo). Free entertainment arrived on Pistol's first shift to the truck route, The Godfather's (orchestrated?) arrival scoring maximum draft at the back.  Emil's 36's eastbound to Central Kialla set the expectation, a rather damp Mitchell Rd keeping the speed sensible.  Rocket's horsepower rose to the occasion for the northbound leg to River Rd but the suffering at second wheel wasn't the best introduction to my appearance at the front.  

I'd reached the bridge with some things still in focus, Boof having no difficulties (post spicy cough) in driving a k beyond the dip while I gasped a very slow recovery.  As we've come to expect, wind direction was of little interest to The Godfather on his haul to rooster corner, the tail-end in the gutter seeking shelter.  Pistol provided a proper path through "kangaroo alley" to the bridges and beyond, though his tempo was toasting me (I'd rather be toasting myself in a warm bed!) I had no doubts that Emil would drive the distance to Old Dookie Rd into the wind, the want for more oxygen on my wish list at third wheel. (Yep, there'd be two turns today Foss......get over it!)  Legs burned and lungs laboured behind Rocket's shift to Central Ave so a short drive to Dobson's bridge might be the safest bet for me to survive.  Finding 36's on the Garmin when the backside berthed on the Fizik gave a little inspiration headed toward the bridge and a (perfectly timed) passing truck made the motivation to reset my target at reaching the truck route (if lungs didn't burst beforehand!)  The roadworks short-cut via Mitchell and Williams meant a shorter squirt into town, so I survived the fling at 44's to finish with the five (like I was actually a part of the team!)

This week 261km

YTD 6,627km

The vertical version

 Post #701

10/6 Curing cravings.

A wet week caused a craving to get aboard the bike when the forecast finally said dry for Saturday, an urge shared by Troy, Rocket, Julz, BamBam, The Godfather, Wozza, Tina, Emil, Bruce, Kim, KnightPaul, Boof, Greg, LiamM and PistolPete apparently, assembling at Sanctuary's start line.  I had some rust to shake off when six bells struck to set sixteen southbound, the small gap ahead in the left line slammed shut when Bo filled the void. His speciality?  Rocket's repairing ribs had allowed him a spin and rescheduled surgery had Greg back in the bunch, KnightPaul added more horsepower to the pack while Bruce, The Godfather and Bo were showing signs of a soaked spin yesterday.  Duty in the drivers seat was scheduled for later when I finally joined the advance line beyond River Rd's dip. 

 Water across the road (yesterday) caused a caution to be called but just a few puddles remained at the quarter horse fence; the only other concern was facing feels like one (and whether to guess The Godfather's hollers as a caution.  Is an interpreter available?) It was a pleasure seeing a fraction of light on the horizon along Coach Rd (hump day is only a bit over a week away!)   BamBam and Tina did their time at the business end on Boundary Rd (LiamM, Kim and Julz opting for partial rotations) and I scored part one with Tina to Old Dookie then part two to the Toaster with Bo (half wheeled the whole way of course!)  

Those with wheelbarrows full of watts played ball; conforming with the teams' tempo is the secret to sustaining attendance at this time of year.  Long drives by those who can made this a one-turn-at-the-front lap for many, the colourful sun-up scenery behind motivating the return to town. Behavior along the Boulevard made a welcome change, cobwebs being cleared on the last k to Knight St.  "Interesting" people we know, vexed vision and specialist surgery was on the breakfast babble list.

12/6 Toaster tappin'.

Siding with the Wouldabeens (Crossy, AlmostRetiredTrev, Wendy and ChrisS) was tant amount to treason in some Couldabeens quarters, but the chance to ride in daylight on a public holiday made perfect sense for Tina, Emil and I.  A lap of slightly less labour was a drawcard too.  The risk of 'roos on Raftery Rd turned a Toaster lap short to make Archer Rd the starting straight for Emil and I to lead to Mitchell Rd. 

33's raised no objections.  I got lucky to be in the draft for the monotonous length of Mitchell Rd as a light easterly made work for others toward Coach Rd.  Emil showed remarkable restraint to keep tempo tame (one should do as the Roman's do in Rome), possibly wearing a set of brake pads out in the process.  Oxygen to spare for sentences made this a rare ride where social intercourse was possible, though feels like 0.8 was causing an early craving for coffee. The Bureau said north northeast but the ease of heading west on Lemnos-Cosgrove contradicted that, the fact that all were happy to serve their sentence at the front a little faster confirmed it was a tailwind to me.  

The 14k length of Lenmos-Cosgrove and Ford Rd passed with pleasure to Wanganui Rd, a short spin south on Rudd Rd to Canterbury where the six slimmed to single file just as I'd reached the front at the Boulevard. I had no plans for heroics toward breakfast but of course Emil did beyond Tarcoola's roundabout.  Conversation in the Milk Bar's warmth only made the remount to ride home a little harder - but that's how winter tests us. 

13/6 A fresh fling.

With a few out of action and just five fronting for Tuesday's lap, I guessed there'd be extra effort needed, particularly with a northeaster blowing for most of the anti-clockwise tour of Shepp East and Lemnos.  The commute south to the shop was the easy bit, though feels like four encouraged a little extra cadence for some warmth.  The recent kangaroo calamity has created a consensus for a little calm in the depths of a dark winter, all comfortable with a cap of 35 and a renewed focus on conditions and wildlife to see us through the season, hopefully remaining upright. Even at second wheel, 35 was an effort to the truck route. The northeaster wasn't helping.  Wendy warned of another pot-hole expanding near the school, one I just managed to see and avoid in a tiring turn to Orrvale Rd. 

Wendy worked her watts to the Kinder and Kim performed well to the cypress trees without a speedo for reference.  Tina's intention to drive to the end of Channel Rd was shortened by the wind at the S bend.  I'd got my head around the extra effort needed to head into a now north northeaster but Emil chose to suffer the length of Boundary Rd to New Dookie Rd.  Given the short 1800 metres to Lemnos-Cosgrove was more than enough punishment and catching the train's tail when Wendy worked west wanted willpower too.  Sitting at second wheel to Lemnos North Rd had laboured Kim to shorten her shift on Ford, Tina doing the 2 k drive to Grahamvale Rd.  So Emil naturally took on the role of tow truck to Verney Rd and added the southbound shift to Balaclava (with a final fling into the 40's) to that (always?) red traffic light. 

14/6 At war with wind.

If it weren't for the other weirdo's riding (hopefully!) in Wednesday's wintery wind, I'd have cancelled the alarm and drifted back into la la land.  Feels like 2.9 and a 24 km/h westerly wasn't a good advertisment for leaving a warm bed!  I nearly called a tow truck to get me moving.  Weirdo's Greg, Kreeky, Wozza, Boof, Bruce, the 5ft Ninja, Emil, BamBam, PistolPete, Tina and The Godfather lined up in the windblown Sanctuary Drive and priorities seemed to be on getting a shift done before the heartache of the headwind home. Old Dookie Rd wouldn't be much fun.  

PistolPete had allowed Boof and Wozza to get the party started south while I drew the short straw of the Ninja's starved-of-a-slipstream wheel.  The wind behind primed plenty of pace along Mitchell to the point of considering dropping off the back if this was the standard.  The dark, the damp road and recent wildlife worries have altered comfort levels (Lili going under the surgeon's knife today put more caution in the cranium)  but Emil applied an ease of effort to set the speed at sensible on River Rd's wet tarmac. The Godfather willingly obliged.  (I do favour the vertical version of riding).  

Luck was likely to let me get duty done before Old Dookie Rd arrived but BamBam's draft was hiding the real work of the now west northwester blowing at the port side on Boundary.  The Ninja drew alongside at the bridge but wisely called it quits at the fig farm, sensing the suffering to come for the west way home.  How lucky we were to have horsepower to the front for the 8k back to town, Wozza, Boof, Pistol and Emil providing 36's and 7's (into the wind mind you!) to satisfy the coffee craving sooner.

15/6 Quality....quasi quantity.

Emil's early launch and my moments hesitation put me at the back of Thursday's line, a welcome change from the usual second wheel duty, though rooster tails of water from Emil, Tina, Wendy and BamBam was the payback for procrastination.  Preparation time before facing the front wasn't a bad thing though.  The road from home was dry but damp (the Bureau failed to forecast) had scattered on the circuit from earlier drizzles.  Glad I hadn't cleaned the bike!  A few on the injured / sick list had slimmed the squirrels to four so BamBam's last moment arrival at the start was a welcome addition.  

Feeling the guilt by the time I was handed the reigns at the cypress trees, my drive to Channel Rd's end was figured to be compensation for the long tow. I timed that well; giving Emil the lead role on Coach and Boundary Rd and the joy of the headwind with it! Ah, but he's young (and I reckon he enjoys the pain!)   Tina must have counted her blessings to be towed to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, putting in a decent drive herself for 2 k's west toward Lemnos.  Not content with the k to Lemnos North Rd, Wendy chose to work another 3 k's to Grahamvale Rd.   BamBam's elbow elected me the lead arriving at Verney Rd, donating Emil's hallowed drive to Balaclava Rd to my control (better not f#@k this up Foss!)   The north northeaster amplified my abilities to build up to 40's beyond Graham St, but I f#@k'd the timing of the traffic lights (of course) arriving at a red one.

16/6 Friday's frustrations.

A clean bike and chain should have started Friday on a positive but 3 k's down the road the clatter from the chain was doing my head in.  No amount of derailer trimming or gear changing would silence it.  A lot of effort was going in with little return on speed as well.  Arriving at Sanctuary's start line at 5:40:03 needed a bucket load of watts just to catch the tail of the bunch launching southward, so the draft from Rocket, Kel, PistolPete, Tina, Troy, Boof, Greg, Bruce, Wozza, Bo, Emil, the 5ft Ninja, Kreeky and The Godfather at least helped with the hurry.  Finding the incentive to advance for a drive at the business end was difficult.  It was tempting to stay at the back but Boof and his man-cold were confined there.  Speed seemed supersonic till a glance at the Garmin read 'h.t.f.u. Foss, it's only 37'.  

So I followed Tina toward the front while Greg and Troy towed us to the dip.  Tina took the lead for a k till survival beckoned her to the shelter of the left line.  Despite heading east, the north northeaster felt head-on at the front and with barely a k covered, I called half time to Greg for part two with Kel (she kindly ignored me sounding like a steam train and the bike sounding like a shaken bucket of nails).  My white flag was raised just a minute later for Kel and Kreeky to save my breathless bacon. Nearly able to string a sentence together in Coach Rd, a 'roo the size of a small horse caused a sudden slow (deja vu a fortnight ago) but all remained upright.  With brakes barely cooled, The Godfather was on the gas again to stir up the stress, velocity varying to the highway.  

This wasn't a fun Friday.  PistolPete restored the rhythm on Boundary Rd though 37's still felt like 47's to Old Dookie Rd. Out of the head wind and bearing west toward town fixed some frustrations but legs were still laboring. Sheltered in the left line back to town took a little pressure off although the throttle was still wide open to keep in the slipstream.  All got the green light at High St........except me, so a slow roll to the Butter Factory was bliss, though now I sensed a slowly softening rear tyre.  At least I found the excuse for the effort!

This week 328km

YTD 6365km        

Watts on Weet-Bix

 Post #700 

3/6 A ride restrained.

The call for a calm Saturday was attractive to several on Saturday (Bo, Boof, Greg, The Godfather, Wozza, Julz, Emil, the 5ft Ninja, GiantAndy and PistolPete) although overnight rain didn't make the circuit very attractive.  Yesterday's crash and the state of the roads certainly put caution on the cards, so the promised cap of 35 for the circuit seemed a sensible ceiling (if it was stuck to).  Shame it takes something horribly horizontal to bring the risk back into focus; speeding along through the dark at 10 metres a second (less than a metre apart) is bound to have consequences at times. (Highlights the trust we put in others, eh?)  Settling into some sort of order, Julz had shied from facing the front in Mitchell Rd, ducking to the left line and leaving me Emil's wheel to follow to River Rd. My duty at the front was to the bridge then with The Godfather to the dip and that was a decent heart-starter to the lap for me (An east southeaster had stolen anything like stamina from me).  

Naturally, eyes were peeled for 'roos, and rooster tails of water from wet wheels quickly found open orifices and clean bikes and kits to make a mess of; at least the craving for k's was satisfied.  Hijinks were off the menu with Bo and The Godfather separated and most of the horsepower had restrained themselves to the call for calm, though my second serve at the business end from Verney through to Mt.Wanganui seemed to empty the tank, even at social speed.  Wozza and GiantAndy were let loose in Rudd Rd to clear cobwebs while the remainder took a cautionary cruise along the Boulevard ('till Emil's enthusiasm erupted to bolt the last k to Knight St.)  The now standard split to the cafe of choice saw a few head to Eighty8 for breakfast to refuel and solve e.v. battery disposal, getting booked and supporting your local grower (legal crops that is) 

5/6 Going through the Monday motions.

The forecast of a wet week ahead stirred the bones out of bed on a mild Monday.....this might be one of the very few chances to clock a few k's for the week.  A few had braved bare knees in 8 degrees when 5:40 drew Emil, Tina, Bruce, the 5ft Ninja, BamBam, Bo, Wozza, The Godfather, Kel and Greg to the starting line.  Wozza and Emil performed the opening ceremony to the lap in PistolPete's absence.  There'd be no escape from the northeaster today and scoring the Ninja's wheel would offer little shelter.  Tina had braved getting back on two wheels following Friday's horizontal malfunction but chose the caboose as a precaution while I prepared to brave the front as Kel and the Ninja led the mob out of River Rd's dip. 

Duty called sooner than expected when the 5ft one shortened her shift, then the k alongside Emil to rooster corner felt the wind more head-on to burn up the reserves (it seemed like a wind to me but the Bureau reckoned it was a breeze ; these statements come from a static weather station though, not alongside a young bloke's pace!)  The Godfather must have had watts on his Weet-Bix, delivering yet another decent drive on Coach and Boundary Rd's.  Greg was making the most of a pre-knee replacement ride.  Old Dookie Rd had plenty of pace with that 'wind' behind (or was it the eagerness for a fix of caffeine?) and into town 45's were seen briefly on the single filed thrash to SPC's (will it ever be fixed?) roundabout. 

The forecast wet week did happen to limit the kilometres (therefore limiting this babble!) so that will muster motivation next week!

This week 116km

YTD 6,029

Watts or willpower?

 Post #699

27/5 Sluggish for some, swift for others.

It's easy to lose a minute or two in that layering process preparing for the mornings' temperature (although nine degrees was a welcome reprieve); a procedure easily forgotten when you've been spoiled by summer.  Which gloves, beanie or bandana, what and how many base layers and I'd obviously missed the commuter train when I arrived at an empty Tarcoola roundabout at 5:31, so a solo spin to Sanctuary Drive at my speed was a change as good as a holiday.  A few lights were circulating the side streets so the Saturday express hadn't left the station.  Bruce, Bo, Julz, Rocket, the 5ft Ninja, Boof, Troy, GiantAndy, LiamM, Wozza, Lili and PistolPete converged on the grid at 5:59 and a moment's hesitation as the clock struck six put me on a chase to catch the eager entrants spinning south.  An absent Godfather seemed strange.  Two rows got sorted into a pecking order and I'd scored a good seat between LiamM and Lili as 38's settled into the standard toward Mitchell Rd.  

The turn east to Central Kialla had Lili drop back a place, promoting me onto GiantAndy's wheel in the advance, a great draft behind but formidable beside (I should worry about that later - I might get lucky to have that westerly's assistance?)   Cloud cover had kept the chill away but made the morning as dark as DarthVaders kit beyond the headlights' beam, the rabbit rushing from the roadside in River Rd a heart-starter for many.  Effort multiplied on each promotion forward and ever closer to the red-line at second wheel had doubts raised on delivering the speed at the front.  ("Suck it up Softie" that voice in the skull whispered) GiantAndy was of course the gentleman when duty called into Coach Rd.  

38's wasn't such an ask headed to the Broken bridges as the big lad sheltered me from the side wind......but then reality kicked in.   The fading symptoms of a man cold had lungs laboring barely 300 metres into the shift and those h.r. numbers were on an escalator to explosion 200 metres further. (Hate that; legs and head were raring to go but everything else was going on strike).  The want to do my fair share drove me till the will to live started to fade (100 metres from the bridge); how I'd cope with an effort from Lili on part two I tried to suppress.  (Lucky stars were thanked as her speed settled at 33's, then she called an early half time at the second bridge).  Getting the h.r. back to bearable would have to wait for a couple of k's.  LiamM and the Ninja were put in charge to the highway though that was soon shortened to Channel Rd.  (Reality may have kicked them too?)  Speed was on the rise again in Boundary Rd (some of those highly tuned engines can stall at slow speeds) but I'd found a breath or two by then so could survive.  Real recovery might come at breakfast?  

Bruce and PistolPete guided our way to the Toaster and returning to the advance line gave me some shelter from that westerly again.  Facing the front (somewhere in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd?) and into the headwind would be a cruel contrast.  Serious thoughts went into seeking respite in the shelter of left line but choosing the soft option has repercussions doesn't it!  (I felt duty bound to do a shift when LiamM and Lili would be braving the advance again).  Time in the drivers seat was a waiting game over Lemnos-Cosgrove's length while those with real horsepower sliced their way through the wind, not until Emil rolled left on the second k of Ford Rd that Andy and I got that job again.   1200 metres to Grahamvale Rd evaporated a lot of energy and my hope for a halt for traffic was dashed with a clear path through, so rolled left; something slower beside Lili would do me well.  

The surprise was the Ninja alongside for part two (LiamM and Lili had taken the soft option).  Half wheeled for half a k wasn't a worry but the Ninja soon took shelter behind, leaving me with Bo to head to Verney.  A request for leniency got me his draft but when he and PistolPete turned up the pace I'd hit my expiry date.  Bruce saw me in struggle street though his appeal for calm had no effect so holding on till Numurkah Rd was my only option (hoping there was traffic there!)   A split in the bunch into Wanaganui Rd got some of that oxygen back on the slow roll to regroup, just enough to survive to Rudd Rd (but when speed spiked again for a blast along the Boulevard it seemed fair to let the lads off the leash and side with the spent to roll low 30's to breakfast).   The culinary quality of Eighty8 in the company of LiamM, Julz, Jen and Kim explored half wheeled heroics, the fringes of medical science and flattering photos. 

(From now I'll try to abbreviate the babble and spare you the strain of filtering all the b.s.   I'm spending too much time on this stuff! A reflection on the quality of tv programs I suppose?)

29/5 Welcome weather?

A damp stretch of tarmac and a chilled westerly breeze wasn't such a warm welcome for Monday morning and after yesterday's rain, there'd be all those worms to collect on the circuit. (Ah, that aroma!)  Still, these might be the conditions we crave when the real winter takes hold.  I'd banked on other weirdos riding in this sort of weather and was proved right when Emil, Kim and Jen were found southbound to Sanctuary at stupid o'clock.  There were plenty of similarly strange ones at the grid too. (Bruce, PistolPete, Troy, Kel, Rocket, BamBam, Wozza, Bo and the 5ft Ninja).  Even The Godfather had appeared as Pistol started the southbound stuff with Emil at 5:40.  By chance I'd berthed on BamBam's wheel as two rows got into order toward the truck route, the damp road and glossy tyres turning up the caution for the left / right into leg two toward Mitchell Rd.  

The draft from four pairs ahead probably masked the effort needed at the front, but for now, I was pleased with progress. Under somewhat slippery circumstances, 35's seemed sensible.    Despite the Bureau's statement of a light westerly, it felt like a northeaster on Coach Rd.  I had the head ready for a drive beyond the highway when Jen paired with Kel but the call of duty came early when Jen rolled left at Channel Rd.  BamBam seemed pleased with a slightly slower pace for my part two, though the approaching truck on Boundary Rd delivered a blast of wind that nearly blew us back to last Thursday.  PistolPete and Emil made a mockery of our complaints about wind, forging ahead to Old Dookie unflustered. The earlier enthusiasm to ride was beginning to wear off (directly proportional to the energy used), the thoughts of a caffeine fix at the end providing the inspiration to tolerate the speed for 7 k's toward town. Two lines drew long and thin for the single filed thrash to SPC as it usually does!   

30/5 Cold constraints.

Despite the respiratory restrictions of this man-cold that won't let go, and feeling somewhat second-hand anyway, the two wheeled addiction dragged me from the warm bed and forced the insulation process for Tuesday's fix.  Wendy, Emil, Kim, Jen and Lili provided the incentive to rotate the legs south to the shop and as usual, it felt like climbing a mountain getting there (and there wasn't even a wind to blame!)  Maybe Emil's effort at 37's to the truck route might get the old engine up and running?  (more likely to cook me, but that's better than the regret of hibernating indoors overdosing on cough syrup!)    An attempt to simulate Emil's speed for the Doyles to Orrvale thing was an effective decongestant.   

The Jenerator (Julz' label, not mine) turned up the torque to complete Channel Rd which meant Emil kept his traditional tap of Coach and Boundary Rd's to Old Dookie.  Sitting second wheel to get there became hard labor.  I'd managed that short 1100 metres from Old to New Dookie ok but wasn't going to risk engine damage driving any further so gave Julz the job to take us north to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.   Wendy was on form to muster the muscle for the long drive to Lemnos North Rd.  Excess enthusiasm drove Emil to get to Verney where of course he'd drive south to Balaclava Rd.  Second wheel was a tough gig again, particularly when that enthusiasm went beyond 40 at Graham St.  A slightly slower approach to the traffic lights found them changing to my favoured colour.....green.

31/5 The Godfather's grunt.

An extended shift by a few (that had the horsepower) in River Rd had delayed The Godfather's arrival at the front till the turn north into Coach Rd.....and straight into a headwind (orchestrated or coincidence? I don't know)   So naturally a chorus of "Full blocks" was called.  Troy (alongside) had set 36's on the menu so there'd be some peace at the front while many watched for a possible Hiroshima moment......

The mid-week ride had started well with a 15 km/h northerly helping my commute to the start line, lucky too to get a draft from Boof and Wozz from Benalla Rd.  Positioning on the grid would be critical if I was to avoid that wind through Central Kialla, Coach or Boundary Rd.  Of course PistolPete led the ten (Kel, Emil, Bruce, the 5ft Ninja, Bo, Troy, Boof, Wozza and The Godfather) and for a moment it seemed the Ninja may take the left line lead beside him, till the reality had her retreat to the rear.  

With the wind behind to motivate, I was happy to fill that role (concerns of keeping up soon faded when the bunch split for traffic at the truck route.  The slow start to leg two saved me).  

A shirt-load of stubbornness drove The Godfather beyond the Broken bridges to the highway, his part two scoring Bo beside him in Boundary.  (What could possibly go wrong?)  The season's dilemma of finding a dry line through the puddles of course got us all polka dotted.  It's in Bo's d.n.a. to creep a half wheel ahead but Kel's castigation brought him back to showing a little respect for The Godfather's effort. (a swift 6k drive into the wind isn't like falling off a log)   Bo and Kel captained into Old Dookie Rd, the sledges coming thick and fast when Bo called it quits at School Rd.  Co-piloting Kel to Central Ave was fast but fair but I gave PistolPete the heads-up that Dobson's bridge would be my limit for the second bit.  That left just enough in the tank to survive Pete and Boof's burst to the truck route.  Blurred vision and spotted specs didn't help my navigation, but Bruce's reliable wheel helped with a draft to survive the SPC squirt.

1/6  The therapy thesis.

The Thursday therapy theory turned thin when Emil set 36's to the truck route, though a northwester should be blamed for that.  Wendy, Kim, Tina, the Jenerator, LiamM, Lili and Julz might spin the west way home somewhat slower?  Wind at the starboard side on Coach and Boundary hadn't slowed the tempo and I'd been gifted a different length of tarmac (New Dookie to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd) for a change.  Wind shifting to a west northwester only built determination to fight it (RIP Therapy Thursday!) to Lemnos. A slight slow at the front caused the ripple effect of panicked braking at the back (How complacent we become when smooth is the standard).    Wendy was in fine form for Ford Rd though Lili labored.  Kim given driving duty for Verney Rd was a rare privilege and she made it an inspiring one with a pace of 37's toward Balaclava......but too little for Emil to hold station.  Maybe it's his speed that triggers the traffic lights to shift to red? 

2/6  A kangaroo calamity.

Plenty of throttle needed (as usual) to get to Sanctuary Drive to find Greg, Wozza, Grumpy, Troy, Bruce, The Godfather, Boof, Lili, Bo, Emil, PistolPete, Tina and Kel ready for kit day, and in an almost carbon copy of Wednesday, I got the left line lead when PistolPete took to piloting the right.  My lack of watts (or is it willpower?) had me call Pistol across for his draft for part two to Mitchell.  Like most days, two lines had formed to share the workload, one degree a real introduction to Winter (and only three months worth of it to go!)   Lili and Tina chose to sit this lap out in the caboose.  Bo was up to something asking me if he could rejoin the advance to get The Godfathers' wheel. (These two should be separated in class).    Just into a rhythm along Coach Rd, a sudden grab at the brakes had the bunch like Brown's cows (three kangaroos had leapt from the roadside darkness), the reaction time needed at the rear far too short for Tina and Lili who'd touched wheels and hit the horizontals. 

That sickening sound of bodies and carbon fibre against the tarmac painted a painful picture.  Tina was upright within seconds (minus some skin) but Lili was clutching an elbow in a lot of pain (an ambulance conclusion to the circuit was called (fractured wrist and elbow later reported) while I escorted Tina homeward, rather than seizing up stationary at the minus one roadside.

  

This week 311km

YTD 5,913km

 

Let's know if this drivel is more digestable in 'extra edited' format..........