Week 14 : Bike bait

Post 391

1/4 : A fast fresh frolic on Fools day

Mentally motivated but physically frigid facing six degrees Saturday, the urge to ride faster to warm up only whipped up the wind chill factor. How summer's warmth has softened us!   To satisfy the cyclust in him, Wozz flew in the face of flu and Mel withstood the weather to soak up Saturday's cycling sociology, down to the startline we rolled to find Trav, Tina, Bruce, Temple, Rocket, Avanti-not-MeridaJohn, AvantiAndy, MeridaAndy, HBK, Grumpy, SuperMario, BamBam, Shorty, Popgun, Cougar, TatMat, TatPaul, KillkennyPaul, BassoDan, Softa, The Godfather, Kel, Pistol, Bo, Boof, Jen, Jase, Manny and Carl.  Temperature obviously wasn't the hinderance,  so what fills a cold carpark at 5:55?  Mel's discovery of a spongy front tyre at 5:58 prompted an inevitable split in the Couldabeens crowd (feelings of fault were unjustified Mel, this is a team game!), 14 stayed to struggle with the SLR while 18 set sail as a manageable group one.  Boof's brawn and The Godfathers grunt reseated the GP4000 on the recalcitrant rim for group two (MeridaAndy, Wozz, Mel, Boof, The Godfather, TatMat, TatPaul, KillkennyPaul, Softa, BassoDan, Manny, Carl and Tina) to launch the second assault.  Wozz and I opened the account to Doyle's Rd but a mechanical misdemeanor messed with Mel's motion.  With a binding brake released, we steamed along Channel Rd, there'd be plenty of turns on the front today (making a change from the usual one or two), smoother shifts served by similarly skilled suiting synchronicity.  There was a short-cut taken to suit the schedule, Toaster and Emu corners dropped in favour of straight up Boundary to Lemnos-Cosgrove, with a heads-up to several unaccustomed to the ripple strips at the Hill Rd rail crossing.   Softa's made a comeback on a new Pinarello, Tina still toughing out her 400k a week habit and MeridaAndy's still murdering the big gears.  West toward town, BassoDan's tank was rapidly emptying beside Wozz, I moved up when he rolled across, cruising with compassion for a lad on the limit (respecting Rule #67).  Ford Rd's first 2 k's pickled me with pace beside young Carl, it's hard to deliver ten tenths while trying to hide that you're spent (the gasps, groans and headling usually give the game away).  

A nod for effort from TatMat and KillkennyPaul was my mental salve, now just to stay in the draft of Boof and Carl's pace in the hope of a quick recovery before the Wanganui workout. There were 14 line astern at DECA as the cream (Wozz, Boof, The Godfather, Carl and MeridaAndy) rose to the top, but the pace eased at the base of Wanganui hill, finding group one pit-stopped for a puncture payback. Group two pressed on to steal the warmest Lemontree seats, kit colours, caustic comments predicting pace & perfecting position were on the chat list as group one docked to fill a 28 seat table.

3/4 : Monday's meandering

The temptation to trek a different track overpowered me Monday, so steered south on Archer to crank a reverse Kialla loop, 8 degrees and the light southerly taking the slack out of the legs. Eastern standard time had delivered a few lumens of light by 5:30, a mental calculation to reach the Goat peace train by 6 was cutting it fine, but the Virgo in me delivered a pronto pace to be punctual.  Coggo, Cate, Spiessy, Sandy, AvantiLeigh, Tina, RidleySomebody, Phil, AvantiAndy, Bazza, Belly, ApprenticePete, Spartacus and Jen had foregathered at Friars, a course committee convening conversation to soon divert from the Old Dookie Rd's roadworks.   Chocks away at 6 with the gift of first light to navigate east, a calm crank in the spirit of serenity with daylight now identifying RidleySomebody as RidleyCraig.

There's a lot more comfort seeing beyond the reach of the headlight, Bazz back aboard a bike (and suffering the temperature), Apprentice Pete improving all the time, Sandy swish in the new Goat kit and Spartacus unbridled by birthdays. Two bikes ahead were reeled in on River Rd's first k, Keeno and Cranky on a calmer-than-Cats cruise. Speed rose surreptitiously toward the bridge, one last turn beside Phil before it was my time to exit.   Still craving a change of course, I pointed north on the truck route to town to put diversity in the day, the 2 metre wide emergency lane a safer option than the skinny strip of Archer Rd's tarmac. The sun speared its beams through the clouds to enthuse the day, ah, but how long will this daylight dream last?

4/4  Team Turtle time trial
A cool and calm cruise to the Turtles Tuesday, with a short sprint to wake up the heart rate in preparation.  Just Jase, TrekTrev, HBK and KillkennyPaul had fronted the 5:40 grid, are the absent Turtles terrified by tempo?  With just 5 to work the lap, I cleverly called an Indian file but stupidly volunteered the first (and longest) shift. 8 degrees had clamped the lungs, taking till Kensington roundabout to get up to pace, it was quite a push for 1600 metres but I was trying to ignore the distance.  HBK towed us to Orrvale Rd, Jase to the Kinder, KillkennyPaul to McFadyen Rd and TrekTrev to Jameson Rd.  HBK powered on to the S bend leaving me the remainder of Channel to drive, unaware that TrekTrev's fuse had fizzled to the point of OTA and jettisoning breakfast. He summoned us onward (according to HBK's report), so five became four southward on Boundary with Jase doing the honours to River Rd.   KillkennyPaul dug the comeback depths to hammer out a turn (albeit abbreviated), HBK towed me to the kennels and I drove to the dip for Jase to take over.  The power of positive thought pushed me to pound out a 2k turn in Mitchell Rd, thank my lucky lungs there was a pause for traffic at the highway for respiratory recovery.  Into Raftery Rd and headed for Galbraiths, we were wearing down the lead a solo bike had ahead, nothing like a bit of bike bait to extract extra effort eh?  I put in a turn to Arcadia Downs before Jase dragged us into Conrod straight, the almost elusive lure found to be Weapon (with the TT Avanti advantage) as we crested the first rise.  I was going to gift KillkennyPaul the honours of the finish line till HBK shot past him in the last 150, a dark force motivating me to steal the win and deny HBK the bragging rights.

5/4 Boof's birthday bike bash

Wednesday started with a new pair of Pro4's and tubes (better than Colgate's ring of confidence....wow, that dates me!) and a new chain making the DuraAce delicious to change cogs.

Another cool and calm cruise to converge on the Couldabeens clan found Jase, Nick, Trav, Pelly, Shorty, Car+Mel, Pistol, Wozz, Cate, Rocket, Kel, Bo, Avanti-not-MeridaJohn, TrekTrev and Temple ready for 6am launch.  There was an inevitable big bunch split by traffic on the exit so it was a slow start till the bridges before the pace was on, Nev, Weapon, Bruce, BamBam and Troy joining at KiallaLakes. It's becoming way too easy to to sit back and relish the tow as the up-line assembled quickly, Wozz, Rocket, Boof, Pistol et al forming a formidable force to slice south toward Mitchell Rd.  So it was sit back social time till the call of duty beckoned much later, talking tummy turn-arounds with TrekTrev, kits that cook with Kel (purring in purple), travels with Trav, Boof's birthday, velocity variation with Rocket, weekly targets with BamBam, the Thursday agenda with Temple and compact vs big rings with Avanti-not-MeridaJohn. 

Cats were at the corner of River and Boundary, a line of galloping Goats licking lips bearing down behind, but most of us had attention on yet another super sunrise at One Tree Dam on our travels to Channel Rd.  And so the speed brewed west, and as each stepped up to play their part the short straw of the ChaCha lead-out became the issue.  Shorty squeezed in his turn just before Central Ave, a jinx befalling Car+Mel and Cate inheriting the build up to Kinder corner.  Turns in rapid succession put me at the front turning at the corner, pleased to have Jase roll across soon after.  Rocket took the long drive to Prentice Rd as a gift for birthday boy Boof, I sat in survival mode in Jase's then Temple's draft to be towed along for a midfield finish.

6/4  Temple's Tour de Turtles
Cramped by a case of the c.b.f's on Thursday morning, I had to trawl the depths of the corpus amygdala to get some giddy up to ride.  Spending the 15 minute commute to the carpark slowly warming up the old engine worked well, only Temple, Shorty, KillkennyPaul and Softa had fronted for 5:40 duty though.  Great to have BamBam arrive as we launched, a glance back found all carriages attached behind so I let loose on leg one (deja vu Tuesday), apparently unhooking an unseen addition who'd arrived looking for "the slow group".  Birthday boy Temple drove leg two and BamBam leg three to the Kinder, KillkennyPaul had a crack at leg four, scoring an elephant stamp for effort getting most of it done.  Shorty dragged us to the cypress trees and I was surprised to then see Softa face the front, but the glory lasted just 50 metres till reality cooked him.  I towed the train to the S bend but Softa had kaboomed off the caboose (solo laps and concrete consumption to do before his next attempt?).  5 became 4 in Boundary Rd (deja vu Tuesday again), I took a long turn in River Rd (Boundary to Trevaskis) maybe to prove my worth / earn my tow / find my limit, but it's almost heaven to get back in the tow and gasp my way back to coherent.  BamBam blasted the last 1.6 of River, Shorty slogging southward through Central Kialla to give me the drive on Mitchell to Archer (deja vu Tuesday yet again!).   It was repeat as neccessary in Raftery Rd where Temple scored the birthday present of the Conrod crown, a chatty commute home with Killkenny Paul on the fine art of the elbow flick, bacon breakfasts and the emerald isle.

7/4   Sprinterred
Despite a cruisy commute, Wozz, Car+Mel, Cate and I arrived on the second row of Fridays grid, popularity populating the peloton yet again.  (BamBam, SuperMario, Col, Pistol, Bruce, Jen, Trav, Kel, Pelly, Kenworth, Bo, Weapon, Nick, ScottMatt, Boof and TrekTrev)  Pelly played tow truck for the town exit, I got off my lazy gluteus maximus (see Wednesday 5/4) to do early duty in the up-line just as Wozz and Col did likewise.  I copped a thorough whole wheeling from Col from River to Mitchell, just grin and bear it Foss, it's probably Col's eduCATion?  An orange horizon slowly cleared to pale blue, reaching Central Kialla paired with Bruce was a tough task but he remained respectfully level.  After 4200 metres of toil, I reckoned I'd earned my tow, now the social side to enjoy (when my capacity to speak returned!)  River Rd westward bike traffic was thin, not until its end do Cats and Goats come out to play these days. North on Boundary into the breeze, Channel Rd promised the relief of a partial wind assistance home (with the obligatory pick up of pace to suit).
Cate, Car+Mel had done their donation to the drive by the cypress trees, Jen got hers in before Central Ave, it was now up to Wozz and Col to lead us to the ChaCha.  The speed was taken ever so gently up to the boil that I reached the front with 700 metres to go. 

With Boof and Bruce on my tail the only option was to bolt (so they'd earn the glory), delighted to glimpse 52 clicks but my fuse was burning rapidly.   Bruce then Boof soon belted by to instantly trigger my mental defeat, the engine in shut down and holding my line, I watched as most scurried by, but hey!, there's no trophies at the end except for the grins and laughs commuting home.



Week 14       253 km             YTD 3,475 km       

Week 13: Judging jibe journalism

Post 390

A spit or three from the heavens at Saturday's grid didn't dull the desire, just holding faith in yr.no's forecast of a post ride drizzle.  Lots of leds pierced the darkness to converge on the carpark, Wozz, Cate, Car+Mel, BassoDan, Tum, Temple, TatMat, BeerMat,TatPaul, KillkennyPaul, Cougar, Temple, Trav, Avanti-not-MeridaJohn, AvantiTrev, AvantiAndy, MeridaAndy, Jen, Kel, Bo, Rocket, HBK, Pistol, The Godfather and Boof assembling for the 6am launch. I toed the tempo line on leg one with a tame tap at the front (but still felt the pins of pace protest).  TatPaul and BassoDan shared the leg two responsibilities,  Nev and ScottMatt joining in from an advanced reconnaisance. 

Rocket and Boof got the bunch up to the usual high thirties (funny, no pins now), now to headcount (recalling the names later) and swap words with each second rider as the rotations shuffled the order.  Cats Cranky, Dalts and Clive joined in Old Dookie Rd, the rubber band of variable velocity hard to hang onto perched at the back, the slightest variation on pace or line amplifying and multiplying down the line of 15 pairs of peloton protagonists.  Rule #59 and #88 need serious study!  I found myself playing shock absorber rising through the ranks on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, dampening the ups and downs and lefts and rights for the benefit of me and the sufferers behind.  There was surprise when a Garmin glance found 43 in Ford Rd, the northeaster priming the pace and the ego.  The gradually shortening days have us in the dismal dark all the way back to town, hanging out for next weeks time change to gift us a few weeks of morning light.
I had first bite at Wanganui Rd but short turns by TatPaul and BassoDan closed the door as Rocket launched an early break at the transfer station.  When a gap finally opened in the up-line there was a tough chase to catch the break, if only to get a brief draft from those popped off the back. 
Mid fourties for half a k with a dozen in tow cooked me, hallelujah to score the delicious draft of Kel when my tank emptied.   It was gasp and wheeze time to Rudd Rd as the dozen passed, composure finally arriving to chat with The Godfather Boulevard bound.  Staying smooth and straight, chooks & eggs and Velominati's Rules kept conversation cooking, savouring the cafe's coffee and granola and the Couldabeens fellowship and bullship.  Serious sentences on Adnate's street art and politics with Temple, Wozz and Nev while waiting for the accurate arrival of drizzle to clear (but a grubby bike to clean as a weekend chore)

27/3

Tiring of the same old tracks, Monday's lap went west, off the (bike) beaten track to tour towards Tat.  There's a spirit of adventure and discovery cranking a course less travelled, a bit of Bourke and Wills if you like with the thrill of the unknown ahead. The Midland highway's getting a shoulder re-co so it was a squeezy spin when the peak hour of 5 cars passed by, a tailwind helping outbound, but there was a homeward hinderance to come.   I turned north onto the Tatura-Undera Rd and ascended the category 3 Mt Tarmac,

10k's of pushing into the northeaster putting the fortitude into Foss.  Through Gillieston (1 house and an intersection) and finally up to the Lancaster Rd I turned eastbound, fortitude now replaced with another F word.   Turning angry fighting the headwind for 6k, there comes a point when the legs won't give what the head wants, so there was a rethink on pace in the interest of survival (ceasing sulking at the slightly lower speed).  The wind at the left shoulder on Echuca-Mooroopna Rd was a little easier to bear, legs still stinging but I distracted thoughts to the road rubbish to dodge on the skinny shoulder.  A baby bottle, a coat hanger, a 15/16mm ring spanner, a plank, McDonalds packaging, a garden rake....  The Mooroopna waste water treatment plant awoke the nostrils abruptly to spur on the speed to return to the suburbs minus delay, a nicely timed return to town as the 7am starters car commuted, 50k clicked for me, Strava saying a 147 suffer.

28/3

It was almost a winter watershed Tuesday, 8 degrees was a shock from 20 degrees the day before.  The cool but calm crank to the carpark found Shorty, Nick, Dalts, KillkennyPaul, Cougar, AvantiTrev, ScottMatt, HBK and Temple ready to roll.  HBK was keen to pair with me as we set off on leg one, leaving him a half bike ahead seemed to keep him in a happy place. I backed off the gas with AvantiTrev in leg two (reduces my bike servicing costs), it was a bit early for his full steam effort he tells me. And so the rotations rolled as the Turtle train tapped east on Channel Rd, plenty of small sticks and branches to dodge from Monday night's wind (and some missed too, to be minced by Mavics).  Temple seemed to have the Ridley in a chain chattering half gear, AvantiTrev's lumens went to lunch to leave him in the dark in River Rd (what a novel idea to evade a turn at the front!), Killkenny Paul with a tank of enthusiasm even though his engine protests. Good to have Dalts along as a contributor though I'm not sure if he understood HBK's half bike welcome. Shorty had me short of breath keeping up in Mitchell Rd though there was good recovery time during the wind up on Raftery Rd in the chase to Conrod.  HBK dragged two lines to single file in the 1200 metre straight, I got the perfect sit as he and Temple pushed their limits with all in tow, just a waiting game till distance decided my launch time.  Off the Fizik at the 300 mark, all stops were out to shake off any followers, taking the chocolates easily as the gap attested. 

29/3

Three grinning girls put cheer into the chill of Wednesday morning, 9 degrees didn't deter Kenworth, Trav, Cate, Nev, Weapon, Shorty, Car+Mel, BeerMat, Cougar, Pistol, Bruce, Boof, BamBam, TrekTrev, AvantiTrev, ScottMatt, Troy, Chops, Nick, Rene, Col, Dalts, Jase and young Lightning to collect in the carpark.  BeerMat took the plunge of first turn to Sanctuary's roundabout, no shortage of upline volunteers today with a speed more sympathetic. Sentence swapping got underway as 26 rotated, Dalts and Col along for a Couldabeens crank rather than a Cat crawl.

The Goat PainTrain was in their first k of River Rd as we finished our last, well beyond the cruisy Cats still in Boundary Rd.
A pooch in the undergrowth as we neared the Channel Rd Kinder caused a trip in tempo for a tick, back on the gas into Kinder corner and hurtling toward Hopeful corner, Shorty got the driving duties for the umpteenth time.  Car+Mel and Cate delivered TrekTrev to Prentice Rd where I'd planned my move.  With Rocket and Wozz in respite, Boof, Nev, Pistol, Troy, Trav and Bruce otherwise occupied at the other end of the bunch, it was my chance in a lifetime, so bolted possessed.   It seemed a hundred lights were swarming behind, I'd broken into the fifties and was squinting, searching the distance ahead for that almost elusive white line of relief.  Almost feeling the gasps of challengers at my back wheel, the finish finally appeared, hallelujah! Foss had just enough jellybeans to take a rare win.

30/3

It was as cold as a visit from the tax department Thursday, a solo spin (21k) in the silly hope of warming up prior to a grind with the Goats.  Outbound on a deserted Ford Rd, thoughts on the bikes vs cars rant in the SheppNews (cheap lazy vox populi jibe journalism) niggled the nerves.  There's some weirdos behind the wheel (and some behind handlebars too) thankfully mostly in the minority, so I meditated on Rule #6 instead.  Steering into Boundary Rd, thoughts jumped quickly to Rule #5, an icy wind blowing at 25+ cut through the base layer (and there's still three months of winter yet to come!).  A steady grind back to town found Coggo, Sandy, Dipper, Bickies, Belly, Tina, Hommy, Temple, Phil, HBK and Heady ready. There was a mix of old and new Goat kits amongst the dozen, Hommy on a good behaviour turn beside me to Central Ave, Temple the hard one to stay level with this time. Work to do for all in Boundary Rd into the wind, a swarm of red led's ahead blinking an invitation to pursue.  Dipper and Temple drove the enthusiasm in River Rd to catch Cobbles, Dion, LegalSteve, G, BigBen, Sherls and a handful of others on a casual jaunt, inspiring them to climb aboard and contribute to our westward goal.  A chat or two and I was back at the business end for the last shift of River Rd, but then to depart (such sweet sorrow) north and west homeward, out of the confines and comfort of a bunch, singularly exposed to the elements. 

31/3
All hail the holy base layer and armwarmers!  It felt like five Friday, fingerless gloves not a good choice as I worked my way south to the Couldabeens.  Bruce, Car+Mel, Pelly, Grumpy, Merida-not-AvantiJohn, Nick, Shorty, Cate, Trav, TrekTrev, Jen, BamBam, Troy, Pistol, Boof, Rocket, Kenworth, Kel, ScottMatt, Nev and Bo braving the cool too.  BamBam slogged south in a selfless self sacrifice of supurb speed to Sanctuary's roundabout (well, that's his version of events!) many on a vigilance of safe practice (bike vs cars redneck replies awakening lost habits?) though the calls from the rear only made it to midfield. Good to have flu-fighter Rocket back, but Wozz still suffering. The proposal of a new Couldabeens kit has had tongues wagging for the week, reaching consensus will be a battle, but three cheers for Kel starting the design process.  River Rd was almost empty, save for a lightless Mexican, cruising Cats were exiting Boundary Rd with a befuddled Goat pack behind. I got my turn done at Channel Rd's cypress trees, all looking mighty fine for the ChaCha but a call of puncture pulled us up at Jameson Rd.  The front half was urged onward with plenty at the pit-stop, so ensued the compulsory crank to the Kinder, TrekTrev keen to lead a chase for the ChaCha. Hot coffee and the warm company of 'the ladies of the peloton' a perfect end to the wintery week.

Week 13   262km           YTD 3,222 km
 
Meanwhile, just south of Oakridge Florida, Amanda Coker draws ever closer to a new world record.  Averaging 374km a day on a bike, she's less than a thousand k's short of the 120,805km annual distance record (set by Kurt Searvogel last year) with almost three weeks up her sleeve. Go you good thing!            

 https://goamandacoker.wordpress.com

Week 12 : Frustrating foibles

Post 389

18/3

Strangely solo on the spin south to Saturday's social circuit, Wozz and the grinning girls were on different missions today, so I could set my own (slower) pace.  The Godfather, Pistol, Rocket, Boof, Popgun, Nev, TatPaul, Cougar, TatMat, BigLen, MeridaAndy, Nick, Shorty, Jen, Tina, Temple, HBK, Bruce, Troy, BamBam, Jase and TrekTrev assembled in the carpark, Bo arriving to report Kel's puncture a k back. Pistol went to the rescue (Bo baulked) and soon returned with Kel in tow to set the train rolling. 

The pace was on, captained by Rocket and Boof, my turn for legs two and three partnering Bruce to the Kinder.  It was borderline armwarmer weather at 13 with a degree or two dropping near the channels, but Rule #5 applied.  It was hard to suss the breeze till turning into Boundary Rd, then the effort eased and the pace picked up, a south southeaster the Saturday gift for us all.  Spin Doctor, TrackStan and a couple o' Cats joined in in Old Dookie Rd, Saturdays seem to be an open house lately with guests almost equalling the party faithful.

The tempo was still on toward the Emu then west toward town, AvantiTrev's absence playing a part in the pace? (Does anyone remember the Saturday speed limit?)  Still spearing into the dark on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd at 6:40, an oncoming (doona delayed) SuperMario u-turned to join in as we cast off the Cat caboose.  I was being promoted closer and closer to the front again, how come I'm given the wattage of Boof and Bruce to match?  The usual escapees exited Verney Rd for a calmer finish as I barrelled into the last leg of Ford Rd with Boof. Surprisingly, there was a clean cross of Numurkah Rd, I called a roll at Cleaves and prepared to hang on as 20 others moved up for massed motion. SuperMario's turn faded fast, the almost full rotation of the bunch in the following kilometre (it took 20k last time) put Boof, TrackStan and Rocket onto the Wanganui podium.  As always, the post ride breakfast was as good as the lap, sugar, heart attacks and the joy of fresh bread employing tongues at Lemontree's long table.



20/3
Bored witless by the same old circuits, I set off to the bustling metropolis of Congupna in the early hours of Monday, only one car to avoid but the tarmac acne (bitumen blisters) in the emergency lane (where we're meant to ride) were profuse.  95% humidity and 22 degrees steamed the sweat out of me with an east southeaster to make sure I cooked the calves.  Back to town in plenty of time, I had a suburban jaunt to fill the minutes before the Goat train of peace was due to depart.  Tina, Brendy, Phil, Cate, Jen, Spiessy, AvantiAndy, Vince, RidleySomebody and Belly headed out Old Dookie Rd (pegged for roadwork), speed was set at peace (possibly pain for others?) but no protests meant it was somewhere near right.  There were no tangles with the tame tappers today, well into the distance (earlier start?) kept things comfortable. 

Belly and I headed River Rds westward assault,  a little east southeaster helping to make peace pacy.  It was a Foss failure to recall RidleySomebody, but a social chat with Vince and Belly before making my departure at Rivers end.  A solo 12k back to town pondering the physics of balancing and traction on 10mm square contact with the asphalt and paused for a pic of the somewhat sinister sunrise in Archer Rd.  Soon daylight savings will grant us a few weeks of extra light that winter will quickly gobble up again.

21/3
Surrounded by the radar greenery on Tuesday made the decision easy to turn soft and have a day off the bike (a proliferation of punctures for those who did journey out apparently)

22/3
100% humidity had the frogs croaking Wednesday with a slim chance to slip under the bureau's green band and get a lap done. Finding Mel and Cate en-route, the power of positive persuasion was applied to Cate to bin the negatives, arriving at the carpark to join Chops, TatPaul, Bruce, Pistol, Weapon, Temple, ScottMat, AvantiTrev, BamBam, TrekTrev, Kel, Kenworth, Bo, Boof, Rocket, Nick, Col and Shorty, only three braving an earlier FDC thrash.   Col got the party started south on Archer, Bruce playing the pace police as the bunch stretched longer than a politicians hyperbole.  Boof and Rocket were the only volunteers to form an up line, and with no other takers 400 metres later, I moved up to make an example. Leg three (truck route to Mitchell) at the front attempting to keep pace with Rocket seemed endless, best to focus just a few metres ahead than the devestating distance to Mitchell Rd.  Chops did me a great favour calling an early roll eastbound, at last my recovery could begin.  Col's a smooth operator (quite comfortable in close company), but TatPaul's early days on two wheels needs a little sandpapering, Kenworth was relishing BamBam's draft, now he can experience what we all enjoy on his wheel. The Godfather chirped his usual shy sledge from the Cats crossing paths while AvantiTrev floated a Strava embargo to peg Saturdays pace......yeah, as if!  The Goat PainTrainers were swift on pace, I'd reached the rear (well recovered) as our bunch pointed north on Boundary, the sky blacker than Trav's Avanti, but would we stay dry? Steadily elevated closer to the front in Channel Rd it seemed I's score the tortuous task of chasing Rocket into the ChaCha (positive persuasion poured on me now) and sure enough, it was full steam into Kinder corner as Rocket squeezed the pack single file behind him at Hopeful corner, the carbon cacophony as his Zipps protested the pace, all chasing the draft as he powered to Prentice Rd.  I was blurring at the edges when his elbow signalled my turn, a short burst at 53 km/h all I could muster till Boof blasted by to embarass my effort.

23/3
Tempted to Turtle thrash Thursday, a warm-up en route (in expectation) turned into a tour de street so I didn't grid to the sound of crickets.  The carpark had Jase, HBK, AvantiTrev, KillkennyPaul, TrekTrev, Cougar, Temple and Bruce parked with foreigners again (MrMagnet and Fred) maybe to measure their masochism?   The 5:40 exit shuffled the grid placings, putting me on HBK's wheel (think he was hoping for a perambulating partner) with Jase breathing down my cassette.  Bruce and TrekTrev opened proceedings, HBK ramped up leg two, so who was I to deny him pace?  ChrisA made a welcome addition at the school, my wattage waining for leg three (Jase is tough on tempo but I was glad to hear his gasps by Prentice Rd.)  AvantiTrev and Mr.Magnet heaved on the hindering handbrake at the cypres trees, 7 k's sliced off the pace gave many a chance to draw breath (and for a few to babble).  KillkennyPaul braved a few turns despite his lengthy lay-off, TrekTrev applying ten tenths to match a tuned Temple.   Frequent freewheels and riding off line is a frustrating MrMagnet foible (infecting some others), true comfort found only in skilled company I'm afraid.  Turning into River Rd we'd caught and absorbed Hoges into the bunch, monstering his single speed MTB with mud tyres howling under sufferance. Temple then HBK, Jase and I poured punch into the pace (the sweet sound of carbonaria  crushing conversation!), Hoges now seeking a tow from Jase which delivered me a diabolical draft.  TrekTrev turned himself inside out to pace with Temple out of Dave's dip, the body language translated pain but his determination was admirable. HBK and I applied more tempo gently out of Roubaix corner to keep him in touch, many now colonising the caboose.  Bruce buried himself at the front into Conrod straight and drew two lines into one, Temple and TrekTrev followed suit as I hid in HBK's draft in wait.  I was almost ready to pounce when Jase launched the attack at 300 to go, it took a lot of jellybeans to get on his wheel but I callled "yours" at the 50 mark, remembering the lead-outs he'd gifted me.

24/3
Time to step out of my comfort zone and thrash in the PainTrain Friday, so off to Friars I found Coggo, Dipper, AvantiLeigh, AvantiAndy and Tum (arriving at the third stroke).  Belly attached on the roll-out, and with boiler stoked and a good head of steam, we cleared the Doyles Rd roundabout in the fourties.  BigLen  and MeridaAndy were handy additions at Dobsons, AvantiLeigh driving leg two to Central Ave.  Feeling fairly fit, I took the reigns almost to School Rd, a little shy of the usual target to leave something in the tank for the task ahead. BigLen and MeridaAndy barrelled into Boundary Rd, some serious internal cognitive behaviour therapy going on in my cranial clinic as another turn loomed large for me.   A pause for trucks on the highway let lungs refill, then back to business for my drive to Channel Rd.  Aknowledgement for effort is great for the mental motivation but the lungs and legs needed more than just kudos. A big bunch of red leds ahead spurred the speed in River Rd, I got another go on the super smooth tarmac approaching the dip which at least made me feel like I was going fast!  Pheromones of felines flared the Goat nostrils in Central Kialla, Belly and AvantiAndy returning to the driving mix.  We'd caught the Cats tail at Archer Rd but waited respectfully for oncoming cars to clear.  51 bolted by in Dave's dip, MeridaAndy working the wattage to lead a Goat charge likewise.  Traffic halted us at the highway as 51 dissapeared into the distance, the felines now parked on our tail.  The Goat end went single file out of Roubaix as the Cats congregated in the caboose, I felt the pressure on the front to Galbraiths but a greater pressure as Cobbles and The Godfather crowded the Goat tail when I'd peeled off the front (but I held Andy's wheel to avoid a Cat swamping)  The Godfather let loose with 400 left of Conrod and I grabbed Cobbles draft, MeridaAndy took the chocolates as the Godfather backed off in the dying metres.  3rd behind Cobbles was sweet for me to end the lap with a 39 average (what would it be without the two halts?) and end the week on a high.

Week 12        221 km         YTD 2,960 km   

Week 11: The sweet sprint spot

Post 388

Away on a long weekend (with the bike of course!) I scored a berth in Ballarat's Myer bunch on Saturday, a change to the habitual Couldabeens crank.  23 fronted at 6:30 (larger than usual I'm told) to exit town, a bit out of my comfort zone being in the dark on route, speed, protocols and distance, but there's nothing like a challenge eh?

Unaccustomed as I am to the ups and downs of rolling hills, I found myself coping rather well, surprisingly not the asthmatic wreck blown out the back of the bunch, but plugging away midfield (in the big dog of course) en route to Wattle Flat.  The large proportion of young blood was a little intimidating but at least they were respectful to the elderly, spearing through the dark on a thin strip of tarmac snaking uphill and down dale through the heavily treed Glen Park, passing rustic ruins (worth revisiting in daylight).
A long downhill to the Creswick-Dean Rd maxed the Garmin at 59 clicks, but with every downhill lurks a payback.....the toil of the climb uphill.  Ascending through a ferny forrest as the sun crept to the horizon made pleasant scenery to distract from the hurt, the front runners kindly pausing at Dean for the stragglers to rejoin before tackling the Dean-Newlyn Rd. 

Potatoes prospered in the dark red soil, the sun peeking above the hills to guide us onto Long Swamp Rd to Rocklyn, then a left onto Blampied-Mollonghip Rd taking us up to the Midland Highway.  The keen tapped toward Clunes as I joined Rob, Graham, Col and Ross taking the short route (80k) back along the ribbon roads of undulating countryside via Allendale, Ascot and BaldHills.  A long straight stretch on Gillies Rd took us toward Ballarat, joined in the last 10k by the Yabbie Divers (Ben, Nick, Darren, Brendan, Kanga, Shane, Josh, Nick and Haggis) with the customary sprint for town lines.  

I was welcomed to join the crew for post ride socialism at cafe Lekker, Strava analysis, sledging and tall stories the stuff of all bunch babble, coffee and shared plates of toasties de rigeur with this lot. 

 

13/3

Another morning of mystery on foreign soil Monday, a solo spin from Creswick at 6, northwest out of town on an unknown climb (judged only by the reach of the CatEye's lumens), certainly a heart starter for this flatlander climbing 280 metres to Springmount in the first 5 k.  

I had a new appreciation for the almost level ground to Spring Hill, the half light at 6:30 showed low misty cloud capping the hills surrounding Kingston, a long gradual decline pumping up the speed and the ego with plenty of rabbits darting about in the dark.  A sharp left onto W Berry Rd, the rises and falls towards Clunes picked up a light mist nearing Allendale while trying to keep my bearings southbound on the thin track of Creswick-Lawrence Rd past Broomfield.  A swing onto Gillies Rd put me back on familiar (Saturday) territory, the long southbound stretch beside Mt Hollowback to Bald Hills and beyond, still with a few ups and downs to lift the effort, my usual focus on average speed forgotten in lieu of cresting the rises.  I veered left through Sulky and along another ribbon of tarmac to the Midland highway, then north with the pleasure of a tailwind but the work of an uphill back to Creswick to earn my breakfast. With the respiratories rapid on the rise, the pong of roadkill didn't help, but a brew reaching Creswick's 'Bean & Barrow' topped off 50k nicely. 

14/3

It was a pleasure to be back on the homeland flatlands Tuesday, a calculated cruise to the carpark (to avoid the first shift) but there was only Jase, Cougar, HBK and AvantiTrev tempted to Turtle tap.  Single file was the unspoken and understood formation, Jase doing the honours of the first leg.  I had the short half draft of AvantiTrev till my turn from Orrvale Rd to the Kinder.  HBK did a double shift to the S bends, kick starting a long drive habit for all (but a wary eye on Cougar keeping hold of the caboose).  AvantiTrev ground out Boundary Rd on the front, I was spurred on to do the first half of River Rd to the dip while HBK tackled part two. (must be some sort of weird male measuring mindset, sizing up your competition?)  Cougar bailed out via Archer Rd but four fought on, calculating the turns to Conrod, I reckoned a long drive to Galbraiths gate might put me in the perfect pozzie.  HBK took us to Conrod's kink, Jase shouldered the load for 500 metres to give me the last 400 and the honours. 

15/3

Finding a flat just minutes from launch time puts haste to the forefront, but a wriggle on got me back on agenda to grid with Grumpy, Shorty, Kenworth, Mel, AvantiTrev, Troy, Pelly, BamBam, Cate, Wozz, Pistol, Temple, Trav, Nev, Weapon, Ralphy, Kel and Bo for Wednesday's whip around. A northeaster told me to get a turn in early to avoid the headwind, but many had the same idea filling the up line.  HurtLocker was trimmed to a trio at Central Kialla, Cats were late on the River Rd westward procession, a new course and start (Old Dookie Rd roadworks) put them down the list.  The Goat PainTrain progress was pacy, prevailing winds and the whiff of catching Cats had their hammer down.  I'd fluked the preferred position of AvantiTrev ahead and Mel behind to limit my tempo tax, many others shortening their turn feeling the breeze on the brow.  All my stars were aligning in Channel Rd, the breeze behind, bludging at the back with just a k till the ChaCha and in Kenworth's tow couldn't be better. Sentences stopped, heads lowered and heart rates heightened in a cadenza of cranking to the Kinder, Kel and Bo delivered us to Prentice Rd for Kenworth to turn up the torque, my dream sit to the 200 metre mark was just textbook.  Out of the copious Kenworth current, I throttled the thighs and crucified the cranks to take a rare win, though Pistol made it hard labour nipping at my wheel in the dying metres.

16/3

Missing the motivation to tap an early lap Thursday, I succumbed to the sloth of a salubrious sleep-in till 5:15, then a slow paced preparation to join the group 'o Goats (Belly, PrincipalSkinner, Dipper, Phil, Heady, Sooty, Bickers, Sandy, Spiessy, HG, Hommy, HBK, Joe, Temple, Tina and many-months-missing-much Comet!)   A straggling start split the herd into 3 as I had a bit of effort dragging some dawdlers back to the bunch in Old Dookie Rd, but some semblance of order resulted in the rotations.  Much Goat gloating amongst the PainTrainers from Wednesday's Cat attack, Sandy was speedoless, Heady extolling the virtues of self flagellation (training PainTrainless), Bickers had engaged his cloaking device and HG's huge hangback hindering anybody behind. A balmy 22 degrees in Boundary and a tailwind propelled the pack south, the weight of responsibility resting on me to call the highway intersection traffic.  It's nice to work with the echelon educated, the northeaster attacking the starboard bow had us fanned across River Rd with Belly driving to the 40's, poor Comet caught behind HG's hangback deserved my delay to draft a delicious damsel in distress. Eventually back into the formation, I was soon promoted forward, Sooty and I captaining the crew from the bridge to Rivers' end. Alas, time to take my leave and battle the headwind home, back to setting speed standards (31+) on level ground.

17/3

 

A stiff southerly (24-37 km/h) sorted the die hards from the bed warmers on Friday, I was ready for a lie down after just 5k's of headwind hell getting to the carpark! Bruce, Wozz, Boof, Troy, Rocket, Pistol, Nick, Kenworth, Chops, Cate, Kel, Bo, Nev and Cats Col and Avanti-not-MeridaJohn assembled for action at 6, Chops bearing the brunt of the breeze to take the bunch south on leg one.  Only the brawn and the brave formed the up-line into the brow-beater, Rocket and Pistol driving unperturbed and unabated to Mitchell Rd.  Col and Avanti-not-MeridaJohn were along on a respite from the catty felines, the social sentence swapping getting well underway with the wind at our side in Mitchell Rd. Despite the wind whipping at our wheels, it got easier closer to the front in River Rd, almost a calming crank beside Bruce beyond the dip in the right lane,  though it's not nice to be greedy so I shared the workload around.  Cobbles and The Godfather turned into River Rd as we exited it, the usual shy retiring vehement sledge delivered in his unmistakeable tone, they were well clear of a thin line of late Cats slogging south on Boundary, but not a Goat in sight.   We caught and absorbed Manny and Carl into our pack at the Broken Bridges, spitting chips at being left PainTrain-less from a mass abandonment (concrete needed in the Goat feed trough?)  Dissecting the orchards and vegetable plots along Channel Rd's 8k length gets the troops excited for the thrash of the ChaCha, though the Cats were possibly in the dark on its location (they know now!).  I was almost in the sweet sprint spot like Wednesday, except Rocket, Manny and their swift associates swept by, five gasps beyond Prentice Rd.  Ah, reality deals a savage blow!

Week 11:   278km                 YTD 2,739km

Week 10 : a peloton prostitute?

Post 387

4/3

Perfect conditions for another Saturday population explosion ; windless, a mild 16 degrees and a weekend ahead had Wozz, Car+Mel, Cate and I expecting a carpark cram (or can't people resist the Couldabeens awesomeness and modesty?).   5 Cats (MeridaJohn, Clive, Dalts, Huggie and LegalSteve) had arrived early (for a tow to the Cat pack?), Len and MeridaAndy were along for a few early k's but the party faithful (Shorty, Nick, TatPaul, Popgun, Tina, Boof, Bruce, Leah, Tum, Cougar,TrackStan, Pistol, Rocket, Temple, TrekTrev, Jen, Avantiatrev, Trav, Kel, TrekSam and the Godfather) squeezed in.  

There was a forced separation again (in the hope of getting at least one turn at the front and to clear course congestion), bunch one (19) and two (14) launched a few minutes apart.  I'd been put into bunch one again (Shorty, Nick, TatPaul, Wozz, Cate, Tina, Car+Mel, Popgun, MeridaJohn, Clive, Dalts, Huggie, Bruce, Leah and Tum) collecting early lappers BamBam, Ralphy and Jase as we approached the Kinder.  The Cats rolled through to donate to the drive, a birdie tells me they've been cooked in recent rides (Couldabeens calmer?)  Leah's back with a gritty resolve, KillkennyPaul found solo in Boundary Rd, TatPaul seems to be running on 5 cylinders while Boof was running at half throttle to save speed for a swim.

 Deja vu from last week as Wozz and I drove the last leg of Ford Rd, a little bitty breather before the fast finish in Wanganui Rd.  Peak hour in Numurkah Rd, a minute motionless waiting for traffic to clear had bunch 2 park at our tail, a massed and messy finish not on my menu. A break in the traffic let 10 through, all systems go to spare a sprint swamping.

With a line of Indians behind, Wozz worked the wattage to DECA, Shorty followed up fast while I felt like a freeloader, time for my turn at the test track.  Enthusiasm drove me a bit hard leaving a gap behind, no way I'd last 700 metres at this rate.  I was soon swamped by Wozz, Tina and Mel, one last lunge at the hill (Wozz riding off into the distance) to pick up a place was dashed withTrackStan, The Godfather and MeridaAndy pouncing from bunch two to pick up the crumbs on the line.   Foss vs Hommy, Chinese lycrap, social media and reality televisions erosion of morals enveloped the ever lengthening Lemontree breakfast table for post ride postulation. 

6/3
I was on a peace keeping mission Monday, a Hommy harmony if you will after last weeks high jinks. ApprenticePete, Principal Skinner, Spiessy, Cate, Spartacus, Cindy, Phil, AvantiLeigh, Sandy, Hommy, Tina, AvantiAndy, Jen, Brendy, Belly and Vince filtered into Friars for a frangible foray to start the week. Twas a cruisy crank east on Old Dookie Rd in a smooth sandwich between Tina and Jen, Hommy at one end of the bunch and me at the other (keeps the troops calm).  The even more peaceful tame tappers were caught at the Pub, Mr.Magnet, Simon and Doc amongst the few.  So why would some mix with the Goat group when a Channel Rd exit was planned just a few hundred metres later? 

Panic, brakes and near misses in the melee later, all emerged upright and unscathed from the calamity, a WTF moment way too early in the week for me. Back in the comfort zone of rotating with familiar folk on River Rd, Coggo catching us from a late start chase, Roscoe joining in from a lazy start from the west, Vince gently back on the bike post leg surgery, but the social stimuli soon ended, time for my exit via the truck route and Archer Rd home. With a hint of daylight breaking, there was  just the lengthy slalom through town avoiding the debris in the never-maintained bike lane.

7/3
ScottMat was flatflustered berthing at the Tuesday Turtle grid, a puncture on the new rig two minutes before launch time put pressure on his pitstop.  A CO2 seal blow-out then a short-valve-in-a-deep-rim dilemma entertained us, but was finally fixed and underway, four minutes closer to the jaws of the Hares behind.  Jase, Shorty, Nick, Cougar, HBK, TrekTrev, and AvantiTrev made up a Turtle ninesome, ScottMat and I driving leg one, HBK turning up the wick beside me for leg two to Orrvale Rd (but surprisingly stayingly level with my wheel. Well, I never!) Jase and Shorty took the reigns to the cypress trees, passing a pair of Hares preparing to catch the 5:50 express. A light southerly (7-9 km/h) made its presence felt in Boundary Rd, pushing the limits for 1200 metres beside ScottMat was a workout, but the niggling natter at the back from non-contributors rattled my cage, so harder on the gas in River Rd to silence the superfluous sentences.  We'd almost reached River's dip when a dozen Hares line astern powered past. ScottMat and I took on the headwind yet again in Central Kialla, but Jase was next to roll up, HBK now in hiding (hurting).   Down to the highway and building speed for Raftery Rd the luck of the draw looked like it was work for me in Conrod straight.  Nick dialled up the tempo at the last kink as Conrod opens its length, Shorty tucked in and I'd hoped to get a share of the draft but was locked out of the left line.  Nothing for it but to light the afterburners early and see what evolved. I hit the front out of the first dip carrying a fair speed but slicing the virgin air emptied the tank quickly, 500 metres later Jase and Shorty pounced from my draft for the one two, my glance back finding a lot of real estate to the remaining half dozen.

8/3

All stops out exiting town Wednesday, a tailwind had Pistol and Rocket excited but a few were in difficulty holding onto the tail. BamBam, Wozz, Nev, Boof, Trav, Weapon, Kenworth, Grumpy, Ralphy, Mel, Kel, Bo, Shorty, AvantiTrev, ScottMat, Cate, Bruce and Nick made up a long tail behind, Bruce bolting to the front to police the pace.  All were collected into the fold, I made my way to the up line finding myself the follow up to Boof and the windbreak for BamBam, guessing where I'd hit the front and preparing mentally for the masochism....of course, the hurt of a headwind in River Rd!  Boof was gracious allowing me a slightly shorter shift, delighted when BamBam requested the same abbreviation (he was fresh from a FDC flogging), it was a delight in the draft to de-stress and deliberate.  Shorty was the cat from Cheshire in Channel Rd, finally free from the Kinder curse sitting midfield in the left line at the cypress trees, Mel and Cate exempt from the early ChaCha effort too.  It was my turn for torture swinging left at the Kinder with Boof, I pulled the whip out to Hopeful corner to get around him and, feeling fairly fit flogging the fourteen at fourty five, thought "let's workover the wannawins to make 'em worthy".   There was an eternity to Prentice Rd till Grumpy came up and over, the kick to catch his wheel wasn't necessary, he too had been FDC fried afore.  Waiting respectfully for a gap in the up line was fruitless, the whole bunch sailing by with the finish line within sniffing distance.  Chat chat on Channel to town, a turn toward home but it was kaboom for Kenworth blowing out a sidewall on a stone.  That trusty 50 x 25mm strip of canvas in my kit came to the fix fore, but boom again a half k later on the next sharp bump. 

9/3

I don't know what fires the urge to push the solo tempo, but Thursday's want for an early slog to the Emu, the Toaster, then back to town wrestled with complaints from the departments of legs, lungs, heart and head.  The man with a hammer loomed close with an ESE'er pestering progress to the Emu, time for a heartrate holiday in zone 4 to the Toaster, then to pump up some pace back to town.  Coggo, Heady, Phil, AvantiLeigh, Tina, Joe, Sooty, Jen, Hommy, HG, AvantiAndy, Sandy, Snow, HBK, Temple, The Speech, Spiessy and MeridaAndy filled Friars for the Goat grid, 18 shuffling and sorting into two lines to clear town.  I'd scored Sooty ahead and The Speech behind, it's always interesting / daunting / amusing / horrifying (strike out that which does not apply) pairing with a fellow cyclust for the first time, maybe it's a bit of primal/tribal passive/aggressive measuring up at the front, but The Speech rides a good line and length, albeit with a competitive flavour.   HG's hang back is harrowingly huge, six lengths at one stage staggering the squad.  MeridaAndy has been the peloton prostitute of late, offering himself around to any bunch that will take him.  The tempo turned up turning south on Boundary Rd, Sandy (sleepless), snuck into the caboose not to snooze but to survive, Heady was suffering the side effects of OTAitis from Wednesday's Pain Train, birthday girl Tina awash with the endorphins surviving it. I was up to the pointy end again at River Rd's kennels as The Speech cranked up the competition, taking great care that I stayed level as the speed grew toward the fourties.  HG exited to the caboose, I exited to Archer as impending employment drew me homeward.

10/3

It was a frivolous Friday with many in a cruising mindset, the Troyless FDC's even having a quiet lap. (Heaven forbid!)  Grumpy, Mel, Chops, Boof, Rocket, Pistol, Kenworth, Trav, BamBam, Ralphy, Shorty, ScottMat, Wozza, Jen, Nick, Temple, Nev and Bo teamed up to tap south on Archer, almost to the Sanctuary roundabout when an i.q. starved tradie stormed in ahead, slammed on the brakes and swerved to exit right (almost emptying the ute contents). Obviously three seconds wait time was just too precious.  Theatrics over, the bunch business resumed to Mitchell Rd, the slowly declining temperature (13) chilling the skin.  Long weekend plans occupied much of the chat but some sentences on ScottMat's new steed put the important things into perspective. (Rule #4 folks, rule #4).  Around the usual circuit with the passing parade of pelotons pushing clockwise, a long Goat train making pacy progress (into River Rd before we'd reached its end).  The Channel Rd procession moved me ever closer to the pointy end, just managed to finish a turn at the front as the Kinder came into view.  We rounded up a crawling car (with a questionable trailer and loose load), the sprint on in earnest (for those interested), but many chose to sit it out.  Boof picked up a bindii hitchhiker in the sidewall, cleverly left untouched to limp home, my day off allowing an epilogue of caffiene with the lasses and a long-time-no-see catch up with Kylie, Meags, The Fox, Fee, Wizz and Sosso. 


Week 10.     255km.           YTD 2,461km

 

Week 9 : Hommy's harassing habit

Post 386

25/2
A stiff southerly will cull a carpark crowd, doona diving would be the preferred past-time of the soft today I pondered during a reversed Saturday breakfast (toast first, cereal later).  So, who must ride before breakfast and who must breakfast before a ride? Numbers seem split down the middle.   Straight into zone 4 to commute south at 5:45, sharing the 25-35 km/h southerly saga with Wozz, taking bets on attendance.  Surprisingly, the Couldabeens carpark congregation contained Shorty, Rocket, AvantiTrev, Temple, HBK, Lucy, TrekTrev, Bo, Lenny, Kel, The Godfather, Bruce, Leah, BassoDan, Tina, TatPaul, BeerMat and Nev, 20 a preferred pack to splitting the masses of previous weeks (and kinder on my memory recall)    A tame tap alongside TatPaul got leg one done (without knives in the back), leg two with Wozz whipped up the mid thirties, and still the Channel Rd gravel patches send a shiver of traction terror through the troupe.  Wheels sung in the roaring fourties along Boundary Rd, there's nothing like a breeze up the bum to inflate the ego (till the next turn!)   The drivers into Old Dookie Rd vs the brakers in Boundary were poles apart, Leah caught on the back foot went uncerimoniously OTA, but Bruce returned to her aid. (It was a regrettable ride ritual for our rookie, hope it doesn't deter the determination Leah)  

FDC's must be on a ride Ramadan, I conveyed kudos for Kel' s cute kit, BeerMat was actually riding without the attraction of post ride beer, Tina two tapping a Couldabeens / Goats double, Nev's knee niggling and Shorty almost unrecognisable in a new kit.  Mt. Major's magic horizon is now almost veiled by darkness signalling Autumn lurks to keep us cool and set off the plague of doonitis.  There was a tack and jibe to tackle the breeze in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd to return to town, nine cool culled Cats cranking east at the main eastern channel.  I'd scored a prime position by Ford Rd, about to do a turn approaching town with a minute or two to draw breath before the Wanganui workout.  Rocket set the bar high with a demonic drive in the fourties to DECA, Wozza poured on a pickling performance but all had Indian filed behind.  I was losing my grip on the fast freaks at the front, The Godfather, Bo, Lenny, Kel and co with the wattage to pass, mentally murdered my mindset.  Th rehab of recovery in Rudd Rd was bliss, and on landing at the Lemontree, Weapon joined in the philosophical philology on spelling and the english language, performance pressure and interviews with musical comparisons discussed over granola , yoghurt and berry (part two of my backward) breakfast.

27/2
The push to the Emu at 5:15 murdered Monday's legs, a mere 10 km/h ENE'er escalating me rapidly into zone 4, retaliation for a rideless Sunday?  Solo's have been scarce of late, high time to get out of the peloton protection program and h.t.f.u.  The relief I'd hoped for turning to the Toaster had vapourised, that Dookie demon (the one that changes wind direction when you turn) had struck, subtracting the north from the northeaster.  Old Dookie Rd offered the salvation of a tail breeze while I contemplated a Cats crank or a Goats gait, time and rule 5 chose the feline factor, subsequently found at Central Ave.  I blended into the bunch of Shane, Car+Mel, BigBen, Dion, Wongy, The Godfather, Tina, Jodie, Paul VanP and co, still rusty on the rolling turns I was sandwiched between Tina and The Godfather, guess I'll cop curses  if I make a shambles of it.  Lil'Tony, Cobbles, Sherls and Col joined from their idle in Boundary Rd, Car+Mel took a Channel Rd coffee exit as Pistol Pete slotted into the rotation.  Pace picked up south of the Broken bridges, rhythmic rotations ripping through the k's (or maybe the light easterly gave that impression?)  Retirements became popular over the highway, negatives brewing in my head proportional to speed, forcing a mass of mental digging to keep fronting the rushin' front.  There's a point where messages from heart, lungs, legs overpower the will, into Conrod's first dip was the end for me, superior speed (& youth) told me I'd done my dash. I was dragged over the finish line, but 65k before 7 and a 161 suffer score was my excuse. 

28/2
Despite the push beside TrekTrev on leg one, my Garmin refused to budge from 30.4 km/h, in the dark on pace and with pride of pace dented, a reboot was the salvation of speed and success.  The Turtles turnout terrific Tuesday, Shorty, Temple, SuperMario, Cougar, AvantiTrev, Jase, Cate, HBK, Ralphy, Jed, TrekTrev, Kel, FeltMat and Bo made it a record recruitment, maybe 17 degrees and a favourable breeze was the inspiration, but watch this space (and the grid spaces) in July!  A red led ahead challenged a chase, the swift, smooth, svelte silhouette of Weapon (aboard the TT Avanti) eventually caught at the S bend.   Pointing into the darkness of Boundary Rd (sianara Summer!), turtle interns Ralphy and Jed were line astern (for reasons that would become clear later), SuperMario and AvantiTrev maintaining their moderate momentum.  Craig Lotsalumens still grinds River Rd with two led lights blazing, but now sports flashing fork lights for f#@& sake!  Temples performance of late warrants a post ride sample, Weapon and Cate paired for a determined drive at the dip, I had TrekTrev to match for the last of River Rd but a mechanical demon slowed his start into Central Kialla.  A brief single filed slow till the problem was sorted, then back on the gas to Mitchell Rd with time made up to the highway, a rare clear passage the reward.  There were plenty of players for pace to Arcadia Downs, I got my turn done by Conrods dip but was then boxed in as Temple and Bo took the front.  Jed and Ralphy attacked early passing Bo on blow-up, none wanted the chase challenge and by the time I had a clear path, Ralphy and Jed were well clear, third spot still a satisfying score for me though.

1/3   

The price for early arrival Wednesday was pole position, Paul VanP, Pistol, Rocket, Mel, Shorty, Temple, Cate, Weapon, Kel, Bo, Boof, Chops, AvantiTrev and Kenworth were smarter, arriving later.  Still, it wasn't so bad driving the first 3 k with a suggestion of a ENE behind, FDC's Wozza, Bruce, BamBam, Grumpy, Pelly and Ralphy (FeltMat mechanically missing) joined at the bridge, Rocket pairing with me (sympathetic with the speed) to form the up line.  The pace was applied in Central Kialla but I had joy in the tow midfield, gradually demoted by rotation to the rear I found myself perusing a pack of peculiar perverted pedalling proctologists, two rows of folk hunched forward carefully examining the posterior ahead.  There was a tiny hint of colour on the horizon, an impressive string of lights on Boundary Rd being the mid week PainTrain of Goats headed our way as we slowed at River Rd's end.  

Up to Channel Rd and with work west, 

Shorty caught the Kinder curse (wring out all your wattage at the front only to watch breathless as everyone you just towed sail past into the sprint distance) yet again, round the bend the tempo maxed as an attack from the back had Rocket, Wozz, Boof, Pistol et al power past in a ChaCha conspiracy.  The bunch stretched out longer that parliaments question time, Boof Strava scoring a fine 1:08 for the 1.1 k segment.   FeltMat approached us from the west, now minus mechanical misdemeanours, on a flash new e-tap equipped Scott (so FeltMat formerly AvantiMat but originally FeltMat is now ScottMat.....just to make things clear), the roll to town wishing Weapon many happy returns.

2/3

On the hunt for a little variety Thursday, I set a course via the golf course and the brand new Verney Rd tarmac as a foreward to the Goat lap, feeling rather primed of pace if I don't say so.   Coggo, Speissy, Tina, Bickers, Jen, AvantiLeigh, AvantiAndy, Dipper, Phil, HG, Sandy, Sooty, Spartacus, Hommy, Belly and Snow formed a seventeensome from Friars, but chains were dragging at the stroke of 6.  Even a quiet roll out of town had elasticised the pack, Hommy driving alongside me (well, his rear wheel and my front wheel were paired) to Dobsons eventually got the turns rolling.  Kudos was served to Dipper and AvantiLeigh on their Wednesday workout (40 average), great to see Sooty back aboard a bike (without an engine), HG still continuing his three bike length exclusion zone and AvantiAndy with growling brake issues.  We'd homed in on a small team of tame tappers (Jimbo and Doc recognised) at Old Dookie Rd's end, Spartacus driving the overtaking manoeuvre in Boundary.   Harassed by Hommy again (rule #86 and #88 infringements aplenty) at the fig farm was prickling my patience, but bit the lip as AvantiLeigh, Coggo and co took us to the highway and beyond.  Back to the front with Spartacus for River Rd and its niggling SSE'er, we'd rolled the turn as Hommy half biked up for act two, but my repose rattled like Michael Douglas in "Falling Down" as I let my legs answer his challenge with a savage serve of speed.  It was rather feral of Foss stretching the pack (and the friendships) approaching the dip, the consequence was a bunch well split in two, the culprit now camped in the caboose. Tina, Sooty, Belly, AvantiLeigh, Snow and I continued on, timely though at River's end to take my leave and exit via the truck route. Apologies were extended later, the banter suggesting all was well (and that Hommy's harassing habit won't change!) 

3/3

Despite a cruisy commute to the Couldabeens carpark, Cate, Mel & I were still first on site, so a sneaky  sidetrack toward the bridge for a minute had us seated midfield on our return.  Pistol, Bruce, Wozz, Boof, Kenworth, Nick, Temple, Troy, Jen, Chops, Kel, Bo, Rocket, Paul VanP, Shorty, Pelly and ScottMat swamped the shops' parking bays.  The bunch blast off at 6 speared south to exit town, quite the rubber band syndrome as we got up to cruising speed but Pelly punctured (his trifecta for the week) to give all an early intermission. At least there was communication about the halt,  ditching the silly silence system.  The restart was a smoother scenario, BamBam found lurking at the truck route.  20 km/h worth of tailwind at Central Kialla with Wozz and Pistol at the front made for maximum motion, my turn for masochism was in River Rd with Bruce (bridge to the dip) then with Bo for a k.  A long Goat pain train wheeled west, Boundary Rd blurred by, the lottery of Channel Rd ahead for us. Pistol charged the ChaCha at Hopeful corner drawing Wozz, Bruce, me and Bo in Indian file behind, Wozz wrung out the wattage when Pistol pickled, Bruce bolted and seemed to be odds on favourite till Troy and Paul VanP pounced in the dying metres to take the one two.  Coffee connoisseurs cornered south and workers wheeled north at Channel Rd's end, Cate cajoled and coerced a crack at the Crit sprint segment (tempted by tailwind?), Jen and Mel joining in for a week's end workout (and a PB as the week's dessert for me. 

Week 9.        262km.          YTD 2,206