The spectre of speed

 Post #637

12/3 Haunted by horsepower.

A free tow to the starting grid saved me from facing a southerly to Sanctuary Drive, so thanks Rocket, Emil and GiantAndy, I'll remember you in my will! A lap or three of the side streets absorbed our 6 minute early arrival but lining up at the roundabout found it unusually vacant....PistolPete was absent! Almost a dozen lights arrived behind in the last minute, who they were was masked by bright lights piercing the darkness.  Fingers crossed there wasn't a big bias of horsepower or I'd be hanging on the back chewing bar-tape for 50km!  (Those unknown would be revealed in the rotations to come)  Boof appeared from the blackness behind to pair with Rocket for the opening act to Mitchell Rd, Grumpy and the 5ft Ninja showing up too in the 14 lights pointing south.  

The standard practice of all the wattage rising to the top brought Wozza, Trav, Lenny and Liam forward, the clan complete with The Godfather, Lance and Tina in tow. (Lights hadn't lit The Godfather yet but there were cues to hint of his presence!)  I'd been relegated to the rear by rotation arriving in Central Kialla and had caught Liam's wheel in the advance ; a third my age and four times as fast made it a massive miss-match (and a mental mountain to get over) but he doesn't bite.  Rapid but respectful really. 

GiantAndy had stayed put in the caboose which was well out of character for the big engine ; excused when he said he was doing 3 Peaks tomorrow.  (4 years on and I've almost got over the 235 km and 4684 metres of elevation in 11 hours)  Lenny had another bike from his extensive stable, the recent Cannondale aquisition with bottom bracket bother (probably can't cope with the wattage!)   Trav and Liam led the way to rooster corner so pairing with Liam on Coach Rd with a breeze at the backside helped.  All the intention in the world to get to the highway at the front does nothing when legs go lax, lungs labor and the heart does the Hiroshima thing.  

I tendered my apologies and rolled across at the Broken bridges to inherit the Ninja alongside.  And wasn't she a life saver slowing a couple of k's for the drive to the highway. The draft (albeit rather low) got my view back in focus while she, Tina and Lance did their duty to Old Dookie Rd, so I could manage a sentence or two as Grumpy, Trav and the Ninja started the chat on the aroma of Old Spice (the waft from the pork palace got the subject started!)  Joining the advance as we swung west on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd started the sequence again though now pace seemed more favored to the fitter, though I was convincing self a turn could be done again despite the leg power ahead.  There wasn't going to be a full throttle thrash to Mt Wanganui was there?  

Big horsepower drives long so I was still 3rd wheel at Ford Rd (and odds on favorite to face the front in Wanganui Rd)  Rumors of a bolt along the Boulevard were brewing and that wasn't helping my head, so entering Wanganui Rd and seeing Liam assume the aero position had me raise the white flag fast!  A berth in the final four or five would give me a better chance to get to breakfast and let the lads enjoy expending the energy at the front.  Others had shuffled the deck too.  Speed was keen along the Boulevard and why wouldn't it when breakfast beckons, luckily Lance and I were spared another appearance at the pointy end when Rocket and Wozza took on the task at Tarcoola to tow us to the Butter Factory.  Hills we've climbed, pedestrian eye candy and pointers on 3 Peaks had conversations competing the breakfast table. 

15/3  Labor Day ; light on labor.

Getting the wheels turning early was the ploy to slacken the stress of commuting to Sanctuary's start.  It'd be a solitary spin today so the spectre of speed wouldn't flood the headspace with negatives.  (That could come later!)  Grumpy, The Godfather, Tina, Kreeky, Wozza, Kel, Lance, Rocket and Lenny circled the side streets waiting for six on the clock, the labor day holiday prompting a longer lap (weren't we meant to be celebrating reduced working hours?) Considerate company brought comfort and starting almost at the back helped too! Lenny and Rocket opened with an innings to Mitchell Rd, Wozza doing the distance to Central Kialla while Rocket resided in the draft.  

Kreeky was coming to grips with being back in a bunch after a week off as The Godfather sided with Wozz for the 2 k's north, their pace a little more lenient....to Tina's delight.   Placed at third wheel on the turn east into River Rd, it looked like I'd have duty at the front fairly soon with Grumpy.  He's fair on old fossils, but the downside was facing an easterly to earn my breakfast.  The reality of the shift came at Laws Drive when Grumps rolled across and took away that 10 to 15% advantage of a draft.  Kreeky was on my wheel so I had considerate back-up too.  Maintaining motion didn't need the pedal pushed through the floorboards (that dates me!) and that was somewhat satisfying under the circumstances....the head often over-rules the reality of what's really possible.  

I managed a k or so with Grumpy so to keep things equal, called my roll across for Kreeky to co-pilot till my tank went empty, kudos from Grumps sparking something to aim further.  I took a guess at driving another k but the lack of legs eventually raised the white flag, regardless of the distance.  Kreeky and Kel finished off River Rd like it was a Sunday drive while the world came back into focus rather quickly for me.  Lance and Tina calmed the hurry a little as a little light came to the horizon.  The difference in the divisions stood out as Rocket and Lenny took charge into Old Dookie Rd, the headwind not hampering their hurry to the Toaster.  Encouraging words went in Tina's ear to keep her hanging on, the guarantee of a tailwind back to town probably helped too.  Grumpy and I had the tail breeze first when our turn came due into Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, and using the tactical trick of holding half a wheel back calmed Grumpy's urgency a bit and kept the speed survivable.  

Woolshed Rd was half way for me, Kreeky called on for company as I aimed at Boundary.  I must have had the blinkers on with my aim, I'd missed a pair of  roadside bunnies threatening to run amok (glad they chose not to).  Tina was taking time out in the caboose but Lance braved a drive at the front with Wozz, the Rocket and Lenny combination getting heads down and cadence up and that got us to town post haste.  It seemed likely Grumps and I would be called on for driving duty again when we were promoted back into the advance line in Wanganui Rd but I felt fairly optimistic another shift was achievable (all down to a calm commute to the start?)   Others had worked Rudd Rd and the Boulevard in the aim of getting to breakfast so Grumpy and I had just the k beyond Tarcoola's roundabout to finish the lap.  Breakfast at the Milk Bar made a different base camp (gotta love their granola!), the chat of GiantAndy's 3 Peaks assault, real service and the Soviet steamroller whiling away the time.

15/3 Civil squirrels.

Gotta love the serenity! A casual commute to the Archer St shop with Kim and Jen felt guilty.  It was only a couple of k's off the usual pace but Emil's absence allowed a brief moment of bliss!  Tina and the 5ft Ninja made up a quintet to tap the squirrels circuit and I'd been elected as Emil's understudy to do the first shift to the truck route with an east northeaster to pour some energy into.  Setting the right speed can be a difficult task ; too slow and you risk being shunted (or deafened by the snoring behind), too fast and there'll be pained protests or a knife in your back (you know that "hell hath no fury...."  thing)   So a smooth and steady build up of pace tentatively set mid 30's as a trial tempo, and with lights still behind me, silence and no stinging sensation in the spine, I figured I'd got it something near suitable.  Kim was given the elbow crossing Doyles and receiving four kind comments said the pace was perfect.  Kim, Jen and Tina performed well to the expected shifts but the Ninja was on a mission at the cypress trees to make it to Channel Rd's end.  It was of little benefit to me when her head went down in determination to drive the last k ; thin as a pin (and only a bit taller) made it a dismal draft.  

Taking on the east northeaster headed north on Boundary wasn't too bad and I'd nearly pulled back the target to reach the fig farm till the weight of expectation extended it to Old Dookie Rd.  Harden up Foss, a bit of extra effort won't kill you! There was almost a tailwind home after all.  Kim got to New Dookie and Jen to Lemnos-Cosgrove, the turn west blessed with silence now that the wind wasn't blowing between my ears.  Tina found some inspiration pointed at Lemnos, and I reckon that breeze up the backside was responsible (she did the long drive to Lemnos North Rd)   The Ninja got a wriggle-on too for our introduction to Ford Rd, succumbing to the urge to round up the speedo numbers to an even 40.  I wasn't so concerned with even numbers when given the lead again at Grahamvale Rd, 36 or 37 would do to keep the five together. (the old engine was miss-firing from a lack of caffeine anyway).  Kim had the northeasters help to drive the southern leg to Balaclava. 

17/3  Without wind....What the?

Molly had returned, Emil had traded in the fishing rod for the La Pierre but Tina had back-tracked home to get the second Specialized (No #1 had suffered a tubeless valve malfunction)    The squirrel situation was normal otherwise, with Jen, Kim, the 5ft Ninja, Emil and I ready to roll at the shop.  Wednesday's wet had us all hungry to clock some k's.  Creatures of habit that we are saw the standard sequence start eastward - Emil, me, Jen and Kim driving the usual shifts to the truck route, Orrvale Rd, the Kinder and the cypress trees where Molly took over for a short shift to Beckham's bend and that's when the Ninja was let loose.  

Right at the point of leaning into the corner, residual gravel from roadworks at the S bend cause my front wheel to skip sideways, and that spiked the heart-rate for a moment.  The 5ft Ninja had her aim set at Channel Rd's end, a little more gravel at Sellman's had the rear wheel squirm and that made my grip on the saddle a little tighter!   

The Boundary Rd opener is a regular for Emil, so I sat in the smooth wake at 2nd wheel for the promotion to the front, taking an educated guess I'd be in the hot seat at Old Dookie Rd.  Tina was found at the fig farm and climbed aboard.  Emil's elbow put me in the drivers seat as predicted, and in a stroke of perfect timing, a passing truck provided a draft to help me to New Dookie Rd.  (Gotta get a break sometime!)  How dignified to finish a shift and still have oxygen to spare!  The 1700 metres to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd was ably captained by Jen, Kim driving the west way toward town, leaving the last k to Lemnos to Molly.  The Ninja did the cork-out-of-a-bottle thing into Ford Rd while the tail-enders were towed carefully back into formation.  (The rubber band will only stretch so far...... )  Tina scored the Grahamvale to Verney leg so Emil finished off the lap with his signature shift to Balaclava Rd. 

18/3  A ton (for fun?)

I craved a change of routine. I was beginning to feel like a dead hamster in the spinning wheel! A different circuit and maybe mix with some familiar (but fading) faces to spice a little variety in life. There was a craving for kilometres too, seeing as Wednesday was a washout.  A lap with the Woulda's was overdue (and with winter fast approaching, they'll all be in hiding soon!)   I could add some distance after if the craving was still strong.  Laura, AlmostRetiredTrev, Jase, Nick, Pelly, Wendy, BamBam, Crossy and Joe (not Tony) made it a decent roll-up to Kialla, looking like a shop dispenser full of Life Savers in their colorful kit.   

Joe (not Tony) won the honor of hosting the first shift to Channel Rd and had a southerly blowing an assistance, but rather than take the easy way out, he stayed on to captain to the truck route.   It seemed Indian file was kosher till Jase formed the advance line headed to Orrvale school.  Maybe AlmostRetiredTrev had set the policy on pace 'cause mid 30's seemed to be the standard.  I was happy to play by their rules, particularly if I was to add extra k's after.  It wasn't till Coach Rd that I faced the front, straight into the southerly as my luck had it!   I was co-pilot to Wendy till One Tree Dam then alongside Crossy till River Rd, lower 30's now the fashion. (Keep to that party policy Foss!)   Pelly was taking care of the caboose today, a recent case of Corona had relegated him to respite at the rear.  It's been many moons since tapping a lap with Nick, almost unrecognizable with whiskers and a new bike!  

 With just 9 swapping shifts, another turn at the front came again quickly, there's none of that 3 or 4 k turns at the front Couldabeens style with this lot! Wendy and I were at the pointy end a bit beyond Mitchell Rd's dog-leg, determination driving her to reach Central Kialla.  Relief came rounding Roubaix corner in Raftery Rd with the wind now up the back passage, the party policy now dropped with some spirited speed toward Arcadia Downs. There was nothing so inspired as a sprint in Conrod straight but Joe (not Tony) broke into the 40's to cross the finish line, the tap into town headed straight to Degani's for the essential caffeine conclusion.   

With the coffee craving cured, the matter of k's came up, so a few k's solo steered me to Archer Rd in search of the 8am faction at Adam's Rd.  If I was to do a decent distance, it wasn't going to be at supersonic speed!   Hoffy, Chilly, Geoff and Beery were the only candidates at the Adams Rd grid, the more pedestrian faction having left 10 minutes prior on a shorter course.   8 bells set wheels south in single file, the southerly now a little stronger.  Grandma ued to say a guest should bring a gift, so I took to the front at Sanctuary Drive to tow the lads to Mitchell, low 30's set as the threshold (unlike other bunches, this one had some more senior than me!)    

Turns of 2 to 3 minutes were in vogue on Mitchell, through Central Kialla and into River, so when Hoffy gave me the lead at Laws Drive I set my target at rooster corner.  How pleasant to be at the front and not blowing a head gasket to keep tempo, nice to see what the road and surroundings looked like too with the sun now well above the horizon.  Pace lifted a little on Coach Rd as Beery got excited with a tailwind, even Chilly drove a little longer than 2 minutes with the advantage.  The tyranny of distance was beginning to tell, the sit site in a little distress now the standard 45k spin was well overdrawn.  (I spared a thought for what Greg was feeling after 8 continuous days of the Tour de Cure ; I'm sure his rear would be glowing like Chernobyl's reactor 4!) Hoffy led from New Dookie Rd and gave me the heads-up of the Hill Rd route west toward Lemnos ; I hadn't tapped this road for nearly a decade, it's pot-holes and ridges reminding me why!  

Back at the front in Wanganui Rd there was little interest in speed, so I capped velocity at mid 30's to the mountain, unbeknowns that Geoff had taken Kittles Rd as an escape route to the Boulevard (We intercepted a few minutes later)  vvI bid my adieu's in town (their cafe of choice certainly not mine) and headed homeward, a check of the odometer finding I was 3 k short of the century.  To satisfy the o.c.d. within, a few laps of the block were rolled just to get the ton recorded.

This week 316 km     YTD 3,134 km            

Hurt first, laughs later.

 Post #636

6/3 Paying penance.

Sunday's usually my sabbath.  One day in seven to ease the effort and give the old engine a holiday from hurt.  But with Saturday a washout, I needed to feed the addiction Sunday to log a few k's.  Yes, I'll admit I have the full blown variant!  

Superman's WhatsApp suggestion of a 7:30 spin was pounced on, most others have that dirty habit of going MTB on Sundays and a solo ride lacked any sort of appeal.  Even BamBam and SuperMario hinted an interest in attendance though I'd be a brave soul putting money on their arrival.  There was a penance to pay for riding on a Sunday though, a 26-43 km/h southerly lay in wait.  There were cruel k's to cover down to Kialla Lakes Drive and the conclusion was already foregone that Superman would be the solitary one at the grid.  At least the suffering would be shared.  I had no argument with him doing the first shift into the wind on Archer Rd (trusting he wasn't about to set a supersonic speed) but was happy to share the workload (we'd survived working together for wages 25 year ago).   The way to Central Kialla was easier but believing the Bureau that we had a southerly was difficult ; I sensed some westerly about it too. 

Superman did the drive east so I felt guilty getting the easy turn north to River Rd.  It felt wrong to be in the draft as Superman did the work to River Rd's bridge so I led the rest of River to rooster corner as a sort of compensation. (there were regrets reaching the rumble strips though, playing the hero hurt!)  Legs loved the northbound of Coach Rd, a couple of k's spent paired for a chat till getting back into Indian filed format at Channel Rd.  I could believe the Bureau now, wind was right up the Khyber!  Superman towed me north to Old Dookie Rd so I did the distance to Lemnos-Cosgrove, wondering what the work would be like bearing west.  As it happened, not so bad after all.  Captained by Superman to the main channel, I faced the front to Lemnos North Rd ; again sensing some westerly about it.  (it's possibly pessimism causing it)  Giving the task of Ford Rd's first leg to Superman, I did the Grahamvale to Numurkah Rd bit.  We'd halved Wanganui's length between us then did  shorter halves of Rudd ; neither of us so happy to be back into the headwind with 45 k's of wear and tear. Would I have tapped a Sunday lap solo? Doubt it.  And if I did, would the speed be the same? Nope! Was suffering that wind to get a lap done worth it?  Of course! Thanks Superman, having a partner for the pain paid off! Our paths separated at Tarcoola's roundabout to keep to the day's agenda, penance paid but the suffering shared.

 

7/3 The "bangin' your head against a brick wall 'cause it's nice when you stop" theory.  

Here we go again! Pushing the pain barrier into a headwind again, just to get to the start line.  (or is it just me that's wringing out the reserves of energy?) A sensible person would slow down and lessen the labor, but there's a magnetism (or is it masochism?) to this mob that charge around the back roads of town at stupid o'clock. You can count on Lenny, Wozza, Bo, Emil, Rocket, the 5ft Ninja, Bruce, PistolPete, Tina, The Godfather and Kel as the regulars to ride, and you can guarantee PistolPete will get the bunch rolling (there weren't many others keen to work into the wind for 3 k's). 

 Like several others, I'd positioned myself at the back to let those more capable have the distinction of driving, figuring I'd already served a sentence of hard labor getting to the grid.  Onto The Godfather's wheel in the advance line through Central Kialla, I had all bets placed on reaching the front with a tailwind.  Let's hope those ahead would serve a solid turn in River Rd to tow me to rooster corner.  A bike approached from the north but saved a u-turn to join us till we'd crossed paths (obviously had the horsepower to chase!)  It was JJ (more than able to get aboard) but the bunch slowed for a moment of courtesy.  Wozza and Emil took charge at River Rd's dip, my bet looking safe with that sort of wattage paired at the front.  The Godfather inspired their effort by whistling (Dixie?) at second wheel, but performed well himself when Emil rolled the turn at the quarter horse gates.  I'd got my wish of a turn with a tailwind, The Godfather being a compliant co-pilot into the bargain! Yeah, I could handle the speed that had been set with the wind at my posterior.....but those Garmin numbers had escalated by the Broken bridges. If this was to be a decent drive something was needed in the tank to reach the highway. 

JJ drew alongside to partner part two, and was on for a chat.  It's ok for the young ones to bolt along at supersonic speed, chatting away without a care in the world, but at three times his age, I was in oxygen deprivation mode!  A gasp of "Talk....(big breath)......later" was my reply.  The measure of fitness is said to be how fast your heart rate can settle from maximum, and I wanted that now!  The reality was feeling almost human a couple of k's later.  Others moved forward for their driving donation, some with ease and others with effort while the trauma of my turn slowly faded with the treat of a tow home. It does feel good when you stop, coffee afterward made the good even better  (yeah, silly enough to do it all again tomorrow!)

8/3  A wee waft of wind, grounds for divorce? and do I buy a gravel bike?

 

A southerly served up suffering again on Tuesday, and I thought September was the windy month!  At least some of the circuit steered north so a part of the lap would be easy.  30-40 km/h worth furrowed the brow and cooked the calves to get to the starting grid (though that was half the commute the 5ft Ninja had to do solo)  Kim, Jen, Emil and Tina converged on the Archer St shop, planning a suitable squirrel circuit 'cause half the Channel Rd section was layered in gravel.  The Sanctuary circuit substituted.  Starting early would put us ahead of  the Sanctuary squad but might have just made us their bait.  There were no arguments when Emil took the first shift south and just for a change, I'd scored 3rd wheel in the Indian filed procession toward Mitchell Rd. Eagerness enticed Emil to drive to the truck route and Jen championed the cause to Mitchell Rd.  How kind to be towed for the headwind leg, but fighting the wind at the port side to Central Kialla wasn't a lot of fun.  Tina had the treat of a tail wind to River Rd.  Punishment from the port side would be with us to rooster corner and Kim faced the ferocity first, handing the hurt to the 5ft Ninja at the bridge. 

 Holding a straight line was like a politician holding a promise as 40 km/h gusts whipped at the wheels so getting a great draft by overlapping wheels was a high risk occupation.  (Sit back and suffer in safety Foss!) The Ninja did well to drive beyond Trevaskis Rd (it's a wonder she wasn't blown to Sydney!), Emil taking on the task to reach rooster corner, though his eagerness became cruelty for Kim a k from the rumble strips. Coach Rd had a surprise layer of gravel applied too (a coating for it's new 20mm coarse stone re-seal...straight over the pot holes naturally!)   

The thought of 34mm treaded tyres suddenly sounded appealing (buying a gravel bike just for the occasion a bit beyond my budget though).   Slick 25's squirmed under the varied thicknesses of loose stone, hardly a feeling of security as Jen set a cautious 40 northward.  Doing a short shift from Channel Rd to the highway allowed Tina, Kim and the Ninja a turn with a tailwind ; I reckoned they deserved it from the prior punishment. The Ninja added another k west on Old Dookie Rd, Emil handed the reigns at School Rd to drag us to Central Ave.  Pace crept gradually upward.  Emil stayed on in the captains role and aimed at Dobson's but Kim had slipped from the slipstream and was relegated o.t.a.  (I believe it's explained in "How to Pickle Your Partner" by Emil ; available at your local bookseller!) Easing off the accelerator got the line back into the order (for a moment) so Tina and I combined to donate a draft for Kim.  A cruise to coffee was in order.

9/3  Sorta social.

A magical mystery tour of Sanctuary's side streets, guided by Greg, Bruce and Lenny, distracted the distress of driving into the southerly with Emil to get there.  Yeah, yet another southerly taxed lungs and legs to get to Wednesday's "social" spin.  (you'll note the cautious use inverted commas)  Grumpy, Bo, Rocket, Kel, Boof, Wozza, PistolPete, Tina, the 5ft Ninja and The Godfather appeared out of the darkness to converge on the roundabout and thanks to the kindness of PistolPete and Rocket, we were towed through the headwind to reach Mitchell Rd without serious psychological injury. 

How they managed to do that in the high 30's I don't know.  Fitness? Youth? Drugs? All three?  (I'm not greedy, just one would do me nicely!)  The Godfather sat a couple of metres off the wheel ahead, Grumpy did that shoulder thing and Kel smoothed the path ahead as I followed in the advance line, the stress eased bound for River Rd with the wind at our tails.  Feels like 11 had drawn a lot of arm-warmers out of mothballs (beats feeling like a steamed dim-sim last week I guess!)  Entertainment was provided free in River Rd as The Godfather distributed insults to those he passed in the left line, though there was silence when he paired with Bo for the northward leg on Coach Rd, today swept a little of the loose stuff covering it yesterday.  No drift demonstrations today!  

Kel and The Godfather provided pace on Boundary, so wasn't I blessed when Kel rolled the turn beyond the bridge ; scoring a tailwind helped to keep pace with Mrs Smoothie.  The distance to Old Dookie Rd was doable.  Tina tried a turn westbound and I was happy to hold her speed.  Something's better than nothing Tina (despite what Bo may say) but there was not a lot left in her tank to reach School Rd, so tucked in for a tow while I tried tempo with Emil.  PistolPete played co-pilot toward Central Ave, the cumulative effect of the town's lights in view and a caffeine craving had an effervescent effect on effort to finish fast. So much for the social standards!

10/3  A hint of winter to help h.t.f.u.

Of course a southerly blew again, but today "feels like 7" was the distraction from the wind of just how close winter is.  To cure the cold, an earlier search found a forlorn base-layer at the bottom of the cupboard.  It's probably timely to unearth all the other insulation.  A sign of the layering process to come. (better set an earlier alarm soon too!) The 5ft Ninja, Kim, Tina and Emil met at the Archer St shop with the decision to put Channel Rd back on the menu, now that most of the loose gravel had thinned.  The standard Squirrel sequence set east toward Coach Rd with caution on the cards at the cypress trees for the loose stuff.  (I reckon Coach Rd was worse)  Jen's absence meant all 5 had done a turn by the end of Channel Rd, the southerly (13-19 km/h) made Boundary Rd the bonus.  

Emil had it easy to Old Dookie, my shift to New Dookie without stress so Kim enjoyed the help to Lemnos-Cosgrove ; Tina and the Ninja missed out.  (Luck of the draw I guess). They performed well against the side wind on the west way to Lemnos though.  The increase in workload was noticeable with Jen and Molly missing.  Emil was odds on favorite to drive to Grahamvale Rd so I had the shorter shift to Verney - time today to harden up and add the southerly section to Balaclava as well.  Oh that's right, there was a headwind to face!  Martyrdom paid the price of pain by the time I neared Graham St and just as I was about to throw an elbow of resignation, Emil saved my day by taking on the lead role. 

11/3  Camaraderie and kit co-ordination.

Call me Mr. Despondant, I was almost ready to crawl back into bed hearing yet another southerly blowing Friday morning.  Really?  A weeks worth of wind?  Had I incurred the wrath of Boreas, Zephyrus, Notus and Eurus? *   The thought of keeping pace with Emil's enthusiasm for 10 k's straight into it quickly threw a blanket over my motivation, but the camaraderie of the clan was the magnet to get moving.  (Hurt first, laughs later Foss!)  The wind wasn't as brutal as earlier in the week but the battle into it seemed like a losing one, legs protesting all the way to Sanctuary Drive.  Lenny, Tina, Emil, Jen, PistolPete, Bruce, Kel, Rocket, the 5ft Ninja, Wozza, Kim, Boof and Bo arrived with kits coordinated for the Friday ritual and many were in luck that PistolPete and Wozza bore the brunt of the wind to Mitchell Rd (how come they can can drive into the wind for 3 k's in the high 30's unruffled? Oh yeah, a bucket full of wattage helps!) 

Almost at the back (my usual berth in the bunch in the beginning) in a sandwich between Jen and Tina, the serenity struck me as strange until the penny dropped......The Godfather was absent!  Speed continued through Central Kialla though the effort had eased a bit ; maybe because I'd become tuned into the tempo or that the wind was no longer head-on, probably 'cause calculations had me at the front with a tail wind.     Rocket, Lenny, Bruce and Kel took their turns at train driving to drag us to rooster corner, the way north to the highway commanded by Bo, Kel and the 5ft Ninja (Kim did a covert transition to the left line)    

Jen (still in rehab from a gastric malfunction) took a short shift to Boundary Rd's bridge when we crossed the highway, and that allowed me to keep pace without bursting a boiler.  Tina braved a turn toward the fig farm though Bo berated her call for Emil to roll early.  With power aplenty, Emil and PistolPete drove west to Central Ave.   The craving for coffee (to offset the "feels like 8") helped overcome the the hurt of forcing 40 out of the legs to SPC, but all was forgotten with caffeine in the system and the social sustenance that accompanies it.  

(*the Greek gods of wind if you missed that history lesson!)

This week 283km         YTD 2,817km        

Mental soup

Post #635

26/2  Gone with the wind.

Enthusiasm was gurgling down the plug hole.  I'd driven to Mordialloc pier at stupid o'clock Saturday and sat in the car listening to the east southeaster (32-46 km/h) howling across Port Phillip Bay, imagining the hurt it would inflict. It didn't help that this ride would be solo; nowhere to hide, no banter, no social nutrition.  I'd really wanted to take on a Mordialloc to Frankston and back (even prepared to tackle Oliver's  Hill!) as something a bit different, but the prospect of going to war with the wind along the Nepean Highway with hardly a bike to be seen among Melbourne's traffic turned the idea a bit spooky. Beach Rd at least is synonymous for bikes.  Negatives began to fester.  For a brief moment I even considered just driving back home.  (How soft!) Convincing yourself that there'll be satisfaction completing a windswept ride is almost mission impossible - yet you know the endorphins will flood you later!  It's doing the hurt first that's the trouble. (Brussels sprouts before the black forest cake if you like)  Crikey Foss, harden up would you!  

Summoning some intestinal fortitude, I swung a leg over the Baum and got the wheels rolling, the way north toward the city not as bad as Mr Defeatist had imagined. A fraction of that wind had a southerly in it so pace wasn't so snail-like after all ; steering against the easterly was handlebar crushing stuff! (I'd be banging the gutters without a fight).  Mr Kit Malfunction (Giant jersey, BMC knicks but riding a Cervelo) just had to pass me by (with a lot of huff and puff) at Beaumaris, so I sat 5 metres back when he failed to gain any ground.  My headlight casting his shadow ahead would keep the pressure up.  Let's see when he'd pop. (You're awful Muriel!) Through the rises and falls to Black Rock his increasingly bobbing head spoke volumes ; I'd played my nasty little game, so passed him.  (Now to make sure he didn't catch my draft!)  

There'd be a few PB's with 40's almost commonplace to Sandringham and up to Hampton, through "Go Go Juice", "Cerberus Lung Buster" and "Anna Meares Crush" among the 176 Strava segments that litter the course.  A few bunches were now sighted southbound, the pained expressions on faces telling the tale of what the wind offered.  (And I was trying to ignore the home-bound hurt!)  There were twos and threes city-bound but not a bunch in sight, just a few soloists passed on the distance through Brighton while getting the head ready for the real work to come.  Through St.Kilda and a blast along Beaconsfield Parade to Port Melbourne made the most of the prevailing wind but on the u-turn it became Brussels sprouts into it!   Quite a few two wheeled addicts were now filling the streets so hopes were on finding a few to share the suffering southbound. Several too sluggish and some so swift, the search for someone suitable went on. A look behind found six on my wheel.  One or two came forward for their punishment nearing Elwood, others content in the draft (aka wheel-suckers!)

Two others came by at Sandringham to make a cohesive five and worked the wind in two minute shifts to keep the pace better than ordinary.  Young Mr MAAP was pulling long turns by Black Rock, to the degree that others just stayed in his wake (ain't youth a wonderful thing!), though I'd scored the wheel of Mr Erratic who couldn't drive 20 metres without a freewheel.....or hold a straight line!  I became the shock absorber for those behind. With no plots to overthrow Mr MAAP's dominance, the last 5 k's was a free tow back to Mordialloc, but with wits sharpened to navigate a path around the sluggish south-bounders (so many doubled-up and even tripled in the left lane)  Our Mr MAAP train driver was continuing beyond Mordy, so I served a thanks for the tow before peeling off for the restitution of coffee at Tour de Cafe. Post ride amusement was to eavesdrop on the other tables conversation ; heavy tech talk of power meters boosting pace and the aerodynamics of handlebars.....(seriously?)  Give me the Couldabeens banter any day!  (50 Strava trophies rewarded the earlier intestinal fortitude). Yes, I was happy to have suffered the hurt.

28/2  A family reunion.

Speed wasn't so snail-like headed to Sanctuary Drive and surprisingly, a southerly breeze was against me. (Weird.  Where's this improvement come from?  Someone slipping erythropoietin into my dinner? Whatever it is, I'll have a large serve thanks!)   It was good to be back on home soil and back to the Couldabeens clan ; nothing wrong with the outside world, the variety, the sights and sounds and how others do it, it's just the comfort of being in a predictable peloton that's the pleasure.  Bo, PistolPete, Greg, Lenny, Rocket, Kim, Kreeky, Tina, Bruce, Wozza, Kel, Emil and the 5ft Ninja set off south with you know who leading the lap's introduction.   Rocket, Wozza, Greg and Bruce were quick to form an advance line, ten in the left line a little hesitant to give up their place in the slipstream while the southerly blew.  Emil began to correct the imbalance.......and that got me guilty.  

Time to harden up and join the advance old boy ; at worst I'd have the breeze at the port side by the time I got to the front.  You can't forget the standards of speed when Rocket and Wozz pair-up at the front, though today there wasn't the battle to keep up.  Emil and Greg drove out of the dip and for a hopeful (frankly fanciful) moment, thought they'd drive the distance to rooster corner (You're dreaming Foss!)  Wake up! It was my turn to contribute at the quarter horse stud.  Darkness hides the 2 km distance to Coach Rd so guesswork ruled my pace to begin.  Emil had high 30's on the menu which wasn't so taxing but seeing a car's headlights on Coach Rd seemed a world away.  

Could I reach the goal without turning to toast?  (Just don't look at the Garmin numbers Foss, the reality will ruin you!)  Something got me to rooster corner and Tina as co-pilot north showed me some sympathy with a slightly slower pace.  Kel and Bo startled a black cat on the drive to Old Dookie Rd but it bolted to the table-drain to avoid a catastrophe. (sorry folks, couldn't resist a dad joke) There'd be a cruisy conclusion arriving at Central Ave at the back of the bunch, I had a stress-free sit in the draft to be towed into town.

2/3  Defying the damp.

I hadn't noticed the damp road till all kitted up and turning the headlight on at the end of the driveway.  (No turning back now!)  Denied a ride by rain yesterday, I was itching to get a few k's in anyway.  Besides, the bike was overdue for a clean!  A tropical 19 degrees and 100% humidity fogged the vision and made it a mental soup to pedal through, though the Garmin proved the pace was quite satisfactory.  Half way to Sanctuary Drive the roads became dry.  Lenny, PistolPete, Kim, Rocket, Bruce, Emil, Kel, Wozza, Boof, Bo, Jen and The Godfather braved the damp to make it to the midweek social, the tempo tolerable to Mitchell Rd but there was a breeze in the face to face eastbound.  Lenny provided an early intermission with a puncture.  The restart shuffled me to the back of the pack but there were no complaints ; I'd miss the work into the wind with several yet to do duty through Central Kialla and along River Rd.   

Roads were damp again and the odd drop fell from the sky, hardly a soaking but bike and kit were looking rather second-hand.  Rocket, Wozz, Bruce and Boof did the business to rooster corner where Tina finally joined, The Godfather and Bo taking on the task of tempo north.  They had it set to sedate.  Not the usual wheel to wheel warfare we often get, almost tame in tempo to the Broken bridges where Bo rolled across (cue The Godfather's grizzles on a short shift!)   Kel moved forward to keep Bo honest.  Kel and Jen paired crossing the highway, and they were a formidable force to follow to the bridge where I worked to pluck up the performance to match.  

Jen added a couple of k's on the roll so had me speechless to Old Dookie Rd.  I'd hoped Kim would calm the pace for my second part of the shift but that was dreaming. There was still work to do to School Rd where Emil took the reins.  A restock of my oxygen was well overdue.  An excuse for a brief shower (stopped a moment after it started) made a proper mess of the bike and put water where it wasn't welcomed, making sure bike cleaning was on the days agenda, but for now, a spin into town and coffee took priority.  

3/3  Morning masochism.

PistolPete was on a mission.  It wasn't enough to drive the 3 km to Mitchell Rd, or even another 2 km to Central Kialla.  He'd kept the throttle open to tow us another 2 km to River Rd, nudging the 40's if you don't mind, but with his careful use of the accelerator out of the corners, so we all stood a chance of hanging on.  The squirrels had taken a few steps up the performance ladder today to join the Sanctuary Thursday thrash 'cause Channel Rd had been given a coat of roadworks gravel.   Pistol paced the path toward River Rd, Kreeky, Kel, Bo, Emil, me, the 5ft Ninja, The Godfather and Tina were line astern waiting for their moment of masochism at the front.  Kreeky gifted us a little extra oxygen setting his speed to 37 to River Rd's bridge  (I'm glad he stuck to a standard shift, I'll bet someone would be drawn to match (or better) Pistol's shift)     Kel took us to Trevaskis Rd (a bit beyond the dip) where Bo got enthused to aim long at rooster corner. The body language gave the game away.  Reckon he'd caught Pistol's  distance disease.  Emil was itching for an effort too ; he'd been given the reigns into Coach Rd and turned tempo to 40 northward.  Understandable, there was a hint of help from a south southwest breeze (the bureau said it was calm).  I could feel the legs toasting at second wheel as Emil's shift dragged on to Channel Rd, the only brief relief being a draft from a passing car to ease the hurt.  I'd readied to use what little was left in the tank to put in something resembling a shift in Boundary Rd, but Emil wasn't letting go of the reigns, dialing up 42 on the speedo toward the Boundary bridge.  Google translator couldn't define the dialect of The Godfather's grunt, but he advanced to deliver Emil the news of Tina's o.t.a.   Many enjoyed the overload of oxygen back at mid 30's while Tina was towed back to the team. (Ten points for tenacity to Tina, demerit points to Emil!)  Legs were hammered back to a hurry when Emil resumed his target at Old Dookie Rd though a hint of kindness was shown trimming 3 k's of the pace. 

My turn came on the west way toward Central Ave, and the best I could deliver was 38 to School Rd, throwing an elbow to the Ninja before I blew a head gasket.  It's been a while since doing the Indian filed thing and it's certainly no easier!  The 5ft Ninja speared into the darkness till her watts wained, PistolPete back at the helm while The Godfather showed a little chivalry to Tina's torture.  The call of "Car back" turned out to be the shop squad passing like we'd almost stopped. GiantAndy, Rocket, Boof, Wozza, Liam and TrackStan hurrying to the horizon then Trav, Bruce and ChrisA as rejects off the rear.  They certainly put our average at average.  PistolPete perked up the pace at Dobson's bridge (maybe to use the shop squad's slipstream?) but that slipped Tina off the back.  I needed no encouragement to ease the speed and deliver a draft, the Ninja content to make it three with legs of licorice to labor less into town.  Coffee would cure the cruelty. 

4/3 Uniformity.

The pace was a bit painful southbound to Sanctuary.  Emil's eagerness to blur the tarmac had legs and lungs doing hard labor on Archer Rd but I knew it was doing me good....even though the head hated it! This was perfect preparation for the pace of Friday's lap.  Is it the end of a working week that builds the excitement?  A mild 17 degrees minus wind was a bonus.  Plenty had fronted the grid ; Trav, Kel, Wozza, The Godfather, Jen, Liam, Lenny, Emil, Boof, Kreeky, Bo, Bruce, Kim, Rocket, Tina, the 5ft Ninja and PistolPete assembling for the 5:40 flagfall, flying the team colours on kit day.  

Wozza and Rocket had fronted first so led the charge to Mitchell Rd, not quite the sympathetic start that PistolPete provides but I guess it was sluggish by their standards!  Those of a lesser class hung on in their wake, plucking up the courage to make some sort of contribution.  I'd found myself on the 5ft Ninja's wheel (a pseudo slipstream) again as the order got sorted east toward Central Kialla while Bo tried to sort the wind direction before he faced the front.  The bureau said east southeast but the evidence wasn't there.  Several were savoring the kind climate, only too aware of winter's imminent arrival in 8 weeks.  The joy of just 5 minutes readying to ride will soon be just a dream! 

 I'd changed from demotion to promotion in River Rd and onto Jen's wheel for the advance, the pack quite chatty back here though there'd be silence at the front.  The Godfather had turned the tempo down by Coach Rd though Kim still did the sneaky shuffle to the left line, favoring a draft to a drive.  Like Bo on Monday, Liam had denied the Di2 it's dose of volts so paid the price of being stuck on the little ring.  Kel and Tina captained the crew over the highway but Tina shied from part two of the shift before Hosie Rd, so Jen was elected as co-pilot till Kel called it quits a bit beyond the bridge.  My turn at the business end bound for Old Dookie Rd beside Jen had aroma of deja vu.  Hadn't I had this same scenario two days ago?  Doing the distance wasn't so bad this time ; maybe Jen had set a sympathetic speed for an old timer? (Is touching 40 sympathetic?)  So I prepared for part two expecting the 5ft Ninja's bolt west.  The shift started strong but I sensed the Ninja tank emptying fast a few hundred metres later, so played cautious to keep wheels level till she called quits near School Rd. (nothing worse than being half wheeled when you're on the rivet!)   Emil was called across not long after and with PistolPete a co-pilot, pace was likely to percolate to Central Ave.   Thankfully the speed transitioned slowly.  40's became the new standard (the bureau's prediction had arrived) to Dobson's estate and beyond, the single filed squirt to SPC at a similar velocity then carried on through the streets toward base camp.  Such pace through town doesn't sit so well with me (I've a poor track record of becoming magnetized to motor cars!) but some comfort came with little traffic to compete with. 

This week 242km     YTD 2,534km