Havoc in the head

 Post #644

1/5  Recruitment ride.

Once in a blue moon there's an ask to join the clan (a pair this time, surprisingly) so with credentials unknown, I (cheekily) appointed myself as a Couldabeens casting agent.  Better to make sure they're square pegs for square holes!  As Saturday was a wash-out, Sunday seemed timely for a toe-in-the-water tap.  Liliana and Liam (a slightly slower version of the Liam we know.....thank heaven!) were on time at the Tarcoola rendevous (first box ticked) and after initial intro's, a tap around the Toaster circuit was the agreed course.  Tempo was the next test ;  I hadn't dropped them on the roll-out along the Boulevard and they hadn't torn my legs off reaching the golf course (second box ticked) so endurance could be questioned later.  Their resume read well with a few years riding (though being in a bunch wasn't so common) and habits of a holding a straight line and a steady speed augered well.  (A call of "car back" and a finger pointed at pot-holes scored them the 3rd tick)  Winter's proximity was getting serious with just 6 on the guage, the touch of a west northwester assisting our passage toward Pine Lodge but made the morning feel like 3.6.  That kept the cadence keen.  Liam and I had paired at the front so was Lili deliberately drafting, banking horsepower to toast us, or just a bit shy of the drivers seat?  (Given the benefit of the doubt for now).    An extra shot of effort was needed on the turn at the Toaster for the west way to Boundary so the shift south was welcome (all these incidentals mount up when there's been no respite at the rear)  

Over the Broken bridges and beyond One Tree Dam, a sensation of softness started to play on my pre-frontal cortex ; not the softness of wanting to slow down or an urge to take up basket weaving, it was a pliable sensation through the posterior.   A few hundred metres toward River Rd and the sensation was certain; the predicament of a puncture would halt progress (in a tyre less than 100 k old too).  Liam and Lili waited patiently (tick 4) for the fix and resuming the ride, Lili sat in the drivers seat and Liam drafted.  Able to carry on a conversation in the low 30's while into the breeze ranked Lili a Squirrel certainty at the minimum.  To Central Kialla and Liam resumed the front but there was no rest for me as the tax of time at the front slowly added up to wear me down (so it's fair they got a 5th tick for endurance. They'd tolerated me for an hour!)  Along Mitchell, 'round Roubaix corner and on to Raftery, a coffee craving kept the wheels turning back into town.  The caffeine fix at the Butter Factory fixed my jellied legs, so when Lil and Liam fixed the bill, a supplementary 6th tick went on their application (bribery get's you places!)   They get my vote, but lets see if the bunch fits them and they fit the bunch.

2/5  Flogging this dead horse.

Maybe it was Monday-itis?  There wasn't even a breeze to blame but getting up to speed seemed to be a losing battle Monday morning.  Tyre pressures were fine, brakes weren't binding and the temperature was nothing to complain about (11 degrees) so I guess it was a case of some days you've got it, others you 'aint.  Emil kindly suppressed his snoring on the commute to Sanctuary drive where just a few had fronted ; Rocket, The Godfather, Bruce, the 5ft Ninja, Wozza, Kreeky and Kel. (Take a picture! PistolPete was missing!)  

Emil and Bruce performed the opening act so I slipped into the survivors seat (behind Emil in the left line) for maximum delay before doing duty.  (Maybe I'd harden up in the meantime?)  Expending a lot of energy just to stay in the draft, it was disappointing to see just 37 on the speedo ; it felt like 47 keeping up!  The Godfather fronted early in Mitchell Rd, maybe in an effort to exorcise an excess of alcohol absorbed at the weekend.  It must have been a bender ; he delivered plenty of pace with Bruce to Central Ave then a lot of hurry with Wozza to River Rd.  The small bunch soon had me promoted into the advance, coincidentally behind the 5ft Ninja (there goes any aerodynamic advantage!)      Kreeky took the edge off the effort (just a couple of k's made a world of difference) alongside Kel, who of course obliged, but when Kreeky rolled across a little beyond the quarter horse stud, the Ninja became the cork-out-of-the-bottle.  

The eagerness would have continued if it wasn't for the call of "Easy!" to calm to Kreeky's pace so arriving at rooster corner, it became my time to proverbially flog a dead horse.  The Ninja didn't want any part of doing part two as it happened and called me across (fine with me, my psychological tank would run empty at the Broken bridges anyway).   Grateful for Emil's cautious use of the throttle, I had just enough to stay in touch when Emil and Bruce turned up the hurt to the highway.  Recovery was on the back burner, hanging on was the priority.  By Boundary Rd's bridge some focus had returned to view The Godfather and Wozza locked in labor toward Old Dookie.  Rocket was the kid in the lolly shop working The Godfather west to Central Ave, and hat's off to Mr. Merida, he managed well.  Rocket and Kel kept the tempo to the truck route, the squirt to SPC stretching my limits but Chris at the Butter Factory had a perfect tranquilizer for the pain.  Let's hope there'd be horsepower for tomorrow rather than the dead horse of today. 

3/5 A swollen squirrel squad.

This squirrel thing shows success ; three new recruits joined in for Tuesday's tap.  Wendy, with no Wouldabeens willing to ride (7 degrees and they quit??) along with recent requesters Liam and Lili turned up to swell the numbers, along with regulars Emil, Kim, Jen and the 5ft Ninja, it seemingly filled the Archer St car park.   It was business as usual on circuit and speed (no concession given for newbies ; read the fifo principal!) so Emil slowly turned up the wick to the usual mid 30's (give or take) toward the truck route.  The Ninja took up the second wheel role for a change (whether the new ones would take on a turn was optional).   I got the tow truck duties crossing Doyles Rd 'cause the 5ft one had the turbo spooled up toward Orrvale Rd,  a careful use of the throttle getting all back into the half draft the Ninja gave for a k and a bit.  Minimal rolling resistance on the smooth stretch of the ChaCha to the Kinder made speed easy (a stark contrast to my pedestrian performance yesterday), Kim given the captaincy to deliver us to the cypress trees where Jen took command. One day that stretch to Coach Rd won't have the snap-crackle-and-pop of loose gravel! (always at the S bend to put some o.m.g. into cornering)  Wendy was let loose to aim at the highway and she must have a diploma from the Ninja University 'cause the throttle was quickly wide open.  There was no time to lose on her drive into Boundary Rd too, thankfully settling into mid 30's to the bridge and a bit beyond. 

Lili impressed with he first performance ; straight smooth and kosher on tempo to take us beyond the fig farm.  Liam (needing an appropriate nick-name to differentiate him from the supersonic one) set similar standards north to New Dookie Rd while Emil, almost chewing bar tape in anticipation, sat ready and raring for his second performance.   No surprise his shift was an extended one ; up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd then west to the bridge before (reluctantly?) relinquishing his lead.  That  west southwest breeze was more than obvious sitting second wheel to the Ninja, so the push into it when I was handed the reigns at Ford Rd was no surprise. I'd imagined that smooth stretch of the ChaCha under the wheels to help me reach Grahamvale and there, handed Kim the 1100 metre shift to Verney.  So Jen had Emil's signature shift south to Balaclava Rd where, naturally, he poached the lead role for a swift shift to warm up on coffee.  

4/5  Bird strike!

All is not lost when there's a dozen on the grid in "feels like 5" though concentration had been hijacked by complaints from the legs about the labor just to get there (and they had a tail breeze to help!)  I'd used Mr. Voight's phrase repeatedly but their signals played havoc in the head as Wozza and Emil led Gazza, Boof, Bruce, Kel, Rocket, Grumpy, Greg, the 5ft Ninja, Bo and The Godfather  set south (PistolPete absent, yet again).  I'd joined the tail of the advance line after a burst at 40 to catch the bunch (come back Pistol, and show them the error of their ways!) so having two rows of six ahead gave a fair bit of lead time before the real work started.  

Grumpy was tardy matching Greg's tempo into River Rd (flapping that jaw again?) but got his act together to pair properly to the bridge.  The Godfather whacked the chain onto the 11 cog to drive with Grumpy to the dip and up to Trevaskis Rd (I'd hoped he wasn't going to do his usual diesel engine demonstration all the way to Coach Rd.)  He didn't.  I'd braved the front with legs protesting but focus is a funny thing ; it does little for a physical result but it steers the head into the right place.  With a skull full of thoughts about smoothness and spin, the white fence of the quarter horse stud arrived sooner than I thought, far enough to warrant my call of half time.  The Ninja drew alongside as co-pilot, and wasn't I pleased she hadn't hit the boost button!  

Doubts of getting to rooster corner were eased when her speed sank shy of the rumble strips, rolling across to cruise to rooster corner.  The roadworks sign at Coach Rd was someone's idea of a joke; of course the pot-holes remain!  Bo and Kel paired to take us north but Bo had had enough at the bridges and slumped into the slipstream, kick-starting the sledges to the highway.   Gazza and Boof delivered the draft en-route to Old Dookie Rd but a bird took a dislike to Gazza to head-butt his helmet!  Not often you need to dodge flying feathers in a bunch! After an animated replay for those who missed the action, Gaz had settled the nerves to turn west and lead on to Central Ave. There was little breeze to help the pace back to suburbia but speed was spiced up to get there anyway. 

5/5 Hey Winter, why so early?

The heavy duty base layer came out of mothballs. Winter had arrived early Thursday and the alarm was set three minutes earlier for the lengthy layering preparing for "feels like 1.6".  Others looked like Eskimo's too, huddled at the carpark for a squirrel spin.  A touch of southwester would assist the anti-clockwise circuit but it certainly chilled the bones.  Emil and I started in standard sequence with Molly, Wendy, the 5ft Ninja, Jen, Kim and Liam falling into line behind.  The ritual's just the same, it's the sequence that varies.  Molly passed the baton to Wendy at the Kinder then the Ninja got it at the cypress trees (hang on to your hats for the hurry to Coach Rd folks!)  I spoke too soon about gravel at the S bend the other day, my front wheel jumping sideways over a stone (right on the apex of course!) to bring on a "must-update-my-will" moment.  Delighted to avoid a horizontal malfunction, it took a moment or two to make up the gap and get back into the slipstream of the 5ft one towing us to Coach Rd.  Jen eased the velocity toward the highway and cut her shift short, so maybe it's odd numbered Thursdays that tone down her tempo?  

Kim took on the task of Boundary Rd and aimed at the bridge, Liam performing a copybook shift to the fig farm (he'll go places keeping that habit happening)   Of course big things were expected of Emil's northern shift; I'd readied to be given the lead beyond New Dookie but somehow just knew he'd continue to Lemnos-Cosgrove.  I had a feeling that southwester would suppress speed when given the west way toward Lemnos but found a reasonable pace on the speedo toward the bridge, so did an "Emil extension" and continued to Lemnos North Rd.  (Maybe I'd toasted Molly at second wheel 'cause her turn fell short in Ford Rd but I'm told she didn't have the legs anyway)  Wendy towed us to Grahamvale at a speed a new bike brings, the Ninja dragging us to Verney so Jen had the drive south to Balaclava (no problem with pace this time!)   Of course Emil reset the ritual by stealing the lead and heading us to the Butter Factory. 

6/5 F..f..f..fairly fresh Friday.

I'd seriously considered about 100 great reasons to go back to bed seeing zero on the Bureau's data Friday morning, but that'd be slipping down the slope of softness before Winter had even arrived!  (I'd be granted instant membership of the Wouldabeens if I wasn't careful!)  Thank heavens for the fellowship, kit day and the therapeutic benefits of Chris's coffee that dragged me out of the house and hardened me up to roll a few k's.  The Godfather, Emil, Greg, Kreeky, Bo, Tina, Grumpy, Rocket, Wozza, Kel, Boof and Bruce rolled up in the crisp atmosphere, Emil and Grumpy the stand-ins for the first shift till PistolPete emerges from isolation.  How convenient it was to slip in behind Emil to delay my shift till last!  Grumpy should have brought a note from home to excuse the out-of-uniform blue gillet, billowing like a Mae West life-jacket.  (Come back soon Pete ; instructions on style are urgently needed!) 

The temperature seemed to drop even further out of town (just a degree or two seems massive) so I was pleased to have unearthed the full winter gloves (feels like boxing gloves) but was silly enough to brave just one base layer.  Wozza had set a social speed on Mitchell Rd though it felt far faster as the atmosphere chilled the bones, Grumpy calling a short shift no doubt feeling like his lungs were in a vice.  Kreeky eased up on the throttle as Greg fronted in Coach Rd and that lowered the stress levels with many still trying to come to terms with the temperature.  Tina moved forward for a short shift at the business end to level with Greg (when he dropped back three lengths!) but a few days off the bike and the sudden sample of Winter soon had her diving for cover at the bridges.  

Below 3 degrees seems to warrant a discount on speed to survive, Greg's revised 35 allowing me to match him to the Midland.  Emil gave me a concession too and rolled across when I called "Done" a bit beyond Boundary Rd's bridge.  A dozen others to serve their second shift almost guaranteed I'd done my one and only, so the workload gradually eased on Old Dookie in the draft to prepare for the squirt to SPC.  I'm not sure if it was the dash into the 40's or the chill factor that caused that hurt the most, but it was nothing like the pain of regret if I'd gone back to bed!

This week  291 km      YTD 4,977 km       

      

To hell with the heart rate!

 Post # 643

23/4  The 5:40am drunk (sitting in the road's centre), 3 charging canines, boys being boys and a stubborn skewer.

'Ol mate, sitting in the middle of Archer St, drunk as a skunk at 5:40am kicked off an 'interesting' Saturday spin.  Navigating Waranga and Wendouree Drives with Emil en-route to Sanctuary came across Lenny and Bo playing pit crew for the punctured 5ft Ninja, the argument for tubeless tyres almost erupting from Emil during the repairs.  The skewer proved to be the stubborn thing though, needing a forceful hand from Bo.  To the grid with two minutes spare found Gazza, Rocket, Grumpy, Tina, GiantAndy, Wozza, The Godfather, Boof, Bruce, Molly PistolPete and Greg, ready and raring to ride.   Seventeen set south into the darkness and of course, all the horsepower had risen to the top (those with the want for wattage were at the rear, clinging in hope that the rush wouldn't last)   

A sudden slow on leg two to Mitchell had the squad scattered avoiding the three charging canines out of that Archer Rd driveway (how complacent we'd become since not seeing them for a month)  All had luckily stayed upright, the frayed nerves almost settled for the turn east toward Central Kialla. The worry about speed and the mismatching of muscle power eventually faded as those wanting wattage warmed up and the quick quietened down, so the balance between too swift and too sedate reached a compromise and the k's ticked away. In silence for some, socially for others, depending on the want for oxygen!   

I didn't need the half wheeling high jinks that The Godfather and Bo played at the front for the north leg to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd, hanging on the 40's at second wheel wasn't the best preparation to my time at the front (and turns out Tina was toasted by it at the rear too).  The Godfather had hand-braked his horseplay thankfully as I paired with him on the turn west, so I could manage a shift to the Cosgrove Creek.  Emil went easy on me for part two so getting to Boundary Rd had some satisfaction at doing a reasonable turn.  There was just enough left in the tank to hang on to Emil and PistolPete's hurry to Lemnos (they'd added another 3 km/h to the tempo but the mental scars of inadequacy would heal in a week or two!  Look on the bright side Foss ; another turn at the front was unlikely. I'd only need to survive the speed back to breakfast)  

By doubtful co-incidence, GiantAndy, Boof, Rocket, Lenny, Wozza, Gazza and others bestowed with horsepower were line astern to help the hurry back to the suburbs.  And that formation probably played on the nerves of those already nearing their limits.  Close to being awarded the Order of O.T.A., Tina avoided the embarrassment with an escape exit via Verney.  (Coffee would erase any feeling of deficiency)  I'd mentally prepared for the (highly likely) thrash along the Boulevard (not so difficult when you're already soaking up a slipstream at the back) and squeezing the throttle wide open to ascend the dizzying heights of Mt.Wanganui, a call of one becoming detached forced a look behind.  The 5ft Ninja had punctured again. Not wishing to leave one of the team behind, PistolPete, Molly, Emil and I had halted to help, the pack pressing on to Rudd Rd, Boulevard bound.  That stubborn skewer now refused to budge, so puncture repair was impossible (Emil saved the day by commuting 5 minutes home and returning with rescue transport).  Pistol, Molly and I made our path to the Butter Factory to tackle talk on the convenience of junk food, going golf and health down the plug-hole.

25/4  Lest we forget.

Great expectations of a few early k's came to naught hitting the snooze button a few times ; what I wanted last night was erased by the reality of the morning after!  When wheels did get rolling there was a casual cruise to the town's centre for a solemn start.  The bunch gathered at Memorial Park for the ANZAC day dawn service.  Engines had cooled considerably by 6:35 so when Wozza and Bruce led Lenny, Tina, Bo, Lance, Laura, Rocket, PistolPete, the 5ft Ninja, Jen, The Godfather, Kel, SuperMario, TrackStan, Greg, Molly and Boof north on the Boulevard, legs and lungs complained considerably.  The decent dose of pace got the engine up to temperature enough to try an early shift for Ford Rd's first foray (not my usual delay at doing duty!)  GiantAndy got on board as Boof and I headed two lines to Verney's roundabout, en-route to a clockwise crack on the Toaster loop (a foreign direction for many but it recalled for me the hurt of the hospital bunch that went this way many moons ago)   

Lance paired for the leg to Grahamvale Rd though a recent bout of  flu shortened the contribution.  The bunch had Wouldabeens guests SuperMario and Laura along to try the tempo though Laura could be excused from fronting after a 160 km effort yesterday.    With a southeaster brewing I was pleased to get a turn done early (albeit a bit shy on distance) and sit back while the differing divisions made their donation, the tempo doing a bit of a yo-yo toward Cosgrove accordingly (31 to 38 provided variety)   The real effort into the wind ("breeze" if you're blessed with horsepower) came when turning south to the Toaster but I didn't care a continental......it presented no problem to me sitting smugly in the draft!  

The 5ft Ninja had a puncture paranoia after a spate of  Saturday flats and today on a new set of rubber, something felt peculiar (not a lack of pressure peculiar as it turned out, just a new tyre peculiar)   The wind at our backs for the way west from the Toaster was a bonus 'cause hurry was back on the menu thanks to the pairing of Grumpy and Greg at the pointy end.  Jen had a tentative tap at the front ; an understandable caution given the troubles with her turn on Thursday and her Cheshire-like grin at the Broken bridges signaled all was well in the engine room.  Travelling west on River Rd was weird - the days of Couldabeens clockwise on the Channel-Coach-River-Mitchell-Raftery route seem like ancient history and riding in daylight seemed alien too!   (Rocket and Wozz at the business end for a big part of River Rd distracted the memory of when) 

To keep to the agenda of a breakfast at the Milk Bar the call was for an Archer Rd entry to town.  The trouble with doing a first turn early was the likelihood of another before the lap was done, so when Boof and Wozza headed us south through Central Kialla I readied the head for another effort.  There was enthusiasm aplenty at the start of the Mitchell Rd shift but the reality of the reserves came to light not long after.  (All the usual Garmin numbers were a bit below the red line but the legs wanted nothing to do with pace shy of reaching Archer Rd.  Lance advanced to save my bacon)  With the relief of the breeze at our back in Archer Rd came the temptation of a bit more tempo into suburbia, a few more calories burned would lessen the guilt of a cafe breakfast! 

26/4  Some hurry'n.  Some hurt'n.

Straight out of bed and straight onto the bike on Tuesday, thanks to turning off the alarm rather than using the snooze button.  The fear of "running on empty" skipping breakfast is of course unfounded when the tank still has most of the fuel it was filled with last night.  I'd got wheels rolling a couple of minutes early as it happened so I didn't need to rev a cold engine to the usual rendevous.  Emil and Kim were found at Tarcoola and Jen was collected en-route to the starting grid, Tina there ready to roll but the 5ft Ninja was missing.  5 @ 5:30 = go!  As sure as eggs, Emil led the first shift toward the truck route with pace steadily rising  (here's hoping the aim wasn't to high 'cause I'd be obliged to follow suit on speed)  

36 - 37 wasn't supersonic stuff but once out of Emil's draft headed to Orrvale drew on a few reserves.  In all the rush to ride earlier, I'd missed the bureau's data on wind ; something was holding up the hurry but the wind direction was vague (what you don't know won'y hurt you Foss.....get on with it!) I had lived up to Emil's effort and was lucky to have a shorter shift to do it, so gave the elbow to Jen at Orrvale Rd and slipped rearward to lament the effort at the rear.  Jen ran smooth on all cylinders to the Kinder (I'll call her the comeback kid!) but Kim had Central Ave as Struggle Street for her opening act (several days hiking had turned the legs to licorice)    In the spirit of teamwork, Tina took over the drive to the cypress trees and made a generous donation to drive to the S bend.  With Emil back on the front early , doubts doubled on where his shift might end ; get the focus on the elbow Foss and expect anywhere, keeping the transition of turns smooth is key when some are close to the limit.  

The end wasn't the turn into Coach Rd or even the highway, still spinning at Boundary Rd's bridge said the the usual Old Dookie changeover was likely but I was watching that elbow anyway.  Old Dookie it was and again it felt the wind was against me, though some satisfaction came seeing pace up to spec.  I was pleased to have scored the shorter drive to New Dookie and more pleased to hand over to Jen, the respite at the back from what felt like a headwind more pleasing again.  Kim fronted for another attempt in Lemnos-Cosgrove but those hiking legs hurt enough to make the appearance brief, Tina rising to the occasion for a long shift to Lemnos North Rd.  So Emil took the helm in Ford Rd and predictably, hijacked the lead role back to the Butter Factory, his almost obligatory squirt into the 40's toward Verney Rd probably burning his earlobes with the cusses from behind (the quiet roll in the low 30's to Balaclava Rd may have prevented a knife in the back).

27/4 Sayonara social speed!

A protected position in the bunch became vital for The Godfather as the squad set south from Sanctuary's roundabout, his deceptive dive to the left line didn't go unnoticed. Surely the wind wasn't the worry, the northeaster barely ranked as a breeze!  For a change, I wasn't so choosy, circumstances had me near the back when PistolPete and Bruce started the the squad of Lenny, Boof, Greg, the 5ft Ninja, Emil, Kel, Rocket, Bo, Wozza, Grumpy, Gazza and Tina onto the circuit at 5:40.   Joining the advance line at Central Kialla with Bo ahead and Gazza behind wasn't so ominous ; there were at least a dozen ahead to mask the effort needed to slice through the atmosphere (that work would reveal itself the closer I got to the front.  I could worry about it then!)

Those on the demotion from the front were painting a picture of the effort though, maybe I'd get my shift with something less windswept?  Effort was increasing as the quarter horse fence blurred by, Lenny and Wozza nudging the 40's (forgive them Father for they know not what wattage they have!) despite the breeze coming in at the 10 o'clock position. It didn't quite sync with the social speed standards, but hey, bits weren't breaking off the back and cries of mercy weren't apparent (probably 'cause they couldn't spare the oxygen!)   Bo was pleading for a discount on speed when he paired with Kel crossing the Midland  (22% last week, 32% today eh Bo?),  33 seemed sluggish and the shift was short, ending when he rolled across a bit beyond the bridge.  Then for some strange reason, he dialed up the pace to 38 when I tried to get alongside (Something I said?  A problem pairing with a pensioner? Body odour?  Best given the attention it deserved....none!) 

 Gazza was the gentleman though for part two when we steered onto Old Dookie, giving me the choice of pace.  37 seemed appropriate so I could get to School Rd and give a vague impression of a reasonable turn.  The Godfather had finally come forward to serve a shift with Gazza, the wind now almost behind. (What a coincidence!)  There wasn't a lot of recovery as they crept toward 40 and an optimistic call crossing Central Ave split the pack in two. (note to self ; consider carefully the race car drivers' call !  The Godfather got the blame though)  Speed stabilized toward the truck route and of course Emil couldn't resist heading the hurry to SPC but the line lengthened on the charge toward coffee.  Keeping up with the crew while competing with traffic lights and commuting cars became a high risk workplace so when a driver (Texting?  Unfocussed? Applying make-up? Half asleep? Stirring a coffee in their lap? All of the above?)  did a late stab of the brakes to give way at the roundabout (prompting plenty of palpitations), I chanced a call at the Butter Factory's pow wow for calm beyond SPC.  The coming months in even darker and damper conditions warrant it. Respectable road manners won't do us any harm either. 

28/4  Ahh, the joys of a damp road and fighting the wind! 

The forecast 4mm of rain hadn't arrived at 4:45 and the radar looked clear.....seize the day Foss, at this time of year you've gotta grab any opportunity!   Yeah, the road was damp and a northeaster was blowing but the addiction is stronger than the sum of two parts (the bike was due for a decent clean anyway)    The usual rendevous at Tarcoola found Kim and Emil, Jen was collected on the commute and Tina was waiting at the shop. Talk about deja vu Tuesday!   The roll around the block to near us to 5:30 went single file for traffic in Archer Rd so by coincidence I had the lead role steering into Channel Rd as if to ruin the routine (the repetition was getting to me anyway!)  Instead of my usual 1.2k shift to Orrvale, the downside was doing a 2k drive east with the wind wearing away the wattage.   A guess at setting 34 to the truck route was a little keen, Emil settled the speed lower to Orrvale Rd (hint taken for next shift)   

Jen was back to her young self with a keen drive to the Kinder and Kim was finally blessed with a favorable wind to get to the cypress trees.  Tina had no trouble with speed to the S bend so wasn't I lucky to have that northeaster again!  It's just over a k to Coach Rd so reaching there, I added a bit more to the highway to make it a decent distance.  The great Tuesday / Thursday mystery is Emil's time in the drivers seat ; he'd crested the dizzying height of Boundary Rd's bridge (the highest peak in these parts) so Old Dookie Rd looked likely, but still fronting the four toward New Dookie had us all guessing.  When his elbow refused to budge en-route to the rail line, I took a punt that our gift was a tow to Lemnos-Cosgrove where we'd have the pleasure of the wind (almost) behind back to the Butter Factory.  (Surely this was compensation for Tuesday's cruelty Emil?)   It was happy days for Jen to head us to Lemnos North Rd and for Kim to do Ford Rd's first bit.  Tina made the most of a blast to Verney  and again, I rattled the routine to spin south to Balaclava Rd.  Spotted specs, a dirty kit, a disheviled bike (complete with the compulsory crushed worms attached) was a small price to pay for what ended as a satisfying spin.

29/4 Contemplating Col.....

A foggy Friday was a window to the winter to come......ah, the memories come flooding back; wet as a shag on a rock 10 minutes into a lap, visibility vexed, the want for specs with wipers and that sensation of riding through soup!  But the bunch is great bait to overcome all that.  Bruce, Kreeky, Boof, Wozza, Bo, Trav, the 5ft Ninja, PistolPete, The Godfather, Emil, Kel, Rocket, Tina and Grumpy rolled in for the Sanctuary start with pocketing eyewear to assist their navigation.  The spin south sorted out those in a hurry and those hanging on while I battled a loose Garmin handlebar mount (better to pocket the Garmin than lose it! I could get by without the data....it's that "what you don't know won't hurt you" theory)   

There was a sea of blue and flouro in the mist for Couldabeens kit day but today was the anniversary of the loss of our great mate Col.  An encyclopedia of music, the master of bacon with maple syrup (he could demolish pancakes and ice-cream like a boss too!), a champion campaigner for Campagnolo, storyteller extraordinaire and all-round entertainer.  We all miss his company though he left so many great memories behind for us.  Col's passing only reinforces the  #ruok and  #neveralone message.  Do that conversation folks, 3 million Australians are living with anxiety and depression.

The Godfather's varied line and speed rippled through the procession at River Rd's bridge ;  the audible stuff we ignore but when actions scatter the squad......    Grumpy had stayed Captain of the caboose with concerns about the Giant's brakes so I joined the advance with Kreeky ahead and Trav behind, a turn at the front likely half way round the circuit so it was time to sit back and enjoy the show.  Coach Rd finally appeared through the fog though the north drive seemed to have a clear view.  Kreeky appeared to be struggling at the Broken bridges when he rolled to the left line, and being blissfully ignorant of the pace I took care to keep my wheel level with his.  Conversation was canned too, I took a guess oxygen was vital.

Credit to Kreeky for reaching the highway where it was my time to pair with gentleman Trav (we conspired to set our own speed, the big hitters would have their moment for velocity nearer town).   I set the fig farm as my use-by date but hadn't blown a head gasket getting there so why not aim at Old Dookie to make a decent drive of it?  Having speed and heart rate hidden probably helped!   Trav and Kel were kind to keep the pace below boiling point on the west way to Central Ave and slowly my effort eased in their slipstream.   The trust in their call of "Clear!" at the crossroad was stark contrast to Wednesday.  Going gently on the gas pedal toward Dobson's brough comfort to a few, a bit of calm before the storm to SPC at the truck route kept 15 Indian filed as one before the sensible spin to our appointment for caffeine injections.

This week  321 km      YTD 4,685 km 

                 

    

Pain percolating

 Post #642

16/4 A little sting in Saturday.

The commute was cruisy Saturday, the pressure to perform at Emil's pace was off (in his absence) yet I reached Sanctuary Drive no later than usual (Go figure!  All that hurry and huff and puff is in my head!)   I'd wondered if Easter may thin the numbers at the grid but the fair showing of  Wozza, TatMat, Grumpy, Gazza, Rocket, Bo, PistolPete, The Godfather, Molly, Boof, the 5ft Ninja and Greg proved that thought wrong.  This bunch was heavily weighted with wattage though....brace yourself Foss, there might be a little sting in this Saturday!   I felt comfortable in third wheel as PistolPete set us south toward the truck route though the advance line was yet to form (if this stayed Indian file I'd better harden up quickly!)  Rocket, Wozza, Gazza and Grumpy saved my skin by forming the advance line on the leg toward Mitchell Rd so the toughening up process could be put on hold for a while.  TatMat strangely stayed at the back ; a broken headlight bracket had him in the dark (daylight, soon to come, would bring him forward)   

I'd joined the advance line in River Rd with the aerodynamic disadvantage of the 5ft Ninja ahead, Molly, worried by the wattage ahead, quick to take up residence in the caboose.  Calm conditions had calmed my concerns of facing the front though a precedence on pace had already been set ; I'd be relying on considerate partners when I got to the business end.  Boof  kept his wheel aligned with the Ninja when she fronted at the Broken River, even as pace slowly faded at the Channel Rd intersection.  There was no nodding of head or grab of a lower gear, and not a gasp or groan to be heard (I must take lessons!)   Quite comfortable with the compliant company of PistolPete beyond the highway (none of these guys with wattage bite, it's just that I feel like a ball and chain beside them!) I was chuffed to still have high 30's on the speedo at the fig farm and (psychologically) enough in the tank to reach Old Dookie Rd.  Fingers crossed the legs and lungs would co-operate (they did)   

Now that enough light lit the way to the Toaster, TatMat came forward in Old Dookie Rd when Bo shortened his shift.  Little time had passed and I was nearing the rear again (particularly when the Ninja withdrew from advancing) so with the heap of horsepower ahead, I cautiously joined the advance line again.   (With Boof ahead, at least I now had a decent draft) I could deal with the sting of the speed a little later.  You'd think Lemnos-Cosgrove was downhill 'cause the hurry nearly always starts headed west (or is it the craving for caffeine that demands the urgency?)     The speed is applied gradually though, so unless you've got an eagle eye on the speedo, it usually goes unnoticed....till you need to perform at the front. I wonder if the Garmin was switched off would the hurt go away?)   

Getting closer to town and closer to the front again wasn't so stressful, given the success of the previous turn, though legs were already telling me this shift would be shorter (or they'd divorce me!)   Time came to pair with Boof at Verney's roundabout and ignoring the derision from a late starting '51, I reckon I could cope with the short squirt (1100 metres) to the highway as a half way point.  A halt for traffic would have allowed a bit more oxygen intake.....but no such luck!  Part two with Pistol didn't quite get to the DECA target , the urge ran out at the water treatment plant.  Happy that Bo didn't hit the boost button beside Pistol, I could restock the lungs in their draft to Mt. Wanganui, predicting a spike in speed would come.  Good forecast Foss, it was Rocket who pressed the button on The Boulevard, possibly incited by The Godfather I'd reckon, and two rows turned quickly to one.  

Hanging onto the hurry tends to narrow the focus to the wheel ahead, but a keen eye was needed today with a rising sun fair in the face and parked cars along the Boulevard to avoid.  Wits sharpened.  The bunch had bits breaking off the back by Tarcoola's roundabout and that game of "find a friend to suffer with" was played as the half dozen still with horsepower to spare stretched ahead into the distance (Drop just a few metres from the wheel ahead and it's all over! )  Traffic lights however have a great effect of leveling the playing field (unless you're The Godfather) so the clan was re-united to breach the Butter Factory for breakfast.  Sinking social standards, sweetening up sponsors and dad's discipline spread a bit philosophy across the table.

20/4  Eroding the excesses of Easter.

Rain and a poorly judged radar had forced a couple of days respite from riding so you could call me "keen as" Wednesday morning, despite the feels like 4.4 to deal with.  Trav, Boof, The Godfather, Gazza, Bo, Tina, Kel, Rocket, Emil, Wozza, Kim, Lenny, Bruce, Kreeky, Jen and Greg were keen too, lining up behind PistolPete at Sanctuary's roundabout.  The 5:40 roll out found me conveniently berthed behind Pistol in the left line while Emil led the advance.  By the numbers in today's bunch I'd have a long wait till arriving at the front (a gentle introduction might be a good thing given the three day lay-off)  

Today the bunch looked a little different, mostly clad in knee warmers / long kniks, thick gloves and neck warmers, though a few devotees to Rule #5 had braved bare knees.  (June / July will sort that decision out!)  So it was through the bustling metropolis of Central Kialla (two dozen houses, a school, a public hall and a fire station), over the cobblestone like roughness to River Rd and east toward a narrow slit of light on the horizon to rooster corner (where the sun would show up.......forty five minutes later.  So much for all that extra daylight on the recent change to Eastern Standard Time!)   A handy west southwester eased the pressure to Coach Rd and I wondered why we weren't nudging the 40's till  remembering it was social Wednesday.  Eventually at the back of the bunch on the turn north, a lookout in the darkness for the Coach Rd pot-holes was the first priority  (I'll give even odds there'll be more to dodge in the months to come!)  Kim had taken up residence in the caboose and Bo seemed to be a bit off-form, shortening his time in the drivers seat en-route to the highway.  My time for a contribution slicing through the atmosphere was till a long way off so the three and a bit k's to Old Dookie was spent serenely socializing while others worked. (It's a good gig if you can get it!)   That west southwester was now a westerly fair in the face for the 9 k's back to town, wearing down The Godfather on his drive toward Dobson's and trimming his turn considerably (didn't that fire up the sledges!) but social the speed stayed......till the truck route where Trav turned up the heat (to burn up the calories that Easter happens to heap on us) to speed to SPC.  With more good luck than good management, today was a free tow 'round for me.      

21/4  Sedate squirrels.

Tina and Molly led the ritual lap around Archer St's shop for a change (just to soak up a minute or two before 5:30 struck) and took the executive decision to head the path east into Channel Rd when the Ninja turned up.......but they weren't so keen to lead the line of squirrels into the circuit.  (Emil's the CEO of first shift after all!)  Tina did brave second wheel, but Molly crept into fourth with Kim, Jen and the 5ft one astern. Made a bit of a change from the same old, same old.  

Shifts stayed the same though; the truck route, Orrvale Rd, the Kinder and the cypress trees seem to be set in stone as the shifts end.  Kim called the S bend the end of her drive from the cypress trees and Jen took charge of the effort east (but it wasn't the Jen we're accustomed to, this was a slow motion version)  And her time in the drivers seat was short,  200 hundred metres and the Ninja was given the reigns, taking the team the next k to Coach Rd.  The turn north had the Ninja's trademark tempo (full steam toward the highway) but I'd sensed this scenario happening and played shock absorber for the three behind me.  The Ninja's enthusiasm north of the Midland needed similar shock treatment but shadows cast ahead by the headlights behind me were fading fast.  That spelled an o.t.a. occurrence (the holler of "Easy!" got the turbo turned down while a scattered seven reformed)  

A quiet k or so kept the crew assembled, the shifts continuing per schedule but Jen kept herself confined to the caboose.  A little ease from the usual effort isn't such a bad thing and given the feels like 6, a slightly slower speed prevented frostbite (silly me was playing the martyr's role in short knicks)   Duty continued in Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd and Ford, so seeing that Jen wasn't dropped like a hot spud even tamed Emil's usual urge to stretch the friendships with the fast stuff at Grahamvale Rd and along Verney.  A most civilised conclusion.

22/4  The circus on the circuit.

Despite the feels like 4.8 there was quite the commitment to Couldabeens Kit Friday, Tina, Emil, PistolPete, Bruce, Greg, Kreeky, Trav, Kel, The Godfather, Bo, Rocket, Boof, Wozza, Liam, the 5ft Ninja and Gazza filling the Sanctuary grid (so good on 'ya Kel and The Godfather for the CKF concept, it's had a positive effect in negative weather)  Being a bit tardy as the bunch got rolling south had me near the back early, so joining the advance line approaching Kialla Central (or is that Central Kialla?  Depends on which way you approach it I guess!) meant there would be duty to serve, somewhere on the circuit.  The Godfather had done a little manipulative manoeuvring to to get himself out of an early shift at the front, the move quickly prompting sledges from Bo.    And so started the circus act for the circuit (some folk pay for Netflix but we get our entertainment for free!)  

Speed had stayed surprisingly social for a while, or was the intake of cold air preventing any sort of pace?  (Spoke to soon, Gazza was flat chat out of Mitchell and north to River Rd to set the speed to speechless for the tail-enders to stay aboard)   It was good to have young Liam back in the bunch ; stitches in the knee, half a yard of skin off a hip and shoulder barely two weeks ago and he's back aboard! (look up tough in the dictionary....there you'll find his picture)   Unfortunately, his near new bike is trash but MyRide tweaked the spare Scott to be a decent stand-in.  Temperature (or the lack of it) had me prepared with knees insulated and it felt rather good, particularly looking at some who'd braved them bare!  With Kel ahead and The Godfather behind (explains why I wasn't saying much!) in Coach Rd a motivational lecture was already being delivered in my skull;  I'd had a fairly low suffer score this week according to Strava so it was high time to harden up! (there's an internal alarm that shrieks with any sign of softening ; we've seen what happens to those who take the easy option and choose less labor.  Next minute they're permanent residents of the caboose and within weeks, grizzle about pace!  Not mentioning names though.....)   

Bo reckons he's been running at 22% all week yet delivered a decent drive along Coach Rd to the highway.  It was time to do duty for a drive to Old Dookie Rd for me and I could only guess a half way point to call for a co-pilot change so  set the fig farm as a target.  Living up to my own expectations seemed to ease when Kel called the roll 200 metres before it.  Just as well really, there was plenty of work to do beside The Godfather for another 1500.  I'd made it to Old Dookie without the boiler bursting and the headspace was helped with Greg's compliment but my concentration was on suppressing that sound of an amplified asthmatic in recovery.  The Godfather and Greg kept the pain percolating for another couple of k's to Central Ave so an ease of 3 km/h on the next shift to Dobson's was the first chance of gaining an extra breath.  By the bridge, high 30's was back on the menu.  A moment's rest crossing the truck route and it was back on the gas ; Emil had to inflict a bit of 40's cruelty to SPC. 

This week 215km     YTD 4,629km