Oxygen overload

 Post #694

15/4 The Saturday split.

Few fronting for the shop squad thrash meant that the Sanctuary start line was soon heavy with horsepower (and some of the usual Sanctuary starters had turned up for a social spin!).   A northeaster propelled plenty of pace to Mitchell Rd under PistolPete and Wozza's wattage, my glance back noticing LiamM as an unhitched caboose.  I delivered the news to the front and the hurry was handbraked but LiamM's 100 metre deficit would be a big ask to make up (and I hadn't the horsepower to tow him back to the bunch).  News to the front again at Central Kialla was the best I could diplomatically do but the vote for velocity won. (LiamM had u-turned for home to contemplate his hibernation anyway).  40+ into the 25 km/h headwind split the squad swiftly; GiantAndy, Emil, Wozza, Graeme, Bo, Greg, The Godfather and PistolPete had the muscle to move ahead, Lance, the 5ft Ninja, BamBam, Tina and Molly had the sense to share a somewhat slower speed together.  

I'd inherited the task of towing the o.t.a. Lili, slowing when her headlight wanted to jump ship.  It was a long drive to rejoin division two a k into River Rd and a relief to find 33's was their favored pace. The FIFO factor made sense to work together to get the circuit done (no point breaking the bunch apart in the interests of self worth) so teamwork set about battling the northeaster up to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd if only for the joy of a tailwind back to town.  A single filed format made sense but squashed the social stuff (not that there was a lot of oxygen to spare for sentences), those with the legs driving long and those lacking the lungs donating something shorter. 

 The workload on Coach Rd was no easier than River, only the angle of attack had changed.  The tail lights of division one had stretched into the distance, the red led of one (or was it two?) nearer the highway figured to be Julz going to join.  My sympathies went out to BamBam seeking shelter from the wind on the Ninja's wheel.  Julz was just ahead as we slowed for the turn east to the Toaster but she continued north (so becoming our bait to chase in Lemnos-Cosgrove later)   Tina took us to Pine Lodge North Rd where martyrdom made me aim north for a couple of k's, craving the tailwind to come.  Careful navigation was needed near the rail line to avoid bits of dead Dunlop disposed from recent burn-outs.  Sighs of relief were short-lived when the tailwind tempted more tempo west on Lemnos-Cosgrove, Lance driving long to Boundary Rd, the Ninja taking aim at Lemnos and closing in on the cruisin' Julz.  Head down in a hurry into Ford Rd, Molly needed a holler to halt when Lance punctured (wire from that dead Dunlop?)   

His fix was fast (and no reminder of time in the The Godfather's absence) and the order had shuffled, rhythm eventually restored beyond Verney Rd. Lance looked likely to labour Wanganui Rd.  He goes well for the senior of the squad, driving the distance to Mt. Wanganui while I enjoyed the bonus of BamBam's draft when he led into Rudd Rd.  I'd expected his elbow to elect me to the front for the Boulevard, just enough shelter from the northeaster with houses lining the roadside to get to Tarcoola and there, the tailwind helping a reasonable drive to Welsford.  I broke with tradition to breakfast with the gals at Eighty8, the chat on partner presumption, cronyism in contracts and the ride's review, Emil and Greg joining the banter later.  

17/4 Hey Winter, you're a bit early!

All those heroics of braving bare knees and wearing fingerless gloves didn't last long, Monday's feels lie three had me diving into the bottom drawer for some proper insulation.  So much for mild Autumn weather , Winter was being a little premature.  Kim was a surprise arrival at Tarcoola for a Monday, Emil, Tina and Jen forming five for the fresh commute to Sanctuary Drive (the lack of wind or hint of a breeze made it feel like Christmas!) Troy, Bruce, Wozza, Bo, Greg, Kreeky, PistolPete and Kel filed in from the side streets to form the grid.  

Pistol (of course) and Emil guided our path south, a strange serenity hanging over the bunch with The Godfather absent (suffering the Saturday sting?)  Shoe covers and knee warmers had become haute couture, Bruce was testing an Antarctic rated thermal jersey and Greg had succumbed to heated gloves already, certainly signaling the seasons' shift.  Troy had the bright idea of dressing for Adelaide's temperature!  Emil and Wozz settled into a sociable speed toward Central Kialla, no doubt the icy atmosphere putting a little restraint in their pace (I guess it won't be long till the shop squad halts to hibernate and a more inclusive speed is set for all to survive.  Who wants to ride solo in this stuff?)  Daylight hours are on the retreat, the lack of light till reaching Boundary Rd now quite noticeable. I'd hoped it wouldn't happen so fast, clocks only changed a few weeks ago.  Now there's a 32 week wait!   

Bo and Bruce led from River Rd's dip but I'd chosen the soft option of last-in-line on PistolPete's wheel (so I'll bet Tina was on mine).  Kreeky had Jen and Kim in tow in the advance line at the Broken bridges but Kim had doubts of driving at the front, so sought refuge in the left line.  Jen's time in the drivers seat was proportional to having a week's holiday......short! so Tina and I served our sentence to the highway, but Tina was keen for more.  The extra metres to Pogue Rd was enough, so with me left and Pistol right, my eye was on reaching Old Dookie Rd (deja vu Friday; did it then, repeat today)   I thought I did well to keep 35's on the Garmin for three k's but achievement turned to inadequacy when Pistol and Emil dialed up 38's to Central Ave (yeah, I suppose they have youth on their side!)    Wozza put his watts into the squirt to SPC and I'd held on with the want for warmth in a coffee cup. 

18/4      7 in 7 for 40 @ 5:30

What sort of speed would be set was up to Emil when 5:30 struck; naturally he took the lead into Channel Rd for Tuesday's spin, my job to hang onto his wheel so Tina, Molly, Lili and the 5ft Ninja behind could stay in the slipstream and ready for their shift to come.  I'd expected to spend a bucket load of energy at second wheel when Emil settled into 36's and 7's to the truck route but in reality it felt like half throttle to get there.  I'd be kidding myself thinking I'd found some form of fitness though the Doyles to Orrvale shift went without a lot of throttle too. (Let's not get our hopes up Foss!)  

Tina's turn had some tempo too and there wasn't a tailwind massaging our ego's, not a leaf was stirring in the poplars on Central Ave.  Lili had braved bare knees and hot-footed her turn to the cypress trees.  Speed had sunk a little from Emil's earlier effort, Molly aiming at Beckhams bend and collected Julz as caboose. It's good to have the Ninja back in the squad, not that there's an aerodynamic advantage but it does delay fronting the line again for a few minutes.  Emil's often in the drivers seat for the way north on Coach Rd and was careful to turn up the speed gradually beyond the highway, something telling me he was in for the long haul when elbows didn't flinch at Old Dookie Rd.  37's became 39's to New Dookie Rd (when Kim's away, Emil will play!) but I'd be playing Mr Nice Guy setting 36's for my turn to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd.   It was Tina's turn again west to the bridge as first light lit orange on the horizon, the second turn for Lili a little shorter than her first to give Julz the reigns to Lemnos North Rd.  

Ford Rd's velocity had some variables under the Ninja's lead though with a list of ailments (as long as the wait for coffee at the cafe of late) the variation was excused.  Emil scoring the lead at Grahamvale Rd had a strong smell of another long drive to Balaclava so I settled in at second wheel for overtime.  With more mud and stones on Verney Rd to avoid (might need a gravel bike soon), threading a path clear of commuting traffic has become an art form.  Arrival at Graham St got Emil keen to get 40's on the speedo though I took a punt that 37's would win the vote with the girls to lead them to Balaclava Rd.  Emil charged ahead to poke the pedestrian button (with little effect on the red lights)

19/4  Craving k's.

Regular repeats of 50 and 45 k's might turn this old bloke into a ninety minute specialist so adding a lap after the usual one might teach the legs (and the sit site) something about distance. Eight degrees almost doubled yesterday's "warmth" so I'd braved bare knees and fingers on what might be the last decent Autumn morning.  Calm conditions for the Sanctuary commute made 33's possible, though I'm not getting my hopes up of this being the new me; I'll be back to gasping at 30 before I know it!  Bo, Bruce, Rocket, Jen, Troy, Wozza, PistolPete, Gazza, Emil, Tina, Trav, Liam, Kel, the Ninja and Greg fronted the roundabout readying for the auditory assault of The Godfather's return.  

PistolPete and Emil started the spin south and because of my last moment arrival at the grid, I'd scored a spot at the back of the bunch rather than the usual berth of PistolPete's wheel.  The long line ahead meant a turn at the front was some time away, time to soak up the social stuff before duty called.  Fingerless gloves had it's drawbacks in Mitchell Rd, eight felt more like five even at a somewhat social speed.  A spin on the 19 sprocket only made the legs feel warmer.  The Godfather had made up for his three days absence vociferously (a translator might have made sense of it though) 

Julz did her usual jump aboard at Channel Rd, the surprise addition of KnightMichael found beyond the highway (seems he'd missed the memo of Wednesdays start from Sanctuary so found nobody at the shop)   Jen seemed a little shy on speed approaching Boundary Rd's bridge so Tina was asked across, so I played co-pilot to her mission toward Old Dookie, awaiting the call to roll (that came a little early at the fig farm)  

A short shift has to be better than none so the demands for "full blocks" from a certain someone were treated with the attention they deserve.  The last k to Old Dookie was shared with Trav and although I was ready to extend my effort west, Trav rolled across and his slipstream quickly changed my mind. The internal battery had recharged on the tow back to town to survive the dash to SPC.

 

Today was a watershed moment, bidding farewell to the Butter Factory's Chris.  We've been blessed by this barista for five years, remembering each of our whims and wants and assisting our addiction to caffeine.  We'll certainly miss his great support to the Couldabeens crew and our causes, that wicked sense of humour too.  The Butter Factory's new owners have a lofty standard to reach. 

With the craving for kilometres to satisfy, the 10k spin with Tina east to Lemnos and a solo drive south to Channel Rd filled in 45 minutes while the sun tried to warm the day, my path back to Archer Rd to intercept the Adams clan.  

Frizzy, Dazza, Chilly, Graham, Minty, Where'sWally and a handful of others were awaiting the 8am flagfall and single filed south. Traffic was plentiful; something we go without, riding at stupid o'clock!  A relatively empty Mitchell Rd allowed two rows to form so I paired with Dazza guessing 32's would be the suited speed. Turns rolled crossing Euroa Rd for the dull distance of Mitchell Rd further east.  Calls for passing cars were absent and it wasn't long before Frizzy (presumed to be captain) called for single file again. (When in Rome......)    I'd got the wheel of Where'sWally, a little erratic at close quarters, so practiced social distancing for safety's sake. (I've been spoiled by a bunch of steady wheels and smooth speeds so I'll put this down to real world risk).  

Order seemed to shift at will till two lines reformed in Coach Rd for the journey north, DeepFry found loitering with intent to join in nearing River Rd.   Minty and Graham reached the front for a short and slower shift to the Broken but Frizzy turned it up again to the highway. The two row format stayed for a while but fewer seemed interested in duty at the front, even when the breeze was almost behind for the western way on Lemnos-Cosgrove.  The usual aches and pains from doing a decent distance hadn't shown, though legs weren't delivering the push they were asked to do closer to town. Figuring a hundred had been covered, I opted for the turn to home at the highway (passing on the Wanganui Rd / Golf Club loop) and bid my adieus.

20/4  Cold comfort.

Getting the legs up to speed on Thursday was like getting a teenager to clean up their room, they put up a lot of arguments about it! Muscles complained about the 110km effort yesterday and feels like 3.7 probably didn't help. Just as well it was therapy Thursday, they'd be going on strike at anything over 35.  Something like social speed drew Emil, Kim, Tina, Molly and Lili to lap a few k's, even dragging LiamM out from under the doona that he's had an intimate relationship with over recent months! Sheltered from the southwester in the shops' car park for 5:30 to strike took an effort to get wheels turning, climatizing to the chill on Channel Rd only helped by that slightly slower standard of speed. 34's seemed to be the new threshold for Thursday. 

I'd forgotten to reset the speedo's backlight from yesterdays spin in the sun so I spent the Doyles to Orrvale shift mostly in the dark about pace.  Sting in the legs was my new benchmark but I must have got it reasonably right, nobody swore at me when retreating rearward for Tina's turn to the Kinder. Kim's luck had the southwester to deal with on Central Ave so the eastward leg to the cypress trees would have been heaven.  The headlight near Hanlon Rd was missing as Lili took on the drive toward the S bend, so Julz arrival at the last moment portside prompted a relaxation of speed so she'd get aboard.  Lili called it quits at Beckhams bend but I hadn't expected Emil to front again so soon (seems Molly and LiamM had taken command of the caboose!)  In Emil's draft to the highway, I again guessed the tempo of my turn by complaints from the legs.  I've scored this shift for three out of the last four days; looking forward to some different tarmac to tap next time!  Lungs haven't been so happy having icy air drawn into them, so some relief came handing the reigns to Tina for the Old to New Dookie bit.

A short shift again from Lili to the rail line put Julz in command to reach Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd but she'd chosen an extra effort west, right into the southwester (Likes a bit of labour this one!)   Open fields exposed Kim to work into the wind and just to keep her busy, a blast of wind blown from oncoming cars came for good measure.  Understandably Emil was shown her elbow soon after.  That wind was a bigger workload than I'd imagined when the comfort of second wheel was replaced by the lead into Ford Rd, a k and a half of hurt before some comfort came in the shelter of trees and an orchard roadside.  It took some effort to catch Tina's rush toward Verney and no surprise to find Emil had jumped the queue to lead the line south to Balaclava Rd's red light.  The vote for caffeine at Stellar was unanimous- maybe the wind of change is blowing?

21/4  Friday farnarkling.

What luck to find Wozza and Rocket at the Benalla Rd lights, a free tow to Sanctuary Drive was Friday's win rather than face the head wind to the start line (though wouldn't it be good if Wozza got on the cakes and pies diet; he's got the aerodynamics of a pencil!)  The uniformed mob of The Godfather, Troy, Bruce, Emil, Tina, Gazza, the 5ft Ninja, Kel, PistolPete and Bo converged on the roundabout.  The standard set by PistolPete and Emil south sent silence (and a few huffs and puffs) through the squad (I shouldn't complain from the comfort of third wheel should I?)   A south southwest breeze became obvious turning east, a little less effort and a little more speed applied to the leg toward Centra Kialla.  36's felt fast through feels like 5, or maybe clocking a few more k's this week was telling me something?  

I should be thankful (for the most part) social speeds were being observed (Spoke to soon Foss! The Godfather galloped into the 40's when he was promoted to the business end. Spurred on by the south southwester no doubt)   Gazza's tenacity to brave bare knees probably made all others in "longs" feel warm, though a complaint from a crook calf dropped him rearward at the Broken bridges for recovery.  I'd hoped Kel and Tina ahead in the advance would turn down the tempo a tad from Greg and Bo's keen 38's to the highway, banking on the Ninja too to show some respect for the elderly.  There was no trouble to slow for the truck westbound on the Midland (bigger always wins ;) trouble was building back up to speed in Boundary Rd. (So much for that want for a different stretch of tarmac to tap eh?)   I'd got my wish for 36's when Kel and Tina set a sustainable speed to the bridge and was only too happy to ease a little off the gas for Tina's part two of her shift (the last half where you regret your enthusiastic first half!)  The holler for "full blocks" was ignored.  

Tina called time out a bit before the fig farm and I was pleased to back off the throttle a little more for the Ninja to come alongside. (she seemed concerned by the standards expected by others but I'll hold to the theory that those on the front set the speed, those behind can like it or lump it!)   She was in oxygen overload reaching Old Dookie Rd, so could understand the Ninja's need for PistolPete to roll straight over to tow her west, her struggle to hold Emil and Pistol's hurry to Central Ave not the easiest respite.  Julz had risen through the ranks from joining near Channel Rd and had a relatively safe seat at 4th wheel on the drive to Dobson's bridge, but her headlight mount was trying to dismount. The retreat rearward for repair had Greg assisting, so with traffic filling Old Dookie Rd and not a safe place to stop, continuing to caffeine was the safer bet.  Greg and Julz could navigate by nostrils to coffee from there) Obviously with a crook calf cured, Gazza's dash to SPC spiked the heart-rate to test the end of a busy week, the boisterous banter at the Butter Factory the comical conclusion.

This week 370km

YTD 4,587km

A holiday from hurt?

 Post #693

10/4 Trial by temperature.

Gloves with fingers, knee warmers and the Eskimo rated base layer were left on the reserve bench for the cold to come; Monday's feels like six just needed a little extra concrete on the Corn Flakes if I was to ride through yet another winter.  Complaints about a sub-standard summer were cancelled, true appreciation for the months since Christmas only comes when temperature drops below double digits.  As always, a wind blew to make the opening k's a chore, three days of rust build-up (from not riding) a disadvantage to start the week.  From my fear of just four fronting, a decent showing of Tina, Emil, Liam, PistolPete, Kel, The Godfather, KnightAndy, Bo, Rocket, BamBam and Greg at Sanctuary's start line was surprising for a public holiday.  The westerly (due to swing a little south later) would make most of the circuit tolerable.  

BamBam stalled the start with new Pirelli problems (not seated on the bead?) and once the team was underway, I made the mistake of leaving a gap in the left line which The Godfather quickly filled.  Visiting KnightAndy partnered PistolPete to Mitchell Rd, providing his match-with-the-wood-scraped-off aerodynamics to the advance line behind.  Engrossed in a chat at the back, The Godfather and Bo had left a big gap in the procession ahead, so I rattled the cage by jumping a rung to fill the hole. (I did resume my proper place to avoid repercussions).   A curtain of grey cloud smothered any early sunshine as Tina soldiered through the last k of River Rd with Bo.  My turn came in Coach Rd, thankful to be in the advance line and shielded from what was mostly westerly wind.  

I'd be rubbished for rolling across and doing a half block at the Broken bridges by The Godfather (behind me) but the engine would be lucky to reach the highway running at 175 already (annoying when the legs and head wanted more) but Bo got the blame.  Julz jumped aboard on cue at Channel Rd.  Greg fronted with The Godfather for Boundary Rd and promptly tamed the tempo to 33's; wished I'd have known earlier - I could more than manage that!  Mumblings of a course north to Lemnos-Cosgrove came true when the turn into Old Dookie was ignored.  The sun made a brief appearance through the wheels north of New Dookie Rd and thankfully horsepower had made it's way to the front for the westward effort into that wind toward Lemnos ; if I played my cards right and most did their full blocks' worth, I'd be spared the struggle.  

Those grey curtains turned misty in Ford Rd though I wasn't mentioning the R word for fear of being soaked (so much for the Bureau's fine forecast).  Julz had sought refuge in the left line rather than the promotion to the front but Liam and Rocket's pace was cooking her even at fourth wheel.  A diplomatic slowing of speed didn't last long.  PistolPete, Greg and The Godfather had hung back in support when Julz was being backed out of the bunch on Wanganui Rd while others unaware, continued onward.  I happily retreated rearward too, if only for moral support.  The wind in the face to Rudd Rd soon became the bliss along the Boulevard, bolstering a faster finish (I found the thoughts of hot coffee and toast was a better bait).  The chat about madness on motorbikes, touring Europe and road rage made Monday feel like a Saturday (and didn't eight degrees feel fresh afterward to head home).

11/4 The more, the merrier.

Well, that didn't last long!  Full fingered gloves came out of hibernation for Tuesday's feels like five but I played hard-core with knees exposed (makes you pedal faster under the misconception greater blood flow will warm you!)  Contrary to the testing temperature, plenty came out to play on the squirrel circuit. Wendy, Emil, Kim, Tina, Molly and Lili did the southbound spin to the shop, finding Graeme and, rub-my-eyes-I'm-seeing-things, LiamM!  Even the Ninja had returned to the ranks!  A shuffle of the grid put me at fifth wheel when Emil stoked-up the speed for the long line into Channel Rd, a peculiar placement for me when nearly always second wheel.   Graeme eased up on his usual enthusiasm to do (my usual) Doyles to Orrvale shift; quite a change to see that distance pass in focus from the comfort of fourth wheel.  Tina took us to the Kinder and Wendy to the cypress trees before I was given the drivers seat.  

36's were on the menu so I took a little time to get that on the screen, thinking that the nine behind might need some reaction time out of the corner.  Julz appeared from Hanlon Rd with news that Greg was coming too (an alarm malfunction meant missing his Couldabeens start) so Emil took on the tow truck role to get him aboard.  The Ninja captained to complete Channel Rd.  With a dozen in the clan, a two row formation made sense in Boundary Rd though Emil and Graeme together at the front was like two misbehaving schoolboys in class.  Greg kept the speed at the status quo, Julz advancing for a short sit in the drivers seat from New Dookie Rd to the rail line.  

(Face the front or fail they say, even though the heart wants to fail there!) The chance of talk is rare by single filed squirrel standards so two rows allowed plenty of chat in the pack, apart from two at the front which are usually preoccupied with oxygen intake.  Speed was still somewhat spicy into the southwester along Ford Rd but not to the point of breaking bits off the back.  Emil, Graeme and Greg were at the front for the turn into Verney Rd, all behaving well........till the last 500 metres to the Balaclava lights. Predictably, Graeme opened the throttle for the dash to the (you guessed it) red traffic light.

13/4 Squirrels in the mist.

Eleven millimeters of damp festered a fog for Thursday morning, but that wasn't hindering the roll up to the Archer St shop to tap a squirrel circuit.  Tina, Kim, Molly, Lili and Emil found their way through the mist, the standard operational procedure of Emil leading to the truck route (as if we need the guidance!) getting underway at 5:30.  

34's was just a few k's short of Tuesdays tempo but it felt like a holiday from hurt.  My contribution to the cause (that Doyles to Orrvale thing) was driven in comfort for a change.  Ten degrees wasn't bad for mid April though 100% humidity made the progress like pushing through soup.  To the Kinder courtesy of Tina and to the cypress trees thanks to Molly, Julz appeared from the darkness of Hanlon Rd to catch the train (driven now by Lili).    Epic swims have labored legs so Lili's elbow elected Kim as captain at the S bend.  

With therapy speed applied, wind direction doesn't seem to matter as much but a breeze behind for Boundary Rd was a bonus anyway, Kim happy to continue to the pub before handing the job of Boundary Rd to Emil.   Darkness and fog tested the vision north , Emil showing remarkable restraint to fix 34 as the pace to Old Dookie where I continued the standard to the New Dookie one.  Tina called a pause to pocket the glasses, others taking the chance to do the same though Julz was more intent on oxygen upload.  Riding resumed almost as quickly as it had stopped, Tina taking us to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd for Julz to get down to business (She did well to drive 34's to the bridge where just a few weeks ago was breathless within 300 metres)   

There's always great strides in improvement when you start this addiction, where many (like me) peaked years ago and now just chase a few seconds.   Taking a turn beyond the bridge, Lili was in labor again a k beyond so Kim came to the rescue to tow us to Lemnos.  With Emil at the front for Ford Rd, a big turn to tow us to Balaclava Rd was likely, but I did get the duty to drive the Grahamvale to Verney leg.  The 1800 metres from the roundabout to those red lights at Balaclava was Tina's task, no surprise then that Emil was itching to be captain reaching Graham St! Almost as rare as rocking horse manure, those traffic lights at Balaclava turned green just as we reached for the brake levers, so Hawdon St started with a hurry.

14/4 Cool as cucumbers.

Managing 33's comfortably into a southerly breeze without blowing a gasket was strange on a Sanctuary Drive commute; usually the old engine delivers nothing till under peloton pressure to perform.  I wasn't going to analyse this strange speed phenomenon 'cause it wouldn't last! The official kit day drew some numbers to the grid, Liam, Bruce, Lili, Emil, Trav, Rocket, Kel, Kreeky, Greg, Wozza, Tina, Bo and the 5ft Ninja assembled behind PistolPete in readiness for chocks away at 5:40.  The Godfather made his entry just as the crew got seated to spin south to the truck route, all closing ranks to prevent The Godfather's intrusion into the order.  Bo tried a sneaky shift to the left line but Rocket policed his place into the advance.  

Pistol and Liam set a swift standard to Mitchell Rd but I wasn't laboring at the usual limit ; something had put some watts into the legs to keep up (wish I knew what!)  Out of the left line and into the advance on River Rd, Fridays first light showed us the horizon (and to think that won't be visible till getting home before long).   The Godfather's garble entertained the troops (from any position in the peloton), not that many could understand the dialect (Google translator even failed!) Enthusiasm had driven Lili to follow Wozza's wheel toward the business end but there weren't the watts to sit at second wheel to Rocket and Wozza's drive to River Rd's dip, ducking for cover in the left line before implosion. 

A couple of k's in the hour was discounted on compassionate grounds to aid her recovery (can't criticize her for trying!) Fingerless gloves wasn't my best decision in feels like six but it did distract thoughts on what was to come in duty at the front. Tina paired with Kreeky at the Broken bridges to do a decent drive to the highway where Julz joined the bunch. In charge for Boundary Rd, I took care to level wheels with Tina (close to toasted by her turn), so wasn't surprised to be called across at Pogue Rd.  Bruce kindly called "Your speed" when he drew alongside, though I found myself matching his 36's anyway (it's always the other guy setting the speed isn't it?)   Considering being towed for most of the circuit and this probably being my one and only appearance at the front, I set sights at reaching Old Dookie, which might even please The Godfather's demands of "full blocks".  

Half swallowing an insect en-route didn't help my hurry but Bruce's diplomacy got me to the target, kudos from Pistol and Kel helped my head but it was their draft that would do the most good.  Focus had returned by School Rd.  There's quite a comfort in the slipstream as the city's lights draw near, knowing there's not another turn of torment but the treat of a tow into town.......though surviving Liam's speed on the squirt to SPC was a wake up call. 

This week 202km

YTD 4,216km

Searching for smaller sprockets.

Post #692

1/4 Three's a crowd?

My welcome home from the mountains was a southerly fair in the face, though the flat roads were nice to get back to.  Speed something better than 13 km/h would be good for the soul.  Emil and I had at least caught the slipstream of Rocket, Wozz and Boof in Archer Rd so some suffering was saved from the commute, my solo spin from Kialla Lakes to Sanctuary at least didn't have a standard to keep. With not a bike to be seen on the lap of Sanctuary streets before 6 made me wonder if I got the day right.  Rolling to the roundabout at 5:59 found only Graeme at the grid, a glance back seeing Lance as the only other (where the other usual Saturday starters were was anyone's guess)  6:00:25 yielded no others so with Lance and Graeme still static, I braved the martyrs' role of first shift south to get the lap underway. 

35's was going to burst a boiler into the 20 km/h wind beyond the truck route so wasn't I lucky Lance did the 1500 to Mitchell Rd head on (cheque's in the mail Lance!)   Plenty of spin from Graeme got us east to Euroa Rd and although this was another turn too soon, at least a tailwind would take a bit of torment out of it.  The turn into River Rd got me respite at the rear though third wheel didn't have the draft usually found in the caboose of a big bunch.  I expected to see the shop squad bearing down on us when sneaking a peek back so seeing an empty road put some positives into our pace.

Lance did duty to the bridge so second wheel to Graeme became work again when his head went down for the long drive east.  Beginning to feel the burn by the quarter horse stud, thoughts were rewound to 70 minutes on the red-line up Buffalo, and that got me back into perspective about pain. Graeme gave me the elbow on the turn north at rooster corner, a tail wind again easing the burden a bit so I set a goal at reaching the highway (while I blamed Graeme for setting the bar high!).   To the Broken bridges without bursting that boiler, the last 1500 metres spent thinking we'd outclassed the shop squad was pure fantasy.  Lights were closing in fast.  Lance got the drivers' job crossing the highway, just as Emil shot by with Rocket, Wozza, Boof, Greg, Troy and Liam in tow (their ceiling set at 40 had enticed Bo and The Godfather to join in).  For a moment I thought Lance might have summoned the watts to get aboard but I was pleased he'd stuck to our formula.  "Full blocks" being the fashion, Lance laboured to Old Dookie Rd so second wheel work was on my agenda again as Graeme towed us to the Toaster.  

The bonus was another tail wind turn for me heading to the church.  Graeme called for a nature break crossing New Dookie Rd, Lance and I savoring the oxygen upload on the quiet roll to the rail line.  Lance took on the west way of Lemnos-Cosgrove to Woolshed Rd where Graeme did duty to Boundary; not the greatest recovery time for me but I took aim at getting to Lemnos North Rd anyway.  Setting 35's worked for a while though that southerly stung at the portside in the open spaces between the orchards, speed sinking somewhat nearing the rumble strips. Graeme upped the tempo to Verney Rd and beyond, so when I was put to work in Wanganui Rd the standard of speed had sunk a little more.  I did manage to scale the lofty heights of the mount (yeah, it's a lot easier than Buffalo) but felt guilty handing Lance the headwind to deal with in Rudd Rd.  Graeme saved the day towing us along the Boulevard but headed homeward at Tarcoola so the tempo to the Town Hall was tame by Saturday standards.  

2/4 A social spin in sunshine - sublime!

An invite to ride in sunshine at a strictly social speed (and at sensible o'clock) was impossible to refuse....I'd almost forgotten the joy of seeing something beyond the headlights' beam and what it was like to keep the engine running at zone three. Worth breaking the Sunday sabbath habit!  Autumn had made it's presence felt with feels like 4.5 at stupid o'clock though by the time sensible had struck at 7:30, 9 was on the celcius clock.  As usual, something resembling a southerly blew to frustrate progress and chill the bones, though finding Molly in Rae St and Tina at the shop, the rest of the squirrel circuit might have that breeze in our favour.  Out Channel Rd at a social speed but single filed, thirty was judged the threshold (breeze at the backside in Boundary might turn that up)   

Daylight offered sights not often seen and the social tempo kept the cardiac count comfortable; something I should do more of rather than riding at the limit?  Speed was stoked a bit more than social on the northern path of Boundary Rd and with a hint of easterly to the breeze, the way west on Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd kept that pace percolating.  I did the drive to Lemnos, Molly to Grahamvale and Tina took us to Verney.  The southern stretch to Balaclava Rd grows more mud and stone daily (might suit the gravel bike brigade?) so thanks to light Sunday traffic, we could encroach a little of the (cleaner) left lane and reach that red again light at Balaclava.  The Milk Bar won the vote for caffeine infusion, a chat in the sunshine a most civilized conclusion (poetry unintended)  

3/4 A whiff of Winter.

With the change to Eastern Standard Time and the (short-lived) joy of daylight on a ride came the decision to turn the Garmin back-light off.  Darkness till somewhere along River Rd would at least hide that high heart rate that usually does my head in!  Feels like 6 was the mental memo of the Winter to come; I'd succumbed to the softness of gloves with fingers but held on to short knicks till the real cold arrives (hope Autumn's eternal?)   Finding Emil, Jen and Tina on the commute, the 10 k's to Sanctuary felt cool not cruel, so seeing 33's and 160's under the odd street light only reinforced the "What you don't know can't hurt you" theory.  Jen, Kreeky, Rocket, Bruce, Greg, Troy, Kel, Emil, Bo, Tina and The Godfather turning up at the start line prompted some positives over Saturday's slim pickings.  Greg deputized in PistolPete's absence to start the spin south so with Emil playing co-pilot, I made a bee-line for that last-in-line spot (elbows out to keep The Godfather from grabbing it.  I was having an each way bet on this ride being swift or social)   

Kits ranged from short, three quarter to long for the first real taste of Autumn, the pace seeming to settle at a social 35 (when Central Kialla's sole streetlight showed speed on my screen).  Bruce's renovations, the test of temperatures to come, the usual bike babble and what the weekend served up made conversations on my demotion to the rear and promotion to the advance at River Rd's dip.  There's quite a comfort seeing a few landmarks rather than the blackness beyond the headlight's beam, a little orange on the horizon hinting of a good day to come (and injecting colour to the background of the bunch).   The red led rolling beyond the Broken bridges was guaranteed to be Julz in search of her fix, the mysterious shape nearing the highway being a steer standing in the southbound lane. (How lucky we were to have the half light to see it)  

A few performed herding duties to point it toward the paddocks.  Jen and Tina fronted at Boundary Rd's bridge making the most of the south southeaster, my short sit in the front seat with Tina to the fig farm then with Greg to Old Dookie Rd.  I'd got off lightly and socially.  Greg and Emil headed us to Central Ave while Troy calmed Julz concerns that he'd go the long drive to the truck route and save her from fronting.

4/4 Tuesday's tempo test.

It must have been fairly fast 'cause there was a few huffs and puffs going on behind me.  Emil had turned up the tempo toward Kensington Gardens on a mission to get to the truck route post haste, though with my Garmin back-light deliberately in the dark, the real hurt was hidden.  

Sitting at second wheel, I just kept searching for smaller sprockets. How I'd match the pace from Doyles to Orrvale Rd I wasn't sure - trust in the internal hurt meter might be my only option. The street light at Orrvale's school showed me 37 for a split second so that spelled fast enough for Squirrels (or I'd be put before the membership review committee!) Pleased that Tina took a tad off the pace to the Kinder, I could catch a breath or three at the back.  Wendy was put in charge of the 4th leg to the cypress trees, a week off the bike a bonus to her performance (where I'd be ruined by rigor mortis taking that sort of time off two wheels)   

Jen started her shift calmly but was well on song for Julz to hit the gas to get aboard at Beckhams, her trademark turn polished off Channel Rd and handed the hurry to Graeme.  He's an excitable lad (with Emil no doubt baiting him from behind), the burst of speed north had a moment to draw a breath at the highway but seeing an empty length of tarmac east and west got us on the throttle again for Boundary Rd.  Graeme ended his contribution 400 metres beyond the bridge so I got my head down for Emils effort north.  A substantial slipstream from that passing quarry truck was Emil's irresistible urge to take us into the 40's, heaps of huffs and plenty of puffs behind me arriving at New Dookie Rd.  I'd earn a few brownie points going a little easier leading the line to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd; truth was I didn't have any more hurry than 36's to tow them there!  Tina and Wendy split the distance to Lemnos, so Julz found herself at the front for Ford. 

Prior pace had probably toasted her (Kim tells me it's always Emil's fault!) 'cause Jen was elected the effort to continue to Grahamvale, kindly keeping a light toe on the throttle for Julz to recover.  Graeme got itchy for 40's velocity toward Verney but that quickly put Julz many meters off the back.   I'd set 34's as something sustainable, Tina, Wendy, Jen and Julz in tow while leaving Graeme and Emil to bolt to Balaclava Rd (boys will be boys!)  Come-uppance came finding Emil and Graeme at Balaclava's red lights, changing green as we'd arrived.  

5/4  Bikes, banter and birthdays.

Rubber stamp the routine of a stupid o'clock alarm, finding Emil at Tarcoola, Tina in Rae St and commuting the 10 k's to Sanctuary Drive.  The days of double digit temperatures and barely a breeze blowing could barely be counted on one hand now, so maybe that's why plenty  filled the Wednesday grid?  

PistolPete had returned from testing times in Melbourne, Grumpy and Lenny had made their comebacks too while Trav and Liam had travelled from western parts to join the regulars, Wozza, The 5ft Ninja, Rocket, Kel, Bo, Boof and Kreeky. Timed to perfection, The Godfather rolled in as the grid rolled out.  Mumblings of "social Wednesday" filtered through from behind but I've learned not to let my guard down; some ideas of 'social' turn out to be supersonic to others!  Pace would be set by the squad - like it or lump it!   Birthday boy Boof paired with Emil to Central Kialla when Pistol's shift finished at Mitchell Rd while my search was on for a few lumens of light at the horizon (the pessimist inside reckoned it was already darker than this time yesterday). The obligatory sledges were swapped with Gazza, Troy and Strathy spinning their stupider o'clock circuit clockwise. 

We got lucky (again) with a road clear of traffic to use some of the right lane and avoid the cobble-like length of poorly patched tarmac nearing the turn into River Rd, but there's no criticism of the 6 k length to rooster corner (now that I've said that there'll be a rough-as-hessian-undies reseal soon!)  The rooster crowed my promotion to the advance on the turn north into Coach Rd, The Godfather's displeasure crowing about the half (and even a third) turn along the length of tarmac to the highway (if the speed didn't feel social, time at the front would be!)   Julz addiction is obvious with her appearance again nearing Channel Rd- I wonder how long it will be before she's seeking a berth at Sanctuary Drive?   Short shifts were haute couture in Boundary Rd too, Kreeky obliging Kel with an early roll beyond the Boundary bridge and the Ninja making her time brief at the business end to Old Dookie Rd.  

The habit was infectious as Tina called it quits at School Rd so, after a very long tow from Sanctuary Drive, I finally faced the front with PistolPete to do duty to Central Ave (my 'half block' looked long in comparison to the priors)  Emil and Pistol did time with tempo to the truck route and with Julz looking likely to face the front beyond it, I left a chivalrous gap for her to hide from the hurt to SPC.  Roundabout reconstruction has started at snail's pace (the contractor being paid at an hourly rate?) but it remains passable.  We wait with baited breath for reports from the Road Ranger!

6/4  Smooth and scenic.

BamBam was the surprise addition to Thursday's squirrel spin, slipping in to the Archer St shop grid with Tina, Kim, Lili, Wendy, Jen, Emil and Molly.  The start was stalled for Lili's mechanical adjustments so Emil seemed to want to make up for lost time with a squirt to the truck route, contrary to Thursday's theory on therapy.  No doubt the vote on velocity would come down to majority rules.  My guess at setting 33's to Orrvale Rd didn't get me expelled, a few delivering kudos meant I was close to the mark.  Tina's tap to the Kinder at the same speed confirmed it.  

BamBam slowed sooner than the rest at Central Ave, something squirmy about his rear tyre said there'd be a pause for puncture repairs.  If it's not for the entertainment of how someone else deals with deflation, it's a chance to hone one's sledging skills, so in The Godfather's absence my duty was to call the elapsed times.  The 5:40 crew cruised by.  A new set of tyres should have been under BamBam's Christmas tree but he made good with a patch and a new tube to get the therapy train rolling again.  Molly resumed the roll to the cypress trees and Tina took a second turn before letting BamBam test his tempo on that "CO2-won't-match-a-floor-pump" theory.  Just thinking about the CO2's shortcomings wears your legs out! He did well to keep pace to the S bend, Jen taking the task of towing us to finish Channel Rd and hand the role to Wendy.  

Despite the Bureau calling it calm (probably some guy in a Melbourne office sticking a wet finger out the window) my internal sensors detected a northeast breeze blowing at the brow, even at 4th wheel to Lili's drive from the fig farm.  The short shift from New Dookie to Lemnos-Cosgrove needed a little more than therapy on the throttle to keep up with Kim (still no speedo?).   Emil sensed that northeaster too so the lead was shared around for the west way back to town.   Recent stubble burn hung a haze in the air so first light added a little more colour to the background.  Molly and Tina divided Ford Rd's first 3 k's, BamBam scoring the short drive to Verney so Jen was trusted with the turn to Balaclava Rd (till Emil's urge to push pedestrian buttons had him bolt the last 400 metres)

This week 235km

YTD 4,013km

No head for the hills.

Post #691

25/3 Struggles and separations.

I should see a psychiatrist about these southerlies, they're doing my head in!  Yet again, wind fair in the face to Sanctuary Drive did little to help motivation so hopes hung on a good turn up at the grid for a steady spin.....you know, a solid but sensible speed, a chat here and there, a turn or two at the front to make you feel like you contribute something to the team then a cruise to coffee with breakfast to top things off.  Yeah, as if!  The only starters were Bo, the 5ft Ninja, Lance, Tina, PistolPete, Weapon and The Godfather at 6am, and here's me second wheel to PistolPete when single file is called (harden up for an early effort Foss!)   

Pistol, diplomatic as always, took the tempo up gradually to the truck route, the real pace to Mitchell Rd a wake-up call to legs and lungs of the work ahead.  36's was my limit with that southerly at the side to Central Kialla, how Pete performs 38's into a headwind I'd love to know (I think it's called horsepower Foss!)   Handing Tina a tailwind turn earned me bonus points, the path to River Rd my recovery at the rear.  Despite the crystal-clear indication of our right turn, a car behind ignored the double white lines at River Rd's bend and overtook us anyway (yet another of those graduates from the University of F You?  Oh yeah, that's right ; we don't pay rego so road rules are exempt?)  Nerves had settled when up to speed in River Rd but Bo had decided that 40's was the new normal beyond the bridge, stringing the seven behind in suffering silence with Lance doing the hard labour at second wheel (his new Scott Addict might have helped the hurry)   

Lance, Weapon and the 5ft one restored a little calm for the last half of River Rd, The Godfather timing his turn to a tee for a tailwind in Coach Rd (but he didn't do a bolt like Bo).  The red led at Channel Rd was Julz, waiting to get aboard for her fix. The steady build of speed over the highway was PistolPete's trademark start to a shift, getting 38's and 9's on the speedo not so stressful with his gentle introduction. (That kept Julz aboard too).  It does the ego good to manage this sort of speed......till the shop squad blurred by on their lightning lap!  Greg disembarked that train to join our somewhat slower one, Pistol maintaining pace to Old Dookie Rd.  Another side wind was mine to battle to the Toaster, so keeping 35's on the American side of the tarmac was figured to get me to Pine Lodge North Rd intact (and help some get a breath or two back)  Steering a straight line was the struggle.  I'd given Tina a tailwind turn again, though as I joined the back for respite the headcount was wrong.  

Pistol, Greg, Julz and The Godfather were awol so I delivered the news to the front for an ease off the gas.  With all back aboard at the main channel, the Ninja went easy with the effort to get us to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd but Bo worked the way west with lots of watts, too many for Julz to hang on.  The suggested speed of 33's only lasted till Pine Lodge Creek where Bo just couldn't help his hurry again (team playing isn't part of his skill set).  PistolPete at second wheel stuck to the suggestion and let Bo go off in his own little world.  This revised pace worked well till Boundary Rd when The Godfather gave the go ahead (Greg was staying with Julz, the rest urged to drive ahead) 

Pete again mastered the throttle to gradually reel Bo back near Ford Rd, Lance attempting to relieve Pistol of the lead just couldn't muster the muscle to get by.  A peek back found Tina and the Ninja had joined Greg and Julz. The moment I considered taking a turn at the front, The Godfather took over.  Pistol took the reigns for Wanganui Rd, Lance now second wheel, so with some sort of slipstream being third in line, I could draw a breath or two.  Lance got the lead for Rudd Rd but the head wind had him shorten the shift shy of the Golf Drive roundabout.  The subtle rise of Cemetery hill hurt, but it was the treat of the downhill to Canterbury that kept me going. Weapon questioned if I'd thrown an elbow entering the Boulevard but I held up my end of the hurry to Jordan Place, guessing I had just enough left to hang on to the rush out of Tarcoola's roundabout.  The rush wasn't so rapid after all, so I survived the last k to the town hall.  Safety hazards and Scott's with Scopes soaked up the sentences over breakfast with the shop squad.  Thank heavens I had a tailwind home!

27/3 An escargot on elevation.

A 32-11 cassette is compulsory for a week in the Alpine Shire; hills in all directions make goat gearing essential for this lad of little watts.  The nearest climb to Bright happened to be the smallest, so was the kindest introduction, Tawonga Gap (457 metres) at 6.1% one side and 6.8% the other would still be a big dive into the deep end for a flat-lander like me.  The 5:50am start had some logic to it; I couldn't see the elevation ahead (what I couldn't see wouldn't hurt me, right?) but legs certainly felt it!  It's wasn't far east of Germantown when the 39/32 combination came into play to keep me from coming to a halt (don't you hate it going for a lower gear to keep momentum and there's none left!), trouble was that I'd set a speed instead of a heart-rate and that had me right on the red-line too soon. Signs on the C536 warn of ice, kangaroos and even deer, but I soon had that growling bear as company with the old engine on the limit.  Spirits sink quickly at a snail like speed so self-worth was almost as low as the wheels' rotation, to the point of thinking a u-turn home might be a better decision.  Kookaburra's cackling at first light didn't help, nor did seeing the tree tops at the peak a long way ahead.  Stubbornness finally got me to the top, so using a brief 'look at my bike leaning against stuff' moment as a reward (and gaining a much wanted breath), I headed straight down the Mt Beauty side before that soft option of the short way back to Bright bit me.  7 k's downhill at speed cooled the overheated engine and set the head in a better space for the return. 

Lefts and rights and hairpins in the 40's was fun but reaching the Keiwa Valley Highway at Tawonga, I u-turned without hestitation, before the reality of going uphill again sunk in.  Straight back to the 39 / 32 combo, the gospel was to keep the h.r. below 160, preventing another cooked moment (or worse; the walk of shame when the legs, heart, lungs or head refuse to continue).  It's hard watching wheels barely turning, almost counting stones in the tarmac at times, but engine management was vital to this side of the climb at 6.8%.  The few steep hairpins had the heart near the red-line but a snail-like exit from the corner for a minute soon settled it.  Ticking off the landmarks on the way up gave some sense of progress though I probably needed a diary instead of a watch!  Sight of the lookout was a relief.  Most of the mornings' work so far was all for the downhill home; two hours of toil for 25 minutes of joy seems such a waste.  (And people wonder why I hate hills!)   The descent was delightful, apart from a few blisters of tarmac inconveniently right on the exit line of tight turns, 40's now the standard at least put positives in the skull.  Back to Germantown and a few spits of rain started to fall from the heavens, a surefire way to score a few PB's back to Bright. 

30/3 Buffalo soldier.

With a head in holiday mode, a forecast of six degrees and mountain in all directions, a team of horses was hitched up to haul me out of bed.  A bunch might have brought a bit of motivation; the prospect of listening to myself for a couple of hours, not so exciting! That regret of not riding was the reason that threw the blanket off at 5:15, the fact that rain had finally released it's stranglehold on the week said "Seize the day!"  

A foggy few kilometres to Porpunkah and a few flat ones to the base was enough to loosen the rust of a few days off, another dark start helping to hide Mt. Buffalo's 1723 metre tall lump of granite looming above.  A few little rises and falls got gear-shifting into order, the sight of the ticket-box signaling hurt was about to happen.  I tried the 52/32 for as long as legs would let me but eventually, arriving at the waterfall, the little ring saved me from stalling. Like Monday's mount of Tawonga, keeping a lid on the heart rate would be the only way I'd reach the top.  160 became my red-line.  Legs and lungs wanted faster so barely breaking 13 km/h became frustrating, quite literally my heart wasn't in it!  (nor were the lungs really)  20 kilometres isnt far but at snail's pace there's a lot that goes through the skull (I'll spare you the dramatic details), each curve or hairpin is hoped to be the last, but of course it isn't, so strategy shifted to to each one being one less to tackle.  I lost count quickly.  Recent thunderstorms donated a few rocks and broken branches at the roadside, becoming mental markers for the downhill later.  Much later!  Other than a deer and a couple of 'roos coming to peek at this old snail soldiering on, the serenity before sun-up was deafening!

Almost an hour passed till the sun shed light on Devil's Elbow, telling me I'd made a dent in it, though a few more k's of up was to suffer before reaching the short flat nearing the Chalet.   Bliss to be back on the big ring when the tarmac finally flattened, 31 km/h felt supersonic. A short downhill, a left turn and more level ground for a k, then 900 metres of 6% again got achievement on the agenda to see the Chalet appear.  The scene from the viewing platform made the effort worthwhile, above all that fog and grey cloud on the climb, blue sky and sunshine greeted the peak..  Trouble was, the descent was back into it, Wind chill at 8 degrees in the 40's (and at times 50's) froze a few joints although the adrenalin rush through the countless curves left and right kept thoughts off the aches, memorizing where those hairpins were was the test.  I love the smell of brake pads in the morning!  28 minutes of fun soon gave way to the sight of the ticket-box then the cruelty of a couple of short rises toward Porpunkah, cold legs none too pleased to be pushing again. The boost back to Bright was seeing 32's instead of 13's.  

Holidays took hold on Friday, even took a vacation from the bike; it's back to the bunch and the flatlands tomorrow, back into the deep end again!   (Two days in the hills equaled six weeks worth of my usual elevation!)

This week 187km

YTD 3,707km