Week 24

Climatised to the icy starts now, the thought of a long hot shower post ride,  keeps the spirits up when fingers, toes, nose and other small parts are suffering the cold air. 15 brave souls faced a gentle southerly for the 38km OC's lap.  Good to catch up with a few only seen weekly. The Rudd Rd dash saw Nick bolt early, the little missile Bo was boxed in, and i bedded in the new12 tooth to get the chocolates. (reassuring not to have the chain jump teeth in a sprint anymore) Tempting to dig into the treats at the Butterfactory but there's a long weekend of breakfast rides ahead.

Sundays breakfast with champions

Sundays' 2 degrees tested tenacity but the thought of cooked breakfast drove us on. The OC lap but with  mates from the Tuesday & Thursday thrash. Lots of talk about not sprinting, but the "smiling asassin" and Leon wound up the pace which was just too much temptation for Bo! A decadent breakfast follwed with lots of laughs 

Tough to wake on Monday to face a holiday and the task of doing it all again with the P&W's. Not! A 50km toaster loop this time (must find a toaster and place it where the old one once was) in the 2 degree chilly air with 9 of the die hard crew.  Princess finally unveiled the bike he'd had squirrelled away for ages, a very flash Avanti in shades of matte & shiny carbon with appropriate Mavic Carbone's. An appropriate weapon for the Chadster, dapper in a new kit too. Great conversation with Fee, Grasshopper (we're gunna miss him) , Cougargirl, a steadily thinning Ironman Ayto, Guysy, Stace and the clan, followed again by a delicious breakfast. Carbo's burnt, carbo's loaded. Spoilt.



Princess and the new Avanti staelth bomber



Quite hard to face the reality of going back to work Tuesday. Harder still was the 1.2 degrees start. 7 others prepared to ride so that makes it bearable.  At least there was no wind, but i could swear the penguins by the side of the road were frozen solid!  A solid effort by all for a 32km/h average. Almost a heart attack on the way home. Car shot into a main intersection (running late for work?) instead of giving way. My  big swerve toward the traffic island managed to avoid me becoming a bonnet badge.  It was only then that the brain dead driver looked and slammed on the brakes. Obviously 380 lumens of light couldn't penetrate his eyelids!  Much profanity ensued!  (flashbacks of rolling over the bonnet of a Commodore 18 months ago) So word up; maroon Navara dual cab at 7.05 am means battlestations!  The nerves had calmed enough during the morning so a 45km circuit with a dozen hospital group in the evening. A decent bunch and an effort to hold on for second after launching way to early.  Got to 53km/h when the youthful Mr Allemand shot past me with 100 metres to go (reality is a hard pill to swallow) so no hope for this old boy. Got home with the appetite as big as the want for rest.

Fog as thick as a brick Wednesday and only 7 P&W's to start. Minus 1 may have something to do with it!Riding near the centre of the road 'cause we couldn't see the edge.  Little Grasshopper well and truely firing on the front, being paired with him was a genuine workout. Not a lot left near the end and happy to see Matty take the win. A great sprint by the much improved Scotty (CPG) for 2nd.  Pleased with a 34km/h average. Train in sight, Cats not! Home to thaw out under a hot shower. Aaahh, the simple pleasures of a hot coffee and a piece of raisin toast.

Thursday was the same temperature and actually got the long leggins out today. An eerie sight of a lunar eclipse on the way out, a three quarter orange-red ring around the moon above a foggy paddock was a good distraction from the cold.  Good to see 8 turn up in these conditions. Nice work by all to get back into town to see the train leaving (and to beat those pussys home!).  A big attack of the "cant-be-bothereds" on Thursday night. Nice to veg out on the couch. Up early as usual Friday morning but the sound of early rain cancelled any thought of riding. Breakfast in lycra like many others i'd guess. 



P&W breakfast

So Week 24 finished with 372km,  13726 calories (9 loaves of bread) @ 32.3 average

Week 23 (y.t.d.=10k)

The sound of rain on the roof at 4.30am put big doubts on a Saturday ride. Peering out the back window at 6 confirmed a rare sleep-in was to be enjoyed.  The first Saturday ride abandoned since early February!  Obviously others craved turning the pedals over 'cause the sms's ran hot Saturday arvo for a sunday circuit.

A good turn up of 10 despite a cool 6 degrees. The suggestion of breakfast after may have enthused some? Bit foreign lapping the usual Saturday circuit on a Sunday, however great company had.  Settled for a lesser podium position with Nev in the bunch, then demoted to third with Bo firing on all cylinders to steal 2nd. All good fun amongst friends.  Much contentment at the Butterfactory with eggs and bacon / raisin toast breakfasts being consumed with passion. Temple was nearly like the growling dog if you got near his, Trev's plate of scrambled eggs nearly as big as Trev himself!  A breakfast ride to be repeated....
The chilly 3 degrees of Monday morning saw only the tough P&W's turn up.  Scotty and i, with egos and chests pumped, had four cute quick chiks all to ourselves!  A great friendly ride without severe attacks or being comprimised by Cats.  All enjoyment vanished just a km from home with a puncture. Bugger! Stace suffered the same only a few metres ahead but was lucky having a chauffeur husband only a phone call away.  Mine finally repaired, i scored yet another just 10 meters from home!  The cold and wet Monday evening was spent with the entertainment of repairing tubes and rotating tyres.
Tuesday was another cold one. 10 couldabeens braved the cool breeze for a good lap, but were victims of the Cats trying a crazy overtake just 50 metres from the finish, despite an oncoming car!  Some who sat up over the line tested our reactions with brakes but they were given a proper spray as payback.  Nice work Marion! The day was as winter as you could get and a check of the radar in the evening spelt a night off. At least an early night was enjoyed.
The intention of a  quieter lap Wednesday turned into a big effort, the mercury barely made half a degree and a gusty southwesterly straight off an iceberg tested Marion & i . Thursday morning the wind had picked up to a howler (officially 24-30km/h) but 5 couldabeens hardened up for a push into Boundary Rd.  Great effort by all to be back in town to see the train leave town and not see the Cats.
Thursday night was at least clear, the wind eased a little too (SW at 17km/h).  Just 10 turned up to the library to circulate, and then there were 6, with 4 short-cutting home down Channel Rd!  Nath on a new Oppy Pro and Dean sporting a new Cannondale were keen to justify the expenditure and took the 1,2. (Robbo hard to recognise without the ubiquitous Opera) Me, happy just to roll out 46 k's on a very cold night. Justified a big bowl of spaghetti bol for tea!
Friday morning's suprise was "shagger" Stew waiting at the start. Good to see him on a brief visit since his transfer to Gippsland 6 months ago, but that south east climate has turned his sprinting ability soft & mushy! A great crew as always, Grasshopper taking the chocolates and the much improved Scotty as bridesmaid. Really enjoyable having all the crew all together at the finish. Well rewarded too, minus Cats, the bonus seeing the 7am train still sitting at the station. A fine 34km/h average for a cold day. 

This morning the odometer clicked over 10,000kms since Jan 1, so quietly chuffed with that considering there's another few weeks till years' half way. Mmmm....maybe a 20k year?

The motivation bottle is quite empty in the depths of winter (and it's only just started!), so difficult even to throw the doona off of a morning.  The driving factor is a great bunch of mates (all having a genuine crack at it) to suffer with, most of us having a quiet little chuckle at the one's hiding under the doona dreaming up excuses.

Week #23 =  335km  12,361 calories ( or 154 bananas. Yikes! That's $369 dollars worth!!)
31.8km/h average

Week 22

Almost half way through the year now, but lots of cold weeks to push through yet.  The regular Saturday morning lap had 16 brave souls with nothing better to do but enjoy the cool 6 degrees outdoors. Only the hard core regulars these days, the "wannabe's" tucked up under their doonas.  A nice slow build up for the sprint, but got spooked by a newish rider thrashing up the inside whilst others were cranking up the speed to the right.  We all want to get home safely dont we?  (A kind reminder put things straight, i'm sure he'll settle into a good rider when all his enthusiasm calms).  The regulation coffee post ride at the Butterfactory - cakes, muffins, toast, eggs & bacon, and lemon drops on display and at the tables had the appetite fully pumped! Stayed tough and just had coffee....(raisin toast awaited at home). 
With a Sunday at Winton planned (historic bikes and cars) i got keen for an early lap.  Daniel, Nev, Bo & Kel went the soft option of a 7am start, so i tapped out a quick 30 at 6am to meet them for the 35k loop at 7.  The fog was a pea-souper! Blessed the white line at the edge of the road to guide me, but panic set in when the white paint budget ran dry 7km out of town!  (No traffic about at that crazy hour, so  sat up the road a little to be mesmorised by the centre white line as a guide).  Every 50 metres called for a wipe of the glasses, each little bump caused dozens of drops of water to fall from the helmet! Good to have the others for company at 7, but the machine that is Neville knows no limits! Pushed hard most of the way and legs felt it after, but coffee relieved them.

Monday's lap with the P&W's was well paced and free of hard attacks.  A steady build up in Raftery Rd was upset by Jeremy (caught earlier) pouring on the power to take the lead, then blew up and free-wheeled on the business end of a bunch sprint! Much use of brakes and profanities, Ryno punctured and braked hard, lots swerved and we came to a halt. No harm done, even Meag's unceremonious fall doing a U turn at walking pace was injury free. 

Monday nights ride was solely to clear the head.  Lots on my mind for some reason.  MP3 & Sony's bass boost earphones attached, i questioned the meaning of life, why i'm on the planet and for what purpose, wrestled with the hiccups of life and pondered the trends of the FTSE 100.... to the tunes of Caribou, Tame Impala and Radiohead.  Good therapy.  A great 33.4 average brought to a resounding halt by a stinking puncture (the first in four months would you believe?)  And in the dark too. Repaired, i turned for home as a safe bet, tube supplies now exhausted.  You guessed it, 3km from home the new tube let go!  Walkies!!

Tuesday's Couldabeens only mustered 4 (when the going gets tough eh?......) Maybe zero degrees had something to do with it? The great suggestion of single file was well received, good concentration and rythym ensued, great training for the newer riders. Hope it's a regular habit. Daniel (running late for the start?) caught on and a good circuit was enjoyed by all. Back in town before the Cats, and got to see the 7am train leave!
 
Suprised with 17 rolling up to the hospital group at 6pm. A fresh 7 degrees tested the insulation.  Good steady pace (and no breakaways tonite!) all the way round. In the final 2km, speed picked up and i managed to latch onto the rocket Robbo for the last 300metres, but 50 metres from the finish Nath fired out of the barrel to take the chocolates. (Robbo's bounced back fast from the big knee operation)

Great to roll out with the P&W's Wednesday, a steady tempo enjoyed by all. Inspiring to see a few who usually sit on the back come up for a solid turn at the front. Even THM having a crack!  The smaller group seems to be better suited to the conditions, no big variations in speed or half-wheeling. Wednesday night off the bike but on the chips, loading up.

8 starters on Thursday (even Trev gave up his much loved doona!) though the 6 degrees felt mild compared to Tuesday! Back to the usual rotation but the heavy atmostphere was like pedalling through treacle.  Considering seperating Matty & Bo, the two are terrors on the front together! In all, an enjoyable lap, beating the Cats and seeing the train (again!) means a good lap time.   Broke with tradition Thursday night and joined IronmanAyto for a toaster loop. Great to spend some quality time with the legend and we each earned our dinner going the distance without drafting at a decent 31km/h.   Friday, lapped a quiet circuit with great mate Marion. Nice to crank at a smooth pace and let the legs recover a bit.

Week 22      469km   17306cal   (865 licorice allsorts)  32,6av

Week 21

A cool Saturday circuit with 16. Bo & Kel slept in and had a long chase to catch the bunch. Didn't slow them down in the sprint though...had to hit the N0s button (54km/h) to fight off the Ant for line honours! A good bunch and enjoyable coffee after.  Ticked over 9k for the year.  Looking forward to a day off, a very sore throat and dull headache taking the gloss off the day.

As it happens, rain takes over Mondays ride. Grateful really, enjoyed just laying in bed (sleep stops at 4.30am anyway) and a chance to get over the bug.  A bit better for Tuesday morning, nice to turn the pedals with 7 couldabeens.  News of a pussycat crash (just a touch of wheels resulted in a broken collarbone for one, a broken elbow for another) makes you think how complacent we can become. Tuesday nights hospital group was a well paced lap, the southwesterly quite chilly. (kept clear of the sprint with a throat feeling like it was wire brushed).  A quiet 20km wednesday morning helped the recovery too.

Feeling really good by Thursday morning. 30km with the couldabeens was good fun despite 6 degrees and a chilly southerly. Down to the real battlers now, a few hibernating over the colder months.  Cool again Thursday night and just 11 in the library group.  The odd spit of rain (and thoughts of getting soaked on a chilly night) forced a  turn down Channel Rd. A smooth wind up in the last km and held on for 3rd. Taking the sprints carefully with the 13 & 12t sprockets a little hooked after 28,000km (chain jumps sometimes at full noise). Waiting on new replacements. (new 10sp DuraAce not as tough as the old 9speed)

Great to get a P&W fix Friday. The last ride for Bart & Pete for a while (crazy buggers off running some marathon) Good to be with the tough crew again and a great 34.3km/h average in 2 degrees of cold & soupy conditions. An easier week with rain and a little illness.

Week 21             337km     12,435 calories  (83 VB's Ayto!)  32.2km/h average

Week #20

Still autumn, but winter is just showing off way to early.  Hard to get used to and i still haven't found where to buy 4 litre casks of motivation!  The doona is getting so heavy to throw off. A few missing on Saturday from the usual OC bunch, off enjoying the biting wind and showers near Wangaratta instead.  Those who did front were of exceptional standard and character, a nice 45km tapped out in light south westerlys, with coffee and tall stories enjoyed after.

Phone ran hot Saturday with the tragic news of yet another cyclist death, unfortunately one i knew. Peggy just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Makes us all think deep on just how vunerable we are, and how valuable life is. Time for us all to take even more care whilst on two wheels or four.......

A happy little crew of  5 at the lake on Sunday morning and  perfect weather to roll around the 55km loop.  (Note to self....the venerable toaster is missing from the tree)  Again, the caffiene addiction was fed, conversation on safe travels understandably high on the agenda.

Mondays lap with the P&W's typically enjoyable, a special day for me, the 8th anniversary of kicking the tobacco habit. (35 a day for a few decades).  A milder morning (hardly balmy though) of 10 degrees and a fine 34.9 average.  Tuesday's 10 Couldabeens also good company, beating the Cats to the finish.

The hospital group comprised the usual roughnuts and villans, suprising that 16 fronted up in very fresh conditions.  The DeanMachine launched a big attack just  after Channel Rd, me and 5 other mortals hanging on in desperation at 45km/h till we were left in the Robbo/Bomber wake just into Mitchell. Managed to maintain 38km/h down Mitchell and Archer to finish well spent. Great work by Brendan and Nath.

To harden things up, Wednesday was just 1 degree for a P&W lap. Slowing at the end of Boundary for a family of ducks meandering across the road, then brakes on again to avoid a dead fresian on one side of Mitchell and a live one the other side.  Tour de Fauna!  A good 34 average and managed to get the chocolates in Raftery Rd.  Customary carbo loading on Wednesday night with my boys.

Thursdays circuit had 8 Couldabeens in high spirits. Only 6 degrees but at least without the icy wind.  Birthday girl and Super nana Marion taking a bronze medal on the line. The library group on Thursday night started with 10 and picked up several on Ford rd.  The usual scallywags with a few very young riders, spinning away in the little gears they are limited to. My legs hurt just watching!  Poor Ryan has just one chainring with just 36 teeth! Birchy measured me on the Old Dookie rd leg at 40km/h to stir up the bunch.  A big sprint finish in Archer Rd (so many mice scuttling across the road!) fizzled in the last 100 metres, so kept on the gas to win "hollow" chocolates.

Todays P&W ride started a bit earlier (to avoid crazy overtaking moves by others) but i miss-timed leaving home for the start. Got caught at the boom gate and had a big chase to catch the clan 500 metres ahead. Interval training?  Good to see the die-hard crew including the ever thinning IronmanAyto and THM, both a.w.o.l. in recent weeks. The RPG (rocket propelled grasshopper) made an old boy nearly bust a head gasket at the finish. Flattering remarks from Chaddy (yeah, i reckon i'd do him too!) wound up a great week.

Weeek #20 - 467km   17,232calories (5.34kg of McDonalds frenchfries Ayto!) at 33km/h average      

Week #19

Winter has arrived a month too early!  Hard to get motivated now the cold is here in bucketloads. Just wish we'd had a bit more of fine Autumn sunshine to lead us gently into winter, A new pair of cleats started the week (what a difference, only noticed the old pair were so worn by how positive and stiff the new ones are!)

A good Saturday lap with the OC's, knew it would be a minor placing with the machine that is Neville in the bunch. No matter, feeding the caffiene addiction was a pleasant and satisfying finish.  Enjoyed a rare sleep-in Sunday (if 6.30am is a sleep-in) Monday's P&W lap at 33.5 was a kind start to the working week.  The urge to get out Monday night for a solo circuit was questionable, just 7 degrees into a south westerly made me ask why afterward. Endorphin addiction? It was Tuesdays lap with 8 couldabeens at just 1 degree that really tested. Got turned around in Mitchell Rd by the police (car fatality had closed the road) so had a few extra k's to get home. Tuesday nights Hospital group (only 16, down to the die-hards now...a far cry from the 30+ in warmer months) started quietly, but wound up a rapid finish. Kept out of the sprint with a quickly failing headlight (forgot to charge the blasted battery!) but managed 5th.

Nice to roll quietly round a 30km circuit on Wednesday morning.  (Carbo loading on chips Wednesday night as usual) Winter struck hard again on Thursday, only Leon & i braving the 1 degree temp. All others wisely tucked up in bed. Picked up Fitzy in Boundary Rd, wound up doing a big turn at the front in Mitchell Rd, but felt good for it. Dull & drizzly all day, so had a hard workout watching telly at night!  Fridays P&W ride picked up the average (35.6). The Cats were quite scattered and, after a pause for Kelly's puncture, found we had a few foreigners join us. Grasshopper, keen to stir up the sprint, encouraged an early lead-out, so i went silly with 1km to go.(much cursing by Cats!) Used up all the jelly beans way too early, but Matty pleased with a fine win.

So week #19 totalled 349km, 12878 calories (9.5 Capricciosa pizzas, Ayto!) at a cool 32.5km/h average

Week 18

About time i did a proper blog instead of a mass of numbers. A weekly prose may inspire more words than statistics. It's all your fault Ayto....you super scribe you! 

A good start to the week with a new pair of Fortezza Tri-Comps (@140psi) and a shiny new Dura-Ace chain. The temperatures are almost winter spec now, started the week at 11's and finished at 3.  Thank the technical gurus who invented the amazing base layer....what a saviour to us warm blooded wimps!

Saturdays OC lap had 20 starters, using the newly sealed extension to Boundary Rd (north of Hill Rd). A keen eye out for stray dogs in Ford Rd (that brought Norm down last week, smashing a helmet and cracking ribs).A good circuit with the usual chats, sledges and laughs. The Laffy weapon had joined us (along with young'n Adam) so 3rd was quite acceptable. A good amount of tall tales and laughs over coffee after, makes this ride. 33km/h av. Bo & Kelly suggested a 30km Sunday ride, the young whipper snappers kept the pace up all the way to justify their youth!  33.5av. Coffee after was good recovery.

The Monday lap saw 10 die-hard P&W's for the usual 30km. The typical smooth lap (if you don't count Muntzy! but he IS improving) with copious sledging.  Nearing the finish i inherited the front position way too early (800metres to go) so gave it the gas anyway to make sure everyone was working! Got swamped of course, but hey, it's all in fun.  Tuesday morning's lap with 5 couldabeens faced a stiff southerly wind (18km/h), all seemed pleased Bo and i played tow trucks in Boundary Rd.  Newcomer Vince had a bit of a struggle, but to his credit, kept the hammer down and finished well. Jumped on the back of the Cats as they passed and "stirred up the pot" in the sprint, Grasshopper taking a fine win.

Tuesday night Trevor's watch must have been in another time zone, the hospital group leaving a bit early. Flew down Graham St at 40km/h to jump on the tail end. 400 metres further a puncture by one of the group stopped us, though some 'taggers-on' kept going.  Once fixed the group rolled out, picking up several waiting out the road, the pace warming up well.  Killer launched a breakaway just after Channel Rd and 5 (including this silly bloke) joined in. 38km/h into a head wind in Boundary Rd, 40's in Mitchell then 43's in Archer Rd emptied the jellybean jar! The "pocket rocket sprinter" Brendan reckoned he owed me a lead-out so who was i to argue. Managed to get the honours by a length, so quite chuffed. Great work by breakaway boys Nathan, Jamie, Killer & Brendan to bring up a 36km/h average.

Very pleased to put in a quiet circuit Wednesday morning. Legs were quite rubbery. Wednesday night carbo loaded on chips with my boys! Thursday morning the southerly was still there though a bit weaker. A great lap with 10 couldabeens (must remember earmuffs to endure Ken's grizzles!) good to have Hoffy back, Marion taking the sprint victory in fine style. Thursday nights tour with a mass of Bookworms was well behaved, though a bit of surging with varying abilities (33.2km/h av) but turned rapid with the light tail breeze in Archer Rd.  Found myself at 5th wheel with 400 metres to go (and egged on by Nathan) gave the young fellas a belt for the finish. Suprised to take the win, really suprised to see the max of 57km/h.

Friday was a very enjoyable circuit (but a fresh 4 degrees) with nearly 20 P&W's, even managed to pass Leigh's group in Boundary Rd! (i won't let on they were rolling gently waiting for the Cats) A steady smooth pace, smooth roll overs (there's no better group for it) and lots of laughs to boot. 35.3km/h av.

So week 18 finished with 443km, 16346 calories (that's 64 Krispy Kreme custard filled donuts Ayto!)
and a 33.4km/h average.

Foss