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

Repeat prescriptions.

Post #690

18/3  Saturday singled.

It was high time I took an early shift. Most days have me hiding in an early draft anyway.  PistolPete was strangely absent on Saturday and I just happened to be at the front of the grid when Lili, Graeme, the 5ft Ninja, Lenny, Bruce, The Godfather, Bo and Kel lined up for the 6am spin. The call for single file meant I wouldn't have to match anothers' pace; just the expectations of all the others to do something decent in the drivers' seat weighed heavily on the head.  The 800 metres to the truck route wasn't so bad; a steady build up of pace didn't drain the tank over that distance, but maintaining the speed standard for the next 1800 to Mitchell made me regret setting the bar a bit high.  (I hoped Lili wouldn't drop me when she took on the eastern drive to Central Kialla).  Breathless, but reaching the target, I joined the tail somewhat satisfied I'd met The Godfather's "full block" standards.  A whisp of a westerly would speed my recovery (the perception earlier of a northeaster was pure fantasy, but it helped my hurry south).   Lili seemed cooked a k toward Euroa Rd and rolled to the rear, leaving the task of the tow to Central Kialla to Graeme.  

My attempts setting 36's were far outclassed by Lenny's 39's in River Rd, and just as the negatives brewed in the head about sustaining that speed, Kel's call for calm brewed some hope instead.  Lili was in Struggle Street, so the slow saved me.  The half k's calm was soon swapped for speed again, although getting a few breaths back soon recharges the battery.   The Godfather got into the drivers' seat on Coach Rd and got that diesel engine on the torque curve (53/13) to take us north for a long drive. (Time constraints turned Kel and Bo homeward via Channel Rd).  A call of 'car back' was in fact the shop squad passing at warp speed (suitable sledges promptly delivered).  The diesel was still going in Boundary Rd, his pace considerately controlled to keep all aboard.  

The bike ahead at the fig farm turned out to be Emil, ejected from the shop squad (big on speed, low on compassion).   Another contributor was more than welcome at half distance.  Keen to continue his captaincy to the Toaster, The Godfather's enthusiasm had dislodged Lili from the caboose at Old Dookie's bridge, the subsequent slow to regroup worked for a little while but Graeme's watts on the front wore away the cohesion.  My guess at 33's found favour, so I became the tow truck to the Toaster.  Graeme got the pace and the position perfect heading to the Pine Lodge church, Bruce setting a similar speed to Lemnos-Cosgrove Rd (the broken rib didn't seem to trouble him, or does he hide the hurt?)  

Emil bumped up the velocity (and why not with the now south southeaster assisting) and to her credit, Lili laboured the load well, 40's to Boundary Rd and onward, burning my vastus lateralis in the process. Energy was evaporating quickly in The Godfather's draft along Wanganui Rd so my turn into Rudd Rd's wind emptied the tank of any reserves for extra efforts.  Big mistake.  A very thin thread held me to the caboose for the length of the Boulevard.  Being dropped at Tarcoola's roundabout when the hammer went down wasn't a drama seeing Graeme had succumbed too, the slow to 37's got the view on Knight St back into focus and found LiamM en-route to breakfast.   The realities of recycling, road rage and old school revenge tattled tongues while the empty tank was filled.

20/3  Warriors or weirdo's?

Tempting as it was to stay in bed and listen to the southerly blowing at 40 km/h, I knew the sledges for failing to front to Monday's ride would be relentless.  Besides, the regret of not riding would ruin the day.  (Facing the tough stuff is good mental ammunition for when weather turns against you anyway).  Wrung out half way to Sanctuary Drive, I was grateful Rocket rolled to the front and pair with Emil at Wilmot Rd, allowing me some respite at the rear where Tina was sensibly seated.  Wind blowing water (from a broken irrigation spray) across Waranga Drive gave us a free cold shower, and what a delightful drenching when the Bureau said feels like 10.   Greg, Troy, Bruce, Bo, The Godfather, PistolPete and Kel possibly wanted to be spared the sledges too and fronted the grid, Troy drawing the short straw to co-pilot the southern leg to Mitchell with PistolPete (who else?) though Troy's wattage and new wheels were fit for purpose.  

Christmas came early turning east but naturally speed got spicy without the wind head-on, Emil and Troy positioning well to shelter the next in line from the labour.  Tina and Kel had confined themselves to the caboose.  Bo and The Godfather were in cahoots on River Rd, their usual "my engines' better than yours" demonstration started at the bridge and continued unabated (How refreshing to see they'd positioned well to keep the rear out of the gutter).  Second wheel to Bo was testing my tenacity by the quarter horse stud but hey, it was better than heading into that wind!  The Godfather finally allowed Bo to roll across at rooster corner so I should send the two terrors a cheque for gifting me a tail-wind turn.  

There weren't a lot of sprockets left while 42's blurred the path north and I knew I'd hear that "full block" demand when I called half time to Bo at the Broken bridges.  This old bloke doesn't come with a long range tank (the oxygen consumption at this pace would run the tank dry by the highway anyway) so part two with Bruce to the pub was my limit.  Not surprisingly, few bikes braved the southern spin so The Godfather's greetings were minimal.  I spent the distance to Old Dookie Rd in hope I'd avoid a second term.  Pistol and Troy were on the front again for the west way to Central Ave so maybe I'd be lucky to score a tow into town?   The pleasure was the shelter from the southerly in the advance line while Emil and Troy took us to the truck route.  The want to echelon against the wind when the pack turned single file for the squirt to SPC was stifled with commuting cars behind, the western approach to SPC the only lane open at the roundabout so days of this circuit are numbered.

21/3 Where's the wind?

Uninviting as Channel Rd is at 5:30 am, seven speared into it's darkness, today with a little more insulation fitted against the bite of 11 degrees.  Emil had put 37's on the menu toward Doyles Rd as me, Molly, Tina, Jen, Lili and Kim lined up behind, keen to make a contribution to the team or maybe just keen to get the chore over and done with?  Of course, I got the Doyles to Orrvale shift and just for a change, I found the opening speed achievable (and not a tailwind to explain it!), the slightest of southerlies was hidden by houses, the Orrvale school and the orchards.  Molly had taken on Tina's usual drive to the Kinder, a shift to the usual routine.  

Jen was in charge from the cypress trees but slowed for a moment at Beckhams bend to let Julz join the line, then resumed her rush to get to Channel Rd's end.   Lili had the southerly breeze as a gentle aid to the highway but cut her shift short to finish it there.  In contrast, Kim had the hammer down on Boundary Rd (what you can achieve without a speedo to reference your pace!) but the lust for oxygen at the bridge had her hand over.  

The routine had returned with Emil at the front bound I guessed, for Old Dookie Rd.  Presumption correct; I got the usual Old to New Dookie shift with the bonus of that breeze behind.  Jen was on a mission to get to Lemnos, though a brief moment off the gas had Julz keen to captain.  Jen got back on the throttle again, testing Julz' will. Despite Jen's curved ball, Julz got down to business for the 3k length of Ford to Grahamvale, though the speed sank slightly in the last k as oxygen failed to keep up to the enthusiasm.  Always eager to lead the last leg to Balaclava Rd (and on to the Butter Factory for that matter), Emil jumped a couple of rungs (urging me to follow at second wheel) to donate the gals a tow into town but eager had dislodged Julz  in the last 400 metres so Balaclava's red light regrouped the seven again.

22/3  The mornings' moisturiser.

A fickle forecast kept some guessing (and kept some others in bed) but I had faith in the always reliable yr.no app of "all clear" for Wednesday.  Yesterday's half inch of rain had dampened the tarmac and 100% humidity made riding like pushing through soup.  Bruce, Tina, Boof, The Godfather, Wozza, Gazza, Rocket and the 5ft Ninja's spirits weren't dampened, lining up behind PistolPete, the lower attendance forcing this to be an Indian filed format. 

Second wheel to Pistol is usually the last to labour but today's eagerness to berth there made me 2ic.  Pete makes 38's look easy (but it makes me lame), the urge to keep the line intact drags out a few more watts worth though.  Using that urge early could be blamed for starting my turn already cooked, but if the rest didn't like the pensioner's pace, they could lump it!  Two k's to Euroa Rd seemed to be all uphill (I later discovered an easterly breeze was too blame) and emptying the tank to reach shifts end isn't a good idea, so with Tina's turn next, I had hopes she'd be kind on the throttle.  The measure of fitness is in the recovery they say, so when the world came back into focus nearing River Rd there was some hope left. Rocket took the tempo up a few notches in River Rd and Wozza followed suit, the focus blurring again a little by River Rd's end.  Gazza got into the drivers seat at Coach Rd to make his hurry and although his speed was swift, the smoothness limited the suffering.  PistolPete's not much of a draft but wasn't it good to have The Godfather ahead carving a decent slice through the atmosphere.  A puddle or two made a mess of the bike but better get used to it Foss, there's a lot more to come!  (I'd forgotten about the aroma of dead worms stuck to the bike, the fun of playing frog dodgem another of Winter's entertainment to look forward to!). 

A breath or two was gained on a brief wait at the highway but Gazza had cemented himself in the lead for Boundary too, aimed at Old Dookie, a test for the 5ft one sitting at second wheel.  My focus moved close on PistolPete's wheel, the peripherals blurred under the sustained speed (no complaints from me though; Gazza's long drive would save me from a second appearance at the front).  The Ninja was obviously toasted a touch from Gazza's 6 k's worth of martyrdom, her lead west into Old Dookie Rd faded a little shy of School Rd but Bruce did the duty to Central Ave with little signs of carrying a broken rib. The Godfather delivered his variable velocity to the truck route (a test for legs on the limit) but PistolPete's smoothness eased the pain to SPC.  Conformity with commuting traffic seems to be on the improve, though consistency could be better with some.

23/3 The therapy theory.

A pedal at a pedestrian pace would be perfect.  I must be getting old when most rides feel like I'm right on the limit, though I keep turning up for repeat prescriptions don't I! The theory behind therapy Thursdays is to let the legs recover and enjoy just one day of peace among the paced ones.  Another theory might be to fall back in love with riding again rather than each day being terrorized by toil.  The stars had aligned to treat the Squirrels to a tailwind back to town, so all that Kim, Wendy, Emil, Molly and Tina  needed was to battle Channel and Boundary Rd's and enjoy the bliss of Lemnos-Cosgrove and Ford with the breeze at the back. Crossy had crossed the floor from the Wouldabeens to make a guest appearance with the Squirrels, being read the riot act on taming his tempo to therapy standards (there's that FIFO factor again) so Emil was the educator to the truck route teaching a therapeutic 33.  I'd ranked the east northeaster as a wind more than a breeze though facing it for my Doyles to Orrvale session didn't really blow a head gasket.  Distant lightning provided us a light show.  

Tina tapped turn three to the Kinder and Wendy provided the draft to the cypress trees, Julz laying in wait at Beckham's bend to climb aboard the peace train.  Kim must have been minus speedo again, testing the therapy limits to the end of Channel Rd and adding a haul to the highway for good measure.  Crossy's debut drive showed considerable restraint, his regular head nod saying a watch was on speed (prevents a knife in the back!). Calling it quits at the fig farm threw the usual shift routine out the window but a bit of variety to the same old same old wouldn't go astray.  So Emil's shift ended at New Dookie Rd and I got the 2k leg to Lemnos-Cosgrove as a change of scenery.  Most had worked the wind over the distance if only for the treat of the help homeward, Tina and Wendy getting a taste of it first to Lemnos North Rd.  Keen to make her donation, Julz had a wind assisted passage to Grahamvale Rd.  Crossy was trusted with Emil's trademark drive south on Verney Rd and stuck to Thursday's standards, presented with the always red traffic light at Balaclava Rd. 

24/3 Full house Friday.

A check of the Bureau's observatory data (better the devil you know.....) told me there was an east northeaster but in the real world aboard two wheels at stupid o'clock, I'd put money on a southwester smothering my spin to Sanctuary.  Tactics to score an early slipstream to (at least) Mitchell Rd were on the drawing board long before reaching the grid.  Trav, Lili, BamBam, Rocket, Jen, Emil, Kreeky, Bruce, Tina, Bo, Wozza, Boof, Kel, LiamM, Greg, PistolPete, the 5ft Ninja and The Godfather packed Sanctuary's start line, obviously taking advantage of a 16 degree morning while it lasted.  The woes of Winter loom large! (I won't mention it's nine and a half weeks away).  PistolPete, naturally got wheels turning south, Emil eager to expend his energy alongside.  I'd got The Godfather's preferred place in the pack (last to serve duty, behind Pistol) so I'd be crossed off his Christmas card list.  I reckoned I'd earned the position having hurt for 10k's to the start.   Rocket reckoned I'd be getting a tow all the way to the Butter Factory given the size of the squad, but I've learned from experience nothing is guaranteed.  

Kreeky faced the front with Emil in Mitchell Rd where the wind felt head-on too, so hats off to him reaching Euroa Rd and doing the part two distance to River Rd too.  BamBam continues to earn frequent flyer points with the pack (hoping for election as the official Road Ranger?) and Trav had turned up to tap a few k's but where TrackStan has hidden is anyone's guess. (Succumbed to Zwift?)   Gazza and his development squad hollered a sledge on their westbound roll of River Rd (as if The Godfather needs baiting!), Lili successfully dragging LiamM back onto the bike after a long (work related) hiatus, but both optioned the observers role from the caboose.  Evidence of an east northeaster was debatable as I transitioned to the advance line in Coach Rd, the long line ahead allowing a headcount (18) so I could put names to the numbers later.  

Julz, or should that be Miss Mustard (keen as!) was waiting for the train near Channel Rd.  (19 now; won't get that in Winter!).  Rocket's guess of my free tow to town was fading as I came closer to the front, Jen and The Godfather setting a tough tempo to Central Ave. Rather than labour at their limits, I set my own speed at the front for The Godfather to (hopefully) comply to, and in a gentlemanly gesture of sympathy to a senior citizen, he did!  Tempting as it was to roll across at Dobson's bridge, I'd get The Godfather's wrath of "Full Block" then PistolPete's pace to live up to.  So I stubbornly stuck out the long drive to the truck route where my tactics were to ease the exit of the roundabout and score a tow instead of the part two of pain.  That worked a treat!  

A diversion via Mitchell and Williams to avoid the SPC roundabout road closure put caution into the commute toward coffee ; a decision needed soon on the circuit to stick to for the next three months till the roadworks are complete.  

This week 304km

YTD 3,520km