They call it character building

Had a nice ride yesterday

Well it was hard day at the office
Around lake Dunstan - it's not to bad - only 96kms but normally a wind one way or other.
Forecast is not good but what the hell - only scattered clouds here in the morning and looked like the fronts had passed in the night - how wrong this was to be.
Nice drive to Cromwell - dry roads but to the south over Bannockburn some rain to be seen but remained dry at the start line until the start
big fat heavy rain drops - but only for 30secs and didn't really notice as all rugged up - lightweight pullover under the cycle jersey with wind vest over the top and arm warmers.

Of course the vest and arm warmers come off on the way up the valley toward Tarras.

The siren goes and the front of the field accelerates up to about 50kms instantly and the front group quickly pulls away - I settle for a slightly - only slightly less frenetic second group and soon it settles into a steady rhyme - at a pace I can go all day at - so that is good.
Around the corner at Tarras - and make sure that I am at the front of the group incase of any attacks but the cross wind means no one keen to go hard at the front and we revolve around - about 40 strong - although I never go near the back.

A little hill about 40km mark does nothing to sort the group out - still pays to be at the front as you cross.

Across the Luggate Bridge and we know that it is going to be windy home - legs still feel 100% and I keep the pace going up the hill before we turn into the wind.
As we leave Luggate the first of the strong gusts that are the outriders of the storm start arriving - ahead the sky is black and in the distance the sound of gunfire - no - it' the thunder starting to roll around the hills.
Soon enough the stronger gusts - I'm sure at one stage we got down to 5kms / hr pace as we fought through them- but the wind eased a little as the rain came - don't get me wrong - its still blowing hard and now the rain is big and fat and heavy and then it turns to hail - the roof - no that is the helmet - keeps most of it off, but it could well have been a grit truck ahead of us throwing sand and pebbles back at us for all we could see.

A quick wipe of the glasses makes no difference - viability has dropped to 200meters or so and the lightning is crashing into the surrounding hills.
We drive on - not hesitating, while later we hear others are driven of their bikes to find shelter in pubs, under tress and in farmer houses.

The vest so quickly taken off I can't put on - it is in the back pocket - I did get it out and get both arms in but unable to zip it up - the wind is to strong and the group moving too fast - even in the conditions. As the rain eases a little the pace continues - but I am really glad this group is skilled because if anyone had braked I would have not been able to react in time - the fingers don't feel the levers - the brain is not connected to the legs - I see them working but the are not connected to me - occasionally flashes of lights in the eyes - it's not lightning - so not sure - perhaps the brian shutting down - as we close on home the pace goes up again and the group splinters in two. I loose the front group by meters and then as the 2nd group goes past I almost miss them - claw my way on to the back wheel - only just - and then I come right again - it's my only bad patch - but still no connection to body from the brain. I know where I am - but that's all - slight uphill to the junction - a long 1km to the corner and sprint 8oo meters to the line. The group surges forward after the corner but not really a true sprint - everyone is just happy to cross the line as quick as possible - ride the km to the finishing chute and disappears to the car - no high 5's - no thanks 'that was a good ride' just disappear to try and get warm

I try and talk to someone - realize I don't make sense and walk - can't even think about how to get back on the bike - to the car and shiver my way out of the clothing into layers of clothing - thank god for that North Face down jacket. It takes about 1hr for the shivering to stop - coffee triple shot please / chocolate and by prize giving I am fine - although the down jacket stays on - even inside.

They call it character building

I finish 4th (55+) 2hrs 47mins 66th across the line out of 260 (about 30 in our peleton so we are about 30th across the line)
Average speed just 34kms hr