Met Nelson at Countdown carpark after work, on the fatbike, and then I proceeded to get a call from an old friend, Bat, who insisted she had to come and see me to tell me something that she couldn't tell me over the phone. I'm thinking, great, someone's died... but who? Helen? Jen? were the ones I thought of, as mutual friends we have and don't really see much anymore. But no, it was much worse. Matt, my best friend of 34 years since week 1 third form 1984, R.I.P. of a heart attack on this morning, Wednesday 2nd of August, 2017.
He joined us riding once, and, being a roadie himself, was always in awe of us mountainbikers and the intensity of our workouts coupled with the technicality of the riding. So, i thought it fitting that I continued with my ride tonight, in his honour. The whole thing seeming unreal and not quite believing it to be true... I'm so glad we caught up when I was in Melbourne back in June.
So, Nelson and me headed out to Moncks Bay, parking in the carpark of the Yacht Club where I took a call from Pete Gillespie, then we headed up Mulgans, first time for a lonnnnnng time (coincidentally only a couple of weeks before that ride with Matt). Steep mother that it is, it was actually pretty good. Walking the steps, but riding everything else, up to Panorama Rd, then along this up to Clifton Tce. Over the stile and up to the rooty singletrack, Nelson's slicks spinning him out continuously. Into Frog Pond track, which was super mucky in places leading to a bit of walking to save the trail, then once up on the ridge it was smooth clean riding to the trees.
Hit the Summit Rd down to Evans, fatbike tires screaming in agony and a slight headwind and thick cool damp air acting like a parachute on us. Onto Godley Head Rd, climbing around til I got a call from another old friend Jase, then continuing on right out to the end of the road.
Through the carpark and onto the track over to the right, down the zigs and zags, then up the zigs and zags and over to the top, grabbing a snack stop here, another phonecall incoming, then off down to Boulder Bay and back around towards Taylors. Met a couple of riders heading outways just near the beach. Down to carpark and the final slog up the hill. Nelson disappeared off on his super skinny tires, and just after the last dark corner he appeared back downhill towards me, and we rode the rest of the way up to the top of Scarborough together, before my ears were deafened again descending at over 60kph down the Scarborough Rd.
Across the Esplanade and back along under the cliffs to the car.
Just on 24 kms and a staggering 879 m climbed... Pretty good for a 'road' ride.
And! This has been blog POST NUMBER 900 ! ! !
He joined us riding once, and, being a roadie himself, was always in awe of us mountainbikers and the intensity of our workouts coupled with the technicality of the riding. So, i thought it fitting that I continued with my ride tonight, in his honour. The whole thing seeming unreal and not quite believing it to be true... I'm so glad we caught up when I was in Melbourne back in June.
So, Nelson and me headed out to Moncks Bay, parking in the carpark of the Yacht Club where I took a call from Pete Gillespie, then we headed up Mulgans, first time for a lonnnnnng time (coincidentally only a couple of weeks before that ride with Matt). Steep mother that it is, it was actually pretty good. Walking the steps, but riding everything else, up to Panorama Rd, then along this up to Clifton Tce. Over the stile and up to the rooty singletrack, Nelson's slicks spinning him out continuously. Into Frog Pond track, which was super mucky in places leading to a bit of walking to save the trail, then once up on the ridge it was smooth clean riding to the trees.
Hit the Summit Rd down to Evans, fatbike tires screaming in agony and a slight headwind and thick cool damp air acting like a parachute on us. Onto Godley Head Rd, climbing around til I got a call from another old friend Jase, then continuing on right out to the end of the road.
Through the carpark and onto the track over to the right, down the zigs and zags, then up the zigs and zags and over to the top, grabbing a snack stop here, another phonecall incoming, then off down to Boulder Bay and back around towards Taylors. Met a couple of riders heading outways just near the beach. Down to carpark and the final slog up the hill. Nelson disappeared off on his super skinny tires, and just after the last dark corner he appeared back downhill towards me, and we rode the rest of the way up to the top of Scarborough together, before my ears were deafened again descending at over 60kph down the Scarborough Rd.
Across the Esplanade and back along under the cliffs to the car.
Just on 24 kms and a staggering 879 m climbed... Pretty good for a 'road' ride.
And! This has been blog POST NUMBER 900 ! ! !
No comments:
Post a Comment