Bike fits good in the new car.
Left work 4.30ish and drove to park at McCormack's Bay park, watching the big clouds and sunset drift away. Nelson turned up eventually, parking, and we headed up the valley track. Not a bad start, but when it got steep I started to struggle big time, gasping and wheezing up through the switchbacks, and then losing momentum on the bridgies (which have had their stupid posts removed, thankfully). Food choices in the day, or general lack of riding fitness getting the better of me. Greasy as greasy in a few of the corners on the upper zigzags, but cleaned one of them, and didn't clean a couple of others. Nelson dabbed once, I think. Up the road, to the wee reserve steep climb then up to the bath-trough and up into Britten.
Left work 4.30ish and drove to park at McCormack's Bay park, watching the big clouds and sunset drift away. Nelson turned up eventually, parking, and we headed up the valley track. Not a bad start, but when it got steep I started to struggle big time, gasping and wheezing up through the switchbacks, and then losing momentum on the bridgies (which have had their stupid posts removed, thankfully). Food choices in the day, or general lack of riding fitness getting the better of me. Greasy as greasy in a few of the corners on the upper zigzags, but cleaned one of them, and didn't clean a couple of others. Nelson dabbed once, I think. Up the road, to the wee reserve steep climb then up to the bath-trough and up into Britten.
Good climb up Britten, trail in good knick even with the day's rain, and, for a change, round the top, then over the road and up the trail to the top of Pleasant, southerly wind blasting across this face as we climbed. Bit of a rest on the top by the trig, nice views to be had, and a bit of shelter out of the wind.
Hit the descent before we got too cold, into the down, over the stile and down, a little greasy on the Lyttelton side, but good through the tussocks. Around above the ruins and into Greenwood, which was boney as, rocks all bigger than ever, and not too slick except for puddle avoidance along the face before Gloomy. Short break after this and then rapid descending from there, me stalling in the creek crossing rocks, before the final blast down the final face. Bumpy as hell the last steep finish..
Stopped on the road and watched lights up on the top (as well as a couple riding up Captain). Then headed down to a trail we'd never ridden before, the Scarborough Bluffs track... I figured it would be dryer than the Captain, and it probably was. Has some serious exposure, good tech, fun stuff, and tight switchbacks. Down to cross the road, and a few more switchbacks with pushy bushes on the sides, down to the bottom of the Captain.
From here it was down Sumnervale and out around through Scumner and around back to the cars, completing an 18.3 km loop, and gaining 570 m total. Nice night ride.
From here it was down Sumnervale and out around through Scumner and around back to the cars, completing an 18.3 km loop, and gaining 570 m total. Nice night ride.
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