Met Nelson in Sumnervale and we headed up the Captain. First time since February, for some reason... I took off while he faffed his MMR on and I was a wee ways up the singletrack above the stile before he caught up. Instantly I was set to with wheezing, struggling to breath from here on up. Bloody dire, and I've GOT to remember to take my ventolin inhaler when I ride. Up round the bends and up over the rocks, wheeze wheeze wheeze. Started getting into a groove the further up we got but was still struggling even at the top, and muppetting quite a few sections I'd not normally.
Across Evans and onto Godley. Not bad going up here, a dab lower down but cleaned the rocky platforms before the going got better. Nelson was doing good for a start but then blew it on a rocky bit, got out of my way and I cleaned up over it, leading from here til the break on the ridge. Into the descent, a little muckhole right on a corner after the second of the boardwalk things, and slightly greasy down the Teddington Shit section, but from here on down we were smooth rocketships. Absolutely fanging down through the curvy stuff before Livingston Col - felt like the fastest I've ever done (who knows!?). Up the next climb, gasping again, then down to Breeze, all good.
Up onto the tight narrow sheeptrack-singletrack around then return on the Breeze Bay track, this is rolling very nicely now, fast and getting a little narrower. Still no tech, but fun. Into Anaconda, and a nice roll through the top section, speed building, til, tight on Nelson's tail, we were rocketting down and through. Around into the valley and !WHOOAH!, Nelson bailed, (his wheels had chosen different ruts and gone different directions), I managed to pull up in time. We bypassed the nasty muckhole and the rest of the way were a little more cautious, with no problems. Then it was onto the new walking track to climb. Always further than memory allows, but a good solid climb and back up to the col in no time.
Now it was back up Godley, climbing, descending, and knuckling in for the last climb up from Livingston. Into the last section, speed right from the start. We both had fast and smooth runs down here, popping and floating over the rocks and no snarls. I took the high line to finish, Then it was down through Rapanui Bush and around the tricksy wee walk track onto the Scarborough Bluffs Track. Bit of a rest here, and then onwards, fun times flying. Nelson failed on the techiest bit (he'd cleaned last two times), and neither of us did very well in the corners. Nice riding tho. Across the road and down the last zigs to the bottom of the Captain and then back to the cars.
Grabbed dinner at the wee Indonesian Street Food place. Not bad, tho gammy guts since.
20kms and 815 climbed... Pretty good.
Across Evans and onto Godley. Not bad going up here, a dab lower down but cleaned the rocky platforms before the going got better. Nelson was doing good for a start but then blew it on a rocky bit, got out of my way and I cleaned up over it, leading from here til the break on the ridge. Into the descent, a little muckhole right on a corner after the second of the boardwalk things, and slightly greasy down the Teddington Shit section, but from here on down we were smooth rocketships. Absolutely fanging down through the curvy stuff before Livingston Col - felt like the fastest I've ever done (who knows!?). Up the next climb, gasping again, then down to Breeze, all good.
Up onto the tight narrow sheeptrack-singletrack around then return on the Breeze Bay track, this is rolling very nicely now, fast and getting a little narrower. Still no tech, but fun. Into Anaconda, and a nice roll through the top section, speed building, til, tight on Nelson's tail, we were rocketting down and through. Around into the valley and !WHOOAH!, Nelson bailed, (his wheels had chosen different ruts and gone different directions), I managed to pull up in time. We bypassed the nasty muckhole and the rest of the way were a little more cautious, with no problems. Then it was onto the new walking track to climb. Always further than memory allows, but a good solid climb and back up to the col in no time.
Now it was back up Godley, climbing, descending, and knuckling in for the last climb up from Livingston. Into the last section, speed right from the start. We both had fast and smooth runs down here, popping and floating over the rocks and no snarls. I took the high line to finish, Then it was down through Rapanui Bush and around the tricksy wee walk track onto the Scarborough Bluffs Track. Bit of a rest here, and then onwards, fun times flying. Nelson failed on the techiest bit (he'd cleaned last two times), and neither of us did very well in the corners. Nice riding tho. Across the road and down the last zigs to the bottom of the Captain and then back to the cars.
Grabbed dinner at the wee Indonesian Street Food place. Not bad, tho gammy guts since.
20kms and 815 climbed... Pretty good.
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