Had chucked on a new front tire, Surly Dirt Wizard, 3.0 inch, on Saturday and, also, first ride on the chainguide I'd got from Josh - so was ready to test.
Headed out of town with O and Jet in the Roomy-On(-the-inside)-mobile and we bombed on up to "Lake" Janet.
2.11 pm, headed up the forestry road then cut into the 'new' single-track link to the walking track zig zag climb. A few wind throws messed us about at the entrance, which was mildly annoying, but was all clear once we were on the proper track. Met a couple and a small group and a solo woman as we climbed. Bloody hard work this climb, reflected in our 7.9 kph average speed. Still ill, but on the tail end of a cold, I nearly died several times, thought I was gonna have a heart attack at one point. Felt like absolute garbage. Eventually we made the look out tower and headed up the road instead of the singletrack. Not much easier, I don't think. And the upper km was all in a freezing northerly foggy cloud, quite bitter, and here was us both with insufficient layers. Brrr... Jet enjoyed every inch of his journey. About an hour to the top.
Into the descent, fun down the first steep and onto traversing benched singletrack; all the fun. Bomb bomb bomb, wet spots, hairpins cleaned or not cleaned as well as last time. Down the rocky bit and into the forest for switchback City. Jet loving every minute, O not quite as convinced, not really enjoying the corners but loving the rest. Vaguely warmer down in the forest, but still pretty chilly. Close encounter with a kereru at the creek crossing. Then around onto the ridge, and bombing through the pine bit, then switchback City again, and around through the mudmire, which wasn't nearly as mucky as I'd usually expect it. Was actually pretty good, with only one dabby bit near the bottom. Into the lower beech, fun exposure, and bomby roots, all pretty dry and smooth sailing. Finally, out the bottom reaches and onto the road, mission accomplished, bar the climb back to the car. About an hour from top to bottom, maybe less?
Climbing. Road. Ugh. Painful this was, long and slow. Took us a while, but got there in the end. Back at the car maybe 4.30ish?
One happy pooch!
On the road a fair bit before 5, and home well before 6
Totals, 13 km, with 653 m climbed, 1 hour 38 minutes total riding time.
Headed out of town with O and Jet in the Roomy-On(-the-inside)-mobile and we bombed on up to "Lake" Janet.
2.11 pm, headed up the forestry road then cut into the 'new' single-track link to the walking track zig zag climb. A few wind throws messed us about at the entrance, which was mildly annoying, but was all clear once we were on the proper track. Met a couple and a small group and a solo woman as we climbed. Bloody hard work this climb, reflected in our 7.9 kph average speed. Still ill, but on the tail end of a cold, I nearly died several times, thought I was gonna have a heart attack at one point. Felt like absolute garbage. Eventually we made the look out tower and headed up the road instead of the singletrack. Not much easier, I don't think. And the upper km was all in a freezing northerly foggy cloud, quite bitter, and here was us both with insufficient layers. Brrr... Jet enjoyed every inch of his journey. About an hour to the top.
Into the descent, fun down the first steep and onto traversing benched singletrack; all the fun. Bomb bomb bomb, wet spots, hairpins cleaned or not cleaned as well as last time. Down the rocky bit and into the forest for switchback City. Jet loving every minute, O not quite as convinced, not really enjoying the corners but loving the rest. Vaguely warmer down in the forest, but still pretty chilly. Close encounter with a kereru at the creek crossing. Then around onto the ridge, and bombing through the pine bit, then switchback City again, and around through the mudmire, which wasn't nearly as mucky as I'd usually expect it. Was actually pretty good, with only one dabby bit near the bottom. Into the lower beech, fun exposure, and bomby roots, all pretty dry and smooth sailing. Finally, out the bottom reaches and onto the road, mission accomplished, bar the climb back to the car. About an hour from top to bottom, maybe less?
Climbing. Road. Ugh. Painful this was, long and slow. Took us a while, but got there in the end. Back at the car maybe 4.30ish?
One happy pooch!
On the road a fair bit before 5, and home well before 6
Totals, 13 km, with 653 m climbed, 1 hour 38 minutes total riding time.
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