Met, as per, Nelson, in Scumnervale after work, about 5, parked up and we rode off up Captain Thomas. Good climb, asthma not so bad, but usual struggling once the going got steeperer for me up the first bits. Once on the level things got better, and Nelson cleaned further than usual on the rockiest bits. Usual near-death on the climb before that top swingy gate, but other than that the rest of the climb was good. At the road, we knuckled in behind a couple of other guys, climbing the Summit Rd, and eventually caught and got chatting with them, riding the rest of the way with them up to the top of Broadleaf. They were practising for the Enduro to be held up there next weekend.
Chatted some more at the top, for quite a while, then we led off keeping our blitz power on to stay ahead. One of them was pretty quick, but the other guy not quite so much. Tho, seemed on the techier rock stuff we would huss over they bogged down a bit, but on the smoother bits his speed was mental. I was on Nelson's tail hard the whole way til the lead in across to Gloomy Gulch, then I was utterly blown and had to pull up, lower back killing me, allowing them to pass and go ahead. Got started again, and saw that Nelson had pulled over below the dropjump, so he took off again once I'd caught him and we chased again. He caught the slower guy before the rocky ups. I wasn't that far behind, really... Bit of a rest at Evans, chatting some more. The faster guy was responsible for MtbTrailMagic on You Tube... they took off down Capt Thomas.
We rode out Godley Head Rd, and stopped to watch their descent. They kept a good clip. Not long after this, we noticed my back tire getting flatter. Good slash in the side of my tire... Stopped and replaced the tube, got riding and it was going down again, but I leaned forward and managed to ride all the way to the cattlestop entry to the climb track, where we stopped again and I patched it this time - tube must have had a hole in it from last time!
Climbed up, gasping, to the trail, and we got rolling back to Evans. Nelson jetted off ahead, and I stumbled and wheezed through the flatter rock bits, then actually struggled further down more than usual, even having one VERY close call with an OTB. Bloody close. Just couldn't seem to get a good flow on. I took the final high-line walkway bit at the end.
Across Evans, and into The Captain. Better descent down this, sticking surprisingly close to Nelsie for a start. Cleaned everything as usual, and bailed up on the wee rocky climb. Final blast down the flat into the switchbacks was good, but the Cabbage Tree track was overgrown as. Blasted out the bottom and finished down past the horses.
Just about 19 kms, with 710 m climbed.
Chatted some more at the top, for quite a while, then we led off keeping our blitz power on to stay ahead. One of them was pretty quick, but the other guy not quite so much. Tho, seemed on the techier rock stuff we would huss over they bogged down a bit, but on the smoother bits his speed was mental. I was on Nelson's tail hard the whole way til the lead in across to Gloomy Gulch, then I was utterly blown and had to pull up, lower back killing me, allowing them to pass and go ahead. Got started again, and saw that Nelson had pulled over below the dropjump, so he took off again once I'd caught him and we chased again. He caught the slower guy before the rocky ups. I wasn't that far behind, really... Bit of a rest at Evans, chatting some more. The faster guy was responsible for MtbTrailMagic on You Tube... they took off down Capt Thomas.
We rode out Godley Head Rd, and stopped to watch their descent. They kept a good clip. Not long after this, we noticed my back tire getting flatter. Good slash in the side of my tire... Stopped and replaced the tube, got riding and it was going down again, but I leaned forward and managed to ride all the way to the cattlestop entry to the climb track, where we stopped again and I patched it this time - tube must have had a hole in it from last time!
Climbed up, gasping, to the trail, and we got rolling back to Evans. Nelson jetted off ahead, and I stumbled and wheezed through the flatter rock bits, then actually struggled further down more than usual, even having one VERY close call with an OTB. Bloody close. Just couldn't seem to get a good flow on. I took the final high-line walkway bit at the end.
Across Evans, and into The Captain. Better descent down this, sticking surprisingly close to Nelsie for a start. Cleaned everything as usual, and bailed up on the wee rocky climb. Final blast down the flat into the switchbacks was good, but the Cabbage Tree track was overgrown as. Blasted out the bottom and finished down past the horses.
Just about 19 kms, with 710 m climbed.
No comments:
Post a Comment