Awesome ride tonight. Did a core strengthening Abi yoga in the morning, and as a result the entire ride I didn't get a sore back! Fantastic. I'd also remembered to have an asthma puff in the car while I was waiting for Nelson to arrive in Scumnervale, which saw my breathing working well all the way through as well. AND, I was suffering the beginnings, or skirting the edge, of a cold - scratchy throat, slightly sore sinuses.
Up Captain Thomas, Nelson telling me all about his Enduro event last Sunday, which meant he held back a bit so that I could huff and chuff along behind him. Still, even tho I was talking occasionally too, I felt better for longer up this climb. Once up onto the levels and after the short down, he cleaned the first of the tech rocks, which was astounding. Good jaunt up the rest of it, me only just starting to wane near the top.
Reasonable length rest at Evans then across into Godley, clambering. Too low a gear for me on the first rocks, then blew out again on the next, but cleaned up the whole rest of the track. Really feeling stronger and no sore back and more power. Yoga is good! At the high point above Scarborough, another short rest, then decided to head up the ridge to the top trig. Nice views from up here...
A different view of Evans Pass:
1
Then down, awesome descent, with some great tech rocks and a lovely flow around the back, harbourside, across the slope towards the final very narrow steep singletrack descent on the wrong side of the fence back to Livingston Col.
From here, took the walking track around the back, harbourside again, towards Breeze Col. This is a great section of riding, except for the nasty switchback climb, which I cleaned all of for the first time, albeit with a breathing break at the first hairpin.
Me just after that bit:
Someone had mowed past the stile, so we ended up on a narrow sheep track before we realised we'd gone too far. Turned back, over the stile, and down the steps and rolling. Across the Col, fun rocks, then climbing the Breeze Bay track, meeting a couple of runners and some walkers further round.
Next it was the skinny singletrack back to Breeze, around the front above the road. Long grass made it a challenge, but fun, finished with a fun dropping down to Breeze.
Onto the road for a short section to get into the 'new' entrance to Anaconda. Waited for a guy climbing this, then dropped in, swoopy downhill funtimes. But eating Nelson's dust wasn't very tasty. Fast and smooth swoopy swoopy through the 'Conda, blitzing it all nicely, and STILL my back wasn't sore! Awesomesauce. Down the 'tail, and Nelson a fair ways ahead now, I was coming around above the baches when I saw him rolling across the paddock... not toooo far ahead. Bomb, pop, and roll across the paddock myself, to fill up water at the fountain (where we ran into Nixie from work and her partner).
Into the climb up the road, then up onto the singletrack 'Sumnervale' track, only walked a little bit by the fence, then up onto the road, up the climb to Godley and into the return. Best run back to Evans on Godley I've had for ages. Every rock feature was just a floating roll over or pop. No baulking or stalling like other recent rides. Bombed down out the end, and across Evans-summit to the Captain.
Bit of a rest before dropping in. Bit of dust again from Nelson, but a good run down and after the peskygate I could still see the trail under the dust (unlike last time!). Awesome bomb down, just flowing and cruising, cleaning everything except the climb (which Nelson tried again, and got with just one dab). Final blast across and down through the switchies, cabbage tree slippery, last descent, nearly losing it onto the bridge, and finished. Nice.
A staunch 19.43 kms, with a bonza 858 m climbed!
Up Captain Thomas, Nelson telling me all about his Enduro event last Sunday, which meant he held back a bit so that I could huff and chuff along behind him. Still, even tho I was talking occasionally too, I felt better for longer up this climb. Once up onto the levels and after the short down, he cleaned the first of the tech rocks, which was astounding. Good jaunt up the rest of it, me only just starting to wane near the top.
Reasonable length rest at Evans then across into Godley, clambering. Too low a gear for me on the first rocks, then blew out again on the next, but cleaned up the whole rest of the track. Really feeling stronger and no sore back and more power. Yoga is good! At the high point above Scarborough, another short rest, then decided to head up the ridge to the top trig. Nice views from up here...
A different view of Evans Pass:
Then down, awesome descent, with some great tech rocks and a lovely flow around the back, harbourside, across the slope towards the final very narrow steep singletrack descent on the wrong side of the fence back to Livingston Col.
From here, took the walking track around the back, harbourside again, towards Breeze Col. This is a great section of riding, except for the nasty switchback climb, which I cleaned all of for the first time, albeit with a breathing break at the first hairpin.
Me just after that bit:
Someone had mowed past the stile, so we ended up on a narrow sheep track before we realised we'd gone too far. Turned back, over the stile, and down the steps and rolling. Across the Col, fun rocks, then climbing the Breeze Bay track, meeting a couple of runners and some walkers further round.
Next it was the skinny singletrack back to Breeze, around the front above the road. Long grass made it a challenge, but fun, finished with a fun dropping down to Breeze.
Onto the road for a short section to get into the 'new' entrance to Anaconda. Waited for a guy climbing this, then dropped in, swoopy downhill funtimes. But eating Nelson's dust wasn't very tasty. Fast and smooth swoopy swoopy through the 'Conda, blitzing it all nicely, and STILL my back wasn't sore! Awesomesauce. Down the 'tail, and Nelson a fair ways ahead now, I was coming around above the baches when I saw him rolling across the paddock... not toooo far ahead. Bomb, pop, and roll across the paddock myself, to fill up water at the fountain (where we ran into Nixie from work and her partner).
Into the climb up the road, then up onto the singletrack 'Sumnervale' track, only walked a little bit by the fence, then up onto the road, up the climb to Godley and into the return. Best run back to Evans on Godley I've had for ages. Every rock feature was just a floating roll over or pop. No baulking or stalling like other recent rides. Bombed down out the end, and across Evans-summit to the Captain.
Bit of a rest before dropping in. Bit of dust again from Nelson, but a good run down and after the peskygate I could still see the trail under the dust (unlike last time!). Awesome bomb down, just flowing and cruising, cleaning everything except the climb (which Nelson tried again, and got with just one dab). Final blast across and down through the switchies, cabbage tree slippery, last descent, nearly losing it onto the bridge, and finished. Nice.
A staunch 19.43 kms, with a bonza 858 m climbed!
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