Boxing Mini-tour to the Bach, mostly

Long one today... Quite the ride... Boxing Day, 11.43am, Troll equipped with frame-, seat- and basket- bags with sufficient gear to keep me clothed whatever the conditions, I headed up from home.  At the park the rear disc started to rub the mount so I pulled up in the shade of the pines at 19th to bend and adjust.  Got rid of the rub and kept moving.  Push up the worst of the skidder track then at Brake Free stopped and chatted to a couple I'd met at a Halloween party (the night before I got covid, so I asked "did you get it then??" Thankfully not).  Onwards up to the Summit Rd and a nice cruise east along this.  Good pace, feeling good, nice descent to Rapaki and nice descent to Bridle, with the requisite climbs in between.  

Into the Bridle Path and it's a lot steeper than I'd remembered...  Gravel surface, and scared pedestrians.  Jesus some people over-react to a bike riding past.  ffs, calm down, old lady, I'm not gonna hit you, and if you didn't hear me coming you should fucking be more in tune with your surroundings instead of away with the fae.  Anyway, my brakes started to heat up, then make some god-awful sounds.  And by the bottom of the road section it sounded like they were already metal on metal, and were rubbing again (but it was pads this time, not against the mount/frame - cos it went away when you slightly applied them).  So, down through town and to the ferry, with 5 minutes to spare for the 12.50 sailing.  Yay for metrocards!  Hot on the ferry, until out on the actual water, nice breeze and some salt splash through the window.  

Off the boat, onto the wharf and climbing up the road, to the shop.  Bought a peach ice tea and filled my first empty bottle.  It was quite hot.  Little more climb and then a glorious brake free cruising coast into Purau.  Been ages since I'd been here.  Into the climb, and feck it's hot.  I stopped a little way into it, in the shade, and plugged my t-shirt onto my helmet to protect my neck.  This made it better and occasionally there was a nice breeze would kick in. 

Quite the climb up here, took a good hour or more with some walking thrown in.  Very few cars, couple of motorbikes.  T-shirt off head, and into the descent.  A 4WD had been past not too long before, but I figured they had a good lead.  But no, caught them up about 2/3rds of the way down and had to pull over to let them go as they weren't going fast enough.  But because the brakes were cooked and sounding even worse now I didn't want the risk of overtaking and then getting into trouble.  Totally horrible sounds emanating from them the whole way down, then zz zz zz zz once I was on the flat.  2.30ish, hour and half over from DH.  Baking hot in Port Levy, heat from the low-tide rocky shoreline.  Brief climb then here's the Pigeon Bay turn off.  

Narrow gravel road, nice gradient, cruised up this for a bit then decided to stop for a rest.  Nice shade, tree, text out to T warning I might need a lift - those brakes were not going to survive Little Akaloa Rd.  Snack.  Feeling better. 

Had met a silver toyota coming down, then a "Virtual 4WD Tours" Range Rover bombed past, uphill.  And prior to him I'd heard a motorbike in the distance.  Seconds after the Range Rover goes past I'm hearing the motorbike, then seeing it sideways then stop.  I ride up and the guy is pinned under it.  He was okay, obviously in a bit of shock.  Japanese.  Couldn't lift the bike, so I helped and we got it upright.  He'd been going really slowly, the Rangey had given him a fright, then he was kinda in the gutter and couldn't see properly cos of the dust, and had lost it!  I rode on, seeing the Rangy on the road above on the other side of the valley.  The climb continued.  At some point, around 3pm, I rang T and said I'd probably be an hour to Pigeon Bay, could she?  A little while later I see another 4WD heading down, across the valley.  I got quite a bit further up, monitoring their progress towards me, and surprised them somewhat.  Young teen driving, sedate looking father in the passenger seat.  Good on him teaching his kid gravel road skills.  Onwards and upwards.  A couple of walking sections, quite steep.  Quite tired. 

(this second picture is more-or-less looking directly home, the way I came, that saddle being the Purau-PortLevy one, and Cashmere is straightline behind it).  More riding, more walking, meeting a couple more 4WDs in convoy.  Then, nearing the top finally, one last one, and a final steep to walk to the summit at 500m(!).   

Into the descent into Holmes Bay.  Decades since I brought the Marina up over here.  This descent would be glorious on the fatty, or the Rocky.  But the Troll with no brakes, it was kinda nerve-wracking.  I had one close call, sudden appearance of a fast moving white Ford Ranger (Cord or Corde emblazoned on the side).  I kept well left, he 'freaked' foot off gas, veer towards fence, past and onwards.  Rear brake was barely doing anything, front was threatening to skid out on the loose gravel the whole way.  I wonder how Extra-terrestrials would handle this.  Likely a lot better than the Big Bens.   Hairy downhill, final glidey lovely speed into the bottom of Holmes valley, then the road widened up a bit and I was passed by a couple of smaller suv 4wds full of young folk on the final climb, leading to a glorious gravel, sealed, gravel descent of cruisy coasty goodness.  Past the refuse station and an interesting looking kid of the dump guy and through a busy party bach zone, arriving at the Pigeon Bay Valley Road end T intersection at exactly the same time as Tra'y.  

In the end, I'm quite glad I had to call short the trip at Pigeon Bay, my body wasn't really up to it - I was shattered from the heat and work of it all, and that final climb up PBay valley would have nailed me, let alone the rest of the climb up Summit Rd to LA turnoff (520m in total).  And no brakes on the LA Rd is no joke.

A rather solid 41 kms, with 1600 m altitude gain.

Wednesday Night Bony Captain Greenwood

Mint ride tonight with Nelson. We met at Slumnervale and headed back down Finnsarby Place (never knew it was called that) and across the redzone to hit the up on the old Captain Thomas exit.  Nelson cleaned his way to the steepest steps bit, whereas I lost it on below the first corner and struggled my way upwards.  Very muggy and sheltered down in here.  Once on the level tho it was good rolling, albeit extremely overgrown for a good portion of it, which we didn't really notice until on the return.  Mostly good climbing; Nelson cleaning more than me, I was just feeling wiped from the week.  The trail was really crunchy, sheep having wrecked it in the recent wetness.  Heading into a sugar crash, we had a break before the final climb.  I felt better once moving again and the hard bit before the last gate got the better of us both.  Final climb out to the road was okay.  

Long schlep up the road to Jollie's Bush where we avoided stinging nettle, walked and rode our way to the top of the bush, over the stile and then up the new walking route to the 4wd track which was much closer than we ever realised.  Up this and hung a right to blaze out the, also crunchy, old Greenwood entrance, out to the road, and up here to Broadleaf and up.  Cool dead stick insect on the road, probably 10 cm long and 7mm thick...  Hup up up to the top and a well earned rest.  Then we tootled to the highest point and took in the view before our descent.

Down through the annoying gate, and around to the stile, Nelson getting his sideways-action on on the rocks just beforehand.  Over the stile and the bombing began.  He led, I stayed on his tail until the tussocks where I kinda gained and lost and gained til losing more towards the end of this upper section.  Down the 4WD bit, and into the Greenwood proper.  Tight on his tail for a bit, even catching him a bit before the sidle, where he always loses me and then eventually he stopped after Gloomy and I caught up and we had another rest.  I led from here, keeping the pace up and fast and a good blast down, all the way, losing my speed in the first rocky up with the wrong gear.  On out to the bottom, overall a good blast.  

Through Evans and up a little for another bit of a rest before dropping into The Captain, him in the lead.  Big gap to start but I'm pretty sure I was slowly gaining to the gate, then we held pretty tight the rest of the way down.  It's SO bony, rocks poking up where they never were, trail embedded in itself by the sheep traffic.  Eventually, over the fence into the old-skool section, discovering just how overgrown the bastard was.  Quite low speed compared to the usual rush, never quite knowing where the holes were, or rocks, hidden under the grass.  We both survived our nemeses, my tree and his rock, and got out to the bottom and back to the cars in one piece each.

A surprising 631 m climbed, over a rather bony 15.4 kms 

Rainday Sunless Troll

Excellence was had.  Getting on into the evening and no ride had been possible all day due to rain rain rain.  So, as somewhat of a test of the mudguard system I've experimentally set up on the Troll I headed up the hill.  Great to get breathing, standing and cranking my way up the hill.  Took the new zigzag from the top of the dog park, then the wheelchair route over the Info Centre knob and down the zig at the back, then up road to H.Ell Track, riding up this, naughtily, but thankfully not meeting anyone, all the way to the top.

Up the road and into the first Thompson, amazingly cleaning this the whole climb, greasy roots and slick tires no problem.  Then up the ramp and cleaning this too!  Into the second Thomson, climbing again, stopping to rest once, but cleaning the rest of it.  At the top of it I hung a left and followed the 4wd track down, over the gate and then down the main drag  at a hell of a speed into the Skidder.  Then just down the road from here, meeting my first other people/car just before I peeled into the driveway.

Not that big, but fun and wet, 6.4 kms with 214 m climbed.

Friday Long Way to Work

On the Troll, headed up from home through Vic Park, Worm and across the Traverse.  At Huntsbury/Vernon I cruised down the road and into the top of, I guess, the Taramea (alternative to main cRapaki track (Full Monty)), descending roughly on this.  Onto the main track across the flat, then up into Elevator, descending it with occasional finesse.  Finally bomb down the road and across town to work.

Sweet Commute! 16 and 3/4s km with 287 m climbed  

Thursday's Whole Lotta Climb

Nelson and me out from my place. Usual up over 19th to skidder into Razza's, sweet blast down, quick climb up the radzone to next corner to drop into lower Pedalfine.  At the skidder track, a brief climb back up towards Rad. up and back for no real reason other than a look, then hooked into the lower end of Pedal for a blast down and out onto Flow/Bridges and all the way down to Bridges-Nu.  

Railing down the valley bottom and into Hidden Valley, catching a couple of guys in here.  Around the corner under the pylon and there were a hundred Enduro riders, clusterfucked all over the hill, waiting to start their next stage. We pushed to the front and dropped in ahead of their race. Excellent blast down, tho I was getting tired by the bottom, photographers practicing their shots on us as we descended, and a crowd (like 10 people) standing watching us at the bottom. Tiring. 

Down Bowenvale Ave and around Centaurus to cRapaki..  Up the road, and first gravel then into the new Elevator trail. Pretty good climb, not bad at all. Rinsed me a bit tho, seems way longer and more effort that the piece of cRapaki that it bypasses would consume. Stayed on the singletrack across above the flat zone of cRapaki, then on the main drag struggle street for the rest of the climb.  From there it was on up Vernon, and into the Traverse for a often fog bound cruise around here. 

Into Pedalfine start, peeling left and out on the diversion which was looking and feeling pretty rarely used. Skidder over 19th again and down the road to the dogparkcarpark into 235, very overgrown entrance, excellent bomb down here over the yumpies and through the oaks.  Last climb and last blast behind the houses.

Exhausting 21.5 kms with 624 m climbed

Saturday Jack's Dubiousness

After Arrowtown we drove along the Remarkables for a closer look, stopping at Wye Creek, a wee walk up the track to see the river and falls, then back to car.  On the way back towards town I got it in my head to ride back from Drift Bay, over the Jacks Point trail, thinking I'd go right round Kelvin Heights and back to Frankton and up to the house. T convinced H to accompany me, and so off we set.  

Quite a fun wee descent towards the lake, then sidling around towards Maori Jack Rd, sort of just above the shingle beach, matagouri and scrub and grassland, open flat lakeside country.  It was fine around the lake, then gravel road up to Lodge Rd carpark, and then we headed up the Jack's Hill track, and the climb half killed H. Relatively steep, and legs tired, he struggled.  Good switchback steep down the other side, then rough, overgrown, rocky tech  and up and downy, with several walks due to steep and rough conditions, around the butt of the hill and it all proved too much for H.  So, with rain threatening, I rang T and asked her to come back and get us.  We got to the main trail (which was Queenstown Trail level easy, and climbed back up towards Lodge Rd, eventually bombing down this to a waiting T and car..   

A measly 7 kms, with a couple hundred m climbed, but rough and tiring for tired boys.

Saturday Rude Water Racing Bush

Tra'y dropped H and me up at Coronet Peak (opening day for the season up there - carpark wasn't too full).  We treadled up onto Rude Rock and got descending. Whooee!!  It was fun times.  One chute that H couldn't handle, but otherwise he had the best of times.  We even over took a few people.  

Across the road and dropping down towards Hot Rod, but sidling onto the Water Race, taking this all the way across the face.  A very nice sidle (tho incredibly weedy), through a few wee nice bushy gullies, one or two exposures, and only minimal climbing.  

Finished with an awesome blast down Bush Creek trail.  This was fantastic, some good interesting tech, roots and switchbacks and creek crossings, and lots of bridges too.  Randomly bumped into an old school friend, Carol S., who I'd not seen for 30something years.  Her hubsand had a baby goat in his arms (they'd found it earlier).  From them we blasted down into Arrowtown where we met Tra'y and had a little lunch. 

Marvellously marvelous 15kms with only 180m climbed, but around 1000 descended. 

Saturday First Thing Popping to the Shops.

Needed a couple of supplies so after coffee I headed down to the shops and back.  Down the road then onto the Queenstown Trail around the waterfront, then up to Remarks Shopping Centre.  Down to the river, then along the Trail back again.  

10.8 kms, with 133m climbed 

Fried, eh? 7 Miles of Smiles

Quick morning ride on my own at 7 Mile. Parked at Wilson's Bay.  Headed around the DOC track and into What's up DOC, climbing ziggyzag styles up up and up to the Eagles Nest.  Looking for fun, I headed for Gravitron which swooped me down and about randomly throwing me into Loop 7 which lost me completely, but eventually climbed back up to the Nest and headed into Metolius which took me around to El Dorado which had some nice rock.  Into Cloud Burst for a blitzy descent, including an 'extra' little shooty drop to the exit climb back to What's Up to climb back to Eagle's Nest.  Time a ticking, headed back towards Kachoong, checking out the boardwalky bits briefly, climbing back up to Kachoong, blitzy blitz, onto Jack B Nimble, meandering to the midpointmeetingbit, into Grin'n'Holla cutting off onto IB55 to finish.  Back along the DOC track to the car.  Found a towel in the car so stripped off and dived into the lake to cool off. 

Minimal 5.14 km and 200 m even

Saturday Local Loopies

Nelson came over for an 8.30 start but there was a bunch of drizzle around, so we took our time getting ready, oiling and cleaning drivetrains etc. We headed out the drive and got a little way into the initial climb when I realised I needed my inhaler so we turned back home.  Once there, the rain kicked in harder so we stopped for a coffee and the weather had gone when we'd finished so off up the hill we went again.  I felt okay, given it was my first 'proper' ride since the covid (other than the Troll rides).  Plodded up, usual way over 19th, and up from skidder.  Nasty bugger this but I cleaned it and was breathing pretty good.  Up to very top and then down around the jumps and down through the paddock to the rocks and gums.  Greasy as trail in here, 2 wheel drifting.  I pointed out my log cut and we sidled out to skidder.

Dived into Shazza's, given the steeper ones were gonna be greasier.  Shaz's was not too bad.  It's been tidied a bunch at the bottom, directing you into Pono's which we didnt do.  Headed across into the Rad zone, and dropped down what could be considered the continuation of Razza's.  It is easy and sidles into Brents, to chuck you across to the far side, so down through the Macracarpas we flowed.  

Out onto Flow - Bridges - Nu Bridges, some tapes up for the Enduro happening on Sunday.  Down the bottom and into Hidden Valley Link track bonus up to Old Skool.  Dabbed in the top second to last corner.  

Old Skool was sweet.  Nice flow, nothing too drastic but a good pace.  Into the valley-bottom back up the trail.  Climby climby climb.  I managed all the steeps in the valley, but from Hospital Corner I had to walk a few metres.  Up under Texaco, then on up the 4wd, walking one little bit, then eventually up in the Rad zone another bit. Up to skidder and talked to a guy scoping out for the Enduro, then off into the singletrack to take us down to the road, then below road for a bit, and then cruising and into 235 for a fun blast in here.  Bit mucky on the downside of the first jump.  Then climbed up to Microwave and down the final blast behind the houses, home.

A well spent 10.7 kms, climbing a indubitable 442 m.

Thursdog Trollspin

So good to get out even if so briefly. Rain just starting up as we left home.  Short and sweet, dragging along the dog for the ride.  First time in way too long, recovery from Covid and Poteriteri field trip having got in the way.  Up on the Troll with Jettypuss, on the walking track by the road.  Avoiding another dog in the slide part of the park, then up to the sunset table, over and down behind, then back round, poaching a couple of sections of trail on the way, including Tawhairanui track. From here across the dogcarpark and into the 235 singletrack.  Pretty good.  Down to the jump and over, then stopped to chat to a few riders in here just finishing practicing corners.  On my way, right through to the H.Ell extension, across the road and down home.

Measly 2.6 kms, 75m climbed.  Happy dog.

Trolling the Chorlton Downs

First ride post-covid.  

At the bach for the long weekend, and brought the Troll with me figuring it's basically a 'gravel' bike.  Up to Chorlton finding my low gear as low as needed, with standing the final option but not walking.  From Chorlton I continued towards Okains, nice down, a couple of rollers then steep climb followed by a very nice cruisy descent. I took a wee jaunt up Wells Back (no exit) because I'd never been up there before, and had a nice rest at the top before a fat gravel descent back down to the seal.  Thought about turning back here, but was still feeling pretty good so I rode on towards Stony Bay, dropping down to a good view overlooking the Bay, still at 140 m altitude or so.  

Into the climb back and heading back, fast descents that were slow climbs the other way, but none of the climbs as bad this direction.  Super fast descent back into Little Ak, around waterfront and home.

Good climbs good times, 19.6 kms with 618 m climbed.

I was hammered all day Sunday and into Monday.

And then... the 'vid

... I got the fucking covid. First ever positive test on Sunday 30th...

Kibosh on any good riding for a couple few weeks  😩

Tuesday Night MacPleasant GreenThomas

Good spin tonight with Nelson.  We met about 6pm at McCormacks Bay.  

Headed up the Drayton Reserve valley (first since January - which coincidentally followed the same course).  It was steeper than I remembered. Lots of super extra chuff on the climb.  Onto the road, up around and up through the wee 'park' bit to Clearview, over the fence where the bath used to be and up thru Britten.  Cold easterly blasting across the heath, pushing us around a bit.  I was finally getting my breath back as we proceeded up the singletrack, not letting Nelson get away from me by this stage.  At the top headed around the front, tail wind pushing, and around to the cutting.  Over the fence and climbing again, Nelson getting his speed on and me breathing hard again.  Usual excuses, hayfever, asthma and bad sleep night before.  Parked up on top of Pleasant for a bit, and I chucked my jacket on.  

Climbed to the trig and took in the view, then dropped in.  Down to the gate, down to the stile, down through the rocks then tussocks, all hussing.  Cold-ass easterly howling across, lower down the tussocks Nelson took the old jumpy line to the left, and we found it sheepshit-raddled and grassy - no one seems to know it's there anymore.  Jumped down into the start of Greenwood proper, blasting across the ruins and into the rocks.  Around, and through the first rocky-af section, I focused on riding with right-foot-back after noticing my left leg getting sorer.  So hard to do, but I persevered 'til the corner, tight on Nelson's tail having to commit to the sketchy lines he was choosing.  Good blast, tail wind across the level bit before Gloomy, then Nelson got all snarled up (too tall a gear) through this and the rocks after the boardwalk stalled us both.  We had a rest here.

Then dropped into the next traverse and drop down, great blast the rest of the way.    and all the way down from there.  Audience in the carpark below for the final switchbacks.  Climbed up to Captain entrance and paused, seeing some riders below navigating the gate and the next section and through.  "Wanna lead?"  "Yeah, why not!? Let's see if we can catch them" so off I went first.  Good stretch across the start.  Good blast through all of it, tho that rock I nearly crashed on a while back, I clipped a pedal juust as I was about to go over the drop, which could have ended badly but I held it together.  As we rounded a lower corner I could see one of the other riders carrying down the rocky drops, so got pushing and dropped through them and caught them, the last one just navigating the drop into the wee climb.  Both of us sketched this, and then we were chasing them down the traversy bit around to the old skook section, meeting them at the gate (which has had a massive slip right under it).  They thought we were the ebikers of their group.  We weren't.  Apparently they set off 15 minutes ahead of them and they still hadn't caught up (Scarborough, Taylors, Boulder Bay, Godley, Captain...).  They let us go ahead and we fanged off dropping them instantly.  I was in the lead again, good fun times.  Lots of little surprise slips and dodgy narrows, quite overgrown lower down.  I ducked the branch that wrecked my last helmet, and Nelson clipped his foot on the same rock that threw him another time.  Final stretch down was sketchy narrow overgrown.  Nice tho, and then the winter's erosion has laid a nice smooth solid mud surface behind the gabions (which will be hell in the wet).

Final legs, blasting around the road back to the cars.  Some lovely tail wind around the narrow corner at Shag pile, and then a pretty good blast along through Redcliffs...

A splendid 17.21 kms with (apparently) 672 m climbed.

Wednesday Accoustic Commutes, tick! Post 1300

Felt like a change, lack of riding (field work last week, lots of bush walking), and needed some extra exercise so I rode the Troll to work this morning, thinking I'd get some extra work climbing home.  

But then, sitting at my desk looking at the hills, and Rapaki in particular I thought, why not?  So, for the journey home I mixed it up a bit and headed over Waltham Bridge and eventually Wilson's Rd and around Centaurus into cRapaki (over 2 and a half years since I last went up there).  Clamber clamber clamber.  The low gear is just low enough to clean it all sitting down, and with the street tires, standing up in taller gears requires rearward weighting to keep from spinning out.  Mixture of sitting mostly and standing sometimes got me up pretty good.  I was even "neearly" as fast as a couple of ebikers that crawled past me (but not the guy on the final straight who bombed past on I-dont-know-what-kind of plus-tyred bike).  Over took a fellow accoustic rider (mtb).  Onto the Summit Road for the up and around Vernon, then at Huntsbury, I hit the Traverse.  A little sketchy for the first stretch, so at top of Lavaflow I 'adjusted my suspension' (ie, let air out of tyres).  A guy rolled up, "need any help?" "nah, i'm good, just adjusting my "suspension"" "hey, you look familiar..." and a chat ensued where we worked out how we might have known each other.  (turned out he knows Derek well (plus a whole bunch of others I know)).  

Onwards, around Traverse, Trolie performing exceedingly well, and me having a jolly time.  Under Sugarloaf up rolls Ranger Nick Singletrack, so we stopped and chatted (especially about my suggested options of climbing track out of Bowenvale).  Finished with him, I rolled on and across top of Vic, down Rabbit, into Rocks and down my favourite Gummies, clearing yet more sticks off track.  Out to Skidder and bommmmb down road to home.

Grand total of 15 kms with 485 climbed.

Tuesday Fatso up to Lumberjackery

Bad weather coming over next few days, with potential for snow, and I felt the need for a quick fatty up the hill to sort out that log blocking my favourite route through the gums.  

Chuffed up the track from our driveway, onto the road, and around up into 19th, bumped into Doug, over to Skidder then up the grunter.  Grabbed some water from the fountain, adjusted my 'suspension,' and rode down into the rocks, across, around, and down to the log.  (see my hatchet sitting on the log in the top picture...) Chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop.  

Took it's toll on my arms - must have taken 15 or so minutes hard yakka (cos total ride time was 28 minutes, but total time elapsed was 47 - you can see the location by the squiggly bit on the MMR track) Got through it in the end and moved the lower half well off the track, and tidied up the other sticks and stuff around. Pics or it didn't happen:

Pushed the bike backwards up the trail a bit ready to ride down and down comes a dude who obviously didn't even know there'd been a log there.  After he'd passed I jumped on and chased, not seeing him for quite a ways, him taking my exact usual route all the way down.  At the 19th, I was gasping for water, total cotton mouth, so I zigged and zagged up the grass to the fountain up there behind the olive tree.  Had to lay on the ground gasping for a bit before having a good guzzle.  From here, around through the trees and then buzzing down the road, off into 235, nicely nicely through the muckery, jumps, oaks, right, up, up road, through carpark, and bombing down the back.  Home. 

Short and fat, 4.8 kms, with 152 m climbed. 

Sunday Grease Skool

Greasy spin out with Nelson today.  Up the usual from mine, road, grass, over19th trail to Skidder and up the gutser, what a grind.  Up Worm and onto the Traverse.  Not many around as we'd left mine just after 8, so the usual 9am Rapaki crowd hadn't arrived out this far yet.  Good going around this, a few puddles around after the smattering of rain we'd got overnight.  All the way to the end of Traverse, then decided further east would be skittery, so we headed back to the HuntsburyDH, with trepidation.

Skittery AF down this.  Rocks with minimal grip, we skittered and pinged our way down, skipping one or two of the jumps each.  Over the final gap and then into the continuation, grabbing the old left and sketching around this trail, then across the landing strip and into the climb over the techy wee Rock Up.  Both bailed on the final descent as grip just wasn't happening.  Decided to climb back over and drop into AliExpress and Old Skool.  A bit sketch down the first drop to cattlestop, then into the 'new' detour section, which was one big greasy sheepshit.  One dab, but trickeriness was in action.  Further down, and more sketch on slick rocks, on and on.  Somewhere we stopped and Nelson put a bit more air in his tire.

Into Old Skool, and mostly good but the odd ping from rear wheels and keeping to the lowest line possible.  Lots of fun, and a bit of adrenalin to boot.  Straight into the climb, and the grinding grunt began.  Ugh, I've GOT to get in and build a climbing trail, it's just a bit ridiculous how horrible the climb is.  Grind grind grind noticing Nelson's rear tire was a bit low under the pylons, pumped it up.  Kept grinding and over the 19th.  He wasn't behind me, but then I saw him on the road below, nursing the low tire.  He continued down the road, while I peeled off at the lower dogpark carpark do run the fun down behind the houses, to home. 

Just shy of 13kms with a commensurate 542m clambered

Queenie's Memorial Grey Monday

One-off public holiday, a foul gale easterly day at home, so I took myself out of town North, (briefly stopping in Woodend to check the DOC site on whether the track was open or not) peeling off SH1 at Broad Rd and up through Balcairn to Douglas and Crampton's Bush Rd, ending up following a couple of cautious Colins up the usually fast gravel straights and then up to Janet. Almost three years since I'd last mounted Grey...  SO many cars in the carpark so I stuck to the road for the climb, rather than the zig zag.  Met a couple walking their way down the road then, at the lookout, a couple more plus a dog, and a solo woman.  Sat here and lubed my chain, which had been a bit noisy on the climb and I should have taken care of it earlier. 

Up the short steep then continued left onto the road again (figuring, again, to leave the singletrack to the walkers today). Passed the couple with the dog and found my way to the top; one xc-style young cyclist passing on his way down.  Sheltered just over the eastern side of the top and ate a little breakfast. Another couple (who I'd seen earlier from the road below them) and the solo woman passing by here heading for the trig, where there were multiple groups and couples visible. 

I launched off down the techy goodness, getting down onto the traversing singletrack for the trip down. Moar tech, ruts, rocks, tussocks, carefully careflly.  I carried over a couple of mucky wetspots, passing one family group in the process, then another a bit lower down ("you're keen"). Good flow but never too quick, taking it safely. Hairpins, all the way down, I was out of practice. Into the forest and a few corners down was a young family.  Beautiful flow of trail between clusterfucks of hairpins. Not too many trees down and nothing blocking terribly. Lifted over a couple. The mucky bit was not too far off the worst I've seen it, tho had solid(ish) enough edges to get down ok, walking a little, balance-biking the rest. Root-tech followed, with mucky rutty holes in that lower run. Moved a couple logs out of the way.  Another family turned up who told me about the big treefall. Then I met it. Bit of work carrying/pushing/lifting/balancing/threading the bike thru ahead of or beside me.  Nice bomb from here, pretty only a few corners down to the bridge, nice through to boardwalk, one log, and then done. 

To finish, nail in the coffin style, the slog up the road and over to the car. 

Grey(t) ride, 13.35 kms with 705 m climbed.

Sunday Castle Bridle Return

Good spin across the top this morning with a bit of rain.  

Headed up the usual, 19th, Skidder, Grunter, up the Worm and then across the Traverse, into the wind.  

Dropped down (nee)FourPause Huntsbury DH jumpy, making a couple of old lady walkers step aside (I'd watched from above as another biker had had to stop because of their ignorance), just before the final gap.  

Back up the gravel clamber and onto Vernon for a smooth bomb down, dropping the mother and child who were on my tail at the start.  Good bomb down here, only having to deviate once for some climbers.  

Straight across Rapaki Saddle and straight into the Witch, with an excellent climb here, one hand-dab.  Spitty rain started here, which was un-forecasted, and proceeded to be steady from here onwards on my way out.  Up the road and into a slightly slickly greasy Castle, pinging all over the place, but kept a good pace.  Bike handing well.  Rain stopped and I headed back up the road and climbed up onto Tors.  

This was a bit scary, with the exposure lower down and the rocks all slick; I was careful.  Down onto the road and onto the wee single track above it for a techy honky (brakes) cruise around.  Back over Witch and then, for some obscure reason, up Vernon, climbing climbing and sloooowwwlly winding in a dude ahead of me.  

Into the Traverse and it wasnt until the Sugarloaf saddle that I caught him and he let me by.  By here we'd ridden into rain again too, slightly wetter than the previous shower.  He was pretty much on my tail from there.  

Into Vic, and out of the rain, I pulled up to adjust bike and he bombed off ahead, me chasing over the jumps (he bailed on second one), then holding back for the See Saw to settle, over this, first couple of brakefrees then across the rabbit paddock and into the rocks, around through gums, usual route, lifting over the log, and all the way down, bombing.  Into 235 and it's not as greasy, but still a bit mucky, as last time.  Last climb, and descent behind houses - home.

Minty slog, 20.6 kms with 790 m climbed.

Sunday Local Return (+ a short Saturday Trollclimb)

Saturday, we were going to dinner and decided to walk down, so I took the car down the hill with the Troll on the rack and parked on the 'Lombo.  Took a route of much interest, up some steps and steeps...climbed just over 200 m...

Sunday: Up and down a couple of times from home. We'd moved back home on Friday so it was time to hit the Vic Park up for a spin. 

Up the usuals, Vic Park Rd giving me a good huff, around 19th over to Skidder where I bumped into Andy and Jenna running/walking a nice doggy. Good long chat with them, then a fresh start up the grunter thru Brakefrees and up to Worm. From top of here, across for a bomb of the yumpies, over the see-saw and a righthander up the fenceline and over the next to dive straight into the top of Pedal fine.  Nicely nicely down the first bit then carefully off to the left and drippy droppy dropsville down to the sidle.  Across this, nice and cruisily to the pop down thru Razza's, which was very nice indeed. 

Another cruisy meander across past the 40footer and over into Sneaky Ridgeline for a swoopy droppy rockily  nice techfest before bombadoodling down thru the oaks and popping out into the Bridges zone.  Weird front wheel pingslap (rock? tire peel??) after the bridge somehow, which slightly put the shits up me.  Into the trees, and swooping again, never really sure which way I was intending to go, but then taking nuBridges all the way down. Short glide down the valleybottom and a rolling hop up straight into the Hospital Corner climb.  Stopped at the crest before Ugh ugh ughing up to the singletrack, cleaning the roots in here nicely, up past the 27footer and then grunting my way up across and on up through bits of what I'd come down under the bottom of Razza's, through the RadSick Zone climbing around gasping, finally getting my breath as I got to the Skidder.  

For the extra punishment I continued up the grunter to Brakefree and cruiesed across the Rabbitpaddock for the gummies descent, pinging nicely down through the rocks, around and about.  Ooop, tree across my favourite line, just before the steep corner (note to self... must wander up with dog and axe). Finished off through here and all the way down to road, then buzzing down the seal and peeled into 235 finding a mucky messy mucky mess in there. Climbed back out to the road and up to DogPark for the rush down home behind houses.

A surprisingly low 7.8 km with a moderately steep 374 m climbed

Wednesday Night Loner

Good hoon out tonight.  Headed up around Belleview and up Major Hornbrook to the end, through the park to the bottom of Britten.  Rode up under the pylons, steep getting the better of me walking a couple of the worst tech or steep.  Riding up across the reserve finding a sheeptrack on a better angle, to the mtb track then climbing up around the front and along to the Cutting exit.  Over the fence and back and forth and up and round up to the aerials at top of Pleasant.  All before needing any lights on.  6.30 or so at the top.

Into the descent, light on - just the headlamp tonight.  Good blitz down the rocky bits then weaving down through the tussocks, not quite as fast as usual, lambs scattering out of the way.  Spotted a horse rider over in the gloom near the gun emplacements, and as I rode down the 4wd bit passed a farmer looking bloke with a couple of dogs.  Around and down to the main drag, bomb bomb bomb.  Pretty good, not as fast as daytime, but still some good paces.  A little bit of slop across the flatter face towards Gloomy, but then all dry in there.  A big slip had crossed just after here, but the track had been repaired, then it was into the droppy rocky pop and weave down over the drop and around into Dave's zigs big corners.  Around into the gully, and the slip that's always been there has expanded, and been repaired.  Dry now.  Fast blast down the last and then a slow back and forth to the road.

Up the road, long drag, but kept a good pace, and peeled into the Sheepshit Alley, climbing, back on road, up to Britten and in.  Fast, around then off the corner across the hill following, just, the line all the way down then onto the main and under the pylon, much faster than on the Troll the other day, suspension doing what it's meant to.  Over the stile and down Kenton track, new, tech, rocky, and nicely edged, with massive exposure off the left, lights picking up rock then black black void.  Definitely want to explore this further as I peeled right and found myself just at top of Major Hornbrook.  So bombed down here, two stretches then into Belleview and round to home base. 

Supreme 15.43 km and 635 m escalated.

Sunday Morning Troll Rolling

Out and up on the Troll again. Up past Longridge and then up the wee zig zag (pushing) to Ridgeview, over where the bathtub used to be and rode up thru Britten from here.  Trail officially open again, apparently since last Sunday (so Karen last week was only one day out).  Hit the Summit and boffed off down and into OG Greenwood entrance, hanging a quick left into Knapsack aka Sheepshit Alley.  Nice roll down this, steel frame softening the rough and lack of tire grip entertaining.  Couple of mtbguys hanging chatting here, said my gudday and straight over the stile by the pines and back up the road.  Bumped into the boys (Wazza, Andy and Wayno (on a new YT)) just above the Greenwood entrance and had a good chat with them on the roadside.   

Parted our ways and I stood and pumped up up and around, staying on the Summit, to the Cutting singletrack entrance to Britten.  Good blast around here, tech rocks ridden carefully, around the front then bombing down 'Vee Twin' down all the way, taking the lower trail across (not from the first hairpin), across over and down the techy rocks below the pylons.  Never notice how rough it is down there on the Pipeline...  certainly do on the Troll.  From here, I bombed down the walking track to Major Hornbrook, all the way down and into the park, taking the fun techy line I took the other week, out the bottom onto Canon Hill Crescent.  Fast as hell blast down this, really picking up speed below Gum Tree Grove, rolling out onto Bridle Path Rd, and treadling up this to Greg's place, pushing up into the Heathcote Quarry Reserve steps.  

Pushed up the steps, had a wee look down towards the Quarry, but continued back up the main track, taking turns wheelying on back wheel or pushing it by my side.  Picked it up and carried one section then pushed a bit more.  Had another look up another trail, being built recently, but back to bike and on up the main trail, climbing, big time, carrying the last few hundred metres, then up the stairs, and exiting at Rockview Place.  Onto Major Hornbrook, Belleview and down to 'home'.

An enjoyable, but tough, 12.8 kms, with 540 m climbed.

Saturday Pleasantly Trolling the Gods

Glourious day, for a good jaunt over the knolls and tumps.  

Up the main road on the Troll to the summit, then around to the cutting and over the fence for the singleteck trach to the aerials.  

As I got to the gate, a Karen said to me , "you know the mountainbike track's closed?"  

I wish I'd said, "thanks, Karen, I did know that." And also wish I'd pointed out how inappropriate the bike and tires were for that track.  

But alas I wasn't fast enough, and just replied, "uhhh, yep, I just wanted to get to the top and back."  

Which I did, fuck her very much.  Nice rest and snack overlooking Lyttelton.  

Onto the gravel for the skittery hoon back down to Broadleaf.  Passing Karen on the way (proving my point) but also nearly losing my front end before the cattlestop...  slightly overcooked.  Down Broadleaf and right turn onto the Summit for a cruisy blast all the way down to Evans Pass.  Seeing Harry from work on the way down ("Gudday Richard!" Me turning back to see..."oh, it's you, hi!").  

Staying on the road, out Godley, nice cruise, to Breeze Col, where I hit the OG trail below road, having a very nice cruise around here, reminiscing back to when it was first made, 25 years ago! and keeping a good pace going.  At a point a couple of walking guys said "stop and enjoy the view!" so I did, and we had a friendly if slightly awkward conversation about poisoning ants, of all things.  Enough of that, I got back on the bike and hooned off down the singletrack from here, nearly losing it in a rut, but not, oops.  Out to the end and off up the 4wdy track above the road, staying on it and riding the 'bike track' rather than the usual narrow overgrown sheeptrack (or indeed Breeze Bay).  Back down to Breeze Col and back on the road for the clamber (then descent) back to Evans.

For the hell of it, from Evans I went over the stile into the old Greenwood exit and started the push up the ridge.  Long push.  Pushing til it levelled off, then riding for a bit, then back to the pushing, little bit more riding, them more pushing up to the stile where the trail up from Urumau (and Chalmers) comes to.  Chatted to an old walker here then rode across the saddle and over the next stile, from whence I carried the bike, head through frame on shoulders, up the steep rocks.  As I crested through the rock formations there were 3 women (30s/early40s maybe), one of whom said, "we were just saying what a bad ass you are." 

To which I replied, "well, the bike gets me from a to b quickly and occasionally I just have to lug it."  

And another one said, "we're pretty impressed, mate." 

Nicely flattering, ego stoked, I got back on and continued riding for a bit, cleaning some good tech within view too.  hehe.  Across gun emplacements and down the 4wd to the OG Greenwood entrance trail, across this, managing some pretty good tech, to the entrance and then fast blast back down via Upper Major, the Ridge- and Clear-views down Longridge and main road to the house.

Was an awesome ride, 26 kms with an over the tonne 1050 m climbed.

Wednesday Night Off the Beaten

Bit of a hoon about the tops tonight.  Nelson came over to 'mine' and we headed up around Belleview, Major Horny through the Ridge/Views to Upper and into Britten.  Trail pretty dry for the climb, so we stayed on it around the front and through to the cutting.  Over the fence and clambered up where I clambered the other week, this time turning right and bombing down to the stile where we stopped for a short break while he scoffed a bit of kai.  From here, down to the Saddle and up the back onto the 360/Crater rim behind the Gondola.  Amazingly, Nelson cleaned all of the climbing and all of the steep bits we'd never cleaned before.  I didn't.  A little greasy on the shady side of the hill, but not too bad.  

Down the steppy bits into the rocky zones, picking our way with usual aplomb across the top to the Bridle top.  Up the road from here towards Castle, peeling up onto the Crater Rim again at the next saddle, turning back down across and then climbing towards Lyttelton around the top.  Nice view down into the harbour.  A fun descent down the singletrack, narrow, flax and broom and cleaning all the techy rocky bits several of which used to be too steep, but somehow no longer are.  

Onto the road again and around under the Gondola, climbing back up to Britten to go around the front but dropping down the main front fast descent, eventually peeling left for the fun rocky bomb down under the pylons and out.  From here, fast sealed descent down Hornbrook to Belleview again.

Irrefutable 12 kms with 526 m upwardly.

Pirate Troll Scrambling

I've decided to officially designate the Troll now as a 'Scrambler'... reminiscing back to my childhood days of going out 'Scrambling' it is a brilliant bike and having done the ride I did today on it, it's more than capable of more.  Upgrades of bottom bracket (/cranks), brakes, eventually 2.5 inch Extra-terrestrials and it would be ready for anything I threw at it...

Up from 'home' around Belleview and dropped down Major Hornbrook, into the park finding a nice singletrack down through this.  Met some likeminded people pushing bikepacky-type rigs (with Moloko or Jones bars on them) up the most tech bit, which I ended up riding, then down onto Cannon Hill for a helluva blast down.  

Around into Ferrymead and past the Golf to the towpath cruise, under the motorway, staying on this (true right) side of the Heathcote River proper all the way around on an off-road Cumnor Tce to Chapmans Rd.  At this point I wasn't fully decided where I was going, with a couple of possibilities in play.  Looking at the sunny hills I decided: Up, steeply. And so off I headed, up Chapmans Rd and crossed into Duncan Park where I proceeded to lose traction but somehow keep moving, mostly, riding and then walking when it was no longer feasible to spin, up to the forest.  The push began.  

Up through the forest past the newly sculpted jumpzones, out the top and through the gate, over the next gate an up under the pylons.  Steep. As. Fuck.  After the pylon, I put the bike on the shoulders and walked, slowly, until it was no longer as steep as it is.  Started pushing again, up through the steep techy rock zones, re-discovering the act of wheelying the bike along on the back wheel working well.  Then, onto the sidling part (that we tend to bypass in favour or the ridgeline), it flattened out enough to ride below the rocky knob, and then part way up the ridge from there, until it was too steep, whereupon I got to wheelying again.  

Onto the ridge and over the fence, riding and avoiding as much as possible disturbing sheep and lambs (and poo), eventually bombing and a restrained full-noise down to the Summit Rd and over the gate.  Left onto the Summit Rd and ended up behind a roadie couple, possibly annoyingly for them, tailing them all the way up to Castle Rock.  Fast bomb, tucked, to Bridle Path saddle, and onwards around catching them up again under the gondola, then climbing up through to the cutting and cruising round to Mt Pleasant Rd for a sweeet tucked speed down to Upper Major, the Ridge/Clear/Long/view combo, onto the path to Hornbrook booking back down to Belleview and around 'home.'  A couple hours all told.

Carries well and wheelies up the hill wheelie wheelie well.  17 kms with 685 m climbed.

Troll from Bridge to Planting return

TFC planting at South Shore today, errands run prior, I parked on Bridge St and rode the estuary edge to the planting, planted lots of plants and rode back the same way afterwards.

A very flat 9.5 kms 

Tuesday night Boulder Gods, Breezily De-scaped

Met Nelson in Taylor's a bit after 6 pm.  We hit the gaspy climb of the Snake's tail, along which I remembered to start the MMR (at 6.30).  Trails were gonna be wet so we were poaching walking tracks, and found pretty much everything to be pretty firm.  

Boulder Bay track out to the end was fun.  I really like the exposure of the cliffs and sea surging and smashing on the rocks below.  Grunty wee climb up from the bay and we hung a left at the Asbestos signs, heading all the way to the gun emplacements, which are all barricaded off.  Snuck over the fence and over the Head onto the zig zag down the other side, a lot of water on the track in places, but nothing soggy.  Up the steps and the buildings are all fenced off (pretty half-arsedly I might add).  We navigated up around them then back on the main track back up to the Godley Head carpark.  

Up the ridge from here to the Breeze Bay track around the back.  Spectacular lights of Lyttelton shining in our eyes on this fun section around and back down to the col.  On the road from here, no cars met, all the way to Livingston Col and onto the Taylor's Escape.  This was in pretty good nick.  Most sections were sweet as, but some very soggy boggy bits wherever gully streams encountered it, and we walked all of these.  One at the top, then a couple of bits down in the bottom gulch.  Sweet sweet riding, tho under lights is not something we've been used to this winter at all...

A laudable 11.something kms with (I assume) just over 400 m climbed. (given I started MMR late).     

Sunday On a Roll on the Troll

And another good blast out on the Troll again, venturing a little further from 'home' this time.

Off up the hill again, up the main road to Summit, left down here for a nice blast to the Richmond Hill pines.  Over the fence and down the trail to the lone pine, over the stile and down to Frog Pond, around this, only a couple of soggy bits I walked over, then down the root infested fenceline to the first stile and onto Clifton Tce, left into Panorama, around this then back onto Clifton and ducking into The Zig Zag for the descent.  Hard on the brakes, few steps at the bottom.  Then on the Main Rd around to Augusta, up this, Taupata, Egnot Heights, fucking steep, then up Challenger Lane, also fucking steep, then up the zig zag walking, to Daring Lane.  Up Glenstrae from here and onto Moncks Spur Rd, taking a call from dad, chatting while riding slow, then blast down back to thee house.

Rather good 12.5 kms this time, with 570 m climbed.

Pleasant Saturday a.m. Troll Trawl

Temp housing at J,J&E's, headed on the Troll up the main Mt Pleasant Rd to the Summit, around here, enjoying the views around to the cattlestop and over the fence up some dirt, walking a bit to avoid the damaging of the trail where it was soggy (not too much), then hit the gravel blast down to Broadleaf, then speedsville down into Upper Major Horny, Ridgeview etc, down the footpath to top of the Major actual, to blast down this to the park and hung a right into Muritai to find the alleyway, steeeep down to Mt Pleasant.  Up this for a couple corners then just to add to the pain down Soleares to Santa Maria, up Selleck (explored to the end) then up Assisi and Drayton back to 'home'.

Enthralled 9.64 kms, with 367 m clambered

Sunday Troll Dog Spin

 Short'n sweet, but test riding the Troll after putting a smaller front ring on it (38? from 40), and having to shorten the chain.  Took Jet for a spin down the hill around up the school alleyway (which I managed to ride a most of) then back up the hill.  Was good to ride that nice light bike again, and I'll be riding it to work occasionally now cos it's low enough geared to not kill me riding home.

Only 2.44 kms, with a measly 80 m climbed.

Rode it to work on Wednesday.  Man it felt good.  So responsive and light in traffic, and really comfortable!  Slightly shorter stem needed (might poach off singlespeed), but otherwise good. 

On way up hill in the afternoon, it was long, hard and exhausting, but still good, and much betterer than previous gearing.  Need to adjust seat forward and tilted slightly for more climbing comfort, and to compensate for the longer stem it's running.

Sunday View Hill Rd Fatso

At the bay for a few days, and finally got out for a bit of a jaunt up the hill on the Fatty. Up the seal to Chorlton then up the gravel View Hill Rd, steep as always, to as high as I could be bothered - 597m a.s.l.  Then turned back down and flew at a rather rapid pace. Very splecky in the upper reaches.  

Fourteen and a a half kms phatted, with a total of 622m climbed. 

After this, Auckland with Otis for Tyler the Creator.  

Wettest July on record...

E-Planting Stix at Stycks

A few of weeks prior to this (15th May), I'd e-biked to the Charlesworth planting too... (didn't post it cos I didn't MMR it)

Took the E bike all the way across a chilly town, straight shot, Colombo, Trafalgar, Rutland through to Northlands, then Sawyers Arms to Railtrail, Tuckers and Cavendish out to the planting...  Planted lots of plants then headed home via Mitre 10, Pap Library, then straight shot down Railtrail, Kilmarnock, Harakeke, Mandeville to Torp7 (for some new brakepads for this bike), then into the park, Grove, Church, Collins to hit the usual Simeon, Cemetery, Studholm, Thorrington route home.

34 kms, and used 91% of my battery!  On 'auto' the whole way except fullbore up the hill.

Wednesday Morning Recovery (for Nelson) Blat

Good spin out with Nelson still recovering from the 'vid.  Pretty much the same as my last two rides...  Up through the usuals, wee pop round over the two jumps up top then tight right into Worm for to head across the Traverse.  A few stops for breathers across to top of Huntsbury DH Fourpause.  

Good blast down this, jumpity jumping then old route down the twisting and turning tussocks back onto the Landingstrip.  Through the cattle stop onto the singletrack, then finding the Rocky route in, and managing to follow it successfully for a change.  Zig and zag up the back then a break at the top, before hopping over and down, familiarity breeding more speed for me, and blopping down to the bottom of the rocks.  

Right hander here and back up under the cabbage tree on the singletrack towards the landing strip again for the grovel climb to the top of Hunts.  Onto the Traverse again and zippity zip around this all the way back to Vic, dropping down over the cattlegrate to the top of Pedalfine and a nice fang down this, peeling off left where the log got the better of my balance.  Back going again, steep, sketchy and loose down onto the traversing 4wd track; nice roll across to skidder.  

nto the lower gums trail out to 19th, down the road, into 235 and bombity bomb down here, jumps and speed through the oak litter then turning upwards again for the last one out to the tower for the fast bomb behind the houses.

Strangely, more kms than Saturday's - 12, but less climbed - 391 m, even tho we went lower than I had then. 

Saturday Morning Around About

Solo Saturday, early(ish), no breakfast, green tea in bottle - time for some fat burning...

Up the usual, huff chuff, ugh on the grunter, around and up to the very top.  Pop down for a jump or two, then straight round into Worm, climbing back up to the Traverse.  Took this across the top, not meeting many people, then stopped and breathed at top of FourpauseHuntsburyDH.  

Into the down, bombing, jumping, grooving.  After the bottom gap jump I peeled left(ish) onto the old route down through the tussocks, over the rocks for more interest than the straightline bombing that's been built.  At the landing strip I just turned up and hauled back to the top, kinda chasing, but mostly just keeping up with another dude.  He headed up onto the road to look at views, whereas I jumped straight onto the Traverse back towards Vic.  Good bomb around this, taking it relatively easy.  At the pond I stopped for what turned out to be a couple of fat Ebikers, then didnt stop for and 'accidentally' shoulder-barged one of the next two.  

At the rest spot the Huntsbury dude had caught me up and we chatted about how ebikers havent seemed to have gotten the memo regarding trail etiquette...  Onwards around the traps and into the trees, over the jumps, over the see-saw, first bit of brakefree then rabbit paddock, rockgarden, gums all the way down, then down the road into 235 and a nice bomb down this followed by the climb out to the microwave tower and bomb down the back of the houses, home.

Nice early 11.6 kms, with 407 m climbed.

Sunday, Sunny day around and back

Up from home the usual route - side track, road, 19th, skidder, evil grunter, up through Brakefree to the top of Vic.  

Quick paste around through the jumps then back up Worm and onto the Traverse.  Around here, stopping a couple times to let people through (mostly on E bikes, seemingly - lazy curs), then stopped for a rest at the top of Huntsbury DH.  

Into here, blasting down, good flow, popped first jump, somehow missed second, good over third, then excellent over last, into the new fast flow down beside the landing strip, a lot less convoluted than the older route.  Peeled right and had another rest in the landingstrip, then on up onto the ridge and into the Rocky route, cleaning the climb and the rocky over drop down to the main trail, down popped jump, pulled up on big one, rolled back up, in for a second go, and still peeled around it at last second.  Blip blop down and through, pulling out under the pylons and turning back up hill on the main drag, then up onto the grass and up onto the single track.  

Across the landing strip and down towards Old Skool, enjoying the hell out of the tech rocks, then climbing back up the 4wd, then up Huntsbury proper to the Summit.  Onto the Traverse again, nice flowy blast around this way and into Vic, jumps, seesaw, first few pumps and bumps of Brakefree then out and down rabbit into Rockgarden, Gums all the way.  Onto road, down to 235 and lovely weave down through here, hard right up to dog park microwave and blast down back-of-houses firebreak home.

A passable 13.2 kms with 458 m clambered

Captains Matariki; Thomas, Godley, Taylor

Nice big ride on the gloriously-weathered first ever Matariki holiday. Drove out to Slumner and parked where the buses park.  

Headed back down the road briefly then up the old skool Captain, which proved very greasy...  Very greasy.  Mucky mucky slippy greasy slicky slipsville.  Decided, as I squirrelled my way upwards, that I would not return this way.  Did pretty good and it's fun tech keeping the wheels in motion.  Took a long phone call with dad just after the gully crossing, then got going again nice and fresh.  On upwards, the rocks in the shade a tad greasy but mostly pretty good.  Huffing and chuffing up.  

Stopped at the top for a long consideration as to where I'd go.  Up the road to Greenwood??  Gloomy gulch would be nasty.  Out Godley?  Mostly should be good, so went that way.  Waited for a few descenders to get off it and headed on up, cleaning, bar one dab, the whole first section then a few dabs but mostly cleaning my way out.  Lots of puff.  Stopped in a location I've not stopped before for a breather and a rest, admiring the nice day, then got going again and had a great blast round and down to Livingston, only one short section of spleckiness in the usual spot.  Wicked blast down to the bottom, then climbing up around and over to Breeze, feeling good along the way.  Into the climb and onto the hard-to-find (and follow) narrow 'sheep' trail around to the lookout emplacement.  Watched, from on high, the Quake City Rumblers blasting on their 50s out to the 'head carpark, lots of noise and 2 stroke smoke.  Blasted down the fast to the road, across and onto the OG return to Breeze trail.  Nice flow around here then straight into Anaconda.  

Slow to start then into the rough and blasting down around, lots of flow and weave, pump and pop.  Into the 'tail and flow pop round this rolling straight into the Escape to escape.  Climb climb climb, and climb some more.  Steep grovelly in the valley, then easier going as you peaked.  Hit the road.  Quake City boys(and girl) bombed past as I watched from just before the Liftoff spot, then I rolled back up onto Godley for the fun blast back to Evans.  Excellent rock weave groove all the way.  

Finally, the Captain blast down.  Nearly messed up on the lowest of the gnarly rocks, taking a line (and having to pop it slightly) I've never even considered before, due to the greasiness on the rocks.  Rest of the way nice flow, turning hard right and down the 'newer' version into the valley bottom, cabbage tree section, blasting down and out back to car.

22 kms, 840 m. Not bad!

Sunday Blustery calm

And another one. Bloody blustery easterly(ish) wind still howling across our house.  This time, same as yesterday(ish) up the usual, Vic Park Drive, 19th, Skidder, Grunter, Brakefreedom, then this time around worm and across to top, diving into the Thompsons, both, and down through the Kiwi and up the Summit Road.  Worsley's to Nun, greasy as a greasy thing on the way up to where I stopped for a nice long rest at the top.  Surprisingly calm once on the leeward side of the hill.

Dropped into the Nun, finding a) the rocks a tad slippery in places, and b) that I'm not sure I like this trail anymore.  It's rough as hell, unpredictable and not as fun as it used to be.  There are several blown-out corners which are tantamount to off-camber, and a couple of the older lines have completely disappeared due to the muppetry of the lowest common denomination.  Also, on the corner towards the CAP some trees have gone and all character lost.  I peeled out at the halfway (road) point and headed across the road.  

Dropped into Governor's, nice and calm over here too, though being in the shade the trail was very greasy, so I picked my way down relatively carefully, and especially so on the bit I crashed on a while back (a year and a half ago!).  Across the level was all good then the climb was very clean and open but I didn't have the power or balance to clean much of it.  Onto the road and dropped into a drain (only metres from the 'proper' track) to access lower Nun.  CAP's closed so no groms hanging around, popped out at Kiwi and across the Pass and up the Summit Rd to top of Vic.

Down around, over the yumpies and see-saw, peeling right like yesterday climbing up to top of the steep tracks.  Over the fence and into Upper Fenceline, getting down this nicely, and as I rounded the far corner a young guy suddenly appeared behind me - musta been chasing for a bit I had no idea.  I let him by and followed him down.  He stopped before Cool Runnings but I continued around across and dropped over into Razza's for a last bit of fun.  Unctious climb out of here and across to lower gums and down, leaping chain again and down and up for cruise down road into 235, nice blaze down here, even better jumps and then up to dogparkcarpark and down the back of the houses home.

Not as steeply as yesterday, 12.4 kms with 481 m climbed

Saturday, finally!!

After so long, finally a proper ride! Fixed the flat on the front of the Rocky (tiny slow one) and headed out into a blustery howler.  Around the corner on Vic Park Drive was sheltered and mild, not at all like home.  Usual route up, 19th, skidder, gutser, brakefree, up to top of Vic.  

Around and down over the two yumpies and the see-saw, then across to Pedalfine for a fun drop down and peel off to the left, nice wee clean down this then along the traversing trail and dropped into Razza's for some sketchy goodness.  At the bottom of this, hung a right, up through the steep Rad section of 4wd then over into lower Pedalfine, nice blast down here picking and choosing my route out to the bottom.  Into Flow or Bridges or whatever it's called, all the way across then down Nu Bridges for a ziggy zag pumpy hoon to the bottom of the valley.  

Blazed round into Hidden climb and onto Old Skool for a good rolling flow blast. Nothing too sketchy though some of the rocks were slick.  Into the valley bottom and onto the excruciating climb, all the way, K2, grunt grovel grind.  At the Skidder decided I needed more punishment so headed on up the grunter and up into the Brakefreedumb area.  Cruised across here and then dropped down the Rabbit paddock, into the rocks, favourite route through the gums, all the way down, popped over the chain below 19th and down then up back on the road, cruise to 235, nice fang down here, popping the jumps nicely then up to carpark, and down the back behind the houses.

An impeccable 10.8 km with 504 m elevated.

Tuesday Quick Fat Up and Back

Short and fat.  Been a while since I got out on a bike to ride in anger/pleasure.  Had half'n hour or so to kill so jumped on the Commando and headed up, usual climb, 19th, skidder, grunster.  Popped over Thompsons number 1 and back up road then down through trees, rabbit paddock, rockgarden, gums all the way downthrough, below road, then onto grass past the toilet, rolling down, into dogcarpark, shot the gap, and twistied down and down all the way to the bottom.  Couply steps onto road, down, driveway, home. 

Short, 5 point something km, with a fat 196 m climbed

Knife and Steel Blistering

So, I did some walking... Tracking trip to Grant Burn, solo, walking a 13.5 km loop 3 days, and a couple of other days with 10.5 and 6.5 kms respectively.  Blistered heel got the better of me.

Sunday E-Sumner

Deathly hungover after Steve and me had a little too much fun Saturday night. Dave had hurt his back and was stuck at home, and as I'd said I would do I had to visit, so once I was upright, I managed to ebike out to his place in Sumner to visit.  A round trip of x kms and the usual hill climb altitude, but didnt MMR.  17.1 kms there, and 16.9 home (slightly altered route).  Used a good chunk of my battery arriving home and the red light appearing.  (it wasnt quite full to start with).

Wednesday Night Moonlit Fat Solo Up On The Top

Headed, for a change, down from mine, into the Longhurst Reserve aka the zig zag, down the dirt, then Derrynane out, and up to Scarff Pl.  Into the Latters Spur track up below the houses, then over the stile and up the fenceline, roots'n'all, but no more trees ☹️ - barren.  The odd bit of walking then through the gate into the dog park.  Couple more bits of walking up the rockiest bits, then up towards the info-centre, around the wheelchair track, over and through to climb around the 19th, usual skidder, grunty mcgruntface, brake free to Worm to head around the Traverse, all the way to Huntsbury/Vernon. 

Briefly onto the road on the saddle, taking in the moon reflecting gloriously on the harbour, and straight over the stile into Scott's knob track, climbing, descending, on both forested tops, some fun in these bits, then across the pond saddle onto the non-forested section to the sugarloaf carpark.  Over the chain and stile and back onto Traverse to follow another rider, slowly catching him around to Vic.  Bypassed the jumps and seesaw, down rabbit, into the rock garden, cruising round into the gums.  Fun usual way down through here, then out to skidder and back over 19th.  Rangerstation, dropped down to the walking track below the road, climbing out to Tawhairanui walk track to the dogparkcarpark.  Straight into the fun twisty singletrack here, not crashing, popping both jumps and through the oaks to the climb, up to the lower dogparkcarpark to finish with a blast down behind the houses, home. 

A valid 10.6 kms with not a bad wee 364 m ascended

Thursday Night Local Canonical Loop

One of my locals with Nelson tonight, from the Cashmere Canon. 

Up the usual 19th Skidder grunter combo, through the Brakefreedom, Worm and onto the Traverse.  Not bad around here, tho was struggling to start with on the first climby bits.  Around we went, and just after the pond Nelson's pedal hit a rock, it skipped his bike very slightly sideways and then the gear he was in started to 'tick' on each revolution.  It only did it in the one gear, so he wasn't too worried about it for the meantime.  At the Lavaflow-top we stopped and he got to seeking it out.  Took ages to find, but eventually found that somehow, one tooth had bent slightly outwards.  So, strategically applied rock, hit with a bigger rock, and all fixed.  

Into HuntsburyDH, both of us struggling with seeing what was coming and I felt like my bike was locked out.  It was so rough and the jumps have all got weird-arse tops now, making them unpredictable, not to mention the ruts on the landings...  Ugh.  Over the bottom gap and into the landingstripzone, weave weave, getting more flow here, then bony as down into AliExpress.  Dropping out into the newer section, sheepshit galore, then down down down, bony and rough.  The lower off-camber switchbacks are getting rutted as fuck.  Straight into the Old Skool, still feeling rough, and struggling with seeing - just not used to night riding yet.  A few shadier spots were looking greasy.  Across the back and forth pumpy section was starting to get pretty fatigued, and into the last shady rocky section towards the big hairpin closest to the houses care was taken in the greasy rocks.  We stopped for a hand-rest just round this corner.  Into the final, down, across, back and forth and out the bottom, into the climb back up the valley.  Grind grind grind.

Up K2 to the 23footer and I said, "lets go up this fenceline."  Push push push, ugh, steep as fuck.  Part way up I said, "you ever seen that rock wall feature?"  "Nope."  So, parked the bikes against trees and proceeded up and across to check out the steep feature I'd found another time.  It looked dodgy as hell, not as steep as I remembered, but damp red brick volcanic with moss and pineneedles.  Decided it would be possible on a DH bike for a start, but maybe rideable on a normal bike, in good conditions.  Wandered back to our bikes of which we could see Nelson's wee front light guiding us back.  Big push onward upward, up up up to the track and gate.  From here a steep(er than remembered) climb up eventually to the skidder site (ridden not that long ago by me).  From here took the singletrack down to the road, then below and sneakily through Tawhairanui Track to the dogparkcarpark and I let Nelson lead into 235 where I crashed last week.  Nice bomb through here, not crashing this time, and pop pop over the two jumps, then scuffing through the oaklands to the exit down the lower way.  Onto the dirt track down to home.

Some weird and not necessarily wonderful ways, 11.23 kms with 491 m clambered

Thursday Night Castling above the Fog

Good ride tonight. Nelson got to mine and we set off just before 5.30pm.  

Up the usual, over 19th, skidder, gruntfest, spectacular sunset as we crested through Brake Free.  Into Worm where it was pretty dark, then onto the Traverse and the light was spectacular basking the last glow on the hills ahead.  Uneventful cruise across the Traverse, getting darker but still not using lights (tho most riders coming towards us were) and around then onto Vernon, lights on for descent here, taking a bit to get the eyes in.  

Quite dark by the time we hit Witch, and this is where we noticed the fog growing in the valleys below, all underlit and groovy.  Along the road, a bit of a stretch at the top of Castle then off, me leading, full lights blazing my way ahead.  Tricky.  Around the switchbacks and dust from above coming down.  Good gap between us, which Nelson closed on the climb.  

Hit the road and the climb back up to Tors where we perched for a few minutes before heading down.  Lights made this tricky with big tussocks glaring the view of the trail beyond.  In the tough stuff lower down I baulked and then couldn't find my mojo again.  Ugh.  Onto the little singletrack above the road and techy tricksiness ensued.  A bit greasy along here too, some bits never seeing the sun, heavily dewed.  Across onto Witch and good blast in places.  Then back up Vernon on the singletrack.  Long slog.  

Traverse, pretty good blast, and the climby bit from the Sugarloaf saddle was shorter and easier than usual and the rest of the way felt really good.  Jumpy in the trees and see-saw then all of BrakeFree, start of Sesame with the peel off into the gums to extend it.  

Clambered out to the skidder and back up over 19th, where in the trees, I peeled right into what I thought might work, but didnt really, and then we found the trail dropping down to the Latters Spur track.  Took this, across into the trees, then the lower one we usually walk, and climbed out taking the cutting behind the slide, rocky track to dogpark and then into the 235 trail for a blaze.  I came unstuck in here.  Took a wide 'berm' line in the loose fir tree zone and front wheel washed, throwing my weight forward, unbalanced toppling, trying to save it, losing it, falling and then getting pinned.  A sandwich of handlebar and ground, leg, bike frame, leg weight holding it all down.  Then my pinned leg started cramping something fucking wicked in the calf.  "Get it off me, get it off me! Ow! Ow!"  Once I managed to stand and stretched it helped but it's been really sore ever since.  A few scuffs and blood too...  Classic.  Finished off with the jumps and cautious on the ball-bearing acorns then final exit down out low and final wee blast home.

Moderately consequential just sub-20 kms, with 732 m climbed

Saturday a m. El Kapitano Sheepshit Gods Snake Escape

Birthday treat ride I got to share with Nelson and Pete. 

Met Slumnervale and toodled up the Kapitano from the valley bottom (pony school).  Zig and Zag making for gasping, but once up on the level all was good.  Good rate of knots most of the way and then out the top and onto the Godley Road.  Cruised out the road to the entrance to grind up the sheepshitted paddock track climb to Godley track proper.  Turned left, and dived into this for an excellent blast across the wooden bits and down, with looseness in the weaving towards Livingston.  Through the col and onwards, upwards, enjoying the crap out of the techy rocks on the climb, along a bit, then jumped the fence and dropped down to the 'new' entrance to Anaconda.  I dont think Pete had ridden this way in before.  It's a little rough, but good weaving, with me leading the way, keeping a jolly good clip all the way down the snake, big front wheel carrying speed through all the rough.  Into the 'tail and Nelson was finally caught me a little.  

Straight into the Escape climb, taking a wee break just before the worst of the grind at the head of the valley.  Good timing as the guy who'd followed us from Evans to Livingston was coming down.  Above this, once up on the zigs and zags goings improved, resulting in a good climb all up.  Nelson gapped Pete and me as we struggled along.  From Livingston, it was up the road, lots of parasailers around, back to the shitty climb up to Godley proper again, this time the turning right.  Blazed along, humming the rock features for a fun and action packed blast to Evans.  

Across the Pass and into the Kapitano for a superlative blast down.  Met 3 running girls all spread out and then into the 'old' bit, fantastic blast through this.  In the lower sections I was momentarily distracted by some people with a dog, on their way up, peering past Nelson to see them when !WHACK! my vision went black for a split second and stars were seen, vision fading back in I realised I was heading off track - eeee! - reeled it in pretty quick, and was like "woooo, that hurt!"  Curse words were heard, tho I was aware of the young child with the people and dog.  Kept on riding, worrying a bit about concussion, not feeling quite right as we proceeded.  Made it down tho, and as we were cruising back towards the cars, crossing that 'creek' drainage ditch Nelson took it first and slashed his front tire.  I rode it, okay, then Pete came through it and slashed his rear tire.  Walk for them back to cars...  Tree 1, helmet (and my brain) 0.

Until the brain smack, a jolly 18.85 kms, with 90cm shy of 700 m climbed.

Thursday Nightlights Gits and Shiggles

Big gap due to trip to Nelson, Picton and Arapawa Island...  

Tonight, however, Nelson bailed with a crookguts so it was a solo up and back for me. Out the door 6ish, so sun well and truly set, lights mounted and on low for the climbing.  Up my usual Vic Park route, 19th, Skidder, Gruntster, Worm.  Into the Thompson's both, then through the Kiwi saddle and up the Slummit Rd.  At the first col, dropped over into the Governor's Bay trail, losing my handlebar light within the first 50 m and stopping to readjust.  Mounted better, got going again, down and around.  Fun techy rocks, and tricky riding under lights again - first time since September.  Around the back and into the climbing.  A couple of extra steep bits got the better of me (same as last time I think).  It was a little greasy from shade and dew.  Finally out the top and back onto the road for the trek up to Worsleys and the Flying Nun.  Stopped at top for a bit of a stretch before dropping in.

One little slickage on the first big rock corner made me wary, then a hare jumped in front of me and bolted along the track.  Couldn't seem to get out of my way and I even hit him at one point.  After about 30 m he finally bolted left off the track and I was on my own again.  Slightly sketchy ride down, not as fast as in the past cos it's been so long I wasn't remembering it right, and it's become quite a deep rut in places, and bits were slick, and long grass, and night lights, and bony rocks.  Handlebar light went out again, so stopped and re-mounted the battery- better again (but still not good enough!)....  Crossed the CAP exit and rolled on.  Immediately here they've built up a big berm and cut off an extra little bit (I wondered if that was being used elsewise - as an exit from another trail perhaps?).  Not a bad bomb down the rest of it.  It's certainly wider and more blown-out than ever before.  Bony as hell.  Pulled up to road at Kiwi and headed back up to the top of Vic.  

Dropped in, good blast down into the jumps, second one didn't quite have enough speed, but landed it okay.  Then bypassed the see-saw, dropping down the rabbit paddock and into the rockgarden around into gummies and blasting nicely down through very familiar turf.  Rail, slide, rail down down and out.  Below the road below 19th, rolling down then poaching the Tawhairanui walking track, which looks amazing under lights.  Across the dogparkcarpark and straight into 235 for a fast and fun blast down this, jump, jump, ballbearings!, then climb, climb to big tower and faaasstt down behind the houses, bloody battery mounted on frame having rattled loose again.  Home.

Good first night ride of the year: 11 and three-quarter kilometres, with 444 m of altitudes. 

Easter Sunday Fat Jet Up and Back Down

Quick dog run on the Fatty with Jetty-puss to exhaust his old bones.  Clamber clamber, hum humm.  Round back of 19th, up the bastard grunter from skidder, over to and down the gums, much funs, then below road briefly and across the grass down to dogparkcarpark, into the sweet singletrack, mildly greasy and tight down here, then back up to bottom of dogpark and down the back of houses trail.

A little up and back, under 5 kms, with 160 m climbed