Thursday Post-Flu Marley's Retune, with a Magpie Attack

Spin up on the Jeht tonight for a bit of a rehoning of the musculature, to the top of the Nun and back. Gaspy climbing after a couple of weeks of influenza A, walking a short section below the Sesame wall-ride, but cleaned out the rest.  A group of riders, talking, were catching me up towards Brakefree and eventually once I parked at the entrance to Thomson's #1.  They were all on e-bikes, explaining why they were all talking so relaxedly and still gaining on me the whole way up.  

Off down Thomson's both, flowing very nicely, then through the Pass and up the Summit Rd  Uneventful climb and grind to top of Nun.  Parked up for a rest and view right on the peak before diving in for some sweet sweet body-english flow-times down the Nun.  Haven't ridden it so smoothly for ages.  Everything felt en pointe, speed carried, rocks flowed.  Crossed the CAP exit and parked on a corner for a breather.  A guy rode through so I gave him until I heard him below (a good headstart) and then took off.  Railed the berms, flowed the rocks and was gaining on him on the lower reaches pretty well, finally catching him as I peeled right to clamber back up onto the road at the Kiwi.  

Back through the Pass and climbing.  Half way between lower Thomson's exit and the entry a bloody magpie swooped me.  Gave me a hell of a fright.  I told him off, said "I'm friendly!!"  Up around the corner and just about on the upper Thomson's exit he fucking did it again.  "Oi, you little shit, cut it out!"  Stopped and broke off a broom plant to hold above my head, then grabbed a flax flower stalk, but he'd pissed off back up the hill.  Tra'y had been attacked directly above here when walking earlier on Sugarloaf too...  -Bad bird!

Down through the rocks and gums, again, riding smoothly and really enjoying myself.  When I exited at the end a massive group of social runners was coming through, and heading below the road below the 19th, so I turned uphill towards the Skidder and peeled left up onto the way I'd come up, over 19th and dropping down to rangerbase, then around the road and lovely coast into dogpark carpark for a very weavy cruisy flow down this, finally drying out, jumpy jumpy through the oaks and then all the way down to H'Ell before the clamber home.

A testing 10.5 kms gaining 350 m (or 380 by my reckoning - adding up the ups).

Sunday Jeht-streaming Hayfever Cold Exhaustion

Shortish and reasonably local. Up on the Jeht, really struggling after gardening and choring all day and after yesterday's Stooge. My cold now has hayfever (from the gale norwesters) added to it, so my breathing sucked. Walked a bit of the grunter and topped out, then nice Thompson #1 and back up the road. Down around the jumps into Worm and onto the Traverse to the end and back. Then into Upper Fenceline across above Cool Runnings then hard left up zag and zig towards the top again, passing under the new jump on Pedalfine and across the fence below the see-saw. 

From here, down the usuals - rocks - gums and the rest, still greasy in the oaks, all the way down to H'Ell, clamber, home. 

Lovely jubbly.  11.5 kms with 381 m self administered.

Tested the 'cold' on Monday night and it turned out to be Influenza A...  probably shouldn't have been riding at all.

Saturday Afternoon Adventure Stooge Park

Tight little ride today. Up to Skidder on the Speedbomb, dropping down into CAP. Across Locomotion into Loess, newly refurbished. Fun times, caught up to a couple dudes, paused for a bit to let them get ahead, then reeled them back in and they stopped to let me by. 

Uplift, into have a look down Bako for my first time.  Bit rough and a bit too open until slightly more interesting stuff in a few young trees towards the bottom before linking onto Duncan's Donuts.  Acknowledged various bits of country and ghosts of trails past (Fight Club and Alice's Restaurant RIP), then across the junction spot, lots of riders about, into Loose Connections, some groms catching me at the end, I held back and tucked in behind them down the Active Rest section to the start of Omni.  In this for a wee bit then I took the left into Down Low.  This was much fun, weaving and diving picking nice lines, getting a little airtime with smooth landings, rigid bike no hindrance.. Remembered ghosts of DOHC in here too, especially the finish. 

Another uplift, into Summit Connector surprisingly quick, keeping up with some and not getting caught by others.  Down the 'exit' trail towards the road then into the lower Nun. Rough as guts but still funtimes. Then up the road and down all my local favs, jumpies, rabbit, rocks -

gums to 19th, below road, onto road for coast into Dog Park Carpark, no car in the trail entrance so hussing in and weaving around the grooves.  Mucky mucky lower down and I've gotta get in and do some sort of drainage through the oaks...  Walked up looking for source of water but must be underground, well under trees.  Back on the bike and through all the way out to H'Ell, clamber, home.

A bit over 16 kms and 990 m elevated, with of course the 2 lift rides accounting for around 800 of that.  

And, Third for the weekend, Harman's Track DH

The OG Canterbury DH circa 1986, Harman's Track, "4WDs only" at stupid speeds on the Stooge, trying to beat Tra'y to the bottom. Corrugations, speed, and gravel, then surprisingly early, seal. Then what seemed like ages down the valley, once on the (nearly) flat pedalling like crazy in top gear into a head wind. I could see the 'Give Way ahead' sign for the end, and then the Hyundai hove into view. Tra'y couldn't believe I was there already.  She thought she'd be waiting ages for me. Haha.

4.9 kms descending around 460 m, in 8 and a half minutes

Satoogerday Longish Way to Long Bay

Tra'y dropped me at the start of Cameron's Track about 10.20 am and continued on around the Summit and down Long Bay Rd to leave the car at the bottom of Hinewai, as she was to walk up through Hinewai. 

Just as I was about to head in, 3 hiluxes and a peoplemover (of all things) wide-birthed me and peeled in, obviously a crew.  They were slow on that first down, and dusty, so I let them get a good gap on me before heading off.  Quick down then a steady climb ensued.  Nice to peak and coast down again, steeper and faster as I rolled.  Turned into Lavericks Ridge Rd, down around and up to Panama Rock.  Stopped for a rest, snack and a phonecall here then headed off down Panama (fuck it's steep!).  Brake, pause, brake, pause, never getting too fast once down the first bit; concern for overheating brakes...  Nice rolling down the bottom half and then hung a hard right into LeBons Bay Rd, climbing, quite the grind.  Only a car and motorbike down, and maybe 4 cars up, otherwise road to myself, birdsong (brown creepers higher up).  Just past halfway up I explored into and checked out a good portion and back on Dawbers Rd.  Stopped when it was heading down too much.  Then back out to the main road and climbing again, grinding away, surprised how much climb it's actually got.  None of these other bays are like Little Ak with its 3 km solid steep, they all have brief respites in their steeps, or like Okains, only a very short section of real steep.  

Onto the Summit Rd finally and cruising, some level, some climbing, a pop and crackle of sport bikes, followed by a throb of a couple of Ducatis, and a couple of touring bikes, a couple cars.  Once at the first high point looking over Akaroa Harbour I messaged T to let her know where I was.  That was 12.30 and I thought I'd be a half hour to the car.  Onwards around the Summit and there were a couple more climbs, including the highest of the ride, around 670m, and then hail.  Squally hail, falling on me as descended to the Cabstand, then a bit more down through the top Hinewai carpark.  Bombed down the rest of the seal and onto the gravel for a short climb, then descending Long Bay Rd, glorious views everywhere, a couple cars, then down into the valley, quite steep, a little loose, and fun.  So much altitude relinquished.  Finally to the car, exactly 1pm, as I'd guessed.  Found the key where T had hidden it and loaded up.  Had to wait about a half hour for her once back up the hill.  Not bad timing, really. 

Hefty, 25 kms and 530 more descent than the 1074 m climbed

Measured Gale View from Friday's Stooge

Up to View Hill Rd on the Stooge not long after the southerly hit. She's a strong one; no rain, but. 

Clothing-wise, I was in stealth mode. Bike was the same shade of grey as the road and shirt the same green as the hills. Socks and shoes like dirt.  Unwisely, not enough layerings - even after donning the sky-blue vest.  Looking down at the bay:

Bombing back, tailwind pushing up a whipper-whorl of dust ahead that I coasted through at higher speed as it petered out.  Then a little lower down, still on the gravel the wind gusting from the side; hard work staying on, but the Speedbomb lived up to it's handle.  Then on the seal, nice and tucked and silly-fast to start with, but around the bend back into the teeth of it and even tucked it was slow going and gusty until the shelter of the bridge valley around with a tail wind again, lovely in the trees then smooth speed into Luke's Rd, up and over rolling fast, and back through Adrians.

Looking back up where I was from bach.

Twenty metres shy of 8 km and one metre shy of 300 climbed: measured

Sunday, Coupla Rides: E with T and a short Stooge

Nice hoon with my missus up across the tops and back on the ebikes today.  We rode up through Vic Park Rd together and I peeled off to the Skidder and rode up the gutser and out to the top, while she headed down to Dyers Pass Rd and up around Summit to meet me.  Together, glorious day, we rode out around, bitingly chilly wind in the exposed saddle places, while warm and basking and calm on the north east facing slopes.  Good bombs on the downs, and easy climbs on the ups, we headed to Cavendish Saddle, stopping for a nice view and then headed home again.  Me splitting off down through Vic the way I'd come up while she took the road and met me at 19th.

 E-xhilaratingly e-lectric 23 kms and 901 m e-scalated

Later, after vacuuming and hedging I took the Stooge for a go. Short and local, started by dropping down the 'zig zag' below us, out Derrynane Lane, up Longhurst into Harry Ell Drive, and up through to the bottom of Dog Park, out to Vic Park Rd, and from there the usual - up over 19th, skidder, gutser, Thompsons #1, back up road, "how are you so fast?" from a young'un struggling up the road as I passed - "lots of practice, I guess?" I replied.  

Down around the jumpies, down through rabbit into rocks, gums swoop swoop, all the way down to 19th, then below road, through, back on around coasting to dog park carpark and into the groove.  Still soaking wet but maybe slightly lessening? in the oaks, then lovely final hoon down to the bottom.  Clamber to road, and home. 

Stoogeliciously minimal 6 kms with 220 m scrambled.

Wednesday Night Local Short Stuff-about

Surprisingly short local with Nelson tonight, as in, it felt like a hell of a lot longer, because of all the steepness. 

From mine, we trundled up the road through 19th, Skidder, gutser and up to top of Vic.  Off down round the jumps and Worm, then headed down Pedalfine, with me, after some baulking, and then reattacking it, actually managing the steep rock section.  From the bottom of it, hung a left across and dropped in on the corner to check out a bit of the new bits of Rad.  Got to a trail-work closure and dropped out down onto the climbing trail, heading up to drop into Razza's.  Biff boff baff down this, veer left into a little bit of rad, then onto Brents, flowing back and forth in the macs (overtaking a slower rider in here).  Down out of forest, across to NuBridges, nice flow down here, me holding Nelson's tail, then down out rolling down the bottom of the valley, heading for Old Skool.  Oh... Track Closed sign on Hidden Valley bonus climb track to Old Skool, so we turned back up , heading up the nastiness of K2, climbing climbing.  When we got to Shazza's there was a few riders coming down.  First one went by on an ebike and Nelson yelled out, "Wazza!"  The followers were Andy and Wayno.  Good catch up here, then we went our separate ways, Nelson and me climbing up through the Rad Zone up to the Skidder.  Straight across into Latter's Spur Track, rolling across below the Rangerstation and some nice steppy bits in the bush, then out and over to Dog Park.  Into here, diagonalising across towards the eastern gate, dropping over some nice tech, then through the gate and down the fenceline, slick in a couple of spots and rather close to the barbed wire - roots still there but no more trees.  Over the stile, and below the H.Ell Drive houses, popping out at Scarff Place to climb back home.. 

Somewhat evanescent ride tonight, only 7.67 kms and 350 m climbed - as usual, it felt like more. 

Saturday Captain Godley into the Breeze and back again

Good wee ride on the Jeht today that was hard work. I'm so unfit! Climbing was tough, conditions good or sketchy. Lambs galore.

Parked on Wakefield and headed into the OG Captain T.  Muckiest I've ever seen it along behind the gabian wall, then up on the trail a lot of wetspots to negotiate.  Once out on the open section was a bit dryer, bar a few damp spots higher up.  I was muppetty, really struggling on the climbing, balance seemed all wonky, so dabbed way more than usual.  Out the top and onto the road, following a gravel couple, never quite catching them but slowly winding them in, until I peeled right up the ridge, lots of lambs and ewes.  Onto Godley and it was in pretty good nick.  Damp in shadier side, and very rutty, especially leading into the descent towards Livingston.  Good blast through this and then up the next over, dabbing once or twice, but making it through other tech.  Surprisingly good down to Breeze, only very slightly soggy on the last rutsville.  I've never seen so many people at Breeze Col.  It was insane the numbers walking up from Taylors.

Turning back up the road, cruised around to Livingston and had to don my vest as there was a nasty chill in the wind.  Para-sailers hovering smoothly at their launchsite, passed them and left up the ridge track again, passing a very sad looking ewe with a bunch of ropey stuff hanging out her rear end.  Needed some help but I didn't know what to do...  :(  Onto Godley heading for Evans, very wet in places, but once on the downward slope just the rock tech to deal with.  onto the road, and through the pass back onto the Captain, for a good cruise down.  Cleaned all the tech, but carefully.  Nice going once in the bushy section, navigating the wet sections carefully too.  Flow resulted and out to the car for a good finish.

Strugglesome 15.43 kms and 640 m climbed.

Thursday Night Solo Jeht-Setting

Out for a hoon last night on the Jeht.  Headed up the usual way over 19th and admit I had to walk a little in the gutser.  Really didn't know where to go, and paused at top of Vic for ages before heading off down the Thompsons #s 1 and 2, then through Dyers up Summit Rd to just past Worsley's.  Hit the Crater Rim/360 trail from here, climbing up to a stile.  Took a wee look up the Trig track but it proved too narrow and steep, so back to stile and onwards along the lower track.  Fun descent after the next stile.  Straight through this saddle and continued along the next rocky section of Crater Rim, over this to the big saddle (where Kennedy's used to come out).  

Turned around rode the same both through to Worsley's.  Climb was good, descent not so much.  Up Worsley's Rd next and into the climb to top of Nun.  Brief breather here then into it.  Tyres were too hard but I stuck with it and rolled and popped and jazzed my way down the Nun, riding pretty good at the mo.  Into the lower reaches and some mental speed, and not.  Popped out the road and then huffed up to the top of Vic.  Descent-mode activated and good flow down around over the first jump, second not so much.  Down the rabbit paddock (sogggggy in the middle) and into the rocks, ping ping ping, then gums, nice back and forth flow, down all the way out to 19th.  Rolled down the road, took in Tawhairanui and then into the Dogparkcarpark trail.  Soggier than Saturday, somehow.  and the Oaks were disgusting.  Appalling how much water is flowing down through here.  I'm sure that water tank must be leaking, cos this has gotta be more than just run-off from the road, or general hill leakage.  All the way down through to the bottom, some newly tilted dead standing trees lowering the headroom in a couple of places.  Clamber to road, and home.

Withstandable, 13.1 kms and 472 m escalated.

Saturday Morning Tops-Tooge

After 2 weeks of actual influenza, my lungs were cooked. 

Headed up on the Stooge and was pleasantly surprised how capable of climbing I still was. Breathing wasn't nearly as difficult as I'd expected, and my strength seemed pretty good.  Up the usual, road, over 19th, grunt up from Skidder (cleaned with no stop!), some water at BrakeFree, up to Thompson's #1 and nice we hit down here.  Back up the road, still not really sure where to go, decided on heading out the Traverse.  Nice cruise around here, keeping good pace.  Up onto and rolling down Vernon, straight into the Witch with a nice lot of tech (one dab).  Across the road from here and over the gate, headed up towards the top of the Pirate track, just to get some extra.  Linda Woods Reserve, I believe.

Then, turned back, taking it all in again, including climbing Vernon (instead of the road). Bloody good!  After Lavaflow at the saddle I left the bike for a sec and had a wee look across the road.  There's an out and back trail here I think we'll poach some time.  Back onto the Traverse for the finishing touches back to Vic, blip blop down over the first jump (not quite enough speed) and then down Rabbit, into rocks and gums for a lovely flow down around, Skidder, CAP track entrance onto OG back to 19th road, and then coasting to the dogparkcarpark, sneak between the cars and oooooohhh, noooo...  this isnt good...  mucky mucky. and then the Oaks at the end were an absolute morass.  Didn't continue and headed up the (also very wet) climb cutting to road, up to the dogparklower and headed down, super low slow and twisty Charles's Track then out behind the houses for the final blast. 

Slow and steady on the tech, big wheels rolling, torque control and a good strengthening workout- just under17 km with a not-at-all-bad 609 m climbed. Tschuite!

Thursday Night Jehtstahr Along the Top

Brief out and back tonight with a flat.

Uphill on the Jeht, clambering over 19th and through skidder past a bunch of riders into the grunty climb.  I could see the pollen under the lights up here, and worse still up top.  

Down Thompson's #1 and back up the road, then dropped down around the jumpies and up the Worm to hit the Traverse.  Saw a light coming my way further round so I stopped and waited at the start for him to roll through, then got going.  Quite windy, blustery.  Met a couple of lights at the Sugarloaf saddle then no one else for ages.  Got to top of Huntsbury DH and turned and dived in.  One harsh smack on the rear wheel in the top rocks making me think, "ouch, that'll be a flat" but then didn't seem to be until I landed the first jump and realised.  Stopped on the side and got to work, inserting my spare tube.  Down the rest, baulking the jump at the bottom, then back up the gravelly road to the top.  Met a dh-graveller on his way down.  

Contemplation of routes from here, decided over the top of Scott's.  Nice climb in the trees then a fun baff down to the col, then into the next where I met a runner on my climb.  Walked the couple of steps bits and then nice rolling the rest, lovely section of semi-tech singletrack in here.  Boffed off down to the next saddle and crossed over the fence back onto the Traverse.  Nice roll around here back into Vic, over the jumpies, the first section of Brakefree then out to the rocks and gums, all the way down, forgetting about the tree across the lower bit before skidder.  Then down, into the To CAP (shortcut entrance) and across the old to 19th, below road from here, into Tawhairanui across to DogparkCarpArk then greasey drop down through here, all the way to H'Ell and clamber clamber back up to road to home.  Nice. 

A pollen-moted 11.3 kms and 400 m climbed

Sunday, Mount Grey Stooglist

Excellent loner ride today. Did the Stupidmarket shopping, dropped it home then hit the road for "Lake" Janet, making good time up there and finding a pretty full carpark. Given all the cars parked, I saw surprisingly few people.  There was one guy here either getting ready to walk or having just finished. Up the road (rather than the zigs), meeting no one. Climb climb, a slowly-becoming-annoying clunk or clack on each pedal revolution, just past TDC on the right crank. Stopped and tightened possible culprits to no avail. 

Detoured to the Lookout then rode and pushed up to the road and hit the singletrack climb. Techknuckle af.

Walked a bit, rode a bit more. Met 4 ladies, who were duly impressed. Walked a bit more, rode some more around the top corner to meet a couple. "You've done well to get up here."

Hit the technical drop-over to the wee saddle, across down to the trail where I hung a right, to climb up to the trig peak, 933m.

360 degree view. Headed off down the ridge back towards the saddle then down to the trail again for the left turn, into the groove... Mucky, rutty, and do much fun. Pigs have really fucked up the track in places, including just before the rock roll. Into the bush for Switchback City - usual foot plant pivot method, jumping off for a few tighter ones. Exquisite riding.

Stooge SO good.  As usual, the longer uninterrupted sections were flow-stage vibe enjoyment.  It's just so beautiful in there.

Into the pines, and then the muckfest section, definitely some of the worst I've ever seen it.  And it continued into the forest below, with big wallows and dirty dirty times.  Back out into the dry sunny beech face then into the bottomlands for lovely lovely flow and groove, ending, finally out at the road.  Next 2 people, a mum and kid on the other side of the river here, 

 

Now for the grind up the road.  I was half expecting to meet at least the woman in her car coming up behind or some other random heading down, but nope, had the whole road to myself all the way back to Janet.  Took a brief detour up a side track just for a look.  Found well rotted carcasses of a possum and a pig or deer at a turnaround caused by fallen trees. (ie, the track continued, but you couldn't pass).  Off back to the car and done.

The usual 13.5 kms and 720 odd m climbed.  Nicely nicely.

Tuesday Night Nun Vic Skooled, More Down than Up

Nice mild night out tonight.  I took the car down to Bowenvale this morning, riding to work from there then home afterwards.  This way, Nelson could come straight to mine and we'd get more down than up.  

We headed up the usual byways through Vic, over 19th , Skidder, the gutser, and hit both Thompsons down to the Kiwi.  Up the Summit from here, Worlsey's Rd onto Nun, steadily climbed.  

Dropped in and I was coping with less than ideal lighting - not sure how much life this thing has so I'm wary of using much fullbeam.  We biffed and baffed all the way down, me taking it pretty easy but jumping a couple of lines I haven't ridden in a while.  Down near the end, from just before Capt Torpedo and Drainpipe there were some trail fairies (who we'd spotted below on our way up - Richie Goldworthy, apparently).  

Out through Kiwi and back up the road, dropped into Vic-top down around the jumpies and back up Worm, parking at the top as a few riders got going, including one grom down off over the big jump up here.  We followed him after a time, off down Upper Fenceline, exploring the zigs and zags (a couple of which I'd missed on Saturday).  When we got out to the access track, we pushed back up through where I'd gone up Saturday to just before Cool Runnings crossing, and dropped off to the right, down what must be the bottom of Tilted Sally / Flow Rider (according to Trailforks).  Nice flow through this taking us all the way to the fence-crossing and down into the open.  From here it was a blast around whatever that bit is called (Eastside?) before heading into the trees for the Bridges/NuBridges.  Down here, nice blast and then down valley and into the Hidden Valley climb up to Old Skool.  Chuff chuff chuff.  I cleaned all the hairpins - i think Nelson is still getting used to the long wheelbase of the Rocky cos he missed the very first one and tweaked on a root on the 3rd one.  So, so mild up here in the valley, and no wind (after a very windy day and night prior).  

Into the Old Skool and it was a ripsnorting blast.  This is where Nelson was choosing some crazy lines.  I was right on his tail and following and it was rough.  A little bit of grease around in the rutty straight sections, which led to some interesting handling, but made it out alive and we blitzed down the gravel and out down the road to the car. 

Choice ride for a Chooseday - 13.3 kms, 389 m climbed, ~600 m descended

Saturday's Stooge, Sunday's Troll

Couple of wee rides this weekend, one more than the other - interspersed by O's 21st...

Saturday, T left early for a walk, and I lay about for a bit longer, getting out the door finally at 8.30.  Toodled up through Vic, usual byways all the way to the top.  Txted T here to see where she was.  Into Thompson, nice flow then back up the road, getting the message she was on her way around the front of Sugarloaf, so I headed around the Summit and headed up into the Carpark.  Wasn't long and she turned up so I toodled down the front to top of Vic with her, boffed off around the jumps and up Worm, seeing her go past then headed off on my own journey down Upper Fenceline, wending my way almost all the way down this, zigging and zagging mostly back and forth before heading up the steep gutser that heads up the true right of the valley, up through the middle of lower Cool Runnings, and up through Rad.  At the skidder I bumped into Nick S from work and then I headed back up the steep to Brake Free and dropped off down through the rocks into the gums.  Pleasantly surprised to find all the logs across my usual favourite were cleared - rangers or mtbers had used chainsaws by the looks of it.  Nice flow down here then all the way down to 19th, across the road below for a bit then usual out up onto the corner and coast to Dogparkcarpark.  Lovely flow down here, jumping the jumps and flowing out through all the way to the bottom and the clamber back to road.  

A validly short 7.72 kms on 334 m climbed.

O's 21st Saturday night, left the car opposite where Dave was staying, so Sunday morning I took the Troll down slightly more interesting descendings then then across an urbane jaunt.  8.4 kms, 230 m descended, and 17 m climbed...

  

Sunday Celebrating Andy's Birthday, with me on the Stooge

Left home on the Stooge at 7.30am, pre-sunrise, up into a frosty Vic to the Skidder and headed down Shazza's, flowing into Brent's, nicely nicely. Out of the trees, looking up the hill to see if I could see Tra'y who'd left 40 minutes before me.  No sign, so off thru the Bridges and down valley, then clambered up into Hidden bonus onto Old Skool for a grease infused hoon of fun.

Freezing cold, feet blocks of ice and colder still down Bowenvale Ave, around Centaurus to Rapaki 10 minutes early, trying to thaw my toes.  Brrrr!

Wazza, Andy and Jenna, Nelson, and finally Wayne, all turned up and off up we went. Jenna hooked up with her friend Avril who runs and we saw them again up top of Huntsbury.  Us boys went up the zig zag climb, Wayno suffering the remnants of a lung lurgy.  Boy the Elevator climbs high.  Down to the main track and on up the rest to the top.  Onto climbing around Vernon, soaking up the sun while chatting with Jenna and Avril, then off around the Traverse, good pace, especially by Nelson and the Electric Wazza.  Regrouped just before the Vic trees, and into the Thompson's and holding up just after the Kiwi, letting hoards of chain-free kids who were enduro-ing Pork'n'Puha. We followed them into Choir Boy and found them all clustered on the short climbs.  Past Pork and Puha the way was clear again and we headed down Gung Ho.  This wasn't familiar to me because it'd been years since I'd ridden it, and I think the only time(s?) I'd done it I'd peeled onto Askins part way down...  Anyway, the  Stooge was awesome, surprisingly so, keeping speed and handling all the rough with finesse.  Final valley bottom we were in amongst the chain-free groms and not holding them up. 

Coffee and brownie at the CAP then I bought myself a 10-ride pass and headed up the lift to finish with the Slummit Connector, onto the road, then up to and down through Vic. My usual go-to in the gums has more than a bunch of trees across it so I had to take the steep line to the left, which was actually pretty fun.  (Gonna be a fair bit of cutting in my usual... I could see at least 3 sizeable logs in the way, possibly more further down.  May well be easier just to haul my chainsaw up there)  Out to Skidder and down the road into DogParkCarPark which was wet and soggy in the oaks, but fun blast to the bottom and clamber to road to home.

A hard wrought 30kms, with an actual 717 m climbed (1117 m total (of which 400 were lifted))

Saturday Morning Mucky Greenwood

Practically a month since last ride, due to Galapagos. 

Sweet ride up and over from Nelson's this morning.  Up Santa Maria, Selleck, Assisi, Drayton into the Reserve, greasing up the zig zags and onto the road, all the way to Upper Hornbrook and Britten. Good climb to top and down the short bit of road to OG Greenwood entrance. Squirmed across here then I led into Greenwood proper, overreacting to every little bump, too much braking and not enough flow.  Still, made good speed into the Gloomy Gulch where I had to walk the worst of the rocks. Nelson caught up here having had a little slickness trouble earlier.  Cautiously down the next section of rocks, which weren't as bad as I thought, then some fun flow through the usual fast section, drop that I rolled and around the big corners, back and forth, grooving through the grooves. Through the fence and it was the worst I've ever seen it. Greasy rut city. Then, north facing fast and fun... And last corners before the road were not great... 

Where to from here? Settled for up-the-road, plodding all the way to the Richmond pines, and onto Sheep Shit Alley.  Nice climb here but man were my legs tired. Took it easy with a break and also a nice long look at a section of trail that needed drainage.

Back into the road briefly back into Britten, out the front on the 'new' trail (that's not). Dropped down here for some great flow, stopping a couple times to check where we were then off to the left to pick new lines down rocky sections. Fun exploration. Finally out the bottom and flying down the roads back to his place.

Remarkably, 15 kms with 620 m climbed

Sunday Sunset Stooge - Chasing Daylight to Dinner

Up and across the tops on the Stooge tonight to Joy's for dinner. 

Spectacular sunset as I rode, with it coming out briefly from under the clouds and casting a beautiful light.  I love the ride on the Stooge, it's just so responsive, and handles something wicked.  Traverse was nice, Vernon fun, mild it was.  Was freezing when I left home, then got weird warm patches up in Vic and mild across the top.  

Got this shot approaching the Tors.  Peak glow.  

Clamber up road to Castle from here was all good, and the sun had faded by the time I got to the top - the singletrack down to Bridle was sweet - surprisingly raily, even in the rocky tech it felt good, tho defo slower than Friday.  You absolutely have to stay focussed and keep an eye on where you're putting the front wheel, and use quite a bit more body english - but that's all good: for the skills, for the fitness / strength.  Road climb was okay, getting cooler 'round under the gondola, and darker.  Then, Britten was getting tricky cos the light was getting so low, but still enough to see by.  Finishing with a fast bomb down road to dinner.

MMR crapped out on me at that photo above (8 kms, 317m - workout deleted), so I've replaced it with a copy of one from 2021 - same route, different bike and conditions, but close enough.  15.7 kms, 580 m climbed.

Matariki Jehtset Castle

Sweet ride out and back on the Jeht today...  (2 of 3 rides out the Traverse in a week - each time venturing slightly further).  Up on the Jeht again, feeling sweet to ride it, and smoothing out all the bumps is gooood, out the Traverse, Vernon, Witch, Castle and back.  Didn't hit the Tors, there were walkers on it, and stayed off the walktrack immediately above the road between Tors and Witch on account it was likely soggy.   Rode the road from Rapaki to Huntsbury, figuring I'd done the Vernon climb the other day, didn't need to do it again.  Traverse, good flow, and fun down through Vic, usual Rocks'n'gums droppy droppy.  Oh boy, the 235 / DogParkCarPark trail is even worse in the oaks.  What a wet mess under dead leaves.  All the way out to H'Ell and clamber to road, home.  

Rambled just under 20 kms, and scrambled just under 730 m

Wednesday Night Traverse Vernon-Stooge

Out and up on my own on the Stooge in the dark tonight.  Bad headspace so took it out on a ride, which improved it markedly.  Climb up through Vic, straight into Skidder - everything is still so wet, and took a bit of a breather here.  Some riders showed up and so I headed off up the gutser, around and up to the Worm.  Hit the Traverse and trundled on around this, not really knowing how far I might go, not really knowing how much I could be bothered with.  Got to the end and up onto Vernon and parked up again, puzzling and deciding.  Checked MMR and found I'd only travelled 5 kms and so thought 10 return isnt enough and headed off around Vernon, bombing nicely all the way down to Rapaki-top.

Turned around and headed back up Vernon, climbing pretty nicely.  Back onto the Traverse, cruising smooth with a good (cold!) tailwind, bombing the bomby bits, tho careful careful on the greasy rock before the pond.  Around into Vic, semi-cased the first jump and then down the rabbit paddock, into the rocks, and gums, and flow and smooth, alll the way down (through the 'closed' bit) and out to the gate.  Headed here back up to the Skidder and took the Latter's Spur track down, fun easy rolling, then took the lower exit, having to walk up the steps on Kill-your-mum-with-a-brick Alley then out above the dogpark, over the road, through the carpark and into the singletrack for a slightly-less-greasy-than-Sunday greasy ride down.  The oaks are still a total sodden mess, so gingerly sidled through there, then all the way out down to H'Ell, staying on it to the very last, down the steps, down the road, and around back up home.

Nice 13.5 km blat with 440 m climbed.

Sunday's Stoogin' About the Joint

Had seemingly sorted the dropper issue, as in, it's all in how you hold your mouth and other people have had exactly the same issue with that model, so took the Stooge up the hill today.  Cruised up to top of Vic, down the Thomson's, 1 and 2, then through the Pass below Kiwi, and dropped into the Choir Boy...  over took a couple people, and had some epic speed, then slow around to Locomotion which was closed and announcing that Loess was too!  Damn, both of them I had wanted to do...  So, off down Rere Pia, which was slightly rougher than is preferable on the Stooge, tho really not that bad, and mucky in a couple bits too, splecking me up real good.  Down into the park and cruised down through the carpark to find the Uphill track closed too!  Argh.  Now what??  Moseyed down through the wetlands then headed up Worsley's.  Been a while.  I cant believe we used to do it on the regular.  I poked my nose into the Farside thinking I'd drop down it and back up, but it really was too greasy, so off I continued up and up and up.  The gravel was a grind, then the body bag was even more so.  Walked a tiny bit at the top.  

Into the Nun, pretty good blast down, not too greasy and not too mucky, tho, below the road was a mess, or, at least, made me a mess.  Out at the Kiwi and onwards up to top of Vic, dropping, nailing the first jump, only just, then down rabbit, into rocks, through gums, excellent until just before you meet Sesame lower down I smacked a tree and nearly ended up off the side just winding in the loss of control before that happened.  Down and out to skidder, then down road to the Dog Park Carpark, into this trail and man was it messy.  Wettest I reckon I've ever ridden it.  The oaks were an absolute mess.  All the way down, bike loving it, out to H'Ell, and the clamber up to road and home.  

Good blast, just shy of 20 kms, and a healthy 673 m escalated.

Wetnesday Whetted Mean Streets

Wet evening so not really any off-road options available, as such, it was decided a 'roadie' ride to be had.  I headed to Nelson's in the car with the Troll (still wearing its mudguards) in the back - useful for the conditions.

Off we headed up the hill - Santa Maria - Selleck - Assisi into Drayton and then up Mt Pleasant, grinding away to the top. Nice climb and there wasn't really any rain, nor traffic, around at all.  However, once we headed down the Summit Rd into the fog (headlights too bright, handlebar okay) the rain started to spit a bit.  Down to the big pines and through the gate and over the fence.  Sticky but surprisingly good traction track down to stile and then down to some more.  Mucksome track, it was.  Decided against Frog Pond and took the more ridge based track.  I walked a couple of tech bits, not trusting my traction, but Nelson boffed off down them no probs.  Took the lower exit to Clifton and headed up Revelation Drive to explore, as far up as we could, then back down to Galilee Lane, dropping down a wee ways, but not that far, before clambering back out.  Then down Panorama, surprised how far down York's old place was, and dropping down his old (private access!) driveway passed his house and dropped to the watertank, around this and then walked down the steps.  Then we were on Tuawera Tce and couldn't quite work out where the 'secret' alleyway was down.  Went too far down here, then turned back and decided to hit the driveway that led us to it - dropping down this (i walked the steps) onto Kinsey Tce, and it was left down Mulgans.  Tricknical cornering (dab, dab, dab).  

On the flat again, around Moncks and then up Augusta, all the way to the top, trying to work out where a shortcut through I found once was...  Ended up taking a driveway up (much to the chagrin of a dog) and around to a vacant lot but couldn't work out how to get across to Challenger Lane so back off down, around into Taupata, then up Egnot and Challenger, steeeeep.  Zigging and zagging on the road seemed to help, but it was definitely walking up to Daring Lane, onto Glenstrae and upwards, more zig zagging and Monck's Spur top, riding no problem, and out to Mt Pleasant Rd for a sweet descent down, Drayton etc back the way we'd climbed.  

Good ride, nice loop. Over 15kms and 670m climbed, a little of which I had to walk

Sunday Snow Troll Like It

Exercise needed and conditions bleak, so I put the mudguards on the Troll and headed up into Vic Park, along with half of Christchurch who were looking for the snow and slush. Mucky over 19th, with a few smatterings of the white stuff, and Skidder was a flooded muckfest, but the gums were quite bent over under the weight of it all, and the rabbit paddock was white as.  Thicker out of the trees, I managed to get to the carpark at the top 

and decided against riding along the road, which was grit and slushy snowy wheeltracks - no real room for skinny knobblies, and they wouldnt have been very safe.  I trecked up to my stony shelter and enjoyed the view, 

then headed on down.  Fun times, and through the gums was great, super sketch, took the 'main' route down here, but peeled off just before Sesame to take in my last zig and zag (with the old log jump) and out to Skidder, then road to DogParkCarpark, and into the singletrack for a fun sketch and surprisingly grippy descent.  Took it all the way down to H'Ell, out onto the road, rolling down and dropping down Takahe Drive into Kidson, descending to the school alleyway, climbing up this and through the school and then home on Hackthorne.  

Not much, 7.2 kms, and only 240 m climbed.

Thursday Night Surprise

Serendipitous ride this evening on the Jeht.  Wasn't expecting it, but opportunity knocked and so I pumped up my flat rear tire too hard and off I trundled.  Cold it were.  Trails a bit mucky after yesterday's rain.  Up through Vic to the top, via Worm at the last, then down the first Thomson.  Back up the road and up the track to my stone shelter, hanging a right just before it, up and over the stile and up to the carpark (past the couples or stoners in their cars) straight into Cedric's track.  Across this, over the stile, and down the greasy tech, lots of dabbing and scooting through slick tech to the next carpark.  Straight through this (more stoner boy racers parked up) and continued along the trail above the road.  At the saddle, I crossed the road, over the fence and onto the Traverse, climbing and cruising (avoiding puddles) all the way around to Huntsbury/Vernon saddle. 

Across the road here onto Scott's Knob, techy greasy rooty over this, slippery and slow descent to the next saddle, then up the steps of the next bit and more slow greasy tech, picking my way down and across the road again at the same spot as a little earlier.  Back around the pond and left onto the Traverse heading back to Vic.  Lots of puddles again along this way, avoiding where possible. Into Vic trees, barely gaining enough speed for the first jump, then casing the second one with no where near enough speed.  Down through the rabbit paddock and straight into the rocks, fast and smooth, and gums, slick and tricky. 

Out through the skidder, along the road and left into the CAP trail, then peeling off this down the usual singletrack out to the end of the road and 19th.  Below road from here, poaching Tawhairanui, then across the carpark and into my local, weavy blasty flow down through this, both jumps good, then out the 'To H'Ell' track early and fast tire cleaning spin home down road.

A moderate 10.7 kms and 415 m slipped upwardly. 

Satoogerday Paparoa, Punakaiki to Pororari Hut Return in the Squalls

Beaut ride today on the Stooge. Up to the hut and back, glorious riding, far from perfect conditions, with the squalls holding off most of the time... 

Didn't take as long as I thought it might.  Riding and riding and then suddenly there's the 1km to hut sign...  proved to be a very long 1 km, but got there and the first real downpour hit the moment I was inside the hut.  Caught a couple of light ones on the way back out. Saw several goats - chasing a wee brown billy for at least a km at one point. The trail was so much fun on that bike.  

On my way in I met one biker (in the zigs above the noisy gorge) and then a runner (a little further up before the Watson Creek bridge).  On the way out, a couple of sets of two trampers, then a group of 6 young folk the Inland Track bridge, a couple singles on my way up the climb and a dad and kid on the descent.

Indefatigued 30kms, 830 climbed 

Sunny Sunday Morning Nun Governing Stooge Sojourn

Couple days in Grant Burn, walking the TT loop (2 variations of this which I only recorded on Thursday).  Home Friday night, and had to take the work vehicle back to office on Saturday morning, so I took the Troll and rode it for errands and then home, up the hill - un-mapped.  That sure got me sweaty.

Then, today, Sunday, sweet wee ride on the Stooge (again!). Left home with T and Jet and cruised with them into the 'To Harry Ell' track, then departed from them in the oaks. Continued up to top of Vic, slowly catching up to and then chatting with a young fella on the grunter-climb. I boffed off down the Thompson's, both, through Kiwi and up the road thinking I was only gonna head down Governor's, but no, continued on up to top of Nun... 

The Nun's cobblestone sections and rigid bikes don't play all that nicely with each other, at the top at least, but it wasn't awful, just a tad slower than usual. And then lower down was better... At the junction, I crossed the road and dropped over into the Governor's trail, stopping and chatting to a walking couple, who asked about where the track went, etc, and I set to explaining all the byways around those parts, then slid off down the trail... Greasy af, but manageable and fun. Into the climb, which as hard, but I cleaned heaps, including most of the top section I hadn't recently, only stalling on that step-up, and riding out above that. Then down through past the Kiwi again and up the Summit Rd, slowly catching a young roady, and being overtaken by a woman I think I knew, on an ebike, just at the top. 

Off down through Vic. Usual ways, rabbit paddock, rocks, gums, below 19th, road coast, DogParkCarPark, all the way, lovely groove on most of it...

A workable well-nigh 11 kms conveyed and a practicable 436 m scaled

Sunday Afternoon Stooge-about the Locals

Bit of a grimy day but enough of a lack of rain to get up the hill on the Stooge. Half'n'half clip-in pedals now installed, these aided control very nicely.  Good climb up.  On the road section I heard a couple of bikers catching me up from behind, talking away.  I was gasping and wondered, and as they passed, the first guy I saw was on a regular bike and I was, to myself, 'young fit fella's' then I spotted the second guy was on an ebike and giving the other guy a hand...  "Oh! I wondered how you were conversing so freely" I startled.  I kept crossing paths with them as I journeyed too.  Over 19th as usual, (boys at the skidder) then up the gutser and up to Thompsons #1 and #2, back up the road, dropped in, around, then down the rabbit paddock (the two boys bombing through Brakefree) to the rocks and gums, out to skidder (the boys jumping through), into Shazza's for a nice groove down and all the way down into the Brent's zone into the valley bottom here. 

Nose started bleeding badly here, and took a while to quell.  

Once sorted, climbed up the Corporate Ladder, and then up past the 40footer and around up through the Radzone, (where the boys popped out of Raceline or something and dropped on past), and I continued to the Skidder.  Then off over the side and down to the road at 19th, and below road for a wee hoon and out, clamber, coast, and into the DogParkCarPark, lovely flow through here, jumpings and out all the way to the bottom.  Schlepp up to road and home. 

A little over 7 kms and 275 m climbed.

Thursday Night Stoogin' 'round Taylor's -- 1500th Post!!

Sweet ride out there with Nelson tonight.  I'd popped out to Josh's for one last tweak (and photos for his insta), cutting another cm or so off the top of the steerer, and to collect my remainders.  Then headed across town to Nelson's and parked there, loading bike on his roofrack and we headed for Taylor's.  

Chilly in carpark, but as soon as we got over the cattlestop to hit the Escape it was balmy warm.  Stooge rode well up here, I love the low gear and the direct application of power through the rigid frame.  I led the way, overcooking it to start with but settling into an only slightly hurried pace, chatting all the way (mostly Nelson talking, me puffing).  Out the top at Livingston, and onto the Godley for a nice techy rock climb and then he led the way down to Breeze, faster than me, both of us still getting used to our new steeds.  

From Breeze Col, out the OG-below-road trail to the end, nice fast ride through here, love the way the big wheels hold onto speed, then climbing up the grassy trail to the concrete where I lit the landing and Nelson jumped off...  Then around Breeze Bay, nice smooth rolling fun-times.  Love it in this direction.  

Up the road from the Col and into the upper Anaconda.  Whooo-eee, rough.  This is where the rigid doesn't sing so much.  It was quite the beat-up, but still fun as hell.  I was no where near as fast as Nelson but not that slow either.  Main problem was the 2 finger braking set up at the moment, not having enough grip on the bars, and also the lower bottom-bracket I was super conscious of not smacking my pedals which made me flow less good.  However, I definitely prefer this trail on the Cotic...  Still, good to know that now, and know what the Speedbomb likes vs not.  The lead-in to the Snake's Tail (above the walking track) was sweet and flowy and rolly, and even the Tail itself was pretty good, none of the rocks as daunting or drops as harsh as higher up.  

We headed back up valley to try out the 'new' Te Onepoto trail down the other edge of the valley.  This was flowy and fun, and ended up in the wee Tagaste/Native forest above/alongside of the carpark.  Nice.

A shard under 12 kms and an ostensibly prevailing 423 m accessioned. 

Short Local Sunday pre-Sunset Stooge Scramble

Speedbombing up and back on the local singletrack. Sweeeeet!  

Getting later in the day, headed up for roughly half of yesterday's ride.  Up through Vic, both Thomsons #1 and #2 then back up Summit Rd and off to the wee stone(y) shelter, before dropping down through the rocks'n'gums, out below 19th then DogParkCarPark blast down through over the two main jumps (GREASY landing) and out the bottom to H'Ell for the clamber back to road and home.

Just over 6 kms, and dead-on 200 m excelled

Stooge-urday's First Shake-down - and 20 years of the blog!!! (and nearly 1500 posts)

Excellent breaking in of the Stooge Speedbomb+. What a beast. Climbs beautifully.  I've potentially got a too low first gear (30:48) but I did use it on the grunter from Skidder. I didn't want to stop riding. It handles really well, eats stuff unlike any other rigid I've ridden. The BIG wheels and tire combo rolls super smooth. 

Stopped several times for tweaks, mostly saddle height, but also saddle angle. 

A dream come true. 

Where most dudes my age are electrifying themselves, I've taken the step "backwards" with the fully rigid, uber-capable modern klunkerbeast.

To Rapaki and back, 13 and a bit kms with 460m elevated

Happy Birthday, Stooge

Arrived today... 2025 Stooge Speedbomb - BIKEPACKING.com

Sunday, Kinda Like the Old Days - Rapaki to Sumner loop

Good ride today, catching up with some of the old crew.  Met Wazza, Nelsie, Andy and Jenna at bottom of Rapaki, and off we went up.  Jenna was meeting a walking friend and rode with her while us 4 boyz headed off up Elevator for the grind.  Was doing okay for a start but slightly stupidly I followed Nelson and Wazza into the 'extra' loop bit, while Andy took the short cut, putting him miles ahead.  Then the chase was on and I found I didn't really have it in me, so much.  Struggled away as they pulled away from me but we all slowly caught Andy.  Wazz had no problem given he was on his ebike, but it took quite a while us other two, in particular, me, who didn't get there til the start of the Montgomery.  Bit of a breather here and I followed Andy into the 'hard' line, catching me off guard given I had no idea there was that tech section.  I dabbed, Nelson had to choose a different line behind me, but we all survived.  Above the track for a bit then onto the main drag up the hill, passing Jenna and her friend again.  

Breather at Rapaki-top then off into the Witch.  Nice churn through here, chuffing a fair bit I was tho.  Then up the road to Castle and Nelson and me led the way, at great speed.  Pinging all over the place and I felt like it was slow, but I think we carried pretty good speed in the long run.  

Then it was along the road below the gondola and up through the cutting into Britten for the hoon around the outside - sheepshit-fling, it was.  Andy led, Nelson, Wazz and me.  Down into OG Greenwood entrance and I was in the lead, and ended up having to have a breather at the worst of the rocky tech bits and the others all ploughed past.  Down to the ruins, breather, and Nelson and me led the way, flowing and enjoying.  Chain off on the sidle before gloomy gulch, and lots of wet spots.  Cleaned all the techy troublesomeness in Gloomy too.  Breather break at the usual spot and then it was off down again, carrying speed with finesse, flying and grooving.  I was catching and cruising, catching and cruising with Nelson almost all the way.  Out the bottom and around up onto the Summit Rd to the Captain's entrance.

Waited here for a bit, and well earned breather, for rider we'd spotted climbing.  Then it was on again, hauling and balling, railing and wailing.  A couple of haul ups by Nelson in a couple of weird spots, but was all good.  Into the old school section and funtimes.  I had one very close call on the bridge bit, there was some grass or horseshit on the left hand entrance to it, not to mention slick rocks, and my front wheel squirrelled alarmingly.  Survived.  Excellent weavy ride the rest of the way, pumping through sections, railing corners.  Loved it.

Finaly, down the road to DotCom, coffee and brownie, eventually Jenna arrived and we headed off around the coastal pathway, losing Nelson at McCormacks and Wazza at Ferrymead Bridge.  We went around the back of Settlers Cres, under the motorway bridge, and Sheldon etc and I left them at Opawa bridge to head around the park to the car in Hillsborough Tce.

Started it late, beyond the highest point on Elevator, so adding a couple kms and 250 m climbing, I guess, call it 30 kms and 880 m climbed...

Thursday, Trolling Cameron, Laverick, LeBon and Panama

Nice jaunt out on the Troll this fine and cool autumnal day. Parked at top of Okains summit and tootled along to Cameron's Track. Down a smidge then up up up, high point somewhere around 700m,

then descending to the Laverick's Ridge Rd around and down a bunch, kinda deciding where to go as I went. Not that many choices but some bigger to chew than others. At about the 300m mark I stopped and considered turning back. Nah, and bombed down steep ridge to corner and down into Le Bons. Slouched around the waterfront through the Domain and back out the suburban side street, then up valley. First and only 3-4 cars of my whole ride passed me down here.  Up to the St Andrew's church, which I stopped and checked out - gorgeous mid century modern, lovely wee gem,

and this is where MMR stopped my ride, annoyingly. 

From here it was a little further up valley and I chose the harder of the two options to me here... Panama Rd. Steepest road in New Zealand??? Definitely a contender. Certainly steepest on Banks Peninsula... Lulled me into a false sense of security for a while

then after a bridge it just went straight up, I'd just run out of push and 3 big off-road tourer bikes roared past. Unbelievably steep, and then got steeper further up!. Lots of walking, all the way seeing the rarking the bikes had had to do to get up there that quick... Probably 45 minutes bottom to top with a good 25 of those just plodding upward. 

Finally on the nice stuff again, back around past Wevern, and Laverick's Ridge Cottage, with a wee steep climb (ridden) then around onto Cameron's again climbing for quite some time, bit of walking, stopped to oil a starting-to-squeak chain, to the high point again for a bomb down down down, some speed! Do I let it go?? Do I refrain??? Bit of both, methinks. Final crawly little climb to the Summit and a final cooling blast to the car.

This is what it should have been...

 (26 km according to google)

if MMR hadn't ripped me off.  at least 600 more than that 554..  puts it over a grand climbed

Wednesday's Troll took a Dump (run)

Chucked the old chch recycling bin on the 24pack, with a thin rope and a couple of bungies, and took the recycling and rubbish up to the dump.  Lovely day, nice sunshine, tho strong cold sou'wester pushing down the valley.  Nice 2.something kms climb of 75 m altitude.  Re-tied the bin once empty and bombed back with aplomb-line

4.69 kms, 77 m climbed.

Tuesday Chortling Troll to McHales and Views

Sluggardly few days under a couple of the tails of Cyclone Tam at Little Ak. Moved, split and chucked wood, otherwise bathed and read. Finally, out on the Troll (in need of a little maintenance (namely, the chain)) up to Chorlton and hovered briefly before rolling down through the 2 dips to climb into McHales Rd. The original dwelling from our place is one of these houses, according to local lore. I think I know which one but I can't be sure. Nice gravel road roll down for a bit, 1.1km if the end-of-the-line gate is to be believed, followed by the nice climb back. Great to see these views from a new perspective, and the view into to Raupo is something else. #cue picture.

- a good angle of the Troll between two of my absolute favourite types of bush, with a view of one of my favourite beaches in the world.

Back around through Chorlton-proper, then left and up View Hill Rd - as far as I could, and it was further than I'd ever managed before on the Troll, by far. 

Could look into the kitchen through the window next to the back door from here...
More views taken in here before turning down hill and fast. 

A 12.12 km jaunt, with a felicitous 435 m vertically wrought.

Sprungday Livings

Found myself with an opportunity to ride so I bailed over to Allandale, parked, and went for a couple of laps hoon of Living Springs (blimey, 2 years since last time!).  It's not feeling very used, tho there were some skids in Zanes.  Climbing is steep but manageable and nice surrounds, bellbirds glorious, and fantails everywhere.  Up the forest and then into Mississippi and around to Zanes.  Not very fast, anywhere, not being in chase mode like usual, I was being quite careful and not quite trusting any grip anywhere, even though it was alright.  Fun down Zanes, more fun the second time.  Should have pushed a 3rd lap, but I'd been very tired all day.

A measly 6.4 kms, miniscule 235 m climbed...

Satur-Lab-E-Day

T and me headed out on our Ebikes - Down the hill via Lady Polson and Bengal, then through the wetlands, all the new cookie-cutter sloburban development that is now Halswell, exploring a few back and side streets, sort of trying to get to that wee hill with the steps but not quite making it, then around Old Tai Tapu Rd, finding a lovely section of river trail to the church, then busy main road between Tai Tapu and Lincoln, finally making our way into The Laboratory.  Here we enjoyed very nice salads, coffee, and a couple of beers for me and wines for her.  

Home via Birches Rd beside-road trail (nice!), then Trice's, Saby's, Candy's and back through Halswell Sloburbia, Wetland again, gentle up Happy Home, zoom down park, Pencarrow, climbing zig zag to Worsley's and then home up Bengal.  

An excellent outing, (I forgot to start MMR until Halswell, so it says 38km but was) just shy of 50 kms, with 360 m electrically-assisted climbing. 

Friday Long Troll-Way Home from Work

Rode the Troll to work and on the way home meandered across to Rapaki, up the Elevator - which takes a lonnng time and seems further and harder than Rapaki itself would be.  Cleaned no problem all the way up Rapaki, onto the Summit Rd and then onto the Traverse, sun-setting just as I was coming around out of the top of Hidden Valley.  Still enough light around to Vic then down the Gummies, into Skidder, and over 19th, down road and getting pretty dim in the DogParkCarPark trail (meeting (and freaking out) a nice wee doggie who barked at me a lot), then out the To H'Ell track, down to home. 

Good commute bonus, 17.4 kms 485 m climbed

Sun-Daylight-saved More Down than Up around Cavendish, Castle and Pleasant.

Great wee ride tonight, first of the non-Daylight Savings, Winter is Coming, ride.  I drove to his and chucked my bike on his roof and we headed up the hill, parking at Summit / Mt Pleasant Rds intersection.  

Headed into Britten and around the front, then rather than up onto the singletrack for the ballbearing descent, we headed down the road through the cutting to Cavendish Saddle, and climbed up the zigs and zags to the back of the Gondola building.  Off down the steppity-steppity-steps and rocknical techery through to the Bridle top and onroad to top of Castle.

I led down Castle Rock, keeping good pace and ducking and weaving the rocks and sketch.  Nice blast down and around then around again and climbing, slower than Nelson's usual pace on this bit, meeting an ebike guy coming the other way.  Onto the road again to head around under the Gondola, up to Cavendish Saddle again and this time onto the trail for the steeper-than-we-ever-remember-until-it-levels-off-a-bit climb up and around.  Between a couple of rocks I got stymied, wedged, feet not clipping out fast enough, and ended up toppling off and tumbling, leaving my bike standing.  Rolling again balance was all off, and I struggled up the rest, cleaning waay more than I'd expect, given those conditions.  Up to top of Mt Pleasant, couldn't see Nelson so assumed he'd ridden around the building to the top and over, but once I was up there I could see him down at the top of the trail...  I bopped down to where he was and he was gone, oh, there he is, up towards the trig.  

Dropped into the top of Mt Pleasant descent, biffing and boffing down, stalled and nearly otb'd on that 2nd corner, but survived and rolled on, struggling in the stoppiness of the rocks, and then getting my groove back in the grooves lower down.  Down above the ruins and hauling ass across the OG (original greenwood) entrance to the road again.  Up around to the car I suggested we leave and drive back for.  

Down Britten (V-twin) and across the front, then exploring all the techy rock features down the left hand side, eventually dropping down and entering ("i didnt see the any no bikes sign") Kenton track, for a fun, tech, speedy bash.  Excellent cleaning of the trickery, eventuating at the bottom of the steps up to Rockview Pl.  From here, Belleview, Mt Pleasant and Soleares to Nelson's.  He put his bike away and I chucked mine on the back of my car and ran him back up to his.

Good vibes, 13 and a half kms, with 420 m climbed (+ an extra 300 m descended).

Tuesday Night, Traversed Lava Skooling

Drove down to Bowenvale and picked up Nelson and his bike, leaving his car there, and brought them back to mine from whence we rode up into Vic.  Clean climb to the top and then popped off around the two jumps, onto Worm and up onto the Traverse for the hoon around here.  I was really struggly on the climby bits, legs weak for some reason.  We stopped at the top of Lavaflow for a good rest.

A dude on an ebike turned up about when we were gonna head down, commented, "good to see a Cotic," and he ended up dropping in with us.  I baulked at the first feature, having picked a dropping line rather than a flowing one and he bowled on past me, chasing Nelson.  I picked my way down, baulking at a couple of other features, dabbing a couple, and then stopped where Nelson was below two rather steep features.  He'd thought scotsman-ebiker was me on his tail and thinking at the time I was doing well!  I picked my way down to the trail ahead of Nelson, then we dropped into the corner next to the cabbage tree.  I baulked again.  From here I examined features, and cleaned them all, thinking wtf was I worrying about? after each.

My fat ass riding something steepish...

And nelson dropping down to me

After this it was down into the lower bushy reaches, and baulked again at the final rockdrop (which I have ridden before.  

Then it was climb to Old Skool, and dropped in for a rapid and enjoyable (and fresh in the memory) descent, holding on to Nelson's tail the whole way.  A couple of big dings on the back end seem to have resulted in a flat (which I noticed the following morning).  Down the road to the car and home.

Not massive, but massive, 8.75 kms with 261 m climbed (meaning a around 460 m descended)

Saturdaze Epublications

Bit of healthy socialising with workmates, riding from pub to pub.  Due to the climb home, I took the ebike and just stuck to the Eco setting until the Turboboosted slog home.

23 kms in all, with 270 m climbed.

Thursday Mental Health Ride

Bailed work a little early, got home, set something running once home and headed up on the Jeht (with the new tan-wall tyres). 

Gaspingly hard to start with, but once I was going it wasn't quite so bad.  Struggle street to the rabbit paddock and above, then dived into Thompsons #1 and flowed down here, then back up the road.   Dropped around down into Vic-top, over the jumps and around into Worm, then stopped just through the fence on the start of the Traverse...  Hmmm, where to go??  

Boffed off down through the fence and hung a right, down Upper Fenceline, nicely nicely, then across top of Cool Ruinings, climbing up across to Razza's, dropping down this, then up the track to where Pedalfine crosses, and dropped down here, hanging a left on the 4wd track back up to bottom of Razza's, to drop into the extension of that, through across Brents and out the bottom of that.  Then up the Corporate Ladder, stopping to move some sticks on the singletrack bit (where i took this:

(everything is brown!)

Next into Sneaky Ridge for a bit of a hoon, talking myself through the ballbearings in the oaks, jumping out onto Bridges (or whatever it's called at this point) in front of a woman (orange top) and dog, then off down here into the pines, around into NuBridges, flowy flow, and fast down the valley.  Not sure why, but chose to do Hidden-Valley climb up to Old Skool at this point and clamber clamber, under howling pylons, nicely fun blast down, especially with the tail-wind bits (most of it), all the way, rolling out and up the valley for the climb, yet again.  Saw the woman in the orange top down here ("back up for some more, eh?").  Crawled up the steeps, cleaned it all, with a good breather just above Hospital, then on upwards, getting overtaken by a very fit looking, slightly older dude on a very light looking XC hardtail just before the pono's pylon.  He made it look effortless, in comparison to my huffing and chuffing.  Up around past 40fter and up around to the skidder, all the while suffering, but coping.  

Then across skidder and into lower(gums) singletrack and out to 19th, below road flow, coasting, rain just starting to spit, into DogParkCarPark, nice under the trees, and flowy, blazing alllll the way down to H'Ell and clamber, down to home just as the rain started proper - timing couldn't have been more perfect.

A bittersweet 11.7 kms, with a valid 496 m wrought height.

Stoney-Owney Fatso Saturday Loopy.

Heesh, what a climb... Took Kuan and his friend Andre to Akaroa for them to have a look around.  It was Le Race day, so we passed a few stragglers before Little River, then one or two on the hill, and the Summit Rd was closed to cars, so it was lucky we were going to Akaroa and not LA.  Parked at the far end, just up from the Wharf, and the boys went for a wander while I rode back around to Stoney Bay Rd and headed up valley...  Long climb.  Gravel from part way up the valley and then big long switchbacks, in granny most of the time, crawling.  By the time I made the top I was pretty toasted.  Hour and a half that took.  

Then was onto the trail across below Flag Peak and behind the Brasenose, it was surprisingly hard going, given it wasn't very steep, energy sapping mown grass farm track, and I was HOT.  Stopped and had a rest in the shade of the pines on the flatter bits along the top, even taking my top off and lying on the damp grass and snacking half a onesquare, the first food since a bagel before we left town.  Was putting my shirt back on just as a walker lady arrived.  Bit of a chat then off I went, onwards further across the top then the trail dropped down, becoming very steep and narrower, more like a quadbike track, quite eroded out where water had been pouring and stepping down, a few interactions with gorse bushes on various parts of my body that then became a problem later.  Trail rounded off more level for a bit then climbed a bit and the final climb to the next top was very steep, too steep to ride, up to the 692 point.  Walked up to here, nice view, looking back towards Brasenose and the whole harbour, Akaroa kinda hidden behind the hill.  Fun descent (tho short) down to Flea Bay Rd, then onto Lighthouse Rd, for a mega-fast descent - catching up to a car surprisingly fast, then road flattened off a bit and they got away then thankfully they'd stopped for the view and I bombed on by and hurtled down the road, tires screaming on the seal...

Rolled around through town and got a big feed at the local Kaimoana takeaways.  Then went and picked up the boys from their Giant's House experience and we headed over to Little Ak.  A swim was relished, cooling down my heated brain.

A laboured-epic, 16 km in the making with 920 m heaped on top.