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...
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