Saturday Menzies Stoogebomb

Hot climbs and breezy descents. To Menzies Bay and back on the Stooge.  Glorious morning, good climbing, lots of power, and fun descents.  So much heat in the sun tho,  Saw one other person, young'un leaving in a ute at Menzies Bay.  Other than that, just the magpies, plovers, the odd gull and the passerines, and sheep and cattle for company.  Hot climb out of Menzies

and then a glorious cruising and ever increasing-speed descent from Rehutai into Decanter. 

Then the hot slog from there, more than you expect, but rewarded with the extremely rapid descent into LA.

850 metres wrought from twenty-2-and-a-quarter kms

Monday Night Stooge Shrift

Quick blat up to stretch the lungs and legs.  Hoofed up the road and over 19th, through Skidder and up Upper-rooted.  Nice climb.  Up through to top of Thomson's #1, into #2, then immediately turned back in and climbed back up them both to the top.  Off down over the jumpy into Rabbit, Rocks, Pines, Gums all the way down and out the gate, then across the road into Heavenly Creatures for a lovely flow through both lots, Sleepy, climby new to pylon and 235 continuing on down through the oaks and out the bottom section to H'Ell.  Nice sunset to be seen here,

then clamber to road, and home.

Lubbly Jubbly, 6.3 kms, and 200 m climbed.  

Labouring Sunday LA OK Maxim(ili)um

Big loop ride with Max from the bach.

Had the Troll and so Max and I headed up valley.  I was amazed I cleaned it all, just needing breathers a few times.  If the Troll can climb that stuff it can climb anything.  Took us a while to get to the top, lots of stops for air, in the shade, trying to keep cool given it was so hot.  But, we made it!

Max just behind that sign on the left...

And then it was off around the Summit Rd.  I weighed up cutting it shorter and slogging across the back of View Hill, but we voted on the continuation of the Summit, hitting the final climb to the highest point on the road and the cruisy blast that followed, down to Okains Bay turn off.  

Dropped down here, nice rapid speed followed by the cruisy rolling valley-bottom - so much longer the L.Ak has.  Got to the Museum and shop and stuff, and continued all the way to the beach, where we rode out onto the sand to take in the crowds (relatively).  There was even a small plane on the beach, which we'd seen flying around earlier, and then it took off once we'd made our way back into the shade of a tree to scoff our half-empanada left-overs.  

Time to ride again and back up valley, across to the bridge and hit the hill.  Longer and steeper and hotter than memory allowed from last time, but eventually made it and we bombed down into Stony Bay, seeing one biker on his way up.  Then the next climb, where we were passed (towards us) by a couple of bikes.  Once the steep was over I was rolling along ahead and I heard Max talking to someone.  Turned out it was Nick, white-beard guy who I've seen multiple times on the Summit Rd, has a bach in Lukes Rd.  Rode with him for a bit, he showed us a water tap on a bach up here, then rode with him to the high point of the Chorlton Rd, up under that house at the top of the valley.  I waited in the shade for Max and Nick took off.  

Nice roll from here then one fast blast down into Chorlton, through the two or three dips and climb to then blast down into LA, what a hoot.  Paused on the waterfall creek bridge and Max was not far behind.  Finally made the house, and headed down for a swim a little later on.

Thirty-seven and three-quarters km traversed, and 1138 m climbed.

Wednesday Solo Stooge, Vic'n'Traverse'n'Vic with a Smash

Doozy wee ride tonight. Up road, in at the carpark, down into the climb, wee extra over past the bit I crashed back in March (the irony), then up to 19th, back around over it into Skidder and straight into Upper-Rooted. Nicely done in here now and out the top. Meandered up to the top, being nice and saying hi to the various 2s or groups I saw.  A loop and water at the carpark and dived off into it.  Down over the jumpie and onto Worm, climbing up to the Traverse to spin across here.  I seemed to have heaps of energy and was keeping a cracking pace.  Riding with Nelson on Sunday must have really boosted me. Made it around to Lavaflow and seriously considered it, but unsure how much fun it would be on the Stooge.  I considered Huntsbury down and back, or Old Skool, but decided I didn't want all that extra climbing, so turned back on the Traverse for another very nice blast, tail wind, keeping good pace and pump.  

At the top before the trees I dropped into Upper Fenceline, across, then rather than dropping down I moseyed across above Cool Runnings, catching a guy here, I said, "not really sure where I want to drop in tonight" and so we rode across.  I boffed off into Dazza's to peel right into Razza's while he took Shazza's.  I cleaned out the top Razza's and just about to drop across the 4wd track when a pelleton of speed whizzed under me.  Bloody lucky I noticed them or we would have collided.  They'd shot through and I dropped down into the lower forest, picking up some speed, when suddenly my right hand jumped/bounced? off the handlebar and I was going down in a big jumble.  The ground was quite steep, so from where I was going over the bike there was a long way to the ground.  I think I travelled a little way on top of the handlebars, maybe glanced off a tree, and the wheel turned and flipped me over to land in a heap entangled in the bike.  Scrapes to elbow, both sides of my front torso, both legs around the knees, massive lump on the thigh, right forearm...  Ouchy. (and strangely, tweaked my right calf again).  There's an interesting unidentified bike-part shaped mark on my rib (which feels tweaked underneath).  Perhaps maybe I'm testing my limits a little too often these days...  I'd been feeling so strong and fast!

Dusted myself off and the guy I'd ridden across with turned up, then I followed him down Macros, down around and then I headed straight into the climb (ahead of a bunch).  My chain was making noises, so I stopped to check that and they passed, then I proceeded to catch them and sit on their tail until just above where I crashed.  I rode through them and continued, making sure I was keeping pace ahead once they'd started, although, one of them (not the ebike one) did catch me by the top.  

At Skidder I headed down and got more water, then decided to continue back up Upper-Rooted again.  At Brake-Free I headed down the paddock, stopped and upsidedowned the bike to tune the gears a bit better, and then off into the Rocks, Pines, Gums flow time blast all the way down for a rest at the gate.  Then it was into Heavenly Creatures for a lovely jaunt, climb, jaunt Sleepy, nearly forgot the climb to pylon and 235 drop down around, then blast through the final cut.  Love it.

Chafed and tender 11.5 kms, with 390 m climbed.

Sunday, Flow and Punishment. A Stooge Odyssey

Drove over to Nelsie's, loaded the Stooge on his roof rack, then we dropped my car at the bottom of Soleares, and took his up to top of Mt Pleasant Rd - giving us a 400 m advantage.  

From here, we rode round Summit Rd and straight up Broadleaf to the top of Mt Pleasant for a view over the harbour, whereupon the battle ensued... Stoogey's such a capable bike, but man the peaky rocks tweak it up.  Mammoth effort required to float over everything so you end up getting beaten around.  Still lots of fun, and the smoother sections are a dream.  

Down the upper Greenwood Nelso got ahead, but I kinda started catching up again, whipping through the bermy tussocks.  Above the ruins we bumped into Finlay, and Jo and Ben, and a couple others I didn't know.  They were walking Sumner to Lyttelton.  Brief chat then we took off again and hit Greenwood.  Surprising how well I handled this.  Kept pretty good speed and Nelson never got too far ahead.  Some bits were a total beating.  Hauled up after Gloomy and had a short rest, then got going again.  Surprisingly good flow down this next section, and I took the single x dropover, around into the swoopy zigs and zags I was staying right on Nelson's tail until one rockgarden.  Then last blast to Evans was a hoot.

Onto Godley, dab-walked the rocks at the start but cleaned everything else out there, nice flow to Livingston, where we stopped and watch a para-sailer wafting back and forth, grabbing an uplift, sliding across and down, then back around.  Looked cool.  

Good climb followed over to Breeze, turned around and climbed back up.  Sweet.  Then back up from Livingston, bit of a grind, but maybe better than the farmtrack from the road, and then into the flow back to Evans.  Once past the rockwall it's such a blast.  I had one very sketchy moment in here, hoo-daddy!, then the rocks towards the end were punishing.  

Onto the road, through the pass and into das Kapitan.  Again, flow, and punishment.  Cleaned everything I didn't expect to, although I took a nana line around one of the drops I normally do.  Great blast.  Past the No Entry sign (they're new and obviously everyone's ignoring them) and into what has to be one of my favourite sections of trail in the Port Hills.  Such a blast.  One hard bottom out I thought might flat me, but turned out okay.  And the final sections were a dream through pines.  

Finally, out onto the road and a nice cruisy meander back along the coastal pathway.

Initially forgot to turn off MMR unti we'd driven back up to Nelson's, but snipped it now, only, a little early, but close enough.  A valid 22ish kms, and around 360 m climbed overall...

Saturday Travis Ebike Planter

Final planting of the year, planting trees for Canterbury at Travis Swamp so I ebiked there much faster than I expected... 

Forgot to map my outward journey: Dyers, Colombo, Malcolm, Martin, Eastern, Wilson's, Charles, Grafton, Olivier's, Worcester, Rowecliffe, Kerr's, onto the glorious new red zone Coastal Pathway from the Rowing sheds. New bridge to New Brighton Rd, then Anzac to Travis. Such a direct route, practically a straight line! 

Did the planting, many great plants in the ground and nice networking, then scoffed 3 sausages and a couple hash browns and headed home, this time sticking to the new pathway all the way to Medway bridge where I stayed on Avonside Tce side around Jet's old sniffing ground, after the houses were gone.  Quite an emotional journey around here, melancholy for the huge loss of humanity that had lived their lives right through there for so many years.  Then Stanmore to Nursery to Wilson's and Eastern all the way round Beckenham loop, through the school and back up the hill home, ending with 16% battery left... I wasn't scrimping on power. 

17 or 18ish kms each way.  This was my pathway home. 

There was an attempt...

Broken ride last night.  Stooge BB needs replacing, and I only received the new cassette for the Jeht yesterday, so haven't chucked it and the new chain on yet, so...  I dug out the Ritchey - first time since November last year.  Lubed the chain, pumped up the tires and I thought he was good to go.  Chucked it on the car and headed to Sumnervale to meet up with Nelsie.  

We headed in, it felt weird, like the front was gonna tuck under me, but that's just cos I haven't ridden it so long.  And I stopped and pumped the tires a bit more before we hit the hill.  Into it, around the first hairpin and !tink!, and my freewheel was freewheeling both forward and backwards.  Fuck.  Oh well.  That was it.  Turned around and scooted back to the cars.  I offered Nelso to continue on his own, but he opted for option 2 which was to go to Two Thumbs.  So, we went and had a beer instead of a ride.

Just for laughs, didn't even make a km and a half!

Sweet Sunday Stooge

Quick chuff up on the Stooge tonight.  

Cruised up the road, lovely mild late afternoon after a morning of working, and tired laziness after a late night.  Dropped down into Sleepy from DPCP and cruised up this, then up to 19th, backtracking to pass over the top of it, then through Skidder and took the 4wds across to pop down Cool Runnings.  Some funnings, then straight into Up-rooted, all the way to the top of both, then up to the carpark at top of Vic - basically saw no-one in Vic Park the entire time (there were a couple people rode down through Macros as I climbed, but no-one else on the trails).  Some ladies in the carpark were the first I'd encountered.  

From here, dropped off down, first jump, then down rabbit, into rocks, pines, gums, nicely nicely, then cedars, through to 19th, into Heavenly for a lovely buzz down through here.  

Out the last and up straight into the lower half, good flow, Sleepy Hollow then climbing, attempting a little bit of line building in the climb to the pylon, then down oldskool 235, new line, around onto old, drop, oaks, and final blast to H'Ell.  Clamber, road, home - in other words, all the usuals.  

A nice local schmooze about.  A needed, and welcome wee blast of 6.77 kms and 285 climbed

Wednesday Evening Local Loopies

Mellifluous spin tonight taking in all the tight (and right) local singletrack and putting together a nice loopy pattern. 

So cool tonight to realise the various works being done in the below-dog-park-carpark-zone have made a sweet wee extra loop.  Basically, the bit I've been diving into recently, before heading up the Sleepy Hollow section, is actually meant for climbing - and loops around under the pylon to head down what was the 235 - I'd been puzzling the nature of the curve under the pylon.  This now turns left before dropping down the rocks towards the wetzone, peeling back and dropping into the lower new section just below where it peels off above.  It's very cool (and reflected in the end of tonight's ride).  

So, headed up the road and dropped down into the oaks and up across the wetzone through the bypass track I'd cut (which is drying out, seemingly (finally!)) and that's where I found the new connection from the rock drop.  I headed in this, meeting and chatting with a runner and dog, climbed up into Sleepy, meeting and chatting with another walker with dog, then out and up the forest track to pop out at 19th.  Back along the road here, up and over 19th into Skidder, and into Upper-rooted, a bit more work done in here, then up to top of Thompsons #1.  Dropped down here, nice flow, down into the #2, with a good blast here too.  

Down through Dyers and up the Summit to the Nun saddle.  Left off over onto the Governor's Bay track for an interesting wee blast down here.  It's becoming a little overgrown in places, the natives are doing too well.  Across the level bit and into the techie climb.  Did really well for a start then started muppetting, cleaning some, walking a little, and clambering out the top.  

Dropped then, over onto lower Nun, finishing this off then back through Dyers and climbed up into the Thomson twins, topping out Vic.  Brief puffing loop around the carpark, much to the bemusement of the groms up here, and straight in, down for the jumpies, but!!! my brake hose came unstuck and started buzzing (grinding, more like) the tire.  Grahh!  Semi-repositioned it, but didn't trust it, so rolled down to the drinking fountain and asked some young'uns here if they had any zipties...  nope, but one girl had some excess electrical tape!  Yuss!  

Sorted, I headed down into the rocks/pines/gums for some fun times, then across Skidder and into Dazza's-start, peeling right into Razza's (bazzas) and popped off down these steep droppy roots, across the 4wd into the continuation, down through Macros and up onto the sideline, stopped to move a tree, down some newly cut bench (part of what turns out to be a walk track they're building from that new bridge Nelsie and me encountered), and straight into the bottom and into Uprooted ahead of a couple of young women.  Clamber clamber here.  Once up to the first corner, the girls had started and I felt their pressure (even tho I gapped them) all the way up.  Young and fit, obviously - cos they were chatting away.  Up at the Rad zone 4wd crossing a group of fellas entered the next section of Uprooted ahead of me and I followed them the rest of the way.  2 non- plus one e-bike gapping ahead, and another non-e rider struggling to stay ahead of me.  

Out through Skidder, across, and dropped into cedars for my usuals home.  Excquisite blast down Heavenly, it's really been trodden and scuffed, so nice and free of leafy detritus, great flow.  Out and up for the continuation, then great flow and into Sleepy and beyond, where rolled into the 'new' climb from the pines, up to the pylon (only one little section of a switchback levelling needs adding), and around into the oldskool '235' for a lovely hum down here and around and back and around the new onto the lower sections to roll down all the way through the oaks and then the last fast blast beauty out to H'Ell and my clamber to road (where I ripped out the broom bush growing on here) to rip down the road to home.

 

Transcendental 10.5 kms with 411 m upped

Saturday to Bain's Bay and Back

Staying at Moana with Steev'n'Meeg, 

Steev'n Me headed over the Arnold and along the lakeside Scenic Trail. Fun ride. Cruised until there was no more to cruise, washy deep gravelly sand impeding us to a walk, and we explored a little further, but couldnt see whether there was a way beyond.  Sign said "Track Closed from this point due to bridge removal."   Not really sure if this was true or not, but we weren't getting the next step to Mitchells.  So, Bain Bay it was.  Then we turned back and hooned.  

two bike pics, nice swampy forest ponding reflections behind...

Nothing tech, just a nice cruise. 20 odd km, with sweet F. A. (115 m) climbed.

Tuesday Evening Wandering

Too much other life getting in the way and I hadn't even realised it was a whole week undone.  

Short jaunt up in the local trails with Nelson tonight. Up road, over 19th, Skidder aind into Upper-Rooted, not a lot of progress made in the bit I've ducked out on, with stumps still in the ground, but push a little further up and the trail is all but finished, bar maybe 2 corners.  The final exit is practically done, and they're even extending it to join the wee zig zag feeder return for BrakeFree.  Topped out Vic, turned around in the carpark and dived off down jumpies, back up Worm, and dived down into Fenceline, pelunking down here, Romey, and into the bottom.  

Back into Uprooted, all the way up to Skidder again and this time down Shazza's, across into Pono's, which felt like aaages since (which was a surprisingly similar route - nothing new under the sunset).  Out at the 23/Texaco, and this time into the walking track (Eastern Valley?), nicely nicely bar the longish step section (which really wasn't that bad, and out to a hairpin where, "hang, on, what's this?"  A new section of track heading across and slightly down into the Sneaky oaks, even with a brand-new bridge installed.  Quick wander, and speculation where they must be taking, then rode up from fence jump, around to climb back Uprooted to Skidder. Light was going, and I was taxed by the climbs, so we headed out the road from Skidder, and ducked into Heavenly Sleeps... down my super familiar homeward trails.

Only 7.5 kms and 350 m clamberated, but was nice to get out.

Quick Sunday Local Pruning Spin

Sweet wee ride with the pruning saw to tidy a few stray branches about the place.  Headed up the road, over 19th, then dropped over Dazza's for a biff baff boff.  Then climbed across and dropped into that wee section of Pedalfine that had the branch across it.  Someone had kinda taken care of it, but not done that good a job, so I got to it with the saw and cut it off near the bottom, then cleared it right out of the way.  Continued my way down here into the bottom of the gulley, nearly losing it in slick muddy dirt.  Into Uprooted, with it's nice new carved sign,

climbing all the way up and out to Skidder, then into the new section, which was about where I'd left it last time, a couple weeks back.  I knew they'd been working on it so I didnt understand until I was further up the grunter and I could see they've been working on the middle-upper section isolated.  Not a bad idea that - stop people riding it before it's ready, by not connecting the bits being worked on.  

Climbed to top of Vic, headed down Thomson's #1 and turned back up it to the top again.  Then down around the jumpies, down Rabbit into Rocks, Gums, down and out.  Into Heavenly and had a lovely spin down here, cruising nicely.  Where T crashed the other week, I stopped and cut off a wee stump that's always bothered me, then took off a piece of the branch that took out my light the other week, whiplashing me.  Continued, more nice riding, then in Sleepy I stopped and cut a few more pokey-outy stump-branches, which will improve the flow both directions.  Downwards again, through, and in the final corner before dropping to H'Ell I stopped and explored for a way through.  Feel bad tackling this section because there's so much re-gen going on.  5-fingers and lancewoods all self-sown coming up...  Might just leave it and live with the clamber.

Short'n'sweet, 6.4 kms, 250 m climbed

Sunday, Speedbombing the Ghosts of Lyell.

Packed out of Carter's Beach and hooned up to Lyell to take in the first 11 kms of the Old Ghost. Very nice it was too!!  

We treadled our way up and up and up, in and out of valleys, checking out the historic sites all the way.  I was remembering back to the very first time up here on one of the boys' bike trips, a trail of lore for me at the time, and just started-on as what is now the Old Ghost Road.  At the time they were barely even across to the Ghost Lake and wondering how to get the next stages built.  

Tra'y loved the ride, the e-power helping her so much.  I just plugged away at it, remembering the first day of my full Ghost trip with Nelsie and the Wellingtonians.  They'd let me lead and I'd felt the pressure from behind and tried to keep a stupid pace in a far too hard a gear, blowing up in about 10 minutes.  Someone else took over and pretty much grannied it and we all slowed down and it was much easier.  I took that advice this time and kept it slow and steady.  I was therefore surprised when I spotted some riders ahead, and proceeded to catch them up!  Overtook; a couple of slightly older ladies from Wanaka, heading for the Lyell Saddle Hut; and left them behind.  Maybe a couple of kms later, we made it almost to where I'd gotten the first time with the PFMTBC crew, nearly to the slips, just past the 11 km marker.  Stopped in a sunny aspect, had a snack, and then turned to head back.  

In this pic, I'd stopped for T and she'd ridden past and I just caught her (see the red)

Not long until we passed the two ladies again and the bomb began.  What a flow.  Speedbomb lived up to its name.  It handled gloriously, so much fun.  I'd rocket forward, careening down the straights, hangin' on around the corners, always keeping an eye ahead for climbers (none).  The most fun possible.  I'd stop at the bottom of a straight and wait for Tra'y to appear, check she was good and then blaze again.  Sometimes there was minimal wait, she was loving it too.  Sometimes there was a long wait and I'd wonder if I was gonna need to turn back to see, but then she'd appear.  Fun times, and then they were done.  Across the bridge and back up to the car.    

Amazingly, somehow, 1129 m of climbing over a total altitudinal difference of maybe 800 m (really not sure where the rest of it came from).  Gloriously beautiful.

Coastal Kawatiri, Carter's to Charleston with a Comeback on a Cooperating Wind

Left the unit at 9.30 and headed out to the beach into the wind south to take in the Kawatiri Coastal Trail.  

Composed of a few quite long, quite boring sections of farmland, but also some very lovely regen bush bits full of birds and reportedly with kiwi in them. Some spectacular coastal formations, incredible seascapes, and lovely bush.  First bush section was from the Cape Foulwind was very nice, as was the largest bit in the middle.  River crossings were pleasant swing bridges, and there were various shortish sections of nice boardwalks too.  All very nice.  

Only complaint; in the bush at one stage the overwhelmingly disgusting smell of dairy effluent permeated everything.  It somehow got into my nose and just wouldn't shift.

Heading home was incredible.  The tailwind just powered me along and we made very good time considering the distance and how rinsed I was from the Mokihinui the day prior.  

Super easy trail compared to yesterday, reflected in the 68 kms with only 489 m climbed. Head wind was hard heading there but the tailwind home was perfection. Home at 4.45, so a pretty long day. 

Friday Ghosting Forks, Mokihinui GOATs

Awesome ride today, with Tra'y on the Electric Cooker and me on the Stooge. We were the only car to park at the Mokihinui end of the Old Ghost Rd, and in we rode. 

Initial climb followed by instant bliss.  "This is the best thing in the world!" I holla'd back to her.  So nice.  Then, onto the end of the road, down to the gate and onto the trail proper.  It was beautiful and spectacular and the weather held and the river roared, or was eerily quiet. It all felt so good.  Even the climbing wasn't terrible.  Not horribly tech.  Speedbomb loved it; it carries momentum so well, rolls over everything so nicely.  Couple hours to the Specimen Hut, so many good views of the river, roaring or quiet and sedate, quite varied.  Steep drop offs, in places, and Tra'y had a few scary moments.  She ended up with some quite juicy bruises from nooby mistakes.

Managed to get all the way to Forks Hut. Ostensibly 20kms in (but our total of 37 might beg to differ slightly). 1226 m climbed tho, so that's quite something given the lowest point was 22 m and the highest was 188 m. Long tho, Started at 8.30, 11 at the Forks Hut, 11.15 departure, 1.55 back at the car. 2.5 hrs each way, pretty much... 

Follow-Up Rooting

Short rest at home post eeb ride, and decided I needed some more, and I was keen to see how far the Vollies got on the next section of Uprooted. So, headed out and up on the Stooge for a wee jaunt.  Popped into the DogParkCarpark entrance to climb Sleepy and up to the walk track, then below road to 19th.  Up through the gate and climbed the singletrack to Skidder, then straight into the new Uprooted extension.  Wow.  Surpassed expectations; incredible job. I do regret not joining in, but it just wasn't gonna work. Other priorities, ie a TFC Planting that would have taken my volunteer precedence, but that also got overridden by time spent with T on our interesting urban exploration. 

I climbed it to as far as they got, and then pushed up the steps of the walking track it parallels, then up the top of the grunter out to Brakefree then last climb to the top.  Loop around the carpark and back in, down over the jump, then usuals, rabbit, rocks, pines, gums all the way down.  Heavenly Heavenly, then sleepless Sleepy, Hollowed out all the way down.

Sweet f a travailed (5 kms) and 178 units of bugger all climbed.

Saturday Eeebs about Town, Cameron's for lunch

Sweet eeeb ride with my missus. Dropped some cookies off to the olds, then meandered to Riccarton Bush market via the backstreets of Somerfield/Spreydon, through Church Square and Hagley Park edge.  Then up to Uni for an architectural wonderlast.  Feeling peckish, we detoured across to the Fendalton shops for coffee and a scone, then detoured back through to Uni, Staff Club, Halls, byways to The Avonhead, and across to Sockburn, some bikeroute in that strange triangle to the Sockburn Roundabout.  Footpath around the caryards and up-and-overbridge to Cameron's Japanese Family Restaurant, the old Burger building.  

I had a very nice Pork Bone Ramen, but Tracey's Karaage Chicken wasn't so great (affecting her badly later).  We crossed busy Main South, stopped in at Mi Woolies, then alongside Wigram old-airfield and took the Wigram Drain, under the motorway, through Nga Puna Wai grounds and downstream on the Heathcote to Sunnyside Hillmorton, Domain Tce bike route meandering past Pioneer then through to Bengal, Delhi, Lady Poison, Hacked up home.

Electrifying 33 kms, and just the 278 m (most of which is our hill).

Sunday's Cavendish Coffee Stop

T and me headed up, her on the Charge again and me on the Jeht.  I had to walk the worst of the grunter because I need a new drivetrain (and my legs were super tired from going up it 3 times yesterday). 

Hit Worm onto the Traverse with lots of stops for oncoming traffic (and meeting Pete and Alistair at the top of Lavaflow).  Up onto Vernon for a nice flowy blast (stopping occasionally to make sure T was okay, she was).  Then I did Witch while T took the road under, then together around to under the Tors, then we tried out her towing me on the climb to Castle, which was good, although hard on my arm.  Then I hit Castle for a nice blast, riding well, and together we rode round under the gondola to Cavendish Saddle, and up the hill to the top station to get a coffee and enjoy the beautiful day, and view with all the tourists. 

From here, T headed back down the way we'd come, and I headed around the back of the building and down the Crater Rim, biff boff baff on the steps and rocks, meeting T at the Bridle-top (and getting a clap from a kid who watched me negotiate the rocks at the end). She gave me another tow up the Summit from to Castle-top, then it was a nice coasting roll to Rapaki (skipped Witch - I was tired after yesterday), then another tow up around most of Vernon. 

Onto Traverse for the hoon towards home, into the jumps, down rabbit, into the rocks - which T handled spectacularly, then gums, again, but my usual way here (she only walked that one corner), then all the way home.  In the steepest bit in the first Heavenly Creatures section, T had a weird wee crash, ending up pinned by the bike and her own leg.  Peaky ankle and knee... Good flow from here tho - but she was hurtin' and knackered.

Substantial 22kms and a not insubstantial 880 m supersumed

Saturday, Ride of 2 Parts

Up with Max, and Tra'y trying out the turbocharged Charge. Went really well for her. I was on the Stooge and had a nice time. 

Up thru Vic, Max doing pretty well, walking a bit of the grunter.  Topped out then headed around the Traverse to the Bowenvale saddle carpark where we got onto the road, taking this around to Huntsbury/Vernon. The trail riding was maybe a little hard for Max, but Tra'y was rocking it. Hit the Traverse back around, both only walking the rock at top of Lava and that one bit just before the pond. Stopped briefly in the macs just after the jumps, and Nick from work rolls up, brief chat.  Then it was thru Brakefree, into Pines, and what I thought was 'easier' gums, which turned out harder than I imagined for them (steep corners), but out the bottom was okay.  At the gate we said goodbye to Max who was knackered, and hadn't expected mountain biking to be so hard.  T and me headed down Heavenly Creatures all the way home and she absolutely caned it!  Very proud I am.  

A reasonable 10km and 320m climbed. 

Then I was home and hankering to ride a bit more so I headed back up. Dogpark carpark into Sleepy climb, over 19th, up from Skidder and topped out.  Hit the Thomson's -both, then back up the road. Bumped into Nick again at top of Vic then dropped in round the jump and Worm, Upper Fenceline, Rome - piecing something quite cool together. Up Rooted, then weirdly up from Skidder (3rd time today), and down Rabbit, Gums and all the usuals home again. 

8km this time with greater upward mobility, 350m   

Tuesday Night Nun-Vic Combo

Bit of a hoof about tonight.  Up the usuals, granny cog playing up again on the climb from the skidder.  I'd forgotten about that, I guess I need a new drivetrain.... Couple of walkers had just dropped into Thomson's so I topped out to the carpark before turning around and heading down, passing them part way down.  Onto road, dropped into the second one, then out to Kiwis.  

Up the road and into the Nun for a flowy jam.  Had to stop part way down after some weird cornering vibes, chucking some air in the back tire. Better flow after this.  First couple of bits below CAP still closed, so dropped in part way down road, and ground out the rest to pop out at the Kiwi.  Up the road and into both Thomsons again, then topped out to carpark again.  Turned and dropped into the jumpies, undercooking the second one, then down gums, moseying out at the Skidder.  

Here, I randomly decided to head into Dazza's to take the new entrance to (what I call) Razza's.  Sweet rooty tech in here, then continued down, down eventually into Macros, sidling to Brents, and taking the newish highish sideline over on the left, dropping down to the bottom of Uprooted.  Climb, only able to go as low as 2nd gear, topping out, crossing Skidder, back into the trees for the flow around and down out to the gate.  Across into Heavenly, where, down towards the end of the first section my light caught an invisible lemonwood branch, mild whiplashing to my neck, before continuing out, up, into the next bit, nice flow, groove, and fun.  Oaks, last bit to H'Ell, and clamber home.

Not too shabby for a night ride, 11.3 km and 425 m climbed

Sunday's Stooge, Full of Bluster

Bit mucky in places, up for a scramble. 

Topped out Vic then hauled the Traverse, mix of both tail and head winds, blustery nor'west peeling all over the place. Biffed down Huntsbury then sheepshitty-Alley Express, mums and lambs, tech rocks slow and considered. Into top of Old Skool for a snack in a sunny and just-breezy spot.  Headed down to start with, with the expectation of turning back due to muckiness, which in short measure, I did - climbing what I'd normally only descend and finding it ok. Around under the pylon and surprisingly fun descent around into the trees, dropping down and finding extra muck, all the way from Lavaflow through to the valley bottom. 

Climbing now, usual steeps, struggle street. Up and over just a little bit to check Pedalfine - still needs a saw (which I might tackle soon). So, back up and dropped onto Raceline down a couple of bends and popped off onto Uprooted, climbing this out, then up the gutser for 2nd haul, and a run at the gums and the Creature, Hollow down home, flow. 

Propitious 11.3 kms, 489 m 

Thursday Night Habitual Creature Feature

Up on the Jeht tonight to wash out the week's worth of work brain and see how underwhelming my fitness is. Quite, but good for me and fun as fun can be. Peaked, splecked both Thomson's both ways then just down the usuals, somehow keeping control of the grease.  Heavenly sleepy creatures and Hollow, slow styles and chuffing. Home. 

6 kms and not even au, 200 m

2 years of the Jeht!!!  crikey, that's flown.

Sunday's Railing Reynold's Bossu Trailing

Ride with a couple workmates today. Parked up at Kaituna Quarry and honked it around to Okuti Valley at quite a clip.  Things were splecky, and I think we may have gotten one shower - otherwise we were extremely lucky.  These boys were fast, young, and on light weight xc machines, and I was working hard on the Stooge. 

After flushing a large flock of kereru out of some tagaste, we hit the Reynold's climb, and I was almost instantly dropped.  After a couple of corners, they powered on ahead, soon disappearing from view, and I just continued my own pace, plodding my way up that massive climb. They were waiting in the 'bothy' out of the howling wind at the top, and there was the forgotten extra climb to deal to. We stuck together on this, tho I was lagging before it's top.  Man the view of Kaitorete from up here is amazing.

Then it was down time. I set off first, but in short order Mike powered past. My top gear wasn't tall enough so I couldn't spin to keep up. One small level and minimal climb and we regrouped at Te Oka top.  Next was another last climb. They dropped me again and then I cramped. Even had to walk a bit so they got a massive gap on me. I slowly wound in Callum, finally coasted, tucked, past him and we met Mike at the bottom. 

Across the gravel and onto the road to trail trail again to return. More cramping... 

A cramping 45 kms and 980 m (😮) climbed

Saturday Eeebs in the Fog

Up from home and along the Summit Rd in the absolute thickest fog, other cyclists and walkers looming out of nothing ahead, and howling blusters across the saddles, or randomly off slopes, until Cavendish Saddle where Tra'y got the weirdest pain that felt like it could have resulted in a hospital visit. In the fog, in the wind we sheltered on the side of the road to see if it would pass. It didn't seem to be, so I rang Joy and she came and rescued her and the bike. I bombed ahead and then we got warm and ate and Tra'y came completely right - very strange... This leg was 14.6 kms 558 m, electrically enhanced. 

Remembered to start MMR part way down Mt Pleasant Rd, then rode around to Toff's for a look.  Back on Ferry we're spinning along and alongside pulls Susan with mum and dad in their car.  They pulled ahead and pulled over and we had a catch upon the side of the road... From here it was home through the usual sideways, low-ways, high-ways and back ways, 11.7 kms, 231 m electrically ridden.

Friday Night Stoogilla in the Mist

Nice we spin up on the Stooge after work, due to no commitments, to take in a bunch of my favourites.  Fun times, if a little greasy in places.  Dropped into the bush from dogparkcarpark, looking at the old route to start with, wondering about the connection into the new, in the clearing below the pylon.  I'm guessing the intention is to ride up around into it?  Anyway.  Nice climb up through Sleepy and then up the walking tracks to 19th.  Up around the back of it, then up from skidder, grinding, out to the top.  Down around past the jumps (too greasy) and down Rabbit, rocks, Gums, out to skidder, and off down Shazza's, Macros, into Uprooted, climbing away, and then back over into the singletrack and down, into heavenly Heavenly Creatures for a lovely biff down here, all the way home.  Lubbly jubblies.

Just about 6 kms, and two-fiddy metres honked

Sunday Walk-Ride Stooge

Headed out and up for a date with my girl. We stuck together all the way to the Skidder then she headed down a big dog leg to meet me where Eastside track meets the mtb track. I took Shazza's flowing into Macros then out the bottom and around the newly re-furbished Flow.  Stopped and waited (quite a while) for her at the walktrack interseciton.  When she arrived we headed the same way with her following me down NuBridges to the valley-bottom. 

Up valley from there with much cleaned and some walked. One small tumble, tripped by a flax. Then it was the lovely flow back towards the bike track gulley and into Uprooted. Lovely climb, first time on the finished product. Next it was over Skidder and into the singletrack.  Met T at the gate and we headed down the heavenly Heavenly Creatures and Sleepy Hollow. 

Only 5.6 kms and 242 m uprooted.

Saturday Good Godley Mistaken Snake Escape

Cruisey ride with Nelson today. Picked him up 2 ish, bikes on back, we headed down, around through Scumner and parked up Evans.  Headed up onto a very-nicely-tidied Godley.  It's so much flowy-er than it was and is now a joy to ride. I reckon even the Stooge would be fun on it now.  Made very good time up to the high point and headed off down with much speed to Livingston.  Next climb has had a slight tickle as well and also rides quite nicely.  Good fang down to Breeze, with me managing to stay on his tail the whole way.  Next up the side above the road, then onto our old sketched sheep-trail, which has obviously not been used by anyone for a long time.  Brief rest at the Lookout bunker, with Nelson jumping off it, and then down, fast, to the carpark, along side and over the road onto the OG singletrack.  Back along here watching incredible murmuration of starlinks and a hawk and some gulls.  Good roll, fun times back to Breeze, then up road a little and onto upper Anaconda for a very fast smooth blast down.  Tail rolled good and then up the Escape, riding it well and cleaning it all. From Livingston decided to ride back up Godley, cleaning it all nicely and enjoying not climbing up the paddock from the road, and enjoying the blast back to the car.  Rollin'!  

Pretty good 15.6 kms, and over 600 m climbed.

Sunday Late Afternoon Loop

Quick pint at Moon and left T and Nik there to walk home.  I got home and jumped on the Stooge to ride up to the Skidder, down Shazza's, into Macros, and out onto Flow, New Bridges, and all the way down out the bottom of Bowenvale.  Down the road, left into Wedgewood, Landsdowne, then along the river.  Stymied at the library, back over the bridge and around, then chasing the girls down Colombo to Wherstead corner and catching up.  I then took myself down Wherstead, through to Ernie Clarke and along a splecky riverside, following the river up to PMH and cutting in next to Hackthorne to climb up the steeper and steeper dirt track to get up onto the Sassalong Sidle.  Lady Poison, MacMillan, then up Whisby, down to Kidson climbing up here then up our zigzag and home.  I beat them home too, strangely.

Eveningly 12 kms and 330 m climbed. 

Saturday Post-Southerly Troll Summit.

Up for a hoon on the Surly, after the storm had cleared, with a couple of Summit Rd Peaks summitted. 

Vic climb, brief walk on gutser, then onto the Summit Rd.  Checked gmaps and saw T and Nik were below me, so popped into the lower Thomson and waited for them, then waited for them again at the end of H'Ell, then met them again when I was filling water behind the Kiwi.  From here, I meandered out the Summit Rd towards the Bellbird.  Annoyingly a guy (older than me!) on a mtb left the kiwi same time as me and proceeded to slowly creep away from me.  I just didn't have the push to keep up or spin ahead.  He departed up Worsleys and I continued, nice and sunny and calm on the north face of Ada, otherwise a good cool southerly blasting across the tops.  

I pulled into the Bellbird and changed out layers and ate a bit of OneSquare then continued my quest.  Pulled out at the top of Living Springs, walking up to the top of the knoll here to add to my peak-bags.  That done, I headed back towards home, but just around the corner I popped up onto the Crater Rim and started pushing.  Left the bike for a bit, walked ahead, then thought, nah, I'll bring it.  Back to it, then pushed for a bit, then rode, then left it and explored to the top of this knob.  (on the topo, it's the pointy escarpment-top between the 524 and 505 (between the radar dome and Coopers Knob)).  Good views and there was even a bit of snow around.  Back to the bike (a slightly different route) and on along the poached singletrack, enjoying it's downwardness.  

Back on the road and onwards back towards home.  Nice roll down to the kiwi then up the road to top of Vic.  Checked the maps again and could see T was just around past Sugarloaf on what we call her knob, so I headed on around, watching them descending it and arriving at the saddle by the pond just as they got there.  Nice surprise and another catch-up.  Said our so-longs and I headed back around the Summit.  The Traverse below was wet as, so I stayed off that, then took the main track down through to skidder, then road all the way home for some nice smooth speed.   

Disappointingly, and somewhat surprisingly, only 11.6 kms and 480 climbed...

Sketchy Stoogilicious Sundowner

Groovy ride. Rapid departure from work and home in no time to leap on the Stooge to ride up and meet T on the Summit Traverse for a Sundowner. I had a nice DVB Wizardry and took her a Go-Go Juice. We watched the sun sink behind the mountains then I was racing the darkness home. Fine in the open, but getting dark in the macs top of Vic and then super hairy times in the woods as I got closer to home. Hairy times... 

Sketch a f, 7.4 kms, and 255 m escalated.

Nice pick from start of Gums rockgarden.

Sunday Sweet Date Ride Walk

Rode with my sweet, walking. Worked surprisingly well and gave a reasonably low impact Stooge treatment for my injured knee, with good company. Finally got to show her my new locals, too.

We headed up from home, not really planning to stay together the whole time but then it just worked out that way.  Up the wheelchair track over the info-centre hill knoll (what is a bike if not a wheelchair? It's got a seat; it's got wheels!), then up over 19th the way I always go, then up the steep from skidder, Tra'y walking along with me the whole way.  Then up top of Vic and we cruised along the Traverse.  It worked pretty well, it was slow for me along here, but all the climbs were pretty even, and I'd just stop and let (very few out) riders or runners (lots of them) through and then wait for T to catch up.  I took this picture just before the Lavaflow and that's where my MMR stopped. 

Continued around, rolling downs, coasting ups, stopping, waiting, rolling together when possible.  It was really nice.  At end of Traverse we went across the road and into Scott's Knob.  I realised how much I like this trail.  It's got some interesting tech, especially when greasy.  On the second knob we stopped and checked out the rope net.  Amazing, cellular looking literal sculpture.  

At the pond we popped across the road and back around the rest of the Traverse to Vic.  Worm down to rabbit, and I showed T my usual way through the rocks, pines, gums, the steepest bits proving tricky for her, but mostly good.  Then down from gums to gate, she didn't necessarily know this route.  Then, across the road and into Heavenly, she'd never been through before and I think quite liked it.  Finally, the last section, I showed her my tree clearance, and the way to Sleepy Hollow - which she dug.  Then at the 'to H'Ell' track she peeled off, I finished off my favourite ending and we hooked up at the neighbours' driveway again.   

MMR stuffed up when I took the pic. A very similar route to this one, this one from a few weeks back just minus the bit where I rode back along the Summit Rd, so more like 11 or 12 kms, and similar 400 odd m climbed. 

Thursday Night Greenwood, Richmond Valley Newby

Good hoof with Nelsie tonight. Rode up the usual Santa Maria, Assissi, Drayton, Mt Pleasant from his, taking Madeley, Major Horny, then Long-Clear-Ridge-View to Upper and into the start of Britten when I realised I hadn't turned on my Map - 3ish kms and a couple hundy metres missed(!)... Climbed Britten, road, OG entrance to Greenwood for a bony rocky mucky descent.  They're working on it at the moment and have spraypainted yellow spots on 'offending' rocks.  To me, the yellow spots are completely offensive, drawing the eye and totally mucking up the flow.  So many of the rocks they've spotted dont need removing!  And some of the work already done is a mess, but I guess it'll bed in and wash away a bit over the next few.  Anyway, it was better once we got below the paint.  Lower half was good.  

Onto the Summit Rd for a steady climb up to the big pines.  Dropped over into Frog Pond, been a while since down here, and it's running pretty good.  It's a weird change lower down with all the trees gone.  Then Nelson had spotted a new trail the other day with Kirsty, so we headed down into the valley (as if we were heading across to Richmond Hill) and then off down this new track.  Got some flow on and then >SMACK< my pedal hit a rock, throwing me up and out of control, ragdolling my left knee into a rock and tumbling over onto the ground.  Handlebars/stem were tweaked crooked, so had to straighten them, got back on and followed Nelson down.  He'd been entirely unaware I crashed.  Rest of the way was nice, with some interesting tech, and a back and forth in the valley that's quite cool.  Tight and twisty, with one walking rock tech bit with lots of exposure.  

Out of the trees onto Richmond Hill Rd and out into Sumner for the cruise around the waterfront bike path.  Into McCormacks/Drayton, climbing (and me walking a few more spots than usual) and back to his.  Knee: Sore but not as mashed as I'd expected, thankfully.

Nelson's map with the actual distance... 19 kms, 740 climbed

Tuesday Night Jeht Hoon

Sounds like some Korean dude: Jet Hoon... Another night another ride, different bike similar trails. Nice fun, Tawhairanui, singletrack, pushed my way up Pop'n'Fresh - man it's big! There's a lot of space in there but an uphill trail would be tricky to place. I reckon there's a way but it would probably have to meander back and forth across Popnfresh, skirting into Gums a little, and the top bit would probably need to cut into the sidling entrance I usually take across from the Rocks below the pines. Could work.  Another option would be to chuck it through the fence and zig and zag up in the grasslands beyond.

Next it was up the rabbit paddock, up onto Thompsons both, both ways, down and back up, then around the jumps and back down Rabbit into rocks pines gums. Exit over Skidder, dropping down Razza's, Sneaky, up the usual down and into Uprooted for a good hard climb. Then over Skidder again into the Heavenly blast on singletrack home. 

All in all a good time. I had a lot of interactions with possums tho. Should put some effort into taking a few out... 

7.17 kms and 296 m clambered

Monday After-Dinner, Mint Stooge

Stooged about on the hill tonight. Nice wee hoon, not too high but some sweet climbs and fun descending.  

Up the walking path just above the road, over onto Tawhairanui, then back up the wheelchair track to the Info Centre, then down the back of that and up over the 19th.  At skidder I took the middle road across to the exit of Fenceline, explored down Flow-Rider but found it a tad double-black, pushed back up and hit Cool Runnings which was a bit of fun, tho not very jumpy cos I just dont know it anymore.  Out the bottom and up Uprooted, nice climb, checking out where it hits Razzas this time.  then over from Skidder and down the usual, into Heavenly Creatures for a very flowy and fun bash.  All the way down, with good speed.  Clamber, road, home.   

A smidge over 5 kms and a peaky little 188 m climbed

Sunday Stuffed Short Stooge

Nice quick planting this morning at Wilmers Rd and still feeling the effects of Gryph's 21st on Friday night.  

I hauled my aging carcass up the hill on the Stooge. Air pumping into my lungs and oxygen burning hard in the meat wrapped around my bones. Gasping, I was. Up the usuals, road, dogparkcarparkstart, climbing sleepy out up walktrack to 19th, skidder, grinder to top of Vic.  Blipped off down both Thomson's, and back up the top one, up to the carpark, then down around the jumpies, peeling into Worm and realising there was nowhere that way I actually wanted to go (couldn't be arsed going out the Traverse, or Fenceline, or Pedal...), so back around for a second go on the jump and into the rabbit paddock, down through rocks pines gums, exiting out through Skidder and over into Shazza's, all the way down through the newer bit and instead of heading into Brents or Macros hung a hard left towards Sneaky, and tight into Corporate Ladder, down this for the first time and it's not ideal.  Down into the valley and up Uprooted (nearly finished! - it's amazing), over Skidder again into the trees and stopped for a wee break where I often do just to take in the airs.  Drinking much water and a half-half-a-one-square, then the rest of the singletrack from here and into Heavenly Hollows, all the way, and stopped right near the bottom to try to work out my new exit option...  (I think I've got it). 

Stoogelicious 7.7 kms and 320 odd climbed.

Keeping our Wits About Us on View Hill in Matariki Weather. Sixteen-Hundredth Missive

Welcome to this blog's 1600th post.

T and me left Little Brook at 10.15ish.  She walked and I rode at her pace. Nice conversational cruise. Sunshine and rain. Cold but well dressed for the occasion. 

(Around an hour and a half in)

Steep walking or if too slippy. 2 hours we were past the gate, another 20 to the top in cloud and bitter wind. 

(at the top - bitterly cold wind driven fog)

T set off down and I had to head over to the leeward side (where we'd just been resting) finish my half-half-one-square before setting off (she ate hers as she walked). Down the ridge, into the freezing wind and cloud moisture, to find T a little lost.  Guided her over and stayed with her for a while after that, keeping close until the gate, with riding treacherously slippery and rough. Her running was almost faster. 

Below the gate I got a bit more speed on, saying my goodbye to her. Rough as guts, and slippery to boot, speed and flow was not the way of the ride, until, the odd section. Then the smoother gravel. Lots of speed here but needing to keep it toned. Carefully, carefully down the concrete channeled section, feeling almost a little out of control but then gradually releasing the gravity beast and gaining velocity up, up into a crescendo, tires on gravel, wind, everything rushing quickly toward me. My old friend rapido-speed. Rolling rapidly, so comfortably, through past the Craw (Andrew? Was that you?) on the ladder, "gudday," "gudday."

Now the next gravel, a few pedal strokes once the speed was low enough for top gear, over the rise and coasting again, lovely brakes-unneeded descent to the seal, then down around main descent. Coasting faster and faster, no pedaling no braking needed until a couple of wee checks for corners. Bliss. Such a good speed and view and comfort level of flow and road and machine and body all working perfectly together.  And a rainbow that I rode into before coming round on the bridge and lovely trees and bush either side and there was rain, all down here lit by the sun, floaty-motey droplets. Past the church and around past a woman walking entirely unaware of my approach and likely just as unaware of my departure. Speed building, shooting down past the beach, easing around the corner and, find the gear, start cranking... Final driveway, stopped and chatted with Adrian for a bit., then cranked on up the drive...

A reasonable 15.15 kms, and at least 762 m climbed (even if MMR only says it was 746...).

Nicely Decanted. Thursday's Troll, cattlestop trip-trapping.

Tra'y walking, me on Troll, up Menzies Bay Rd. Bye at the top and rolling, rolling, eyes watering, gravel-control, through the valley bottom then climbing, past the onga-onga, gently climbing, onwards and updwards, and stopping to take in the surging foam on the Decanters, then climbing, looking at the Millenium dawn walk Memorial (and time capsule (they're dreaming, "dont open until 2500," indeed!)) on up the road climbing still, past the yards, over the next cattlestop, around past the shed and shelterbelt, through the next cattlestop and only a little way further towards the first high point, turned back here, on account of Williams boy working the cattle, possibly to the road.  

Rolled back down, gaining nice speed to gravel-control-zone, to find T just arriving at the Memorial thing.  She turned back here, and I rolled briefly with her before hitting the rest of the down, gravel-grippage.  Nice bomb down here, cruise-control in action, through the bottom and climbing again, up and grinding, or sitting and trying to spin - probably in favour of the former - learning to love the grind.  Williams boy was on the road opposite as I was approaching the top.  Surprising how slow his progress was down as I made my way to his gate.  Rolling from here, gaining speed, keeping it in check (to a point).  Fun blast.  Check out the beach then home.

Overall, a ride comprised of lots of weather-matic adjustment to conditions, with sunshine and rainfall both, and cold winds and sheltered spots.  14.3 kms added up with 627.5 m ground-out of the ground.

Trolling Chorlton on the Wheelie

Buried beautiful boy Jetty-puss with a view of the property, which he always loved sniffing about and chasing sticks on, and then T and me went out for some exercise. 

I rode along on the Troll with her, through Adrian's, up Luke's Rd and up to Chorlton. Realising as we rode that I've been riding the Troll for over 14 years.  We continued up View Hill Rd a bit then decided that was enough. I let gravity take me, down across Chorlton-top and I pedalled into Long Lookout Rd to the first high point, took a pic of Raupo,

(doesn't look so bad out there, but there were showers all day)

then turned back and rolled, like a pendulm, pedalling up to Tra'y for a kiss, then turned and rolled back down to the end of the seal that way again and then back, to hit the LAk Rd down. What a roll... Blasted through past the beach and out to the wharf thinking about when I used to run Jet down here, for another pic,

(gloomy up valley)

then back up home. 

<1/2 a km shy of 10, with a metre shy of 260 m climbed

RIP the best boy. Jet

Said goodbye to the best boy today. Poor old Jettypuss, best trail dog ever, when he could... 

Buried not that far from where he was born, lived his life loved by us all.

Sunday, Necessary Short Jeht.

Should have got out earlier but didn't. T and me headed up and parted ways at the dog park carp ark. I bopped into the forest down and around onto Sleepy Hollow and climbed from there. Was really tired from yesterday's Hanmer jaunt, I guess?  Up to 19th, then through gate and took the singletrack along and up, checking out the options for the climbing route, then back across to the bottom of Sesame and onto the grunter part way up.  Up to top of Vic, taking a breather at Thomson's turn-off before heading up over down around the first jump, peeling right onto Worm.  

Got rolling across the Traverse and pulled over to let a guy coming towards me through, at the same time as letting a dude on a titanium rigid looking flash thing through who was going my way.  I said, you're going faster than me, and off he went and I proceeded to stay on his tail until the top part way up that first climb.  I didn't care, he was way younger and fitter than me, but I did feel old and fat at that point.  Continued, with nice flow, around, and had a near miss on the corner around below Sugarloaf (after the down, before the pullover sign), skidding and just avoiding a rider coming through "Sorry about that!"  At the sign I checked on T's whereabouts and then could see her way down on the Bowenvale Valley track, so figured I'd give her time to get further up and so headed along the Traverse further.  At the high point I could see she'd turned around so I rang her, we waved, the weather was coming in which was why she was turning around, so I did too and headed back.  Nice flow back around to Vic, straight into the trees, jump one and two, down to fence, down rabbit, into rocks, pines, gums down and around.  Where you dive left rather than out to Sesame near the bottom (where I'd climbed out), I stopped and cleared a bit of foliage that's been annoying me for a while now.  Cleared the sight-line.  Onwards down, into the conifers and down around, stopped here to clear some foliage too.  

Then it was time head home.  Down the singletrack, gate, over onto Heavenly for a lovely baff down, nicely nicely.  After the oaks, and on the last stretch to the H'Ell, I stopped again, this time to scope out the possible route for a new exit out higher.  I reckon I've got it.  When things dry again, I'll head in with the pruning saw.

Only 8.6 kms and 282 m climbed, but worth every penny.

Saturday Dawn Raid on Tombstone, baby

Sweet ride on the Stooge on a bunch of new-to-me trails. Tombstone is really fun and perfect for the Stooge.  Left the bach with T just before 8am, dawn - pretty much, and headed up Lucas Lane into the new to both of us trails.  Grabbed CV Express and I left her here rolling ahead faster than her fast walking speed.  I kept passing above her on all the switchbacks which was nice.  Eventually I lost sight of her and then not long further got to the top of Tank.  Good climb, will be nice once all the trees grow back up.  

Dropped into Tank, which was a hoot.  The Stooge performed really well, no sketch, no dice.  Climbed out the end and then into the Yankee Zephyr climb, which was longer than I remembered, maybe because last time I did it was 2019 and the trees have grown considerably.  At the kind of skidder site I peeled into the new (to me) Tombstone, which has a very nice climb.  Some nice native under the larches and patches and generally a good grade, never too steep, but steady.  Eventually got to the top of the climb, nice view up to Isabell, and it was time for the descent.

and what a descent...  Glorious flowy trail, just brought joy to my headstate.  It was mint.  Some of the most zen fun I've had for years.  Super fun, able to get some speed, then some nice tech sections that keep you on your toes but aren't terrible.  So much fun!  Out the end and down onto the Dog Stream trail, where I headed back into the bridge (and noticed that the old descending line to the bridge is now closed.  Headed up onto the road and up towards Big Foot.

Actually started into Big Foot but then looked at the time and thought, nah, I'll just take the Fir Trail.  Well remembered from the 12 hour event many (25?) years before, it's obviously changed a bit since then.  Nice flow down, then left for the last few corners of Big Foot.  Down from here, across Dog Stream for a waste of altitude loss down to Joliffe Rd, climbing up here who should appear but T, running!  Hi!!!  We parted ways again and I headed up to Red Rocks, all changed up here with the whole Timberlands face logged (and a new trail in there for descending).  I peeled onto Red Rocks and rode it, thinking I'd take Eeny Meeny, but found myself heading all the way out to the end.  Around onto Western Link and climb cruising around to bottom of Timberlands and into Swamp.  Long climb up here (the road would be so much shorter!) and out top over onto Flax for a start then into Lower Flow, for a flowy groove, with again, lots of good speed and zen mind state.

Nearly 16 kms and nearly 500 m up. Hanmer always feels way more climb than it ends up being. What is that?

Thursday Night Nun Victorian

Good ride with Nelson tonight. Felt like I was showing off all my new toys...

Rode out from mine, headed up the road (following a group of 4 others), peeled into the dog park carp ark and down the newish line onto Sleepy Hollow, then up and out to the walk track.  By the 19th I'd determined that Nelson hadn't hit the new one from here, so we popped off down there for a lap.  Back at 19th, through the gate, and into the singletrack climbing from here, then out to Skidder for the grind up the grunter.  A couple had been ahead, and were stopped at the water fountain chatting, we rode through and up to Thomsons, where they arrived as we were deciding where to go.  Nelson led, I followed.  He had some gear problems at the end.  Then down into #2, I led, and we flowed, and through out to the road.  Down through Kiwi and up the Summit, with the 2 from the fountain catching us up slowly, and finally pulling ahead just before Worsleys.  Didn't really talk to them much until the top of the Nun.  They dived in first.  

Nun wasn't as greasy as I was expecting, but I still trusted nothing.  Had a good blast down tho.  Then the lower reaches were closed due to the logging below.  We flowed out onto the road, then dived in the lowest from part way down where you can access it.  Good blast down here too.  Out through Kiwi again and I noticed the moon! - not the pest pic, but it was above Charteris/Diamond Harbour, just come up over the hill.

Up the road and at the top there was a group of about 6 young dudes on expensive bikes.  They were chatting so we headed off down, Nelson leading, round through and over the jumpies, then down Rabbit where I led into Rocks Pines and Gums, taking the left down steep, I'm pretty sure a new bit, and out to the corner, out over to Skidder where there was a massive group of riders, including the guy and girl from earlier, and up rolled the infamous Mel, friendly as she always is.  They were all climbing and we headed off down Dazza's.  Ages since down here and hooweee it's steeeep and rooty.  Fun!  Rolled out across the last of the nuShazza's flowing around towards Brents, and then hitting Macros down down out to Corporate Ladder ending and then into Uprooted, Nelson's first time.  Good climb.  One extra corner that wasn't there earlier, and then out the top (a little more progress?), onto the 4wd, out to Skidder and over to the singletrack we'd climbe earlier for the last blast down Heavenly Creatures and all the way home.  Nicely nicely.

Cogent 12.13 kms and a tenable 465 m vert.

No Skool like the Old Skool on a Beautiful Sunday

Took the Cotic up to dog park carp ark and dived into the bushes, under the pylon and down to Sleepy Hollow to climb up the nice paths to 19th. Up through into skidder and up the guts to top of Vic. 

Down around the jump, hard right into Worm, onto Traverse for a good hoon across here. Boffed off down Huntsbury 4Pause, avoided the bottom jump through lack of speed, left in the tussocks down the older line, then into AliExpress dropping down, weaving through the sheepshit and rocks down to Old Skool. 

Excellent flow down here, flow and groove, spiralling down to the bottom and turning straight into the uphill. All the way up the valley, past Hospital and the bottom of NuBridges, climbing the walk track, walking a few bits up the top, then right on the traversing track across to the MTB forest exit, clambering up here and into the New Climb Trail. Beautiful, but still a granny grind... And they've finished up a couple of the corners above the 4wd but no further. 

Out to skidder and over to the below-gums. Short break in here for a breather, then out. Dropped off into Heavenly Creatures for a lovely jaunt, all the way down.  Sleepy, pines, oaks, last bit, H'Ell, clamber, road and home. 

12.1 kms 524 m ground out. 

Saturday, Which Hill?

Tra'y and me headed up, her on her ebike and me on the Troll. Up Vic Park Rd, up through Skidder, and up the grunter, me pushing both our bikes for a bit.  Hit the Summit Rd and she cruised while I chuffed.  At Vernon I headed up onto the singletrack and had a nice conTrolled cruise around and down, meeting her at the gate and heading on around to the other end of Witch Hill, where we took the walk track up for a bit, locked our bikes and walked, clambered, scrambled up to the stone seat on the top. There were a couple of Furries having themselves a nice photoshoot up here.  Interesting.  

We clambered back down to the bikes and headed back around the Summit.  I took the Traverse and then lost Tra'y somewhere above.  Rode down the grunter through Skidder, out to 19th, turned back and spotted her coming down into Skidder.  Then we hooned back down home. Fun riding the Troll,  

15.5 kms rolled, and over 500 m lofted.

Wednesday Night Limnal Minimal Stooge

Quite a short one on account of needing new brake pads on the Speedbomb. 

Rode up into Vic, first, just above the road on the walking, then dived across into carpark and into the old line, dropping onto the new line (under pylon) and down around through to climb Sleepy' 'Creatures, out onto walk track and up to 19th, all the while the odd spot of rain was drifting about.  Up the grunter, slow and steady, only stopping to pick up someone's trash, then up into Brakefree zone where I stopped and checked the radar; which told me the spots of rain I was in weren't gonna be about for long.  By the time I made the top of Vic they'd pretty much stopped.  (Sugarloaf in the back there)

Plan was to drop down through gums, down into the valley to climb back up somehow to the new climb, but dropped down, jump, rabbit and into rocks, gums and flowing through here, around a corner and brakes started making awful noises, including when I wasn't applying them...  Oh well, I'll just bail home, I thought.  Stayed on down through the cedars, last bit to gate, and across into Heavenly Creatures for a lovely flow down, other than the racket the brakes were making.  A little slick on a couple of sections, but mostly good.  I saw a mouse!  Ran across the track and I got a good view of it when it froze on a branch.  Onwards down. Cleaned nicely all the way out and down - I really must cut a trail out to Vic Park Rd somehow for finishing.  By the time I got home the brakes had kinda sorted themselves.  Still replacement time tho.

Sub-limnal 5.08 kms alonged, 180.5 m upped.