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.

Saturday Sunset Jeht Jaunt

Feeling a bit underhung so had a lazy morning and early afternoon before heading up the hill for a clean out on the Jeht.  I'd missed the working bee on the climb track this morning, but wanted to see where they'd got to, so dropped over Razza's and down through the little bit of Rad left, then Macros, the wee extirpation above Corporate Ladder, and out the bottom of Brents.  Into the new climbing trail from here, nice boardwalk, built-up corners, bridges, gradient not so bad. It's a great wee ride, and they've come so far up already, right up to the Rad wall, and the 4wd track Razza's spits you out on. I reckon one or two more sessions, and it'll be to the road Shazza, Dazza and Razza all come off - already marked out. Unknown whether they intend to take it higher, but I really hope so!  It climbs well! 

Thought I'd not really done enough to give up and go home once at Skidder, so headed up the gutser (hard!) and up to Thompson's#1, back up road and dropped into jumps, top of pines, gums, peeled out to the left to see if there is scope out towards the pylon - I reckon there could be. Back onto the usual trails, across into Heavenly Creatures (new name! (now retro-filled back through this blog)). Nice flow down this and popping up onto the road home just as the sun dropped behind the mountains - perfect.   

Only 6.59 kms, but a reasonable 268 m clamberated.

Sunday Ups and Ups.

Very strong southerly kicked up just before we left the house, Tra'y walking and me on the bike again.  We tootled (I struggled) up the steep behind the houses and I stayed with her until the top of the Dog Park where we parted ways.  

I trundled on up the hill, the usual over 19th, Skidder, and up the grunter.  Lovely and sheltered in the trees with the wind howling in the tops of them and roaring in all the powerlines.  Straight into the Worm and popped out of the trees and observed the conditions.  Scudding clouds thickening, a bit of really light drizzle around.  A couple of other bikers said it'd been hard work staying on the Traverse, so I decided against that and instead figured I'd stay in the lee of the hill, dropping down Upper Fenceline, around onto Rome, back and forth down this, taking a right fork part way down and deciding to walk back up to take in the left, which has a steep rollover drop to start.  Out the bottom and across to the left, then then up the steep access track through Cool Runnings, and on up.  

Popped down into Pedalfine below here, but found a tree across it (bring the saw next time), so pushed back up and headed on up through the Rad intersection to Razza's where I paused for a gasp or five.  I was just about to roll in when an ebiker came across from above and dropped in, so gave him a bit of a stretch before dropping in myself.  Ended up catching him stopped for a woman and a guy, who let us both past (briefly, the guy said, "oh, Cotic, I used to have a Soul," I replied, "I've got a broken Soul at home...").  Out the bottom, onwards down, sidling through Brentzone (Macros (after Macrocarpas, I'm assuming)), and took that new high line above the Corporate Ladder, which I turned up and climbed.  

Steep up, in under the sprawling gum tree and onto Sneaky Ridge, fun tech rocks down, blippity blop, oaks, jump onto the main trail and on down Nube-Ridges and down valley into the Hidden climb.  Up this, still contemplating where to go, finally deciding on hitting the Old Skool and facing the climb home.  Brief pause at the high point listening to the high-tension lines above, so loud, then dropped in, total tailwind blast across, revelling in the push and rush of tussocks and wind and noise from above, pylons screaming.  Back across into the wind for a bit, but enough down to keep me moving, then back around, tail wind, overtaking a couple and their dog, biff boff baff down to the next hairpin then dropping down into the final squiggles, rail rail humm, and out onto the main drag.  

Climbed back up valley, vest layer on at the seat, the up into the trees, and ugh, the grind up K2 - one breather stop, then up to Texaco, and on up, grind grind grind.  Eventually made the Skidder, and rolled over into the trees and down through the first bit, stopping at my stop (before CAP trail), to oil chain which had an annoying small squeak each rotation.  Then finished off this bit, out the gate and into the Newby for a lovely blast down and through, all the way home.

500 m steep as, over not that far 10.6 kms.

Saturday Stooge Brief Interlude

Short hard local again, this time on the Stooge.  

Busied the day water-blasting the roof - ugh, my neck was dying after 6 hours of it, so figured a ride would straight me back up.  

Climbed up the road, and over 19th, through skidder and rather than climb, headed straight over into Razza's - nice drop down through here, Stooge performing admirably in the tech and rooty goodness, boffed out and decided to continue down through into the Brentzone, down and across and taking in that extra wee over bit to then hit Corporate Ladder back up to top of Sneaky and then back up the 4wd trails, across at Radzone climbing to Cool Runnings start, where I met a random guy and we chatted a while.  He didnt know his way around that well, but kinda knew some trails, so rode with me up and I sent him off down Razza's to find his way to Sneaky Ridge (which he knew he liked).  I continued into Skidder, hung a left and took the cypress descent down and out to the road, and into the new Newby section, biffing and boffing down here for the fun to the very end.  Clamber and home.

Shorter and steeper than yesterday, 4.8 km and 207 m, 

Saturday Terrible Timing

Left it too late and only managed to get out the door on the Stooge just as the rain started.  Thankfully, it wasn't too heavy, initially, so I figured riding under trees might be dry enough for a time, and indeed it mostly was.   Climbed up the road, and dropped off down from the lower dogparkcarpark into the Oaks, then up through my new route above the wetness, I peeled through the wee zig-zag and my rear tire picked up a stick which flicked through the frame a couple of times so I stopped, and had to physically pull it out of the tire...  Seemed to be holding so I started riding again and then a couple of corners up the rear was getting decidedly soggy.  Bugger.  The stick I'd pulled out was from some of the stuff I'd cut the other day, therefore a flat tire caused by my own handy-work. Flipped the bike, got all my stuff out, chucked on my rain-coat, and got to work.  Last patch in my box, so patched it, it held, pumped, reinstalled, and got riding again. 

Continued up through to Skidder and decided to drop into Shazza's.  Swoopy groove down here, through the 'new' bit and then out to the 40footer, along a bit and dropped down into the continuation below Razza's dropping down thru here into Brent's zone, across, baulking on one untidy offcamber dubious traction piece, then across and down the new bit eventually around and climbed back up Corporate Ladder.  Back up out past the 40footer again, then instead of turning right at the Radzone, I continued up towards Cool Runnings entrance, right back across through to Skidder again and up the Grunter.  Through Brake Free and up into the top pines.  Before I made the very top I checked where T was at (shared location) and observed that the rain at the top of Vic was getting a bit too much, so I bailed down thru Brake Free, into the gums out to Skidder, over 19th, dropped below road, swooped through, considered Tawhairanui, decided agaisnt it, and coasted down the road, spotting my grrrl T walking along side the top of Dog Park.  Stopped for an intimate moment, then I dropped off down into the woods, flowy flow, took my new line, lowspeed zig and zag, then down, out into Oaks, and onwards all the way through to the bottom, clambered to road (thinking I might see T, nope) and home

Sullied 5.9 kms and 243 m climbed

Loopy Stooge, 1st Tuesday of the year

First ride for the new year, after a couple of weeks no riding, minimal walking, lounging in the Koh Samui heat, with uncomfortable plane rides at each end.  Nice to get out on a short(ish) mega-loopy up and down in Vic Park tonight. Up some sections a couple times each but seldom down the same way.  Fun times and tech-levels increasing for the Stooge too.

Usual climb over 19th, skidder, gutser.  Hard work on that, given the long break off the bike, all the Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and Chang beers consumed over the past fortnight.  Tried a wee jiggle of an approach just below Brakefree, that didn't really work, but no matter.  Up to top and into Thomson's #1 for the flow and back up the road.  

Dropped into and around the jumps, flowing all the way down Brake Free and then out the bottom of it (rather than into Sesame) and across back up to top again.  Down around the jumps and into Worm climbing to the Traverse to drop down into PedalFine, bailing left off that and climbing back to the track across below the see-saw, first section of Brakefree again, bailing out to drop down the rocks into the Gums, taking my right hander down and out to Skidder again.  

Into the middle entrance, dropping into Rad to Razza's, trying out the new line to the right in here, baulking and walking two drops (which shouldn't be a problem next time) and then continuing down below into Brentzone trying to work out how to get down across to the new bit next to Corporate Ladder I found last time.  Didn't quite get it right, but now know where to go next time, down this, then back up Corporate Ladder and up the usual around Radzone back to Skidder.  

Back up the Gutser just to the Sesame turn-off I (jiggle-)climbed earlier and flowed on through into the Gums to take the left hand line this time, dropping down through here (rutty!) and then all the way below to the road at 19th.  Below road from here, flowy flow, coaster to Dogparkcarpark and flowy fun down through here.  Took my line to the right to avoid the wet and it's fucking worked its way up into my trail and is mucking that up too!  (will have to get up and cut a higher track...).  Nice flow from here though, down and out to H'Ell, clamber onto road.  

Rather than dropping home from here, I headed back uphill, dropped into the 'To Harry Ell' track, then back up to the climb-exit to the lower Dogpark carpark (by the comms tower) and headed down into Charles' track, tight(!), then out from the halfway point, behind the houses for the hoon home.

Well wreathed 8.3kms, with 362m scrambled

Steep Sunday's Stoogin'n'Snakin' Around

Sweet ride tonight. For a bit of a change, first off was up the steep behind the houses to the dog park, chuffity chuff.  Then the usuals, road, 19th etc. Into Thompson's #1 for a quick blast, then back up the road, straight into down around the jumps and straight into the Worm, up to Traverse to cruise around to Fourpause. Bumpy! (therefore slower - it's really rutted and chunky now). 

Into the landingstripzone, taking the left (older) line, chunkier rocks and more mileage than the direct route, Ali Express, dropping down around and through the fence then following the vague sprayed/worn grass into a new flow path, looping out through the sheep shit and piss zone and back, and all the bumpy rocks the way down onto Old Skool.  Bit of a rest at the usual spot.  

Dived into the biff baff boff of Old Skool, some nice flow regardless, then straight into the valley and upwards, stopping at the bench where the steppy walk track comes out.  Up this wee valley, walking the steepest and riding what I could and up the steppy walk track to Hidden Valley / Bowenvale Bonus, in reverse of usual direction, down then peeled left onto the walking track up into the valley.   Lovely narrow bushy singletrack.  Up valley and a right at the sidle, little bit of flow around into the MTB valley /bottom of Brents, fenceline, etc.  Up Corporate Ladder, checking out a new line back down briefly, then back up Corporate out top of Sneaky, around past 40fter up the usual way thru the RadZone.  

Finally, over Skidder out the single-track, below the road, into DogParkCarpark and 235, blasting down through here, ducking well below the lowered tree and stopping briefly to sort-of leaf-rake my new line (so people will notice it), then riding, down through the oaks, and final fun blast down to end, clamber to road and home

Steep 12.4 kms with 543 m snagged.

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 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.

Hallow Thursd-ween Night Weirdness

Up on the Jeht, no idea where I was going and not feeling up to much, but wanting much.  Bulk hayfever around and lots of other riders. 

Ground to the top of Vic, following a couple of guys who I'd gain on then not, then gain...  Passed them when they were getting grass out of one of their derailleurs just near the entrance to Thompsons - down which I went, just after an ebiker.  Onto road, lower Thompsons and then through the pass and up the Summit Rd, grinding away, ebiker disappearing into the distance.  Over taken up here by another 2 ebikers, thinking, "lazy cunts."  Followed a grom up to top of Nun and chatted briefly, then dropped in.  Not too bad a run, bike handling nicely.  All the way to the bottom then through the pass again and up Summit to top of Vic.  

Dropped in down around the usual jumpies, over the see-saw and hard right for a pleasant cruise up the fenceline.  Lugged over this and dropped into Pedalfine, which I did not pedal particularly finely.  Grabbed the first left and fucked up the log, fucked up the first corner nearly losing it.  Handled the jandal down an across the wee bridgey thing, then dropped onto the access track across.  Dropped into one of the trails along here, but then failed and climbed back out.  Not feeling good.  Headache and low energy.  Along a bit further and dropped into Razza's which I rode pretty good, biffing and baffing my way down.  Stopped for a long rest here wondering where the hell to go and what to do.  A couple of guys cruised past (from coming out of Dazza's) and one commented on "Cool bike!" and "wait! what are those brake pads!??"  

I made up my mind and dropped down Razza's extension into Brentzone, sidling as far across as I could.  It's getting well worn out in there, and was still pretty damp.  Out the bottom and hard left up into Corporate Ladder which really got me huffing.  Had to stop for a rest at the big limby gum.  Out top to Sneaky, still pondering, up??  down??  Down.  Into Sneaky Ridge, dropping down and hopping out onto Bridges and Nu-Bridges down to the valley.  Turned up here on K2, got half way up the first bit and decided, nah, fuck it.  Turned back down and took Hidden Valley Bonus climb, clambering well up onto Old Skool.

Nice blast down Old Skool, blitzy blitz, and at the bottom, again with the indecision.  Up?  or the bus??  Really didn't have that climb in me so settled on the bus.  Down Bowenvale, across to Landsdowne, Centaurus, Cashmere to PMH where I sat down, chilled out for about 5 minutes and the bus arrived.  Nice.  Stopped my MMR here.

Overall, 15.7 kms, with only 405 climbed (plus from bus stop to home) - and must be around 600 or so descended. 

Thursday Night Victorian Nun

On the tail end of a bad cold, had a choice spin up the locals tonight with Nelson. 

Up the usual route, over 19th, skidder, gutser and up onto the Thompsons one and two.  Through Kiwi and up Summit, pulling onto the walking track (to avoid the BoyRacer action (lots out last night hooning)) from where the Nun meets the road.  Good climb up here, cleaning lots of steep and stepping up the odd bit.  Up Worsley's Rd to top then along the access trail to the Nun.  I dropped in first and missed the first peel off but got the old one and the big rock wall corner that I slipped on last time, cleaned out but lost a bit of speed through caution, which I soon made up for.  The new bike handles it all so nicely and on the faster straighter section was a fucking rocketship.  Hauled ass, and Nelson said he struggled to keep up.  Trail riding pretty good until lower down, but even that was okay.  All the way down to the Kiwi, Nelson saying the dust I was chucking up towards the end was chokey.  

Across Dyers and an event free climb up to the upper Thompsons, I dived into the little shortcut, only to find my way blocked by a fallen spruce branch.  Around this and into the cruise and slowly steepening climb, evil pincher towards the top where a dude (familiar face - see him on the trails regularly) was waiting for us to exit.  I was maxed out so needed a good breather up here.  Off into the around and down descent, over the jumpies, over the see-saw and hang a hard right along the fenceline up to the end.  Over the fence and lined up for Pedalfine.  Biff boff baff down here, left into the unused duffy trail dropping down with minimal traction and peeling left along the slippery wee bridge and some green mossed dropover onto the cross track 4wd.  Across and into Razza's, dropping through some climbers on the next cross track down, dropping into the tech with gusto.  One of the corners near the end has turned weirdly nasty, a tree root looks to be ready to be a pedal grabber, as it's come loose from the ground attached at each end.  It'd stalled Nelson (don't actually think he caught it, but stalled nonetheless), and so I stalled too.  Managed to get going again into the next droparound corner, and boffed it out the bottom (where 4 ebikers were waiting).  We started climbing and they climbed off ahead of us.  Up to the junction and off over into lower Pedalfine, dropping down the next section, then we rode up the 4wd back to the bottom of Razza's, and took, effectively the continuation of it into the Brentzone, across to the far side of this and down into the bottom.  

From here was time to introduce Nelson to the Corporate Ladder, climbing it's steepness (which made me stop to breath twice! (still getting over the ffing flu, afterall). up onto the start of Sneaky, where we climbed on up to 40fter and back up where we'd climbed before, around into the steeperer and up to Skidder where we ran into Mel and her friend.  Up over 19th, dropping down (nearly crashing where we hit the road, skidded slideways onto the right drop over, then down Tawhairanui up to the dogparkcarpark and into my 235 for a very nice flight, swooping through the bush and over the first jump realising on landing how greasy soggy it's been since last rains.  I baulked around the 2nd jump and we flowed all the way out to the very end, with the carry from H'Ell up onto road and final blat down home.

Well worthy 11.65 kms and a piddly wee 435 m climbed.

Saturday Morning Jeht Up Down and back Up

Local shake down of the new ride.  And it was good.  

Gorgeous day, sunshine and in most places no wind. Headed up into the park from home, climbing at no different a clip to previously.  New bars and stem definitely making a difference in the way it feels, over 19th, and up the grunter, cleaning it no problem all the way (with one rest).  First difference noticed, climbing steep is easier - not having to focus on the balance point between leaning forward to keep the front down vs the back wheel losing traction, the long wheelbase keeps that back wheel planted and it just keeps chugging.  Puffing hard, up through Brakefree where there was a working bee, topped up my water and kept on to the top, dropping right on Thompson's #1.  After clearing a couple of walkers it was a nice wee spin then back up the road and dropped around down through the jumps, flying nicely, then down the rabbit paddock into the rocks and gums.  Excellent down here, even if lamenting the loss of my old, now log-blocked, route (i'll bring the axe and pruning saw up soon).  Out to skidder and up into top entrance of Razza's, dropping and rolling sweetly down through this, the baulked corner from last time cleared nicely, handling impeccable.  Climb from here up to the corner for a breather, then photo-op... pre drop in.

Dropped from here into lower Pedalfine, dropping down and down into the gully.  Straight into Corporate Ladder, climbing back up around this and up onto Sneaky Ridge with lovely kereru flapping about above me.  Dropped off down Sneaky with the bike handling everything immaculately, boof boff down through around and out over the fence onto Flow immediately behind a couple of other riders who I rapidly caught up to and undertook on the lower trail, stating what great nick that trail was in.  Off down nuBridges at mostly a great pace and then zapping down valley, hauling up to hang the right into HiddenValley bonus climb, and clambering up this, cleaning all the corners wonderfully with my new climbing mojo (with one rest before the last two).  Out onto Old Skool and stopped at the highest point for a good long rest, helmet off and some chugging of the water.

The two riders I'd passed earlier came along and I was just about to take off, but offered if they wanted to go first but they said, "you look better than us." So I said, "I'll try not to embarass myself!" and took off, blasting.  They never caught me, didn't see them til i was on the traverse back across they were above me.  Nice blast down through the rest, bike handling it all with aplomb.  Straight into the climb again, up valley, what a grunt.  All the way up to Hospital Corner no problem, really revelling in the climbability of this beast.  Up the hospital rocks and then a short walk on the steepest bit, then riding all the rest, even over the roots.  Past Texaco and onwards, nice, nice, nice...  Under the pylon, up past 40fter, through the Rad zone, out to Skidder, then quick drop down the 'park' entrance zone, peelign right and out to 19th, below road for nice roll, then back out and coasting roll to dogparkcarpark dropping in for a railing berm ride, jumps, steep right up to lower dogparkcarpark and down from the microwave tower behind houses fast, home.  

Yes, it's heavier then the Rocky, but just climbs so much better.  And on the downs it's SO planted.  Feels awesome.

Sweet as!! A valid 11.7 kms and 480 m climbed.

Short Sweet Saturday Local

Up from home on the Rocky, usual route up over 19th, through the skidder and up the bastard grunter.  Chuff chuff, been a while it seems.  Up to and into Thompson's #1, and back up the road, dropping over the jumpies, see-saw and straight down the rabbit paddock through the rocks and down thru gums.  Peeled right at the bottom across the Skidder and up into Razza's, down which I had a fear and couldn't seem to ride one of the rooty corners in the second half.  Dropped through the rest of it and out, across the 4wd and into it's continuation faffing across onto lower Brents zone, keeping a high line and out into the gulch.  Here, I could see the new climbing track I'd been told of, called Corporate Ladder, which I climbed.  Not bad.  Rearranged a hose that had washed onto the 4wd bit, and then onto the second half which spits you out at top of Sneaky Ridge.  From here, up past the 40, and around up the usual steeps to skidder, into the CAP drop down trail, peeling off that out, down the road into 235 for a slightly greasy flow, surprised at the lack of sog in the oaks.  Up, onto road, and straight down home due to limited time. 

Fleeting 6.7 km with 273 m altituded.