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...

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. 

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

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. 

Wednesday Night Solo Poachy Wee Stooger

Sweet wee ride tonight on the Stooge. Hit up a few walkie tracks and popped a bit of bombiness. Bashed about and had a thoroughly good time. 

Up the walking track next to the road all the way to dogparkcarpark, dropped over into Tawhairanui for a nice cruise through, then stayed on walky tracks up through to 19th, hung a left, climbed up my usual way over top of it and through to skidder.  Up the gutser, and through up to Thomson's #1, flow, road, Thomson's #2, turned around and dropped back into this, climbed, into #1 again, climbed, out to top of Vic.  Turned around on the carpark and dropped back in, down around the jump, encountered a couple of guy with bikes'n'lights on their way up, breezed past them and straight round into Worm climbing up to catch them.  Onto the Traverse for a nice cruise around, pulling over several times to let trains of bikes through, the last couple still a ways off Lavaflow, so nice free ride from there, all the way to the Huntsbury end.  

Across the road and over the stile into Scott's Knob reserve, nice climb up through the conifers and fun rooty rocky descent, then into the next climb, off for a couple of steps, and climbing still, one small detour loopback, and on through, nice long flowy (due to reasonable unfamiliarity) cruise, droppy rocky rooty descent towards the end, especially in the natives.  Staying on that side of the road, up over the sidley track on Tracey's Knob to the carpark.  On road here, bombing back along the Summit, standing and cranking a lot of it, feeling good.  Last leg up to the 25kph sign above Lavaflow and dropped down to the fence, over (a group of 4 passing under me while I waited for them), and down onto the trail, and heading for home.  Cruising, climbing, cruising, seeing the group ahead and slowly winding in the tailenders past the pond, where the rest of the group was waiting (at the sign).  They offered for me to go ahead, but I said, nah, you're good, i'll give you a good gap and have a rest.  Gave them ages, and headed off again, definitely winding them in, but they were all regrouped at the entrance to the trees and I just rolled on through, up a bit and then pushing down into the jump with speed.  

Straight down through the trees, rabbit, rocks pines gums for funs, all the way down through to the gate, and dropped into Heavenly Creatures.  So much leaf and bark and stick carnage from windy couple days, and the rain has shown me where's going to be an issue come proper winter (just after you cross the access track, where the trail is kinda built up).  Great flow through, climb, into the last long leg, rolling goodness, and climbs, Sleepy Hollow, flow flow flow, oaks, last fun to finish.  Clamber, road, home.

 

Surprisingly nearly 14kms and a nice 443m climbed - further than I'd thought I'd do.

Friday Date Before Sunrise

Awake at 5, so T suggested we exercise. I was reluctant at first but then thought what else am I gonna do?  She headed out the door on foot, while I fed the dog, got my shit together and headed up on the Jeht. It was insanely warm (19 degrees - warmest place in the country!).  

Puffed up the road and then poached the Tawhairanui, nicely nicely, then stayed below the road up thru the woods to 19th, then up to the skidder where I layered off down to a merino singlet.  A green light appeared, and I'm like, wtf? then it moved, and then another light showed, up.  A dog (green) and it's master.  

Up the gruntster, where I needed a breathing break half-way, but cleaned up the rest ok.  Dropped over Thompson's #1 and back up the road to top of Vic whereupon I checked T's positioning... Ok - got ya..  Surprisingly, a few runners around.  So dropped off around the jumpies, straight around into Worm, up and out of the trees and onto the Traverse and I could see her coming up the valley. Gave her a flash or two from my first high point then rode around, and then down the walking 4wd track to her. We rode/walked together back up to the pond, over the fence, across the road, then she went up the steep and I sidled around and up the ridge and we met on top of the knoll - heretofore to be known as Tracey's Knoll.

Photos taken

and off down, techy rock to the carpark, across the road and onto the Traverse for a lights off blast around towards Vic.  Into the trees and ooh! dark!  Lights back on brights, into the jumps, one and two, then down the rabbit paddock, rocks, gums, across to drop into the new local for a lovely twisty hoon home. All before the sun actually lifted above the horizon.  Nice!

Nascently resplendent 9 kms and 322 m climbed

Wednesday Quick Stooge Before the Storm

Up many of the ways down, with drizzle slowly increasing as I rode. 

T was out for a walk so I kinda thought I might run into her somewhere.  With that in mind I headed into the To Harry Ell track and then climbed on up my usual downhill route into the oaks, dabbed through the (now) wet spot in my cut-through, then clambered up the steep rocky bit then through the swoopy corners to the dogparkcarpark.  Up around and onto the where I'd usually come down through the trees and there was my grrrl!  Gave here a bit of a fright too...  We were both staying on the west side of the hill due to the howling (and increasingly drizzly) easterly.  Took my leave and headed up out to road below 19th and up to skidder, climbing the grunter through and up, around to Thomson's #1, then down into #2 for a nice blast.  Turned around on the road here and dived back in, climbing back up

the both ways I'd just come, a surprisingly good change.  

Top of Vic, popped out to the carpark and back down around the jumps, down to drinking fountain, then turned back up to drop into Brake Free, swooping through here to peel off Sesame-top into the Gums for a sweet descent through the usual ways, all the way down and out to 19th, quickly turning around here to pedal back up to Skidder, and peeling left up onto the 'over 19th' track, falling in behind some other riders.  Struck up a convo with them, and stopped with them at the top.  We discussed ways down from there (they were heading over the pirate trail into the valley from here) and one of them looked at my bike and said, "nice stoogie" (with a hard G, which I didnt correct).  I peeled over the top towards the Ranger Station then dropped hard left down off the road into the forest just there, dropping to where I'd met T on the way up and then sweeping through into Tawhairanui, flowing nicely through until I spotted some dog walkers, so I pulled up and stopped to wait for them to exit before I rolled out through the carpark into the trail, buzzzzing pylon, and swoopy swoop down through.  Stopped at my corner to have a look at another line, tentatively cut a few branches a wee-ways in, but then gave it up and rode up the zigzag line I cut last week.  It actually flows quite nicely once on the descent.  Final flow through and down all the way to H'Ell, then clamber, road, home.  Bike was a little splecky and damp from drizz so I gave it a sprinkle down and now it is clean.

Gratifying 6.43 km with 200 climbed

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.

Wednesday Night Local Short Stuff-about

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

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

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

Thursday Night Solo Jeht-Setting

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

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

Withstandable, 13.1 kms and 472 m escalated.

Thursday Night Jehtstahr Along the Top

Brief out and back tonight with a flat.

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

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

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

A pollen-moted 11.3 kms and 400 m climbed

Thursday Night Surprise

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

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

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

A moderate 10.7 kms and 415 m slipped upwardly. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday Ada Troll, Cratered

Shitty day, shitty mood, shitty sleep, shitty day at work, mood: glum.  So, to clear my head I took the Troll up the hill... Grunted up through Vic (same pace as a girl running (ahead) until above the first gate where it gentles off a little and I passed her before the upper dog park entrance).  Up through the 19th and over to skidder and the usual walk up the grunter.  All the way to the Summit Rd for the nice roll down to the Kiwi.  Across the Pass and up the next section of Summit Rd, jollying up and up til it settled off.  Nice cruise down(ish) around to the first saddle where I took to the Crater Rim walkway and rode (and dabbed and walked) through the slippery rocky trail along adjacent to the road.  Nice bush, lovely bellbirds singing.  Explored off down Bush Rd to the left a wee ways, then back up to continue through the next saddle and staying on the Crater Rim up around the flank of Ada (past Ella's) through the previously burned section.  Very overgrown, ended up walking quite a bit of it, but rode some.  View towards Marleys and town (Sugarloaf on the right).

Left up the Ada track to the top, riding and walking.  Excellent view up here. 

Off down from here down to the road again, some fun, narrow then at the bottom wide speed.  Onto the road and towards home, rolling start, then tucked speed through the first saddle and fast standing cranking around to sitting climbing gently back towards Marleys and then faaasstt rolling coast down back to Kiwi, through the top and up, climb climb to top of Vic and off down the usual singletracks, rocks, gums (log needs cutting - still), then out to skidder, over 19th, down to Dogpark Carpark and weaving and jumping through this, ballbearings!!! (acorns), and out to home.  

A nice jaunt, all round - 14(ish) km, and a little under 500 m climbed.

Thursday Gilded Gloaming (predominantly) Singletrack

Good night out for a ride this evening. Drove to Nelson's and then in his car we drove up to Upper Major Hornbrook to find a bit of an easterly blowing, but once riding it wasn't too cool. 

Rode up through Britten, me leading and, as usual, pushing harder because not wanting to hold him up.  Took a new sidle onto the 'round the front' track from just before the top, all the way around and out the "Cutting" exit.  Across the road and over the fence and up the overgrown grass (I rode the other day) to the main track, this time turning right and dropping, ball-bearingly, down to the stile and then down through Cavendish Saddle, climbing up the Crater Rim for a start, then hanging a right through the wee gate onto the old zig zag climb up to the Gondola building.  Checked out the view then down around behind the building and up to the left-hander for the dropping down steps and steps and rocks and good flows.  Tricknical down, taking the main trail (due to the old line down to the fence being overgrown now) and nearly losing my front end on one bit.  Through the top of Bridle Path and we stayed on the crater rim trail climbing up around above Whakaraupo track and then up to the top above the Castle and then dropped down below the Tors for yet more techy goodness - very hard to see the trail in the gloom of sun ahead, shade below the long grass and tussocks - "where are the rocks!?".  Nelson had a close call down near the bottom, tipping somehow off, but saving himself well. 

Back up the road to Castle, into the single-track at inordinate speed, flowing smooth, railing and bombing, slowly reeling Nelson in, but also wanting to stay back a bit to avoid the dust he was raising.  Around the hairpins and into the climb, started well but I started to really lose steam on the last of the climb, while he just blazed on ahead, disappearing from my sight and waiting for me on the road.  

Onto the road, around under the Gondola and into the wind, that seemed to get stronger the closer we got to the gate.  Then it was howling through the Cutting, and we dropped into Britten, I was feeling my way on the singletrack cos tussocks were overgrowing.  Nelson picked the high line and we went up over (below Broadleaf) rather than around the front, then onto Vee Twin as usual for the bomb down, peeling off the usual corner and across the front.  Once across we explored sheeplines, some interesting connections here, and ended up above the last dropdown to pylon and exited the park at Longridge, climbing back up to the car via Clearview and Ridgeview.   

Unquestionable 11.79 kms and peculiarly only 487 m shimmied

Coincidentally, Andy, Wahayno and Wazzah had parked near us and were riding Greenwood at approximately the same time.

Thursday Night Pleasant Castle Britten Kent

Worked from home so got to Nelson's early and we rode up the hill by daylight!  Very cool breeze from the south that we came into as we climbed.  Brrrr...  from his place, up Santa Maria, Assisi and Drayton, Belleview and Hornbrook up to Upper, into Britten and climbing climbing climbing.  Feeling like I've been fighting something, turns out was probably just the usual July/August hayfever.  Trails in good nick.  Across top of Britten and up Broadleaf, just the usual grind.  

Dropping into the singletrack towards the Gondola.  GREASY as fuck.  Damp dirt, turning rocks slick, and my tyres were too pumped - we were both pinging all over the place on the rocks, and the ruts were not helpful either, not to mention I only had my headlight, no handlebar light, so visibility not great.  And to top it all off, the light was wobbling/shaking everywhere for the whole ride.  Slowly got into a better groove once the straighter bits turned up towards the end, albeit shortlived.  Into Cavendish Saddle and up onto the Crater Rim under the back of the Gondola building it was, as to be expected, southfacing slope, even more greasy, rocks like ice. 

The steps blop, blop, blop down had greasy tops but weren't quite as bad as I'd expected.  One of the routes we used to use was almost impossible to find and a lot rockier than memory served, but we made the top of Bridle eventually and it was time to climb.

Into Castle Rock track, some speed ensued and it was a generally good run.  A couple of expected wet spots, but in good nick mostly.  Into the climb and Nelson had a very good run up it, me, not so much, but not terrible.  I was feeling unexpectedly good, powerwise, most of the ride.  Out onto the road, and around under the gondola, stopped to watch some interesting fog rolling over parts of the city.  Climbed up through cutting and dropped into the Britten across and around the front - different in the dark, we got to the end of the 'round the front' fast.  

Time for descent, again, wary of the grease and ruttage, bombing, trying to keep pace with Nelson but under-lit.  Across the front and we found the second half of that to be difficult to find, then found a massively stupid popper gap jump being built mid slope.  Stupid kids.  Down from here and down into the pylon finish, over the stile and into Kenton Track for a techy, grease-fest.  Cleaned a lot less than I did when I rode this in May - darkness and greasiness getting the better of me.  Nearly at the end, I spotted a gate on the right.  So, up through this, and out onto Rockview without having to carry up all those steps!  From here, down the Major, Belleview, Pleasant, Drayton, etc back to base

Chilly 16.3 kms and a pleasantly surprising 665 m climbed.

Bastard King's Sunset Troll

T dropped me off at Motukarara and I hit the road towards Gebbies.  Dont think I've ever ridden it in this direction.  It was fine, gearing on the Troll was good, and thankfully there wasnt toooo much traffic.  At the saddle I hung a left up the Summit Rd, riding up the 'bastard' for the first time as well.  It was okay.  I stopped once relatively low down because the oiling of the chain I'd done on my Saturday ride had missed about 5 or 10 links, so they squeaked every chain rotation, which was becoming annoying.  Sunset was at 5.03pm and I didnt make the high point under Coopers Knob, Gibraltar Rock adjacent, until 5.09, AND it was a pretty grey evening so light was dim and there were a LOT of cars along this stretch looking at the sunset. 

I bowled along as fast as I could and thankfully didnt have to pull over for anyone, but keeping a damned close eye on lights behind and ahead.  Bombing down to the Kiwi in near dark, I decided to grab the Harry Ell for the descent.  Met 4 walkers, apologising for getting caught out without lights, then Vic Park Drive for the bomb home. 

Dusky 22 kms, with a chilly 716 m climbed

Sunday Trails Along the Summit to get the car

Bandi-Gig last night at Greg's on Bridle Path Rd and neither T nor me could drive home so we left the Leaf there -  and I rode from home today to collect.  

On the Rocky, I headed up through Vic, taking Worm to the Traverse.  Not bad run round here, bit of a head wind, pulling over a few times to let people through and having the same courtesy applied to me a coupla times.  Onto Vernon, good descent, fast in places, leaping through the usual Rapaki-top and hoofing it up into Witch, clamber clamber.  Bit of a breather at the highpoint then down to the Summit Rd and a-cruising up it to Castle Rock for a very fun blast down, railing, weaving, wending.  Clamber clamber it's up bits, back onto Summit for the roll round under the Gondola and climbing climbing up to the cutting and straight into Britten.  Around the front - dont often do it this way, was alright, then bombing down the socalled VeeTwin blasting and railing, across the front to the down track - missing one section of the across the front track cos it's seemingly been unused and I couldn't see where it went, down, connecting back onto the main across track and descending rock section under the pylons to the bottom.  Over the stile and onto the technical Kenton ("walking") track - fun times had, popping over most tech issues, but dab-scooting through a couple too.  At the steps at the end I headed down, bike on rear wheel then riding a little, dab-scoot or pushing through the techest of the tech and descending all the switchbacks and steps down the Heathcote Quarry track. Great technical ending, and finishing directly where I'd parked the car.

Close to 16 kms of sweet (mostly) off-road goodness, with 574 m escalated and a coupla hundy metres bonusly descended. 

Saturday Cooper's hob Knob

Took the Troll for a hoon up through Vic Park (not that much of a hoon, tbh) then Thompson's #1 and down to Kiwi, then up around the Summit Road, climbing and cruising, eventually getting close to where I thought I was going, to undertake another notch in the Summit Rd Summits series. Got off the road a little too soon, so, back to it, then rode a bit further along to a low saddle and pushed up a walk track for a ways before riding a bit then parking the bike and clambering  up the rocks to the top. Highest point on the greater Port Hills at 573m.  Quite the view...

Walked back to the bike and rode sweet smooth singletrack back down to the road (the way I'd come) and then treadled my way home again, for some fun stuff in Vic (surprising some DH boys, I think, as I headed over the rock garden into the Gums.  Down via 234 out to H'Ell exit and down to home.. 

23kms bombed, with quite a good 727 m climbed

Sunday Single Sojourn

High intensity singlespeed, up thru Vic, over 19th, through skidder to walk a bit, then breather at the brakefree water fountain, and on up to Thompsons #1, back up the road and up to the stone shelter where I caught up with Doug and had a breather.  MMR uselessly stopped here.  Clambered up to the Sugarloaf carpark, and onto Cedricks Track, across the front, boffed down through the rocky bits in the bush and then out to the road and down onto the Traverse.  Across this back to Vic Park, then blitzed down thru Gums, Lower, out to 19th, below road through usual byways to road corner, then coasting down to 235, dropping in and even jumping the treebranch.  Ballbearings (acorns) are in full effect through here now, be warned! and then clambered back up to the road, and up over below the Dog Park dropping down the singletrack to Harry Ell Drive, fast coast down here, then a brief walk up to our gate. 

MMR crapped out, looks like before I even got to the stone shelter, where it finished, so it was probably about 7 or so kms, with maybe 250 m climbed?