Week of Cruisers to the Wharf, finished with a Singlespeed Quicky

School holidays, so over at Little Ak for the week with H, first half with Steve and Frankie, then quick trip back to town on Wednesday and returned with Jacob.  Riding consisted of running the dog to the wharf and back on the Specialized ghetto Globe, lightweight singlespeed coaster-brake special.  Jet was very happy with it.  I MMRd a few of them, but not all of them.  A couple of kms with sweet FA altitudes total each time.

Home again Sunday and managed to get out for a quick spin up to the top of Vic and back on the BFe before Mark and Marie popped up for a visit.  Climbing on this is getting easier, and I really enjoy the steel sproing it gives me, tho the brakes are definitely shitty.  Four and a half kms, with the usual 150 odd m climbed.

Paparoa this weekend, bikepacking extraordinaire...  hopefully will get a ride in beforehand.

Weakening Weekly

Usual few little cruises around the hood.  But otherwise nothin' doin'.

First off, a nice cruise showing Tra'y around the new alleys...

Then, some superer-local, mixing it down...

Followed by what is extreme in it's localness, slort and show, with Jet's dog years catching up on him...

And, last but not least, a Dweet and soggy spin yesterday.

The Weekly Weakly...

Meh.  Nigel No-Rides.

One or two dog runs, not as many as I should.  Was a relaxing weekend, and as such, was feeling yesterday almost like I could have handled a 'proper' ride...  albeit, gently gently.  Wish I'd gone out.  Maybe I should try today, during the day, while no body's watching?

Anyway.  Rode into work on Monday?, and was good til I aimed for home, realised I'd forgotten my prescription, so detoured across to the chemist, and from there the ride home dragged on me and made quite wiped. 

Otherwise, only a typical dog spin to show, mapped, for the week.  Though, I'm certain I did a couple of others.

And, Saturday saw me ride to Steve's for his party.  Via Nelson's, there to Stanmore New World, back to Nelsie's, cos I'd left my phone behind, then to Steves, and later, home.  Zigs and zags about town, not mapped.  Bloody freezing at 12.30 am, through a frosty, and surprisingly quiet, city night

Localities and The Arts

Welcome to June, 2020, who'da thunk?!. 

Prolapsed disc now three months and still going strong at giving gyp and who knows when Surgery will come through? 

Of riding - many town dog cruises have happened over the past week or so.  Most Mapped, but a couple not - I think?  Here's the selection of those mapped:

Here was a 2.84 km local cruiser with Jetty the poochus moochus.

This one didn't show up on my Activity Feed for some reason, a nice 5 km cruise with Jetty, exploring the alleys and bellies of the hoodlet, just before the (first) big rain (in a long time) came through.  I'd been watching the radar, and double checked it at the cemetery (still looking for my great grandfather (mum's side)), making the decision to turn back just as the first spits came through, arriving home before the downpour.

Yesterday saw a blat into town with Tra'y to an excellent Hannah Kidd exhibition at the Art Centre.  Fricking awesome work.  11.5 kms there and back (and wandering around inside).  Met Joy there for the art appreciation.
On the way, on the fly:

Winter's Hagley shadows with some autumn left in the background.

Annnd, last night, a quick dog spinach.  Ghetto rat cruiser dog run, czeching out a way through the St Pauls cemetery (and keeping an eye out for any Horners (my great grandmother's family on my dad's side), and spotting a shortcut through the RSA (but not taking it) then grabbed some fresh bay leaves for the pork gravy from the local park on the way home.

Thursday, Beached as.

Long lunch break, drove out to North Beach and parked, fat bike and jet in the car.  Granny up the boarded sand-dune path, and dowwwn onto the beach, for a lovely clip to the north.  Gorgeous day, sea looked spectacular, and Jet was in speed-mode.  Full tilt sprint for the first km or so, followed by slowing down a bit and the odd dash for a sniff or a pee.  Not to mention the hellos to other dogs.

This is him in slightly-slowed-down-mode. Taken on the fly..

Looking back south...

I recognised the general lay of the land as we rolled, noticing the salt-burned trees behind the dunes, and calculated which exit point would take me to a precise point of the Bottle Lake trail, and we clambered up the dunes and onto an old Phatbike favourite of mine which leads south from that point (where the bike track runs up onto the top of the dunes briefly before ducking back down behind them in the trees).  So, along the dune-tops and then back down into the trees, and onto the track for a bit. 

Out of the trees, heading south, along the main drag, til I ducked onto a side track which lead up into and over into the trees (on the right as you head south), and found a cool wee track, perfect for fatties like me, cruisey cruise.  Eventually took a trail to the left and hit the main drag again, just where it mounts the top of the dune again.  Decided to hit the beach, rather than dragging jet along the bike track, and so we returned that bit we'd started on back to the car.
Nice. 7.2 kms ridden, with a whopping 31 m of altitude.

Previously, (yesterday?) Tra'y, Jet and me, meandered the meandering way to the Library for an outing.  5.8 kms.  There are some very nice houses in St Winifreds Place.

Level 2's Weakened Restrictions Social Distance-making or -breaking?

Blipped over to Bec's on Saturday with Tra'y for a nice visit; glass of wine in social-non-distancedness.  Nearly 7 kms round trip.

Took the dog for a couple of non-mapped spins, usual local blocks, including this one...

Yesterday, first day back at school for the kids, rode with H and Jet on the cruiser, down to the Strowan/Railway intersection, Jet ran the whole way there, good clip too, and then we separated from H and came home Westholme, Bounty, Christian.  He cruised pretty good pace most of that way too.

Then Last night, explored a couple of alleys we'd not before, found a nice loop.  Yet another photo of my bike lying in the driveway (showing off some of it's reflectiness):

to which Andy commented:  Your bikes tend to lie down a lot.
to which I replied:  That's because they're two tired.

which i thought was fricking hilarious.

Level 3's deathrows, Tuesday and Wednesday

Yesterday, Tuesday, morning H had bought a game on Trademe, so him, Hayles and me rode to get it.  Direct shot down to Merivale.  I let them ride home themselves, and detoured to collect some flour I needed from the Merivale Fresh Choice, and managed to see some beers I'd not had before, so collected them too.  A 9 km round trip.

Later, T and me cruised around the local loop of the parks with the doglet.

Showing off my spokes (laced years ago), this bike's been rocking this wheel like this for a long time.  It's, in my opinion, the best 'weird' pattern you can do with the spokes you've got, same length as a 3-cross.

The 'used' spokes are quite old, and the wheel is a little flexy.  I tried to dub someone on the handlebars one time and the wheel sounded like it was gonna cave in - it complained a lot, so the person didn't get a ride.

This morning I did a 1 km lap of the Condell Aorangi Hudson Wallace block with the dog.  Would have done longer, but forgot to take a bag, so dragged home the last couple of stretches cos I could just see he was gonna take a dump...

Level 3 Weakened Cruise(s)

On Friday did a bit of a fam ride with T, H and Hayles.  We cruised and perused the burbs and stopped for a beverage at the swing before cruising home, putting some power down a couple of times.  The singletrack along the river to Helmores Lane got me really chuffing, chasing Higgs.  Was good to get the puff up.  Weird shit with MMR, only shows in the Workouts, not the Activity Feed.  Have had this before, and cannot work out why it hides them.  Anyway, a worthy 12.3 kms.

Took Jetty for a cruise on Saturday, all the local wee spots.

Also biked with T, and Jet, to the stupidmarket at some point, not sure when... even used the Troll in it's cargo carrying capacity on the way home with the shoppings.

Monday took a lunch break and perused a few new local alleys.  Jet kept a good pace the first half, but coming back, he was Mister Slowpoke.  Still, nearly 5 kms...

Freshly frontwheel shod Ghetto Ratbike Speshy Globe cruiserrrr.

Front tire rubs on the top but will wear down faster than the metal... unfortunately not enough room in the frame for the back tire to be the same...  will have to find a smaller size.

Chooseday Ghetto Rat Jet Cruising

Tuesday, took Jetty for a spin on the Ghetto Ratbike.  Headed out, realised we didn't have a baggy, so home again, and a different route...  Pitcairn park was interesting.  Tiny street frontage, but opens right up into a big enclosed space.  Off lead he had a nice sniff about.  Then straight up home.  Lotsa wind, sun and interesting cloudscapes.

Level 3 Lockdown Weakend Alleyway Cruising...

Saturday saw us do a nice reasonable sized ride, at some relatively low speeds, with Bec and Tra'y.  T and me left here and zagged and zigged to Bec's, collecting her and a few supplies, and we roamed the wild city streets of Merivale and whatever that Bristol St, Holly and Onslow area is called, in search of enlightenment and good-times.  These two things came in droves (well, not really).  Meandered and cruised, Bec not the quickest treadler.  Scattering metric fucktonnes of people who were besmirching the toothsome pathways of North Hagley Park.  The rest of our travels were relatively dipshit-free, past Girls High, up Matai, Harakeke and dipping through Daresbury Park, then Weka, Makora and the backways of the (Fendalton?) bowling club.  Detoured the native tree streets (Puriri and Totara) to Riccarton House, where we parked ourselves on the river bank, watching the ducks, supping on a couple of beverages, and noshing some meat and sundried tomatos.

Fun had, we continued, through the streets, along the riverside at Uni (the fun singletrack bit), and then through the uni, discovering (again for me) the path through past the Uni Community Garden, all the native planting that was started when I was there (20-25 years ago) and marvelling at how big it is now.  Kahikateas of a good size already.  Out and back to Ilam Rd along this, then Coldstream Court, Gleneagles and through Cobham Intermediate, quick detour down Christchurch's most pretentiously built street (ugh! Chateau fucking Drive, what a bunch of disgusting 90s starter-castle McMansion tat! Zero taste), skirting an edge of Jelli Park and Burnside HS, and then as many alleyways as possible home.

A reputable 19.5 kms.

Another pointlessly measured cruise a little later for to walk the dog - nice for him.

I mean, look how happy he is:

Anzackery Weakened - last of the Level 4

Saturday - Zig and Zag, there and back, to the old hood to drop some (late) easter eggs off for Hayles.  15 kms.  I'd forgotten my MMR was on for about half an hour, so there's a long tail on the graph (or lots of squiggles if you zoom in to home).

Then, later in the day, another 9.3 kms with Gogo and T, we zagged and zigged, then straightshot down the railtrail into Mona Vale, round and out, then round Girls High, and stopped and had I a beer (Party & Bullshit) and they had coke (T's with a spot of voddy in it) on the river near the swing, as the sun got lower in the sky.  Ripper Autumn colours everywhere, followed on down river and then back up Mill Brook Stream Reserve and home via the streets and Railtrail.


Rocketship with Jet on Sunday, fast down the railtrail, but slow on the return up Westholme and Bounty..  Sniffed and peed on every landmark on the way home.

Yesterday, Anzac Day Observed, broke myself mowing the lawn (couldn't finish it) but after a good rest I fixed a flat on the back of the Ghetto Globe and took Jetty out for a short usual spin (no MMR, but short (3kms?).  He has to be on the lead the whole time so I try to travel so's not have any tension on the lead as much as possible.  This involves keeping up with him when he's bombing it, or detouring to a tree or post and hovering momentarily while he leaves his pee-mail to the other dogs.   At these pauses I try not to put a foot down to avoid the pain that gives me.  Reaaalllyy slow going on the way home.

Tuesday, just before dinner, Ghetto Cruiser around the hood with Mister Cutie here:

COVID Townies...

Plenty of family time, riding about with the dog, Ghetto Cruising.  Getting out every day, similar stuff to this.  Never more than 4 or 5 kms, usually only 3, local streets, parks etc.  Keeping our social distance from everyone else that's out there.

Finally yesterday got out on the Troll and took myself for a jaunt about the alleyways near here...  Quite a blast, and found some cool wee low-ways and by-ways, piecing together a few alleys I knew about or didn't know about.

Think I'll just add local stuff to this one, as we go from here, unless I take myself out for a further trip, over 10kms or something, then I'll do new posts, and maybe tack short locals on each of those.


A few more short stints on the ratbike.  None as big as those previous.   Back still killing me.
 

Riding Hiatus - Prolapsed COVID19 Lockdown - Locals Only

Nothing but local short flat street rides for the month, by the look of it.  I'm getting out every day with the dog and Tra'y, jetting around the neighbourhood, connecting up the parks and alleys, cruising the sidewalks, keeping 2 metres away from everybody.

My back's still bad, or at least, my flexors and ITBs, quads and hammies are all screaming all the time.  No idea how or when I'm gonna fix.  So's probably just as well I'm only cruising.  Mostly on the Specialized GhettoGlobe, but sometimes on the Troll.

Mapped a couple, and haven't mapped a bunch.

Tuesday PFMTBC DVD Release

Cruiser'd over to Petes and met up with all the crew. Andrew, Wayne, Warren, Hubb, Pete (who'd been at Pom's all afternoon), Steve and Tony. We ventured forth into the hot blasting Nor'waster, made it to the Belgian Beer Cafe where we squatted on the outskirts of a bunch of suits and supped our ales (a Blonde and a Brunette for me). then to Pomeroys where we met up with the three M's - Matt, Mark and Marie. Mark had a Tallboy in tow, and we all carparked it trying it out and liking it except for (mark's) floppy seat - (a Hopwired and a Smokin' Bishop for me here).

Then a tail wind blast to Pete's for the unveiling of Warren's video construction. we drank a little more and laughed and laughed and laughed.

Sketchy getting home, with i think a crash on Pete's drive. i've got unexplained chain muck right up my leg...


Only 4 more posts to fulfill my annual quota... These will be pre-loaded because i'm going to Little Ak from Boxing day and we aint got internet over there. I'll definitely get that many rides in prior to Jan 1st.

no mountain biking, but bike related activities...

So. didnt get out on the trails. had friday afternoon jacked up briefly, but then babysitters plans changed and weather was inclement anyway, at least, trails would have been drenched after the system that went through friday lunchtime.

but. Saturday, boys taken care of, i jumped on the ghetto cruiser and cruised thru the ghetto to Robbies New Brighton. there finding steve pete warren rex and significant others (mine being away for weekend or she'd have joined us), and abbasteve, and then wayahno and his missus arrived too. beers had, hit the ride, over the bridge, palmers rd, keyes rd, to Chats Bar. 'nother beer,

then wattle drive to river, me dropping the chain and discovering the joys of having no brakes... then along river and peeling into Horseshoe Lake. very nice cruising slowly through there during the day time, usually its flat out at night... then joy st to Fox'n'Ferret at the palms. nother beer, and a nibble,

then Banks Ave to River Rd, following it all the way to Pomeroys, me dropping home to feed dog and chooks on way, 'nother beer here.

then Avon Loop, poplars, vic sq, river to Worcester, museum, boatsheds, river, cashel st, high, into Poplar Lanes. beer beer beer food beer and home. fun.


Sundaygot a random call, and told 4pm, polo... didnt think i'd go, but ended up with only one boy for the afternoon, so grabbed the beater and over we went to Hillsborough Park, where the hardcore hardcourt players play. i got into two games, and it was fun. my bike was poorly geared for it, a 2:1 or even less would be better, probably try the singlespeed next time, but it was easy to pick up, good fun, balancing. i even scored a winning goal, easy as.

Tuesday full moon urbanism

aaarrrggghhh... how long since tires schluffed dirt? neeeeeed singletrack...

weekend resulted in no riding... took O to a kids BMX thing out at Hornby which was groovy for him and made ME want a sweet little trick 24inch bmx cruiser.
and yesterday, went out to Cowles Stadium and had a go on a bunch of weird and wonderful machines at Bikes4Fun (also as part of KidsFest), even having my first ever go on a P-Far. freakiness and harder than i thought it would be.

then, last night, krewzd to Petes, where met with Andrew Hubby Steve Steve Warren and we proceeded to repeat last thursday's ride, only tacking on south hagley park, a slightly different route back through town, and all of us ending up at Pomeroys for a couple pints... (this time, Tuatara Hefe and then an 3boys Oystah stout.

Thursday Urbanity

Grovelly weather and saturated trails kept us off the hills, and even off Bottle Lake... So, i jumped on the Globe and trundled to Petes, where Steve (on his Earth Cruiser), Rex, and Mark (on the Healing Tenspeed Tandem (on his own)) showed up too.

Pedalled the streets - round Avonside to Swanns bridge round River Rd to Fitz along cycle way to Cambridge round past cemetery brief encounter with Barbadoes then continuing along down the poplars and on round crossing river and Colombo into Vic Sq then along past courts and belgian beer bar on along to Worcester down to Museum hung a right and then into North Hagley diagonally towards Harper followed along side that round to Riccarton Roundabout althewhile in the park to hospital to Bridge of Remembrance down Cashel where Steve peeled off the rest of us jaunting to Pomeroys for a coupla pints - i had an Emerson's Hoppy Porter (YUM) and a 3Boys Oyster Stout (also YUM).
Some Fixsters were in residence there, 3 brakeless.

rain had just started as we headed home, and 10 minutes after i got in the gale and downpour began... lucky we didnt have that 3rd pint, and the fashion fixies will have had wet arses on their way home, rubbing brakeless (a la bsnyc...)

Sunday a.m. Cruise. Sumner then back to plant some Trees for Canterbury

crapulent weather for the entire week, trails are all creeks or would be destroyed from the attack of the tires, so jumped on the ratrod-ghetto-backpedal-single-Specialized Globe commuter beast and trundled over to pete's. joined by himself and his lovely wife, him on Grandad - WW2 Swiss Army Doctor's Bike, and her on her brand spanking new Electra Coaster, girly cruiser, we literally cruised down linwood ave and through Charlesworth Reserve to ferrymead bridge to meet up with Wayne, Andrew, Warren (all on mtnbikes) and Steve and J9 on their cruisers. as a large group now, cruised along to sumner, had coffee at dotcom and cruised back to Charlesworth Reserve whereupon we put plants in the ground. O was dropped to me by friends he'd stayed with overnight, and i put his seat on my toptube and he rode home with Pete and me. mellow. cruise.

heeeesh... no rides to speak of

fiordland last week, and only riding to work and the Specialized Ghettoglobe jaunt to Andrew's on tuesday night for a pfmtbc meeting about this October's trip to speak of...
plan is to do some Craigieburnin' on Sunday. and Nels and me might do a spin on the hills Saturday night, cos its Daylightsavings ending, so the evenings are gonna have to be lit from now on...

no ride week...

no mtnbike rides,
Tuesday rode over to Steve's on the Ghetto Spesh for an evening of mtnbike dvds and tasty beer. i took with me a couple of La Trappe Wittes, an Emerson's Dunkel, and Renaissance Stonecutter...
Wednesday, biked to Cannon Hill, which felt like some miles, but really, plenty of people do that both ways every day, so its not really much...

Hopefully, planning to get up hill tomorrow to assist with the maintenance of the Castle Rock to Bridle Path singletrack.