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. 

Saturday Captain Godley into the Breeze and back again

Good wee ride on the Jeht today that was hard work. I'm so unfit! Climbing was tough, conditions good or sketchy. Lambs galore.

Parked on Wakefield and headed into the OG Captain T.  Muckiest I've ever seen it along behind the gabian wall, then up on the trail a lot of wetspots to negotiate.  Once out on the open section was a bit dryer, bar a few damp spots higher up.  I was muppetty, really struggling on the climbing, balance seemed all wonky, so dabbed way more than usual.  Out the top and onto the road, following a gravel couple, never quite catching them but slowly winding them in, until I peeled right up the ridge, lots of lambs and ewes.  Onto Godley and it was in pretty good nick.  Damp in shadier side, and very rutty, especially leading into the descent towards Livingston.  Good blast through this and then up the next over, dabbing once or twice, but making it through other tech.  Surprisingly good down to Breeze, only very slightly soggy on the last rutsville.  I've never seen so many people at Breeze Col.  It was insane the numbers walking up from Taylors.

Turning back up the road, cruised around to Livingston and had to don my vest as there was a nasty chill in the wind.  Para-sailers hovering smoothly at their launchsite, passed them and left up the ridge track again, passing a very sad looking ewe with a bunch of ropey stuff hanging out her rear end.  Needed some help but I didn't know what to do...  :(  Onto Godley heading for Evans, very wet in places, but once on the downward slope just the rock tech to deal with.  onto the road, and through the pass back onto the Captain, for a good cruise down.  Cleaned all the tech, but carefully.  Nice going once in the bushy section, navigating the wet sections carefully too.  Flow resulted and out to the car for a good finish.

Strugglesome 15.43 kms and 640 m climbed.

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

Tuesday Night Nun Vic Skooled, More Down than Up

Nice mild night out tonight.  I took the car down to Bowenvale this morning, riding to work from there then home afterwards.  This way, Nelson could come straight to mine and we'd get more down than up.  

We headed up the usual byways through Vic, over 19th , Skidder, the gutser, and hit both Thompsons down to the Kiwi.  Up the Summit from here, Worlsey's Rd onto Nun, steadily climbed.  

Dropped in and I was coping with less than ideal lighting - not sure how much life this thing has so I'm wary of using much fullbeam.  We biffed and baffed all the way down, me taking it pretty easy but jumping a couple of lines I haven't ridden in a while.  Down near the end, from just before Capt Torpedo and Drainpipe there were some trail fairies (who we'd spotted below on our way up - Richie Goldworthy, apparently).  

Out through Kiwi and back up the road, dropped into Vic-top down around the jumpies and back up Worm, parking at the top as a few riders got going, including one grom down off over the big jump up here.  We followed him after a time, off down Upper Fenceline, exploring the zigs and zags (a couple of which I'd missed on Saturday).  When we got out to the access track, we pushed back up through where I'd gone up Saturday to just before Cool Runnings crossing, and dropped off to the right, down what must be the bottom of Tilted Sally / Flow Rider (according to Trailforks).  Nice flow through this taking us all the way to the fence-crossing and down into the open.  From here it was a blast around whatever that bit is called (Eastside?) before heading into the trees for the Bridges/NuBridges.  Down here, nice blast and then down valley and into the Hidden Valley climb up to Old Skool.  Chuff chuff chuff.  I cleaned all the hairpins - i think Nelson is still getting used to the long wheelbase of the Rocky cos he missed the very first one and tweaked on a root on the 3rd one.  So, so mild up here in the valley, and no wind (after a very windy day and night prior).  

Into the Old Skool and it was a ripsnorting blast.  This is where Nelson was choosing some crazy lines.  I was right on his tail and following and it was rough.  A little bit of grease around in the rutty straight sections, which led to some interesting handling, but made it out alive and we blitzed down the gravel and out down the road to the car. 

Choice ride for a Chooseday - 13.3 kms, 389 m climbed, ~600 m descended

Saturday Morning Mucky Greenwood

Practically a month since last ride, due to Galapagos. 

Sweet ride up and over from Nelson's this morning.  Up Santa Maria, Selleck, Assisi, Drayton into the Reserve, greasing up the zig zags and onto the road, all the way to Upper Hornbrook and Britten. Good climb to top and down the short bit of road to OG Greenwood entrance. Squirmed across here then I led into Greenwood proper, overreacting to every little bump, too much braking and not enough flow.  Still, made good speed into the Gloomy Gulch where I had to walk the worst of the rocks. Nelson caught up here having had a little slickness trouble earlier.  Cautiously down the next section of rocks, which weren't as bad as I thought, then some fun flow through the usual fast section, drop that I rolled and around the big corners, back and forth, grooving through the grooves. Through the fence and it was the worst I've ever seen it. Greasy rut city. Then, north facing fast and fun... And last corners before the road were not great... 

Where to from here? Settled for up-the-road, plodding all the way to the Richmond pines, and onto Sheep Shit Alley.  Nice climb here but man were my legs tired. Took it easy with a break and also a nice long look at a section of trail that needed drainage.

Back into the road briefly back into Britten, out the front on the 'new' trail (that's not). Dropped down here for some great flow, stopping a couple times to check where we were then off to the left to pick new lines down rocky sections. Fun exploration. Finally out the bottom and flying down the roads back to his place.

Remarkably, 15 kms with 620 m climbed

Matariki Jehtset Castle

Sweet ride out and back on the Jeht today...  (2 of 3 rides out the Traverse in a week - each time venturing slightly further).  Up on the Jeht again, feeling sweet to ride it, and smoothing out all the bumps is gooood, out the Traverse, Vernon, Witch, Castle and back.  Didn't hit the Tors, there were walkers on it, and stayed off the walktrack immediately above the road between Tors and Witch on account it was likely soggy.   Rode the road from Rapaki to Huntsbury, figuring I'd done the Vernon climb the other day, didn't need to do it again.  Traverse, good flow, and fun down through Vic, usual Rocks'n'gums droppy droppy.  Oh boy, the 235 / DogParkCarPark trail is even worse in the oaks.  What a wet mess under dead leaves.  All the way out to H'Ell and clamber to road, home.  

Rambled just under 20 kms, and scrambled just under 730 m

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. 

Sunday, Kinda Like the Old Days - Rapaki to Sumner loop

Good ride today, catching up with some of the old crew.  Met Wazza, Nelsie, Andy and Jenna at bottom of Rapaki, and off we went up.  Jenna was meeting a walking friend and rode with her while us 4 boyz headed off up Elevator for the grind.  Was doing okay for a start but slightly stupidly I followed Nelson and Wazza into the 'extra' loop bit, while Andy took the short cut, putting him miles ahead.  Then the chase was on and I found I didn't really have it in me, so much.  Struggled away as they pulled away from me but we all slowly caught Andy.  Wazz had no problem given he was on his ebike, but it took quite a while us other two, in particular, me, who didn't get there til the start of the Montgomery.  Bit of a breather here and I followed Andy into the 'hard' line, catching me off guard given I had no idea there was that tech section.  I dabbed, Nelson had to choose a different line behind me, but we all survived.  Above the track for a bit then onto the main drag up the hill, passing Jenna and her friend again.  

Breather at Rapaki-top then off into the Witch.  Nice churn through here, chuffing a fair bit I was tho.  Then up the road to Castle and Nelson and me led the way, at great speed.  Pinging all over the place and I felt like it was slow, but I think we carried pretty good speed in the long run.  

Then it was along the road below the gondola and up through the cutting into Britten for the hoon around the outside - sheepshit-fling, it was.  Andy led, Nelson, Wazz and me.  Down into OG Greenwood entrance and I was in the lead, and ended up having to have a breather at the worst of the rocky tech bits and the others all ploughed past.  Down to the ruins, breather, and Nelson and me led the way, flowing and enjoying.  Chain off on the sidle before gloomy gulch, and lots of wet spots.  Cleaned all the techy troublesomeness in Gloomy too.  Breather break at the usual spot and then it was off down again, carrying speed with finesse, flying and grooving.  I was catching and cruising, catching and cruising with Nelson almost all the way.  Out the bottom and around up onto the Summit Rd to the Captain's entrance.

Waited here for a bit, and well earned breather, for rider we'd spotted climbing.  Then it was on again, hauling and balling, railing and wailing.  A couple of haul ups by Nelson in a couple of weird spots, but was all good.  Into the old school section and funtimes.  I had one very close call on the bridge bit, there was some grass or horseshit on the left hand entrance to it, not to mention slick rocks, and my front wheel squirrelled alarmingly.  Survived.  Excellent weavy ride the rest of the way, pumping through sections, railing corners.  Loved it.

Finaly, down the road to DotCom, coffee and brownie, eventually Jenna arrived and we headed off around the coastal pathway, losing Nelson at McCormacks and Wazza at Ferrymead Bridge.  We went around the back of Settlers Cres, under the motorway bridge, and Sheldon etc and I left them at Opawa bridge to head around the park to the car in Hillsborough Tce.

Started it late, beyond the highest point on Elevator, so adding a couple kms and 250 m climbing, I guess, call it 30 kms and 880 m climbed...

Sprungday Livings

Found myself with an opportunity to ride so I bailed over to Allandale, parked, and went for a couple of laps hoon of Living Springs (blimey, 2 years since last time!).  It's not feeling very used, tho there were some skids in Zanes.  Climbing is steep but manageable and nice surrounds, bellbirds glorious, and fantails everywhere.  Up the forest and then into Mississippi and around to Zanes.  Not very fast, anywhere, not being in chase mode like usual, I was being quite careful and not quite trusting any grip anywhere, even though it was alright.  Fun down Zanes, more fun the second time.  Should have pushed a 3rd lap, but I'd been very tired all day.

A measly 6.4 kms, miniscule 235 m climbed...

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 his 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).

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.

Scorched Sunday Thomas the God Botherer's Captaincy

Took myself out to Slumner with the Jeht on board and parked up in some shade before Scumnervale. Headed up the OG Captain and it was hot. Really fucking hot. Many times I thought, "it's too much" but each time I continued. Scorching, bit of walking right at the start then not so bad from there on out with the usual rocks needing the foot-use.  Sumner Triathlon was on and there were cones and signage and people all over Evans Pass, with Godley Head Rd closed to traffic, I headed out there with the knowledge there'd be no cars.  Climbed up the grass onto the trail - utterly surrounded by a kaliedoscope of butterflies (or was it a whisper of moths?).  Breather at the top here and chatted to a bloke on a Santa Cruz here (that I'd seen from below the wondering whether he'd been through or not by the time I got up there).  He asked about the trail, it'd been a while since he'd been on it, and then I gave him the lead off and waited a bit longer.  Off down after him and had a nice blast. Then at Livingston he was waiting at the big gate, opening it for me but (to him) I'd disappeared behind the rock, and was at the small gate (where the old cattlestop roll-over used to be).   

I felt better from here up and over, cleaning all the rocky tech on the up, nice flow down around, over pfmtbc rock to Breeze, then took the Breeze Bay walking track around the back, with literally a good breeze coming up off the sea round here. VERY Needed. Caught some walkers before the stile - giving the guy a heck of a fright. Over the stile ahead of them and bombed down to the carpark where I filled up my water. Then, around the front on the OG Godley section, enjoying, and crossing paths with the Santa Cruz dude again.  At Breeze I intended to head back on the road, started out that way but where the top Anaconda entrance is I climbed up the paddock to the Godley trail again.  Nice from here back in this direction over the techy rock and missing the wasted descent on the road to Livingston (which would have been a nice rest, I guess).  

From Livingston stayed on the trail and climbed it. My figuring was, it's the same altitude gain as if I'd ridden the road and up track. Hell of a lot more effort tho. Oh well. Received a compliment from an American-accented woman who'd stopped to let me tackle the wee bridge thing at the head of the gully up here. Impressed with my body-English manoeuvrings methinks... I didn't know what to say I was so toasted. I said, "no worries" like she'd thanked me! Then realised my error and said, "thanks, heaps" and continued on my merry way, then wondered if I should have stopped to chat...build some community, like??  Looking back a little further up I could see someone following me, way back, who'd pulled over to let her by.  He was present in my mind, chasing, for the rest of my ride (but didn't catch up til I was on the road next to my car). Blasted the tech rock all the way back to Evans, tho one sticky situation near the end that resulted in a nice lump on my shin/ankle.  My right foot was violent smacked out of my pedal by a rock at almost exactly the same time as my left foot hit a bigger rock, all-but stopping me in my tracks.  At the second foot-strike the pedal from the first intersected with my ankle...  ouch.

Through the pass and straight into Captain Thomas for a rip snorting descent. Had an audience in a couple of the crucial moments, a trio of walkers and dogs above the two rock dropdowns, and a runner who leaned out of the way with a big grin on her face as I dropped down the second of those. Cleaned all of everything except the short climb after the rocky techs, but made it higher on that than I have in a while.  Down in the OG section I stopped to have a single chat with Doug at the bridge and T rang wondering where I was.  Cleaned all the rocky roll-overs lower down here, and had a lovely lively jaunt down the trail.  Dusty finish, and across the road to the car. 

An efficacious 18.4 kms and 765 m climbed, unanticipatedly.

Resolute to ride more as this climbing lark was hurting me...  My playing-up knee survived nicely too.

Saturday Morning Mount Grey in the Grey

Nice ride today with Nelson and a dude he's met locally recently, Harvey.  Harvey kindly drove, through quite a lot of rain, which buttoned off as through Amberly and up Cramptons Bush Rd, down to a shmizzle at least.  We headed all the way in, up and over past "Lake" Janet, down to the bottom end of the Mt Grey track, where the blown-out ford is.  

Rode up the road from there - very overgrown and narrowing with gorse. At the "Lake" we didn't head up the zigzags on account I didn't think my knee would handle any walking, and Nelson pointed out that the overgrowniness of the trail would be very wetting, instead, staying on the road the whole way to the top, including from above the lookout.  We were immersed in clouds from a bit below there, all the way to the top with some a couple of smatterings of drizzle on the way. I kept getting left behind cos I was climbing really slow, all sorts of excuses really: post covid, not enough riding, my knee...  and they're both super fit.  

Started into the down and it was a bit sketchy, tho stuff came at us seemingly quicker than usual. Hairpins, already? Rock roll, already?? Then as we headed into the forest the sun came out. Still very wet in the there, and the roots and moss were slippery, rocks about the same.  Hairpins?  Boy, the Cotic is long... After climbing slower, I wasn't as fast descending as them either, but it was all very enjoyable taking my own pace.  Fucking mucky lower down, especially in the muckzone.  Passed one or two walkers. Was sweet sweet ride, but my hands were getting sorer and sorer the whole way down.  I think the MeatyGrips are okay on non-tech...  have switched them to the singlespeed, and put the (brown) Burgtecs onto the Jeht now - colour coordinated!

Washed our bikes in the river under full sun and blue skies for the drive home.  Coupled with my commute time from home to Nelson's and back again, (not to mention Harvey was about 25 minutes late), made for a surprisingly long day...I'd left home at 7.40 am and it was 2.40pm by the time I made it home.

Slightly toilsome 13.7 kms and 690 m arduously climbed (by me).  Interestingly, this trip was 2 hours 25 minutes of ride time, vs at least the last 5 times we've done it have only been ride time of 1 hour 40 or so...  I'm wondering if I really was that slow, or if the climbing from the bottom slows down the higher steeper stuff... turns out my MMR was set Auto-Pause Off...  that explains it, I didn't think we were 45 minutes slower.

Sunday Morning Codger's Dog's Firball, 51 Horses

Hot ride in Nelson today. Plans were malleable and changed as I rode... From base, down the walkway and then out across behind the Cathedral and then up my usual entrance to the Brook, via that nice path along the creek then a bit of a zig and zag up to bottom of Codgers.  Climbed on up here, not that many people around and yet still a few.  Into Tasman Journeys for a zig and a zag up to Jacks then up to Middle road, grannying along the steeps.  Jeht was in 29:29 guise, and riding pretty nicely.  Blessing was so far all of it was in the shade, and there was still some cool dampness in the air from the night, tho was fixing to be a bit of a scorcher.  Stopped at a picnic table for a short break and look at Trailforks to work out where to go.  Decided on the top of Lollipop and see where from there, thinking maybe Hotbox then try the climb up from Maitai over that side.  Got to Hotbox and Beer Bottle climb and another rider rolled up and we talked then I led off up Beer Bottle, cleaning it nicely.  I went all the way to the very top (view from here)

The other dude had headed off down Top Dog from the corner.  Had a wee look down Lolli but nahhhhh...  and Hot Box had closed tape all over it, figured best not to annoy the trailmakers, so took Top Dog and proceeded to enjoy the bejeebus out of it.  Reminded me of the sections of Great Expectations that are in the pines, tho a little more tech than that.  Was too soon over and I was on an access road.  Headed up this passing the top of the climb trail, then DIVAs (compulsory gap jumps - nah), then Hotbox (closed tapes all over, so no go there) so continued back up to the skid (at top of Take me to your Leader), proceeded back up to the main Fireball Skid, then up Firball climb to access the Trig.  Even better view than top of Top Dog.   

I'd spotted a new trail on the map from this Trig, and had been aiming for it, Koata Whetu.  I'd done Koata Marama last time I was up here so this was a good option for heading back down.  It was fun.  Popped and weaved, up top wider and less steep than Top Dog, through a bit of regen native, a few pines near the top and then across the grassy scrub around to eventually join onto the bottom of Fir Ball.  Boffed down through this then through the saddle and climbed up to Whanake and into P51 for a nice rolly back and forth, a few nice tabletops, one cased bollocking (OUCH), then down through into the bottom.  Chose Crazy Horse instead of the bottom of Firball based solely on that it was shorter slightly shorter than Firball (figured it might therefore be steeper and more fun).  Not that great, anyway.  At Container Skid I stupidly didn't take Young Codgers instead climbing up back onto the main Coppermine trails and headed down this against the traffic flow.  

Rolled back down through town (swinging past the Gallery to see if Anth was there for a coffee) and got hot and bothered climbing up Locking St and the walkway back to base.  

Somewhere in the vicinity of 18 kms, and around 600 m climbed (recalculated because bloody MMR straightlined it from the top of Firball to the top of Whanake... (at least 100 m altitude from saddle up Whanake))

Sunday Shortish Nun and back.

Testing the Jeht out as a non-mullet, running the 29 rear I got off trade me around the time I got the frame. It's only running a 2.4 Minion on a 30mm ID rim though, so is a far cry from the balloon I normally run. The minor change in geometry felt minor but it was noticeable but probably was hardly anything.  Handled ok, except the tire was definitely lacking sufficient grip in some dust-on-rock corners. I'll try the 2.6 off the front some day soon for size, see if it fits in the frame and if it does then get a new front, otherwise a 2.5 for the back (which is what's recommended as the maximum size)...

Off up through Vic, climbing from skidder made harder by the low gear now turning a bigger wheel.  I was slow, and puffed, but managed everything with only one breathing pause halfway up.  Thompsons one and two, then through the Pass and on up Summit Rd, grinding away to the top of Nun, where I peaked and looked at the view.

Nun was sketch dust, but bike handled mostly nicely, albeit rear wheel slide due to lack of bite, and then some dudes came in from the park, looking hot, but actually slow-bos, and got on the lower end ahead of me, making me have to catch up, hold back to increase the gap, then catch up again... 

Good faff up the road to Vic-top overtaking a bunch of riders, surprisingly cos I was feeling pretty spent - it was HOT - and then dropped down into a nice jump thru, down to the rocks, and gums (doug), and on down the usual below the road from 19th - coasting into the dogparkcarpark for a nice cruisy roll through here, trail riding well.  Just ahead of the final corner, the end of the trail before dropping onto lower H'Ell, there was a dead log across the path.  I stopped and moved it, and in the process, tweaked my already sore wrist - not to mention putting a nice vertical scrape on the back of my calf.

A whopping (not) 10.5 kms, and 345 m escalated.  Got home hot and was hot for hours afterwards.

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.

Fri Day-after-Waitangi, Wood of the Captain Green.

Took the Jeht to Scumnervale and headed up Das Kapitan. 2 weeks since covid and as a result of this I struggled pretty much the whole way. Especially up the road above and then even worse up to the top of Pleasant.  Climb was uneventful, apart from a horse between the gates on the OG Captain.  I gave him a wee fright rolling over the beside-the-stile fence rock roll.  Luckily, he turned around and had his head at the trail (rather than the kicking machines), and I talked nicely and let him sniff me to know me as I passed.  Up from here was nice.  Up the rest was alright, but struggling began in earnest higher up.  Then, up the road, and by the time I made Jollies Bush I was a bit toasted, then up Sheep Shit Alley, and back onto the road and around Britten, the longer way, then up over the fence from the cutting and it looks like no one rides there anymore.  Grass all overgrown to buggery.  Onto main trail and it looks like a trainload of bikes has been through (- an event?).  Clambered and had a rest at some rocks, ate something, then moseyed on, struggling away.  Utterly spent by the top, thankful it was downhill(ish) the rest of the way.

Trails really look like some event has been through recently, do they still hold the Crater Rim enduro??  Top section, rocks, more rocks, and then some rocks thrown in for good measure.  Down through the tussocks was alright.  Lots of new fencing, and through Downhill got better and better as I descended to the point where I was very much enjoying myself.  Good roll down all the usual techs, and into the OG zone, very nicely indeed.  Horsey McHorseface had gone when I came back through.

An undiminutive 16.78 kms and wondrously 663 m upwardly mobile

Thursday Evening Croc of Climbing

Buncha ups and downs out in Halswell tonight. In from the carpark, meandering around all the new-path-fenced-off areas, up to the trees to the start of the trails.  Straight into Download, and up C2, chuffing alllllll the way up to Siberia and over, then back down the lot, across to the right following a family of big cattle beasties and dropped into Off the Cuff, up Upper Crust, down Murph's, back up the OG Croc -v stepper than I remembered it, down Spurious, back up C2 and down Mish Mash... Shitloads of other riders around and everyone seemed to be faster than me going up. 😩

Less than 10kms and only 289 climbed (tho I calculate 360m...), which seems a bit of a rip off, considering.  I gotta ride more.

Sunday Bowenvale Jeht Planing

Bonza, mate. Bonza! 

Left home at 1 on the dot and ground my way up the usuals to the top of Vic. Popped off down Thomson#1, enjoying the absolute cush and speed of the Jeht, weaving through the gap and into the hairpins to head back up the road to the top again.  Next, I boffed off round, popping the jumps and hauling straight back around and up the Worm to hit the Traverse for the cruise across.  I could see a couple of riders ahead, a long way ahead when I first got onto it, they were rounding the stile further ahead.  When I got there they were slightly less far away, then when I was coming around towards the Sugarloaf saddle carpark they were just negotiating the pond and then the rock feature after that.  I caught the young girl as we rounded towards Lavaflow and she stopped to let me by at that rock feature just after that.  I stopped at the top of HuntsDH and let her roll by to her dad(?).  

Dropped off down what was fourpause and had an audience just below the first jump, a guy riding up the gravel stopped to observe.  Wind behind me, quite quick down here.  First left into the swervy version of the landing-strip-adjacent trail, and enjoying the flow.  Onwards over the top of Ali Express, finding, after the cattlestop, a new route into the zig and zag, Sheepshit City it should be called.  Dropping down all the rest of the rocky sections, nice flow and bomb.  Strong winds on the zig and zag before the Old Skool proper, pushing or adjusting...  Stopped for a rest and saw a couple ahead.  Headed off, bombing, flowing, tailwind, fast and smooth, funtimes, the pedestrians were out of the way just before the cattlestop and I just rolled on through.  Nice flow, riding well.  Zig and zag back and forth flowing and pumping, flying then into the bottom and onto the grind, the endless steep, grovelling up valley, eventually out the top and over the skidder into the singletrack descent to 19thy, below road, through, coast, into dogparkcarpark, hello to Jo from work who was parked in my spot, and bombing through the curvy grooves, all the way down to H'Ell, clamber up, blast home

A congenial 12.5kms with 540m risen