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. 

Tuesday Night Bowenvale Loop

On my own on the Jeht, off up to top of Vic, feeling dreadful...  up to top and down around the jumpies, hanging hard right into Worm and climbing to Traverse.  Around here, uneventful other than stopping at the first high point and for a rest and to delayer when 10 dudes all rode past...  Glad I didn't meet them on-trail.  Nice blast from here, dont think I met anyone else.  Stopped for a rest at the top of HuntsDH and made up my mind where to go.  

Down.  Blitzy blitzy droppy drop down over the jumps in the ruts and then across the landing strip, twistier version, and dropping down AliExpress this time continuing down.  Baulked at the worst bit, and walked it.  Then a little lower down baulked at the highline, walked back and did the lowline, then good blaze the rest of the way.  Cautious Colin through the pylon switchbacks tho, for some reason, not liking the overgrowth of grass and narrowness.  Brief pause at the usual resting spot then off for the blast.  Feeling pretty good now, weaving the frame down through the trail.  Very nice.  Lower sections were fast and slow, and at the bottom I went straight into the climb back up the valleybottom.  Feeling not that bad now, getting into the groove.  Cleaned up to Hospital no problem then cleaned all of the steep start of k2 no issues either, considering how many times I've walked it in the past!  Around into the trees and it's easier in here now (someone's sawn off a thin tree that was a pest on the roots).  Up around the Texaco and on up the 4wd track, breathing a lot.  Met a couple of walking women up under Pono's and then past the 40fter and up through the rad zone climbing no problem.  Weird.  

At Skidder I thought, why not, and kept climbing - making hay while the sun still shone (was 8.10pm or so, and sunset was at 8.39pm), up to Brakefree then on up to the very top again!  Mad.  Down over the jumpies and then blast down rabbit paddock (through an attractive couple's photoshoot) and into the rocks, gums, fun times all the way to the 19th, then below road, fast through the woods,

Then road coast, spectacular heavens above, into empty Dogparkcarpark for an overgrown entry and then weavy blast all the way through, jumping all the jumps and taking it all the way to the bottom.  Excellence.  Clamber to road, and home, just before the sun actually set.

A bemusing 13.2 kms and 560 m strove.

Thursday Night Old Skool Lights

Choice old skool ride tonight. 

Up through Vic, 19th, Skidder and grunt to top.  Down quick spin around the jumpies and hard right into Worm, onto and across the Traverse.  Good around here, my climbing slower than Nelson's but the downs were fine.  Tired from a bad night's sleep.  

Top of Huntsbury/Fourpause, leaped off down.  Front wheel clanged on one rock leading me to worry about losing pressure, but it held.  Started down the fast flowy section below the jumps but Nelson realised his mistake and we rode back up to the 'proper' curly techier version, down this and over the edge onto the newer sections of AliExpress, down through the cattlestop and over more of the edge.  We dropped down the first tech to the next where we both baulked, it's become such a wheel-eating hole drop now as to be a bit scary, oh, and the wind!  Pushed back up to where AliExpress back-and-forth bits were out to the side, very un-ridden and full of twin lambs and mums ewes-ing the shelter of the tussocks and hill, and a few of them on the track, and poo everywhere.  Bopped and wove over this and then down the usual byways, wind slamming into us and at one point rutting Nelson almost off.  Rocky grinduro down and down then onto the barely cambered back and forth above the pylon, down onto Old Skool.  

Brief stop here at the highpoint before I launched off first and led the way.  Took some weird lines, nearly losing it on the cattlestop midway.  Got my groove on lower down, with a couple more massive pings off rocks.  Sure is bony at the moment.  At the big corner out towards the end we pulled up cos i noticed that the trail beyond had been well used.  Decided to go for a little explore.  Followed it along and found trails, then exploring further found a massive jumps park in the trees, higher up, below the Vineyard property.  Loads of sculpted clay berms and gap jumps, enormous gaps.  Completely invisible and hidden.  Amazing.  I was getting antsy about our bikes alone on the trail so we headed back and finished off the Old Skool and headed up valley.

Long and grinding climb ensued.  Cleaned and rode everything tho, that's a first for a while, especially Hospital K2 steeps (tho I did stop for a breather).  Eventually skidder, over 19th, down Tawhairanui, dogparkcarpark/235 all the way out to the H'Ell, clamber, last of the road home.  

A laudable 13.2 km, 544 m climbed, evening outing.

Saturday Morning Jeht Up Down and back Up

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labour Monday Vic OldSkool Labouring

Labour Day Monday, Nelsie got to mine just after 4 and we hit up the hill. To the very top.  Down around the yumpies, across the fenceline and dropped down Upper Fenceline.  Stayed high, across above Cool Runnings, Shroom etc, and dropped into Razza's.  Climbed up a little to drop down the lower reaches of Pedalfine, out of the forest into Flow and NuBridges, all tidied and smooth now, then quick bomb down valley and into the climb up Hidden-connector, me gasping, around to Old Skool. Whilst having our wee rest at the high point, we spotted some blue flagging tapes on the hill above and walked up off piste to check them out and work out what it might be for.  Looks like someone's planning a new skool line above the Oldskool.  Back down to the bikes and we continued our bomb down, the bony-bony old skool. 

Valley bottom hit, we headed up, ground up the grindings, above Texaco we checked out the big rock above, then back on track and back on up. Checked out the new Shazzas extension and pushed up the K2 to Skidder. 

Then over 19th and down 235 all the way out to the lower section. 

A fun wee 10.7 kms with some painful 441 m climbed.

Sunday Norwester Local Loner, Pinch-flats and Pump Problems.

Up, round the top, gail nor'westers blowing from behind then across, then down the ridgeline, first jump, not second, third, and missed the final due to waaay too much cross wind.  Hung a left on the older route and proceeded to get a flat.  Sat down to fix.  Double whammy snakebite, so two patches needed.  Did it, tube back in, pump pump pump ftttwwwssshhhhhh.  Damnit.  Tube out, re-glued the offender, held tight made sure it was done, then back in, pumped up and got riding. Down the old bypass trails, walking the steepest bit and dabbing a couple others, into Old Skool, bombing down into valley, and into the climb when the rear end started getting softer and softer, again!   Walked up to a seat at the walking track intersection and tore the offending patch off and re-did it, and then my pump fucked out. Tried to fix. No go. Ebike dude hoves into view, "do you have a pump?" "Yep", "Thanks!" to the rescue. His pump worked well and I got a tonne of air in my tire. 

Finally got riding again, up valley, chatting with him for a bit, then chainsaw Ranger on UBCO.  I pushed the worst bit of K2 yuck, feeling really shit, clambered around under texaco then on up the bastard steeps.  Found the Ubco guy's chainsaw blade-cover and carried it up to the 40fter, jamming it on a broom plant in good view of the track for him to find at a later date.  Last bit, stopped to let some fitter buggers ride past and then got going, through Skidder over 19th, into the dogparkcarpark and bombadiered down the left hander, lots of scrap from the trees and a few branches, then brief stint on H.Ell and climbed up to road, up and around down behind houses and home.

Frustrating 11.43 kms with 515 m escalated.

Sunday Norwest Hayfeversville, Exhausting Local Hoonage

As the title says, exposure to pollen and wind, heat and dry. Clambered up to the top of Vic, struggling in the hayfever.  Over the jumpies and down through the cattlestop, hanging a right up fenceline to top of Pedalfine.  Biff boff down this, finding it slick, peeling left on the slightly lower exit to that wee narrow bridge, then across the 4wd track to the entry above Razza's.  Nice drop down this, relishing the roots and gnar.  Hung a right and climbed up to the junction, dropping into the rest of Pedalfine, down into the guts, and out of the forest onto Flow and peeling around into NuBridges, drip drop drap.  

Bomb down and into the Hidden Valley link track, struggling up this, having to stop in the pines on the steepest bit, but cleaning the hairpings.  Up onto Old Skool for a very fun blast, wind blasting, dropping down.  Straight into the valley climb - climbing up valley on the neverending steeps, K2, a couple of walks, riding, then walking in the Rad^Sick zone. Over 19th and down thru 235, meeting the jump/trail building groms. Up then last being houses...

Perspicacious 10 kms with 470 m extricated from gravity.

Saturday Ups and Downs, Locally

No false advertising here. Up to the top of Vic, down Thompson #1 and back up the road.  Down around the jumpies and over the seesaw, then down through the gums out to skidder, down Shazza's and Sneaky Ridge, then all the way down Nu-Bridges and from Hospital Cnr, climbing again, up around gasping, then back up the gutser and all the way to the top again, this time via Worm.  Back down around the jumpies, then across the rabbit paddock to my sunset seat for a view. Then back into the gums, bomb bomb bomb, through 19th, down the road and into 235 down and out.  Final climb up to road and mud-clearing speed down to home. 

Steep ups and steep downs, juicy, 9.1 kms with 409 m ascended.

Sunday Arvo Flow

Nice wee ride out on my lonesome. Up the usual ups, 19th, skidder, gruntsville, to the top of Vic, down around the two jumpies, then back up Worm to the Traverse across, beautiful sunny day out ahead.  Stopped for a wee break at the top of Fourpause/HuntsDH, then dived on in.  Nicely nicely, but a couple of massive hits made me wonder if my back tire was gonna pinch or something.  Wove my way down to the 4wd, meeting 3 dudes on 'normal' bikes having just climbed up.  The pace they were making made me initially think they were on ebikes, but nope.  Down to and finding my way onto Ali Express, zig and zag, very under-used - no real sign anyone's been on it for a long time.  Back onto the usual bylines dropping down.  Another massive thwack rear end, pinch?  no, phew - but something was definitely up.  Air Pressure, I now think.  Otherwise a nice flowy cruisey blitz down Old Skool.  Speed, and flow, coast, hang back, rest, dive in, rail, flow, break, rail, flow, rinse and repeat.  Eventually out the bottom, and back up into the climb.  

Grind grind grind.  Pushed up from Hospital, then rode and cleaned around to Texaco, then took a new route for me, over to the right, onto the walking track.  Walked, and then decided to ride a bit, enough flatish bits that it's not a bad climb.  Spotted/connected where we used to ride down here, further over than I thought, and eventually made my way to the Eastside Bush 4wd track, meandered up, walking some, that to Skidder.  Over 19th again, relaxing coast down road, and into 235 for some super flowy hero dirt, avoiding jump to muck, acorns, climb to dogpark and final blast down behind the houses, rear suspension in need of work.  

A pretty good 11.6 kms, and 490 m climbed

Wednesday Steep Locales

Short and steep ride tonight, in two one-sentence paragraphs.  

Up from home, over 19th usual, skidder, steep, through and up to a quick duck down Thompson #1 and back up road, then down around the Jumpies, bypassed the see-saw, but headed up the fenceline to top of Pedalfine, over the fence and dropped down Upper Fenceline track, skirting across top of Cool Runnings and up the 4wd tracks, getting somewhat confused as to where I was briefly but working it out and dropping down through Razzas, across the Rad to Sneaky Ridge, mumpity bump down the rocks and roots and nearly losing it in the acorns, leaping into Bridges or flow or whatever it's called out there, around into Nu Bridges, spotting lights and silhouettes ahead, catching and overtaking a guy scurrying out of my way on the last corner rock, rolling down to his buddies, confusing them, at Hospital, then up K2, around the Texaco jumps, up the horrible steeps and up around the steep bastards to Skidder again.  

From here, back up the steep to Brakefree and down through the usual gummies, over 19th again, tarmac coasting then 235, a bit damp, nearly losing it again in those acorns, and finally down through the lower exit, road and home. 

Cray cray steepies, 9 kms with 400 m climbed.

Sunday Arvo Death by a thousand Climbs

Oh..  E-biked with the fam to Nostalgia Fest and home again on Saturday.

On Sunday I managed to get out on my own for a couple of hours of climbing and descending, climbing and descending, then climbing a bunch and descending again.

Around about 3 pm, headed out and up the usual route, hot in the sun but a good bit of wind around.  Over the 19th and through the skidder and into the grind up the grunterbastard.  Bumped into Nick from work with his fam at Brake Free, then rolled on up to top of Vic.  Dropped straight into the jumpies, around them then back up Worm to the top and dropped down over the cattlestop-stile-thing into the top of Pedalfine.  

Nice bloop bloop blootch down this, not turning left at the usual spot but slightly further down, which led me onto the lower part of that usual route at about that wee bridge, rolling out onto the 4wd track and dropping into the new one I've been eyeing for a while now.  It took me across RadiGarden and eventually down to where Pedalfine comes out on the next road-track down.  A couple of features I wasn't game to take on blind, but that I rolled (except for one log) from a standstill.   Left out to the Radi/Rad/Raceline intersection, climbing back up the Access track here to Razza's.  Nice drop through here, riding good, then hung a right and climbed back up to the intersection again, this time dropping into the rest of Pedalfine, good blitz down this section, then climbed again on Access track up to Rad^Sick finally hitting up the jump I missed Thursday.  Across same route as Thursday to Sneaky Ridge, dropping down this finding some nice lines, then dropped into Bridges, nubridges and bombed down the valleybottom.  

Into the Hidden Valley climb, gasping but cleaning it all, around and up to high point for a brief pause before hitting Old Skool bombing.  Much better run down here not worrying about the rear wheel being supposedly flat.  Straight into the climb again, grinding up the valley.  Stopped for a poke around in the bushes at the bottom of Hospital, eyeing up my future climbing trail.  Pretty dense country, but the bush is tall enough to get through, just a matter of cutting out the gorse and blackberry.  Up K2, walked a bit, then onto the sidle-climb through the pines, and stopped on the ridge for a over and below as to where the track might come.  I reckon it can be done, will involve a few switchbacks.  

Climbed up under Texaco (27footer) and up the shit climb.  I reckon I've found another place here for a climbing trail...  Then up under Ponos and through the 40footer zone and onwards up around the climbs I'd already done to the skidder where I topped up my water/tea.  Into Lower gums out to 19th, below road, nice coast through forest, up onto wheelchair trail, onto road around to dogcarpark and into 235 for a rapid and loose but flowy descent.  Mint.  Popped the jumps good then out through the oaks, hard right up to road, climb again for one last time, and a fast bomb behind the houses. 

An 11.2 km jaunt, climbing a couple metres shy of 500.

Sunday Grease Skool

Greasy spin out with Nelson today.  Up the usual from mine, road, grass, over19th trail to Skidder and up the gutser, what a grind.  Up Worm and onto the Traverse.  Not many around as we'd left mine just after 8, so the usual 9am Rapaki crowd hadn't arrived out this far yet.  Good going around this, a few puddles around after the smattering of rain we'd got overnight.  All the way to the end of Traverse, then decided further east would be skittery, so we headed back to the HuntsburyDH, with trepidation.

Skittery AF down this.  Rocks with minimal grip, we skittered and pinged our way down, skipping one or two of the jumps each.  Over the final gap and then into the continuation, grabbing the old left and sketching around this trail, then across the landing strip and into the climb over the techy wee Rock Up.  Both bailed on the final descent as grip just wasn't happening.  Decided to climb back over and drop into AliExpress and Old Skool.  A bit sketch down the first drop to cattlestop, then into the 'new' detour section, which was one big greasy sheepshit.  One dab, but trickeriness was in action.  Further down, and more sketch on slick rocks, on and on.  Somewhere we stopped and Nelson put a bit more air in his tire.

Into Old Skool, and mostly good but the odd ping from rear wheels and keeping to the lowest line possible.  Lots of fun, and a bit of adrenalin to boot.  Straight into the climb, and the grinding grunt began.  Ugh, I've GOT to get in and build a climbing trail, it's just a bit ridiculous how horrible the climb is.  Grind grind grind noticing Nelson's rear tire was a bit low under the pylons, pumped it up.  Kept grinding and over the 19th.  He wasn't behind me, but then I saw him on the road below, nursing the low tire.  He continued down the road, while I peeled off at the lower dogpark carpark do run the fun down behind the houses, to home. 

Just shy of 13kms with a commensurate 542m clambered

Sunday Local Return (+ a short Saturday Trollclimb)

Saturday, we were going to dinner and decided to walk down, so I took the car down the hill with the Troll on the rack and parked on the 'Lombo.  Took a route of much interest, up some steps and steeps...climbed just over 200 m...

Sunday: Up and down a couple of times from home. We'd moved back home on Friday so it was time to hit the Vic Park up for a spin. 

Up the usuals, Vic Park Rd giving me a good huff, around 19th over to Skidder where I bumped into Andy and Jenna running/walking a nice doggy. Good long chat with them, then a fresh start up the grunter thru Brakefrees and up to Worm. From top of here, across for a bomb of the yumpies, over the see-saw and a righthander up the fenceline and over the next to dive straight into the top of Pedal fine.  Nicely nicely down the first bit then carefully off to the left and drippy droppy dropsville down to the sidle.  Across this, nice and cruisily to the pop down thru Razza's, which was very nice indeed. 

Another cruisy meander across past the 40footer and over into Sneaky Ridgeline for a swoopy droppy rockily  nice techfest before bombadoodling down thru the oaks and popping out into the Bridges zone.  Weird front wheel pingslap (rock? tire peel??) after the bridge somehow, which slightly put the shits up me.  Into the trees, and swooping again, never really sure which way I was intending to go, but then taking nuBridges all the way down. Short glide down the valleybottom and a rolling hop up straight into the Hospital Corner climb.  Stopped at the crest before Ugh ugh ughing up to the singletrack, cleaning the roots in here nicely, up past the 27footer and then grunting my way up across and on up through bits of what I'd come down under the bottom of Razza's, through the RadSick Zone climbing around gasping, finally getting my breath as I got to the Skidder.  

For the extra punishment I continued up the grunter to Brakefree and cruiesed across the Rabbitpaddock for the gummies descent, pinging nicely down through the rocks, around and about.  Ooop, tree across my favourite line, just before the steep corner (note to self... must wander up with dog and axe). Finished off through here and all the way down to road, then buzzing down the seal and peeled into 235 finding a mucky messy mucky mess in there. Climbed back out to the road and up to DogPark for the rush down home behind houses.

A surprisingly low 7.8 km with a moderately steep 374 m climbed

Saturday, finally!!

After so long, finally a proper ride! Fixed the flat on the front of the Rocky (tiny slow one) and headed out into a blustery howler.  Around the corner on Vic Park Drive was sheltered and mild, not at all like home.  Usual route up, 19th, skidder, gutser, brakefree, up to top of Vic.  

Around and down over the two yumpies and the see-saw, then across to Pedalfine for a fun drop down and peel off to the left, nice wee clean down this then along the traversing trail and dropped into Razza's for some sketchy goodness.  At the bottom of this, hung a right, up through the steep Rad section of 4wd then over into lower Pedalfine, nice blast down here picking and choosing my route out to the bottom.  Into Flow or Bridges or whatever it's called, all the way across then down Nu Bridges for a ziggy zag pumpy hoon to the bottom of the valley.  

Blazed round into Hidden climb and onto Old Skool for a good rolling flow blast. Nothing too sketchy though some of the rocks were slick.  Into the valley bottom and onto the excruciating climb, all the way, K2, grunt grovel grind.  At the Skidder decided I needed more punishment so headed on up the grunter and up into the Brakefreedumb area.  Cruised across here and then dropped down the Rabbit paddock, into the rocks, favourite route through the gums, all the way down, popped over the chain below 19th and down then up back on the road, cruise to 235, nice fang down here, popping the jumps nicely then up to carpark, and down the back behind the houses.

An impeccable 10.8 km with 504 m elevated.

Thursday Night Local Canonical Loop

One of my locals with Nelson tonight, from the Cashmere Canon. 

Up the usual 19th Skidder grunter combo, through the Brakefreedom, Worm and onto the Traverse.  Not bad around here, tho was struggling to start with on the first climby bits.  Around we went, and just after the pond Nelson's pedal hit a rock, it skipped his bike very slightly sideways and then the gear he was in started to 'tick' on each revolution.  It only did it in the one gear, so he wasn't too worried about it for the meantime.  At the Lavaflow-top we stopped and he got to seeking it out.  Took ages to find, but eventually found that somehow, one tooth had bent slightly outwards.  So, strategically applied rock, hit with a bigger rock, and all fixed.  

Into HuntsburyDH, both of us struggling with seeing what was coming and I felt like my bike was locked out.  It was so rough and the jumps have all got weird-arse tops now, making them unpredictable, not to mention the ruts on the landings...  Ugh.  Over the bottom gap and into the landingstripzone, weave weave, getting more flow here, then bony as down into AliExpress.  Dropping out into the newer section, sheepshit galore, then down down down, bony and rough.  The lower off-camber switchbacks are getting rutted as fuck.  Straight into the Old Skool, still feeling rough, and struggling with seeing - just not used to night riding yet.  A few shadier spots were looking greasy.  Across the back and forth pumpy section was starting to get pretty fatigued, and into the last shady rocky section towards the big hairpin closest to the houses care was taken in the greasy rocks.  We stopped for a hand-rest just round this corner.  Into the final, down, across, back and forth and out the bottom, into the climb back up the valley.  Grind grind grind.

Up K2 to the 23footer and I said, "lets go up this fenceline."  Push push push, ugh, steep as fuck.  Part way up I said, "you ever seen that rock wall feature?"  "Nope."  So, parked the bikes against trees and proceeded up and across to check out the steep feature I'd found another time.  It looked dodgy as hell, not as steep as I remembered, but damp red brick volcanic with moss and pineneedles.  Decided it would be possible on a DH bike for a start, but maybe rideable on a normal bike, in good conditions.  Wandered back to our bikes of which we could see Nelson's wee front light guiding us back.  Big push onward upward, up up up to the track and gate.  From here a steep(er than remembered) climb up eventually to the skidder site (ridden not that long ago by me).  From here took the singletrack down to the road, then below and sneakily through Tawhairanui Track to the dogparkcarpark and I let Nelson lead into 235 where I crashed last week.  Nice bomb through here, not crashing this time, and pop pop over the two jumps, then scuffing through the oaklands to the exit down the lower way.  Onto the dirt track down to home.

Some weird and not necessarily wonderful ways, 11.23 kms with 491 m clambered

Good Friday Good Local

Good Friday for a steep up down repeat local spin.  Up the usual, 19th, skidder, Worm, around for the couple of jumps, over the see-saw, hard right and across along to top of Upper Fenceline.  Nice spin down this, staying high across and across, then right into Razzas, the ending has changed slightly, but the closure of the other week hasn't wrecked it.  A right at the bottom of this, climbing briefly to the corner to drop down the lower Pedalfine all the way through to the bottom of Brents.  Horrible climb up side of Brents, then into Sneaky Ridge, great drop down here, then flow bridges nu bridges, and back up K2, ugh ugh guh. to skidder and down usual ways funtimes...  hard and steepo

Steep AF, 8.08 state with a measley 320 m clumb

Waitangi Monday Climby Loco'Loopy

Heesh, what a buncha climbing. 

Grunted my way up, 19th over to Skidder, up gutser to Vic Top.  Brief sojourn down the fun jumpies, over the see-saw, top first section of Brake free and then down the rabbit paddock to the Gummies.  Usual route through here, then out to the skidder and into the exit to the left of the gutser, left into the ^Sick entrance, and left over the lower exit into steep, fun, rooty, and slightly damp Razza's.  Down past the 40footer, assuming Sneaky Ridge would be too greasy, headed down into the dark macracarpas of Brent's, staying high on the left mostly, and being a bit middle aged, as in not totally caning it.  Out the gulch bottom onto Flow - nu bridges down into a fast blast down the valley bottom and a right into the Hidden Valley Bonus.  

Climb-a-climb-climb up the usual steeps, cleaning all the corners and out under the pylon.  Then, instead of straight into the Old Skool, I headed up the 4wd for a ways.  A few zigs higher to the 2nd to last singletrack exit (as you're coming down), peeling into this and riding the techier line along the ledge, across the 4wd into the new rocky sections dropping down and into the off-camber corners then into the Old Skool.  Great blast down here, jumping lots and pumping through, around to the lower section, swerve corner weave, and exiting up valley.

Climby McClimbface up Bowenvale Valley bottom, then into the steep bastard K2, ugh!  Zig across under the 23footer then up it's side and then across onto the rest of it.  More ugh climbing up to pylon, more and more to 40fter and up the last two steep little bastard grunts to the Skidder.  Into the usual 'lower gums' down to 19th, jump, then road down, peel into 235 for a good blitz, not too greasy, and jump landing dry enough, then hooked a right up the wee access track up to road, up to dog carpark into the final down blast behind the houses, home.

Pretty honed 11.5 kms, and 450 m extricated from the gravity well in numerous bursts. 

Finally A Friday Ride

Jeez, that was a gap! Already a ten-day into December and the first ride of the month. Various weather, social commitments and mystery ailments being the reason... 

Anywho... Climbed up into the mist. Climbing, ever climbing. Across the Traverse, poached a bit of Crater Rim Walkway from the saddle, over the first hump to road (by pond) then into the next with a bit of walking ("if a biker rides a walking track and no one's there to hear it, did the biker make a sound?"), up in the trees for some down, then back across the road onto the Traverse again, around to top of Huntsbury DH FourPause, grabbing a bunch of down with some jumpies, down into the new AliExpress descending, back and forth, again and again, then the Old Skool, lovely pumpy flow down here.  Out the bottom and into a heap more climbing, climbing climbing.  Up K2, up through the Rad^SickZone, Skidder, and finally the garnish, a little down, out the 235 finale.

Not a bad wee 11.5 kms ridden, with 518 m clambered upwardly.

Saturday Arvo Local Blitz

Convoluted and interesting ride today. I was really tired and nearly didn't go but sure am glad I did... Lots of steep ups and some wicked downs.

Up road as per usual, over the 19th, up the gutser, through Brakefree and up through to top of Vic.  Popped down through the jumpies, flying both nicely, then peeled around over the See Saw.  Here, I hung a right across the fenceline up to the end, over the fence and I was at the top of Pedalfine.  Straight into this, rolling nicely, but then just couldnt seem to control my rear-wheel lock-up.  Kept skidding, sliding, which was weird (- rear tire so worn by the quartz of Paparoa?)  Anywho, it baulked me a bit, but I got a handle on it and managed to ride the rocky steepness that tricked me out last time.  Definitely a new go-to, methinks.  Next: to explore the rest of it!  At the Nats Traverse line I went left (as per last time) and climbed up to the inbetweener (between Dazza's and Rad^sick).  Dropped and popped down this, enjoying the steepness and techness, then into Rad for a baulk on the jump and out across to Sneaky Ridge.  Good blop down this, rolling around and through, jumping onto NewBridges, taking this all the way out and down the bottom.  Hit up the Hidden Valley Bowenvale Bonus link track clambering on up and around finally having a rest at the high point where the mmr photos were taken.  

Time for the descent.  Bomb bomb, gravity adding speed to my roll, cruising around feeling good on all the fun bits.  Blippidy blip, cruising good, popping and weaving my away to the bottom, and straight back into the climb.  Grind grind up the valley, then up K2, ugh, gasping for air and having a break a the usual spot before continuing around Pono's sidling climb to the 23ftr.  Here, I followed up the fenceline for an explore, eventually walking, and then carrying the bike up the steep hill.  I heard voices and glimpsed a rider over on a piece of hill there shouldn't have been a track on so I left my bike and sidled across the slope to there to check it out.  I didn't find an unknown track leading down from above, but one used for pushing up to the top of a vertical red-rock-volcanic face with a catch berm at the bottom of that people have been riding...  Far. Out!.  Wandered back to my bike and carried a bit more before the final narrow push to the gate (No mtbs beyond this point) and rode my way up the access/4wd track that led to the skidder site.  

From here, back up over the 19th, dropping down to the road, then around this coasting coasting down to the 235 trail, blasting into this and having a great roll out and through, jumping the jumps (first landing dry enough again) and all the way out to the bottom of all the new trail onto Harry Ell, onto the road and rolling this down to the wee corner park, up through the lamp-post gap and back up the road and drive to home.

9.8 kms with just under 450m climbed.

Laboured, eh? Local Loop

Missed the ride with the boys this morning but Nelson and me managed to get out for a worthy loop this afternoon.  He turned up at mine about 4 and we headed up the road.  Usual climbing, around 19th over to skidder and into the gruntings.  Feeling pretty good, a week's rest after the Paparoa, muscle memory kicked in and there was plenty of power there.  Up through Brakefree and then onto Worm across to the Traverse.

Normal kinda cruise around the Traverse, I led for a start, then Nelson took the lead on the second half.  Dropped straight into the Huntsbury DH, dropping down nicely, quite rough up top now, and dusty(!).  Jumps pretty good, with number 3 my favourite, then the usual down beside the landing strip where you lose all your momentum for a bit.  Dropping down to Old Skool, nice rough narrow lines (had me thinking how honed and wide and smooth the Paparoa was).  Into Ali-Express, new transverse section bypassing the techyrockdrop.  Then some other new sections lower down, nice! 

Into Old Skool proper, we were chasing (and catching) an awkward looking dude on an ebike (he just had no 'flow').  At what used to be the stile we stopped and let him get ahead a ways before dropping in for the final blast ourselves.  Awesome blitz down here and then straight into the climb up the valley.  Still feeling pretty good, but tireder.

K2 turned up and still felt okay, tho usual breather just before the sidle.  Up around the 23footer, and on up.  up.  up.  Around the Rad^sick corner and dropped into that fun wee steep, then back up around the corner again through skidder over to lower gums descender out to 19th, below the road, back onto the road at Tawhairanui then coasting coasting and into 235 for a blitzy, then greasy roll through.  Jump landing still disgusting so couldn't do it, and then across all the way down to Harry Ell.  Short carry up to Vic Park Drive again and boom, home.

11.72 kms with a tiny smidge under 500m climbed.