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. 

Thursday Mental Health Ride

Bailed work a little early, got home, set something running once home and headed up on the Jeht (with the new tan-wall tyres). 

Gaspingly hard to start with, but once I was going it wasn't quite so bad.  Struggle street to the rabbit paddock and above, then dived into Thompsons #1 and flowed down here, then back up the road.   Dropped around down into Vic-top, over the jumps and around into Worm, then stopped just through the fence on the start of the Traverse...  Hmmm, where to go??  

Boffed off down through the fence and hung a right, down Upper Fenceline, nicely nicely, then across top of Cool Ruinings, climbing up across to Razza's, dropping down this, then up the track to where Pedalfine crosses, and dropped down here, hanging a left on the 4wd track back up to bottom of Razza's, to drop into the extension of that, through across Brents and out the bottom of that.  Then up the Corporate Ladder, stopping to move some sticks on the singletrack bit (where i took this:

(everything is brown!)

Next into Sneaky Ridge for a bit of a hoon, talking myself through the ballbearings in the oaks, jumping out onto Bridges (or whatever it's called at this point) in front of a woman (orange top) and dog, then off down here into the pines, around into NuBridges, flowy flow, and fast down the valley.  Not sure why, but chose to do Hidden-Valley climb up to Old Skool at this point and clamber clamber, under howling pylons, nicely fun blast down, especially with the tail-wind bits (most of it), all the way, rolling out and up the valley for the climb, yet again.  Saw the woman in the orange top down here ("back up for some more, eh?").  Crawled up the steeps, cleaned it all, with a good breather just above Hospital, then on upwards, getting overtaken by a very fit looking, slightly older dude on a very light looking XC hardtail just before the pono's pylon.  He made it look effortless, in comparison to my huffing and chuffing.  Up around past 40fter and up around to the skidder, all the while suffering, but coping.  

Then across skidder and into lower(gums) singletrack and out to 19th, below road flow, coasting, rain just starting to spit, into DogParkCarPark, nice under the trees, and flowy, blazing alllll the way down to H'Ell and clamber, down to home just as the rain started proper - timing couldn't have been more perfect.

A bittersweet 11.7 kms, with a valid 496 m wrought height.

Hallow Thursd-ween Night Weirdness

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday Quick Up and Back before the Weather

Grabbing what opportunity I could, knowing the weather was about to shit itself, I took the Jeht up into the Vic.  Up the road, over 19th, through Skidder and a peaky wee blast down the Razza's.  Then, climby climb climb back up to Skidder and up the gruntsville to the top.  Down around the jumpies, bypassing the see-saw, first section of Breakfree, cutting out and heading down into the rocks - taking this pic just before: 

Into the gums, fanging all the way down through the lower bit and out to the gate, back up towards the Skidder, hanging a left to head over 19th again, then nice coast down road to the 235, screaming through here, jump, jump, oaks, hard right up to road again, popping out as a massive peleton of gravellers were coming up, chatting to one who told me their route (similar to what I did on the Troll the other month - whether the weather shat itself or not).  I peeled off under the dog park and smashed the blast down behind the houses, home.

Surprisingly little, 5 and 3/4 kms, and a disappointingly minimal 170 climbed. I'm sure it was more than that. It certainly felt like more than that.

Oh, and the weather didn't really hit until much later...  Those gravellers would have gotten home pretty dry.

Thursday Night Victorian Nun

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Morning Jeht Up Down and back Up

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

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

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

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

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

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

Short Sweet Saturday Local

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

Fleeting 6.7 km with 273 m altituded.

Sunday Uppy Downy Locals

Pretty warm Sunday morning, headed out on the Rocky, up into Vic, usual road, 19th, skidder, and dropped straight down into Razza's, sweet wee droppy goodness.  Hung a sharp right and took a short climb up to intersection and dropped over into lower-Pedalfine, top section looking unridden, lots of leaf litter, then below the 4wd, took a line I'd not gone before, with a wee surprise drop in it - requiring an emergency weight-shift-rearwards. Finished off through to bottom of Brents before the fence, and hung a left into that horrible steep climb up next to Brent's, up the fenceline towards the 40fter, walking a bunch.  Some sheep in here were Snaped-Sent--to-be-Solved.  

Into Sneaky Ridge (checking out the new bunny entrance on the left but not riding it), down through the rocky sections and then into the oaks, not yet getting loose with acorn ballbearings.  On exit, the new landing from the fence jump is dumb, way less of a challenge than of old.  Down and thru nuBridges, rolling down valley to Hidden Valley bonus climb.  Up the grunty pines, under the pylons and onto Old Skool for a good rest and some water at the high point and a rider rode through.  I let him get a head start and then entered into my own rip roaring blast down here.  Kinda gained on him, but kinda not. Rutsville lower down, then lower squiggles all good, getting tired, rolling out and straight up valley for the climb.  At the gates I haeded up the walking, steps to zig zag, riding a little on the couple of flatter bits, but mostly pushing.  

At the cattlestop had a rest in the shade and snack here, then got rolling back down Hidden - not bad in this direction, not as fast as I hoped, then up valley and into the evil fucker K2 - walked the steepest, then across the singletrack bit below Texaco, then up the main the rest of the way with lots of breaks in the shade. 

Topped up water at Skidder - lots of riders around (due to the Park being shut still).  then took the old (lower gums?) trails through to 19th, then below road to Tawhairanui exit onto road, coasting roll the the dogparkcarpark, then fun 235 swoopy swoopy jump jump, around and climb to road again, up, to finishing off with the blast behind the houses

Less than 10 kms with only 385 m climbed! - felt like quite a lot more.

Thursday Loco Local - Nun (much improved) to Short Vics

Hot day, thankfully cooling a bit by the time I got out.  Cooked dinner and headed out the door about 7.20pm. Up usual, road from home, 19th, Skidder, stopped to change into singlet on gutser, up top and into Thompson's #1, road, Thomson's #2, across below Kiwi and up the road for a slog to top of Nun.  

Dived in and, "whoooah! Huh!?"  Stopped, pushed back up and dived in again, this time taking the new left rock armoured section.  Into the rest of the old, it's all betidied very nicely with more-flowing jumps and better armour.  Somebody's been busy.  Once lower down, just above the CAP exit it reverted pretty much to the old boney I remembered.  Bombed all the way down back to Kiwi, onto the road again and climbing up to top of Vic.  

Down around the two jumps, hard right into Worm climbing back up to Traverse to dive down into Upper Fenceline, swoopdeswoop, around and across to climb back up the short amount to then hang a right into Razza's, dropping down, plompteplomp, nicely nicely, then dived into and over the Rad^Sick jump, peeling out to climb back up to try out the new extension to Shazza's.  Smooth as, not tech, and the berms aren't quite high enough to rail big speed through them...  Peeled right again to climb past 40fter and back up the steeps to skidder, over 19th again, dropping down road and into 235 for a nice hoon, riding good, climbing out, up road, dogpark dropping behind houses, fast, home.

Worthwhile 11.5 kms, with a smidge under 400m climbed.

Thursday Night, Last of the Season?

Good one out tonight with Nelson. Lots of poaching as it was probably our last chance and the trails were nice and dry.  Up from mine, over 19th, and up the gutser, then up to top of Vic, wondering where we'd head.  I suggested across the road here, and so we went up to the shelter then up to the Sugarloaf carpark and onto Cedric's Track, which proved to be quite fun.  Over the stile and dropped over the edge, continuing through tech to below the carpark and around this and over the next mound, finding fire engines and vehicles all doing what looked to be a training exercise.  Over the road and fence and onto the Traverse next to the pond here, we skadoodled up from here around all the way to the end (top of Huntsbury).  

Onto Scott's Knob section of Crater Rim here through the macracarpas and dropping funstyles down to the road, then up the steppy bits and steps, cleaning the top hairpin and climbing onwards up to the next steps where I really needed a rest.  Bit of a breather and we got going again, and I'd forgotten how nuggetty it follows from there.  Whoop.  Back to the fire-os and back over the road and fence to pond and this time the other direction on the Summit Traverse.  Cruising into the nor'wester from here and I was eating dust the whole way, whipped up by Nelson and held up for me to breath by the wind.  

Down over the cattlestop to Pedalfine, dropping down here, I took the same line as the Sunday and dropped through over the skinny rickety bridge and down onto the 4wd track (which has been severely scraped).  Along here again, dropping into Razzas down and through, excellent fun, then climbing back up around to the skidder.  Followed the road to below 19th, then below road, and usual lines through to Tawhairanui, lovely flow through here then a good railing bomb down 235 including the final jumps, all dry now, and climbing up to DogParkLowerCarPark for the final monster-bomb down behind the houses and home.

A congenial 10.3 kms with 395 m scrambled.

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.

Unexpected Thursday Short'n'Sharp

Wasn't sure I'd be able to ride due to my cold of previous week, but found myself feeling okay, at home with no responsibilities, so I headed out for a short one.  Up from home through the usual 19th Skidder and up the groveller.  Up through to top of Thomsons, nice blast down this and then the second one.  Turned back up the road to top of Vic and dropped down through the jumps, and lined up the see-saw but felt my balance wobbly and luckily stopped juuuust soon enough to not fall off it.  Pushed back up and lined up again and rode onto it but balance wobble nearly had me toppling off to the right and I rushed through it and landed heavily.  Ugh.  Up along the fenceline to the top of Pedalfine.  Dropped down through, greasy a bit, and bailed to the left below where we used to always bail to the left.  Across the wee slippery bridge and out onto the wide track, sidling across nearly to the end and dropping down to hit the top of Razza's.  Awesome wee drop down through this, then straight into the climbing again, grovel grovel back to the Skidder.  From here, over 19th way and then looking for the droppy path we did with the gheybois all those years ago.  I found it eventually and down through the super steep planted kanuka etc and this resulted in a bit of a prang, leaving a garked elbow and a tweaky wrist... Perfect storm of the kanuka and some roots, kanuka grabbing my handlebars at exactly the same time as my rear wheel slid on roots and I toppled smackdown onto the Latter's Spur track.  Straightened up the bars and headed along this, through past the playground dropping down to Dog park and into the Dogparkcarpark trail, greasy, taking the first left down the newly re-established and extended line, which is tight and slow, but kinda cool - out onto Harry Ell.  Down this and to the right out to Vic Park Rd then home.

6.5 km with 230 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.

Wednesday Evening Local Solo Zoop

Good wee spin on my lonesome tonight.  Quite warm out, and had been wfh getting new windows installed.  

Chuffed up from home, feeling fat and slow.  Usual over the 19th and up the skidder.  A young dude on a Santa Cruz entered the climb about the same time and proceeded to power away from me, making me really feel fat and old.  Survived the climb and proceeded up to the Thomsons, bomb down one and two, then coast through Kiwi and climbing up the road, a million gromlets rolling down the road towards me from the park.  

I bailed over the saddle onto the Gov's Bay track, finding it a little greasy.  Stopped for a quick blackberry munch (finding them a bit past it now) and kept going, around the south sidle and then climbing up the techy rockness.  Cleaned a lot more than recent attempts, tho still dabbed through or walked a couple of bits.  Over the top and dropped onto the lower Nun at the Drainpipe/CaptTorpedo juncture, floating down the rest and popping up onto the road.  Through Dyers Pass and up the Scummit Rd, past some groms walking(!) and on up to top of Vic (where there were more riders stationed).

Dropped in here, down around popped the jumpies, see-saw, then right-hander and along the fenceline up to top of Pedalfine where I perched for a little rest.  The dudes who were at the top of Vic boosted through the jumps and then headed off over down Shrooms/Cowabunga area, and I headed down Pedalfine, seeing them through the vegetation a bit lower down.  I peeled off to the lower left (like last time) and rolled nicely out through to the traversing 4wd track.  Looked at dropping down the bits I did last time, but decided against it and headed along to the bit that leads to Razza's.  Bombed down this, into Razza's and had a lovely hoon down this, one root nearly catching me out.  

Climbing again, up the bastard steepness to the Skidder, and strangely deciding to climb up the grunter again to take in the Gums.  Ugh, anyway, climbed, grunted, and out the top, quick drink and down the rabbit paddock and into the rocks, gums, back and forth, nice roll.  Through the bottom sequence and whooah!  Trail being worked on.  Climbed back up to Skidder and took the 19th route over, then down the road, rolly rolly, and into 235 for a final sweet burst, nearly greasy, good jumps, out through oaks, climb, onto road, climb, then Dog Park/Microwave Tower dropping fast down behind the houses and home.

An propitious 9.8 kms, with 420 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.

Thursday Evening Out the Numb

Bloody good one tonight. I popped down at 5ish and picked Nelson up from Bowenvale Ave, leaving his car there, and we rode up into Vic from mine. Up thru the usual combo of: road, 19th, Skidder, gutser to the top.  Spotted a FLOCK of kereru from up here, flying past.  Musta been about 12-15 of them.  Amazing!.  Then dropped into both Thompsons for the funtimes they always provide (walkers leaping out of the way etc).  

From Kiwi up the Scummit to the upper Governor's bay trail entrance for a good blast down.  I was taking it a bit cautiously, not sure why.  Wasn't feeling on my game at this point.  Hit this all the way around above the dude's stone house then down the zigs and zags, progressively tighter and now flowing through very nice bushy tunnels.  Across the dude's driveway and stopped in the gums for a moment, then hit downhill trail, which was cool and had been a long time (over 4 years).  It was tinder dry.  Stopped at Reuters Park (halfway down, trail heading around above Gov's to the right), spotted some blackberries, then more, then more. 

Had a good gorge on them.  Then knucked in for the rest.  Across, then dropping down through the valley, cleaning all, nice and dry (wet in the past) followed by a couple of tight wee climbs, before sidling around a little more and dropping into the switchies to the finish.  This time (unlike the last two (only) times) we headed up up the road.  Thankfully hardly any traffic.  Bit of a grind but a hell of a lot less taxing than riding (and walking) up the singletrack.  From the Kiwi, up the road to the top of Vic.

Down here, around over the two jumps, see-saw, Brakefree, and onto Sesame St.  I baulked and rode nanna line into it, but had fun on the rest.  Through the skidder, lots of people here, and into Razza's which was fun as hell, steep and dry and loose.  Into Rad, I should have, but didn't jump the jump in here (gotta session it some time), then across into Sneaky Ridge for a rock filled gravity propelled gnar-fest down and around.  Nelson dropped me by taking the No Road Bikes section.  Jump of the fence and then down through nuBridges, bombing down the valley and straight into Hidden Valley Climb.  Hot work.  Around and we stopped at the high point for Old Skool.  Some blokes turned up, they rested so we took off.  Gooooood blast down here, but starting to feel tired.  Then I heard a rim-strike and after that was paranoid my rear tyre was going down and getting washy so was kinda nursing it down.  At the bottom I discovered this was not so, and we cruised effortlessly down the road to Nelson's car.

A superlative 527m climbed (740ish descended on account of starting high), with 14.8km roamed.

Hot Friday Local

Back in town after no riding in the Bay due to the brakes being done on the Troll.  (have bought some xts for Troll tho!)   

Headed up from home, trying to stay in a bit of shade as much as possible, up the usuals through Vic, hot af up the grunter, then up through Thompson and Thomson.  Roll down through the Kiwi and up the Slummit Rd, up Worsley's Rd and into the Nun.  Stopped in the shade of the pine near the start to cool off a bit, then headed to the top.  Into it, and went to take that gnarly left hand line for the rocky corner, but damn thing was so overgrown eI had to go back onto the mainline.  It's had a bit of work done through it, so isnt quite as bony as it was.  Usual ways across the muppet highway and on down.  I spotted someone riding / walking up it a little lower down (below the road) and so stopped at a high point to wait for them.  First one up was a kid, "my brother had a crash"  I offered to ring for help etc but they were planning on walking all the way back up to the lift to take it down.  He was only a bit dusty and looked like his arm was well scraped up, but nothing broken.  I continued, bomb bomb bomb, up onto road again, and across the Kiwi and up summit to top of Vic.

Into Vic, down, around the nice jumpies, pop and pop, then haul up and over seesaw.  Hard right and nice gentle pedal up to top of Pedalfine where I rested in the shade of the trees and breeze.  Got going again, dropping down through the usual, and hauling left round.  First corner had a branch across it, so stopped and cleared that, then rolled on down, man it's loose, un-ridden and lots of leaf litter.  Onto the 4wd track, along and dropped into Razza's for a fun wee swoop down, then clambering back up, gasping, through Skidder for some water, and over to the left onto the continuation of the gums out to the 19th, then below the road down and off up, then onto the road, then into 235.  Good swoop through here, and grass cleared that was well overgrown last time.  Nice in the forest, bombing round the corners and leaping the jumps, then through the oaks and hung a right up to road, up road, dogcarpark and down the back of the houses, home. 

Nice wee loopy, 10kms, only 375m

Bike into the shop tomorrow, and Fatbike coming away with me to Collingwood.

Thursday's Whole Lotta Climb

Nelson and me out from my place. Usual up over 19th to skidder into Razza's, sweet blast down, quick climb up the radzone to next corner to drop into lower Pedalfine.  At the skidder track, a brief climb back up towards Rad. up and back for no real reason other than a look, then hooked into the lower end of Pedal for a blast down and out onto Flow/Bridges and all the way down to Bridges-Nu.  

Railing down the valley bottom and into Hidden Valley, catching a couple of guys in here.  Around the corner under the pylon and there were a hundred Enduro riders, clusterfucked all over the hill, waiting to start their next stage. We pushed to the front and dropped in ahead of their race. Excellent blast down, tho I was getting tired by the bottom, photographers practicing their shots on us as we descended, and a crowd (like 10 people) standing watching us at the bottom. Tiring. 

Down Bowenvale Ave and around Centaurus to cRapaki..  Up the road, and first gravel then into the new Elevator trail. Pretty good climb, not bad at all. Rinsed me a bit tho, seems way longer and more effort that the piece of cRapaki that it bypasses would consume. Stayed on the singletrack across above the flat zone of cRapaki, then on the main drag struggle street for the rest of the climb.  From there it was on up Vernon, and into the Traverse for a often fog bound cruise around here. 

Into Pedalfine start, peeling left and out on the diversion which was looking and feeling pretty rarely used. Skidder over 19th again and down the road to the dogparkcarpark into 235, very overgrown entrance, excellent bomb down here over the yumpies and through the oaks.  Last climb and last blast behind the houses.

Exhausting 21.5 kms with 624 m climbed

Sunday Blustery calm

And another one. Bloody blustery easterly(ish) wind still howling across our house.  This time, same as yesterday(ish) up the usual, Vic Park Drive, 19th, Skidder, Grunter, Brakefreedom, then this time around worm and across to top, diving into the Thompsons, both, and down through the Kiwi and up the Summit Road.  Worsley's to Nun, greasy as a greasy thing on the way up to where I stopped for a nice long rest at the top.  Surprisingly calm once on the leeward side of the hill.

Dropped into the Nun, finding a) the rocks a tad slippery in places, and b) that I'm not sure I like this trail anymore.  It's rough as hell, unpredictable and not as fun as it used to be.  There are several blown-out corners which are tantamount to off-camber, and a couple of the older lines have completely disappeared due to the muppetry of the lowest common denomination.  Also, on the corner towards the CAP some trees have gone and all character lost.  I peeled out at the halfway (road) point and headed across the road.  

Dropped into Governor's, nice and calm over here too, though being in the shade the trail was very greasy, so I picked my way down relatively carefully, and especially so on the bit I crashed on a while back (a year and a half ago!).  Across the level was all good then the climb was very clean and open but I didn't have the power or balance to clean much of it.  Onto the road and dropped into a drain (only metres from the 'proper' track) to access lower Nun.  CAP's closed so no groms hanging around, popped out at Kiwi and across the Pass and up the Summit Rd to top of Vic.

Down around, over the yumpies and see-saw, peeling right like yesterday climbing up to top of the steep tracks.  Over the fence and into Upper Fenceline, getting down this nicely, and as I rounded the far corner a young guy suddenly appeared behind me - musta been chasing for a bit I had no idea.  I let him by and followed him down.  He stopped before Cool Runnings but I continued around across and dropped over into Razza's for a last bit of fun.  Unctious climb out of here and across to lower gums and down, leaping chain again and down and up for cruise down road into 235, nice blaze down here, even better jumps and then up to dogparkcarpark and down the back of the houses home.

Not as steeply as yesterday, 12.4 kms with 481 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.