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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Wednesday Night Convoluted Covidian Connotations

Good spin tonight.  Scratchy throat, sinus-y, asthma-y, wondering if I had covid, but testing negative in the night, plus crappy sleep cos dog's got the coughs'n'pukes, worked the day at home.  

Nelson turned up quite early (5ish) and we set off.  My wheeze was bad and proceeded to make it quite a difficult-climbing ride for me.  Up through Vic, to the top.  Around through the two fun jumps, seesaw, and hung a right, along to top of PedalFine.  Into this, dropping through, left onto the squirrelly wee left hander, techy fun.  Across the forestry trail to start of Rad and peeled left to do Razza's.  Annoyingly some munter groms have been digging in this, no doubt ruining the sweet natural tech by putting in berms, so there were a bunch of sticks all over the entrance.  Annoyed, we moseyed back up to Dazza's and dropped off into this.  Good droppy line down here, then out across to Sneaky Ridge, fun drop down through here, tho acorn ball bearings everywhere lower down.  Jumped out onto Bridges and down into Nu, then down valley and into Hidden bonus, where we found our first Orienteerers, right in the first switchback - which stuffed Nelson up a bit.  I got my front wheel wide and got round okay, then up through the next switchback and finally a breather, briefly, across the face, then up through, steeper below Lava and steepest up to the next hairpin.  Ugh.  Struggle street.  Up through another couple of Oriented folk, and out to where we could see hundreds, crawling like ants on the hillside ahead and ahead of us on the trail.  

Nice long rest at the highpoint while we watched the track get clear then not then clear again.  I led off and "Excuse me." "Thank you." "One more coming." on repeat, proceeded as we rolled.  Only scared the shit out of one woman, on the middle traverse.  She looked very worried she wasn't going to get out of the way as I roared through "Thanks!"  Then, scattering children lower down, and one couple of women on the lowest switchbacks.  

At the bottom, time for the climbing again.  Ugh.  Wheeze'n'weakened.  Struggled up valley, and we decided to go all the way up the valley.  More Orienteerers all the way up and around.  Bottom of Brents, Nelson took off up the steepest route and I sluggardly followed, walking the two steepest bits.  I just did. not. have. it. in me.  Up the last gasp to the skidder and over onto the usual flows down down to 235, for a quick fun blast and a couple of air pops.  Finally, up the final wee climb to the road, around under the dog park and over to look at the logging of the forestry up here and smelling the pine on the downwind.  Finishing off down through the overly tight wee switchbacks too tight to ride, through to the top of Amherst.    

Shortish loop, 10.5 kms, with 462 m climbed, but man the steeps were steep af.

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.

Saturday Local Solo Explorationing

Less than an hour til sunset, I took a quick loop or two up the back, down a bit and a bit of clambering off piste.  

Firstly, got the grind out of the way, up through skidder and up the grunter through Brake free and around to the first Thomson, flowy flight down here, around and up so smoothly, then up the road to top of Vic again.  

Into the descent, bomby bomb down around over the jump and next then seesaw down the first few brakefree flowpumpzoned, then cut out to the left and down towards the usual rock'n'roll, but hung a tight right after the cattlestop and into the top pines, dropping down the line I'd helped with cutting that log.  Around and bombing the usual favourite Gumline, flowing through and out to Skidder, straight across in Shazza's, twisty turny flowy drop down then across considering Pono's, but deciding on Sneaky Ridge.  Flompity plomb down here, enjoying it all, and over the jump onto bottom of flow or bridges or whatever, then dived up off onto the East Side walking track, pushing the bike up a few zig zags to a stile, up another zag onto a rideable sidle.  Along below the K2 4WD track (below pylon) good to ride til some mega steps, where I peeled left, carrying bike up through some open pine ground, popping up onto the 4WD.  

Clamber clamber, grinding up under Pono's, past the 40 footer and on up, more grind, then across the skidder into the connector down to 19th, rolling the road, relaxed as anything down to 235, dropping into here for a flowy bomby canter, slightly greasy following days past rain and finally the clamber out up to dog park and down the back of the houses home. 

A smallish 7.3 kms, and a worthy 308 m climbed.

Sunday Regroup with the Crew

Parked a ways along Cashmere Rd, near Opihi St, Nelson pulling up behind, and we rode to meet the kids at the bottom of Penruddock. Wayne and (friend? workmate?) Ben in Wayne's car, and Andy in his van, arrived, then Jenna hooned past off the hill and jetted onwards, After a little faffing Andy followed her and Wayno and Ben followed us around the river, then up through to Happy Home Rd and we caught up to Andy a little further along.  

Around Cashmere Road, Jenna still well ahead (we eventually caught her up on C2), into Halswell Quarry Park, and up the trail to the Crock Entrance.  Climbing away, Nelson, as usual, leaving us all behind.  Up C2, up the Crocodile, bit of a rest and regroup at top of Kennedy's Bush Rd, then on up the Low Road, Siberia, and up the evil grunt that is Kennedys.  Nelson well ahead, steaming.  I plodded away, overtaken by a guy on a Meta (titanium?) and one on a Switch-enabled Yeti (not sure which model).  New (temporary) brakepads obviously(!) dragging me back.  Cleaned the whole climb in one sitting though, ouch, gasping for air, really struggling and only just managing it.  At the top I sought shade next to a parked car and rested and we waited for the others.  

Around the road to the Nun, Jenna bailing to meet us at the Kiwi (sore back?).  At the top of the Nun, Robin was waiting for us (having come up Huntsbury and across).  Good blast down this, me trying to a) chase Nelson (marginal, but I kept him in my sights) and b) stay ahead of Andy (which I managed).  Dusty, and rough as guts below the Park exit.  Refilled my empty water bottle at the Kiwi and we headed up the road to top of Vic.

Down and around over the jump, then I followed Nelsie around and did the see-saw, and a couple jumps on Brakefree, then across to the Gums, dropping down the quicker entrance to this, bombing down back and forth and out to the Skidder.  Andy and Jenna split off here, across towards Cool Runnings, Nelson jumped into Dazza's, and I led the rest of the boys off down Shazza's.  We dropped out and down to Sneaky Ridge, hussing down the rocks (on which Robin crashed, uninjured), and Nelson took the No Road Bikes drop in front of an audience of girls.  I wasn't even gonna think about it, so took the usual route around.  Into the oaks and out onto Bridges or Flow or wtf, and then bombing down Nu Bridges back and forth out to the bottom of Hidden Valley Link Bonus, where we waited in the shade.  Wayne and Ben showed up, then Robin, then a call came in from Andy...  Jenna had crashed! Hard.  Faceplant and suspected broken wrist (turned out later after ED, not to be).  

Robin bailed down, Wayne rode back up to get Andy's keys, and Ben came with Nelson and me (having never ridden bonus or oldskool before).  Grunt arse climb up Hidden, then excellent blast down Old Skool.  Popped and weaved, pumped and cleaved our ways down leaving Ben at the end of the road and jetting back to our cars.  

A much longer than I'm used to 25 kms, with a worthy 730m climbed.  I sure felt the effects of it for the rest of the day.  My legs were rinsed.

Tuesday Evening Vic Old Skool

Quick hot local blat.  Up from home, through to the Skidder site, and dropped into Shazza's.  Nice flow in here, popping the first few jumpies nicely, and swooping round all the corners, wary of the loose dry dust and leaves and bark shards.  Across the 40footer space, and into Sneaky Ridge, flap flop down the rocks, boogity woogity through and around, oak leaves strewn asunder, and whoosh over the fence into Flow or Bridges or whatever, and around into Nu Bridges, ziggy zaggy down into the valley, tech rock flowstyles.

Feeling pretty good, flowed around into bonus Hidden Valley climbing, cleaning all the switchies, huffing and chuffing up to the open lands, spotting another rider departing the stile as it hove into view.  Straight over the stile and caught the guy as he switched back up towards the pylon for the oldskool bastard climb, while I bombed on down the Old Skool descent, enjoying the fuck out of it.  Some awesome pumpstyles across the upvalley slope, tail hot nor'waster behind me.  Then bombing on down and out the bottom, straight back into the climb.

Ugh, up, up and more up, then K2, ugh, walked to the sidle turn off, climbed back on and rode up to the 23footer zone and on upwards, quite a few stops for breathers, as was getting tired by now.  Eventually, got to the start of Rad and a couple riders passed by, climbing from Cool Runnings area, talking to one, then following him up to Skidder, wherein I dropped over to the wee climber track back up to 19th, down the road, dropped into my upper dogcarpark newby, bombed down that, climbed out to lower dogcarpark and bombed down the last, getting some nice air on the ramp behind the houses...

A worthy local 9.5kms, with 378m climbed.

Saturday Morning Solo Holliss Vic Old Skool

Lots of steep ups today.  Parked in Landsdowne Ave just next to Holliss Reserve and headed through this and up Holliss Ave.  Stopped and feasted on easily accessed blackberries for a little while just before the valley corner.  Then hit the real steep, getting steeper nearer the top.  Into the stairs, buddha buddha buddha buddha down, then along a bit and up, push push push push, more blackberries, push push push up the stairs.  Across Longhurst and into the lower Latters Spur track, climbing up under the houses and cleaning all the hairpins except the very last.  Ugh...  Clamber clamber clamber and finally at the stile, where I took this pic.

Looking across at where I would come down a little later...

Let a couple of walkers go on ahead, and then rode and pushed on up under the pines, over the roots and next to the barbed wire to the dog park.  Left and clambering up the rock section then up to the gate, and on up through Vic Park, past 19th, into the Skidder where I filled up water and rested.  Warm, and my cold wasn't doing my head any good.  Hit the steeptrack climb, cleaning it all, only just, then up past Brake Free and on up to the very top of Vic.

Time for the down.  Entry of the Traverse, then hard left into the swoopy double, pop and down to the see-saw, over this, into Brake Free, pop pop, ugh, speed broken by the first berm, then pedal across to the Sesame St entrance.  Straight in, pop the first jump then waft over the big one, pop, pop, around drop, around, wall-ride, drop, around, oop - miss that double, drop that, off the edge and down over the jump to skidder...  Into Shazza's, bomb bomb rail jump rail, across rail, around, down into Sneaky Ridge, lower speed than usual, droppity drop down through around, ooh, lots of leaves, jump, drop into Bridges, across and wending through Nu Bridges, and finally out the bottom, downvalley, hard right into Hidden.

Easy climb now with all the trail work, making for nearly like a rest bar the steepness, then past a mum and daughter up the steepest, cleaning both hairpins and gasping for air at the stile.  Into the Old Skool.  Across and little climb, bit of a rest, then fanging it.  Nice flow, good railing, fun times.  Blast blast blast...  First big left hand hairpin I could see an XC dude flying up the hill (to the point I almost wondered if he was on a leckie - he wasnt!).  Pulled up before the next hairpin to let him fly past, then dropped on down, swoopy pump pump waft, push fly.  Blasting over the rocks, around the bend and dowwwwn, weave weave pop and roll, finally out the bottom and coasting the rest of the way down.  Down the road, left into Wedgewood, right into Landsdowne back to the car.

Surprisingly short, less than 10 kms, with 399 m climbed.

Tuesday Pre-Trees Bowen-Victorian Sessions

Thinking we would meet workmates either at the bottom or at the Skidder Site for a bit of a skills session Nelson and me rode up Bowenvale Valley and K2 like I did last week...  Got news half way up that they were piking (cos the Park was closed and they couldn't Lift up, lazy kids), so we continued up the grind (which didn't seem as bad as last week (muscle memory??)), and got to the top of Vic Park ready for some action. 

Figured we'd keep it a skills session, and rode down to the first jump in the trees, scoping it out and clambering back up for another go.  Nicely cleaned first time round, then into the see-saw, which I baulked on first, then did the 2nd time round, no problem at all (wtf was I worried about??).  Don't know why I've been so psyched out by it for so long.  Into BrakeFree, and rode back up for the first few jumps to ride again - I reckon I rode it best the first time...  Then into Sesame St.  First big gap jump Nelson just piled over it no problem and I baulked.  We climbed up, back into it, I baulked again.  Back up, baulked, but rode down through the rest of it nice following jumps and wallride no problem.  Stopped and walked back up, right to the top again, and met a young fella here - got chatting, then I followed them in and GOT IT!  Again, WTF was I worried about?  It was easy.  Enjoyed the rest of the jumpies and wall ride and Nelson cleaned the big gap below the Wall, and then we got chatting again with the young guy, Michael. 

Headed into Shazza's, and stopped not too far in to check out a couple of the jumps in there.  Decided the wooden feature with a downhill landing was too dodgy.  At this point we were joined by a lovely young woman Michael knew (Hannah, I think?) who rolled up and decided to join us on our way down.  From here we bombed down the rest of Shazz and down and into Sneaky Ridge, which Mike hadn't ridden before.  He decided to try the No Road Bikes section, while the rest of us rode around it.  Then him and Nelson decided to do the big drop in the oaks...  Both cleaned nicely and then we hoofed off down over the wee jump onto Bridges (or Flow?).  Regrouped and bombed it across into Nu-Bridges, zigging and zagging down this to the bottom of the valley.  Hannah split into Hidden Valley bonus and the three boys fanged it down the valley, and we made our 7pm curfew to get to our meeting (after grabbing some dinner), juuust on time.

A massive 7.5 kms, with a huge 350 m climbed....