Tuesday Night Travails

Good, tho tiring, jaunt last night.  Nelson and me got over to Pete's just on time and we Falc-hooned up to the Kiwi where to find Steve, Robin, Warren and Wayne awaiting our growly presence.

First up, we headed up to top of Vic Park, Nelson and me being the only two to dally on Thompson's part 2 to finish, while the others took the road.  Next, it was into the blast round the Traverse.  Not so much fun this direction, with it's predominant climbing, and I was getting hungrier by the metre.  Nelson led the first half but blew himself out and allowed me the front for the second half round to the end.  More puddles than anybody was expecting, too.

Then it was onto an incredibly dumbed down Vernon, smooth sailing all the first half, tho, Nelson and me took the old line above the switchbacks and Pete managed to under cut us, getting a wee ways ahead of me and giving me someone to chase.  Several riders on their ways up the trail, who all politely, surprisingly, parked aside for us to pass.  I had a good chase after Pete, gaining on him very slightly all the way down and ending up right on his tail right at the end.  Had some pretty sketchy moments in my pursuit, i must say.  Looking back, we watched all the other lights parsing the hillside through their courses as the others rolled in for the regroup. Thankfully Nelson had a whole OneSquare and shared one with me.  Very helpful.

Up the road, Nelson, Pete and me all rolled 3 abreast the whole way keeping a good pace on up to the Traverse again, other (keener) riders all up on the trail above.  Another regroup at the trail head and I led off with Nelson in hot pursuit.  I lost him on a few bits but he always gained me on the climby bits with his mad cadence power.  Multiple party members commented on the puddle just before the jumpy rock before the pond and how wet tires landing on rock played skittery games with their control.  A regroup at the old sign spot and some dude muscled past us "on ya right".  We let him get a wee ways ahead but the next posse were encroaching so we set chase and i just managed to catch him before we hit the pines.  From here it was through Thomson and Thompson back to the Kiwi.

Here, Steve and Robin went their merry way and the rest of us headed up the road for the Nun.  Clamber clamber we went to the top, my legs screaming for mercy.  I led off down and had a pretty damned good go, popping lots of the new air, and rolling over some of the new tabletops, nosing it up bigtime on the usual then slowing accordingly through the rocky bits that always hang me up.  A few puddles along the way.  The lower section, I paused to await the next light then hit it and flew, railing everything, popping the yumps and cruising up the last little grunt out, legs just about dying.  Nelson turning up straight after Pete, telling tales of a wicked crash.

Back at the Kiwi Nelson and me said 'cheers for the lift up' to Pete and headed back up to top of Vic Park, on the road this time, struggling with the climb.  Back then forth in the pines, over the see-saw, couple of brakefree jumps then across and down into the gums, hurtling through my favourite section, back and forth, very little trace of anyone else having ridden it for ages.  Eventually, back out onto the skidder site and straight into a refurbished Spazza's, off down and straight into Brents taking a right hand line and joining into the bottom of Sad to the Rick, into sloppy Bridges, then into the pines and a dry(ish) nuFlow expecting grease at every turn but not getting it, then into the valley bottom and pulling up for the stream crossing.

The HiddenValleyLink track got me.  I ended up walking the 2nd hairpin, then walking the steepest bit in the pines.  Once we were on Old Skool my light started cutting out, making me glad of my handlebar mounted one, which I ended up relying on most of the way down.  Out the bottom, shattered.  We knuckled in for the long haul down Bowenvale, Eastern, Wilsons, Nursery and Stanmore home.

Sunday three pronged east end

Got to Pete's for a lift with him and Bernie(visiting from Waikato) to Slumner, where we met a good sized posse of Wayne, Warren, Andrew, Steve, Dallas and Marie (and Mark who was not riding having only had new-artificial-disc-in-the-neck surgery on Tuesday).  Off along the waterfront, Pete and me stopping for him to oil his squeaky jockey wheels and pump his tire, then we headed on to chase the rest up Scarred-borough, not catching them til the very top at the intersection of Godley Drive. 

Regrouped, we treadled together up this surprisingly steep street to the very top of it and a rather large locked gate, to which Steve had a key.  Gravel road, climbed to the next gate-requiring-key, off the private land strip onto Council owned and on up to the road, passing where we came out a few weeks back.  Around the road a little then up the wee grunt of an access track to the mtnbike track.  Here, a rider turned up and said "there's about 7 more to come", so our posse waited while their posse accumulated, then it was into the singletrack bliss zone.  Pete, Andy and myself all blitzed it nearly all the way to Evans, stopping just shy of the GunBarrel, damp dirt covered tires skittering damp dirt covered rocks all the way there.  Here we turned back and had an excellent climb back to meet the others who'd stopped midway down (so's to avoid all the nasty climbing back).  Good cruise back to where we'd begun our singletrack thereby completing the first of the three prongs.

Descent began in soft dirt ruts, not sloppy, just soft, over the boardwalkythings then onto the Teddington Chip which was living up to its Shit name, the top layer just sticky, caution required.  The U shaped channel of the rest of the way down to Livingston was railed and I had one of my best runs down here in a long time.  Another regroup at Livingston and we got going again, me noticing a bit too much sponginess in my rear tire so stopped to re-tube.  Pete stopped with me while the rest continued on.  Quick change and off we went again, blazing up the hill and down again to meet the rest at Breeze.

Off round the sweet dry trail below the road to Godley end, prong number 2, out and back, thinking to myself on this section how much I've enjoyed it lately, and harking back to riding it when it was the first or second purpose built trail ever.  Back to the start of Anaconda and confronted with a big DOC fence, which we duly bypassed and bombed on down, popping some sweet air then desperately trying to avoid the sloppy mess in those lower ruts between the big berms...  Out the bottom, climbing round another DOC sign and into the valley, ready for the nasty climb up the road. 

I powered on ahead, needing to work the legs and lungs after so long off the bike, and keen to get a message out to T before too late.  Managed to get it sent in time for the others to catch up and we rocketted down the Scarborough Rd (thereby completing Prong #3) and along the waterfront back to DotCom. 

I snarfed a well earned feed and T came picked me up with the boys and we droved back over to Taylor's for a spa...

Raro, so here's a solution to writer's Block

gratuitous and non bike, but faaark...

Mt Grey Sundae.

Just about a year since my last time up there; a great ride today.  Early start, leaving mine at 8ish to meet Nelson in Geisha Rd in a hard frost, outside temp reading -2 as I passed through Woodend and Waikuku.  Parked up; he turned up; we left the 'rona in situ as we headed north over the Salt Water -up Broad to Balcairn for the blat through to the fast-packed gravel approach Rds to Grey...  Passed by a couple cars parked up at Janet, down the solid frozen road, seeing some hunters en route, to the bottom end of our singletrack, parking near a Skins car, flash roof-rack bikers, obviously waaay ahead of us seeing as we hadn't seen sign of them on our road down from Janet (seeing their 'sign' later on the climb - along with some nice fresh deer prints in the frost-on-ice beside the Tower).

15 minutes basically got us the 3.5km / couple hundred metres altitude back up to Janet, then it was the usual 500m odd climb the rest of the way up Mt Grey.  We just clambered on up, ice an ever constant presence, it being pretty darned cold up there.  At about 700m there was remnants of snow about and a much much harder frost coating every blade of tussock and dusting the ground.  Puddles and seeps on the road were slick as.

 

Some spec views to be had on the way up.  We detoured briefly to the old fire lookout and this is what we saw. 

Nelson fiddling with his phone

 

   

Christchurch looking dirty out there. 

 

And Alps looking very ski-able (Thomas in the fore, Torlesse and the rest way the hell off in the distance). (- the Puketerakis looked pretty damned good today too)

The higher we got the colder it got, with a wicked wind kicking in up round 900m, a hoare frost sitting on everything in sight: tussocks, rocks, shrubs, the works.  SOOO cold.  

Just before we set off for our descent i grabbed this shot.  brrrrrrrrrr.

Descent began as a crunchy singletrack between the two peaks.  Lovely grippy greywacke chips and frost.  Evidence of the previous bikers through in their line choices left in evidence in the frost.  We left our own and hit the sidling singletrack below the peak.  Maybe 2 patches of snow and it was cool runnings.  All the usual seeps and soaks that're usually muddy little mutha's were frozen solid and not a problem in the least.


Here's a shot from not too far down, looking back up, Nelson just visible(?) there, and pylon ever present.

Tucked down the switchbacks and into the forest for more.  Cleaned a bunch more than previous efforts, even if occasionally dab-assisted; still much faster than earlier visits.

Met several walkers on their ways up, including a woman from work who had mentioned she was planning on walking it this weekend and i'd said to her "you wont see me" and lo she did...  Friendly hellos to each and every walker on account of our dubious entitlement of travel. What a fantastic descent tho, possibly one of my best set of conditions.  Even with the switchbacks, there is so much sublimely perfect singletrack in there it is just all worth it.  Total buzz, flying through gorgeous beech forest on the most perfect trail materials, it doesn't get any better, not within that drive from Chch at this time of year. 

Before the middle multi-switchbacked section I smacked a branch with my hand, grazing through the glove and giving quite the bruise, right on my left ring finger.  Yowch!

The lower sections were longer than my memory served, but any previously sloppy bits in the open were frozen solid enough to be nothing but sweet sweet traction, and fast!  Much lower down, back into the forest, things were a little sloppier, and as a result our bikes got quite mucky.  Approximately 2 hours after we set out, we got back to our start point, mid-day-ish, stuff still frozen solid in the shade, or not even.

Weird thing about Mt Grey.  Altho there's only evidence of it a few times on this blog, I feel like it's always a 'presence' in my mtnbike life.  I've ridden it a few times since very early on, (probably, similarly, only once every year or two), but it has always had a place in my riding and it always feels like i've ridden it more often than i actually have.  Every time too, my switchbacks get quicker.

Galeforce Thursday night short tracking

Bitterly cold southerly gale blowing across the tops of the hills, roaring through the pines and flax bushes when we parked up top of Worsleys Rd. Some wetness about, but good grip up the dirt. I was struggling for air but Nelson seemed to just cruise on ahead. Wind was blustering but not affecting us too much cos we were kinda in shelter of the noisy forest surrounding our climb. A few dabs now and then, blowing several sections I'd normally clean. The ruts are certainly a little ruttier from some of the winter pressure its been under of late.

Start of the bodybag has massive mucky puddles which we made our ways carefully past then into the grovel. Up, up, up we grovelled, wind buffetting, then suddenly half way up an eerie calm while we were down wind of the trees (and house) on the right. Nelson pedaled out the top while i got off and walked the last 20m or so, ugh. Caught Nelson on the final climb to the top of the Nun and we tucked down into the grasses and broom for him to have a feed, from whence we watched the clouds hauling ass across our view of the moon.

Off down Flying Nun. I had me a pretty sweet run down. Traction was dubious in spots, front wheel seeming to juuuust slide in greasey soil, but I didn't let it worry me. Popped some air on some jumps but the gusts were temperamental so took it a bit easy in other spots. Pulled up at the halfway spot to wait for Nelson to catch up then off we shot again for the last of it. Fast swoopy run down here, railing and popping most features.

Back up the road at a nice mellow pace, the lights of two riders zigging and zagging on the Nun above then popping out at halfway just as we cruised by, greetings exchanged between gusts. On up to top of Worsley we treadled, deciding against another lap on account of neither of us riding enough lately and neither of us feeling much up for it.

A fast, as usual, blast down the bodybag ensued, followed by the usual grinding up to the start of the 'hidden' track, or B-Line, if you will. Nice and swoopy through here, back and forth through the trees, round the berms, over the rockpiles, then across the clifftop, back into the forest (under a severely leaning pine) and back and forth again, over those big rocks and flying down to the whistling pylon, under the powerlines, first left, then keeping right and crossing the 4wd track into our favourite down down into the swoopy steepness, dropping through that tight bit that i never have trouble which seems to catch nearly everyone else out, including Nelson tonight. Out onto the climb back up and we hung a left back up the 4wd track in the trees to the powerlines, doing a U-turn and heading back down for a second blast of that fun section. Back up, and out the lower section, hanging a right at the watertank and finding some riders walking up through there as we finished ourselves off down back out to the car... wind still howling across the ridge.

Sunday nearly repeat of last Sunday - 500th

Poast Numbre 500!?


Silhouetta silly hatters...

Good ride this morning. Pete and me Falcooned to Taylors to meet Pony, Draino and The Rabbit Warren. We hit straight into it up the road to the singletrack lefthander, most delayering just over the stile before the grunty little, traction impaired climb. I cleaned about 90% of it this time, vs the 60odd last week on the singletrack. Extra gears does a better climber make. Couple stops for breathers and we got to the road and gravelled up to the actual road where we hung a right and blatted round to Evan's Pass.

Mt Herbert beyond Livingston Col


The Pushermen


Straight into the singletrack, with a good pace launching me through the air landing just before the cattlestop. Round the corner and into the climb. The rocky bit got me twice. Got everyone else too. In fact, i dont think anybody had a good 'entry' today. On around the hillside clambering over the slippery rocks, hopping and popping with the best of them, dabbing periodically but generally enjoying it all. Fantastic clear day, sun shining, sea sparkling, skylarks chittering away above. Trail was in good nick, no real mud, just wetness on the rocks.

Descent to Livingston was sweet, seems to have been cleaned a little, there's definitely a noticeable three or five rocks missing on the lower reaches. Another good clamber over to Breeze, everybody cruising the 'pfmtbc rock' and me getting my squirrel on on the final cattlestop.

Shot the breeze for a while at Breeze, then hit the singletrack out to the end. All the way this time, and realised its a long while since i'd been that far out. Nice run back and straight into the 'conda, blatting around the tops and then really hanging it out on the lower bits.

Finished with a sweet flow of the 'tail. Everybody agreeing that's a nice bit of track.

No coffees stopped for, and home by 12.

Extreme Commuting

No ride last night, just a treadle with Pete to Steve's where we hooked up with him and Andy, Robin and Wayno. We rode through ever increasing rain to Pomeroys wherein we imbibed some good beers... Heavy rain riding back to Pete's then home later.

Started snowing this morning, about 7.30 at my place. By the time i left for work it was a shallow slushy with minimal slippage. As i crossed town the snow got heavier and heavier, and i got more and more caked in the stuff. Pretty wet too, cars spraying slush.

Since then, its piled up something wicked. I'ma gettin' a lift home, the slicks will be too slick in this now.

[The following added on Friday 8th] Further to this, Snow continued into Wednesday evening, then the skies cleared and everything froze solid... I stayed home Thursday, Christchurch's coldest day on record. A Surly Pugsley would have gotten me to work, but not much else. Went up to Shirley Intermediate in the afternoon with Otis on his bike and Hugo on the top tube of the singlespeed, that was quite fun, but semi dodgy. Later i mounted a Kenda K-Rad on the front wheel of the Troll.

Friday morning, it had frozen again overnight, so all the meltwater from Thursday afternoon was black ice, but by 8am there was a mild(ish) NW breeze blowing, starting the melt. I took the Troll to work, working my way very tentatively and carefully on all the black ice and ridgy packed melted refrozen footpaths. Hagley Park seemed to have had some of the bikeways cleared, others not. Kilmarnock had about 15cm of bikelane, Riccarton Rd a bit more, and Main South less in places. Only one idiot (in a Black late model BMW) got too close to me (just before i pulled into Riccarton House) - this is the second close call i've had with a bmw fitting that description in this vicinity...

Lunchtime i rode down Blenheim Rd to Velo Ideale and T and H (and Jet) met me there and we bought T's new Linus, in red. Riding back i realised all this grit they've shoved on the roads is gonna make for some nasty dust in days to come. Riding home should be just fine.


And turns out, this is the 500th post on this blog.  Neat, churnin' 'em out like these pencils.

Queenie's Day, singlespeed Taylor's catchment circumnavigation

Helping out at the Taylors bach all weekend. Today i did some tire changes on the spare (guest's or Tracey's mtnbike) and the singlespeed, the latter receiving a 2.4 mutanoraptor up front that i've had lying around since Chris left all that time ago, and the 2.35 Highroller i had on the Soul (also from Chris) chucked on the back.

Did a bit of chainsawing clearing overgrown roofs then got my (single) gear on. Rode back up the road from the bach to the walking track that used to go all the way to Sumnervale, but doesnt anymore more on account of all that seismic rockfall dodginess. Rode a fair bit, surprising amount actually, and walked a bit too, all stuff you'd probably ride granny no problem. At the gravel road i went up that to where the parasailers were all lifting off and landing. Hung a right at the road, and round the corner to the first farmtrack and gate on the left, into which i treadled, riding and walking up a singletrack to the main Godley singletrack at the cattlestop just after the landing strip and before the 2nd two boardwalk/bridgey sections. Took these photos on the way up to the cattlestop.



Blasted on the smooth stuff round til the final descent to Livingston, feeling the flow, enjoying the responsiveness of the rigidity of the singlespeed, but then the rocky stuff kicked in and it got quite hard work. Climbed well out of Livingston and enjoyed all the flow round to Breeze. At Breeze I was pretty much only a half hour in, so i carried on round below the road, on the smooth and fast and perfect for singlespeed trail to the highest point where its kinda rocky and there's a few succulents around, before you head down hill to that bridge. Turned around here and jetted back round to the top of Ana the conda.

Anda the conda... good to start with, but it really gets pretty rough for a rigid bike lower down. Had a few good turns of speed on a fair few sections, flowed over all the jumps nicely, but some of the rougher bits in the bermy lowers got my gyp a bit. Not a bad flow out the tail, taking it pretty easy on the rocks tho, one other biker encountered, him riding something new and flash and wearing new and flash gear and shiney yellow lensed glasses, just as i entered the bit above the baches. Said "gudday" and continued on my merry way down the rocks over the fence, and back up the road to the bach. Returning to where i'd started in less than an hour. Not bad.

Down the path, onto the deck, and into the spa, from whence i watched the full moon rise over the hill.

Hmmmm, very similar (tho better, of course, in that i didnt have to encounter any silly big gates, and i was off road more) to what the boys did on Tuesday.

Thursday Night Worsley Nun McVicar

Nelson then Bec got to mine by 6 and we headed across town and up hill in Bec's car. Parked up top of Worsley's Rd, a la previous weeks, passing a surprising number of riders on the way up.

Hit the dirt, and made the usual progress, Nelson gapping me gapping Bex. A couple of regroups and Becs had a nice tumble (unseen by either of us others) onto rocks in one of the many ruts. Nelson, as usual cleaned the body bag, and i, as usual, didnt. Bec made a good effort and didnt quite either. Then i powered ahead up to top of Nun impressing Nelson with my burst of power.

I led off first round, having a pretty good blast of it, Nelson gaining and dropping accordingly depending on the terrain, and we let Bex catch up at the carpark before blasting the last section. Then it was back up the road at a good steady pace back to the top for round two. Nelson took the lead this time, and i sat right on his tail the whole way down, which was fun, and he enjoyed having my handlebar mounted light providing extra beam and shadow-discernability for him.

At the bottom, we had a wee 'incident'. A car turned onto Summit Rd from Dyers Pass Rd, lights dipped, but as he crossed the cattlestop he put them on beam (and he had a bunch of floodlights mounted 'rally style' on the front (which was the first sign that he was a dickhead)), and so Nelson turned his light on in the guy's face. He handbrake-skidded to a stop, and got out of his car mouthing off like something mouthy wearing a big ugly holden shirt/jacket thing. Nelson backchatted a bit and this dickhead tried to getup in his face, but couldnt quite, cos Nelson's light was still on. What a dick. Gagging for a scrap which Nelson wasnt having any of, so ended up eventually going back to his car. Nelson said something like, "go be a fuckwit further up the road" or "go fuck off up the road" to which the guy tried to get more scrap-mileage out of, saying "you calling me a fuckwit?" - "Are you calling me a fuckwit?" Then, back in his car he's revving his engine, and Nelson says "so, what, you gonna do a burn out now?" and the guy says "What? So you can report me?" (at least he knows his law, i suppose...) and then finishing with a total fail, he stalls his car trying to drive off, so we all laughed. Fucking human pollution.

Anyway, we rode on back up the road, (following the dickwipe, and hoping he's not at the top of Worsley), and on the way Becs gets a call from a friend who's crashed her car this day and the driver of the other car has tried to drag her out of her car! meanwhile, Nelson towed Bec up the road while she was on the phone...

Top of Worsley, thankfully no dickhead in residence, so we jetted down the bodybag with great rapidity as usual, and then plugged our way to the top of the sweet forest track, a first time for Bex. I led in on an easy going pace, just rolling and cruising through the top bends. A wee ways in Nelson stopped to top up his rear tire, and on we went. Bec enjoyed it for her first time but reckoned she might have trouble following it all next time. We stopped where Nelson crashed last time and then tried the rock drop just after it, which rolls nicely. I'll definitely incorporate it into my next time down there. I led them, once below the powerline corridor, through my 'lower right' trails that take you back across the 4wd track onto the better descent that has all the cool drops in it. Becs struggled on that one really steep corner with roots and trees near the bottom but otherwise did really well.

Back up the access track and Bex's light cut out, so attached Nelson's spare battery and she was good to go again. Then into the last section, detouring right just before the watertank down a new line that hooks back onto the main trail and out. Nelson and my head lights were both on Red by the time we got to the car too. Home after 9.

Sunday not Mt Grey, try Mt Cass vicinity...

Why are there so many...


Intentions were for Mt Grey, early start. Willis was out due to concerns for the weather, and then got a cancellation txt from Nelson first thing - crook neck from awkward lifting last night. Leaving just Bex and me. I hit the road, 8.10, picked up Bex, and we headed north, Mt Grey with looming stormy dark clouds building from the westerly behind. We took the left after Salt Water Creek across through Balcairn, all the while watching the darkness escalating but all the while hoping for the best. Turned onto Comptons Bush Rd and headed in, onto the gravel, marvelling at the rainbow(s), and then the rain hit. Downpour; Mt Grey completely obscured from view and looking pretty set in... Damn...

Quick U-turn and we contemplated our options as we headed for Amblesville. One was the Leithfield trails, flat and possibly a little boring, one was exploring around Mt Cass, i'd heard there was some potential riding up there, and the other (hindsight is always 20/20) was head into Amblesville for a coffee. We chose option 2: Mt Cass vicinity. Headed to Waipara, struggling to shake the rain, but then into sunshine there and hung a right. Mt Cass Walkway 3kms, Tirimoana Walkway 8kms. Pulled into Mt Cass and the sign said No Cycles or Motorcycles... oh well, so headed further to the latter. Again with the No Cycles of Motorcycles. What up with that? Surreptitiously ignoring said notice we hit the trail. A loop. Pretty much all 4wd or quad trail, farm tracks. Numerous steep stepladder stiles. Their reason for lack of access to Mountain Bikes or Horses is due to "conflict with other users"... What other users? We were the only ones in the area. This place is PERFECT for bikers, they really need to open their eyes and get with the programme. The potential for purpose built singletrack in this area is huge.

Started out at around 280-300m alt, dropping 80 m over around half a km to an intersection of the loop, with a weird little square 'person' gate hanging in the middle of the deer fence that we figured would be tricky for bikes so we continued along the clockwise version of the loop, along a ridge, maybe 40 or 50m climb then lots of descent, zipping along, rolling, cruising nicely, into some sweet singletrack that zigged and zagged through some forestry, then again open country, mostly descending down down, past a portaloo in the middle of nowhere on the way down to a turn off for the beach, nearly all of the 300odd m lost. Over a stile at Kate Ford, and down the singletrack following the creek, crossing it a couple of times. The first crossing, i popped my front wheel over, then over-popped my back wheel and proceeded to go straight over the handlebars, landing with a whumpf and a giggle from behind. Brushed myself off, crossed the creek a couple more times, and there was the surf.

Me approaching the Beach


Looking northwards, nice spot.


Looking south, here comes the rain.


Rain started as we left the beach, back up the creek gulch, successful crossings of the stream this time, and left at the ford, straight into steepness. Lots of steepness followed, with views of rainbows, and more steepness. Eventually a sidle, more rain, a couple of increasingly wet descents, one to a cool lookout into a gulley, another steepness, another longer descent, longer, down to the flatlands with picturesque ponds and swampland. I'm dubious tho, cos its all leachate treatment area from the giant 'super' dump, just upstream.

Across the boggy flats, and back into climbing, again, steep, eventually back to the weird little square gate we now had to go through. Bikes passed over the fence, a little tricky, and then climb climb climb back to the car. Starting at 300m, down to sealevel, and climbing back, with ups and downs in between, adds up to roughly 500m of climbing total.

All up, a couple hours, and when we drove back over the hill, overlooking picturesque north canterbury, there's Mt Grey, basking in the sunshine, gloating at us. If only the coffee in Amblesville had been our choice, we likely would have gotten up there. It was only 11.30 and i was almost tempted to head over there, but, things to do etc headed home.

Tuesday climby swoopy Worsley Nunning

Rode the Soul to work, and after my day of deskdriving got my ass to Nelson's work. We waded through traffic in the 'Rona parking up the top of Worsleys Road where Nelson proceeded to get dogshit on his shoe which i smelt whenever i followed him up the hill. We made a pretty steady pace up, with a 6.23pm Kiwi goal to meet the peeps. Got up top, me having to stop at the top of body bag for fear of puking. Walked it off then got back on again.

Passing under the tree at the top of Worsley was like passing into an entirely different world. Where it was clear sky and dry on the track up, suddenly it was overcast, damp, misty. The short climb to the top of the Nun took us into fog, difficult visibility from our glaring lights. Roughly 6pm? The fog lasted the first few corners then we dropped under it and it was sweet riding from there on down. Got to the bottom with plenty of time to spare so we headed back to the halfway and blasted the lower half again.

Up first was Andrew, then Steve, Robin and Tony, and then Warren. Hit up the road to the top and second time down for Nelson and me was definitely better. Possibly my best run of the night, everything familiar. Only Nelson and me went all the way to the bottom, so we hauled it up the road and caught the rest of them before the turn off, back up the top and round number 3.

This time I got skittery in a couple of corners, not quite as on form as the previous run. Andrew, Tony and Warren pulled out halfway for to go back up for another loop, and Robin and Steve came all the way down to finish due to Robin's shoulder. Watched lots of lights coming down the trail. Tuesday nights, everyone's out! Nelson chatted with Brendan who'd turned up with a posse, then we headed back up the road talking to a dude on a shagged out Ventana with brandnew marzocchis. The three of us kept a good pace up, overtaking a few others, and he peeled off for another blast of the Nun while we passed some more riders just about to head down Worsleys and we blitzed it. Nelson commented on how fast it was when we got to the bottom.

Granny clamber up to the top of the socalled B Line Hidden track, Forest Track, what-have-you. Nelson's rear Crossmark tire giving him no traction in the soft wet dirt, whereas my Moto was gripping like a grippything. I led off into the singletrack and was it ever sweet in there under the trees, good flow, over the rocks, railing the berms. Out on the clifftop there smack in the middle of the trail was a 4wd with a bunch of hicks in it enjoying the view(?). We peeled round in front of them and ended up rolling further to the right, across the rocks all the way along the top of the face. Nelson had a wee near miss tumble before we headed back into the trees, rejoining the usual line. Back and forth, round and over, and over that tricky rock, i kinda hauled up, and Nelson was right on my tail, but he lost flow and i jetted off down, thinking he was there, but really he had nose wheelied and then toppled onto the rocks. Then, further down his foot jumped out of his pedal and he low-sided it, bollocking himself in the process. Meanwhile, i'd flowed on down and was nearly out under the pylons and stopped to wonder where the hell he was. Headed up the 4wd track and finally saw his light. Plus the other rider's lights. They flowed on down while he assessed his damage.

Then we took off again, and after the pylons hung left into the trees, i kept right and piled across the trail and down through all the sweet drops and dips and again, no Nelson on my tail... Rode up the exit track and he was waiting, then we finished off down to the watertank round it and out the bottom new trails.

Only 8.13 as we drove across town. a mostly pretty good ride, my legs feeling stronger since my Saturday ride.

Inclement Saturday Morning howler

Out on my own this morning. Battled a howling southerly across town, the length of Wilsons Rd, injecting myself into the bottom of the hills, and up the Farm Track. At the Crescent-top gate i changed down to one Icebroke layer and my dhb jacket and plugged my ears into my randomsound track to climb by. Surprisingly, considering i havent climbed the farmtrack for aeons (ie, 2009!), i cleaned it all, bar 1 dab and 1 re-establishment of direction, howling gale pushing me from the side, and throughout the journey up several showers of drizzly rain coming in at me horizontally. Barely anyone around. Passing one walking lady near the bottom with whom i shared a "What the fuck is that?!?" moment. As i approached her, both of us beheadphoned, a chopper noise resonated through the valley, startling me at least into wondering if any rocks were going to tumble down on us. Passed two more older women walkers at the top too, the usual "Great day for it!!" exchanged.

Headed up onto the heinously 'cleaned', lowest common-denominated Vernon singletrack, climbing it steadily, no difficulties as it used to have. All the interesting technical rocky sections gone, nothing left to challenge anybody, barely even the noobs. oh well.

Onto the Traverse and round into the wind. A fair bit of sitting water, oops, but no damage (i checked, honest!), splattering me all the way. Met one other bikeloony enjoying the trail like me - he had the wind behind him. The stretch down towards the pond was probably the worst, with the rain and wind right in the face. In the lee of Sugarloaf was sweet, balmy in comparison.

Then it was into Vic Park, and dry as a bone under the trees. Mint! Elsewhere not so much, so avoided the seesaw and bypassed brakefree, picking my way carefully into rockgarden then nice and dry again under the gums. I took my usual little favourite lefty swooping through the corners back and forth, then round over the wee log jump then back round to the skiddersite.

Into Twazza's, not overly dry in there in spots, meandering back and forth, then hung a right at the 40, up to an entrance to Rad^Silly, getting off that before anything too much for me, into Brents, taking the right hand downslope option, slipping into a sweeping bend near the bottom of Rad, finishing off with a nice sidle before crossing the crick and into Flow, annoying puddle off the bridge, then in the open but still plenty of traction, transitioning into nice dry Nubridges, pumping thru, out the bottom, pausing to decide against the Link to OldSkool, blitzing it down valley meeting, again, a single female jogger. Where were all the men?

Tailwind down Bowenvale, and across town. Starting with Eastern - completing a loop at the deceased Waltham Pool lacing back into the noose; the Wilson's, Nursery and Stanmore junket to my door rolled a cold, wet and muddied rider. Coulda stopped, put on warmer layers, but the urge to just get home and save it til then kept me pushing.

Another Thursday Conda Godley spin

Met Pete's, Nelson turned up and changed in the street and we jaunted to Taylors wherefore to meet with Warren, Wayne and Robin. Was fixing to be a bloody chilly one in town, but it was SO mild in Taylors...

The six of us toodled up the snake's tail and because Nelson, then myself, and then Pete peaked Breeze Col so soon Warren txted that they were waiting for Robin and for us to go on. So, what we figured we'd do is ride to Evans, then ride up Greenwood til we saw them get to Evans and we'd turn back down and catch them somewhere on Godley. this is not how it was to pan out. as we were cruising round the road in the dark i looked back to see their lights way off in the distance (surprised me at the time how far it looked) heading out the singletrack below the road, towards Godley Head. Figured about then that they must have something else planned, so at bottom of Greenwood we decided we'd just head back out Godley and txt's were traded that said as much and so we hit up Godley.

Both Nelson and me blew the first rocky section, so with Nelson's impetus we both tried it again and both cleaned it good. Pete was struggling with the concept of Lights having not partaken of so many night rides this season so far, and therefore wasnt on his best form. From the tricky bits out Nelson put distance on me and i put distance on Pete, but we all got there in the end. Once across the kinda landing strip area, where you head round to the more southerly facing usually wet slopes with the two boardwalk sections, i took the lead all the way down to Livingston Col, with Nelson close on my tail to start with, but the Teddington Shit section always gets him and i jetted ahead, only to have him inch back some gain on me somewhat by the bottom.

We traded the lead at Livingston and he gapped me again on the climb. The blitz down the final descents to Breeze were sweet, with long grass and tussocks making it pretty tricky to know what the trail was gonna do next. I was careful where i crashed two weeks ago, and then got some nasty squirrel, dew wet tires on smooth steel pipes, on the cattlestop exiting out to the road.

Finally, down the reptilian slithery thing. Nelson first, then me muppetting it along some sections and finally getting it together for most of the down. Found Robin half way down the lower section, he was a bit lost, and then finally at the bottom Wazz'n'Wayne were reclining comfortably in the grass, the sea view lapping below, stars sparkling in the firmament, wondering where on earth Robin had got to. We all sat for a bit there, it was indeed a nice spot, then i led off down the last section, Nelson hot on my tail, cleaning all the rocky bits and enjoying it, before bopping down over the fence and across back to the cars. Good night for it, good ride.

Thursday Quickie

Quick spin for me and Nelson tonight. we trundled up Huntsbury, me gasping a bit with low energy. Spotted a couple of lights on Rapaki, and it got me thinking why we're still not venturing up that anymore. Basically, its boring. I'd rather ride up the tarmac zig zags of Huntsbury, the newly gravelled (and "improved") lower reaches of dirt, then the gentling off of the slope allowing some respite before the final gravelled climb, its just mildly more interesting than the lowest common denominator that is Rapaki... As we climbed the last of Huntsbury the two lights cruised across the Traverse above us.

Onto the Traverse ourselves i took the lead and all the climby bits i felt Nelson gaining on me but all the descendy bits i dropped him. I felt pretty good riding round here but really noticed tonight the easy-ness of the trail. kinda, like, ridiculously so, but, no matter, still some fun to be had. We kept at it all the way round, no breaks. Then straight into top of Vic swooping down through the trees and as i came round to the see-saw i baulked. It looked slippery and i just wasnt quite in the 'zone' for it... We climbed and walked our way over the fence, and proceeded to do a few BrakeFrees before peeling left and over into the gummies.

I took it slow leading into the rockgarden and gums cos Nelson was a ways back, and i waited for him briefly in order to lead off down our nice little lefthander, an option he'd never taken before. My favourite bit of Vic Park at the moment, i love the way it zigs and zags through the tight forest. All the way down even the final couple switchies before climbing back up to the Skidder site.

Hadn't done Cool Runnings for an absolute age (3 days after the first Quake (with Chris)) so headed up over there. The entrance was a very nasty eaten out rutfest, but once past the wooden jump things tidied up and there's been a heap of work done down here, with mega jumps and lots of granny lines for the likes of us. We flowed down through granny line past jump and G out til we joined the bottom of Rad^Sick, out to Flow and bridges and the newer bit back and forth til the bottom run.

Up the punishment pre-reward, losing myself on more than one corner, then into the OldSkool. Nelson out front, a good flight down, tho on the exit of one of the corners my front wheel bit something and dropped and my stomach dropped too and from then on i was nervy, tho got my shit together by the end. Out round the road back to car, then off to Pom's for a nice Conehead followed up by a Tuatara Imperial IPA

Sunday to Styx some trees in the ground

Townie yesterday. Steve, Tony, Andrew, Wayne, Pete and myself met at Pete's and we Woodhammed, Avonsided, Kilmored, Manchestered and Peterboroughed through to Hagley Park, then Kilmarnocked and Rail-pathed it up north to Tuckers then up to Styx Mill Reserve where we ignored the No Bikes signs and respectfully rode slowly through to the Husseys Rd entrance to meet the Ranger and Robin. We planted a buttload of Trees for Canterbury. Enjoying a few saussie sizzled saussies and hashbrowns after.

On the way home i detoured from the group to Pushbikes (top of Pap Rd) to get some brakeshoes, afterwhich it took me all the way to Kilmarnock, flat tack, to catch them back up again. Tony peeled off and we rode on together across Hagley then Salisbury St at the end of which i peeled the usual route home.

Thursday Snake moonlit Road Greenwood Godley Snake

Good ride with Nelson last night. We droveded to Taylor's and with my newer DX light on the handlebars (cos my old one on the bars kept cutting out last time), and my old DX light on the helment we climbed the Snake. i found with both lights on dim to be the perfect climbing light. Brights was actually too much. Bit of a chuff up the snake, me keeping it under the wheeze-level, which meant Nelson ploughed on ahead of me.

Then it was up the road, no lights, just the moon which was sitting on 3 days off full. A persistent wee number that road, just steadily climbs you without you realising except for the amount of effort required for seemingly minimal gain. Was a lovely still night, but pretty chilly. We met 3 bikers riding down the road (?why on earth?) before we peaked the highest point before the descent to Evans, with their lights on, so i turned mine on for a minute til they'd gone. Then it was a blast on the downhill to Evans, thankfully the divets in the road made by flying boulders have all had nice little white circles painted round them. Flying down through Evans pass, nice not to have to look for cars, and the climbing resumed. Heaps of massive boulders lying around on the road from here on, results of blasting work undertaken over the last month. Still no lights required, moon sufficiently bright. No other signs of any other riders around. Stopped at top of Greenwood for a stretch and i had my cake and ate it too.

Onto the singletrack and oh what fun. Tried it without lights to start, but the rocks got the better of me, so i submitted and turned them on. Again, both on dim seemed the best for the meandering climbing sections to start. Once at the road crossing it was onto full and off we went, down through the work I'd participated in on Sunday. I had pretty good flow right down the top section, enjoying it all, railing and blazing as per usual. Nelson was not having such the time of it and was apparently blowing perfectly good lines and catching every rock.

Onto the Godley, and Nelson's run of bad form was still running, tho we both cleaned the first section, the second little bit got us both. From there the next few hundred metres with rocky bits on it were hard on Nelson, and not so great on me, tho i got more. Once we were further up tho, Nelson's form returned and mine fell off, with a bad back starting to hurt heading down to Livingston Col. I would have stopped here but Nelson had continued so i struggled onwards upwards and eventually longgrassrutted and crashrolled getting back on line after the PFMTBC rock feature. No harm done tho, certainly nothing sore today.

Next up, Nelson led down the 'conda, me on his tail occasionally. He had an excellent run down here back on form, i had a not so excellent run down, tho enjoyable, it was...

rolled back into town about 9.


AND A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THIS BLOG!!! 7 YEARS i've been waffling on about my rides!!!!

Sunday Rich Green God Snake and Trailwerks

Small posse this week, just Pete, Wayne, Marie and myself. We met at Slotcom Dumbner and headed up the shaken Richmond Hill, knowing that somewhere up there there would be trail pixies with whom we'd join. Usually an email would have done the rounds, but Graham had issues with his Outlook and so i'd only noticed this last night. Peaked to Summit Rd and big trees, via the gravelled farm road on the upper half, then up road to Greenwood entrance.

Cruisy lead off into Greenwood, just kinda idling along nicely, nothing tweaky nothing jazzin' just moseying. Grubbers were collected from the trails intersection above the ruins and we tentatively rolled down to where Graham and one other were playing with rocks and dirt. We parked our steeds here and started to walk, mainly just cleaning the square edges off bermy corners, and also adding in or augmenting drains on low points. Made pretty good progress down the trail because its been worked well in recent years and is holding up pretty good. Put in maybe an hour and then decided we'd done enough and walked back up to our bikes to try out our efforts. Rolling through them they're barely noticeable, but they'll add to the future of the track.

Good bomb down Greenwood, Marie had headed down waaay ahead of us and i only caught sight of her as i rounded into a slippery gloomy gulch. Caught her up further down, then proceeded to notice (see and feel) a wasp or bee fly into one of my helmet vents. Pulled over and removed the offending headgear to find nothing, thankfully no stings neither. Chased and caught Marie again, and then had a ripper of a trip down the next wee while til i wrong geared the rocky up, allowing Pete to catch up, and we roared down the rest of the blissful singletrack to the road.

Across the deserted Evans Pass and onto Godley. Made it up the steepest first bit, but then my balance pulled me left and nearly into the old holey rocky mess, so i dab-number-oned it there, but got pedalling exactly where i'd dabbed and cleaned out the top of it, then the next bit i was nearly out the top of the worst offender and 2 rock bumps stopped both wheels at once dab-number-twoing me. Bit of a pause and regroup here before heading up the rest, which i cleaned up all good, except that annoying hard left hander with a rock in the wrong place, underneath the cliff up where the trail starts allowing a higher gear.

Stopped at the previously stopped at (twice now) spot, sort of the highest point, and scoffed muesli bars and watched a big fire on South Brighton Spit. The distant sounds of sirens subtly making their way up to us. Onwards, flying round and down, then, on the last descent to Livingston Col, i peeled right as i came through the wee gap in the fence, and found myself on a reasonably well trod trail across, above the actual track, missing the zig zags they tried to instate in there a couple years back, and then eventually came down on a final section of the walkway to the Col, meeting Pete and the other two eventually there. Last bit up and over to Breeze, with a call from Matt interrupting it briefly.

Anda the anaconda. Excellent blast down here today. Absolutely flying. railed all the raily bits and yumped all the yumpy bits, all of us had excellent descents. Finally out the tail, just picking our ways along this easily, over the fence and time for the climb. I ground off ahead and just pushed myself up to get it over and done with. At the top, waited for the others and got my breath back, then we headed on down thinking to give Nicholson Park a blast, down to a big arse fence where the Flowers Track met our usual, so, off down this. Hairpins and steps. not overly rideable, but kinda fun, and nothing heinous. Was a long ride with the track work in the middle, and it was nearly 1pm when we got back to Dotcom. Pete and me bailed, things to do, while Marie and Wayne stayed for coffees...



42 tomorrow...

Saturday Bottle Single

With the boy, O. We first did some pumps at Northcote Rd then had a short round of Burwood. South to start, he made it pretty much all the way up to the pagoda, go him! then he loved the downhill from there and we meandered out towards the coast along some routes never taken before, then he decided to go on rather than turn back and further on had a wee melt down but we persevered and shortcutted right across 17th and he loved the return to the car.

Sunday, turd verse, same as the first

Goodish sized posse assembled at Steve's, being myself, Tony, Pete, Marie, Wayne and Andy. We toodled around to Ramahana and proceeded to pretty much follow exactly, but not quite, the ride that Nelson, Becs and me rode Wednesday, and nearly precisely the same ride as this group had ridden last Sunday.

Road work was fine, as was the dirt, felt pretty good most of the way up, and everybody else seemed to cope quite nicely too. Massive groups of riders all over the place once we hit the top. Proceeded off round the Traverse ahead of a few, and quickly caught, and was stuck behind some other guys for a bit, but eventually they let us past and we rocketshipped the whole way round due to the awesome tail wind.

Into the Thompsons and lots of riders to start with, lower section was fine, then it was another regroup at Kiwi and off up the road, joking, yet again, with some other riders at the location of the previous week's fisticuffs.

I led off down the nun, and fairly caned it. Seemed to be very much on form, tho there was one moment when i thought i was gonna drop a wheel into a drainage ditch, balance issues, and the adrenalin that kicked in nearly gave me the shakes. Lower section was at warp speed.

Up the road past the Thompsons and into Vic park, back and forth on Coffeebreak, then i went over the seesaw and popped a few of the Brakefreedom before peeling across to the rockgarden into the gummies where i zigged right out then back and hung that quick left down the cool wee trail with the funky corner in it. It felt really bright in there today. proceeded on round over the wee log jump and then blatted the final back into the Skidder site. We had a long regroup here and chatted with Ranger Nick Singletrack who was working on the new pump track up there.

Next it was into Shazza's Dazza's and a swift descent into Brents where Pete, Andy and me paused and waited. And waited. and eventually heard the others. No idea where they'd gotten to. Anyway, off into the Flow and Bridges, fantastic riding being done, before the final blast down the rocky valley track, and into the HiddenValleyPylonLink up to Oldskool which was just as shitty as last time, but oh boy was the riding nice. being able to see in broaddaylight was definitely better than darkness.

Finally, out Bowenvale valley and round to the gardencentrecafe for a well earned coffeeeee. I was home just a smidge after 1.

Wednesday Evening Marauders.

Good spin for Nelson, Bex, and me last night. We met at the bottom of Ramahana just after 5.30, to see a million nightlight helmetted people heading for Rapaki. We headed up Ramahana, Aotea, Huntsbury bitumen to the dirt and on up, clambering away as you do. From the dirt we could see a million nightlights traversing the Vernon trails and as we approached the top gate a million more across the Traverse.

We hit the traverse, me with my original DX handlebar mounted, and the new tightspotty DX helmet mounted, providing more than ample sufficiency of trail view ahead. Blatted round the trail, lights working reasonably well to start with. Later on, the handlebar mounted one started to play up, cutting out over rough stuff, leaving me with just the helmet light. I could turn it back on and it would go until the next rough section. Later in the ride, it would cut out, and cut back on randomly... dodgy connections i guess? Good blast round the Traverse, a couple of jumps i was wondering when i was going to land again. Finally, up to top of Vic and we paused for Bex to catch up and then hit Thomson and Thompson out to the Kiwi.

From here it was up the road, grinding away to top of Nun where we met a couple of other riders and made jokes about the recent hilarity and how we'd chase them down and ask 'politely' if they'd move etc etc leading to their fisticuffs with us. They took off and we had a brief food stop, sharing our bars with Becca, then i led off with my intermittent lighting excellence detracting slightly from my bliss... Blazed on down, pausing for a regroup at the halfway mark, then blazing on down to the Kiwi exit. Then it was off down Old Dyers, floating on a cloud down the first flowy bit, then getting a bit of a pounding on the lower rougher bits and a cruise to the road again.

Across and up, thighs starting to burn a little to the 19th, then singletrack to skidder, into ShaDazza's wondering which way to go its got so many options now, seemed to flow the usual route tho, then out and across to Brent's, nearly taking out a possum. Waited here for a little til we were all together again and Nelson led off down, taking the left hand route. Down the 'easy' end across the bridge and into Flow, a loonnnng time since i'd been down here, well over a year, looking back it was December 2010. i took the high line and nelson took the low line and i had a much better time of it, but he reached scotland afore me. Into Bridges, taking the high line and then the fun pumpy 'new' bit (not so new anymore), down into the the valley and then down to Hiddenvalley/Link track for to climb one last time. We were on this when Becs came down, and she decided time was running short for her and bailed on us here, heading down the valley while we climbed on up, burning thighs, to the pylons from where we could see her light down on Bowenvale Ave.

Round into OldSkool, as long since i'd been down that too, first half was covered in sheep, and what do sheep do? they shit... made for at least one interesting rock, and cos of the overgrownness of the trail, it was hairy in places, and cos its not fresh in the memory a couple of corners nearly took me out. Over the stile and things improved, no shit, and we had a good run down here, one or two boulders out of place i noticed. Finally, out the bottom and my body was stiff and sore from the descending position.

Cruised back round to the car by about 8.30, and headed for the Casbah, souvlakis eaten at mine.

Hoki's A.O.K.

13th April, Friday, 2012 - 
Blue Spur.
Easter and first week of school days found us with 10 days at Mahinapua. What a spot! Choice of paddling the Canadian on the glorious scenery or riding about with the kids on the local shortwalks. Sweeeeet!

After a couple of non-starts of riding with local Liam (- a rained out lunchtime then a too-tired-to-ride night), I managed to finally get out for a 'me' ride on Friday the 13th - a morning drive up to Hoki, up Hau Hau Rd to the Blue Spur trails, thanks to Liam for the map. Twas mint.

Parked up at Stations 'boutique' accommodation/restaurant/bar, and headed straight across the road and up the backbone of the trails up there; a 4wd road. Steady climb to start gaining 75 metres in no time, evidence of a couple of motorised trail bikes having braaaped their way up recently. I checked on the map a couple of times to get a feel for its scale.

None of the trails i was about to ride were muddy, as such. They were a little slick at times, and there was the very occasional puddle, only really on the 4wd stuff tho, all thanks to the veritable drought breaker on Tuesday (Liam's monday ride was even dusty, so he said). Surrounded by young pines and scrub these trails should be in here for a while yet, and only getting better, or neglected if not enough people ride them.

I peeled left onto a track called See Saw. Straight away i knew i was in for a good time. A couple of rooty drops into the start of it, then sweet narrowish benched singletrack meandering down,
not losing too much altitude but all the while heading down reasonably quick, able to open up now and then (and if you knew them well you'd cane it), the odd steep corner, a wee jump or two, finishing with a sweet steep section, a coupla switchies, a banked ply wallride corner, and finishing off with a pretty sweet steep drop down with a run out finishing with a wee bridge crossing a creek.

Onto the Valley Link, a 4wd track (that had indeed had a 4wd up it recently), mostly up, softish, longish wet grass, with 4(?) fords,
two of which i steppingstoned, and the last two of which i rode realising i could have ridden the earlier ones.

The end of Valley Link leads you across the creek and up the aptly named Elevator - a steep, rocky, forestry 4wd. Into granny for the first time i just couldnt get my climb on, then i thought i had a flat, pulled the wheel, tire, tube, pumped that up big and no leaks. My fricking (brandnew) rimtape havin slipped again, exposing 3 spoke holes, which as we all know is trouble brewing... Anyway, chucked in my spare tube and pumped everything back together and got climbing again, riding out the top.

Here it was back onto (and up) the original spine 4wd from earlier, up to the top of first Bad Boys, then up steeper (but all ridden) to Stags Drop. What i'd seen from Elevator of Rehab Ridge (just up further) told me i didnt need to look, and any further up the spine road didnt appear to be much, so, I hung a hard left into Stag's Drop.

This was another like See Saw, hand crafted, flowing, with a few interesting features, including what i assume is "Stag's" Drop, a rocky feature that had me second thinking but rolled on down and had no problems. Pumped on down and back to the road.

Next up Bad Boys. Minimal climb (i think?) to start then again with the sweet rolling singletrack, interesting grip, occasionally camberless sides, but also beautifully cambered corners in places, flowing and rolling for quite a while, around back to the road.

Here i made a boo boo, having gotten cocky and not consulting the map, i thought i was seeing the end not the start of the next trail, so headed off down the road, eventually finding The Cutting, riding under the trail above, then cornering round to that trail and seeing that it came in from above, so realised my mistake and headed back down to and up the 4wd road again, to the start. A wee climb for starters, then around and up and down a little and swoopy and nice and fun times had, 'flow' well intact, then crossing over my previous entry and flowing on down further, on and on before spitting me back onto the road.

Slow Girls finish was just along here, its one i decided to miss out, figuring i'd had long enough up here and wanted to get down Tunnels before climbing back to the car and maybe heading for Kaniere Water Race.

So. headed on down the 4wd road a bit back to where i'd initially peeled off to See Saw, and entered Tunnels via Shorty's Drop. Definitely left the best to last. Started off sweet enough then got a bit stroppy. Slightly greasy clay, steep, rutted, rocky in places, fun fun fun, down bends and twists galore then into bush (at least, the secondary stuff that gets into the gulleys amongst these youngish pines, lusher in the gulleys, dryer on the ridges),
i thought, could this be why they call it tunnels. Beautiful flowy singletrack, round bend, over rise, down drop, round bend, over creek, on and on, a sign saying Rollercoaster Ridge along here somewhere, then

ah, now i see why its called Tunnels. Options: Disappearing Sands or Do Duck In, and do you have to duck? yep. scrape scrape, my elbow wore the clay for a couple hours til i got a shower, and my handlebars were ALMOST too wide, (and they're only 720s(?)).

Out the end
From there the trail was fast and awesome, ripped down the hill for seemingly ages, finally finishing with a cool wee jump over a creek then a couple more drops to flat further along and a longish smooth run out to a gravel road where I hung a right and in no time another right onto Hau Hau Rd (at the Pumphouse), then climbing round a couple corners (past another tunnel), up to the sealed road and right to the car.

Drove

Lower end of Kaniere Water Race...
Parked at the bottom and rode up the road, it was a bit drizzly, 8 years since i'd ridden down it on the annual trip in the days-before-blog, all those years ago. It had changed from my memory. Up a steep 4wd track for a bit, then at the level of the race it followed below it for a while til a saddle the race went across all leaky wooden boarded which i remembered, and then it hit the good native forest single track. following an old race the trail was smooth for a while, weaving back and forth with the contour of the hill, nice forest all around, and of course, in the rougher sections, roots.
not long after these, the trail headed down, with steps in places, and i looked at my watch, and it was after 12, so figured, cut my losses, and turn back. climbed back up all the steps i'd headed down, then relished the spin back round the trail, a very mild downhill gradient, just enough to help slightly with the push, but all too short, and i was back to the raised wooden race bit, and back onto the wide open 4wd track, which i blasted, then thoroughly enjoyed the speedy gravel descent back to the creek valley and the road back down to the car.



Mahinapua Walkway...
family ride on Saturday 14th, afternoon, after a morning on the lake in the canoe..., with H not so keen on putting in the effort, and O absolutely caning it, T just cruising as she knows how and me with major frictional drivetrain (that'll be requiring some work). we got about 2/3rds of the way and decided they'd continue and i'd spin back to the car, then drive right round to get them. thereby me missing the most attractive part of the trail :(. Not that many kms, i hauled it on the downhill bits on the way back, the main impedence in places being the old tramway railway sleeper equivalent bumping everything up. back to the car and a fair time at 110+ on the straight south past the pub and our driveway, round and back up the other side of the lake. arrived at the family just as they pulled up, both boys reckoning the approaching car was me...

Tuesday nearly repeat of Thursday prior

Nelson and me 'rona'd to the top of Worsley's again, landing about 20 odd minutes before the others were due. We hit the trail straight up, huffing and chuffing our way up to the bottom of the body bag, track getting slightly greasier as we climbed. i was dying, again, with a wheeze i couldn't shake. Hung a left and up to top of the sweet trail, and headed down. Very greasy in patches, and dry as a bone in others. Nice cruise down, stopping for a chat with an old friend of Nelson's who was walking in training for a hunting trip in Fiordland. On down we went, catching a rider who'd passed us whilst chatting. Passed him around that big rock that doesnt have a nice flow over anymore, and on we went, dropping him. Above the pylons we could hear voices and engines revving down on the main track. Hung the left just after the pylon clearing and flowed down the next section and out to the gate (as opposed to the fun droppy bit). I rang Steve and learned they were up just above the pylons, so we skedaddled up to them for the second climb.

Caught most of them (Steve, Andy, Tony and Marie) at two 4wds driven by some youngsters. We headed on up, catching Warren a little further on. On upwards and met Nelson's friend again, stopping to chat while each of the team rode past us. Caught them all again and reassembled at the trail junction again. Nelson headed on up the body bag and the others declared they were just doing the B-line, so we parted ways and i chased Nelson, failing the top of the 'bag again.

We headed to the top of Nun and hit it. It was greasy in places. Our tires picked up a bit of greasy dirt, and the rocks were all coated in greasy dirt from tires, and so whenever they contacted each other they slipped. Technical, and a couple of times scary, especially the top droppy corner. i baulked out of it, turned back and took the pussy route. Wasn't game on crashing on it. The rest was okay, slightly tacky in a couple places, but the rocky sections were pretty sketchy.

Lower section, with the jumps, i'm following Nelson at a distance, come round a bend, and his light is shining back at me, from beyond one of the jumps, off the side of the track, he's lying there, his bike on the track. hmmm... he'd cased it, smacked his head a bit. but not too bad, a sore neck i think. and his stem had turned a little. We rode out and he fixed that and we headed back up the road, deciding not to do another lap of the Nun.

Top of Worsley, body bag was pretty good, not as greasy as we'd expected, then into Bline, second time round, and a much better run. Again, greasy in spots, sliding about a bit, a few both wheel slides. This time we took the fun droppy lower section, chugged back up from there then down through to the water tank and beyond, exploring a little below there too. There are oodles of trails in there, but they seem to go all up and down and weird. One day they'll be good to explore.

Finally, out to the car about 8, and headed for home via a Number 3 and a Number 7 at Noodle Canteen which we ate at my place.

Friday on the way home from work...

No mountain bike rides this weekend, unfrotudinatously, But, on Friday after work, i gave the Surly its first test up the hill (and down on Sunday). Rode up to my folks place (above the Takahe) on it after work on Friday to collect a car to borrow for the weekend. 1st gear was perfect for the steeper sections of Hackthorne Rd. with 2nd, 3rd AND 4th being used at various stages on the way up. Was a good go.

On Sunday, dropped car off and rode it down. Fun and fast. Brakes could do with a tweak tho for any more prolonged descents. I guess i've gotten so used to disc brakes that rubber on metal just doesnt feel like its going to last or cut the mustard anymore...

Thursday night Worsle Dye Nunning

Due to technicalities with work, Nelson kindly swung by and picked me up, then we battled traffic back to my place, changed, re-rimtaped my flat rear wheel, patched it, pumped it, then progressed across the dismantling cityscape to park up top of Worsleys Road by maybe 6.30pm - thinking probably an hour of light left, but not to worry, we had our lights. Hit the track on up and felt reasonably good for a start. By half way i was wheezing, and by the top i walked albeit shortly. At least there was a nice refreshing breeze up top. Nelson, of course, middle ringed the whole damned thing.

Top of the 'Nun, i took first turn on the down. Couple interesting new features after the top rocky droppy corner, first jump a little bitey, the second nicely flowable, then i was a bit skittery in places, but mostly pretty good. Nelson had a pretty average first round. The blast out the bottom was good, and we hit the road back up. Sun still lighting up various bits of hills. Bit of an effort making the top again, but survived and then donned a longsleeve at the top, as well as putting my light on my helmet ready for later.

Nelson led off on the second round, and i stuck to his tail nicely, enjoying having him set my speed, which was plenty fast. Sometimes i'd gain on him, but only now and then he'd gap me slightly and i'd reel him back in. We both had a very good run this time round, burnin' and blazin' the whole way down. At the bottom, light was getting pretty dim, but we hit the Old Dyers down, just to get a good hit of the top section, loving the flowy nature of it. Light was slightly difficult, but not dark enough for our lights. Turned around just after that little gulchy bit followed by a short climb, where the old 4wd track kinda used to end. Climbed back up and was surprised at how mellow that was except for the tricky traction just as you approach the road.

Back up the road, my light on low in order to be seen, to top of Worsley and i think it was here that it was 8pm. Lights on, and down, Nelson first, me getting nothing but a view of his dust and eating it too. Sharp right, and i went first up the access to the sweet forest, which was most definitely interesting and fun under lights. Been a long time. Weird bug activity going on in there too, millions of cranefly type things hanging around the ground. Good run down the trail, meeting one guy on his way up under lights, and then an excellent run down the lower section with the awesome drop and the sweet steeps, then grunt up and into the final section, nelson leading firstly, then me after the water tank.

All up a good ride, feeling fit-ish.

Sunday morning Packhorsing around

Nelson showed at mine 5 minutes before 9 o'clock and not long after Rebecca showed up. She was to be our chaufferette for the morning, navigating the new right hand turn give way rule as we plied the city's streets.

Her friends were being slack-arses so we didnt go meet up with them and made our own way to Gebbies, intending on potentially riding Packhorse followed by Living Springs, but as we passed through Living Springs there's the Huxster comps on... scratch that one then.

Parked up at Gebbies and word from Bex's friends was they were ages away so we set off up the very very smooth high grade logging access road. Over the stile and up a little more along the bumpy logged bit of singletrack then down and into the trees for a super sketchy needled rooty blast that seems to go for ages, til you bottom out and have to clamber up still more rooty goodness to the next stile.

Into the sunshine and heat and up the open paddock over the tussocky top and down to the next stile, then into the trees again and fast swoopy blast down 4wd track for the right hander into the pitchblack fir forest. i was blinded entering here cos my sunnies were still on, but my eyes accustomed to it before i hit any trees, and it doesnt last too long before you're out to that boghole and the walking switchbacks climb to lovely ledge climb to the wee cottage tucked away in there.

Not far past the bach Becs got another call from her mates who were asking directions, so i paused to wait for her, hearing her voice explaining through the trees. Nelson had vanished off in the distance and eventually came bombing back down. Then we all treadled onwards and upwards, passing a couple of walker/runners near the top, and meeting a big group at the final stile. Cleaned heaps more than last time, including the last stretch all the way to the top. We had a long regroup over the stile, enjoying the views and the day.

Just up the trail a little



Then it was off up the awesome rocky exposed ledge trail for the final heft through the Remarkable Dykes and on up to the hut where we consumed consumables and rested and shot the shit.

Bec on her way to the Dykes


A friendly chat with a cute 4 year old, his smaller sister and their dad and then we were off. Flow switched on, grooving down the trail, hopping the hops, popping the pops and generally enjoying the crap out of it. Wasnt long and we were at the stile to the forest again, where we waited on a few walkers, and could see our walker/runner couple further down the trail. Descent began fast and furious, swooping and weaving down on the glorious foot wide benched trail, catching the couple on the first wee up. Then bomb bomb bomb, through the switchies, Nelson and me both taking the last wee cut and a quick wait to make sure Bec's following then onwards for swoopy speed and eventually seeing the cluster of Bec's friends right about where i'd waited while she was on the phone.

Long chat with them, and we were off again. Great blast down past the bach, up briefly round a couple fallen trees and down past a family and down the zigs into the dark forest, no shades this time, and out onto the 4wd climb, waving aurevoir to our walker/runner couple for the final time, up to meet some bikers at the next stile before we hit up the tussocky paddock and super cool fast swoopy prancing dancing descent to a family at the stile. Final singletrack descent rooty and narrow, barbed wire on the right, trees on the left, then the steeeeeep climb up up up to the end of the trees and a final bumpy traverse to the last stile before the road.

Nelson and me both took the new digger dug trail below the final road section and it was fun, except for the thistles.

Then, to cool off we blasted down the road and Bec picked us up at the bottom. Great ride. Home to an empty house, which was good cos it meant i wasnt in trouble for being late.

Tuesday Night Snake road Godley Snake

Nelson met at mine after work and we treadled over to Pete's to find him and Alistair loading the bikes on the falcon. Out, on bumpy as roads, we drove to Taylor's Mistake, meeting there Warren, Wayne, Tony, Steve, Matt, Dallas. A good posse, we headed up the snakes tail, after first leaping the barrier and clambering up through a nasty stench of something dead in the bush at the start of the trail. Good haul up this first section, everybody hoping seismic activity stayed minimal what with all the rocks above the track the reason its shut... within no time we're up in the safe zone and spinning well round to the start of the snake proper. I lead off, under pressure to keep up the pace, Nelson tight on my tail. My chain played up as i passed over that rutty bit and he got past me here. From here up he gapped me but then i held on and kept roughly the same distance from him the rest of the way up. Pete was keeping pretty even with me too, til further up the top. So we all reassembled at Breeze Col, the order something like, Nelson, Me, Pete, Warren, Wayne, Matt, followed by Steve Tony and Dallas but i'm not sure in what order.

From here we jetted off round the road cos we figured it was gonna get dark reasonably early and we didnt want to be riding up singletrack in daylight and back on singletrack as it was getting dark... So a nice cruise round the road, Nelson and me kinda pushing a bit harder out the front. When we got to Evans I just hauled ass straight up onto the singletrack, hitting at a speed i've never hit it before, actually catching air on the cattlestop entry to the track... Then it was knuckling down into one or two off Granny and hitting up the first rocky section ... and cleaning it! Yeah bol! but then losing it on the next section round the corner, boo! Nelson dabbed on the first bit but then juuuust about cleaned the second bit. We hung and waited a bit as the boys all turned up and Pete hit it and cleaned it all!!! yeah! Others had reasonable passes and failures but no one lived up to Pete's effort.

From here it was funtimes, rocky interestingness all the way up out this first section of the Godley track. Awesome cleaning of everything thrown at most of us. Nelson and me keeping up the pace the whole way, brief regroup at the high point (of previous couple of rides), Warren commenting on the noticeable lack of wind compared to our previous visit to the spot. Next bit down hill, flow ON. bit of up round to the cattle/sheepstop and into the slightly rutted, overgrown and sheep pellet scattered trail downhill flow ON again from here. Excellent w00t! inspiring descent to Livingston Col, tho i noticed my bike becoming increasingly rattly as i approached the bottom. Just prior to departure for the next section i discovered why! My front quick release was entirely loose!!! yikes.

Onward up for the last jaunt to Breeze Col. Good climb, excellent flowy round to the PFMTBC Rock which i hit the fastest i've ever hit it. Flew over it. out to the road, and another regroup, watching them all flow round and over the rock (or not!).

The final fling, off down the Anaconda, blazing. Fresh in my memory from 2 weeks ago i flew down here, feeling smooth and taking it all wickedly. Flew over the jumps and railed the berms better than ever before. Was awesome.

Brief regroup and off down the tail, enjoying the odd rocky challenge, then climbing the fence at the end, and getting some looks from a couple of older riders who obviously weren't game to take on the Closed sign.

Sunday McGreendley Conda

Excellent ride today. Weather put everybody else off, and the family were going to Taylors, so i rode in the car with them to McCormacks Bay about 11am and headed up there, my excellent soundtrack on Shuffle. After the two hairpins instead of heading on up to Craigieburn Place I hung a left instead, finding my way up a few more switchbacks and eventually out onto Avery Place, then Glenstrae and finally Moncks Spur Rd up, grinding away, ever climbing to Mt Pleasant Rd and on up that to the top.

Nice to finally swoop down effortlessly the road to Greenwood, which surprisingly still had an "open" sign showing. the beginning was pretty greasy, so i walked around the odd bit, and rode along side the track rather than sliding around in the mud. But once over the top to the ruins and beyond, the trail was in surprisingly good knick, with no puddles, no greasy bits and amazingly dry considering the rain we've had. The sun and wind were out in force, with any moments riding into the southwesterly nearly having me blown off, and the lovely quietness of the downwind sections. A lot of sheep around, and their small bombs requiring strategic steering, and the occasional excitement of them leading the way down the trail at topspeed.
Back where i'd just come from


Overlooking Evans


At Evans I swooped down through the deserted intersection and headed up onto Godley Track just as a ccc ranger was approaching. He obviously wasnt concerned for my Rockfall Potential wellbeing, so ground my way up the start and enjoyed every technical second of the rocky goodness. Rested for a bit, and took off my longsleeve layer whilst overlooking Sumner (at Warren and my previous turnaround point), marvelling at the toytown look of the container barriers below.


Got started again and had some wind battles but a good run all the way round and down to Livingston Col, relishing this trail i'd not been on since June last year. The wind was pumping over the Col, nearly knocking me sideways into the fence, then the cattlestop, then pushing me from behind as i hit up the next climb. The final descent to Breeze Col (which lived up to its name) a blast, with a fun wee roll over the PFMTBC rock feature followed by more blast to the road. Straight across, no mucking about, straight on over and into Anaconda, which is riding SWEEEEEET. Met a runner at the top, just after i'd stopped to muck around with my sounds cos they'd switched themselves off. Trail flowed excellently, pretty much expecting nastiness round every bend, only to find it in pristine condition, except the rutty bit in the middle of the swooply cornerers down in the lowers, which i had referred to as a 'slop channel' last time i rode it (in June).

Finally, around the start of the 'tail', i could see my family on the beach, them being basically the only people on it. I detoured down to the walking track before the gate overwhich i climbed and as i was getting started riding again, they waved and i waved back. then it was down to the rocky path that leads to the beach which i walked, then i rode across the beach, just above the wave wash, to them.

Brilliant ride, with fantastic soundtrack, good groove, nice isolation not seeing a soul from top of Greenwood to Breeze Col. Godley and Anaconda are obviously getting a bit of use. The whole way out Godley there was evidence that at least one rider had been through this morning before me. I think a lot of the rockfall hazard on these two trails is over-rated. As for 'wetness', really not an issue for a single rider, and the only bad bit was right at the start of Greenwood on the flatter sections, which were avoidable (ie, by walking or riding around).

Great day to be out. And my last chance for a couple weeks, as on Tuesday i'm off to Fiordland for 9 days.