Needed to keep it short this morning, and nearly got out really early, like 8am, but eventually what with one thing and another it was about 9.20 I found myself over near the bottom of the hills, heading for the top of Worsley Rd with Jet in the back. Parked up and headed up behind a couple of motorbikes. Clamber clamber, with the newly working forks working bloody well. These are the white 55s that gave me so much gyp on the trip - Josh chucked in a coil instead of the positive air component, and she works a treat. Up the grind, and before the powerlines came across one of the motorbikes. He was fiddling around in the front of the bike, and it wasn't going... rode on up, eventually catching up and passing a young running/walking couple, her giving Jet lots of pets. Ground out to the top where the other motorbike was waiting and he asked about his mate and I said it looked like trouble so he was gonna head back down..
Then off up the entrance to the B-line talking a bit to a dude who'd just come down bodybag. Him and his mate went down, I went up, grindy grind to Debbie Does Dallas -lead in, and fanged off down here. Slow to start but gradually speeding up, and then down past the ruins and into the Douglas fir darkness then out. Below the big cliff stopped and had a wee look at a trail being built just above this one. Got going again down the steeps into Alice's Restaurant where I baulked the usual couple of corners cos they're just so damned steep. Saw 3 riders across on T2 briefly, and then spotted them on the climb out.
At the junction I followed these guys up the guts track, riding all the way, but they'd lost me by the time I crossed the pylon gap. On up to the cliff top, a young DH couple hangin' out sayin' hi. Sat on the cliftop for a bite to eat and a wee rest before heading off down Wayne's World and then across and down into Fight Club (passing the young couple pushing back up on the way). Fight Club was a blast, suspension just soaking everything up beautifully. Out the bottom and back up the exit track to the junction. Nor'west wind was starting to pick up, so figured the forest might not be too safe any more, so we headed on back down the usual to the car. Loaded the bike on and we drove down the road.
Just before the bottom corner I pulled up and parked. And rode up one of the new downhill tracks in the Farside network... Fluffy Sheets or something. Anyway, decided on the way it wasn't that great for climbing, but stuck with it. At the top I explored, first, off down 1 Trick Lucy but it descended in a direction I didn't like, and looked like it was gonna leave me in the bottom of the valley, so, pushed back up onto Farside and pushed to the top of that. Into Utopia I flowed. Very familiar feeling, like farside, with some sweet wee swoops and dips and off camber corners, and then it spat me onto Fluffy Sheets near the bottom. Back up the usual next-to-the-road off-road track, meeting some very tentative riders coming down, and cleaned out the top in no time - much better than going up Fluffy Sheets. Here I dropped into Farside and had a real blast down this, arriving back at the car in no time, 11am-ish and headed with my hot and tired doggy, home.
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Wednesday evening Captain Godley loop return
Nelson and me got riding from Sumnervale at 6.30pm and headed up Captain Thomas. I blew up really quick, lungs gasping and wheezing and me struggling painfully... Got up the switchbacks, meeting a woman with a dog, and a couple of hot girl riders coming down. Then it was a runner, and then we had the track to ourselves, cleaning one or two bits interestingly, but walking up the usuals. At the gate up near the top, a couple guys were holding it open for us, and then we made the top.
Across Evans and a bit too long of a break, then into Godley. Both of us blew up. I felt miserable, with no power in my legs and gasping again. Walked up the usual rocky start, and cleaned out the rest. Run got better from here on, I wasn't toooo bad, but still not great. Once it flattened off a bit I felt better. Nelson seemed decidedly unfazed. Into the descent, bit of wind about, but not bad, and we had a good run down here. I was reeling Nelson in by the time we got to Livingston Col, and then it was climbing again and I was dying my deaths all over again. Better than previous tho... crested the top and around, catching Nelson again and sitting tight on his tail around across above Breeze Col, then round and over the rock and down to the road.
Into Anaconda, Nelson taking the low road, while I took the boardwalk, and he made no gain on me. Tight on his tail again around, finding it difficult due to not being able to see the trail.. Backed off a little heading into the main drag of the snake, and then progressively gained, dropped back gained on him all the way down. We were rocketting, not the fasted ever, but pretty fast. Bit of wind blowing on some sections, but I noticed it less, being in his slipstream the whole way. We met a couple of guys riding up, standing there, mouths agape at our speed. Around into the Snake's Tail and still I was tight on Nelson's tail, til the wee short climb above the houses... then I dropped back a bit and kinda struggled around the rocky bits then decended well to the end, noticing some weird rear end squiggliness near the bottom.
Through the surfer sausage fest (all guys, all in various stages of undress in their wetsuits... bleugh!), and into the climb. Me, crawling. Up the road, round a few corners and then looped back into the singletrack up. Over the fence and climbing again. Lots of sheep around, several big tunnel erosion holes, wheelsized (watch out for them next time anybody comes down!). Nelson took the wrong tack across the hill and we ended up a bit below and further round than we should have. I pointed out where we should have been and then proceeded to walk a bunch, ride a little and then walk the final climb to the road. Somewhere in here too, I looked at my rear axel, noticed it wasn't where it should have been, and found I could tighten it... that explained the squiggliness at the bottom of the hill. Finally rode up the sucky gravel to catch Nelson waiting at the gate. Was 7.50 here and we figured we had time (and light) to head up the 4wd back to the Godley and head along it for Evans. Very strong winds up here, which buffeted us all the way back. Once again, tight on Nelson's tail and watching his line and taking smoother ones myself. I thought, "I could probably go faster" and Nelson was struggling with his balance, and the wind... Maybe being in his slipstream made the wind less for me, cos I had a great run. Smooth and flowy. Down to the road, and back across Evans.
Into the Captain. I stopped to double check my axel (it was fine), and then continued on. Bad ruts just before the gate. Then tight on Nelson's tail (again) all the way down. I walked my usual rock, but cleaned everything else except the wee climb pinch. Then flow flow to the zigzags, that don't flow, then blast across the slope to the valley, and loss of flow again. and out. back to the car, dead on 8.15pm, 1 hour 45 loop. not at all bad. Dunno if it was cos of having the forks so short up north, or what, but these coil 55s felt too long when climbing, kinda washy and flappy. Was fine once pointed down hill, but I'm considering swapping again...
Across Evans and a bit too long of a break, then into Godley. Both of us blew up. I felt miserable, with no power in my legs and gasping again. Walked up the usual rocky start, and cleaned out the rest. Run got better from here on, I wasn't toooo bad, but still not great. Once it flattened off a bit I felt better. Nelson seemed decidedly unfazed. Into the descent, bit of wind about, but not bad, and we had a good run down here. I was reeling Nelson in by the time we got to Livingston Col, and then it was climbing again and I was dying my deaths all over again. Better than previous tho... crested the top and around, catching Nelson again and sitting tight on his tail around across above Breeze Col, then round and over the rock and down to the road.
Into Anaconda, Nelson taking the low road, while I took the boardwalk, and he made no gain on me. Tight on his tail again around, finding it difficult due to not being able to see the trail.. Backed off a little heading into the main drag of the snake, and then progressively gained, dropped back gained on him all the way down. We were rocketting, not the fasted ever, but pretty fast. Bit of wind blowing on some sections, but I noticed it less, being in his slipstream the whole way. We met a couple of guys riding up, standing there, mouths agape at our speed. Around into the Snake's Tail and still I was tight on Nelson's tail, til the wee short climb above the houses... then I dropped back a bit and kinda struggled around the rocky bits then decended well to the end, noticing some weird rear end squiggliness near the bottom.
Through the surfer sausage fest (all guys, all in various stages of undress in their wetsuits... bleugh!), and into the climb. Me, crawling. Up the road, round a few corners and then looped back into the singletrack up. Over the fence and climbing again. Lots of sheep around, several big tunnel erosion holes, wheelsized (watch out for them next time anybody comes down!). Nelson took the wrong tack across the hill and we ended up a bit below and further round than we should have. I pointed out where we should have been and then proceeded to walk a bunch, ride a little and then walk the final climb to the road. Somewhere in here too, I looked at my rear axel, noticed it wasn't where it should have been, and found I could tighten it... that explained the squiggliness at the bottom of the hill. Finally rode up the sucky gravel to catch Nelson waiting at the gate. Was 7.50 here and we figured we had time (and light) to head up the 4wd back to the Godley and head along it for Evans. Very strong winds up here, which buffeted us all the way back. Once again, tight on Nelson's tail and watching his line and taking smoother ones myself. I thought, "I could probably go faster" and Nelson was struggling with his balance, and the wind... Maybe being in his slipstream made the wind less for me, cos I had a great run. Smooth and flowy. Down to the road, and back across Evans.
Into the Captain. I stopped to double check my axel (it was fine), and then continued on. Bad ruts just before the gate. Then tight on Nelson's tail (again) all the way down. I walked my usual rock, but cleaned everything else except the wee climb pinch. Then flow flow to the zigzags, that don't flow, then blast across the slope to the valley, and loss of flow again. and out. back to the car, dead on 8.15pm, 1 hour 45 loop. not at all bad. Dunno if it was cos of having the forks so short up north, or what, but these coil 55s felt too long when climbing, kinda washy and flappy. Was fine once pointed down hill, but I'm considering swapping again...
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Sunday Sharland's Valley wiggling.
In Nelson with the family for the weekend... On Sunday, Drove up to the carpark in Sharlands with Jet and we headed up the road. Counting off the kilometers, I was feeling pretty seedy from a fantastic night before, thinking I might go all the way to R&R, but when I got to the top entrance to FlyBuys, decided as I'd never ridden it before I'd give it a go. Nice wee rolly flow down the hill, little whoops and doops, then a couple tight switchbacks and I's back on the road down the hill from BobsFern Rd. Off back up the road, then up this, all the way up to the 506m trig, and into Ground Effect's Slingshot, which was different to what I remember of years back when we did it in the annual trip. This time it went back and forth, loonngg zigs and zags, and looked little used. Across the road and into Scottswood Wiggles. This track went for ages, the odd climb and in dark fir or redwood forest the whole way. Lower down, maybe after it'd become the Lancewood Waggles, the roots would have been insane in the wet. Flowed on all the way down, Jet on my tail the whole way. No stand out moments, just nice long flowy riding. Some blasts of total speed, others very cruisy, stopping now and then for Jet to catch up. All up we probably did about 20km total. Forks felt pretty good, tho twice experienced a weird bottoming out on big G-outs...
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Annual Trip, Day 5. Wakamarina the wrong way (again)
Tuesday, another beautiful day in paradise. Due to the roads accessing the other end of the Wakamarina being private logging roads and shut during the week, we were limited to only riding the Waka the same way as Nelson and me did it last year, ie, the hard way.
The motel-unit crew txtd that they were leaving at 9.30am. We weren't quite ready but got going at maybe 9.45-50, stopping at the 4Square for some supplies then hitting the road. Then Pete had a little issue with the Cozzie, but got going again, and so eventually we got up the Wakamarina Valley and parked up with the TFC and Steal&Pube trucks, contemplating blocking them in, but not.
Got riding up the 4wd section, soon warming up. Then into the nice forest and through the end of the 4wd bit and onto the narrower track proper. Past Doom Creek turn off this time, and down down down to the bridge. Nice flow. Up the rocky switchbacks and then on up the track. I was on my own for most of this, just rode steady and onwards, eventually getting to the Hut not long after the first crew. Chatted while first Nelson then the rest showed up, then the boys headed back down to have an adventure in Doom Creek where Robin nearly went off a cliff, while the mad ones, us, went UP (AGAIN! - I'd vowed I'd never do it again after the last time, but here I was, doing it again! Ugh. Will i never learn?). Needless to say. It was a long walk/push. I got to the rooty wall face at about the 1000m mark and said "that's it for me", sat down and the sun came out and warmed me up (it'd cooled right down up here). Then I threaded my way down, nursing my lack of travel, and being pretty cautious. Meanwhile the others climbed and pushed their ways to the very top, and in the meantime, Marie had been pushing up behind us, unbeknownst to us, and had a fright by some pigs, so turned back, but had pushed up for an hour and a half, so can't have been too shy of us. Anyway, worked my way down, stopping quite a few times to listen for the others. One point I stopped for nearly 10 minutes, nice warm sunny spot about half way down. Then got going again. Stopped again at Mark's jersey for maybe 5 minutes. Rode on down and down, the trail getting straighter, but more greasy, sloppy and rutted as I progressed. Not far from the bottom there was a puddle hole that Nelson had scuffed a drain for and just below this my front wheel lost it and down I went off to the left of the track. My wrist got tweaked enough to snap one of the pins holding my watch strap, but turned out okay. I extracted myself from the ferns and my bike and continued on down, thinking "Phew!, that was close". A little ways further down, just round the corner was the Devil's Hut sign, and I stopped here to wait for the others. Heard voices, then watched as first Alistair hurtled off his bike into the ferns, then Nelson followed him straight over. Spectacular crash! They were both okay but Nelson's helmet had a dent in it from Ali's bash ring.
Regrouped and off down. At one of the creek crossings Pete's derailleur finally exploded and we singlespeeded his bike (not very successfully, tho it kept him moving pretty good). None could be arsed doing Doom Creek, so down to the bridge, and climbed back out and up and then blasted down to the cars... Stopped at The Trout for a couple beers and then back to base for more Mussel dinners all around, final night.
Wednesday, I came home to get the bike fixed, rather than through to Nelson which I'd originally intended.
Bike report, Thurs morning, Josh has sorted me with a different set of forks, same sort, but coil... He's repairing my ones, but I've got the option of keeping these ones. Gonna try them out in Nelson this weekend and see how I like them...
The motel-unit crew txtd that they were leaving at 9.30am. We weren't quite ready but got going at maybe 9.45-50, stopping at the 4Square for some supplies then hitting the road. Then Pete had a little issue with the Cozzie, but got going again, and so eventually we got up the Wakamarina Valley and parked up with the TFC and Steal&Pube trucks, contemplating blocking them in, but not.
Got riding up the 4wd section, soon warming up. Then into the nice forest and through the end of the 4wd bit and onto the narrower track proper. Past Doom Creek turn off this time, and down down down to the bridge. Nice flow. Up the rocky switchbacks and then on up the track. I was on my own for most of this, just rode steady and onwards, eventually getting to the Hut not long after the first crew. Chatted while first Nelson then the rest showed up, then the boys headed back down to have an adventure in Doom Creek where Robin nearly went off a cliff, while the mad ones, us, went UP (AGAIN! - I'd vowed I'd never do it again after the last time, but here I was, doing it again! Ugh. Will i never learn?). Needless to say. It was a long walk/push. I got to the rooty wall face at about the 1000m mark and said "that's it for me", sat down and the sun came out and warmed me up (it'd cooled right down up here). Then I threaded my way down, nursing my lack of travel, and being pretty cautious. Meanwhile the others climbed and pushed their ways to the very top, and in the meantime, Marie had been pushing up behind us, unbeknownst to us, and had a fright by some pigs, so turned back, but had pushed up for an hour and a half, so can't have been too shy of us. Anyway, worked my way down, stopping quite a few times to listen for the others. One point I stopped for nearly 10 minutes, nice warm sunny spot about half way down. Then got going again. Stopped again at Mark's jersey for maybe 5 minutes. Rode on down and down, the trail getting straighter, but more greasy, sloppy and rutted as I progressed. Not far from the bottom there was a puddle hole that Nelson had scuffed a drain for and just below this my front wheel lost it and down I went off to the left of the track. My wrist got tweaked enough to snap one of the pins holding my watch strap, but turned out okay. I extracted myself from the ferns and my bike and continued on down, thinking "Phew!, that was close". A little ways further down, just round the corner was the Devil's Hut sign, and I stopped here to wait for the others. Heard voices, then watched as first Alistair hurtled off his bike into the ferns, then Nelson followed him straight over. Spectacular crash! They were both okay but Nelson's helmet had a dent in it from Ali's bash ring.
Regrouped and off down. At one of the creek crossings Pete's derailleur finally exploded and we singlespeeded his bike (not very successfully, tho it kept him moving pretty good). None could be arsed doing Doom Creek, so down to the bridge, and climbed back out and up and then blasted down to the cars... Stopped at The Trout for a couple beers and then back to base for more Mussel dinners all around, final night.
Wednesday, I came home to get the bike fixed, rather than through to Nelson which I'd originally intended.
Bike report, Thurs morning, Josh has sorted me with a different set of forks, same sort, but coil... He's repairing my ones, but I've got the option of keeping these ones. Gonna try them out in Nelson this weekend and see how I like them...
Annual Trip, Day 4. Charlotte the Queen.
Monday dawned very nice, and so, sans Alistair (rest day for him) at 9ish we met the others at the bottom of our street in cars and Nelson and me led the way around QC drive, through Linkwater, to Anakiwa. Parked up, saddled up and got riding, seeing a german dude with a good beard head off ahead of us. Marie had gotten a good start on us all, and Nelson and me put on the chase. Passed the bearded German (also saw him several more times over the day), then it was a long time before we caught Marie, her speed having increased over the course of the days of riding, but catch her we did, before Davies Bay. From here the real climb started. Nothing technical, but admittedly a lot more interesting than I'd expected. Eventually a high lookout point was reached where Nelson, Pete and me rested a bit, and Marie arrived very shortly thereafter and continued on through. Rested a little longer then hit the trail again, catching Marie at some stage not too far after, where a few little downs were interspersed with the odd up section. Here we were sidling across a face around 200m above Onalau Bay, crossing across the top of some farm(ish) land and in and out of regen manuka bush. Eventually a sweeping downhill was given us, including Waima Way, blasting us down to the Mistletoe Bay Road, which we followed up to the Te Mahia Saddle.
Small regroup, then blazed down the road, around into Te Mahia bay, through the roadworks and down to the resort. Early enough to grab a coffee (Pete, Nelson, Marie and me). While we were enjoying these, the others arrived, and then the boats hove into view and so we all raced down to the wharf. The boats saw us and came in and the usual went on the big boat and the rest of us went on the fun boat. Lovely day on the water, and in no time we were in Portage examining the ridiculous prices for some fries or wedges... Muggingsly we paid it and ate, said goodbyes and thankses to Trev and Steve and wound our way up the few hundred metres of road to the Torea Saddle.
Hot sun, steep track, we ground our way up it, riding a bunch then walking when riding was no longer feasible for lungs or legs or both depending on which was pushed hardest. Zig and zag, up and up, met the bearded German near the top about to enjoy the downhill. Eventually what seemed to be the top, wasnt, brief respites and eventually what was the top was reached, 407m. From here it switchbacked steeply down then rocket propelled us across the 180 ridge, then grassy climb began again. Lots of speed and fun on the way down, not so much on the way up. Back up to, eventually, nearly 400 again, and the final descent to Te Mahia Saddle, more steep ass switchbacks, which we were sure Alistair would have overcooked off of several. The bearded German arrived from the road from Portage, and got ahead of us. We swapped leads with him a few more times over the next couple of kms.
Back up Waima Way, and moseyed our way back along the sidling face enjoying the downs, and not so much the ups. Finally, the big descent arrived and I sat right on Nelson's tail and we shredded it. Careful round each corner for walkers, but ripping the straights, we met none. Some features of this track were awesome. Eventually, Davies Bay Umangata arrived and there were a few more climbs and descents before the last kilometre descent. Into the water, legs soaked in nice cold sea, then a quick swim back. Only Nelson, Marie and me went in the water.
Home to base, and eventually to mussel dinner at the Havelock Pub.
Small regroup, then blazed down the road, around into Te Mahia bay, through the roadworks and down to the resort. Early enough to grab a coffee (Pete, Nelson, Marie and me). While we were enjoying these, the others arrived, and then the boats hove into view and so we all raced down to the wharf. The boats saw us and came in and the usual went on the big boat and the rest of us went on the fun boat. Lovely day on the water, and in no time we were in Portage examining the ridiculous prices for some fries or wedges... Muggingsly we paid it and ate, said goodbyes and thankses to Trev and Steve and wound our way up the few hundred metres of road to the Torea Saddle.
Hot sun, steep track, we ground our way up it, riding a bunch then walking when riding was no longer feasible for lungs or legs or both depending on which was pushed hardest. Zig and zag, up and up, met the bearded German near the top about to enjoy the downhill. Eventually what seemed to be the top, wasnt, brief respites and eventually what was the top was reached, 407m. From here it switchbacked steeply down then rocket propelled us across the 180 ridge, then grassy climb began again. Lots of speed and fun on the way down, not so much on the way up. Back up to, eventually, nearly 400 again, and the final descent to Te Mahia Saddle, more steep ass switchbacks, which we were sure Alistair would have overcooked off of several. The bearded German arrived from the road from Portage, and got ahead of us. We swapped leads with him a few more times over the next couple of kms.
Back up Waima Way, and moseyed our way back along the sidling face enjoying the downs, and not so much the ups. Finally, the big descent arrived and I sat right on Nelson's tail and we shredded it. Careful round each corner for walkers, but ripping the straights, we met none. Some features of this track were awesome. Eventually, Davies Bay Umangata arrived and there were a few more climbs and descents before the last kilometre descent. Into the water, legs soaked in nice cold sea, then a quick swim back. Only Nelson, Marie and me went in the water.
Home to base, and eventually to mussel dinner at the Havelock Pub.
Annual Trip, Day 3, Sunday, Nydia Part 2.
Day dawned very nice indeed, and we boated on lovely water to where we'd been picked up the day before. This time, around flat smooth trail past On The Track Lodge around the headland to a rapid descent to a ford of a reasonable size, wet feet, then across the mouth of the valley and then up it, crossing smaller versions of the same creek twice more before climbing up a paddock to the manuka scrubline. Here the track started it's benched and grinding climb, just pestering away at the altitude and sapping the already tired musculature of the riders. We climbed and climbed eventually striking a nice gulch of a creek, that Alistair just about cleaned. Onwards and eventually hitting Kaiuma Saddle, with seemingly less pomp and ceremony than yesterday's peak, but in fact more altitude.
Wicked descent down here, with Alistair, Nelson, Mark and Pete motoring off ahead of me, but Pete quickly stopping with a flat. Rest of us rode on, descending quickly and only regrouping when walking was possibly required, or when Alistair had crashed maybe. Round a hairpin and into fir forest, then down and around over a bridge where we regrouped for a while. Pete at this stage, having a mare with his flat tires and spokes, and Marie coming to the rescue eventually with spare tube. A wee bit more descending after that first bridge through plantation forest, then the climb once again began. Steep, but cleaned by most with minimal walking. Eventually out of the plantation and into regen across a nice long slope to a small ridge for another regroup before the final descent. No sign of Pete... but some stayed to wait, while the rest took off down this last descent, total blast, even with no travel. What a trail, so much fun, smooth and roly. Alistair, Nelson, me, then Mark all blasting downwards, finally rolling down through grass to Kaiuma Bay Rd for the 4 km slog round to Shag Point Landing. This road was a lot more up than down, seemingly, even tho it was 'just' above the road. pah. Once everyone but Pete was assembled, Nelson 'volunteered' to head back to find him... Steve Abba turned up and took a few bikes and 4 drivers. Thankfully Nelson and Pete both showed and then Steve came back and loaded the next lot on, more bikes than people this time, still somehow leaving more bikes than people behind for the final load. Anyway. Loaded all our gear out of Trev's boat and into cars and off to the accommodation. Two carloads at the Motels down town, the rest of us sequestered away in a nice cottage and sleepout affair up on the hill down the road a bit, in the 'burbs. Worked out alright, tho did split the group, which was a bit of a shame.
Did our own things this night for dinner, but the downtowners came up for a bit of a party visit. The usual hilarity ensued.
Wicked descent down here, with Alistair, Nelson, Mark and Pete motoring off ahead of me, but Pete quickly stopping with a flat. Rest of us rode on, descending quickly and only regrouping when walking was possibly required, or when Alistair had crashed maybe. Round a hairpin and into fir forest, then down and around over a bridge where we regrouped for a while. Pete at this stage, having a mare with his flat tires and spokes, and Marie coming to the rescue eventually with spare tube. A wee bit more descending after that first bridge through plantation forest, then the climb once again began. Steep, but cleaned by most with minimal walking. Eventually out of the plantation and into regen across a nice long slope to a small ridge for another regroup before the final descent. No sign of Pete... but some stayed to wait, while the rest took off down this last descent, total blast, even with no travel. What a trail, so much fun, smooth and roly. Alistair, Nelson, me, then Mark all blasting downwards, finally rolling down through grass to Kaiuma Bay Rd for the 4 km slog round to Shag Point Landing. This road was a lot more up than down, seemingly, even tho it was 'just' above the road. pah. Once everyone but Pete was assembled, Nelson 'volunteered' to head back to find him... Steve Abba turned up and took a few bikes and 4 drivers. Thankfully Nelson and Pete both showed and then Steve came back and loaded the next lot on, more bikes than people this time, still somehow leaving more bikes than people behind for the final load. Anyway. Loaded all our gear out of Trev's boat and into cars and off to the accommodation. Two carloads at the Motels down town, the rest of us sequestered away in a nice cottage and sleepout affair up on the hill down the road a bit, in the 'burbs. Worked out alright, tho did split the group, which was a bit of a shame.
Did our own things this night for dinner, but the downtowners came up for a bit of a party visit. The usual hilarity ensued.
Annual Trip, Day 2, Nydia Part 1.
Day 2 dawned a tad damp, quite a bit of rain overnight, but we all gamely jumped in the boats and headed out round Tawero Point and along the length of Tawhitinui Reach, right up Tennyson Inlet to Duncan Bay. Steve's Stabicraft having only two speeds, stopped or flat-out, another fun trip. Rub-downs and oilings ensued on all the bikes and we headed around towards the climb out up Tennyson Inlet Rd to the Opouri Saddle. Mark and Marie headed up the track instead of up the road. We all spaced out into dribs and drabs on the climb up the road, with Nelson disappearing from my view and me disappearing from the other's view in short time. About a km from the top Pete caught me up, and we rode together(ish) for the rest of the way to the waiting Nelson. In no time at all the rest of the dribs and drabbers showed up, all except Alistair, and doubt was had whether he'd ridden with Mark & Marie or not. Pete was gonna stay behind with Wayne to wait, but possibly just before the others all left Alistair strove into view.
Meanwhile, Nelson and me had headed off down this track, with, I thought at the time, Andrew or Warren on our tails. Wowser. Nice. But crikey it was greasy and techy up top. Lots of steepness off the side too with no room for error. Challenging as fuck on no-travel-forks and fucked-up-geometry, but still a good ride down. A few bits needing to be got off, logs, or rocks. Somewhere probably just above the 400m contour we met Mark and Marie having made damned good progress uphill considering, and they carried on up for a while while we carried on down. Riding got better and better as we got lower, then through some gorse and onto a weird intersection. Waited here and Pete was the first to show up, followed by the rest for the regroup. Onwards down, steep clay single through manuka scrub then into an extension (Booth's?) 'link' track that had some climbs in it, but was nice, ending up at the road. When Alistair arrived he tailwhip-gapped the road and landed with a spectacular lowside slide.
Regrouped we rode back round the road to Duncan bay and into the Nydia proper. First section was bits of slippery clay and roots. Next section was beech leaf litter and roots. Later, there was rocks and roots. All mixed with varying degrees of slipperiness and we were all in for some steeeeep climbing too... Everybody was challenged to pretty much their limits of ability and stamina, and that was just in the first 5 minutes! Awesome ride. Took ages, was spectacular forest to be in, and was hard work. But well worth it. Eventually we made the top, I don't know how. We could see it for ages, and every time you rounded a corner it seemed to be about the same distance and height away as the last one, even tho you'd just carried, schlepped, pedalled, pushed yourself and bike up more and more altitude. Good regroup at the saddle and a feed and then off we went. I picked my way cautiously with my limited machinery, while Nelson, Pete, Mark and Alistair all just bombed. Alistair was spectacular to follow. Regularly catching him up as he hauled himself and bike out of the bushes on the side of the track. Pete had a pretty epic spill. I came round a corner to find a several foot drop with angled slickly green rocks as a lip and him picking himself up from beyond it. He'd smacked his shin pretty good, and (we think) damaged his derailleur a bit... Later he was plagued with derailleur and spoke and puncture issues...
The track certainly improved the lower we got, with the upper half riddled with sections that had to be walked by most, and some bits that were just plain unpleasant (but rideable) for those with no shock travel. Whereas lower down there was still the odd clusterfuck of roots or rocks, but less and less the lower we got. Then, where the campsite turn off is, the whole nature of the track changed to that of the Abel Tasman. Benched, easy, smooth, clay under manuka or the odd pine. And quite flat too. Rolled this smoothly round to Nydia Bay wharf and awaited our taxis. Back to Wilsons Bay on some beautiful water and dinner at Te Rawa 'resort'...
Meanwhile, Nelson and me had headed off down this track, with, I thought at the time, Andrew or Warren on our tails. Wowser. Nice. But crikey it was greasy and techy up top. Lots of steepness off the side too with no room for error. Challenging as fuck on no-travel-forks and fucked-up-geometry, but still a good ride down. A few bits needing to be got off, logs, or rocks. Somewhere probably just above the 400m contour we met Mark and Marie having made damned good progress uphill considering, and they carried on up for a while while we carried on down. Riding got better and better as we got lower, then through some gorse and onto a weird intersection. Waited here and Pete was the first to show up, followed by the rest for the regroup. Onwards down, steep clay single through manuka scrub then into an extension (Booth's?) 'link' track that had some climbs in it, but was nice, ending up at the road. When Alistair arrived he tailwhip-gapped the road and landed with a spectacular lowside slide.
Regrouped we rode back round the road to Duncan bay and into the Nydia proper. First section was bits of slippery clay and roots. Next section was beech leaf litter and roots. Later, there was rocks and roots. All mixed with varying degrees of slipperiness and we were all in for some steeeeep climbing too... Everybody was challenged to pretty much their limits of ability and stamina, and that was just in the first 5 minutes! Awesome ride. Took ages, was spectacular forest to be in, and was hard work. But well worth it. Eventually we made the top, I don't know how. We could see it for ages, and every time you rounded a corner it seemed to be about the same distance and height away as the last one, even tho you'd just carried, schlepped, pedalled, pushed yourself and bike up more and more altitude. Good regroup at the saddle and a feed and then off we went. I picked my way cautiously with my limited machinery, while Nelson, Pete, Mark and Alistair all just bombed. Alistair was spectacular to follow. Regularly catching him up as he hauled himself and bike out of the bushes on the side of the track. Pete had a pretty epic spill. I came round a corner to find a several foot drop with angled slickly green rocks as a lip and him picking himself up from beyond it. He'd smacked his shin pretty good, and (we think) damaged his derailleur a bit... Later he was plagued with derailleur and spoke and puncture issues...
The track certainly improved the lower we got, with the upper half riddled with sections that had to be walked by most, and some bits that were just plain unpleasant (but rideable) for those with no shock travel. Whereas lower down there was still the odd clusterfuck of roots or rocks, but less and less the lower we got. Then, where the campsite turn off is, the whole nature of the track changed to that of the Abel Tasman. Benched, easy, smooth, clay under manuka or the odd pine. And quite flat too. Rolled this smoothly round to Nydia Bay wharf and awaited our taxis. Back to Wilsons Bay on some beautiful water and dinner at Te Rawa 'resort'...
Annual Trip, Day 1, (Fri 17th Oct) the Road and...
The tradition that stems from the distant past, pre- this blog, that I've been an attending member to since the 2nd ever, was continued in good measure this year, with the crew assembling at Woodend, outside Owen Stalker's Park. Pete and Alistair picked me up and shoe-horned me into the Cosworth for the journey to the meeting spot, with my bike having been dropped at Warren's the night before cos Pete's rack only fits 2 bikes... At Stalker Park were: Steve, Robin, Tony, Andrew, Wazza, Wayno, Nelson and Mark and Marie. I transferred my shit into Nelson's car, bike inclusive, and we all convoyed north.
Rain was ominous the closer to our destination, but after a longer than desired stop in Blenheim we moseyed to Rarangi, saddled up in a brief showerless period and headed up the road. Within 50 metres I knew something was wrong with my newly fitted fork. Fuck, I thought. It'd sat down in it's travel and was not returning, and ended up, if I was lucky, giving me 2 inches of what should have been 6. This altered the geometry somewhat and made it rather uncomfortable to ride, and gave it shitty handling, and this I was stuck with riding for the duration of the trip. My mistake, and obviously I've learned from it, dont make major changes to bikes just before trips. Anyway. we rode up the road, stringing out like a strung out thing, down into Whites, then up the gravel which was longer than rememberd, as usual. Eventually got to the start of the Loop track, fireroad up the hill, and regrouped in a big downpour. At this stage, Marie and Mark were no where to be seen, and due to the rain, the time limit we were under (4 o'clock at Havelock), and time it was going to take all these riders to attempt the >600m climb from this point, we made the call to bail. Most returned via the road, but Pete, Alistair and me made the excellent choice of riding the walking track back. What fun. Sweet benched singletrack, with horrendously slippery clay/rock in places, and lots of switchbacks. Nice we descent, thankfully not meeting any walkers, and then through Whites Bay, finding Marie here, and so the 4 of us now climbed out. Lovely dry (under the pines at least) climb, switchbacking up to the road, then along the road a bit, me alone now out front, where I met Robin, and I took the next walking track down, while Robin headed down the road. Great spin down the walking track, totally different to what I remembered from when Nelson and me rode it years ago, but fun and switchbacky to the bottom. Reassembled, waited for Mark who'd 'apparently' gone up where we should have come down, had we done the full loop... Then headed and met Steve Abba at Havelock.
Loaded (SO MUCH!) gear into Trev's boat and Nelson, Pete, Mark and me in Steve's boat, and had a great ride out, 45mins or so, way out Pelorus Sound to Wilson's Bay where we were staying for 3 nights.
Rain was ominous the closer to our destination, but after a longer than desired stop in Blenheim we moseyed to Rarangi, saddled up in a brief showerless period and headed up the road. Within 50 metres I knew something was wrong with my newly fitted fork. Fuck, I thought. It'd sat down in it's travel and was not returning, and ended up, if I was lucky, giving me 2 inches of what should have been 6. This altered the geometry somewhat and made it rather uncomfortable to ride, and gave it shitty handling, and this I was stuck with riding for the duration of the trip. My mistake, and obviously I've learned from it, dont make major changes to bikes just before trips. Anyway. we rode up the road, stringing out like a strung out thing, down into Whites, then up the gravel which was longer than rememberd, as usual. Eventually got to the start of the Loop track, fireroad up the hill, and regrouped in a big downpour. At this stage, Marie and Mark were no where to be seen, and due to the rain, the time limit we were under (4 o'clock at Havelock), and time it was going to take all these riders to attempt the >600m climb from this point, we made the call to bail. Most returned via the road, but Pete, Alistair and me made the excellent choice of riding the walking track back. What fun. Sweet benched singletrack, with horrendously slippery clay/rock in places, and lots of switchbacks. Nice we descent, thankfully not meeting any walkers, and then through Whites Bay, finding Marie here, and so the 4 of us now climbed out. Lovely dry (under the pines at least) climb, switchbacking up to the road, then along the road a bit, me alone now out front, where I met Robin, and I took the next walking track down, while Robin headed down the road. Great spin down the walking track, totally different to what I remembered from when Nelson and me rode it years ago, but fun and switchbacky to the bottom. Reassembled, waited for Mark who'd 'apparently' gone up where we should have come down, had we done the full loop... Then headed and met Steve Abba at Havelock.
Loaded (SO MUCH!) gear into Trev's boat and Nelson, Pete, Mark and me in Steve's boat, and had a great ride out, 45mins or so, way out Pelorus Sound to Wilson's Bay where we were staying for 3 nights.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
early Sunday morning along the tops.
Solo for me this morning. The crew were all meeting at Steve's at 9, but cos my boys had been away all week, SWMBO thought I should do some family time, plus we put a bit of effort into the garden this weekend, so she had me lined up for that too... So, left home at about 7.40 and ripped across town, beautiful day, and up Ramahana, Aotea and on up, making the top of the tarseal about 8. Then up the gravel, kept a close eye on the magpies hanging out up near the pylons. They didn't buzz me, thankfully. And on up good pace rolling along and up. Mostly runners around, not that many other bikers at all. Onto Vernon and a nice wee blast down here. With the perfect weather and no wind (the Opawa Gib factory steam plume was totally vertical - a rare sight), the roll down here was sweet, sound of tires scratching gravel chip. Took the old line with the couple switchbacks, and bombed down the lower half, to the audience of a few riders assembled at the top of Rapaki - where I didn't stop and just rolled straight into Witch Hill and cleaned it all up, catching a runner half way round and then bombing onwards.
Up the road to Castle Rock and stopped here for a wee rest, then spotted a rider coming up, just on the first hairpin, so figured I'd wait for him. In the mean time eating a soft-dried banana and sorting out my sounds. He rolled past and I rolled in. Awesome blaze down here, the Spot soaking it all up nicely, and it's been cleaned up a little, just tidied in places, which makes it flow really nicely. It's still pretty boney, but not as bad as the recent past. Down, round and up and over, then down again to the Bridle Path roughly 9 oclock here. No stopping, straight across the 'car'park (no cars up here for a while now!) and straight into the trail for the Gondola building. I noticed there's a "Mtnbikers Give Way to Walkers" sign at the start now, which makes it all nicely official. Walked the first couple of rocks, then rode heaps i've stepped over before. Walked a bit in that kinda switchback bit, then rode a bunch, then walked the long steps upwards.
Back on the bike and up the trail round the back of the building and then over and down the switchbacks to the saddle and straight into the climb up. Over stile and grunting up the steep, then cruising round and catching a woman runner up near where I crashed due to a spaniard once, all the while in here listening to Trinity Roots song Home Land and Sea, the chorus of which was epicly playing as I crested the top and there was my Home, the Land and the Sea, sun reflecting off it's calm surface. All very moving... On up to the top of Mt Pleasant and another wee rest, now Lou Reed came on singing what a Perfect Day it was, which it was, and I thought I was glad I was spending it with my bike, and how my bike kept "me hanging on, you just keep me hanging on" as I rode down the rocky section to the stile and over and downwards. This trail, I think, is best at this time of day, with the light perfectly picking up the trail and the bends and tussocks. Awesome blast down here, smooth as, then round and down towards Greenwood, nearly losing it from checking over my shoulder for some reason... Onto the upper section of Greenwood for a bit of a climb and round and up and down and down to the road.
Steady pace up here, with no sign of the others as I was looking across at the top of Britten, expecting them anytime due to the timing. Onto the singletrack and down down down, good speed and flow, arriving at the gate and spotting a few riders below. Recognised, one, then more, and figured time for a break and a snack and a chat... So, they all rolled on up in 2 groups of 3: Wazza, Mark and Marie, Wayno, Andy, and Tony, then tailenders Steve and Pete. Brief chat and off I went downwards leaving them about 9.55, down the wee valley connecting to the road, then blaaast down the road and into MacCormacks. Rather overgrown, but trail in mostly good nick. Awesome float down this trail too, cleaning it all except the top steps, and brake-free down the final straight, flying, then onto the road and up for the slog home. At Ferrymead I ducked into Charlesworth Reserve behind Mitre10 and rode the trail through here then along next to the Humphrey's Drive canal, then Linwood the rest of the way. Home well before 10.30.
All in all a good ride, rode well, lots of good trails, and a fair bit of distance for the old fitness.
Up the road to Castle Rock and stopped here for a wee rest, then spotted a rider coming up, just on the first hairpin, so figured I'd wait for him. In the mean time eating a soft-dried banana and sorting out my sounds. He rolled past and I rolled in. Awesome blaze down here, the Spot soaking it all up nicely, and it's been cleaned up a little, just tidied in places, which makes it flow really nicely. It's still pretty boney, but not as bad as the recent past. Down, round and up and over, then down again to the Bridle Path roughly 9 oclock here. No stopping, straight across the 'car'park (no cars up here for a while now!) and straight into the trail for the Gondola building. I noticed there's a "Mtnbikers Give Way to Walkers" sign at the start now, which makes it all nicely official. Walked the first couple of rocks, then rode heaps i've stepped over before. Walked a bit in that kinda switchback bit, then rode a bunch, then walked the long steps upwards.
Back on the bike and up the trail round the back of the building and then over and down the switchbacks to the saddle and straight into the climb up. Over stile and grunting up the steep, then cruising round and catching a woman runner up near where I crashed due to a spaniard once, all the while in here listening to Trinity Roots song Home Land and Sea, the chorus of which was epicly playing as I crested the top and there was my Home, the Land and the Sea, sun reflecting off it's calm surface. All very moving... On up to the top of Mt Pleasant and another wee rest, now Lou Reed came on singing what a Perfect Day it was, which it was, and I thought I was glad I was spending it with my bike, and how my bike kept "me hanging on, you just keep me hanging on" as I rode down the rocky section to the stile and over and downwards. This trail, I think, is best at this time of day, with the light perfectly picking up the trail and the bends and tussocks. Awesome blast down here, smooth as, then round and down towards Greenwood, nearly losing it from checking over my shoulder for some reason... Onto the upper section of Greenwood for a bit of a climb and round and up and down and down to the road.
Steady pace up here, with no sign of the others as I was looking across at the top of Britten, expecting them anytime due to the timing. Onto the singletrack and down down down, good speed and flow, arriving at the gate and spotting a few riders below. Recognised, one, then more, and figured time for a break and a snack and a chat... So, they all rolled on up in 2 groups of 3: Wazza, Mark and Marie, Wayno, Andy, and Tony, then tailenders Steve and Pete. Brief chat and off I went downwards leaving them about 9.55, down the wee valley connecting to the road, then blaaast down the road and into MacCormacks. Rather overgrown, but trail in mostly good nick. Awesome float down this trail too, cleaning it all except the top steps, and brake-free down the final straight, flying, then onto the road and up for the slog home. At Ferrymead I ducked into Charlesworth Reserve behind Mitre10 and rode the trail through here then along next to the Humphrey's Drive canal, then Linwood the rest of the way. Home well before 10.30.
All in all a good ride, rode well, lots of good trails, and a fair bit of distance for the old fitness.
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Wednesday evening, Jet in the Worsley repeatish
Afterwork, left home 5.30ish, drove in car with Jet to top of hill, parking with lots of other vehicles, and a dude with a fluoro orange cactus pack had headed off just ahead of me, and a big group of guys were leaving just behind me. I didn't see the group again til a bit later, but kept the fluoro orange backpack dude in my sights, gaining on him once or twice and him gaining away from me once or twice too... Just before the top, I peeled off to the right to check out a new (to me) area of trails. Moseyed down and had a wee poke. Someone's put in some rolly fast stuff, which would kill altitude too quick, and there's a jumpy trail in there too, with big gaps between ramps and landings. According to the maps, there's a tonne of country in here that is just ripe for the trail-pickings. Only rode a little ways down then turned and rode back up an old 4wd trail back to top of forest and headed back for the main drag and on up. The group of dudes crossed past out of the forest access track and up the Bodybag at this stage. Rode on up the extra top track all the way up to top of Tommy2's. and beyond actually, following a section Nelson and me checked out a while back over the top. It didn't lead anywhere, so I cut across and found Hangloose, or Goat Track as i discovered tonight that it's called, and walked back up it and headed off down Tommy2's. Excellent roll down here, tho probably holding the brakes too much. Jet was awesome, as usual, staying exactly where he was needed to be. Steeper and steeper, a couple of stops, but rode it all, and rolled out the bottom. How many different lines are there in here?? Rolled out the bottom and up the exit track.
From the junction, headed up the bastard guts track, grinding away, up up to the clifftop and on up the B-line all the way to the top. Bit of a rest up here, a snack, bit of a chat to a young fella, and after he'd left a dude on a fluoro-green Banshee Rune rolled up. He headed up the climb towards Tommy2's and I followed but took Debbs's access. Blitzed on down this, actually hitting the couple of wee jumps in there, then through the clearing and into the forest again, past the ruins, then into the darkness of the Douglas fir and on down down the old Debbie then round and where it crosses the bridge becomes Alice's Restaurant - according to the sign - "an 'All Country' track, strictly not Enduro. ideal wheel size, 27.5, or if you prefer, 650B..." Seems to roll pretty good on 26 too! Anyway. Rode more of it than the first time with Nelson, but still walked two sections I just wasn't game to fall off on. Lower half was sweet, with some really techy shit goin' on. As I met the bottom of Goat and T2 a large group (including the fluoro backpack and the fluoro Rune dude - as well as local semi-celebrities Rich and Mel) were finishing off Yoda and lower Goat. I watched them roll through then caught them up down on the exit climb track. Chatting away from the back as we rode up the hill.
At the junction, most of them headed for the other side of the road jumps track (where Nick was digging) and I followed the Rune dude up the guts track as far as the clifftop. We chatted a little up here about the moon (which is going OFF right this second as I write this, lunar eclipse, or "Blood Moon") then I headed down Wayne's and FightClub while he headed on up. Awesome run down these two and talked to Matt (on Pete's phone) as I climbed out arranging to meet at Poms later. Was about 7.50 when I got down the final trail to the end, saying Hi to Nick parked near the bottom, before finishing off to the car.
From the junction, headed up the bastard guts track, grinding away, up up to the clifftop and on up the B-line all the way to the top. Bit of a rest up here, a snack, bit of a chat to a young fella, and after he'd left a dude on a fluoro-green Banshee Rune rolled up. He headed up the climb towards Tommy2's and I followed but took Debbs's access. Blitzed on down this, actually hitting the couple of wee jumps in there, then through the clearing and into the forest again, past the ruins, then into the darkness of the Douglas fir and on down down the old Debbie then round and where it crosses the bridge becomes Alice's Restaurant - according to the sign - "an 'All Country' track, strictly not Enduro. ideal wheel size, 27.5, or if you prefer, 650B..." Seems to roll pretty good on 26 too! Anyway. Rode more of it than the first time with Nelson, but still walked two sections I just wasn't game to fall off on. Lower half was sweet, with some really techy shit goin' on. As I met the bottom of Goat and T2 a large group (including the fluoro backpack and the fluoro Rune dude - as well as local semi-celebrities Rich and Mel) were finishing off Yoda and lower Goat. I watched them roll through then caught them up down on the exit climb track. Chatting away from the back as we rode up the hill.
At the junction, most of them headed for the other side of the road jumps track (where Nick was digging) and I followed the Rune dude up the guts track as far as the clifftop. We chatted a little up here about the moon (which is going OFF right this second as I write this, lunar eclipse, or "Blood Moon") then I headed down Wayne's and FightClub while he headed on up. Awesome run down these two and talked to Matt (on Pete's phone) as I climbed out arranging to meet at Poms later. Was about 7.50 when I got down the final trail to the end, saying Hi to Nick parked near the bottom, before finishing off to the car.
Sunday, October 05, 2014
Sunday Bottlo
O, Jet and me went to Bottle Lake where the boys rode this morning. I had the Spot for a change. We went in and to the left, then right, and through the middle to the pond, then on through past the rubble and then across 'muddy' road, and back towards base, all through all the bumpy new stuff... the Spot sure soaked that up, compared to what i'm used to in there usually, but O sure felt the bumps... Nice short cruise with him and Jet. Jet was happpppy. and is tired now, after yesterday's hill ride and today.
Saturday, October 04, 2014
Saturday afternoon Worsle Jet Lappages
Jet and me left home about 2, with a few errands on the way, and got up top of Worsley Rd some time before 3. Was 3 oclock and I was half way up the first steep section of the guts internal forest track, grovelling a bit, and decided to try out the old favourite off to the left here to see what's up with it now. Well, it rolls down like it did, swoop swoop, then over that droppy whoop, then where it used to head over a few jumps through a wee dip and then peel left steep? No more... instead, it just rockets down and rolls out onto the climbing track above the tank and just before the last corner before the junction... back up here and on up the guts track again, this time catching some dudes on flash bikes walking, riding right on by cos there was no way i could stop now. Jet cruising up and back as usual. On up all the way, grinding away, up up up to the cliff top then on up the original, all the way to the very top, then on up the further up track, slightly greasy in here from yesterday's rain, and at the top of Debbie i stopped, breathed, then got going down on her. corner corner corner jumpy jumpy drop down avoid the wetspots round past the clearing and back into the forest and under the douglas firs it was slick as and pitch dark... stopped and got the sunnies off here, then took the climb out track off here and back up onto the original B-line then down to the clifftop and into Waynes World, peeling round this and part way down spotted a trail off to the right, followed it, spotted another really steep down one and took this, what a ride... down down down, where the hell am i? yikes, cant jump that. step over it and keep rolling and ahh, here, right, entering fight club at the wallridey treeroot boll and on down this to the end. loving the bits i knew well.
Climb out, back up the guts, this time maybe actually it was this time i passed the riders?? onwards up to the cliff top this time and this time into the original to the right of Waynesworld, down here then onto lower Wayne World and into top of Fight club and bombing it, but feeling slight off balance and trying to tip off the trail all the time. got the better of that and kept flying down past where i'd come in before then on about the 3rd to last corner near the bottom there's a new fall line track off to the left straight line down to the road. took it, and it reminded me of sections of lower Dave's track, but then the last drop to the road just looked tooooo steep, so i stepped off, and pushed back up to the Fight and finished if off. Watching some young'uns do Nick's jump, one, two, three, four... nice. Climbed up past these guys and then up the guts again, but this time to the higher off the two trails off to the left, just before the pylon gap, and again, this time on the way up was catching up to a walking couple. off to the left. swoopy swoopy as before, had ridden this a while back, but it's exit is different now on account of the treefalls. so, it get steeper and then there's this massively steep bit with some rocks at the top and i just wasnt game, so walked down it, then rode the rest out and came in behind the young'un jumpers, following them up to the Junction, where i peeled right and out, flowing down through the lower road while Jet took the higher road and we met above the watertank and bombed it out back to the car. Nice hour and a half in the forest again...
Climb out, back up the guts, this time maybe actually it was this time i passed the riders?? onwards up to the cliff top this time and this time into the original to the right of Waynesworld, down here then onto lower Wayne World and into top of Fight club and bombing it, but feeling slight off balance and trying to tip off the trail all the time. got the better of that and kept flying down past where i'd come in before then on about the 3rd to last corner near the bottom there's a new fall line track off to the left straight line down to the road. took it, and it reminded me of sections of lower Dave's track, but then the last drop to the road just looked tooooo steep, so i stepped off, and pushed back up to the Fight and finished if off. Watching some young'uns do Nick's jump, one, two, three, four... nice. Climbed up past these guys and then up the guts again, but this time to the higher off the two trails off to the left, just before the pylon gap, and again, this time on the way up was catching up to a walking couple. off to the left. swoopy swoopy as before, had ridden this a while back, but it's exit is different now on account of the treefalls. so, it get steeper and then there's this massively steep bit with some rocks at the top and i just wasnt game, so walked down it, then rode the rest out and came in behind the young'un jumpers, following them up to the Junction, where i peeled right and out, flowing down through the lower road while Jet took the higher road and we met above the watertank and bombed it out back to the car. Nice hour and a half in the forest again...
Thursday, October 02, 2014
Thursday evening steeeep Worsley Laps
Chucked the Spot on the back of the Fiat and Jet in the car and we headed for top of Worsleys Rd, parking up dead on 6pm. Carpark was full, and people were even parking further down the road. Figured it was gonna be busy in there. Ahead of me were a couple of guys, and beyond them a couple more. As we got up to the 'guts' track the closest two ahead went in there, while I continued up the main Worsley track. Rough as guts as usual, precariously perching the way up on the ridges. Had to get off in the washed out rocky bit above the 'rest corner', then rode for a while, meeting an XC 29er dude on his way down. Then cleaned pretty much everything else except maybe a couple of wee gulchy spots.
Couple of women talking at the top and I rolled on through and up to the top of B-Line... Arriving at the same time was the two dudes that had gone into the forest ahead of me earlier... One was on a Turner Burner "Nice bike..." Chatted with them for a minute then they headed down and I headed up. All the way up to the top and into the right hand that we called "Hang Loose" in the past. Awesome roll and flow down this, warming up and getting the hang of it again - been a while (since Jan, in fact). Changed a bit since then, cos of the trees blown out. Half way down there's a sign post "Yoda -->". I stopped and walked down it to check out. Nick had told me about this one, and I could see it was not something for us... Near vertical rocks just over the crest, down down down it went... Walked back up to my bike and headed on down Hangloose. Great run, steeeep but manageable. Finally out the bottom and I spotted the gap jump that Nick had told me about at work. NUTS.
Up the access exit track, passing some young folk fixing a chain half way up, and spotted that our old favourite that exited onto this track is no more- trees all over it, but there's others that come out of there... Then headed up the guts track. Grinding away in low, sweating up a storm, huffing and chuffing away... Jet just loping along ahead, happy as anything, sniffing his way around. Spotted a couple of new trail entrances off to the left (leading to the exits I'd spotted below) but continued on up all the way up the guts to the clifftop, where three guys set off ahead of me, then on upwards all the way to the top, meeting another group on the way, the three guys again, and then three more coming down from the top. Headed on up the trail towards Tommys2 and Hangloose, but this time stopped at the top of Debbie's lead in, and had a wee rest, txt exchange with Pete, then headed in.
Debbie's lead in, swoopy swoopy, wend wend back and forth then dropping through and over and avoid that mucky bit then through the clearing and over the tree root and down across the off camber and through the rock ruins, and into the dark dark fir forest that was the original Debbie Does Dallas. Hung a left onto the groms climbing trail and rode this up, zig and zag, then through the rocky clearing and then descending down over the fence, then climbing gently across to my earlier climbing track. Swooped down this a bit, then cut across to Tommy's track and BOMBED down this. Swooping and railing berms and catching air and riding better than for ages. Finished this off and headed across to Fight Club. Had an absolute blast down this, pumping and squirrelling and amping. Finally out the bottom and climbed quite happily up the exit track, feeling better than I had on my first two climbs of the night.
At the Junction I headed across the Worsley main drag and through the fence across to the jumpy track in the trees here. Jumped one or two of the jumps, avoided the bigger ones, and rolled on down to the bottom, then onto the exit roll, faster and faster and faster through the open, broom whipping my hands on the way, finally getting back to the car park at 7.30. Very happy Jet in accompaniment.
Couple of women talking at the top and I rolled on through and up to the top of B-Line... Arriving at the same time was the two dudes that had gone into the forest ahead of me earlier... One was on a Turner Burner "Nice bike..." Chatted with them for a minute then they headed down and I headed up. All the way up to the top and into the right hand that we called "Hang Loose" in the past. Awesome roll and flow down this, warming up and getting the hang of it again - been a while (since Jan, in fact). Changed a bit since then, cos of the trees blown out. Half way down there's a sign post "Yoda -->". I stopped and walked down it to check out. Nick had told me about this one, and I could see it was not something for us... Near vertical rocks just over the crest, down down down it went... Walked back up to my bike and headed on down Hangloose. Great run, steeeep but manageable. Finally out the bottom and I spotted the gap jump that Nick had told me about at work. NUTS.
Up the access exit track, passing some young folk fixing a chain half way up, and spotted that our old favourite that exited onto this track is no more- trees all over it, but there's others that come out of there... Then headed up the guts track. Grinding away in low, sweating up a storm, huffing and chuffing away... Jet just loping along ahead, happy as anything, sniffing his way around. Spotted a couple of new trail entrances off to the left (leading to the exits I'd spotted below) but continued on up all the way up the guts to the clifftop, where three guys set off ahead of me, then on upwards all the way to the top, meeting another group on the way, the three guys again, and then three more coming down from the top. Headed on up the trail towards Tommys2 and Hangloose, but this time stopped at the top of Debbie's lead in, and had a wee rest, txt exchange with Pete, then headed in.
Debbie's lead in, swoopy swoopy, wend wend back and forth then dropping through and over and avoid that mucky bit then through the clearing and over the tree root and down across the off camber and through the rock ruins, and into the dark dark fir forest that was the original Debbie Does Dallas. Hung a left onto the groms climbing trail and rode this up, zig and zag, then through the rocky clearing and then descending down over the fence, then climbing gently across to my earlier climbing track. Swooped down this a bit, then cut across to Tommy's track and BOMBED down this. Swooping and railing berms and catching air and riding better than for ages. Finished this off and headed across to Fight Club. Had an absolute blast down this, pumping and squirrelling and amping. Finally out the bottom and climbed quite happily up the exit track, feeling better than I had on my first two climbs of the night.
At the Junction I headed across the Worsley main drag and through the fence across to the jumpy track in the trees here. Jumped one or two of the jumps, avoided the bigger ones, and rolled on down to the bottom, then onto the exit roll, faster and faster and faster through the open, broom whipping my hands on the way, finally getting back to the car park at 7.30. Very happy Jet in accompaniment.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Tuesday night, rambling Pleasant
Biked to Pete's for a lift, no sign of him, so txted and something had come up so headed home, jumped in the car and headed for the Upper Major Hornbrook, txting Steve who was out too, thinking i'd be late for the 6.22 meeting time, but ended up arriving at 6.15, finding Wazzzaaaah parked up on his bike, nicely warmed up from his climb. Then Robin, Wayne, and Andy and Tony in their three respective vehicles arrived. We headed up Britten, opening up the lungs and draining the legs nice and quickly. Then around the top singletrack, pinging from hidden rock to hidden rock under the tussocks, and onto the road.
Down the road and into the climb from Cavendish. Clamber, clamber, not feeling too bad, and the top turned up sooner than I expected. Big regroup at the top, then into the descent. Fun fun fun. First rocky sections were good, seemed to be gliding over them, then into the tussocks, swooping from bend to bend, total groove and flow, until i missed a corner... got back on track and swooped and flowed the rest of the way down at sweet sweet speed.
Regrouped above the ruins, and then headed on down. Once again, the boniness of the upper half just glided under my riding, the lovely DW link doing it's thing, and my old hardtail skillz kicking in to add to the flow. SweeeeeeT! A few scratchy corners, but no loss of traction - well, nothing scary. Flowed and pumped around to the 'gulch and pedaled through the humpy bits and then paused and hung for a regroup. Back into the descent, picked up heaps of speed on the rocky start then flew through all the swoopy corners, catching air on the humps and screaming at the sheep to get out of the way. Scratchy drifts around into Dave's section, hooning down this and around the bends, finding air off things i'd never seen before. Was a great run. Then into the bit that's been so grovelly over winter, pumping through this, around into the wee valley. I paused just after this til the others appeared around the hillside, then I got going and popped air off each and ever launching pad, flying down and round into the first rocky up, totally mis-geared it and paused, foot onto a rock, push, and rolled onwards. Into the next up and swoopy swoopy down to the end.
Then we cruised up the road, slowly gapping Robin, but at the big pines we all dropped into granny and rolled nice and slow til he caught us up, then it was onwards up round the bends and into Britten, still enough light to see by. Again. I had a total blast on this descent. Flying down the trail, nearly losing it a couple times in the narrow rutted trail (in places), but maintained composure and flew down to the end. Over the fence, and said our good byes and it was 8pm as I drove down the hill.
Down the road and into the climb from Cavendish. Clamber, clamber, not feeling too bad, and the top turned up sooner than I expected. Big regroup at the top, then into the descent. Fun fun fun. First rocky sections were good, seemed to be gliding over them, then into the tussocks, swooping from bend to bend, total groove and flow, until i missed a corner... got back on track and swooped and flowed the rest of the way down at sweet sweet speed.
Regrouped above the ruins, and then headed on down. Once again, the boniness of the upper half just glided under my riding, the lovely DW link doing it's thing, and my old hardtail skillz kicking in to add to the flow. SweeeeeeT! A few scratchy corners, but no loss of traction - well, nothing scary. Flowed and pumped around to the 'gulch and pedaled through the humpy bits and then paused and hung for a regroup. Back into the descent, picked up heaps of speed on the rocky start then flew through all the swoopy corners, catching air on the humps and screaming at the sheep to get out of the way. Scratchy drifts around into Dave's section, hooning down this and around the bends, finding air off things i'd never seen before. Was a great run. Then into the bit that's been so grovelly over winter, pumping through this, around into the wee valley. I paused just after this til the others appeared around the hillside, then I got going and popped air off each and ever launching pad, flying down and round into the first rocky up, totally mis-geared it and paused, foot onto a rock, push, and rolled onwards. Into the next up and swoopy swoopy down to the end.
Then we cruised up the road, slowly gapping Robin, but at the big pines we all dropped into granny and rolled nice and slow til he caught us up, then it was onwards up round the bends and into Britten, still enough light to see by. Again. I had a total blast on this descent. Flying down the trail, nearly losing it a couple times in the narrow rutted trail (in places), but maintained composure and flew down to the end. Over the fence, and said our good byes and it was 8pm as I drove down the hill.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sunday solo lap of Forsyth, forsooth
Bit of rain overnight so trails were gonna be mucky, as would Blowhard etc, so went for something different. Watched the weather radar all morning, and around 12 there was a big lump heading for the peninsula, so timed it right to let it pass through and drove, parked at Birdlings Flat around 1.30pm and headed on bike, for a start, across the gravel beach to the lake mouth, to check that it was able to be crossed. About a hundred metres I had to walk, the rest was sort of firm enough to ride. The 'road' was open, so I headed back, passed the car 1.40ish and rode an excellent southerly tail wind to the rail trail, and on up the lake. The odd cloud of midges once I was next to the lake, and a bastard magpie got me twice on the helmet. Little shit. Gave me a fright both times, but didn't make me wobble. Otherwise a pretty uneventful trip along the lake trail, pumping hard the whole way. Only met one couple coming towards me.
Avoided Little River altogether, turning right onto Kinloch Rd, past Okuti Valley and on upwards. Years ago when I last drove this road, it was gravel the whole way. Now it's sealed the whole way, which was a pleasant surprise, cos it's a long steep road, and gravel would have made it that much more exhausting. 2pm when I started the climb, and I ground away in 1st 2nd and 3rd most of the way. Occasionally standing in a taller gear for a stretch. Pretty much an hour from bottom to top... whoo-wee. 600 m altitude in only about 5 kms. All very scenic.
So, around 3, I'm up on the top of the road, spectacular views, and a bit of a southerly blasting across the saddles. Slight descent to Te Oka Valley Rd, then a last wee pinch to the top before a non stop rolling descent through all the altitude over about 8 kms back to the Forsyth mouth, across the gravel, and back at the car about 3.20. Nice. Hopefully a good fitness ride.
Avoided Little River altogether, turning right onto Kinloch Rd, past Okuti Valley and on upwards. Years ago when I last drove this road, it was gravel the whole way. Now it's sealed the whole way, which was a pleasant surprise, cos it's a long steep road, and gravel would have made it that much more exhausting. 2pm when I started the climb, and I ground away in 1st 2nd and 3rd most of the way. Occasionally standing in a taller gear for a stretch. Pretty much an hour from bottom to top... whoo-wee. 600 m altitude in only about 5 kms. All very scenic.
So, around 3, I'm up on the top of the road, spectacular views, and a bit of a southerly blasting across the saddles. Slight descent to Te Oka Valley Rd, then a last wee pinch to the top before a non stop rolling descent through all the altitude over about 8 kms back to the Forsyth mouth, across the gravel, and back at the car about 3.20. Nice. Hopefully a good fitness ride.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Thursday's Pleasant Jaunt.
Good ride tonight with lots of ups and downs. Pick up outside work then trafficking to Sumner, couple short stops on the way, and up to Evans Pass wherefore to park. Pretty much dead on 6 as we treadled our ways up the road (me stopping for a ventolin blast cos I knew I'd be wheezing up a storm within minutes) and into the cloud, moody scenes or total engulfment from about Jollies Bush Reserve on up. Wet road from cloud drip under the pines, and then from every other tree we met, especially later on Britten Reserve and up also Broadleaf. Anyway, up round the road and onto the Britten singletrack all the way, stopping for a couple of unsuccessful shots of the sunset over the Alps beyond Sugarloaf through swirling cloud. Onto the road and down through the cutting, then a change of mind, turning around, back along the road and up Broadleaf, wherein my breathing got the better of my legs. Up the gravel and we hung a right onto the singletrack, lights on, cloud ripping across the top here, but dissipating soon beyond. Off down the trail, balance wonky and a few tussocks blocking the view, possibly related. Good bomb, though, down the last bit, me tight on Nelson's tail, watching as he briefly left the trail before the tweaky corner.
Over the stile and down then into the climb for the Gondola building. I was gasping within seconds, dabbed off, got restarted and managed to clamber up the rest, with each hairpin becoming progressively easier. Peaked out, rolled around and back to the shelter of some flaxes where we had some kai. Then into the descent, wind tearing across the slope, blasting every second hairpin as we battled our way down. Through the saddle and up the walking track entrance to the climb, steeep into steep, over the stile and on up steeply (for me) grinding away as Nelson gapped ahead. I reeled him in briefly but then over the top and up to the gate he dropped me again. Regroup at the top of Pleasant and then off down, quite dark now and cloud all lifted away. A blast of wind grappled with Nelson's bike as he went over the stepladder fence crossing before we blazed on down, me tight on his tail watching his rear tire pinging off every second rock. Into the tussocks and the trail flowed better than ever before. Down to Greenwood and on at it, good pace all the way, sheepshit starting to impinge on the track, and ewes and their lambs getting out of our way through the ruins.
Great run down Greenwood, upper rocky sections are pretty bony now, but the whole run around the hill before Gloomy Gulch was tail wind flight mode. Very nice. Through gloomy and clamber clamber to a rest near the regular rest spot, stretching of the back and relaxing of the forearms. From here down was sweet. Roosted and boosted, down then round and back and forth and round some more, into the gully and down for the final run, through the two rocky ups cleaning both very well, and swooping down the last to the stile. Back a bit sore at the bottom, but not as bad as the old days.
Down the road and into Godley, Nelson in the lead. I gasped my way up the start and then watched as he cleaned the rocky climb. So, into the right gear and I knuckled in, took a line I'd never meandered onto before and cleaned it through. Onwards and half way between that feature and the next tricky bit had to stop for a breather, lungs running at full bore. Got my breath and cleaned the rest of it out, gasping still. The rest of the early rock sections were hard work but fun and once again Nelson gapped me on the climb Rode all the way round to the 'airstrip' then turned back, tail wind and mostly downhill, for an awesome blast back to Evans Pass. Superb run, 5.Spot eating up the rocks, and on the gnarly rocky section towards the end I took the line we climb on for a change, which certain was different. Back to the car about 8 where Nelson realised he'd locked all his keys inside! Wandered around and both eventually found some wire, all to no avail. Some helpful other bikers, a couple, rolled through, no help tho, but suggested AA. Call made, "$195 to join." No thanks... bit more google searching and a call made to 0800LOCKEDOUT and he turned up about 9, and had us in the car within a minute. Money for jam.
Delicious Taj for dinner consumed at mine.
Over the stile and down then into the climb for the Gondola building. I was gasping within seconds, dabbed off, got restarted and managed to clamber up the rest, with each hairpin becoming progressively easier. Peaked out, rolled around and back to the shelter of some flaxes where we had some kai. Then into the descent, wind tearing across the slope, blasting every second hairpin as we battled our way down. Through the saddle and up the walking track entrance to the climb, steeep into steep, over the stile and on up steeply (for me) grinding away as Nelson gapped ahead. I reeled him in briefly but then over the top and up to the gate he dropped me again. Regroup at the top of Pleasant and then off down, quite dark now and cloud all lifted away. A blast of wind grappled with Nelson's bike as he went over the stepladder fence crossing before we blazed on down, me tight on his tail watching his rear tire pinging off every second rock. Into the tussocks and the trail flowed better than ever before. Down to Greenwood and on at it, good pace all the way, sheepshit starting to impinge on the track, and ewes and their lambs getting out of our way through the ruins.
Great run down Greenwood, upper rocky sections are pretty bony now, but the whole run around the hill before Gloomy Gulch was tail wind flight mode. Very nice. Through gloomy and clamber clamber to a rest near the regular rest spot, stretching of the back and relaxing of the forearms. From here down was sweet. Roosted and boosted, down then round and back and forth and round some more, into the gully and down for the final run, through the two rocky ups cleaning both very well, and swooping down the last to the stile. Back a bit sore at the bottom, but not as bad as the old days.
Down the road and into Godley, Nelson in the lead. I gasped my way up the start and then watched as he cleaned the rocky climb. So, into the right gear and I knuckled in, took a line I'd never meandered onto before and cleaned it through. Onwards and half way between that feature and the next tricky bit had to stop for a breather, lungs running at full bore. Got my breath and cleaned the rest of it out, gasping still. The rest of the early rock sections were hard work but fun and once again Nelson gapped me on the climb Rode all the way round to the 'airstrip' then turned back, tail wind and mostly downhill, for an awesome blast back to Evans Pass. Superb run, 5.Spot eating up the rocks, and on the gnarly rocky section towards the end I took the line we climb on for a change, which certain was different. Back to the car about 8 where Nelson realised he'd locked all his keys inside! Wandered around and both eventually found some wire, all to no avail. Some helpful other bikers, a couple, rolled through, no help tho, but suggested AA. Call made, "$195 to join." No thanks... bit more google searching and a call made to 0800LOCKEDOUT and he turned up about 9, and had us in the car within a minute. Money for jam.
Delicious Taj for dinner consumed at mine.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Sunday Solo Jet Loop
Nice wee ride this morning. After yesterday's rain I was a bit wary of what kinda condition the tracks would be in. Hard to know whether the forest would have been soaked or whether the trees would have held on to the moisture, and, similarly, the open hillsides, how much would have soaked up?? So, decided on something possibly a little foolish, parked up Bowenvale Ave, 10.30ish, and headed up the Old Skool track. Greasy in places, evidence of one descender before my ascent. No stock around, so Jet was running free, having a jolly time. I climbed, and walked greasy bits, and climbed, and my bike creaked, and ticked, and I've got some sorting of that to do... I half died on the 4wd switchbacky section, walking lots, and riding a fair bit too. Quite a few rests. Then, up top of Huntsbury and across to the start of the Traverse, reining Jet in for a horse, briefly, on the way.
Onto the Traverse, a few wet spots, but nothing serious. Good roll through here, Jet in behind most of the way. He struggles on the 'cattle stops' and so at each one I had to stop and guide him through the fence adjacent to them. Top of Vic and I still had heaps of time to kill before my 1pm pick up of O, so, headed down Thompson and Thomson, heeling Jet tight across the Dyers Pass, and up, then onto the Old Dyers track, bombing this down, rocketship quick flowing and floating down and around and through below the road, til the rougher bit, still enjoying, then carefully picked my way through the mucky stuff, and then caught a guy as we entered the clay pylon track section, cruising ahead and round and up through all the greasy shit before the road. Unbelievably, it was 18 months since I'd last ridden this!
Crossed carefully here and clambered on up into Vic and up past the 19th Battalion and into the wee singletrack around to the skidder site. Bit of a rest here, and some dude, Martin, started talking to me. Then we headed down Spazza's through to Brent's and had a fright in here of a tree down I'd not encountered before, then a squirrelly moment on some slippery roots just before the bottom exit. Into Bridges, catching up to someone, he let me past, then onwards after his (faster) mate, catching him once we got into Flow, in the trees. Awesome we jaunt down through here, whooping all the whoopdedoos and enjoying the slightly-washed-out aspects lower down. Bomb down the 4wd track to the HiddenValley Link and up here. gasping on the second hairpin, little rest, then onwards up, cleaning the whole climb out to the fence where Jet really struggled to get over.
Finally, onto the Old Skool again for the descent. an hour's more drying on it, and it was sweet for descending. the grease only really an issue when climbing. Good blast down here, first time ever on this track on the Spot. Taking it a little carefully on some corners with regards to grease, and ending up at the bottom with a fair bit of clay in the tires, which proceeded to fling off as we raced for the finish. Back into the car a little before 12.30
Onto the Traverse, a few wet spots, but nothing serious. Good roll through here, Jet in behind most of the way. He struggles on the 'cattle stops' and so at each one I had to stop and guide him through the fence adjacent to them. Top of Vic and I still had heaps of time to kill before my 1pm pick up of O, so, headed down Thompson and Thomson, heeling Jet tight across the Dyers Pass, and up, then onto the Old Dyers track, bombing this down, rocketship quick flowing and floating down and around and through below the road, til the rougher bit, still enjoying, then carefully picked my way through the mucky stuff, and then caught a guy as we entered the clay pylon track section, cruising ahead and round and up through all the greasy shit before the road. Unbelievably, it was 18 months since I'd last ridden this!
Crossed carefully here and clambered on up into Vic and up past the 19th Battalion and into the wee singletrack around to the skidder site. Bit of a rest here, and some dude, Martin, started talking to me. Then we headed down Spazza's through to Brent's and had a fright in here of a tree down I'd not encountered before, then a squirrelly moment on some slippery roots just before the bottom exit. Into Bridges, catching up to someone, he let me past, then onwards after his (faster) mate, catching him once we got into Flow, in the trees. Awesome we jaunt down through here, whooping all the whoopdedoos and enjoying the slightly-washed-out aspects lower down. Bomb down the 4wd track to the HiddenValley Link and up here. gasping on the second hairpin, little rest, then onwards up, cleaning the whole climb out to the fence where Jet really struggled to get over.
Finally, onto the Old Skool again for the descent. an hour's more drying on it, and it was sweet for descending. the grease only really an issue when climbing. Good blast down here, first time ever on this track on the Spot. Taking it a little carefully on some corners with regards to grease, and ending up at the bottom with a fair bit of clay in the tires, which proceeded to fling off as we raced for the finish. Back into the car a little before 12.30
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Wednesday Worsleying
Another week another ride. Rode from work to Nelson's and we negotiated traffic to Worsleys Rd. Parked on the flat alongside the poplars, changed, and rode off up the hill, taking the off road track for the main brunt of the climb. Tricky, hitting the hill, and then bumpy off road trail from cold. Had me wheezing and gasping, and dabbing a couple times. Back on the seal and onwards to the top. Then straight into the dirt track climb. Decided on staying on the old skool, riding the usual ridges and ruts all the way. At the 'rest' corner we checked out a wee track appearing at the fence, walking briefly up it, and then a dude on an old specialized showed up. Asked him where it peeled off but his description could have been anywhere.
Onwards up the rocky section, with varying degrees of success. Sure is a mess in here these days. Lots of bits further up where it's pretty tricky. Finally made the bottom of the Body Bag and up the access track for a well earned rest. All of this to here was done without lights. Quick snack, and we decided to head down and find that new bit of track. Lights on, headed down Tommy's all the while looking for the new track on the left. Quite a ways down we figured we'd missed it further back, but then chose a left hand line (that wasn't at all familiar) and it turned out this was it. Not particularly long, but fun. Over the fence and back into the climb for the second time. Cleaned more, but dabbed other bits this time, and thankfully made the top of the access track eventually.
From here we headed up the access to Tommy's2 and about half way took the left into the lead-in to Debbie Does Dallas. Fanged it down here popping and rolling through past the cool old stone ruins, then into the descending Debbie trail, which, due to tree falls, now peels a hard right and leads down and across a cool wee bridge then upwards briefly, and into a whole new section which is across below Tommys2 (but we couldn't see that from it). Into a sequence of madcore steep bits, a couple of which we walked, and this really cool volcanic dyke rock formation - total wall of rock. More steep stuff and a couple more groovy raw wood bridges (North Shore style of build, but short) then eventually into the very bottom of Tommy's2, out this and into the climb back up around. Nice and dry now, but still slightly soft in places.
At the junction at the top we headed back up the guts track, grannying away, my legs starting to get weaker, all the way up to the cliff top. Into the original 'b'line down from here and then connecting onto Waynes World where it crosses and then off down a new line to the right that showed promise but then turned out to be a total waste of trail by hooking into Fight Club - ripping us off by missing heaps of it. So we walked back up this dumb shortcut and got back into Wayne's and then proceeded on into Fight Club, wafting, floating and launching our way down this, loving every minute of it. Great run bookin' down all of it, including all the lower off camber stuff, and back out onto the climbing return track.This time climbing I was very slow, grinding away, getting especially sucky in the softer stuff, while Nelson jetted off ahead.
Down the exit routes - more sweet sweet rollin', and then down the road, flying, flying and flying, before pulling off to access the Farside track, only to discover three options now. One, to the right, called Utopia which appears to stay above the forest, swooping back and forth in the broom and grass (beside the gorsey track we'd ridden up next to the road), and another one, Short Lucy or something, in the middle, which we didn't see where that went or came out. And Farside, which has had a bit more work done. Was fun and swoopy, and excellent in the dry, and there's an alternative line lower down that peels off and runs parallel all the way to the end (which we didn't try but may next time - it looked a bit easier)... Out the bottom of Farside, big smiles on our dials. Awesome wee trail. Finally, flew down the road into the cold air of the valley bottom and back to the car, about 8, on the way grabbing Nasi Gorengs and beers upon which to feast at my place.
Onwards up the rocky section, with varying degrees of success. Sure is a mess in here these days. Lots of bits further up where it's pretty tricky. Finally made the bottom of the Body Bag and up the access track for a well earned rest. All of this to here was done without lights. Quick snack, and we decided to head down and find that new bit of track. Lights on, headed down Tommy's all the while looking for the new track on the left. Quite a ways down we figured we'd missed it further back, but then chose a left hand line (that wasn't at all familiar) and it turned out this was it. Not particularly long, but fun. Over the fence and back into the climb for the second time. Cleaned more, but dabbed other bits this time, and thankfully made the top of the access track eventually.
From here we headed up the access to Tommy's2 and about half way took the left into the lead-in to Debbie Does Dallas. Fanged it down here popping and rolling through past the cool old stone ruins, then into the descending Debbie trail, which, due to tree falls, now peels a hard right and leads down and across a cool wee bridge then upwards briefly, and into a whole new section which is across below Tommys2 (but we couldn't see that from it). Into a sequence of madcore steep bits, a couple of which we walked, and this really cool volcanic dyke rock formation - total wall of rock. More steep stuff and a couple more groovy raw wood bridges (North Shore style of build, but short) then eventually into the very bottom of Tommy's2, out this and into the climb back up around. Nice and dry now, but still slightly soft in places.
At the junction at the top we headed back up the guts track, grannying away, my legs starting to get weaker, all the way up to the cliff top. Into the original 'b'line down from here and then connecting onto Waynes World where it crosses and then off down a new line to the right that showed promise but then turned out to be a total waste of trail by hooking into Fight Club - ripping us off by missing heaps of it. So we walked back up this dumb shortcut and got back into Wayne's and then proceeded on into Fight Club, wafting, floating and launching our way down this, loving every minute of it. Great run bookin' down all of it, including all the lower off camber stuff, and back out onto the climbing return track.This time climbing I was very slow, grinding away, getting especially sucky in the softer stuff, while Nelson jetted off ahead.
Down the exit routes - more sweet sweet rollin', and then down the road, flying, flying and flying, before pulling off to access the Farside track, only to discover three options now. One, to the right, called Utopia which appears to stay above the forest, swooping back and forth in the broom and grass (beside the gorsey track we'd ridden up next to the road), and another one, Short Lucy or something, in the middle, which we didn't see where that went or came out. And Farside, which has had a bit more work done. Was fun and swoopy, and excellent in the dry, and there's an alternative line lower down that peels off and runs parallel all the way to the end (which we didn't try but may next time - it looked a bit easier)... Out the bottom of Farside, big smiles on our dials. Awesome wee trail. Finally, flew down the road into the cold air of the valley bottom and back to the car, about 8, on the way grabbing Nasi Gorengs and beers upon which to feast at my place.
Wednesday, September 03, 2014
Mid Week Captain God and the Conda
Nelson picked me up across from work and we got our way into the fog (near Steve's) and out to Sumner. Parked up by the beach and hit the road about 6.10pm Through the fog up Wakefield and into Sumnervale and Cascade to enter the park. Fog starting to thin, but not quite til we were on the Captain Thomas proper. Cleaned everything from the start, out of the fog and then up the switchbacks, cleaning all of them for, I think, the first time. A good wind was pushing down the valley and as we watched was pushing and churning the fog into retreat. On up and lights on just as we hit the first wee rocky descent, around the corner and up the two unrideables. A couple of lambs got in front of us here and ran ahead of us for a while. The further we got with them the more concerned we became that we were taking them from their mum(s), so we stopped, and Nelson headed below the track. They continued on up while he got juust ahead of them, caught one, really making it bleat, before they both took off up the hill to some baa-ing mums (theirs?). Rest of the journey up was uneventful. Dumb gate then climbed out to the road, feeling pretty good with a tail wind on the last stretch, and our breaths wafting away ahead of us like little self made clouds.
Nelson let me lead the pretty much the whole way tonight, which was great. I reckon his glycogen reserves were a bit down from him riding with the rest of the boys last night. Anywho. I let him take the first crack at the beginning bugger of Godley, which he duly cleaned. I followed, and also cleaned it! Yippee, first time in quite a while (since Feb). Then he went on and I followed up the next section, but then I took the lead for the rest of the ride til the climb out of Taylors. Kept him at my pace which was good. One dab up the next lot of rocks, and the rest was a great climb, good pace, good times, tail wind cruising. So nice in the dry. Around through the fence, back into the wind for a bit over the wooden bits, through the still-a-bit-boggy bit, then the Teddington Shit, hardly any stones left in it, and round onto the new gravel, tail wind again, bombing on down, suspension doing it's thing soaking up everything the descent to Livingston Col gives us.
Short break just past the fence humpy cattlestop thing, and then into the climb up and over, bombing around to Breeze Col, a rut half way across the slope above the PFMTBC Rock giving us both gyp. Out to Breeze and onto the cool little climbing track above the road, good pace, up and round. Don't think many people are riding it, certainly doesn't look it. From it's end, we continued across the slope and spotted the stile to the Breeze Col track. Hadn't done this for a while (May last year) and it was greasy as anything on the dew covered sheltered rocks, but where there was a breeze the rocks were okay. The slippery bits were sketchy as, with that drop precipitously below. It was a longer descent than I'd remembered. Then it was over the stile and across and pretty much straight into Ana the Conda.
And the Conda, was, sweet. Nice mellow cruising start, gradually picking up speed. The top sections all opened up a bit, better drainage installed, and a bit of berming. Rolled quick down and round and had a great run. Nelson thought pretty damned quick. I felt like we weren't quite letting it all hang out, but certainly was close the the ragged edge a couple of times. Remembered the crappy corner well before I hit it and had scrubbed enough speed for it. The 'tail was sweet too, just as rocky as usual, but the earlier bits had been tidied, like that (usually) boggy bit before you go through the fence. Fast bomb to the end and into the climb.
Grind grind grind, I managed to stay on Nelson's tail most of the way, til the last few corners, but he didn't totally drop me. Then I led down into Nicholson Park, and we reminisced the old descent, before dropping into Flowers Track riding some steps, taking a droppy shortcut here, walking some steps, and riding then finding an exit track that snuck across the slope between numerous houses and eventually spat us out onto Whitewash Head Rd, down that and then along the waterfront back to the car dead on 8pm. Excellence.
Nelson let me lead the pretty much the whole way tonight, which was great. I reckon his glycogen reserves were a bit down from him riding with the rest of the boys last night. Anywho. I let him take the first crack at the beginning bugger of Godley, which he duly cleaned. I followed, and also cleaned it! Yippee, first time in quite a while (since Feb). Then he went on and I followed up the next section, but then I took the lead for the rest of the ride til the climb out of Taylors. Kept him at my pace which was good. One dab up the next lot of rocks, and the rest was a great climb, good pace, good times, tail wind cruising. So nice in the dry. Around through the fence, back into the wind for a bit over the wooden bits, through the still-a-bit-boggy bit, then the Teddington Shit, hardly any stones left in it, and round onto the new gravel, tail wind again, bombing on down, suspension doing it's thing soaking up everything the descent to Livingston Col gives us.
Short break just past the fence humpy cattlestop thing, and then into the climb up and over, bombing around to Breeze Col, a rut half way across the slope above the PFMTBC Rock giving us both gyp. Out to Breeze and onto the cool little climbing track above the road, good pace, up and round. Don't think many people are riding it, certainly doesn't look it. From it's end, we continued across the slope and spotted the stile to the Breeze Col track. Hadn't done this for a while (May last year) and it was greasy as anything on the dew covered sheltered rocks, but where there was a breeze the rocks were okay. The slippery bits were sketchy as, with that drop precipitously below. It was a longer descent than I'd remembered. Then it was over the stile and across and pretty much straight into Ana the Conda.
And the Conda, was, sweet. Nice mellow cruising start, gradually picking up speed. The top sections all opened up a bit, better drainage installed, and a bit of berming. Rolled quick down and round and had a great run. Nelson thought pretty damned quick. I felt like we weren't quite letting it all hang out, but certainly was close the the ragged edge a couple of times. Remembered the crappy corner well before I hit it and had scrubbed enough speed for it. The 'tail was sweet too, just as rocky as usual, but the earlier bits had been tidied, like that (usually) boggy bit before you go through the fence. Fast bomb to the end and into the climb.
Grind grind grind, I managed to stay on Nelson's tail most of the way, til the last few corners, but he didn't totally drop me. Then I led down into Nicholson Park, and we reminisced the old descent, before dropping into Flowers Track riding some steps, taking a droppy shortcut here, walking some steps, and riding then finding an exit track that snuck across the slope between numerous houses and eventually spat us out onto Whitewash Head Rd, down that and then along the waterfront back to the car dead on 8pm. Excellence.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Sunday arvo cRapaki Shorty
O, for a Pride in Achievement award at school, had decided he was gonna make the top of Rapaki, so, took him across there today, and we toodled on up. Was very good for him, nice and cruisy for me, in a nice low gear just plodding up, admiring the views all the way. Incredibly busy, hoards of people all over it. Quite surprising. Hell of an easterly blasting away the whole way, but that kept us cool. Probably took an hour, he stopped for wee rests a lot, but, got the top, and off down we went, him skidding and drifting-out the whole way down, loving it. Well done that boy.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Friday Night Wharfdale clearing
Left work early and managed to get to Nelson's close to 4.20-30pm. We loaded his car and hooned around through Oxford and Woodstock Rd and then up through the fords and gates to an empty carpark (no surprise there). No idea what time we got there, maybe 5ish? Off up the track, Spot climbing well, and Jet running off ahead and waiting and running ahead, veeerryy happy. Trail quite wet in places but I was feeling good, but Nelson's heart rate was all up the wazoo on account of having imbibed a RedBull on the way to the trailhead. Got to the gate and the first descent, bomb bomb bomb, yikes, skiiiid, stopping as my handlebar hit Nelson's ass. A big tree across the track. Out with the Pocket Chainsaw, manning a handle each, cut through the quite rotten log, wearing out our arms in the meantime, jumped on it a bit and got through it, and moved it off. One down, how many to go?? Got riding again, and just around the corner the climbing began again.
Climby climby climb, in and out and round and round over the bridges, feeling pretty good. Nelson's heart rate still out of whack. Jet loving every sniff. On a windthrown ridge we got to our next project. A bit of a mess of branches and trunks, many snapped off and in-your-eye spiky. Out with the saw and many branches cut and moved and a clear way through except for one large log, easily stepped over. Jet was wondering what the hell we were up to, "come ON, guys!" Onwards again, and lots of nice swoopy descending, trail in perfect nick, light starting to get low, especially in the gloomier spots of forest. Another tree across, more work with the saw and cleared, and now it was time for lights. Another smaller (but wedged) tree, another one cleared.
Up the rocky outcrop, largely unrideable down to the creek that follows, and the slog up out of that, skirting the slips and back on the bikes, onwards ever onwards. Another tree cleared, arms and shoulders starting to ache from the sawing. All the creek crossings are a lot more rideable now, there's been a fair bit of work put in in recent times, since all the slips and tree-throw of the last year or two. Rode on, loving the downhill bits and enjoying the climbs. Approaching the the switchbacks towards the end, the mudpugs were unavoidable. I think there was maybe one or two more trees moved before the end. We were at the saddle about 7pm, moreporks calling. Pitch dark without the lights. Surprisingly, I discovered I had cellphone reception, so flicked off a couple texts to home.
Then it was time to head back. After the mud and the first creek crossing, we picked up speed down towards the first corner, assuming Jet was just behind, but got round that corner and looked back. No Jet. Waited, no sign. Walked back up round the corner, calling, no sign! Started to freak a bit, called and whistled, and no show! Oh noes, I thought, I've lost the dog :(. Then, in the distance, his wee glowing eyes, trotting along down the track. Dunno what had kept him. But he trotted onwards.
Rest of the ride out was good, I kept him in sight a bit more carefully, which slowed me down at times I'd have liked to go faster. Somewhere, there was a tree across the track at about waist height we'd left on the way in, thinking it too hard, but we got sawing and cut nearly all the way through it but then couldnt move it. Eventually, we pushed over a dead-standing widder-maker nearby and managed to use it to smash through our cut trunk. Then we levered and bruteforced it off the trail. Brilliant. Continued on up to the high windblown point before the swoopy best fun descent began. Once more I got a bit ahead of Jet and worried we'd lost him again, but he showed and just steadily trotted past and on not waiting for me - I think his wee paws were getting sore from all the sharp rocks. Awesome flow through this section now down to the low. Final climb to the gate I was slooow and tired, legs spent, and lack of dinner taking it's toll. Good pace down from the gate, waiting a few times for Jet, before finally getting back to the car, low cloud skudding through that saddle. Was after 9.30 or so by the time we got to Nelson's place again. A beer and a feed there, then I wasn't home til after 11. Drove through some really heavy drizzle at Swannanoa.
Climby climby climb, in and out and round and round over the bridges, feeling pretty good. Nelson's heart rate still out of whack. Jet loving every sniff. On a windthrown ridge we got to our next project. A bit of a mess of branches and trunks, many snapped off and in-your-eye spiky. Out with the saw and many branches cut and moved and a clear way through except for one large log, easily stepped over. Jet was wondering what the hell we were up to, "come ON, guys!" Onwards again, and lots of nice swoopy descending, trail in perfect nick, light starting to get low, especially in the gloomier spots of forest. Another tree across, more work with the saw and cleared, and now it was time for lights. Another smaller (but wedged) tree, another one cleared.
Up the rocky outcrop, largely unrideable down to the creek that follows, and the slog up out of that, skirting the slips and back on the bikes, onwards ever onwards. Another tree cleared, arms and shoulders starting to ache from the sawing. All the creek crossings are a lot more rideable now, there's been a fair bit of work put in in recent times, since all the slips and tree-throw of the last year or two. Rode on, loving the downhill bits and enjoying the climbs. Approaching the the switchbacks towards the end, the mudpugs were unavoidable. I think there was maybe one or two more trees moved before the end. We were at the saddle about 7pm, moreporks calling. Pitch dark without the lights. Surprisingly, I discovered I had cellphone reception, so flicked off a couple texts to home.
Then it was time to head back. After the mud and the first creek crossing, we picked up speed down towards the first corner, assuming Jet was just behind, but got round that corner and looked back. No Jet. Waited, no sign. Walked back up round the corner, calling, no sign! Started to freak a bit, called and whistled, and no show! Oh noes, I thought, I've lost the dog :(. Then, in the distance, his wee glowing eyes, trotting along down the track. Dunno what had kept him. But he trotted onwards.
Rest of the ride out was good, I kept him in sight a bit more carefully, which slowed me down at times I'd have liked to go faster. Somewhere, there was a tree across the track at about waist height we'd left on the way in, thinking it too hard, but we got sawing and cut nearly all the way through it but then couldnt move it. Eventually, we pushed over a dead-standing widder-maker nearby and managed to use it to smash through our cut trunk. Then we levered and bruteforced it off the trail. Brilliant. Continued on up to the high windblown point before the swoopy best fun descent began. Once more I got a bit ahead of Jet and worried we'd lost him again, but he showed and just steadily trotted past and on not waiting for me - I think his wee paws were getting sore from all the sharp rocks. Awesome flow through this section now down to the low. Final climb to the gate I was slooow and tired, legs spent, and lack of dinner taking it's toll. Good pace down from the gate, waiting a few times for Jet, before finally getting back to the car, low cloud skudding through that saddle. Was after 9.30 or so by the time we got to Nelson's place again. A beer and a feed there, then I wasn't home til after 11. Drove through some really heavy drizzle at Swannanoa.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Grey Mt Grey Sunday
Missed any rides earlier in the week due to being in Hamilton for work, so was pleased when Miranda was organising something out of town, to which I suggested Mt Grey and got a few takers. Jet in the car, rack on the back, round the corner and picked her up, and two others, Jon and Andrew were in attendance, travelling in Andrew's car. We convoyed north through drizzle and nearly rain, then up into cloud shrouded Lake Janet, finding Nelson having just arrived. A cold southerly blew through here. On the bikes and climbing, climbing climbing. I stuck back with Miranda who was cruising nice and easy all the way up. Eventually we caught Andrew above the Lookout Tower, and then rode together up round to the radio towers, where we found Nelson and Jon taking shelter from the bitterly cold wind, entirely engulfed in, maybe, 50m visibility fog/cloud.
Time for the descent: I led the way, with Jet, mainly just to get the hell out of the cold wind. Down the first wee techy descent and onto the singletrack proper where we waited and watched the others appear through the mist. Now, on down. Nicely groomed as per my last time, tho very slightly soggy-er, rolling round and in and out round the ridges and through the ruts and over the rocks, realising perhaps this is actually quite tricky for a rooky like M. But, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? She was smiling the whole way down, whether through fear or joy, who can tell. Kinda rode down out of the cloud as we were heading into the forest. Used all of the new 'shortcuts' through the higher corners, and I made it round some of the corners, or just did the usual dab-plant-flick-roll through others. We regrouped several times, letting everyone reassemble, but blazed the longer stretches happily, with either me, Nelson, or Jet out front. Great run through all the good bits. Jon ended up hangin' forward with Nelson and me, enjoying his new found passion (having only got a proper bike recently), and Andrew and Miranda took up the tail-end charlie role. Again, regrouping many times to make sure everyone was still alive.
The order of the different sections all seemed different to memory, amazing how that happens. The muddy section, must be about 2/3rds to 3/4ths down, was muddy as hell, tho maybe a tad drier than my last. But the lead in to that muddy bit, and the bit after it both were entirely different to what memory held. Lovely lovely riding tho, all the way through to the end. We regrouped for a while on the big wooden bridge, before fanging out the bottom section. Awesome.
Washed off some of the mud in the river then hit the slow climb back to the cars. Again, I stuck back with Miranda while the other three powered off ahead. Jet stuck with us. All the way up, my front wheel was making a weird 'gloop, gloop, gloop' sound - water in the rim... Hit the road and we were home about 1.30.
Gave the bike a jolly good wash when I got home, and lubed the chain good.
Time for the descent: I led the way, with Jet, mainly just to get the hell out of the cold wind. Down the first wee techy descent and onto the singletrack proper where we waited and watched the others appear through the mist. Now, on down. Nicely groomed as per my last time, tho very slightly soggy-er, rolling round and in and out round the ridges and through the ruts and over the rocks, realising perhaps this is actually quite tricky for a rooky like M. But, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? She was smiling the whole way down, whether through fear or joy, who can tell. Kinda rode down out of the cloud as we were heading into the forest. Used all of the new 'shortcuts' through the higher corners, and I made it round some of the corners, or just did the usual dab-plant-flick-roll through others. We regrouped several times, letting everyone reassemble, but blazed the longer stretches happily, with either me, Nelson, or Jet out front. Great run through all the good bits. Jon ended up hangin' forward with Nelson and me, enjoying his new found passion (having only got a proper bike recently), and Andrew and Miranda took up the tail-end charlie role. Again, regrouping many times to make sure everyone was still alive.
The order of the different sections all seemed different to memory, amazing how that happens. The muddy section, must be about 2/3rds to 3/4ths down, was muddy as hell, tho maybe a tad drier than my last. But the lead in to that muddy bit, and the bit after it both were entirely different to what memory held. Lovely lovely riding tho, all the way through to the end. We regrouped for a while on the big wooden bridge, before fanging out the bottom section. Awesome.
Washed off some of the mud in the river then hit the slow climb back to the cars. Again, I stuck back with Miranda while the other three powered off ahead. Jet stuck with us. All the way up, my front wheel was making a weird 'gloop, gloop, gloop' sound - water in the rim... Hit the road and we were home about 1.30.
Gave the bike a jolly good wash when I got home, and lubed the chain good.
Huntsbury with O.
Then, in the afternoon, O said, "can we go for a ride??" Not one to pass up my 10 year old son asking to go riding, we hit the road and parked up top of Huntsbury. Rode up, him climbed well really well, and rolled up to the top of the landing strip, then headed down this, over the fence and onto the singletrack. Blasting down, through the next gate, and he followed me right over the first jump (impressed!), and then followed me down all the singletrack, popping and bypassing each of the jumps depending. On the lower couple, the drop leading to the wee double, he bypassed the drop then rolled over the double and went straight over the bars. We rode back up and did it again, this time he cleared it but didnt quite have enough speed, and the back wheel hit the landing, but he made it... sweeeet!Sunday, August 17, 2014
Saturday, Two Rides, Planting and Jet
Saturday morning, on the Spot, met the boys at Pete's - Steve, Wayne, Warren, Tony and Pete. I led them down Patten St, and then into the red zone, cutting through to Halley Pl, then through to Keller St, then across Morris through to Robson, then across to Maling and eventually across to Avonside Drive just upstream of where the twisted bridge was. From here we followed the river down stream, all the way. Remained on this south bank all the way to Bridge St Bridge, then over and through what used to be forest along the Estuary edge and then eventually onto Rockinghorse Rd to the end, for to plant a shitload of trees, for Canterbury. Good sossies and we rolled back round to Bridge St and slowly began to unravel, me departing the remaining three on Maces Rd, following that round and then Humphrey's to Joy's place to pick up the beemer. Left the Spot in her house.
Drove the beemer home and got the fiat and Jet and drove back to Joy's, got the Spot, and headed up the hill to the Upper Major carpark. Jet and me headed up through John Britten. The Westpac helicopter was hovering around and once we were at the top we saw it parked in Britten Reserve, preparing or waiting for something. Rode the singletrack round the top and onto the road, talked to some roadies watching the spectacle, them saying it was apparently a paraglider crashed on the cliffs... Several fire appliances and cop cars in attendance, we rode down the road to Cavendish Saddle, and began the climb. Half way up the chopper got moving, so stopped to watch them hover above the newly destroyed cliffs and winch up the paraglider and one of their crew. Once they'd flown off, got riding again, Jet behaving well around the sheep. Up to top of Mt Pleasant, and down down down, finding the most flow I've had on this trail, down to Greenwood and around to the entrance, then up the road and back onto Britten, Jet rocketing down ahead of me back to the car. Great wee ride, and a good run for Jet.
Drove the beemer home and got the fiat and Jet and drove back to Joy's, got the Spot, and headed up the hill to the Upper Major carpark. Jet and me headed up through John Britten. The Westpac helicopter was hovering around and once we were at the top we saw it parked in Britten Reserve, preparing or waiting for something. Rode the singletrack round the top and onto the road, talked to some roadies watching the spectacle, them saying it was apparently a paraglider crashed on the cliffs... Several fire appliances and cop cars in attendance, we rode down the road to Cavendish Saddle, and began the climb. Half way up the chopper got moving, so stopped to watch them hover above the newly destroyed cliffs and winch up the paraglider and one of their crew. Once they'd flown off, got riding again, Jet behaving well around the sheep. Up to top of Mt Pleasant, and down down down, finding the most flow I've had on this trail, down to Greenwood and around to the entrance, then up the road and back onto Britten, Jet rocketing down ahead of me back to the car. Great wee ride, and a good run for Jet.
Thursday, August 07, 2014
Thursday night Muckvicars Vol 4
Rode over to Nelson's work and we cruised to the top of Worsley's Rd and got riding up the dirt around 5.40. More wet patches than we'd expected... guess not a helluva lot of drying has gone on of late. Anyway, climbing wasn't bad around the main track then into the forest and up the Guts steep little mother trail. Managed to keep my lungs inside me all the way up here. From the cliff top through had some pretty greasy bits, and it was just starting to get too dark in the forest here. At the rocky pretty much unrideable bit we turned the lights on and continued on up to the top.
We rested here a bit, then some irish dude turned up, and headed back down, and we headed up the access to Tommy's2 track. Part way up we found a trail leading off to the left, so checked it out. Headed down and rolled through the edge of the water tank clearing then back into the forest, past two old stone ruins (wtf?) and then into the douglas fir of Debbie Does Dallas, but instead of wending downwards, suddenly it switchbacked round and upwards, through some terrain we'd never seen and suddenly we're on the main original track, up hill from the clifftop, but below the tricky rock garden. So, wondering where the hell Debbie had gone, we headed back down this new track, finding where Debbie crossed it, and walked down her a bit to see what she was like, but deciding not to risk the tree falls that might be further down riding, so walked back up to the bikes, and proceeded to ride back up it. I walked lots, Nelson rode lots, on upwards all the way back up to the top Tommy's2/Hangloose access track.
Up to top of this, one or two greasy bits on the way, and found the lead in to Mr Sutcliffe's new steep track, probably best left til summer, and so we chose Tommy's2, and it was a hoot. Traction was pretty good, not much slippage. Steepness was awesome, and it was rideable pretty much the whole way down. Only one or two wet slops. Out the bottom, down a newer drier line, and onto the climbing exit track. Good for a start, but sloppier as we climbed, til the last stretch which was horrendous. Got to the top of it and decided we didn't wanna climb back out of there, which ruled out Fight Club, so we went back up the guts track all the way again, this time my legs were hurtin' bad all the way, even walked a bit before the cliff top.
At the top it was into Tommy's and down down down. Some sections of flow, but lots of stopping and starting, and second guessing what was where and which to choose. Rolled out the bottom on a cool new section to the pylon clearing and then into the forest on the left, swooping back and forth down here to the final section, ripping down it nicely, a couple of new lines in here, then past the tank and swooping through the bottom section, done, back to the car before 8.
We rested here a bit, then some irish dude turned up, and headed back down, and we headed up the access to Tommy's2 track. Part way up we found a trail leading off to the left, so checked it out. Headed down and rolled through the edge of the water tank clearing then back into the forest, past two old stone ruins (wtf?) and then into the douglas fir of Debbie Does Dallas, but instead of wending downwards, suddenly it switchbacked round and upwards, through some terrain we'd never seen and suddenly we're on the main original track, up hill from the clifftop, but below the tricky rock garden. So, wondering where the hell Debbie had gone, we headed back down this new track, finding where Debbie crossed it, and walked down her a bit to see what she was like, but deciding not to risk the tree falls that might be further down riding, so walked back up to the bikes, and proceeded to ride back up it. I walked lots, Nelson rode lots, on upwards all the way back up to the top Tommy's2/Hangloose access track.
Up to top of this, one or two greasy bits on the way, and found the lead in to Mr Sutcliffe's new steep track, probably best left til summer, and so we chose Tommy's2, and it was a hoot. Traction was pretty good, not much slippage. Steepness was awesome, and it was rideable pretty much the whole way down. Only one or two wet slops. Out the bottom, down a newer drier line, and onto the climbing exit track. Good for a start, but sloppier as we climbed, til the last stretch which was horrendous. Got to the top of it and decided we didn't wanna climb back out of there, which ruled out Fight Club, so we went back up the guts track all the way again, this time my legs were hurtin' bad all the way, even walked a bit before the cliff top.
At the top it was into Tommy's and down down down. Some sections of flow, but lots of stopping and starting, and second guessing what was where and which to choose. Rolled out the bottom on a cool new section to the pylon clearing and then into the forest on the left, swooping back and forth down here to the final section, ripping down it nicely, a couple of new lines in here, then past the tank and swooping through the bottom section, done, back to the car before 8.
Sunday, August 03, 2014
Sunday Mornin, Snortin' Badly
Only Steve and me today. A bit wet, I biked into town on the Troll to pick up the car from where T had left it last night, then got to his place and we took the Trees van to Lyttelton. 8.50 sailing of the ferry to Diamond Harbour, and from here we rode, in the drizzle, to Orton Bradley Park for a TFC planting. Nice road around there, hardly any traffic and a good distribution of ups and downs. The drizzle lifted precisely at 10 when the planting started. At the planting we rode up a soggy paddock, my town tires not gripping so great. Planting was very quick, not too many plants and quite a few people. Rode up to have a look at where the new 'family' track is going to be, but couldn't really tell. then back down to the cottage for a muffin. All done, and back on the bikes and back round to DH, where we stopped for coffee, tea, and some grub, before heading down and arriving in perfect time for the 12.30 ferry back to the van and home.
Friday, August 01, 2014
Thursday Hunting Vernon's Witches in the Castle
Finally, after several days of no rain, and a lot of wind for maximum drying, the last of a month saw us hitting the hills again. Rode from a massage to Nelson's work and we had a smooth run in light traffic to top of Huntsbury. Got going, still nice daylight, musta been before 5.30, cos I'm pretty sure the sun was still up, if not, just gone... Rode up the jumpy singletrack checking it all out for later's descent, then on up the single round the knoll and onto the airstrip, then gravel grind to the top.
Into Vernon, and lights on even tho they still weren't quite necessary, but by the time we were lower down they were. Very gusty at the top there, making balance interesting. Spot's cush seemed bottomless as I wafted down the trail behind Nelson. Didn't feel that fast, but I think we were ripping. As we got round to overlooking Rapaki the wind was behind us so we had that blissful silence, nothing but the tires scuffing over the trail surface and the occasional clatter of the chain. Dusk truly fallen as we passed through the top of Rapaki, a few other lights about the place, and straight into Witch Hill. All open and tidied up, the first entry ruts now a big mound, and then into the usual rocky goodness, maybe slightly tidied. I cleaned it all, but I think Nelson muppeted along a bit, and I had a good run all the way round, suspension doing it's thing wickedly.
Onto the road and rolling, tail wind, and it was like 6.05. Good pace around and up to the Castle where we stopped for a short snack, getting moving before some lights that were approaching arrived. Turned out they were roadies, passing us above on the road as we approached the first hairpin bend. Into Castle Rock, which had seen a working bee on Sunday, lots of drains cut, and not too many rocks moved, tho one or two newly armoured (previously) soggy bits. Usual ping pong down here, I certainly got a good flow on, and the eyeopener for me was the climb, which I rocked on up, suspension assisting speed and flow, no stalls or stops as per hardtail stylez. Bridle Path top, we turned around and rode back up it, cleaning lots, but losing balance before the top, as usual (and i was going so well too!). At the top I suggested, how bout another run and back up the road, so, that was what we did. Back down, Nelson's turn leading this time. I'd left a bit of a gap and all the way to the first hairpin I barely made a dent in it. Nelson thought his run was better than the first one, but I reckon mine wasn't quite as smooth. He'd paused at the hairpin so I sat on his tail through the next sections til the climb where he dropped me again, but then on the upper rock armoured bog he lost it off the side, much to his chagrin.
Back onto the road, and climbing, ugh, then weeeeeeeeeeee down under the Tors and onwards, rolling for aaages. From the short climb we popped onto a sketch of a track on the left hand side of the road, saving the tires from the seal. This flowed nicely down to Witch Hill track which we bombed into. Clamber climb, I found a new line to the left of the step up in there, then had an awesome flow round to Rapaki-top. Nelson, not so much. Into the final climb, up Vernon, around, making it hurt - Nelson pointed out that these climbs are where the fitness comes from.
Last leg, across the Traverse then down through the rocks and tussocks, the latter of which stalled me, making my left testicle have a rather close encounter with my seat, which left me writhing on the grass for a few minutes. Yowch! Groaned a little more, then we got going again, finding a really nice sheeptrack line that led out to the end of the airstrip, good coast, over the fence, into the singletrack, Nelson falling off it again at one point, then it was all down, Nelson taking the first drop jump up there, me bypassing, then through the gate and on down, over the jumpies, jumpy jumpy jumpy, wooah, ruts, phew, jumpy, final drop, then double and down to the car. All good. Not as wet as it sounded on the boy's Tuesday ride. And it was like 7.26! Early finish.
Into Vernon, and lights on even tho they still weren't quite necessary, but by the time we were lower down they were. Very gusty at the top there, making balance interesting. Spot's cush seemed bottomless as I wafted down the trail behind Nelson. Didn't feel that fast, but I think we were ripping. As we got round to overlooking Rapaki the wind was behind us so we had that blissful silence, nothing but the tires scuffing over the trail surface and the occasional clatter of the chain. Dusk truly fallen as we passed through the top of Rapaki, a few other lights about the place, and straight into Witch Hill. All open and tidied up, the first entry ruts now a big mound, and then into the usual rocky goodness, maybe slightly tidied. I cleaned it all, but I think Nelson muppeted along a bit, and I had a good run all the way round, suspension doing it's thing wickedly.
Onto the road and rolling, tail wind, and it was like 6.05. Good pace around and up to the Castle where we stopped for a short snack, getting moving before some lights that were approaching arrived. Turned out they were roadies, passing us above on the road as we approached the first hairpin bend. Into Castle Rock, which had seen a working bee on Sunday, lots of drains cut, and not too many rocks moved, tho one or two newly armoured (previously) soggy bits. Usual ping pong down here, I certainly got a good flow on, and the eyeopener for me was the climb, which I rocked on up, suspension assisting speed and flow, no stalls or stops as per hardtail stylez. Bridle Path top, we turned around and rode back up it, cleaning lots, but losing balance before the top, as usual (and i was going so well too!). At the top I suggested, how bout another run and back up the road, so, that was what we did. Back down, Nelson's turn leading this time. I'd left a bit of a gap and all the way to the first hairpin I barely made a dent in it. Nelson thought his run was better than the first one, but I reckon mine wasn't quite as smooth. He'd paused at the hairpin so I sat on his tail through the next sections til the climb where he dropped me again, but then on the upper rock armoured bog he lost it off the side, much to his chagrin.
Back onto the road, and climbing, ugh, then weeeeeeeeeeee down under the Tors and onwards, rolling for aaages. From the short climb we popped onto a sketch of a track on the left hand side of the road, saving the tires from the seal. This flowed nicely down to Witch Hill track which we bombed into. Clamber climb, I found a new line to the left of the step up in there, then had an awesome flow round to Rapaki-top. Nelson, not so much. Into the final climb, up Vernon, around, making it hurt - Nelson pointed out that these climbs are where the fitness comes from.
Last leg, across the Traverse then down through the rocks and tussocks, the latter of which stalled me, making my left testicle have a rather close encounter with my seat, which left me writhing on the grass for a few minutes. Yowch! Groaned a little more, then we got going again, finding a really nice sheeptrack line that led out to the end of the airstrip, good coast, over the fence, into the singletrack, Nelson falling off it again at one point, then it was all down, Nelson taking the first drop jump up there, me bypassing, then through the gate and on down, over the jumpies, jumpy jumpy jumpy, wooah, ruts, phew, jumpy, final drop, then double and down to the car. All good. Not as wet as it sounded on the boy's Tuesday ride. And it was like 7.26! Early finish.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sunday's Grey afternoon Jet
FINALLY time and conditions allow me to get out and ride after 2 weeks of weather and commitments getting in the way. Hit the road from home in the Subie some time just after 12, and was on the bike just up hill from the first gate above "Lake" Janet at 1pm climbing, Jet the happy doggy running ahead or along side. Good climb, thinking to myself at the beginning, "oh yeah, that's right, I always forget how long this climb is", but in the end, not finding it too bad. Made it above the bushline at 1.30, and then probably the very top, in the bitter southerly wind, less than 10 minutes later.
Across a few remnants of snow and straight into the singletrack descent, pausing briefly to switch the shock to Descend. Someone's been down with a weedeater, evidenced by broom and spaniard and tussock scrap all over the trail. Singletrack a little rutted in bits, but the worst of the wetspots has a couple nice drains draining it now. Usual tactic on the switchbacks, foot or feet down, parking the nose, flicking the back-end around and getting going again. Not balanced, but with feet down... Jet did his usual, getting in behind when I was haulin' ass, and scoping out front leading when I wasn't. Met some people just at the top of the bushline, Jet saying gudday to their mutt, and us continuing on down into the switchbacks coming thick fast. A few new lines in here for bypassing the corners, all of which I missed and didn't go back for, one or two chutes to tackle next time. A few stretches of nice long blissful flowy trail between the corners, crossed the stream, a few more stretches and then it goes on for a while longer flowing on, which had me thinking- THIS is what it's all about!, past the turn off back up to the Fire Lookout (and "Lake" Janet), and the turn off to the close Lookout, and on down, trail in perfect condition and then into the switchbacks that become so dense there's one bit you just walk down.
Once these were done we had a nice long section of sweet flow, then left the safety of the beech forest and out into the open, greeted with mud, (not-so-) glorious mud. Mucky filthy soggy treacherous mud. Slopped and slid down through all this and then it was back into a beautiful leaf-littered section of beech again, the mud on the tires fast becoming covered in little beech leaves. One or two more switchbacks and down into lower forest, mud holes and roots, mostly pretty good tho. flowing on down and through and eventually over the bridge, down a bit more and out to the road. Awesome. Now for the climb back up the road...200odd metres over 3-4kms back to the car, Jet obeying me well for good road sense. Half way up, amongst the beehives, a bee collided with my left eye, bouncing right out again, no harm done. Little bit of smarting, but it never got worse than that... so, total of around 700m all up. Felt gooood to be on the bike again, and the Spot is a joy to behold.
Across a few remnants of snow and straight into the singletrack descent, pausing briefly to switch the shock to Descend. Someone's been down with a weedeater, evidenced by broom and spaniard and tussock scrap all over the trail. Singletrack a little rutted in bits, but the worst of the wetspots has a couple nice drains draining it now. Usual tactic on the switchbacks, foot or feet down, parking the nose, flicking the back-end around and getting going again. Not balanced, but with feet down... Jet did his usual, getting in behind when I was haulin' ass, and scoping out front leading when I wasn't. Met some people just at the top of the bushline, Jet saying gudday to their mutt, and us continuing on down into the switchbacks coming thick fast. A few new lines in here for bypassing the corners, all of which I missed and didn't go back for, one or two chutes to tackle next time. A few stretches of nice long blissful flowy trail between the corners, crossed the stream, a few more stretches and then it goes on for a while longer flowing on, which had me thinking- THIS is what it's all about!, past the turn off back up to the Fire Lookout (and "Lake" Janet), and the turn off to the close Lookout, and on down, trail in perfect condition and then into the switchbacks that become so dense there's one bit you just walk down.
Once these were done we had a nice long section of sweet flow, then left the safety of the beech forest and out into the open, greeted with mud, (not-so-) glorious mud. Mucky filthy soggy treacherous mud. Slopped and slid down through all this and then it was back into a beautiful leaf-littered section of beech again, the mud on the tires fast becoming covered in little beech leaves. One or two more switchbacks and down into lower forest, mud holes and roots, mostly pretty good tho. flowing on down and through and eventually over the bridge, down a bit more and out to the road. Awesome. Now for the climb back up the road...200odd metres over 3-4kms back to the car, Jet obeying me well for good road sense. Half way up, amongst the beehives, a bee collided with my left eye, bouncing right out again, no harm done. Little bit of smarting, but it never got worse than that... so, total of around 700m all up. Felt gooood to be on the bike again, and the Spot is a joy to behold.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Thursday night, Ungodley greasiness
Was 7ish by the time we got to Evans Pass, and then Nelson's rear tire was flat. Thought it was just a slow leak so he pumped it and we could hear the hisssss. Turned out to be valve failure - unpatchable, and the three other tubes in his car had either that or the massive split from a few rides back... the heavy tube came out of the bottom of my bag and into his tire, giving him a slight weight handicap. after 7.15 by the time we got away. Due to Nelson's illness and the coughing and spluttering I opted to take the lead for most of the ride. This suited me, as I wasn't feeling fast and it kept Nelson from blowing himself out too much.
Off up we went and boy were the rocks slick. No chance of cleaning the first section - the moment we entered it the back wheels spun out. Same went for the next little bit, but from there on up was only the occasional dab on the slippery trickery. Good breeze blowing too, pushing and tugging at times, making the slick rocks even more of a challenge. Mostly good run out and only a few mucky holes, tho some of the ruts are ruttier. Around the end and round into the boardwalk zone, all good, but after the boardwalks, nastiness ensued. First it was the holes and soggy ground, then the Teddington Shit was like mucus, splecky and sticky and gross. After it the trail got good for a while and the downhill was fast, but I was holding on so much I couldn't open my shock up and couldn't turn my light up and so I wasn't the fastest, but then, you probably didn't wanna be, it was just dodgy enough not to be. Down to Livingston and upwards again, wind strong, good climb then into the cruisey round and down to Breeze, going very slowly down the paddock after the pfmtbc rock, not wanting to be sprayed with muck.
From Breeze Col we headed across the road and up the trail round the side of the hill on the Taylors side, climbing up and onto the wee goat track which was really good, tho obviously being less and less used. Traction was good and it was just a fun wee track. Fast descent down to the end and then back round the original singletrack below the road. This had the usual holes in it, one of which gave me the heebeegeebees, catching me by surprise and me just managing to skip round it. Would have eaten my wheel otherwise.
Back at Breeze Col we hit the road, moonlight bright enough to rest our lights, all the way round til top of Scarborough where we headed up the hill back onto the track. The climb was greasy and slippery, with only the grass giving any traction, and Nelson seemed to charge ahead while I grovelled away... Back on trail I led the way back. Was a great run, tail wind assisted, flowy(ish), poppy and slicky, all the way back, with only a dab or two. The final rock sections all the more fun for their slipperiness. Back at the car 8.45 or so.
Off up we went and boy were the rocks slick. No chance of cleaning the first section - the moment we entered it the back wheels spun out. Same went for the next little bit, but from there on up was only the occasional dab on the slippery trickery. Good breeze blowing too, pushing and tugging at times, making the slick rocks even more of a challenge. Mostly good run out and only a few mucky holes, tho some of the ruts are ruttier. Around the end and round into the boardwalk zone, all good, but after the boardwalks, nastiness ensued. First it was the holes and soggy ground, then the Teddington Shit was like mucus, splecky and sticky and gross. After it the trail got good for a while and the downhill was fast, but I was holding on so much I couldn't open my shock up and couldn't turn my light up and so I wasn't the fastest, but then, you probably didn't wanna be, it was just dodgy enough not to be. Down to Livingston and upwards again, wind strong, good climb then into the cruisey round and down to Breeze, going very slowly down the paddock after the pfmtbc rock, not wanting to be sprayed with muck.
From Breeze Col we headed across the road and up the trail round the side of the hill on the Taylors side, climbing up and onto the wee goat track which was really good, tho obviously being less and less used. Traction was good and it was just a fun wee track. Fast descent down to the end and then back round the original singletrack below the road. This had the usual holes in it, one of which gave me the heebeegeebees, catching me by surprise and me just managing to skip round it. Would have eaten my wheel otherwise.
Back at Breeze Col we hit the road, moonlight bright enough to rest our lights, all the way round til top of Scarborough where we headed up the hill back onto the track. The climb was greasy and slippery, with only the grass giving any traction, and Nelson seemed to charge ahead while I grovelled away... Back on trail I led the way back. Was a great run, tail wind assisted, flowy(ish), poppy and slicky, all the way back, with only a dab or two. The final rock sections all the more fun for their slipperiness. Back at the car 8.45 or so.
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Sunday's meandering trio
Saturday I took a couple links out of my chain and also slotted a 16t into the cassette in place of the 17t, giving me a 13-16-19 combo in the range now, which is smoother and less gappy than the 13-17 jump...
I rode the length of Linwood and Humphreys, picking up a nail puncture just as I met the Estuary. Patched it and still made it in time to meet Steve and Tony at the Ferrymead Bridge (not a very big turn out - the 2 Ws are in Oz, Andy's sick, & Pete's got a bad hammy). We tootled up St Andrew's Hill, hanging a right up TeAwakura Tce, and up the alley onto Cannon Hill then up to Michael, across to the other bit of Cannon Hill then across Freeman to the Major and took him the rest of the way to the top. Into Britten Reserve and up up up. the Spot climbing lovely.
Into the top of Greenwood and lots of new rockpiles filling soggy bits, making me glad of the full suss. Nice roll across and down to the ruins where we stopped and scoffed a little kai before hitting the down. Excellent blast down, the earlier rocks that last time I floated over weren't quite as floaty for some reason. Fun down and round all the curves and then round through the mucky to Gloomy Gulch and around a bit. Stopped here to regroup and looked back and could see Tony just getting onto the boardwalk, but no Steve... hmmmm... then Tony made his way round to the bit of trail I couldn't see and then didn't come out. Steve had had a wee off and tumbled down below the trail some. Only a small amount of claret leaking and so was soon back on board. Off down the rocky swoopy and round into the smoother back and forths and round. One or two new holes where it's been soggy before the cattlestop and then into the dips and rock-repairs before the wee gulley. I paused here til Steve appeared again and then off down towards the rocky ups, swooping and lofting all the way. Stalled slightly on the first rocky up, one foot out, shove off rock and onwards down, up the next one no problem and on down to the bottom. The Spot still superlative.
Across the road and into Godley. Made a good go at the rocks, but dabbed out. Even stuffed up the top bit. From here on out tho, the climb was sweet, tho Steve wasn't having his best day (the crash previous had put him off a bit, wethinks). Awesome spin round the top and into the down. After the second boardwalk (3rd actually - but 2nd of the two after the fence that are reasonably close together) there was a bunch of holes and wetspots that have never before been there. Then the original Teddington shit section was quite soggy too. But from it down was smoooooooooth on the Spot. What a rocket ship, so stable at high speeds, with it's low centre of gravity and plush travel. Blasted down through to Livingston and regrouped. The next climb i left it in wide open and it was awesome. Gotta do that more often. Descent round to Breeze was also dead smooth, like a highway, lovely. Quite cut up just before pfmtbc rock...
Into the Anaconda and smooth rolling. What. A. Blast. Railed the corners, took bits faster than ever before but with more control, and had a lovely time down through the valley. overtaking a guy who was obviously struggling, on the off camber next-to-last corner. Awaited, briefly, Steve and Tony and we continued on down the 'Tail. (passing the guy again, walking through the rocks, near the bottom). Next up was the tarseal grind... Up and over blazing down Scarborough (getting stuck behind a car), and onto the esplanade avoiding random children, to coffee and some grub at DotCom - where we were met by Marie and Mark on their roadies. Rode back into town with them chatting all the way til I peeled off and trudged the lengths of Humphreys and Linwood again.
I rode the length of Linwood and Humphreys, picking up a nail puncture just as I met the Estuary. Patched it and still made it in time to meet Steve and Tony at the Ferrymead Bridge (not a very big turn out - the 2 Ws are in Oz, Andy's sick, & Pete's got a bad hammy). We tootled up St Andrew's Hill, hanging a right up TeAwakura Tce, and up the alley onto Cannon Hill then up to Michael, across to the other bit of Cannon Hill then across Freeman to the Major and took him the rest of the way to the top. Into Britten Reserve and up up up. the Spot climbing lovely.
Into the top of Greenwood and lots of new rockpiles filling soggy bits, making me glad of the full suss. Nice roll across and down to the ruins where we stopped and scoffed a little kai before hitting the down. Excellent blast down, the earlier rocks that last time I floated over weren't quite as floaty for some reason. Fun down and round all the curves and then round through the mucky to Gloomy Gulch and around a bit. Stopped here to regroup and looked back and could see Tony just getting onto the boardwalk, but no Steve... hmmmm... then Tony made his way round to the bit of trail I couldn't see and then didn't come out. Steve had had a wee off and tumbled down below the trail some. Only a small amount of claret leaking and so was soon back on board. Off down the rocky swoopy and round into the smoother back and forths and round. One or two new holes where it's been soggy before the cattlestop and then into the dips and rock-repairs before the wee gulley. I paused here til Steve appeared again and then off down towards the rocky ups, swooping and lofting all the way. Stalled slightly on the first rocky up, one foot out, shove off rock and onwards down, up the next one no problem and on down to the bottom. The Spot still superlative.
Across the road and into Godley. Made a good go at the rocks, but dabbed out. Even stuffed up the top bit. From here on out tho, the climb was sweet, tho Steve wasn't having his best day (the crash previous had put him off a bit, wethinks). Awesome spin round the top and into the down. After the second boardwalk (3rd actually - but 2nd of the two after the fence that are reasonably close together) there was a bunch of holes and wetspots that have never before been there. Then the original Teddington shit section was quite soggy too. But from it down was smoooooooooth on the Spot. What a rocket ship, so stable at high speeds, with it's low centre of gravity and plush travel. Blasted down through to Livingston and regrouped. The next climb i left it in wide open and it was awesome. Gotta do that more often. Descent round to Breeze was also dead smooth, like a highway, lovely. Quite cut up just before pfmtbc rock...
Into the Anaconda and smooth rolling. What. A. Blast. Railed the corners, took bits faster than ever before but with more control, and had a lovely time down through the valley. overtaking a guy who was obviously struggling, on the off camber next-to-last corner. Awaited, briefly, Steve and Tony and we continued on down the 'Tail. (passing the guy again, walking through the rocks, near the bottom). Next up was the tarseal grind... Up and over blazing down Scarborough (getting stuck behind a car), and onto the esplanade avoiding random children, to coffee and some grub at DotCom - where we were met by Marie and Mark on their roadies. Rode back into town with them chatting all the way til I peeled off and trudged the lengths of Humphreys and Linwood again.
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Thursday surprise Bottle Ache group spin
Plans changed for me and I'd been invited earlier in the day to a night ride at the pond which in the end I was able to join. Drove out and met up with a bunch of people, didn't quite remember all their names but included Miranda, Andrew, Andrew, Hannah, Josie, Hugh and a few others, ten of us in all. Miranda's first ever night ride. I had the singlespeed and the dog. I led the way and soon gapped everybody by a good distance, but as we progressed i slowed a bit and they got a better feel for it. Regrouped at the gazebo, then again just before the ponds one of the guys got a surprise flat. A wee split in the sidewall of his tire, we ended up strengthening it with another patch, which held for the rest of the ride. Jet had, until this point, an old red flashy on his collar, which he proceeded to lose while we were there.
Onwards and through the water feature, up onto the dunes and along. Good spin, all the way through to Spencer Park where we stopped for mulled wine and crackers and cheese. Very civilised. Back on to the trail and we took turn about leading, tho mostly me. Eventually, at the start of where they're going to log out soon, Hugh led the rest of the way out to the carpark. Nice for me to be in behind, slipstreaming and going a bit easier. Jet stuck with me the whole way. He is SUCH a good dog!
Onwards and through the water feature, up onto the dunes and along. Good spin, all the way through to Spencer Park where we stopped for mulled wine and crackers and cheese. Very civilised. Back on to the trail and we took turn about leading, tho mostly me. Eventually, at the start of where they're going to log out soon, Hugh led the rest of the way out to the carpark. Nice for me to be in behind, slipstreaming and going a bit easier. Jet stuck with me the whole way. He is SUCH a good dog!
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Tuesday with the Krew
Nelson and me met up with Wazza, Steve and Robin, Andy, and Wayne at 6.15 as specified, at the top of the tarmac on Huntsbury. We chuffed up into the cold breeze. Rode mostly together well grouped most of the way, Steve hanging back with Robin who was struggling with lurgies and general lack of shape. Into the Traverse and we rocketshipped our ways round, Andrew never too far behind Nelson and me. I was enjoying following him, cos the trail was nicely lit up for me with him in front, and slipstreaming is always good too. Short regroup at the usual spot and onwards round to Vic Top. Another regroup here then off down the Thomsons. Fun we blast down the first, Nelson nearly losing it on the first hairpin. Second half was great with the full squish down the bumpy wooden entrance, and you wouldn't necessarily want 800mm wide bars in those trees...
Kiwi and Andy had gotten a flat back in the Thomson, so, Steve and Robin went ahead to just do a lower half run (Steve's wrist was sore), then Wayne and Warren, and Nelson and me decided to give up waiting and headed on up, not seeing any of the others again for a while. We could see the two W's lights up on Marley as we were rounding the road. I led into the Nun, and we fanged it down. the Spot was glorious - except for the chain bouncing off twice (moar tension needed...). Rock sections that in the past bailed me up were smooth as silk. Nelson enjoyed following my lines cos they were slightly different to his usual ones. I guess I was still riding my hardtail lines... On the lower section, I had quite a moment on one of the humpies, my back end getting kicked and I was on the verge of heading over the bars, but momentum kept me in check and the rest of the way down was sweet.
Regrouped with the two W's and Andy (Steve and Robin having gone ahead ages before). Up the road and into the Traverse. I led for a while but the pressure of Nelson and Andy on my tail pooped me, so I let Nelson lead again and stayed tight on his tail except for when my legs were running out of steam on some of the wee climbs. Off left down Hunstbury, rocks and tussocks trying to take advantage, then rocket ride down gravel into the landing strip and on down to the singletrack. The W's took the main track all the way down, til Andy got them at the pylons and got them on track again. Popped most of the jumpies, Nelson did them all, and was a good run. S and R had departed not long before we got back to the vehicles at 8pm
Kiwi and Andy had gotten a flat back in the Thomson, so, Steve and Robin went ahead to just do a lower half run (Steve's wrist was sore), then Wayne and Warren, and Nelson and me decided to give up waiting and headed on up, not seeing any of the others again for a while. We could see the two W's lights up on Marley as we were rounding the road. I led into the Nun, and we fanged it down. the Spot was glorious - except for the chain bouncing off twice (moar tension needed...). Rock sections that in the past bailed me up were smooth as silk. Nelson enjoyed following my lines cos they were slightly different to his usual ones. I guess I was still riding my hardtail lines... On the lower section, I had quite a moment on one of the humpies, my back end getting kicked and I was on the verge of heading over the bars, but momentum kept me in check and the rest of the way down was sweet.
Regrouped with the two W's and Andy (Steve and Robin having gone ahead ages before). Up the road and into the Traverse. I led for a while but the pressure of Nelson and Andy on my tail pooped me, so I let Nelson lead again and stayed tight on his tail except for when my legs were running out of steam on some of the wee climbs. Off left down Hunstbury, rocks and tussocks trying to take advantage, then rocket ride down gravel into the landing strip and on down to the singletrack. The W's took the main track all the way down, til Andy got them at the pylons and got them on track again. Popped most of the jumpies, Nelson did them all, and was a good run. S and R had departed not long before we got back to the vehicles at 8pm
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