Tuesday Wet Streets in the Squall

Exhausted when I got home from work, I was very willing to bail on riding.  We'd organised to go from Nelson's and the southerly had been hitting that end of the hills all day, so figured it'd be pretty dank over there.  Decided to pull finger anyway and druv myself over to Nelso's kinda late, planning on a street ride, getting on towards 6 by the time I got there.  Closer I got to his place, squall after squall were hitting and I was thinking this is gonna be a bit shit, do we really wanna be doing this?  Turns out, we did.

I had the 'guards on the Troll, so at least my undercarriage wouldnt be wet!  Out from his and up Santa Maria, over and down to Maffey's, super steeping.  Across the road onto a wee singletrack that took us around the edge of MacCormacks Bay and rugby fields - greasy for inappropriate tyres, then around into Redcliffs along the wrongside footpath ducking up the first Cul-de-sac Raekura Pl, wondering if there'd be a secret redzone path along the cliff - nope.  Back out, around and into, and around, Taupata, avoiding Egnot, but heading up Augusta to as far as we could go.  I walked a bit towards the end.  Rain and squalls, in sheets of wind, were regaling us with glory.  Back down the hill, faster-pushed by the wind, around past the old New World (why are the lights on all the time!?), into Barnett's Park carpark, then back out, and up Wakatu, then Bay View to the end.  Back down, and along to and up Cliff St and Emily Heights.  Woo steep, bit of walking and some steep ass riding.  Good view from up here.  

Bombed back down and next up it was Mulgan's.  Nice.  I pushed heaps, Nelson rode most.  Out Kinsey, down a little onto Clifton, and up again, this time to the Zig Zag, nice drop down this, tight corners - always different to memory, and tricksy steps at the bottom.  Out and across the road, in next to surf club and onto the bike path and headed towards home again.  Major wind and squall, particularly around Shagged Rock corner, buffetted all over the place, rain slicing and dicing. Then along the water front all the way around and back into MacCormacks bay to head back up Maffeys, just for shigs and gittles.  Surprisingly, I made it quite a way up into the steep zone, until a wind gust stopped me in my (very slow) tracks. Walked a good portion while Nelson cleaned it all in 4th gear! (his 5th, we reckon, was about the same as my low).  Going got easier again and I rode the rest over and down to his.  Good, albeit slightly moist, spin.  

Amazingly, 14.3 kms, with a pretty good 476 m scrambled.

Friday Melbourne Ebike Cruise

Fun spin with T and sis on rental Cannondale ebikes from VeloCycles Melbourne.  Great wee bikes, 20inch wheels and 'hidden' batteries contained within the not-that-fat downtube.  Rear wheel-hub drive motors - which meant relatively easy riding with power off (something I discovered towards the end when I ran out of battery).  

Starting at the bikeshop, we headed along the Inner Circle Linear Park towards Merri Creek trail.  Such good cycling infrastructure, we cruised downstream for ages.  Just past where my sis used to live (which was near where I started the MMR) we stopped to check out a bunch of rainbow lorikeets bathing in the creek - very pretty.  A wee climb out of the creek and onwards, the trail occasionally dropping down and back up cruising.  Dropped down to check out the Yarra Falls, then back up on trail and pulled into the Abbotsford old Convent (where sis has a studio) and went in for lunch at Cam's, which was very nice.  Back on the bikes we wound up having to detour a bit onto streets cos they're working on the trail downstream from here.  Meandered through the Carlton Brewery zone, quiet streets or bike lanes, eventually back onto the river, which just kept giving.  Down down down stream, seemed to go on for ages, eventually cool boardwalks and floating pontoon sections alongside (below) busy motorways.  Popped up onto road again and up Exhibition St, where up top they're still building the new cycle lanes.  Out to the big Exhibition gardens, no bikes allowed, so we toodled along the bottom of them and up to Gertrude where we went down to the Builders Arms and had a couple of drinks.  From here my battery was flat.  We rode up Gore then across to Canning which was a lovely quiet bike route all the way up to the Linear Park again and back to the shop.

26kms or so (missed the start km or so forgetting to start the MMR) with just 170 m climbed.

Saturday Some Summit, Vernontroll

Took the Troll out, up through the usuals, 19th, Skidder, then walked up the diagonal (through the gap jump below the Sesame wallride) into the Gums to top pines and then, riding again, up rabbit paddock to top of Vic.  Dived into Thompson's #1 for a nice blat, then back up Summit Rd from here, brief rest up at the stoney shelter, and back on the road heading east into the wind.  Around and out, heading to the top of Vernon, carrying bike on shoulders to top, for a bit of a stretch and no view to be seen with the cloud capping the peak.  

Off down to the north, walking the techy rocks (that'd I'd definitely ride on the Rocky, then some sweet swoopy singletrack down the rest of the way to the mtb trail, hung a hard left and climbed back around to top of Huntsbury.and along Summit to Vernon, carried to the top in the cloud, down the front, some lovely trail, then Traverse all the way back to Vic.  Troll was riding super smooth and fun.  Down through the rocks and gums right through to the road and below this for a blit then onto road through the corners and coasting to the dog carpark and dived straight into the squirrelly squiggly fun times, then climbing straight up to road and fast coast home.

Legit 11.8 kms distanced and 387 m altituded.

Bony Pleasant Thursday with a Shocking Blowout

Rode from Nelson's place tonight. Up Soleares, which happens to be a right bastard steep (worserer than Vic Park Drive from mine). Right on Belleview and then left up Major Hornbrook - Kaikoura View, then up through the parky bit and up across the Long/Clear/Ridge-Views to the Upper Hornbrook entrance of Britten.  A nice night up here.  Zig and zag across the front of Britten and around up to top, then around the front and out the exit by the cattlestop/cutting.  Over the fence and up through the long grass narrowed trail onto the climb up Mt Pleasant.  Nelson dropped me up here, whereas I wasn't doing so bad lower down, boosting to catch him every now and then.  Up ehre on the rocky bits I just kept hooking feet or stalling on the rocks.  Bit of a break at the top of Pleasant.  

Into the descent, nice rolling but fucking boney.  Much worse than last timast time, which was bony af then.  Good times through the tussocks thought and I think for the first time meeting all the new fences at the bottom of this...  Down into 'Knapsack', where I found I had no idea where I was going - hussing around blind hairpins into unexpected turns, and then towards the far end I just had no idea and it seemed to just go on and on...  Climbed up the 4wd trail (diagonally towards the gun emplacements) meeting the new fence/gate across this, and eventually (it's always longer than I remember) got to Greenwood OG entrance trail.  Across this, fun times, removing the stupidly placed (metal) trail closed sign that was perched in the middle of the new cattlestop, then dealt with all the rocks across the top here.  Next we dropped into Sheepshit Alley.  Droppy fun descent then a short climb and at the top of this on a corner I heard a weird skreek.  Not the kind of noise a rock strike makes, almost a cracked frame type sound, but bike was riding fine so carried on, tho noticing handling was getting a little weird.  Anyway, when I finally got to the bottom (again, longer than memory served), pulled up and thought "why is my waterbottle leaking?" "wait, that's not water, that's OIL!"  Pissing out of the top of my shock all down over my bottle and frame...  Huh.  Air was staying in so it was still springy, but no more damping.  

From here rode up the road back to Britten, bouncing a bit, and dropped into here bombing down, bike feeling pretty much fine.  Bombed down the way we'd come up tho turned off down Madeley Rd to Mt Pleasant and bombed down Soleares back to Toledo.  

Shockingly good 14.6 kms hastened and 537 m vied. 

Later follow up...  damper shaft broken in the shock, not just an o-ring.

Bastard King's Sunset Troll

T dropped me off at Motukarara and I hit the road towards Gebbies.  Dont think I've ever ridden it in this direction.  It was fine, gearing on the Troll was good, and thankfully there wasnt toooo much traffic.  At the saddle I hung a left up the Summit Rd, riding up the 'bastard' for the first time as well.  It was okay.  I stopped once relatively low down because the oiling of the chain I'd done on my Saturday ride had missed about 5 or 10 links, so they squeaked every chain rotation, which was becoming annoying.  Sunset was at 5.03pm and I didnt make the high point under Coopers Knob, Gibraltar Rock adjacent, until 5.09, AND it was a pretty grey evening so light was dim and there were a LOT of cars along this stretch looking at the sunset. 

I bowled along as fast as I could and thankfully didnt have to pull over for anyone, but keeping a damned close eye on lights behind and ahead.  Bombing down to the Kiwi in near dark, I decided to grab the Harry Ell for the descent.  Met 4 walkers, apologising for getting caught out without lights, then Vic Park Drive for the bomb home. 

Dusky 22 kms, with a chilly 716 m climbed

Troll King's Saturday Jaunt

On the Troll up to Chorlton and beyond.  Firstly, up to Chorlton.

Then up View Hill Rd, stopping briefly opposite the shearing shed to watch a couple of kereru drinking from a trough,

then riding again as far as I could until I lost traction - in the trees behind the Eagles Nest where the steeep really starts.  Turned around and coasted faster and faster on gravel down to the seal again and hung a hard right through Chorlton and upwards, climbing climbing, til the descent again, descending fast until Wells Back Rd, thinking, again, until I lose traction, but lungs ran out first,

most of the way up, so continued to the end.  Then back down this and back up towards Chorlton for some fast rolling goodness.  Faaast down past the flock of sheep that had just been through the shearing shed, about to come up onto the road, then couple of climbs and descents, final climb to top before heaving over and bombing back down into Little Ak.  Rapidity and flow.  Lovely.  Across the bottom of the beach and through then up to the first corner on Decanter Bay for a view of the bach.

Final run back down here, chat with Jeff on the waterfront, and then back up the road to home.

Valid 17 kms, and 565 m gruntled.

Andy CAPped

Second ride for the day, down in the car with H, parked up in the CAP carpark. Popped up into the office to check our passes.  He surprisingly still had 8 on his card, not expired, whereas mine had 5 left but expired, but the nice young woman on the desk gave me until the end of June to use them up - sweet as! 

Hit up the lift, seeing for the first time close-up the carnage from the fire, and we dropped into Summit Connector, then onto the road and into Choir Boy for a good bomb.  A few people overtook H, so I stopped to let them by too.  Down past 3rd Base, Askins closed, Gungho, and then stopped at Rere Pia, unknown and new to both of us.  In we dropped and it was fun.  Not too tech, quite fast, and quite readable.  Bombed it out behind the Cafe. 

Onto the lift again, turning on MMR half way up, and we dropped in fo rthe same again, doing better with a little knowledge of it.  Not bad. 

2 uplifts, 2 descents...  probably 8km each, so maybe 16kms and 800 uplifted.  So now I have 3 left and H has 6 (before Sept)

Saturday Midday Singlistic Hits

Good aerobic singlespeed blast, hoofing it up out of the hood through Vic, Thompsons #1, then eastwards across the Summit Rd to the top of Huntsbury Track.  Onto the Traverse and all the trails, Rabbit, Rocks, Gums out, Vic Park Rd into sweet singletrack all the way down to the actual H'Ell,, clamber up and home again. 

A well-worked 11 kms with an ascetic 372 m hard wrought

Phat Paparoa Weekend In Clemency

Great blast of the Pap in inclement conditions with Paul.  Druv to Moana on Friday night, grabbed a feed at the pub and then went and enjoyed the hospitality of Mary-Anne and Wazza.  A very pleasant evening ensued chatting over a couple of drinks.  

Up very early to make Blackball by 8am.  Loaded up, handing the keys to the driver of the shuttle, and shuttled up to Smoke-Ho ready to ride.  4 hikers and 2 other bikers departing with us.  Weather started out just cloudy, with the occasional glimmering of sunshine attempting to break through, but as we climbed the moisture consolidated into eventually a very light rain, only slightly more robust than a drizzle.  We stopped for quite a long break at the 'pub' site (2nd??) and then again to watch a kaka in the canopy in a couple of the switchbacks.  Paul walked a bit here or there, but I struggled onwards on the fatty, tire pressure possibly a little hard, but rolling really well.  We stopped at the Garden Gully turn off and our fellow riders arrived in short shrift - we didnt have the lead we'd thought we might've, and it turned out Paul knew one of them (another Richard).  Then the first walkers hove into view.  Paul and I got riding and the 'rain' got heavier, foliage dripping a lot.  Out of the trees, and into nothing but persisting mist, walking a bunch of the super annoying serious rocks.  The walkers were catching us!  Stopped to check out the old hut and the walkers walked by and we met them at the Ces mere metres above.  Most of the altitude done with, conditions not clement.

Munched some kai and I brewed a weak coffee.  The walkers went ahead, and then the other two bikers a little ahead of us.  More climbing begun, into the mist, and eventually caught the other bikers.  Riding riding, walking, riding, depending on the up or the rough of it.  I was amazed how fast we seemed to make the Barrytown turn off.  Then further along we caught the walkers about where I'd stopped when Hugo had the broken derailleur last time.  From there, there were some flowy downs and when I stopped Paul was no where to be seen.  I started riding back for a bit, and met the walkers, then him - his seatpost had decided to stop working! dropped, so he'd put it as high as it could be.  Not far then and we were on the last descent and the flowy fun blast around through the Dracophyllum truffula trees and then down to the hut, first ones in.  Grabbed the best bunks and got the fire going, and changed to dry and warm.  It was like not even 2 pm.  Fun!, Day One done.

Rain showers got heavier through the night, and what a lot of night there was - probably got 8 hours sleep of the 11 hours spent in the sack.  Only 7 in the hut, with the original 6 of us, plus a walking woman solo who'd come to Smoke-ho on a later shuttle.  All her compatriots had gone to Ces Clarke.  No one else had turned up.  In the morning, no luck on Paul's seatpost, so he rode it as is, lowering it slightly for the main descent later.  We left the hut after the two biker boys and the solo woman, but the couple waited for us to go ahead.  Didn't see them again.  Overtook the boys on the first descent, then the woman not long after.  Climb, descent, climb descend, climb and finally descend, down the escarpment, only imagining what was out there.  Brief stop at the shelter for a look and quick snack then on down, spectacular waterfalls and boulder fields, fun trails, wet to the skin.  Eventually we got to Pororari and had, some hot and some not, food.  The boys turned up maybe half an hour behind.  We all got ready to go about the same time and we got away first.  Best riding from here onwards, some lovely descending, flow and groove.  Hardly any climb.  Lovely.  Stopped at some point and the other Richard turned up, so, not that far behind.  We rolled on, bridges, and nearly done, then horrid final climb.  Ugh.  Then gloriously fun final descent and flowy flow, swoosh swoosh, weaving back and forth, then flat, and final bridge and out to the shelter and unoccupied Waikori carpark.  Paul had a very long 'rest stop' and the other two guys arrived just after he'd finished.  They rode on, we rode and eventually caught them on the rise over Punakaiki and I guided them down to where theirs and our cars were parked.  Phew, day Two, through.

Sunday Trails Along the Summit to get the car

Bandi-Gig last night at Greg's on Bridle Path Rd and neither T nor me could drive home so we left the Leaf there -  and I rode from home today to collect.  

On the Rocky, I headed up through Vic, taking Worm to the Traverse.  Not bad run round here, bit of a head wind, pulling over a few times to let people through and having the same courtesy applied to me a coupla times.  Onto Vernon, good descent, fast in places, leaping through the usual Rapaki-top and hoofing it up into Witch, clamber clamber.  Bit of a breather at the highpoint then down to the Summit Rd and a-cruising up it to Castle Rock for a very fun blast down, railing, weaving, wending.  Clamber clamber it's up bits, back onto Summit for the roll round under the Gondola and climbing climbing up to the cutting and straight into Britten.  Around the front - dont often do it this way, was alright, then bombing down the socalled VeeTwin blasting and railing, across the front to the down track - missing one section of the across the front track cos it's seemingly been unused and I couldn't see where it went, down, connecting back onto the main across track and descending rock section under the pylons to the bottom.  Over the stile and onto the technical Kenton ("walking") track - fun times had, popping over most tech issues, but dab-scooting through a couple too.  At the steps at the end I headed down, bike on rear wheel then riding a little, dab-scoot or pushing through the techest of the tech and descending all the switchbacks and steps down the Heathcote Quarry track. Great technical ending, and finishing directly where I'd parked the car.

Close to 16 kms of sweet (mostly) off-road goodness, with 574 m escalated and a coupla hundy metres bonusly descended. 

Saturday Cooper's hob Knob

Took the Troll for a hoon up through Vic Park (not that much of a hoon, tbh) then Thompson's #1 and down to Kiwi, then up around the Summit Road, climbing and cruising, eventually getting close to where I thought I was going, to undertake another notch in the Summit Rd Summits series. Got off the road a little too soon, so, back to it, then rode a bit further along to a low saddle and pushed up a walk track for a ways before riding a bit then parking the bike and clambering  up the rocks to the top. Highest point on the greater Port Hills at 573m.  Quite the view...

Walked back to the bike and rode sweet smooth singletrack back down to the road (the way I'd come) and then treadled my way home again, for some fun stuff in Vic (surprising some DH boys, I think, as I headed over the rock garden into the Gums.  Down via 234 out to H'Ell exit and down to home.. 

23kms bombed, with quite a good 727 m climbed

Sunday Single Sojourn

High intensity singlespeed, up thru Vic, over 19th, through skidder to walk a bit, then breather at the brakefree water fountain, and on up to Thompsons #1, back up the road and up to the stone shelter where I caught up with Doug and had a breather.  MMR uselessly stopped here.  Clambered up to the Sugarloaf carpark, and onto Cedricks Track, across the front, boffed down through the rocky bits in the bush and then out to the road and down onto the Traverse.  Across this back to Vic Park, then blitzed down thru Gums, Lower, out to 19th, below road through usual byways to road corner, then coasting down to 235, dropping in and even jumping the treebranch.  Ballbearings (acorns) are in full effect through here now, be warned! and then clambered back up to the road, and up over below the Dog Park dropping down the singletrack to Harry Ell Drive, fast coast down here, then a brief walk up to our gate. 

MMR crapped out, looks like before I even got to the stone shelter, where it finished, so it was probably about 7 or so kms, with maybe 250 m climbed?

Good Friday Pike 29th

First time up the Pike valley and onto the new trail. Hard work climb but a gloriously flowy descent.  

I started out thinking I'll just see how I go and turn around when I've had enough.  10 minutes in I almost felt like I'd had enough, but decided I'd do 2 hours...  Climbing was good.  Trail slightly soft but grippy, lots of switchbacks.  Met one descending woman on this lower stretch.  Took no time to get to the 'twin bridges' where there was a nice seat.  Then a couple kms later the second seat.  It had taken me an hour to get to this.  Took a breather, rest and nice view out over the Grey Valley.  Off again and eventually met a lone (ebike) dude who, until he was 2 metres way, I could have sworn was Wazza.  Then a lone woman, who said there's 3 more behind me.  Then eventually I came upon them, first two then their tailender (last three on ebikes) .  Climb climb climb, and was getting more into the sun when I met a walker couple who said, "you've made the ridge, flowy from here to a lookout..." "YAY!" i replied, exhausted.  Cruised along, met another couple walking, and just around the corner, almost at exactly 2 hours since I started, I got to the look out spot, and seat, overlooking the minehead and access ports...  Here there were an older couple on ebikes, and a young couple of trailrunners.  We all chatted, the older dude had spent time on the mine rescue, 4 days he'd sat on the chopper pad above where the end of the shaft was, where the disaster had occurred.  Very interesting.  They all departed and I had the seat and view to myself - with a cheeky weka. 

Snacked some OneSquare, then it was time for descending.

Oh boy...  flow. fun.  speed.   caught up to the walkers, then the older couple on the bikes, with two climber biker girls at that point, then I was bombing.  Then the first walkers, and somehow another woman walking who I'd not seen earlier.  My hands were cold.  The flow went on and on and took me like 10 minutes to get to the mmr start seat.  and another 10 minutes and I's at the bottom.  Unbelievable.

MMR fucked up the start of my mapping and I didn't realise it til I got to the second seat,  an hour in... This, according to my calculations was 333 m of climbing, in less than 3 kms...  So, overall distance was about 13 kms, with just over 1000 m climbed.

Monday Night Urumau Scramble

Had to pick up Ben from the ferry at 7.45, so I took the opportunity to get a quick ride in Urumau.  Got home from work and ended up lying on the couch for a bit, then thought, "nah I just gotta do it," so loaded up, jumped in car and headed down.  Realised on Centaurus Rd that I'd left my helmet behind, back up the hill, time seriously getting tight.  

Parked up the ridiculously difficult to access Foster Tce and headed up the steps and zig zags for the heinously steep climb up into the zone.  Grunting and gasping up to the new little looper loop then across the original looper entrance to the forest.  Wind was an absolute gale on the ridge and trees on that norwest facing face.  Not feeling overly confident tonight for some reason, so took the Stormer easier route (missed the steep drops) down and followed on down, lovely loose loam and pine needles, cool rocks and roots.  Good blast, then into Grommies, bypassed all the big hoopy jumps, and rode into the log drop but pulled up and bypassed.  Also missed the cool droppy rock sections at the very bottom.

Into the climb, grovel grovel.  At the higher Zombie crossing came up upon a guy stopped.  Headphones in, listening to a podcast, so didnt hear me at first.  Brief chat and he rode on ahead, slightly faster but not much, so followed him up and across traverse til he stopped at the main meeting spot.  

Second lap, I just climbed up, looper across and into Sunnyside dropping down quickly, then left on the traverse track down to the exit trail (called Whakatuwhera, apparently). 

Seemingly tiny 3.5 kms, a quick and steep 250m climbed

Tuesday To Bridle and Back

Home from work and I was full of anger - mostly at the moronic government we're stuck with. 

So, jumped on the Rocky and headed out and up.  Usual route up through Vic, 19th, skidder, climbing the bastard pretty good, then straight up to top for to roll around and pop the jumpies and hang a right on Worm to get back up onto the Traverse for the slog across.  Pretty good run across here, never feeling too tired and pushing hard.  

Onto Vernon and up and over, only meeting one girl as I came down off the overgrown detour.  No one else so a fast, curvy, smooth run.  Straight through Rapaki-top, suprisingly empty, and into Witch, clamber clamber out and around and straight through, onto the road for the slog to the top of Castle.  

Brief breather, then straight in.  What a blast.  Wiiide open, clear, tidy, clean, fast, and smooth.  Still enough techknuckle rocks to have to weave around and over but felt smoother and faster, well mown.  Rocketship down to the first hairpin and around, then more sedate, but loving it.  Clamber clamber up then drop to the road and straight into the climb.  Along here these long legged bugs were flying and catching the sun, and then swallows were hooning all over the place catching them in mid air.  Spectacular.  

Big cluster of mixed roadies at the top of Castle, "hello," and I pushed up onto Tors just as a dude was running by.  Sat and looked at the view and waited til he was nearly at the road before dropping in.  Good run across here, probably cleaned it best of any time, including the bit that usually got me.  Onto the road and runner dude was on the trail above it so I stayed down and coast-rolled down down back to Witch, one dab on the climb before cruising around (meeting one rider) and boffed off down onto the road where I stayed to climb back around to Traverse, pushing hard all the way, never letting up.  There was a dude following and he never caught me, which is good.  He dropped down Huntsbury as I hit the Traverse, with a woman in a pink top a little way behind me.  By the time I was below Sugarloaf she was miles back.  Good run the rest and into the trees, jumpies, see-saw, begining of Brakefree and then out to the paddock run, rocks, gums, usual droppy route, bombing through out all the way.  Below road, out to road at corner, up around down to Dogpark carpark and alllll the wya down 235 to H'Ell and the clamber up onto the road for the fast blast back to the driveway.

A pleasant 19.92 kms, with (unsurprisingly - given; and, and, and...) 726 m climbed.

Saturday Blackberry Troll Golf

Continuing my Summit Rd Summits series (Sugarloaf, Ada being the first two knocked off), took the Troll up through Vic usual routes, gleaning a "cool bike" comment (from Mel) at Skidder, and then riding EVEN further up the gutser from there than ever previously, walking the little bit and riding the rest. Into Thompsons #1 behind some walkers, who had moved over for a rider coming up who'd moved over for them and me...  nice flow onwards from there then down road, through Kiwi, and up road towards the burned zone...  Good to get a look at it all.  Burned completely up the cliff below the Mt Ada spot I'd gotten to previously.  Moseyed around past the Bellbird and Kennedy's Bush, and found some good blackberries, had a feed, continued on riding around and up road, then hit the radar golfball road, under gate and up steep to corner, then up to security gate.  Surprised there's so little in the way of Keep Out Private Property signs...  Checked out over a cliff at the view and drop, and spotted a nice patch of bush below.  

Back down the access road, fast, then cruisy coast down road to corner where I ducked into the bush, parked bike and wandered.  A kereru flying along the track got a hell of a surprise when it saw me and slammed on the brakes, effectively hovering at head level before diving off down the hill.  I wandered a little further, lovely tall bush, and came up on 3 really nice totara.  Back to the bike and back on the road, cruise cruise cruise, climb, descend, cruise descend, getting good clips on the downs.  Through Kiwi, traffic negotiation and climbing up to Thompsons #1 again, climbing this and walking at the end.  Down round, across Rabbit paddock, rocks, cleaning all (in front of an audience too), then gums, gums gums.  Out to 19th, below road for a bit then rolling, and into DogParkCarPark for a nice roll out down through and out To Harry Ell to road and home.

A fun and fruitful 17.3 kms with 521 m climbed

Sunday Uppy Downy Locals

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

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

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

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

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

Friday Night Single Speedy

Up and back in 50 minutes from 5, on the frankenlunker.  High-intensity, skills-testing blast on the rigid singlespeed kruiser beater bruiser BFe.  Up the usual, over 19th, and a brief walk up from skidder.  Up through Brakef, nearly to top of Vic and down the Thomson number 1.  Back up the road, and the short climb up to the stone covered seat, scoffed a few blackberries and chilled a bit, hot and puffing.  Then into the descent.  around by passing the jumps and seesaw, compliment from a climbing biker ("nice bike," "yah! fun!" replied) bomb down to rockgarden, through the gums, blazing, through the lower reaches out to 19th, below the road, through to Tawhairanui intersection back onto road and coasting down to 235, into this for the groooviness, all the way to H'Ell and onto the road down around past Takahe and clambering back up to home.

Beefy; just under 6 kms and 224 m of climbing grind.

Sunday Vic, Traverse, HuntsburyDH and Back

Nelson met at mine at about nine and we headed up the usual climbing route through Vic to the top.  Stopped in the rabbit paddock for a good look at the damage in the CAP, then moseyed the rest of the way to the top.  I was feeling a little tired/under-the-weather due to a hefty bbq the night before, but survived the thrawl.  

Dropped into the Traverse and cruised across the top, meeting quite a few on-coming riders.  Stopped at the top of Huntsbury DH and sat for a while, as many groups or riders, obviously regulars to the Park, tried to negotiate their way around the hill.  Too many skids observed - learn to fucking brake properly you muppets!  We set off down Huntsbury DH, which I didn't ride very well, tho managed it okay, jumping the first third and last.  Second one is just too rutted now.  Nice flowy through the fast tussocks then across the landing strip and over the singletrack around (not over the Rocky one), then down down down.  Again, jumps were skipped or ridden depending my vibe, which wasn't feeling up to much.  I think cos I was a little under the weather.  Got to the bottom and began the slog back up, all the way to the road, where we hit back on the Traverse.  Another good run around here, tho all the ups were really making be blow.

Across over the jumpies, see-saw and top section of Brakefree, then into across into the Rockgarden and gums for a sweet-ass flow down my local trails, all the way through like my last SS ride and under the 19th down the road, coasting smooth, then dived straight into the DogParkCarPark235 for a flowy cruisy bomb, again, allll the way down to H'Ell and clamber back to road the last bomb to home..

Satisfactory 13.5 kms and 485 m climbed.

Thursday Super Short Sunset Singlespeed Resurrection

Fixed a flat on the BFe earlier in the week and so finally got out to try the new Velo Orange Seine bars iu'c chucked on it months ago.  Just over 2 years (!) since I last pushed this sucker up the hill!  

Headed up the road and instantly decided the stem was way too short so bombed back down, hunted around and found a longer Charge one that'd come off the fatty originally. Chucked that on, having to raw-dog the top-bearing, which seems to work (tho leaves it wide open for dirt), and got riding.  High intensity climbing ensued, riding hard up to the level, but it felt great!  Through skidder and almost immediately walking the climb, took a diagonal right hander, up crossing Brake Free at the jump below the wallride and on up into the gums.  Clambered up through the rocks and across the rabbit paddock to my sunset seat.  Had a beer.  

Watched the sun sink behind the horizon and got riding again, back down the rock garden and into the trees, back and forth across, bike so light and nimble, bars comfy and wide.  All the way down through to the gate (at 19th) then across below the road for a nice glide through the trees and popping up the usual onto the wheelchair trail back to the road corner.  Brief clamber and coasting down the road into 235 for a very cruisy flow session down through, over jumping the treebranch and all the way down to lower Harry Ell.  Carried up to road and nice glide to home.

Less than 5 kms with a measly 144 m climbed.  Still good to get out on the SS.

Sunday Ride of Two Portions

Needed to pick up the car from Sumner after leaving it there from Ann & Jimmy's wedding Saturday night. 

Set out from home on the Rocky, up into Vic Park, onlly to find it completely closed form the gate, All Tracks for Fire Response, so, figured I'd ride up the road to Summit and along.  Dropped down to Harry Ell and onto the Dyers Pass Rd and pedalled.  It's actually not that bad mostly, just a couple of narrow sections cars cant pass safely, but mostly there's almost a lane, in the gutter, that you can stay left of the white line.  Got to the Kiwi and nope, no go - cones, Road Closed, a cop car on the other side, and a dude on this side saying, "sorry". So, back down to home, cop on my tail for a bit of it, and peeled home - just under 7 kilometres done, 250 m climbed.   

Rocky away, Troll out, change of shoes and off down Longhurst, carrying and wheeling down the steps, carrying up the steps and onto Holliss Ave, ooh, rear tyre a little low, sketchy...  Down, crossed over Centaurus onto Sloan, over the bridge, back around the bottom of the Loop onto Eastern Tce along to next pedestrian bridge, then over into the park where I put some air in the tyre (in the shade).  From here up onto Centaurus, around and right, then into the wee alley way through to Korimiko, Wilsons, Beckford, through the NW carpark to Wades/Prossers, alleyway to Derrick, over the bridge, Ford, then around the river on that side to the next bike bridge, Sheldon, Radley Park, along the tow path, over the motorway bridge back to the northside of the river and Towpath all the way around to Ferrymead Bridge.  Over the road and onto the bike path to Sumner, all nicely finished now.

A varied and interesting route across the flatlands - slightly less than 16 kms and weirdly 150 m climbed. Nice

Thursday Smokin' Hot Green Pleasantry Captains

Excellent recalibration ride with Nelson tonight.  Parked up in Scumnervale and set off around the foot of the hill, briefly stopping to feast on blackberries before skedoodling up the old skool Captain Thomas and the rest.  Next it was the long slog up the road to the pines, onto the Shit Track for a short climb to the road, around to and up, slogging on the gravel on Broadleaf to the top of Pleasant for a good view back up the harbour to the Port Hills Fire 2.0. 

Into the descent and fark it was bony! Nelson pinged off every single rock there was. I had some good flow on, weaving and twisting - all the while being careful not to crash given the wounds I'm nursing after my commuting crash last Friday in the wet. Meandering around the new fence infrastruction, and through the ruins, and into some hard work descending, majorly fatigued by halfway and we needed a break.  Out of practice obviously.  Into the lower reaches and the weed-eaten grass was fairly off putting, and, thinking it would be slippery - neither of us wanted to push it too hard, but otherwise I dont think we were any slower than usual. Nice flow otherwise. 

Finally, the Captain. Whooee. Great blast down here, cleaning all the usual cleany stuff and blazing away.  Into the lower reaches, loving the pop and twist, weaving through the tech, very awesome. 

Grand total of16kms(!) and somehow 638 climbing points

Chortling to Chorlton

Quick hour or less Trolling up to Chorlton, a little higher on gravel to shade and a cooling coast back down. Nearly hit one of a small group of roadies on their way up the hill.  

A relatively unsatisfactory 8.03 kms with a levelheaded 300 m climbed.

Post number 1400, by the way.

Wednesday, last of January, Nun for Breakfast

Last chance to get a ride inside the month of January.  I was awake, so got up, dressed and was out the door at 6.15am.  

Muggy, up through Vic - usual route, and into the Thompsons 1 and 2, down through Kiwi and up the road.  As I climbed, looking back at Lyttelton I could see through the mist a new pack of floaters ship being docked down at the port.  The mist was hugging the valleys and tops towards Gebbies.  Up Worsleys Rd and I hit the top of the Nun at 7am, deciding on the Nun (rather than the Gnarly) and dropped into the descent - taking this pic first... 

and 

Railing around the 2nd rocky corner I started losing it on the rocks.  Dew from grass coupled with dust from trail were conspiring to give me fuck all grip!  Yikes!  Nearly cooked it but got rolling again and was slightly more wary of the shitshow rocky corners.  Swooped through the swoopy bits and faffed around through some of the faffy bits, into the lower reaches, pumping and flowing sweet.  Across the Kiwi again and up the road, plodwise to the top of Vic, swooping in down around through the jumps, very nicely popped, and over the see saw, railed through the first of Brakefree then peeled out down the rabbit paddock, into rocks, gums, bombing, all the way down to 19th, below the road, back up onto it, into 235 swoop swoop over cooking and nearly losing it then jumpity jump and down out through.  Home by 7.20...

Nice and early 10.15 km with 335 m clambified.

Friday Snout, Out and About; Snout wrong with it

Couple days at Waikawa, hauled the fatty out of the car and rode out the snout and about.  Rode the road from the bach, past the boat ramp, beach, down a cul-de-sac across a bridge past the marina and onto the Waikawa-Picton cycle path, peeling off up a zig zaggy climbing trail (Sue's?) up onto the ridge, then onto the Kanuka trail along the side, chasing a ferry for a bit, out all the way to the end of the Snout.  A few tourists in residence, I took in the view and got back on the bike.

Back from there, meeting a son then dad on their way down, back around Kanuka and then left into the horridly steep Lions Centennial trail (didn't remember it being so steep last time), climbing up onto the tops of the hills down and up and over and down.  Finished the fun by sliding into the GDS trail for a fun wee bomb down some rooty tech back to the cycle path, and back the way I'd come.

15 kms round trip, with 530 m climbed.  Not bad.

Tuesday Knuckle Sandwich

Drove myself round to Whanganui Inlet and parked up to ride Knuckle Hill track. Very nice easy climb, sometimes granny steep but kinda rolling a lot too and a couple of downhills before final climb to an intersection; Kaituna route straight ahead and Knuckle Hill to the left. Rode 150 or so m til I couldn't anymore and  then started walking, sans bike, up up up trudgery climbing into semi alpine, to the 506m summit. Spectacular views 360 degrees - the back of Mt Burnett (dolomite mine) and right round down the west coast, Mangarakau swamp, Whanganui (Westhaven) Inlet, Kaihoka Lakes, Wharariki, Farewell.  Walked back down and back on the bike and bomb bomb bomb...  able to get way faster than was comfortable, wide quad bike track, climbs were nice and short.  Met one walking lady (german?) and continued on.  Fun.

Just under 8.4 km, 460m climbed

Monday Rameka Pack Expectation Klicks

Great ride yesterday with Tony, father of H's gf Holly. We parked at the bottom of Rameka valley and rode up the Historic Pack Track (one I'd only ever ridden down once before). Great climb, out the top of the Project and up the gravel road to bottom end of the Rameka proper. Into the Packtrack, me on Tony's tail for a start, thinking I might be slower on the fatty, but no.  Asked if maybe I could take the lead and then took off, hauling. Great hoon down, then over into Great Expectations for a switchback city wunder-ride. Loads of fun. At the bottom, into the Klicks for some good times and eventually back to the car.

Hot stuff, 13kms with 526m clambered

Sunday Aorere Golden Hour

Steep hot today.  Parked at the end of road past Devil's Boots, and got riding, up the 4wd track.  Steep bastard that.  Only one tiny bit walked, managed to ride the rest, with lots of rests.  Fricking hot, but early enough that there were shadows to lurk in.  Took the second shortest route, (not straight to the caves) but up to Druggan's dam for a good rest in the shade.  Then on down the water race track, more overgrown than in the past, and getting a bit more tech.  Dropped down to Ballroom cave, had a poke around, then back up and onwards for the fun bomb down.  Techy rutty good, then mega rocketship blast down the last smooth bombsville.  Final wide section passed a couple of walkers then bomb down to car.

Golden, 9.3 kms and 260m climbed

Saturday Para Para Golden Steel

Druv round across the inlet and parked up. Rode up the road and into the steep hot dirt, climbing up all the way to the seat view. Very hot and dripping. Bombed down to the singletrack and leaped in. Rutty to start which caught me out a little, resulting in a weird tip off unable to clip out just after catching my wrist on a branch. Rolling again, more carefully this time, cruising, rolling down and through. Lots of little explores and findings of interesting features and then out the exit and along the gravel back to the car. 

Fun fun, just under 9 kms, 250 m climbed

Couple days before this, I rode along the beach to the Excellent St walkway, carried the bike up the steps, steep as fuck, hot as fuck, and up onto Excellent St for the cruise down past the historic cemetery and into Gibbs and down this to town back round to the house... a short 4 kms with under 100 m climbed.

Monday Short Fat Dusty Climb; Car Pick-up

In the morning we drove up to top of Waiharakeke track and walked 8 kms back to Totes.  After a couple of beers, some popcorn and a swim, I jumped on the fatty and headed up the road. Hot. Sunny. Dusty as hell every time a car went past, which there seemed an awful lot of. Made the top and nice free coast cruise down to the car - not nearly as far down as I had climbed.

4 kms on 200 m altituded.

Thursday LA hill and View Hill

Long, hard, fat ride up the valley and over View Hill. Hot stuff.  Ground up the valley, stopping many times for breathers but cleaning the whole lot.  It was HOT, so shade was sought regularly.  Didnt see many cars.  Once up on the summit there was a little more cloud cover now and then, and then I peeled onto the ridgeline, long grass and very runny poo, walking a bunch, eventually seeing the herd of cows, steers, a bull and some calfs hanging around towards the end of the ridge paddock.  Over the fence and up then across, and then up up to the top of View Hill, practically IN the cloud, tho a view out to the northerly down into the LA valley was forthcoming.  Snacked, and got riding, for the fast bomb down.   Just over an hour of riding time to the top and less than 20 minutes down.  Fantastic speed down past the Eagle's nest and then more down the road...  Got home, into togs and straight back to the beach for a cool dip, sharing the beach space with 3 other people, one of whom was a Hector's Dolphin!  Nice.

A viewsome 17.5 kms and a smidge under 800m climbed.

Wednesday Burnin' the Craigies

Nelson met at mine and we drove to meet Pete and Alistair at the Yaldy for to convoy to Broken River carpark. Grey day in Chch, drizzly on the plains side of the pass then gorgeous day in the valley. 

Parked up, a few but not so many campers, but lots of bikers in place, we headed off up Sidle73, taking it a little easier on the first climb as I remembered it usually catches me out with the lungstuff...  Cruised around this to CV road and up for a whiles.  Very warm to boot.  Stopped at the bottom of our Ante-Luge entrance and chilled for a bit, some other rider dudes riding through heading for the Edge.  We set off, Nelson first, didnt see him again (tho he tells me he could hear me for quite a while), in for a gutbusting climb.  I stopped several times to breathe and get the heartrate down but cleaned all but one rock.  Thought I was suffering angina or something at times.  Bastard of a climb.  Re grouped at the intersection, a couple walked through with their bikes, riding further up, and then Nelson cleaned off and the rest of us rode and pushed (a bunch of) the next section before riding out into the open and good to the saddle. 

Luge was fun fun fun but initially felt slow for some reason. I got a pinchflat on the front tyre from a misplaced root. Tubed it, pumped it and onwards. Trail got funner - real fun.  Ended sooner than memory would serve too.

Next, climb to Dickson's, all the way up to top of Bridge where we over-the-stiled and blitzed it.  Nelson lost the track briefly, Alistair and me got past, bombed for a bit, then regrouped and he took the lead again, then Alistair lost it and I got past and it wsa all on from there.  Railing the lower open stuff, super funtimes. Superb riding. Finished along the road back to the cars where we ate some grub.  

12.5 kms with surprisingly only 505m upped.

Into the cars and drove around to Cheeseman Rd. Gravel to Texas Flat (where there was bikes and people and cars and camp and stuff) and a little bit further, parking below the bottom of Cockayne Alley. 

Climbing climbing climbing, such a long steep crawl. Riding for a time with a youngish dude from QT who peeled off at Cuckoo Creek.  Also met the dudes we'd seen on the CV road.  They wondered how we'd gotten so far ahead of them, they'd done Edge, Luge, Dracophlat, and were up for Cuckoo too.  We continued to climb.  And climb.  Eventually we broke, admired the view, and dived in for the fun to begin and we blazed it.  Across the face, then swoopy swoopy, jumps, down through the tussock, then the whole thing changes and into the steep rooty awesomeness.  Hands and forearms cooking, quads getting sore.  Stopped a couple of times for a bit of a regroup and allowance of blood back into arms. Again, super superb!

This time the riding was only 7.63kms and again surprisingly only 465m clambered. Both sure felt way longer and higher - musta been the thin air at altitude, right?

Xmas Eve Troll-ofa Sugarloafer

Short hot hoon on the Troll up to top of Sugar Loaf and back.  Usual grind, 19th, skidder, walk, grind.  Thompsons, then around the road and up to the carpark, then up through the no access road to the top corner and a little bit off to a knob on top, overlooking Kiwi and Govs.  Very nicely.  Then, bomb down to gate, off road down rocky single to stile, around to that wee stone shelter for some stoney time and then down through Vic, bombing through skidder at a million miles an hour, down the road and into the DogParkCarPark '235' trail down down down, clambered back up to road and hooned down here to warp speed before peeling right into the driveway.

Sugar sugar, 7.5kms distanced, 270m altituded

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Trolling Ada

Quick spin up and back on an empty stomach.  Fueled by coffee (and a banana just before I left), I chugged the Troll up through Vic, walked a bit above skidder, then up onto Thompson's #1 and a bomb down Summit to Kiwi.  Across and onwards up the road, catching a guy below Worsley's on a well packed 'packing rig heading out for a hundred kms or so.  We chatted as we cruised around and at Kennedy's I peeled left up the quad track to the top of Mt Ada.  Been planning this ride for ages so was good to finally grab it.  Made me think maybe I'll aim to peak all the tops along here on the Troll...  Mt Cass next!  Apparently Ada was Cass's wife.  Anyway, brief carry up the rocks, two asian women were up top, and left not long after I arrived, leaving it for me on my own.  Took a couple of good pics 

and brief chat to Doug.  Then hit the down.  Tight single long grass track to start with, then fast bombing quad to road...  then, road road road aero, pedalling keeping speed then aero speed down to kiwi, across Dyers and up up to Vic, straight in, down the 4wd, speeeeed through skidder and road home.

Nice and warm, 14.25 kms, 472 m climbed.

Sunday Mounting Greyness

Picked up Nelsie, headed north to meet up with Pete and Alistair at Stalker Park, Woodend, to convoy to "Lake" Janet.  

Hot day, 28 or so.  Nelson's brilliant idea was to ride the walking track.  Scorched earth policy had been through, no trees lower down now, we clambered in up the steepest shitface of the trail and zigged our way up. Hot and hot, tho the breeze was coolish once we were higher up.  Met various walkers and runners and dogs various spots on the way up.  Stopped for a breather in the shade of the look out tower, then hit the singletrack from here.  Much better riding, less steep, but techy and balance-requiring, spectacularly clear views all out everywhere every direction.  Took it all in from the top and then it was time to head down. 

Glorious descending, glorious single-track. Rutty near the top, and man the pigs have rooted the shit out of the open land before we headed into the forest.  Techy switchback city in the trees, nice and cool.  What a blast.  So much fun.  Mucky section not so bad, much drier than last time.  Heaps of tree carnage lower down too, tho the biiig one of a couple times back is fully cleared.  

 Followed by the grunty wee gravel thrash back up to the cars, noticed one area where the trees have been hammered by the big winds of a few weeks back. 

All up 676 m clambered and 11.74 kms. Steep!

Wednesday Night Lava Skool

Picked up Nelson (only a couple of weeks out from having Covid) and his bike from bottom end of Bowenvale Ave, leaving his car there, and we drove up to mine and hit the hill. Up the usuals, Vic Park Rd, 19th, Skidder, and gruntsville (I walked a snip), all the way to the top.  Regroup and down around, popping the two jumps nicely then straight into Worm, climbing smoothly to the Traverse.  Around here, pulling up multiple times letting (assumedly, the 'Slow Riders) lots of riders through all the way to the saddle, then mostly we got the track to ourselves after that.  Stopped at the top of Lavaflow, climbing up to the fenceline.  Good chat, rest, hang-out up here in the wind, taking shelter behind a couple of matagouri, and then due to cold, got moving.  

Down the Lavaflow.  What a blast.  Loved it.  Tech rock, tricky lines.  I dabbed a couple of spots, took smoother less steep lines when Nelson took big drops.  Only didn't ride one feature on my route.  Below the open section, into the Kanuka, lovely swoopy back and forth.  A couple of rocks I dabbed through, but will ride next time, then after the lowest one, tiiight rooty steep to the Hidden Valley 'bonus.'  Climbed up through the steep pines onto Old Skool, around to the high point and then dropped in.  Excellent blast down here.  My weight to my advantage, rolling, coasting, pumping, no pedalling and catching Nelson all the way while he was pedalling to keep the speed.  Bony as hell, lots of it, with some blown out bits lower down that could catch us off guard (but didnt).  Finally the last few corners, drifting out onto the gravel and out down, coasting rolling to the car. He dropped me home. 

Good hoon. 9 kms with 260 m climbed (plus an extra 220 descended) - very similar to the last time we hit Lavaflow (20 months ago!)

Sunday Sumnervale Captain Godley Snake Escape

Spin out with some new peeps this morning. I was a bit hungover post the TFC Xmas do.  At 10am, I met Jon, Ian and Conor, the latter two for the first time, at Sumnervale and we headed up the hill on what proved to be a hot and cool ride.  Clambered up the valley switchbacks and onto the sidling climb, walked the rockiest bits, and slowly my hangover was replaced with sucking down a lot of fresh air.

Out Godley Head Rd, climbing up the farmtrack to the Godley for a sweet hoon down to Livingston and over to Breeze.  Tonnes of ebikers and the odd regular biker around.  Very busy out there.  Up the road a little and dropped into Anaconda where I set a scorching pace, none of them managing to hold on.  Regrouped at the bottom, then hit the snake and regrouped again.  

Up the Escape, horrid steep bits being horrid, but the rest of it smooth sailing.  From top, up road to decide to stay on the road (we'd already been 2.5 hours by this stage - lots of long languorous breaks), nice coast down to Evans, and into the Captain.  I followed Ian, because it was his 'local' (he lives in Sumner), but I would have ridden most of it faster than him. Due to timing, he bailed off down the zigs, where I led Conor and Jon down the oldskool exit.  A bit too tech for them, methinks.  I rode everything, they got off and walked the odd bit.  I stopped often for them to catch up.  Good wee ride tho, just taking it easy and popping through stuff and enjoying it slower.  

Back to the cars and said our goodbyes.

Around 20 kms, (I didn't start MMR until we were a couple kms up (at 150m), and total of 770 m (620m + 150m) climbed.

Sunday Tops Again but Mountained

Good leg stretch hoon along the tops similar and back similar to yesterday but on the single track on the mountainbike.  Up the usuals, 19th, skidder, gutser (brief breather half way up), to top of Vic, down around the jumpies and hard right into Worm back up to Traverse.  Into the long slog around here, going well, then over Vernon, bomb to Rapaki-top, into Witch, decently negotiated.  Along road up to Castle and bomb in behind a couple of other guys (dad and son) I'd crossed paths with a couple of times, after giving them a good gap.  I popped out the very end closer to them than I'd been to start with and straight into the climb back up the road.  

Up onto the Tors for a good waft down this.  Very overgrown.  Onto road again and good blat around to Witch, up and over again, then up the road around Vernon, catching and overtaking another rider.  Into Traverse, nice bomb, then through the jumpies, rabbit paddock, rocks, gums, road, 235 out and up and down behind houses home.  

Similar but different, 20kms, 740 m climbed

Saturday Ease Along the Top and Back

With T, on our Ebikes we shot up on top and out past the Bridle Path and back.  Her first ride for a long time, good to get her stretching out.  We stopped just beyond the Bridle Path and I sat down on the grass and lay back.  On our way back after Castle Rock it felt like something was biting me on my elbow and on my back...  ended up with allergic looking bites, spider?  ant??  no idea.  Beautiful day but windy in places.  Used 60 % of my battery.  as did she.

Easy hoon, 21 kms, 790m escalated.

Show Day Hill Troll

Quick spin down the hill to meet T and Ben for an Ernle Clarke walk then off up the hill via more interesting routes, just for a good leg stretch.  I love riding this bike.

Grand total of 7.6 kms, 212 m clambered.

Saturday Quick Trolling

Little spin into a storm.  What looked to be a wall of weather out on the plains was making its way towards the hills and I knew everything was packing in for Sunday so I jumped on the Troll and headed out and up.  (after first attaching my Fidlock attachment to the frame for bottle).  Stood and ground my way up, good pace and man that bike feels fast and light, so smooth.  Up over 19th, to the skidder and onto my feet for the steepest.  Just up from the Sesame wallride I took off my bushshirt, tying it onto the handlebars, and got pedalling again.  Up to Brakefreezone and across the rabbit paddock to my sunset-seat.  Watched the weather, took the photo, rain started to spit, so headed across Rabbit and into Rocks, down around through the Gums, slick-tech on the Troll, out to Skidder and them bombed down the road, rain spattering heavier, into Dogparkcarpark - 235, slick bomb down here, not as dry as it was the other day, all the way down to the bottom of Harry Ell, and carried bike up shortcut to VicParkDrive and bomb to home.

25 minutes riding-time, a smidge less than 5 kms, 154 m climbed.

Thursday Night Solo, Hunts and back

Up from home to the top top of Vic, half dying on the steep climbing.  Quick blat down round the jumpies and and hard right into Coffee Break climbing gently up to the Traverse.  Misty fog lingering in spots around here, with various views diminished, vanished or there.  Stopped up top of Huntsbury and had a quick snack and break.  Then dropped into top of Four Pause for a nice blat down this bony rutty trail.  Yumpity bump, missing the 2nd jump, and then whoah..., dude slowing me just before the bottom gap jump, bypassing it cos there's a guy lying on the ground on the landing pad. Not in a good way.  His mate was on the phone to the emergency services, describing where they were.  Raspy sounding breathing, so maybe his lung was punctured?  Nasty rasping sound... I couldn't help, wasn't carrying my space blanket (which I'd have given if I was), his mates had it in hand, so I took off, continuing down the 'easy' tussock route, through the cattlestop, part way down the singletrack then peeled left through tussocks and clambered over Rocky, nearly crashing, then down all the way, bypassing or taking various of the jumps, all the way to the bottom of the Huntsbury Track. 

Back up the gravel road expecting an ambulence up behind me or chopper flying over any minute, but none.  Eventually back up to the guys, dude still on his back, still sounding dreadful, - he'd cased the jump.  They said they were sending a chopper...  Ground  up the gravel grovel and up onto the Traverse again, bomb bomb, lots of runners and walkers, chatted with a girl in an Montana State Uni top, "MSU!  I lived in Bozeman in the early 90s. - started mountainbiking there, 30 years ago!"  On around Traverse, big group of walkers hustling out of the way, and then bomba domb down over the jumps, straight through the cattlestop and down the rabbit paddock into the rocks, and gums, wend wend, out to skidder, over 19th, then into 235 all the way through out onto H'Ell and down the road back up around to home.... 

Home about 10 minutes when I finally heard and saw the chopper past, weaving its route to avoid the foggy mist... that was a long wait for the poor injured dude. 

Vitally statistical 13.8 kms with 481 m climbed

Saturday E-Planting Travis

Took the Ebike to Travis Planting. It was good for a bit of an explore of our old hood and a stop at the library on the way home.  Meandered a very seat-of-the-pants (but mapwise very direct) route there, enjoying our old sections of river and seeing how it's all changed/grown/developed.  Planted lots of plants and threw my back out on the last couple of plants I put in, scoffed a couple of sossies, and then got riding again.  Back around and dropped into Shirley Library to grab a couple of books from my list, then down past our old house and my old commute route into town before riding my current commute route home (nice and familiar).  Traffic is insane all the time now.

30something kms, again used most of the battery (from fully full to just under 30%)

Labour Monday Vic OldSkool Labouring

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frustrating 11.43 kms with 515 m escalated.

Saturday Sunday Paparoa, again

Higgs and me headed over Friday night to Taylorville, staying at Brunnerton Lodge before heading up thru Blackball to Smoke-Ho carpark.  Only a week or so off 2 years since I's last here... Weather was clearing, indeed, clear down in the Grey valley, but seemed to be lingering on the hills ahead of us and around us, so as we set up at the carpark there was a rainbow and a light drizzle.  Got rolling and on the first rocky descent a stone got caught in my mudguard.  I thought the front roll bag had messed with my rear brake hose and that the brake was on, but once I straightened it up I realised it was a stone...  removed, and on we headed.  The grunt of the climb began and Hugo did really good, plodding away.  He didn't walk much.  Took us about 2hr45 to Ces Clarke.  A little slower than last time but pretty good considering our lack of training.  

After a feed, off we headed along the tops.  More climbing, the odd walk.  My dropper started to play up (again, I was blaming my front-roll) but then a minor tweak of the barrel adjuster and I was happy.  One basin after another we trudged around.  On some of the final descent I stopped to wait and Hugo didn't show, and I had images of his teeth through his lips for some reason... :( So I started heading back and he appeared around a corner carrying his bike.  Derailleur well and truly stuck fast in his spokes...  oh dear.  Realisation occurred at my lack of 'safety' gear - no first aid kit (whoops), no duct tape (yikes).  Undid derailleur, removed wheel, managed to wrench the derailleur clear and then found that, reattached, he still had gears! - just didnt want to risk 1st or 2nd, so 3rd was his go to.  

Final blast to Moonlight was a joy.

Day two dawned, and we were the last to leave the hut.  Tho the 3 girls were not far gone with Georgia's troubles, so we passed them and continued on.  Nice descent, then up and down (quite a bit of up) in the goblin forest, then out onto the tops, views I never saw last time due to the weather.  

Awesome. 

This section is so good down to Pororari Hut.  Magic.  Still quite a long slog from Pororari, especially for Hugo, but man it was still good.  

YMMV, but Day One and Day Two on the MMR announces 17.7 kms and 34 kms respectively.  with 1124 m and 821 m climbed on each.  Them's some big climbings.

Welly Sunday Makara on Rentals

In Wellington for WoW.  Sunday afternoon, first nice day they'd seen for a while, Higgs and me made our way to Mud Cycles and rented an Ebike and an acoustic bike (only had the one e bike available) and went for a strop. Got to main entrance and realised didnt know the way in, given Koru was closed, so asked some folk and they led us around and up to the St Albans St entrance.  Climbed up Rimu and Miro, Sally Alley, Upswing, Aratihi.  Good climbs.  I was chuffing.  at the top of Aratihi I took the ebike to the top, it was fast...  Then we swapped back and jumped into North Face.  Good strop, then at the bottom of that we hit the bottom of Pohatu then SWIGG the rest of the way down.  Pohatu was the grade I would have prefered...

9.25 kms with 270 odd climbed.