Nelson and me ventured forth and proceeded to ride something kinda similar to what the boys did on Tuesday, only, extended higher and further... We parked up top of Worsley's Rd and headed up the multi-choice singletrack. I chuffed away, sore from yesterday's spill, but managing the climb okay. Nelson wasnt stopping and so i had to just plod along behind. Turns out he'd spotted some guys we'd seen as we were getting ready at the car, and was chasing. He caught them at the bottom of the 'bag, where they were stopped when i plodded through. Nelson was about half way up by the time i got going. Eased into it, but when the going got steep i decided my seat was too low, so stopped (and rested a little) and put seat up a little, then got going again and got a fair way up, doing okay, til finally i could do no more. Walked the last 20 or so metres.
Cruised through to top of Nun and Nelson led off. We both took it pretty easy, having not been down here for a while (well, over a month, anyway). I found myself riding it rather effortlessly, not really pushing it too hard, but trying not to brake too much, so i'd be coasting round the corners quite slowly, then letting the speed just build up, very little pedaling. A good run, with speed definitely gaining, for me, towards the bottom, and surprisingly catching up to Nelson lower down (in all the new stuff...)
Trundled up the road to the 'halfway' spot and headed over to check out the trail down into Gov'nors Bay. Hmmm... Closed due to rock fall... yeah right. Trail's been cleaned and it was actually a pretty sweet wee run down. Cut grass a bit slippery, but otherwise sweet, not a skerrick of damage evident. We continued all the way down to the driveway on the hairpin, and discovered the trail that continues down from there, but it's shut, and kinda barricaded, and cos it's private land, we left it alone and headed back up. Ugh, what a climb. My tire was getting soft so i pumped it up, and ended up walking pretty much all of the switchbacks. There was a time when i rode most of them, alas. On up we went in the direction of the Kiwi, cleaning most of the trail. At the top, we turned around and headed back down, then round and back up the way we'd come down earlier. My tire was getting low again, so stopped and pumped it, rode it abit longer and then finally it blew... Walked from below the boardwalk/bridge to the top, where we changed it and wrapped electrical tape around my rim a few times (rim tape had slipped). The tube i put in blew just as i'd gotten it up to pressures, so patched the first one and slapped that in. This is the one that had the slow leak, which continued to slow leak making me fucking well pump it up another 5 times or so. FUCK! Shut up, Steve, yes i know this wouldnt happen with tubeless.! From here we headed up the walk track above the road, and it was fun. Then up Marley's and over Worsleys.
Dusty blast down Worsleys, saying gudday to a guy on either a Jeffson or a BlackSheep, anyway, lovely machine, and then up the sideline to top of Hidden. Pumped more air in, and off down we went, like the boys (linked above) took the old route down. Awesome! More air part way down, then off down the trail that shall not be talked about, topping up air near the top, and loving the swoopy blast down, to... a Keep Out tape, and trees cut across the trail. Into 6 inches of powdered dirt, loose climbing til we got back onto the old track. Tootled up and swooped on down to the end, and back to the car, just on 8pm. My tire was flat when we got back to mine.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wednesday dawn Jet patrol
Sick of the lack of riding and flab that's been building up on my front, so got up at 6 and took Jet out to Bottle Lake in the Fiat, singlespeed on the back. We blatted down the first avenue and hung a right. He's so fast, but once on the singletrack I kept him in behind and we hoofed it round and out through the slowly lightening forest. To start off with it was nearly too dark to see any trail detail, but by the time we'd gotten to the gazebo on the top of the hill it was okay. Fast blat down from there and into some new trails on account of logging, then along the beach front, slowing down on the wide track for him to just lope along happily.
Headed back in and where the internal trail meets we hung a left and headed back through the new section towards the pond and then finally back to the car, Jet cruising a fair bit slower for the last little while. Good boy!
KEE-RASHHH!!!
Then, having a nice ride to work, enjoying the wrecked city scape along the poplars past ex-Centennial Pool and i rode over a beer can on the road which clung to my front wheel and rotated up into my mudguard, so i tried to knock it out with my foot which sent it wedging even harder into my tire and 'guard, spinning up, locking the front wheel, mangling the 'guard and sending me straight over the handlebars, smack-down onto the road, bike clattering over on top of me. Lucky i was wearing gloves or my hands would have been mangled. Elbows got garked. Nose hit the ground and immediately started bleeding, visor part of my Surface helmet cracked, shin got garked by something and was leaking blood down into my sock. Front wheel is toast, taco'd and bit crunch in the rim. Mudguard is toast. Got my shit together, removed the mudguard and managed to ride home slowly, wobble wobble wobble... The worst of it all? I scratched my brand spanking new Oakleys. Damn IT!
Headed back in and where the internal trail meets we hung a left and headed back through the new section towards the pond and then finally back to the car, Jet cruising a fair bit slower for the last little while. Good boy!
KEE-RASHHH!!!
Then, having a nice ride to work, enjoying the wrecked city scape along the poplars past ex-Centennial Pool and i rode over a beer can on the road which clung to my front wheel and rotated up into my mudguard, so i tried to knock it out with my foot which sent it wedging even harder into my tire and 'guard, spinning up, locking the front wheel, mangling the 'guard and sending me straight over the handlebars, smack-down onto the road, bike clattering over on top of me. Lucky i was wearing gloves or my hands would have been mangled. Elbows got garked. Nose hit the ground and immediately started bleeding, visor part of my Surface helmet cracked, shin got garked by something and was leaking blood down into my sock. Front wheel is toast, taco'd and bit crunch in the rim. Mudguard is toast. Got my shit together, removed the mudguard and managed to ride home slowly, wobble wobble wobble... The worst of it all? I scratched my brand spanking new Oakleys. Damn IT!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday up the hill
from work, trundled across town on the Troll, and headed up Hackthorne Rd to the Takahe, then on up into Vic Park to the big field with the slide for an extended family fush and chups. Quite a climb on a heavy townie. Managed about 8kph most of the climb, with occasional bursts of 10-12kph.
The internal workings of the Alfine?
The internal workings of the Alfine?
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Toosdy nite Townie
Nelson and me townied, me on the Surly, him on his skinny-tyred singlist, across to Steve's place's vicinity where we found Wazza, Pete and Robin awaiting us. Away we trundled, Ford, Fifield, over the river along a path, over the river along Eastern, through Beckenham Park, back up to Fisher, cross Colombo, backstreets through to Somerfield Park where we picked up Andrew and Tony, then straight line northish across Brougham through to Hagley Park where we found Wayno and onwards around South Haggles, through the middle of North. Wayne found some dog poo and put it all over his tires, then tried in vain to remove it. On down Armagh and through Vic Square, somewhere none of us had been for a couple years, and out via the Pallet Pavillion, then Peterboroughed Kilmored to Poms... Beer was consumed, and Trip plans discussed. To Kaiteriteri/Rameka and Nelson we'll a-go.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
ThursNight Packhorsing Springs
Cotic'd to work, then got to Nelson's work and we trafficjammed our way to Dyers Pass Rd and Gravel road in is obviously very well used now, by lots of logging trucks. Then the open singletrack is overcrowded with thistles that are very conveniently at handlebar height - yowch! Sweet wee blat down into the forest, loose and rooty and sketchy, dropping a ways before the clamber up to a stile. Over this and up the paddock edge and over to a massive stockpile of logs where once was tall shady forest. The trail has changed here, quite good, bombs down and meets the old trail where it goes into the dark fir forest. I stopped and got the sunnnies off in here and chased onwards, walking up the tight switchbacks then getting going again, up and over past the wee bach in there, then on into the last climb that goes on and on and on. Over the stile and a little bit of a rest, then up round the open exposed edge trail. Awesome, keeps you on your toes. Cleaned all the rocky sections and we were at the hut about 40 minutes after we left the car.
Didnt spend too long at the hut, and hit the trail back, picking our way round the slope, carefully but interestingly. Into the forest and the speed gets up quick, flowing and rolling and swerving and swooping. I shoulder/handlebar barged a tree (that'd knocked off Nelson on the way up), and had one close call on some particularly sketchy roots that were scattered all over the track just after a fast corner. The climbs made me suffer, but the descents were sweet. Return to the car was 1 hour 20 after we'd left.
Drove down the road and round and parked up Bamfords and headed into Living Springs. Round School's Out, checking out the wee "technical" 'drop' side trail, then up to the pines. Swapped bikes on the climb and i got to see what all the fuss is about these new fangled full suspension bike machine things. Sag was a bit soft for my fat arse, so the pedals kept clipping the trail, but i liked the way bumps were absorbed... Swapped back at the top of Rhymes with and we headed round into Mississippi. Sweet flow motion tho lots of sheep shit. Then round into Zanes and fun times. Bottom of Zanes we headed round and did the droppy thing again then up the steep bastard farmtrack leading to Mississippi. Walked a bit, and tried forks down and up, and down was definitely easier climbing. Then it was across Rhymes With, and down through the Pines, 8.30ish, and pretty dark in parts of the forest, then blitzed down to the bottom and clambering the last shreds of power out of my legs round to the car.
Didnt spend too long at the hut, and hit the trail back, picking our way round the slope, carefully but interestingly. Into the forest and the speed gets up quick, flowing and rolling and swerving and swooping. I shoulder/handlebar barged a tree (that'd knocked off Nelson on the way up), and had one close call on some particularly sketchy roots that were scattered all over the track just after a fast corner. The climbs made me suffer, but the descents were sweet. Return to the car was 1 hour 20 after we'd left.
Drove down the road and round and parked up Bamfords and headed into Living Springs. Round School's Out, checking out the wee "technical" 'drop' side trail, then up to the pines. Swapped bikes on the climb and i got to see what all the fuss is about these new fangled full suspension bike machine things. Sag was a bit soft for my fat arse, so the pedals kept clipping the trail, but i liked the way bumps were absorbed... Swapped back at the top of Rhymes with and we headed round into Mississippi. Sweet flow motion tho lots of sheep shit. Then round into Zanes and fun times. Bottom of Zanes we headed round and did the droppy thing again then up the steep bastard farmtrack leading to Mississippi. Walked a bit, and tried forks down and up, and down was definitely easier climbing. Then it was across Rhymes With, and down through the Pines, 8.30ish, and pretty dark in parts of the forest, then blitzed down to the bottom and clambering the last shreds of power out of my legs round to the car.
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Waitangi Day Taylors Godley
Having stayed over at Taylors, and it being a public holiday and all, i managed to get out in the afternoon. Headed up the snake's tail and ground my way up the snake proper. Cleaned it all but man it got me huffing. Out to Breeze and on round below the road, picking up a good pace and climbing pretty well before the descent round and out to the end. From here i climbed up above the road and on up to the closed trail round the back. I knew the rock guys had been blasting it in recent times so figured it might be okay to go. It used to be such a sweet run. It still is, except for the few big fuckers of rocks semi-blocking the trail, and the section in the middle where all the rocks have tumbled down, chewing up the trail. A couple more boulders, and the rest of the run back to Breeze was good, other than the long grass.
Back at Breeze, and only a half hour in, figured it'd be piking if i headed back down 'conda then, so headed on up the trail towards Livingston. All the way over. At Livingston, i explored the trail that heads towards the Harbour, strange W's on posts... Had always wondered about this trail. It sidles along for a while, quite nicely, climbing gently, but around the hill it heads up. Couldn't be arsed heading up so turned back and rocked back down to the trail, headed up over round to Breeze, then offered an in to a couple other riders who were 'chewing the fat', they declined, so i headed on down the snake, having a better run than the day before, flying down, then cruising the last of the snake nicely. Back up the road to the car, sequestered bike inside it, then trotted down the steps, into my togs and on down to the beach and straight into the water. Beautiful.
Back at Breeze, and only a half hour in, figured it'd be piking if i headed back down 'conda then, so headed on up the trail towards Livingston. All the way over. At Livingston, i explored the trail that heads towards the Harbour, strange W's on posts... Had always wondered about this trail. It sidles along for a while, quite nicely, climbing gently, but around the hill it heads up. Couldn't be arsed heading up so turned back and rocked back down to the trail, headed up over round to Breeze, then offered an in to a couple other riders who were 'chewing the fat', they declined, so i headed on down the snake, having a better run than the day before, flying down, then cruising the last of the snake nicely. Back up the road to the car, sequestered bike inside it, then trotted down the steps, into my togs and on down to the beach and straight into the water. Beautiful.
Tuesday evening Taylors Lap
Quicky for me on my own cos people no one showed. Thought Wayne and/or Warren might, but they never turned up. So, headed on up the sweet wee grunt up from Taylors to Godley Head Rd, cleaning everything except the two usual hairpins, and having one wee breather before the small ribbonwood-land near the top of the singletrack. Up the gravel grind, round the road, and up up up. Txt from Marie saying she couldnt make it and it was off down the hill. Excellent turn of speed down to Livingston Col where i noticed my rear tire getting softer, and softer, til finally just before the climb out i had to stop and change tubes. Fucking rim tape... Got moving, then more air needed, then got moving again on up the hill, over, past the spot i tumbled off last time, then on down to Breeze, where it really was pretty breezy, and a fast blast down Anaconda, still not grooving on the new bit, then along and up the lower track into the bach. Still all under an hour, even with the flat... The rain of Monday, and Tuesday morning had done nothing to the trails. It was amazing how dry they were...
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thursday, hottest day of the year, pretty much
Nelsie and me got out tonight. I rode the Cotic to work and then got to his work at about 5 in the sweltering heat. We drove to Redcliffs and parked up, then rode back round to McCormacks Bay and hit the dirt about 5.45. Bloody hot, hard work getting up the grunts. Cleaned the first hairpin, not the second, then due to the heat i blew a few other pinches, but got most of the upper 'pins. Off up the road all the way to the Upper Major, then up the singletrack, wind picking up something wicked. Hottest damned easterly i've ever felt, that's for sure. At the top, in the shade, we decided to hit up Broadleaf Lane and climbed some more, grovelling up the gravel and through the gate and over the stiles and then it was down down down. Wind pushing all the tussocks over, i followed Nelson down, and it sure is easier following someone than leading down here. When you're leading you're always second guessing it, wondering which way it goes next, but following is sweet.
Into Greenwood, dust not too much of a problem cos of the wind, but couldn't follow too close or i couldn't see the trail. I stuck pretty good to his tail til the climby bits after Gloomy Gulch, where my legs were struggling and he got away. But once on the down again i managed to gain on him just a little. He sure was haulin' ass tho. The lower sections were okay, tho i blew the first rocky up, losing more ground from Nelson. Lots of pain by the bottom, sore hands, sore feet, sore legs, sore arms.
Into Godley and i didnt have the balance nor the legs to clean the start. Once past that tho we both clipped along at a good pace with no more issues at all. Excellent blast round til the fenceline and i just had to rest and eat something. Off down towards Livingston, Nelson handed the lead over to me and i fudged my way through the rutty-ness, sunshine and shadows making life difficult til finally onto the Teddington Shit section and i got my mojo back. Excellent descent after the last wee wooden feature and a blazing descent to the col. Gave the lead back to Nelson for the climb towards Breeze, and he left me for dead. Then once the descent began again i couldn't even see him ahead anymore. The wind, long grass and a rut got the better of me and i tumbled off. Straight back on and got moving again, rounding the corner to see Nelson miles down below me just polishing off the PFMTBC Rock, which i then proceeded around the slope above then back down and over and then carefully speeding down avoiding dirt ridges, over the sheepstop and flying onto the road.
Headed out the lower trail towards the Heads. Good times on the downs, but really struggling on my ups. Legs drained, pained to push the cranks. Final blast out to the end and three riders hanging out. Lo and behold, another Cotic Soul!!! W00t! And Nick Singletrack on his Heckler. Stopped for a good chat with them then we headed back towards Breeze, them on our tails for a start. Got to Breeze and they weren't in sight but we stopped to rest and they turned up and more chatting ensued.
Time to part our ways, they were heading back up top of Pleasant, and us down Th'anaconda. Excellent blast, dust from Nelson obscuring my trail ahead, especially when we came round into the sun. Nelson was going so fast he lost the trail and i sloped past and took the lead, him tight on my heels. I dont think i slowed him too much, tho maybe he was just being polite. Railed all the berms, yumped the yumps and we flowed down and down til we didnt flow anymore. Slammed on the anchors to get round the first corner of the new section, then flowed briefly before having to brake hard again to get round one of the later ones. They could have built it a bit more flowy!! Straight into the 'tail and picked our ways over the boney rocks and out and down.
Legs, wiped. Climb out of Taylors, hard. Still, surprised myself and didn't resort to using my granny. We made the top in pretty good time then tucked in for the blast down the road, catching a car at the bottom.
I'd thought of my friend Miranda as i'd been flying down the road, cos she lives in Sumner, then as we trundled along the waterfront,who should we bump into? Stopped and chatted for a while before hauling our sorry asses around the road back to the car. All up, with stops for chats and breaks, 3 hours.
Into Greenwood, dust not too much of a problem cos of the wind, but couldn't follow too close or i couldn't see the trail. I stuck pretty good to his tail til the climby bits after Gloomy Gulch, where my legs were struggling and he got away. But once on the down again i managed to gain on him just a little. He sure was haulin' ass tho. The lower sections were okay, tho i blew the first rocky up, losing more ground from Nelson. Lots of pain by the bottom, sore hands, sore feet, sore legs, sore arms.
Into Godley and i didnt have the balance nor the legs to clean the start. Once past that tho we both clipped along at a good pace with no more issues at all. Excellent blast round til the fenceline and i just had to rest and eat something. Off down towards Livingston, Nelson handed the lead over to me and i fudged my way through the rutty-ness, sunshine and shadows making life difficult til finally onto the Teddington Shit section and i got my mojo back. Excellent descent after the last wee wooden feature and a blazing descent to the col. Gave the lead back to Nelson for the climb towards Breeze, and he left me for dead. Then once the descent began again i couldn't even see him ahead anymore. The wind, long grass and a rut got the better of me and i tumbled off. Straight back on and got moving again, rounding the corner to see Nelson miles down below me just polishing off the PFMTBC Rock, which i then proceeded around the slope above then back down and over and then carefully speeding down avoiding dirt ridges, over the sheepstop and flying onto the road.
Headed out the lower trail towards the Heads. Good times on the downs, but really struggling on my ups. Legs drained, pained to push the cranks. Final blast out to the end and three riders hanging out. Lo and behold, another Cotic Soul!!! W00t! And Nick Singletrack on his Heckler. Stopped for a good chat with them then we headed back towards Breeze, them on our tails for a start. Got to Breeze and they weren't in sight but we stopped to rest and they turned up and more chatting ensued.
Time to part our ways, they were heading back up top of Pleasant, and us down Th'anaconda. Excellent blast, dust from Nelson obscuring my trail ahead, especially when we came round into the sun. Nelson was going so fast he lost the trail and i sloped past and took the lead, him tight on my heels. I dont think i slowed him too much, tho maybe he was just being polite. Railed all the berms, yumped the yumps and we flowed down and down til we didnt flow anymore. Slammed on the anchors to get round the first corner of the new section, then flowed briefly before having to brake hard again to get round one of the later ones. They could have built it a bit more flowy!! Straight into the 'tail and picked our ways over the boney rocks and out and down.
Legs, wiped. Climb out of Taylors, hard. Still, surprised myself and didn't resort to using my granny. We made the top in pretty good time then tucked in for the blast down the road, catching a car at the bottom.
I'd thought of my friend Miranda as i'd been flying down the road, cos she lives in Sumner, then as we trundled along the waterfront,who should we bump into? Stopped and chatted for a while before hauling our sorry asses around the road back to the car. All up, with stops for chats and breaks, 3 hours.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Saturday Morning Ken Nun Club Line
Droved to Andy's and awaited the rest. In short time Steve, Wazza, Wayne and Robin turned up, then the 6 of us headed round the foot of the hill to Halswell (that ends well) Quarry and up the C2, which i must say is a mighty fine wee section of track. Good efforts, once again, Chch Singletrack Club. The sun was sunny and the day had plenty of hotness in it and we clambered up in good style, with the worst of the heat being on the Crocodile proper, especially down in the valley steeps. Once up on Kennedy's there was some respite in the form of a breeze or three.
Dabbed on the wee pinch above the pond then pretty well cleared the rest. Waited to close the gate, then piece by piece we ventured over Siberia and regrouped down there ready for the climb. Not bad, picked my 'new favourite' gear, granny and 3rd, mostly and just trundled on upwards. couple stops before the final grind. Surprised myself and actually cleaned it, something i'd not done for a long while. We regrouped again and then cruised the last to the road, and on up top of Marley's. Robin was feeling the heat so wandered off to shelter under the big pine, while the rest of us rocketshipped off over the Nun. Had a good run down here, leaping very nicely most of the way, even overtaking a dude part way down, in the rocky section. Back up the road to the top.
Rested in the nice cool wind and ate some OneSquare and the others all were scared of the wind so bombed off down, so i chased, and met them again at the top of B-Line/Hidden/FightClub... I led the way, Steve having only ridden it once before, and enjoyed the tech challenge of it a little bit greasy. Kept you on your toes. Got all the way through the worst rocky section, only to have a stick thrust itself between frame and rear tire, very effectively putting the brakes on. Onwards down and decided to bail on the lower section, if the previous dampness and sketchiness was anything to go by, and bombed on down the old usual, off first to the left, then the right, swooping down through the dips and woops out to the wee climb back up and out the finish.
Final blast down the road, me peeling off and taking the somewhat overgrown dirt sideline, allowing the boys to get well ahead before catching them and all stopping back at Andy's for a coffee.
Almost exactly a year since i was last on Kennedy's proper (down, not up)... crikey. and 4 and a half years since i climbed it!
Dabbed on the wee pinch above the pond then pretty well cleared the rest. Waited to close the gate, then piece by piece we ventured over Siberia and regrouped down there ready for the climb. Not bad, picked my 'new favourite' gear, granny and 3rd, mostly and just trundled on upwards. couple stops before the final grind. Surprised myself and actually cleaned it, something i'd not done for a long while. We regrouped again and then cruised the last to the road, and on up top of Marley's. Robin was feeling the heat so wandered off to shelter under the big pine, while the rest of us rocketshipped off over the Nun. Had a good run down here, leaping very nicely most of the way, even overtaking a dude part way down, in the rocky section. Back up the road to the top.
Rested in the nice cool wind and ate some OneSquare and the others all were scared of the wind so bombed off down, so i chased, and met them again at the top of B-Line/Hidden/FightClub... I led the way, Steve having only ridden it once before, and enjoyed the tech challenge of it a little bit greasy. Kept you on your toes. Got all the way through the worst rocky section, only to have a stick thrust itself between frame and rear tire, very effectively putting the brakes on. Onwards down and decided to bail on the lower section, if the previous dampness and sketchiness was anything to go by, and bombed on down the old usual, off first to the left, then the right, swooping down through the dips and woops out to the wee climb back up and out the finish.
Final blast down the road, me peeling off and taking the somewhat overgrown dirt sideline, allowing the boys to get well ahead before catching them and all stopping back at Andy's for a coffee.
Almost exactly a year since i was last on Kennedy's proper (down, not up)... crikey. and 4 and a half years since i climbed it!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Quick Monday evening Taylors catchment circuit
Found myself over at the Taylors bach for the evening, so hit up the road, randomly finding my dog coming out of someone elses driveway, so ran him back to the bach and they'd lost him... headed up the road again, and onto the walking track up. Clean clean clean, not a dab, a couple of wee breather rest stops but the lower range of gears had it good for me the whole way. Over the top stile and up the gravel, even easier, over the gate, with heaps of flyingmen wafting around, checked them out briefly before going round the road to the gate and up up up to the Godley trail.
Downhill now, minding the edges of the ruts, just think of it as a skinny board, no wavering, roll roll roll, a fast bike's a stable bike, 'n all that, onwards down, finally picking up some more flowy speed on the teddington shit section, boogying over the last woodfeature then railing it down to the fence gap. Tried out the upper line but it just doesnt go anywhere, found the old attempts at making a zigzag track in there, they're certainly not getting ridden, so back onto the main track for the funky wavy back and forth down to finally Livinston Col.
Clambered around and up out of there and over towards Breeze, long grass keeping the track oh so narrow and tight, again with the ruttiness, til finally branching round and back over the PFMTBC rock and on down, minding the tire-catchers, over the cattlestop and onto the road.
Next up, down from Breeze, again with the overgrown lonnnng grass heads, clipping handlebars, trail a distant grey dirt thing below, slowly building speed round, through over a washout and round finally into the Snake. Lots of speed, bumpitty bump, jump or two, railing, trailing, never flailing, eventually into the new section, oh dear, not as flowy as further up, gonna take a little to get the hang of, and then yay, into the tail, still very long dry dry grass heads, back starting to play up, soreness aching its way into my ride, making the last descent to the bottom quite excruciating.
Rolled through the carparks and struggled back up to the car. Back to the house, togs on, down to the beach with the dog and straight into the surf. Fantastic! What a way to ease out the lactic and relax into an evening of a couple of good beers and some nice wine.
Downhill now, minding the edges of the ruts, just think of it as a skinny board, no wavering, roll roll roll, a fast bike's a stable bike, 'n all that, onwards down, finally picking up some more flowy speed on the teddington shit section, boogying over the last woodfeature then railing it down to the fence gap. Tried out the upper line but it just doesnt go anywhere, found the old attempts at making a zigzag track in there, they're certainly not getting ridden, so back onto the main track for the funky wavy back and forth down to finally Livinston Col.
Clambered around and up out of there and over towards Breeze, long grass keeping the track oh so narrow and tight, again with the ruttiness, til finally branching round and back over the PFMTBC rock and on down, minding the tire-catchers, over the cattlestop and onto the road.
Next up, down from Breeze, again with the overgrown lonnnng grass heads, clipping handlebars, trail a distant grey dirt thing below, slowly building speed round, through over a washout and round finally into the Snake. Lots of speed, bumpitty bump, jump or two, railing, trailing, never flailing, eventually into the new section, oh dear, not as flowy as further up, gonna take a little to get the hang of, and then yay, into the tail, still very long dry dry grass heads, back starting to play up, soreness aching its way into my ride, making the last descent to the bottom quite excruciating.
Rolled through the carparks and struggled back up to the car. Back to the house, togs on, down to the beach with the dog and straight into the surf. Fantastic! What a way to ease out the lactic and relax into an evening of a couple of good beers and some nice wine.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Sunday's sun daze early shorty
To avoid the heat of the forthcoming day, Andy arranged an early start, four of us meeting at top of Worsley Rd at 8.30 - being Andy, Warren, Dallas and myself. We got going up the track, Dallas having a couple of tumbles (one Andrew cut him off), moseying all the way up to bottom of Bodybag then heading off up for the BCDEF-lines. Took the lefthand, "F-Line" down, me stopping a wee ways down wondering if the others had gone the old way, taking off my sunnies at the same time it being so dark in the forest. They'd also done the same and soon got down to me, and we headed off again. On down, grooving all the grooviness, then peeling right, across into the Club de Fight, loving the crap out of it all the way out to the bottom.
Back up the nice climb to the mains again and i led them down my ACJoint / Dave's Track steep bugger that it is. A couple of sections baulked me this time, but i managed my crashpoint, tho not the next bit before the final chute. Andy got most of the steeps, but Warren and Dallas need a little practice. Otherwise a great steep bugger of a downhill, followed by a grunty crunchy climb out, me cleaning it grannywise for the first time with no walking. Andy rode it pretty much all too, alas the other two didnt quite have enough in the tank. No worries guys, first time i've managed to ride up it all!
Back up round the rest of the climbs back to the top again and we headed off down back to the cars. All in all a good ride, short, but sweet. Back to Andy's for coffee.
Back up the nice climb to the mains again and i led them down my ACJoint / Dave's Track steep bugger that it is. A couple of sections baulked me this time, but i managed my crashpoint, tho not the next bit before the final chute. Andy got most of the steeps, but Warren and Dallas need a little practice. Otherwise a great steep bugger of a downhill, followed by a grunty crunchy climb out, me cleaning it grannywise for the first time with no walking. Andy rode it pretty much all too, alas the other two didnt quite have enough in the tank. No worries guys, first time i've managed to ride up it all!
Back up round the rest of the climbs back to the top again and we headed off down back to the cars. All in all a good ride, short, but sweet. Back to Andy's for coffee.
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Tuesday night quicky
Nelson to mine from work, and we 'rona'd to Hillsborough Tce. He had his old bike cos the new one had rearwheelbearing issues and was at the shop. Had word from Andrew the others would be meeting at Kaizuku (or whatever its called) to ride up Huntsbury. Nelson and me had other plans, but as our routes were similar, kinda expected to meet up with them. Up Hillsborough, up The Crescent (noting, on the way to the gate, that the brown wooden place on the right, at the top, is for rent, $225 a week, seems pretty reasonable for a cool ass location!), and onto the Farm Track.
Grunt began and at the first rise i needed to layer off. Much better, off up we continued, grind grind grind, mostly in 2nd, sometimes granny, sometimes 3rd. Nelson, of course, powered off ahead and we didn't meet til the top. I cleaned it all, for a change, not burning out except for once.
At the top we sidled round the fence and met the small gate i'd never noticed before, crossed the road and up onto the groom-assed track that is now Mt Vernon which we continued our climb over to cross the road again and stopped for a nibble amongst a couple of posses of other riders, including Daryl who we had a bit of a chat to.
Got going, me out front, and bombed it, tail wind speedsters, feeling good. Nelson caught me on the wee climb and then again after the pond, and at the usual break point i gave him the lead. Weird fuck up at the dipper, i slammed on the brakes cos i remembered it had washed out all that time ago, but no, it was fully rideable, which, if memory serves correctly it may have been last time i was through. Anyway. around after the next cattlestop Nelson nearly lost it because some other riders parked on the side of the trail distracted him momentarily. Fun descent past them, over the wee yumpies and then blast round into Vic, dark trees, and up to top.
Here, we decided to keep it a short ride and not go do a lap of the 'Nun, and so headed straight down to the see-saw, a few BrakeFree's and then across to the rockgarden, into the Gummies, the gum leaves on the little left hander track all slippery and interesting, then finally all the way down and back up onto the skidder site. Nelson continued all the way down the rest of the single track and rode back up the road to the skidder site. Here, i checked out the jump Bex had cased a few weeks ago. She'll be out of Burwood Brain Injury Rehab Ward soon, i hope.
Next up it was me first into Shagga's, nicely cleaned up, berms all tidy like, and then on down Brents, keeping right and getting in on the last breaths of Rad^Sick, then Bridges, Flow, New Bridges, blaze blaze pump pump, over hanging grasses nearly getting me near the bottom, then the blast down the 4wd to the hard right, change down, through the creek, and... stall! Bugger. Nelson out front for the climb and grind grind for the two and a half minutes to the top.
Around onto Old Skool and oh what fun. Good wind action, getting rid of dust quickly, i sat tight on Nelson's tail all the way down, hopping and pumping all the same spots. Was really fun. Finally, through the rutty end, and rolling down the gravel to the road. Riding back to the car we spotted Andrew's and the other's vehicles parked up at Kaizuka's.
Good ride, short, 1 hour 50 mins, taking it reasonably easy.
Grunt began and at the first rise i needed to layer off. Much better, off up we continued, grind grind grind, mostly in 2nd, sometimes granny, sometimes 3rd. Nelson, of course, powered off ahead and we didn't meet til the top. I cleaned it all, for a change, not burning out except for once.
At the top we sidled round the fence and met the small gate i'd never noticed before, crossed the road and up onto the groom-assed track that is now Mt Vernon which we continued our climb over to cross the road again and stopped for a nibble amongst a couple of posses of other riders, including Daryl who we had a bit of a chat to.
Got going, me out front, and bombed it, tail wind speedsters, feeling good. Nelson caught me on the wee climb and then again after the pond, and at the usual break point i gave him the lead. Weird fuck up at the dipper, i slammed on the brakes cos i remembered it had washed out all that time ago, but no, it was fully rideable, which, if memory serves correctly it may have been last time i was through. Anyway. around after the next cattlestop Nelson nearly lost it because some other riders parked on the side of the trail distracted him momentarily. Fun descent past them, over the wee yumpies and then blast round into Vic, dark trees, and up to top.
Here, we decided to keep it a short ride and not go do a lap of the 'Nun, and so headed straight down to the see-saw, a few BrakeFree's and then across to the rockgarden, into the Gummies, the gum leaves on the little left hander track all slippery and interesting, then finally all the way down and back up onto the skidder site. Nelson continued all the way down the rest of the single track and rode back up the road to the skidder site. Here, i checked out the jump Bex had cased a few weeks ago. She'll be out of Burwood Brain Injury Rehab Ward soon, i hope.
Next up it was me first into Shagga's, nicely cleaned up, berms all tidy like, and then on down Brents, keeping right and getting in on the last breaths of Rad^Sick, then Bridges, Flow, New Bridges, blaze blaze pump pump, over hanging grasses nearly getting me near the bottom, then the blast down the 4wd to the hard right, change down, through the creek, and... stall! Bugger. Nelson out front for the climb and grind grind for the two and a half minutes to the top.
Around onto Old Skool and oh what fun. Good wind action, getting rid of dust quickly, i sat tight on Nelson's tail all the way down, hopping and pumping all the same spots. Was really fun. Finally, through the rutty end, and rolling down the gravel to the road. Riding back to the car we spotted Andrew's and the other's vehicles parked up at Kaizuka's.
Good ride, short, 1 hour 50 mins, taking it reasonably easy.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
Wakamarina, the hard way... 5th Jan 2013
Second ride of the year was with Nelson, who drove up specially.
We took two cars out of The Grove, heading to Havelock and then up to Canvastown where we left his. Back round through Havelock and on down to the North Bank Rd and round into the Onamalutu road... Up this past the Onamalutu reserve and into the gravel and onwards up, finding a fucking sign saying ROAD CLOSED - Access to Wakamarina Track CLOSED... DAMN. Considered parking up and riding anyway, but it seemed pretty serious, so we drove back, all the way to Canvastown then all the way up the Wakamarina Rd to the end to ride. Was about 11 by the time we made it up there, a good couple of hours after having left Queen Charlotte. Ugh.
The ride to ensue was possibly the most draining ride i've ever completed. We rode up the 4wd track for a start, which becomes the track proper a km or two in. Open and hot and dry to start, it enters lovely shady cool forest and is a nice gradient, mostly up.
At the Doom Creek turn off we decided to take a look at this. Wow. What a trail. Awesome benched, ex water-race, trail, into these spectacular gorges, some small, waterfally ferny bushy gulches, and a couple of sizeable water crossings nigh on impossible to keep feet dry. Some insane exposures, big drops off the side into gigantic-boulder strewn gulleys. Good final descent, rough and ready, down to the main track, and on up this we cruised.
Mostly climbs, but a surprising number of descents, usually into small to medium sized creek crossings, most of which not rideable. Eventually making the Devil's Hut. Dropped down for a look, and filled in the intentions book just for the hell of it.
Next up, the climb. Ugh. I had no memory of most of the track. Nelson and me did this about 10 years ago. We couldnt even remember the bikes we were riding. Anyway, it was too steep to ride, all the way up. We probably pushed for about 1.5-2 hours, up up up. Cleared two big windfalls on the way, which was good. Also opened up a rotten log so's to be rideable. Midway we bumped into two separate walking parties, first off a dad and two sons, then a couple. Nearing the top we ran into two solo riders, and then a group of 4 from Nelson (turned out they knew Stu), one of them on a Fatbike (cool!). (They'd all entered the proper way via the alternative access, Bartlett's Rd, apparently a 45minute detour from the usual Kiwi Rd). We continued upwards, finally making the 1066m top. I was dead. This was about 3pm or so, i think.
At least it was (kinda) all down hill from here... The descent is crazy. Starts out really rooty, bumpy, you can hardly take your eyes off the ground to see where the orange triangles are and where the trail's going. Around where we'd met the group there is a mad practically vertical face of roots which there was no way i was gonna ride. Dont think Nelson did it either... Then it was pretty much good to go from there on down. One or two bits i think i had to get off, but i cleaned waaay more switchbacks than i did all those years ago, my skills having been honed over the years, and a better bike i guess. there was less than a handful that i had to stop on to turn the bike. All big giant red beech and rimu, blechnum ferns, open and lush forest, very Lord of the Rings-esque.
And it all just came back at us so damned quickly, steep, interesting, challenging, and bloody hard work. I think it was about a half hour from leaving the top to making the hut again. Topped up water here and then headed on down the rest. The climbs getting harder and harder, and the heat increasing the lower down we got. Eventually stopped at one of the creeks and i could have climbed in. Good dunking of the head and washing arms etc sure helped out. The steep ass rocky switchback descent to Doom Creek was a challenge, the top corner getting me spooked, but cleaned the rest and then died walking out up the steep dry hot switchbacks leading out. Once back in the shady forest again tho, it was mostly downhill, past the 4wd end and on down the open section back to the car. Skulled a Poweraid i wish i'd taken with me and then we headed on back, after first stopping at the end of the road campground and having another dunk, this time, walking into the river to cool the leg muscles.
Got back home to The Grove around 6-6.30. A LONG day.
We took two cars out of The Grove, heading to Havelock and then up to Canvastown where we left his. Back round through Havelock and on down to the North Bank Rd and round into the Onamalutu road... Up this past the Onamalutu reserve and into the gravel and onwards up, finding a fucking sign saying ROAD CLOSED - Access to Wakamarina Track CLOSED... DAMN. Considered parking up and riding anyway, but it seemed pretty serious, so we drove back, all the way to Canvastown then all the way up the Wakamarina Rd to the end to ride. Was about 11 by the time we made it up there, a good couple of hours after having left Queen Charlotte. Ugh.
The ride to ensue was possibly the most draining ride i've ever completed. We rode up the 4wd track for a start, which becomes the track proper a km or two in. Open and hot and dry to start, it enters lovely shady cool forest and is a nice gradient, mostly up.
At the Doom Creek turn off we decided to take a look at this. Wow. What a trail. Awesome benched, ex water-race, trail, into these spectacular gorges, some small, waterfally ferny bushy gulches, and a couple of sizeable water crossings nigh on impossible to keep feet dry. Some insane exposures, big drops off the side into gigantic-boulder strewn gulleys. Good final descent, rough and ready, down to the main track, and on up this we cruised.
Mostly climbs, but a surprising number of descents, usually into small to medium sized creek crossings, most of which not rideable. Eventually making the Devil's Hut. Dropped down for a look, and filled in the intentions book just for the hell of it.
Next up, the climb. Ugh. I had no memory of most of the track. Nelson and me did this about 10 years ago. We couldnt even remember the bikes we were riding. Anyway, it was too steep to ride, all the way up. We probably pushed for about 1.5-2 hours, up up up. Cleared two big windfalls on the way, which was good. Also opened up a rotten log so's to be rideable. Midway we bumped into two separate walking parties, first off a dad and two sons, then a couple. Nearing the top we ran into two solo riders, and then a group of 4 from Nelson (turned out they knew Stu), one of them on a Fatbike (cool!). (They'd all entered the proper way via the alternative access, Bartlett's Rd, apparently a 45minute detour from the usual Kiwi Rd). We continued upwards, finally making the 1066m top. I was dead. This was about 3pm or so, i think.
At least it was (kinda) all down hill from here... The descent is crazy. Starts out really rooty, bumpy, you can hardly take your eyes off the ground to see where the orange triangles are and where the trail's going. Around where we'd met the group there is a mad practically vertical face of roots which there was no way i was gonna ride. Dont think Nelson did it either... Then it was pretty much good to go from there on down. One or two bits i think i had to get off, but i cleaned waaay more switchbacks than i did all those years ago, my skills having been honed over the years, and a better bike i guess. there was less than a handful that i had to stop on to turn the bike. All big giant red beech and rimu, blechnum ferns, open and lush forest, very Lord of the Rings-esque.
And it all just came back at us so damned quickly, steep, interesting, challenging, and bloody hard work. I think it was about a half hour from leaving the top to making the hut again. Topped up water here and then headed on down the rest. The climbs getting harder and harder, and the heat increasing the lower down we got. Eventually stopped at one of the creeks and i could have climbed in. Good dunking of the head and washing arms etc sure helped out. The steep ass rocky switchback descent to Doom Creek was a challenge, the top corner getting me spooked, but cleaned the rest and then died walking out up the steep dry hot switchbacks leading out. Once back in the shady forest again tho, it was mostly downhill, past the 4wd end and on down the open section back to the car. Skulled a Poweraid i wish i'd taken with me and then we headed on back, after first stopping at the end of the road campground and having another dunk, this time, walking into the river to cool the leg muscles.
Got back home to The Grove around 6-6.30. A LONG day.
Cullens Up, over, bit of Waikakaho and back - 2nd Jan
Hip happy new year, y'all.
Left the bach at The Grove and rode the road to Linkwater, then up Cullensville Rd to the end. Howling northerly blaring away, nice tailwind up to the end of the gravel. Checked out a little of the history of the place and headed on up the trail. Excellent benched track built between 1888 and 1893 by the goldminers, makes for a sweet ascent. Some of the exposure is pretty heinous, but the views get better and better as you climb. At the end of the good miner's track, the zig zags begin, and are just steep enough to require lowest granny and are unsustainable effort-wise in the long run, making you have to resort to walking. Walk walk walk, zig, zag, zig, zag... up, up, up, up, finally entering the native bush high up. More climbing, clambering over rooty roughness and the trail starts sidling. Little riding, mostly walking bike or carrying, til finally a couple of stretches of riding before finally hitting the saddle.
Descent into Waikakaho is steep and rocky. Excellent track tho. Lost altitude very quickly, meeting some walkers high up, and a kaka, i rode down past the old town site and on down to around 500m alt, when the trail heads mainly down quite a dry ridge, tui going OFF in the red-flowering rata. Decided here to turn back and head up. A fair bit of riding, and a bit of walking, took a hell of a lot longer than the ride down. Met some more walkers (who i'd somehow missed previously) at the old town site and headed on up. Eventually got to the top again and trundled up the rideable bits, and scooted (one foot clipped in, sort of a prolonged dab) more than i had in the other direction. Along this top bit, wind was more of a gale than it'd been previously, and i bumped into another rider, turning out to be a friend of Al's (Paul)...
Once at the sign to Private Land, rode all the stuff i'd walked up, down down down fast wee blips, switchback, fast wee blip, switchback, back and forth, down down down. Eventually, made the miner's cliffcut track. Some sections as i approached corners the wind was roaring and i'd come round the corner and almost be driven to a halt. One of these, i rode round and not far up the trail were the first walkers i'd encountered earlier. Rode on by and lower down met a family of lots of kids and one parent.
Down, out, into the (now stronger) wind to Linkwater, occasional gusts on the gravel road whipping up massive dust clouds into my face. Well earned Powerade at Linkwater and off along the tarmac i headed...
Arrived back the the bach 5 and a half hours after i'd left... knackered.
Left the bach at The Grove and rode the road to Linkwater, then up Cullensville Rd to the end. Howling northerly blaring away, nice tailwind up to the end of the gravel. Checked out a little of the history of the place and headed on up the trail. Excellent benched track built between 1888 and 1893 by the goldminers, makes for a sweet ascent. Some of the exposure is pretty heinous, but the views get better and better as you climb. At the end of the good miner's track, the zig zags begin, and are just steep enough to require lowest granny and are unsustainable effort-wise in the long run, making you have to resort to walking. Walk walk walk, zig, zag, zig, zag... up, up, up, up, finally entering the native bush high up. More climbing, clambering over rooty roughness and the trail starts sidling. Little riding, mostly walking bike or carrying, til finally a couple of stretches of riding before finally hitting the saddle.
Descent into Waikakaho is steep and rocky. Excellent track tho. Lost altitude very quickly, meeting some walkers high up, and a kaka, i rode down past the old town site and on down to around 500m alt, when the trail heads mainly down quite a dry ridge, tui going OFF in the red-flowering rata. Decided here to turn back and head up. A fair bit of riding, and a bit of walking, took a hell of a lot longer than the ride down. Met some more walkers (who i'd somehow missed previously) at the old town site and headed on up. Eventually got to the top again and trundled up the rideable bits, and scooted (one foot clipped in, sort of a prolonged dab) more than i had in the other direction. Along this top bit, wind was more of a gale than it'd been previously, and i bumped into another rider, turning out to be a friend of Al's (Paul)...
Once at the sign to Private Land, rode all the stuff i'd walked up, down down down fast wee blips, switchback, fast wee blip, switchback, back and forth, down down down. Eventually, made the miner's cliffcut track. Some sections as i approached corners the wind was roaring and i'd come round the corner and almost be driven to a halt. One of these, i rode round and not far up the trail were the first walkers i'd encountered earlier. Rode on by and lower down met a family of lots of kids and one parent.
Down, out, into the (now stronger) wind to Linkwater, occasional gusts on the gravel road whipping up massive dust clouds into my face. Well earned Powerade at Linkwater and off along the tarmac i headed...
Arrived back the the bach 5 and a half hours after i'd left... knackered.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Xmas Eve Aorere Goldfielding
No rides while in Totaranui, cept for around and about the campground with the boys.
From Collingwood, drove in the Fiatissimo out Plain Rd and down past the Devil's Boots along for a while to the end, then backtracked and parked under a nice shady tree.
HOT AS... Headed up the main entry, then hit the 4wd track on the right, through the ford and began the scorching climb. Little if any shade in occasional spots, i took a right hand turn, just for an explore, thinking it might come back round to the main track. It didnt, so after about 5 minutes i turned back, and continued my climb.
Ended up climbing all the way past my 2nd turn off (to Bedstead Gully), and on up to the 387 trig, thinking there was a single track down, which petered out to nothing but overgrown-ness, so i climbed back up to 387 and headed back down to my usual, which i found different to my distant memory, but eventually ended where i needed to be. Hit the trail to the dam, and climbed, steeply. Met the other track, and climbed, steeply again, finally topping out and enjoying the descent to the dam where i plonked myself down in the shade of a tree overlooking the water.
Sitting there, shirt off, thinking how damned hot it was, and suddenly there's someone else! Hello... chatted a bit and she took off onwards upwards, and i headed on down round the waterrace, past the caves, didnt bother to pop down to them, and then blazed on down the fantastic singletrack back to the bottom, and finally the car.
From Collingwood, drove in the Fiatissimo out Plain Rd and down past the Devil's Boots along for a while to the end, then backtracked and parked under a nice shady tree.
HOT AS... Headed up the main entry, then hit the 4wd track on the right, through the ford and began the scorching climb. Little if any shade in occasional spots, i took a right hand turn, just for an explore, thinking it might come back round to the main track. It didnt, so after about 5 minutes i turned back, and continued my climb.
Ended up climbing all the way past my 2nd turn off (to Bedstead Gully), and on up to the 387 trig, thinking there was a single track down, which petered out to nothing but overgrown-ness, so i climbed back up to 387 and headed back down to my usual, which i found different to my distant memory, but eventually ended where i needed to be. Hit the trail to the dam, and climbed, steeply. Met the other track, and climbed, steeply again, finally topping out and enjoying the descent to the dam where i plonked myself down in the shade of a tree overlooking the water.
Sitting there, shirt off, thinking how damned hot it was, and suddenly there's someone else! Hello... chatted a bit and she took off onwards upwards, and i headed on down round the waterrace, past the caves, didnt bother to pop down to them, and then blazed on down the fantastic singletrack back to the bottom, and finally the car.
Rameka, tumeke...15th December, Saturday, 2012.
(written a couple days later, from Totaranui) After driving up from Chch through a hot hot day, stopped at the Canaan Downs Rd turn off and changed into my bike gear and hit the gravel road in, Jo taking over the driving of the Brava, carrying a sleeping H.
5.27pm it was, hot as. A couple of descents and climbs before the true climb, views for africa out over Tasman Bay back round Motueka through to Nelson. Passed by a couple of dreaded hippies and their van parked up next to a heap of busy beehives, and then was passed by one car going in, met one coming out on my descent from the Canaan Saddle. Through the Gathering site and when i got to the field we camped in that wet wet festival (G2000), i saw the sign, "Rollercoaster (Canaan Loop)". rode across the field and hit the steep wee climb, sheep scattering from my path, their excrement thankfully not sticking to my tires too much. Rollercoaster it was, up, down, up, down, swoopy fun. big ring the whole way with only one dab, round and into some bush and fantastic rolling flowing trail in absolutely ideal condition, eventually spitting me out, grinning, in the Harwood's Hole carpark.
Signed the book and clambered my way up to the Rameka track start. Sat down for a well earned rest and chucked out a couple of txts, then into the trail, about an hour from when i entered the road. And oh, what fun. The driest i've ever seen it (in all the 3 or 4 times i've ridden it), supreme conditions. Flowed, rode, wended, hopped, popped, shimmied my way around. Loving the one or two wet sections for their back end squirrelling. taking it carefully on one or two of the stream crossings, including the one i crashed on when the pfmtbc trip rode through. Bombed down the steeps in the gorsey open section, with new detour, towards the end, then into the climb to the end.
the Pack Track beckoned me with a nice sign and oh, my! What a trail. What a trail!!! Fast, good visibility, tight in places, excellent grade, fantastic surface. A new favourite, methinks. Tempted to ride up just to ride down it again. Took a couple of pics on the way through, had to stop, the view was so spectacular. Then the Tomo, dropped a pebble down it just to see how deep. Onwards, across the road, round over the ridge and down a couple switchbacks to cross over again and into Great Expectations.
A bit overgrown with grass from above, blocking some of the view ahead and forcing a rather unique riding position. Once in the forest, however, all was good. Swoopy swoopy flowy flowy round the outer ridge and back in, views down into the valley of the devastation of last year's storm. Back and forth across the regen slope, crossing over one or two little brooks a couple times, one of which had become a 2 metre deep 1 metre wide gut from the storm. All the way down to the bottom of the valley, stepped across the creek and lead through to 2 Klick.
down the Do option (left, steeper) of "Do or Die" then cleaning the riverbed section and eventually up onto the road to ride round to 1 klick which led me down to the bottom.
Finally, gravel road top gear cruising out to the seal then down to the main(ish) road where i stopped and txted out to Steve at 7.38, basically having just had one hour of blissful descending singletrack all the way.
Hit the road and made Pohara at 8pm, in time for a burger and fries and a couple of well earned beers. AWESOME.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Thursday's Up up uppity up.
a work field trip checking out a bit of historic and recreational stuff had me at Godley Head, with my bike, so, once everyone else vanned off, i filled up with water and hit the trail about 3.40pm. Hot sun, afternoon light, bit of an easterly behind me, all good. Had a nice blast round to Breeze Col, then hit the climb up, straight up the 'fall line' rather than the zig and zag, then over and good blast down to Livingston, then the real climb began. Proud to say i stayed in big (36t) ring all the way, never having to resort to granny. Was a good climb. Stopped at one stage to change out of merino t-shirt into my orange nzo trike one, much cooler. Onwards up, all climbing nicely, first bridge, then boardwalk then the next then through across and round and along and finally hit some downhill, swooping and enjoying and relishing and blazing.
Evans Pass, checked the chiming of the messages and made a call out to hear the quote for the Fiat brakes, rang them and arranged, then onwards. Hmmm... 4.05 or so, do i go up the road or up Greenwood?? Should be okay on Greenwood, so, off up i start the clamber... Again, managing to stay in big ring the whole way, tho, a couple of dabs and one or two short walks due to total wiped-outness. But, all in all, a nice climb, and definitely needed. I'd told 'her indoors' that i'd be off the hill by 4.30 and home well before 5, but it just wasnt to be. Made the road top of Greenwood at 4.30, and pushed hard up to Britten Reserve where i absolutely blazed down the 'new' singletrack, holla'ing at sheep to get the fuck out 'the way, and nearly totally overcooking the first hairpin. Over the fence fast, down the road, down the wee reserve track (NOT skidding, which took some work) out onto the road, and flew down to Craigieburn Place and into the steps, trot trot trot, then back on and flying zig, zag, zig, zag, then rollllllling floating wafting squirrelling all through the fun wee track, watching out, careful like, on all the loose grass then absolutely flying down the last stretch, rocket speed, out onto the road and it was 4.40. Time for the drudge. At least there was a tail wind, ish, Pushed it hard all the way home and got in the door at 5.05, to a, thankfully, not unhappy girl. W00t!
Evans Pass, checked the chiming of the messages and made a call out to hear the quote for the Fiat brakes, rang them and arranged, then onwards. Hmmm... 4.05 or so, do i go up the road or up Greenwood?? Should be okay on Greenwood, so, off up i start the clamber... Again, managing to stay in big ring the whole way, tho, a couple of dabs and one or two short walks due to total wiped-outness. But, all in all, a nice climb, and definitely needed. I'd told 'her indoors' that i'd be off the hill by 4.30 and home well before 5, but it just wasnt to be. Made the road top of Greenwood at 4.30, and pushed hard up to Britten Reserve where i absolutely blazed down the 'new' singletrack, holla'ing at sheep to get the fuck out 'the way, and nearly totally overcooking the first hairpin. Over the fence fast, down the road, down the wee reserve track (NOT skidding, which took some work) out onto the road, and flew down to Craigieburn Place and into the steps, trot trot trot, then back on and flying zig, zag, zig, zag, then rollllllling floating wafting squirrelling all through the fun wee track, watching out, careful like, on all the loose grass then absolutely flying down the last stretch, rocket speed, out onto the road and it was 4.40. Time for the drudge. At least there was a tail wind, ish, Pushed it hard all the way home and got in the door at 5.05, to a, thankfully, not unhappy girl. W00t!
Monday, December 10, 2012
another no ride weekend.
disappointment. Unable to get primed for joining the usual crew on a group ride, and thinking i'd get out a bit later in the day while the family was away in Hanmer, chores got the better of me and i didnt get out. Didnt help that by the time i could have gotten out the heat was off putting.
Bike related, however, i did get the disc brake installed on the Troll. And in the evening, i took Jet (the dog) for a spin, riding the ghetto cruiser, we tootled round River Rd to Pomeroy's, where i got a rigger of NZAPA for a work do tonight, and then back round River Rd, over Swanns Rd Bridge onto Avonside, right round the wreckage to Dallington Bridge then back round the other side all the way home. He had a great time. I had a great time, 'cruising' all the rough stuff. Man he's fast. Good boy!
Bike related, however, i did get the disc brake installed on the Troll. And in the evening, i took Jet (the dog) for a spin, riding the ghetto cruiser, we tootled round River Rd to Pomeroy's, where i got a rigger of NZAPA for a work do tonight, and then back round River Rd, over Swanns Rd Bridge onto Avonside, right round the wreckage to Dallington Bridge then back round the other side all the way home. He had a great time. I had a great time, 'cruising' all the rough stuff. Man he's fast. Good boy!
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
Wednesday night Worzle Shenanigans
Nelson to mine after work and we parked up over in Croftfield Place, yet again, much as we had for my recent ill-fated Wednesday evening (five weeks ago now). Following that ride very similarly, we cruised round Cashmere Stream Esplanade and then up the valley betwixt Worsley and Westmorland, taking what would be a sweet line if only someone wandered up it with a weedeater; long grass getting the better of us numerous times. Back onto the skinny singletrack and then up the zig zags, the top ones making my legs hurt to the point of getting off.
Up the road, expecting Craig to catch us any time, him having left home a similar time to us entering the valley. We didn't see him. Got to the dirt bottom end of Worsley and started our clamber. I went slow; something I found myself doing on every climb this evening. My excuse being, legs tired from last night's ride, and also the Nor'waster sapping the energy with its heat, plus my fast (tailwind) ride home tonight, not to mention the head wind to work, and headwinds both ways yesterday (and probably the day before that too!). We stopped where we often do, and spotted Craig powering up, so we got going again, and it wasnt til i was approaching the bottom of the body bag that he overtook - riding a Liteville 301(in black). Sweet ride! Quick chat, and we headed up the entrance to all the mcvicars trails. I led off on the down, peeling left down the 'new' line and proceeding to bomb it pretty well, Craig sitting far enough off my tail and Nelson beyond that. At a big rock I baulked, once i'd seen what the roll out wasnt, so they both got past me then, and i chased, struggling to keep up. we peeled right into the F.C. and had a great blast, with Nelson bailing up on a corner and me slipping past, chasing Craig, all the way out the best (right hand) line to the bottom. It's improved with all the riding that has obviously been occurring on it.
Up the 4wd access back up, struggling once again on the steep bit midway, to the top of Dave's (or my AC Joint) and we zipped off down this, me taking the rear, on account of nervousness, perhaps, wary of an injurious trail. Anyway. not as fast as my last ride down here, and cleaned the bit i'd crashed on, and went on to clean the rest of it all the way down, chute and all. SWEEEET. Climb out was hard work, again, i was shitted. Walked a bit after our creek crossing (which is still holding up really nice). Caught the guys and off up the 4wd again.
Craig peeled off home from here, and Nelson and me continued back up the steep 4wd in the forest to the pylons where we turned around and rode back down our old favourite, discovering how short it was, but enjoying it nonetheless. Then it was down and out, back down the road, and back down the zigs and zags and narrow narrow overgrown (a little) singletrack into the valley and back round the esplanade to the car.
Well earned souvlaki eats on Colombo St, and an even more well earned Tuatara A.P.A at Pom's finished off a damned good evening spent.
Up the road, expecting Craig to catch us any time, him having left home a similar time to us entering the valley. We didn't see him. Got to the dirt bottom end of Worsley and started our clamber. I went slow; something I found myself doing on every climb this evening. My excuse being, legs tired from last night's ride, and also the Nor'waster sapping the energy with its heat, plus my fast (tailwind) ride home tonight, not to mention the head wind to work, and headwinds both ways yesterday (and probably the day before that too!). We stopped where we often do, and spotted Craig powering up, so we got going again, and it wasnt til i was approaching the bottom of the body bag that he overtook - riding a Liteville 301(in black). Sweet ride! Quick chat, and we headed up the entrance to all the mcvicars trails. I led off on the down, peeling left down the 'new' line and proceeding to bomb it pretty well, Craig sitting far enough off my tail and Nelson beyond that. At a big rock I baulked, once i'd seen what the roll out wasnt, so they both got past me then, and i chased, struggling to keep up. we peeled right into the F.C. and had a great blast, with Nelson bailing up on a corner and me slipping past, chasing Craig, all the way out the best (right hand) line to the bottom. It's improved with all the riding that has obviously been occurring on it.
Up the 4wd access back up, struggling once again on the steep bit midway, to the top of Dave's (or my AC Joint) and we zipped off down this, me taking the rear, on account of nervousness, perhaps, wary of an injurious trail. Anyway. not as fast as my last ride down here, and cleaned the bit i'd crashed on, and went on to clean the rest of it all the way down, chute and all. SWEEEET. Climb out was hard work, again, i was shitted. Walked a bit after our creek crossing (which is still holding up really nice). Caught the guys and off up the 4wd again.
Craig peeled off home from here, and Nelson and me continued back up the steep 4wd in the forest to the pylons where we turned around and rode back down our old favourite, discovering how short it was, but enjoying it nonetheless. Then it was down and out, back down the road, and back down the zigs and zags and narrow narrow overgrown (a little) singletrack into the valley and back round the esplanade to the car.
Well earned souvlaki eats on Colombo St, and an even more well earned Tuatara A.P.A at Pom's finished off a damned good evening spent.
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Tuesday night Pleasantries.
Cool wee ride tonight. Great to be back out on the bike. Got to Pete's and we jetted to Upper Major Hornbrook to meet Steve and Robin, Wayne and Warren, Andy, and then Matt. Up through Britten Reserve on the newish track, sweet climb, then round the old Britten trail to the road, fast descent through the cone chicane to Cavendish Saddle and onto the new trail climb. Grunty wee climb, requiring good concentration, which takes your mind off the climbing itself. Trail has had a bit more done to it since Nelson and me first came up here. At Broadleaf, gravel, up through the gate to the towers, over a new stile, down round the new line and over another new stile and on down down down, twitchy to keep up with the track.
Onto Greenwood back out towards the Summit Rd start, Pete tight on my tail the whole way. Turned around and rode back the way we'd come, me letting Pete go and him hoofing off away out front. Took a squiz at the old gun emplacements on top, then back up the way we'd come down not long prior. This climb keeping you focused on the riding not the climbing too, good gradient, a bit grunty, in places, and a little bit of walking on the steep rocks up top. Past the towers again, and nor'west overspill rain started. The trail back to Cavendish was tighter in places than the other side, but the last tack across the slope towards (yet another new stile) was awesome, wind behind, flowing across the slope and down, with a cool twisty just before the stile.
Back up the road through the 'cut' and back into the Brittens. Sweet fast descent down the final stretch back to the cars by 8.15.
Onto Greenwood back out towards the Summit Rd start, Pete tight on my tail the whole way. Turned around and rode back the way we'd come, me letting Pete go and him hoofing off away out front. Took a squiz at the old gun emplacements on top, then back up the way we'd come down not long prior. This climb keeping you focused on the riding not the climbing too, good gradient, a bit grunty, in places, and a little bit of walking on the steep rocks up top. Past the towers again, and nor'west overspill rain started. The trail back to Cavendish was tighter in places than the other side, but the last tack across the slope towards (yet another new stile) was awesome, wind behind, flowing across the slope and down, with a cool twisty just before the stile.
Back up the road through the 'cut' and back into the Brittens. Sweet fast descent down the final stretch back to the cars by 8.15.
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