Sunday's Blowhard, lives up to it's name

Out to Nelson's with Jet in the car, about 10, and heading out 10.30ish round through a few frost patches to the end of Maori Reserve Rd, parking up to find a few vehicles and could see some hunters and dogs heading up the hill.  Got riding, 11ish, and ground our ways up, blowing bloody hard, what with the fresh start, Jet leading out miles ahead, excited at the smells of the other dogs ahead of him.  Met them pretty much at the high point before the drop to the big mud puddle where the true climb begins.  Also up there was a quad bike with a dog trailer, so obviously other hunters were ahead too.  Jet was great with these first dogs, hello hello, and straight on with us.

Lot of walking up the rocky steep to start, then a bit of riding and more walking and more riding and a bit more walking just for good measure.  All feeling pretty good, Jet bounding around, covering twice the distance of us, up and back, up and back.  Eventually, the sort of avenue along the ridge bit of a descent and we met the other dogs (and their owners), a couple of which weren't quite so friendly...  Jet was good tho, and had no trouble and on we went, a bit more climbing and walking, Nelson cleaning heaps of it, but not able to use his 42t the whole time cos of some gyp it was giving him.  I was certainly glad of my new 40t.  My old 32:36 ratio would have been a bastard and a lot more walking would have ensued.

Awesome descent down the ridge, then the climbing wasn't too bad, on and on it went, not too much muck about, a few bits of ice around, frozen frosty ground in shady sections, but mostly pretty dry the whole time...  bloody good actually.  By the time we were approaching the top, was around 2 hours, so far, and legs were getting pretty tired.  Made the top and it was blowing a fair bit of nor'west up there, not overly warm either.  Chatted to the 'crowds' up there (an older man and a younger woman (father daughter?), and a separate young guy with a foxy called Jack).  Around 1.10pm it was.  1.20-30 we departed.

Off down, and Nelson lost it in the tussocks, couldn't clip out in time and flopped off the bike.  was spectacular and luckily non-hurting...  I took the lead for a bit, finding a good detour round some mucky shit as we re-entered the forest, and bombing on down, smooth as smooth can be, the 5.Spot becoming more and more a part of me.  Jet was never far behind and was really good about stepping aside for us to go ahead on the fast bits, then catching up and cruising on ahead when we were going slow.  Some sections we bombed down and it was glorious.  Past the Bypass Track and onwards down across the ridge.  Sweet flow, a few climbs and downs and suddenly into the steep walking climb.  Took a lot out of me.

Once clear of it we were riding again and not far up there I got a good cramp in my thigh, yowch!  Stopped for a bit of a rest of it, and then once we got going again there was the top...  W00t! down down down swoop and holla, til Nelson got a flat.  Fixed that, and not long after came upon one of the first dogs we saw, injured, fair bit of blood, walking along in a bit of a daze, not fussed by Jet,  but radio collar on (so his owners will hopefully have found him).  Got going again and the last few metres of the last wee climb hurt but then it was into the really rough stuff.  I got bent out of shape on one bit, got going again, cocked up again, then flowed on down.  No troubles the rest of the way with some sections of insane speed.  Bike was superlative in it's performance.  Wicked.  The bottom seemed to take ages to turn up, a couple stops on the way to make sure Jet was with us - he was never very far behind even when we'd been absolutely hauling ass.  One very close call when my front wheel seemed to roll on about 3 babyhead sized rocks in quick succession, tipping me trackwards til i somehow hooked it up and kept it rolling down the steeeeep bits and finally over the frost hauling up by the muddy puddle, the smell of brakes very very hot.  Nelson's were even starting to fade/seize up.  My XT's were cool as cucumbers.

Round the puddle and up over and on down the 4wd.  Careful round the ruts, and back to the car, 2.30 on the dot.  Awesome day.  Weather couldnt have been better, trail was mint, bike was great, and the dog was the best!

Saturday Summit

I drove Obe-wan and our bikes up to the top of Vic Park, and me and him rode the Summit Traverse across to Vernon and back.  He did awesomely, and really enjoyed it.  Didn't complain about any of the climbs, just knuckled in and cleaned them, and he's a total natural at the few technicalities.  Had one off where he just stepped off the bike, on the greasy wee rock feature in the shade just round from the Lava Flow.  the Spot was flowing pretty good too, with it's new 40t Lone Ranger on the inside of the cassette.  Have removed the 15t, and so far it's not bad.  Used the 17t a lot round the summit trail.

Friday night Up and Back down

Not enjoying my tires the last few rides, in the afternoon I slapped on a couple of newbies, a 2.4 Nobby Nic up front and a 2.35 Hans Dampf on the back.  Once mounted the Hans Dampf looks bigger, so I think I'll swap them round.  And, as soon as I got the front on, I could hear the hiss of a flat... didnt have time to repair til Nelson turned up to pick me up.

And so we headed out to Sumner and up to Evans Pass.  Parked up and headed up Greenwood, as we'd not headed up this for quite some time.  Twas good checking out the trail on the way up, spotting where all the potentially dodgy bits were.  Ride up was good, mostly.  Trail condition was good, slightly damp, but not sticky or greasy; well packed.  One or two sloppy bits higher up, but lower down they've filled most of the dips with good piles of rocks.  Jolly good on the 5.Spot.  My climbing was a bit diabolical.  I've still to get used to the full squish in climbing mode.  Hardtail technique doesn't work and I've much to learn.  A case of full suspension NOT improving my riding... as a result, I dabbed a lot, straddle-walked the bike a bit, and spun out a fair few times too.  In the corners below the ruins I put a few more psi into my rear shock, taking it up to 200, and fiddled with the rebound too.  We carried on up and it was much betterer!  Made the ruins, and continued on up up and up.  Surprisingly level above here before the techy rockfest to the top, much of which I walked.

7.47pm at the top, Nelson fiddling with his gears, then I led the way down, wide open.  Total blast down.  Muppetry over the bit where you're looking down into Lyttelton, but once out into the tussocks smoothed it up and got some groove on.  Lost the track a couple times in the dark under the tussocks, but got faster as we progressed.  Into Greenwood proper and what a revelation.  For the first time i was 'getting' the bike, and it was a blast.  Totally comfortable, flying over rocky sections that have stalled me so much in the past.  Fantastic.  Nelson noticed i entered a couple sections like i would have on the BFe, a little slower, but then once in them realisation obviously hit me and I accelerated through them and out.  W00T!  Down down and out the bottom.  Big grins.  I reckon the Hans Dampf needs to be on the front, grip wise too.

Then across to Godley cos Nelson wanted to just hit up the wee beginning.  He cleaned it in one, I failed once, failed twice...    Then turned around and back to the car and home, picking up some beer on Stanmore Rd at 8.50, before they closed at 9.

Friday arvo quick dog

Landed back from Wellington at 2.15pm, originally because I was going to be doing the school pick up and taking to swimming run, which it turned out the dad of O & H's swimming buddies was able to do, so I got home, faffed about, got dog and bike sorted and headed for the hill.  By the time traffic let me across there it was already 4pm, so we didn't have a lot of light.  Parked up top of Worsley's, Jet and me headed up the main drag for a bit, me wheezing and him running out ahead.  Got my wheeze under control and at the Junction I decided I didnt want to deal with the ruts and muck and rocks and grease of the main drag, so we headed into the forest and up the guts track.  Rode most of the way to start with, but puffed out before the pylon gap and walked a little then managed to ride it on up to clifftop and on up the Originale, all the way out to the top.  Turned back around and headed down peeling left into Tommy's.  Took it pretty easy all the way down, popped a few jumps, still getting used to the bike, not trusting the terrain, grease around any corner, rutted out berms, off camber deluxe, and also the low angle sun was totally giving me gyp flashing my eyes through the trees.  Couple of near misses, but mostly a good run down, then hit back up the central track to clifftop again and headed down into the old original in here, then blended that onto the lower Wayne's World, then straight into Fight Club.  Blasted down this, great whoops, again still not trusting the traction so much.  Cleaned everything i didnt on Tuesday and rolled out the bottom.  The beginning of the climb back out wasnt so bad, but further up it got shit again and i ended up walking heaps of it just cos there was NO traction.  rode a bit, walked a bit then rode and walked the last to the Junction.  Headed down here, taking the righthand low line and missing the messy log drop, popped and rolled out down past the tank and into the rest of it out onto the splecky messed up open main drag, then rolled on down the road to the car clearing the tires nicely.  Jet trying to hump another trail dog as we went past.  All up about an hour, maybe less; good for us both tho.  Sun was fully down by the time i was driving the the road.  Traffic was a fucking nightmare home.

Tuesday Muckvicars Round 3

Nelson picked me up from mine and we cruised across town post rush hour.  Parked next to Cracroft park and rode up Worsley Rd, checking out the bottom of Farside as a possible option, and choosing it, then regretting the choice.  Not really a climbing track, and greasy as shit, so quite difficult really...  Finally got up onto the road and continued our merry way up, a while since we'd done this climb, having parked up top so often recently, and our legs suffering from the lack of riding in recent weeks.  Got up onto the dirt and it was squishy and sticky and slick.  Was okay most of the time, but occasionally it was just slick as.  Wet enough that the tires didnt carry too much on themselves.  That was to come later.  Up the main track, all the way, the river running in the ruts, minimal bits of rideable terrain the higher we got.  You'd be perched up on the top of the rut, and one wheel would slip and you'd lose it.  So, walk a bit, get rolling again then the same would happen.  Bloody nightmare.  The access track up into the forest was greasy as too, and I ended up walking a fair bit of it.  Nelson cleaned it.

Into the trail, not quite as greasy as Sunday last ridden, but still pretty damned slick, and more churned, but once under the trees, much betterer.  Hung a right into the original line, the wee rocky climb as greasy as something covered in grease, and back under the trees all good again.  Full suspension bliss, squishing my way down and through, one near miss in some slick shit between a cut fallen tree got Nelson ahead of me and we got out onto the clifftop and headed into the original line, all the way down.  Stopped and watched a couple riders coming up the internal track, and then blasted across and down bottom of Tommy's then into Fight Club, great flight down this, swooping over the humpties and railing round the bends.  Lower down, over the log hip, super greasy, then into the steep chute I bailed up right on where we'd trenched the other night ride here.  Nelson headed down through and I followed cautiously to find him off his bike nursing his squashed balls...  yowch.  Took a few minutes and we rolled out the bottom of the trail onto the worst I've ever seen the climbing-out track.  Spun and struggled up this, Nelson's tires gripping, mine just picking up crap and turning into fatbike tires...  I ended up walking a fair bit.

Next up, scraped heaps of crap off my tires and off up the middle internal track, me walking heaps til the pylon gap, then riding a bit, walking a bit and riding a bit more out to the cliff.  This time, into Waynes World and taking it all the way down, but bailing out at Fight Club entrance, and off down through the gap and hard left following the newish trails we had that other night, over a jump that nearly threw me then kinda stalled Nelson, then on down eventually crossing the trail and then through the junction and on out the bottom exit stuff.  Stepped over the log on the left higher line - bloody useless roll in and hopeless landing, so kinda dodgy to be popped.  Down past the tank, some sweet riding through here, then down through the final section, the full suss aiding my travels nicely.  Slowly down the greasy muck to the road, then speed mud removal - the marshguard working exactly as planned, and Nelson holding his head out to the side to avoid his fleck.

Down the road and into Farside, awesomely slick, but manageable for a while.  Til i got to one steep brown slick section where my front wheel lost it and we went down.  handlebar spun and i was super worried the brake hose would stress, but was okay, and I got rolling again no injuries.  the rest of it was good as, and out onto the road to a waiting Nelson.  On down, more mud removal and along out to the car.  Got sticks and scraped and prodded the bikes into some semblance of clean then hit the road home.

Sunday, mucky Sunday.

Very low ceiling of cloud all night, providing no drying opportunities for the hills.  Drove over to Andrew's and met up with him, Wazza, Wayno and Tones, and, after oohing and aahing over my new ride, we headed around Cashmere Rd to Halswell Quarry Park and up C2.  Not so bad under the trees, dry-wise, but once on the Crocodile proper it was a grease fest and we were exactly the types I was complaining about in my post about my last ride up here...  Oh well.  Wasn't as bad as if we were coming down it.  I dabbed out most of the big corners, their ruts and grease just too much, and a technique thing with the new ride too, methinks. 

On up the Low Road for a bit, but when it met the main track we all bailed off it and up that.  Siberia was fun, but sloppy under the dripping trees.  Then the clamber.  Up up up we went, further and further into the clouds, greasy muck under tread.  All made pretty good efforts at the top section, my wee rests helping my heartrate, and Andrew doing a bit of a loop-de-loop - he lost balance, veered to the right until he was heading down again, then juuust about managed to turn it back round before dabbing.  In the rocky guts I lost it once, walked a tiny bit then got rolling again, til the very top ledge sort of up, the back wheel just spun out and sideways.  The narrow broom infested top track was sticky as shit (and actually, there was a lot of actual sticky shit on the trails today, some cows seem to have had laxatives).

Onto the road and around to Worsleys.  A rider on his way down Kennedy's at the time had told us the 'Nun was really bad, so we skipped that and went for Worsleys.  Hoo boy, what a descent.  Just enough grease on the surface of the clay to make for no chance of stopping, and barely a chance to keep the speed down.  I survived it, Andrew lost it, the others took other lines that proved less slick.  Bottom of bodybag we headed up into the forest, the access track a total slick little shit.  Andy cleaned it all, the rest of us walked. 

Then it was into the woods.  Greasy as all hell for a start, we veered right onto the Original.  A couple times my chain dropped off the front.  Annoying.  It was only under zero power, if my rear was up on 1st or 2nd.  Good rolling down under the trees here, full squish doing it's job beautifully.  Lovin' it, I was.  Out over the clifftop and into the trees again, taking the right hander, some new line in here then onto the old, absolutely wafting over the rocky bits, then when we met Waynes World, took it's lower half and pulled up at Fight Club.  Next rider after me was Zane, on his 5.Spot, so we discussed then he headed down.  We followed shortly thereafter, the upper half rolling beaut, the lower half all fixed up and sweet as, lots of tricky off-camber.  Zane was waiting at the bottom an so cruised up the greasy climb behind him to the Juncture. 

Stopped, chatting for a bit at the junction and saw someone climbing the fence across the main track, so after Zane and friends had headed off up the guts track we ventured across to check it out.  A nice we entrance to the trail Nelson and me found a few weeks back, and so we rolled down this, avoiding all the jumps.  Over the fence and there were some bikes (quite flash bikes) parked and lots of fresh trail grooming, rolled on down and found some really young kids working their magic.  We continued on down, doing more of the jumps below here and enjoying the end, the onto the exit track out to the carpark. 

Down the road, a mud clearinghouse for the tires, then into the new Farside Track.  I followed Andy down it as he'd done it before.  What a little beauty!  Sweet sidling and not losing too much, but always downwards with a few wee whoop-de-dos spitting us out above the bottom corner.  Sweet.  Cleared the mud off the tires again as we rolled and then to Andrew's for a coffee and bickies. 

Spot ride report number 2, awesome.  Gonna really enjoy this bike.  Still wondering if I need more air in the chamber tho.  Really must remember to bring the pump for it next time.

Friday night Pinball Wizards

First sort of real test ride for the Spot, and it was a muckfest.  We ended up with limited time, not leaving my place til about 6.20 and kinda needing to be back around 8 for T to go to a gig, and by the time we got out the door, this went from 6

to 7 

 was wandering through with spitty kinda drizzly rain.  So, drove to Sumner, and up to Evans, parking up in the fog here.  Jumped on the bikes and got on up the Godley start.  Poor visibility, but not as bad sounding as the pfmtbc Tuesday's fog fug, but with the added bonus of rain falling.  First few rocks were a revelation to me - the Spot just soaking up everything; unbelievably comfortable.  I'm gonna have to tweak my style of riding a bit, which will take time, and I think I need another 10 or 20 psi in the shock too.

Rocks were greasy, some mud was around, a couple of ruts out towards the high point.  Neither of us cleaned the start, because the grease.  Next few bits tho, the Spot just rolled on up, sweet as.  Tweaking, squirrelly back end, but way less than the BFe would have been.  Dabbed a fair bit, being rather careful with my new treasure.  We only rode to the landing strip, high point, and turned back  A couple of small rutty holes out that end, and one big hole that was there last time, otherwise just slick rocks everywhere else, pinballing us around.  Coming back was awesome.  Wafting down the hill, rolling over stuff that would have used to have hung me up.  And the rocky armoured bits!?  WOW.  The last rocky sections down to the end were a revelation too.  Back to the car, reasonably sprayed in muck - tho, obviously, none in the eyes thanks to the muckynutter.  Gotta get something sorted for the rear, just to keep the crap out of the sweet DW linkages.

new!

pretty sure this very frame here is now mine...
Purchased last week from Wide Open, ex-demo (with Chris King headset, Fox Float CTD shock and (un-needed) front derailleur) for a very good price, it arrived here in Chch on Tuesday, and I had it built up by Wednesday afternoon.  So far, only a test ride school/dog-run around the river it proves very comfy... here- crappy cellphone pic...

They got nothing but good to say about it...

Sunday's Loner - West End buzz

Had a Tardeme pick up in Halswell at 9am, so figured I'd ride that end of the hills, having not for quite some time (over a year in fact).  Parked and rode in, earbuds in, music on random, 9.30am.  Got a little huffed on the very first (tiny) climb, but then got into the groove with not too much wheezing up C2.  Nice climb, nice day, nice temperature, nice sounds.  All so nice.  Once up on the Crock o'pile things got a bit rutty.  Silly people riding when the track isn't hard...  There was a closed sign at the bottom, but ignorable today.  Dabbed out a few times on the way up.  Most of the hairpins near the top are totally rutted out and very tricky to negotiate climbing.

Up onto "Take the Low Road" (still prefer 'new tasty' from a few years back), and sidled back and forth on the hill, avoiding the big muckruts, and a number of new lines in places I'm sure the trail directors aren't that keen on.  Over Siberia and down to the gate.  Chatted briefly with a dude here.  He asked about the single front ring.  I did the sell for Revolution Components, "made right here in Chch - good to support local industry, eh?"  Then I got going.  Huffed and chuffed up the hill, only getting as low as 2nd on all the first sections, up up and over, getting warm, stripping a layer out at the crest then on up through the foresty bit and up to the steeeeeps...  Water tank up here, i pulled up for a wee, and then hit the climb with aplomb.  Nearly puking twice, I stopped for breathers, but rode on and cleaned everything with no dabs.  Out across the top and into the tight broom singletrack now out to the summit road, only 10.20pm, so basically a 50 minute climb.

Around the road and into Worsley's Rd, climbing this in 3rd, nice.  Up to top of the Nun and a well earned rest.  Half a OSM and a chat to the dude up there, then another dude turned up on a Turner 5 Spot.  Got talking and took it for a little spin to the top of the hill and back.  Lovely suspension action magic carpet ride back down to them.  They took off and I put the helmet and music back on, gloves, and in.  Awesome descent, trail in perfect nick and everything as expected with good air and great pump.  Railed it for the top section, took it a little easier in the middle rocky section, but then started to rail again when I saw the 5-Spot rider ahead and chased him til the carpark break point, where he pulled over and I jumped into the lead.  Faaaast down through those next two sections then whoop whoop whoop through the jumpies and then easing off again through the last swoops before the final wee climb.

Straight onto the road and climbing away, grinding it out all the way through and back down to Kennedy's Top.  Cruised across the tops and then into the downhill, with an audience, walkers scattering all over the place as I rocketed through (-kidding, I gave them plenty of space and respectful speed).  Bombed on down, flying all the way.  Bypassed Siberia up the wide track, and then into the Low Road.  Took it pretty easy to start, the ruts and grease still with potential to catch you out.  Met quite a few climbing riders lower down, but once on the Crock'o'shit just some walkers near the top and bottom.  Great run down here, taking it easy to stay out of the ruts, with some wicked speed in places.  Finally the quickly cranked climb into C2 and it was sweet running down here.  Caught the jump part way down nicely, then into the corners, meeting one climbing rider woman in here, and blazing into the valley, and into the climb, slowing right down til the top then out into the open country and walkers (who did take offense at my speed).  Rolled on down to the car and it was only 11.20.  Yowzer, a 2 hour ride, and all the distance covered.  Nice.

Thursday night Witch Castle

Rode over to Nelson's work at 5ish and we navigated the usual imbecility that is rush hour traffic, to Huntsbury.  Parked up top of road and changed in the cool wind and got moving eventually around 5.45.  Good blast up the track, me wheezing away, but keeping on top of it and managing a reasonable speed to the top, warming up considerably on the way - nor'west breezes bathing us in warmth compared to the coolness of where the car was parked. 

Onto Vernon and the gravel was tricky.  I was wondering if my rear tire was a little hard, but Nelson was getting the same, so we figured it was the surface.  Pulled over near the top for some uphill riders, and had a clear run the rest of the way down.  Straight through Crapaki top and into the Witch.  Rutty to start, we both screwed up the rocky bits, Nelson going to dab and finding his leg disappearing down a hole...  yowch.  good gark on it that i didn't see til later.  Once we'd negotiated that the going got much better, and we rolled on through to the road.  Pedal pedal pedal, and on round under the Tors and up to top of Castle Rock.  I led into here and we had a good run, pinning it pretty well.  Trail in good nick, except for the sheep, and their little pellets.  One weird wet spot just after the wee wooden bridge, green with sheep shit it was too, yeurgch.  Pingy climb on through and over down to the Bridle Path top at 6.25.

Took in the view of Lyttelton, and then got rolling again, back up the trail.  At the first rock-armoured (originally by us) section, we weren't happy with the soggy bits in it, so we stopped and carted some rocks and moved them around a bit and placed them and eventually got it right, leaving it better than we'd found it.  On over down for a bit, examining the green-muck wetspot, deciding it needed a shovel. Onwards up round the first hairpin and across to the next, where I lost my balance and traction at the same time.  Got rolling again and pinged and dabbed a few more times before finally getting on top of myself and riding out the rest of it nicely.  The new gear ratios are sweet, nice and tall, letting me torque it through that usual final tricky steep right near the top.  No baby spinny granny gear with no power... 

Blast down the road, cooling off nicely, and on round to the Witch again.  I was a bit messy to start, and really lost it, nearly over the bars on the one little step up rocky bit, traction and balance letting me down again!.  The rest of the roll round Witch Hill was smooth, flowy and fun.  Straight through Crapaki top and into the climb.  Ooomphed it up the hill and round, a Santa Cruz gang pulling over to let us through (Nelson said they nearly didnt stop but he didnt yield), grovelled up the steep bit above Farm Track exit, and the rest of the way up was okay, over and down to the road.

Onto the Traverse briefly, around til we dropped down through the tussock-ville, finding our way down to the landing strip, and over the fence onto the little singletrack, rolling over the hill nicely and back down to the car via the jumps, actually doing some of them this time, and back to the car at 7.45.

Sunday, greasy route to Planting

Short-ish ride yesterday.  I rode to Steve's, at a good clip, for an 8.15 meet, finding Andy, Tony and Steve awaiting my arrival.  Wayne rolled up not long after, then we waited a minute or three for Pete, and Steve decided to get rolling, then Pete txtd saying he'd meet us at the Ferrymead bridge.  Off we tootled, Garlands, Radley, Marshall, to the river and along the Cut.  Bit of grease approaching Tunnel Rd, under the bridge there and onto the tow path for a cruise round the back of industria, finally finding Pete on the bridge.

Off up St Andrew's Hill, Marama, and into Cannon Hill, a new route to me.  My new gearing was just fine going up here, mostly sitting in 2nd from low right up til we were grunting up through the park, and even then it wasn't too low a gear.  Eventually out the top onto Major Aitken and on up to the very top, through the park onto Clearview, finishing our climbing here.

Into the wee reserve, the rules were - no losing traction.  Track down through here was rutted out big time in places, and a good wee challenge on the brakes and speed to not skid.  Onto Mt Pleasant Rd bombing down to Craigieburn Lane, pulling in here for-to zig and zag.  Grease is what we found, and with extreme skill and finesse, we all slithered our ways down the zigs and zags, the usually wettest spots super wet.  One or two wee surprise holes, but successful meandering by all and a regroup on the level after the bridge.

Final descent, steeper and steeper, and more and more potential for slip-out, round the first hairpin, then the second, then letting speed build in places and buttoning off early in others, swooping into the wee climb then negotiating a big new slip, lifting over a poorly placed, and very spikey, rose bush, and then on down for the final blast out the bottom.

From here we had plenty of time to spare, it being 9.30ish, and so we cruised back to the Ferrymead bridge, tucked back onto the towpath trail.  I was leading around here and came into the little bridge (behind Kovacs?) with a tad too much speed.  Front wheel washed, kinda glanced off the railing supports, and then my back wheel followed and squirrelled too, but I managed to keep it together, and adrenalin kicked in a little further down the trail...  yikes.

finally, across Ferry Rd into Waterman Place and into Charlesworth Reserve whereupon to plug plants into the ground for 2 hours before eating several sausages.  Home straight up Linwood Ave with Pete

Thursday night, Muckvicars round 2

Bit of a muckfest once again tonight.  Nelson picked me up as per- on Moorhouse and we jammed across to Worsley's Rd, parking up top along with several other cars all turned up about the same time as us.  A dude (who works on the tracks in there) came down as we were readying ourselves, no lights, getting pretty dark.  Sounded pretty bleak up there.

BFe sporting it's new gears and brakes, we headed off up, my new 'granny' not so bad, but making a bit of noise once the going got tough.  Headed into the forest just up round the first couple corners.  We decided here the the noise required the spacers in the BB swapped around a bit to get the front ring over a bit.  Nothing to be done but ride, or walk to rest it.  Trees all cut and cleared, rode on up through the middle guts and out to the top of the cliff, then on up the original, all cleared and cut nicely. 

At the top we turned and headed down Tommy's.  Pretty slick, but not too bad.  Half way down we tucked right and back up onto the 'original', out to the cliff top and into Waynes World.  A couple of tipped trees, lifted root balls, made the usual entry cues different and we nearly missed it.  Anyway, good descent all the way down to Fight Club.  Most of the top of this was good to go, too.  We stopped and re-routed a bypass of a wet gulch, but then further down it just got slicker and sicker, greasing and squirrelling all the way.  Then, where it used to get steep and gnarly, it got horrendous.  no grip. tires totally caked, and then water running down the track, rutting it.  We stopped, found a grubber conveniently perched behind a tree, and proceeded to cut a drain across the track.  This should dry it out and un-rut it, until the first riders took it out.  Bottom few corners, for me, were totally unrideable and i walked on out the bottom into the total quagmire, tweaking my shoulder somehow in the process.

Climbing access track was okay, buncha trees down across it just through the gate where it gets steeper, these had been cut and a way cleared.  Further up, near where the old exit was, the crack turned gulch has become some major tunnel erosion, just about creating a neat wee natural arch bridge.  more trees across the track above here too, a way cleared.

At the junction we decided to head down and out, meandering around a bit between old and new, down past the tank and it's all opened up in there again.  Then we decided to find the new track i'd heard about (possibly across the other side?). Found it, followed it up, and up, and up, and eventually found the top, and where to access it from next time.  Then rode it down.  Some of the jumps would be fine, except for the hip jump over the fence - but in the grease and slick, I bypassed pretty much all of them.  Got to the bottom and followed the trail (singletrack on farm track) out and ended up right at the car.  Nice.  Done by 8.15,

Brakes, when i used them as opposed to the mud just slowing me down, were very sensitive - gonna be serious stoppers.  Major difference to the oldies.  Gear system?  once the BB spacers are moved, the grinding should lessen.  The shifting was crisp and clear and the ratios weren't that bad!

Weekend bike builds and a non ride.

Spent a chunk of Saturday pulling the BFe apart and transfering drivetrain and brakes to O's new ride, an extra small Bergamont.  Got it finished with only one trip to the bikeshop, then Sunday morning put all my bits and bobs onto my frame, xt brakes, Revolution Components narrow wide chainring, 10spd shifter and cassette (11-36).  Got it all together and realised i'd used the cable intended for it on O's bike, so, quick trip up to Bike Biz and got it done, tuned, and the 3 of us boys went out to B.Lake for a spin.  A bloody slow spin, with Jet.  O was fast on his new bike, and we could have covered heaps of the park in no time, but H was struggling away on his 'new' bike, the 24inch Norco O had.  Doesnt quite get the gears yet. 

Anyway, we went in, went left, but not hard left, and through to the pond, then out to the beach and south, and back in.  Long and painful it was.  Then, just after the 'water feature' (flooding on the track) the boys were off ahead, and Jet went round a corner, i heard him bark, and then this guy appeared flipping over his handlebars onto the track.  clatter clatter.  He'd hit Jet and gone OTB.  Got up and his wrist was very tweaked, either broken or sprained badly.  He was gutted.  Said he was doing the Chch Half Marathon in 2 weeks time and this was gonna knacker his chances...  oh dear.  I put his chain back on and then had to catch up with the boys.  We rode on, and up top of the gazebo hill the guy with the wrist rode past (and Jet nearly got under his wheels again!).  Hope he's okay.

So.  Disappointed I hadnt finished the bikes Saturday,  - I'd been hoping to ride Mt Grey Sunday morning...  bah.

new 1x10 certainly feels like i've got enough gears.  Going up the hill will test whether 32 to 36 is low enough.  another week or so to wait and the Revo Components 40t will be available.

Tuesday night struggle

Nelson picked me up on Moorhouse and we negotiated our way to Mt Pleasant, parking up on the Upper Major.  Hmmm, my rear tire was a bit low, so topped it up.  Carpark/4wd access point was pretty wet just there off the road, but once on the singletrack climb it was soft, but not puggy or quagmired.  Pretty soon my tail-end-of-cold lungs were wheezing away, struggling for air.  Up around the corners, and onto the damp bit, it was saturated.  Needs a boardwalk along here at this time of year, fucking mess.  Slowly and steadily, we cruised up, trying to ride lightly, and then up around the bend onto the oldskool Britten trail, across the hill to the exit and then back round the road and up Broadleaf, the hills drying out as we climbed.  Grind grind grind and out the top.  Up here, more air in the tire, and we could see some other lights below us.

Into the trail down and hopping and popping over the rocks, no slop or muck around here.  Good blast down and in no time we're down to the end, the other lights down at the ruins.  On down the farmtrack then right onto the single, meeting the other lights (three old mugs on 29ers) on the singletrack, before we blasted down through the ruins and onto Greenwood proper.  Pretty good most of the way down, a few rutted up sections, my riding ability somewhat hampered by muppetry.  Once through the upper switchies and round the usual spots were saturated and mucky as mucky gets.  Round into Gloomy Gulch, and it was pretty good in here.  I took some time out to rest my sore back here, then off down meeting Nelson lower down before Dave's Zone.  No massive speed through here, cos you're just never sure what's round the next corner, muck or ruts?  Through the wee cattlestop and bleurgh.  Absolute mess.  Someone(Dave?)'s been digging it out but it's a fucking quagmired mess, most of the way round into the wee creek.  Good from here tho.  I put more air in the tire before the final blast for fear of rock pinches.  The section after the Two Rocky Ups was inundated in water.  First time across the bulldozer/digger track for me, and around to the finish.

Down the road and into Godley. (Track Open sign in full force).  Nelson stuffed up the first go, I stuffed my only go.  He stuffed up his second go, but got it on the third.  I muppetried my way on up, gimping and flaking all over the place while wheezing away.  Bit of wind blowing further along, and a few more really wet bits.  All good round the section with the two boardwalks, but once onto the old Teddington a bit damp again, and I nearly lost it on smallest wooden bridge in there.  After the slightly bigger wooden bridge (ramp at end), the trail was totally rutted for a bit, then free flow, and a good blast from there to Livingston ensued.

Climb over to Breeze was okay, a few wet bits not often wet before, all the chip holding together nicely.  Across the slope above the PFMTBC Rock and "WHOOAH!" greasy wet bit, then around.  Nelson hit the Rock, while I detoured, then it was splecky saturated ground all the way to the crossing and to the road.

Here we headed around below the road out to the end.  around about 3 tunnel-erosion holes in the track to watch out for.  I was starting to get really tired around here too, nearly crashing in one of the holes.  We took a break at the toilet building out the end, scoffing some OneSquare and topping up water, then off back round.  Me dying a little more.  From Breeze, back up the sloppy paddock onto the track, Nelson waay off ahead, me dying, and having to pump my tire, yet again...  Over towards Livingston, a good run down the hill, but then I was pinballing off everything, feeling weaker and tired.  At Livingston, my head light died, so I hit the road and Nelson carried on up the singletrack.  I struggled up and around, tire getting lower and lower all the way, til eventually, for the descent to Evans i was leaning forward, keeping the weight off it.

Lay on the side of the road and spun out whilst waiting for Nelson.  He didnt show, and didnt show, then got a txt from him asking where i was, he was waiting for me at the usual regroup spot thinking i was gonna ride up to complete the singletrack...  nope.  So, waited some more and eventually he turned up and I'd pumped my tire hard enough to get me back.

Finally, up Summit Rd, loonnnnnggg drawn out effort, trying not to die the whole way.  Took seemingly forever, and finally over and down the road to the car.  I was so wiped.  That climb, i reckon, i felt the worst i've ever felt on a bike.  Too hot, too cold, head ache, no energy, sore muscles.  ugh.  9.20pm

Sunday Planting over the River Styx

Biked to Pete's on the Troll and met him and Steve (on his cruiser).  We bombed Avonside and Kilmore, across Cranmer Sq, Armagh into the park across to Kilmarnock and then straight up the railtrail, all the way, out the top on Tuckers, then Cavendish.  Stopped in at the Cosy Cafe for a coffee and then on up to the Styx Reserve, ignoring the No Bikes signs and riding through, admiring all our previous efforts, which are growing into beautiful bush, to the first Trees For Canterbury planting of the season.  Plugged a heap of new plants into the stony, yet soft, ground and then Pete and me left at 12 cos we both had stuff to do around 1.  Rode back the way we'd come at a fair clip - making good time, some 35 - 40 mins, home.


This blog was 9 years old tomorrow.  Happy Birthday Swtchbckr!

O for finally, Thursday, post storms Muckvicker's - half None

Finally a couple fine days made it possible to get out on the bikes.  Nelson came to my place and I fixed my flat from the Little Ak tire swap puncture (swapped front to rear, Conti didn't mount right, swapped them back and got a hole in front tube...), then we headed for top of Worsley Rd.  LOTS of water running out of the hillsides across the road on the way up.  But, once on the dirt, not so bad.  The usual streams of water in all the ruts on the way up, but before the first corner it was oooozing, so we headed into the trees and found a highline track we'd never seen before.  Heaps of tree damage in here, but not a patch on what we were to find further up.  Someone has been in there with chainsaws, tidying here and there, but lots is too big to deal to...  Very quickly we arrived at The Junction, where we headed up the former streambed that is The Guts track.  Not long later and I was wheezing away, unable to breathe on account of this fucking cold I've got presently.  Walking a little before the pylon gap, through the several trees down across the track, which have been cleared away already. 

Above the pylon gap, more trees down, this time, not cleared.  around some, over others, then onwards and up to the Clifftop.  On up the Original B-Line, a tree here, detour, another tree there, through that one, another tree and detour.  Then up the rocky bit to where Debby's bits start, but no going down there, waaay too wet - would've been worse than my first time.  On over and up, another tree, detour, onto a random small singletrack and suddenly, the top.  Off down to the Body Bag.  Oh, boy.  the ruts.  the water, but rideable line pretty much the whole way, except for the quagmire puddle half way up.  On up, my virus-lungs getting the better of me, wheezing my way on foot (from further up than last time) to the top.

Figured, the Nun is meant to be 'all weather', what with it's majorly rocked-up surface, so, headed on up to give it a look.  Surprise surprise, it was fine.  Evidence of maybe 2 or 3 other riders through, and no damage resulting.  Only one type of surface was greasy, when the dirt looked kinda grey.  Yellowish brown was sweet, and rocks were sweet, but the grey stuff...  slickly.  Thankfully, not too much of it.  Anyway, not a very high speed descent, but fun, and bailed out at the halfway carpark (which you couldn't park a car on, as it's storage for slip-muck from up the road).

Up the road, back to top of Worsley's and down.  Half way down and Nelson stops dead, wheels up nearly to their hubs in the quagmire puddle half way.  It really was like jelly.  And very deep.  Got the bike out, and kinda tried to put some drainage in, but not likely working.  And onwards down.  Then, right-hander up to the B-line zone.  This time, taking Tommy's left hander and cruising down.  One tree, managed to snap a few branches out of the way.  Another tree, lift over...  then on down into the carnage around the top of Fight Club.  Decided against attempting it, and had a look around just above the pylon gap, then across this, and more looking around, then down to the track and in to the left, this time exploring a bit more on that side of the Guts track.  Eventually, out and down the way we'd come up, then past the tank and back into the forest, detouring around a fallen tree, then detouring out of the forest and back in for the final branchlet and cone infested lower last bits of trail..

All up, some good riding, and not really that dirty.  Once again, the little mudguard worked a treat - nothing in my eyes, and stanchions all nice and clean..

meh

Dear Mountain Biking,

It's been a while.  I've been thinking about you a lot, and I've missed you.  We used to be so close, but now everything's gone and changed.  I brought you with me this week, and meant to get out up into the wilds with you, but one thing and another got in the way.  Now, I've got a crappy head cold and even tho I had the time and some inclination, it just didn't happen for us today.  Probably just as well, in that you may have pushed the cold worse into me.  But another part of me thinks that maybe you and me could have fought off this lurgy with our awesomeness.

It's crazy to think it's been so long, and that the last times we were together were on such dull trails.  And now the storms have beaten up our favourite old haunts and who knows what we'll find next time we're in there. 

Maybe this week we can meet again, and see how we go?

Looking forward to it.

Yours,

Swtchbckr

Another Bottle Lake spin

Forecast and persistent rain on the hills all day was putting me off to thinking that we wouldn't ride last night, but Nelson came over to mine after work anyway, and we'd both noticed how dry my side of town was, ie, roads completely dry from the CBD onwards, so decided on heading out for a(nother for me) spin of Bottle Lake...  Arrived at carpark 6.30ish, and headed on in, me on the singlespeed again, but no dog this time.  Good fast pace all the way through to Mount Garbage, then down, passing a woman and her dog, through past the ponds, and out to the beach.  Sand blowouts on the tops of the dunes all rideable due to dampness, but trails were way drier than the previous evening.  We stopped up here, Nelson to pump his tires a tad, me to tweak the rear spokes hoping to stop the tire rub under power - to no avail.

Along the front, up and down, then in, and through, all the way up to Spencer Park this time, some big event on up there, (heard later from some other riders at the carpark that there were 4500 youth on a camp, with a band etc).  We rode through to Adrenalin Forest and stopped for a snack, before turning back through, the band at the Youth thing cranking up about then.  Been a long time since we'd been all the way through here.

Back into the trails, blasting back through, Nelson starting to go faster and me feeling like my bike was getting slower.  Legs burning, spinning and lungs wheezing to keep up.

Eventually, back to the car and back on the road 8pmish.  Better than nothing, and surprisingly dry.

Jet Bottle first lights

Quick repair of the rear brake on the singlist after dinner then Jet and me cruised out to the sandpit in the Fiat. A light rain starting around our departure. Headed in and hung a right blasting along for the start then easing off for the furboy. Mostly was running the light on low on account of having forgotten to charge it and not knowing how long i had. Did have a spare in my pack & a small back up on the bars though.  No worries tho, the main lamp stayed up and running the whole way, and then barely needed any charge once home.

Out near the beach I slowed up for Jet & we just cruised along there. The sea was really pumping. Jet trotted along happy as a happy thing. Once we headed back into the forest I pickup the speed a bit, holding up now & then til I could see the glow of his eyes. We took the longest route, out towards Spencer before heading back thru to the car. I hadn't been this way for a while.  On the way back through the last sections I reminisced about where the trail used to go in places, and how the whole place has changed in the 18 odd years I've been riding in here..  Back to the car after about an hour's ride all up.

Popped into Parklands on the way home for some bevvies to take to the bach for the forthcoming Easter break.

Sunday quick up, around, down a little, up, down, up, down, around, down

Damp weekend at kids' Kea and Cub camp, home by 3pm Sunday with a weight of tiredness but the offer of a ride by T.  Said I couldn't possibly, but then lay about for a while and figured why the hell not?  So, drove out and with a view of the hills decided Worsley top looked dingier than the rest of the hills east of there so pointed the car towards Mt Pleasant and headed across and on up to the Upper Major. 

Jumped on the bike 4.30ish, and over the fence and hit the trail up Britten, Jet racing out ahead.  No stock in sight, so figured he was okay, but once he'd slowed down a little bit I kept him close til I could see that there really was no stock on the hill.  Good pace up, and cleaned the turn to head around the original Britten trail, up top of which I de-layered down to my Baked Alaska, sun shining through enough to keep the shades on too.  On round to the end of the trail and up onto the road, then down to Cavendish Saddle, where I started heading up towards the stile for Mt Pleasant, but then stopped and checked out my timing, 4.45pm, and decided that actually, a brief sortie up and back to the Gondola building might be in order.

Headed, and struggled a little in the greasy-ish conditions, up the ziggy zaggy rounding out the top and smelling the stench of sheep shit and urine, which caught Jet's attention and two daggy unshorn wild looking sheep headed off straight down our zigs and zags, so we saw them a few more times as we descended, Jet being really good and heeling well.

Up the grindy wee start of the Pleasant climb, the previously washed out steep section all nicely compacted with new fill, smooth and nearly as hard as concrete.  Good cruise up and round to the top, pleasantly surprised that it was not even 5.05, so, less than 20 minutes to have climbed Cavendish, descended, and climbed Pleasant.  Up here the fog was enveloping the top in its fuggy moistness, so, sunglasses away at the gate and zip up front.

Down the trail winding round over the rocks, over the step-stile, down the first few rocks, keeping Jet behind and keeping an eye out for stock.  Enjoyed the flow as I rounded through the sound effects of Lyttelton, then the open tussock land speed followed and Jet was tight on my tail, loving it, the whole way down.

Brief breather above Greenwood, then down, Jet at a heel onto the top section of Greenwood trail and around.  Been a bit of work along here, the edges cleared, making for a nice cruise up and around and over.  Sheep were sheltering a bit around here and as I hit the worst of the short sharpish climbs Jet made like he was gonna stalk one, which I stopped with a sharp word, which got him back into line and he was no trouble with them after that.  As we neared the road, the trail got muckier and wetter.  Once again, I was glad of my wee mudguard stopping eye-spleck.  Onto the road and Jet heeling as we cruised round and up to Britten.

Final descent was awesome.  I went flat out, weaving with the trail back and forth down the hill, with Jet tight on my tail, galloping along after me.  On the hairpins he would cut the corner really tight and end up out front and as soon as I caught him again he'd move aside and get in behind again.  Sweet!

5.29 and we were in the car.  A quick, hour's ride with so much in it.  AND, the first ride for my new helment.