Got going a little late so was 8.06 by time I got to Steve's. He wasn't riding and the others had already headed off ahead, so I got chasing. Steve thought they'd gone up Huntsbury, so I was chasing hard, and nearly dying as a result. Never did catch them... cos they'd gone up Rapaki(!)
Anyway, up into the fog, total white out up top - 20 or 30m visibility, along Traverse, thinking the whole time I'll find them having a break here, or here, or here, or just up here... nup. Thompsons, Kiwi, ("surely they gotta be here!?" nope). Up the road and around the bend, thinking they musta really been haulin' ass. Got wetter just past Worsleys so I stopped and chucked a jacket on, then rolled down to the top of Kennedys. Asked a rider at the stile if he'd encountered a group heading down, nope. Muddy as all get up along the top here, then slick as shit all the way down. Stopped and scoped out the forests on the way down, man there's plenty of room in there now for secret trails...
Somewhere down here I texted Warren saying where are yas!? only to receive that they were just at the top of Kennedys then. Oh well...
Bombed on down then onto the 'High Rd' and down, slippy slippy, and into the Crock, which was not so bad, and fun.
Then into Murphs, the newby fun downhill, and then to the planting...
25kms, with 670 m gained. My family attended the planting, so my ride finished here as I got a lift home with them.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Wednesday Quick Hanmer
Quick spin in Hanmer with a few guys from work - Pete, Miles and Dave. Headed from the houses, around to Clarence Valley Rd, into Flax Track, up it, then seemed like Yankee Zephyr was shut, so we headed down Swoop. Fun wee blast, nearly crashing overcooking one corner. Along the flat, up Timberlands Trail, then into Red Rocks. Fun blast down this, then out Eeny Meeny and back to the house to find ourselves locked out and our key at the pools... Thanks a lot Ian.
Less than 10km, 41minutes ridden, just over 200m climbed...
Less than 10km, 41minutes ridden, just over 200m climbed...
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Saturday Travis Planting Fatty
Left home on the fatty just after 10, and rode along the river - McBratneys - and through the red zone, then river again, and up Bassett, into Travis Wetland, over the bridge to arrive the same time as Steve. Luckily I'd brought my Gummies, as it was a total quagmire. Chucked them on, and then proceeded into the planting area. Planted loads, with around 150 other people, then rode with Steve to the rangerbase and ate a couple sossies. I took off straight after the speeches, down towards Anzac Bridge then followed river and red zone home. A good spin.
15 kms or so all up...
15 kms or so all up...
Friday, September 16, 2016
Friday Night, up and down
Nelson picked me up from work just after 5 and the traffic was stupidly slow until we got across Brougham, then it wasn't so bad and we got to Worsley's Rd, parking next to the poplars on the flat before the new Park's entrance. Rode up the road, round the corner and into the climb on the grass next to Fluffy Sheep. At the top of this, we dropped into 1TrickLucy, boffing it down this, swoopy, clippy, yumpy, cruising. Didn't look very well ridden, lots of overgrowth starting and just all a bit unkempt. At the bottom of this, Nelson led off jetting down the switchbacks into the bottom of the valley, and we climbed up the lefthand (true right) side, steep little mother this is. Levelled off and then through a gate, across a brandspanking new bridge, up some steps, then up a nice new gravel track, couple of switchbacks and then level-ish for a bit, then up a couple more switchbacks and then across the new slobdivision zone back onto Worsleys Rd, for to climb, up the singletrack bit then on up the seal to the top.
Into Worsleys proper, figuring the alt-route from the gate might be slick as shit like the other week. We headed over to the left hand side through the trees to check out whether we could see anything of the new Park works. Not really. Rode up this singletrack to the water tank, then on upwards eventually finding ourselves IN the park, behind the sign. Over the fence, and across the main track to ride up the 4wd mess-up-zone next to the jumpytrack forest. Off camber as fuck up here, then on up and back onto the main drag in the big corner. Cleaned the next few sections, really enjoying the challenge and just blazing up stuff I would have struggled with not that long ago. Dunno what it was, but wasn't feeling all that bad. Eventually got to the top, ie, the bottom of the Body Bag, and sat down for a rest, and to wait for darkness to get more in. We'd ridden all the way to here without lights on.
Heard a couple of voices and spotted some lights over at the top of Braille, so we headed down and dropped into the little valley here. Two guys with a boxer dog, parked up. Brief chat, and we headed off into the newby singletrack here. We had a nice blat down, I led the way, and we were keeping an eye out for any trails on the left. Eventually, found one, but it proved a dead end in short shrift. Meanwhile the two guys rode past, as we pushed back up to the track, and found what was really actually a droppy wee track just metres further down. Couple of filters at the top but the rest of it was sweet, zigged and zagged steeply down onto the 4wd track in here. Climbed this up to Braille and climbed on up. Nelson gapping me, and then finding another newby off the right-hand side of this at the top. Checked it out, no go, and another further down, no go, then back onto the climbing track to the top again, meeting the two guys and the boxer again, chatting longer this time.
They led off first, dog chasing hard, one of them took the jump line, and so we all got ahead of him and then when Nelson dropped into the steeper left hander lower down, the dog followed us down this, while the other two guys fanged off down the rest of the the trail, calling for the dog. We hooned down the 4wd trail to their exit (quite along way further down), and then the dog turned up. Down, and we spotted a trail exit on our right, so Nelson rode it and I pushed up it and eventually we found it's another new exit for the rest of the new track up there... Back down this from where our droppy track started and out the 4wd all the way, getting caught, at speed, by the slickmud... Nearly lost it, but managed to scrub enough speed, get back under control and follow on down the rest of it, spraying clods off the tires. Up to Epitaph, and down this back to the carpark.
Zoom down the road, bits of hard mud flinging off cleaning the tires, singletrack, then into Fluffy Sheep for a swoopy speedy descent back down, onto the road and back to the car.
2hours22 total time, just over 15kms and 578m climbed.
Into Worsleys proper, figuring the alt-route from the gate might be slick as shit like the other week. We headed over to the left hand side through the trees to check out whether we could see anything of the new Park works. Not really. Rode up this singletrack to the water tank, then on upwards eventually finding ourselves IN the park, behind the sign. Over the fence, and across the main track to ride up the 4wd mess-up-zone next to the jumpytrack forest. Off camber as fuck up here, then on up and back onto the main drag in the big corner. Cleaned the next few sections, really enjoying the challenge and just blazing up stuff I would have struggled with not that long ago. Dunno what it was, but wasn't feeling all that bad. Eventually got to the top, ie, the bottom of the Body Bag, and sat down for a rest, and to wait for darkness to get more in. We'd ridden all the way to here without lights on.
Heard a couple of voices and spotted some lights over at the top of Braille, so we headed down and dropped into the little valley here. Two guys with a boxer dog, parked up. Brief chat, and we headed off into the newby singletrack here. We had a nice blat down, I led the way, and we were keeping an eye out for any trails on the left. Eventually, found one, but it proved a dead end in short shrift. Meanwhile the two guys rode past, as we pushed back up to the track, and found what was really actually a droppy wee track just metres further down. Couple of filters at the top but the rest of it was sweet, zigged and zagged steeply down onto the 4wd track in here. Climbed this up to Braille and climbed on up. Nelson gapping me, and then finding another newby off the right-hand side of this at the top. Checked it out, no go, and another further down, no go, then back onto the climbing track to the top again, meeting the two guys and the boxer again, chatting longer this time.
They led off first, dog chasing hard, one of them took the jump line, and so we all got ahead of him and then when Nelson dropped into the steeper left hander lower down, the dog followed us down this, while the other two guys fanged off down the rest of the the trail, calling for the dog. We hooned down the 4wd trail to their exit (quite along way further down), and then the dog turned up. Down, and we spotted a trail exit on our right, so Nelson rode it and I pushed up it and eventually we found it's another new exit for the rest of the new track up there... Back down this from where our droppy track started and out the 4wd all the way, getting caught, at speed, by the slickmud... Nearly lost it, but managed to scrub enough speed, get back under control and follow on down the rest of it, spraying clods off the tires. Up to Epitaph, and down this back to the carpark.
Zoom down the road, bits of hard mud flinging off cleaning the tires, singletrack, then into Fluffy Sheep for a swoopy speedy descent back down, onto the road and back to the car.
2hours22 total time, just over 15kms and 578m climbed.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Sunday Solo, Fat snow mucky Jet Grey
Jetty and me, with the fat on the back, headed up country for the "Lake" Janet. Loads of vehicles at the carpark. Parked up and got riding somewhere around 1.15pm, heading up the usual grinder. I've never managed to remember each bit, but as I ride it I always discover how much longer it is than memory would have it. Snow was in evidence even as low as the 'lake', in patches, and more I found the higher I got. Mostly it'd been 4wheeldriven through so there was a melted track through it; evidence of a couple of bikes prior too, and higher up in the shaded bits the tire tread had packed the snow down and obviously had had chains on. The first couple of these proved quite slippery, so I stopped and relieved my rear tire of air, for traction. Fatty handled the snow quite nicely. Met a few people walking down, a couple, a group of women, another couple, a woman with a dog that Jet enjoyed playing with, and 2 bikers too. Roughly 30 minutes til I passed the fire lookout, and the road above here had lots of snow, but muddy and well melted tire tracks Very wet, melting snow. Met another group of women up in this section, and as I approached the towers I could see 3 more down on the singletrack, slipping and sliding in the snow. I wondered on the sensibility of riding that...
2pm here just above the big comms tower , snack,
photo
and a wee rest (that's Mt Grey proper on the right), lovely sunny day, with spectacular views of row upon row of snow clad peaks to the north and west, and smoke on the plains to the west over Nelson's place.
Then, seat down, a bit of air out of front tire, and off down, meeting the first piles of drifted snowpack on the steepest bit. Down and around onto the singletrack, finding most of it unrideable for the first couple hundred metres. Walking feet had packed and pushed the snow off piste, and the wheels followed the easiest path down, which meant, off the track, making it quite tricky. No evidence whatsoever of any bikes prior this way. One near O.T.B, but I persevered and the bits without snow were basically running creeks, meaning I got pretty splecked up pretty quick. All the way I wondered if I'd catch the 3 women ahead of me, but I didn't see them til I got all the way down to the end of the singletrack. Anyway, there was snow in the forest for quite a bit of the first (south facing) section, dissipating at the creek crossing, but it was all good to ride on. I took it easy, on account of being alone. Jet was pretty chilled out, but reeaally enjoyed his time. The usually mudy bit in the middle was supremely mucky today. Quite remarkable just how mucky it was. Forest sections of good flow were divine. and the Fatty handled the trails, roots and rocks, very well. Was even easy to maneuver around the hairpins.
Eventually got to the bottom and looked at my watch and it was onlly 1.10... hang on. I left at 1.15... My watch had obviously caught on my wrist and wound itself back... Ground my way up the road, this climb proving far longer than memory permits (MapMyRide says 382m). Big group of women (and a guy?) faffing at the gate where it flattens out, "you're doing well!", and one of whom asking me where I'd ridden "all the way over, heaps of snow", "well, you had the right tires then!"...
Fast section along the road after this, Jet winding up to full speed, 40 odd kph, galloping along oh so happily, down and then finally the last final climb around and about then the level back to the car...
All up 2 hours of ridng, 15kms and nearly 700 of steep altitude.
2pm here just above the big comms tower , snack,
Then, seat down, a bit of air out of front tire, and off down, meeting the first piles of drifted snowpack on the steepest bit. Down and around onto the singletrack, finding most of it unrideable for the first couple hundred metres. Walking feet had packed and pushed the snow off piste, and the wheels followed the easiest path down, which meant, off the track, making it quite tricky. No evidence whatsoever of any bikes prior this way. One near O.T.B, but I persevered and the bits without snow were basically running creeks, meaning I got pretty splecked up pretty quick. All the way I wondered if I'd catch the 3 women ahead of me, but I didn't see them til I got all the way down to the end of the singletrack. Anyway, there was snow in the forest for quite a bit of the first (south facing) section, dissipating at the creek crossing, but it was all good to ride on. I took it easy, on account of being alone. Jet was pretty chilled out, but reeaally enjoyed his time. The usually mudy bit in the middle was supremely mucky today. Quite remarkable just how mucky it was. Forest sections of good flow were divine. and the Fatty handled the trails, roots and rocks, very well. Was even easy to maneuver around the hairpins.
Eventually got to the bottom and looked at my watch and it was onlly 1.10... hang on. I left at 1.15... My watch had obviously caught on my wrist and wound itself back... Ground my way up the road, this climb proving far longer than memory permits (MapMyRide says 382m). Big group of women (and a guy?) faffing at the gate where it flattens out, "you're doing well!", and one of whom asking me where I'd ridden "all the way over, heaps of snow", "well, you had the right tires then!"...
Fast section along the road after this, Jet winding up to full speed, 40 odd kph, galloping along oh so happily, down and then finally the last final climb around and about then the level back to the car...
All up 2 hours of ridng, 15kms and nearly 700 of steep altitude.
Saturday, September 03, 2016
Saturday Croc-boys
Took O and his friend Hunter to Halswell Quarry in the afternoon. Parked and headed across the park towards the quarry, then along the driveway and up Kennedy's Bush Rd. Hunter's first ever time on the hill, whereas this was 'old hat' to O, having ridden up here that once before. Hunter needed some coaching in good use of gears and there was a lot to take in. I don't think he's ever puffed as hard as he was up here either... End of the road and over the stile, then up the HighRoad and onto the 4wd at the watertank (not realising there's a new climbing trail just up from here... discovered this as we approached the top, another rider on his way up it...).
Through the gate and into Siberia, me following Hunter, and Otis out the front, bombing away ahead. Hunter did well for a start, but around the corners and on the dowhill with the roots, I saw him bounced off his pedals, landing on his seat with feet out the sides, rattling down through the root section - yowch, coming to a stop in a small cloud of dust. He was a bit shaken, but okay, and tootled down the last bit to Otis. Climbed our way back up the 4wd to the gate and stopped for a snack and for me to act as gate-opener for a bunch of riders up and down.
Then off down the singletrack, same order, with Otis weaving and grooving his way down, sooo much confidence, and Hunter chasing, looking to me to be a bit out of control. I gave him a big gap then rocketshipped down after him, catching quickly, and stopping again, letting him get ahead, and doing the same again. Followed down through the High Road trail, and he started to get scuffed up on one of the corners (caught the inside pedal), and we caught up and met Otis at the start of the Crocodile.
Through the cattlestop and waiting for a couple of climbers, and off in, same order. Here's where Hunter struggled. Mostly he was okay, but having never navigated hairpins before he really struggled. But it wasn't the hairpin that got him first, it was a rut on the side. Crash. Let a climbing rider through, then off again, and around and then scuff skid crash on the last of the hairpins - poor little guy bollocking himself this time. Bit of a break to recover, and off again, me cringing hoping he wouldn't crash off again. O was waiting for us down at the next cattlestop. That next bit is quite steep and I was really worried Hunter would topple, but he didn't and managed the little climb then onwards towards C2 where O was waiting. I joined them and got ahead, and then saw the new 'Expert' descent here, so, sent the boys down C2 and I explored the new. Nice, steeper and fun, a few wee roll over drops and weaves back and forth in the trees all the way down to meet the main drag down next to those ponds where it heads back into the valley before heading up for the exit. Fun. Will be good for a few laps in future evening rides...
Waited for the boys, hearing cheers from a couple riding when Hunter did the jump at the bottom, and they joined me and we headed up the climb, around, and then down the dog fields back to the car.
Not a huge ride, and probably less than 300 climbed... alas, I'd forgotten to MMR it.
Through the gate and into Siberia, me following Hunter, and Otis out the front, bombing away ahead. Hunter did well for a start, but around the corners and on the dowhill with the roots, I saw him bounced off his pedals, landing on his seat with feet out the sides, rattling down through the root section - yowch, coming to a stop in a small cloud of dust. He was a bit shaken, but okay, and tootled down the last bit to Otis. Climbed our way back up the 4wd to the gate and stopped for a snack and for me to act as gate-opener for a bunch of riders up and down.
Then off down the singletrack, same order, with Otis weaving and grooving his way down, sooo much confidence, and Hunter chasing, looking to me to be a bit out of control. I gave him a big gap then rocketshipped down after him, catching quickly, and stopping again, letting him get ahead, and doing the same again. Followed down through the High Road trail, and he started to get scuffed up on one of the corners (caught the inside pedal), and we caught up and met Otis at the start of the Crocodile.
Through the cattlestop and waiting for a couple of climbers, and off in, same order. Here's where Hunter struggled. Mostly he was okay, but having never navigated hairpins before he really struggled. But it wasn't the hairpin that got him first, it was a rut on the side. Crash. Let a climbing rider through, then off again, and around and then scuff skid crash on the last of the hairpins - poor little guy bollocking himself this time. Bit of a break to recover, and off again, me cringing hoping he wouldn't crash off again. O was waiting for us down at the next cattlestop. That next bit is quite steep and I was really worried Hunter would topple, but he didn't and managed the little climb then onwards towards C2 where O was waiting. I joined them and got ahead, and then saw the new 'Expert' descent here, so, sent the boys down C2 and I explored the new. Nice, steeper and fun, a few wee roll over drops and weaves back and forth in the trees all the way down to meet the main drag down next to those ponds where it heads back into the valley before heading up for the exit. Fun. Will be good for a few laps in future evening rides...
Waited for the boys, hearing cheers from a couple riding when Hunter did the jump at the bottom, and they joined me and we headed up the climb, around, and then down the dog fields back to the car.
Not a huge ride, and probably less than 300 climbed... alas, I'd forgotten to MMR it.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Monday night Brit Cavendish Castle Green Pleasantries
Nelson picked me up from home after work and we headed for the Upper Major Hornbrook, parking down the end by Ridgeview. As we were getting ready, the sun slipped behind the mountains, a minute before 6, so we had a bit of light for the climb. Over the fence next to the bathtub and up the singletrack, climbing and wheezing, me lagging behind for a while. Nelson lubed his chain at the turnaround and we headed around the 'new' trail out around the ridge, enjoying the post sunset lightshow. Around to the road, across, and over the fence. Climbed to the singletrack and hung a right for a change dropping down to Cavendish Saddle, careful on the last bit before the stile. Over this and lights on here, down then into a greasy (to start with) climb for the gondola, zigging and zagging upwards to the top, climbing getting better as I progressed.
Brief stop behind the Gondola building, snack, view of flat-calm harbour, then off down, not quite knowing what to expect slipperynesswise. Not so bad, down steps, and then over some rocks, and one horridly mucky bit then the usual rocky descending. Worked out the way into the 'good' line along the fence (on the right - instead of over the left side with the hairpin and tight bits), and then a little further down Nelson was stopped and grabbed a baby rabbit... We held it a bit then let it go, and headed across the top and over to the Bridle Path.
Up the road, plod plod plod, and into Castle Rock. Not much muck about, a couple small wet bits up top and one or two further down, but mostly pretty good. I took it very easy, quite relaxed, just cruised on down around across around, cleaned the climb nicely, and cruised over the last bits.
Back up the road and before the top - up through the tussocks onto the Crater Rim track, and back towards Lyttelton (which we'd explored back in June). Good round here, climbing all the climby bits, up steps etc. Nelson stalling at one point and toppling off. All I saw was him 'running' down the hill below the track, and tumbling. He garked his shin and knees quite well on a rock and had to sit there for a bit to get through the pain. Then, off round the ridge and above Lyttelton, cruising down the steppy, not so slippery, and better than remembered, trail down to a final bomb towards the Bridle Path.
Next up, around the road under the Gondola back to Cavendish Saddle, and up the singletrack grind to the top of Pleasant. Nice break up here, no wind around at all, and off down the trail, much better than last week in the wind, but splecky mucky disgustingness on the section overlooking Lyttelton near the top. Not so bad down through the tussocks. Way betterer without the wind.
Brief pause above the ruins, where I said "I'm not sure I can be bothered going down Greenwood," to which Nelson replied, "Well, I'm keen." So I changed my mind and we did. It wasn't too bad, except leading around to Gloomy Gulch, and then Gloomy Gulch itself... Those bits were yucky, but not as bad as I've seen it in the past. Drainage efforts really are doing the job. Bit of a break just after Gloomy Gulch where I used to always top, and then off down the steeper rocky bits and nice flow ensuing. At the new drop, Nelson did it. I rolled up and looked at it, and no, you cannot 'roll' it... I walked back up a bit, and Nelson came back up, and we rolled in again, and he dropped it and I chickened out, >buk buk<. Onwards down, one corner in Dave's section was a muckfest, but the rest of the trail was all good. Me taking it pretty easy the rest of the way down.
Onto the road and the climbing began again. Always further than memory would have it, but I felt better than last week, and managed to keep the pace up all the way up. Last blast down Britten started off easy and got more and more rapid as we flowed, and sketchy in places too, feeling both tires juuust giving way a few times. Last little section of singletrack down to the bathtub is quite sketchy, tight, and not very fast...
All up, 21kms, and 850m climbed... didn't feel like that much, but it was... nice.
Brief stop behind the Gondola building, snack, view of flat-calm harbour, then off down, not quite knowing what to expect slipperynesswise. Not so bad, down steps, and then over some rocks, and one horridly mucky bit then the usual rocky descending. Worked out the way into the 'good' line along the fence (on the right - instead of over the left side with the hairpin and tight bits), and then a little further down Nelson was stopped and grabbed a baby rabbit... We held it a bit then let it go, and headed across the top and over to the Bridle Path.
Up the road, plod plod plod, and into Castle Rock. Not much muck about, a couple small wet bits up top and one or two further down, but mostly pretty good. I took it very easy, quite relaxed, just cruised on down around across around, cleaned the climb nicely, and cruised over the last bits.
Back up the road and before the top - up through the tussocks onto the Crater Rim track, and back towards Lyttelton (which we'd explored back in June). Good round here, climbing all the climby bits, up steps etc. Nelson stalling at one point and toppling off. All I saw was him 'running' down the hill below the track, and tumbling. He garked his shin and knees quite well on a rock and had to sit there for a bit to get through the pain. Then, off round the ridge and above Lyttelton, cruising down the steppy, not so slippery, and better than remembered, trail down to a final bomb towards the Bridle Path.
Next up, around the road under the Gondola back to Cavendish Saddle, and up the singletrack grind to the top of Pleasant. Nice break up here, no wind around at all, and off down the trail, much better than last week in the wind, but splecky mucky disgustingness on the section overlooking Lyttelton near the top. Not so bad down through the tussocks. Way betterer without the wind.
Brief pause above the ruins, where I said "I'm not sure I can be bothered going down Greenwood," to which Nelson replied, "Well, I'm keen." So I changed my mind and we did. It wasn't too bad, except leading around to Gloomy Gulch, and then Gloomy Gulch itself... Those bits were yucky, but not as bad as I've seen it in the past. Drainage efforts really are doing the job. Bit of a break just after Gloomy Gulch where I used to always top, and then off down the steeper rocky bits and nice flow ensuing. At the new drop, Nelson did it. I rolled up and looked at it, and no, you cannot 'roll' it... I walked back up a bit, and Nelson came back up, and we rolled in again, and he dropped it and I chickened out, >buk buk<. Onwards down, one corner in Dave's section was a muckfest, but the rest of the trail was all good. Me taking it pretty easy the rest of the way down.
Onto the road and the climbing began again. Always further than memory would have it, but I felt better than last week, and managed to keep the pace up all the way up. Last blast down Britten started off easy and got more and more rapid as we flowed, and sketchy in places too, feeling both tires juuust giving way a few times. Last little section of singletrack down to the bathtub is quite sketchy, tight, and not very fast...
All up, 21kms, and 850m climbed... didn't feel like that much, but it was... nice.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Sunday Flat to Otukaikino planting
Hoofed the townie around to Pete's. Steve and Tones, then Wah-Hey-No rolled up and we cruised Avonside, Kilmore, over the Salisbury bike bridge, Hagley Park, Girl's High crossing to Mona Vale (where I remembered about MappingMyRide) and up the Railtrail to the end. Steve was on his townie, Pete on the new Grandad - aptly named Fritz, and the other two were on their usual steeds. Good pace set mostly by Steve, nice day, good for cruising. Tuckers Rd, around to Claridges Rd, then Gardners, Sawyers Arms and up to the Lakes (Roto Kohatu), through Omaka and along to the planting site. Planted lots of plants, had a couple sossies, and headed on back the way we came, pretty much.
Back at Mona Vale, Tones and Stevo headed onwards, Steve to the 'Rugby' House to open up and get ready for the game, and us other three back towards our respective residences via Armagh St, me peeling off at Madras for the usual route home.
So, my 30something kms was actually more like 36 (my place to Pete's to Mona Vale), and altitude was grand bugger all 72m.
Back at Mona Vale, Tones and Stevo headed onwards, Steve to the 'Rugby' House to open up and get ready for the game, and us other three back towards our respective residences via Armagh St, me peeling off at Madras for the usual route home.
So, my 30something kms was actually more like 36 (my place to Pete's to Mona Vale), and altitude was grand bugger all 72m.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Wednesday Night McBlustery Pleasant Green
Nelson picked me up out front of work and we did the traffic jam tango the length of Ferry Rd, parking at McCormacks Bay. There was a bloody bitter easterly blustering the city, and our carpark wasn't particularly sheltered. Nelson realised he'd forgotten his shoes, so his options were either not ride or ride in his slip-on laceless Chucks... Naturally, he opted to ride, and suffer the consequences. 5.45 or so, I got going a little ahead while he faffed with something, hitting up the straightline climb and getting a bit of a wheeze on. I kept checking back and there was no sign of him, so I stopped briefly til I saw him on the move. On I kept, climbing and cleaning everything, through the first hairpin and then stopped at the second. Finally he showed up behind, so I got walking up the steep bit and then stopped to re-adjust my pfmtbc tube-doorag. Quite sheltered here in the valley. Onwards climbing up and through, cleaning all the little boardwalks (with their cycle-traps) and into the first of the upper hairpins, no worries, second - spun out. Spun out on another one and then we walked the steps.
Up the road, wind blowing around a lot, then up past Longridge, and trying out the wee singletrack in the park we often come down. I wondered, and was surprised when we both cleaned it up no spin-outs no problems... Then it was up over the fence by the bath and into Britten. Here, Nelson's gears packed up... A piece of flax had wound it's way around his jockey wheels, totally knotting and locking everything up. He had to remove it to clean it all out, it's so tough! Riding again, full force of the wind in our faces as we went. Hard work, pushing through it and the climbing. Around the bend and tail wind pushing around to the next corner, then cross wind and tail wind a bit again to the top. Around the turnaround and then climbing the original and taking the lower loop out, into the wind for a bit, then awesome push around the ridgeline, popping around and pushed up and around towards the Summit Rd. Nice.
Across the road, over the fence, climbing again. Wind alternately pushing or stopping as we climbed to the top. Finding some surprising shelter downwind of the natives up top there. I led into the descent, taking the newer drop-line, my newly serviced fork playing very nice, wind a fucking gale. Down and around, nearly blown off the track into Lyttelton on that edge with the big exposure, then nearly blown to a standstill coming around into it after there. Down through the tussocks, massive gusts pushing, pushing, releasing, making for rather interesting times. The lower (usually very fast) section I got pushed by the wind, front wheel rut-stuck, started to fall, front wheel bit, rear wheel caught the rut edge and started to slide and I finally stopped completely sideways to the track. Close call. Wind was howling across the top here, so we didn't muck about only stopping briefly before taking off down towards Greenwood.
Leading the way, into Greenwood, the wind was a factor, yet again. Carried good speed past the ruins and into the first section, and on round to the right, but as I came around the next left hander, the wind and the rocks conspired and the speed dropped right down. Took some effort to boost it up again, and down through the corners there were sheep with new lambs scattering off the track, only to meet us on the next section. Finally, tailwind pushing around through the rockgap and around through the pumpy section towards Gloomy Gulch, good speed carried. Pumped through the next bit then into the fast rocky descent, still mostly tailwind, nice rolling. Spotted a new drop on the lower end of this section, and stopped afterwards to look back at it - next time. Hoofed it around into the wind again pedalling to go downhill into the corners. Over rocks, around bends, lost my chain somewhere in here, had to stop briefly to replace, and could see Nelson still a fair way back. Got going again, and popped and rolled and pumped around into the gully and back out down the backstraight, dabbed my way through the first rocky up, rode the second and fanged on down tot he bottom. Looked back up the trail and Nelson's light was stopped. It flashed a couple times then got moving again. He'd stopped to rest his feet, which were suffering badly from battering his small metal pedals and thin soled shoes were inflicting.
Up the road, steady pace, nice and calm below Gloomy Gulch, but bloody horrible for the next stretch into the wind, and around improving, then relatively sheltered all the way up to the pines. Then pretty much a tail wind the rest of the way up, Nelson bolted up here, getting to the top miles ahead of me, while I just plodded along.
Into Britten, headwind making for pedalling to keep speed, then around and jumping and smooth across the slope, around the bend, and pushing hard into it to the bad off camber corner, then blasting down the final slopes to the bath. Over and down, smoothly smoothly through the steep gravel, and coasting down the road to Craigieburn Pl, and into the trail. I walked the steps and Nelson rode the whole lot, with only a dab at the bottom of them. Then twist, twist, turn down the McCormacks Track bombing the bits we could see, and rain just starting to drop drops on us - perfect timing. Awesome run down this singletrack, especially the lower swoopy section below the two hairpins, then flat-out blasting down the straight, confusing the bejeebus out of a car coming up Glenstrae towards us... Out to the car, not long after 8.30.
So, in nearly 3 hours of real time, we'd ridden for 1 and a half hours, covering 18.5 kms, with 765m climbed.
Up the road, wind blowing around a lot, then up past Longridge, and trying out the wee singletrack in the park we often come down. I wondered, and was surprised when we both cleaned it up no spin-outs no problems... Then it was up over the fence by the bath and into Britten. Here, Nelson's gears packed up... A piece of flax had wound it's way around his jockey wheels, totally knotting and locking everything up. He had to remove it to clean it all out, it's so tough! Riding again, full force of the wind in our faces as we went. Hard work, pushing through it and the climbing. Around the bend and tail wind pushing around to the next corner, then cross wind and tail wind a bit again to the top. Around the turnaround and then climbing the original and taking the lower loop out, into the wind for a bit, then awesome push around the ridgeline, popping around and pushed up and around towards the Summit Rd. Nice.
Across the road, over the fence, climbing again. Wind alternately pushing or stopping as we climbed to the top. Finding some surprising shelter downwind of the natives up top there. I led into the descent, taking the newer drop-line, my newly serviced fork playing very nice, wind a fucking gale. Down and around, nearly blown off the track into Lyttelton on that edge with the big exposure, then nearly blown to a standstill coming around into it after there. Down through the tussocks, massive gusts pushing, pushing, releasing, making for rather interesting times. The lower (usually very fast) section I got pushed by the wind, front wheel rut-stuck, started to fall, front wheel bit, rear wheel caught the rut edge and started to slide and I finally stopped completely sideways to the track. Close call. Wind was howling across the top here, so we didn't muck about only stopping briefly before taking off down towards Greenwood.
Leading the way, into Greenwood, the wind was a factor, yet again. Carried good speed past the ruins and into the first section, and on round to the right, but as I came around the next left hander, the wind and the rocks conspired and the speed dropped right down. Took some effort to boost it up again, and down through the corners there were sheep with new lambs scattering off the track, only to meet us on the next section. Finally, tailwind pushing around through the rockgap and around through the pumpy section towards Gloomy Gulch, good speed carried. Pumped through the next bit then into the fast rocky descent, still mostly tailwind, nice rolling. Spotted a new drop on the lower end of this section, and stopped afterwards to look back at it - next time. Hoofed it around into the wind again pedalling to go downhill into the corners. Over rocks, around bends, lost my chain somewhere in here, had to stop briefly to replace, and could see Nelson still a fair way back. Got going again, and popped and rolled and pumped around into the gully and back out down the backstraight, dabbed my way through the first rocky up, rode the second and fanged on down tot he bottom. Looked back up the trail and Nelson's light was stopped. It flashed a couple times then got moving again. He'd stopped to rest his feet, which were suffering badly from battering his small metal pedals and thin soled shoes were inflicting.
Up the road, steady pace, nice and calm below Gloomy Gulch, but bloody horrible for the next stretch into the wind, and around improving, then relatively sheltered all the way up to the pines. Then pretty much a tail wind the rest of the way up, Nelson bolted up here, getting to the top miles ahead of me, while I just plodded along.
Into Britten, headwind making for pedalling to keep speed, then around and jumping and smooth across the slope, around the bend, and pushing hard into it to the bad off camber corner, then blasting down the final slopes to the bath. Over and down, smoothly smoothly through the steep gravel, and coasting down the road to Craigieburn Pl, and into the trail. I walked the steps and Nelson rode the whole lot, with only a dab at the bottom of them. Then twist, twist, turn down the McCormacks Track bombing the bits we could see, and rain just starting to drop drops on us - perfect timing. Awesome run down this singletrack, especially the lower swoopy section below the two hairpins, then flat-out blasting down the straight, confusing the bejeebus out of a car coming up Glenstrae towards us... Out to the car, not long after 8.30.
So, in nearly 3 hours of real time, we'd ridden for 1 and a half hours, covering 18.5 kms, with 765m climbed.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Sunday morning small posse
Got myself across to Steve's by 9am (via Stanmore, Nursery, Wilsons, Opawa) and found there him, Wazza and Wayno. We headed around and up cRapaki, taking it at a nice easy Steve's pace. We held back with him until the flat bit where Wazza and me headed over a wee singletrack above the trail, then for the final climb I pushed hard ahead and exhausted myself for a nice rest at the top. Somewhere on the way up cRapaki my MapMyRide died, stopping at 7.99kms, stupid thing. Off up Vernon, following a couple of real slowbos, and staying on their tails because we were holding back for Steve, but once we got past them I powered on ahead and around and up and around and over and stopped at the start of the Traverse. Quite a few people around here. I snacked and we regrouped, then onwards around the Traverse, keeping a good pace going, catching up to various oldies on the way round. Fun fang round and then I lost my chain just before the end, coasted to a stop and re-engaged, following the other three to the top of Vic. Into Thomson and Thompson, nice blasts through the two of these.
Up the road to top of Marleys, and time for a lap of the Nun, so lined it up, waiting for a young grom to put on his knee pads and get going, but these two older slower guys got in ahead of him. I headed in after him and never saw him again (til he'd popped out half way), but I caught the older guys in the rocky sections. Once past them I had a good blast down, only muppetting a couple spots. Good speed in the lower reaches. At the tree on the corner near the bottom a rooster clucked out in front of me and squawked and holla'd ahead of me for a few metres before getting out of my way. On down and through the jumpies, missing them, and avoiding my nemesis jump.
Back up the road and over and down the Body bag, getting some good speed down here, the bike feeling really smooth. Hung a left towards Braille, and then a hard right onto the newby Nelson and me had found. The guy was working on it, so I thanked him and he wished us good riding. We had a good blast down here, the boys enjoying the trail a lot. Dropped onto the trail at the end and fanged off down this. Wet spot where Nelson and me headed up for the Jumpy trail, and the 4wd below here got greasier and wetter and muckier the further we went. Total passenger material, with one loss of control by me when we passed a riding couple squirrelling their way up. Where the jumpy trail comes out the trail was dry again and bombed down to the road losing a lot of the muck off our tires. More removed at 60 whatever kph on the road, diversion on the mtb track on the left, then into the Farside tracks. The boys all took 1 Trick Lucy, where I opted for Utopia. I felt like it isn't used much, and was fun, but got me out the bottom quicker than them.
Down the road and stopped in for a coffee at the cafe in the Cracroft shops, then met Andy and Jenna around the road a bit from here and chatted, before heading around the river, across the Beckenham Loop and I peeled off up Eastern, Wilsons, Nursery, Stanmore home.
Steve'sMappedRide says he did 28kms, and over 720m or so altitude... chuck an extra 10 kms on that for my commute, and we're even.
Up the road to top of Marleys, and time for a lap of the Nun, so lined it up, waiting for a young grom to put on his knee pads and get going, but these two older slower guys got in ahead of him. I headed in after him and never saw him again (til he'd popped out half way), but I caught the older guys in the rocky sections. Once past them I had a good blast down, only muppetting a couple spots. Good speed in the lower reaches. At the tree on the corner near the bottom a rooster clucked out in front of me and squawked and holla'd ahead of me for a few metres before getting out of my way. On down and through the jumpies, missing them, and avoiding my nemesis jump.
Back up the road and over and down the Body bag, getting some good speed down here, the bike feeling really smooth. Hung a left towards Braille, and then a hard right onto the newby Nelson and me had found. The guy was working on it, so I thanked him and he wished us good riding. We had a good blast down here, the boys enjoying the trail a lot. Dropped onto the trail at the end and fanged off down this. Wet spot where Nelson and me headed up for the Jumpy trail, and the 4wd below here got greasier and wetter and muckier the further we went. Total passenger material, with one loss of control by me when we passed a riding couple squirrelling their way up. Where the jumpy trail comes out the trail was dry again and bombed down to the road losing a lot of the muck off our tires. More removed at 60 whatever kph on the road, diversion on the mtb track on the left, then into the Farside tracks. The boys all took 1 Trick Lucy, where I opted for Utopia. I felt like it isn't used much, and was fun, but got me out the bottom quicker than them.
Down the road and stopped in for a coffee at the cafe in the Cracroft shops, then met Andy and Jenna around the road a bit from here and chatted, before heading around the river, across the Beckenham Loop and I peeled off up Eastern, Wilsons, Nursery, Stanmore home.
Steve'sMappedRide says he did 28kms, and over 720m or so altitude... chuck an extra 10 kms on that for my commute, and we're even.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Monday Night Cashmere Vic Bowenvaling
No ride weekend due to weather and under-weatherment, and no chance of a ride this week due to being sole charge of children, so Monday night was the only option to get out. Nelson came to mine and we had a bit of a feed before heading out. Got to Holliss Ave at 7pm thereabouts, and headed up the hill. Steep bastard of a road this, and I was soon wheezing like and asthmatic smoker, barely managing to keep any air in, climbed away behind but managed to keep on top of my gear and make it to the top of the road. Into the walking track, first off, down LOTS of steps. I hadn't remembered them, but Nelson rode them all, while I took the safety conscious route of walking. Little bit of single track and some steps up, followed by some more, and then about 5 flights of them and we were on Longhurst Tce.
Across the road and up a little bit and into the singletrack here that climbs around below all the houses up up up. One respite then steeeeep switchback that Nelson rode lots of and I walked heaps of. On ever upwards, more up than I remembered and finally we were at the stile over to the Forest. Here's what I used to called the Barbed Wire Root Kiss track, on account of when you're coming down the roots are jittery and the barbed wire is SO close to your hand as to be almost kissing it... Anyway, climbing is an interesting one, we both managed lots of it, Nelson way more than me, but much getting off also ensued. At the top, we both cleaned the last section to the gate, and then into the Dog Park and off up, more rocks meaning more walking for me, and less so for Nelson, then across the park to the gate and a couple of pops over the gutter and then off into the walking track that starts here. Nice forested flow through this, eventually coming out above the climbing trail from the bottom of Old Dyers, dropping down more nice singletracks to it, and off up to the 19th Batt. Memorial.
Up the fire road to the skidder site and for a change, off up the Gums track. Walked a whole bunch in there, but explored a little below the my fun wee favourite before heading onto the main track and then cutting through to the top of Sesame St and upwards onto Brake Free. Up through this to beneath the see-saw, along the fence, through a gate and onto the climbing trail up to the Traverse. Stopped here briefly wondering what to do next...
Off down towards the rabbit paddock, and as we moseyed down this I spotted a trail off to the left, hmmm, followed it and found several rabbits, thinking they were hiding from me. Nelson joined me and we cruised back across to the Rock Garden with freshly dampened tires. Then we were blazing down through the Gummies, hung the favourite left and bombed it down through there, ducking and weaving around the trees. Eventually back onto the skidder site, and off up towards the top of 19th Battalion Memorial, like we've done a couple times now with the Thursday night boys. Followed our noses over this and down the sketchy trails, including one steep wee mofo through a shrubbery you can't see out of, left on the walking track across into the forest and then down to the right, and then a hard right and down steps and fun blast through the woods, veering left around and finally down a bunch more steps. Following down more to find the steep fun trail we'd done a couple weeks back. Finding it and dropping and dropping, magnificent trail reminiscent of all our (reportedly mostly deceased-) favourites in McVicars. Finally the super steep finale, Nelson planted himself into a tree, then struggled to get moving again down the last bit I walked. Clambering through the forest now over and through, then back on and dropping down onto the last bit of descent finally onto the main valley drag, above the fordy bridge the dude died at.
Climbed here, up to the creek crossing and up into Hidden Valley Link track. Bollocksed the climb out of the creek, good round the corner and up to the second hairpin, bollocksed that, bollocksed the wee rock up, then the next one, then the first of upper corners, then just out of the last one, then dabbed on the final climb to the stile. Bloody balance was all out and my lungs weren't working properly... Had a good rest here, then headed onwards, around and down Old Skool. Bloody good blast. Rode it well, in very good condition, sounds like way less sketch and slop than the boys yesterday, all in all having a nice run after all that bad balance. Final drops, peeled left and looked at where Nelson had crashed a few weeks back.
Finally, down the bottom of the valley, and down the colder and colder Bowenvale Ave, detouring across Wedgewood, Landsdowne and taking Gunns Cres back around for a final drop Holliss and the car.
1 hour's riding time, 11.3kms, 421m climbed.
Across the road and up a little bit and into the singletrack here that climbs around below all the houses up up up. One respite then steeeeep switchback that Nelson rode lots of and I walked heaps of. On ever upwards, more up than I remembered and finally we were at the stile over to the Forest. Here's what I used to called the Barbed Wire Root Kiss track, on account of when you're coming down the roots are jittery and the barbed wire is SO close to your hand as to be almost kissing it... Anyway, climbing is an interesting one, we both managed lots of it, Nelson way more than me, but much getting off also ensued. At the top, we both cleaned the last section to the gate, and then into the Dog Park and off up, more rocks meaning more walking for me, and less so for Nelson, then across the park to the gate and a couple of pops over the gutter and then off into the walking track that starts here. Nice forested flow through this, eventually coming out above the climbing trail from the bottom of Old Dyers, dropping down more nice singletracks to it, and off up to the 19th Batt. Memorial.
Up the fire road to the skidder site and for a change, off up the Gums track. Walked a whole bunch in there, but explored a little below the my fun wee favourite before heading onto the main track and then cutting through to the top of Sesame St and upwards onto Brake Free. Up through this to beneath the see-saw, along the fence, through a gate and onto the climbing trail up to the Traverse. Stopped here briefly wondering what to do next...
Off down towards the rabbit paddock, and as we moseyed down this I spotted a trail off to the left, hmmm, followed it and found several rabbits, thinking they were hiding from me. Nelson joined me and we cruised back across to the Rock Garden with freshly dampened tires. Then we were blazing down through the Gummies, hung the favourite left and bombed it down through there, ducking and weaving around the trees. Eventually back onto the skidder site, and off up towards the top of 19th Battalion Memorial, like we've done a couple times now with the Thursday night boys. Followed our noses over this and down the sketchy trails, including one steep wee mofo through a shrubbery you can't see out of, left on the walking track across into the forest and then down to the right, and then a hard right and down steps and fun blast through the woods, veering left around and finally down a bunch more steps. Following down more to find the steep fun trail we'd done a couple weeks back. Finding it and dropping and dropping, magnificent trail reminiscent of all our (reportedly mostly deceased-) favourites in McVicars. Finally the super steep finale, Nelson planted himself into a tree, then struggled to get moving again down the last bit I walked. Clambering through the forest now over and through, then back on and dropping down onto the last bit of descent finally onto the main valley drag, above the fordy bridge the dude died at.
Climbed here, up to the creek crossing and up into Hidden Valley Link track. Bollocksed the climb out of the creek, good round the corner and up to the second hairpin, bollocksed that, bollocksed the wee rock up, then the next one, then the first of upper corners, then just out of the last one, then dabbed on the final climb to the stile. Bloody balance was all out and my lungs weren't working properly... Had a good rest here, then headed onwards, around and down Old Skool. Bloody good blast. Rode it well, in very good condition, sounds like way less sketch and slop than the boys yesterday, all in all having a nice run after all that bad balance. Final drops, peeled left and looked at where Nelson had crashed a few weeks back.
Finally, down the bottom of the valley, and down the colder and colder Bowenvale Ave, detouring across Wedgewood, Landsdowne and taking Gunns Cres back around for a final drop Holliss and the car.
1 hour's riding time, 11.3kms, 421m climbed.
Sunday, August 07, 2016
Sunday Pleasant Tarmac Posse
Left home on the Troll (cos knew we'd not be much off road today - tracks closed'n all) and then remembered mymapmyride on Vogel, got it started and headed for the 9 o'clock meet at Steve's. Got there to find Tony and Steve, and then up rolled Pete. Headed the usual Garlands, Radley, Marshall, Radley Park, along The Cut, over the bridge then along the tow path all the way round the back of Ferrymead to the bridge. Sketchy in spots around there, where my lack of tires made for slickness galore. Also, a couple of the wee bridges in there were just lightly glazed in frost, one of which caught Pete out pretty good, giving him quite a wee fright.
Layers off on Ferrymead Bridge, then off up St Andrews Hill. Low gear on the Troll is pretty good for this, and I didn't struggle at all. Steve was feeling it hard when we got to Marama, so he tried a little experiment of spraying some of his nitro on his finger and tasting it (instead of getting the full dose of spray on the tongue), and he was marvelling later how well it'd worked. Nice one! On up Major Hornbrook all the way, Clearview and Upper, then on up Mt Pleasant Rd to the top.
Down the Summit Rd here, just rolling, the Troll, with it's smooth tires, proving quite quick. Freezing cold in the shade of the Richmond Hill pines, and we popped over the fence here to continue on down the gravel farm track, then below this onto the newly upgraded dirt track, Troll surprisingly stable, to the top of Richmond Hill Rd, and bombing down this. I was being a bit cautious down the steep straight, and Pete overtook me then we both overtook a car. My brakes worked hard to reel me in from around 60kph for the corner, and then it was a nice blast down the rest of it, with an ice-cream headache forming by the time I made the bottom. Brrrrrr... My pfmtbc doo-rag saturated with sweat was collldddd. Around to Dot Com and coffee and snackages partaken of.
Onto the road and around through Redcliffs and the Causeway, all slipstreaming, first behind Steve then Pete. Pete and me split from the other two at the Bridge and continued our merry way round Humphrey's and Spinwood homewards, home well before 12.
Over 30kms and 567m climbed in all.
Layers off on Ferrymead Bridge, then off up St Andrews Hill. Low gear on the Troll is pretty good for this, and I didn't struggle at all. Steve was feeling it hard when we got to Marama, so he tried a little experiment of spraying some of his nitro on his finger and tasting it (instead of getting the full dose of spray on the tongue), and he was marvelling later how well it'd worked. Nice one! On up Major Hornbrook all the way, Clearview and Upper, then on up Mt Pleasant Rd to the top.
Down the Summit Rd here, just rolling, the Troll, with it's smooth tires, proving quite quick. Freezing cold in the shade of the Richmond Hill pines, and we popped over the fence here to continue on down the gravel farm track, then below this onto the newly upgraded dirt track, Troll surprisingly stable, to the top of Richmond Hill Rd, and bombing down this. I was being a bit cautious down the steep straight, and Pete overtook me then we both overtook a car. My brakes worked hard to reel me in from around 60kph for the corner, and then it was a nice blast down the rest of it, with an ice-cream headache forming by the time I made the bottom. Brrrrrr... My pfmtbc doo-rag saturated with sweat was collldddd. Around to Dot Com and coffee and snackages partaken of.
Onto the road and around through Redcliffs and the Causeway, all slipstreaming, first behind Steve then Pete. Pete and me split from the other two at the Bridge and continued our merry way round Humphrey's and Spinwood homewards, home well before 12.
Over 30kms and 567m climbed in all.
Thursday, August 04, 2016
Wednesday night, Worsley short shrift - before the snows?
Late start departing my place, Nelson and me, to the top of Worsleys Road and a nice cool southerly blowing through there. Rain earlier in the day, we figured maybe under the trees somewhere would be dry enough to ride. But first, we headed up the main drag of Worsley Track, marvelling at how dry the lower sections were... Further up, not so much. A lot of wheezing earlier on, and various muckfest sections later, with a little mucky walking, and we were entering the bottom of the cloud at the bottom of the Bodybag... Checked out the Park sign here and their access roadage and then headed back down and into Braille.
Fun little track, except for the bigger gap jumps. Nelson tackled the earlier ones, I tackled one or two, even going back up for a couple of them, but not really allowing myself to give them everything, due to the greasiness under-tread. Bombed on down, bypassing the worst humps, and continued on down, dropping into the lower section below the access track down towards the lower pylon, twisting and turning our way down to the end. Back up the climb-out, and then back up the 4wd track amongst Braille to the top again, chuffing away, wondering where next. Decided on another Braille run, and Nelson cleared a few more of the jumps, or better anyway, this time, me, worse than before... Decided I really need a service, my rear is squeaking annoyingly and my fork needs some fettling. On down all the way again, and we found ourselves climbing again - "Weren't we just here?"
Upwards to the top again, and this time back across towards the main Worsley Track, through the wee dip, and all the while looking left to find the track we'd explored last time we were in here... Hmmm, someone's been digging. Very nice wee fun (quite easy) track has been built here, pretty much following the main Track from just inside the trees, a good distance down. We got some nice speed through here, and there were one or two interesting features on the way. I noticed at least 2 or three alternative (less ridden or dug) lines off the left side, dropping into the valley more, so there's plenty of exploring to be done, and scope for way more trailage through this area. Popped out on the climbing track, at around about the steepest bit, and found our way down to below the powerlines, where there's a wee creek.
Climbed up through the powerline clearing, then headed left down into the jumpy track. Nelson knows this well, so let it go and jumped the jumps he was comfortable jumping, including the fence gap. I toodled around most of them, including stepping over the fence gap... On down through the last of it, ducking and diving, then dropped onto the climbing track, skirted some mud pugs, and climbed up to the final Epitaph - which I rode quite carefully on account of the slippery dirt. Nelson, not so much.
440m climbed, in 8.3kms... short and sweet.
Fun little track, except for the bigger gap jumps. Nelson tackled the earlier ones, I tackled one or two, even going back up for a couple of them, but not really allowing myself to give them everything, due to the greasiness under-tread. Bombed on down, bypassing the worst humps, and continued on down, dropping into the lower section below the access track down towards the lower pylon, twisting and turning our way down to the end. Back up the climb-out, and then back up the 4wd track amongst Braille to the top again, chuffing away, wondering where next. Decided on another Braille run, and Nelson cleared a few more of the jumps, or better anyway, this time, me, worse than before... Decided I really need a service, my rear is squeaking annoyingly and my fork needs some fettling. On down all the way again, and we found ourselves climbing again - "Weren't we just here?"
Upwards to the top again, and this time back across towards the main Worsley Track, through the wee dip, and all the while looking left to find the track we'd explored last time we were in here... Hmmm, someone's been digging. Very nice wee fun (quite easy) track has been built here, pretty much following the main Track from just inside the trees, a good distance down. We got some nice speed through here, and there were one or two interesting features on the way. I noticed at least 2 or three alternative (less ridden or dug) lines off the left side, dropping into the valley more, so there's plenty of exploring to be done, and scope for way more trailage through this area. Popped out on the climbing track, at around about the steepest bit, and found our way down to below the powerlines, where there's a wee creek.
Climbed up through the powerline clearing, then headed left down into the jumpy track. Nelson knows this well, so let it go and jumped the jumps he was comfortable jumping, including the fence gap. I toodled around most of them, including stepping over the fence gap... On down through the last of it, ducking and diving, then dropped onto the climbing track, skirted some mud pugs, and climbed up to the final Epitaph - which I rode quite carefully on account of the slippery dirt. Nelson, not so much.
440m climbed, in 8.3kms... short and sweet.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Sunday Mt Herbert snow and wind.
Couldn't make the ride to Orton Bradley TFC planting with the boys, but managed to get out later on, driving round to Diamond Harbour for an attempt at some snow riding after a nice dusting was deposited over the Peninsula tops overnight. Caught up with the boys (Pete, Steve, Tony & Wayno) as they were just getting into Diamond Harbour, making them miss the 12.30 ferry sailing by stopping to talk to me... (sorry guys).
Headed off up the walking track, bailing all the techy bits cos they were slippery as, but the rest of it was nice, and it was in here that I only just remembered to start MapMyRide. Across Bayview Rd and onto the trail proper, steeeeeeep to start with, and steep and long a lot of the rest of the way. Steady climbing, riding most of it, meeting a couple of walkers here and there, all bundled up against the wind.
The worst climb was from a gate just below a couple of water tanks, and it's waaay too steep to ride, so walked for some time up this bit. This was where the snow started to become more common, tho mainly the trail was clear til the top of this section, when the drifts started taking up half the track. On all the exposed ridges, the wind was ferocious, cold and strong, but the lee-side slopes were mild and sunny. Drifts of snow and snow on the track were steadily increasing from about 600m altitude. This made riding more interesting, and the fatty handled the drifts nicely. The last section of track I rode was up to the gate below the summit. 829m according the MMR, so less than 100m shy of the 919 top. Snow was pretty solid here, nice squeaky stuff, and drifted in nice windridges.
Here's the view...
And a nice view of the bike... (weird fat-butt camera distortion...)
Let some air out here.
Descending, the snow was awesome to ride in, cushioning the bumpiness of the track. The steep section to the water tanks was horrible, really hard work, rigid bike on rough track, working the brakes, made for some sore hands and arm pumpedness. Lower down the long rolly flows were sweet as, and one section much lower down I was humming along with my hands utterly loose on the bars.
Left the car at 12.30ish, and made the highpoint about 2.10, and was back at the car before 2.45.
All up, over 700m climbed, and less than 14km travelled...
Headed off up the walking track, bailing all the techy bits cos they were slippery as, but the rest of it was nice, and it was in here that I only just remembered to start MapMyRide. Across Bayview Rd and onto the trail proper, steeeeeeep to start with, and steep and long a lot of the rest of the way. Steady climbing, riding most of it, meeting a couple of walkers here and there, all bundled up against the wind.
The worst climb was from a gate just below a couple of water tanks, and it's waaay too steep to ride, so walked for some time up this bit. This was where the snow started to become more common, tho mainly the trail was clear til the top of this section, when the drifts started taking up half the track. On all the exposed ridges, the wind was ferocious, cold and strong, but the lee-side slopes were mild and sunny. Drifts of snow and snow on the track were steadily increasing from about 600m altitude. This made riding more interesting, and the fatty handled the drifts nicely. The last section of track I rode was up to the gate below the summit. 829m according the MMR, so less than 100m shy of the 919 top. Snow was pretty solid here, nice squeaky stuff, and drifted in nice windridges.
Here's the view...
Descending, the snow was awesome to ride in, cushioning the bumpiness of the track. The steep section to the water tanks was horrible, really hard work, rigid bike on rough track, working the brakes, made for some sore hands and arm pumpedness. Lower down the long rolly flows were sweet as, and one section much lower down I was humming along with my hands utterly loose on the bars.
Left the car at 12.30ish, and made the highpoint about 2.10, and was back at the car before 2.45.
All up, over 700m climbed, and less than 14km travelled...
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Random Redzone Ramblings
Jet and me were at a loose end and I was too tired to head for the hills, so jumped on the newly upgraded fatty (it's now a Ritchey Commando, - Charge Cooker Maxi 2 no longer!), and we wandered the redzone. Mostly using gaps in the fences, but plenty of lift over, climb over, and wire stretch let-unders for jetty. Explored my usual Horseshoe Lake trail, and had a look around the north side too. Nice. When in the large expanses of redzone, we just ride randomly, wandering from one patch of trees to the next.
Back towards home along Mundys and Archilles, then around the Banks Ave singletrack. Rain was juuussstt starting to spit when we got home. Good timing.
12 kms, and wow, 23 metres of altitude...
Back towards home along Mundys and Archilles, then around the Banks Ave singletrack. Rain was juuussstt starting to spit when we got home. Good timing.
12 kms, and wow, 23 metres of altitude...
Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday Steep crew again
Met up with the makings of the same crew as last week, more accuracy in name gathering this time, Mark, Phil, Tones, Rob being stalwarts of last week, and another Rob and another guy who's name I didn't catch, plus Nelson and me. Met them at The Takahe, and set off at 6.30pm. Headed up Vic Park Rd, hanging a right a little way up, down some steps and through a nice wee forest trail down to the Harry Ell track, climbing this up all the way to the top, only pissing off about 4 runners on their ways down. I gronked my knee trying to step up the rocky step up just above the road, and failed to clean the steps half way up. Good run the rest of the way. At the top we could hear some dumbarse boy racers yelling on the road below, sounded like they'd dropped a wheel off the road or something and were having trouble. haha.
Everybody attempted the steeeep loose climb into the macracarpas of the lower Thompson, some with some success, others (like me), not so much. Up from here then up the road to the top Vic Park carpark, then above the road, climbing up towards Sugarloaf to the carpark. Some steep in here, and a fence. Next it was off down towards the Kiwi. Some techy rock steps and drops and right at the bottom some fucking horrible steps that I baulked and walked. From the Kiwi we rode up the road to the first saddle and headed off down the Governor's Bay track (lower entrance), and within 50 m Nelson had OTB'd; happily with no injuries. Onwards again and we headed all the way down the switchbacks, ducked through the (VERY) tight shrubbery at the bottom and out onto the driveway.
Now for something we'd never done... Down. Down down down, steep(ish in places), greasy (southern facing slopes), and thankfully (considering the circumstances) not too tech. But, good blaze down, a regroup half way, and it wends and winds it's way down all over the place. One super wet greasy section that had one of the Robs (in front of me) off the side of the trail, and caked our tires up something wicked. A short climb within, then back and forth down a bunch of switchbacks to the end (the last(?) driveway up from Governors Bay on Dyers Pass Rd?). Regroup here and it was off up again. Nelson and Rob raced off ahead, by all accounts cleaning heaps, but dabbing and walking a few bits. I got in there and flailed my way into the first couple corners and spun out and lost balance and dabbed and walked an awful lot of the way up, being overtaken by all except the guy who's name I didn't catch, who was dragging behind worse than me. Caught Phil and Tones up a couple of times, but they were cleaning heaps more than me. 29er grip???? or just my ineptitude? (the latter, methinks).
Back at the driveway and regruppo'd and then off up through the shrubs which just ruined me. The switchbacks above here I've never had much luck on, and I had the power in some but not the balance, or I had the balance but ran out of power in others. The main track across the face above the road I had more luck on, except for my balance constantly pulling me over to the left, leaving me walking a whole bunch of the top section to the waiting guys.
Across the road here and into the lower reaches of the Nun, me taking very carefully after last week's shoulder damage. Across Dyer's Pass and up the road to the top of Vic, dropping into Coffee Break across and back then down into Brake Free for a few yumpies, then around and back into the rabbit paddock and down through the rocks and into the gums, blasting left into my favourite, I had Mark tight on my tail, yelling out instructions "LEFT" to those guys behind him, and Nelson in the lead. Popped, dropped and wove our way down to the skidder site for another regroup.
Across towards 19th memorial, like last week, cruising across the top again and down the trails we'd taken last week, but once in the walking trails instead of heading down we continued across and up a bit, past the slide (tho not visible), and down to the Dog Park. Through this and down to the lower exit into those pines we've ridden up and down a few times. In the pines, Phil led us on a wild goose chase across looking for a 'cool trail' they'd found years ago. No luck, but we ended up back near the top of the forest (lower end of the dog park) and worked our way down a not-bad track to come out at the top of Harry Ell Drive, bombing down this around into Longhurst and back to the cars...
over 600m climbed, in 14.5kms
Everybody attempted the steeeep loose climb into the macracarpas of the lower Thompson, some with some success, others (like me), not so much. Up from here then up the road to the top Vic Park carpark, then above the road, climbing up towards Sugarloaf to the carpark. Some steep in here, and a fence. Next it was off down towards the Kiwi. Some techy rock steps and drops and right at the bottom some fucking horrible steps that I baulked and walked. From the Kiwi we rode up the road to the first saddle and headed off down the Governor's Bay track (lower entrance), and within 50 m Nelson had OTB'd; happily with no injuries. Onwards again and we headed all the way down the switchbacks, ducked through the (VERY) tight shrubbery at the bottom and out onto the driveway.
Now for something we'd never done... Down. Down down down, steep(ish in places), greasy (southern facing slopes), and thankfully (considering the circumstances) not too tech. But, good blaze down, a regroup half way, and it wends and winds it's way down all over the place. One super wet greasy section that had one of the Robs (in front of me) off the side of the trail, and caked our tires up something wicked. A short climb within, then back and forth down a bunch of switchbacks to the end (the last(?) driveway up from Governors Bay on Dyers Pass Rd?). Regroup here and it was off up again. Nelson and Rob raced off ahead, by all accounts cleaning heaps, but dabbing and walking a few bits. I got in there and flailed my way into the first couple corners and spun out and lost balance and dabbed and walked an awful lot of the way up, being overtaken by all except the guy who's name I didn't catch, who was dragging behind worse than me. Caught Phil and Tones up a couple of times, but they were cleaning heaps more than me. 29er grip???? or just my ineptitude? (the latter, methinks).
Back at the driveway and regruppo'd and then off up through the shrubs which just ruined me. The switchbacks above here I've never had much luck on, and I had the power in some but not the balance, or I had the balance but ran out of power in others. The main track across the face above the road I had more luck on, except for my balance constantly pulling me over to the left, leaving me walking a whole bunch of the top section to the waiting guys.
Across the road here and into the lower reaches of the Nun, me taking very carefully after last week's shoulder damage. Across Dyer's Pass and up the road to the top of Vic, dropping into Coffee Break across and back then down into Brake Free for a few yumpies, then around and back into the rabbit paddock and down through the rocks and into the gums, blasting left into my favourite, I had Mark tight on my tail, yelling out instructions "LEFT" to those guys behind him, and Nelson in the lead. Popped, dropped and wove our way down to the skidder site for another regroup.
Across towards 19th memorial, like last week, cruising across the top again and down the trails we'd taken last week, but once in the walking trails instead of heading down we continued across and up a bit, past the slide (tho not visible), and down to the Dog Park. Through this and down to the lower exit into those pines we've ridden up and down a few times. In the pines, Phil led us on a wild goose chase across looking for a 'cool trail' they'd found years ago. No luck, but we ended up back near the top of the forest (lower end of the dog park) and worked our way down a not-bad track to come out at the top of Harry Ell Drive, bombing down this around into Longhurst and back to the cars...
over 600m climbed, in 14.5kms
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Thursday Upways never before travelled, and downways the same...
Nelsie picked me up from home and we headed over to meet some dudes he's ridden with before. A bunch of names I'll never remember, but including at least one Nigel, and a Mark, and a Darren and a Paul?, and a few others... Must have been at least 9 or 10 of us. Met outside the empty lot that was Kaizuka (bugger). I found I'd left my handlebar light at home, so was headlamp only. Also, started mymapmyride here, but stopped paused it til further up the hill. Headed up Bowenvale Ave, then up Old Skool, climbing away, a racer dude and Nelson out front, followed by me (surprisingly), and then the rest trailing out behind. Regrouped a couple times on the way up (first one at the stile, where I resumed mymapmyride), then around into Hidden Valley, peeling left on the walk-track that was near where the old trail used to go across in what was once pine trees, across the face towards the bottom of the Lavaflow. Down some steep steps rutsville next to them to a bridge in the valley, then up the valley track, many cleaning or re-trying to clean sections, most of the tricky ones of which I walked. Got eventually to the top corner, and headed on the easy grade track back towards where Bridges flows out of the forest below Brents.
Up into the Park, under the trees, and UP BRENTS... wtf!? oh, kay... Nelson and the XCer cleaned it, I didn't, Nigel didn't. (oh, should mention here, Nelson, Nigel and me were the only reprezentatives of the 26er), and several others didn't clean it that I saw. On up the trails in here, all taking slightly different meandering lines. Nelson blew himself up and had to sit down to rest before the exit below Rad^sick. Here it was decided we'd go UP SHAZZAS... huh!? okay then... Cleaned way more than I'd have expected, and it was a good chuff. A group went around the usual way, zigging out to the left then back across on the big tracks. Another regroup at the skidder site.
Here it was decided to head for Harry Ell and climb to the top, which was a relief, a nice cruisey cruise, til the top under the trees that the lower of the Thompsons is in, and we climbed up through these to Thompsons, then up this and up the upper one and another regroup at the top, some of the dudes had ridden the road section here too, to catch up. I said that I like my wee favourite in the Gums, so they said "Lead the way!", so off down to the right, then back across, bypassing the see-saw, and down the rabbit paddock and into the rocks, and around and then quick left into my gummy favourite, zipping down here and then out to the skidder site, where we found a group of guys standing around a guy on the floor, putting a space blanket on him, awaiting the ambo... busted up ankle, apparently.
Rode from here across towards the 19th Battalion, and then over the top of it and down some trails I didn't know existed, then briefly up the track the Parker-Hulme girls killed the mother, then hung a tight right and down a bunch of stone steps, trail getting steeper around and down and down and down... MINT. Then, apparently the trail used to go 'thru there' (big fallen tree), so around this and onto a sweeeet techy steep flowy fun trail that just kept going down and down, (still!), til eventually a steeper corner and steep down to a fallen log and regroup while some got saws out and cut through it. The old track was impassable from here, so we found our way up to the right and around, then onto another short steep sweet section down to a walk track, that then spat us out onto the main valley track just above where that guy died one time.
Blasted down the valley from here, feeling more and more cold, and sketchy gravel, and I watched as Nelson flew off his bike at the top of that jump up to the right. Good blast. Regroup then down the road and a quick beer and chat at the Brickworx... Good bunch of guys.
only 13 or so kms, and 455ms gained
Up into the Park, under the trees, and UP BRENTS... wtf!? oh, kay... Nelson and the XCer cleaned it, I didn't, Nigel didn't. (oh, should mention here, Nelson, Nigel and me were the only reprezentatives of the 26er), and several others didn't clean it that I saw. On up the trails in here, all taking slightly different meandering lines. Nelson blew himself up and had to sit down to rest before the exit below Rad^sick. Here it was decided we'd go UP SHAZZAS... huh!? okay then... Cleaned way more than I'd have expected, and it was a good chuff. A group went around the usual way, zigging out to the left then back across on the big tracks. Another regroup at the skidder site.
Here it was decided to head for Harry Ell and climb to the top, which was a relief, a nice cruisey cruise, til the top under the trees that the lower of the Thompsons is in, and we climbed up through these to Thompsons, then up this and up the upper one and another regroup at the top, some of the dudes had ridden the road section here too, to catch up. I said that I like my wee favourite in the Gums, so they said "Lead the way!", so off down to the right, then back across, bypassing the see-saw, and down the rabbit paddock and into the rocks, and around and then quick left into my gummy favourite, zipping down here and then out to the skidder site, where we found a group of guys standing around a guy on the floor, putting a space blanket on him, awaiting the ambo... busted up ankle, apparently.
Rode from here across towards the 19th Battalion, and then over the top of it and down some trails I didn't know existed, then briefly up the track the Parker-Hulme girls killed the mother, then hung a tight right and down a bunch of stone steps, trail getting steeper around and down and down and down... MINT. Then, apparently the trail used to go 'thru there' (big fallen tree), so around this and onto a sweeeet techy steep flowy fun trail that just kept going down and down, (still!), til eventually a steeper corner and steep down to a fallen log and regroup while some got saws out and cut through it. The old track was impassable from here, so we found our way up to the right and around, then onto another short steep sweet section down to a walk track, that then spat us out onto the main valley track just above where that guy died one time.
Blasted down the valley from here, feeling more and more cold, and sketchy gravel, and I watched as Nelson flew off his bike at the top of that jump up to the right. Good blast. Regroup then down the road and a quick beer and chat at the Brickworx... Good bunch of guys.
only 13 or so kms, and 455ms gained
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
2ewsdaie Night Flaying None (but Matt and me...)
For once, a group ride posse... Nelson and me arrived at the Kiwi at 6.10 or so, followed by Wayne in van with Wazza, then Pete flew past up the road, txtd him "Kiwi", and he came back, then Matt flew off up the road, also txtd him "Kiwi", and he turned up. We got riding, up the road, Wazza, Wayne, Nelson and me for a start, then Nelson realised he needed his flashy red, so turned back, and followed with the other two. Nelson passed us on the way up Worsleys Road, and we all assembled eventually at the top of the Nun. I followed Nelson in, and kept him in sight, but I certainly didn't have his rapidity. He slowly left me behind, tho, the gap didn't seem to get too big. I felt like Pete was right on my tail the whole time, until not long before the carpark exit, and from there on down I felt like I was just chasing Nelson. Until the last of the jumps in that lower section. Popped it, landed, and immediately my front wheel slid left, slamming me down onto the trail, arm out in front, sliding along. So hard, that the impact pushed the sleeve of my right arm right up past the elbow. I picked myself up, groaned a lot, unwound the handlebars (the wrong way at first, couldn't tell which direction it was meant to go), and got right back on the horse that threw me. Alas, I could only coast because my chain was off. Groaning some more as Pete arrived on the scene, I reassembled my drivetrain and pedalled on up to groan some more. Went down to the car with Nelson and dropped off my bag, pulled my sleeve down, and generally decided I would soldier on.
Off back up the road. At the carpark half way up, we headed up onto the walking track above the road. Much more interesting, albeit slower, than the road, and rode and climbed the various steps and features of this under-utilised trail. Back onto Worsley Rd, and my shoulder was getting sore, but onwards and upwards. About here, it started to rain quite a lot. Up over the top, and none of the boys to be seen, into the trail and fuck it was greasy and wet and nasty. Nelson had a good turn of speed, but I muppetted my way down, taking it so easy and getting more and more sore as I rolled. The smooth rock assemblages on the corners were like slick ice, and the wet dirt was greasy as a greasy thing, making my progress very cautious, but having to rely on instinct more than sense, rolling it down without too much of a bother. Apparently Matt had crashed soemwhere on the way down too, and sported an awesome spot of leakage on his knee.
Riding too slick for all of us, and still early, so we headed our various ways to the Twisted Hop for to drink some Funkenstein (amongst others), and Nelson and me had some kai.
Bugger all altitude (225m), and bugger all mileage (8.2km)...
Off back up the road. At the carpark half way up, we headed up onto the walking track above the road. Much more interesting, albeit slower, than the road, and rode and climbed the various steps and features of this under-utilised trail. Back onto Worsley Rd, and my shoulder was getting sore, but onwards and upwards. About here, it started to rain quite a lot. Up over the top, and none of the boys to be seen, into the trail and fuck it was greasy and wet and nasty. Nelson had a good turn of speed, but I muppetted my way down, taking it so easy and getting more and more sore as I rolled. The smooth rock assemblages on the corners were like slick ice, and the wet dirt was greasy as a greasy thing, making my progress very cautious, but having to rely on instinct more than sense, rolling it down without too much of a bother. Apparently Matt had crashed soemwhere on the way down too, and sported an awesome spot of leakage on his knee.
Riding too slick for all of us, and still early, so we headed our various ways to the Twisted Hop for to drink some Funkenstein (amongst others), and Nelson and me had some kai.
Bugger all altitude (225m), and bugger all mileage (8.2km)...
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Saturday Wharfdale afternoon
Out to Nelson's with Jet in the car yesterday, collecting some wood on the way to cut on Sunday, and chucked some garlic in his ground, then after some lunch we headed around to View Hill Rd in the Subie.
Got riding at 2.10. Was quite wet in places, water running down the trail, and there was evidence of a few bikes having been through. Heaps of cars at the car park, way more than people we saw... Met three riders coming out, and then overtook a walking couple going in, and then at one of the river crossings we met two other guys on bikes heading in as well. We left them behind, and it took us an hour to get to the saddle where we stopped for a wee break. Headed on over for the hut, enjoying the recently worked up trail. On the way down we spotted one of the other bikers on a section of trail behind, so we figured they mustn't have stopped at the saddle - didn't see them again til at the hut tho.
Trail was greasy in places, roots were sketchy, eyes were spleckedy. General softness of the trail made it a lot more work than usual, so I got pretty tired. Also, the stream crossings, especially the river before the hut, made for wet feet and on the way back our feet were blocks of ice, absolutely frozen solid. Also, with the sun shining sideways through the trees, the flickering was like a strobe. Nelson said it was like looking at camo on camo with a strobe in your face. He wasn't wrong.
Jetty was awesome, running ahead, running with, and dropping behind on the descents. He was so good, and loved every minute of it, but man he got filthy.
Spent a little time down at the river below the hut (where there were a couple of bikes locked to a tree), cleaning our chains and re-lubing before the climb back out. Chatted briefly with the other bikers at the hut, they were gonna head down river for a ways then come back and stay at the hut. On the climb back out we met the walker couple again, on their way down the hill. It was a long hard climb up that hill. Making the saddle was a relief, and my feet were SO cold. Got riding again and the downhill was much appreciated. Stopped half way and wrung out our socks. This helped the feet iceblocks for a little while, but once we were in the final descents the wind chill turned them back to ice. 40 minutes from Saddle back to car. Took a while for the heater to warm up...
Total time riding was 2 and a half hours, over all time 3 hours 20, so we must have spent nearly an hour standing or sitting around... We made it back to the car at around 5.30, and there was only just enough light to have finished in.
29ish kms, and only 883 m climbed. Less climb than Thursday's ride... Felt like a lot more.
Got riding at 2.10. Was quite wet in places, water running down the trail, and there was evidence of a few bikes having been through. Heaps of cars at the car park, way more than people we saw... Met three riders coming out, and then overtook a walking couple going in, and then at one of the river crossings we met two other guys on bikes heading in as well. We left them behind, and it took us an hour to get to the saddle where we stopped for a wee break. Headed on over for the hut, enjoying the recently worked up trail. On the way down we spotted one of the other bikers on a section of trail behind, so we figured they mustn't have stopped at the saddle - didn't see them again til at the hut tho.
Trail was greasy in places, roots were sketchy, eyes were spleckedy. General softness of the trail made it a lot more work than usual, so I got pretty tired. Also, the stream crossings, especially the river before the hut, made for wet feet and on the way back our feet were blocks of ice, absolutely frozen solid. Also, with the sun shining sideways through the trees, the flickering was like a strobe. Nelson said it was like looking at camo on camo with a strobe in your face. He wasn't wrong.
Jetty was awesome, running ahead, running with, and dropping behind on the descents. He was so good, and loved every minute of it, but man he got filthy.
Spent a little time down at the river below the hut (where there were a couple of bikes locked to a tree), cleaning our chains and re-lubing before the climb back out. Chatted briefly with the other bikers at the hut, they were gonna head down river for a ways then come back and stay at the hut. On the climb back out we met the walker couple again, on their way down the hill. It was a long hard climb up that hill. Making the saddle was a relief, and my feet were SO cold. Got riding again and the downhill was much appreciated. Stopped half way and wrung out our socks. This helped the feet iceblocks for a little while, but once we were in the final descents the wind chill turned them back to ice. 40 minutes from Saddle back to car. Took a while for the heater to warm up...
Total time riding was 2 and a half hours, over all time 3 hours 20, so we must have spent nearly an hour standing or sitting around... We made it back to the car at around 5.30, and there was only just enough light to have finished in.
29ish kms, and only 883 m climbed. Less climb than Thursday's ride... Felt like a lot more.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Thursday, somewhat long...
Big ride for a weeknight tonight. Nelson picked me up from home after work, and we cruised to McCormacks Bay. Parked up and headed off up the road, then the singletrack. He forgot his wee red flashy so went back for it, which was good, meant I could ride at my pace and not get too knackered too quickly. I plodded away, and he said he could see me going through that first wee pinch at the end of the straight when he got onto the bottom end. I moseyed on up, cleaning everything except the second hairpin, and he caught me when I stopped for air on the bridge. From here we headed up and hung a right, taking the trail around to Drayton, so's to show him where Joy's new house is. Up Mt Pleasant Rd, then up Clearview etc, and then over the fence by the bath, and up the trails to the regular climb. Nelson slowly but steadily increasing the gap. At the top we headed around and out round below the rock out crop then back around onto the regular Britten Track. Helluva wind on that west face. Then up across the road and climbing up Mt Pleasant to the top for a snack out of the wind.
Into the descent, mildly sketchy, but kinda not too. Rocks were all dry anyway, but the tires certainly pinged around a bit. I had some good bits some not so good. Bombed it down through the tussocks, a few wet spots, then onto Greenwood. Nelson gapping me slowly for a start, then majorly lower down. I had a couple of stops, one for the chain and one for my handlebar light plug, but otherwise a pretty good run down. Not my fastest, whereas I reckon it might have been one of Nelson's fastest...
Onto Godley, my, haven't they cleaned that start up. Not so much some of the later rock sections, which is fine. Good run up here, tho my tiredness was showing and I seemed to lose balance a lot. Not much wind this low. Caught up with Nelson at the usual spot, and more break again then off down towards Livingston, fanging it. Really smooth fast run down here, chopping and weaving all the way through to the bottom. Good speed, good balance. On the climb from Livingston I got way left behind and by the time I was coming around to where I could see Breeze Col, Nelson was already bombing out the bottom. Otherwise I had a sweet run down here - it's so much wider and faster than it's been for years. Sketchy as with the damp tires on the final cattlestop
Anda the Anaconda. Good blast, nothing sketchy, just speed and balance. Awesome jumps in places, and good railing of berms. Tho, bottom few corners my handlebar light was out again. Stopped to replug and Nelson was goneburger round the tail. I took this a bit slower than usual, not sure why. No bollocking, which was good, and a fast final blast down to the paddock.
Then the greebly climb. Ugh. Did good for a while, but up around the tight corners (above where the walk track peels off left), I had to drop it down a couple gears and crawl... Made the top in due time and we headed into Nicholson (where my MapMyRide gave up the ghost...). Took a steep track down that joined the steep stuff we'd ridden last time, and it were certainly steep. Down onto the path, a couple of steppy hairpins then onto the blasty wee alleyway between the houses out onto Whitewash Head and down onto the road and around the waterfront. At Cave Rock there were tonnes and tonnes of people around, and cars parked randomly and people all looking at their phones... POKEMON... One person, referring to us, said "There's some real people doing real stuff..." Haha. Must have been 20 or 30 cars, and more arriving, and a hundred people? Nuts... Around the road and hauling ass back to the car, thankfully not along the Causeway.
All up a couple hours riding, just about 26 kms, and nearly 900m climbed. Big for a weeknight.. (Nelson's full course).
Into the descent, mildly sketchy, but kinda not too. Rocks were all dry anyway, but the tires certainly pinged around a bit. I had some good bits some not so good. Bombed it down through the tussocks, a few wet spots, then onto Greenwood. Nelson gapping me slowly for a start, then majorly lower down. I had a couple of stops, one for the chain and one for my handlebar light plug, but otherwise a pretty good run down. Not my fastest, whereas I reckon it might have been one of Nelson's fastest...
Onto Godley, my, haven't they cleaned that start up. Not so much some of the later rock sections, which is fine. Good run up here, tho my tiredness was showing and I seemed to lose balance a lot. Not much wind this low. Caught up with Nelson at the usual spot, and more break again then off down towards Livingston, fanging it. Really smooth fast run down here, chopping and weaving all the way through to the bottom. Good speed, good balance. On the climb from Livingston I got way left behind and by the time I was coming around to where I could see Breeze Col, Nelson was already bombing out the bottom. Otherwise I had a sweet run down here - it's so much wider and faster than it's been for years. Sketchy as with the damp tires on the final cattlestop
Anda the Anaconda. Good blast, nothing sketchy, just speed and balance. Awesome jumps in places, and good railing of berms. Tho, bottom few corners my handlebar light was out again. Stopped to replug and Nelson was goneburger round the tail. I took this a bit slower than usual, not sure why. No bollocking, which was good, and a fast final blast down to the paddock.
Then the greebly climb. Ugh. Did good for a while, but up around the tight corners (above where the walk track peels off left), I had to drop it down a couple gears and crawl... Made the top in due time and we headed into Nicholson (where my MapMyRide gave up the ghost...). Took a steep track down that joined the steep stuff we'd ridden last time, and it were certainly steep. Down onto the path, a couple of steppy hairpins then onto the blasty wee alleyway between the houses out onto Whitewash Head and down onto the road and around the waterfront. At Cave Rock there were tonnes and tonnes of people around, and cars parked randomly and people all looking at their phones... POKEMON... One person, referring to us, said "There's some real people doing real stuff..." Haha. Must have been 20 or 30 cars, and more arriving, and a hundred people? Nuts... Around the road and hauling ass back to the car, thankfully not along the Causeway.
All up a couple hours riding, just about 26 kms, and nearly 900m climbed. Big for a weeknight.. (Nelson's full course).
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