Good ride last night. Met Nelson after work at McCormack's Bay, and we trundled up Glenstrae onto the hot dirt. Sun beating into here and no wind meant for instantly exhausting conditions. Stopped and tried to reach a few blackberries at the usual spot, then got riding again up, down and up up up. Usual walk of the second hairpin, and then further up, in the upper zigzags I dabbed out on the 2nd and 3rd, but got the rest. Nice breeze once up on the road. Up this and up the reserve on the corner onto Ridgeview and over the fence at the bath trough.
Up through Britten, spotting Wazza's, Andy's and Bobbin's cars parked on Upper Major, so figured we wuz chasing... Up around the front of Britten, spotting what looked like familiar riders on the singletrack above the road. We hit the road there and headed back along the road and up Broadleaf, seeing the boys up at the gate, and actually beating Robin to it. Our previous plan of heading over Cavendish and doing Castle and Tors out the window, we joined these dudes and got into the bomb. Fanging like usual down from the top, dust obscuring my view of the trail in places. Regroupling and then around above the ruins, then decided on a lap of these upper trails, down towards the pines, and back up Sheep's Hit Alley, clambering to the top. Robin bailed here on account of his detached hand tendons hurting too much.
The four remaining headed back across old Greenwood into Greenwood proper, and proceeded to bomb like nothing else down. Hoooned. Nice rest after Gloomy, beautiful night just there out of the wind, and got going again for a fun filled rapid descent. Hit the road, and Nelson and me were gonna take the Captain, while they were heading back up for their vehicles. At this point a massive posse of riders appeared out of Rapanui Bush (reserve in corner of hairpin below), and turned out it was the Thursday Night Crew of old, and old (2016 ago!)....
Hooked in with them, Nelson leading the way in, and the others putting the pressure on, hard. I got in about 5th and had Nelson's mate Mark on my tail, and I kept the pressure on the dude in front of me (Paul, maybe?). We hooned big time. Dust was a problem, breathing and seeing, the bit after the gate I just pointed and hoped, not being able to see anything with dust lit by sunshine. Mental! Around, bombing all the usual rocks and interestingness, and as I rounded towards the big boulder (before the rockydrops) I spotted Nelson retrieving his bike from below the trail (below the rockydrops). He was just up onto the trail when I got there and he jumped in behind as the dude who was ahead of me cleaned the entire wee climb here. Somehow I'd lost Mark along here. We got rolling and chasing and fanged out the bottom. When Mark rolled we realised why I'd lost him. His chainring was majorly bent, so the chain wouldn't stay on.
Rolled on down to Sumner, to their cars parked on the Esplanade. They all went to the pub, we tootled off, around the new boardwalk and bike path (that practically dead-ends at Shag). Back to the cars at McCormacks,
A good effort, 21 kms with (according to MMR) 750m climbed (don't believe it, cos our peak was only 500 and we didn't do that much extra up and down (- there's always that weird spike around Moncks Bay)).
Friday, January 31, 2020
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Sunday Short Snake Stuff
Quick wee ride with Gogo today. Parked my car at Breeze Col and we went for a ride. Meanwhile, T was walking with Vanessa from Taylors, so her car was on the road above the bach there, and we both had keys for both.
Go and me started in above the road, climbing onto the skinny sidle. Once around the ridge, overlooking the heads, we spotted T and V (and Jet) below. I rang her and waved, then we bombed down to the Godley carpark, and waited for them. I took Jet for a big drink from the tap at the loos, and the girls headed on along the bike track towards the car. Jet chased them, and we overtook them and continued on.
At Breeze Col we headed up the road, I gave H a push, and then we dropped into the new Anaconda entrance, swooping and flying on down. He was good, got pretty sore hands, but I think he enjoyed it. In the tail he struggled a little on the rocks, and then he crashed on the very last corner below the big elder tree. No harm done and we headed up the road (he walked most and I rode with his bike next to me), to the car. We collected O from the bach where he was gardening and took the Hyundai home.
A massive (not) 6.3 kms, and 200 m climbed, (but with 330 odd metres descended).
Go and me started in above the road, climbing onto the skinny sidle. Once around the ridge, overlooking the heads, we spotted T and V (and Jet) below. I rang her and waved, then we bombed down to the Godley carpark, and waited for them. I took Jet for a big drink from the tap at the loos, and the girls headed on along the bike track towards the car. Jet chased them, and we overtook them and continued on.
At Breeze Col we headed up the road, I gave H a push, and then we dropped into the new Anaconda entrance, swooping and flying on down. He was good, got pretty sore hands, but I think he enjoyed it. In the tail he struggled a little on the rocks, and then he crashed on the very last corner below the big elder tree. No harm done and we headed up the road (he walked most and I rode with his bike next to me), to the car. We collected O from the bach where he was gardening and took the Hyundai home.
A massive (not) 6.3 kms, and 200 m climbed, (but with 330 odd metres descended).
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Saturday Hot Muggy Morning Taylor's Godley
Nice ride from Taylor's today. Dropped O off to do some work in the bach garden, and Nelson joined me for a ride.
We headed up the road and into the walkway, zigging and zagging up to the Godley Head Rd. Was steep and bloody hot and humid with a hazy overcast but sunshine too. Dry AF as well. I cleaned everything, but did have to stop a couple of times for breathers. From the road we headed up the usual 4wd track to the singletrack and decided to head back towards Evans Pass. Good bomb around this, down, passing 2 couples near the end. Then couldn't be arsed, in the heat, to ride the tech-rock back, so took the road back around to the climb, up this again, and a bit of a rest til just after the 2 couples had ridden past. Gave them a gap and then bombed it down to Livingston, passing them having a break before the last full tilt descent to the saddle.
Straight into the climb, moseying up and around. Nelson waiting for me at the top, as usual. Straight into the descent, bombing around and down to Breeze. Here, we headed up the trail above the road, taking the barely visible skinny track around the sidle. Long, dry grass, but good purchase under-tread. Onto the emplacement, then up onto Breeze Bay track. No walkers onboard, so a good hoof around, pea-gravel proving interesting on off camber corners. Back into the skinny climb and sidle again, this time more visible thanks to our previous tracks. Then a super fast bomb down to the Godley carpark, where we found snacking the 2 couples from previous.
Across onto the below-road mtb track, bombing around back to Breeze Col, then up the Godley singletrack climbing to the cattlestop, then over the fence (ants on my hands from the post) and down to the top entrance to Anaconda. Swoop swoop, bomb bomb, into the old, more swoop, yumps and bombing, into the tail and fang wallop bomb to the bottom, spectacular jumps over the final grate.
Final road climb back up to the cars, and a good ride done. A grand but sweaty 17 kms, with a bloody good 730 m climbed.
We headed up the road and into the walkway, zigging and zagging up to the Godley Head Rd. Was steep and bloody hot and humid with a hazy overcast but sunshine too. Dry AF as well. I cleaned everything, but did have to stop a couple of times for breathers. From the road we headed up the usual 4wd track to the singletrack and decided to head back towards Evans Pass. Good bomb around this, down, passing 2 couples near the end. Then couldn't be arsed, in the heat, to ride the tech-rock back, so took the road back around to the climb, up this again, and a bit of a rest til just after the 2 couples had ridden past. Gave them a gap and then bombed it down to Livingston, passing them having a break before the last full tilt descent to the saddle.
Straight into the climb, moseying up and around. Nelson waiting for me at the top, as usual. Straight into the descent, bombing around and down to Breeze. Here, we headed up the trail above the road, taking the barely visible skinny track around the sidle. Long, dry grass, but good purchase under-tread. Onto the emplacement, then up onto Breeze Bay track. No walkers onboard, so a good hoof around, pea-gravel proving interesting on off camber corners. Back into the skinny climb and sidle again, this time more visible thanks to our previous tracks. Then a super fast bomb down to the Godley carpark, where we found snacking the 2 couples from previous.
Across onto the below-road mtb track, bombing around back to Breeze Col, then up the Godley singletrack climbing to the cattlestop, then over the fence (ants on my hands from the post) and down to the top entrance to Anaconda. Swoop swoop, bomb bomb, into the old, more swoop, yumps and bombing, into the tail and fang wallop bomb to the bottom, spectacular jumps over the final grate.
Final road climb back up to the cars, and a good ride done. A grand but sweaty 17 kms, with a bloody good 730 m climbed.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Thursday Pre-work Mental Health Check Up
Left home at 7.30am, drove and parked on the Heathcote next to the bridge opposite Bowenvale Ave. Got riding up the Major and was hitting Kenmure at 8.05am, onto the dirt just after 8.10. Beautiful morning, a little muggy but still and mild and calm. Plenty of shade climbing that side of the hill at that time of day, and higher up, once on the dirt, the trees provided nice long shade all the way up to the pylons, whereupon it got a bit warmer. Another thing I did, was a lot more standing and cranking a taller gear than I usually do, which seemed to keep the pace up. Sure is nice to be fresh (compared to evening rides). Seemed to break the whole climb up a bit.
Above the pylons, I did the usual swivel up onto the grass, then up the singletrack from the Rocky Ridge. First stop and drink was when I climbed the fence. Up the landing strip onto the gravel, grinding away, around to the start of Traverse. No rest for the wicked, so straight into this and across to the top of Fourpause. Another rest and drink here, then dropped on in.
Nice blast down, excellent floats over all four jumps, (perhaps they're the four 'pauses' - from the rubber on the dirt), then blatted across the extension down the landing strip zone, and over the edge into the old skool dh. Followed all the lines, but that one wee rock droppy angled thing is still baulking me... Good flow down the rest of it, down through the hefty rocks before the water troughs without even noticing them. I think i picked a different line to usual and it blitzed me through super quick... Off Cambers, back and forth, then Old Skool Proper. Blitzing, blazing, blasting, blatting, blistering down the trail, brief rest on the flat after the valley (where O had his gorse bush encounter), then all the way down and out. Finally, down the road at a nice cruisey pace to the car...
The usual, just under one hour, just under 10 km, and just over 420 m altitudes.
Above the pylons, I did the usual swivel up onto the grass, then up the singletrack from the Rocky Ridge. First stop and drink was when I climbed the fence. Up the landing strip onto the gravel, grinding away, around to the start of Traverse. No rest for the wicked, so straight into this and across to the top of Fourpause. Another rest and drink here, then dropped on in.
Nice blast down, excellent floats over all four jumps, (perhaps they're the four 'pauses' - from the rubber on the dirt), then blatted across the extension down the landing strip zone, and over the edge into the old skool dh. Followed all the lines, but that one wee rock droppy angled thing is still baulking me... Good flow down the rest of it, down through the hefty rocks before the water troughs without even noticing them. I think i picked a different line to usual and it blitzed me through super quick... Off Cambers, back and forth, then Old Skool Proper. Blitzing, blazing, blasting, blatting, blistering down the trail, brief rest on the flat after the valley (where O had his gorse bush encounter), then all the way down and out. Finally, down the road at a nice cruisey pace to the car...
The usual, just under one hour, just under 10 km, and just over 420 m altitudes.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Sunday Hot Stuff Thomas and Bony Greenwood
Otie and me met Nelsie at Slumnervale and we fixed O's gears and rear brake before we got cracking.
Off up the Captain, O coping well on most of it, tho getting off for some bits of steep. Hot work until finally we were in some easterly breeze which cooled nicely. I was feeling surprisingly good considering my Friday night epic - surprising what one day of recovery yielded. Hit the Scummit Road and toodled, hot work and then the shade of Jollies Bush was a real relief. At the Richmond Pines we headed over the stile into Greenwood, and O didn't want to go all the way to the towers, so he headed up the 4wd track towards the gun emplacements, and Nelson and me headed up Sheepshit Alley, then into Britten, around the top and straight up Broadleaf. Nice views from the top of Pleasant, and chatted to a nice girl from who'd only recently moved to Chch from Rotovegas (with her nice Weimarana who carried her own water in a wee doggy backpack). She was keen to know more about Chch trails.
Off we headed down, zip zip zip. Hooked up with O then headed into Greenwood proper. Excellent blast. Bony bastard rocks lessening O's enjoyment. Thankfully Nelson had stopped after Gloomy and we had a bit of a rest before blasting off down the rocks. Fang fang, pop pop, clatter clatter. Fun times. Across Evans and into the Captain. Woot fest, speedy dusty descending, tight on Nelson's tail til my phone rang, then off again and blasting. Cleaning everything except the usual uphill, and blazing away down the dry dry dusty clay lower down. Nearly lost it in the rut on the last big corner. Then, over the stile and down through Slumnervale park and back to the cars.
A delightful 15 kms, with 585 m climbed.
Off up the Captain, O coping well on most of it, tho getting off for some bits of steep. Hot work until finally we were in some easterly breeze which cooled nicely. I was feeling surprisingly good considering my Friday night epic - surprising what one day of recovery yielded. Hit the Scummit Road and toodled, hot work and then the shade of Jollies Bush was a real relief. At the Richmond Pines we headed over the stile into Greenwood, and O didn't want to go all the way to the towers, so he headed up the 4wd track towards the gun emplacements, and Nelson and me headed up Sheepshit Alley, then into Britten, around the top and straight up Broadleaf. Nice views from the top of Pleasant, and chatted to a nice girl from who'd only recently moved to Chch from Rotovegas (with her nice Weimarana who carried her own water in a wee doggy backpack). She was keen to know more about Chch trails.
Off we headed down, zip zip zip. Hooked up with O then headed into Greenwood proper. Excellent blast. Bony bastard rocks lessening O's enjoyment. Thankfully Nelson had stopped after Gloomy and we had a bit of a rest before blasting off down the rocks. Fang fang, pop pop, clatter clatter. Fun times. Across Evans and into the Captain. Woot fest, speedy dusty descending, tight on Nelson's tail til my phone rang, then off again and blasting. Cleaning everything except the usual uphill, and blazing away down the dry dry dusty clay lower down. Nearly lost it in the rut on the last big corner. Then, over the stile and down through Slumnervale park and back to the cars.
A delightful 15 kms, with 585 m climbed.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Friday Night Bonanza, *post number 1111
One-thousand, one-hundred and eleventh blog post...
What added up to a fairly sizeable total tonight.
First up, I parked in Hillsborough Tce and rode around and up Ramahana, Aotea and Huntsbury, then across Vernon, Witch, single-track above the road, Castle. Back up the road and up onto the Tors, slippery down here with all the dried weed-eaten grass, and a wee low-speed OTB crash onto soft tussock. Then back on the above-road-singletrack and through the fence and up onto the top of the Duncan Pirate Track. Into this, and man is it dry. So dry. Dry AF. A tinderbox. Hoped like hell my hot disks wouldn't set a fire. In the forestry at the bottom I took a muppet route down. Looks like there's been more work done in there. Then back on the road and around and over Centaurus Rd hill and back down to the car.
A veritable feast of 18.5 kms and 807 m climbed.
What added up to a fairly sizeable total tonight.
First up, I parked in Hillsborough Tce and rode around and up Ramahana, Aotea and Huntsbury, then across Vernon, Witch, single-track above the road, Castle. Back up the road and up onto the Tors, slippery down here with all the dried weed-eaten grass, and a wee low-speed OTB crash onto soft tussock. Then back on the above-road-singletrack and through the fence and up onto the top of the Duncan Pirate Track. Into this, and man is it dry. So dry. Dry AF. A tinderbox. Hoped like hell my hot disks wouldn't set a fire. In the forestry at the bottom I took a muppet route down. Looks like there's been more work done in there. Then back on the road and around and over Centaurus Rd hill and back down to the car.
A veritable feast of 18.5 kms and 807 m climbed.
Meanwhile, T and Beck were walking up Rapaki Valley and I txtd when I was back at the car. T suggested I ride up and meet them. So, drove around and up to the start of cRapaki Track and parked and rode, leaving my gloves and bag behind, because I was thinking they'd be on their way down and I'd meet them... But no... every corner, are they there? nope. Once up on the flat I spotted them, rang, "is that you near the top?" "is that you under the pylons? Hi! - come on up!" "Ungh, okay" Off I treadled, meeting them just shy of the top. Grabbed a snack off them, then headed up to the new singletrack and bombed down (pausing part of the way down, out of view, for a quick chat with Douglas), waiting for them at the flat and riding with them til it got steeper and my coasting got faster and faster til I was bombing to the bottom where I waited in the car for them.
another 250+ m in another 8 kms...
Well earned, we went to Zaffron and ate. mmm
another 250+ m in another 8 kms...
Well earned, we went to Zaffron and ate. mmm
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Tuesday Afternoon End of Holidaze Halswell that Ends Well
Up and down a few times in Halswell.
A couple of girls in the carpark getting ready to ride and leaving before me that I proceeded to encounter multiple times throughout the ride. Caught them up top of the dog park and I dropped straight into Download, then climbed up C2, Dropped into Murph's, quite enjoying the flowy descent. Around and into Upper Crust, a much better climb in my mind than C2.
At the top of this I caught up to the girls again, and headed up the Croc ahead of them, spotting them dropping behind me as I climbed. Straight into the Low Rd, then through the gate and a drop over through Siberia (new lines...). Stopped at the Kennedy's gate for a bit to wait for a runner to pass so I could have a much needed leak. Then back up the 4wd track, to the gate, whereupon the girls were coming up Low Rd.
I dropped into descending trail. I like how all the tracks are one-way now. Makes for a better 'less conflict' ride. Into the Croc proper, swoopy swoopy, and then into Deviation up slightly across then back and forth and whoopdedoo down to the junction. Dropped into Spurious for a nice couple of technical hardware features, dropping all the way down to Upper Crust. Clambering up here again, where I encountered a young guy on a 'leckie (grrrrr, lazy f'ck'n f'ck, grrmble).
I bombed down the top half of C2, testing the new bypass down in here, then, scattering a few walkers, dropped into Mish-Mash at a cracking pace, sliding in the dust, then getting confused a little by the drop-overs near the bottom, dropped, jumped, then left, and right, I hit Upload, steep wee grunter (from the top, spotting the two girls again in the valley below), then I climbed up the steep wee grunty corners in the start of the OG Crocodile and on up to the Coopers/Spurious/Deviation junction.
Here, the young 'leckie guy rolls through into Spurious so I follow and he drops over to Upper Crust to power lazily up, while I muddled about then headed up the entrance of C2 and out down through the dog park, finding the two girls at their car.
Effectively an hour's ride, with a surprisingly peasly little 287 m climbed in a subordinate 9.7 kms...
A couple of girls in the carpark getting ready to ride and leaving before me that I proceeded to encounter multiple times throughout the ride. Caught them up top of the dog park and I dropped straight into Download, then climbed up C2, Dropped into Murph's, quite enjoying the flowy descent. Around and into Upper Crust, a much better climb in my mind than C2.
At the top of this I caught up to the girls again, and headed up the Croc ahead of them, spotting them dropping behind me as I climbed. Straight into the Low Rd, then through the gate and a drop over through Siberia (new lines...). Stopped at the Kennedy's gate for a bit to wait for a runner to pass so I could have a much needed leak. Then back up the 4wd track, to the gate, whereupon the girls were coming up Low Rd.
I dropped into descending trail. I like how all the tracks are one-way now. Makes for a better 'less conflict' ride. Into the Croc proper, swoopy swoopy, and then into Deviation up slightly across then back and forth and whoopdedoo down to the junction. Dropped into Spurious for a nice couple of technical hardware features, dropping all the way down to Upper Crust. Clambering up here again, where I encountered a young guy on a 'leckie (grrrrr, lazy f'ck'n f'ck, grrmble).
I bombed down the top half of C2, testing the new bypass down in here, then, scattering a few walkers, dropped into Mish-Mash at a cracking pace, sliding in the dust, then getting confused a little by the drop-overs near the bottom, dropped, jumped, then left, and right, I hit Upload, steep wee grunter (from the top, spotting the two girls again in the valley below), then I climbed up the steep wee grunty corners in the start of the OG Crocodile and on up to the Coopers/Spurious/Deviation junction.
Here, the young 'leckie guy rolls through into Spurious so I follow and he drops over to Upper Crust to power lazily up, while I muddled about then headed up the entrance of C2 and out down through the dog park, finding the two girls at their car.
Effectively an hour's ride, with a surprisingly peasly little 287 m climbed in a subordinate 9.7 kms...
Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Tuesday Double Double Fence Fence Downhill Hill Downs
Day trip to Akaroa so I scored a couple of 'more down than up' rides (as per...). On the Fatty.
First off, dropped off into the hell's teeth of a gale, along the Summit Rd from Okains top to LeBons top and over onto, for the first time ever, the Old LeBons Track. Double-fenced double-track, steep and fast, gated into 3 parts, of which one section had a lot of sheep, which stampeded ahead of me, impeding my view (and flinging the shit), then a rapid gravel road bomb to the bottom of the valley, down to Takamatua, across the main road then up the steep-arse Old French Road, over and down the Old Coach Road into Akaroa to find the fam. A sweet 15 kms, with 367 m climbed, but 850 m descended...
We did our thing there, then on our way home, they dropped me off at the saddle between the Little Ak and Okains catchments. I set off, climbing, little bit of walking, across the ridge then around the epic Totaras, to then enjoy the rapid descent, down View Hill Road to Chorlton, then the sealed road into Little Ak. A bit under 10 kms, with 100 m climbed, and around 680m descended.
We did our thing there, then on our way home, they dropped me off at the saddle between the Little Ak and Okains catchments. I set off, climbing, little bit of walking, across the ridge then around the epic Totaras, to then enjoy the rapid descent, down View Hill Road to Chorlton, then the sealed road into Little Ak. A bit under 10 kms, with 100 m climbed, and around 680m descended.
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Boxing Day Mounting Grey
Sweet ride today with Nelson and Pete. 8.30 or so pick-up from mine... Jetted up and parked at the usual 'Lake' Janet, and got toodling up the road for a start. Pete's first blood appeared when his leg caught the warratah at the gate. Turned off into the singletrack, stopping to clear some branches, then hitting the steeeeeeeeeeeep. Gasping, no asthma remedy so gasping all the way. Pete had a tumble getting going on one of the stretches, heels over head below the track, blooding his leg good for the second time. Got to the lookout and some walkers turned up. Got riding again, up the singletrack, best way to the top. Up, pretty much in the clouds by this point
Dropped in and the down was magnifique. Stopped and Pete went ahead and got the drone up, pulling in some footages, and onwards down, meeting some walkers on their way up. Into the forest and switchback city. All getting better and betterer the further we descended. Somewhere along the way Pete blooded his nose on a lawyer too. I led a lot of the lower stuff, all the way out to the end. Nice. Another drone flight over the river and then we were off up the road back to the car.
Usual couple hours, 665 m climbed, in 13.35 kms...
Dropped in and the down was magnifique. Stopped and Pete went ahead and got the drone up, pulling in some footages, and onwards down, meeting some walkers on their way up. Into the forest and switchback city. All getting better and betterer the further we descended. Somewhere along the way Pete blooded his nose on a lawyer too. I led a lot of the lower stuff, all the way out to the end. Nice. Another drone flight over the river and then we were off up the road back to the car.
Usual couple hours, 665 m climbed, in 13.35 kms...
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Thursday Night Captain Green in the Parlour with the Candlestick.
Tires. Tires, tires, tired of tires...
In the morning, the back tire was flat, so, thinking it was just a slooow leak (as it had been prior), I pumped it up and chucked it in the car and headed for work. Parked, rode to C4 to get some beans and on the way there it slowly deflated, becoming too low to ride just as I arrived. Borrowed a pump from one of the guys there, but that didn't work, so I walked myself and the bike to work. End of the day, the pump in the bikeshed at work didn't work, so, walked to car. Drove to Sumnervale.
Nelson arrived just after me and his front tire was flat too. His was a valve-core issue which he couldn't fix so he left again. I replaced my tube, and patched the one I took out - 15 or so minutes. I started riding, and my tire got flatter and flatter... I stopped up on the grass just off the cul-de-sac (before the stile) and patched this tube. Another 15 minutes or so. Then, as I removed the pump the whole fucking valve-core came out. WHUUSH, I struggled and got more air back in, got riding even tho the tire was a bit too low, at least it wasn't getting any lower. Got up round all the switchbacks and sat down on the seat to pump it more, and the valve-core came out again, so I spent another 15 minutes or so messing with it, also discovering a loose spoke, which I tightened by hand. Found that part of my chain-breaker managed to fit the valve-core, so got it good and tight, re-pumped and finally got riding. It was getting close to 7 o'clock by this stage!
Good climb, finally, up Captain Thomas. Cleaned everything I usually clean, and walked all the usual bits. Rested at the annoying gate, letting a couple of girls ride down through. Headed up the Summit Rd, as far as the Richmond Pines. Over the stile and up the 4wd farm-track to Greenwood. Hung a right on this and stopped again, flipped bike, and got the spoke-tool out and tightened up several spokes. Got riding again, up, around and hung a tight right on Sheepshit Alley, bombed down this, then around 'the Greenline' climbing back up to the start of Greenwood from the 4wd track.
Into it and bombing. Nice bit of work done on the edges all the way down, a tickle since the Enduro? Smooth popping through the top rocky sections, cruising and bombing in turn. Around, pumping okay towards Gloomy, but getting bailed up on the rocks just after. Then rested the spine before the rocky descent, good flow through this and the airy bits, and off the drop, then slow to start around into Dave's zone, speed ratcheting up as I was bombing and flowing, feeling pretty good. Wind got stronger as I headed into Evans Pass, gale across the saddle.
Across the road and back up into the Captain, and bombing into the flow again. Rocked all the goodness on this, having an excellent run, except the usual climby bit just after the last of the rock drops. Flow and ping the rest of the way down and back to the car... After a bad start, a good finish, solid solo, 15 and 3/4 kms with 12m shy of 600 altitudes climbed.
In the morning, the back tire was flat, so, thinking it was just a slooow leak (as it had been prior), I pumped it up and chucked it in the car and headed for work. Parked, rode to C4 to get some beans and on the way there it slowly deflated, becoming too low to ride just as I arrived. Borrowed a pump from one of the guys there, but that didn't work, so I walked myself and the bike to work. End of the day, the pump in the bikeshed at work didn't work, so, walked to car. Drove to Sumnervale.
Nelson arrived just after me and his front tire was flat too. His was a valve-core issue which he couldn't fix so he left again. I replaced my tube, and patched the one I took out - 15 or so minutes. I started riding, and my tire got flatter and flatter... I stopped up on the grass just off the cul-de-sac (before the stile) and patched this tube. Another 15 minutes or so. Then, as I removed the pump the whole fucking valve-core came out. WHUUSH, I struggled and got more air back in, got riding even tho the tire was a bit too low, at least it wasn't getting any lower. Got up round all the switchbacks and sat down on the seat to pump it more, and the valve-core came out again, so I spent another 15 minutes or so messing with it, also discovering a loose spoke, which I tightened by hand. Found that part of my chain-breaker managed to fit the valve-core, so got it good and tight, re-pumped and finally got riding. It was getting close to 7 o'clock by this stage!
Good climb, finally, up Captain Thomas. Cleaned everything I usually clean, and walked all the usual bits. Rested at the annoying gate, letting a couple of girls ride down through. Headed up the Summit Rd, as far as the Richmond Pines. Over the stile and up the 4wd farm-track to Greenwood. Hung a right on this and stopped again, flipped bike, and got the spoke-tool out and tightened up several spokes. Got riding again, up, around and hung a tight right on Sheepshit Alley, bombed down this, then around 'the Greenline' climbing back up to the start of Greenwood from the 4wd track.
Into it and bombing. Nice bit of work done on the edges all the way down, a tickle since the Enduro? Smooth popping through the top rocky sections, cruising and bombing in turn. Around, pumping okay towards Gloomy, but getting bailed up on the rocks just after. Then rested the spine before the rocky descent, good flow through this and the airy bits, and off the drop, then slow to start around into Dave's zone, speed ratcheting up as I was bombing and flowing, feeling pretty good. Wind got stronger as I headed into Evans Pass, gale across the saddle.
Across the road and back up into the Captain, and bombing into the flow again. Rocked all the goodness on this, having an excellent run, except the usual climby bit just after the last of the rock drops. Flow and ping the rest of the way down and back to the car... After a bad start, a good finish, solid solo, 15 and 3/4 kms with 12m shy of 600 altitudes climbed.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Sunday Slow Short with Hot Dog
Lots of riding during the week, around town. To TFC meeting, then home from Poms on Tuesday night. On Thursday, work picnic at Kate Shepherd's house, home, then Moon Under Water and back.
Sunday, took Jet across to Bowenvale Ave and we headed down then up Major Aitken Drive. He was a happy boy, bounding and trotting along beside and ahead. Higher up, once on gravel, he met Stella, a cute young black lab, who thankfully he didn't try to hump too much. We left them to go up the singletrack usual, then up the landing-strip, and met them again on the gravel. I plodded on ahead, thinking he'd catch up, but when I got to the bit I was going to walk up onto the Traverse, Stella and owner rode past but Jet was still way down the bottom of the gravel straight looking for me. I whistled, he heard, and started running up, but went out of view behind a knoll and never reappeared. I walked down, and he was nowhere! I stood there and whistled and yelled, and then saw him finally, waaay down in the tussocks. He heard me and came puffing up, looking hot and exhausted... We made our way to the Traverse and settled in for a little break.
I took off down Fourpause, and bombed down doing the first 3 jumps then stopping and waiting... and waiting... and waiting... He showed up, just trotting along. It was hot. I was worried about killing him with heat exhaustion. All the way down. Popped the jumps with expertise, then down the landingstrip zone, ride, stop, wait, ride, stop wait... Down to the stile, then on down, stopping regularly to let him catch up... He was hot! Panting majorly. Popped all the fun bits, the steepest big one with an audience of 2 women and a guy, who I saw walk it after I'd gone through. Lower down I met a guy who'd lost his mate... then found his mate lower still. Jet was slow. The nasty grass from last time has mostly cleared, so not as slippery on the off-camber bits now.
Old Skool. Jet found water in the first gully, under the gorse. I'd say it was pretty dirty... A few more breaks and further down he rested. I really thought I was gonna kill him from heat exhaustion! Panting, lying down on the track... When we got to the bottom of the valley, he went looking for the creek, but it was bone dry... Down Bowenvale a bit, and I parked him in some shade, tied him up, and bombed on down to get the car...
Up at lunch at mum and dad's he drank and drank and I hosed him off. Very happy he was.
A short, 9.33kms that took a long time. 409 m climbed.
Sunday, took Jet across to Bowenvale Ave and we headed down then up Major Aitken Drive. He was a happy boy, bounding and trotting along beside and ahead. Higher up, once on gravel, he met Stella, a cute young black lab, who thankfully he didn't try to hump too much. We left them to go up the singletrack usual, then up the landing-strip, and met them again on the gravel. I plodded on ahead, thinking he'd catch up, but when I got to the bit I was going to walk up onto the Traverse, Stella and owner rode past but Jet was still way down the bottom of the gravel straight looking for me. I whistled, he heard, and started running up, but went out of view behind a knoll and never reappeared. I walked down, and he was nowhere! I stood there and whistled and yelled, and then saw him finally, waaay down in the tussocks. He heard me and came puffing up, looking hot and exhausted... We made our way to the Traverse and settled in for a little break.
I took off down Fourpause, and bombed down doing the first 3 jumps then stopping and waiting... and waiting... and waiting... He showed up, just trotting along. It was hot. I was worried about killing him with heat exhaustion. All the way down. Popped the jumps with expertise, then down the landingstrip zone, ride, stop, wait, ride, stop wait... Down to the stile, then on down, stopping regularly to let him catch up... He was hot! Panting majorly. Popped all the fun bits, the steepest big one with an audience of 2 women and a guy, who I saw walk it after I'd gone through. Lower down I met a guy who'd lost his mate... then found his mate lower still. Jet was slow. The nasty grass from last time has mostly cleared, so not as slippery on the off-camber bits now.
Old Skool. Jet found water in the first gully, under the gorse. I'd say it was pretty dirty... A few more breaks and further down he rested. I really thought I was gonna kill him from heat exhaustion! Panting, lying down on the track... When we got to the bottom of the valley, he went looking for the creek, but it was bone dry... Down Bowenvale a bit, and I parked him in some shade, tied him up, and bombed on down to get the car...
Up at lunch at mum and dad's he drank and drank and I hosed him off. Very happy he was.
A short, 9.33kms that took a long time. 409 m climbed.
Sunday, December 08, 2019
Sunday Short and Hot, HuntsBowenSkool
Quick one this afternoon after a couple nights in Kaikoura.
Got over to Nelson's about 3pm, and we headed up the hill. Grindy grind. There was a dude ahead of us on Huntsbury Ave and I just could not catch him. Nelson jetted off ahead, passed him, then eventually rode back to me. Then did that again, meanwhile, I'm just grinding away at the same speed as the guy... Stopped for a rest on our (now) usual spot (grassy track, just above the cattlestop above the pylons), and I stretched my sore arthritic back. This helped me a lot, and my it didn't get as sore for the rest of the ride.
Up the singletrack, over the fence, up the landing strip, then UP Fourpause... For a bit, then across to the top cattlestop and on up the Huntsbury gravel. Into the Traverse, headwind across here, and then another rest at the top of the descent.
I led in, and man got pushed sideways on the jumps. Nelson didn't even do the bottom jump for that reason. The landing strip descent is now mowed, but the dead grass is dry and slippery, making for some serious sketch, especially as you hit the first rocky descend-over before heading for the stile on the 4wd. On down, dry grass proving sketchy, but thankfully missing from all the steepest rocky bits. Super tricky down in the off-camber corners at the bottom tho.
Into Old Skool, all non-stop, passing a dude scrub-cutting-mowing the track and then bombing the rest of it. Lovely tail wind across legs heading up-valley. Finishing off down the road and around back to my car, and popped up to his for a quick beer.
A moderate 10.8 kilomenators and 408 altitudes altituded.
Got over to Nelson's about 3pm, and we headed up the hill. Grindy grind. There was a dude ahead of us on Huntsbury Ave and I just could not catch him. Nelson jetted off ahead, passed him, then eventually rode back to me. Then did that again, meanwhile, I'm just grinding away at the same speed as the guy... Stopped for a rest on our (now) usual spot (grassy track, just above the cattlestop above the pylons), and I stretched my sore arthritic back. This helped me a lot, and my it didn't get as sore for the rest of the ride.
Up the singletrack, over the fence, up the landing strip, then UP Fourpause... For a bit, then across to the top cattlestop and on up the Huntsbury gravel. Into the Traverse, headwind across here, and then another rest at the top of the descent.
I led in, and man got pushed sideways on the jumps. Nelson didn't even do the bottom jump for that reason. The landing strip descent is now mowed, but the dead grass is dry and slippery, making for some serious sketch, especially as you hit the first rocky descend-over before heading for the stile on the 4wd. On down, dry grass proving sketchy, but thankfully missing from all the steepest rocky bits. Super tricky down in the off-camber corners at the bottom tho.
Into Old Skool, all non-stop, passing a dude scrub-cutting-mowing the track and then bombing the rest of it. Lovely tail wind across legs heading up-valley. Finishing off down the road and around back to my car, and popped up to his for a quick beer.
A moderate 10.8 kilomenators and 408 altitudes altituded.
Thursday, December 05, 2019
Thursday HunTraverse ThompsoNun Draino'd
Sweet wee spin tonight. Left Nelson's just before 6 and headed straight up the road. I'd had a massage earlier in the day and so my legs, glutes and lower back had had all the juice squeezed out of them. By the time we made the top I was dissolving into jelly, and it was a struggle around the Traverse. A little better on the descent on Thomson's, then onto the second half where the girl died last week, burned hole in the scrub right there...
Up the road, struggling again, and all the way up to the Nun... Checked out the view from the very top of Marley's above here, then hit the descent. Nice blaze, bomb bomb bomb, fuck it's bony. Into the Park zone and madness ensued. Buncha buncha passing through and past. STopped at the top of the end of Gnarley and watched a young dipshit lose it over rocks. All balls no skill.
Followed, and overtook them down and then dropped into Drainpipe ahead of them. Awesomesauce blast down this, catching a couple of guys, them pulling over then catching some more. then getting stuck behind an ignoramous down the last remnants of 3rd base finisher..
A rather good 21 kms, with 628 m climbed.
Up the road, struggling again, and all the way up to the Nun... Checked out the view from the very top of Marley's above here, then hit the descent. Nice blaze, bomb bomb bomb, fuck it's bony. Into the Park zone and madness ensued. Buncha buncha passing through and past. STopped at the top of the end of Gnarley and watched a young dipshit lose it over rocks. All balls no skill.
Followed, and overtook them down and then dropped into Drainpipe ahead of them. Awesomesauce blast down this, catching a couple of guys, them pulling over then catching some more. then getting stuck behind an ignoramous down the last remnants of 3rd base finisher..
A rather good 21 kms, with 628 m climbed.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Saturday HuntVern WitchCastle TorLava Skooled
Early-ish ride with Nelson. Headed up the road from his, then up the dirt, singletrack to landing strip and gravel. Around across Vernon, meeting many, and through a packed Rapaki-top. The Witch, cleaning bar one dab, and resting at the highpoint. Then down and across the road, onto the Crater Rim 'walkway' just above the road, good tech, then up the road to Castle Rock. Awesome bomb down this, turning around and back up the road from the Bridle Path top.
Up onto the Tors, Nelson cleaning the climb, awesome bomb down this, usual dab over the only bit I ever dab on now, then up onto 'Crater Rim' singletrack again, better in this direction. Across onto the Witch, then decided on heading up the road instead of Vernon due to the beginnings of tiredness. Into the Traverse for a spell, and for a change, we heded down the Lava Flow. Awe.Some.Sauce Nelson took all the ubertech lines, while I doddled down the easier stuff. Good times. Then, we checked out the nice new exit off down to the right. Lots of fun, steeper and steeperer and more and more off camber as you go, one last tricksy rock to pop then into steep exit onto the valley corner of Hidden Valley 'Bonus' link. From here it was up, up, and up, around and into Old Skool for a wicked flow...
Bloody mint. 850 altitudes and over 20 kilomenators
Monday, I went to Poteriteri for a week to get eaten by sandflies and scratched by ferns and lawyers, oh, and to count birds.
Up onto the Tors, Nelson cleaning the climb, awesome bomb down this, usual dab over the only bit I ever dab on now, then up onto 'Crater Rim' singletrack again, better in this direction. Across onto the Witch, then decided on heading up the road instead of Vernon due to the beginnings of tiredness. Into the Traverse for a spell, and for a change, we heded down the Lava Flow. Awe.Some.Sauce Nelson took all the ubertech lines, while I doddled down the easier stuff. Good times. Then, we checked out the nice new exit off down to the right. Lots of fun, steeper and steeperer and more and more off camber as you go, one last tricksy rock to pop then into steep exit onto the valley corner of Hidden Valley 'Bonus' link. From here it was up, up, and up, around and into Old Skool for a wicked flow...
Bloody mint. 850 altitudes and over 20 kilomenators
Monday, I went to Poteriteri for a week to get eaten by sandflies and scratched by ferns and lawyers, oh, and to count birds.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Tuesday Victraverse Bowenvic Latters
Climby McClimbface. Parked up at my folks place (which will be ours at the end of next year) and checked out the place with T and H.
They'd brought H's bike, so they drove to top of Vic Park while I rode with Jet up the road and up from Skidder through to top. H's rear brakes needs some serious looking at, lever to the bar and barely any response... Usually a bunch of pumping and flicking fixes it up a bit but not tonight. "You're just gonna have to use your front brake more..." "Okay." So, off we went, down into the trees and we swept round to that first jump which I popped nicely, then down to the cattlestop, opening the gate for Jet. Then down Brake Free, and into Sesame St, but peeling left into the gums, all the way down but not my usual lefty (cos the steep would be too hard with his brakes). He did amazingly well, and didn't crash due to brakes once. Bypassed the skidder site on that swoopy through trees, and then down the old (obviously hardly ever used) singletrack to the end of the road. T was at 19th Memorial. H rode from here on the road with her following and I booked back up into the park.
Up next to Sesame St, 2nd climb up here tonight, and I hopped up to BrakeFree just to try out that first Sesame jump again after last week. Way over popped it and flew, actually dabbing the rear brake in the air, then landing with a stopped wheel, miles down the ramp, straight into the next pop, then finally gaining some composure as I flew over the next double... Round the woodwall, and contemplated but didn't commit into the next double, popped off the ! drop and then around and straight back up K2 climbing, up, up, then up Worm and onto the Traverse.
Got riding around here, been a while since last in this direction in particular. It was rush hour, I pulled over quite a few times to let others through. One guy I didn't (he was descending, and had a perfect opportunity to pull into a wee spot, but missed it) and he looked very confused. Meh. Rest of the run was good, and got to the top of Fourpause with four paws intact and had a nice pause here.
Dropped in, fanging, wooah, a little overgrown, making for a bit of edge catching sketchiness. First jump was further down than memory served, nice, then overgrown corners slowed me down into the second one, and the third I popped nicely, landing on the transition. Bombed down through to the final one for a nice leap and landing. Continued on, and MAN was it overgrown. Wading through tire-deep grass, barely able to find the line, and not seeing any rocks under it all. All the way through and down to the gate, over grown long grass as hell. Over the stile and into the first shortcut, not so bad, second, hmmm, rocks??? dropped, into next steep one, better, but everything from here on down was too overgrown to function... not as fun as usual, especially the lower switchbacks which you couldn't even see and had to go really slow.
Decision time. Left, down HiddenValley, or right and down Old Skool for some more descending goodness. Obviously I decided on the latter, and had a smooth and fun blast down here, with a couple of very close calls.
Straight into the climb up the valley, oh the grind, 3rd time in as many weeks, meeting several of those who had passed me on the Traverse, and then after some seat adjustments, up K2, cleaning, again, and on up past 40fter and zig and zag to the Skidder.
Blast down the road, detour around the back of the slide, then into the lower Dog Park and over to the Harry Ell Drive track, but detouring to head all the way down the back of the houses, fast next to the trees, then over the stile and down the (VERY OVERGROWN) Latters Spur track below the houses all the way to the bottom of Longhurst. Finally, climbing again, back up (STEEP) Longhurst, and finally up Amherst to our new house. Phew.
A surprising 15.25 kms with even more surprisingly over 650 m climbed
They'd brought H's bike, so they drove to top of Vic Park while I rode with Jet up the road and up from Skidder through to top. H's rear brakes needs some serious looking at, lever to the bar and barely any response... Usually a bunch of pumping and flicking fixes it up a bit but not tonight. "You're just gonna have to use your front brake more..." "Okay." So, off we went, down into the trees and we swept round to that first jump which I popped nicely, then down to the cattlestop, opening the gate for Jet. Then down Brake Free, and into Sesame St, but peeling left into the gums, all the way down but not my usual lefty (cos the steep would be too hard with his brakes). He did amazingly well, and didn't crash due to brakes once. Bypassed the skidder site on that swoopy through trees, and then down the old (obviously hardly ever used) singletrack to the end of the road. T was at 19th Memorial. H rode from here on the road with her following and I booked back up into the park.
Up next to Sesame St, 2nd climb up here tonight, and I hopped up to BrakeFree just to try out that first Sesame jump again after last week. Way over popped it and flew, actually dabbing the rear brake in the air, then landing with a stopped wheel, miles down the ramp, straight into the next pop, then finally gaining some composure as I flew over the next double... Round the woodwall, and contemplated but didn't commit into the next double, popped off the ! drop and then around and straight back up K2 climbing, up, up, then up Worm and onto the Traverse.
Got riding around here, been a while since last in this direction in particular. It was rush hour, I pulled over quite a few times to let others through. One guy I didn't (he was descending, and had a perfect opportunity to pull into a wee spot, but missed it) and he looked very confused. Meh. Rest of the run was good, and got to the top of Fourpause with four paws intact and had a nice pause here.
Dropped in, fanging, wooah, a little overgrown, making for a bit of edge catching sketchiness. First jump was further down than memory served, nice, then overgrown corners slowed me down into the second one, and the third I popped nicely, landing on the transition. Bombed down through to the final one for a nice leap and landing. Continued on, and MAN was it overgrown. Wading through tire-deep grass, barely able to find the line, and not seeing any rocks under it all. All the way through and down to the gate, over grown long grass as hell. Over the stile and into the first shortcut, not so bad, second, hmmm, rocks??? dropped, into next steep one, better, but everything from here on down was too overgrown to function... not as fun as usual, especially the lower switchbacks which you couldn't even see and had to go really slow.
Decision time. Left, down HiddenValley, or right and down Old Skool for some more descending goodness. Obviously I decided on the latter, and had a smooth and fun blast down here, with a couple of very close calls.
Straight into the climb up the valley, oh the grind, 3rd time in as many weeks, meeting several of those who had passed me on the Traverse, and then after some seat adjustments, up K2, cleaning, again, and on up past 40fter and zig and zag to the Skidder.
Blast down the road, detour around the back of the slide, then into the lower Dog Park and over to the Harry Ell Drive track, but detouring to head all the way down the back of the houses, fast next to the trees, then over the stile and down the (VERY OVERGROWN) Latters Spur track below the houses all the way to the bottom of Longhurst. Finally, climbing again, back up (STEEP) Longhurst, and finally up Amherst to our new house. Phew.
A surprising 15.25 kms with even more surprisingly over 650 m climbed
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Tuesday Pre-Trees Bowen-Victorian Sessions
Thinking we would meet workmates either at the bottom or at the Skidder Site for a bit of a skills session Nelson and me rode up Bowenvale Valley and K2 like I did last week... Got news half way up that they were piking (cos the Park was closed and they couldn't Lift up, lazy kids), so we continued up the grind (which didn't seem as bad as last week (muscle memory??)), and got to the top of Vic Park ready for some action.
Figured we'd keep it a skills session, and rode down to the first jump in the trees, scoping it out and clambering back up for another go. Nicely cleaned first time round, then into the see-saw, which I baulked on first, then did the 2nd time round, no problem at all (wtf was I worried about??). Don't know why I've been so psyched out by it for so long. Into BrakeFree, and rode back up for the first few jumps to ride again - I reckon I rode it best the first time... Then into Sesame St. First big gap jump Nelson just piled over it no problem and I baulked. We climbed up, back into it, I baulked again. Back up, baulked, but rode down through the rest of it nice following jumps and wallride no problem. Stopped and walked back up, right to the top again, and met a young fella here - got chatting, then I followed them in and GOT IT! Again, WTF was I worried about? It was easy. Enjoyed the rest of the jumpies and wall ride and Nelson cleaned the big gap below the Wall, and then we got chatting again with the young guy, Michael.
Headed into Shazza's, and stopped not too far in to check out a couple of the jumps in there. Decided the wooden feature with a downhill landing was too dodgy. At this point we were joined by a lovely young woman Michael knew (Hannah, I think?) who rolled up and decided to join us on our way down. From here we bombed down the rest of Shazz and down and into Sneaky Ridge, which Mike hadn't ridden before. He decided to try the No Road Bikes section, while the rest of us rode around it. Then him and Nelson decided to do the big drop in the oaks... Both cleaned nicely and then we hoofed off down over the wee jump onto Bridges (or Flow?). Regrouped and bombed it across into Nu-Bridges, zigging and zagging down this to the bottom of the valley. Hannah split into Hidden Valley bonus and the three boys fanged it down the valley, and we made our 7pm curfew to get to our meeting (after grabbing some dinner), juuust on time.
A massive 7.5 kms, with a huge 350 m climbed....
Figured we'd keep it a skills session, and rode down to the first jump in the trees, scoping it out and clambering back up for another go. Nicely cleaned first time round, then into the see-saw, which I baulked on first, then did the 2nd time round, no problem at all (wtf was I worried about??). Don't know why I've been so psyched out by it for so long. Into BrakeFree, and rode back up for the first few jumps to ride again - I reckon I rode it best the first time... Then into Sesame St. First big gap jump Nelson just piled over it no problem and I baulked. We climbed up, back into it, I baulked again. Back up, baulked, but rode down through the rest of it nice following jumps and wallride no problem. Stopped and walked back up, right to the top again, and met a young fella here - got chatting, then I followed them in and GOT IT! Again, WTF was I worried about? It was easy. Enjoyed the rest of the jumpies and wall ride and Nelson cleaned the big gap below the Wall, and then we got chatting again with the young guy, Michael.
Headed into Shazza's, and stopped not too far in to check out a couple of the jumps in there. Decided the wooden feature with a downhill landing was too dodgy. At this point we were joined by a lovely young woman Michael knew (Hannah, I think?) who rolled up and decided to join us on our way down. From here we bombed down the rest of Shazz and down and into Sneaky Ridge, which Mike hadn't ridden before. He decided to try the No Road Bikes section, while the rest of us rode around it. Then him and Nelson decided to do the big drop in the oaks... Both cleaned nicely and then we hoofed off down over the wee jump onto Bridges (or Flow?). Regrouped and bombed it across into Nu-Bridges, zigging and zagging down this to the bottom of the valley. Hannah split into Hidden Valley bonus and the three boys fanged it down the valley, and we made our 7pm curfew to get to our meeting (after grabbing some dinner), juuust on time.
A massive 7.5 kms, with a huge 350 m climbed....
Saturday, November 09, 2019
Saturday Micro-tour to Sculptures - *Happy 1100 Posts!*
Was the day for the Fam to all go to Sculpture on the Peninsula at Loudon Farm, Teddington - Anth had 10 pieces in it. I decided to ride the Troll there.
Left home 9.05 and perused my usual route into town, across the front of the Gardens and straight down Antigua, Strickland, Colombo to hit Dyers Pass Rd. Low on the Troll is just right for this hill, not usually needing to stand up, unless to occasional popping into 2nd or 3rd to stand up and give the bum a rest.
At 1 hour in I was at the Sign of the Kiwi, hung a right and along the Summit Rd, climbing, then nice rolling coasting pedalling high gear down to the old top of Kennedys, before the surprisingly big climb up past the top of actual Kennedys and beyond before the fast drop down to the Bellbird. Climbing again, to the photo point, and on around, nicely cruising, but keeping a good pace most of the time. Met a lot of roadies along here, all looking surprised at my bike choice, and very few cars by this point.
Finally, just before the descent into the Bastard, I stopped and wound in my brakes a little, and the hit the descent - and what a descent. Highest speed was up the top here, just over 63 kph, bombing - modulating the braking to occasional jabs just to keep the disks cool and the speed reasonable, opening it up a few times when the road allowed. Quite a spectacular descent. You feel like you've been rolling down for ages, and you're still really high up.
Eventually got to Gebbies and this is where more speed kicked in, over 60 kph for a time, with a couple of massive blasts down here, before it levelled off all too soon and the head wind kicked in (it'd just been a bit of a tail and blustery along the tops). And then the brakes were making annoying rubbing noises, but I persevered to Teddington and hung a right and around to Loudon Farm.
Exactly 2 hours, door to gate... 34kms with 802m climbed... a hot blitz.
Left home 9.05 and perused my usual route into town, across the front of the Gardens and straight down Antigua, Strickland, Colombo to hit Dyers Pass Rd. Low on the Troll is just right for this hill, not usually needing to stand up, unless to occasional popping into 2nd or 3rd to stand up and give the bum a rest.
At 1 hour in I was at the Sign of the Kiwi, hung a right and along the Summit Rd, climbing, then nice rolling coasting pedalling high gear down to the old top of Kennedys, before the surprisingly big climb up past the top of actual Kennedys and beyond before the fast drop down to the Bellbird. Climbing again, to the photo point, and on around, nicely cruising, but keeping a good pace most of the time. Met a lot of roadies along here, all looking surprised at my bike choice, and very few cars by this point.
Finally, just before the descent into the Bastard, I stopped and wound in my brakes a little, and the hit the descent - and what a descent. Highest speed was up the top here, just over 63 kph, bombing - modulating the braking to occasional jabs just to keep the disks cool and the speed reasonable, opening it up a few times when the road allowed. Quite a spectacular descent. You feel like you've been rolling down for ages, and you're still really high up.
Eventually got to Gebbies and this is where more speed kicked in, over 60 kph for a time, with a couple of massive blasts down here, before it levelled off all too soon and the head wind kicked in (it'd just been a bit of a tail and blustery along the tops). And then the brakes were making annoying rubbing noises, but I persevered to Teddington and hung a right and around to Loudon Farm.
Exactly 2 hours, door to gate... 34kms with 802m climbed... a hot blitz.
Thursday, November 07, 2019
Thursday Hot Solo Vic Nun Old Skool.
Drove from work and parked up top of Bowenvale Ave, not really having any plan as to where I'd ride. I'd brought my ex-front Maxxis with me in the car, and so changed off the split, worn rear one first, and then got riding up the valley... just past the bottom of Old Skool I realised I'd left my wallet on the dash of the car, in full view, so jetted back down to grab it, and then headed back off up again.
Struggle Street further up, but cleaned everything, then paused and headed up K2. Managed to clean the rock at the bottom and keep my power on all the way up the gravel steep, then hung a right into the singletrack, pausing for a good breather here. On up to the 20footer and another rest (it was WARM) while I looked at the jumps, then on up below the DH track and under the pylon and onwards upwards to the 40fter. Continued past top of Rad^Sick and up round to the right, steeeep baaasssttaarrd, up finally to the skidder site where I had a nice rest. 3 fellas I'd been hearing behind me the whole way arrived and continued up the steep. I followed. Managed to clean it all still no dabs or walking, nearly puking. On up past Brake Free and up past the seesaw and then up to the top of Thompson's where the 3 guys were waiting. Brief chat then they took off.
I waited a bit, then followed in. Down to the Kiwi and on up the Summit Rd, them not too far ahead. Round and up to top of Worsleys, then up to the Nun. The three guys were there. More chatting, and another couple of guys arrived. First 3 headed off, then me after a pause. Eventually caught the tailender after the corner closest to the Park, and overtook, then went down to the Gnarly Nun drop down, just after a massive posse of the mtb 'elite' (including Mel (of Rich and Mel fame)) had bombed through so I was eating their dust the whole way down, and said as much to Mel at the bottom.
Off across Dyers Pass Rd and back up to the top of Vic. The 'elite' all arrived not long after me, and I let them all head down first, they peeled across towards the big jumps, but I peeled left and down my usual route into the Gums and my favourite lefty. Bombed swoopy swoopy in here, then Shazza's and then nice run down through Sneaky Ridge, jumping onto Bridges and into Nu Bridges, bomb bomb bomb, then climbed up HiddenValleyBonus, and up into the Old Skool for a pretty good run down here.
A very balmy and exuberant 14.6 kms, with 557 m climbed, all at my own pace.
Struggle Street further up, but cleaned everything, then paused and headed up K2. Managed to clean the rock at the bottom and keep my power on all the way up the gravel steep, then hung a right into the singletrack, pausing for a good breather here. On up to the 20footer and another rest (it was WARM) while I looked at the jumps, then on up below the DH track and under the pylon and onwards upwards to the 40fter. Continued past top of Rad^Sick and up round to the right, steeeep baaasssttaarrd, up finally to the skidder site where I had a nice rest. 3 fellas I'd been hearing behind me the whole way arrived and continued up the steep. I followed. Managed to clean it all still no dabs or walking, nearly puking. On up past Brake Free and up past the seesaw and then up to the top of Thompson's where the 3 guys were waiting. Brief chat then they took off.
I waited a bit, then followed in. Down to the Kiwi and on up the Summit Rd, them not too far ahead. Round and up to top of Worsleys, then up to the Nun. The three guys were there. More chatting, and another couple of guys arrived. First 3 headed off, then me after a pause. Eventually caught the tailender after the corner closest to the Park, and overtook, then went down to the Gnarly Nun drop down, just after a massive posse of the mtb 'elite' (including Mel (of Rich and Mel fame)) had bombed through so I was eating their dust the whole way down, and said as much to Mel at the bottom.
Off across Dyers Pass Rd and back up to the top of Vic. The 'elite' all arrived not long after me, and I let them all head down first, they peeled across towards the big jumps, but I peeled left and down my usual route into the Gums and my favourite lefty. Bombed swoopy swoopy in here, then Shazza's and then nice run down through Sneaky Ridge, jumping onto Bridges and into Nu Bridges, bomb bomb bomb, then climbed up HiddenValleyBonus, and up into the Old Skool for a pretty good run down here.
A very balmy and exuberant 14.6 kms, with 557 m climbed, all at my own pace.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Thursday Night Eastern Beastin' Feast-yearn
Met, as per, Nelson, in Scumnervale after work, about 5, parked up and we rode off up Captain Thomas. Good climb, asthma not so bad, but usual struggling once the going got steeperer for me up the first bits. Once on the level things got better, and Nelson cleaned further than usual on the rockiest bits. Usual near-death on the climb before that top swingy gate, but other than that the rest of the climb was good. At the road, we knuckled in behind a couple of other guys, climbing the Summit Rd, and eventually caught and got chatting with them, riding the rest of the way with them up to the top of Broadleaf. They were practising for the Enduro to be held up there next weekend.
Chatted some more at the top, for quite a while, then we led off keeping our blitz power on to stay ahead. One of them was pretty quick, but the other guy not quite so much. Tho, seemed on the techier rock stuff we would huss over they bogged down a bit, but on the smoother bits his speed was mental. I was on Nelson's tail hard the whole way til the lead in across to Gloomy Gulch, then I was utterly blown and had to pull up, lower back killing me, allowing them to pass and go ahead. Got started again, and saw that Nelson had pulled over below the dropjump, so he took off again once I'd caught him and we chased again. He caught the slower guy before the rocky ups. I wasn't that far behind, really... Bit of a rest at Evans, chatting some more. The faster guy was responsible for MtbTrailMagic on You Tube... they took off down Capt Thomas.
We rode out Godley Head Rd, and stopped to watch their descent. They kept a good clip. Not long after this, we noticed my back tire getting flatter. Good slash in the side of my tire... Stopped and replaced the tube, got riding and it was going down again, but I leaned forward and managed to ride all the way to the cattlestop entry to the climb track, where we stopped again and I patched it this time - tube must have had a hole in it from last time!
Climbed up, gasping, to the trail, and we got rolling back to Evans. Nelson jetted off ahead, and I stumbled and wheezed through the flatter rock bits, then actually struggled further down more than usual, even having one VERY close call with an OTB. Bloody close. Just couldn't seem to get a good flow on. I took the final high-line walkway bit at the end.
Across Evans, and into The Captain. Better descent down this, sticking surprisingly close to Nelsie for a start. Cleaned everything as usual, and bailed up on the wee rocky climb. Final blast down the flat into the switchbacks was good, but the Cabbage Tree track was overgrown as. Blasted out the bottom and finished down past the horses.
Just about 19 kms, with 710 m climbed.
Chatted some more at the top, for quite a while, then we led off keeping our blitz power on to stay ahead. One of them was pretty quick, but the other guy not quite so much. Tho, seemed on the techier rock stuff we would huss over they bogged down a bit, but on the smoother bits his speed was mental. I was on Nelson's tail hard the whole way til the lead in across to Gloomy Gulch, then I was utterly blown and had to pull up, lower back killing me, allowing them to pass and go ahead. Got started again, and saw that Nelson had pulled over below the dropjump, so he took off again once I'd caught him and we chased again. He caught the slower guy before the rocky ups. I wasn't that far behind, really... Bit of a rest at Evans, chatting some more. The faster guy was responsible for MtbTrailMagic on You Tube... they took off down Capt Thomas.
We rode out Godley Head Rd, and stopped to watch their descent. They kept a good clip. Not long after this, we noticed my back tire getting flatter. Good slash in the side of my tire... Stopped and replaced the tube, got riding and it was going down again, but I leaned forward and managed to ride all the way to the cattlestop entry to the climb track, where we stopped again and I patched it this time - tube must have had a hole in it from last time!
Climbed up, gasping, to the trail, and we got rolling back to Evans. Nelson jetted off ahead, and I stumbled and wheezed through the flatter rock bits, then actually struggled further down more than usual, even having one VERY close call with an OTB. Bloody close. Just couldn't seem to get a good flow on. I took the final high-line walkway bit at the end.
Across Evans, and into The Captain. Better descent down this, sticking surprisingly close to Nelsie for a start. Cleaned everything as usual, and bailed up on the wee rocky climb. Final blast down the flat into the switchbacks was good, but the Cabbage Tree track was overgrown as. Blasted out the bottom and finished down past the horses.
Just about 19 kms, with 710 m climbed.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Tuesday Kaniere Canaries in the Mine
Parked and promptly killed my phone in the boot lid - I put it on the spoiler to catch the MMR satellites and then stupidly forgot all about it an opened said boot - not noticing it slide into the gap. Then once we were ready to go, Nelson completely unknowingly closed the boot, crushing half my phone in the process.
Hit the trail. Tech city. Flat(ish), just lots of little ups and downs, to start. One of the most fun trails of the whole trip. Slippery roots, slippery rocks, low speed, hard work. Tech.nic.al. Big climb towards the end, with a fair bit of pushing, dragging up rocks to a platform, then a little more climb before a technical arsed descent, followed by a cruisey cruise round to find Steve looking sleepy in the car.
Amazingly, my phone caught it all, even tho at that point I could only see half a screen...
10.12 kms, 305 m gained. Screen progressively became unuseable over the next day, and on the way home utterly impossible to see anything on it.
New phone purchased the next day.
Hit the trail. Tech city. Flat(ish), just lots of little ups and downs, to start. One of the most fun trails of the whole trip. Slippery roots, slippery rocks, low speed, hard work. Tech.nic.al. Big climb towards the end, with a fair bit of pushing, dragging up rocks to a platform, then a little more climb before a technical arsed descent, followed by a cruisey cruise round to find Steve looking sleepy in the car.
Amazingly, my phone caught it all, even tho at that point I could only see half a screen...
10.12 kms, 305 m gained. Screen progressively became unuseable over the next day, and on the way home utterly impossible to see anything on it.
New phone purchased the next day.
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