Weakening Weekly

Usual few little cruises around the hood.  But otherwise nothin' doin'.

First off, a nice cruise showing Tra'y around the new alleys...

Then, some superer-local, mixing it down...

Followed by what is extreme in it's localness, slort and show, with Jet's dog years catching up on him...

And, last but not least, a Dweet and soggy spin yesterday.

The Weekly Weakly...

Meh.  Nigel No-Rides.

One or two dog runs, not as many as I should.  Was a relaxing weekend, and as such, was feeling yesterday almost like I could have handled a 'proper' ride...  albeit, gently gently.  Wish I'd gone out.  Maybe I should try today, during the day, while no body's watching?

Anyway.  Rode into work on Monday?, and was good til I aimed for home, realised I'd forgotten my prescription, so detoured across to the chemist, and from there the ride home dragged on me and made quite wiped. 

Otherwise, only a typical dog spin to show, mapped, for the week.  Though, I'm certain I did a couple of others.

And, Saturday saw me ride to Steve's for his party.  Via Nelson's, there to Stanmore New World, back to Nelsie's, cos I'd left my phone behind, then to Steves, and later, home.  Zigs and zags about town, not mapped.  Bloody freezing at 12.30 am, through a frosty, and surprisingly quiet, city night

Localities and The Arts

Welcome to June, 2020, who'da thunk?!. 

Prolapsed disc now three months and still going strong at giving gyp and who knows when Surgery will come through? 

Of riding - many town dog cruises have happened over the past week or so.  Most Mapped, but a couple not - I think?  Here's the selection of those mapped:

Here was a 2.84 km local cruiser with Jetty the poochus moochus.

This one didn't show up on my Activity Feed for some reason, a nice 5 km cruise with Jetty, exploring the alleys and bellies of the hoodlet, just before the (first) big rain (in a long time) came through.  I'd been watching the radar, and double checked it at the cemetery (still looking for my great grandfather (mum's side)), making the decision to turn back just as the first spits came through, arriving home before the downpour.

Yesterday saw a blat into town with Tra'y to an excellent Hannah Kidd exhibition at the Art Centre.  Fricking awesome work.  11.5 kms there and back (and wandering around inside).  Met Joy there for the art appreciation.
On the way, on the fly:

Winter's Hagley shadows with some autumn left in the background.

Annnd, last night, a quick dog spinach.  Ghetto rat cruiser dog run, czeching out a way through the St Pauls cemetery (and keeping an eye out for any Horners (my great grandmother's family on my dad's side), and spotting a shortcut through the RSA (but not taking it) then grabbed some fresh bay leaves for the pork gravy from the local park on the way home.

Sunday Peaches for Beaches

Fatty Arbuckle.  Semi-repeat, but in reverse, of Thursday's ride.

Parked same spot, fatbike and dog, poked our noses at the beach at the start but the wind was such that behind the dunes was gonna be nicer heading north.  So, up the track for a bit, Jet dragging the chain a bit, but eventually doing okay, and then decided to try the beach for a while, as I thought it might make him run a bit faster.  It did, and I could barely keep up with him into the wind...

At the point where the bottle lake mtb track climbs briefly to the top of the dunes, I climbed up the sanddune entrance (riding 93% of the way up), and we headed into the forest singletrack I'd found on Thursday, from the bottom.  Fun track, and some kid on a normal bike even passed through.  Back on the main drag, going was slower again, til we made the forest, then I did a bit of exploratory meandering.  I reckon with a bit of a tickle this zone could be a fatbike-only flow zone, a few sandy pine needle littered trails flowing and dipping around in there.

I eventually found the exit/entrance to my sand-dune-crest track, taking me along for a while til I saw the main bike track, then I backtracked slightly to a good sand exit to the beach...  Jet really wanted to continue north.  He also then waded in and promptly lay down in the water to cool...  (that meant the boot for him on the way home).  Tail(ish) wind as we headed south again.  Jet talking to every dog we met, finally back over the dune (before the carpark path) and back down to the car.  Good blast.

Measly 7.16 kms, and a massive 22m climbed.

Thursday, Beached as.

Long lunch break, drove out to North Beach and parked, fat bike and jet in the car.  Granny up the boarded sand-dune path, and dowwwn onto the beach, for a lovely clip to the north.  Gorgeous day, sea looked spectacular, and Jet was in speed-mode.  Full tilt sprint for the first km or so, followed by slowing down a bit and the odd dash for a sniff or a pee.  Not to mention the hellos to other dogs.

This is him in slightly-slowed-down-mode. Taken on the fly..

Looking back south...

I recognised the general lay of the land as we rolled, noticing the salt-burned trees behind the dunes, and calculated which exit point would take me to a precise point of the Bottle Lake trail, and we clambered up the dunes and onto an old Phatbike favourite of mine which leads south from that point (where the bike track runs up onto the top of the dunes briefly before ducking back down behind them in the trees).  So, along the dune-tops and then back down into the trees, and onto the track for a bit. 

Out of the trees, heading south, along the main drag, til I ducked onto a side track which lead up into and over into the trees (on the right as you head south), and found a cool wee track, perfect for fatties like me, cruisey cruise.  Eventually took a trail to the left and hit the main drag again, just where it mounts the top of the dune again.  Decided to hit the beach, rather than dragging jet along the bike track, and so we returned that bit we'd started on back to the car.
Nice. 7.2 kms ridden, with a whopping 31 m of altitude.

Previously, (yesterday?) Tra'y, Jet and me, meandered the meandering way to the Library for an outing.  5.8 kms.  There are some very nice houses in St Winifreds Place.

Singlesped in 2/3 speeds, as far as possible in L.A.

Got some puff on at the bach this weekend.  Took 4 teens to have a couple nights at the bach and we hung and they walked and left me to my own devices most of the time.  Laid up with the prolapse disc, couldn't do much, but...

They say, a singlespeed has 3 gears: sitting, standing and walking.  I used the first two and rode as far as I could in any direction.

Jumped on the Switchback and spun my way up valley, figuring I'd just ride until I couldn't ride anymore.  Didn't know how far I'd make, but got some pretty good distance up.  Cleared the dump, having had a few high intensity bits, and took my photos there, then continued on up valley, nearly making it to Misty Hills (farm my uncle and aunt owned til '79).  Turned around, tucked in and proceeded to coast with as much speed as I could muster with the tuck, back down the road.  One or two small ups then rollin', rollin', rollin' on down to the beach.  Left and along and dipped up into Decanter Bay Rd, but only made about 3 metres past the cattlestop, so, out to the wharf, the single hill proving a short chuff on the singlist, both ways, then up the Chorlton Rd, but only to the first picnic bench:

Turned back and around the corner, nearly running into my teens.  They were heading for the church.  I spun home, made it most of the way up the drive, and walked the rest.

Only 8.7 kms, with 185m climbed (i'm surprised).  I called it a "Recovery, Mountain biking" ride cos it's keeping me on the road to recovery if and when I get the surgery on the back.

Level 2's Weakened Restrictions Social Distance-making or -breaking?

Blipped over to Bec's on Saturday with Tra'y for a nice visit; glass of wine in social-non-distancedness.  Nearly 7 kms round trip.

Took the dog for a couple of non-mapped spins, usual local blocks, including this one...

Yesterday, first day back at school for the kids, rode with H and Jet on the cruiser, down to the Strowan/Railway intersection, Jet ran the whole way there, good clip too, and then we separated from H and came home Westholme, Bounty, Christian.  He cruised pretty good pace most of that way too.

Then Last night, explored a couple of alleys we'd not before, found a nice loop.  Yet another photo of my bike lying in the driveway (showing off some of it's reflectiness):

to which Andy commented:  Your bikes tend to lie down a lot.
to which I replied:  That's because they're two tired.

which i thought was fricking hilarious.

Level 3's deathrows, Tuesday and Wednesday

Yesterday, Tuesday, morning H had bought a game on Trademe, so him, Hayles and me rode to get it.  Direct shot down to Merivale.  I let them ride home themselves, and detoured to collect some flour I needed from the Merivale Fresh Choice, and managed to see some beers I'd not had before, so collected them too.  A 9 km round trip.

Later, T and me cruised around the local loop of the parks with the doglet.

Showing off my spokes (laced years ago), this bike's been rocking this wheel like this for a long time.  It's, in my opinion, the best 'weird' pattern you can do with the spokes you've got, same length as a 3-cross.

The 'used' spokes are quite old, and the wheel is a little flexy.  I tried to dub someone on the handlebars one time and the wheel sounded like it was gonna cave in - it complained a lot, so the person didn't get a ride.

This morning I did a 1 km lap of the Condell Aorangi Hudson Wallace block with the dog.  Would have done longer, but forgot to take a bag, so dragged home the last couple of stretches cos I could just see he was gonna take a dump...

Level 3 Weakened Cruise(s)

On Friday did a bit of a fam ride with T, H and Hayles.  We cruised and perused the burbs and stopped for a beverage at the swing before cruising home, putting some power down a couple of times.  The singletrack along the river to Helmores Lane got me really chuffing, chasing Higgs.  Was good to get the puff up.  Weird shit with MMR, only shows in the Workouts, not the Activity Feed.  Have had this before, and cannot work out why it hides them.  Anyway, a worthy 12.3 kms.

Took Jetty for a cruise on Saturday, all the local wee spots.

Also biked with T, and Jet, to the stupidmarket at some point, not sure when... even used the Troll in it's cargo carrying capacity on the way home with the shoppings.

Monday took a lunch break and perused a few new local alleys.  Jet kept a good pace the first half, but coming back, he was Mister Slowpoke.  Still, nearly 5 kms...

Freshly frontwheel shod Ghetto Ratbike Speshy Globe cruiserrrr.

Front tire rubs on the top but will wear down faster than the metal... unfortunately not enough room in the frame for the back tire to be the same...  will have to find a smaller size.

Chooseday Ghetto Rat Jet Cruising

Tuesday, took Jetty for a spin on the Ghetto Ratbike.  Headed out, realised we didn't have a baggy, so home again, and a different route...  Pitcairn park was interesting.  Tiny street frontage, but opens right up into a big enclosed space.  Off lead he had a nice sniff about.  Then straight up home.  Lotsa wind, sun and interesting cloudscapes.

Level 3 Lockdown Weakend Alleyway Cruising...

Saturday saw us do a nice reasonable sized ride, at some relatively low speeds, with Bec and Tra'y.  T and me left here and zagged and zigged to Bec's, collecting her and a few supplies, and we roamed the wild city streets of Merivale and whatever that Bristol St, Holly and Onslow area is called, in search of enlightenment and good-times.  These two things came in droves (well, not really).  Meandered and cruised, Bec not the quickest treadler.  Scattering metric fucktonnes of people who were besmirching the toothsome pathways of North Hagley Park.  The rest of our travels were relatively dipshit-free, past Girls High, up Matai, Harakeke and dipping through Daresbury Park, then Weka, Makora and the backways of the (Fendalton?) bowling club.  Detoured the native tree streets (Puriri and Totara) to Riccarton House, where we parked ourselves on the river bank, watching the ducks, supping on a couple of beverages, and noshing some meat and sundried tomatos.

Fun had, we continued, through the streets, along the riverside at Uni (the fun singletrack bit), and then through the uni, discovering (again for me) the path through past the Uni Community Garden, all the native planting that was started when I was there (20-25 years ago) and marvelling at how big it is now.  Kahikateas of a good size already.  Out and back to Ilam Rd along this, then Coldstream Court, Gleneagles and through Cobham Intermediate, quick detour down Christchurch's most pretentiously built street (ugh! Chateau fucking Drive, what a bunch of disgusting 90s starter-castle McMansion tat! Zero taste), skirting an edge of Jelli Park and Burnside HS, and then as many alleyways as possible home.

A reputable 19.5 kms.

Another pointlessly measured cruise a little later for to walk the dog - nice for him.

I mean, look how happy he is:

Anzackery Weakened - last of the Level 4

Saturday - Zig and Zag, there and back, to the old hood to drop some (late) easter eggs off for Hayles.  15 kms.  I'd forgotten my MMR was on for about half an hour, so there's a long tail on the graph (or lots of squiggles if you zoom in to home).

Then, later in the day, another 9.3 kms with Gogo and T, we zagged and zigged, then straightshot down the railtrail into Mona Vale, round and out, then round Girls High, and stopped and had I a beer (Party & Bullshit) and they had coke (T's with a spot of voddy in it) on the river near the swing, as the sun got lower in the sky.  Ripper Autumn colours everywhere, followed on down river and then back up Mill Brook Stream Reserve and home via the streets and Railtrail.


Rocketship with Jet on Sunday, fast down the railtrail, but slow on the return up Westholme and Bounty..  Sniffed and peed on every landmark on the way home.

Yesterday, Anzac Day Observed, broke myself mowing the lawn (couldn't finish it) but after a good rest I fixed a flat on the back of the Ghetto Globe and took Jetty out for a short usual spin (no MMR, but short (3kms?).  He has to be on the lead the whole time so I try to travel so's not have any tension on the lead as much as possible.  This involves keeping up with him when he's bombing it, or detouring to a tree or post and hovering momentarily while he leaves his pee-mail to the other dogs.   At these pauses I try not to put a foot down to avoid the pain that gives me.  Reaaalllyy slow going on the way home.

Tuesday, just before dinner, Ghetto Cruiser around the hood with Mister Cutie here:

COVID-19 Locals

T and me got out on Saturday, nice leisurely cruise through suburbs un-explored.  Never really sure where we were headed the whole time, we snuck up on the the pylons that start/end at the Substation on Greers Rd, and proceeded to zig and zag through 1960s suburbs (same age as my childhood-burb) following the  pylons and looking at houses, all on very quite streets I never knew existed (altho, I realise now we may have almost ridden past an old (highschool) girlfriend's parent's house.  Farrington Ave, Wairakei Rd we struck out on our own away from the overhead wires.  Left into Charlcott, Everest, and Nepal Pl, into a park O used to longboard in, which has a pumptrack.  We meandered around this park, keeping Social Distance and then explored around a bit loop of newer suburbia.  This whole area used to be a wild wasteland - gorse, blackberry, willows; with a gravel quarry pit half full of water that was slowly filled in through all the years of my growing up.  Back into Nepal, avoiding people (so many people!), and more meandering, working through to find a small shortcut park, then down under the pylons again, and cut through to Memorial Ave.  Explore down an exclusive cul-de-sac and up to Burnside Park, but deciding against that and deciding to take the tailwind express home.  Back through backways and by-alleys to Burnside grounds, then back streets and alleyways home.  Very nice 12 kms thank you.

Prior to this there were a few more local loops with the dog after his miraculous survival of crashing into a car.  After a telephone doctor's appointment I had drugs to pick up, so T and me set off on Friday to the chemist in Bealey Ave next to the 24hrs.  This was a ziggy zaggy convoluted route there, followed by a very direct shot for home. 11.3 kms in all

Wednesday dog run...

Easter Monday Jet Car Crash

Yesterday, Easter Monday, T and me were out with Jet, short jaunt round the 'hood.  I was on the Rocky Mountain for the comfort of the travel and dropperpost for ease of on and off, and we'd run him down Windemere, around into St James Ave.  Up past the cul de sac to the railtrail he had lagged behind a bit, and I spotted a dog over the road, on lead, walking, then heard a car, and the thought in my head was 'hope he doesn't run out infront of that car', I looked back to check on him and then heard it.  BANG, yelp!, then sort of a scraping sound as the car slowed to a stop.  I was thinking 'he's caught under the front and smeared down the road.  We've got a dead dog'.  I think I swore and said, "stupid f'ing dog!"  but was heartbroken riding to the car as the lady got out, "did he get caught under the front" and she was no, and then there is T. on the berm, with Jet standing wagging his tail next to her.  The lady's car had a massive dent in the front guard panel ahead of the front left wheel.

Jet had scrapes on him and we were all in shock.  I rode home, got the car (with rack for T's bike), drove back, and we got driving, heading for home but got the 24hour vet on the phone and they said come straight in.  They checked him out and he was fine!  Amazing.

Addendum, double checked at our own Vet on Tuesday morning (already had an appointment for an ear thing) and he checked out fine.  He was a little slow and obviously sore for about a day, then totally back to normal.  Our insurance is covering the car damage, and it's a 0$ excess claim,which is pretty sweet (a Liability for Damage to another's property, on our house and contents).

COVID Townies...

Plenty of family time, riding about with the dog, Ghetto Cruising.  Getting out every day, similar stuff to this.  Never more than 4 or 5 kms, usually only 3, local streets, parks etc.  Keeping our social distance from everyone else that's out there.

Finally yesterday got out on the Troll and took myself for a jaunt about the alleyways near here...  Quite a blast, and found some cool wee low-ways and by-ways, piecing together a few alleys I knew about or didn't know about.

Think I'll just add local stuff to this one, as we go from here, unless I take myself out for a further trip, over 10kms or something, then I'll do new posts, and maybe tack short locals on each of those.


A few more short stints on the ratbike.  None as big as those previous.   Back still killing me.
 

Riding Hiatus - Prolapsed COVID19 Lockdown - Locals Only

Nothing but local short flat street rides for the month, by the look of it.  I'm getting out every day with the dog and Tra'y, jetting around the neighbourhood, connecting up the parks and alleys, cruising the sidewalks, keeping 2 metres away from everybody.

My back's still bad, or at least, my flexors and ITBs, quads and hammies are all screaming all the time.  No idea how or when I'm gonna fix.  So's probably just as well I'm only cruising.  Mostly on the Specialized GhettoGlobe, but sometimes on the Troll.

Mapped a couple, and haven't mapped a bunch.

Saturday Mt Oxf'king Wind'ord with a Sting in the tail(bone)

Mother nature got the better of us today... Beautiful day. Nelson, Kirsty and Wazzah picked me up and we headed out to Mountain Road.  Kirsty and Wazza walking, Nelson and me on the bikes, intending on going up the front, over the ridge and down to Wharfdale, where the walkers would go for View Hill and Nelso and me back to car to drive round and pick them up.  Hit the trail from Coopers Creek, cruising with the two walkers, but eventually I slowly loped off ahead.  Drop down to creek, and the pushing up the switchies from that, riding a fair bit, walking the odd bit, and proceeding to ride and walk in equal measures for quite a while.  Stopped and let Wazza catch me up a couple times, then eventually he caught me once it got steep and my pushing and carrying was slower than his walking.  Various walkers and runners were coming down through.

At the treeline we hit some wind, which proceeded to get into horrendous galeforce once up in the alpine proper, at above about 900m... The other two had caught up by this stage, but Wazza and me were out front, and really struggling.  No way could I lift my bike up or I'd blow over, and he could barely stand.  Kirsty was scared enough to stop, and Nelson got up to where we were holding on to the hill where we all decided to give up.  Further up where the trail gets steeper and narrower for the final push, there was going to be no way we could have maneuvered with the bikes.  Foiled, we turned back down.  Rode a couple of bits I wouldn't have expected to, back to Kirsty at the treeline, where we all ate our packed lunches.

Into the descent.  Only a couple of walks on the really heinously steep stuff, and riding some surprisingly steep stuff.  Quite fun, but hard work.  Awesome descent lower down.  We stopped a few times letting the two walkers catch up.  Then after a particularly long jaunt, we stopped and Nelson tried to get his GoPro sorted.  Meanwhile, I rested on the ground, and felt a sharp 'stick' in my arm, which got sorer and then as I turned my arm to look, there's a fucking wasp sticking out of it!  OWCH!, gripped and squeezed it and biffed it onto the ground.  Damn!  (2 days later, my arm is twice it's normal size...).  Walkers all through and past, and we bombed on down, over taking two girls that'd passed us while stopped.  Catching Kirsty and Wazza out on the farmtrack, and rolling slowly with them back to the car.

Grand total of 9 kms, and 675 m climbed...


Addendum:  This trip caused the worst back pain of my life.  Sunday afternoon, Monday, and so far Tuesday - agony.

Addendum 2:  11 days later: Back pain continued, turning into not sciatica - shooting pains down both buttocks, spasming lower back, locked up hip flexors, some of the most painful days and nights I've ever experience.  2 half and one full day off work.  Osteo treatment number 2 seemed to help more, finally Wednesday 18th woke up feeling a little better, with glute pain subsided greatly but hip flexor pain still in evidence.

Addendum 3: Nearly 6 weeks later and I'm still broken.  Nortriptyline and Pregabalin with Brufen are my solace.  It's been a very long and unpleasant time.

Addendum to end all Addendums: May 19th, 2020.  MRI several weeks ago shows a prolapsed disc at L3 L4.  Foot issues meant that on this day my first appointment with a neurosurgeon is pending at 9.15 (i'm writing this at 8.47)...

Wednesday Night Squiggly a f

All about the tops tonight.  Parked up top of Major Hornbrook, below the usual Parkridge park, riding up through the park then up Clearview, Ridgeview and Upper Major to the non-bathtub entrance to Britten.

Around and up the singletrack, first of many climbs for the night.  Around the front and across to the cutting, then up onto the single, hanging a right and dropping down to Cavendish Saddle.  Climbed up something I'd never been on before, but it says bikes are allowed now, so gave it a look.  Too steep, so some walking, til the higher gate, and then it's quite good.  Around under the Gondola building, slightly lower than usual, with nice views out to the harbour, then into the usual steppy rocky descent down.  Took a couple of different lines this time, which bogged me up a bit, but got to the Bridle Path eventually.

Across, and up the walking track, climbing climbing, cleaning to further than usual.  Walked a bit, rode a bit, walked some more, before finally riding nicely to the ridge.  Around and fun fast descent, feeling pretty good on the bike.  into the climb, and climbing higher than the past, but still having to walk a bit Nelson's cleaned several times, up around and then right through the Tors track, dropping down and having a blast.  Same dab as last time, and then back up the road to Castle.  As I rode up here I could see a guy carrying his bike along the Castle Rock ridge.  Back and forth he went, checking his phone whenever he came back.  Then I saw the drone.  So, he's making some fake-arse footage of him epic'ly carrying his bike across the ridge???  Fake news!

Dropped into Castle and blasted.  Absolutely blazed it.  Smooth, flowy, awesome.  Around and up, climb feeling good last drop to road and around.  Nice cruise under the gondola and up.  Back into Cavendish Saddle and climbing up the back of Mt Pleasant.  Cleaning all and still feeling good, all the way to the top.  Did some yoga stretches here, pigeon for both legs, and some spinal twists...

Droppin' in, through the gate, over the stile, and flying, southerly wind pushing me a long down through the tussocks, line nice and clear, fast, raily.  Excellent bomb.  Taking it a little easy to the end, not really pedalling, then dropping down to Greenwood middle entrance here.  Short rest, ate the rest of my OSM and then hit Greenwood down.  Again, smooth and flowy, fast and furious.  Blasted down, lower back not getting sore at all.  Didnt even need a rest after Gloomy, just bombed on through, dropping down the rocks and flowing through the rest of the jumps and berms, all the way down.

Onto the road and climbing, long slog.  Getting a bit warm, delayered on the way up here.  At the pines, thought I wouldn't be a mountainbiker if I didn't get onto the trail, so over the stile and climbing.  Then short road, fill up bottle, and into the Britten.

Flying down through sheep and then across the front, same as last time.  Checked out further over onto some rocks.  Definitely scope for lines to wend down to the trail from there, but turned back up onto the regular final drops and rocketted down through this, over the fence, and on down to the car, nice big jump just before the road.

Convoluted ups and downs of a 20 kms, with 900m climbed - similar scale to last week.  A lot for a weeknight.

Wednesday Night Huntsvern WitchCastleTors Pause OldSkool

New Drive Train!!!  Another 30t oval, and new cassette and chain.  New gear cable, and pivots lubed and tightened (awaiting a rebuild kit).

Me on my lonesome last night. Parked after work on the river, bottom of Bowenvale, and headed up Major Aitken at a pretty steady clip.  Pushed hard never stopping, up on to the gravel, chuff chuff chuff, nice refreshing breeze up here, tho quite pushy, onto the singletrack climbing still then up the grovel to the road.  Across, into Vernon, letting one or two coming up past, then bombing down, short cut to end.

Rapaki-top, not too many around, straight into Witch Hill, too low a gear and dabbed, but cleaned up the rest of it.  Stopped for my first real rest at the high point, feeling hungry, so snack and water.  Rolling again, drop drop to road, across onto the walking-singletrack, enjoying the crisp gear shifting and buttery smooth suspension.  Up the road, short stretch, then dropping into Castle for a fang. 

Lovely blast, mostly totally on top of the game, ripping through and down.  One or two lapses, but mostly all good.  Climbing, bunch of joggers near the end, then up the road, nice steady pace, observing a dude riding below on the trail.  Up and around, and at the top there's a massive group of riders approaching.  I walked up entrance to the Tors track, riding near the top, and was clear before they arrived.  Descending time.  Lovely blast, tail wind down the Tors track.  Popped and cleaned everything that used to get me, but had one dab where I've never dabbed before. 

Onto the road, and bypassed the singletrack because a couple of walkers had just entered it.  Coasted along the road for a while, nice and restful, then carried my bike up onto the singletrack about where you climb through the fence for pirate track.  Rode the rest through, down, across the road and climbed well up the Witch.  Didn't even pause at the top, just adjusted suspension and bombed it, waft waft float over rocks, and good slam through to the end.  Straight across onto the Vernon climb, clambering away ahead of another guy leaving him behind. 

Massive posse accumulated at start of Traverse.  Tailender stopped to let the dust settle before heading off, then guy from behind blitzed through, so I rested slightly longer and hit it across.  Opened up the suspension, dropped the seat and dropped into FourPause...  Wind was pushy on the jumps, but cleaned them all ripped into the landing strip zone, bombing down, tail wind over the edge dropping fast down to the stile.  Then feeling super good, bombed down the rest of it, usual dab on the one rock lower down, then bombing down into the off cambers and onto Old Skool proper.  Brief pause at the high start point, then dropping in, trying to run my left leg forward, to give the muscles some new memory.  Tried this several times on the way down but man it makes the riding weird.  Amazing tail wind across the first long traverse, head wind through the second, and tail again for the next.  Smooth, quiet, tire noise only...  Sweeeet!  Blasted through the lower reaches and bombed out to the road. 

Long coast and easy pedal back to the car... A mondo 19.3 kms, with 850m climbed!  Not bad for an afterwork week night.

Saturday Morning Solo Holliss Vic Old Skool

Lots of steep ups today.  Parked in Landsdowne Ave just next to Holliss Reserve and headed through this and up Holliss Ave.  Stopped and feasted on easily accessed blackberries for a little while just before the valley corner.  Then hit the real steep, getting steeper nearer the top.  Into the stairs, buddha buddha buddha buddha down, then along a bit and up, push push push push, more blackberries, push push push up the stairs.  Across Longhurst and into the lower Latters Spur track, climbing up under the houses and cleaning all the hairpins except the very last.  Ugh...  Clamber clamber clamber and finally at the stile, where I took this pic.

Looking across at where I would come down a little later...

Let a couple of walkers go on ahead, and then rode and pushed on up under the pines, over the roots and next to the barbed wire to the dog park.  Left and clambering up the rock section then up to the gate, and on up through Vic Park, past 19th, into the Skidder where I filled up water and rested.  Warm, and my cold wasn't doing my head any good.  Hit the steeptrack climb, cleaning it all, only just, then up past Brake Free and on up to the very top of Vic.

Time for the down.  Entry of the Traverse, then hard left into the swoopy double, pop and down to the see-saw, over this, into Brake Free, pop pop, ugh, speed broken by the first berm, then pedal across to the Sesame St entrance.  Straight in, pop the first jump then waft over the big one, pop, pop, around drop, around, wall-ride, drop, around, oop - miss that double, drop that, off the edge and down over the jump to skidder...  Into Shazza's, bomb bomb rail jump rail, across rail, around, down into Sneaky Ridge, lower speed than usual, droppity drop down through around, ooh, lots of leaves, jump, drop into Bridges, across and wending through Nu Bridges, and finally out the bottom, downvalley, hard right into Hidden.

Easy climb now with all the trail work, making for nearly like a rest bar the steepness, then past a mum and daughter up the steepest, cleaning both hairpins and gasping for air at the stile.  Into the Old Skool.  Across and little climb, bit of a rest, then fanging it.  Nice flow, good railing, fun times.  Blast blast blast...  First big left hand hairpin I could see an XC dude flying up the hill (to the point I almost wondered if he was on a leckie - he wasnt!).  Pulled up before the next hairpin to let him fly past, then dropped on down, swoopy pump pump waft, push fly.  Blasting over the rocks, around the bend and dowwwwn, weave weave pop and roll, finally out the bottom and coasting the rest of the way down.  Down the road, left into Wedgewood, right into Landsdowne back to the car.

Surprisingly short, less than 10 kms, with 399 m climbed.