Good Friday Good Local

Good Friday for a steep up down repeat local spin.  Up the usual, 19th, skidder, Worm, around for the couple of jumps, over the see-saw, hard right and across along to top of Upper Fenceline.  Nice spin down this, staying high across and across, then right into Razzas, the ending has changed slightly, but the closure of the other week hasn't wrecked it.  A right at the bottom of this, climbing briefly to the corner to drop down the lower Pedalfine all the way through to the bottom of Brents.  Horrible climb up side of Brents, then into Sneaky Ridge, great drop down here, then flow bridges nu bridges, and back up K2, ugh ugh guh. to skidder and down usual ways funtimes...  hard and steepo

Steep AF, 8.08 state with a measley 320 m clumb

Saturday Lush Sinclair, Fitzgerald, Sinclair

Good ride from Pettigrews... I'd popped to the bach to collect a "rabbit-control device" and some walnuts, and went for a ride on what I thought was going to be the way home.  Parked and rode, up the steep farm track between prolific onga-onga.  Quite tough going the whole ride because the grass was so lush following the wettest summer in decades.  Climb climb climb, a lot of granny or second gear, just plodding away.  Over the stiles and across the ridge, up through the nice bush reserve, stile, farm track, climbing ever climbing.  Next stile I met a large group of walkers just as we all got there.  I lifted the bike over the fence (surprising the woman who'd just asked "do you have to lift the bike over every stile?").  I was puffing like crazy from the hard climb prior, so took this moment to catch my breath and the walkers all walked through over the stile.  Once they'd cleared over I went and got riding again.  Steeper and steeper, little bit of walking on the steepest bit, then riding further up .  around the top of Sinclair, skirting the north side, nice bush which I ducked into to see what it's like inside.  Very nice totara cloud forest, surprisingly tall in places.  Somewhere up here I realised I'd forgotten to get the "rabbit-control device."  Damn...

Fun roll down, some steep techy fun, then onto the weaving singletrack across the ridgeline.  One or two features of difficulty, but very rideable in this direction.  Past where I turned back in May last year. Over to and up the final long sidling climb, walking the gnarliest steep bit, to the ridgeline flank of Fitzgerald, and up this in long grass to the highest point on the track.  Short stroll out onto the rocks where I sat and ate a muesli bar and listened to the bellbirds in the bush below the cliffs to the west.  Back to the bike and ready for the descent -  very similar to the time before last on the fat bike.  

Fun blast down the stuff I'd just climbed, weaving down the ridge, then around into the tech-in-places steeps walked on the way up, now fun techy bombing - little slippery streams, and erosion lips and steps, with aplomb.  Across the ridgeline between the peaks was tougher going this way, then the climb up through the totara forest too steep to ride now I was tired, walking a bit, then riding again up Sinclair around the north side.  Down to the gate and into the descending again, bomb bomb bomb steeeeep, fun around over stile, fast farm track, stile, Whatarangi Bush reserve, fast, stile, ridgeline, final climb, stile, and bomb to car, stopping to check out the big mushrooms (which were past it) before the final blast through the onga-onga to the car.  

I then had to drive back to the bach, get the air-rifle rabbit control device, and then drive home...

Grand total of 13.7 kms with 656 m climbed, somehow more altitude and less distance than the fat 2nd to last ride up here... weird.

Wednesday Night Convoluted Covidian Connotations

Good spin tonight.  Scratchy throat, sinus-y, asthma-y, wondering if I had covid, but testing negative in the night, plus crappy sleep cos dog's got the coughs'n'pukes, worked the day at home.  

Nelson turned up quite early (5ish) and we set off.  My wheeze was bad and proceeded to make it quite a difficult-climbing ride for me.  Up through Vic, to the top.  Around through the two fun jumps, seesaw, and hung a right, along to top of PedalFine.  Into this, dropping through, left onto the squirrelly wee left hander, techy fun.  Across the forestry trail to start of Rad and peeled left to do Razza's.  Annoyingly some munter groms have been digging in this, no doubt ruining the sweet natural tech by putting in berms, so there were a bunch of sticks all over the entrance.  Annoyed, we moseyed back up to Dazza's and dropped off into this.  Good droppy line down here, then out across to Sneaky Ridge, fun drop down through here, tho acorn ball bearings everywhere lower down.  Jumped out onto Bridges and down into Nu, then down valley and into Hidden bonus, where we found our first Orienteerers, right in the first switchback - which stuffed Nelson up a bit.  I got my front wheel wide and got round okay, then up through the next switchback and finally a breather, briefly, across the face, then up through, steeper below Lava and steepest up to the next hairpin.  Ugh.  Struggle street.  Up through another couple of Oriented folk, and out to where we could see hundreds, crawling like ants on the hillside ahead and ahead of us on the trail.  

Nice long rest at the highpoint while we watched the track get clear then not then clear again.  I led off and "Excuse me." "Thank you." "One more coming." on repeat, proceeded as we rolled.  Only scared the shit out of one woman, on the middle traverse.  She looked very worried she wasn't going to get out of the way as I roared through "Thanks!"  Then, scattering children lower down, and one couple of women on the lowest switchbacks.  

At the bottom, time for the climbing again.  Ugh.  Wheeze'n'weakened.  Struggled up valley, and we decided to go all the way up the valley.  More Orienteerers all the way up and around.  Bottom of Brents, Nelson took off up the steepest route and I sluggardly followed, walking the two steepest bits.  I just did. not. have. it. in me.  Up the last gasp to the skidder and over onto the usual flows down down to 235, for a quick fun blast and a couple of air pops.  Finally, up the final wee climb to the road, around under the dog park and over to look at the logging of the forestry up here and smelling the pine on the downwind.  Finishing off down through the overly tight wee switchbacks too tight to ride, through to the top of Amherst.    

Shortish loop, 10.5 kms, with 462 m climbed, but man the steeps were steep af.

Saturday Easy Street, and a shorty.

Bit of riding on Saturday, certainly, kilometres travelled, but mostly by Ebike...  

Firstly, H and me took the opportunity to go out on what is now his new bike, we've bought off the (elderly) neighbours.  A Norco Fluid 9.2 (9.3?).  Very good condition 29er, medium frame, reasonable spec.  We headed up the tracks (not road) and climbed up to the Skidder then up to top of Vic.  H waited for me but I went up Worm and came back through the funjumps, then we took Brake Free into Sesame beginnings peeling left into the Gums.  Usual route down here, then right down, through to 235, fun bomb down this, jumps jumping well.  Then climbed back up to bottom of dog park and down the back of the houses... 5.3 kms with 177 m climbed

Slightly later, T and me bombed down to St Martins New World, collected a few things then went to Paul and Justine's, who were in isolation, to drop a meal and some citrus to them, then back up Bengal, Delhi, Poulson, Hackthorne home.  Plugged the bikes in for the limited time we had to top them up before the evening's festivities.  

Closer to 6, T and me hit the down again, remembering to turn on MMR in Malcolm Ave, riding out to David's place for dinner.  After much consumption we rode home up Evans Pass Rd, up and along the Summit Rd, around midnight.  Amazingly met virtually no cars, tho there were a fair few parked up places.  At Harry Ell we hung a tight right (and heard boy-racerscumbags burning out on the the Dyers below), cruised down the gravel track and then took Victoria Park Rd home. (Which according to GooglyMaps was a little over 20 kms, with over 500 climbed, and 370 odd descended).

Sunday E-asy Cruisin'

Joy came over with her ebike and her, Tra'y and me headed off down Longhurst, across Derrynane through to Nainy's then down Kidson, to MacMillan, across onto Lady Poulson, through to Delhi.  Brief sojourn up Bengal to top, (T and me rode down the alley way up here the other day) and then back down and around to Shalamar, right up to the end end of this down onto the mtbpark floodplains, then back down to Worsley's Rd, around the Cashmere Stream reserve, up Worsley to above the corner to cut over into the Worsley Subdivision, various streets in here, Rushden, Holbrook, Pentonville, across to Croftfield, then up to Happy Home Rd, then out Cashmere to Hendersons, around into the new flood works park there, then Sparks Rd cycle way, through Pioneer Park, then the back ways back to Bengal and up, through, Poulson, and up Hackthorne and Dyers home.

Interesting meander, 20 kms loop with 324 of electrically assisted climbing

Friday Night Mostly Downwards

Picked up Nelson from Bowenvale Ave, driving back up to my place, from whence we rode.  Up through Vic, 19th, Skidder, gutser, Worm onto Traverse around.  At the top of Lava flow we stopped and both agreed it was a good night for it, so off we went.  It was minty fun times. I cleaned everything I didn't think I might, sometimes astounding myself at having made it through sections unscathed.  The only thing I didn't clean was the very last little stepdown right at the bottom.  Around Hidden Valley Bonus climbing up onto Old Skool for an excellent chasing blast down and to the car.  I was on Nelson's tail all the way.  I swear my larger front wheel makes me faster.

Sweet as 8.75 kms, 267 m climbed, 487 mb descended

Super Short Fat Sunday Isolation Dog Spin

Positive covid in the house, so we're in Isolationville.  Super short and quick up on the fatty with Jet the woofy. Off the road, up the little track just in the bushes following the road.  Onto the road for the stretch up to the top dogparkcarpark, straight into the single-track descent, fun fun bomb twist weave through here.  Over the first jump then waiting for Jet, then down through the oaks for a detour out onto the newly discovered (on a recent walk) 'peninsula' seat. Loop back around then across the Ell, up the access track up to lower dogparkcarpark and down to Charles's track, ducking and weaving through this, out onto the steep behind-the-houses descent, round home.

A twisty 2 kms, with a whole 75 m climbed.

Oh yeah, and earlier in the day, T and me went out on the ebikes.  I put the seat right down and she rode my Momentum, and I rode H's Converted Surly (like a bmx bike under me).  We went down Kidson, across MacMillan and up Hackthorne.  T found the Momentum very good so we picked a girly one up on Clearance from Evo. 

Sunday Thomas Green Thomas

Good ride in the heat today (summer returned for a day).  Bit of a late start, met Nelson in Scumnervale at about 11.30.  We treadled off down the street, and took a cul-de-sac through to the redzone to get to the bottom of Capt Thomas.  Around the fence and along back of the gabion wall, stopped to eat some blackberries and Andy and Wayno turned up for a chat, just finishing.  Pete was nearby too.  

Into the climb and a wee walk, with more blackberries as we passed, then riding, climbing, good pace, good times and nice in the shade for the while.  Around the head of the valley and out onto the open ground, sun pounding down on our backs.  Clamber clamber, up the hill we went.  I was nearly to the point of puking by the time we got to the gate.  Took it easy to the road and we headed up it to the Richmond Pines.

Over the stile and into Sheepshit Alley (new name on the sign, cant remember what).  Up this, nice cruise and onto the road, around up to Broadleaf, and up this.  Road wet under the pines up here due to overnight cloud flow (I'm imagining).  Up the gravel and there were a few people around up top.  

Into the descent, soon overtaking a couple, the woman of which was obviously in over her head - really struggling with the rocky tech.  I led the way, and was fanging, bombing down through the weave of tussocks.  Easy across the flatter bits.  Then down into the Greenwood proper.  Nelson leading this but I stuck to his tail the whole way, until Gloomy Gulch where I was finally getting tired.  Stopped for a bit of a break usual spot before bombing off down through the rocks.  Again, tight on his tail, great run down.  All the way gaining on a dude who'd gone past while we were resting.

Last blast, into Captain Thomas, both on top of the speed all the way down.  Good tech, good vibes.  Into the old exit, around the valley head, lovely singletrack, lots of very nice flow.  Blasting down the last bits just as the trail splits (walking down, bikes to the left) there was a couple picking blackberries here, and at the junction Nelson clipped a rock and went full summersault over, ending up off the track, on his back, still attached to one pedal.  Incredibly he was unscathed.  On from here good last blitz down the steps and back around to the cars.

A parching 15 and a half kms, with surprisingly 637 m climbed. (considering our peak was 500 m, where'd the extra 137 come from? just the lower end of the Captain??)

Went and visited David.

Thursday Evening to Castle, Tor and Pirate

Drove over and met Nelson at the Port Hills/Opawa/Curries Rds corner and we left his car there, driving with his bike on back back to mine.  

Got riding up the hill, usual route, 19th, Skidder, Grunter, Worm onto Traverse and across.  LOTS of riders coming the other way, first group was E bikers, then 2, then a solo, then a massive group that we pulled over for and right in front of us their second or third rider massively OTB'd it, his bike flipping and vaulting off down the hill below.  Looked like a hard hit.  He was okay, and once they'd all piled through we got moving again.  Good power on the climbs but still not as fast as Nelsie.  A few muppets coming towards us towards the end had no idea about protocol.  Onto Vernon, I led the way and we had a good run down this, pulling over once for a small group.  Across into Witch and I let Nelson take the lead, with good reason.  I dabbed the one spot and he powered on ahead.  Brief rest at high point then downwards and onto the walkway, techily tricksnical along the way.  Then up the road and to Castle Rock.

Good blast down the Castle, me chasing.  Slowly reeling him in towards the first hairpin, on his tail to the next, then he left me for dust.  Up the road, and up onto the Tors.  Huh,wtf!?  A couple of trail (MOTOR)bikes coming up the TORS track!?  Far out!  We waited for them, but they seemed to keep stalling just around the corner from us (at the start), so we took off around to them and they moved out the way and we bombed on down and they continued on.  Nutters - aNd RidiNG oN a WaLkiNG TrAcK ToO!  HoW DaRe ThEy!!?   Dabbed my (now) usual dab (past my old usual dab) and down to the road, then back onto the walking track above the road (!) to take us around to the fence crossing for clambering up the back of the Pirate track.

Over the fence, up the hill, over the next fence onto what was the 4wd track (doesnt even look like a double track anymore) and back over the fence again, picking our way around to the top through the tussocks near where a track used to be.  Very overgrown, the greenest and longest I've ever seen for this time of year.  Onto what we thought of as the route, nope, what about over here?  nope, here?  nope.  here?  maaaayyybbeee???  okay, i'm just gonna use this well worn track.  Nelson tried to take the freaky droppy track off to the right of the ridge but really couldn't follow it.  Oh well.  Down the ridgeline, to the sideline with the wooden features which he rode (I stayed below), then down further and right, up/across onto the razorback ridge.  Woohoo.  Feels more tech than even last time (with Pete).  Usual sketch, lack of traction.  Nelson rode the rock garden.  Then lower down we bypassed where it went off to the right on interesting lines, because there was just no following it; impossible to see. Long steep downhill blast, keeping speed in check, a little, eventually to the gate.  With VERY hot brakes (you could smell the burn when grass touched them).  Over the gate, through the next, then around to top of the pines.  Down a bit.  One line looked promising but then didn't look like it went anywhere so we sidle climbed across to the fenceline.  Quite a good line down this, then, picking our way around, turning back up to take a cool raily berm line, then pretty much out and down.  Gorse very prickly down the straight, then cruise back to the car along Port Hills Rd. 

A stringent 16.1 kms, with 623 m climbed (added to the 220 we started with means 840 decended).

Saturday Cadging Some Codgy Goodgeness

Great Ride out on my own.  We were in Nelson for Phoe's 18th and I brought my bike.  

From the new pad, down the link pathway, steps and sidelines, then another wee walking drop down to a Place, then made my way down past the Rutherford and Flamedaisy then up onto Nile St, cruising along here to then find my way up onto Cleveland Tce, then up Atmore Place to get onto Jack's Track, which was certainly an interesting way into Codgers, but not necessarily the nicest way...

Crossed across Firball, and then onto middle road climbing up to the top of Turners etc.  Hung there for a bit and judged my options and what I thought I might like to do.  Decided on Hulk n Hogan, which was okay, sidled around and dropped and jumped and cruised around to eventually lower down on Jacks Track, which I proceeded to climb again, then up the middle road again back to Turners Top.  

This time into Turners, some groms all hanging at the top, I headed on past and proceeded to ride it like a 51 year old.  No big air, but good pace round the berms etc.  Some quite sloppy bits but mostly it was pretty dry.  Out the bottom of the gums and across to Take Me To Your Leader for the climb.  In here I could hear 'something' then two guys on ebikes powered past me.  Huh.  I continued on up, cleaning everything and quite enjoying it even tho it was steep.  Out the top onto Skidder Saddle.  From here along the Fireball Rd to the the Turners Top again.

This time into the climb to the Firball Trig.  Good climb up here and an ebiker topped out same time as me.  We chatted a bit then I headed off a brand new (to me) trail that headed towards Smasher.  Te Tirohanga Marama o Koata (Koata Marama).  New, fresh, one or two off camber corners, some jumps, quite a distance, nothing techy tho, other than some looseness.  Then it spat me out about where that big jump clearing was on Smasher.  I headed on into Smasher and proceeded to ride heaps but then got baulked and scared on the worst 4 corners which I edged down, then the rest of it was mint.  Not sure I'll use Koata Marama again, prefer the top section of Smasher.

From the bottom of Smasher, out along the Maitai river, following it down back to Nile St and heading home with a bad climb up the access track next to their new place.

All up, a very grand 18.5 kms and slightly surprising 693 m climbed

Thursday Night OG Captain T to the Gods; Around the Breeze and Back

Good spin last night.  Met Nelson in Scumnervale and we trundled down to the old "OG" Captain Thomas entrance - accessed from the redzone, behind the gabion wall.  On the way down we passed a group of riders getting ready at their cars who we would see a few more times.  

Into the steep climb, walking the steps and stopping to scoff the blackberries.  Yum!  On the bikes again, good treadle up on the interestingly narrow weaving through the trees and into the woods. Great climb all the way up.  Rounded the top of the gully and Nelson teched up all the techy rocks, while I lummocksed my way over them, walking the worst chunk.  Onto the traverse across the face to the short descent, where we caught up with the dudes from down on the road.  Proceeded to get stuck behind one, then the next, then the next for a while.  Finally their fastest rider pulled over and let us by and we finished off the last stretch up through the gate and around to the Summit Rd.  Bit of a break here watching them riding up, then headed across onto Godley.  

Up the first steeps, I blew the rock, my power was out, but got my mojo back occasionally along the main face up there.  We peeled around to the windy ridge, a hawk cruising away at our level, and stopped for a breather.  Eventually the other group turned up, (mute?) guy with dog first.  We took off and had a hair-raising run down to Livingston.  I was never more than a few metres behind Nelson.  I swear my bike handles better now.  

At the saddle we hung a right around the 360 crater rim walking track.  The other fellas continued on and we didn't see them again.  Heinous climb got the better of me and I walked the usual bit.  A break at the stile and then off down the steep lumpy steps, glorious run around and down the next steps, some interesting rocky features and cornering, and then across Breeze Col, rocky!, and onto the Breeze Bay track.  Sweet climb around this, some nice rolling, then over the sunken bunker and onto the skinny narrows track, overgrown as hell.  Slow, blind, tech.  Eventually onto the wide open track and bombing down to the Col again.  Onto Godley for a nice climb and fun descent then Livingston up.  Some paragliding dudes floating around, or at least trying to, just next to the track.    

Bomby rocks to Evans, then all the way down Captain, including fun OG section, good blast.

A sterling 17.3 kms rid, with 735 m elevated

Sunday Evening Classic Huntsbury Old Skool Lap

Tired and weary, with sore arms from chainsawing on Saturday, I couldn't face a Vic Park climbing ride, so I drove down and parked in Bowenvale Ave. 

On the bike, easy down the road and round along the footpath, then noisy-tire-tread- climb up the smooth tarmac Major Aitken.  Good pace, and around the hairpin most of the way up I could see my house on the one bit of road we can see from there.  Into Kenmure and then up the steep to the dirt. Through the new cattlestop and slightly over, below the lowest jump, and into the West Side climber Nelson and me have coined.  Clamber up here, out of the howling easterly, and eventually trickily navigating a Zig and zag-wise route thru the tussocks up onto the ridge. On up the single track, landing strip, then up the gravel to the top. 

Brief sojourn across the Traverse then into DH mode.  Popped and wove down the rocky way, not flying on the jumps as much as I used to, the landings of the first two are just so rutty-shitty now, but the lower two are all good.  Down next to the landing strip, into "Alley Express" (closed, supposedly, even tho it was fine by this stage of the day) over the edge, down through the cattlestop and down the new(ish) bit of Alley Express, back and forth, all the way down til the off cambers then into the Old Skool for a schooling in gravity.  Good blast through, but caught the rear wheel on some major whacks.  (it was flat the following morning).  Finally out the bottom, nice fast coast on the gravel then onto the Avenue and coasting back down to the car.

9.5 kms and 420 m climbed.  Good enough.

Wednesday Night Mulleto

Out for a loner last night, testing the new front wheel!  Gone Mullet, 29r with a 2.6 Nobby Nic on front and 27.5+ 2.8 Nobby on the back.  Good combo.  

Ride thoughts:  Slightly different feel in front end, seems to grip/steer better.  Seat post slightly back now, and need to ameliorate that by moving seat (even) further forward, maybe tilted too, for climbing.  Otherwise, better.

So, left home at 6, headed up through Vic.  Seemed to have solid power and a couple of roadies (1 gravel) were just below as I entered Vic Park Rd, didn't catch me for ages, which was a surprise.  Then they didn't drop me at all.  Usual 19th behind over, skidder, up gutz, climbing similar to pre-seat tilt (of a couple months back).  Up to top.  Quick jump through the two jumps, then peeled round onto Worm for to get to Traverse.  Lots of riders coming my way.  Stopped for lots of them.  Decided not to stop for one or two.  Fuck some people are selfish morons.  Fuck them.  

Into Vernon, climb and cruise.  New tire, bigger wheel, gripppppy.  Across top of Rapaki, loads of radiocontrol gliders.  Straight into Witch, cleaning all but one dab.  Around, front wheel rolls over rocks smoother, for sure.  Onto the road for the climb around up to top of Castle.  6.55 here.

Excellent blast down the Castle.  Speed and grip, but pretty mucky in a couple of spots, and got quite splecked.  The climb seemed easy, over to Bridle.  Straight back into the road climb, hoofing it back up to the top, and it was only 7.10 when I stopped to stretch on the Tors Track.  

Wheel difference accentuated by angling of camera. 

Into the descent, one or two mucky spots, but cleaned all but the usual droppy fun descend.  Across road onto walking track, dab and walk through first climb, quite overgrown, but rest of it was a good blast.  I *think* less pedal strike.

Back into the Witch, climbing again, over, able to see loads more riders coming up Rapaki (this late!?).  Good fang down to the saddle and stayed on singletrack climbing, more muppets coming towards me, then up and around back to Traverse.  Good blast along here, meeting a rider who said "we meet again" (one of the many I'd passed earlier) not far from where we'd met earlier.  I wonder what his ride had consisted of, considering how far I'd been there and back...  Can only assume Flying Nun, maybe?  On round the rest of the Traverse into the sun, then into the pines of Vic and across into the jumps, landing hard on first jump, okay on second, see-saw, and first couple pumps of Brakefree, then checked rear suspension and it was locked out!  

Into the rocks and Gums, blasty blitz down and through, mucky usual lowest spot and through to 19th, where I took the road down, into 235, good most of the way til the Oaks where it was mucky and slick and wet as hell.  All the way down to the H. Ell extension and out to road, for the bomb home.

Mulletted 20kms, with 727 m climbed.

Friday 'Lunch-hour' Singlemindmeldspeed

Bit of a jaunt of a 'lunch break' early afternoon on the 7+6er (13er?) singlespeed to get the mind cleared and lungs worked.  A few short kms of climb and descending at a very sedate pace. 

Up the usual route, 19th, Skidsville and guts, walked a bit, negotiated a nice way on the steep at Brakefree-end.  Breather at the waterspigot and up around to Thompson's #1 fun.  

Back up road to VicTop.  Seat down and off 'round, bypassing the jumps, exploring the roots through to the cattlestop and into rabbit paddock.  Down to rockgarden where I lost the chain.  Rethreaded and re-tensioned the single-ator and got into gumsville, not as greasy as you may've expected.  All the way down through to 19th, off the road for a nice dark coast, around up back onto Rd and coasting no hands to Dogparkcarpark.   Into the woods again, bit of front wheel drift in the first wetspot, more careful after this.  Stopped at the jump to see about drainage, then on again through the oaks and up to finish off on the last descent behind the houses.

Tidy 5.6 kms, with 201 m climbed.

Waitangi Monday Climby Loco'Loopy

Heesh, what a buncha climbing. 

Grunted my way up, 19th over to Skidder, up gutser to Vic Top.  Brief sojourn down the fun jumpies, over the see-saw, top first section of Brake free and then down the rabbit paddock to the Gummies.  Usual route through here, then out to the skidder and into the exit to the left of the gutser, left into the ^Sick entrance, and left over the lower exit into steep, fun, rooty, and slightly damp Razza's.  Down past the 40footer, assuming Sneaky Ridge would be too greasy, headed down into the dark macracarpas of Brent's, staying high on the left mostly, and being a bit middle aged, as in not totally caning it.  Out the gulch bottom onto Flow - nu bridges down into a fast blast down the valley bottom and a right into the Hidden Valley Bonus.  

Climb-a-climb-climb up the usual steeps, cleaning all the corners and out under the pylon.  Then, instead of straight into the Old Skool, I headed up the 4wd for a ways.  A few zigs higher to the 2nd to last singletrack exit (as you're coming down), peeling into this and riding the techier line along the ledge, across the 4wd into the new rocky sections dropping down and into the off-camber corners then into the Old Skool.  Great blast down here, jumping lots and pumping through, around to the lower section, swerve corner weave, and exiting up valley.

Climby McClimbface up Bowenvale Valley bottom, then into the steep bastard K2, ugh!  Zig across under the 23footer then up it's side and then across onto the rest of it.  More ugh climbing up to pylon, more and more to 40fter and up the last two steep little bastard grunts to the Skidder.  Into the usual 'lower gums' down to 19th, jump, then road down, peel into 235 for a good blitz, not too greasy, and jump landing dry enough, then hooked a right up the wee access track up to road, up to dog carpark into the final down blast behind the houses, home.

Pretty honed 11.5 kms, and 450 m extricated from the gravity well in numerous bursts. 

Tuesday Night Vic to Hunts and Back again

Good outing with Nelson tonight. 

Met at mine and headed up through Vic, usual grovel up from skidder.  Rode right to the top and took a quick turn down over the fun jumps, veering hard right above the see-saw to cut onto Worm, climbing back up to the Traverse.  Across around this all the way to top of Huntsbury for a bit of a pause and breather.  Into the descent.  Blitzy over the rocks, first jump and wind threw me randomly and my landing was on the cusp of the rut, SO close to crashing and careening off track towards the cable fence.  Somehow managed to wind it in and kept going, but my second jump landing was sketchy as fuck too.  Third jump I had it more under control and the final gap was fine.  

Down the 'landing strip' trail on the left, and through the cattlestop, up onto the first rocky knob, slow speed tussock navigations across through and up the back of the main rocky knob, picking our way onto the ridge, rocks tech good, dropping down onto the singletrack and bombing winding and wending, Nelson jumping all, me jumping some, fanging all the way to the last drop at the bottom (after navigating a random couple who didn't seem to know what getting off the track meant).  

Around onto 'our' climbing track (over the western side of the ridge) back up, tricky steeps in tussock then back up onto the single track, climbing past the rocky knob and on up the bastard gravel to the Summit Rd intersection, for a bit of a stretch.

Onto the Traverse again back the other way, Nelson losing me on the climbs but me holding my own okay on the downs.  Good rest just before the trees, then we headed down and into Pedal fine.  First couple of corners, we took an alternative line off to the left, which led us on neat corners droppy down and out onto the 'middle' 4wd(ish) track, and for a second wondering where we were.  Along this for a bit to the entrance of Rad^, but peeling off to drop across down fun steep rooty Razza's.  Popped out the bottom of this and it was back into the steep climb around up and across to the skidder.  

Over into the lower-'gum's continuance, out to 19th, and coasty coasty down the road and into 235, pinging good down here, jumps and out onto the Harry Ell exit up to Vic Park Rd and home.

A pretty steamy 14.4 kms, with what seems measly, 530 m ascended.

Sunday MacPleasantries to the Green Captain

Rebuilt rear wheel, new (40mm internal) rim, and a new Dirt Wizard on front, and new (to me) Nobby Nic on the back (biiig volume with the 40mm rim!).  

O and H (and a friend of his) were going surfing so I drove them out to Redcliffs and got out there, riding back around to McCormacks Bay and hitting the climb.  Hot work in the valley.  Took a call from Steve in the shade below the lower switchbacks, eating a couple of blackberries (just coming on) while talking, then got rolling again.  Cleaned the first, but not the second, as usual.  Exhaustingly hot up the rest of it, same (2nd) switchback making me dab as seemingly always, but got the rest to the steps.  Then it was up the road for a stretch to the steep wee connector park, then up the Upper Major to the entrance.  

Clamber clamber up the Britt, gasping in the heat and taking a direct line at the top to the macracarpa shade on the ridge.  Sat here for a bit to cool off, then rolling again, around towards the cutting - rocks knocking me around a bit - bike felt really noisy too.  Up over the fence and up zig and zag-wise, through a clusterfuck of walkers and with another rider who was struggling with the rocks, to the aerials.  Bit of a sit down up here in some shade too.  There were 3 others up here, and all of us bopped off down through the gate to the stile at the same time.  The solo guy had gone ahead, but the 3 let me through here and I never saw them again.  I eventually caught the solo dude down in the tussocks, not sure where he went, but I turned right and hit the Greenwood.  

Bombed all the way down feeling tired and slow a good portion of the time but good and flowy in other bits - definitely not a record time.  I'd let a bit of air out of my tires earlier, but I think they might still have been a little hard.  Jarred and rattled my way to the bottom

As I finished Greenwood a rider coasted through the pass and into the Captain.  I got to the trailhead and released a little more air from the tires, watching for the other dude to appear (eventually) on the other side of the valley.  I got rolling then.  Slowly winding up the speed, had a good run down through, until the first of the rocky steppy bits (the one with the wee sideline cut that we still ride the tech line on).  Fucked it up on the tech line, dont know what I did but I was almost passengering it watching the rocks coming towards me and expecting the pain any second.  Amazingly I managed to stay upright and survived, shaken and strained, but not pasted on the rock.  Ugh...  Got rolling again, shakily, and cleaned out the rest of the trail, catching the other guy just as he was about to drop into the first hairpin on his way down and out, I bombed past behind him to the O.G gate.  He'd stopped and was looking at me enquiringly.  I said "it's open again" "gate used to say 'No Access' but now just says 'Please shut'" and I took off, relishing the tightness and bush and fun.   Great descent, fun all the way, and finally along the back of the gabions, out onto the road and down to the beach to find the boys.  

Ended with a swim.    

A rather knotty 14.7 kms, with 575 m climbed.

Sunday Misty Troll Loop

Dreary wet day, left it til later in the day in case it got better, but it didn't so I donned wet-weathers and dropped down Longhurst on the Troll, across the hill thru pizzly rain, via: Derrynane, Kidson, Whisby, Macmillan, Lady Polson and down Bengal. Onto the (Uni?) bike route to and thru Pioneer Park, and pretty much entirely out of the drizzle.  Hard left onto Sparks Rd, booking out this towards Halswell, taking the special bike crossing towards the end and into the 'new' suburbs, through a cool wetland then realised at the model railway I was heading to the wrong part of Halswell, turned around and took the bikeways and backways back to Sparks, shops, then straight line to the Quarry. Finally got rid of the jacket and leggings here and the knuckled into the climb.

Stayed on top of the gear all the way up the seal, quite steep.  Then at the stile/gate, hung a right and cleaned my way up the Low Road, which was surprisingly dry.  Onto the main drag at the level bit, brief walk above here then rode the rest to the gate.  Over Siberia, over the stile and into the next climb, pedalling a surprising amount but finally relenting and walked a bunch til it levelled off.  Rode a bit, walked a bit, rode a bit, walked a nother steep, rode briefly then walked the last long steep.  Managed to get back on near the top and ride out the last 100 m or so to the Summit Rd. 

Mizzle and drist picking up again I put the jacket back on for the cruise round the Summit. Passed by one car, before a nice coasting bomb down to the Kiwi.  Across Dyers here and up the next section of Summit Rd to the top of Vic.  Into the 4wd track descent, catching some pretty mighty speed down into the skidder site, and then out onto the road for a nice fast liquid descent down to home.

Damp 22.5 KMs with 550 odd m climbed

Monday Paraparaparapool

Hot jaunt up from Parapara, up the road, keeping clear of traffic (several cars) and then onto the gravel and some seriously hot climbing up up and up.  A couple of times I'd find some shade and stop for a rest, then battle on.  Does my arse look fat in this?

(also, note the granny gear - she's steeep)

Just past the good descent track I heard a bird in the bush and wondered...  Did my 'talk the birds in' sound and two cute little fernbirds popped out to the edge of the scrub and peeped at me a few times.  So cool.  My first time.  After this I rode all the up way to the end of the public section of road (weird 'art gates' are gone) and back to the bench wherein the view is magnificent:

(could be a carbon copy from rides past - nice full inlet too)

Back down the road, bomby bomb, past the singletrack and climbed a little thinking I'd look for something else when at the high point I found it!  Trig, the sign said, and there was a narrow trail I'd not noticed before.  Put the bike on it and it was narrow and steep so I rolled it along on the back wheel.  Not bad going, a little tricky, but eventually got to the top (couldn't see a trig at this point (tho it was right there)) and followed the trail a little further and found a lovely seat overlooking Milnthorpe and Tukurua.

Back up to the bike, ah! there's the trig! and on down the (too narrow to bike, really) track, rolling semi-scooting down through back to the road.  

Down to the singletrack and straight in, careful, careful, yeah, I got this.  First narrow gut with a tiny bridge over it (like a foot long) I'm positioning to roll through and bang, foot clips a rock, front-wheel drops into a hole, and bam, I'm over the bars and flying.  Left shin gets a pedal and some rock maybe, right forearm gets gravel, right thigh gets something hard (good bruise) and I stop my forward momentum with my nose on a bank.  Somehow my sunglasses are full of leaves and snot.  Bike is front-wheel-wrong-way lying off the trail.  Pick myself up, check, nothing broken, but I'm shaken.  Bike, nothing broken.  Phew.  Whoops.  Get rolling again, a lot more carefully.  Down, hairpin, down, hairpin, then follow a creek for a bit, nice.  Across and some flat stuff, hang a right, up to the wee dam, ride around in there a bit, then back down across a trail that wasnt there last time, explore, hmm, cool, steep descent to terrain I recognised, explore, explore, explore, lots of ways, a couple familiar, one not and really steep, and pretty much all of it too narrow for my 820mm wide bars.  Ended up down to where I knew then it went places I'd never been, including a fecking steep climb at the end, up to the gravel road further out from where I'd exited in the past.  

Long sore drudge back to the car. 

A meandery 10.3 kms, with decidedly low 324 m climbed.

Saturday Aorere Golden Loop

Something new(ish).  I parked at the Devils Boots and rode back out the gravel road, hung a right up Plain Rd and headed for what I believed to be the far entrance to the Aorere Goldfields.  Got to the corner I thought was right and there was a massive sign (home painted) "Access Closed" "(no guns, no dogs)."  Got my phone out and started to check I was in the right spot when a farmer serendipitously turned up.  I waved him down and asked if I was on the right track, and about the Access Closed sign... 

    "That's just for the dicks." 

    "Ah, the dicks with the guns and dogs?" 

    "You got it".  

So, off I climbed, up through his farm, basically (but actually on public road).  Checked a map once finding I was on the right track, all no gates, then finding the access track pushing it's way up a steep ridge surrounded by low stature manuka scrub.  Fucking steep, but stayed on top of the granny and the grip and the heat of the sun and climbed my way up, hot as fuck.  A couple of chances for nice views but at the (first) top the scrub was all too high, so I actually went a ways back down the road to get this photo:

Next it was a rapid descent, fun, but wide 4wd track, through to a few more climbs and a couple descents before a climb up to a barren view of this, oh, with a side track explore up a steep arse ridge too. - Druggens Dam down in front...

Good descent started here, bombing down, bombing 4WD...  Found the turn off to Bedstead Gully that I'd ridden in the past, and headed in.  Hmmm...  rougher, then waaay more overgrown than those times.  Looked like nobody has been down here for a while, or if they have they've been in full motocross gear cos it was scratchy and super bad.  I got to a point where I knew the trail from the 'campsite' of old was gonna be worse so turned back (and it was getting pretty terrible).  Streams were stagnant here too, showing the lack of rain lately.  

Bit of a drudge out, walking some, then riding, and back on the main track headed up over and down.  Around a narrow part and "whoah!" got quite a fright at a Range Rover headed towards me.  Piloted by two young women (and followed by an older Surf with a couple guys and a girl) said our hellos and what a great track, and I continued on down.  Found the right-hander to Druggans and headed that way, completely unfamiliar to me even tho I'd done it at least one of those previous times.  Nice bomb down to the dam and saw a couple of bikes(e) down there so rolled along and sat in the shade, ate my half OneSquare and yarned.

Not so far from here, down to the water-race trail and it's way more rugged than it's been in previous years.  Nice roll around, good to be in the shade, then the descending from caves (which I didn't visit), and some serious bomb, with a couple of quite techy sections higher up, but easier and smoother the lower I got.
  

Finally out the lowlands back to the car.

Epic loop of steep climbs and rugged descents, eventuating in less altitude than it felt like (540) but a serviceable 22.6 kms. Scorching hot sun didn't help much and neither did the scratchy gorse and hakea.