Friday St James Homestead, Run Fatty, Run

A jaunt on the Fattster (for a change- and cos I didn't quite get the new Stooge brakes bled-in Thursday night).  Headed up the St James Cycle Trail from the homestead, into the wind.

  At the Pass, I found the new (to me) route at Peter's Pass up over the top of a waterfall then ziggy zaggy down into the valley.  Continued on down Edwards Valley (but because of the wind, it didn't feel like downhill), further than last time and when I got to where the track crossed the river, couldn't see a way not to get my feet wet.  I'd pretty much been riding long enough, so I decided to turn back here.  

Gentle climb back up valley, assisted with the tail wind, back up to the ziggy zaggy climb, which is VERY steep, back up over the waterfall and then the fun began.  Carrying speed on all the ups, standing and cranking, fun, grippy blast back down to the homestead.  

Headwind nor'westers all the way in then uphill all the way back until the final run. Fast fatty, fast.

Nice waterfall up the top and some awesome good falcon watching on the way back down...

Meanwhile, Tra'y walked off piste up and over the top of the triangle to Peter's and back. Nice!

A picturesque 23 kms and 476 m climbed. 

And another. Sunday lung stretch.

T had gone for a walk to Chorlton so I followed after doing a couple of chores. Up through Adrian's, Luke's Rd and up. Met her eventually on her way down and continued my way up, meeting some riders and walkers coming down, at Chortlon I decided to head onwards over into the Long Lookout Rd gravel, pausing briefly to wait for Andrew C. to go by in his tractor and the dust to settle before the very fast bomb down. - Looking back up towards View Hill from Long Lookout Rd

Bucolic.

Turned around and ground my way back up, then sat and cruised, velocity ever increasing, down, down, veer into Luke's again passing the group of walkers again and down back of the tennis courts (at which point the rear brake started making the bad noise again), then around and home.  Rear brake completely out of pad, spring thing bent...

8 kms 287 m up, over and back.

Saturday Pearcing Piper's, Duvauchelle's Steep, Summit - LA.

Tra'y walking Hinewai so she dropped me at top of the valley, saving me the ~500m of climb. I headed up the Mt Pearce track, somewhat steeper in places than I remembered - it's been a while. Had a bit of an explore up here, took in the view over Pigeon Bay. 

Scope for lovely singltrack ridge trails, I reckon...  

Back down, and part way the rear brake started making some nasty noise...  I had to take out the wheel and pads and examine closely.  No spares so put it all back together thinking I might have to bail out carefully (or sacrificially) down valley back to bach, but it seemed to be resolved and even tho there was stuff all pad left, I survived the rest of the ride.  At the Summit Rd again, I headed into Piper's Valley Rd, for a very fun descent.  Lovely cruising, tho keeping a close eye on any magpies around.  Had to pull up at the first house in the bottom of the valley for a mob of sheep and farmer (who apologised! - i said no worries!) and a nice cruise down to the main road. Explored a little of Duvauchelle, heading to the boat ramp and jetty, then back around and grabbed water from the school, then around Onawe, nice and flat,

bit of a chill out in the trees just above the start of the walking track.  Then around past the Refuse and the Garden Centres and then hit up grinding relentless brutal climb, first up the main road, then up the start of the Pigeon Bay Rd, then onto the gravel Stock Route.  A graveller caught up and passed me when I was having a wee rest - "these peninsula climbs are so brutal."  I kept him in sight for a long while, but eventually needed more rest and he disappeared.  Surprised by the number of vehicles using this road, but then it was a busy public holiday weekend...  Finally onto the Summit Rd, hung a right and the steepness was so gentle.  Fun coasting down through to Pigeon then just cruising and finally grinding, wearily.  Overtaken by a young fresh couple on road bikes - on their way through LA - Okains and back over to the harbour...  The were stopped at top of Little Ak Rd as I passed by and bombed down, finishing it all with a super fast descent back down into LA.  I saw them ride past as I was heading through our second gate.

32 kms, 922 climbed, meaning well over 1400 descended for the lolz

Sunday prior, Gebbies Governors E-dventure with T. And Friday's Stooge With a View.

Last weekend, got back from Pureora trip, a bunch of walking in the bush, on Saturday, so on Sunday to reconnect, Tra'y and me took the ebikes up and along the summit to Gebbies, nearly closed for the Ultra (but luckily they weren't through yet nor started (for the shorter courses), down around to Allandale and around the waterfront, hanging out in a couple of spots,

timing it perfectly to arrive at the Pub for (me some breakfast and) a couple of coffees.  Then offwards up the hill, over and home.  My battery expired on the driveway below Andrew and Cath's place, mere pedal strokes from home - yowser).  Over 31 kms covered, with 966 metres electrically assisted.

And finally a proper ride on Friday. We came to the bach Wednesday night and worked from here Thursday, day in lieu Friday. Tra'y walked and I caught up and rode with her to Chorlton, leaving her there, to climb up View Hill Rd. Remarkably, I met 2 Shining Cuckoos(!) on my way. Full view of both of them just metres away - usually they're cryptic af.  A bit further up I watched a bunch of hawks, circling. 

Ground my way up

to the gate before turning back for a very rough ride down, until once past the big pines on the gravel again rocketship mode engaged. Fast bomb to Luke's Rd, back of the tennis courts, and up home. 

14kms, 617m

Thursday Commuter-Stooge Travelator

Nice ride to work this morning on the Stooge. Gorgeous mild and windless nor'west spring day.  Huffed up from home through skidder and up the grunt.  Into Worm and onto the Traverse, a few wet spots but nothing major or soggy. 

Over Vernon, lovely jubbly and then (Full Monty closed, so) down upper Rapaki at an expeditious rate of knots.  At the gate on the flat bit Ranger Nick Singletrack appeared in his ute to open the trails.  We had a quick catch-up and I rode back a bit and up, ahead of him, opening the gate for him, then had a chat to a lady with a dog of the same name as Jet, before heading in and hitting down the Elevator.  Fun times and only a few splecky bits - leaving my pants (new 24/7s from NZO (in Plum)) slightly less than work-appropriate (nothing a good scrub-down with my bikeshirt didn't fix once I got to the office).  

Down Rapaki Rd, detour into that wee park at the corner, then the haul across town, Centaurus into Wilson's Rd for the main drag then back-alley-street-cutting through Austin, Jacksons Creek to Huxley/Burlington, Cadogan, across Blenheim and down Buchan - Byron - Colombo to join the usual commute route over the bridge into CBD. 

Just under 17 kms with surprisingly just over 300 m climbed - which means 500 odd of descending. A most pleasant way to get to work

Thursday Post-Flu Marley's Retune, with a Magpie Attack

Spin up on the Jeht tonight for a bit of a rehoning of the musculature, to the top of the Nun and back. Gaspy climbing after a couple of weeks of influenza A, walking a short section below the Sesame wall-ride, but cleaned out the rest.  A group of riders, talking, were catching me up towards Brakefree and eventually once I parked at the entrance to Thomson's #1.  They were all on e-bikes, explaining why they were all talking so relaxedly and still gaining on me the whole way up.  

Off down Thomson's both, flowing very nicely, then through the Pass and up the Summit Rd  Uneventful climb and grind to top of Nun.  Parked up for a rest and view right on the peak before diving in for some sweet sweet body-english flow-times down the Nun.  Haven't ridden it so smoothly for ages.  Everything felt en pointe, speed carried, rocks flowed.  Crossed the CAP exit and parked on a corner for a breather.  A guy rode through so I gave him until I heard him below (a good headstart) and then took off.  Railed the berms, flowed the rocks and was gaining on him on the lower reaches pretty well, finally catching him as I peeled right to clamber back up onto the road at the Kiwi.  

Back through the Pass and climbing.  Half way between lower Thomson's exit and the entry a bloody magpie swooped me.  Gave me a hell of a fright.  I told him off, said "I'm friendly!!"  Up around the corner and just about on the upper Thomson's exit he fucking did it again.  "Oi, you little shit, cut it out!"  Stopped and broke off a broom plant to hold above my head, then grabbed a flax flower stalk, but he'd pissed off back up the hill.  Tra'y had been attacked directly above here when walking earlier on Sugarloaf too...  -Bad bird!

Down through the rocks and gums, again, riding smoothly and really enjoying myself.  When I exited at the end a massive group of social runners was coming through, and heading below the road below the 19th, so I turned uphill towards the Skidder and peeled left up onto the way I'd come up, over 19th and dropping down to rangerbase, then around the road and lovely coast into dogpark carpark for a very weavy cruisy flow down this, finally drying out, jumpy jumpy through the oaks and then all the way down to H'Ell before the clamber home.

A testing 10.5 kms gaining 350 m (or 380 by my reckoning - adding up the ups).

Sunday Jeht-streaming Hayfever Cold Exhaustion

Shortish and reasonably local. Up on the Jeht, really struggling after gardening and choring all day and after yesterday's Stooge. My cold now has hayfever (from the gale norwesters) added to it, so my breathing sucked. Walked a bit of the grunter and topped out, then nice Thompson #1 and back up the road. Down around the jumps into Worm and onto the Traverse to the end and back. Then into Upper Fenceline across above Cool Runnings then hard left up zag and zig towards the top again, passing under the new jump on Pedalfine and across the fence below the see-saw. 

From here, down the usuals - rocks - gums and the rest, still greasy in the oaks, all the way down to H'Ell, clamber, home. 

Lovely jubbly.  11.5 kms with 381 m self administered.

Tested the 'cold' on Monday night and it turned out to be Influenza A...  probably shouldn't have been riding at all.

Saturday Afternoon Adventure Stooge Park

Tight little ride today. Up to Skidder on the Speedbomb, dropping down into CAP. Across Locomotion into Loess, newly refurbished. Fun times, caught up to a couple dudes, paused for a bit to let them get ahead, then reeled them back in and they stopped to let me by. 

Uplift, into have a look down Bako for my first time.  Bit rough and a bit too open until slightly more interesting stuff in a few young trees towards the bottom before linking onto Duncan's Donuts.  Acknowledged various bits of country and ghosts of trails past (Fight Club and Alice's Restaurant RIP), then across the junction spot, lots of riders about, into Loose Connections, some groms catching me at the end, I held back and tucked in behind them down the Active Rest section to the start of Omni.  In this for a wee bit then I took the left into Down Low.  This was much fun, weaving and diving picking nice lines, getting a little airtime with smooth landings, rigid bike no hindrance.. Remembered ghosts of DOHC in here too, especially the finish. 

Another uplift, into Summit Connector surprisingly quick, keeping up with some and not getting caught by others.  Down the 'exit' trail towards the road then into the lower Nun. Rough as guts but still funtimes. Then up the road and down all my local favs, jumpies, rabbit, rocks -

gums to 19th, below road, onto road for coast into Dog Park Carpark, no car in the trail entrance so hussing in and weaving around the grooves.  Mucky mucky lower down and I've gotta get in and do some sort of drainage through the oaks...  Walked up looking for source of water but must be underground, well under trees.  Back on the bike and through all the way out to H'Ell, clamber, home.

A bit over 16 kms and 990 m elevated, with of course the 2 lift rides accounting for around 800 of that.  

And, Third for the weekend, Harman's Track DH

The OG Canterbury DH circa 1986, Harman's Track, "4WDs only" at stupid speeds on the Stooge, trying to beat Tra'y to the bottom. Corrugations, speed, and gravel, then surprisingly early, seal. Then what seemed like ages down the valley, once on the (nearly) flat pedalling like crazy in top gear into a head wind. I could see the 'Give Way ahead' sign for the end, and then the Hyundai hove into view. Tra'y couldn't believe I was there already.  She thought she'd be waiting ages for me. Haha.

4.9 kms descending around 460 m, in 8 and a half minutes

Satoogerday Longish Way to Long Bay

Tra'y dropped me at the start of Cameron's Track about 10.20 am and continued on around the Summit and down Long Bay Rd to leave the car at the bottom of Hinewai, as she was to walk up through Hinewai. 

Just as I was about to head in, 3 hiluxes and a peoplemover (of all things) wide-birthed me and peeled in, obviously a crew.  They were slow on that first down, and dusty, so I let them get a good gap on me before heading off.  Quick down then a steady climb ensued.  Nice to peak and coast down again, steeper and faster as I rolled.  Turned into Lavericks Ridge Rd, down around and up to Panama Rock.  Stopped for a rest, snack and a phonecall here then headed off down Panama (fuck it's steep!).  Brake, pause, brake, pause, never getting too fast once down the first bit; concern for overheating brakes...  Nice rolling down the bottom half and then hung a hard right into LeBons Bay Rd, climbing, quite the grind.  Only a car and motorbike down, and maybe 4 cars up, otherwise road to myself, birdsong (brown creepers higher up).  Just past halfway up I explored into and checked out a good portion and back on Dawbers Rd.  Stopped when it was heading down too much.  Then back out to the main road and climbing again, grinding away, surprised how much climb it's actually got.  None of these other bays are like Little Ak with its 3 km solid steep, they all have brief respites in their steeps, or like Okains, only a very short section of real steep.  

Onto the Summit Rd finally and cruising, some level, some climbing, a pop and crackle of sport bikes, followed by a throb of a couple of Ducatis, and a couple of touring bikes, a couple cars.  Once at the first high point looking over Akaroa Harbour I messaged T to let her know where I was.  That was 12.30 and I thought I'd be a half hour to the car.  Onwards around the Summit and there were a couple more climbs, including the highest of the ride, around 670m, and then hail.  Squally hail, falling on me as descended to the Cabstand, then a bit more down through the top Hinewai carpark.  Bombed down the rest of the seal and onto the gravel for a short climb, then descending Long Bay Rd, glorious views everywhere, a couple cars, then down into the valley, quite steep, a little loose, and fun.  So much altitude relinquished.  Finally to the car, exactly 1pm, as I'd guessed.  Found the key where T had hidden it and loaded up.  Had to wait about a half hour for her once back up the hill.  Not bad timing, really. 

Hefty, 25 kms and 530 more descent than the 1074 m climbed

Measured Gale View from Friday's Stooge

Up to View Hill Rd on the Stooge not long after the southerly hit. She's a strong one; no rain, but. 

Clothing-wise, I was in stealth mode. Bike was the same shade of grey as the road and shirt the same green as the hills. Socks and shoes like dirt.  Unwisely, not enough layerings - even after donning the sky-blue vest.  Looking down at the bay:

Bombing back, tailwind pushing up a whipper-whorl of dust ahead that I coasted through at higher speed as it petered out.  Then a little lower down, still on the gravel the wind gusting from the side; hard work staying on, but the Speedbomb lived up to it's handle.  Then on the seal, nice and tucked and silly-fast to start with, but around the bend back into the teeth of it and even tucked it was slow going and gusty until the shelter of the bridge valley around with a tail wind again, lovely in the trees then smooth speed into Luke's Rd, up and over rolling fast, and back through Adrians.

Looking back up where I was from bach.

Twenty metres shy of 8 km and one metre shy of 300 climbed: measured

Sunday, Coupla Rides: E with T and a short Stooge

Nice hoon with my missus up across the tops and back on the ebikes today.  We rode up through Vic Park Rd together and I peeled off to the Skidder and rode up the gutser and out to the top, while she headed down to Dyers Pass Rd and up around Summit to meet me.  Together, glorious day, we rode out around, bitingly chilly wind in the exposed saddle places, while warm and basking and calm on the north east facing slopes.  Good bombs on the downs, and easy climbs on the ups, we headed to Cavendish Saddle, stopping for a nice view and then headed home again.  Me splitting off down through Vic the way I'd come up while she took the road and met me at 19th.

 E-xhilaratingly e-lectric 23 kms and 901 m e-scalated

Later, after vacuuming and hedging I took the Stooge for a go. Short and local, started by dropping down the 'zig zag' below us, out Derrynane Lane, up Longhurst into Harry Ell Drive, and up through to the bottom of Dog Park, out to Vic Park Rd, and from there the usual - up over 19th, skidder, gutser, Thompsons #1, back up road, "how are you so fast?" from a young'un struggling up the road as I passed - "lots of practice, I guess?" I replied.  

Down around the jumpies, down through rabbit into rocks, gums swoop swoop, all the way down to 19th, then below road, through, back on around coasting to dog park carpark and into the groove.  Still soaking wet but maybe slightly lessening? in the oaks, then lovely final hoon down to the bottom.  Clamber to road, and home. 

Stoogeliciously minimal 6 kms with 220 m scrambled.

Wednesday Night Local Short Stuff-about

Surprisingly short local with Nelson tonight, as in, it felt like a hell of a lot longer, because of all the steepness. 

From mine, we trundled up the road through 19th, Skidder, gutser and up to top of Vic.  Off down round the jumps and Worm, then headed down Pedalfine, with me, after some baulking, and then reattacking it, actually managing the steep rock section.  From the bottom of it, hung a left across and dropped in on the corner to check out a bit of the new bits of Rad.  Got to a trail-work closure and dropped out down onto the climbing trail, heading up to drop into Razza's.  Biff boff baff down this, veer left into a little bit of rad, then onto Brents, flowing back and forth in the macs (overtaking a slower rider in here).  Down out of forest, across to NuBridges, nice flow down here, me holding Nelson's tail, then down out rolling down the bottom of the valley, heading for Old Skool.  Oh... Track Closed sign on Hidden Valley bonus climb track to Old Skool, so we turned back up , heading up the nastiness of K2, climbing climbing.  When we got to Shazza's there was a few riders coming down.  First one went by on an ebike and Nelson yelled out, "Wazza!"  The followers were Andy and Wayno.  Good catch up here, then we went our separate ways, Nelson and me climbing up through the Rad Zone up to the Skidder.  Straight across into Latter's Spur Track, rolling across below the Rangerstation and some nice steppy bits in the bush, then out and over to Dog Park.  Into here, diagonalising across towards the eastern gate, dropping over some nice tech, then through the gate and down the fenceline, slick in a couple of spots and rather close to the barbed wire - roots still there but no more trees.  Over the stile, and below the H.Ell Drive houses, popping out at Scarff Place to climb back home.. 

Somewhat evanescent ride tonight, only 7.67 kms and 350 m climbed - as usual, it felt like more. 

Saturday Captain Godley into the Breeze and back again

Good wee ride on the Jeht today that was hard work. I'm so unfit! Climbing was tough, conditions good or sketchy. Lambs galore.

Parked on Wakefield and headed into the OG Captain T.  Muckiest I've ever seen it along behind the gabian wall, then up on the trail a lot of wetspots to negotiate.  Once out on the open section was a bit dryer, bar a few damp spots higher up.  I was muppetty, really struggling on the climbing, balance seemed all wonky, so dabbed way more than usual.  Out the top and onto the road, following a gravel couple, never quite catching them but slowly winding them in, until I peeled right up the ridge, lots of lambs and ewes.  Onto Godley and it was in pretty good nick.  Damp in shadier side, and very rutty, especially leading into the descent towards Livingston.  Good blast through this and then up the next over, dabbing once or twice, but making it through other tech.  Surprisingly good down to Breeze, only very slightly soggy on the last rutsville.  I've never seen so many people at Breeze Col.  It was insane the numbers walking up from Taylors.

Turning back up the road, cruised around to Livingston and had to don my vest as there was a nasty chill in the wind.  Para-sailers hovering smoothly at their launchsite, passed them and left up the ridge track again, passing a very sad looking ewe with a bunch of ropey stuff hanging out her rear end.  Needed some help but I didn't know what to do...  :(  Onto Godley heading for Evans, very wet in places, but once on the downward slope just the rock tech to deal with.  onto the road, and through the pass back onto the Captain, for a good cruise down.  Cleaned all the tech, but carefully.  Nice going once in the bushy section, navigating the wet sections carefully too.  Flow resulted and out to the car for a good finish.

Strugglesome 15.43 kms and 640 m climbed.

Thursday Night Solo Jeht-Setting

Out for a hoon last night on the Jeht.  Headed up the usual way over 19th and admit I had to walk a little in the gutser.  Really didn't know where to go, and paused at top of Vic for ages before heading off down the Thompsons #s 1 and 2, then through Dyers up Summit Rd to just past Worsley's.  Hit the Crater Rim/360 trail from here, climbing up to a stile.  Took a wee look up the Trig track but it proved too narrow and steep, so back to stile and onwards along the lower track.  Fun descent after the next stile.  Straight through this saddle and continued along the next rocky section of Crater Rim, over this to the big saddle (where Kennedy's used to come out).  

Turned around rode the same both through to Worsley's.  Climb was good, descent not so much.  Up Worsley's Rd next and into the climb to top of Nun.  Brief breather here then into it.  Tyres were too hard but I stuck with it and rolled and popped and jazzed my way down the Nun, riding pretty good at the mo.  Into the lower reaches and some mental speed, and not.  Popped out the road and then huffed up to the top of Vic.  Descent-mode activated and good flow down around over the first jump, second not so much.  Down the rabbit paddock (sogggggy in the middle) and into the rocks, ping ping ping, then gums, nice back and forth flow, down all the way out to 19th.  Rolled down the road, took in Tawhairanui and then into the Dogparkcarpark trail.  Soggier than Saturday, somehow.  and the Oaks were disgusting.  Appalling how much water is flowing down through here.  I'm sure that water tank must be leaking, cos this has gotta be more than just run-off from the road, or general hill leakage.  All the way down through to the bottom, some newly tilted dead standing trees lowering the headroom in a couple of places.  Clamber to road, and home.

Withstandable, 13.1 kms and 472 m escalated.

Saturday Morning Tops-Tooge

After 2 weeks of actual influenza, my lungs were cooked. 

Headed up on the Stooge and was pleasantly surprised how capable of climbing I still was. Breathing wasn't nearly as difficult as I'd expected, and my strength seemed pretty good.  Up the usual, road, over 19th, grunt up from Skidder (cleaned with no stop!), some water at BrakeFree, up to Thompson's #1 and nice we hit down here.  Back up the road, still not really sure where to go, decided on heading out the Traverse.  Nice cruise around here, keeping good pace.  Up onto and rolling down Vernon, straight into the Witch with a nice lot of tech (one dab).  Across the road from here and over the gate, headed up towards the top of the Pirate track, just to get some extra.  Linda Woods Reserve, I believe.

Then, turned back, taking it all in again, including climbing Vernon (instead of the road). Bloody good!  After Lavaflow at the saddle I left the bike for a sec and had a wee look across the road.  There's an out and back trail here I think we'll poach some time.  Back onto the Traverse for the finishing touches back to Vic, blip blop down over the first jump (not quite enough speed) and then down Rabbit, into rocks and gums for a lovely flow down around, Skidder, CAP track entrance onto OG back to 19th road, and then coasting to the dogparkcarpark, sneak between the cars and oooooohhh, noooo...  this isnt good...  mucky mucky. and then the Oaks at the end were an absolute morass.  Didn't continue and headed up the (also very wet) climb cutting to road, up to the dogparklower and headed down, super low slow and twisty Charles's Track then out behind the houses for the final blast. 

Slow and steady on the tech, big wheels rolling, torque control and a good strengthening workout- just under17 km with a not-at-all-bad 609 m climbed. Tschuite!

Thursday Night Jehtstahr Along the Top

Brief out and back tonight with a flat.

Uphill on the Jeht, clambering over 19th and through skidder past a bunch of riders into the grunty climb.  I could see the pollen under the lights up here, and worse still up top.  

Down Thompson's #1 and back up the road, then dropped down around the jumpies and up the Worm to hit the Traverse.  Saw a light coming my way further round so I stopped and waited at the start for him to roll through, then got going.  Quite windy, blustery.  Met a couple of lights at the Sugarloaf saddle then no one else for ages.  Got to top of Huntsbury DH and turned and dived in.  One harsh smack on the rear wheel in the top rocks making me think, "ouch, that'll be a flat" but then didn't seem to be until I landed the first jump and realised.  Stopped on the side and got to work, inserting my spare tube.  Down the rest, baulking the jump at the bottom, then back up the gravelly road to the top.  Met a dh-graveller on his way down.  

Contemplation of routes from here, decided over the top of Scott's.  Nice climb in the trees then a fun baff down to the col, then into the next where I met a runner on my climb.  Walked the couple of steps bits and then nice rolling the rest, lovely section of semi-tech singletrack in here.  Boffed off down to the next saddle and crossed over the fence back onto the Traverse.  Nice roll around here back into Vic, over the jumpies, the first section of Brakefree then out to the rocks and gums, all the way down, forgetting about the tree across the lower bit before skidder.  Then down, into the To CAP (shortcut entrance) and across the old to 19th, below road from here, into Tawhairanui across to DogparkCarpArk then greasey drop down through here, all the way to H'Ell and clamber clamber back up to road to home.  Nice. 

A pollen-moted 11.3 kms and 400 m climbed

Sunday, Mount Grey Stooglist

Excellent loner ride today. Did the Stupidmarket shopping, dropped it home then hit the road for "Lake" Janet, making good time up there and finding a pretty full carpark. Given all the cars parked, I saw surprisingly few people.  There was one guy here either getting ready to walk or having just finished. Up the road (rather than the zigs), meeting no one. Climb climb, a slowly-becoming-annoying clunk or clack on each pedal revolution, just past TDC on the right crank. Stopped and tightened possible culprits to no avail. 

Detoured to the Lookout then rode and pushed up to the road and hit the singletrack climb. Techknuckle af.

Walked a bit, rode a bit more. Met 4 ladies, who were duly impressed. Walked a bit more, rode some more around the top corner to meet a couple. "You've done well to get up here."

Hit the technical drop-over to the wee saddle, across down to the trail where I hung a right, to climb up to the trig peak, 933m.

360 degree view. Headed off down the ridge back towards the saddle then down to the trail again for the left turn, into the groove... Mucky, rutty, and do much fun. Pigs have really fucked up the track in places, including just before the rock roll. Into the bush for Switchback City - usual foot plant pivot method, jumping off for a few tighter ones. Exquisite riding.

Stooge SO good.  As usual, the longer uninterrupted sections were flow-stage vibe enjoyment.  It's just so beautiful in there.

Into the pines, and then the muckfest section, definitely some of the worst I've ever seen it.  And it continued into the forest below, with big wallows and dirty dirty times.  Back out into the dry sunny beech face then into the bottomlands for lovely lovely flow and groove, ending, finally out at the road.  Next 2 people, a mum and kid on the other side of the river here, 

 

Now for the grind up the road.  I was half expecting to meet at least the woman in her car coming up behind or some other random heading down, but nope, had the whole road to myself all the way back to Janet.  Took a brief detour up a side track just for a look.  Found well rotted carcasses of a possum and a pig or deer at a turnaround caused by fallen trees. (ie, the track continued, but you couldn't pass).  Off back to the car and done.

The usual 13.5 kms and 720 odd m climbed.  Nicely nicely.

Tuesday Night Nun Vic Skooled, More Down than Up

Nice mild night out tonight.  I took the car down to Bowenvale this morning, riding to work from there then home afterwards.  This way, Nelson could come straight to mine and we'd get more down than up.  

We headed up the usual byways through Vic, over 19th , Skidder, the gutser, and hit both Thompsons down to the Kiwi.  Up the Summit from here, Worlsey's Rd onto Nun, steadily climbed.  

Dropped in and I was coping with less than ideal lighting - not sure how much life this thing has so I'm wary of using much fullbeam.  We biffed and baffed all the way down, me taking it pretty easy but jumping a couple of lines I haven't ridden in a while.  Down near the end, from just before Capt Torpedo and Drainpipe there were some trail fairies (who we'd spotted below on our way up - Richie Goldworthy, apparently).  

Out through Kiwi and back up the road, dropped into Vic-top down around the jumpies and back up Worm, parking at the top as a few riders got going, including one grom down off over the big jump up here.  We followed him after a time, off down Upper Fenceline, exploring the zigs and zags (a couple of which I'd missed on Saturday).  When we got out to the access track, we pushed back up through where I'd gone up Saturday to just before Cool Runnings crossing, and dropped off to the right, down what must be the bottom of Tilted Sally / Flow Rider (according to Trailforks).  Nice flow through this taking us all the way to the fence-crossing and down into the open.  From here it was a blast around whatever that bit is called (Eastside?) before heading into the trees for the Bridges/NuBridges.  Down here, nice blast and then down valley and into the Hidden Valley climb up to Old Skool.  Chuff chuff chuff.  I cleaned all the hairpins - i think Nelson is still getting used to the long wheelbase of the Rocky cos he missed the very first one and tweaked on a root on the 3rd one.  So, so mild up here in the valley, and no wind (after a very windy day and night prior).  

Into the Old Skool and it was a ripsnorting blast.  This is where Nelson was choosing some crazy lines.  I was right on his tail and following and it was rough.  A little bit of grease around in the rutty straight sections, which led to some interesting handling, but made it out alive and we blitzed down the gravel and out down the road to the car. 

Choice ride for a Chooseday - 13.3 kms, 389 m climbed, ~600 m descended

Saturday's Stooge, Sunday's Troll

Couple of wee rides this weekend, one more than the other - interspersed by O's 21st...

Saturday, T left early for a walk, and I lay about for a bit longer, getting out the door finally at 8.30.  Toodled up through Vic, usual byways all the way to the top.  Txted T here to see where she was.  Into Thompson, nice flow then back up the road, getting the message she was on her way around the front of Sugarloaf, so I headed around the Summit and headed up into the Carpark.  Wasn't long and she turned up so I toodled down the front to top of Vic with her, boffed off around the jumps and up Worm, seeing her go past then headed off on my own journey down Upper Fenceline, wending my way almost all the way down this, zigging and zagging mostly back and forth before heading up the steep gutser that heads up the true right of the valley, up through the middle of lower Cool Runnings, and up through Rad.  At the skidder I bumped into Nick S from work and then I headed back up the steep to Brake Free and dropped off down through the rocks into the gums.  Pleasantly surprised to find all the logs across my usual favourite were cleared - rangers or mtbers had used chainsaws by the looks of it.  Nice flow down here then all the way down to 19th, across the road below for a bit then usual out up onto the corner and coast to Dogparkcarpark.  Lovely flow down here, jumping the jumps and flowing out through all the way to the bottom and the clamber back to road.  

A validly short 7.72 kms on 334 m climbed.

O's 21st Saturday night, left the car opposite where Dave was staying, so Sunday morning I took the Troll down slightly more interesting descendings then then across an urbane jaunt.  8.4 kms, 230 m descended, and 17 m climbed...