Nelson picked me up from mine and we were at top of Huntsbury about 6. He was on the singlespeed, so tore up the hill while I struggled away at my usual pace getting quite a bad wheeze on the way up. Up on the gravel under the pylons and then hung a right below the knob and sidled around and up onto the singletrack, flowing this over to the landing strip. Lots of sheep poo around, so we kept our mouths shut and rode on up to the gravel for the last climb to the road intersection.
A few other riders around, we waited until an enduro-dude got going, gave him a gap then got going before some descenders on the Vernon approached. Into and around the Traverse, some dudes were having a break just after the first fence (before Lavaflow) and they got going as we approached, which was annoying. The first one pulled over just after the Lavaflow and then I was on the other guy's tail the whole way to the usual stopping spot under Sugarloaf. He must have thought I was his mate, but he just wasn't quite slow enough to barge past (not that there's much opportunity), but not quite fast enough to be fun. Him and his mate stopped at the rest spot and we got past, having a trouble free blast the rest of the way round to the top of Vic.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the Thompsons open, so down through the scorched earth and trees of these, tho only able to see what was lit by our lights - nice flow, then onto the road and across Dyers Pass and up the road, good pace up around, Nelson grinding away on the SS. Scorched earth around Worsleys Rd was impressive - they should build a zig zag climbing trail up that face while it's all clear! Final climb to the top of the Nun and a short rest up here.
I led the way into the Nun, popped and wove my way down, rather enjoying it but never getting too hairy-fast. Lots of visibility now, with the scorched earth all around, and the trail is in as good a knick as it's ever been. Nelson was not far off my tail most of the way, but I think the 80mm forks and hard-tail got the better of him in the rockier sections, so I paused briefly to wait for him at the midway carpark point. From here he was well on my tail the rest of the way. I had a good blast, flowing nicely, suspension doing it's thing beautifully.
Onto the road, and back up to top of Vic, back into the Traverse, I was in the lead for a bit, but once the climbing got going I struggled to stay ahead of Nelson, and eventually handed the baton over and he ploughed on ahead, me never gaining on him except on the few downs. By the time we got to Huntsbury he was well ahead. Fast descent down here, into the landing strip, sheepshit flying everywhere (mouths firmly shut), and over the fence and into the singletrack for a sweet roll down. Tussock dodging and weaving, over the fence and down the last jumpy trail, popping most, and nearly going over the bars on the fastest jump (near the fence) cos my back end popped waaay too far. Managed to wrestle it back under control and back on track and struggled with ruts then last jumps and back to the car.
So, my MMR screwed me around showing I'd been to nearly sea-level somewhere along the summit. I've replaced it with Nelson's to be more accurate - giving us 15.6 kms, and 487 climbed (instead of 580 m).
A few other riders around, we waited until an enduro-dude got going, gave him a gap then got going before some descenders on the Vernon approached. Into and around the Traverse, some dudes were having a break just after the first fence (before Lavaflow) and they got going as we approached, which was annoying. The first one pulled over just after the Lavaflow and then I was on the other guy's tail the whole way to the usual stopping spot under Sugarloaf. He must have thought I was his mate, but he just wasn't quite slow enough to barge past (not that there's much opportunity), but not quite fast enough to be fun. Him and his mate stopped at the rest spot and we got past, having a trouble free blast the rest of the way round to the top of Vic.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the Thompsons open, so down through the scorched earth and trees of these, tho only able to see what was lit by our lights - nice flow, then onto the road and across Dyers Pass and up the road, good pace up around, Nelson grinding away on the SS. Scorched earth around Worsleys Rd was impressive - they should build a zig zag climbing trail up that face while it's all clear! Final climb to the top of the Nun and a short rest up here.
I led the way into the Nun, popped and wove my way down, rather enjoying it but never getting too hairy-fast. Lots of visibility now, with the scorched earth all around, and the trail is in as good a knick as it's ever been. Nelson was not far off my tail most of the way, but I think the 80mm forks and hard-tail got the better of him in the rockier sections, so I paused briefly to wait for him at the midway carpark point. From here he was well on my tail the rest of the way. I had a good blast, flowing nicely, suspension doing it's thing beautifully.
Onto the road, and back up to top of Vic, back into the Traverse, I was in the lead for a bit, but once the climbing got going I struggled to stay ahead of Nelson, and eventually handed the baton over and he ploughed on ahead, me never gaining on him except on the few downs. By the time we got to Huntsbury he was well ahead. Fast descent down here, into the landing strip, sheepshit flying everywhere (mouths firmly shut), and over the fence and into the singletrack for a sweet roll down. Tussock dodging and weaving, over the fence and down the last jumpy trail, popping most, and nearly going over the bars on the fastest jump (near the fence) cos my back end popped waaay too far. Managed to wrestle it back under control and back on track and struggled with ruts then last jumps and back to the car.
So, my MMR screwed me around showing I'd been to nearly sea-level somewhere along the summit. I've replaced it with Nelson's to be more accurate - giving us 15.6 kms, and 487 climbed (instead of 580 m).
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