Had to pick up H from school so Nelson came to mine after work. We had a small dinner (that I'd cooked) with the family then headed out, parking up Mt Pleasant in scudding mist, on Parkridge Pl. Wind was fair howling through, and quite cold to start with, fast moving clouds providing a spectacular view of the full moon, clouds speeding past it in the foreground. Up into Britten we trundled, via the 'new' track under the singing-pylon and across, me getting a good dose of asthma and having to walk a bit on the steepest parts there at the start. Up around, trail not quite greasy, but certainly not dry - but no soggy wet areas like last time. Headwind near the top, but stopped to have a puff of the inhaler in the shelter of the rocky outcrop just shy of the top, then on we went in the fog.
Down around to the Greenwood entrance, and then onto the new trail below this. Cool little blast down this, tho I had one close call. Quite wet grass all around, and foggy, but not too bad. Next into the trail from the big pines up to the ruins, back to Greenwood, sidling and climbing zig zags up, fog getting slowly thicker, then up the 4wd, barely 6ft visibility, commenting on how lost you'd get if you didn't know where you were going. Up the trail to Mt Pleasant, just before the rocky sections started we rode out of the fog, leaving it behind. Sketchy as greasy rocks climbing up here, dabbing and walking several sections through sheer lack of grip, and the wind didn't help along the exposed ridge either. Finally at the stile, fog miles behind, tried out the new sidle across to the road gate, instead of climbing all the way to the top.
Across into the descent, I was feeling sketchy, so took it pretty easy down here. Got some flow, but not fast. Down and around to Cavendish Saddle, then climbing again, up the back of the Gondola, ziggy zaggy, struggling for grip and air. Peaked here and I tightened up the new cleats on my new Shimano shoes (which are fantastically warm (and goretex water'proof')). Then off down the slippery slope. Wooden steps greasy, but fully rideable, and some interesting moments lower down on the less than predictable rocks. Bit of dabbing through our 'rideable' detour around the worst stepped and rocked area, then on through to the Bridle Path top, and straight into the walking track climb,with lots of walking up through the tight broom and greasy track. My right foot seemed to struggle to clip in up this stretch, making me think my cleat had come loose or was in the wrong position. Over the top and fun descent, jumping off the rock steps, and then through the saddle and up towards the tors, bit more walking, then finally, Nelson miles ahead, I actually looked at the pedal I was struggling with, and found it had come loose. Rode down to top of Castle Rock and proceeded to try to fix it - to no avail (the spring was pushing it out - ie, needed a clamp or vice or something to hold it).
Off down Castle Rock track, taking it pretty easy due to the greasy rocks, but I was surprised how dry it all was otherwise. I was going slow and carefully the whole way - not feeling confident in my lighting view, but Nelson had a really good run. I noticed on the climb how bony it's all become, and then it was off around the road. Tail wind assist under the gondola, then around and up, headwind in Cavendish, tail wind up through the cutting and onto Britten, wind chasing us around here. Around below Broadleaf, and Nelson bollocked himself in a small off, I arrived to find him painfully nursing his privates on the ground.
Off again, final descent, excellent speed and I finally felt like my light was set right, so I was smooth and fast, keeping tight on Nelson's tail. Around and back and around and under the singing pylons across the slow, and down through the fun rocky steep descent under the last pylon and back to the car.
All up, 15.6 kms, and 575 metres climbed - 1 hour 20's riding...
Down around to the Greenwood entrance, and then onto the new trail below this. Cool little blast down this, tho I had one close call. Quite wet grass all around, and foggy, but not too bad. Next into the trail from the big pines up to the ruins, back to Greenwood, sidling and climbing zig zags up, fog getting slowly thicker, then up the 4wd, barely 6ft visibility, commenting on how lost you'd get if you didn't know where you were going. Up the trail to Mt Pleasant, just before the rocky sections started we rode out of the fog, leaving it behind. Sketchy as greasy rocks climbing up here, dabbing and walking several sections through sheer lack of grip, and the wind didn't help along the exposed ridge either. Finally at the stile, fog miles behind, tried out the new sidle across to the road gate, instead of climbing all the way to the top.
Across into the descent, I was feeling sketchy, so took it pretty easy down here. Got some flow, but not fast. Down and around to Cavendish Saddle, then climbing again, up the back of the Gondola, ziggy zaggy, struggling for grip and air. Peaked here and I tightened up the new cleats on my new Shimano shoes (which are fantastically warm (and goretex water'proof')). Then off down the slippery slope. Wooden steps greasy, but fully rideable, and some interesting moments lower down on the less than predictable rocks. Bit of dabbing through our 'rideable' detour around the worst stepped and rocked area, then on through to the Bridle Path top, and straight into the walking track climb,with lots of walking up through the tight broom and greasy track. My right foot seemed to struggle to clip in up this stretch, making me think my cleat had come loose or was in the wrong position. Over the top and fun descent, jumping off the rock steps, and then through the saddle and up towards the tors, bit more walking, then finally, Nelson miles ahead, I actually looked at the pedal I was struggling with, and found it had come loose. Rode down to top of Castle Rock and proceeded to try to fix it - to no avail (the spring was pushing it out - ie, needed a clamp or vice or something to hold it).
Off down Castle Rock track, taking it pretty easy due to the greasy rocks, but I was surprised how dry it all was otherwise. I was going slow and carefully the whole way - not feeling confident in my lighting view, but Nelson had a really good run. I noticed on the climb how bony it's all become, and then it was off around the road. Tail wind assist under the gondola, then around and up, headwind in Cavendish, tail wind up through the cutting and onto Britten, wind chasing us around here. Around below Broadleaf, and Nelson bollocked himself in a small off, I arrived to find him painfully nursing his privates on the ground.
Off again, final descent, excellent speed and I finally felt like my light was set right, so I was smooth and fast, keeping tight on Nelson's tail. Around and back and around and under the singing pylons across the slow, and down through the fun rocky steep descent under the last pylon and back to the car.
All up, 15.6 kms, and 575 metres climbed - 1 hour 20's riding...
No comments:
Post a Comment