Wednesday Burnin' the Craigies

Nelson met at mine and we drove to meet Pete and Alistair at the Yaldy for to convoy to Broken River carpark. Grey day in Chch, drizzly on the plains side of the pass then gorgeous day in the valley. 

Parked up, a few but not so many campers, but lots of bikers in place, we headed off up Sidle73, taking it a little easier on the first climb as I remembered it usually catches me out with the lungstuff...  Cruised around this to CV road and up for a whiles.  Very warm to boot.  Stopped at the bottom of our Ante-Luge entrance and chilled for a bit, some other rider dudes riding through heading for the Edge.  We set off, Nelson first, didnt see him again (tho he tells me he could hear me for quite a while), in for a gutbusting climb.  I stopped several times to breathe and get the heartrate down but cleaned all but one rock.  Thought I was suffering angina or something at times.  Bastard of a climb.  Re grouped at the intersection, a couple walked through with their bikes, riding further up, and then Nelson cleaned off and the rest of us rode and pushed (a bunch of) the next section before riding out into the open and good to the saddle. 

Luge was fun fun fun but initially felt slow for some reason. I got a pinchflat on the front tyre from a misplaced root. Tubed it, pumped it and onwards. Trail got funner - real fun.  Ended sooner than memory would serve too.

Next, climb to Dickson's, all the way up to top of Bridge where we over-the-stiled and blitzed it.  Nelson lost the track briefly, Alistair and me got past, bombed for a bit, then regrouped and he took the lead again, then Alistair lost it and I got past and it wsa all on from there.  Railing the lower open stuff, super funtimes. Superb riding. Finished along the road back to the cars where we ate some grub.  

12.5 kms with surprisingly only 505m upped.

Into the cars and drove around to Cheeseman Rd. Gravel to Texas Flat (where there was bikes and people and cars and camp and stuff) and a little bit further, parking below the bottom of Cockayne Alley. 

Climbing climbing climbing, such a long steep crawl. Riding for a time with a youngish dude from QT who peeled off at Cuckoo Creek.  Also met the dudes we'd seen on the CV road.  They wondered how we'd gotten so far ahead of them, they'd done Edge, Luge, Dracophlat, and were up for Cuckoo too.  We continued to climb.  And climb.  Eventually we broke, admired the view, and dived in for the fun to begin and we blazed it.  Across the face, then swoopy swoopy, jumps, down through the tussock, then the whole thing changes and into the steep rooty awesomeness.  Hands and forearms cooking, quads getting sore.  Stopped a couple of times for a bit of a regroup and allowance of blood back into arms. Again, super superb!

This time the riding was only 7.63kms and again surprisingly only 465m clambered. Both sure felt way longer and higher - musta been the thin air at altitude, right?

Xmas Eve Troll-ofa Sugarloafer

Short hot hoon on the Troll up to top of Sugar Loaf and back.  Usual grind, 19th, skidder, walk, grind.  Thompsons, then around the road and up to the carpark, then up through the no access road to the top corner and a little bit off to a knob on top, overlooking Kiwi and Govs.  Very nicely.  Then, bomb down to gate, off road down rocky single to stile, around to that wee stone shelter for some stoney time and then down through Vic, bombing through skidder at a million miles an hour, down the road and into the DogParkCarPark '235' trail down down down, clambered back up to road and hooned down here to warp speed before peeling right into the driveway.

Sugar sugar, 7.5kms distanced, 270m altituded

Thursday Loco Local - Nun (much improved) to Short Vics

Hot day, thankfully cooling a bit by the time I got out.  Cooked dinner and headed out the door about 7.20pm. Up usual, road from home, 19th, Skidder, stopped to change into singlet on gutser, up top and into Thompson's #1, road, Thomson's #2, across below Kiwi and up the road for a slog to top of Nun.  

Dived in and, "whoooah! Huh!?"  Stopped, pushed back up and dived in again, this time taking the new left rock armoured section.  Into the rest of the old, it's all betidied very nicely with more-flowing jumps and better armour.  Somebody's been busy.  Once lower down, just above the CAP exit it reverted pretty much to the old boney I remembered.  Bombed all the way down back to Kiwi, onto the road again and climbing up to top of Vic.  

Down around the two jumps, hard right into Worm climbing back up to Traverse to dive down into Upper Fenceline, swoopdeswoop, around and across to climb back up the short amount to then hang a right into Razza's, dropping down, plompteplomp, nicely nicely, then dived into and over the Rad^Sick jump, peeling out to climb back up to try out the new extension to Shazza's.  Smooth as, not tech, and the berms aren't quite high enough to rail big speed through them...  Peeled right again to climb past 40fter and back up the steeps to skidder, over 19th again, dropping down road and into 235 for a nice hoon, riding good, climbing out, up road, dogpark dropping behind houses, fast, home.

Worthwhile 11.5 kms, with a smidge under 400m climbed.

Saturday Trolling Ada

Quick spin up and back on an empty stomach.  Fueled by coffee (and a banana just before I left), I chugged the Troll up through Vic, walked a bit above skidder, then up onto Thompson's #1 and a bomb down Summit to Kiwi.  Across and onwards up the road, catching a guy below Worsley's on a well packed 'packing rig heading out for a hundred kms or so.  We chatted as we cruised around and at Kennedy's I peeled left up the quad track to the top of Mt Ada.  Been planning this ride for ages so was good to finally grab it.  Made me think maybe I'll aim to peak all the tops along here on the Troll...  Mt Cass next!  Apparently Ada was Cass's wife.  Anyway, brief carry up the rocks, two asian women were up top, and left not long after I arrived, leaving it for me on my own.  Took a couple of good pics 

and brief chat to Doug.  Then hit the down.  Tight single long grass track to start with, then fast bombing quad to road...  then, road road road aero, pedalling keeping speed then aero speed down to kiwi, across Dyers and up up to Vic, straight in, down the 4wd, speeeeed through skidder and road home.

Nice and warm, 14.25 kms, 472 m climbed.

Sunday Mounting Greyness

Picked up Nelsie, headed north to meet up with Pete and Alistair at Stalker Park, Woodend, to convoy to "Lake" Janet.  

Hot day, 28 or so.  Nelson's brilliant idea was to ride the walking track.  Scorched earth policy had been through, no trees lower down now, we clambered in up the steepest shitface of the trail and zigged our way up. Hot and hot, tho the breeze was coolish once we were higher up.  Met various walkers and runners and dogs various spots on the way up.  Stopped for a breather in the shade of the look out tower, then hit the singletrack from here.  Much better riding, less steep, but techy and balance-requiring, spectacularly clear views all out everywhere every direction.  Took it all in from the top and then it was time to head down. 

Glorious descending, glorious single-track. Rutty near the top, and man the pigs have rooted the shit out of the open land before we headed into the forest.  Techy switchback city in the trees, nice and cool.  What a blast.  So much fun.  Mucky section not so bad, much drier than last time.  Heaps of tree carnage lower down too, tho the biiig one of a couple times back is fully cleared.  

 Followed by the grunty wee gravel thrash back up to the cars, noticed one area where the trees have been hammered by the big winds of a few weeks back. 

All up 676 m clambered and 11.74 kms. Steep!

Wednesday Night Lava Skool

Picked up Nelson (only a couple of weeks out from having Covid) and his bike from bottom end of Bowenvale Ave, leaving his car there, and we drove up to mine and hit the hill. Up the usuals, Vic Park Rd, 19th, Skidder, and gruntsville (I walked a snip), all the way to the top.  Regroup and down around, popping the two jumps nicely then straight into Worm, climbing smoothly to the Traverse.  Around here, pulling up multiple times letting (assumedly, the 'Slow Riders) lots of riders through all the way to the saddle, then mostly we got the track to ourselves after that.  Stopped at the top of Lavaflow, climbing up to the fenceline.  Good chat, rest, hang-out up here in the wind, taking shelter behind a couple of matagouri, and then due to cold, got moving.  

Down the Lavaflow.  What a blast.  Loved it.  Tech rock, tricky lines.  I dabbed a couple of spots, took smoother less steep lines when Nelson took big drops.  Only didn't ride one feature on my route.  Below the open section, into the Kanuka, lovely swoopy back and forth.  A couple of rocks I dabbed through, but will ride next time, then after the lowest one, tiiight rooty steep to the Hidden Valley 'bonus.'  Climbed up through the steep pines onto Old Skool, around to the high point and then dropped in.  Excellent blast down here.  My weight to my advantage, rolling, coasting, pumping, no pedalling and catching Nelson all the way while he was pedalling to keep the speed.  Bony as hell, lots of it, with some blown out bits lower down that could catch us off guard (but didnt).  Finally the last few corners, drifting out onto the gravel and out down, coasting rolling to the car. He dropped me home. 

Good hoon. 9 kms with 260 m climbed (plus an extra 220 descended) - very similar to the last time we hit Lavaflow (20 months ago!)

Sunday Sumnervale Captain Godley Snake Escape

Spin out with some new peeps this morning. I was a bit hungover post the TFC Xmas do.  At 10am, I met Jon, Ian and Conor, the latter two for the first time, at Sumnervale and we headed up the hill on what proved to be a hot and cool ride.  Clambered up the valley switchbacks and onto the sidling climb, walked the rockiest bits, and slowly my hangover was replaced with sucking down a lot of fresh air.

Out Godley Head Rd, climbing up the farmtrack to the Godley for a sweet hoon down to Livingston and over to Breeze.  Tonnes of ebikers and the odd regular biker around.  Very busy out there.  Up the road a little and dropped into Anaconda where I set a scorching pace, none of them managing to hold on.  Regrouped at the bottom, then hit the snake and regrouped again.  

Up the Escape, horrid steep bits being horrid, but the rest of it smooth sailing.  From top, up road to decide to stay on the road (we'd already been 2.5 hours by this stage - lots of long languorous breaks), nice coast down to Evans, and into the Captain.  I followed Ian, because it was his 'local' (he lives in Sumner), but I would have ridden most of it faster than him. Due to timing, he bailed off down the zigs, where I led Conor and Jon down the oldskool exit.  A bit too tech for them, methinks.  I rode everything, they got off and walked the odd bit.  I stopped often for them to catch up.  Good wee ride tho, just taking it easy and popping through stuff and enjoying it slower.  

Back to the cars and said our goodbyes.

Around 20 kms, (I didn't start MMR until we were a couple kms up (at 150m), and total of 770 m (620m + 150m) climbed.

Sunday Tops Again but Mountained

Good leg stretch hoon along the tops similar and back similar to yesterday but on the single track on the mountainbike.  Up the usuals, 19th, skidder, gutser (brief breather half way up), to top of Vic, down around the jumpies and hard right into Worm back up to Traverse.  Into the long slog around here, going well, then over Vernon, bomb to Rapaki-top, into Witch, decently negotiated.  Along road up to Castle and bomb in behind a couple of other guys (dad and son) I'd crossed paths with a couple of times, after giving them a good gap.  I popped out the very end closer to them than I'd been to start with and straight into the climb back up the road.  

Up onto the Tors for a good waft down this.  Very overgrown.  Onto road again and good blat around to Witch, up and over again, then up the road around Vernon, catching and overtaking another rider.  Into Traverse, nice bomb, then through the jumpies, rabbit paddock, rocks, gums, road, 235 out and up and down behind houses home.  

Similar but different, 20kms, 740 m climbed

Saturday Ease Along the Top and Back

With T, on our Ebikes we shot up on top and out past the Bridle Path and back.  Her first ride for a long time, good to get her stretching out.  We stopped just beyond the Bridle Path and I sat down on the grass and lay back.  On our way back after Castle Rock it felt like something was biting me on my elbow and on my back...  ended up with allergic looking bites, spider?  ant??  no idea.  Beautiful day but windy in places.  Used 60 % of my battery.  as did she.

Easy hoon, 21 kms, 790m escalated.

Show Day Hill Troll

Quick spin down the hill to meet T and Ben for an Ernle Clarke walk then off up the hill via more interesting routes, just for a good leg stretch.  I love riding this bike.

Grand total of 7.6 kms, 212 m clambered.

Saturday Quick Trolling

Little spin into a storm.  What looked to be a wall of weather out on the plains was making its way towards the hills and I knew everything was packing in for Sunday so I jumped on the Troll and headed out and up.  (after first attaching my Fidlock attachment to the frame for bottle).  Stood and ground my way up, good pace and man that bike feels fast and light, so smooth.  Up over 19th, to the skidder and onto my feet for the steepest.  Just up from the Sesame wallride I took off my bushshirt, tying it onto the handlebars, and got pedalling again.  Up to Brakefreezone and across the rabbit paddock to my sunset-seat.  Watched the weather, took the photo, rain started to spit, so headed across Rabbit and into Rocks, down around through the Gums, slick-tech on the Troll, out to Skidder and them bombed down the road, rain spattering heavier, into Dogparkcarpark - 235, slick bomb down here, not as dry as it was the other day, all the way down to the bottom of Harry Ell, and carried bike up shortcut to VicParkDrive and bomb to home.

25 minutes riding-time, a smidge less than 5 kms, 154 m climbed.

Thursday Night Solo, Hunts and back

Up from home to the top top of Vic, half dying on the steep climbing.  Quick blat down round the jumpies and and hard right into Coffee Break climbing gently up to the Traverse.  Misty fog lingering in spots around here, with various views diminished, vanished or there.  Stopped up top of Huntsbury and had a quick snack and break.  Then dropped into top of Four Pause for a nice blat down this bony rutty trail.  Yumpity bump, missing the 2nd jump, and then whoah..., dude slowing me just before the bottom gap jump, bypassing it cos there's a guy lying on the ground on the landing pad. Not in a good way.  His mate was on the phone to the emergency services, describing where they were.  Raspy sounding breathing, so maybe his lung was punctured?  Nasty rasping sound... I couldn't help, wasn't carrying my space blanket (which I'd have given if I was), his mates had it in hand, so I took off, continuing down the 'easy' tussock route, through the cattlestop, part way down the singletrack then peeled left through tussocks and clambered over Rocky, nearly crashing, then down all the way, bypassing or taking various of the jumps, all the way to the bottom of the Huntsbury Track. 

Back up the gravel road expecting an ambulence up behind me or chopper flying over any minute, but none.  Eventually back up to the guys, dude still on his back, still sounding dreadful, - he'd cased the jump.  They said they were sending a chopper...  Ground  up the gravel grovel and up onto the Traverse again, bomb bomb, lots of runners and walkers, chatted with a girl in an Montana State Uni top, "MSU!  I lived in Bozeman in the early 90s. - started mountainbiking there, 30 years ago!"  On around Traverse, big group of walkers hustling out of the way, and then bomba domb down over the jumps, straight through the cattlestop and down the rabbit paddock into the rocks, and gums, wend wend, out to skidder, over 19th, then into 235 all the way through out onto H'Ell and down the road back up around to home.... 

Home about 10 minutes when I finally heard and saw the chopper past, weaving its route to avoid the foggy mist... that was a long wait for the poor injured dude. 

Vitally statistical 13.8 kms with 481 m climbed

Saturday E-Planting Travis

Took the Ebike to Travis Planting. It was good for a bit of an explore of our old hood and a stop at the library on the way home.  Meandered a very seat-of-the-pants (but mapwise very direct) route there, enjoying our old sections of river and seeing how it's all changed/grown/developed.  Planted lots of plants and threw my back out on the last couple of plants I put in, scoffed a couple of sossies, and then got riding again.  Back around and dropped into Shirley Library to grab a couple of books from my list, then down past our old house and my old commute route into town before riding my current commute route home (nice and familiar).  Traffic is insane all the time now.

30something kms, again used most of the battery (from fully full to just under 30%)

Labour Monday Vic OldSkool Labouring

Labour Day Monday, Nelsie got to mine just after 4 and we hit up the hill. To the very top.  Down around the yumpies, across the fenceline and dropped down Upper Fenceline.  Stayed high, across above Cool Runnings, Shroom etc, and dropped into Razza's.  Climbed up a little to drop down the lower reaches of Pedalfine, out of the forest into Flow and NuBridges, all tidied and smooth now, then quick bomb down valley and into the climb up Hidden-connector, me gasping, around to Old Skool. Whilst having our wee rest at the high point, we spotted some blue flagging tapes on the hill above and walked up off piste to check them out and work out what it might be for.  Looks like someone's planning a new skool line above the Oldskool.  Back down to the bikes and we continued our bomb down, the bony-bony old skool. 

Valley bottom hit, we headed up, ground up the grindings, above Texaco we checked out the big rock above, then back on track and back on up. Checked out the new Shazzas extension and pushed up the K2 to Skidder. 

Then over 19th and down 235 all the way out to the lower section. 

A fun wee 10.7 kms with some painful 441 m climbed.

Sunday Norwester Local Loner, Pinch-flats and Pump Problems.

Up, round the top, gail nor'westers blowing from behind then across, then down the ridgeline, first jump, not second, third, and missed the final due to waaay too much cross wind.  Hung a left on the older route and proceeded to get a flat.  Sat down to fix.  Double whammy snakebite, so two patches needed.  Did it, tube back in, pump pump pump ftttwwwssshhhhhh.  Damnit.  Tube out, re-glued the offender, held tight made sure it was done, then back in, pumped up and got riding. Down the old bypass trails, walking the steepest bit and dabbing a couple others, into Old Skool, bombing down into valley, and into the climb when the rear end started getting softer and softer, again!   Walked up to a seat at the walking track intersection and tore the offending patch off and re-did it, and then my pump fucked out. Tried to fix. No go. Ebike dude hoves into view, "do you have a pump?" "Yep", "Thanks!" to the rescue. His pump worked well and I got a tonne of air in my tire. 

Finally got riding again, up valley, chatting with him for a bit, then chainsaw Ranger on UBCO.  I pushed the worst bit of K2 yuck, feeling really shit, clambered around under texaco then on up the bastard steeps.  Found the Ubco guy's chainsaw blade-cover and carried it up to the 40fter, jamming it on a broom plant in good view of the track for him to find at a later date.  Last bit, stopped to let some fitter buggers ride past and then got going, through Skidder over 19th, into the dogparkcarpark and bombadiered down the left hander, lots of scrap from the trees and a few branches, then brief stint on H.Ell and climbed up to road, up and around down behind houses and home.

Frustrating 11.43 kms with 515 m escalated.

Saturday Sunday Paparoa, again

Higgs and me headed over Friday night to Taylorville, staying at Brunnerton Lodge before heading up thru Blackball to Smoke-Ho carpark.  Only a week or so off 2 years since I's last here... Weather was clearing, indeed, clear down in the Grey valley, but seemed to be lingering on the hills ahead of us and around us, so as we set up at the carpark there was a rainbow and a light drizzle.  Got rolling and on the first rocky descent a stone got caught in my mudguard.  I thought the front roll bag had messed with my rear brake hose and that the brake was on, but once I straightened it up I realised it was a stone...  removed, and on we headed.  The grunt of the climb began and Hugo did really good, plodding away.  He didn't walk much.  Took us about 2hr45 to Ces Clarke.  A little slower than last time but pretty good considering our lack of training.  

After a feed, off we headed along the tops.  More climbing, the odd walk.  My dropper started to play up (again, I was blaming my front-roll) but then a minor tweak of the barrel adjuster and I was happy.  One basin after another we trudged around.  On some of the final descent I stopped to wait and Hugo didn't show, and I had images of his teeth through his lips for some reason... :( So I started heading back and he appeared around a corner carrying his bike.  Derailleur well and truly stuck fast in his spokes...  oh dear.  Realisation occurred at my lack of 'safety' gear - no first aid kit (whoops), no duct tape (yikes).  Undid derailleur, removed wheel, managed to wrench the derailleur clear and then found that, reattached, he still had gears!  just didnt want to risk 1st or 2nd, so 3rd was his go to.  Final blast to Moonlight was a joy.

Day two dawned, and we were the last to leave the hut.  Tho the 3 girls were not far gone with Georgia's troubles, so we passed them and continued on.  Nice descent, then up and down (quite a bit of up) in the goblin forest, then out onto the tops, views I never saw last time due to the weather.  Awesome.  This section is so good down to Pororari Hut.  Magic.  Still quite a long slog from Pororari, especially for Hugo, but man it was still good.  

YMMV, but Day One and Day Two on the MMR announces 17.7 kms and 34 kms respectively.  with 1124 m and 821 m climbed on each.  Them's some big climbings.

Welly Sunday Makara on Rentals

In Wellington for WoW.  Sunday afternoon, first nice day they'd seen for a while, Higgs and me made our way to Mud Cycles and rented an Ebike and an acoustic bike (only had the one e bike available) and went for a strop. Got to main entrance and realised didnt know the way in, given Koru was closed, so asked some folk and they led us around and up to the St Albans St entrance.  Climbed up Rimu and Miro, Sally Alley, Upswing, Aratihi.  Good climbs.  I was chuffing.  at the top of Aratihi I took the ebike to the top, it was fast...  Then we swapped back and jumped into North Face.  Good strop, then at the bottom of that we hit the bottom of Pohatu then SWIGG the rest of the way down.  Pohatu was the grade I would have prefered...

9.25 kms with 270 odd climbed.

Thursday Night, Last of the Season?

Good one out tonight with Nelson. Lots of poaching as it was probably our last chance and the trails were nice and dry.  Up from mine, over 19th, and up the gutser, then up to top of Vic, wondering where we'd head.  I suggested across the road here, and so we went up to the shelter then up to the Sugarloaf carpark and onto Cedric's Track, which proved to be quite fun.  Over the stile and dropped over the edge, continuing through tech to below the carpark and around this and over the next mound, finding fire engines and vehicles all doing what looked to be a training exercise.  Over the road and fence and onto the Traverse next to the pond here, we skadoodled up from here around all the way to the end (top of Huntsbury).  

Onto Scott's Knob section of Crater Rim here through the macracarpas and dropping funstyles down to the road, then up the steppy bits and steps, cleaning the top hairpin and climbing onwards up to the next steps where I really needed a rest.  Bit of a breather and we got going again, and I'd forgotten how nuggetty it follows from there.  Whoop.  Back to the fire-os and back over the road and fence to pond and this time the other direction on the Summit Traverse.  Cruising into the nor'wester from here and I was eating dust the whole way, whipped up by Nelson and held up for me to breath by the wind.  

Down over the cattlestop to Pedalfine, dropping down here, I took the same line as the Sunday and dropped through over the skinny rickety bridge and down onto the 4wd track (which has been severely scraped).  Along here again, dropping into Razzas down and through, excellent fun, then climbing back up around to the skidder.  Followed the road to below 19th, then below road, and usual lines through to Tawhairanui, lovely flow through here then a good railing bomb down 235 including the final jumps, all dry now, and climbing up to DogParkLowerCarPark for the final monster-bomb down behind the houses and home.

A congenial 10.3 kms with 395 m scrambled.

Sunday Norwest Hayfeversville, Exhausting Local Hoonage

As the title says, exposure to pollen and wind, heat and dry. Clambered up to the top of Vic, struggling in the hayfever.  Over the jumpies and down through the cattlestop, hanging a right up fenceline to top of Pedalfine.  Biff boff down this, finding it slick, peeling left on the slightly lower exit to that wee narrow bridge, then across the 4wd track to the entry above Razza's.  Nice drop down this, relishing the roots and gnar.  Hung a right and climbed up to the junction, dropping into the rest of Pedalfine, down into the guts, and out of the forest onto Flow and peeling around into NuBridges, drip drop drap.  

Bomb down and into the Hidden Valley link track, struggling up this, having to stop in the pines on the steepest bit, but cleaning the hairpings.  Up onto Old Skool for a very fun blast, wind blasting, dropping down.  Straight into the valley climb - climbing up valley on the neverending steeps, K2, a couple of walks, riding, then walking in the Rad^Sick zone. Over 19th and down thru 235, meeting the jump/trail building groms. Up then last being houses...

Perspicacious 10 kms with 470 m extricated from gravity.

Poachy Thursday Night Solo

A solo night's exploratory ride, riding some new stuff, and some old poaches poached before...  

Up from home, good pace, struggling up the usual bits and into the Thompsons down to Kiwi.  Up Summit Rd from here, with a roadie on my tail the whole way until the corner before Worsley's when he pulled up alongside and we chatted.  He said where are you headed? and i said not sure yet...  He peeled off up Worsleys and I continued to the next carpark and over the stile and up the hill from here, walking track no bikes signs ignored.  Nice sunset happening out to the right, and the descent was through flaxes, thwacking my face all the way down.  Onto the road at the next bit because there was a ute parked and I figured they might be on the walking track.  

At the saddle (old top of Kennedys) I took the section of Crater Rim I'd had a look into a few rides ago (on the Troll), but hung a right up through the gorse climbing around above the road - pretty sure Nelson and me had ridden this before).  Got pretty steep towards the top and, unable to clip out in time, I fell over.  Then sidling along above the road (skirting above Kennedy's Bush), some nice rocks and flow, down to the saddle.  Here I hung a left and hit down the trail I'd set out to explore - completely new to me.  Mostly pretty good, but with a few chunky unrideable rock sections, including, within a mahoe forested tallus field, a U shaped section of steps down and up.  Around out of the forest and plenty of exposure (a black void to the right) with one or two more small rocky sections, then final flow out where I'd walked that time leaving the Troll.  

Down across the saddle and onwards along the walking track.  Lots of interesting rock features, clambering and cruising over through bush back to the next saddle.  Decided against going back up through all the flax so headed along the road.  Onto the Crater Rim at Worsleys and down this, many years since last time.  Then, at the Nun-meets-Rd I crossed and headed up onto the walkway above road for a nice bomb down, then down steps, then onto the final bit that squirrels out behind the Kiwi on the Dyers Pass Rd side.  Fun!  

Up the Summit Rd to top of Vic, down round the jumps for smooth air then down to Rock garden, bombing through gums, over 19th, down road, into 235 taking the left line down through, then out the "To Harry Ell" track to Vic Park Rd and bomb to home.

Poachy 14 kms with 535 m escalated.

Sunday, Uplifted Park and Kennedy's Victorious

With Higgs again, in training for the Paparoa in a month's time.  Up from home, through towards skidder and hung the right down the swoop-de-swoop, down road, across and into the 'new' entrance to the Park.  Plop blop down there and H was keen on Askins again, so in we bombed.  Pulled over a couple of times to either have a breather or let some grom past, then out down the bottom.  Onto the lift and whooshed to the top.  Down Summit Connector, and we pulled out onto the Summit Rd, riding up around and over to the top of Kennedy's.  

Fast bumpy run down this, H was glad we hadn't climbed it, which was my original plan.  Down through the croc zone, staying on the C2 side, we dived into Mish Mash, which had a few surprises - fun for me, less so for him.  Out the quarry park and onto the road, climbing, descending, climbing and descending the small humps around.  

Along the straight of Cashmere Rd H decided he didnt want to race into the park to beat the 4 oclock closing so he bailed with my bus card for the bus and I hauled arse up through into the Park again (took 10 minutes) and uplifted to the top again.  Summit Connector, down onto the lower Nun, bombing through this, a bit drier than it was last week, then at Kiwi climbed up the road and into top of Vic.  Nice jumpies then down rabbit into rockgarden, gums, over 19th, down road, into 235, fucky as muck in the usual spots, and then climbed back up to bottom of Dog Park and bombed down behind the houses, home.

Blustery 28.9 kms with 1223 m ascended. (two uplifts = ~800m, meaning just over 420 climbed myself).

Thursday Night Eastern Wild Side

Nelsie and me met at Scumnervale relatively early and rode down via the crazy-parasailers' (we saw them later) landingstrip, to, then up, the Captain.  It was tough, overgrown and steep, greasy af and tricksy too all the way up through the forested bit.  Once above that it was drier, but ffs people have obvs been riding the crap out of it whilst it's been wet in winter so the ruts are deep - same as Godley...  

From Evans headed along the Godley Rd, encountering car after car (of mostly 2 girls - tho one mentally deficient moron in an Evo) parked, watching the sunsets...  Headed up the farm track to the main Godley, cloying grass and heaps of new lambs abounding.  Bombed, then, down to Livingston, ruts and mums with lambs making it rather interesting, and lo the fences / cattlestops have all been re-arranged.  Climbed up towards Breeze to the high point like back on the longest night (tho that time we dropped into Taylors). 

Back down to Livingston and Nelson turned up the face, steep! Bit of walking for me, where he cleaned the whole damned thing!  Over the fence and we followed the walkway sidling ever up and around til nearly able to see into Lyttleton, basically we were just over the fence from the quarry, where we headed up skirting along the fenceline around the top of the quarry to the highest point then down through the gate and back down the long ridge (through mums and lambs) to the main track again.  Took this back to Evans, pinging and flowing through the bony rocks.  

Back at Evans, we headed into Rapanui Bush, sweet wee section of singletrack seeming longer than usual, then around it's tight corners and steps and out onto the Scarborough Bluffs track.  Super techy tricksy fun, meandering along above the road, challenges thrown at you constantly and lots of exposure.  Eventually crossed the road, dropping down to bottom of the Captain, and back to the cars..

A abundance of up, 13.7 km with 560 m climbed

Sunday CAP in hand

Higgs and me rode up from home and dropped into the 'new' park entrance. Straight away I realised it was gonna be a bit greasy. Headed down Askins, my first time down here - unsure whether the lower section was Gung Ho or not, perhaps not?  Stopped into the base and topped up his card and we took the lift up into the clouds. Slick as hell down Connector and Nun - dodge. Then Captain Torpedo into Drainpipe which was super greasy. Totally nuts. Back down to the lift and it was shut!  Damn!  That was our lift home.  I tried Tra'y, but no answer, then had the bright idea of the bus!  So, we rode down the side to Shalamar and around towards PMH and the bus was just pulling out, so I waved him down and thankfully he stopped and so we rode in style up to Takahe and rode on home...

A cheatly 15 kms, 730 m climbed (of which ~200m was bus and 400 was lift...)

Wednesday Night Along the Top, Lights

Nice ride tonight. Beautiful evening after so much crappy weather.  Nelson met at mine after work and we headed up into Vic Park, bumping into first Mel (7 weeks into recovery of shoulder) and then along power-walks Jenna.  Nice to see her.  Up through 19th, Skidder, and up the guts.  I had to stall to breath, but cleaned it onwards and we took Worm onto the Traverse for the ride across.  Bit breezy at this point, cold, so I donned my vest and we carried on.  Quite a few on-comers, some rude some not.  

At Vernon stopped for a rest and was completely still and calm.  Bombing down around this, pulling up to allow climbers through a couple times, then bailing off it at the final cattlestop to let a big group up.  Onto Witch, cleaning it all sweetly.  Breather at the high point then onto the the summit and the climb around to Castle.  Couple runners here, and then we were in.  I led the way, fun and weavy.  Narrow! but riding well.  Clamber clamber and back to the road.  Upwards, ugh.  Stayed on the road all the way back to Witch, bombing fast rolling coast.  Back into the Witch and again with the funtimes.  Starting to get a bit tired, both of us, now, so we stayed on the road around Vernon, back onto the Traverse.  

Good Jaunt back around here, Nelson leading the way, but not gapping me much except in the climbs.  Into Vic, over the jumpies, and down to Gums, rocks'n'rolling, tapping it round through trees, awesome grip and fun riding.  Down to the road from skidder, onto the below road trail, mucky through the oaks here, then poaching the Tawhairanui out to Dogpark then down, fast, the road to home - both of us overcooking the granny selection and nearly falling off through spinning too quick.

First in a while and a good long one... Very serviceable 19.8 kms and 740 m clambered - and only the 7th night ride of the year!  It's been a long wet winter.

Saturday Ups and Downs, Locally

No false advertising here. Up to the top of Vic, down Thompson #1 and back up the road.  Down around the jumpies and over the seesaw, then down through the gums out to skidder, down Shazza's and Sneaky Ridge, then all the way down Nu-Bridges and from Hospital Cnr, climbing again, up around gasping, then back up the gutser and all the way to the top again, this time via Worm.  Back down around the jumpies, then across the rabbit paddock to my sunset seat for a view. Then back into the gums, bomb bomb bomb, through 19th, down the road and into 235 down and out.  Final climb up to road and mud-clearing speed down to home. 

Steep ups and steep downs, juicy, 9.1 kms with 409 m ascended.

Saturday TreE-Bike Planting Southshore

With 100% battery I rode into a foul easterly, usual byways to Opawa then Hargood to cemeteries, past the poo processing to Bridge St, and along the estuary edge trail all the way to the planting (bar the block or two you have to use the road).  

Planted lots of plants, shifted woodchips, made up the little cardboard surrounds, chatted to people, filled out the GEOG309 survey, ate a couple sossies and it looked like rain, even a few drops...

Headed home via Rocking Horse Rd, then left onto the estuary edge and similar return route, arriving home with 26% battery left. 

MMR claims 33.57 kms, but the speedo on my bike measured 18.9 or so kms each way... 305 altitudes predominantly powered by the motor...

Fat Sunday Little Menzies

At the bach for the weekend and had taken the fatty over,  Saturday I spun Jet to the wharf and back, and then on Sunday morning headed out for a ride on my own...  Went down to the beach and headed up the Decanter Bay road hill... Steep grind up here, nearing the top I spotted Tra'y (who had Jet) across the valley on the Chorlton Rd, tiny moving dot on the landscape.  Over the top and a very fun descent, fat tires gripping and steering beautifully.  Through the valley bottom, and into the climb, stopping to check out the stinging nettle treat, then stopping a little further up and layering off, then again, stopping to check out the view (and message T to say I could see Chorlton again).  View Hill was also in view, in snow covered glory - woulda been mucky up there).  Around the corner and climbing for a good while, some young cattle very interested in my progress.  Climbed around the first catchment into the next and up a little getting to a high point before the road started flatly dropping for a while.  Figured I'd done enough and turned back.  

Nice rolling coast, slowly faster around and down.  Tires gripping like crazy and muchly enjoyable rolling.  Stopped just over the cattlestop into Decanter and took in the view, spotting a Hector's Dolphin toodling around below.  Back into the ride, coasting faster and faster, til I was flying, but still cautious around each bend, gravel pretty loose but tires coping oh so well.  Major speed on the final cruise through the bottom and then back down through the gears and clambering again, grinding ftw.  Up up up and eventually making the top ready for a chip-seal bombfest.  Slowly increasing speed built to crescendo magnitude by the final hairpin where I scrubbed all the speed down, for the final coasting roll to speed through the bottom of the valley again, and slow cruise back up to the house.

Well nigh 15 kms and a good 660 m surmounted.

Sunday Trollification

Short hoon up on the Troll along to top of Kennedy's and back.  Up Vic Park Drive, through skidder, cleaned more of the steep than ever before, walked, lots of people around, bumped into Miles at the drinking fountain, continued up, Thompsons #1, down to Kiwi, up from here.  Stopped at saddle before Kennedy's to explore along the cliff walk a little, a bunch of climbers swinging about on the cliffs above.  Will be a potential night ride sometime when things dry out.  Back onto the road and continued up to the corner top of Kennedys, before turning around and hooning back.  Roady passed me along the flat and complimented the bike.  He only dropped me slowly, I kinda stuck with him just not quite as fast on the climbs, but never dropping me too far behind but I was gaining on him from Worsley's.  He stopped at Kiwi and I rolled through the saddle and up to top of Vic, for a bomb down through the fast routes, massive speed through the Skidder, easy on the mud towards 19th and then flat out down the road. 

Not too bad for a first ride in ages, 13.5 kms with 432 m climbed.

Big Matariki Saturday Trolloop

What an effort... Whoooeeee I'm knackered now. 

Headed up valley from the bach, riding all the way past Misty Hills and up to the traffic lights where the first spate of walking started.  Good to get a good look at the washouts etc along here, seeing that the road wasnt undercut and also the sheer power of the floods that had occurred.  Riding a bit, walking a bunch, over an hour to get to the summit road.  

Around the Summit Rd, up and over the flanks of Duvauchelle Peak, bombing down onto the long flatter ridgetops.  Stopped along here and noticed that I'd dropped my orange GE top somewhere behind, so with slight panic I turned back about, climbing back up and over, around 4 kms, to finally find it sitting lonesome on the road a third of the way back from View Hill turn off towards L.A hilltop.  Debated with myself about dropping back down into the bay but decided that would have cut the ride too short at 1.5 hours, so I turned back and climbed back up and over again, cruising and bombing down, down on to Okains turn off.  

If I hadn't had to turn back for the shirt I would have headed up from here and explored out Cameron's Track - gravel road, down to Big Hill Rd into Okains instead, but figured that'd take too long now so I headed down the main road into the bay.  Super bombing hoon down, down valley and eventually parking up at the old Library building for a rest and snack.  A wee explore over the Millenium bridge and back then down through 'town' and left to head towards Little Ak.  

Climbing again, grinding away, walking a little(?), pulling over for a car at one point, grinding on.  An Explore down Boleyn's Rd for a look, then back and bombing down into Stony Bay.  Up valleybottom, over the bridge and climbing again, a bit of walking but mostly staying on top of the gear.  A nice big rest and snack up above the steep corner before the cruise on up past the rich house and on up past Wells Back where I stopped for another wee rest.  Dug deep and climbed again, last bits around into Chorlton, fast bomb down and around to the final climb up to top and finished into the final bomb down into the bay and back to the bach.  Long ride.

Just over 40kms spun with slightly < 1500m ascended. 

Brisk Sunny Day TreE-bike for Canterbury Planting

TFC planting at Englefield Reserve in Northwood, so left home just after 9am into the brisk wintry cold.  Colombo, Stickland, Antigua, Rolleston, Hagley park, where I found the first frostiness, some ice on the path towards the pinaster pines.  Rossall, Strowan and rail trail to the end, and beyond, riding the slick muddy channel along the side of the tracks to Sturrock's Rd, into Barnes Reserve, moseying through to cross Barnes Rd into Aylsham Reserve cutting right to Primrose Hill Lane, out to Regent Spark Drive, then across Styx Mill Rd and up into Northwood to take the meandering straight shot to the park.  

Dug and planted and chatted and had a good sense of community good, ate my sossies and then hit the trail again.  Same way in reverse to Sawyers Arms Rd, where I hung a left and rode home via the Rutland Trafalgar route to Colombo for the straight shot home with a quick detour drop into Stupormarket hell at PaknSlave.  Home and up the hill.

33 or so kms, left me with about 20% battery... (marginally more kms and less battery than the planting Styx couple weeks back)

Sunday Looping Troll

Damp and cloudy, beasterly blasting for days and a bunch of rain having sogged up the hills, so I headed out on the Troll.  Down our driveway and down Longhurst to Derrynane, through the reserve out and down Kidson.  Crossed Dyers into Whisby, careful careful (damp leaves) down here into Macmillan, zoom and pop, over to Polson, 37 steps up to Sassaram, coasting down to the 'alleyway', greasy and a couple of steps down to upper Shalamar.  

Brief stint on Cashmere Rd into Ferniehurst, Wood- and Palm-sides on the Uni-trail, along river past Pioneer, over Frankleigh and into the backstreets to Domain Terrace peeling left across Spreydon Domain out to Hoon Hay.  Through the lights, past the Carmelites, left onto mucky slow greasy alongside Heathcote River where I'd never explored before.  Had to check the map a couple of times to work out where I was.  Past Nga Puna Wai sports hub and around up to, McMahon Drive, detour up Mariposa Cres and back, then Aidenfield Dr over the bridge, hard left back to the motorway bikepath, and followed the motorway to the underpass, along the other side of the motorway for a bit out to rail trail, taking this to Prebbleton, new trails behind the shops, then into Tosswill, Oakwood Mews, around Prebbleton Domain, nearly losing it passing a grumpyman, front wheel started to slide on slick dirty tarmac.  

Out Penny Rose Lane, and left into Trice's, 80kph zone, Saby's, Candy's, Glover's, Kennedy's, and finally Cashmere Rd.  Took a toodle around new wetlands, up Happy Home, dropping down into the park and out to Croftfield, crossing over to Pentonville, up Rushden, then steep clamber and muck avoidance around to zig zags up to Worsley.  

Dropped down Worsley's Rd, round past the bikepark entrance, through the Stone House garden up steps to Shalamar, then carried up the steps to Bengal.  Took the call from Tra'y, MMR stopped here.  Through Delhi, Polson, and Hackthorne home. 31.5 kms measured but more like 35, and MMR only gave me 200m climbed!  Having killed my ride at Bengal Drive  there's another 200m to add to that.

Wednesday Night Escaping Godley in the Muck

Mucky greasy mess tonight.  Met Nelson at Evan's Pass (I drove via Lyttelton), very dark night with Lyttelton urban-glow above Greenwood.  We headed along the road chatting and catching up then headed up the climb above Scarborough to the trail...  Hoo-eee, what a doozy of a grease-fest.  Railroaded and slipping, I was very cautious and reactionary, no flow whatsoever - just couldn't seem to get on top of my game.  Pinged and squelched my way down to Livingston and we got into the climb, first rocks up near the top I was just slipping all over the place and dabbing something chronic.  Got to the high point and Nelson suggested we take on the Escape trail downhill, so we turned around and headed back down to Livingston.  Again with the cautious Colin approach.  (perhaps subconsciously nursing my wrist??)  

Over the road and into the descent; more of a sidle really.  Grease fest yet again, one or two 2-wheel steering zones, but mostly under control albeit not fast.  Back and forth and long between then across up valley and into the depths, very mucky down in here.  Minimal control.  Good roll, as if on railroad tracks in the rut down valley, then into the Snake for the climb.  This was better.  I seemed to manage the tech a bit better.  Around and bottom of Anaconda hit the walking track and grannied up up up the to the OG section of Anaconda to Breeze Col.  Hit the road again from here and rode and climbed and cruised up back to top of Scarbro, for the climb back up to Godley.  In fog this time.

Onto the Godley proper heading for Evans.  Pinged and slipped our way back, super dodgy on the rocks, wheels akimbo.  No major issues and made it alive down to the last blip.  Nelson waiting, we set off to finish on the upper walking section dropping down to the exit.  Back to cars, survived.

Convoluted messiness, 14.5 kms with 482 m clambered

Saturday Two Hauls of Te Kaiterau

Kaikoura for a birthday weekend and rain on the horizon so got out while the boys were paddling.  Drove to end of Kowhai Bush Rd and started into the Kaiterau.  Trail much drier than expected (given we'd had a bit of rain in town), and I climbed and I climbed.  Not sure what I think of the distance measurers as you ride.  The first one, 0.5 km feels like it's a lot further in than that.  The rest seem about right.  Met a woman at about the 2.5 km mark, walking down.  Good climb, got the oxygen flowing into me which made me feel a bit better after a bit too much nice wine (1996 Lastrada Syrah, yum).  Anyway, the whole ride was measured as 6.6 kms but really it's 10.  The detail of the MMR seems to miss a few of the convolutions of the trail not to mention it's verticality.  7 kms up, back and forth, zig and zag - 35 or so minutes.  Then into the 3 kms down - started out tires grabbing a surface off the trail and flinging globs of it up and caking everything for the first few hundred metres, then it settled and in the forest was a lot of fun.  More fun than you can shake a stick at.  My wrist felt okay after Thursday's crash too.. Kaiterau number 1.  Total time elapsed, 44 minutes. The tramper woman was at the bottom and commented on how fast I'd been to get down again.   Meant to be 10 kms, 400m.  MMR? 6.2km, 377m

Drove back to Dave's. and the boys were back from paddling, and Paul was keen to ride so we went back out there, weather threatening.  We headed in, trail was in same condition as before, tho we got a couple of small showers as we climbed.  Paul eventually mastered the hairpins.  I gave him the tip of leading corners with the front wheel wide and he found that made it easier.  He'd stalled on a fair few before that.  Eventually we made the top, I think about 5 minutes slower than my first effort.  There were a couple on bikes at the top, who'd pushed up Mt Fyffe Track (2 kms). Mad.  The rain started with aplomb.  I led off into the descent and it was already wetter than before, more flingy and mucky.  Again, this settled a little way down, tho slightly more caution was needed in the more open bits.  I'd put my jacket on at the top so it was getting dirty instead of me getting wet.  Good bomb.  Stopped every now and then to let Paul catch up.  He loved it.  A good 10 minutes later and I'm out the end.  Nice..  Second time around 6.6 kms, 379m

Unexpected Thursday Short'n'Sharp

Wasn't sure I'd be able to ride due to my cold of previous week, but found myself feeling okay, at home with no responsibilities, so I headed out for a short one.  Up from home through the usual 19th Skidder and up the groveller.  Up through to top of Thomsons, nice blast down this and then the second one.  Turned back up the road to top of Vic and dropped down through the jumps, and lined up the see-saw but felt my balance wobbly and luckily stopped juuuust soon enough to not fall off it.  Pushed back up and lined up again and rode onto it but balance wobble nearly had me toppling off to the right and I rushed through it and landed heavily.  Ugh.  Up along the fenceline to the top of Pedalfine.  Dropped down through, greasy a bit, and bailed to the left below where we used to always bail to the left.  Across the wee slippery bridge and out onto the wide track, sidling across nearly to the end and dropping down to hit the top of Razza's.  Awesome wee drop down through this, then straight into the climbing again, grovel grovel back to the Skidder.  From here, over 19th way and then looking for the droppy path we did with the gheybois all those years ago.  I found it eventually and down through the super steep planted kanuka etc and this resulted in a bit of a prang, leaving a garked elbow and a tweaky wrist... Perfect storm of the kanuka and some roots, kanuka grabbing my handlebars at exactly the same time as my rear wheel slid on roots and I toppled smackdown onto the Latter's Spur track.  Straightened up the bars and headed along this, through past the playground dropping down to Dog park and into the Dogparkcarpark trail, greasy, taking the first left down the newly re-established and extended line, which is tight and slow, but kinda cool - out onto Harry Ell.  Down this and to the right out to Vic Park Rd then home.

6.5 km with 230 m climbed

Sunday Planting Styx

Took the Ebike across town to a planting at Styx and back.

Annual planting, sponsored this time by Hutchison Ford, at Styx Reserve.  Good turn out, and we put in 1000 plants before enjoying the quality sausages.

32 kms round trip.(MMR doing something weird, no map...) (left me with 38% battery from full, using Tour mode most of the time...)

I am Saturday's Curious Orange

Joy's birthday brunch at the Lyttelton Coffee Co, be-speakered Mike on the decks, Troll in the back of the car. T had a lunch date at 12 so I was to ride home from here. 

Up thru Lyttelton, Oxford, Exeter, Canterbury, Somes, and onto the Major Hornbrook Track.  Lots of steps, and rocks, quite mucky and slippery up into the clouds... Carried numerous times, mostly the worst rocky bits and a few flights of steps. 

Onto the Summit down out of the clouds around under the Gondola, sunshiny view below, then climbing from Bridle-top back into the clouds for the rest of the way.  Stopped for a breather at Castle, and sat on a dry spot on the road, chatting to a couple who rode by and then getting complimented on my bike as I departed by another couple.  In the clouds all the way around, stayed on the Summit road, then entered top of Vic Park and skedoodled down around and down the main tracks, bombing through skidder out of the clouds and sunshineing all they way home.

12.79 kms and 735 m climbed. Good ratio. 

King's Monday evening Wet Troll Jaunt

Quick late spin up Vic and back in the rain to not see the sunset.  Raining all day, so mudguards on the Troll and off i treadled at about 4.40pm.  Up up up breathing good and climbing to Skidder then pushing up the steep grunter and up through Brakefree and up to top of Vic, via a detour across the fenceline.  Up to the wee shelter above the road, Doug, then down again, managing the grease and lack of traction surprisingly well.  Down the rocks and into the gums, taking it very easy.  Then fast down the road.  

Nice and wet and nearly dark!  5 kms, 170 m gained.  

King's Sunday Blow Out

Nice spin up and down the first half of the Blowhard with Nelson today... Drove out to find a "Track Closed Until Further Notice" sign ("call Riki on this number for info").  Nelson rang Riki and he was cool with bikers and walkers, just not 4wds or motorbikes or poachers...  So.  Off we rode.  Straight into the steep, like hitting the body-bag from cold.  Gruunnntt...  but eventually it levels off for a bit and we heard a motorbike coming.  Nelson knew the guy, Alan, who was bringing down a heap of possum.  He had a really nice dog too.  Chatted for a bit then we headed off again, not far from the mudpug, then the real climb began...  A bunch of walking, pushing, a little riding, more pushing.  Steep.  Rough, but dry.  Forest was WAY more open than in the past, the deer numbers must be mad.  Bit of pig sign around, and the occasional pool of blood where Alan had slaughtered one of his possums.  Eventually, surprisingly quicky, we made the first top, one that we'd ridden as far as with Chris one of the first times.  Sat and had a snack, then turned and pointed down...

Awesome blast down, all the tech that'd lookd sketch as f on the way up was immenently rideable, tho still sketchy in places.  Really enjoyed it, considering last time we climbed up here I would have been on the Turner and that time we went down the Bypass Track, meaning the last time I'd descended this I would have been on the Soul!  This bike just rocked this rocky descent, almost treating the toddler- to baby-head sized rock like pow pow.  Met Alan on his way just turning around to head down again, and chatted briefly, then bailed...  Railed it.  Nailed it.  But alas, it was over too soon.  Through the mud pug, then the 'farmy' bit then the steep rutted 'bodybag' bit, and back to the car, very little time elapsed.

Minimally, 6.24 kms, with 436 m climbed. 

no ridesss

No rides since before field work trip, then Wellington for Sleafords...  Walked tho, for work...  (of which, days one, two and five were the same loop (only MMW'd day 2... copied out) around 10 kms each day, no tracks just markers, stopping for tracking tunnels, traps, and seed-fall: slipping, tripping, falling, trudging and lurching.

End of the month now and nothing expected tonight, so... meh

Wednesday Night Poached Shortness

Short local up and back taking in some dodgy walking tracks.  

Bit of mucking around first, but Nelson came to mine and we headed out at 6.40 and headed up into Vic Park the usual way, on the walking track to save the tires, then up over the top of the Info Centre then up over 19th and up the grunter.  We climbed around and hit Thompsons #1 down, then along the road and into #2, blitzing through the splecky water on the trail ("needs a drain at the top," i mentioned).  Bars missing the narrow trees we hoofed out onto the road and rolled down to the Pass.  Up the Summit, with a million Park bikers coming down towards us we climbed up to where the top Gov's Bay track drops over from opposite the Nun.  Grabbed a drink and snack bite here then we headed along the Coronation Reserve walking track, southside so greasy, little soft mud but damn slippery rocks too.  A few clambers up too-tech sections then nice rolling around and dropping down the other side.  Onto the trail that heads around the back to the Kiwi too, nicely nicely - only 2 too-tech bits.

Back up the road to top of Vic and in for the blast around over the jumps and then down through Brake Free, through the stile and left into the Gums, awesome pace all the way down through and out to Skidder, and into the newly re-formed "CAP This Way" trail, bermy back and forth down to Vic Park Rd.  Back up this and into the walking track below, across to Tawhairanui and into the 235 Dogparkcarpark blast.  Mucky as all F in the usual wetspot and then out to the exit for a final tire-clearing hoon down to home.

Only 8 and a quarter kilometres, with just over 300 m escalated.

Off to Slaughter Burn for the week on Friday...

Sunday Arvo Flow

Nice wee ride out on my lonesome. Up the usual ups, 19th, skidder, gruntsville, to the top of Vic, down around the two jumpies, then back up Worm to the Traverse across, beautiful sunny day out ahead.  Stopped for a wee break at the top of Fourpause/HuntsDH, then dived on in.  Nicely nicely, but a couple of massive hits made me wonder if my back tire was gonna pinch or something.  Wove my way down to the 4wd, meeting 3 dudes on 'normal' bikes having just climbed up.  The pace they were making made me initially think they were on ebikes, but nope.  Down to and finding my way onto Ali Express, zig and zag, very under-used - no real sign anyone's been on it for a long time.  Back onto the usual bylines dropping down.  Another massive thwack rear end, pinch?  no, phew - but something was definitely up.  Air Pressure, I now think.  Otherwise a nice flowy cruisey blitz down Old Skool.  Speed, and flow, coast, hang back, rest, dive in, rail, flow, break, rail, flow, rinse and repeat.  Eventually out the bottom, and back up into the climb.  

Grind grind grind.  Pushed up from Hospital, then rode and cleaned around to Texaco, then took a new route for me, over to the right, onto the walking track.  Walked, and then decided to ride a bit, enough flatish bits that it's not a bad climb.  Spotted/connected where we used to ride down here, further over than I thought, and eventually made my way to the Eastside Bush 4wd track, meandered up, walking some, that to Skidder.  Over 19th again, relaxing coast down road, and into 235 for some super flowy hero dirt, avoiding jump to muck, acorns, climb to dogpark and final blast down behind the houses, rear suspension in need of work.  

A pretty good 11.6 kms, and 490 m climbed

Wednesday Steep Locales

Short and steep ride tonight, in two one-sentence paragraphs.  

Up from home, over 19th usual, skidder, steep, through and up to a quick duck down Thompson #1 and back up road, then down around the Jumpies, bypassed the see-saw, but headed up the fenceline to top of Pedalfine, over the fence and dropped down Upper Fenceline track, skirting across top of Cool Runnings and up the 4wd tracks, getting somewhat confused as to where I was briefly but working it out and dropping down through Razzas, across the Rad to Sneaky Ridge, mumpity bump down the rocks and roots and nearly losing it in the acorns, leaping into Bridges or flow or whatever it's called out there, around into Nu Bridges, spotting lights and silhouettes ahead, catching and overtaking a guy scurrying out of my way on the last corner rock, rolling down to his buddies, confusing them, at Hospital, then up K2, around the Texaco jumps, up the horrible steeps and up around the steep bastards to Skidder again.  

From here, back up the steep to Brakefree and down through the usual gummies, over 19th again, tarmac coasting then 235, a bit damp, nearly losing it again in those acorns, and finally down through the lower exit, road and home. 

Cray cray steepies, 9 kms with 400 m climbed.

AN(ZAC)dy CAP

Took H and Paul into the park today.  We rode up past the ranger station and dropped in the new entrance.  Sweet wee trail across here, then onto the new sidle trail, Locomotion, across to Loess.  Paul's first time in a 'park' environment.  He was cautious, but enjoyed it.  Hugo seemed to be on my tail the whole time, or never far off at least.  Loess was a bit sloppy in a few spots, but otherwise fun.

Went in, got passes for us all (old ones were heritage pieces), and hit the lift.  Busy.  Down around the summit connector, and Nun down, messy it was.  Into Capt Torpedo, good blast.  Lots of stops to make sure Paul was doing okay, Hugo never far behind.  They both enjoyed the long flowy blast of a roll down the valley-bottom.  Into the lift again, longer queue than last lift.  Again, Summit Connector, then road, and dropped down into the Captain again.  Hugo crashed bad on the first little lip, so he decided to go home, so Paul and me continued on bombing down again - same again.  Up the lift once again (seeing Josh my mechanic in the queue and at the top), and into SC, road, past Kiwi, up road to top of Vic and in.  Down around the jumpies, I went over the seesaw, down through the rocks - which nearly caught me out, through the gums, my usual way - Paul mastering the steep corner, out through skidder, down to road, rolling coaster to 235, good work done in here, flowy, and not too wet except around the oaks, and then up and down home...

Good times. 22 kms, over 1400 ascended (of which 1200 was lift assisted).

Sunday Mucky Stingy Wharfdale

Paul and me drove out to View Hill Rd carpark.  The ford wasn't too bad and the road in was a little rough for the i40 but we made it up to the end of the road no problem to find a pretty chocka carpark.  New experience for him opening gates I think...  and a LOT of wasps around (tho not as many as the fateful time with Tom).  

We got riding and there was a bit of water (read: mud) on the track in places so it wasn't long and we were pretty splecky.  Nice to get in here again, 5 years since last time (and 2 before that!).  Trail is in very good condition, with many of the old double round parallel post drains removed entirely, and only one tree across it (the bulky chunk of which I removed (a tricky shin height sapling was unyeilding)).   The cooler shady zones were all but wasp free, but the sunny dry faces were busy (and buzzy).  Chch under fog, we were in a beautiful crystal clear day.

One of the creeks we crossed had a hell of a slip through it too.  All the way almost entirely rideable now, all the creeks etc...  much better.  Paul crashed on one droppy in and out creek.  The rocky bluffy section around 2/3rds of the way out has been majorly worked on, entirely rideable up (used to be a very tech drop coming back, pushing from this direction) until around the corner it got a bit steep with loose exposure making it 'scarier'.  The creek crossing just past it was majorly shifted further up too, due to slipping.  Passed a couple of sets of walkers, one near the saddle.  The zig zags near the saddle, section used to be super rutty and big rooty holes, now fully rideable, smooth.  Seemed like no time and we were at the saddle, finding 3 quite young women (high school age) with music playing.  Very respectful, they turned it right down when we arrived.  Chatted a bit, we ate our sandwiches, the last couple we'd passed turned up.  The girls left.  We were visited by a nice wee tomtit.  Then we headed off.

Good rolling, nice riding.  On the fast stretch down just before the first hairpin I felt a wasp between my lips.  I blew hard quickly, but not quick enough, bugger stung me on the lower lip.  Ouch!  I pulled up and stopped, and stuffed a couple of antihistamines in me. Paul turned up.  We got riding again.  Joyful riding, but my lip started swelling and was getting quite uncomfortable as we went along.  Good riding tho!  I'd stop every now and then and let Paul catch up then get rolling and caning all the tech sections, floating and wafting over stuff.  Passed a mum and kids at low point before the final climb.  Climb climb climb easy as, then through the gate and bombing again, mouth closed (and swollen) avoiding unwanted guests.  Big group of youthful walkers not far from the carpark.  They turned up while we were dismantling the mud and mounting the bikes.  

Got driving and they ended up catching up and training through our gate openings.  

A swollen lip of 17.5 kms, with 670 m climbed

Wednesday Night Escaping the Breezy Snake

Waded through the Sumner traffic and over the hill to meet Nelson at Taylor's Mistake.  Got set up, and we headed for the escape.  Remembered my MMR and switched it on (took ages to kick in), then we Escaped up the valley.  Good rolling then steep, and steeper.  I was utterly struggling for oxygen.  Finally made it out of the gully and onto the traversing trail and it was much better.  Thankfully Nelson had stopped for a rest part way along.  Good breather then onwards.  Up around the next switchback and along a bit and into the next when I realised my house keys werent in my pocket.  Brief panic, we turned back down to where we'd been sitting, no sign.  I called home and T found them on the bed.  Phew.  Going again, around all the hairpins and along and up and onwards to Livingston Col.  Across the road, over the fence, out to look at the view, then rolling again, around to Breeze, all non-eventful and nice and fun. 

Over the fence onto Breeze Bay track , around the back which was nice, then blasty fast down to the edn, and over the road again and onto the OG trail heading back along the front to Breeze Col again.  Hit the road up a little and dropped into a sheep-addled snake, full-on Anaconda blaze.  A very close call in the 'conda, where my pedal hit a rock, throwing my weight forward, riding me up onto the front wheel as it was going through a puddle.  I was expecting to lose it, but somehow managed to keep it together.  Lucky the puddle wasnt deeper.  Survived and blitzed down the rest of it laughing and talking around into the 'tail and a nice blast down this...  All good.

Switchbacky progression of 11 kms coupled with 382 m climbed

Friday Saddle Up, Pigeon

Big walk (there) planned this afternoon (and back on Saturday), so, somewhat misguidedly, I headed out for a ride in the morning (leaving me a tad tired-of-leg for the walk). 

Up the road and back. Spectacular forest all around.  Pretty good going climbing, not too many vehicles met (sure is quiet compared to summer).  Then a wicked blast down.  Then a weird little detour up to the watertanks on the ridge above camp.  Fecking steep little bastard quad track that was...

12.5 kms with surprisingly 560m climbed. (considering it's only 330 m saddle, I'm not sure how that worked).

Tuesday to get the car

Drove up to Waiharakeke Track start and walked a bunch back to Totes. 

After a rest, I then jumped on the fatty and hoofed it up the road and over to get the car.  

Only 4kms, 200m up, and a minimal 80 or some down.

Phat Easter Sunday Afternoon Barnicoat Widdershins Involute, caught in the Rain

We'd gone to the Mapua Easter Sunday Market for a good portion of the day but were back early enough that I figured I could get a ride in before the forecast rain hit. 

Jumped on the Fatty and hauled my weary ass down the Locking St walkway, Kawai, then across behind (or in front of?) the Hospital on Tipahi, onto the 'rail trail', over the Bishopdale saddle, over Ridgeway and up Marsden Valley.  About a 25 minute commute.

Hit the singletrack (a walktrack section I'm not sure I've ever actually hit before) and a grind began, back and forth a couple of times, one way stymied by a slip, then out onto the main forestry/4wd track - and granny for a good 45 minutes, following a guy walking with a german shepherd from about 200 m away, most of the way.  He turned back at the last switchback before the leg across to Widdershins.  I called Doug up on the phone and the rain was starting.  

Widdershins was longer and had more climbing and more tech than I recalled of it. Awesome riding tho and the rain wasn't really getting thru the vegetation around it.  - Cornflakes

Finally made the top, about an hour of steady climbing since I left the road, and it was familiar to me.

Into Involution, whoooeeeee.. What a descent. The Fat bike handled it so well. Roots rocks switchbacks repeat. About half way down a large bird flew across in front of me.  I was like, "huh!?"  Stopped, walked back up and there it was, a ruru sitting on a tree fern frond under the shelter of the rest of it trying to stay dry and giving me a sardonic look.  Another was calling nearby as well.  Nice!  

It got wetter and greasier the lower down the hill I got, spat me out onto a 4wd and across into the jungle section around the creek, not very long.  Then fast blast down gravel to gate, and onto the road again.  Rain really setting in now and as a result (and due to the time) it was starting to get dark. Long haul back to base finishing with a steep walk up to the house, tho faster than the way out (due to more it being 'all down hill'). 

Bit of an epic, with over 25kms with 870m altituded - thoroughly saturated when I got back.

Good Fried Day Short Local Troll

Quick sunset spin up for some liquid refreshment and back on the Troll.  Leg stretch before a Saturday of driving to Nelson.  Rode up on the Troll, pushed the usual, rode then out onto the rabbit paddock, meandering across and finding a nice seat.  Embarked on a Liquid Refreshment

and then turned tail and headed back down the hill, detouring below the dog park and down the singletrack to Harry Ell Drive, bomb down this then grunting back up ours.

A small love heart holding a love heart balloon. (5kms, 200m)

Wednesday Night Living Moonrise Heavy Nettle Springs

Great, albeit short, ride at Living Springs tonight.  4 years since I'd last ridden in here. (and first ride with lights since September)+ 

Nelson picked me up and we jetted over the hill to the Allandale carpark.  A little bike maintenance, and a couple other cars pulled up and guys got bikes out of them.  We got rolling, up the valley, a couple new sections of trail and lots of new plantings (thanks Hannah!) all around the place.  Across the face and into the Totara Valley climb, all the pines gone now and a new line on the true right of the valley (where it used to be on the other side for a while).  Greasy clay/dirt down low, but drier higher up.  Up into some very dark Manuka, line changed from memory up here.  Eventually out to Rhymes With which was waaay more grown than the past.  Sat and admired the moon just risen and barely visible through clouds, then headed over the gate and up behind the Outdoor Education Centre, making our way up through the gums.  Steeeep, my first bit of walking where Nelson managed to ride.  Through the gate and dodging onga-onga, trail pretty neglected.  Cleared a log in the bushy gulley, and found the creek eaten out.  Tech riding with a lot more walking than I remember having to do in the past.  They've replaced the ladder-stile with a gate.  Up into the open to the cabbage tree, where we found the track very well sculpted.  Climbing, me walking again, climbing, walking, climbing.  Nelson rode all but one or two short walks.  Did I say it was steep?  Fiiinally got to the bench, pulled up a pew and admired the (almost) full moon, that we'd seen rising   

Rather decent descent begun.  Full on speed, careful carefully, down down down.  Through the gate, then Nelson kinda overshot the cabbage tree, but I holla'd him down.  Back across into the bush, through the gate (i oiled it cos it was super stiff).  Techy as, winding our way down, auto-checking for (h)Urtica, and having to walk through the creek washout (where I spotted my second weta(?) for the night).  Survived the close encounters with the nettle, and Nelson had the high gate open.  Through the gums, behind the Outdoor Ed Centre and down to the gate.  Spotted a light around the corner into Mississippi and got chasing, seeing it below all the way.  Fun weaving back and forth down this then around, easier climbing to Zanes than I remembered, and seeing more lights below.  Then diving into Zanes and bombing catching the tail-ender a wee ways down, and us managing the tech all good.  Out of the forest and found 3 more (2 of who were the guys at the carpark) waiting.  They were on their third lap.  We took off and around into Totara Valley, minding the grease, and Nelson slid-crashed at the bottom, one foot left attached.  Final bomb across and down through and back to the car.  

Only 8.57 kms travailled with a barking mad 500 m climbed.  That's a big ratio.

Sunday's Mucky Mount Grey.

Excellent solo ride today.  Hooned up to 'Lake' Janet and rode up the road, grinding wee climb that it is.  Missed the lookout just sticking the road for a change, then veered right onto the singletrack climb.  Seemed a lot harder than it has been in the past - sort of slipped a little in places making the riding very tricky.  then super wet for a lot longer portion than usual up out of the forest.  Wind was howling in the tower above, but was nice and calm where I was, most of the time, with occasional gusts popping over the ridge.  Parked up for a rest facing east, and then got into it, heading over the edge of the ridge, the wind making it very hard to stay on on the tech.  It became quite urgent descending, being buffetted, to the singletrack here, wind galing around.  Singletrack a bit rutted and mucky, but settled down after the worst of the wet bits.  Foot-plant method for the switchbacks, then nice roll down the rocky corner droppy bit, and not long later into the trees, foot-plant nearly all the way.   Lovely stretches of good sections, across the creek, on down, around.  For the first time, I headed up the 'lookout' track that veers left, and climbed it all the way up.  Not so much view, but a nice dry rocky ridge.  Back down and left onto the main track.  Good trip down here, passing a couple just before it got mucky.  And then muckier, and was mucky as all fuck for a good while down through all the mucky shit.  Out of the worst muck and trail gets dry again, babyheads and cornflakes.  Hairpins and met a dad and two kids and alsatian.  Clear run from here, lots of fun. Bridges, then out to the road, and the grinding climb back up round to the car - didnt meet any vehicles whatsoever til I got back to the car and chatted to a dude who'd just shown up.   

Mint. 13kms with 700 odd climbed.  I was feeling it in the evening.

Saturday Shopping Expedition via the Top.

T and me both on our E bikes, headed up from home, through skidder and pushed up the grunter.  I started my MMR there.  Rest of the way up through to top of Vic and then zoomed along the Slummit Rd all the way to Mt Pleasant.  Down here, left into Upper Hornbrook, Views, Ridge- and Clear-, then ally path down to Major Hornbrook proper.  Bombed down here, around, Freeman and Michael, Canon Hill, alley way down to Te Awakura then down St Andy's to the lights, over the bridge and across onto the new cycleway.  Hung a left into Charlesworth, and detoured to show Tra'y the TFC extension.  Onwards around Charlies then straight up Spinwood all the way.  Across Woodham and around the river to Swann's bridge, then back upstream along the river all the way to Pikos whereuponst I bought some of my flour.  

From here, a visit to Pom's for a couple of beers (wine for her) and chips, then home along the river all the way past the strip, etc, the long way, Grove, church, Simeon, Thorrington, eventually with plenty of battery (surprisingly) to spare (riding on the lowest setting for a good portion helped, methinks).

Reasonable 35ish kms (i started MMR late) with over 700m climbed.

Hungry Sunday Solo Hunts

On my own, no breakfast just coffee ( + green tea in the bottle).  Headed up the usuals, 19th, skidder, steep.  Up to top, and into Thomson#1 for a nice groove, then back up the road to top, down around the jumpies, hard right into Worm, and up onto the Traverse.  Good spin around here, stopping for a few (telling one group off for not giving way descending), then dropped into Huntsbury DH just after another guy had dropped in, slowly winding him in as we descended, flowing through the last gap right on his tail.  He hung a left on the older version of the singletrack just after that, and I followed, striking up a convo with him and him pulling over for me.  Bombed down through this then across the landing strip and seeking out the wee Rocky ridge entrance ways.  Climbed up the zig zag on the back of the knob to find my front wheel going flat.  Ugh.  Swapped out the tube and said gudday to Doug, and got going again, forgetting to unlock my rear suspension down over the rocks.  Down through the jumps, bypassing the odd one, all the way to the bottom of the dirt end of Huntsbury Ave.  

Turned back up the hill and climbed, and climbed.  Stopped for a rest under the cabbage tree below the rocky knob, snacked half a One Sq for 'breakfast' and continued on back up.  Gave some directions to a lost dad and son, then gravel ground to the top.  Back on the Traverse, good spin around stopping once for riders, feeling pretty strong on the climbs, then dove down the jumpies, see saw, brakestart then to rockgarden and gums dropping down through, out Skidder, road, 235, fun in there, wet landing off treebranch jump, then climbing, last blast drop behind houses to home.  Fun times.

Expressive 14.8 km with 525 m climbed

Saturday Morning T and R on the E and T

Beautiful ride today.  Up the hill with Tra'y, her on her E bike and me on the Troll.  Feels so good climbing on the Troll.  We rode hard through the Skidder and into the climb, with her getting miles up!  I walked up to her and we swapped bikes for the steep bit.  Back on, and riding climbing up all the way to the road.  Hung a left, and cruised nicely along to Castle Rock.  Here, she went off down the road and I took the singletrack.  What a beat up!  Hard work, but got smoother picking smoother lines, but feck it's rough.  Caught up to T just past the Bridle and we looked at the view and then turned back... There were people out everywhere, walking biking, running...

A bit over 20 kms, with an indubitable 762 m clambered 

Thursday Night Convoluted Topspin

Great wee ride tonight with Nelson, staying up high and looping about Mt Pleasant.   We'd figured ridgelines would be best given the amount of rain we'd had a couple days ago...

Parked on Parkridge and headed the usual byways entering Britten at the gate on Upper Major and singletracking up from there.  Zig and zag then at the top we hit the road and coasted down to hit the OG (Original Greenwood) entrance, peeling left into Sheepshit Alley for a nice cruisy descent.  This always has more upwardsness than I feel it did (considering the climb it is the other way), but a nice blast down and took the 'Moab' line towards the end.  

At the bottom we hung a right and cruised up the farm track, noticing for the first time a bulldozed fence line being put in.  Continued onwards all the way to the gun emplacements.  Bit of a tootle around here then rode and explored the closed Bluffs track to the point we couldnt.  Turned back and bombed down to the OG line across, me leading and juuust making it through all the tech bits.  

On the road again and back up to Britten for 'around the front' and then across the road at the cutting and up over the fence and up the very overgrown long grassed (especially for this time of year) zig and zag climbing all the way to the top of Pleasant.  Very pleasant to get to the top for a bit of a rest and snack.  

Dropped in, me in the lead, and pinging all over the place but enjoying the rocks and the down.  Carved our way through the tussocks and then out to then end.  Down the farmtrack briefly then dropping into what Trailforks calls Titus (Previously the Greenline/Greensticks/Swoopy).  Hero dirt stylez down here, carving back and forth with great gusto and grip.  Fun times.  Then climbing (what Trailforks calls) Knapsack but I call Sheepshit Alley back to the top for the final stretch along this road.  

Dropping into Britten, Nelson took off like a rocket.  I was not far behind but wasn't quite as gungho.  Good across the front then he missed a turn and I took the lead for the drop down, then we explored out to check out the rocks.  Back on track we bombed down the steep section (that freaked me out last time I took the Troll down it) and over the stile to hit down Kenton Track, this time all the way.  It was mint.  He led the first bit but took the high line (towards where I exited last time) and I went low, leading the last section.  Some awesome tech in there.  Finally, up the steps, pushing up alongside houses then out on to Rockview, and up Major Hornbrook to the cars.

A very pleasant 13.8 kms with 520m climbed.