Left home a bit before 7 and parked up top of Worsley, no other cars in sight, with Jet, headed off pretty much dead on 7, up the main drag and into the forest to ride up the Guts. Chuff chuff chuff up here, climbing into mist and low cloud. Up top of the Original B-Line trees were even dripping. Up the bonus climb to the very top and off down Throw The Goat (aka Hangloose aka Goat). Just as I was re-entering the trees after the cleared gap, I noticed a trail coming in from the right. It piqued my interest and so I headed up it. Followed and rode much of it, but it's obviously in the early stages of development. Little bit of descending, little bit of climbing and then through a fence and some BIG fallen trees to clamber over, left my bike here and walked the rest of the newly cleared bush, to pop out on one of the corners on Flying Nun. Right where I'd always thought it'd be great to have a linking trail from. Nice. Headed back to Goat and we continued our merry way down. Cleared the first log jump, not baulking like last time, and rolled on down the hill. At the second log I rolled right up it but stopped at top and examined. It's got a gap you wouldn't want to fail, but the drop to the transition is small, so with any speed I think it'd be fine. Rolled around and on down. Then rode the beginning of Yoda and had a look down the filter. wooooo... Nup. not today (maybe not ever). Found an old line back to the main descent and fanged on downwards. When it met Tommy2's I took that rather than continuing on Goat cos it's less intimidating and I'm used to it. Rambled out the bottom and onto the exit track.
Up the access to the Junction, and back up the Guts. Slowly catching up to a couple of very old walking ladies; me sounding like a steam train. On up, wondering what to do next. Via the clifftop this time, trundled all the back up to the top, again, and went up the bonus climb, again, and stopped at the top of the 'new' entrance (made by Nick) down to Debbie's. First time not walking down this and it was MINT. REally cool descent, steep and sweet. Joins the old Debbies just where you ride over a log, then across the open, and into the dark trees - past the ruins and into the really dark fir forest, ball-bearing cones, and then on down parallel to Moose Knuckle and around to the right, down into Alice's Restaurant. Across this, all good, and then was really close to succeeding the stuff I never ride, but didn't quite. Cleaned the first really steep bit, but then had to get off next to the big rock wall walked the couple of corners next to it. Back on, and rode out the rest of it, all good, and lots of fun.
Up the access again and left up the Guts for the 3rd and final time. This time only going as far as Fight Club, and bombing down here and blasting through to the bottom no problem. Stopped and walked back up a little to check out the jumps down here, but still didn't have a go on the one I was hoping to, but did the next one and rolled on out.
Final trip up the exit and then just hung a right and off down the oldskool descent to the end, then across the way and into Epitaph for the final jaunt to the car for 9am. Happy Jet showing off his drinking-from-my-camelbak skills to the chick in the car parked behind mine. She laughed. As I departed, half of Chch's mtnbiking community seemed to be arriving. Good timing!
10 and a half kms, 574 m climbed...
Showing posts with label AlicesRestaurant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AlicesRestaurant. Show all posts
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Thursday, October 01, 2015
Thursday night Worsley ups and downs
Usual pick up from work and through to bottom of Worsley's, parking on the flat next to the poplar trees (just by what will be the entrance to the new park). Craig turned up on his 1988 Yeti, crazy classic, mint condition, and we trundled on up the hill. Hopped onto Fluffy Sheep for the climb up, them bowling on ahead at speed and me left behind gasping for air. Plugged some asthma gas in and still gasped but made it up and then up the road from here. Through the gate on the right and into the climb on the right hand side. Beginning of the steep there was a fallen over bushy vine covered tree, leaning into the gorse on the left. Had to get off and push through it, then, ugh, breathing killing me up the steepest, and a little greasy in here too. Finally out to the leveling off, mini stream crossing, then more steep and the other two were awaiting me at the top, Nelson on the phone. Quick descent, then climb again, but easier, and then another small descent and more climb, around over Braille track and on up up up, a couple of groms wafting down through the jumps next to us as we ascended. Out the top and onto the main drag, seeing some guys that'd been at the carpark when we rolled through. We duly ignored the Forest Closed sign and headed up the entrance, then on up the route to Tommy2's.
Took the first left, into Debbie Does Dallas, nice roll down here, into the dark and on down, Craig really enjoying it, then into Alice's Restaurant. First few sections all good, but then when the going got steep I got chicken and walked a few corners. Below the rocky wall I got my groove back. Just before the next creek crossing, Craig lost his front wheel over the edge of where Nelson crashed back in May, breaking a spoke on his nearly 30 year old wheel. Rolled out the rest and up the exit track to the junction. Craig bailed out here on account of the wheel... heading down. Nelson and me headed up the Guts track, cleaned it all, overtook some groms up top at the clifftop and then we rolled on up the old Original line.
On up the Tommy2's access track and all the way to the top (cos Nelson thought the uber-Enduro dude on his tail was me...). Chatted with him for a bit and another group of huckers passed through and then we headed back down to our new trail down the funky boulder strewn gulch and through the dark forest, a couple of whoopdedoos, then (a trail seeming to come in here from the right (note to self: explore next time...)) following the stream a bit, then out into the open (below Deb's), around the rocks now, then back into the forest, sidling, seemingly just above Alice's, off cambernation, on across the slope to the 2/3rds down Tommy2's, railing and nailing this all, blasting down to the bottom. Back into the exit climb, light getting a bit dim now, catching 3 guys Nelson knew, chatting with them a bit, before heading on down the outgoing trail, me baulking on the log again, and Nelson smacking his derailleur on a rock just before it, and it somehow locking the switch on it!?!?. Rolling again and out the finish, down the wee singletrack from the upper carpark.
Down the road and into the Far Side trails. Utopia appears to be no longer, and light was failing, so Fluffy Sheep, out in the open, it was, back down again. Swoopy swoopy, popping yumpies at the bottom and down round the corner and down back to the car, streetlights on by this stage.
Noodle Canteen and a BOOM to finish.
Mapped, nearly 16 kms, and just over 680m altitude climbed.
Took the first left, into Debbie Does Dallas, nice roll down here, into the dark and on down, Craig really enjoying it, then into Alice's Restaurant. First few sections all good, but then when the going got steep I got chicken and walked a few corners. Below the rocky wall I got my groove back. Just before the next creek crossing, Craig lost his front wheel over the edge of where Nelson crashed back in May, breaking a spoke on his nearly 30 year old wheel. Rolled out the rest and up the exit track to the junction. Craig bailed out here on account of the wheel... heading down. Nelson and me headed up the Guts track, cleaned it all, overtook some groms up top at the clifftop and then we rolled on up the old Original line.
On up the Tommy2's access track and all the way to the top (cos Nelson thought the uber-Enduro dude on his tail was me...). Chatted with him for a bit and another group of huckers passed through and then we headed back down to our new trail down the funky boulder strewn gulch and through the dark forest, a couple of whoopdedoos, then (a trail seeming to come in here from the right (note to self: explore next time...)) following the stream a bit, then out into the open (below Deb's), around the rocks now, then back into the forest, sidling, seemingly just above Alice's, off cambernation, on across the slope to the 2/3rds down Tommy2's, railing and nailing this all, blasting down to the bottom. Back into the exit climb, light getting a bit dim now, catching 3 guys Nelson knew, chatting with them a bit, before heading on down the outgoing trail, me baulking on the log again, and Nelson smacking his derailleur on a rock just before it, and it somehow locking the switch on it!?!?. Rolling again and out the finish, down the wee singletrack from the upper carpark.
Down the road and into the Far Side trails. Utopia appears to be no longer, and light was failing, so Fluffy Sheep, out in the open, it was, back down again. Swoopy swoopy, popping yumpies at the bottom and down round the corner and down back to the car, streetlights on by this stage.
Noodle Canteen and a BOOM to finish.
Mapped, nearly 16 kms, and just over 680m altitude climbed.
Tuesday, May 05, 2015
Tuesday night, Happy Blog-iversary, and Worsley Playtime
Ten years today since this blog's first post. Ten years ago I started this voyage of documentation. Happy blog-iversary, blog.
Tonight, Nelson picked me up outside work, in hideous levels of traffic, it being just after 5, and the neighbourhood utterly full of road works, closed lanes etc, not to mention a fuckload of fucking idiots all driving everywhere... Nearly 6, maybe quarter to, by the time we made the top of Worsley's Rd. A bit of faffing and changing and just before 6 we headed up the track that starts through the gate directly off the carpark. Mellow start then straight into the steepness. Granny gear selected and lung and heart rate increasing markedly to the point of nearly exploding. Up up up, nice scenery, what we could see. Up past all the trails I explored with Jet, and the length of the Braille track seemed to go on forever. Then, finally, the last whoopdedo and onto the Worsley main drag. "Forest Closed" signs greeted us at the entrance to the climb, which we duly ignored, it being after hours, and ventured ourselves forth to explore what wreckage has ensued at the mercy of the foresters.
Followed caterpillar tracks up that entry, they continued straight up the fenceline, we took the singletrack climb, all the way up, meeting the tracks again near the very top. Into the entrance to Hangloose (or Goat) and within metres had met the machine responsible for the tracks. Massive it is, with maneuverability and the cutting handle head thing on it's end, with it's path a swathe of destruction, cleared trees placed to the side and many more all the way down Hangloose, with X's on them ready to go - demarking the boundary of the next area to be logged. Good bye Hangloose with your groovy swoops and pops, good bye Yoda, not that we ever rode you... Down we flowed, bypassing the second log jump, and enjoying the steepnesses. I had an off, where I entered a steep-ass corner I've bailed on before and decided mid way through that I didn't want to go where the bike was going so stepped off the back, but it being so steep I fell backwards, one foot still attached to the pedal, striking my calf on the hot hot brake disk (not realising til later), and landing ungraciously on my ass. Nelson was stopped metres away at a tree across the track. Under this an on down the last few steep corners to the bottom where climbing began - easy to start, but getting increasingly steeperer.
Gasped up the internal guts track, walking some before the pylon-gap, then managed to ride, albeit with a gasping break, the rest of the way to the clifftop. From here, up the original trail, one section where the caterpillar machine had been through, rarking up the place, then Nelson quite surprisingly managing to clean that rocky outcropping near the top that nobody's ever cleaned before, and then we proceeded out to the top, where we found Pete, Andy and Robin. They'd not long gotten up there on their first climb (having met at the carpark at 6.15), and had lost Tony to a broken derailleur (via loose stick) on the way up. They headed down Original and FightClub and Nelson and me headed on up to the entrance to Debbie Does Dallas. Nelson took Nick's new one, while I took the original. Fast run down here through the dark douglas fir bit then into the bigger open pine section below the cliff face, and around into Alice's Restaurant. Good for the first couple of corners but then the steep stuff gave me the heebeegeebees and I walked a couple of bits. Got riding again, and then the last steep bit just before a wee bridge, Nelson crashed - hitting the deck pretty hard (even broke the end off his brake lever), and burst open his zip on his bag. Fixed up off down again, into the final couple whoopdee's and then through and caught up with the other guys down as they'd just finished Fight Club.
With them headed on up to the Junction where Robin said good bye and the 4 remaining rode up the guts track and into the lower entrance of Fight Club. Here, Nelson discovered his rear brake was dodgy, not applying any real pressure to the disk, so, unable to fix it on the spot, he headed off down the way we'd come up, and the remaining 3 of us headed for an excellent blast down Fight Club. I really hope the logging doesn't kill this track. Climbed out to the Junction and then down the finale and back to the cars. Andy headed down the road to home (via Fluffy Sheep where we saw his light and stopped to say See Ya)
Number 3 Noodle Canteen and a Garage Project Pan Pacific for tea. Nelson had Nasi Goreng, and the same beer.
Tonight, Nelson picked me up outside work, in hideous levels of traffic, it being just after 5, and the neighbourhood utterly full of road works, closed lanes etc, not to mention a fuckload of fucking idiots all driving everywhere... Nearly 6, maybe quarter to, by the time we made the top of Worsley's Rd. A bit of faffing and changing and just before 6 we headed up the track that starts through the gate directly off the carpark. Mellow start then straight into the steepness. Granny gear selected and lung and heart rate increasing markedly to the point of nearly exploding. Up up up, nice scenery, what we could see. Up past all the trails I explored with Jet, and the length of the Braille track seemed to go on forever. Then, finally, the last whoopdedo and onto the Worsley main drag. "Forest Closed" signs greeted us at the entrance to the climb, which we duly ignored, it being after hours, and ventured ourselves forth to explore what wreckage has ensued at the mercy of the foresters.
Followed caterpillar tracks up that entry, they continued straight up the fenceline, we took the singletrack climb, all the way up, meeting the tracks again near the very top. Into the entrance to Hangloose (or Goat) and within metres had met the machine responsible for the tracks. Massive it is, with maneuverability and the cutting handle head thing on it's end, with it's path a swathe of destruction, cleared trees placed to the side and many more all the way down Hangloose, with X's on them ready to go - demarking the boundary of the next area to be logged. Good bye Hangloose with your groovy swoops and pops, good bye Yoda, not that we ever rode you... Down we flowed, bypassing the second log jump, and enjoying the steepnesses. I had an off, where I entered a steep-ass corner I've bailed on before and decided mid way through that I didn't want to go where the bike was going so stepped off the back, but it being so steep I fell backwards, one foot still attached to the pedal, striking my calf on the hot hot brake disk (not realising til later), and landing ungraciously on my ass. Nelson was stopped metres away at a tree across the track. Under this an on down the last few steep corners to the bottom where climbing began - easy to start, but getting increasingly steeperer.
Gasped up the internal guts track, walking some before the pylon-gap, then managed to ride, albeit with a gasping break, the rest of the way to the clifftop. From here, up the original trail, one section where the caterpillar machine had been through, rarking up the place, then Nelson quite surprisingly managing to clean that rocky outcropping near the top that nobody's ever cleaned before, and then we proceeded out to the top, where we found Pete, Andy and Robin. They'd not long gotten up there on their first climb (having met at the carpark at 6.15), and had lost Tony to a broken derailleur (via loose stick) on the way up. They headed down Original and FightClub and Nelson and me headed on up to the entrance to Debbie Does Dallas. Nelson took Nick's new one, while I took the original. Fast run down here through the dark douglas fir bit then into the bigger open pine section below the cliff face, and around into Alice's Restaurant. Good for the first couple of corners but then the steep stuff gave me the heebeegeebees and I walked a couple of bits. Got riding again, and then the last steep bit just before a wee bridge, Nelson crashed - hitting the deck pretty hard (even broke the end off his brake lever), and burst open his zip on his bag. Fixed up off down again, into the final couple whoopdee's and then through and caught up with the other guys down as they'd just finished Fight Club.
With them headed on up to the Junction where Robin said good bye and the 4 remaining rode up the guts track and into the lower entrance of Fight Club. Here, Nelson discovered his rear brake was dodgy, not applying any real pressure to the disk, so, unable to fix it on the spot, he headed off down the way we'd come up, and the remaining 3 of us headed for an excellent blast down Fight Club. I really hope the logging doesn't kill this track. Climbed out to the Junction and then down the finale and back to the cars. Andy headed down the road to home (via Fluffy Sheep where we saw his light and stopped to say See Ya)
Number 3 Noodle Canteen and a Garage Project Pan Pacific for tea. Nelson had Nasi Goreng, and the same beer.
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Sunday Worsley & Far Side Jet sprints
Needed to keep it short this morning, and nearly got out really early, like 8am, but eventually what with one thing and another it was about 9.20 I found myself over near the bottom of the hills, heading for the top of Worsley Rd with Jet in the back. Parked up and headed up behind a couple of motorbikes. Clamber clamber, with the newly working forks working bloody well. These are the white 55s that gave me so much gyp on the trip - Josh chucked in a coil instead of the positive air component, and she works a treat. Up the grind, and before the powerlines came across one of the motorbikes. He was fiddling around in the front of the bike, and it wasn't going... rode on up, eventually catching up and passing a young running/walking couple, her giving Jet lots of pets. Ground out to the top where the other motorbike was waiting and he asked about his mate and I said it looked like trouble so he was gonna head back down..
Then off up the entrance to the B-line talking a bit to a dude who'd just come down bodybag. Him and his mate went down, I went up, grindy grind to Debbie Does Dallas -lead in, and fanged off down here. Slow to start but gradually speeding up, and then down past the ruins and into the Douglas fir darkness then out. Below the big cliff stopped and had a wee look at a trail being built just above this one. Got going again down the steeps into Alice's Restaurant where I baulked the usual couple of corners cos they're just so damned steep. Saw 3 riders across on T2 briefly, and then spotted them on the climb out.
At the junction I followed these guys up the guts track, riding all the way, but they'd lost me by the time I crossed the pylon gap. On up to the cliff top, a young DH couple hangin' out sayin' hi. Sat on the cliftop for a bite to eat and a wee rest before heading off down Wayne's World and then across and down into Fight Club (passing the young couple pushing back up on the way). Fight Club was a blast, suspension just soaking everything up beautifully. Out the bottom and back up the exit track to the junction. Nor'west wind was starting to pick up, so figured the forest might not be too safe any more, so we headed on back down the usual to the car. Loaded the bike on and we drove down the road.
Just before the bottom corner I pulled up and parked. And rode up one of the new downhill tracks in the Farside network... Fluffy Sheets or something. Anyway, decided on the way it wasn't that great for climbing, but stuck with it. At the top I explored, first, off down 1 Trick Lucy but it descended in a direction I didn't like, and looked like it was gonna leave me in the bottom of the valley, so, pushed back up onto Farside and pushed to the top of that. Into Utopia I flowed. Very familiar feeling, like farside, with some sweet wee swoops and dips and off camber corners, and then it spat me onto Fluffy Sheets near the bottom. Back up the usual next-to-the-road off-road track, meeting some very tentative riders coming down, and cleaned out the top in no time - much better than going up Fluffy Sheets. Here I dropped into Farside and had a real blast down this, arriving back at the car in no time, 11am-ish and headed with my hot and tired doggy, home.
Then off up the entrance to the B-line talking a bit to a dude who'd just come down bodybag. Him and his mate went down, I went up, grindy grind to Debbie Does Dallas -lead in, and fanged off down here. Slow to start but gradually speeding up, and then down past the ruins and into the Douglas fir darkness then out. Below the big cliff stopped and had a wee look at a trail being built just above this one. Got going again down the steeps into Alice's Restaurant where I baulked the usual couple of corners cos they're just so damned steep. Saw 3 riders across on T2 briefly, and then spotted them on the climb out.
At the junction I followed these guys up the guts track, riding all the way, but they'd lost me by the time I crossed the pylon gap. On up to the cliff top, a young DH couple hangin' out sayin' hi. Sat on the cliftop for a bite to eat and a wee rest before heading off down Wayne's World and then across and down into Fight Club (passing the young couple pushing back up on the way). Fight Club was a blast, suspension just soaking everything up beautifully. Out the bottom and back up the exit track to the junction. Nor'west wind was starting to pick up, so figured the forest might not be too safe any more, so we headed on back down the usual to the car. Loaded the bike on and we drove down the road.
Just before the bottom corner I pulled up and parked. And rode up one of the new downhill tracks in the Farside network... Fluffy Sheets or something. Anyway, decided on the way it wasn't that great for climbing, but stuck with it. At the top I explored, first, off down 1 Trick Lucy but it descended in a direction I didn't like, and looked like it was gonna leave me in the bottom of the valley, so, pushed back up onto Farside and pushed to the top of that. Into Utopia I flowed. Very familiar feeling, like farside, with some sweet wee swoops and dips and off camber corners, and then it spat me onto Fluffy Sheets near the bottom. Back up the usual next-to-the-road off-road track, meeting some very tentative riders coming down, and cleaned out the top in no time - much better than going up Fluffy Sheets. Here I dropped into Farside and had a real blast down this, arriving back at the car in no time, 11am-ish and headed with my hot and tired doggy, home.
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Wednesday evening, Jet in the Worsley repeatish
Afterwork, left home 5.30ish, drove in car with Jet to top of hill, parking with lots of other vehicles, and a dude with a fluoro orange cactus pack had headed off just ahead of me, and a big group of guys were leaving just behind me. I didn't see the group again til a bit later, but kept the fluoro orange backpack dude in my sights, gaining on him once or twice and him gaining away from me once or twice too... Just before the top, I peeled off to the right to check out a new (to me) area of trails. Moseyed down and had a wee poke. Someone's put in some rolly fast stuff, which would kill altitude too quick, and there's a jumpy trail in there too, with big gaps between ramps and landings. According to the maps, there's a tonne of country in here that is just ripe for the trail-pickings. Only rode a little ways down then turned and rode back up an old 4wd trail back to top of forest and headed back for the main drag and on up. The group of dudes crossed past out of the forest access track and up the Bodybag at this stage. Rode on up the extra top track all the way up to top of Tommy2's. and beyond actually, following a section Nelson and me checked out a while back over the top. It didn't lead anywhere, so I cut across and found Hangloose, or Goat Track as i discovered tonight that it's called, and walked back up it and headed off down Tommy2's. Excellent roll down here, tho probably holding the brakes too much. Jet was awesome, as usual, staying exactly where he was needed to be. Steeper and steeper, a couple of stops, but rode it all, and rolled out the bottom. How many different lines are there in here?? Rolled out the bottom and up the exit track.
From the junction, headed up the bastard guts track, grinding away, up up to the clifftop and on up the B-line all the way to the top. Bit of a rest up here, a snack, bit of a chat to a young fella, and after he'd left a dude on a fluoro-green Banshee Rune rolled up. He headed up the climb towards Tommy2's and I followed but took Debbs's access. Blitzed on down this, actually hitting the couple of wee jumps in there, then through the clearing and into the forest again, past the ruins, then into the darkness of the Douglas fir and on down down the old Debbie then round and where it crosses the bridge becomes Alice's Restaurant - according to the sign - "an 'All Country' track, strictly not Enduro. ideal wheel size, 27.5, or if you prefer, 650B..." Seems to roll pretty good on 26 too! Anyway. Rode more of it than the first time with Nelson, but still walked two sections I just wasn't game to fall off on. Lower half was sweet, with some really techy shit goin' on. As I met the bottom of Goat and T2 a large group (including the fluoro backpack and the fluoro Rune dude - as well as local semi-celebrities Rich and Mel) were finishing off Yoda and lower Goat. I watched them roll through then caught them up down on the exit climb track. Chatting away from the back as we rode up the hill.
At the junction, most of them headed for the other side of the road jumps track (where Nick was digging) and I followed the Rune dude up the guts track as far as the clifftop. We chatted a little up here about the moon (which is going OFF right this second as I write this, lunar eclipse, or "Blood Moon") then I headed down Wayne's and FightClub while he headed on up. Awesome run down these two and talked to Matt (on Pete's phone) as I climbed out arranging to meet at Poms later. Was about 7.50 when I got down the final trail to the end, saying Hi to Nick parked near the bottom, before finishing off to the car.
From the junction, headed up the bastard guts track, grinding away, up up to the clifftop and on up the B-line all the way to the top. Bit of a rest up here, a snack, bit of a chat to a young fella, and after he'd left a dude on a fluoro-green Banshee Rune rolled up. He headed up the climb towards Tommy2's and I followed but took Debbs's access. Blitzed on down this, actually hitting the couple of wee jumps in there, then through the clearing and into the forest again, past the ruins, then into the darkness of the Douglas fir and on down down the old Debbie then round and where it crosses the bridge becomes Alice's Restaurant - according to the sign - "an 'All Country' track, strictly not Enduro. ideal wheel size, 27.5, or if you prefer, 650B..." Seems to roll pretty good on 26 too! Anyway. Rode more of it than the first time with Nelson, but still walked two sections I just wasn't game to fall off on. Lower half was sweet, with some really techy shit goin' on. As I met the bottom of Goat and T2 a large group (including the fluoro backpack and the fluoro Rune dude - as well as local semi-celebrities Rich and Mel) were finishing off Yoda and lower Goat. I watched them roll through then caught them up down on the exit climb track. Chatting away from the back as we rode up the hill.
At the junction, most of them headed for the other side of the road jumps track (where Nick was digging) and I followed the Rune dude up the guts track as far as the clifftop. We chatted a little up here about the moon (which is going OFF right this second as I write this, lunar eclipse, or "Blood Moon") then I headed down Wayne's and FightClub while he headed on up. Awesome run down these two and talked to Matt (on Pete's phone) as I climbed out arranging to meet at Poms later. Was about 7.50 when I got down the final trail to the end, saying Hi to Nick parked near the bottom, before finishing off to the car.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Wednesday Worsleying
Another week another ride. Rode from work to Nelson's and we negotiated traffic to Worsleys Rd. Parked on the flat alongside the poplars, changed, and rode off up the hill, taking the off road track for the main brunt of the climb. Tricky, hitting the hill, and then bumpy off road trail from cold. Had me wheezing and gasping, and dabbing a couple times. Back on the seal and onwards to the top. Then straight into the dirt track climb. Decided on staying on the old skool, riding the usual ridges and ruts all the way. At the 'rest' corner we checked out a wee track appearing at the fence, walking briefly up it, and then a dude on an old specialized showed up. Asked him where it peeled off but his description could have been anywhere.
Onwards up the rocky section, with varying degrees of success. Sure is a mess in here these days. Lots of bits further up where it's pretty tricky. Finally made the bottom of the Body Bag and up the access track for a well earned rest. All of this to here was done without lights. Quick snack, and we decided to head down and find that new bit of track. Lights on, headed down Tommy's all the while looking for the new track on the left. Quite a ways down we figured we'd missed it further back, but then chose a left hand line (that wasn't at all familiar) and it turned out this was it. Not particularly long, but fun. Over the fence and back into the climb for the second time. Cleaned more, but dabbed other bits this time, and thankfully made the top of the access track eventually.
From here we headed up the access to Tommy's2 and about half way took the left into the lead-in to Debbie Does Dallas. Fanged it down here popping and rolling through past the cool old stone ruins, then into the descending Debbie trail, which, due to tree falls, now peels a hard right and leads down and across a cool wee bridge then upwards briefly, and into a whole new section which is across below Tommys2 (but we couldn't see that from it). Into a sequence of madcore steep bits, a couple of which we walked, and this really cool volcanic dyke rock formation - total wall of rock. More steep stuff and a couple more groovy raw wood bridges (North Shore style of build, but short) then eventually into the very bottom of Tommy's2, out this and into the climb back up around. Nice and dry now, but still slightly soft in places.
At the junction at the top we headed back up the guts track, grannying away, my legs starting to get weaker, all the way up to the cliff top. Into the original 'b'line down from here and then connecting onto Waynes World where it crosses and then off down a new line to the right that showed promise but then turned out to be a total waste of trail by hooking into Fight Club - ripping us off by missing heaps of it. So we walked back up this dumb shortcut and got back into Wayne's and then proceeded on into Fight Club, wafting, floating and launching our way down this, loving every minute of it. Great run bookin' down all of it, including all the lower off camber stuff, and back out onto the climbing return track.This time climbing I was very slow, grinding away, getting especially sucky in the softer stuff, while Nelson jetted off ahead.
Down the exit routes - more sweet sweet rollin', and then down the road, flying, flying and flying, before pulling off to access the Farside track, only to discover three options now. One, to the right, called Utopia which appears to stay above the forest, swooping back and forth in the broom and grass (beside the gorsey track we'd ridden up next to the road), and another one, Short Lucy or something, in the middle, which we didn't see where that went or came out. And Farside, which has had a bit more work done. Was fun and swoopy, and excellent in the dry, and there's an alternative line lower down that peels off and runs parallel all the way to the end (which we didn't try but may next time - it looked a bit easier)... Out the bottom of Farside, big smiles on our dials. Awesome wee trail. Finally, flew down the road into the cold air of the valley bottom and back to the car, about 8, on the way grabbing Nasi Gorengs and beers upon which to feast at my place.
Onwards up the rocky section, with varying degrees of success. Sure is a mess in here these days. Lots of bits further up where it's pretty tricky. Finally made the bottom of the Body Bag and up the access track for a well earned rest. All of this to here was done without lights. Quick snack, and we decided to head down and find that new bit of track. Lights on, headed down Tommy's all the while looking for the new track on the left. Quite a ways down we figured we'd missed it further back, but then chose a left hand line (that wasn't at all familiar) and it turned out this was it. Not particularly long, but fun. Over the fence and back into the climb for the second time. Cleaned more, but dabbed other bits this time, and thankfully made the top of the access track eventually.
From here we headed up the access to Tommy's2 and about half way took the left into the lead-in to Debbie Does Dallas. Fanged it down here popping and rolling through past the cool old stone ruins, then into the descending Debbie trail, which, due to tree falls, now peels a hard right and leads down and across a cool wee bridge then upwards briefly, and into a whole new section which is across below Tommys2 (but we couldn't see that from it). Into a sequence of madcore steep bits, a couple of which we walked, and this really cool volcanic dyke rock formation - total wall of rock. More steep stuff and a couple more groovy raw wood bridges (North Shore style of build, but short) then eventually into the very bottom of Tommy's2, out this and into the climb back up around. Nice and dry now, but still slightly soft in places.
At the junction at the top we headed back up the guts track, grannying away, my legs starting to get weaker, all the way up to the cliff top. Into the original 'b'line down from here and then connecting onto Waynes World where it crosses and then off down a new line to the right that showed promise but then turned out to be a total waste of trail by hooking into Fight Club - ripping us off by missing heaps of it. So we walked back up this dumb shortcut and got back into Wayne's and then proceeded on into Fight Club, wafting, floating and launching our way down this, loving every minute of it. Great run bookin' down all of it, including all the lower off camber stuff, and back out onto the climbing return track.This time climbing I was very slow, grinding away, getting especially sucky in the softer stuff, while Nelson jetted off ahead.
Down the exit routes - more sweet sweet rollin', and then down the road, flying, flying and flying, before pulling off to access the Farside track, only to discover three options now. One, to the right, called Utopia which appears to stay above the forest, swooping back and forth in the broom and grass (beside the gorsey track we'd ridden up next to the road), and another one, Short Lucy or something, in the middle, which we didn't see where that went or came out. And Farside, which has had a bit more work done. Was fun and swoopy, and excellent in the dry, and there's an alternative line lower down that peels off and runs parallel all the way to the end (which we didn't try but may next time - it looked a bit easier)... Out the bottom of Farside, big smiles on our dials. Awesome wee trail. Finally, flew down the road into the cold air of the valley bottom and back to the car, about 8, on the way grabbing Nasi Gorengs and beers upon which to feast at my place.
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