Saturday Post-Southerly Troll Summit.

Up for a hoon on the Surly, after the storm had cleared, with a couple of Summit Rd Peaks summitted. 

Vic climb, brief walk on gutser, then onto the Summit Rd.  Checked gmaps and saw T and Nik were below me, so popped into the lower Thomson and waited for them, then waited for them again at the end of H'Ell, then met them again when I was filling water behind the Kiwi.  From here, I meandered out the Summit Rd towards the Bellbird.  Annoyingly a guy (older than me!) on a mtb left the kiwi same time as me and proceeded to slowly creep away from me.  I just didn't have the push to keep up or spin ahead.  He departed up Worsleys and I continued, nice and sunny and calm on the north face of Ada, otherwise a good cool southerly blasting across the tops.  

I pulled into the Bellbird and changed out layers and ate a bit of OneSquare then continued my quest.  Pulled out at the top of Living Springs, walking up to the top of the knoll here to add to my peak-bags.  That done, I headed back towards home, but just around the corner I popped up onto the Crater Rim and started pushing.  Left the bike for a bit, walked ahead, then thought, nah, I'll bring it.  Back to it, then pushed for a bit, then rode, then left it and explored to the top of this knob.  (on the topo, it's the pointy escarpment-top between the 524 and 505 (between the radar dome and Coopers Knob)).  Good views and there was even a bit of snow around.  Back to the bike (a slightly different route) and on along the poached singletrack, enjoying it's downwardness.  

Back on the road and onwards back towards home.  Nice roll down to the kiwi then up the road to top of Vic.  Checked the maps again and could see T was just around past Sugarloaf on what we call her knob, so I headed on around, watching them descending it and arriving at the saddle by the pond just as they got there.  Nice surprise and another catch-up.  Said our so-longs and I headed back around the Summit.  The Traverse below was wet as, so I stayed off that, then took the main track down through to skidder, then road all the way home for some nice smooth speed.   

Disappointingly, and somewhat surprisingly, only 11.6 kms and 480 climbed...

Keeping our Wits About Us on View Hill in Matariki Weather.

T and me left Little Brook at 10.15ish.  She walked and I rode at her pace. Nice conversational cruise. Sunshine and rain. Cold but well dressed for the occasion. 

(Around an hour and a half in)

Steep walking or if too slippy. 2 hours we were past the gate, another 20 to the top in cloud and bitter wind. 

(at the top - bitterly cold wind driven fog)

T set off down and I had to head over to the leeward side (where we'd just been resting) finish my half-half-one-square before setting off (she ate hers as she walked). Down the ridge, into the freezing wind and cloud moisture, to find T a little lost.  Guided her over and stayed with her for a while after that, keeping close until the gate, with riding treacherously slippery and rough. Her running was almost faster. 

Below the gate I got a bit more speed on, saying my goodbye to her. Rough as guts, and slippery to boot, speed and flow was not the way of the ride, until, the odd section. Then the smoother gravel. Lots of speed here but needing to keep it toned. Carefully, carefully down the concrete channeled section, feeling almost a little out of control but then gradually releasing the gravity beast and gaining velocity up, up into a crescendo, tires on gravel, wind, everything rushing quickly toward me. My old friend rapido-speed. Rolling rapidly, so comfortably, through past the Craw (Andrew? Was that you?) on the ladder, "gudday," "gudday."

Now the next gravel, a few pedal strokes once the speed was low enough for top gear, over the rise and coasting again, lovely brakes-unneeded descent to the seal, then down around main descent. Coasting faster and faster, no pedaling no braking needed until a couple of wee checks for corners. Bliss. Such a good speed and view and comfort level of flow and road and machine and body all working perfectly together.  And a rainbow that I rode into before coming round on the bridge and lovely trees and bush either side and there was rain, all down here lit by the sun, floaty-motey droplets. Past the church and around past a woman walking entirely unaware of my approach and likely just as unaware of my departure. Speed building, shooting down past the beach, easing around the corner and, find the gear, start cranking... Final driveway, stopped and chatted with Adrian for a bit., then cranked on up the drive...

A reasonable 15.15 kms, and at least 762 m climbed (even if MMR only says it was 746...).

Saturday, Which Hill?

Tra'y and me headed up, her on her ebike and me on the Troll. Up Vic Park Rd, up through Skidder, and up the grunter, me pushing both our bikes for a bit.  Hit the Summit Rd and she cruised while I chuffed.  At Vernon I headed up onto the singletrack and had a nice conTrolled cruise around and down, meeting her at the gate and heading on around to the other end of Witch Hill, where we took the walk track up for a bit, locked our bikes and walked, clambered, scrambled up to the stone seat on the top. There were a couple of Furries having themselves a nice photoshoot up here.  Interesting.  

We clambered back down to the bikes and headed back around the Summit.  I took the Traverse and then lost Tra'y somewhere above.  Rode down the grunter through Skidder, out to 19th, turned back and spotted her coming down into Skidder.  Then we hooned back down home. Fun riding the Troll,  

15.5 kms rolled, and over 500 m lofted.

Tour de Bridges # 2, Saturday Trolling.

Just me today, on the Troll.  We'd had the first rain for over a month so I thought I'd give the trails a rest (even tho, by all accounts, it was dry-as up there), and I'd been hankering to complete more of the Tour de Bridges coverage, to explore further up the Heathcote and take another look at the top end of the Avon.  

So, I headed down the more interesting byways of the hill (zigzag (Longhurst Reserve), Kidson, Whisby, MacMillan, Lady Polson, up the XXXVII steps to Sassaram, dropping out at the Bengal-top down the wee singletrack and steps to Shalamar driveway).  Headed through the Old Stone House, crossing bridge #1 on Holmcroft, then #2 across Cashmere Stream, momentarily, before ducking into the Cracroft woods along the river, bridge 3 crossing Cashmere Rd, left into Ferniehurst (#4 (first actual Heathcote River (number of Heathcote crossings in brackets henceforth))), and Nor'west Arc bike-route back streets through to Centenial Park, along the river, #5(2) Sparks Rd, then Pablo Pl, MacBeath, Smarlea (#6(3)) to (Glynn, Cobham) Domain Tce, left across the park here for bridge number 7(4), alleyway to Hoon Hay Rd, turned right along footpath, Coppell Pl, right on Lincoln Rd (#8(5)) , and left into Annex.  Around the side of Seager Park, following a bit of trail alongside of a drainage thing, cutting across this on double-sleeper bridge (9), left onto the motorway to cross the Heathcote briefly (10(6)), then across the road towards Carmelite, and backtracking briefly onto the biketrack back over the river (11(7)) and a left into the 360 upstream towards Nga Puna Wai.  Peeled off here towards the motorway into wetlands and eventually under the motorway underbridge (minus 1??), #12 (small drainage wetland thingy), #13 along Wigram Rd into Hayton Stream Drainage Reserve through to Lodestar Rd, leaving the Heathcote tributaries here.  Up Vickery's Rd to Hayton, over the Railway (#14), estimatedly leaving the Heathcote Catchment here.  Followed along Nga Mahi Rd until I could cut through the gym equipment carpark, crossing Blenheim Rd (thinking I might be able to cut through this block like I used to, but nope - so it was...) back along to the roundabout, right into Main South, left into Greenhurst, following Takaro (realising I could have gone through Sockburn Park (where the old pool was!), Middlepark to Yaldhurst onto Avonhead Rd. 

Along towards the 'hood I was dragged up in, crossing Ilam Stream (head of the Avon), bridge number 15, heading down Parkstone, nice leafy street down to the old Teachers College, jumping into nice bushy pathway along the Stream (rejoining the 360 again), crossing Ilam Stream on Peer St (#16), down Athol and into the Halls of Residence, left into Staff Club (haven't been there for years (after practically growing up there) - hardly changed) and crossing footbridge (#17) below the weir, along Ilam Rd to the Playcentre entrance to go follow Okeover (#s 18 and 19), following through along to cross at Eng (20, then again on Forestry Rd, 21) behind Forestry and MacMillan Brown, out to Arts Rd along carpark to head onto Clyde Rd (Ilam Stream again, #22) and down Hinau through to Riccarton Bush, staying on the south side of the river along through past Boys High into Matai St, left into Harakeke (23), right into Daresbury Lane, right on the Rail Trail  (24), left over the railway and down Matai into Hagley Park to head for home.  Crossed 25 and 26 in here, then across Moorhouse onto Grove - Church Sq - Collins, lights next to new bike bridge under construction - Simeon, riding with a guy who'd overtaken me in Hagley and chatting all the way down through to Studholme and over the footbridge (27(back onto the Heathcote, #8)) into Ernle Clarke, where I peeled right along the track, then zigzag over the river, crossing 28(9) to Ashgrove, footbridge (29(10)), footbridge (30(11)), Fairview (31(12)), footbridge (32(13)) and the first of the Heathcotes, Ferniehurst ((33(14)), whereupon, to finish myself off, I ground my way up Bengal, Delhi, Polson, Hackthorne home.

Over 30kms and 285m climbed through interesting places, 33 (wittingly) bridges in total, crossing the Heathcote 14 times and encapturing the top end of both catchments.

Saturday Moveable Feast, Tour de Bridges du Heathcote

T and me had a hoon. Her on the E and me on the Troll. Down Dyers and Hackthorne, Lady Poison, out to Bengal and then across the Ferniehurst Bridge, #1.  From here, we crossed every single bridge across the Heathcote River from Cracroft(ish) to Ferrymead.  All told, 31. (tho, technically 30, because the Heathcote Cut bridge isnt necessarily over the Heathcote River as such).  It was fun.  We alternated sides all the way to Hanson's Park where we were stymied by a closed trail along the frontages of those houses, so we went back over that bridge (Steiner school - #20) and popped over and back on the next footbridge (Aynsely Tce - #21).  Continued the alternate-sides thing from there on down.  Diverting, first off the river to Stuff Woolston and the Salatore Armani, on Ferry Rd, then over the next 'couple' of bridges, to La Voute on Marshall St.  Back to Cumnor to roll around and detour into the Tannery.  Had very moderate feed on Sushi, then down for a drink at Cassells, then a little more shopping and it was time to ride again.

Bridge number 28, Garlands Rd and immediately right onto King Edward Tce then around the back of all the factories on the inside of the loop (stopped for a small feed of blackberries and rearrangement of baggage at the start).  What a lovely trail along here.  Lots of well-grown native planting, quite real singletrack, some roots, nice fun.  Then, Long St, bridge, singletrack again along to the Tunnel Rd Bridge, under this, to then salmon back over it towards the roundabout and along the towpath trail the rest of the way to Ferrymead Bridge (#31, tho technically #30), crossed this, used the lights to cross Main Road and then back over bridge to ride along the estuary and into Charlesworth Reserve (man the plantings are coming up!), straight shot up Linwood Ave to the cemeteries and moseying through the dead's zone.  In hindsight we took a wrong turn here, heading across into Cypress Garden Reserve and up into Ruru Lawn, onto Ruru Rd, then McGregors up to hit Kerrs. (should have stayed in Bromley Cemetery then gone Keighleys and McGregors Rds to Linwood Cemetery (for future reference)).  

Straight shot up Kerrs Rd, to Kerrs Reach, finding new landscaping and fenced off areas, stopping us getting onto the new tarmac path in there.  Found a way in, then out, and followed this new, amazing, path from here over the first new bridge, through Dallington Loop, all our old redzone dog running grounds, beautifully planted up, cycle crossing across Gayhurst, more plantings augmenting the old garden plants, new bridge into our main old dog running loop, amazing, looping around this and over the new Medway Bridge then up the new closed off River Rd towards our old streets.  So great to see it all coming up so beautifully.  Along past Riverlution and then stayed on this side of the road following it to Fitzgerald into into Poms for some imbibement and fries.

Kilmore St and then around the river through Victoria Sq, then along the strip, locking the bikes and checking out Kanoshi for some kai, then we headed for Electric Ave, meandering around the outside edge of it (another bridge involved) and checking out the vibe.  Certainly getting later now.  Continued across Hagley and around past the hospital, all on bikepaths, and then took the Antigua, Strickland, Colombo straight shot home.  Hard yakka up the hill for me.  I kept telling T to go ahead and get home, but she loyally stayed with me all the way.

 

A rather fun 44.87 kms, with 314 m climbed (220 of which were hard chuffed).

Sunday Summit Troll

Still hadn't fixed the Stooge flat; still waiting for the suspension part from Cotic; so resigned to take the Troll (didn't even occur to me to take the fatty or the BFe...) out for a nice blast out and back. Rode some nuts single-track and a bunch of road. 

Up through all the usual, over 19th, Skidder, short walk up the grunter and then riding the rest to the top of Vic.  Popped up to my stone shelter to see if there were any blackberries (they were all scody), then back onto the road and stuck to it all the way to Huntsbury-top, hitting Vernon singletrack from here.  Nice flowy slowy bomb down, keeping it sketch, then through Rapaki and stayed on the road from here to top of Castle.  A youngish couple arrived and I said, "You heading down?" "Yep, but we'll be slow"  I said I wasn't sure what I was doing but then I decided on the spot to head down too.  Dropped in and proceeded to flow where it was flowy and slow where it was slowy.  Went pretty well, including only one dab due to traction loss on the climb.  Onto the road and climbed back up, seeing the couple riding slower than I had down the trail...  Up the road and down, fast coasting roll through towards Witch, decided to take the Witch Hill trail and proceeded to climb up it no problem at all, bar that one rocky section.  Breather at the high point then dropping around cleaning all the tech carefully to the end, and up the road below Vernon.  Annoying head wind up overlooking Dry Bush valley.  

Into the Traverse and hoofed it around here pretty nicely.  Love the standing-in-the-pedals-cranking mode on the rigid machines.  It's a very lithe bike.  All the way around the Traverse I was slowly winding in a rider ahead.  Caught her and a few others right at the end.  Into the trees, dropped down through, onto Brake Free then peeled left into the Pines, and dropped down through the Gums, exiting at the Skidder (figuring the trail below to still be blocked).  Up towards 19th and passed a guy on an interesting looking rig. "Is that an Evil Sovereign?" "Nah, it's a Marino" which I misheard as Merida and was surprised, until I realised what he'd said.  It was one of the Sick bikes of the recent past.  Slack and low, sweet steel.  I realise now I've seen it out there before.  Anyway, we chatted for ages.  Then I headed off down and through, into the DogParkCarPark, overgrown to start, and a little damp.  Peeled onto my new line, and appalled to find the water in the woods emerging even higher up.  Bloody Council slack-arses.

Lithely provocateured, 20 odd km, and up 710 m

Wetnesday Whetted Mean Streets

Wet evening so not really any off-road options available, as such, it was decided a 'roadie' ride to be had.  I headed to Nelson's in the car with the Troll (still wearing its mudguards) in the back - useful for the conditions.

Off we headed up the hill - Santa Maria - Selleck - Assisi into Drayton and then up Mt Pleasant, grinding away to the top. Nice climb and there wasn't really any rain, nor traffic, around at all.  However, once we headed down the Summit Rd into the fog (headlights too bright, handlebar okay) the rain started to spit a bit.  Down to the big pines and through the gate and over the fence.  Sticky but surprisingly good traction track down to stile and then down to some more.  Mucksome track, it was.  Decided against Frog Pond and took the more ridge based track.  I walked a couple of tech bits, not trusting my traction, but Nelson boffed off down them no probs.  Took the lower exit to Clifton and headed up Revelation Drive to explore, as far up as we could, then back down to Galilee Lane, dropping down a wee ways, but not that far, before clambering back out.  Then down Panorama, surprised how far down York's old place was, and dropping down his old (private access!) driveway past his house and dropped to the watertank, around this and then walked down the steps.  Then we were on Tuawera Tce and couldn't quite work out where the 'secret' alleyway was down.  Went too far down here, then turned back and decided to hit the driveway that led us to it - dropping down this (i walked the steps) onto Kinsey Tce, and it was left down Mulgans.  Tricknical cornering (dab, dab, dab).  

On the flat again, around Moncks and then up Augusta, all the way to the top, trying to work out where a shortcut through I found once was...  Ended up taking a driveway up (much to the chagrin of a dog) and around to a vacant lot but couldn't work out how to get across to Challenger Lane so back off down, around into Taupata, then up Egnot and Challenger, steeeeep.  Zigging and zagging on the road seemed to help, but it was definitely walking up to Daring Lane, onto Glenstrae and upwards, more zig zagging and Monck's Spur top, riding no problem, and out to Mt Pleasant Rd for a sweet descent down, Drayton etc back the way we'd climbed.  

Good ride, nice loop. Over 15kms and 670m climbed, a little of which I had to walk

Sunday Snow Troll Like It

Exercise needed and conditions bleak, so I put the mudguards on the Troll and headed up into Vic Park, along with half of Christchurch who were looking for the snow and slush. Mucky over 19th, with a few smatterings of the white stuff, and Skidder was a flooded muckfest, but the gums were quite bent over under the weight of it all, and the rabbit paddock was white as.  Thicker out of the trees, I managed to get to the carpark at the top 

and decided against riding along the road, which was grit and slushy snowy wheeltracks - no real room for skinny knobblies, and they wouldnt have been very safe.  I trecked up to my stony shelter and enjoyed the view, 

then headed on down.  Fun times, and through the gums was great, super sketch, took the 'main' route down here, but peeled off just before Sesame to take in my last zig and zag (with the old log jump) and out to Skidder, then road to DogParkCarpark, and into the singletrack for a fun sketch and surprisingly grippy descent.  Took it all the way down to H'Ell, out onto the road, rolling down and dropping down Takahe Drive into Kidson, descending to the school alleyway, climbing up this and through the school and then home on Hackthorne.  

Not much, 7.2 kms, and only 240 m climbed.

Friday Long Troll-Way Home from Work

Rode the Troll to work and on the way home meandered across to Rapaki, up the Elevator - which takes a lonnng time and seems further and harder than Rapaki itself would be.  Cleaned no problem all the way up Rapaki, onto the Summit Rd and then onto the Traverse, sun-setting just as I was coming around out of the top of Hidden Valley.  Still enough light around to Vic then down the Gummies, into Skidder, and over 19th, down road and getting pretty dim in the DogParkCarPark trail (meeting (and freaking out) a nice wee doggie who barked at me a lot), then out the To H'Ell track, down to home. 

Good commute bonus, 17.4 kms 485 m climbed

Wednesday Ada Troll, Cratered

Shitty day, shitty mood, shitty sleep, shitty day at work, mood: glum.  So, to clear my head I took the Troll up the hill... Grunted up through Vic (same pace as a girl running (ahead) until above the first gate where it gentles off a little and I passed her before the upper dog park entrance).  Up through the 19th and over to skidder and the usual walk up the grunter.  All the way to the Summit Rd for the nice roll down to the Kiwi.  Across the Pass and up the next section of Summit Rd, jollying up and up til it settled off.  Nice cruise down(ish) around to the first saddle where I took to the Crater Rim walkway and rode (and dabbed and walked) through the slippery rocky trail along adjacent to the road.  Nice bush, lovely bellbirds singing.  Explored off down Bush Rd to the left a wee ways, then back up to continue through the next saddle and staying on the Crater Rim up around the flank of Ada (past Ella's) through the previously burned section.  Very overgrown, ended up walking quite a bit of it, but rode some.  View towards Marleys and town (Sugarloaf on the right).

Left up the Ada track to the top, riding and walking.  Excellent view up here. 

Off down from here down to the road again, some fun, narrow then at the bottom wide speed.  Onto the road and towards home, rolling start, then tucked speed through the first saddle and fast standing cranking around to sitting climbing gently back towards Marleys and then faaasstt rolling coast down back to Kiwi, through the top and up, climb climb to top of Vic and off down the usual singletracks, rocks, gums (log needs cutting - still), then out to skidder, over 19th, down to Dogpark Carpark and weaving and jumping through this, ballbearings!!! (acorns), and out to home.  

A nice jaunt, all round - 14(ish) km, and a little under 500 m climbed.

Saturday View Hill Part-way

T, Nik and Blair were walking up to Chorlton.  I ran Jet around a short loop with the bike, then rode up past them to the top and up the gravel road, walking the steepest bits then riding on up to the pine tree intersection. 

Rested out of the wind for a bit, took in the view and bombed back down.  Fast as all heck on the gravel, not feeling quite as comfy as on the fatty.  Once on the seal it was faster still, around the corner and into the wind, which slowed things a little.  

Windy, 10.66 kms and 468 m climbed. 

Monday, Troll to the Bach, the Hard Way, With Inclemency

Miserably wet, but surprisingly enjoyable journey to the bach today.  Kitted up the Troll, 'guards and all, everything sealed against the elements.  Getting excellent use out of the 3 bags I used.  Encountered pissing howling southerly, trying to wrench control of the bike on certain sections of all of the tops I traversed.  

Left home 1.30 pm and headed up to the Summit through Vic.  Onto Summit Rd and headed around, with gales trying to make me crash below Sugarloaf, then Vernon/Rapaki-top, and most of the way from Witch, especially the saddle before the Tors - so strong!  Sections of wild tailwind too, and pedalling into the wind on a couple of the downhills.  Whiteout just before Bridle Path.   - all actions to be repeated on all the higher sections of the trip.  Troll'stopher rode much better than last time, brakes holding out nicely and new Fast Track tyres gripping accurately.  Across top of Ticehurst Tce and down the valley into Lyttelton and straight down to the Ferry, 2.30 pm for the 2.50.  1 hr in.

Off the boat, up the hill and grabbed a bite for later from the cafe above.  Patches of sun around.  Down into Purau nice, then into the climb.  This went better than last time, not being nearly as hot.  Hunger got the better of me part way up so I stopped on some dry dirt under a Kanuka on a corner and ate.  A few cars up, one or two down.  Got riding again and felt heaps better.  Slow and steady, grinding away at it.  A couple of short walking stints and lots of grind.  Amazing moody views everywhere, and long periods of time with the whole road to myself.  Gale just over the top, from the side, and behind as I was heading down.  Fast fast fast down, and brakes much better than last time too, scrubbing off speed before the 25kph at the bottom, then rolling around to the church.

Stopped here and looked for a tap, finding none, so I captured rainwater dribbling out of the downpipe - enough in the filter to refill my bottle and headed down to the waterfront and around.  Climb over into next waterfront and then up to the Pigeon Bay turnoff, a sheep leading the way.  Gravel began and biiig climb ahead.  Wetter and wetter as I climbed, grinding away, 

eventually I got to a dry spot under some macracarpas out of the wind where I stripped off and put on dry singlet, longsleeve and windvest under wet raincoat, and my hat.  Much better.  Texted T from here too, it was 5.30pm, 4 hours since I left home.  Onwards upwards, short walk up around the corner, higher and higher then finally over the top, gusty winds on the initial descent then down down down narrow gravel rd, fast and controlled and fun as heck.  Nice and long, then around down and through Holmes Bay and over to Pigeon.  Not a single car encountered all the way until a local in Holmes Bay.    

Up valley here it was dry, and I think the sun tried to come out, but moody and dark over Mt Pearce and the rest of the tops.  Stopped in at Hays Reserve and ate a OneSquare and explored the tracks a little - lovely big podocarps, then riding again, on up the valley, a lonnng grind, walking, riding, walking, riding, taking a call from dad, and texting T "nearly at the top" (it was 7.10pm) and only finally making the top at 7.30pm -  not 'nearly' at all.  "Nearly" if you were in a car, for sure.  Fun steers all running to see me and follow me up the last paddock to the top.  They were great company.

Onto the Summit Rd here and the final leg.  Seemed surprisingly flat around to the old water-trough corner, then that tight wee climb and surprisingly flat around to the corner that's just been cleared of the big macracarpas.  But then seemed to take ages to get around this corner and up to the logging entrance, then encountered the first 2 or 3 cars I'd seen since the bottom of Pigeon, climbing up around the tight corners before Little Ak. around the last tight bushy corner and a mac was roaring in the wind but I wasn't feeling it, then the powerlines were screaming and I was barely buffetted, then around the corner, uphill straight, gale wind pushing me along.  Spectacular!  Over the top and the tailwind pushing me down hill at a rate of knots, it wasnt until coach corner that I felt the wind in my face from the speed of my descent.  Fast down, very enjoyable rolling with speed down the steeps and then through the lower rolling valley section, finally up the drive to the bach, 6 hours, 45 minutes since I left home.

The long and hard way, 60 kms, 2150 m in dead-slow ups and exhilarating descents.  Added bonus of 220 m extra down - steep as they were. 

Quick Dog Run

Quick up on the Troll with Jet last night, testing out my new tires.  He was gagging for it, even tho his old man hips were gonna be screaming at him later.  We cruised up the walking path, and into the bushy one, then up between road and dog park to the carpark, straight across into the trail.  He faffed around a bit and then some riders came through, then a couple of runners who I let past.  Then we got going, stopping a couple of times to let him catch up.  Jumped the tree branch, waited, then through oaks, up to the right, up around to dogparkbottom and down, into Charles' Track.  Nice and broad now, easy riding, will use more often.    

Then headed left out the side (cos there were some people with a dog going up on the other side), and down across the grassy bits to home.

Not even 2 km, and (by my own calculations) 86 m climbed. (MMR says it was only 55, but that's bollocks, lowest point, 222 m, highest point, 296 m, descended to 259, climbed again to 271, and back down...)

Sunday Troll with T (on the E), Summit, Kennedy's, Library and Quarryman's to car

Needed to collect the car from P&J's after Paul drove me home after our gig last night.  

Rode up Vic Park Rd on the Troll with T on her E.  I took Thompson's #1 and met her down towards the Kiwi and we hit the Summit Rd climbing up and around, all the way to Kennedy's.  She wasn't sure, but managed fine, rough ride down, all the way to the end of the trail (I took the singletrack from the Siberia gate, then onto the road smoooooth flying.  Headed along to Te Hapua Halswell (that ends well) Library, where we got some books, and then snuck backways into the Domain and rode through this to meet the Quarryman's trail which we rode all the way, into the wind, to Pioneer Park where we caught up with P and J who were having a wee community planting lunch picnic.   Tracey rode home via Bengal while I chucked the Troll in the back and brought the car home.

Nice little 20 kms and I did 374 m climbing, (T added another 220 to that riding home)

Off to balmy Lake Poteriteri on Tuesday, so, no more rides for November...

Saturday Troll and Epic-nic

With me on the Troll and Tra'y on her e-commuter we rode up through Vic to the top.  I took Thompson's #1 and met her at the bottom of #2 where she was waiting.  Through the pass and up and around all the way to the Bellbird looking for a sheltered spot to sit for a picnic.  At the Bellbird we popped over and up to a nice stone seat out of the wind and had a magnificent-salad picnic.  

Back the way we came, she went down Dyer's Pass where I rode up top and down the gums etc out to Skidder and down.  Good run.  Then I took the dogparkcarpark trail down, cutting out the walking 'To Harry Ell' track.

Not much under 16 kms, and 475 m climbed.

Saturday Troll with some e-Ladies

With Tra'y, Pia and Natalie on ebikes, I rode the Troll, and we headed up through Vic and along the Summit Rd to just past the Bellbird. Parked the bikes off the road just inside the bush and went for a short walk to check out the totaras and then the view of the harbour.  Back to the bikes and we rode all the way back. On the way up I took both Thompson's, and on the way back the girls went down Dyers while I went up to top of Vic and down all the usuals and we all met up again at 19th where I said goodbye to the visitors as I bombed off and took all the single-track home.

A groovy 16.4 kms and not a bad wee 491 m climbed.

Sunday Troll to the Witch

Headed up on the Troll, usuals, 19th, Skidder, a wee walk on the gruntsville.  Into Thompson's number one for a nice wee jaunt, then back up hill on the \Summit Rd, staying on this all the way to Mt Vernon.  Up onto the single-track, taking the tech line and sketching the traction down at surprising speed to Rapaki-top, and straight into the Witch.  The tech was interesting on the Troll - surprisingly rideable, and I wondered why those mountainbikers on the road down there weren't riding the mountainbike track when I was managing perfectly finely on the inappropriately-tyred Troll. 

At the end of the Witch Hill singletrack I turned back up the walking track, riding a little, then pushing, then pushing steeper - a fair way up towards the summit, leaving the bike and climbing all the way to the top. Discovered the cool old stone chair up here, with excellent views.  Had a chat to a magpie who was hanging out to check me out, then clambered down back to the bike. 

Back down on the walking track I did a little explore along it back towards Rapaki and found it to be quite amenable until the last tech rocks that I walked the bike on its back wheel down - will ride in future on a 'proper' bike. Riding again, up around Vernon on the road and onto the Traverse, for a good bombing around this, relishing the feel of the bike, even with the minimal traction. Lovely flow all the way.  

Into the top-of-Vic forest, past the jumps, down the rabbit paddock, into the rocks - finally stalling here, then biff boff baff down through the gums, and below - all the way out, onto road at 19th, into dogparkcarpark bomb, a little slick in places, and out To H'Ell, onto the road, blasty blast home.

15.75 kms and 532 m climbed.

Sunday Lap of the Harbour: Summit, Bayview, Ferry, Bridle Path and Summit

Biiig ride today on the Troll.  Bit drizzly around the tops and so I wasn't wanting greasefest riding in Vic or elsewhere so I headed up on the Troll, not really sure how big or far I would go.  Up through Vic, walking the usual section and then tentatively negotiating the traction free Thompson #1.  

Onto road and rolling, through Dyers and upwards along the summit.  Drizzle at times quite heavy, so ended up pulling over and swapping out some clothing.  On around the ups and downs of the summit, eventually pulling over to the Living Springs seat, but there was a foul wind howling through the saddle so I bailed back up into the bush for a bite to eat.  Some walkers turned up from below.  Said our pleasantries and I got rolling again.  Nice cruise around over Omaha Bush, pulling into Ahuriri for a wee look.  Then back onto the descent, lovely long rolling fly down the 'bastard' to Gebbies, still undecided which direction I was heading.  At the pass, I could see Motukarara basking in sunshine, vs less so, but still some, in the harbour.  Got my maps out and worked it out.  Via Taitapu was going to be further distance, so I turned left.  

FAASSTT down Gebbies, so fast.  Then kept a good pace rolling across Teddington flats, turned right and headed towards Diamond Harbour.  The climb from Loudon over to Charteris was longer than I recalled, but was good to cruise down, and across Charteris around the water front, for some weird reason I decided to take Bayview Rd.  Steep bastard.  Up and up, stopped to commune with kereru, then finished the climb.  Nice drop down through the gully and then climb again.  Past Elaine's place, and the first turn off to the left, dropped into the next gully and took a walking track down, meandering very level gentle descent slightly greasy, thinking I was on the next one over and thinking I'd come out Whero Ave, I was suprised when I didn't recognise anything as I exited the trail.  Ngatea Rd it turned out to be, curved down and around onto the main road and onwards I progressed, dropping into the next valley and climbing past Whero Ave dropping down past the Mt Herbert track crossing and up to Waipapa Rd.  Flew down this and straight ahead into where Godley House used to be, down the pathway.  Filled up water at the loos, then took the sealed walktrack down to the steps, budump budump budump down to the wharf to wait for the boat.

Across the harbour and into Lyttelton, climbed up Oxford, across London, up Hawkhurst into Ticehurst acrosss, riding all of it ugh, and then into the Bridle Path, walking from here, all the way to the top.  Ugh.

Summit Rd, good climb to Castle, then the bomb.  Wind caught my helmet visor and slammed it down onto my face, briefly blinding me.  Tail wind and descending very nicely around under Witch Hill then climbing began from Rapaki around over Farm Track and up onto the singletrack - Traverse around, quite splecky from the earlier rain and drizzle, then down through Vic, greasy, and down the grunter, fast through Skidder, and out onto the road for the final speed blast down home.

Extensive 47 kms ridden, trod and bombed, with 1446 m vertical ascended  

Tuesday Wet Streets in the Squall

Exhausted when I got home from work, I was very willing to bail on riding.  We'd organised to go from Nelson's and the southerly had been hitting that end of the hills all day, so figured it'd be pretty dank over there.  Decided to pull finger anyway and druv myself over to Nelso's kinda late, planning on a street ride, getting on towards 6 by the time I got there.  Closer I got to his place, squall after squall were hitting and I was thinking this is gonna be a bit shit, do we really wanna be doing this?  Turns out, we did.

I had the 'guards on the Troll, so at least my undercarriage wouldnt be wet!  Out from his and up Santa Maria, over and down to Maffey's, super steeping.  Across the road onto a wee singletrack that took us around the edge of MacCormacks Bay and rugby fields - greasy for inappropriate tyres, then around into Redcliffs along the wrongside footpath ducking up the first Cul-de-sac Raekura Pl, wondering if there'd be a secret redzone path along the cliff - nope.  Back out, around and into, and around, Taupata, avoiding Egnot, but heading up Augusta to as far as we could go.  I walked a bit towards the end.  Rain and squalls, in sheets of wind, were regaling us with glory.  Back down the hill, faster-pushed by the wind, around past the old New World (why are the lights on all the time!?), into Barnett's Park carpark, then back out, and up Wakatu, then Bay View to the end.  Back down, and along to and up Cliff St and Emily Heights.  Woo steep, bit of walking and some steep ass riding.  Good view from up here.  

Bombed back down and next up it was Mulgan's.  Nice.  I pushed heaps, Nelson rode most.  Out Kinsey, down a little onto Clifton, and up again, this time to the Zig Zag, nice drop down this, tight corners - always different to memory, and tricksy steps at the bottom.  Out and across the road, in next to surf club and onto the bike path and headed towards home again.  Major wind and squall, particularly around Shagged Rock corner, buffetted all over the place, rain slicing and dicing. Then along the water front all the way around and back into MacCormacks bay to head back up Maffeys, just for shigs and gittles.  Surprisingly, I made it quite a way up into the steep zone, until a wind gust stopped me in my (very slow) tracks. Walked a good portion while Nelson cleaned it all in 4th gear! (his 5th, we reckon, was about the same as my low).  Going got easier again and I rode the rest over and down to his.  Good, albeit slightly moist, spin.  

Amazingly, 14.3 kms, with a pretty good 476 m scrambled.

Saturday Some Summit, Vernontroll

Took the Troll out, up through the usuals, 19th, Skidder, then walked up the diagonal (through the gap jump below the Sesame wallride) into the Gums to top pines and then, riding again, up rabbit paddock to top of Vic.  Dived into Thompson's #1 for a nice blat, then back up Summit Rd from here, brief rest up at the stoney shelter, and back on the road heading east into the wind.  Around and out, heading to the top of Vernon, carrying bike on shoulders to top, for a bit of a stretch and no view to be seen with the cloud capping the peak.  

Off down to the north, walking the techy rocks (that'd I'd definitely ride on the Rocky, then some sweet swoopy singletrack down the rest of the way to the mtb trail, hung a hard left and climbed back around to top of Huntsbury.and along Summit to Vernon, carried to the top in the cloud, down the front, some lovely trail, then Traverse all the way back to Vic.  Troll was riding super smooth and fun.  Down through the rocks and gums right through to the road and below this for a blit then onto road through the corners and coasting to the dog carpark and dived straight into the squirrelly squiggly fun times, then climbing straight up to road and fast coast home.

Legit 11.8 kms distanced and 387 m altituded.