Met up with the makings of the same crew as last week, more accuracy in name gathering this time, Mark, Phil, Tones, Rob being stalwarts of last week, and another Rob and another guy who's name I didn't catch, plus Nelson and me. Met them at The Takahe, and set off at 6.30pm. Headed up Vic Park Rd, hanging a right a little way up, down some steps and through a nice wee forest trail down to the Harry Ell track, climbing this up all the way to the top, only pissing off about 4 runners on their ways down. I gronked my knee trying to step up the rocky step up just above the road, and failed to clean the steps half way up. Good run the rest of the way. At the top we could hear some dumbarse boy racers yelling on the road below, sounded like they'd dropped a wheel off the road or something and were having trouble. haha.
Everybody attempted the steeeep loose climb into the macracarpas of the lower Thompson, some with some success, others (like me), not so much. Up from here then up the road to the top Vic Park carpark, then above the road, climbing up towards Sugarloaf to the carpark. Some steep in here, and a fence. Next it was off down towards the Kiwi. Some techy rock steps and drops and right at the bottom some fucking horrible steps that I baulked and walked. From the Kiwi we rode up the road to the first saddle and headed off down the Governor's Bay track (lower entrance), and within 50 m Nelson had OTB'd; happily with no injuries. Onwards again and we headed all the way down the switchbacks, ducked through the (VERY) tight shrubbery at the bottom and out onto the driveway.
Now for something we'd never done... Down. Down down down, steep(ish in places), greasy (southern facing slopes), and thankfully (considering the circumstances) not too tech. But, good blaze down, a regroup half way, and it wends and winds it's way down all over the place. One super wet greasy section that had one of the Robs (in front of me) off the side of the trail, and caked our tires up something wicked. A short climb within, then back and forth down a bunch of switchbacks to the end (the last(?) driveway up from Governors Bay on Dyers Pass Rd?). Regroup here and it was off up again. Nelson and Rob raced off ahead, by all accounts cleaning heaps, but dabbing and walking a few bits. I got in there and flailed my way into the first couple corners and spun out and lost balance and dabbed and walked an awful lot of the way up, being overtaken by all except the guy who's name I didn't catch, who was dragging behind worse than me. Caught Phil and Tones up a couple of times, but they were cleaning heaps more than me. 29er grip???? or just my ineptitude? (the latter, methinks).
Back at the driveway and regruppo'd and then off up through the shrubs which just ruined me. The switchbacks above here I've never had much luck on, and I had the power in some but not the balance, or I had the balance but ran out of power in others. The main track across the face above the road I had more luck on, except for my balance constantly pulling me over to the left, leaving me walking a whole bunch of the top section to the waiting guys.
Across the road here and into the lower reaches of the Nun, me taking very carefully after last week's shoulder damage. Across Dyer's Pass and up the road to the top of Vic, dropping into Coffee Break across and back then down into Brake Free for a few yumpies, then around and back into the rabbit paddock and down through the rocks and into the gums, blasting left into my favourite, I had Mark tight on my tail, yelling out instructions "LEFT" to those guys behind him, and Nelson in the lead. Popped, dropped and wove our way down to the skidder site for another regroup.
Across towards 19th memorial, like last week, cruising across the top again and down the trails we'd taken last week, but once in the walking trails instead of heading down we continued across and up a bit, past the slide (tho not visible), and down to the Dog Park. Through this and down to the lower exit into those pines we've ridden up and down a few times. In the pines, Phil led us on a wild goose chase across looking for a 'cool trail' they'd found years ago. No luck, but we ended up back near the top of the forest (lower end of the dog park) and worked our way down a not-bad track to come out at the top of Harry Ell Drive, bombing down this around into Longhurst and back to the cars...
over 600m climbed, in 14.5kms
Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Thursday Upways never before travelled, and downways the same...
Nelsie picked me up from home and we headed over to meet some dudes he's ridden with before. A bunch of names I'll never remember, but including at least one Nigel, and a Mark, and a Darren and a Paul?, and a few others... Must have been at least 9 or 10 of us. Met outside the empty lot that was Kaizuka (bugger). I found I'd left my handlebar light at home, so was headlamp only. Also, started mymapmyride here, but stopped paused it til further up the hill. Headed up Bowenvale Ave, then up Old Skool, climbing away, a racer dude and Nelson out front, followed by me (surprisingly), and then the rest trailing out behind. Regrouped a couple times on the way up (first one at the stile, where I resumed mymapmyride), then around into Hidden Valley, peeling left on the walk-track that was near where the old trail used to go across in what was once pine trees, across the face towards the bottom of the Lavaflow. Down some steep steps rutsville next to them to a bridge in the valley, then up the valley track, many cleaning or re-trying to clean sections, most of the tricky ones of which I walked. Got eventually to the top corner, and headed on the easy grade track back towards where Bridges flows out of the forest below Brents.
Up into the Park, under the trees, and UP BRENTS... wtf!? oh, kay... Nelson and the XCer cleaned it, I didn't, Nigel didn't. (oh, should mention here, Nelson, Nigel and me were the only reprezentatives of the 26er), and several others didn't clean it that I saw. On up the trails in here, all taking slightly different meandering lines. Nelson blew himself up and had to sit down to rest before the exit below Rad^sick. Here it was decided we'd go UP SHAZZAS... huh!? okay then... Cleaned way more than I'd have expected, and it was a good chuff. A group went around the usual way, zigging out to the left then back across on the big tracks. Another regroup at the skidder site.
Here it was decided to head for Harry Ell and climb to the top, which was a relief, a nice cruisey cruise, til the top under the trees that the lower of the Thompsons is in, and we climbed up through these to Thompsons, then up this and up the upper one and another regroup at the top, some of the dudes had ridden the road section here too, to catch up. I said that I like my wee favourite in the Gums, so they said "Lead the way!", so off down to the right, then back across, bypassing the see-saw, and down the rabbit paddock and into the rocks, and around and then quick left into my gummy favourite, zipping down here and then out to the skidder site, where we found a group of guys standing around a guy on the floor, putting a space blanket on him, awaiting the ambo... busted up ankle, apparently.
Rode from here across towards the 19th Battalion, and then over the top of it and down some trails I didn't know existed, then briefly up the track the Parker-Hulme girls killed the mother, then hung a tight right and down a bunch of stone steps, trail getting steeper around and down and down and down... MINT. Then, apparently the trail used to go 'thru there' (big fallen tree), so around this and onto a sweeeet techy steep flowy fun trail that just kept going down and down, (still!), til eventually a steeper corner and steep down to a fallen log and regroup while some got saws out and cut through it. The old track was impassable from here, so we found our way up to the right and around, then onto another short steep sweet section down to a walk track, that then spat us out onto the main valley track just above where that guy died one time.
Blasted down the valley from here, feeling more and more cold, and sketchy gravel, and I watched as Nelson flew off his bike at the top of that jump up to the right. Good blast. Regroup then down the road and a quick beer and chat at the Brickworx... Good bunch of guys.
only 13 or so kms, and 455ms gained
Up into the Park, under the trees, and UP BRENTS... wtf!? oh, kay... Nelson and the XCer cleaned it, I didn't, Nigel didn't. (oh, should mention here, Nelson, Nigel and me were the only reprezentatives of the 26er), and several others didn't clean it that I saw. On up the trails in here, all taking slightly different meandering lines. Nelson blew himself up and had to sit down to rest before the exit below Rad^sick. Here it was decided we'd go UP SHAZZAS... huh!? okay then... Cleaned way more than I'd have expected, and it was a good chuff. A group went around the usual way, zigging out to the left then back across on the big tracks. Another regroup at the skidder site.
Here it was decided to head for Harry Ell and climb to the top, which was a relief, a nice cruisey cruise, til the top under the trees that the lower of the Thompsons is in, and we climbed up through these to Thompsons, then up this and up the upper one and another regroup at the top, some of the dudes had ridden the road section here too, to catch up. I said that I like my wee favourite in the Gums, so they said "Lead the way!", so off down to the right, then back across, bypassing the see-saw, and down the rabbit paddock and into the rocks, and around and then quick left into my gummy favourite, zipping down here and then out to the skidder site, where we found a group of guys standing around a guy on the floor, putting a space blanket on him, awaiting the ambo... busted up ankle, apparently.
Rode from here across towards the 19th Battalion, and then over the top of it and down some trails I didn't know existed, then briefly up the track the Parker-Hulme girls killed the mother, then hung a tight right and down a bunch of stone steps, trail getting steeper around and down and down and down... MINT. Then, apparently the trail used to go 'thru there' (big fallen tree), so around this and onto a sweeeet techy steep flowy fun trail that just kept going down and down, (still!), til eventually a steeper corner and steep down to a fallen log and regroup while some got saws out and cut through it. The old track was impassable from here, so we found our way up to the right and around, then onto another short steep sweet section down to a walk track, that then spat us out onto the main valley track just above where that guy died one time.
Blasted down the valley from here, feeling more and more cold, and sketchy gravel, and I watched as Nelson flew off his bike at the top of that jump up to the right. Good blast. Regroup then down the road and a quick beer and chat at the Brickworx... Good bunch of guys.
only 13 or so kms, and 455ms gained
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
2ewsdaie Night Flaying None (but Matt and me...)
For once, a group ride posse... Nelson and me arrived at the Kiwi at 6.10 or so, followed by Wayne in van with Wazza, then Pete flew past up the road, txtd him "Kiwi", and he came back, then Matt flew off up the road, also txtd him "Kiwi", and he turned up. We got riding, up the road, Wazza, Wayne, Nelson and me for a start, then Nelson realised he needed his flashy red, so turned back, and followed with the other two. Nelson passed us on the way up Worsleys Road, and we all assembled eventually at the top of the Nun. I followed Nelson in, and kept him in sight, but I certainly didn't have his rapidity. He slowly left me behind, tho, the gap didn't seem to get too big. I felt like Pete was right on my tail the whole time, until not long before the carpark exit, and from there on down I felt like I was just chasing Nelson. Until the last of the jumps in that lower section. Popped it, landed, and immediately my front wheel slid left, slamming me down onto the trail, arm out in front, sliding along. So hard, that the impact pushed the sleeve of my right arm right up past the elbow. I picked myself up, groaned a lot, unwound the handlebars (the wrong way at first, couldn't tell which direction it was meant to go), and got right back on the horse that threw me. Alas, I could only coast because my chain was off. Groaning some more as Pete arrived on the scene, I reassembled my drivetrain and pedalled on up to groan some more. Went down to the car with Nelson and dropped off my bag, pulled my sleeve down, and generally decided I would soldier on.
Off back up the road. At the carpark half way up, we headed up onto the walking track above the road. Much more interesting, albeit slower, than the road, and rode and climbed the various steps and features of this under-utilised trail. Back onto Worsley Rd, and my shoulder was getting sore, but onwards and upwards. About here, it started to rain quite a lot. Up over the top, and none of the boys to be seen, into the trail and fuck it was greasy and wet and nasty. Nelson had a good turn of speed, but I muppetted my way down, taking it so easy and getting more and more sore as I rolled. The smooth rock assemblages on the corners were like slick ice, and the wet dirt was greasy as a greasy thing, making my progress very cautious, but having to rely on instinct more than sense, rolling it down without too much of a bother. Apparently Matt had crashed soemwhere on the way down too, and sported an awesome spot of leakage on his knee.
Riding too slick for all of us, and still early, so we headed our various ways to the Twisted Hop for to drink some Funkenstein (amongst others), and Nelson and me had some kai.
Bugger all altitude (225m), and bugger all mileage (8.2km)...
Off back up the road. At the carpark half way up, we headed up onto the walking track above the road. Much more interesting, albeit slower, than the road, and rode and climbed the various steps and features of this under-utilised trail. Back onto Worsley Rd, and my shoulder was getting sore, but onwards and upwards. About here, it started to rain quite a lot. Up over the top, and none of the boys to be seen, into the trail and fuck it was greasy and wet and nasty. Nelson had a good turn of speed, but I muppetted my way down, taking it so easy and getting more and more sore as I rolled. The smooth rock assemblages on the corners were like slick ice, and the wet dirt was greasy as a greasy thing, making my progress very cautious, but having to rely on instinct more than sense, rolling it down without too much of a bother. Apparently Matt had crashed soemwhere on the way down too, and sported an awesome spot of leakage on his knee.
Riding too slick for all of us, and still early, so we headed our various ways to the Twisted Hop for to drink some Funkenstein (amongst others), and Nelson and me had some kai.
Bugger all altitude (225m), and bugger all mileage (8.2km)...
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Saturday Wharfdale afternoon
Out to Nelson's with Jet in the car yesterday, collecting some wood on the way to cut on Sunday, and chucked some garlic in his ground, then after some lunch we headed around to View Hill Rd in the Subie.
Got riding at 2.10. Was quite wet in places, water running down the trail, and there was evidence of a few bikes having been through. Heaps of cars at the car park, way more than people we saw... Met three riders coming out, and then overtook a walking couple going in, and then at one of the river crossings we met two other guys on bikes heading in as well. We left them behind, and it took us an hour to get to the saddle where we stopped for a wee break. Headed on over for the hut, enjoying the recently worked up trail. On the way down we spotted one of the other bikers on a section of trail behind, so we figured they mustn't have stopped at the saddle - didn't see them again til at the hut tho.
Trail was greasy in places, roots were sketchy, eyes were spleckedy. General softness of the trail made it a lot more work than usual, so I got pretty tired. Also, the stream crossings, especially the river before the hut, made for wet feet and on the way back our feet were blocks of ice, absolutely frozen solid. Also, with the sun shining sideways through the trees, the flickering was like a strobe. Nelson said it was like looking at camo on camo with a strobe in your face. He wasn't wrong.
Jetty was awesome, running ahead, running with, and dropping behind on the descents. He was so good, and loved every minute of it, but man he got filthy.
Spent a little time down at the river below the hut (where there were a couple of bikes locked to a tree), cleaning our chains and re-lubing before the climb back out. Chatted briefly with the other bikers at the hut, they were gonna head down river for a ways then come back and stay at the hut. On the climb back out we met the walker couple again, on their way down the hill. It was a long hard climb up that hill. Making the saddle was a relief, and my feet were SO cold. Got riding again and the downhill was much appreciated. Stopped half way and wrung out our socks. This helped the feet iceblocks for a little while, but once we were in the final descents the wind chill turned them back to ice. 40 minutes from Saddle back to car. Took a while for the heater to warm up...
Total time riding was 2 and a half hours, over all time 3 hours 20, so we must have spent nearly an hour standing or sitting around... We made it back to the car at around 5.30, and there was only just enough light to have finished in.
29ish kms, and only 883 m climbed. Less climb than Thursday's ride... Felt like a lot more.
Got riding at 2.10. Was quite wet in places, water running down the trail, and there was evidence of a few bikes having been through. Heaps of cars at the car park, way more than people we saw... Met three riders coming out, and then overtook a walking couple going in, and then at one of the river crossings we met two other guys on bikes heading in as well. We left them behind, and it took us an hour to get to the saddle where we stopped for a wee break. Headed on over for the hut, enjoying the recently worked up trail. On the way down we spotted one of the other bikers on a section of trail behind, so we figured they mustn't have stopped at the saddle - didn't see them again til at the hut tho.
Trail was greasy in places, roots were sketchy, eyes were spleckedy. General softness of the trail made it a lot more work than usual, so I got pretty tired. Also, the stream crossings, especially the river before the hut, made for wet feet and on the way back our feet were blocks of ice, absolutely frozen solid. Also, with the sun shining sideways through the trees, the flickering was like a strobe. Nelson said it was like looking at camo on camo with a strobe in your face. He wasn't wrong.
Jetty was awesome, running ahead, running with, and dropping behind on the descents. He was so good, and loved every minute of it, but man he got filthy.
Spent a little time down at the river below the hut (where there were a couple of bikes locked to a tree), cleaning our chains and re-lubing before the climb back out. Chatted briefly with the other bikers at the hut, they were gonna head down river for a ways then come back and stay at the hut. On the climb back out we met the walker couple again, on their way down the hill. It was a long hard climb up that hill. Making the saddle was a relief, and my feet were SO cold. Got riding again and the downhill was much appreciated. Stopped half way and wrung out our socks. This helped the feet iceblocks for a little while, but once we were in the final descents the wind chill turned them back to ice. 40 minutes from Saddle back to car. Took a while for the heater to warm up...
Total time riding was 2 and a half hours, over all time 3 hours 20, so we must have spent nearly an hour standing or sitting around... We made it back to the car at around 5.30, and there was only just enough light to have finished in.
29ish kms, and only 883 m climbed. Less climb than Thursday's ride... Felt like a lot more.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Thursday, somewhat long...
Big ride for a weeknight tonight. Nelson picked me up from home after work, and we cruised to McCormacks Bay. Parked up and headed off up the road, then the singletrack. He forgot his wee red flashy so went back for it, which was good, meant I could ride at my pace and not get too knackered too quickly. I plodded away, and he said he could see me going through that first wee pinch at the end of the straight when he got onto the bottom end. I moseyed on up, cleaning everything except the second hairpin, and he caught me when I stopped for air on the bridge. From here we headed up and hung a right, taking the trail around to Drayton, so's to show him where Joy's new house is. Up Mt Pleasant Rd, then up Clearview etc, and then over the fence by the bath, and up the trails to the regular climb. Nelson slowly but steadily increasing the gap. At the top we headed around and out round below the rock out crop then back around onto the regular Britten Track. Helluva wind on that west face. Then up across the road and climbing up Mt Pleasant to the top for a snack out of the wind.
Into the descent, mildly sketchy, but kinda not too. Rocks were all dry anyway, but the tires certainly pinged around a bit. I had some good bits some not so good. Bombed it down through the tussocks, a few wet spots, then onto Greenwood. Nelson gapping me slowly for a start, then majorly lower down. I had a couple of stops, one for the chain and one for my handlebar light plug, but otherwise a pretty good run down. Not my fastest, whereas I reckon it might have been one of Nelson's fastest...
Onto Godley, my, haven't they cleaned that start up. Not so much some of the later rock sections, which is fine. Good run up here, tho my tiredness was showing and I seemed to lose balance a lot. Not much wind this low. Caught up with Nelson at the usual spot, and more break again then off down towards Livingston, fanging it. Really smooth fast run down here, chopping and weaving all the way through to the bottom. Good speed, good balance. On the climb from Livingston I got way left behind and by the time I was coming around to where I could see Breeze Col, Nelson was already bombing out the bottom. Otherwise I had a sweet run down here - it's so much wider and faster than it's been for years. Sketchy as with the damp tires on the final cattlestop
Anda the Anaconda. Good blast, nothing sketchy, just speed and balance. Awesome jumps in places, and good railing of berms. Tho, bottom few corners my handlebar light was out again. Stopped to replug and Nelson was goneburger round the tail. I took this a bit slower than usual, not sure why. No bollocking, which was good, and a fast final blast down to the paddock.
Then the greebly climb. Ugh. Did good for a while, but up around the tight corners (above where the walk track peels off left), I had to drop it down a couple gears and crawl... Made the top in due time and we headed into Nicholson (where my MapMyRide gave up the ghost...). Took a steep track down that joined the steep stuff we'd ridden last time, and it were certainly steep. Down onto the path, a couple of steppy hairpins then onto the blasty wee alleyway between the houses out onto Whitewash Head and down onto the road and around the waterfront. At Cave Rock there were tonnes and tonnes of people around, and cars parked randomly and people all looking at their phones... POKEMON... One person, referring to us, said "There's some real people doing real stuff..." Haha. Must have been 20 or 30 cars, and more arriving, and a hundred people? Nuts... Around the road and hauling ass back to the car, thankfully not along the Causeway.
All up a couple hours riding, just about 26 kms, and nearly 900m climbed. Big for a weeknight.. (Nelson's full course).
Into the descent, mildly sketchy, but kinda not too. Rocks were all dry anyway, but the tires certainly pinged around a bit. I had some good bits some not so good. Bombed it down through the tussocks, a few wet spots, then onto Greenwood. Nelson gapping me slowly for a start, then majorly lower down. I had a couple of stops, one for the chain and one for my handlebar light plug, but otherwise a pretty good run down. Not my fastest, whereas I reckon it might have been one of Nelson's fastest...
Onto Godley, my, haven't they cleaned that start up. Not so much some of the later rock sections, which is fine. Good run up here, tho my tiredness was showing and I seemed to lose balance a lot. Not much wind this low. Caught up with Nelson at the usual spot, and more break again then off down towards Livingston, fanging it. Really smooth fast run down here, chopping and weaving all the way through to the bottom. Good speed, good balance. On the climb from Livingston I got way left behind and by the time I was coming around to where I could see Breeze Col, Nelson was already bombing out the bottom. Otherwise I had a sweet run down here - it's so much wider and faster than it's been for years. Sketchy as with the damp tires on the final cattlestop
Anda the Anaconda. Good blast, nothing sketchy, just speed and balance. Awesome jumps in places, and good railing of berms. Tho, bottom few corners my handlebar light was out again. Stopped to replug and Nelson was goneburger round the tail. I took this a bit slower than usual, not sure why. No bollocking, which was good, and a fast final blast down to the paddock.
Then the greebly climb. Ugh. Did good for a while, but up around the tight corners (above where the walk track peels off left), I had to drop it down a couple gears and crawl... Made the top in due time and we headed into Nicholson (where my MapMyRide gave up the ghost...). Took a steep track down that joined the steep stuff we'd ridden last time, and it were certainly steep. Down onto the path, a couple of steppy hairpins then onto the blasty wee alleyway between the houses out onto Whitewash Head and down onto the road and around the waterfront. At Cave Rock there were tonnes and tonnes of people around, and cars parked randomly and people all looking at their phones... POKEMON... One person, referring to us, said "There's some real people doing real stuff..." Haha. Must have been 20 or 30 cars, and more arriving, and a hundred people? Nuts... Around the road and hauling ass back to the car, thankfully not along the Causeway.
All up a couple hours riding, just about 26 kms, and nearly 900m climbed. Big for a weeknight.. (Nelson's full course).
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Sunday afternoon Farside Jetting
Short ride for me today after a big night prior. Jet and me headed across to Worsley's Rd and parked just on the bottom corner. Didn't bring tools or bag cos figured I was only ever gonna be 5 minutes from the car. Headed up and rode the trail next to the road that used to be overgrown but is now clear. Jet had a lovely time running ahead and pissing on everything. First lap I went down Farside, the middle trail. Some muppet had left a bunch of manuka branches just down from the entrance, but the rest was good. Really enjoyed this trail, lots of swoopy ups and downs and good fun.
Back into the climb, going a little better this time, climbing in 2nd gear all the way. This lap I headed down 1 Trick Lucy (2nd left) and it was good, a couple of interesting and tight features to start, then twisty turny in the trees.
Up again, climbing well, and into Utopia this time. Sweet run down here. A couple of the wee ups a little tighter than Farside.
Climbing again, and this time into Valhalla, 1st on the left. Takes you quite low into the valley with some cool droppy bits, before climbing back out to the exit.
Once more, up again, and this time it into Fluffy Sheep. Fastest of the trails, and most direct route down too. A couple of the corners were a bit weird and a nice jump at the end.
Finally, one last climb, and back into Farside, which today I think was my favourite... It's got everything in it. It swoops up and down, isn't overgrown or too tight, but keeps it really interesting. Final blast out the bottom, through the fence and back down to the car - total riding time 47minutes.
Grand total of 6kms, less than 1 km per lap, and only a bit over 300m climbed... negligible but needed.
Back into the climb, going a little better this time, climbing in 2nd gear all the way. This lap I headed down 1 Trick Lucy (2nd left) and it was good, a couple of interesting and tight features to start, then twisty turny in the trees.
Up again, climbing well, and into Utopia this time. Sweet run down here. A couple of the wee ups a little tighter than Farside.
Climbing again, and this time into Valhalla, 1st on the left. Takes you quite low into the valley with some cool droppy bits, before climbing back out to the exit.
Once more, up again, and this time it into Fluffy Sheep. Fastest of the trails, and most direct route down too. A couple of the corners were a bit weird and a nice jump at the end.
Finally, one last climb, and back into Farside, which today I think was my favourite... It's got everything in it. It swoops up and down, isn't overgrown or too tight, but keeps it really interesting. Final blast out the bottom, through the fence and back down to the car - total riding time 47minutes.
Grand total of 6kms, less than 1 km per lap, and only a bit over 300m climbed... negligible but needed.
Thursday, July 07, 2016
Wendnesday's Loving Sprungs
Nelson and me had a second go at Living Springs last night, after bailing on it the other week. It was COLD in the valley bottom, so we layered up to get rolling, up the entry trail, across a creek and up under some gums then nice singletrack in a patch of scrub, onga-onga at face level carefully avoided. Across the creek again and across the paddock and into the nasty steep climb up to the Pines. Wheezing like crazy I was left behind by Nelson who jetted on up ahead. Passed a farmery-type couple walking here, then into the trees and climbing, Nelson's light visible zigging and zagging ahead of me. I was getting hot by the time we got to Rhymes With Orange, and was thankful to find Nelson stopped at the usual resting spot. So, jacket off and stowed, and off around and up to the gates. We planned on a bit of exploration, and boy were we in for a treat.
Examining a map of the area we headed up into the gums and found our way onto a reasonably recently built singletrack into first some douglas fir forest (which I'd explored once before), and then into a steep gully of bush, switchbacking back and forth, so tight you're almost looking backwards over your shoulder to see where to go next. Sweet we area of trails, tight, twisty and steep, with a couple of nicer sidling bits thrown in too. Then a fence on a slope so steep that you couldn't climb it easily, bikes over, backpack off, and squeeze through. Onwards a ways, and out onto the grass and tussock hillside, ever climbing on new(ish) singletrack. Switchback onto the older trail (quadbike size), and up towards the left, little walking, steep for a bit then mellowing off, and through a gate and more bush around, but not immediately on the track, climbing still, up into a valley and across the next slope then steeeeeep bits, walking, and more switchbacks and there's the top! Mint. Fence has a sign facing the summit road area saying "No Admittance, Extreme Rockfall Risk"... Sat on the 'Memorial' seat for a bit, for a bit of a munch, and then off we went down.
Slow and steady to start, not letting speed get the better of us on the steepest stuff, tho not going that slow. Sweet run down down down, hanging a right at the cabbage tree, and taking the now narrower trail across towards the manuka scrub. Into this and weaving up and down for a bit to the tight fence. Then into the best part. What was walking on the way up was now techy, low speed enjoyment, blanched with bouts of handlebar scuffing speed. A lot of fun, winding down the corners, back and forth, across, then all too soon to the next fence, then douglas fir to the badly hinged gate. Gums, poppy jumpy down across above the outdoor centre, and back to the gates to climb and head for Mississippi. Thinking about it now, the way to do it, if you weren't keen on climbing all the way to the top, would be to ride up the older trails up the paddocks, and come into the top of the manuka forest for the singletrack descent... hmmmm - definitely next time. Makes riding over there more than just a couple of laps...
Usual fun in Mississippi, twisty turny down back and forth, tiring (for me) climb to Zanes and blast down this, me feeling weirdly off my game and taking it really easy. Meeting Nelson at the bottom, I discovered my rear shock was on 'Climb'... AH! Switched it up to 'Trail' and we got on with it, heading up the new entry across to the pines for another loop.
Much more comfortable this time, rear wheel sticking to the ground, grinding up to a rest in the Orange Rhymes, and then across to Mississippi and blasting this much betterer, staying tighter on Nelson's tail, even on the climb and not far off down into Zanes until a stick went clickity click in my rear wheel. Cleared that and chased, but never gained much. Out to the bottom at a much more comfortable and rapid speed than earlier, and around again, this time checking out an as yet unbuilt trail from the new entry to the pines downwards (would be the way up to the pines in the future) onto the usual, then across to the paddock, across to where we'd climbed in at the start, and down through the creek, gums, creek and last blast down between the fences to the car.
... A steeeeep 600m climbed, all in 13kms.
Examining a map of the area we headed up into the gums and found our way onto a reasonably recently built singletrack into first some douglas fir forest (which I'd explored once before), and then into a steep gully of bush, switchbacking back and forth, so tight you're almost looking backwards over your shoulder to see where to go next. Sweet we area of trails, tight, twisty and steep, with a couple of nicer sidling bits thrown in too. Then a fence on a slope so steep that you couldn't climb it easily, bikes over, backpack off, and squeeze through. Onwards a ways, and out onto the grass and tussock hillside, ever climbing on new(ish) singletrack. Switchback onto the older trail (quadbike size), and up towards the left, little walking, steep for a bit then mellowing off, and through a gate and more bush around, but not immediately on the track, climbing still, up into a valley and across the next slope then steeeeeep bits, walking, and more switchbacks and there's the top! Mint. Fence has a sign facing the summit road area saying "No Admittance, Extreme Rockfall Risk"... Sat on the 'Memorial' seat for a bit, for a bit of a munch, and then off we went down.
Slow and steady to start, not letting speed get the better of us on the steepest stuff, tho not going that slow. Sweet run down down down, hanging a right at the cabbage tree, and taking the now narrower trail across towards the manuka scrub. Into this and weaving up and down for a bit to the tight fence. Then into the best part. What was walking on the way up was now techy, low speed enjoyment, blanched with bouts of handlebar scuffing speed. A lot of fun, winding down the corners, back and forth, across, then all too soon to the next fence, then douglas fir to the badly hinged gate. Gums, poppy jumpy down across above the outdoor centre, and back to the gates to climb and head for Mississippi. Thinking about it now, the way to do it, if you weren't keen on climbing all the way to the top, would be to ride up the older trails up the paddocks, and come into the top of the manuka forest for the singletrack descent... hmmmm - definitely next time. Makes riding over there more than just a couple of laps...
Usual fun in Mississippi, twisty turny down back and forth, tiring (for me) climb to Zanes and blast down this, me feeling weirdly off my game and taking it really easy. Meeting Nelson at the bottom, I discovered my rear shock was on 'Climb'... AH! Switched it up to 'Trail' and we got on with it, heading up the new entry across to the pines for another loop.
Much more comfortable this time, rear wheel sticking to the ground, grinding up to a rest in the Orange Rhymes, and then across to Mississippi and blasting this much betterer, staying tighter on Nelson's tail, even on the climb and not far off down into Zanes until a stick went clickity click in my rear wheel. Cleared that and chased, but never gained much. Out to the bottom at a much more comfortable and rapid speed than earlier, and around again, this time checking out an as yet unbuilt trail from the new entry to the pines downwards (would be the way up to the pines in the future) onto the usual, then across to the paddock, across to where we'd climbed in at the start, and down through the creek, gums, creek and last blast down between the fences to the car.
... A steeeeep 600m climbed, all in 13kms.
Sunday, July 03, 2016
Saturday Sunset Summit Scramble.
Nelson finished work around 3 and got over to my place, so we probably hit the road after 3.30. Parked up top of Huntsbury and got riding, still plenty of sunshine but we had our lights. Pretty good climb up here, main track for a start but just after the cattlestop above the pylons we headed along the fence to the singletrack, climbing this the rest of the way. Onto the landing strip and up the gravel to the top. Next up it was Vernon, getting some flow on down here, a couple squirrelly corners, and blazing down to Rapaki-top and straight through, onto Witch Hill, good climb up here, no dabs. Nelson put the gap on me, I was starting to get tired for no real reason. Onto the road, and Nelson rode the singletrack above, while I caught him up below then kept pace with him. Final climb to Castle and sun was still in the sky, but not far off setting.
Into Castlerock, a little greasy at the top, but good to go below. I kept good pace down here, either reeling Nelson in or not letting him get away. Around the hairpin and across, both of us being very cautious on the angled rock through here, then around the next hairpin and Nelson's gapping me again away on the climb. Clamber clamber and over, taking it easy through to the finish. Stopped at top of Bridle overlooking Lyttelton for a bit - me realising that O was directly below us at his mate Tane's house. Then we headed back up the road to about 2/3rds of the way up to the Castle, we clambered up off the road, onto the Crater Rim walkway back towards Lyttelton. First time around here and it was really cool. Good wee climb, a few easy steps, one rock outcrop that stalled both of us, and then around further onto the ridge. Excellent view into Lyttelton from a slightly different angle. Sun still up, but nearly down, and headed around towards Bridle-top, singletrack really good gradient, a few rollable steps, surprisingly a few patches of permafrost, and one quite techy section that I walked. Nearly at the bottom I watched as, what I thought was a fly, flew up in slow-motion and splecked me in the eye. It wasn't a fly, it was mud. Stopped to clear that and got going again, then we treadled back up the road to Castle. That was a good wee extra loop to make the ride more worthwhile.
Sun was just down, and the sky was spectacular reds and pinks. Some asian dude was above the road, photographing the 'set, and we pushed our bikes up past him and got set up on the Tors Track. Lights on, off we headed. For some reason this is different every time I ride it. More techy this time than last, I'm sure. Easy most of the way then near the bottom there's a few features that are pretty tricky. I dabbled through these today, just not feeling gungho enough - cautious Colin getting old... Onto the road, then onto the singletrack above it, going super careful through the bit I crashed on last time. Rest of the trail was fun, low speed and interesting, and a few patches of permafrost along here too. Across the road, and onto Witch Hill, climbing well, brief pause at the top and off again down around cleaning all the fun bits and down to Rapaki. Last climb, up Vernon, Nelson putting a massive gap on me, leaving me to climb alone. No one else around now, whereas in the daylight there were heaps of peeps around.
Across the road and onto the Traverse, flowing around the hill then dropping down down down to the landing strip, over the fence, and a lot of wind here, whereas none anywhere else. Around and down, Nelson popping the big jump, me bypassing, and over the gate and down, doing all the jumps all the way down, finishing up back at the car.
I'd left my phone at home, so Nelson mapmyrode it... 17.5 kms, and 720m climbed.
Into Castlerock, a little greasy at the top, but good to go below. I kept good pace down here, either reeling Nelson in or not letting him get away. Around the hairpin and across, both of us being very cautious on the angled rock through here, then around the next hairpin and Nelson's gapping me again away on the climb. Clamber clamber and over, taking it easy through to the finish. Stopped at top of Bridle overlooking Lyttelton for a bit - me realising that O was directly below us at his mate Tane's house. Then we headed back up the road to about 2/3rds of the way up to the Castle, we clambered up off the road, onto the Crater Rim walkway back towards Lyttelton. First time around here and it was really cool. Good wee climb, a few easy steps, one rock outcrop that stalled both of us, and then around further onto the ridge. Excellent view into Lyttelton from a slightly different angle. Sun still up, but nearly down, and headed around towards Bridle-top, singletrack really good gradient, a few rollable steps, surprisingly a few patches of permafrost, and one quite techy section that I walked. Nearly at the bottom I watched as, what I thought was a fly, flew up in slow-motion and splecked me in the eye. It wasn't a fly, it was mud. Stopped to clear that and got going again, then we treadled back up the road to Castle. That was a good wee extra loop to make the ride more worthwhile.
Sun was just down, and the sky was spectacular reds and pinks. Some asian dude was above the road, photographing the 'set, and we pushed our bikes up past him and got set up on the Tors Track. Lights on, off we headed. For some reason this is different every time I ride it. More techy this time than last, I'm sure. Easy most of the way then near the bottom there's a few features that are pretty tricky. I dabbled through these today, just not feeling gungho enough - cautious Colin getting old... Onto the road, then onto the singletrack above it, going super careful through the bit I crashed on last time. Rest of the trail was fun, low speed and interesting, and a few patches of permafrost along here too. Across the road, and onto Witch Hill, climbing well, brief pause at the top and off again down around cleaning all the fun bits and down to Rapaki. Last climb, up Vernon, Nelson putting a massive gap on me, leaving me to climb alone. No one else around now, whereas in the daylight there were heaps of peeps around.
Across the road and onto the Traverse, flowing around the hill then dropping down down down to the landing strip, over the fence, and a lot of wind here, whereas none anywhere else. Around and down, Nelson popping the big jump, me bypassing, and over the gate and down, doing all the jumps all the way down, finishing up back at the car.
I'd left my phone at home, so Nelson mapmyrode it... 17.5 kms, and 720m climbed.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Wednesday Night Godley circles
Usual pick up from work and traffic, Moorhouse to Ferry, to Causeway and through to Sumner, then over the hill and parking down in Taylors, we got riding up the Snake's tail then onto the chip surface and out Boulder Bay track. Nice we spin, hardly technical, but a good place to ride when everything's closed. Climbed up past the gun emplacements finally having a rest (and me stripping off the jacket) at the barbed wire fence. Off again, over and down the zigs and zags, then climbing again back up past the barracks etc, and finishing up at the carpark, while the ranger was locking up the gate.
Off up the climbing 4wd trail and onto the narrow wee sidling track we usually ride in the other direction. Quite good in this direction, back towards Breeze Col. Quite greasy, especially the rocks, tires glancing off them on occasion, and my descent down to the Col was sketchy. From here, back out towards the Head on the old skool trail below the road. A couple of quite wet spots along here, but mostly pretty good. Climby climb around and out, then down and over the cattle stop to the road.
Off up the 4wd track again, but peeling off to the left half way up, to the stile for Breeze Bay track. The work there'd been a little of last time we rode this has come all the way through it now. They've dug it wider all the way, even removing the nice rock feature we'd built. The surface was damp dirt, so rocks were sketchy as, but there's not that many of them anymore. Our once techy wee challenge is now gone. They'll probably bloody put a gravel chip on it next. Ugh. I took the final blast down to the stile carefully.
Onto the Anaconda, starting off easy, and continuing that way. Half way down, on the corner I once crashed on, my front wheel started to do the same as that crash, washing and threatening to take me down. Was VERY close but managed to keep it rolling and adrenalin kicked in a little further down the trail. Into the valley, back and forth, a couple of real water flow ruts. Around onto the tail and Nelson was no where to be seen, he'd blasted away ahead of me so far. Into the planting area above the beach and over a rock and whallop, my seat smacked me in the balls, causing excruciating pain. I had to stop and get my breath, and the ache lasted til we were back at the car. Needless to say the rest of the ride down the final section was tentative, and I was groaning.
13kms, 480m climbed, all in just over 1 hour ride time.
Off up the climbing 4wd trail and onto the narrow wee sidling track we usually ride in the other direction. Quite good in this direction, back towards Breeze Col. Quite greasy, especially the rocks, tires glancing off them on occasion, and my descent down to the Col was sketchy. From here, back out towards the Head on the old skool trail below the road. A couple of quite wet spots along here, but mostly pretty good. Climby climb around and out, then down and over the cattle stop to the road.
Off up the 4wd track again, but peeling off to the left half way up, to the stile for Breeze Bay track. The work there'd been a little of last time we rode this has come all the way through it now. They've dug it wider all the way, even removing the nice rock feature we'd built. The surface was damp dirt, so rocks were sketchy as, but there's not that many of them anymore. Our once techy wee challenge is now gone. They'll probably bloody put a gravel chip on it next. Ugh. I took the final blast down to the stile carefully.
Onto the Anaconda, starting off easy, and continuing that way. Half way down, on the corner I once crashed on, my front wheel started to do the same as that crash, washing and threatening to take me down. Was VERY close but managed to keep it rolling and adrenalin kicked in a little further down the trail. Into the valley, back and forth, a couple of real water flow ruts. Around onto the tail and Nelson was no where to be seen, he'd blasted away ahead of me so far. Into the planting area above the beach and over a rock and whallop, my seat smacked me in the balls, causing excruciating pain. I had to stop and get my breath, and the ache lasted til we were back at the car. Needless to say the rest of the ride down the final section was tentative, and I was groaning.
13kms, 480m climbed, all in just over 1 hour ride time.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Saturday shorty with O and Jetty-puss
O and Jet and me dropped some hockey gear off to H and T in Hornby and then found our way to Halswell (that ends well) Quarry Park, parking in the Cashmere Rd carpark. We'd forgotten Jet's lead, so I made do with one of the bike tubes we use on the bike-rack. Perfect! Gives just the right amount of spring, so he basically towed me up Kennedys Bush Rd, where we rode the foot path up. I got a pissing bleeding nose half way up, but once that'd stopped we continued to the top of the seal, climbing the stile to the top of the Croc and reading the 'absolutely no dogs in this part of the track' sign... Damn. Oh well. Continued upwards where they were allowed, but on their lead, up the singletrack. Passed an older guy working on the singletrack, and rode the first berm he'd just finished. Very tidy. On up, and a few cattlebeasts around, but Jet was on the lead and very well behaved. At the tank we got on the main track and continued to the top.
Turned around and rode down the singletrack. I let Jet off the lead but kept him very well heeled; he was a good boy! A little greasy in places, and so gave O the tips he needed and he rode it all well. Down past the tank and around the bends and down, past the track work guy and on down. O had a wee off just after the last hairpin, but he was fine. At the top of the Crock, we had to head back down the road, jet galloping down alongside us. At the entrance to the Quarry Park that we often used to ride out of, we headed down, ignoring the no bikes sign and the dogs on leads sign, and headed on down towards the switchback track that comes up from below. Half way down I figured we were right next to where the C2 track is, so we went over a fence and pushed/carried our bikes to the pines and there indeed was the track, below us below a cliff... Hmmm... Up and around following the edge of the trees and then across to the trail, we rode up this to the Van Asch entrance and then turned around and headed back down. This was mint; O really enjoyed it, saying it was his favourite trail ever. Met 3 boys his age climbing up, dad following behind. On down and into the valley and a cool frost mist and patches of frost holding on in the valley bottom, even tho it was balmy up the hill. Final climb out and then down the dog park and back to the car.
Nice spin, but not much mileage, under 8 kms, and only 180 m gained.
Turned around and rode down the singletrack. I let Jet off the lead but kept him very well heeled; he was a good boy! A little greasy in places, and so gave O the tips he needed and he rode it all well. Down past the tank and around the bends and down, past the track work guy and on down. O had a wee off just after the last hairpin, but he was fine. At the top of the Crock, we had to head back down the road, jet galloping down alongside us. At the entrance to the Quarry Park that we often used to ride out of, we headed down, ignoring the no bikes sign and the dogs on leads sign, and headed on down towards the switchback track that comes up from below. Half way down I figured we were right next to where the C2 track is, so we went over a fence and pushed/carried our bikes to the pines and there indeed was the track, below us below a cliff... Hmmm... Up and around following the edge of the trees and then across to the trail, we rode up this to the Van Asch entrance and then turned around and headed back down. This was mint; O really enjoyed it, saying it was his favourite trail ever. Met 3 boys his age climbing up, dad following behind. On down and into the valley and a cool frost mist and patches of frost holding on in the valley bottom, even tho it was balmy up the hill. Final climb out and then down the dog park and back to the car.
Nice spin, but not much mileage, under 8 kms, and only 180 m gained.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Wednesday Night, unexpected solo.
I collected a new mouthpiece for my camelbak from Bivouac then headed to Nelson's work for 5pm. We waded through the quagmire that some would call traffic at that time and eventually got up Dyers Pass Rd and over the pass into Governors Bay and around to Allandale, planning to ride a few laps of Living Springs. Alas, it was not to be. Upon arrival, Nelson's slightly tweaked back of earlier was now in full blown agony-making spasm, and there was doubt whether he was going to be able to ride. After some attempts at stretching and resting, it became obvious that it wasn't gonna happen, so I drove us back up to the Kiwi and we parked up.
I sorted myself out and, leaving him in the car, headed up the road to the Nun. Climbed the road fast for a while, keeping a roadie ahead of me in sight for the first half, running out of puff a little in the second half. Up Worsleys Rd to the dirt then climbing comfortably to the top of the Nun. Could see a couple of lights down on the road below. Stopped to adjust lighting, then hit it. Popped and grooved down the first bits, slowing right up into the first big rocky corner, then blitzing down and through. The rest of the ride down seemed to be like this: periods of quite good speed, flow and roll, followed by bits of slow, near-muppetry. Pretty good, not the fastest, but not the slowest. Lower half was mostly good too. And no pinchflats, which is always a bonus these days. Stopped in on Nelson, still resting in the car, and he was doing okay, and hopefully would be able to drive, so I headed back up to and hit Old Dyers track.
Rolled down the first section quite nicely, loving the flow through those corners below the Kiwi. Then around and through the pumpy bit, slowly gaining speed, then meeting some climbing riders just as I climbed out of that wee valley. "gudday" and onwards down, rolling it easy, slowly gaining speed, but never quite trusting the grease. Around the 4wd section, there's been diggers working up here, obviously for the Park, then climbing under seemingly bigger trees to the road, across, climby climb climb up and through to Vic Park Rd, and a piss here (only a day late for Pee on Earth day), then into the singletrack climbing around to the Skidder Site.
Contemplated heading straight down from here, but headed up instead, climbing the grovelly steep 4wd track, cleaning it, gasping for air, then up to top of Brake Free. Messed with my light here mounting it betterer, then headed down into the rock garden and gums. Lovely flow down through here, tho what the fuck is it with that really humpy section in my wee favourite trail on the left..? Don't think they're braking bumps, but they kinda act like it. Anyway, popped and weaved my way down, back and forth, down below, then back up to the Skidder Site again. Now it was time for Shazza's, kinda following some dude into it and pretty much staying on his tail. At the Brents crossing I headed down the ridge onto the new section of track, and explored. Nice. Some steep challenging bits, and some random off camber back and forth zig zags lower down, then the wooden jump ramp onto the Flow?Bridges? track. Stopped and checked it out first, but it was sweet, pop straight off it the drop is like a foot! Onwards down familiar trails back and forth, the dude from Shazza's before me just ahead, following the progress of his light below me, then chasing him down the bottom of the valley, and following him through the creek and up Hidden Valley Link, always just out of striking range. Gasped my way up the steeps and stopped over the stile to breathe and txt.
Then on around, clearing my throat loudly just as I rode under the dude who'd been ahead having a rest. "Gudday" and onwards, no flats, having a good run down here, tho, similar to earlier, some smooth fast flow, some slower 'what am I doing?' moments.
Finally, the cruise back across town to home.
So, all told, over 20kms and less than 300m climbed (on account of it being mostly down hill from the Kiwi)
I sorted myself out and, leaving him in the car, headed up the road to the Nun. Climbed the road fast for a while, keeping a roadie ahead of me in sight for the first half, running out of puff a little in the second half. Up Worsleys Rd to the dirt then climbing comfortably to the top of the Nun. Could see a couple of lights down on the road below. Stopped to adjust lighting, then hit it. Popped and grooved down the first bits, slowing right up into the first big rocky corner, then blitzing down and through. The rest of the ride down seemed to be like this: periods of quite good speed, flow and roll, followed by bits of slow, near-muppetry. Pretty good, not the fastest, but not the slowest. Lower half was mostly good too. And no pinchflats, which is always a bonus these days. Stopped in on Nelson, still resting in the car, and he was doing okay, and hopefully would be able to drive, so I headed back up to and hit Old Dyers track.
Rolled down the first section quite nicely, loving the flow through those corners below the Kiwi. Then around and through the pumpy bit, slowly gaining speed, then meeting some climbing riders just as I climbed out of that wee valley. "gudday" and onwards down, rolling it easy, slowly gaining speed, but never quite trusting the grease. Around the 4wd section, there's been diggers working up here, obviously for the Park, then climbing under seemingly bigger trees to the road, across, climby climb climb up and through to Vic Park Rd, and a piss here (only a day late for Pee on Earth day), then into the singletrack climbing around to the Skidder Site.
Contemplated heading straight down from here, but headed up instead, climbing the grovelly steep 4wd track, cleaning it, gasping for air, then up to top of Brake Free. Messed with my light here mounting it betterer, then headed down into the rock garden and gums. Lovely flow down through here, tho what the fuck is it with that really humpy section in my wee favourite trail on the left..? Don't think they're braking bumps, but they kinda act like it. Anyway, popped and weaved my way down, back and forth, down below, then back up to the Skidder Site again. Now it was time for Shazza's, kinda following some dude into it and pretty much staying on his tail. At the Brents crossing I headed down the ridge onto the new section of track, and explored. Nice. Some steep challenging bits, and some random off camber back and forth zig zags lower down, then the wooden jump ramp onto the Flow?Bridges? track. Stopped and checked it out first, but it was sweet, pop straight off it the drop is like a foot! Onwards down familiar trails back and forth, the dude from Shazza's before me just ahead, following the progress of his light below me, then chasing him down the bottom of the valley, and following him through the creek and up Hidden Valley Link, always just out of striking range. Gasped my way up the steeps and stopped over the stile to breathe and txt.
Then on around, clearing my throat loudly just as I rode under the dude who'd been ahead having a rest. "Gudday" and onwards, no flats, having a good run down here, tho, similar to earlier, some smooth fast flow, some slower 'what am I doing?' moments.
Finally, the cruise back across town to home.
So, all told, over 20kms and less than 300m climbed (on account of it being mostly down hill from the Kiwi)
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Wednesday Night, new zone - Urumau
Good ride last night. Nelson picked me up from work and we headed through to Lyttelton. Parked down on Norwich Quay, and rode up Sumner Road, then up two long flights of steps and up Gilmour, just as Chris and me attempted to do back in 2010 but were stymied by a Mr Arsehole.
Things must have changed in that neck of the woods because access seems to be by this way, and so we continued up into Urumau Reserve, climbing steadily. I was wheezing like mad so when we got finally got up to top of the 4wd track section I got some Inhaler into me. From here, more up, climbing on a nice benched track, with good hairpins zigging and zagging up the hill to the top of the ridge. A wee explore here, on foot, up the rocky ridge checking for other trails, either coming in from above, or sidling below. Then back to the bikes, and up into the trees, a steep wee grunt of a climb, with a couple of slightly tricky switchbacks up to a high point. Seats down for a droppy corner then a look at where to go from a place we rested each time we got up there.
Then off down the 'blue' line, me following Nelson, and immediately a massive steep droppy face which I baulked on and walked, then got my head together and rode the rest of them, drop, then platform, then drop, all rollable. One was really sketchy looking and I walked it too, and then we got to one that scared me, but I rolled in and it was fine, just on the verge of control. Down and to the left, around over logs and a couple of droppy bits and and a couple more logs, bunny line on one of them, corners back and forth and down and around, until we could see the Sumner Rd below us, and the coal storage area below that. Found a 'green' line heading up so followed that, and it took us steeply back and forth up and back around to what became to us a central point. From here we sidled around the hill back in the general direction of the main entry trail. Some swoopy down, then brief climb, then through a gap in a rock-fence, and some climbing from this, eventually rolling out at the top of the 4wd bit where I'd had my asthma blast.
Climbing up the benched switchback trail again, and back up into the trees to the top, and this time trying out the 'green' track from the 'rest spot'. It was pretty much right beside the blue track, and felt a bit unfinished for a start, then we took it around to the right, fun ride down, nice bermed corners. Near the bottom it comes in towards a tree and around the bottom of it, and looks like it continues on, but to no avail, we backtracked back up and found that you were supposed to loop around the tree, then back the other way, and back down to the Asthma puffer spot.
Again, climbing up the benched switchbacks and up into the trees again to the top. Resting out of the wind at the 'rest spot'. This time hitting the blue line again, but from the top of the first big droppy section we took a line off to the left of this. Mint trail we swooped on down it, bypassing the worst of the droppy sections but including the final 'scary' one, and back down to our 'central point' again, we headed off around to the left on a trail we'd spotted on the first trip down there, which stayed higher. It was a 'green' trail mostly and part way down we noticed a blue off to the right, but stayed sidling on the green. Past a sign that said 'Track closed due to rock fall risk', and onwards across the slope til the track ran out at a fence/edge of the forest. There was a foot track across the slip which we explored without bikes, into the next forest, and lots of scope for more trails over there. Back to the bikes and back up the green track, a couple of bits steeper than we'd remembered, then into the blue and dropping again, a bunch of steep switchback drop corners. I walked one. then suddenly we're on the green climbing track we'd ridden up first lap, wondering how the hell we'd not seen it earlier, but then crossing the blue and on up to the central point again. Swooped to the gap in the fence, then climbed again and back to the asthma spot.
Climbing once more, switchback switchback switchback, and up, into forest. This time Nelson took the green climber to the right, while I went all the way. The green climber goes straight around and meets where we'd rested every time. Final blast, taking the blue left hander off the top drop and heading down, flowing and rolling and swooping, over the last drop and down to the 'central point', then around to the right, dropping through the gap in the fence under the tree and little bit of steep climb then down this hairy steep overgrown trail that ducked and weaved through native plantings and eventually dropped out onto the climbing 4wd track. Up this 50 m or so, and off down another narrow steep track down towards the streets of Lyttelton, across and down, trail becoming progressively steeper and narrower, til eventually dropping out on Reserve Tce... From here, down the road, down Stephenson's Steep, little bit of St David's then down steps to Oxford St next to the school, and down to the car.
Not the biggest ride, only just over an hour's riding time, just under 10kms, and not quite 500m climbed, but all full-on climbing or full-on descending, very little sidling...
Things must have changed in that neck of the woods because access seems to be by this way, and so we continued up into Urumau Reserve, climbing steadily. I was wheezing like mad so when we got finally got up to top of the 4wd track section I got some Inhaler into me. From here, more up, climbing on a nice benched track, with good hairpins zigging and zagging up the hill to the top of the ridge. A wee explore here, on foot, up the rocky ridge checking for other trails, either coming in from above, or sidling below. Then back to the bikes, and up into the trees, a steep wee grunt of a climb, with a couple of slightly tricky switchbacks up to a high point. Seats down for a droppy corner then a look at where to go from a place we rested each time we got up there.
Then off down the 'blue' line, me following Nelson, and immediately a massive steep droppy face which I baulked on and walked, then got my head together and rode the rest of them, drop, then platform, then drop, all rollable. One was really sketchy looking and I walked it too, and then we got to one that scared me, but I rolled in and it was fine, just on the verge of control. Down and to the left, around over logs and a couple of droppy bits and and a couple more logs, bunny line on one of them, corners back and forth and down and around, until we could see the Sumner Rd below us, and the coal storage area below that. Found a 'green' line heading up so followed that, and it took us steeply back and forth up and back around to what became to us a central point. From here we sidled around the hill back in the general direction of the main entry trail. Some swoopy down, then brief climb, then through a gap in a rock-fence, and some climbing from this, eventually rolling out at the top of the 4wd bit where I'd had my asthma blast.
Climbing up the benched switchback trail again, and back up into the trees to the top, and this time trying out the 'green' track from the 'rest spot'. It was pretty much right beside the blue track, and felt a bit unfinished for a start, then we took it around to the right, fun ride down, nice bermed corners. Near the bottom it comes in towards a tree and around the bottom of it, and looks like it continues on, but to no avail, we backtracked back up and found that you were supposed to loop around the tree, then back the other way, and back down to the Asthma puffer spot.
Again, climbing up the benched switchbacks and up into the trees again to the top. Resting out of the wind at the 'rest spot'. This time hitting the blue line again, but from the top of the first big droppy section we took a line off to the left of this. Mint trail we swooped on down it, bypassing the worst of the droppy sections but including the final 'scary' one, and back down to our 'central point' again, we headed off around to the left on a trail we'd spotted on the first trip down there, which stayed higher. It was a 'green' trail mostly and part way down we noticed a blue off to the right, but stayed sidling on the green. Past a sign that said 'Track closed due to rock fall risk', and onwards across the slope til the track ran out at a fence/edge of the forest. There was a foot track across the slip which we explored without bikes, into the next forest, and lots of scope for more trails over there. Back to the bikes and back up the green track, a couple of bits steeper than we'd remembered, then into the blue and dropping again, a bunch of steep switchback drop corners. I walked one. then suddenly we're on the green climbing track we'd ridden up first lap, wondering how the hell we'd not seen it earlier, but then crossing the blue and on up to the central point again. Swooped to the gap in the fence, then climbed again and back to the asthma spot.
Climbing once more, switchback switchback switchback, and up, into forest. This time Nelson took the green climber to the right, while I went all the way. The green climber goes straight around and meets where we'd rested every time. Final blast, taking the blue left hander off the top drop and heading down, flowing and rolling and swooping, over the last drop and down to the 'central point', then around to the right, dropping through the gap in the fence under the tree and little bit of steep climb then down this hairy steep overgrown trail that ducked and weaved through native plantings and eventually dropped out onto the climbing 4wd track. Up this 50 m or so, and off down another narrow steep track down towards the streets of Lyttelton, across and down, trail becoming progressively steeper and narrower, til eventually dropping out on Reserve Tce... From here, down the road, down Stephenson's Steep, little bit of St David's then down steps to Oxford St next to the school, and down to the car.
Not the biggest ride, only just over an hour's riding time, just under 10kms, and not quite 500m climbed, but all full-on climbing or full-on descending, very little sidling...
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Sunday Classic
9am start at Steve's (who was doing his own flat heart recovery thing), and I was running late, then got stymied by the railway tracks on Wilson's Rd being worked on, so detoured through Charleston, thinking I might be able to get to the railway for a shortcut... nope. Met the boys by the church: Tony, Andy and Wayne, and we toodled around to Crapaki and headed on up. A lot of walkers today, older folk, and a few riders. Delayered after the 2nd gate, and then I got my climb on and just tapped away at it, putting a bit of a gap between me and the boys, regrouping on the flat then pushing off ahead again. Brief stop at the top and then off up Vernon. Not a bad climb up here, and over to the Traverse - Andy flatting on the final drop to the road.
Chatted with a couple guys here then we headed off around, for Vic Park. Nice flow around the Traverse, such a familiar puppy. Noted some new brick work on what I never thought of as a particularly damage-prone section. On the descent to the pond, bits of head wind, I was chasing some dude, who put the power on the climb to keep ahead of me. Regrouped at the usual spot before Sugarloaf and then off again, chasing down the some dude again, some sections of no wind, some of tail. Stopped before the trees and then we headed in, down 'coffee break', Andy hard on my tail down here. Bypassed the see-saw and off down the paddock, looking back to see the rain on the plains heading our way (or so it looked). Good tail wind down here too, over the cattlestop and into the rocks, ducking and weaving through them and into the trees, across then around and down, peeling left into my old favourite, all cleared of the trees of old storms, and heaps of fun again.
Out to the skidder site and we re-layered before heading into Shazza's. Nice pop and weave down through here, tho rootier bits at the bottom were less so. Across and down into Brent's, taking the hard left line, and blazing down through the forest to the bottom. Regrouped again, and off into Bridges and Flow, across and into Nu Bridges, back and forth, back and forth, last couple of corners starting to get a bit weird. Then down onto the 4wd track and blazing down to the Hidden Valley.
Bollocksed about a metre after the creek then rolled on round the first hairpin, down into granny for the sluggardly climb. Dabbed around the second corner and waited until Andy swung into view, then off again, climby climbing like a climbing thing. Nicely nicely up the last, wind really howling in the trees and powerlines overhead. Regrouped at the stile, and off again, up and around then blasting. I thought I was flowing really nicely; certainly felt good on the bike. Floated over some rocks and blasted away, then pffft pffft pffft... dang. Stopped on one of the corners and had to swap out a tube. A few riders passed through while we were stopped, and Tony and Wayno continued on ahead. Once fixed, Andy and me continued our merry way. BLAST of wind nearly took my bike from me climbing the stile, then off again, staying light on the tires, and prancing down the hill. Slowly wound in the girl and her guy that'd passed us earlier, stopping briefly to give her a bit of gap. Then caught her later and she pulled up, then I chased down her guy. He stopped pretty much at the bottom for her, so I passed on by and proceeded to stuff up the last dodgy offpiste final section. Rolled down the final track to Tony and Wayne at the bottom stile.
Off down the road, tail wind pushing us all, and Wayne and me split from the others, over to Eastern and around, him continuing on when I peeled off for Wilsons. Had forgotten about the roadworks, and had to go to the tunnel, then back streets til Stanmore for the last, tail wind assisted, blast home. Home by 11.30 am. Nice.
28.7 kms with just over 500 altitude.
Chatted with a couple guys here then we headed off around, for Vic Park. Nice flow around the Traverse, such a familiar puppy. Noted some new brick work on what I never thought of as a particularly damage-prone section. On the descent to the pond, bits of head wind, I was chasing some dude, who put the power on the climb to keep ahead of me. Regrouped at the usual spot before Sugarloaf and then off again, chasing down the some dude again, some sections of no wind, some of tail. Stopped before the trees and then we headed in, down 'coffee break', Andy hard on my tail down here. Bypassed the see-saw and off down the paddock, looking back to see the rain on the plains heading our way (or so it looked). Good tail wind down here too, over the cattlestop and into the rocks, ducking and weaving through them and into the trees, across then around and down, peeling left into my old favourite, all cleared of the trees of old storms, and heaps of fun again.
Out to the skidder site and we re-layered before heading into Shazza's. Nice pop and weave down through here, tho rootier bits at the bottom were less so. Across and down into Brent's, taking the hard left line, and blazing down through the forest to the bottom. Regrouped again, and off into Bridges and Flow, across and into Nu Bridges, back and forth, back and forth, last couple of corners starting to get a bit weird. Then down onto the 4wd track and blazing down to the Hidden Valley.
Bollocksed about a metre after the creek then rolled on round the first hairpin, down into granny for the sluggardly climb. Dabbed around the second corner and waited until Andy swung into view, then off again, climby climbing like a climbing thing. Nicely nicely up the last, wind really howling in the trees and powerlines overhead. Regrouped at the stile, and off again, up and around then blasting. I thought I was flowing really nicely; certainly felt good on the bike. Floated over some rocks and blasted away, then pffft pffft pffft... dang. Stopped on one of the corners and had to swap out a tube. A few riders passed through while we were stopped, and Tony and Wayno continued on ahead. Once fixed, Andy and me continued our merry way. BLAST of wind nearly took my bike from me climbing the stile, then off again, staying light on the tires, and prancing down the hill. Slowly wound in the girl and her guy that'd passed us earlier, stopping briefly to give her a bit of gap. Then caught her later and she pulled up, then I chased down her guy. He stopped pretty much at the bottom for her, so I passed on by and proceeded to stuff up the last dodgy offpiste final section. Rolled down the final track to Tony and Wayne at the bottom stile.
Off down the road, tail wind pushing us all, and Wayne and me split from the others, over to Eastern and around, him continuing on when I peeled off for Wilsons. Had forgotten about the roadworks, and had to go to the tunnel, then back streets til Stanmore for the last, tail wind assisted, blast home. Home by 11.30 am. Nice.
28.7 kms with just over 500 altitude.
Thursday, June 09, 2016
Wednesday night Fatty and skinny went for a ride
T was working late so Nelson got to mine and we had some dinner and then set off just before 7. Out to Scumner and parked up near a netball court. I had the fatty, and he was on his singlist; the NuclearProof being in the shop receiving new bushes. Discovered I'd left my gloves behind, but luckily one of Nelson's pairs fit me (-ish). Off up the road and up through Slumnervale, fat tires on the road humming away like the usual box of angry bees, quieter on the grass. Up the steps and onto the Captain, crossing on the new bridge, and the grind began. Nelson jettisoned off ahead as usual, particularly due to him having to stay on top of his single gear. I gasped and wheezed behind - at least the fatty has some good granny gears. Up the switchbacks, some of which he didn't clean, and a rest was had on the bench. Onwards and easier going for a while til the rocks. Faffed through them and riding again cleaned up the next section til the next rocks and on the same, the rest of the way; 3 possums scurrying away on the last stretch towards the top.
At Evans, the decision was made to hit Godley. Neither of us bothered much on the rocky climb. Both of us were having trouble clipping out of our pedals for most of the ride, with both of us crashing from stationary at least once somewhere along the way. Another break at the top, usual location overlooking Scarbro, and then onwards, railing around and down towards Livingston. The fatty was performing perfectly on the smooth stuff, but as soon as rocks were added to the equation it became bloody hard work. Nelson got a pinch flat when the going got rocky, and the rest was a relief to me. More battering ensued once that was fixed and through Livingston and into the clamber over towards Breeze, a good blast on the smooth stuff.
From Breeze Col we took the narrow trail above the road, Nelson managing to stay on top of his gear most of the way and me just gasping along, pushing my monster along. Then down a singletrack a little further over from the usual descent to Godley car park, bombing down and dodging rocks and tussocks. Across the road and onto the original singletrack back below the road. Nice blast round this, fatty riding nicely.
Second time from Breeze Col, the other direction, on the road for a stretch, small climb then bit of descent to Livingston, and back onto the singletrack for the climb, with a rest and a bite to eat at the Col first - Nelson consuming a Sweaty Faybar. Climb wasn't too bad. The lower section with the rocks was hard cos the fat tires grab every second one, slowing progress and making it harder. As Nelson pointed out, if it was easy, then everybody would be doing it! - referring to both fatties and singling. Out the top and off around the last of the Goddles, usually my favourite section... Not so on the fatty. As I've learned before, rigid and rocks aren't friends. Ugh, by the time I finally got down to Evan's Pass I was thrashed.
Across the road and I disposed of a little air from the tires, hoping that would help. It did. My roll down Capt Thomas wasn't so bad. Bloody possum nearly ran under my tires on the first section. Further down, I cleaned the upper of the rocky-drop nemesises, and the first of the two lower down, but not the second of them... On round and into the switchbacks, then the cabbage tree 'shortcut' and flying down the last sections around the bend, rear tire feeling a little wallowy (maybe I'd let too much air out), then ducking down under and using the old bridge next to the new bridge.
Final spin down the paddock, and roads, back to the car, low pressure tires dragging on the tarmac.
It was late (9.50pm) as we drove Humphrey's Drive heading home...
Riding time 1 hour 40 mins, 726 m climbed, in 21 kms
At Evans, the decision was made to hit Godley. Neither of us bothered much on the rocky climb. Both of us were having trouble clipping out of our pedals for most of the ride, with both of us crashing from stationary at least once somewhere along the way. Another break at the top, usual location overlooking Scarbro, and then onwards, railing around and down towards Livingston. The fatty was performing perfectly on the smooth stuff, but as soon as rocks were added to the equation it became bloody hard work. Nelson got a pinch flat when the going got rocky, and the rest was a relief to me. More battering ensued once that was fixed and through Livingston and into the clamber over towards Breeze, a good blast on the smooth stuff.
From Breeze Col we took the narrow trail above the road, Nelson managing to stay on top of his gear most of the way and me just gasping along, pushing my monster along. Then down a singletrack a little further over from the usual descent to Godley car park, bombing down and dodging rocks and tussocks. Across the road and onto the original singletrack back below the road. Nice blast round this, fatty riding nicely.
Second time from Breeze Col, the other direction, on the road for a stretch, small climb then bit of descent to Livingston, and back onto the singletrack for the climb, with a rest and a bite to eat at the Col first - Nelson consuming a Sweaty Faybar. Climb wasn't too bad. The lower section with the rocks was hard cos the fat tires grab every second one, slowing progress and making it harder. As Nelson pointed out, if it was easy, then everybody would be doing it! - referring to both fatties and singling. Out the top and off around the last of the Goddles, usually my favourite section... Not so on the fatty. As I've learned before, rigid and rocks aren't friends. Ugh, by the time I finally got down to Evan's Pass I was thrashed.
Across the road and I disposed of a little air from the tires, hoping that would help. It did. My roll down Capt Thomas wasn't so bad. Bloody possum nearly ran under my tires on the first section. Further down, I cleaned the upper of the rocky-drop nemesises, and the first of the two lower down, but not the second of them... On round and into the switchbacks, then the cabbage tree 'shortcut' and flying down the last sections around the bend, rear tire feeling a little wallowy (maybe I'd let too much air out), then ducking down under and using the old bridge next to the new bridge.
Final spin down the paddock, and roads, back to the car, low pressure tires dragging on the tarmac.
It was late (9.50pm) as we drove Humphrey's Drive heading home...
Riding time 1 hour 40 mins, 726 m climbed, in 21 kms
Saturday, June 04, 2016
Saturday out of the Gloom into the Gloaming
At the bach, with the fatty. Finally got a chance, after bonfiring all day, to hit the road at 5 to 4pm - house had lost the sun before 3. Headed up towards Chorlton, into the sun, then up View Hill Road. Nice cruise up the gravel, then grovelled up the steepest bits then cruised on again further up. Got to 606 m in 52 minutes, and turned around just as half the sun was behind the distant mountains. Bombed it. Nearly 60kph on the gravel bits, then over that once on the seal below. Finished by taking Lukes Rd across and then down to the courts and then back up our drive.
14.15 km, just on 600m alt.
14.15 km, just on 600m alt.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Sunday's *800th post!*, Desolation of Smaug, ahem, McLeans, with Jet and my older boy
Weather appalling on Saturday, so hill tracks likely to still be mucky, so apparently no one was riding, so O and me headed out with Jet to McLeans Island. Lonnng time since I'd been out here (nearly 3 years). Boy has it changed. Usual route, and first thing I noticed was that the whole first section has been logged, so no longer are we riding through forest, but desolate open spaces. Same went for the next bit you head down into after riding along then up the stopbank... All young trees (6ft or so already). Madness. Completely changes the feel of the place, and old landmarks of big trees are gone, and views across the expanses are totally different to the past. I was on the Klunker, which was fun. Grips like a grippy thing, and the wide bars are awesomesauce. Obe's cruised well, lagging behind a bunch, and Jet just galloped along happily at our speed the whole way. We did the main loop then the Coringa extra 5kms and then back to the car. 54 minutes riding time total, 15kms with a staggering 60m of altitude...
Just realised, also, that this is this blog's 800th post!!! Happy post century, blog.
Just realised, also, that this is this blog's 800th post!!! Happy post century, blog.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Sunday Short'n'Fat to Planting
Early start, meeting 8.05 at Steve's, so after a bit of a night I wasn't feeling 100% but hauled ass across to his place on the Fat and arrived to find Tony, Wazza, Wayno and Steve. Followed shortly by Pete and Matt (on Pete's 575). Off we treadled through Radley, Marshall, and through to the Heathcote Cut and under the motorway and at a cracking pace set by Wayno round the tow path round the back of Ferrymead to meet Andy and Jenna at the bridge.
Up St Andrews and Steve was suffering badly, not doing well. We all waited for him a few times as we progressed up the hill. Marama, then Major Hornbrook all the way. Up through the park and up Clearview and Ridgeview to the Upper Major. Steve had had enough and headed down to the Planting, to bail from that too. Poor fella. We all boled on up Britten to the top, and then took the trail around the top of it. Once back at the trees, I 'adjusted my suspension', let a few psis out of my tires, then off we headed back down at a fun bouncy pace, me really enjoying the fat bike. On down past the stile and then tucked into the wee singletrack down from here, then over the fence and down Ridgeview into the steep wee zig zag to Mt Pleasant Rd, then my tires screamed as we flew down to Craigieburn Pl - reaching 56 kph.
Into the McCormacks zig zags, walking the first steps then overcooking a couple of corners (especially the 2nd to last one cos I thought the previous had been the last one) and on down, careful on the new bridges down here with their tight little knob-ends, and meeting a few walkers and dogs on the way down, surprising a couple of them... lots of friendly apologies, but no too much disharmony, then bombing down the last stretch, reaching a scorching 51 kph.
Finally, around the McCormacks bay onto the Causeway, and winding up the speed behind Pete, my big SUV tires screaming on the tarmac. Still had a heap of time before the planting, so at Ferrymead bridge back onto the Tow Path and we bombed around this, ducking out between some buildings across the road from Waterman Place, into the back of Charlesworth and so many trees did we plant and sausages did I eat.
At 12 o'clock, I needed to get going, so hightailed it straight down Linwood, home...
All up pretty much 30kms and amazingly just about 500m climbed. Not bad for a fatty. Managed to get 3 metres below sea level too!
Up St Andrews and Steve was suffering badly, not doing well. We all waited for him a few times as we progressed up the hill. Marama, then Major Hornbrook all the way. Up through the park and up Clearview and Ridgeview to the Upper Major. Steve had had enough and headed down to the Planting, to bail from that too. Poor fella. We all boled on up Britten to the top, and then took the trail around the top of it. Once back at the trees, I 'adjusted my suspension', let a few psis out of my tires, then off we headed back down at a fun bouncy pace, me really enjoying the fat bike. On down past the stile and then tucked into the wee singletrack down from here, then over the fence and down Ridgeview into the steep wee zig zag to Mt Pleasant Rd, then my tires screamed as we flew down to Craigieburn Pl - reaching 56 kph.
Into the McCormacks zig zags, walking the first steps then overcooking a couple of corners (especially the 2nd to last one cos I thought the previous had been the last one) and on down, careful on the new bridges down here with their tight little knob-ends, and meeting a few walkers and dogs on the way down, surprising a couple of them... lots of friendly apologies, but no too much disharmony, then bombing down the last stretch, reaching a scorching 51 kph.
Finally, around the McCormacks bay onto the Causeway, and winding up the speed behind Pete, my big SUV tires screaming on the tarmac. Still had a heap of time before the planting, so at Ferrymead bridge back onto the Tow Path and we bombed around this, ducking out between some buildings across the road from Waterman Place, into the back of Charlesworth and so many trees did we plant and sausages did I eat.
At 12 o'clock, I needed to get going, so hightailed it straight down Linwood, home...
All up pretty much 30kms and amazingly just about 500m climbed. Not bad for a fatty. Managed to get 3 metres below sea level too!
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Wednesday night CaptleyConda
Met at Nelson's work and drove to Scumner, parking down by the water. Got riding at 6.15, straight up Wakefield and into Sumnervale. Up Captain Thomas, chuffing and wheezing, but managing most bar the usual walky rocks. Eventually we made the top and headed for Godley. Both failed the first rocks, so tried again, and again, and again, til finally I got it, but Nelson still didn't but on we rode. Nelson gapping me as we climbed, the techy rocks making for interesting times. Lots of wind at times, but not everywhere. Over the top and around and brief break eating and admiring the view, then I headed off down in the lead, bombing and weaving nicely down and around and down to Livingston Col, my handlebar light cutting out on the way. Unplugged, replugged, and all good. Into the climb away from the col and Nelson spotted something in the grass, a nice light. On up, Nelson getting way ahead, but I was happy with that cos of the dust being picked up by the wind. On round and less wind, tail wind in fact, on the down and around, over the rock and down to Breeze Col.
Nelson faffed with his jockey wheel then off up and around, on the skinny track above the road, around, me in the lead, keeping it real on the skinny skinny trail, then climbed up to the Breeze Bay track. Nelson took off, flying around it, while I took it pretty easy. Someone has put a backside on the rock we built the entry ramp to. Then on the final down hill bits, towards the stile, they've grubbed out the ruts, wrecking the track a bit.
Across to Anaconda, and Nelson led in. I soon backed off on account of the dust, which was really bad. So, had a solo ride down, my own pace, pretty quick, but no where near as quick as Nelse. I was only about half way through the 'tail when I saw him heading across the carpark in Taylors... Not long later, so was I. Next, up the road, no cars did we meet, til right at the top, where we headed down into Nicholson, and found a steep downhill I'd spotted on Monday, taking this and bypassing a good portion of concrete steps. One tiny section of 2 hairpins and we were on the alley way that led us out to Whitewash, then down here onto the road and finally along the Esplanade, dodging the waves - sea was HIGH and big.
18 kms, and over 600 climbed. At 8.45 pm, we'd just grabbed our dinners and were leaving when the 4.7 hit. Felt like a loud vibration, and a bottle fell off a shelf at the restaurant, and an alarm went off too...
Nelson faffed with his jockey wheel then off up and around, on the skinny track above the road, around, me in the lead, keeping it real on the skinny skinny trail, then climbed up to the Breeze Bay track. Nelson took off, flying around it, while I took it pretty easy. Someone has put a backside on the rock we built the entry ramp to. Then on the final down hill bits, towards the stile, they've grubbed out the ruts, wrecking the track a bit.
Across to Anaconda, and Nelson led in. I soon backed off on account of the dust, which was really bad. So, had a solo ride down, my own pace, pretty quick, but no where near as quick as Nelse. I was only about half way through the 'tail when I saw him heading across the carpark in Taylors... Not long later, so was I. Next, up the road, no cars did we meet, til right at the top, where we headed down into Nicholson, and found a steep downhill I'd spotted on Monday, taking this and bypassing a good portion of concrete steps. One tiny section of 2 hairpins and we were on the alley way that led us out to Whitewash, then down here onto the road and finally along the Esplanade, dodging the waves - sea was HIGH and big.
18 kms, and over 600 climbed. At 8.45 pm, we'd just grabbed our dinners and were leaving when the 4.7 hit. Felt like a loud vibration, and a bottle fell off a shelf at the restaurant, and an alarm went off too...
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Monday - The long way to dinner
Not really a valid ride, but kinda was... Dinner at Joy's in Taylors, so, rode there from work, on the Troll - via Whitewash Head, Flowers Track and Nicholson Park... rode up Whitewash to the path way that cuts back through the houses to Flowers Track, then up a few zigs and steps of that, then across and up through Nicholson, before the cooling rush down into Taylors...
apparently 248 m... not sure how that happened... and 16.5 kms.
apparently 248 m... not sure how that happened... and 16.5 kms.
Saturday, May 07, 2016
Saturday morning Jet meander
Tried to be an earlyish start, but by the time I'd parked up top of Huntsbury I didn't actually get rolling til just after nine. Jet galavanting around me, we cruised up the main drag for a start, then at the cattlestop we cut through the gate and up the jumpy track then over the gate and into shitsville, rolling up the singletrack to the fence and up the landing strip, on up gravel to the top. Jet took the cattlestop too quick and just about broke his leg! Over Vernon, fanging it, then waiting for Jet while uphillers passed be by then fanging it again. Through Crapaki top and into the Witch, nice techy climb through the rocks, cleaning all. Around the front and down to the road. Jet was getting tired already, but we kept going.
Cruised up the road to the Castle and an old colleague caught up on a roadie, then I directed a Santa Cruz rider onto the singletrack. We followed, Jet navigating the cattlestop very carefully. Speeeeed through the entire top section, rolling really smoothly, feeling good. Held up for Jetty, then onwards down to the first hairpin, at excellent speed. The Santa Cruzer was lost here, but I told him "this way" and he headed off ahead. Jet and me followed. Good climb out and then over back to the road.
Jet and me cruised up the road here, me keeping him in check on account of the speeding roadsters flying past at various times. Took our time, me not wanting to wear him out. At the top of Castle again I waited a bit while a runner cleared off the Tors track, then we headed up the walking track to it. Awesome downhill this, techy as all get up at the bottom, which I cleaned all but one dab round the worst bit, and on down to the road again. Now it was onto the singletrack just above the road. Climbed up the first bit and at the top on the techiest rocky-over bit, my handlebar clipped the fence on the right causing the me to topple off and over to the left, tumbling down the bank, above a precipice above the road. I managed to stop my fall by strategically smacking my left (already sore) knee on a rock, then turned expecting the bike to tumble after me. Thankfully it didn't. Picked myself up and untwisted the bars, and straightened the brake lever and got rolling again, sore knee really starting to smart now. The sore knee that's been a sore knee for a while now... nothing new there, I guess. On round the singletrack, catching a guy and a dog, so we took to the road and then Witch Hill, on up and round and down through Rapaki. Stopping here to give Jetty a drink and having a nice long look around...
Up Vernon, climbing okay, knee coping. Then around the Traverse for a start then down through the tussocks, off piste the whole way to the landing strip, bomb down here, over the fence, round the singletrack, over the gate, jumpy jumpy down hill, stopping and waiting for Jet now and then, then over the final stile to the car...
15.5 kms and over 600 m climbed...
Cruised up the road to the Castle and an old colleague caught up on a roadie, then I directed a Santa Cruz rider onto the singletrack. We followed, Jet navigating the cattlestop very carefully. Speeeeed through the entire top section, rolling really smoothly, feeling good. Held up for Jetty, then onwards down to the first hairpin, at excellent speed. The Santa Cruzer was lost here, but I told him "this way" and he headed off ahead. Jet and me followed. Good climb out and then over back to the road.
Jet and me cruised up the road here, me keeping him in check on account of the speeding roadsters flying past at various times. Took our time, me not wanting to wear him out. At the top of Castle again I waited a bit while a runner cleared off the Tors track, then we headed up the walking track to it. Awesome downhill this, techy as all get up at the bottom, which I cleaned all but one dab round the worst bit, and on down to the road again. Now it was onto the singletrack just above the road. Climbed up the first bit and at the top on the techiest rocky-over bit, my handlebar clipped the fence on the right causing the me to topple off and over to the left, tumbling down the bank, above a precipice above the road. I managed to stop my fall by strategically smacking my left (already sore) knee on a rock, then turned expecting the bike to tumble after me. Thankfully it didn't. Picked myself up and untwisted the bars, and straightened the brake lever and got rolling again, sore knee really starting to smart now. The sore knee that's been a sore knee for a while now... nothing new there, I guess. On round the singletrack, catching a guy and a dog, so we took to the road and then Witch Hill, on up and round and down through Rapaki. Stopping here to give Jetty a drink and having a nice long look around...
Up Vernon, climbing okay, knee coping. Then around the Traverse for a start then down through the tussocks, off piste the whole way to the landing strip, bomb down here, over the fence, round the singletrack, over the gate, jumpy jumpy down hill, stopping and waiting for Jet now and then, then over the final stile to the car...
15.5 kms and over 600 m climbed...
Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Wednesday night Worsley Nun Gov's
Usual pickup outside work, 5.20 or so, and we cruised the streets, not really knowing where to go, then deciding on Worsley's... Old Skool Stylez, up the main drag all the way, checking out the 'security' on the new Park. Looks to me like people have been accessing the old route in at the top, but. Not us. Up the BodyBag, chuffing, then top of Nun for a break. Dude we'd met in the back in January, Quetty, rolled up and he remembered us and we remembered him, and we chatted for ages. Then Nelson and me headed off, with me eating Nelson's dust the whole way, no matter how far I backed off... Struggled with that, so not such a great run, but some fun had. On down the whole way all the way to the bottom - no flats this time, yay, then up the road to the upper entrance for the Governor's Bay trail. Off down this, nice smooth run down, tho at times corners were hard to see round due to bushes... Into the climb, manageable, but a couple dabs, and only one really bad one on the steppy rocks near the top. Cleaned the final grunt tho, which is a first for a very long time.
Up the road again, this time all the way up to top of Nun again for a second go at the top section. I led the way in this time, and Nelson gave me lots of gap for the dust, and I had a mint run, jumping stuff I hadn't on the first, and cleaning berms better and all sorts of good stuff. Off at the carpark and back up, this time on the walking track above the road. Nice climb up this, a few steppy walking bits, but mostly bloody good, including the last steeeep bit before it levels off and descends a bit... Up Worsley's Rd, and over down the Bodybag. Ducked into the forest a little further down on the left and found some un-ridden trails, massive stupid jumps in them, but lots of rideable stuff, and found spraypaint markings for future trails(?), and eventually arrived where I thought we would, and took the 4wdy trail the rest of the way out, tho peeled right at the clearing below the pylons, and walked up then got into the jumpy trail in the trees here, then peeled out of it at the big clearing (old entry to Guts track, / junction) and over the fence onto the lower finishing trails (which are actually outside of the Park's gambit).
14kms all up, with 555 m in altitudinalities.
Up the road again, this time all the way up to top of Nun again for a second go at the top section. I led the way in this time, and Nelson gave me lots of gap for the dust, and I had a mint run, jumping stuff I hadn't on the first, and cleaning berms better and all sorts of good stuff. Off at the carpark and back up, this time on the walking track above the road. Nice climb up this, a few steppy walking bits, but mostly bloody good, including the last steeeep bit before it levels off and descends a bit... Up Worsley's Rd, and over down the Bodybag. Ducked into the forest a little further down on the left and found some un-ridden trails, massive stupid jumps in them, but lots of rideable stuff, and found spraypaint markings for future trails(?), and eventually arrived where I thought we would, and took the 4wdy trail the rest of the way out, tho peeled right at the clearing below the pylons, and walked up then got into the jumpy trail in the trees here, then peeled out of it at the big clearing (old entry to Guts track, / junction) and over the fence onto the lower finishing trails (which are actually outside of the Park's gambit).
14kms all up, with 555 m in altitudinalities.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Tuesday Night meanderisations
Rode from work to meet Nelson at Rufus's Back Alley bikeshop, and we cruised the busy roads eventually getting to Mt Pleasant and parking up top of Major Hornbrook. The PFMTB-Crew were meeting at 6.30, and it was 6.07 as we hit the trail. I led off, leaving Nelson faffing with something, figuring I'd get a head start as he was gonna catch me anyway, but he wasn't feeling 100% on form so stayed back for quite a while, catching me at the loop at the top. Off up the rocky bits on the original Britten around under Broadleaf and on to the cattlestop, sun well and truly set. Over the road and fence and climbing up to the Mt Pleasant track, hanging a right and skidding down the gravelly chip to the stile and over and then into the Mt Cavendish climb. I took the wrong line for a start but then found my way back onto the 2nd hairpin in behind Nelson. Clamber clamber, through the gate then back and forth we went to the top and over around behind the Gondola building. Straight into the downhill down the steps, boppity boppity bop, and then wandered around on the rocks til eventually we found the right lines down along the fenceline and then along the ridge and rocky trail to the top of the Bridle Path.
Up the road, and at the top we could see the string of lights on Britten track that we knew were the boys. I led the way off down Castle Rock, starting slowly and not putting much effort into slowly accelerating til reaching sensible speeds, feeling pretty smooth, but not overly fast. Little bit quicker towards the first hairpin, but wondering why the hell I was so handlebar-light focussed, and realising my headlamp was only on low, whereas the handlebar one was on med... Upped the headlight and much better hurtled towards the 2nd hairpin, around, and down, then Nelson caught me in the climb up and around then good flow down to the end.
Along the road, around under the Gondola at a good pace, now 'chasing' the boys. I didn't think we'd catch them at all, figuring by the time we were on top of Mt Pleasant they'd be on the road heading around ready to climb Broadleaf, so I didn't push too hard. From Cavendish Saddle, up the steep bastard climb around then up the nice face onto the gravel road. Through the gate and I could see lights down on the trail below, and Nelson hadn't hung around at the top so straight down the shorter cut and muppetted over the stile and then fanged it, definitely chasing now, able to see a few lights on the trail below. Flew down through the tussocks to the end of this section and we caught up with everyone - Pete, Steve, Wazza, Andy (on his newly built-up Keewee) and Robin - all in good form as usual.
Got going down and around the top section of Greenwood towards the road. I stayed tight on Nelson's tail, had a few whoopsies but managed to keep it under control, eventually rolling out onto the road, regrouping and then riding up to Britten again. Into the singletrack, and a wee ways around I decided to dive off down the lower track. Nelson followed, but none of the others. It was sweet, really flowy and smooth, losing altitude nicely, keeping speed, around below the rocky knoll of the hill, then an easy climb back around to the rest of the singletrack. The boys were just over the gate heading for Broadleaf as we climbed back up to them, over the gate and were with them before the first corner of Broadleaf. Up the gravel and here we made a choice. Nelson and me were feeling like we needed a bigger ride, and the boys all headed off down towards Cavendish to finish. So, said our goodbyes, and headed up the top and off down again.
Better run down here this time, blazing through the tussock sections, tho still missing a couple of corners. Brief rest and then into Greenwood, half choking on Nelson's dust. I had a pretty good run, kept him in sight for a good while, but he was like a rocketship, slowly gapping me. Into gloopygulch and could see some lights below, but before too long realised they were stopped, climbing. Nelson wasn't that far away as I descended towards them, and they were well off the track as I flowed past. Round the bends and eventually through the cattlestop and Nelson was already on the final blast towards the rocky-ups. I was a bit slow round here and my usual fast section I was really shit, realising at one point i was nearly stopped! Picked it up a bit, juuust dabbed through the first rock, and then blasted through the rest of it. As I rolled to a stop at the final stile I turned off my light, had a stretch, then went to turn it on and it was dead - perfect timing!
Up the road, at a pretty good pace, climbing hard for a long time. I had to slow a couple of times, but we pushed it, figuring it was the last blast and just bashing it out. Felt like forever to make it up the road, but finally got to Britten and handlebar lights only I had some interesting moments, with the trail vanishing behind tussocks several times.
All up, over 22 kms, and over 800 m climbed. Bloody good.
Up the road, and at the top we could see the string of lights on Britten track that we knew were the boys. I led the way off down Castle Rock, starting slowly and not putting much effort into slowly accelerating til reaching sensible speeds, feeling pretty smooth, but not overly fast. Little bit quicker towards the first hairpin, but wondering why the hell I was so handlebar-light focussed, and realising my headlamp was only on low, whereas the handlebar one was on med... Upped the headlight and much better hurtled towards the 2nd hairpin, around, and down, then Nelson caught me in the climb up and around then good flow down to the end.
Along the road, around under the Gondola at a good pace, now 'chasing' the boys. I didn't think we'd catch them at all, figuring by the time we were on top of Mt Pleasant they'd be on the road heading around ready to climb Broadleaf, so I didn't push too hard. From Cavendish Saddle, up the steep bastard climb around then up the nice face onto the gravel road. Through the gate and I could see lights down on the trail below, and Nelson hadn't hung around at the top so straight down the shorter cut and muppetted over the stile and then fanged it, definitely chasing now, able to see a few lights on the trail below. Flew down through the tussocks to the end of this section and we caught up with everyone - Pete, Steve, Wazza, Andy (on his newly built-up Keewee) and Robin - all in good form as usual.
Got going down and around the top section of Greenwood towards the road. I stayed tight on Nelson's tail, had a few whoopsies but managed to keep it under control, eventually rolling out onto the road, regrouping and then riding up to Britten again. Into the singletrack, and a wee ways around I decided to dive off down the lower track. Nelson followed, but none of the others. It was sweet, really flowy and smooth, losing altitude nicely, keeping speed, around below the rocky knoll of the hill, then an easy climb back around to the rest of the singletrack. The boys were just over the gate heading for Broadleaf as we climbed back up to them, over the gate and were with them before the first corner of Broadleaf. Up the gravel and here we made a choice. Nelson and me were feeling like we needed a bigger ride, and the boys all headed off down towards Cavendish to finish. So, said our goodbyes, and headed up the top and off down again.
Better run down here this time, blazing through the tussock sections, tho still missing a couple of corners. Brief rest and then into Greenwood, half choking on Nelson's dust. I had a pretty good run, kept him in sight for a good while, but he was like a rocketship, slowly gapping me. Into gloopygulch and could see some lights below, but before too long realised they were stopped, climbing. Nelson wasn't that far away as I descended towards them, and they were well off the track as I flowed past. Round the bends and eventually through the cattlestop and Nelson was already on the final blast towards the rocky-ups. I was a bit slow round here and my usual fast section I was really shit, realising at one point i was nearly stopped! Picked it up a bit, juuust dabbed through the first rock, and then blasted through the rest of it. As I rolled to a stop at the final stile I turned off my light, had a stretch, then went to turn it on and it was dead - perfect timing!
Up the road, at a pretty good pace, climbing hard for a long time. I had to slow a couple of times, but we pushed it, figuring it was the last blast and just bashing it out. Felt like forever to make it up the road, but finally got to Britten and handlebar lights only I had some interesting moments, with the trail vanishing behind tussocks several times.
All up, over 22 kms, and over 800 m climbed. Bloody good.
Wednesday 20th, Night Pleasantries
Ooops, realised I never posted this last week... This was Wednesday the 20th, Nelson picked me up from work and we trafficjammed the way towards the Ferrymead Bridge, then ducked around into McCormacks Bay. Parked up, changed and got going up Glenstrae and into the wheezy singletrack. Quite overgrown with grass and vines and blackberries and fennel, but clear enough to ride. I thought it was only a little while since I rode down this (but it was back in July), and Nelson had only been up it a couple of weeks ago. Still, a good honest climb which, once I'd had some asthma puff, I managed okay. Cleaned all but the second lower hairpin, and dabbed once on one of the new bridgey bits, and once in the upper switchies, then walked the upper steps (as usual). On up the road, flashies now needed, then up Longridge, Clearview, Ridgeview onto Upper Major and to Britten. Up this without lights, as there was just enough glow from the spectacular sunset sky and a rather large moon looming in the east. Climbed and Nelson jetted on ahead. Met a runner and a couple on bikes with a dog, then headed around the original Britten line to the rock climber's stile and checked out some climbers on a tight-rope line strung above the cliffs between a couple of rocks. Pretty dark tho, so could only see him with our lights.
Up the 'new' line into Mt Pleasant, climbing away to the top, and resting for a while up here. Off down, swooped around the old line for the benefit of more trail, and then over the stile and down. Pretty good flow for a start then overlooking Lyttelton I missed the trail briefly. Back on, and Nelson's dropped me, so off I go, finding my handlebar light too bright reflecting off the tussocks, making the trail really hard to see. Flowed around and about then down blasting towards the end of this bit. Rolled down the 4wd bit then hung the right and got a taste of what was to come. Dust. Lots and lots of dust, and I was eating it. Nelson was raising it ahead and I could do nothing but blindly follow into it. Further on, past the ruins, it wasn't as bad, but every time the wind was directly in our faces, or at our backs, the dust would hang out and get in my eyes and lungs. But everywhere else there was enough side wind to tidy it away. Good run all the way around and down. At gloomy gulch we spotted a light ahead, meaning we'd been catching him up(?), but then at flatter bit lower down Nelson stopped for a to rest his hands and back and feet. I was feeling pretty good. Off again and more dust, so I held back a bit, but had a pretty good run, just cruising bits, pumping bits and then boosting bits. Screwed up the rocky climb, but then flowed out the lower newly opened up bits and rolled in through dust to the end.
Across the road and into the Captain. I stuck close to Nelson's tail for a start, thereby being where the dust hadn't risen up yet. In the gulch before the stupidbridge it was damper and very cool. Then more dust and down into the main drags. Not so bad through all the tricky rocks, all of which we cleaned nicely, and then the climby big got me, and the flow across the slop was awesome. Dropped around the corner into the switchbacky section, spotting Nelson failing on the second right hander, then down around and cleaned that, then into the cabbage tree track, slick in the dust on the corners, and super boosty fast down the last stretches, across the creek and over the fence. Down the steps, along the horse paddock and onto the road, catching a slipstream lift from a couple buses and then on round, taking turns and super fast slipstream cranking around through Redcliffs and into McCormacks back to the car.
Just about 19kms ridden, and 600m climbed (mine measured 596m, Nelson 604)
Up the 'new' line into Mt Pleasant, climbing away to the top, and resting for a while up here. Off down, swooped around the old line for the benefit of more trail, and then over the stile and down. Pretty good flow for a start then overlooking Lyttelton I missed the trail briefly. Back on, and Nelson's dropped me, so off I go, finding my handlebar light too bright reflecting off the tussocks, making the trail really hard to see. Flowed around and about then down blasting towards the end of this bit. Rolled down the 4wd bit then hung the right and got a taste of what was to come. Dust. Lots and lots of dust, and I was eating it. Nelson was raising it ahead and I could do nothing but blindly follow into it. Further on, past the ruins, it wasn't as bad, but every time the wind was directly in our faces, or at our backs, the dust would hang out and get in my eyes and lungs. But everywhere else there was enough side wind to tidy it away. Good run all the way around and down. At gloomy gulch we spotted a light ahead, meaning we'd been catching him up(?), but then at flatter bit lower down Nelson stopped for a to rest his hands and back and feet. I was feeling pretty good. Off again and more dust, so I held back a bit, but had a pretty good run, just cruising bits, pumping bits and then boosting bits. Screwed up the rocky climb, but then flowed out the lower newly opened up bits and rolled in through dust to the end.
Across the road and into the Captain. I stuck close to Nelson's tail for a start, thereby being where the dust hadn't risen up yet. In the gulch before the stupidbridge it was damper and very cool. Then more dust and down into the main drags. Not so bad through all the tricky rocks, all of which we cleaned nicely, and then the climby big got me, and the flow across the slop was awesome. Dropped around the corner into the switchbacky section, spotting Nelson failing on the second right hander, then down around and cleaned that, then into the cabbage tree track, slick in the dust on the corners, and super boosty fast down the last stretches, across the creek and over the fence. Down the steps, along the horse paddock and onto the road, catching a slipstream lift from a couple buses and then on round, taking turns and super fast slipstream cranking around through Redcliffs and into McCormacks back to the car.
Just about 19kms ridden, and 600m climbed (mine measured 596m, Nelson 604)
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Wednesday Night Solo
No Nelsie tonight for various reasons, so I left work on my lonesome and headed for the hills. Zig-zagged through Beckenham then straight into Major Aitken Drive, entering it with a clusterfuck of roadies, the faster ones of which were ducking into every cul-de-sac, around and out, while the slowbies and me chugged up the main drag. I peeled off right on Kenmanure and didn't see them again. Up the very top of Huntsbury Ave I spotted the TFC Truck, so flicked off a txt to Steve and Robin asking who was out for a sneaky. Steve replied 'not me' so I kept an eye out for Robin as I climbed. Past the pylon I jumped over the gate, and rode up to the next gate, and up the singletrack from here. Over the fence onto the landing strip, and a light was coming down the gravel ahead. Robin! Chatted a while, he wasn't feeling as shit hot as on Saturday. Just before we met, I could see a group of maybe 12 riders heading down Vernon, and on the other side, a group of maybe 8 riding around under Sugarloaf. Lots of other singles and doubles out and about too. I started to get cold, so got rolling again, to the top and straight into the Traverse.
Uneventful blast around the Traverse, catching up to and passing a couple at our usual stopping spot, then blasting on around to Vic. Straight up and over into Thomson and Thompson, nice rolling float through these. Then, onto the road and down across Dyers, freaking out a timid car load of asians, then up to the Old Dyers entry and into it. What a groomed trail to start with now! (well over a year since last) Fast down and around. Rollercoaster into the valley, then the rough began and my handlebar light cut out. Stopped, unplugged, replugged, and all good from there on. Trees felt to be much bigger on the side of the track to the last time I was down here, all the way down. On the 4wd section I took it a bit easier, and then knuckled in for the climb to the road, across (no traffic) and up through Vic to the war memorial. Heading for the skidder site I ducked right into the singletrack and cruised through here, wrong-geared on a big left hander, stalling, changing gear while stationary, and getting on again. Brief rest at the skidder site and into Shazzas, blitzing down around the corners, surprised at a couple of new bits then missed the road crossing and headed straight down to the Brentzone. Held left down through here and out the bottom, into Bridges, Flow etc meeting my own dust on the hairpins lower down, and nearly losing it on one of the last corners. Then the blast down to Hidden Valley creek crossing, cleaned it and the first corner, then completely failed the second corner. Rest of the climb was good, but I was getting tired. Took a break over the stile before the climb to the rest of Old Skool.
Climbed the last climb and then hit the downhill. Fuck this track is getting bony. Either the closure of McVicars has forced more riders onto it, or Mtnbiking is just getting too damned popular, but this track has been hammered. Dusty; each hairpin I went round I was greeted by my own dust from above, and did I say, boney??? Jeebus. I'd topped up my rear shock air pressure in the morning, and it was feeling a little harsh... 10psi needs to be let out. Finally I was down the bottom, nearly cleaned the exit, should have, but I baulked. Finally, down the last gravel, over the gate and headed for home, Bowenvale, Eastern, Wilsons, Nursery, Stanmore, long slog and I was toasted by the time I got home... Sore neck, sore knee (wish I'd been wearing my longshorts or kneewarmers!)
30kms, 600m Climbed, in a smidge under 2 hours of riding.
Uneventful blast around the Traverse, catching up to and passing a couple at our usual stopping spot, then blasting on around to Vic. Straight up and over into Thomson and Thompson, nice rolling float through these. Then, onto the road and down across Dyers, freaking out a timid car load of asians, then up to the Old Dyers entry and into it. What a groomed trail to start with now! (well over a year since last) Fast down and around. Rollercoaster into the valley, then the rough began and my handlebar light cut out. Stopped, unplugged, replugged, and all good from there on. Trees felt to be much bigger on the side of the track to the last time I was down here, all the way down. On the 4wd section I took it a bit easier, and then knuckled in for the climb to the road, across (no traffic) and up through Vic to the war memorial. Heading for the skidder site I ducked right into the singletrack and cruised through here, wrong-geared on a big left hander, stalling, changing gear while stationary, and getting on again. Brief rest at the skidder site and into Shazzas, blitzing down around the corners, surprised at a couple of new bits then missed the road crossing and headed straight down to the Brentzone. Held left down through here and out the bottom, into Bridges, Flow etc meeting my own dust on the hairpins lower down, and nearly losing it on one of the last corners. Then the blast down to Hidden Valley creek crossing, cleaned it and the first corner, then completely failed the second corner. Rest of the climb was good, but I was getting tired. Took a break over the stile before the climb to the rest of Old Skool.
Climbed the last climb and then hit the downhill. Fuck this track is getting bony. Either the closure of McVicars has forced more riders onto it, or Mtnbiking is just getting too damned popular, but this track has been hammered. Dusty; each hairpin I went round I was greeted by my own dust from above, and did I say, boney??? Jeebus. I'd topped up my rear shock air pressure in the morning, and it was feeling a little harsh... 10psi needs to be let out. Finally I was down the bottom, nearly cleaned the exit, should have, but I baulked. Finally, down the last gravel, over the gate and headed for home, Bowenvale, Eastern, Wilsons, Nursery, Stanmore, long slog and I was toasted by the time I got home... Sore neck, sore knee (wish I'd been wearing my longshorts or kneewarmers!)
30kms, 600m Climbed, in a smidge under 2 hours of riding.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Sunday boys and Jet, black-Bottled-berries
Fatbike, my boys and Jet the dog, out to Bottle Lake for a spin. We stopped and ate blackberries at a multitude of locations, finding some real motherlodes. Through the middle to the pond, then out to the beach. Realised there that I'd lost (or left behind, at least) Jet's dog-lead, so we headed back along Avenues and a walking track or two back to the pond, then along to where I'd attached O's sweatshirt to my bag. O found the lead, and we scoffed some more blackberries before heading back to the carpark...... 10.4 kms and surprisingly, but believably, 75m of climby-ness
Saturday's posse catch-up, up, round and down.
Trundled across town to Steve's for a 9 oclock, and found there Wazza, Steve and Robin, soon followed by the arrival of Wayno. We headed around through Hanson's Park and up the usual route, Ramahana, Aotea and up. All sticking together and chatting catching up, for 't had been a while since I'd ridden with these fellas. Ground our way up the gravel and topped out, me starving hungry, scoffing half a one-square as the others rolled up in short shrift.
Was a big posse assembling up in the road, and a couple of young dudes headed thru ahead of us, so we got going. Took a while but I wound in the young dudes by our usual regroup spot below Sugarloaf. They headed out while I awaited the others, then there were a few riders coming the other way so we held off our departure. Then, these total dicks came up behind us and proceeded to totally fuck up any flow the oncoming riders had, going ahead of us. We ask commented on their rudeness and followed them, me continually winding them in, letting them off, winding them in, the rest of the way to Vic.
Into the Thompsons, blast blast blast, then ride chatting to the previously mentioned young dudes as we climbed up the road... I dropped back and joined the boys, mainly Wazza and we plodded our ways up the road then up top of The Nun. I led straight out thinking most of them were gonna bail in the middle, and had a rather wafty ride. Slow in the slow bits but fast and jumpy in the fast jumpy bits. Made it through the top half and dropped into the lowers. Riding really cleanly, lightly, til the stretch before the corner next to where the Governor's Bay trail comes up, and I double pinch flatted. Walked up the exit trail to that corner on the road and proceeded to start patching. The boys rolled up, all but Steve, with Robin continuing on, while Wazza and Wayne waited a bit, the Wazza left. I patched two holes, then found two more, so Wayne gave me a tube, then took off. So, I finished up and got going. We all met up with Steve at the top of Worsley's.
I led off down the 'Bag and bounced and rolled, trying to stay out of the ruts. With the forest closed we headed down the old skool main drag, first time down this for aeons (St Patrick's Day, 2011, to be precise). At the big corner, old entrance to the Guts climbing track, we caught up with Tim Prebble, who was manning the 'info' station (ie, his truck, with leaflets on the windscreen) about the new Park. Chatted a whiles, then headed on down the track, Epitaph, then road, and into Farsideville. I took Utopia, which I really enjoyed. The others all took various other ones, which they all really enjoyed too.
To finish, off down the road, and into Zero's for coffees (and greentea) and grub.
I's home by 12.45pm
35 kms with all that road, and 729m climbed
Was a big posse assembling up in the road, and a couple of young dudes headed thru ahead of us, so we got going. Took a while but I wound in the young dudes by our usual regroup spot below Sugarloaf. They headed out while I awaited the others, then there were a few riders coming the other way so we held off our departure. Then, these total dicks came up behind us and proceeded to totally fuck up any flow the oncoming riders had, going ahead of us. We ask commented on their rudeness and followed them, me continually winding them in, letting them off, winding them in, the rest of the way to Vic.
Into the Thompsons, blast blast blast, then ride chatting to the previously mentioned young dudes as we climbed up the road... I dropped back and joined the boys, mainly Wazza and we plodded our ways up the road then up top of The Nun. I led straight out thinking most of them were gonna bail in the middle, and had a rather wafty ride. Slow in the slow bits but fast and jumpy in the fast jumpy bits. Made it through the top half and dropped into the lowers. Riding really cleanly, lightly, til the stretch before the corner next to where the Governor's Bay trail comes up, and I double pinch flatted. Walked up the exit trail to that corner on the road and proceeded to start patching. The boys rolled up, all but Steve, with Robin continuing on, while Wazza and Wayne waited a bit, the Wazza left. I patched two holes, then found two more, so Wayne gave me a tube, then took off. So, I finished up and got going. We all met up with Steve at the top of Worsley's.
I led off down the 'Bag and bounced and rolled, trying to stay out of the ruts. With the forest closed we headed down the old skool main drag, first time down this for aeons (St Patrick's Day, 2011, to be precise). At the big corner, old entrance to the Guts climbing track, we caught up with Tim Prebble, who was manning the 'info' station (ie, his truck, with leaflets on the windscreen) about the new Park. Chatted a whiles, then headed on down the track, Epitaph, then road, and into Farsideville. I took Utopia, which I really enjoyed. The others all took various other ones, which they all really enjoyed too.
To finish, off down the road, and into Zero's for coffees (and greentea) and grub.
I's home by 12.45pm
35 kms with all that road, and 729m climbed
Thursday, April 07, 2016
Thursday night Hack Porse and Spriving Lings
First night lights ride tonight. Nelson usual pick up from work and trafficking across and up Dyers then around the Summit looking for the top Livingsprings entry. We think we found where it was, stopping first too early, then second obviously past it, so the bit we'd seen before that had to be it... Parked down at Gebbies and headed in 6.10pm, last of the sun going and giving spectacular nor'west skies and freaky light on the hills. A car passed us as we gasped up the gravel road, and proceeded to park at the end and the occupants got out, a young couple heading in to the hut for the night. We said 'see ya on the way back'. Up the trail and over, lights on for the first time as we headed down the rooty steep into the forest. It's been so long since I've ridden this bike I forgot to drop my seat, making the descent sketchy to say the least. At the bottom, staying low under the low trees and climbing up the roots was hard work. Then up the fence line and over the stile and on up. Greeted at the top with a MOST spectacular view of Mt Bradley and the basin surrounding the Packhorse lit from reflected off clouds set-sun light. Utterly amazing. Down the road, and into the dark dark fir forest for to climb. Walked the switchies, rode on, past the 'bach' through the open, startling a rather large cattlebeast, then on up up up. In no time we reached the next switchback section, me thinking they were way further ahead. Had another breather at the top, then hit the last gasp climb to the fenceline. Next it was round the narrow sketchy ledge, through the Dykes and into the wind. Howling gale of a thing over the leading ridges, pushing us both off our bikes for dabs before reaching the hut, where we found a bunch of very windswept tents, and a few bods to talk to. 50 minutes from when we set off, dead on 7pm.
Off back down, I led the way, easier riding with momentum, into the wind. At the Dykes we met the walking couple from the start (they'd made good time, we thought), and proceeded to get cow shit all over our tires and bikes, as we traversed the techy ledge. Over the fence and into the woods, flowing, wafting, drifting around corners, fantastic descent through the forest on the soft pine needle surface. Pure bliss riding. Short climb around the tricksy tree, then down again, at times with much speed, others cautiously keeping grip. Into the open, brief climb where the cattlebeast had been, and back into the forest, across and down the switchies, then ballbearing fir cones, and out to the forestry road climb. Nelson took off up this and I plodded on up behind. Over the stile, up, then down the paddock trail, Nelson out front using his newly acquired DH mojo. Over the next stile and down the barbed wire edged rootfest, then barbed wire edged rootfest climb, then steeeeep, both of us walking eventually, to the open and back on for the last over and down to the road, for a dusty follow into the little trail below the road which was fast and grippy back to the car.
As always, surprisingly only 450 odd metres climbed (always feels like more), over a round trip of just over 11kms.
Then we drove round to Living springs, to take in one lap. In the Bamford Rd entrance, and around. Clambered up to do that wee drop bit off the side of the trail, then found a new being-built track that takes you across the slope, through a huge new native planting area, and into the bottom of the Pines, climbing up newly formed, but as yet unfinished, track to the old Pines entrance. Up (and down a couple times) through the Pines, having forgotten how steep bits are, then stopped for a sit in the dark on Rhymes With Orange. Off again, and around into Mississippi, trails all in mint condition, then as we climbed to Zanes I hit the wall, and started to shake. Sugar from earlier in the day had all run out and I was verging on one of those cold-sweat shakes, but managed, just, to keep it together and flowed and hummed down Zanes to the bottom, over the bridge and back to the car.
just over 3 kms, and under 100m climbed...
Off back down, I led the way, easier riding with momentum, into the wind. At the Dykes we met the walking couple from the start (they'd made good time, we thought), and proceeded to get cow shit all over our tires and bikes, as we traversed the techy ledge. Over the fence and into the woods, flowing, wafting, drifting around corners, fantastic descent through the forest on the soft pine needle surface. Pure bliss riding. Short climb around the tricksy tree, then down again, at times with much speed, others cautiously keeping grip. Into the open, brief climb where the cattlebeast had been, and back into the forest, across and down the switchies, then ballbearing fir cones, and out to the forestry road climb. Nelson took off up this and I plodded on up behind. Over the stile, up, then down the paddock trail, Nelson out front using his newly acquired DH mojo. Over the next stile and down the barbed wire edged rootfest, then barbed wire edged rootfest climb, then steeeeep, both of us walking eventually, to the open and back on for the last over and down to the road, for a dusty follow into the little trail below the road which was fast and grippy back to the car.
As always, surprisingly only 450 odd metres climbed (always feels like more), over a round trip of just over 11kms.
Then we drove round to Living springs, to take in one lap. In the Bamford Rd entrance, and around. Clambered up to do that wee drop bit off the side of the trail, then found a new being-built track that takes you across the slope, through a huge new native planting area, and into the bottom of the Pines, climbing up newly formed, but as yet unfinished, track to the old Pines entrance. Up (and down a couple times) through the Pines, having forgotten how steep bits are, then stopped for a sit in the dark on Rhymes With Orange. Off again, and around into Mississippi, trails all in mint condition, then as we climbed to Zanes I hit the wall, and started to shake. Sugar from earlier in the day had all run out and I was verging on one of those cold-sweat shakes, but managed, just, to keep it together and flowed and hummed down Zanes to the bottom, over the bridge and back to the car.
just over 3 kms, and under 100m climbed...
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Wednesday Night Solo Jet Forest
Worsley's loops with Jet, windy! Forecast was looking shite right up until I was riding home from work and it was raining, but that rain passed and Jet and me headed up to park at the top of Worsleys. Witnessed a mtnbiker having a quiet word with a dickhead with a motorbike here, about fire risk, and that they'd be banned from the forest soon anyway, what with the private ownership, and the millions being pumped into the place for the Park, and the trailbiker seemed oblivious.
6pm we got going, through the carpark gate and up the paddock into the new(ish) climbing trail on the right hand side forest. I seemed to have plenty of juice in my legs and lungs and kept a good gear all the way, surprising myself by not using granny on the first of the steepest bits. The pylons were screaming with wind noise, and could hear them from miles away in the forest, trees buffetting a lot but not so much on this side of the hill. Lots of cracks and groans too tho, from the damaged tree tops making me question the wisdom of being in the forest. Climbed up through Braillesville, checking out and climbing up a wee trail I found which eventually joined back to Braille, then on up over the top and up to the top of the B-Line zone. No stopping, just rolling on through and up up up to the top, seeing evidence of some motorbike cunt having been up here! Straight into ThrowTheGoat, bombing down and through, down down down. Stopped at about a third of the way down and had to wait ages for Jet. Then he caught up and the wind was blowing a gale through the trees at the cliff tops, down over the jumps then bypassing the one just before Yoda, as usual... Then into the steeps, dropping down and down, and seeing more evidence down here of the fucking motorbike. Most likely the dick in the carpark... Into the bottom, 35 minutes since I left the car. Climbing again, straight up around and up, then into the Guts climb, keeping a good crank on up, under the wailing pylons, and all the way up and out to the cliff top, cooling wind much thanked.
From here it was up the old original, spotting more trail bike sign, and then up to the top for my first real sit-down rest. I tightened the cleats in my new shoes here too. Then, off up the upper climb again, past Alice's Restaurant, and then into my newby fave, down through the cool U shaped gut between the dikes, and then into the dark forest and across the off camber slopes, so much faster than ever before, and especially faster than that time with Steve et al. Into where it joins Tommy2's, and I could see where the fucker on the trailbike had rarked up corners and off the side of the trail etc... Down into the lower reaches, and jumpy jumpy near the end, and out onto the climbing road again. Around about 7.05 here.
Up the Guts for a 2nd time, the wind seemingly stronger, and the racket from the pylons singing. As I got to them, around 5 riders came down past me, WITH LIGHTS ON! it's like 7.15 or 20, and NOT dark... I said to the first guy, "Little early for the lights, isnt it?" and he just smiled and nodded... oh well. On up the guts and out to the cliff top meeting a couple of guys here. Chatted about the wind and the noisy trees, then they headed off down, and after a time I followed. Original Line, where I had a wee off... I decided at the last second to make a tighter turn than I was gonna and my front wheel just stopped, folding me over on top of the bike. Garked my left knee a little and right calf. Got going again and down round and through into Fight Club which I loved, swooping and floating and whooping all the way down. Passed the guys at the bottom, saying "i love that track", and rode on up, light diminishing, maybe 7.40 odd by the time I's back at the top and riding down under the howling pines and across onto Epitaph for the final flail to the car...
12 kms with 629m of climb...
Sunday, March 06, 2016
Sunday Solo Forest and Jet
Jet and me got away from home about 10.40 and to the top of Worsley's Rd to park with all the other cars parked up there in the car park. Buncha XC whippets entered the trail ahead of me and, about 11.10, I started my hot plod up the trail through gate, through the paddock and into the trees, climbing ever climbing, catching a walking dude on the steep bit then chatting with him as I slowly left him behind. Climbed on up through the Braille region, then across the main drag and on up into the B-Line zone. Chatted briefly to some young'uns here then headed on up to the very top.
Into Throw The Goat and dusty bombing down down down, back and forth down and over and through and dropping and weaving. Nice descent, but I still baulked on the 2nd log jump. Passed some walkers not far below this, then wove on down to the bottom. Climby climb around in the hot sunshine and then up the guts track, cleaning it all to the Clifftop where we stopped for a nice breather and there was a spot I found with breeze and shadow, and Jet puffed and panted, hot tired doggy, while I had a bit of OSM and drank my fill. Got going again, into the old-school lead in towards Fight Club then had second thoughts and turned around and hit down Listerine Sandwich. What a funking waste of altitude. Straight down the hill, dropping dropping dropping, missing all the best bits of Fight Club and then entering it on the log-wall-corner thing, before the final drop down to the bottom. Pointless, like a listerine sandwich would be, I guess. Back into the climb up and around and then finished off the usual down past the tank and across into Epitaph back to the car.
Nice bit of riding in almost exactly one hour. 450 m altitude climbed, in 7.7kms...
Into Throw The Goat and dusty bombing down down down, back and forth down and over and through and dropping and weaving. Nice descent, but I still baulked on the 2nd log jump. Passed some walkers not far below this, then wove on down to the bottom. Climby climb around in the hot sunshine and then up the guts track, cleaning it all to the Clifftop where we stopped for a nice breather and there was a spot I found with breeze and shadow, and Jet puffed and panted, hot tired doggy, while I had a bit of OSM and drank my fill. Got going again, into the old-school lead in towards Fight Club then had second thoughts and turned around and hit down Listerine Sandwich. What a funking waste of altitude. Straight down the hill, dropping dropping dropping, missing all the best bits of Fight Club and then entering it on the log-wall-corner thing, before the final drop down to the bottom. Pointless, like a listerine sandwich would be, I guess. Back into the climb up and around and then finished off the usual down past the tank and across into Epitaph back to the car.
Nice bit of riding in almost exactly one hour. 450 m altitude climbed, in 7.7kms...
Saturday, March 05, 2016
Saturday shorty short woofy short
O and Jet and me headed up and parked up top of Worsley's for about 11am and headed up the main drag. Always over estimating his skill level, or under estimating how tech a trail is, and so we climbed and it showed me how tech the main drag actually is. He managed heaps, but quite a few bits caught him out. We just took our time and had a nice easy cruise on up. It also showed me how long it actually is, how normally I just jet on through it, but at his pace, each section seemed really long. Finally made the bottom of the body bag and up the climb to the forest. MMR told me at this point we'd actually only been riding 20mins, but it had been nearly an hour since we left the car!
I led off down into Tommy's. We bombed, jumped, stopped, bombed, jumped, wove and stopped. At one point we stopped and checked out a massive jump sequence off to the left. Got rolling again, debated doing Fight Club, but decided against it and headed off down through the Pylon gap and on down the trails on the left of the Guts track. then, out the bottom, and across to Epitaph and back to the car...
4.4kms and 230m of alt.
I led off down into Tommy's. We bombed, jumped, stopped, bombed, jumped, wove and stopped. At one point we stopped and checked out a massive jump sequence off to the left. Got rolling again, debated doing Fight Club, but decided against it and headed off down through the Pylon gap and on down the trails on the left of the Guts track. then, out the bottom, and across to Epitaph and back to the car...
4.4kms and 230m of alt.
Friday, March 04, 2016
Thursday Hunts Vern Witch Castle there and back again.
Nelson picked me up from work and we headed for the top of Huntsbury. Traffic reasonably manageable for a change. Parked up and an easterly was blowing through, making me cold, but I stayed at 1 layer and suffered til we got riding. Headed up, over the fence, and up the jumpy singletrack, checking out each jump as we passed, getting warmer as we climbed. Up over the gate and on up then over and up the airstrip onto the gravel grind to the top. Feeling alright, but not great either.
Onto Vernon and around a bit, stopping for a snack and air application for Nelson's tired tires. Breeze very pleasant across here. A few guys rolled through on their ways ups, and Nelson toyed with them by being super friendly. Off down, taking the old line, and then bombing down around the hill, my front wheel sketchy from too much air in the tire. Half way down the face above Rapaki we pulled up to let a bunch of climbers through, and there was one we recognised - Andy Pandy, out for a sneaky solo before having his 3rd knee drained on Friday and not riding for a while after that... No wind at all here, warm. Chatted for a bit then on our respective ways down (and up for him), railing down the trail to Rapaki Top, blazing through the masses here.
Straight into Witch Hill on the tails of a couple of guys who immediately struggled with the first tech. They let us past and we showed them how it was done. Cleaned it all round and up and over and down, then up the road, good pace to Castle Rock where there were a couple of older dudes chatting. Again, nicer here than at the car. We jumped in before them and proceeded to braaap down the trail, me struggling to see corners through Nelson's dust, but I kept tight on his tail the whole way. He would go into corners faster than me, but somehow I'd exit them quicker and be back on his tail immediately. After the first Hairpin he got a bit of a gap and then after the next one he stopped to apply a smidge more air pressure to his burped out tire. The oldie slowbos rolled past and we waited for some time before making our departure into the climb up and over and out to the road.
Up the road, to save time, and at the top we pushed the bikes up the ridge above the road to the walking track. I checked a text here, then we were off down towards the Tors, second time down here, nice wee trail, and some super tech at the bottom, which we rode more of this time. Down onto the road and then up onto the new walking track above it, cruising around this with its ups and downs. Rounded the final knoll and there was a massive posse of riders all over the road. We rolled through them, commenting, and into the Witch, clambering and climbing up and around over. Through Rapaki top and straight into the climb up Vernon, around. I stayed on Nels's tail til the climby bit above that wee pondy thing, and then he gapped me. I did catch sight of him a few times from then on tho. Eventually we got to the end, crossed the road, through another pile of bikers, and onto the Traverse. Bombed it around here and down through the rocks and tussocks out to the landing strip, rolling fast down through the smooth ground here.
Over the fence and onto the single track. Nelson dropped the big jump, and I bypassed it, and we rooosted won through the tussocks over the gate, and then jumped all the jumps (except the wooden one for me) down to the bottom, enjoying this so much we headed back up the main track all the way up through the cattle stops to above that pond and up the side track towards the watertank. then pushed up to the single track for round 2. This time I rolled into the drop jump, stopped. Eyed it. Nelson came back and I followed him in again, but stopped. Eyed it. Then he came back again and I followed him in and DROPPED it. Sweet. Done. No problems, will trade again. On down, tussock speedsville, over the gate, jump, jump, (bypass wooden), jump, berm - jump, jump, jump, ruts, rock drop, rutty corners, jump, double, and out to the stile. Done and dusted.
Not bad 17kms travailed and 700m climbed...All in all, a very pleasant evening.
Onto Vernon and around a bit, stopping for a snack and air application for Nelson's tired tires. Breeze very pleasant across here. A few guys rolled through on their ways ups, and Nelson toyed with them by being super friendly. Off down, taking the old line, and then bombing down around the hill, my front wheel sketchy from too much air in the tire. Half way down the face above Rapaki we pulled up to let a bunch of climbers through, and there was one we recognised - Andy Pandy, out for a sneaky solo before having his 3rd knee drained on Friday and not riding for a while after that... No wind at all here, warm. Chatted for a bit then on our respective ways down (and up for him), railing down the trail to Rapaki Top, blazing through the masses here.
Straight into Witch Hill on the tails of a couple of guys who immediately struggled with the first tech. They let us past and we showed them how it was done. Cleaned it all round and up and over and down, then up the road, good pace to Castle Rock where there were a couple of older dudes chatting. Again, nicer here than at the car. We jumped in before them and proceeded to braaap down the trail, me struggling to see corners through Nelson's dust, but I kept tight on his tail the whole way. He would go into corners faster than me, but somehow I'd exit them quicker and be back on his tail immediately. After the first Hairpin he got a bit of a gap and then after the next one he stopped to apply a smidge more air pressure to his burped out tire. The oldie slowbos rolled past and we waited for some time before making our departure into the climb up and over and out to the road.
Up the road, to save time, and at the top we pushed the bikes up the ridge above the road to the walking track. I checked a text here, then we were off down towards the Tors, second time down here, nice wee trail, and some super tech at the bottom, which we rode more of this time. Down onto the road and then up onto the new walking track above it, cruising around this with its ups and downs. Rounded the final knoll and there was a massive posse of riders all over the road. We rolled through them, commenting, and into the Witch, clambering and climbing up and around over. Through Rapaki top and straight into the climb up Vernon, around. I stayed on Nels's tail til the climby bit above that wee pondy thing, and then he gapped me. I did catch sight of him a few times from then on tho. Eventually we got to the end, crossed the road, through another pile of bikers, and onto the Traverse. Bombed it around here and down through the rocks and tussocks out to the landing strip, rolling fast down through the smooth ground here.
Over the fence and onto the single track. Nelson dropped the big jump, and I bypassed it, and we rooosted won through the tussocks over the gate, and then jumped all the jumps (except the wooden one for me) down to the bottom, enjoying this so much we headed back up the main track all the way up through the cattle stops to above that pond and up the side track towards the watertank. then pushed up to the single track for round 2. This time I rolled into the drop jump, stopped. Eyed it. Nelson came back and I followed him in again, but stopped. Eyed it. Then he came back again and I followed him in and DROPPED it. Sweet. Done. No problems, will trade again. On down, tussock speedsville, over the gate, jump, jump, (bypass wooden), jump, berm - jump, jump, jump, ruts, rock drop, rutty corners, jump, double, and out to the stile. Done and dusted.
Not bad 17kms travailed and 700m climbed...All in all, a very pleasant evening.
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